Christ-like, But Are You Really?

On the one hand a person will say they are Christ-like by definition of their chosen religious title. On the other hand they refuse to follow the instructions given by the One they associate that title with, claiming it no longer matters and rather clinging to words they say are "new" instructions.  "Christ-like", but are you really? Messiah says those "new instructions" hang on all the other so they were not really "new". Maybe they were new to those who had never heard any of it but not new on His part. They are more like a summary of the whole.
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
The detailed instructions given by our Heavenly Father, those instructions that Messiah Y'shua kept perfectly, are the very instructions that show us how to love YHWH and our neighbor. So basically, if you're not following His instructions you are only doing what is right in your own mind which is putting your word above YHWH's.
And, unfortunately, it seems the ONLY thing these same people can think of when considering those instructions is that ONE part about stoning children. WHY? When there is a plethora of instructions on being a good neighbor, being a loving and kind friend, basic instructions on caring for animals, not to mention how YHWH desires we worship and don't worship Him, and on and on it goes. So many positive instructions.
Have you EVER read one instance in scripture where someone had their child stoned? Besides that, I really do not believe it is talking about little children. Scripture reference to children could be specifically about GROWN children. Take this verse fore example: "Deu 21:20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard." What wee child do you know that is a DRUNKARD and a glutton under the care of their parents? Does this sound like a little child? (Well, I know it is likely possible in our day of wickedness but it would still be the fault of the parent for a small child and not the child)
Meanwhile, Most of you are for the death penalty today, especially if it involves one of your loved ones being murdered or some other atrocity. You suddenly don't mind justice killings then. Well, stoning just happened to be one of those ways they carried that out back then. And even then it was after much mercy and patience and forgiveness on the parents part, and probably societies too.
YHWH's mercies still reigned in those days. So drop the stoning children question. It's stupid but even so, why question your Maker. His mercy is not some new thing only discovered and written about in the letters that make up what is dubbed the "new testament". A dividing page designed by man by the way.
If you don't study the word diligently your ignorance of it will show.
Stop doing what is right in your own mind and actually follow the One you claim to "be like".

The Not so Vague Instructions of Our Heavenly Father

I don't like vagueness. I really don't. I suppose that is one reason why I am so thankful Yah has given me eyes to see His Torah, instructions, on how to love Him and my neighbor. All the years prior I understood it to be just two lines that said, love him with all your heart and love your neighbor as you do your self, without any specifics; Leaving it too open to individual interpretation basically saying everyone can do it all as they deem worthy. That would totally go against our heavenly Father who has designed it all so like a family knit together in unity.
It's not vague at all.

HOW do you love Him in a pleasing way to him? HOW do you love your neighbor in a pleasing way to HIM? Can we all decide on our own?
The opposition is from without that sneaks in. It is not so with His ways within. One people, one law/instruction, united to stand together.
HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE. (Deut 6:4)
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. (Exo 12:49)
Even if you're not "Israel" you are expected to behave with the same instructions if you want to be a part of Israel.
Once it starts dividing it doesn't stop. Look at all of the different denominations and different interpretations today!
He does not change. And the new, or renewed covenant, Messiah brought did not change this. Even He said, Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Him "fulfilling" it did not do away with it. Any of it! Note His words, "one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass..." He fulfilled it completely as we should have been doing all along. Because He did it perfect does not mean we get to go all willy nilly and neglect it as we deem worthy.
So many of the words of Paul/Sha'ul have been twisted to make it seem we no longer need to keep things like the Sabbath or eating clean, etc. and so much more of our instructions on how to be set apart being tossed aside. But that is the delusion!!!
Repentance is STILL the call today. Repent BACK to His instructions. Not any one of the different man interpretations YOU choose YOU like best.

That Angel of "Light"

This is not considered no ways near as much as it should be.
From "The Berean"
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
(14) And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
New King James Version Change your email Bible version
The Bible does not typically portray practitioners of the occult and the demons behind them in a particularly macabre way. We moderns have been conditioned to imagine Satan, his demons, and their human minions as dark beings of pure ugliness, bearing attributes of horror and death. We have swallowed this deception from our historical culture and from the images presented by the media to entertain the masses and make millions of dollars.
Yet, while God's Word warns us against Satanic deceptions, it does not provide the standard horror movie images. In fact, it often does just the opposite, cautioning us with the fact that the Devil and his demons do their best to appear as appealing to our senses as they can be. From what we see in Genesis 3, the serpent did not repulse Eve; to her in her innocence, he was logical and quite convincing. In Ezekiel 28, the description of the king of Tyre, a type of Satan, lauds him as “the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (verse 12). It describes a creature whose beauty and magnificence turned his heart proud and corrupt (verse 17).
Though he and his demons have been cast down, at least some of their beauty remains, for Paul tells us in II Corinthians 11:14-15: “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers [servants] also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” Demons do not always look like snakes, dragons, gargoyles, or goblins but have the ability to appear attractive to us when it suits them. If accosted by a ghoul, we would shrink in horror and flee. Demons, though, are all about deception, and appearing as good and beautiful is far more subversive. People are far more likely to trust a physically appealing person than an old hag or troll.
Thus, while the tone of I Samuel 28 is at times stressed, suspicious, and fearful—as one would expect when encountering demonic powers—there is nothing blatantly horrifying or even ugly in the narrative. This tells us that a demon, being manipulative to the extreme, will appear to a person in a way that he thinks will work best for his purposes. A demon will stoop to whatever trick he deems necessary, even to appearing as a minister of righteousness.
— Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Whole Counsel of YHWH Sets Us Apart

