The Rule of Emotions Over the Lives of Certain Christians-STAR-89
The Rule of Emotions Over the Lives of Certain Christians--STAR-89
Part-1–The Rule of Emotions Over the Lives of Certain Christians
In following up with my last Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections post (episode 88—”When Tradition Overrides Truth and Reason”), I explored how some of the traditions of the church (namely the modern Southern Baptist Church) seemed to override and supersede many biblical truths and in some cases even commonsense and spiritual reasoning. I reflected upon the things that I had witnessed that transpired in and around the passing of one of my close, dear family members and how many of the traditions and practices of the Baptist Church related to the passing of members of the Baptist Community are not in any way biblically-based and that some of those things defied what I would say is general reasoning. These things—these traditions and practices–are part and parcel of my upbringing in the Baptist Church of my youth and at the time of my upbringing, I of course, bought into all of these traditions and practices lock-stock-and barrel without question. Why would one question such sketchy traditions and practices when members of the Baptist Community have been taught from birth to not question the ways and things of the Church because those ways and things were biblical and had always been. Questioning the traditions and practices of the Church was tantamount to questioning God Himself, and everyone knows that one does not question God—for the Church and God are essentially one and both are sovereign and authoritative.
In many parts of this community, the pastors, ministers, evangelists, and teachers of the church are believed to hear directly from God and Jesus Christ and what they say and do is relatively infallible. Thus those anti-biblical traditions and practices remain entrenched in the fabric of the Baptist Church Community to this day.
I must mention one thing that I did witness throughout the course of this journey of mine related to the Baptist Community: there are a small handful of members of this community that are becoming more and more emboldened to question many of those established practices and traditions. This I found to be a relatively positive thing, for when one is able to move beyond the fear of questioning why he or she do the things he or she does or believe the things that are taught in one’s chosen Faith they’ve taken the first step in establishing their journey on the path towards finding Truth—that is, if finding Truth is important to that individual. Indeed, I have come across many folks during my stay here who are in absolutely no rush to find Truth, or for that matter, to establish a true and substantive relationship with the Creator of the Universe. For these individuals, it is more important to maintain traditions, practices and culture than to find and live out Truth and have a personal relationship with the Almighty. Nevertheless, I am encouraged that there appears to be that remnant that is actually reading their bibles and who are beginning to perceive that the things that they once held as sacred in the Church may not be as sacred as they’d always been taught or have believed them to be.
In my reflections on some of the traditions of the Baptist Church of my youth (mainly centered around death and eternal life), I touched upon how some of these traditions and practices that I observed seemed to target the emotions of the members of Baptist Faith Community. I found this focus and targeting of emotions to be such a powerful and prominent thing that I have been led to reflect upon it in this episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections. It is clear to me, dear Saints of the Most High, that human emotions have such massive potential to be exploited by people and things that may be good and holy and beneficial, just as they can be exploited by people and things that are bad, evil and damaging to us.
Clearly, the enemy from the very beginning identified the power that emotions can and do have over us as human beings. This is of course not to say that emotions are a bad thing: on the contrary, I believe that our emotions were implanted in us by our Creator and they were given to us for purposes that would glorify and honor Yahweh/Yahovah/Yahuah—as strange as that may seem.
Part-2–Just What Are Emotions Anyway?
Google defines emotions as that of “a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others.” They are described as feelings and sentiments. They are instinctive and intuitive and are separate from reasoning and knowledge.
In episode 88 of this program I mentioned that traditions and many of the practices of the Baptist Church played heavily upon the emotions of the members of the community, which I believe in great part has blinded the members from Truth and distracted them from sound reasoning. Now, this reality does not only apply to the Baptist Church; it applies to any denomination, faith or religion in existence today. The difference between them, us and the world is that Abba’s grace was extended to us such that we received the True Gospel and committed to walk according to the covenant and provisions set forth in His Torah.
So it’s not that these well meaning, precious believers in Jesus Christ are bad people; on the contrary, they are simply blinded to the Truth and it will take an outright act of Yahovah to loosen the scales from their eyes just as happened to Shaul (i.e., Paul) on that Damascus road shortly after the ascension of our beloved Master (i.e., reference Acts 9).
But back to emotions. The definition contends that emotions are natural and instinctive feelings and sentiments that are derived from one’s circumstances, moods and relationships with others. The traditions and practices of churchianity certainly attach themselves to members’ emotions and they work effectively to keep members of the denominational community in spiritual bondage.
Question: Why do so many people in this community go to church every Sunday? What are they looking for?
Well, there are a number of reasons why members of this community go to church each week, but the primary reasons I believe are to get an emotional fix for the week ahead and get an emotional release from past, present and perceived future challenges and problems. They want to feel better about themselves and their life’s situations. So they want their souls to be stirred and their fears allayed. Mind you, there is no obvious stated desire to learn the ways of their Creator. It’s all about having their emotions tickled and manipulated and I would submit that many of these folks are addicted to having their emotions tickled and manipulated. Thus, the point of attending church each week is all about them as individual members of their Faith Community and God is relegated to a secondary and even a tertiary place in the reasoning matrix of their minds and souls.
The other primary reason why these individuals attend church each week is because the local culture requires it. Many individuals attend churches down here each week because that is what you do every first-day of the week—you go to church—it’s the proper thing to do. Again, God is found nowhere in their decision-making matrix for attending.
