Listen to What God Says

Torah Living Daily Challenge–Parashah 47 Part 5

• We are commanded to listen to what Yahovah says as recorded in Deuteronomy 13: 5.  What does that look like to us living in the 21st century?

15 ¶ All the people experienced the thunder, the lightning, the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled. Standing at a distance, 16 they said to Moshe, “You, speak with us; and we will listen. But don’t let God speak with us, or we will die.” 17 Moshe answered the people, “Don’t be afraid, because God has come only to test you and make you fear him, so that you won’t commit sins.” 18 ¶ So the people stood at a distance, but Moshe approached the thick darkness where God was. (Exo 20:15-18 CJB)

“But it is to you Gentiles, I am speaking: as I am a Shaliach to the Gentiles (i.e., a Hebrew sent to the Gentiles) I honor my ministry; if, perhaps, I provoke emulation in the children of my flesh and may revive some of them. For if the rejection of them was a reconciliation of the world, what will their conversion be but life from the dead? For, if the first-fruits are set apart, then the rest of the dough (it came from is) also: and if the root is set apart, then also the branches. And if some of the branches were plucked off; and you, an olive from the desert, were in-grafted in their place and have become an heir of the root and fatness of the olive-tree; do not boast over the branches. For if you boast, you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. And should you say “the branches were plucked off that I might be grafted into their place.” Very true. They were plucked off because they disbelieved; and you stand by faith. But do not be uplifted in your mind, but fear. For if Elohim spared not the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Behold now the goodness and the severity of Elohim…” Rom. 11:13-22–AENT.

•  The scrolls found in the Qumran caves have proved to be of greatest value in setting the bar as it relates to determining what the original message was. Scholars have placed the age of the scrolls/manuscripts recovered from the Qumran caves to have been copied by the Essenes between 200 BCE and 68 CE. (Reference: http://www.centuryone.com/25dssfacts.html) Many of these Qumran manuscripts make up some of the oldest manuscripts in existence and as a result, these have become the standard by which many of the later manuscripts are judged.

• The Chronological Gospels–The Life and Seventy Week Ministry of the Messiah–Michael Rood–A Fatal Error–Introduction–The Feeding of the 5,000

 “…certain men [have] crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4 NAS)

 

CJB Isaiah 55:1 ¶ “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You without money, come, buy, and eat! Yes, come! Buy wine and milk without money – it’s free! 2 Why spend money for what isn’t food, your wages for what doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will eat well, you will enjoy the fat of the land. 3 Open your ears, and come to me; listen well, and you will live – I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the grace I assured David. 4 I have given him as a witness to the peoples, a leader and lawgiver for the peoples. 5 You will summon a nation you do not know, and a nation that doesn’t know you will run to you, for the sake of ADONAI your God, the Holy One of Isra’el, who will glorify you.” 6 Seek ADONAI while he is available, call on him while he is still nearby. 7 Let the wicked person abandon his way and the evil person his thoughts; let him return to ADONAI, and he will have mercy on him; let him return to our God, for he will freely forgive. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says ADONAI. 9 “As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For just as rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return there, but water the earth, causing it to bud and produce, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth – it will not return to me unfulfilled; but it will accomplish what I intend, and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.” (Isa 55:1-11 CJB)

After the Apostles left us, we were left with the following means by which we today can accurately hear/can listen to what the Father says:

• His recorded Word or as popularly known, the Bible–utilizing consistent, sound bible study practices and referencing a wide range of bible resources that Father in his providence and infinite wisdom has made available to us
• His Ruach HaKodesh–His Holy Spirit–His voice that speaks to our hearts, minds and spirit
• His anointed teachers–those who teach the truth and who do not compromise the Word for personal or denominational agendas
• Our personal and collective life experiences
• The people and situations that we come into contact with on a frequent and infrequent basis

• Understanding the Bible–Multi-Episode Series by Rod Thomas

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.   ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.   ³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:^1   4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.   ⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.   ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.^{1    7} Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.^1   8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom 8:1-8 KJV)

Master said, “7 ¶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (Joh 10:7-10 KJV)