If you believe YHWH/God is good, and love, why don't you believe He has serious and detailed instructions for us to follow in this life that HE created and gave to us? A good and loving father will give time to his children. He will give them instructions on what is best and how best to do a thing. Why would anyone believe YHWH/God has given us this life and then expects us to do what is right in our own minds, especially after letting us know that our flesh is against His will right from the start from the first fall of man?
I know from experience that many believe that "love God with all of your heart and your neighbor as you love your self" is the only thing required since the advent of Messiah; As if He brought a new thing other than what the Father gave us. The problem with that is, without the details, everyone is left believing "their heart" will make the right choice. Hence the well known saying, "He knows my heart".
When you read in scripture that "the whole law hangs on those two", "love YHWH/God with all of your heart, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as you love your self", you need to understand that what it is saying is, the only way you can accomplish that summation is to follow the whole law; With mercy of course.
You cannot go blindly through life assuming you'll get it right because you "believe" (even the devils believe), or since you go to church on Sundays ( the devil goes too) and a whole host of other reasonings we might come up with in this flesh. Our measuring stick is the whole counsel of YHWH; ALL of HIS instructions for HIS set apart people. Granted there are changes since we don't have the priesthood in order and there is no temple but our bodies. But murder is still murder, stealing is still stealing, unclean animals are still unclean, not remembering the Sabbath is still neglecting it, and serving idols rather than YHWH is still serving idols.
You are NOT set apart if you are blending so well with the world that you make them feel welcome just as they are. No No. You can "come as you are" but change is definitely required. Repenting is in order for every single one of us. It is not our call to make the Truth more palatable. You cannot change the lyrics of a song to "help" others like it more. Or else it is no longer the song you desired they like in the first place.
The word of YHWH is true and He does not change. We either accept it or not. His word is His instructions to us, His set apart people. We follow it to set us apart from the rest of the world. Otherwise you are of the world and none of His.
It's that simple.

Untwisting the Twisted

Some untwisting of the twisted interpretations of one of Paul's letters.
From "The Berean"
Galatians 2:15-21
(15) We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, (16) knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (17) "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! (18) For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. (19) For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. (20) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (21) I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
Verse 15 declares that being born an Israelite indicates a privileged birth. The privilege results from being part of the Old Covenant nation, thus having direct contact with God's Word, which contains His promises and instructions. This provides the possibility of faith because faith comes from hearing God's Word (Romans 10:17).
However, even having that privilege is of itself no benefit regarding justification. Why? Because a person is justified only through faith in Jesus Christ. Through this means and this means only, a person is declared righteous or innocent of sin. Thus, if one does not take advantage of its availability, the availability itself is of no value. Faith in Jesus Christ and His message is what is important about this way of life.
Paul makes a definitive statement regarding obedience following justification by faith in verses 17-18. The thing that he destroyed through faith and repentance was his former way of life with its mountain of sin accumulated during his unconverted life before justification. Paul was determined not to return to that sinful way. To do this, he had to live to God (verse 19), that is, to obey God's laws so that he would not sin and therefore bring to naught his justification through Christ's sacrifice. He is clearly stating that keeping God's laws is required, even though keeping them does not earn salvation.
We need to make sure that we understand this important reality: Being justified is a major step toward salvation, but this does not mean that the person's character is now fully changed. It means only that the charges for sin against him are removed, and he is legally declared innocent on the basis of Christ's divine righteousness.
Justification is a judicial action by a judge—God. The term indicates an aligning of a forgiven person with a standard. In this case, the standard is the law of God. Justification does not happen automatically to all but solely to those whom God calls, forgives, and unites with Christ because they believe in the efficacy of His death as the divinely given Substitute to pay the death penalty for their sins. They have humbled themselves before Him and fervently desire to glorify God through a vastly changed life.
Character is a group of qualities that cannot be transferred by fiat. It is created throughout life, either by experiences in this world or by experiences within a relationship with God. We desire to be in the character image of God. In His purpose, the creating of godly character takes place during the sanctification process.
The New International Version renders Romans 10:17 as, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Paul uses "faith," one's belief, in the sense of trust. At the point of justification in a person's spiritual life, faith is not producing works; it is merely the mental activity of believing. The works come later as the sanctification process begins and continues. This faith, this trust, has its foundation in knowledge that God has supplied by enabling the called person to reach the right conclusion, a conclusion based in fact. His trust is therefore not blind; it is based, not on speculation, but truth.
In Galatians 2:18, Paul shows that being justified by faith does not lead to a life of sin. Being justified by faith indicates a commitment in the mind of the justified to go forward, building on the relationship by being established with Christ. Verse 19 begins with the word "for," indicating the reason why the justified person will not return to the old way of life. By faith, Paul understands the reason: As far as the law is concerned, he is dead. His debt to it has been satisfied.
Verse 20 continues the thought. Like Christ died, the "old man," the carnal Paul, also died and was symbolically buried in the waters of baptism. Also like Christ, he has been raised from the dead—symbolically—from the waters of baptism. This is done for the sole reason that, by means of the very faith of Christ that he has been given, he would live life as Christ lived. The life Christ lived was sinless. He did not break God's laws, and that is the objective of the new creation and salvation.
— John W. Ritenbaugh