Now, I came across a few lists of emotions on the internet and most of the listed emotions are pretty obvious. There seems to be three-general lists that are regarded in the realm of psychology: “Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions;” “Aristotle’s Rhetoric;” and Darwin’s, “The Expressions of the Emotions in Man and Animals.” Many of the individual emotions found on these three-lists are repeated on these respective lists. I will not burden you by mentioning and exploring all of the emotions from these three-lists, but I would like to explore just two of these emotions that denominational churchianity seems to target most. Unfortunately the fallout from the exploitation of these emotions sadly impedes the True Gospel message from reaching the ears of the members of the Church Community.
Part-3–Joy—The Fun Emotion—Right
The first emotion that I’ve seen exploited is “joy.” Certain church traditions and practices target the members’ desire to feel better about their present life situation. Thus the preaching and singing is fashioned to incite joy in the members.
I came across 155-verses in the KJV (i.e., King James Version) where joy is mentioned.
Joy denotes “gladness,” “exaltation,” and “rejoicing.” And if you’ve never had the experience of attending charismatic Christian denomination services, you’ve missed something that is distinctively American and generally of African American origin. Joy, exaltation and rejoicing is part-and-parcel of charismatic church services. There is customarily a feeling of exuberance and happiness that spreads throughout the congregation like a wildfire as a result of the heart-pounding, soul-stirring music and forceful preaching that is expertly dispensed by some very talented and motivated individuals.
Clearly, joy is a welcomed and revered emotion in this setting. The healthy-minded individual would prefer to be joyful than sad, grief-stricken or in despair. Thus the leaders of denominational churchianity realize this and they seize upon every opportunity during such church gatherings to elicit joy from their members for various and sundry reasons to include dropping a few more dollars into the offering plates. The methods employed by the singers and preachers to bring about joy among members of their congregations are generally centered around well-crafted promises to members that everything in their members’ lives is going to be alright—one way or another—and that there is coming a day when they will live out eternity in the happiest place in existence—heaven. The problem with this situation is that 9-times out of 10, the story lines that are being put forth to these members as a means to elicit joy, are not based on biblical Truths and or sound reason. Promises that members are going to heaven and that things are going to be alright in the morning, regardless how bad those things might be at the moment; regardless the lawlessness that reigns in the members’ lives; regardless the lack of obedience to Yahovah’s instructions defy commonsense and established biblical principles.
I guess it is preferable to hear about happy and fun things than to hear of stark truths that require us to conform to Father’s instructions and not our own. The joy that comes from true service to Father lasts throughout one’s earthly life—as opposed to joy that is based upon lies and misinterpretations.
Although joy is not mentioned in Torah, joy is mentioned throughout the remainder of the Tanakh (i.e., the Old Testament) and the writers firmly suggests that true joy is had by the people of Yahuah who focus their attention upon Father. In other words, joy that is centered on the individual and what that individual is going to get from God is not of Abba, but biblically-based joy is focused on Yahuah our Elohim exclusively and it is that exclusive focus on the Creator of the Universe that pays dividends to the worshiper whereby they receive a happiness and joy that the world can not fully and truly comprehend.
For us Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah, obedience to Abba’s way of life as stipulated in His perfect Torah, brings about a joy that is indescribable—certainly contrary to the understanding of the secular world and denominational churchianity. These entities see any adherence to Torah as bondage and legalistic drudgery. But the truth of the matter is that observance and obedience to Torah—Torah observance from the heart that is done by the Believer in Yeshua because he or she truly loves the Father and wants to please Him at every opportunity—brings about true everlasting joy. Reliance upon the protection, provision and spiritual guidance of Yahuah our Elohim brings about joy. Knowing that we are Abbah’s chosen and that we have a special purpose in His plan for mankind brings about joy. Our joy is not born on lies and scriptural misinterpretations.
Just a simple perusal of the 155 or so verses where joy is found in the Holy Writ strongly suggests that joy—true joy—comes from Yahweh, our Elohim. True joy does not come from man nor does it come from convenient man-centered circumstances such as stirring Church services. That joy is fleeting at best and is easily diminished and even destroyed once reality kicks in.
As it relates to our responsibility in this joy thing, it certainly does not fall upon a reliance of man to bring us joy. Instead, the Prophet Habakkuk, suggests that we rejoice and find joy in the God of our salivation (Habakkuk 3:18). Furthermore, one’s joy should not be contingent upon the preaching and singing of the Church, but instead, it must flow from Yahuah our Elohim to us and from us outward to Yahuah. Shaul (i.e., Paul) wrote that we should rejoice in Yahovah always (reference Philippians 4:4), regardless what is going on in our lives at any given time. This is certainly not an easy thing to do and it stands to reason why so many Christians default and turn to the Church to find joy. We humans love to take paths of least resistance don’t we?
I am working each day to be joyful in the things of Yahuah and my Master. It is that joy that we have within us through our obedience and relationship with the Most High that wins the spiritual battles that each of us must fight in each day.
Part-4–Fear—The Darkest Emotion
The fact that joy and other emotions are not given much parchment space in Torah tells me that being a Spirit Filled Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah is not—should not—be influenced by his or her emotions. Emotions when they are activated have a tendency to turn one’s focus to self and away from the Almighty and that just doesn’t end well for anybody now does it? No it does not.