Understanding

Understanding.
YHWH/God, His instructions/commandments, or Torah, is His word. Y'shua was that Word made flesh. When you deny His Torah, you deny Him. Confessing you "believe" should be followed by adapting your life to living those words just as Y'shua reiterated while here in the flesh; Which actually made them more binding including the spiritual aspect of it all. To do otherwise is only lip service. For even the devils "believe".

Accepting that Y'shua paid the price you owe does not make way for you to continue in the state you needed saving from. Repent. Return to His instructions instead believing the lie that they no longer matter. Start by keeping the seventh day Sabbath. He made it a part of the very beginning of creation. It is a sign of acknowledging you are His people. Stop believing the twisted versions of scripture that have you deceived and believing a lie. Just because a thing has been practiced for hundreds and hundreds of years does not make it truth. But it is a sure fire way for the truth to get buried in the traditions of man.

Here is just one example of the kind of twisting of scripture that Peter warned about. The verse speaking of one esteeming one day above another and another doing likewise for another day. (Romans 14:5) Many have been taught, or assume, that it is referring to Sabbaths and other appointed times; As if we can all do whatever we come up with. But that is not the topic at hand. Or else the reference in another place in scripture speaking of man doing what is right in his own mind is pointless and contradictory. YHWH is not the author of confusion. Most places where scripture seems to contradict it self is only misinterpreted by man.
The subject being spoken of in Romans was fasting. Read on through verse 6 where it references eating. It's not implying that we can disregard the instructions given to us that are the very instructions that sets us apart from the rest of the world. Or else how are we any different?
It's a learning process. And we are all still learning and growing for as long as we are given life here and now.
There are many other such misinterpretations. Pray for understanding. Pray for eyes to see and ears to hear the Spirit of Truth.

An article from "The Berean"

From "The Berean"
Mark 2:27-28
(27) And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. (28) Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

A number of important aspects are of note here. The first is that the Sabbath was not made for its own sake, as with the other days of the week, but with the specific purpose of being a service to mankind. An alternate translation is that it was made "on account of man."
The Sabbath, then, is a specific, thoughtful gift of the Creator to serve His creation. If it were to be used by mankind merely for physical rest, any one of the seven days of the week would be acceptable. Yet, God set apart the seventh day specifically and linked it to creation (Genesis 2:1-3). Therefore, God's purpose in establishing the Sabbath is primarily to support man's part in God's spiritual creation. Such use goes far beyond mere bodily rest.
A second item is that God made the Sabbath for humanity, not just for the Jews. As God created it, its intention is universal. He made it to ensure mankind's physical and spiritual well-being.
A third point is that Jesus claims the authority as its Lord to teach us how to keep it, not whether to keep it. Both the immediate context and the gospels as a whole show that Jesus expected it to be kept and offered no alternatives.
Nations routinely honor citizens they believe have made significant contributions to the well-being of their people, and they often do this by setting apart a day as a memorial to them so that others will remember their contributions. For example, in this nation George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King have been so honored. God says in Exodus 31:13: "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you."
By God's own words, He is memorialized and therefore honored by our observance of the Sabbath. Compared to any man, God's contributions to the well-being of every living thing are beyond counting, but one stands out as witness to all: He is Creator. What an awesome statement to consider. Everything in and on this fantastic, floating greenhouse we call Earth is a tribute to and witnesses of His genius, power, and loving providence.
Mankind, on the other hand, has yet to create its first flea! Yet, if a man did create one, how much publicity would he want? What honors might he demand?
— John W. Ritenbaugh

Are Your Beleifs Padded In Error?

Satan, our adversary, is padding you, through society, to accept things that are completely adverse to scriptural instructions. But the really sad part is it's been going on so long that most don't know they were born into things that were padded and accepted long, long ago. Our call is to repent, Turn around and go back to the whole council of Y'shua. And His council is the same as YHWH's . He did NOT come to do away with Father's instructions for His set apart people. He came to do it perfectly. But not only to qualify as a sacrifice in our stead, but to also show us how it really should be done. "Fulfill" does not mean to nullify or do away with. The new doctrines we are receiving now are not all false. False doctrine was even being taught as far back as the apostle's day. Don't let it fool you in this day. But even so still, we are being awakened through the Ruach/Spirit of Yah to all that He desire we know and learn in these end days. Don't be so complacent and content with what you already know that you let some very important revelations slip by.
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
And if you think another verse written by Paul trumps these words I assure you, you are highly mistaken and taken those words out of context or twisting them unto a wrong interpretation.
Pray earnestly that Father will show you the Truth and not a popular worldly, easy fitting in, interpretation.

Never Stop Learning

You never stop growing and learning as you get older. For those that do have stopped living. They do nothing. They become stagnant. And that can only lead to a quicker complete death.