That’s not to say that we, then, exist as lifeless, one-dimensional creatures that portray our beloved Faith as appealing as a root-canal to the outside world. The joy that we naturally receive from honoring and pleasing Abba will sufficiently fuel the essential Gospel message to an evil, dying world, to turn from lawlessness to Yahovah’s way of life and to lean not to the Church’s understanding.
The second emotion that comes readily to mind when we speak of the Church along with her traditions and practices and the influence that they have over the emotions of her members and the community is fear.
I would venture to guess that fear has probably been the most exploited of emotions in all of Church history. The one thing that generally incites fear in members of the Church is the tradition and doctrine of heaven and hell—that is, if you are saved, you go to heaven; if you are not saved, you burn for an eternity in hell. No one wants to spend an eternity burning in the fires of hell, especially if you’ve been taught since birth these traditions and doctrines. Using such erroneous teachings by leaders of the Church that are devoid of any Biblical support, is tantamount to witchcraft. It is essentially a ploy to control the members of the Church Community and Master taught against that.
Fear of eternal damnation then becomes a powerful motivator for the members of the community to “straighten up and fly right;” and it doesn’t hurt the Church’s bottom line either as people will give a little more to the organization to ensure that their fears of going straight to hell are allayed. It then becomes a practice of buying one’s salvation from the Church.
Back in the day, the Universal Church (i.e., the Catholic Church) used fear of being excommunicated from the Church or denying certain individuals communion to keep the people in check.
There are some 395-verses in the KJV where the term fear is mentioned in one form or another. In some instances, fear is used to denote a concern that something or someone is a threat to one’s wellbeing. In other instances, fear is used to denote more of a reverence and high regard for our God or some individual of influence and power.
The common theme that plays out throughout most of the Bible is one of not exercising fear of men or things from the perspective that one has concern for his or her wellbeing. Scripture teaches that our God will protect, provide and rescue us from any potential problems we may encounter in life. This of course requires that the individual in question is obedient to Yahuah our Elohim and that he or she is completely reliant and subservient to Him and Him alone.
The second part of the biblical concept of fear has to do with reverence and high regard for our God and it is Him that we are to honor and fear in like manner.
Yet the Church Triumphant, instead of training and teaching her parishioners how to fear God through Torah observance, chooses to teach her people to fear what will happen to them if they don’t say a sinner’s pray; join the rolls of the Church; give offerings and tithes; and attend Church every Sunday. Father has stipulated in the tenets of His perfect Torah how He wishes to be treated as our Sovereign. Man has chosen to step in and usurp the authority of Scripture and tell man what and how they are to fear both man and our God.
In the 25th chapter of Leviticus, Father instructs us to treat one another fairly, according to the provisions set forth in His Torah, such that no individual should ever fear harm from another. The only Being to be feared, more so from a reverence standpoint, but also from the standpoint of being concerned that we might cross Him by violating His Torah is Yah. There are instances strewn throughout Torah where Abba instructed us not to fear the enemy but instead rely upon His strong arm to protect and deliver (cf. Deuteronomy 1:21 and others). We see an example in Torah where the nations once feared us because of our God (Numbers and Deuteronomy). Further along in the Book of Revelation we see that two mighty men of Yahuah will bring the fear of God back to the nations of this earth (Revelations 11:11).
Bottom line: fear has a proper place in the lives of God’s people and it is not up to man to exploit this essential emotion for purposes of furthering the ambitions of the Church. If anyone should be fearful it is those who profess to know the Creator of the Universe and who have vowed to teach and preach the Truth, but who, instead, have chosen to replace Yahovah’s authority over their members’ lives with that of the Church and to seek personal gain in the form of influence and power over the people. These individuals have a very dark and miserable future ahead of them if they do not teshuvah–that is turn to Yah’s way of life for mankind.
I pray for those confused and encumbered souls in Churchianity who have succumbed to fear and given their lives over to the influences of denominationalism. These are victims of hasatan and slaves to religion who don’t know any better. It is up to us to somehow get out into the rippened fields and work and tell the Truth to these enslaved souls.
I have decided to answer the call and challenge denominationalism as Yahuah my Elohim leads and directs. It is one thing for me to stay within the relatively safe confines of Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah fellowship, but is that truly fulfilling the great commission of Master Yahoshua as recorded in Matthew 28:19. This is exactly what Master did when He walked the dusty highways and byways of Judea and surrounding provinces—he taught and preached the True Gospel message with power and authority to imprisoned souls. He didn’t keep that message exclusively within the confines of His inner circle, nor did His handpicked disciples who became the great Apostles of Yeshua Messiah. They went out into a hostile Jewish environment and delivered the Gospel.
So many of us fear going out into the highways and byways of the world and enacting the Great Commission as instructed. Instead, many of us stay only within the safe confines of our fellowships or to ourselves. That’s not what we’ve been commissioned to do and I personally am fearful that I stand to miss that precious opportunity to do what Master has instructed me—us–to do. Time is quickly passing us by and eventually each of us is going to have to give an account for that which Master has appointed us to. I reflect upon the parable of the talents as recorded in Matthew 25. We have each been given a set of unique gifts and opportunities that more times than naught have been left unused and not worked. That’s not something that we can afford to squander. Master is counting on us to do that which we agreed to do when we signed up for this journey.
Part-5–The Rule of Emotions in the Hebrew Roots Community
Far too many of us erroneously believe that simply filling our heads with the latest and greatest Torah tidbits—minutia—the net result of going deep; of digging; of splitting scriptural atoms—far too many of us believe that we are effectively doing the will of Master Yahoshua. Some of us who fall into this realm ultimately come to a place in our walk where we abandon the teachings and example of Master and dive headlong into Judaistic, religiosity; and we engage in pointless babble and debate that does not serve the Kingdom of Yahuah at all. What does the accumulation of too much knowledge do? It puffs up (reference I Corinthians 8:1). The Apostle Paul (i.e., Shaul) suggested that instead of valuing head knowledge as it relates to Torah, it is better to exercise charity.
Emotions not only harm our cousins in churchianity, they also create havoc in the Hebrew Roots Community. Our community has some of the most angry, bitter, sad, disgusted, envious, shameful, grief-stricken and hateful people you could ever find in any religious circle outside of radical Islam. It is truly a sad situation to behold.
Simply consider FaceBook where we have so many Hebrew Roots-based communities in existence, and the members of these various communities are constantly at war with one another. We tend to wear our Faith on our sleeves in such communities and it doesn’t take much to fire some of us up over some of the most innocuous issues and topics. Just a few months ago, I had one brother who I had been FaceBook friends with for well over a year, swapping varying and frequent posts on various issues and topics related to our Faith, who out of the blue berated me for using the title “God” in one of my posts. I mean he lit into me and ceremoniously unbefriended me in FaceBook public—so to speak. I had another so-called brother in the Faith call me a heretic and heathen in FaceBook public because I did not agree with his posted Lunar Sabbath ideas. And still, there are countless others in our Faith who have been beaten down by other members of our beloved Faith for the goofiest of things.
As supposed Spirit Filled Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah, we should not in the least be influenced by our emotions. If anything and if one considers love to be an emotion (which Aristotle considered it to be), then that is the one emotion that we should constantly be displaying towards one another. We can never love Father and one another enough.
Our Faith Community cannot stand the coming storm of the end times if we are slaves to our emotions. It’s quite clear to me: if we fear; if we are always angry; if we are constantly sad and disgusted; if we are envious of others those who have this and that and we don’t; if we have low self-esteem, then we are essentially setting ourselves up for spiritual and even physical failure.
You see, the carnal world doesn’t have time to deal with all our insecurities and lack of integrity. The world is secure in their way of life and if we are trying to show the world that what we have is better than what they currently have, yet we are living contrary to the acclamation that Abba’s way is the one true path to the life abundant, then we will be made to appear as fools in the eyes of the nations.
Part-6–Closing Thoughts and Reflections
I don’t know about you, but I do not want to fail Master. I don’t want to finish this life that Abba has given me and not accomplish something of eternal significance. There are many things that can stymie the accomplishment of Yah’s will for our lives. I hope I have competently shown in this post, the negative influence that emotions have over our lives and how they have the potential to impede Abba’s will in our lives.
One of the things that every Believer is wanting to hear when they stand before the King is “well done thy good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things; enter into the joy of the Master (reference: Matthew 25:21-23).” If we allow emotions to rule over our lives, there is a good chance that many of us will not hear these words from the Master, but instead hear “depart from me you worker of lawlessness (reference Luke 13:27).” Now that is something to genuinely fear.
I personally have a problem controlling some of my emotions. I am not afraid to admit this. I don’t want you to think that I am an emotional basket case because that is certainly not me. But I must confess that I have need of the Spirit (i.e., the Ruach) to mold me into image of Master Yahoshua such that I am able to control my emotions better and that they do not interfere in my day-to-day walk with Master. I don’t wish to lack in anything in this Faith. I am in this for the long haul and in this to win it. I seek to see this thing to its perfect end so that I can hear my Savior say to me well done good and faithful servent.
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Shabbat Shalom beloved of Yeshua Messiah This week's Torah Reading is the 120th portion of the 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. Num 28.1-29.40 contains this week's Torah Reading. I’ve entitled this teaching: Worshiping God Throughout the Year — Thoughts and...
The Generational Inheritance Covenant Realized — Thoughts & Reflections on Torah Reading 119
Shabbat Shalom beloved of Yeshua Messiah. This week's Torah Reading is the 119th portion of the 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. Num 26:52-27:23 contains this week's Torah Reading. In last week's reading, Abba instructed Moshe to conduct a census of...
Learning to Fear God and Receive His Peace — Israel’s Inextricable Link to Our Salvation Part 4
After Paul’s conversion to the Way Faith, the Nazarene assemblies that were strewn throughout the Judean region, including the Galilee and Samaria, enjoyed a season of relative peace and unity. (Act 9:31) Those coming into the Way Movement, a movement that many...
The Call For God’s People to be Jealous with His Jealousy — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 118
And greetings elect of the Most High. Welcome back to the Messianic Torah Observer. I’m Rod Thomas, coming to you on Preparation Day, the 21st day of the 11th month of Yah’s biblical calendar year. That translates into 2/2/2024 on the pagan Roman Calendar....
Our God’s Blessings and Promises are Irrevocable — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 117
Greetings! Shabbat Shalom saints of the Most High. It is the 15th day of the 11th biblical calendar month and the 27th day of the 1st month of the Roman calendar year of 2024. I pray, trust, and hope that this week’s Thoughts and Reflections find you, your families,...
There’s a Little Balaam in All of Us–Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 116
Shabbat Shalom saints of the Most High. It is the 8th day of the 11th biblical calendar month and the 20th day of the 1st month of the Roman calendar, 2024. I pray, trust, and hope that this week’s thoughts and reflections find you, your families, and your fellowships...