The same applies to our spiritual life and growth in Truth, in Messiah.

Think about how so many of the older generations who reject modern influences and technology; But with the understanding that not all new things are bad. These older generations might think it is, but, no, it's not.

But really, some folks just flat out don't want to learn new things. They like to stay in the comfort zone that they peaked in and want nothing to do with any further advancement because they just don't see it as an advancement since, obviously, they believe they have learned "enough".
Again, the same applies to our spiritual life.

And THAT is partly why you have so many that couldn't care less about any new major enlightenment that YHWH brings about to His people. They are so fixed and content in what they already know, they have no interest in learning more.
What a tragedy and detriment to the body of believers.

He told us knowledge would increase in the latter days. Why would anyone assume it only applies to things of this world when His word equates knowledge so many times to His instructions and doing those things HE defines as good and righteous?
I know now just how stubborn I was to the things He tried to show me so many times before I finally started studying it out and finally seeing with eyes to see. Makes me wonder now just how much more I might be missing out on.
But I do have a true seeker heart now. I was missing so much before when I relied solely on what was traditionally taught in the churches.
The race is not over yet. Never assume you've arrived in full growth in truth.

Desiring to Return

To those who desire to continue to grow and learn in the ways of our Beloved Savior and may not yet know these things.
He also came to restore the kingdom. Our part is to repent. It's not just about your sins being covered because of Him paying our debt. We have to stop sinning too. That means we need to know what HE says sin is. Repent means to turn back to. You cannot repent to something that you believe no longer applies. So many believe certain things in His word no longer applies to believers today. And don't forget, even the devils believe. So belief alone is not enough witness to our being saved from eternal death.
From creation our heavenly Father has had a plan for His kingdom. No matter how sincere we are in our worship of Him, if it's not in His plan, we should trade it for what is.
With a voice of love...
If you think worshiping our Messiah is about watching the sun come up after you've offended your children and lied to them about egg laying rabbits, and the center of your meal (in celebration of all of this) is a big ole hunk of swine butt, well..... what bible are you reading? HE is the WORD made flesh. NONE of that stuff describes HIM.
He said remember His death and not to mix worship of Him with ways that have been historically appointed to false gods. He does not change. He was our Passover Lamb. Not a Easter Ham. While it's the bread and wine that represent His body and blood, somehow having swine in celebration of our Perfect Beloved just doesn't make anymore sense to me now that He has opened my understanding more. But regardless of what makes sense to "ME" or any other person, it is something that HE declared was unclean from the beginning. His death and resurrection was not about changing the purpose of the pig. Or ANY other unclean animal. I know the verses that are used to try and justify it all being clean now. But those are just some of the misinterpreted ones , as Peter notes, that are bringing about destruction to some.
We MUST give time to prayer and study or we can easily be deceived. And just because someone has spent years or decades in a school or some other institution supposedly learning what's in the bible, that doesn't mean they are learning the whole truth. We are clearly warned of false teachers appearing as angels of light. That means they will look the part but will not necessarily be teaching the whole truth. And that could be in church buildings, colleges, seminaries, etc etc. We have to be like the Bereans.
****Then: Exo_23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread:
****Now: 1Co_5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
See? Nowhere does He ever say we can stop keeping HIS appointed times that testify of Him. Or else that would mean anyone could come up with anything and we'd be a bunch of mixed up and divided people. JUST LIKE WE ARE! He says a divided house cannot stand. Even Paul said not to let anyone judge us in keeping the appointed times and observances given by YHWH.
Even so, Messiah Y'shua TRUMPS anything we misinterpret.
Jots and tittles are still applicable. Heaven and earth have not passed away. smile emoticon
Mat_5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
To all who celebrate our Beloved Messiah, may we all seek the sincere word of truth and may we all desire to become one with Him accordingly.
In love,
your sister in Messiah Y'shua/Jesus

Half Cocked for the Kingdom

You know what's really sad? YHWH's people are suppose to be a light to the world. (And for those who don't get it yet, I'm not talking about JUST the "Jews" whether they are in the land or not). I'm speaking of ALL of the tribes AND the whosoevers that have joined themselves by His covenant.
A light that shows HE IS. We are to follow His kingdom rules as best we can while scattered. And we should not accept or practice evil. But that does not mean we should be evil our selves in the face of it? There is just as much disruption, hate, and division amongst those who profess to believe as it is in the world. So what does the world have to be attracted to when it comes to those purporting His kingdom? We are just as sick and diseased, we are just as angry and impatient, we are just as messed up as the rest of the world.
None of us are living in a kingdom where the leader upholds YHWH's instructions, not even in Israel is His rules completely upheld as instructed. So it is quite obvious we will encounter those who do not agree with us. And YHWH gave each of us freedom of choice. Unless we are in the land under His complete rule, we should just mind our own business and let others live their lives as they choose. Defend your life, but get out of others.
Let YHWH judge them if that's His will and Let Him judge us as well. We shall be known by our fruits.
With that said, what I'm really hoping though, is, that this new awakening that's been going on now for several years is what will really begin to set us apart as it should be as best it can while we are still scattered throughout the nations. I believe it will.
BUT, we still need to get over ourselves in all of this new stuff we are learning and behaving as though we have arrived. We ain't there yet. I'm still trying to figure out why I got so angry at people doing some of the very things that I've done all of my life when He first started revealing I had been deceived by mans teachings. I finally know better but why did I get so upset at seeing it in others? Anger at my self maybe for being so deceived? Maybe. But that does not make it right. We don't shake enough dust off. And most of us go out fully cocked without the leading of the Spirit. Even Paul was on a hiatus for at least 3 years being taught by the Spirit before he set out to witness.
I guess I post this because I see I'm coming to some rightness in it all. FINALLY. Personalities sure get in the way.
Anyway, may we all give the reigns to our Master so He can finally lead us to the promised land.