Nobody Told Me That the Road Would Be Easy, but He Didn’t Bring Me This Far To Leave Me–Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 115
Greetings Saint of the Most High. Coming at you on this cold Sabbath morning in the DFW, on the first day of the 11th biblical calendar month, trusting and hoping that these Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 115 find you, your family, and your fellowship is...
The Torah of the Red Heifer—A Foreshadow of Yeshua HaMashiyach–Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 114
Shabbat Shalom, saints of the Most High. Coming to you on a cool and cloudy Sabbath in the DFW. I pray you, your families, and your fellowships are well and blessed. Our Parashah this week is found in Numbers 19:1-20:13. Although it covers Miriam's death and Moshe...
The Inherited Lie of Replacement Theology-Part 3 of Israel’s Inextricable Link to our Salvation Series
Greetings This is “Exposing the Lie that is Replacement Theology-Part 3 of Israel’s Inextricable Link to our Salvation.” Recap and Purpose of Post In part one we interpreted Master Yehoshua's statement to the woman at Jacob's well that salvation is of...
Aaron’s Budding Staff and the Responsibilities of the Levites-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 113
These are my Thoughts and Reflections on this week’s reading which is the 113th reading of the 3-year Torah Portion Cycle. It is found in Numbers/Bemidbar 17:1-18:32 (17:16-18:32). Our reading picks up immediately where the Korah incident left off. Remember from our...
Rebellion-Deal Breaker to Making it into the Kingdom-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 112
Shabbat Shalom Saints of the Most High God. These are my thoughts and reflections on this Sabbath's Torah Reading. It is the 112th reading of the 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. (See torahresource.com) Key Elements of this Week's Reading: Korah-Levite of the Kohath clan....
Asarah B’Tevet 10
Jews around the world honor Tevet 10 as a day of fasting, mourning, and repentance, specifically commemorating the siege of Jerusalem and the subsequent destruction of Solomon's Temple. It is an abbreviated, complete fast day (i.e. the observant Jew refrains from...
But Paul Said There is Neither Jew Nor Greek–Part 2 of Israel’s Inextricable Link to our Salvation Series
This is “But Paul Said There is Neither Jew nor Greek—Israel’s Inextricable Link to our Salvation Part 2 In part 1 of this series, I gave what I hope was a clear explanation of why I was led to explore Israel’s unshakable link to our salvation, which in great part was...
Israel’s Inextricable Link with our Salvation Part 1
This is "Israel's Inextricable Link to our Salvation Part 1." Back on 10/13/2023, I posted a teaching and discussion entitled Ministry Update and My Thoughts and Reflections on Hamas' Invasion of Israel. In the Hamas' Invasion of Israel portion of the post I expressed...
Are God’s People Required to Wear Tzitzit Today and is the Wearing of Them a Salvific Issue?
This is “Are God’s People Required to Wear Tzitzits Today and Is the Wearing of Tzitzits a Salvific Issue?” And just to cut to the chase, beloved, the answer to both questions is yes. I’ll explain why in just a few. Why Discuss Tzitzit Wearing? The reason I was led to...
Invitation to Messianic Discipleship-From the Sinner’s Prayer to True Messianic Discipleship
Welcome to The Messianic Torah Observer. Maybe you’ve been here before and have more questions about our ministry or the Messianic, Hebrew Roots, or Nazarene Israelite faith. And if that’s the case, I’m happy you’re here and I’m happy to answer questions you may have...
The Deep Abiding Mysteries of the Aaronic Blessing-My Thoughts and Reflections of Torah Reading 104
Greetings and Salutations Greetings, Saints of the Most High. This Rod coming to you from the DFW, thanking you for taking the time from your busy schedules to fellowship with me on this glorious Shabbat. As always, I hope, trust, and pray that this installment...
TMTO Ministry Update and My Thoughts and Reflections on Hamas’ Invasion of Israel
There are two things I wish to cover in this installment of TMTO. The first will be an update on this ministry: What's happening and what's ahead. Secondly, I want to share my thoughts and reflections on the terrible, tragic, horrific, heinous events that transpired...
Ten Things God Expects us to do for Sukkot-The Feast of Tabernacles 2023
In today's installment, I will be putting out to you what I have elected to call ten things Yehovah says in His Word that every Netsari, disciple of Yeshua Messiah, must do for Sukkot/Tabernacles. Now, some of you will be acutely aware of many of these things...
The Variegated Shadows of Yom Kippur 2023—Or When Payback is a Bear for the Enemies of God and His Set Apart People
Yom Kippur, the Holiest Day of Yah's Calendar Year Yom haKippurim is considered by many in our Faith and orthodox Judaism as the holiest day of Yah's biblical calendar year. On this holiest of days, Yah mandated His chosen ones to "afflict their...
Thoughts and Reflections on Yom Teruah-The Feast of Tabernacles 2023
This is a special TMTO post that I pray will encourage, and maybe inform you, as it relates to the imminent advent of Yom Teruah, or the Day of the Blowing of Trumpets. As you may, or may not know, we are on the very cusp of receiving this Moedim, this...
Upholding the Utter Holiness of God-My Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 100
Greetings and Shabbat Shalom. It is my hope, trust, and prayer that this posting finds you, your families, and your fellowships well and blessed on this warm but blessed Sabbath in the DFW. A Short Passage with a Big Message This 100th parashah of our three-year...
God’s Priestly Armies Then and Now: Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Portion 99
Greetings on this warm Shabbat in Maryland. May this post find you, your families, and your fellowships well and bless. These are my thoughts and reflections on the 99th reading of the 3-year Torah Reading cycle. I've entitled this post "God's Priestly Army Then and...
The Power From Within-Thoughts and Reflections on Parashah 98
Greetings to you on yet another exceptionally warm Sabbath in the DFW. May this day of rest find you, your families, and your fellowships well and blessed. These are my thoughts and reflections on the 98th Torah or Parashah Reading of our 3-year reading cycle. It is...
God Brings His Children Unto Himself: My Thoughts and Reflections of Torah Reading 97
Greetings on this warm summer Shabbat in the DFW. These are my thoughts and reflections on the 97th reading of our three-year Torah Reading Cycle. It is contained within Numbers 1:1-2:13; the Haftarah in Ezekiel 47:13-23; and the Apostolic in Luke 15:1-7....
The Realities of the Messianic’s Liberty in Messiah–Thoughts and Reflections of Torah Reading 95
These are my thoughts and reflections on the 95th parashah of the 3-year Torah Reading cycle. It is contained in Leviticus/Vayiqra 25:39-26:2. I’ve entitled this discussion: The Realities of the Messianic's Liberty in Messiah--Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading...
TMTO Ministry Update
Greetings I'm back! Well, not quite. But almost. History of Ministry QFC (2012) Blog (2012) Podcast (2014-11/2022) YouTube (2018-11/2022) QFC Affiliates with Feastkeepers (New York) and First Century COG (Baltimore) (2019-2021) Why we ended the podcast...
Shabbat Chazon–Our Hope for Salvation and Redemption–Thoughts and Reflections on Isaiah 1:1-27
Shabbat Shalom Saints of the Most High on this balmy, but sublime Sabbath in the DFW. I'm Rod Thomas. Hoping, trusting, and praying that this teaching finds you well and blessed. As this teaching is being recorded and posted, 7/22/23, the 4th day of our 5th biblical...
God’s Requirements for Holiness in Worship–Thoughts and Reflections of Torah Reading 92
Greetings, Saints of the Most High, on this sizzling but beautiful Sabbath in the DFW. These are my thoughts and reflections on this week's Torah Reading, which happens to be the 92nd reading of our 3-year Torah Reading cycle. Given its contents, I've entitled...
Becoming and Existing as Priests of God-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 91
Greetings beloved of Yehovah on this steamy, but beautiful Sabbath here in the DFW. This week's Torah Reading is the 91st Reading of the 3-year reading cycle. It is contained in the 21st Chapter of the Book of Leviticus and entails the exclusive and exceeding...
Remaining Set-Apart in the Midst of this Evil and Adulterous Generation-Rebooting my Thoughts and Reflections of Torah Reading 90
Shabbat Shalom Greetings beloved, on this glorious set-apart day from the DFW. My sincerest hope, trust, and prayer is that this reboot of Torah Reading 90 will be a tremendous blessing to you in these troublesome times were living. This Week's Reading as a Reboot...
Conforming to God’s Ways in the Midst of Present Day Wokeness: Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 89
Greetings from the DFW on this warm but glorious Shabbat. We commenced the 4th month of Yah's sacred calendar year earlier this week, and we're trusting in His keeping mercies as we progress throughout the month. These are my thoughts and reflections on the 89th...
Oh the Blood of Yeshua-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 88
Greetings, Beloved of the Most High, on this warm but glorious Sabbath in the DFW. I pray that you, your families, and your fellowships are well and blessed. This is the 88th parashah or reading of the 3-year reading cycle. It is contained in Leviticus/Vayiqra...
Only One Way to God-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 87
This week's reading comes under the General Torah Reading Title of "Acharey Mos," which covers chapters 16 through 28 in the Cepher of Leviticus/Vayiqra. Shabbat Shalom on this warm but otherwise beautiful Sabbath in the DFW. Our reading here today is contained within...
Dwelling in the Presence of God Through Physical and Spiritual Cleanness-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 86
Shabbat Shalom from the DFW on this, what promises to be a warm but beautiful Sabbath. What follows are my thoughts and reflections on this week's Torah Reading, which is the 86th reading of the 3-year Torah Reading cycle. Our portion is found in...
The Leprosy-Sin Connection-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 84
Shabbat Shalom. I pray that this post finds you and your families and fellowships well and blessed on this holy weekend. This is the Leprosy-Sin Connection. It is my thoughts and reflections on the 84th Torah Reading of our 3-year Torah Reading Cycle....
Torah Reading 81–The Ordination of Aaron and Sons–First Steps to Humanity’s Reconciliation
Shalom! I pray that you had a meaningful and blessed Sabbath. What follows are my thoughts and reflections on Torah Reading 81 of our 3-year Torah Reading Cycle on this mild, but peaceful Sabbath in North Texas. Parashah 81 Leviticus 8:1-36--The Ordination of Aharon...
Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 80
Shalom! We pray that you had a restful and meaningful Sabbath this past week. This past Sabbath’s Torah Portion was the 81st parshah of the 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. (If you are so led to participate in reading and studying the weekly Torah Readings, we have put the...
Biblical Rosh Hashanah 2023 and a TMTO Ministry Update
Greetings Saints! May this post find you, your families, and your fellowships well and blessed during these challenging times. I wanted to update you as to what's going on with The Messianic Torah Observer of late, as well as I wanted to encourage you as we enter the...