The Old Fully Revealed in the New

It doesn't matter what you blame it on. YHWH says if you disobey Him, especially those who have said they will "follow" Him, He will bring on the curses that He said He would. And if you STILL continue to disobey Him, He will exponentially INCREASE those curses. Go read Deut 28: starting with verse 15. And see if you cannot figure out that some of those very things are what is happening to the very ones who claim to be His this day. And it keeps getting worse.
Our Messiah, Y'shua/Jesus, did NOT come to rebel against what Father said and encourage us to do the same. He came to restore us BACK TO what Father said after paying the debt we owed for straying from it. And just because you've been entrenched in a belief system all of your life does not make that belief true. No matter how much you "feel" it is good. Nor does the fact that a large majority feels the same way make it true. Remember the truth is a narrow path in this world not followed by many. It's not popular at all.
"Paul" seems to be the go to guy to try and justify what ends up being disobedience to Father's instructions by that majority. But even Peter said his letters would be misinterpreted. He is one of the most misinterpreted writers that were canonized.
And since Paul and his words sets the standard for so many, have you done what he said here?: "Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."
Well, have you? Have you established YHWH's instructions in your life yet? Or are you still believing the lie that you can do whatever you want as long as you somehow "love people" and "love God" however "you feel" like? Because, the truth is, His instructions are the very things He gives us to show us how TO love Him and our neighbor. He never said it was something we'd accomplish with our own hearts or feelings. He even says our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked.
Y'shua/Jesus never said, "Never mind my Sabbaths, but don't forget to pay (tythe) your pastor. As if we can plug a few choice things from His instructions while neglecting others. I think the pastors have learned a sneaky thing being able to convince a congregation to abide by that commandment and give up part of their paychecks and yet neglect the very thing YHWH says is a sign of His people, His Sabbaths.
People get hung up and think the "old testament" is only about bloody sacrifices and stoning. And maybe a few good "stories" they like to teach the children in Sunday school. In Truth, it is the very Word of YHWH; That which Y'shua/Jesus became the walking flesh manifestation of. He did not do away with the very thing He represented.
The foundation is in no way retracted, made void, or replaced by the very revealing of it. And that is exactly what the writings of what we call the "New Testament" is. It is the revealing, as intended by Father, by the manifestation and life of Y'shua Messiah. He shows us how to live it out both physically and spiritual. To believe He came to do something different than Father Yah is to make Him out to be a rebel child and not the Son of the living Elohim.

The foundation written in what we refer to as the "Old Testament" is fully revealed in what we refer to as the "New Testament".  Neither cancels the other. 

Sabbath From Creation

The Sabbath is a part of creation just like the pairing of a man and woman together; Just like placing the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens; Just like the course of the seasons. The Sabbath and YHWH's ordained design is very much a part of what we are to repent over; Turn back to.
While loving your neighbor with good deeds and helping the poor and widow are definitely the weightier matters, Y'shua/Jesus made it clear we should still not neglect the whole of His instructions.
Following YHWH's design clearly expresses our love for Him. When we choose and try to justify doing things the way man deems best is nothing but denying Y'shua/Jesus. He is the Word made flesh. When you deny the Word and choose your own way you are denying Him. When you say "that's not what it means to me" or "He knows my heart" along with rejecting what He has clearly instructed, you are denying Him. You are merely doing your own thing. You need to repent. It's really that simple. Love Father YHWH with all of your heart. Not just with what is convenient and praise worthy by man. Man thinks it's awesome that you would do good for a neighbor. But it makes for a narrower walk in this life when you step back onto the plan and design Father YHWH ordained for all mankind.

From "The Berean"
Exodus 20:8-11
(8) "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (9) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, (10) but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. (11) For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
In verse 8, God says "Remember the Sabbath day." Then He tells us that we are to work six days, and the seventh day we are not to work. Verse 11 gives the reason why.
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day [not a seventh day.] Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
This verse firmly establishes the Sabbath as law, a command to be kept. Yet, it is very clear that this law has its roots in Genesis 2:1-3, for there, God set the example in what He did. He rested, and He blessed the seventh day.
God could have rested at any time. Or, we might say, He needed no rest at all. But He rested. God does not grow weary or become tired. He could have ended the creative cycle at the end of the sixth day, but He did not. Creation did not cease at the end of the sixth day. This is a very important concept. The seventh day is also a creation of God. He kept right on creating, only this time He created by not working, by ceasing.
What did He do? He created a period of rest and of holy time. He created a specific period of time: the seventh day. What He created was just as real as the things created on the other six days. Thus, on the Sabbath, creating continued, but it took on a different form in that it was not outwardly visible. The Sabbath symbolizes to man that God is still creating.
— John W. Ritenbaugh