Shabbat HaChodesh-The Realities of The Sabbath Before the Biblical New Year in 2023
Welcome to Shabbat HaChodesh—The Sabbath Before the Biblical New Year of 2023 Jewish custom holds that the Shabbat that falls on or before the 1st of Aviv is Shabbat HaChodesh--or the Sabbath of the New Moon. Like its two preceding Sabbaths of Shabbat Zachor and...
Shabbat Parah-A Foreshadow of our Perpetual Cleanness Through Yeshua Messiah
Shabbat Shalom, and welcome to Shabbat Parah. Like Shabbat Zachor last week, Shabbat Parah is neither a feast day nor a Jewish holiday. But instead, it may be viewed as somewhat of a themed Sabbath, if you will. And the theme of this Sabbath is brought forth through...
The Silver and Gold of our Service to God-Post Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 73
Shalom and Greetings, Beloved of Yehovah. I trust that you had a mighty and restful Sabbath. The Gist of Torah Reading 73 Yesterday’s Sabbath Reading discussion focused on Shabbat Zachor. If you’ve not had the opportunity to read that post, I would humbly invite and...
Shabbat Zachor 2023-Our Sabbath of Remembrance
Shabbat Shalom Beloved. Our Torah and Haftorah Reading in Light of Where we are on the Calendar This is a special Shabbat, for it is the Shabbat that immediately precedes the Jewish holiday of Purim. According to our observational calendar, Purim will occur at sundown...
The Ordination of the Levitical Priest-A Foreshadow of Good things to Come-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 66
Introduction Shabbat Shalom, beloved of Elohiym. I pray that you, your families, and your fellowships are well and blessed on this blessed day of rest in Yeshua Messiah. This is “The Ordination of the Levitical Priests: A Foreshadow of Good Things to Come.” It will...
The Renewed Covenant Spiritual Application of the Levitical Priestly Garments-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 65
Introducing Torah Reading 65 This week’s Torah Reading is the 65th reading in our 3-year cycle. It is contained in Exodus 27:20-28:43. I’ve chosen to entitle this synopsis of the reading: The Renewed Covenant Spiritual Application of the Levitical Priestly Garments....
The Connection Between Giving and God Dwelling with His People-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 63
Shabbat Shalom! Warm greetings to you, dear Saint. We hope, trust, and pray that this post finds you, your families, and your fellowships well and blessed on this bitterly cold Sabbath amid Hanukkah 2022. Our Torah Reading Have you ever considered the reality of a...
The Book of the Covenant-What it Means to Modern Day Believers-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 62
Our Torah Reading this Shabbat features the covenant Yah established between Him and Yisra’el at Sinai. It is the 62nd Torah Reading of our 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. Our reading is contained in Exodus/Shemot 24:1-18. This is the next iteration of Yehovah’s...
God Prohibits His People from Badmouthing Government Leaders—Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 61
Shabbat Shalom beloved. In this Thoughts and Reflections of Torah Reading 61, we will examine a number of themes and concepts that fall within the realm of loving Yah and loving one’s neighbor as one would love themselves. I’ve taken the liberty of breaking this...
Dealing with Difficult Relationships-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 60
Shabbat Shalom saints of the Most High. May you, your families, and your fellowships be well and blessed in the perilous times we’re living. Central Themes and Life Lessons of Torah Reading 60 I’ve entitled this reading study: Dealing with Difficult...
The Fox in the Hen House–The LGBTQ Infiltration of Judeo-Christianity
Shalom beloved. I pray that this installment of The Messianic Torah Observer Journal finds you, your families, and your fellowships well and blessed. They Say that Curiosity Kills the Cat True to form, Hilary and I canvassed portions of YouTube to augment our worship...
We’re Getting Married in the Morning–Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 59
Shabbat Shalom Saints of the Most High. Welcome to the second post of our The Messianic Torah Observer Journal. Today is a special day of sorts. It’s not only the Sabbath, but it is also the start of the 9th Biblical Month. Rosh Chodesh. There are no mandated Feasts...
Learning to Lean on Yeshua Messiah–Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 58
Shabbat shalom beloved. We pray that you, your families, and your fellowships are well and blessed during these perilous times. Despite these being perilous times, beloved, we who are the redeemed of Yah through Yeshua Messiah, can find refuge and shalom in our...
We were Baptized into Moses in the Red Sea
Our Baptism in the Red Sea Was Illustrative of our Transformation into the People of God So, in our departure from Mitsrayim/Egypt, which was representative of a would-be child of Yah coming into a covenant relationship with Yah through the Person and Ministry of...
Walking in God’s Divine Guidance and Protection
Introduction This week’s Torah Portion/Parshah/Reading is the 56th Reading in our 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. And it is contained in the Cepher of Exodus/Shemot 13:21-15:18. It is a continuation of last week’s reading which I entitled “The Key to Knowing...
The Key to Knowing God: Remembering and Obeying
In the past two readings, which we did not cover because we were on hiatus for the Fall Feasts, Yisrael experienced or witnessed the inauguration of Pesach in the midst of the final tenth plague that resulted in the death of every Egyptian/Mitsri firstborn and the...
The Thirst-Quenching Waters of Sukkot-The Feast of Tabernacles 2022
Sukkot-The Feast of Tabernacles is the Season of our Joy True joy is an offshoot of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or the Ruach HaQodesh in each of us. Our joy, especially as expressed through Yah's Feasts, is incomplete without the Ruach HaQodesh's influence....