Pride in "Knowledge" Might Lead to Lies

Honestly, I think some people are so stinking prideful that they end up "studying and researching" their self right into denying, not only Y'shua, but the who bible. It's mind numbing to say the least. When I say "prideful" I mean they just cannot stand the thought of "not knowing a thing", so they go from one thing to the next seeking more and more. I'm not talking of studying scripture and allowing the Spirit of Yah to guide and teach. These people just continue to consume any information that comes along, no matter how nut case it is. They just cannot stand the thought of being one who "doesn't know a thing" evidently. And no matter where it seems to drag them.
And THEN the same will begin to mock believers of Y'shua like that's some sort of insane thing. These people seem to take the very things that witness of Y'shua and try to claim that THAT is the thing that makes Him false. Like how the heavens witness of Him. They say "See, it's not about a Messiah, it's a story stolen from the sky", referring to the constellations and the sun etc and the patterns that testify of Y'shua. Or they'll take some ancient pagan god story and say, "See, it's not about Jesus, it's about this mythical god so and so". Notwithstanding that the truth is, yes, Christianity has mixed it's beliefs with some of the mythical pagan things, but today's Christians or mostly ignorant of that. But still, the people I speak of, were once Christian, then claimed they learned the difference of the December Jesus and the Sukkot Y'shua, but as soon as they deny Y'shua they revert back to battling Jesus and all of the very things they claimed they now understood. Of course some do try to toss Y'shua into that lot too. It's a crazy mix to say the least. It is really quite absurd.
And note, I put quotation marks around "studying and researching" because reading a bunch of websites and viewing videos is not necessarily "studying and researching".

Beware people. Deception is like a trick yoyo. It's all over the place and spinning the whole time.
Being too prideful in knowing could very well lead you right into a lie. 

The World Abuzz

It needs to be considered why we do not see the gospel of scripture in a positive way on the cover of every newspaper across the globe. And yet, we see the signs of "Christmas" already taking over just a few weeks ago. Local newspapers and magazines, and in every store you go into, the whole world is abuzz about this big, big time of year.
So where in scripture does it say the whole world would be abuzz about doing the will of God , especially in these wicked days?
Remember the reference about deception and the broad and narrow paths.
Remember false teachings that lead people astray and after the things of the world instead of the pure things of our Savior.
Remember how our enemy draws us away with things that are appealing to the flesh; The eyes, the ears, all of our senses, and even our hearts. Yep. That is why YHWH has given us instructions to live by. It's like a blueprint for living the life He desires for us as His people, with the blood of Y'shua making us perfect in His sight. Without which, we would not be complete.

When we steer off and start doing our own things in our own ways, even things we say are unto Him, or for Him, regardless of how we feel "in our hearts", we risk making our own golden calf, and offering YHWH strange fire. So unless we believe Y'shua did away with Father's instructions, and made it fine for someone to sacrifice a baby unto Him, or some other strange thing that passed people have done unto their strange gods, we need to see none of us can do whatever we want unto Him and we need to get back to following what HE says to do. And that includes annual celebrations no matter how long they've been going on. The safest things to do are the ones He instructed in the first place. They are still very much shadow pictures and/or memorials of truth.

Christmas, why?

     There is nothing about consumerism that promotes godliness. So why do people hold it so dear as a way to worship our Savior?
Pre-Christmas is one of the most consumeristic times of the year that is touted as being about our Savior.
No one is trying to ruin your "fun" or your childrens "fairytales". And certainly no one is trying to get you to turn from worshipping and acknowledging our Savior. BUT Did you know that celebrating our Messiah's birthday, as done in the popular way today, originated as a mixture with how pagans celebrated their god "Mithra" and other miscellaneous gods throughout history prior to Y'shua/Jesus' birth?
      And maybe many will say, "so what! What's wrong with that as long as we know we are just celebrating Jesus?" OK well, let me tell you.
YHWH gave us instructions on how to live a set apart life from the rest of the world as a called out people unto Him. I promise you, these instructions were not just for a select few way back when that no longer matter now. He also instructed us on how to worship Him as HE desires. He never once implied that we could worship Him any ole' way as long as our hearts were in it right. As a matter of fact He says our hearts are wicked and deceitful and only He can know a heart's motives. So while we might think it's for all the good reasons, we could clearly be deceiving our own self and HE clearly sees that. The golden calf incident is a great testament to that.
He tells us explicitly NOT to worship Him as the people of the world worship their gods. Even if it's something long passed. He never says we can redeem any of it unto Him. Not even through our Beloved Messiah.
      YHWH has not left us without anything to celebrate. He is not about us not having a good time. As a matter of fact He has quite a few times He desires we celebrate and enjoy special times.
He has appointed feasts and celebrations that are memorials and/or shadow pictures of our Messiah especially.
      One is even during his birth time which is clearly defined with simple research in scripture. It's mind numbing that scholars and theologians seem to miss this. But maybe they don't. I have actually heard that many know this but just don't want to "rock the boat" so to speak. So they continue to perpetuate the traditions of man for the sake of, well... tradition, and, of course, they don't want to be the bearer of offence to their folds. But even prophesy says we have been taught lies and vain things.
But again, even besides that, Have you ever wondered why modern beleivers blatantly disregard YHWH's appointed times?; IF they know about them at all? I mean, even if it were so that we didn't HAVE to celebrate these things to be considered set apart unto YHWH through Messiah Y'shua/Jesus, why wouldn't we still want to engage in them and at least do them as an honor to Him and what HE actually did instead of making up something that is clearly rooted in things He said He hates?
      There are lots of people who love to do re-enactments of civil war or the renaissance period. But here we are in the 21st century with all sorts of freedom and still cannot stand the thought of doing anything remotely connected to what our Savior actually did when it comes to feast days. Not to mention, the Apostle Paul encouraged us not to let anyone judge us in keeping the appointed times of YHWH. But most are sucked into believing he was saying we can do whatever. I know I too believed that at one time.
      When you begin to see these things outside of the realm of tradtional thinking you begin also to realize just how deceived the average modern believer really is. Did you know Chirstmas was originally banned in the early years of this country? Yes. Early believers KNEW that it was not something to be done as people of the most high. Think back on the beginning of the Protestant movement, if you've even heard about that at all; And how believers were beginning to move away from the wrongful things taught within the Roman Catholic church. You might wonder, then, how in the heck did what we protest ever get to be so main stream, again. Well, that's pretty easy. Just think about how mainstream other things YHWH destests have gone. Things such as being gay or lesbian. Not to mention gay and lesbian marriage and how it's regarded as being equal by our rulers. And what about immodest apparel in the general public? Sex being taught to children in schools? All of these things were once highly shunned by the average believer, even the general public. But time and persistence of evil slowly erodes a society. And now, only a very few still stand for true purity and modesty along with true holiness that is according to scripture.
      So you have to wonder, at this point, maybe it is true that this Christmas thing has been more like a goldern calf. And while the average believer thinks it's a wonderful way to acknowledge and worship our Savior, and put the argumentative interest on the fact that so many charities are blessed this time of year, the heart is still deceived and it's really something that YHWH doesn't care for much at all. Not the part about giving to the less fortunate, but He does not need a man-made tradition to bless the less fortunate. THAT is what man conjures up. He has already admonished us, and Y'shua/Jesus reiterated it, to give to the needy, the poor, the widow.
Our salvation is too major of a matter to not take serious consideration into the history and why we do anything that we do when we do it unto Our Beloved.

Walking As Our Beloved Walked

So I jumped upon this path where everyone on it said they are following our Beloved Messiah. I was so excited to be amongst those who wanted to live like He lived. And then one day, at the end of the week, our Beloved Messiah said that he was gonna' stop for a day and take a break. He wanted to rest and recoup from the past week and start the new week all a fresh and renewed. But that's when I noticed that all of the ones on the path I had joined kept on going. They didn't even notice that our Beloved had stopped to rest. They just pressed on through with a zeal for all they had engaged into for the week. I was puzzled as I looked at my colleagues carrying on, and my Beloved who, I suddenly realized was not really on the same path as I was with all of these others. I got to looking really close and began to see that the path was quite similar in many ways but it was still not the same path. There were actually two paths. One that was very narrow and straight. Not confusing at all. And one that was very broad. But this path also had many little side tracks that led off to other destinations. Some that came back around and some that just kept right on going further away. I could not believe I had not noticed all of this before. And then when I tried to point it out to some of those I thought I knew pretty well they seemed to be very offended that I would even bring up such a matter. It was as if having even the slightest thought of that broad path maybe not being the exact path we should be on was the epitome of blasphemy against our Beloved. And no matter that it was obvious that He was not even amongst us while He had taken a step away to rest. No one wanted to hear anything remotely contrary to what they had already adjusted to.
I was on my own. Not really, because I was jumping over onto the path that I knew for sure my Beloved was on. I was not exactly caught up to Him yet, but I knew that I must press on regardless of what all of the others had chosen. I wanted nothing more but to walk in the footsteps of my Beloved. And there I saw plainly where He was stepping. Just as Father had said He would.

I don't know why, when I use to acknowledge "Easter" as a time to worship my Savior, I didn't study to show my self approved over the matter. But instead just went along with what I was taught or what my family had always done. Of course as a child what could you do.

When you become an adult and with all of the easy access of learning we have available, I know now I would be without excuse to Father Yahweh in what I believe.

I'm so glad I have since learned that I don't have to sit and listen to someone else teach me what to believe. With the plethora of institutions out there today, it should not be so strange a thing to know that many are merely studying, learning and rehearsing a mixture of twisted interpretations of scripture to whole congregations all in the name of serving our Creator and Savior. And sadly enough the congregations love to have it so because it requires so little of them. Just tell me what I already know and nothing has to change.

Remember, the enemy appears as an angel of light. Hence, he's not a pitchfork toting devil worshiping obvious enemy.

"Man shall live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh".