Getting to the Heart of Yom Kippur–Day of Atonement 2022
Yom Kippur Just a Day of Fasting? What did Yah truly mean by His people afflicting their souls on Yom Kippur? Was He commanded us to engage in just a fast? Turns out that Abba requires more from us on Yom HaKippurim than just a full day of not eating and drinking....
The Realities of Yom Teruah 2022
Introduction to our Discussion Welcome to the Day of the Blowing of Trumpets, or better, the Blowing of Shofars 2022. And with that, we pray that you are earnestly preparing and eagerly awaiting the arrival of Yom Teruah 2022. The title of our...
An Overview of the Fall Feasts of the LORD 2022-Part 1 of the Fall Feasts of the LORD 2022 Series
Resurrection Truth versus Rapture Error-Part 3 of the Death, the Grave, and the Resurrection Series
Introduction This is “Resurrection Truth versus Rapture Error.” This will be the 3rd installment to our Death, the Grave, and Resurrection series which spun off from our Torah Reading 45 which was entitled “And he (Ya’achov) was Gathered Unto His People. ...
Even the Small Things Matter to God-A Messianic Study of Exodus 4:22-26-STAR-48
Introduction This is “Even the Small Things Matter to God.” This is the 48th Reading of our 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. It is contained in Exodus/Shemot 4:14-6:1. But we will be focusing just on verses 22 to 26. Looking Back to STAR-47, entitled “God’s Holy...
Rosh Chodesh 6th Month 2022-The Start of the 6th Biblical Month
Chag Sameach Rosh Chodesh beloved. Happy and blessed 6th Month to you all. As I am posting this brief discussion here on The Messianic Torah Observer, the renewed moon will have been sighted by at least two-trained observers in Yisra’el. Thus, wherever we live ...
God’s Holy Character–A Messianic Study of Exodus 3:1-4:13
Introduction This is God’s Holy Character-A Messianic Study of Exodus 3:1-4:13. It is the 47th Torah Portion of our 3-year Torah-reading cycle. Now, despite there being a great many historical and spiritual nuggets that the practical, truth-seeking...
Israel-The Birth of a Nation Through Tribulation-STAR-46
This is Israel: The Birth of a Nation Through Tribulation. It is a study of the 46th Parshah of our 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. This week's reading is found in Exodus/Shemot 1:1-2:25. Introduction to the Reading The historical record transitions from that of a focus...
Death-the Grave-the Resurrection-Part 2
Introduction This is part 2 of our discussion on death, the grave, and the resurrection. And we will be picking up where we left off in part 1, which if you haven’t had the opportunity to either read or listen to that post on any of the platforms in which...
He Was Gathered unto His People-Death-The Grave-The Resurrection–Part-1–STAR-45
Introduction This is “He Was Gathered unto His People—Death-The Grave-The Resurrection—Part 1” This will be a discussion on the 45th Torah Reading of our 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. Our focus text is Genesis/Beresheit 49:27-50:26. This passage concludes...
The 9th of Av–You Are Called by Name–STAR-44
Tisha B'Av--The 9th of Av--"The Saddest Day of the Jewish Calendar Year." According to Hillel’s Calendar, which I frequently refer to as the Jewish Calculated Calendar, as I am recording and posting this installment of TMTO Sabbath Thoughts and...
“Let No Man Judge You” in Your Keeping of Torah–A Messianic Examination of Colossians 2:16-17
This is "Let No Man Judge You" in Your Keeping of Torah--A Messianic Examination of Colossians 2:16-17. This is sort of a continuation, if you will, to our very last installment which was entitled “Did the Apostle Paul Permit the Eating of all Meats? A...
Did the Apostle Paul Permit the Eating of All Meats? A Messianic Examination of 1 Timothy 4:1-5
Setting the Table for our Discussion Here Today This is “Did the Apostle Paul Sanction/Permit the Eating of all Meats? A Messianic Examination of 1 Timothy 4:1-5.” Our discussion here today will serve as another installment to our massive Paul and Hebrew...
Does Torah Cause Someone to Sin More? A Messianic Examination of Romans 5:20
Goal: This is “Does Torah Cause Someone to Sin More? A Messianic Examination of Romans 5:20.” And so, our survey of the hard-to-understand—those challenging Pauline passages—takes us in today’s installment of TMTO, to Romans 5:20. And the KJV...
Experiencing the Wisdom of God Persists Even in the Midst of Despair–STAR-37
This week's portion is the 37th-Reading of the 3-year Torah Reading Cycle (STAR-37). And it is a familiar passage. For it is the story of Yosef interpreting the dreams of the cupbearer and baker in the Egyptian prison. If we recall STAR-36, Yosef was cast into prison...
Amazing Things Happen When God is with Us–Torah Reading 36–The Story of Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife
Our Torah Reading for this Shabbat of 6/11/2022 is found in Genesis 39:1-23. It is The Story of Yosef and Potiphar's Wife. We find in this reading, themes of righteousness; trust; loyalty; prosperity; sexual immorality; favor-favor with man and favor with God; and...
Finding Peace with God-Eternal Life and a Blessed Assurance
This is “Finding Peace with God—Eternal Life and a Blessed Assurance.” This is a continuation of our Paul and Hebrew Roots mega-series where we’ve been discussing some of the more challenging—hard to understand Pauline writings. And we’ve been spending most of our...
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