Nowhere does it say that it no longer matters how we worship Yahweh. And nowhere does it say He doesn't mind if it's mixed with ancient pagan rituals and practices so we can do what we choose. And that is exactly what I have found the case to be with Easter. It don't matter how much I say I'm doing it for my Savior, if He and the Father are one, nothing has changed and it is still unacceptable worship to Him. He clearly tells us how to love/worship Him. By obeying His words. Not going about doing what is right in our own minds or what we were born into.
I have learned that just because something is done in ignorance by the church doesn't mean Yahweh is "changing" to adjust to the churches decisions.
It was a long time ago when the pagan elements were mixed into the practices of those who professed to believe. Time does not make something alright. Although time surely is the ally of deceit.

Would it be OK worship to Yahweh if I got me some goat horns, a black hooded cape, some crystals, had a few pentagrams and maybe chanted a few lines from some wiccan ceremony? What if I said it's for the children and it's just innocent fun? Or I could say I'm trying to win some satanists to the lord so it's fine if I try to look and do like them? Wouldn't that make it OK?
Unfortunately some would say SURE. Do what you feel in your heart.
But that's no more than doing what is right in my own mind if I thought that way.

Neither Yahweh nor Yeshua conforms to our will. We need to seriously consider that.
We are to be transformed by His words. Not going about seeing just how mixed in with pagan worship we can and then call it good.

How can "Easter", as it is celebrated the world over, be a part of that narrow path? It's one of THE most POPULAR celebrations next to Christmas. That's not so "narrow". It's quite broad.

The only reason I take the time to make such a post is the hope that it might stir someone to do as I have done. Seek the truth in the matter so that you can be free indeed.

Shalom

Doing Like He Did

If Yahshua/Jesus did it all perfectly in Father's eyes, why do we say "since He did it perfectly now I don't have to do it at all"? We should rather say "since He did it perfectly, I'm gonna' do my best to live just like He did". And that includes keeping the same appointed times as He kept. His physical life was the Word made flesh. That means He is the walking personification of perfect obedience to that Word. And because WE are NOT perfect is no reason to go about doing our own thing.

It is wrong to say we obey and follow Him to "earn" our salvation. No, He IS our salvation. ALL the MORE REASON to go about our life with the desire to be just like Him.

Sadly we have been raised under the teachings that since He did it perfect for us and paid a debt we owe, now we don't have to. But that's kinda' like saying "since my Daddy paid my speeding ticket for me I can now speed and choose what road laws I wish to obey or change them around to my liking".

It's really gotten so crazy that now we think it's perfectly fine to observe a celebrated time that is without a doubt rooted in paganism. As long as we say we're doing it for Him we think it's fine. Or so we've been taught. We think it's fine to mix our worship with pagan things now instead of doing just like Yahshua did and observe the Passover-Unleavened Bread memorial feast day. A time that was appointed by Yahweh. And then we go about accusing those who actually do keep the same observances as Yahshua did of being in some type of cult or teaching some strange doctrine. Is that not backwards? I have actually heard people refer to those who are keeping the times appointed by Yahweh as being ones who deny Yahshua. How can doing what He did be denying Him?

If these appointed times of Yahweh are all about Yahshua and He is revealed in them how the heck is observing them denying Him? And since those appointed times are a part of the Word given by Yahweh that Yahshua became in the flesh, wouldn't it be more like denying Him if one denies they should follow that Word?

Just as fast as there are new people waking up everyday to this awesome and life changing truth, you can rest assured that there are just as many opposers gearing up to take a stand for rejecting it. They are blind and cannot see the truth but it is so sad to see one fight with all of their might at defending abstaining from keeping the same appointed times that Yahshua kept and rather teach to celebrate something that is rooted in the very practices that He died to redeem us from.

Dear family and friends, do your homework. Diligently prove what it is that you do. If you choose to follow the majority that blend in with the ways of the world that is totally your freedom of choice. But please don't say you follow Yahshua/Jesus when you oppose doing like He actually did. He obeyed His Father and those that follow Him, those that REALLY follow Him, they obey His/their Father too.

We would do well to say "since He, Yahshua/Jesus, did it perfectly and pleased our Father, we should do like He did". And then we should actually do it like He did instead of making up our own things to follow.
One God. One people. One Torah/instructions for all.

Untwisting and Rightly Dividing

Oh how my understanding use to be so mixed up.

Scripture use to seem so contradictory in many places. I figured it must be something I just don't see. But I would still profess those things that didn't make sense to me.
I am so grateful that Father Yahweh has helped me see that NONE of His words are contrary to another in any way. It all falls in place when given eyes to see and when His words are rightly divided.
Here's one example of my past twisted thinking as I accepted how it was taught to me:
I use to think the "loving God and your neighbor" commandments was some NEW THING and only came about in the latter part of scripture. But it wasn't anything new. Even Yahshua/Jesus said:
2Jn_1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

Maybe it was unheard of to some of the ones He was speaking to but it has been the instructions of Yahweh all along.

Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
...
Lev_19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

And even still, when you read these proclamations in the latter part of scripture, why ASSume He is implying that you can disregard all others? It is impossible to disregard or throwout all other commandments if one desires to adhere to these two. For it is in doing ALL those OTHER commandments that these two are fulfilled. Hence the words: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Mat 22:40)
I'm still learning. Untwisting and rightly dividing what He instructed from the very beginning. What an awesome journey.