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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How to Correctly Keep Yom Kippur Believers Want to Know How to Keep Yom Kippur Correctly We have brethren in our Faith Community who are seeking Truth and want to understand when and what Yom Kippur is and how to properly observe and celebrate the day. As mature Torah...
Day of Trumpets—Yom Teruah—Rosh Hashanah—Subject to God or to the Rabbis?–STAR-95
The Calender: Friday 9-22-2017—Yom Teruah—Day of Trumpets Sunday 10-1-2017—Day of Atonement—Yom Kippur Friday 10-6-2017 through Friday 10-13-2017—Feast of Tabernacles—Sukkot Commentary: The World is Falling Apart and Coming to an End Although the Day of Trumpets is...
Overcoming the Cares of Life–STAR-94
The Cares of Life—For Some a Daily Challenge; For Others A Frequent Distraction From a general, let’s say, secular standpoint, the cares of life (or cares of this world as interpreted by some Bible translations) are the many elements of everyday...
The Bible-The Answer to Every Concern or the Ultimate Instruction Manual-STAR-92
Thoughts and Reflections Part 1: The Great Book Known as the Bible The Bible--The Holy Writ--The Word--The Word of God--The Sword--The 66-Special--The Book--The Good Book: these and many more are the descriptors and titles of arguably the most famous and well known...
Witnessing to Non-Believers-Is Keeping Torah Even Possible–Is Tithing a Burden–Does Prayer Purify Forbidden Foods–STAR-91
Thoughts and Reflections Part 1: Closing Thoughts on the Issue of Controlling Our Emotions I just want to put forth some closing thoughts on emotions and the problems that emotions can cause us in walking and living out this walk. Episodes 87 through 90, I reflected...
Controlling Our Emotions for the Work of the Gospel–STAR-90
Shabbat Shalom fellow saints in training. Greetings and blessings to you on this day that Yahuah our Elohim has made—one that we were admonished by the psalmist to be glad and rejoice in it. This is especially so given that the Sabbath is a most sacred day to us Torah...
When Tradition Overrides Truth and Reason–Sabbath Thoughts & Reflection-88
KJV Mark 7:1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.1 3 For the Pharisees, and all the...
Making a Case to be Holy–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections–87
A Case for Holiness As I was conducting my Torah studies week-before-last, I came to Exodus, chapter 19. This of course, is a well-known passage of Torah to our community, for it is the place that marks that point in our history that we officially received our...
Why Aren’t We Wearing Tzitzits or Fringes?
38 "Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves atassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. 39 "It shall be a tassel for you 1to look at...
Post Passover–Feast of Unleavened Bread Thoughts and Reflections–STAR-85
This is Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections—Episode 85—My Post-Passover-Feast of Unleavened Bread Thoughts and Reflections Greetings fellow Saints in Training. I am trusting that this episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections finds you, your families and...
Interpreting the Bible Literally and Eating Unleavened Bread for 7-Days?
Feast of Unleavened Bread--Thus Saith the LORD! As is my typical custom during this time of the Biblical Calendar year, i read and re-read Torah's account and instructions regarding the Passover. What I especially enjoy doing, though, is reading entire passages of...
One of the Greatest Passover Mysteries of the Ages Revealed-STAR-84
The Greatest Passover Mystery of the Ages is Found in the Knowledge and Understanding of Who Yeshua HaMashiyach Is. For some strange reason, a rather sizable chunk of Rooters seem to be more focused upon the mechanical observance of Passover than upon the revealed...
Operating Effectively as a Disciple of Master Yeshua Today–Episode-83
Before moving in to the focal point of this thoughts and reflections episode, I want to first touch upon one housekeeping item if you don’t mind. Last week on 3/29/2017, we began a new calendar year. We celebrated--or should have celebrated, Biblical Rosh...
Is Cooking on the Sabbath Prohibited by God and Torah-Pastors in a Credibility Crisis-STAR-82
Calendar: Just 1-1/2-weeks out from Rosh haShanah presuming the barley is Aviv and the renewed moon is sighted over the land of Israel concurrently. Rosh haShanah is the Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah's New Year Day! and signals the start of the Spring...
Identity Crisis in Hebrew Roots–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections–Episode-81
Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation...But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY...
Hebrew Roots Worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth
Hebrew Roots Worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth Let's reflect upon the topic of worshiping Abba in Spirit and in Truth as it relates to our Hebrew Roots Faith. This will be part 3 of my multi-episode series on operating and walking out this walk in the Spirit. If...
Spiritual Transfer of Power–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections–Episode-78
"Finally my brethren, be strong in Yahuah and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of Yah that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against...
Israel and the U.S.-Best of Friends, Right? Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections-Episode 76
Israel and the United States--Best of Friends, Right? This is Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections--Episode 76 By now, anyone who keeps up with world events will know of the most recent United Nations Security Council Resolution. But in case you've been distracted with...
Falling in Love with Christmas all Over Again-Part 2–STAR-75
KJV Jeremiah 10:1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are...
Falling in Love with Christmas all Over Again Part 1-STAR-74
Are we falling in love with Christmas all over again? This is part 1 of what i hope will be just a two part series on this issue. Christmas Posing A Crisis of Faith in the Hebrew Roots Community I believe our community is in, at a minimal, what I've chosen to call "a...
Compassion and Yeshua Messiah–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections-73
Compassion and Yeshua Messiah Part 2 of my Divinity of Yeshua Messiah Series--Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections Episode 73 In this episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections, I wish to examine the the Godly attribute of Compassion and Yeshua Messiah. This topic stems...
The Divinity of Yeshua Messiah-Part 1
The Divinity of Yeshua Messiah-Part 1 Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections-72 Visitor’s Comment on the Cepher Bible Episode A few weeks ago I received a comment from a visitor to themessianictorahobserver.org that I felt needed to be aired and discussed. The commenter was...
Sharing Hebrew Roots with Christians—The Lunar Sabbath Debacle—America Spotlighted in Deuteronomy 32
Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections Episode 70 Day of Atonement Just a day or so out from Day of Atonement (aka Yom Kippur)—a most solemn day of rest for our Faith where we fast and pray and reflect upon our lives and the past year. Prophets sight this Day of...
Are We Seekers of God or Torah Observers?
Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections-Episode-69 A Probing Question For this episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections, I have been led to share a comment left by a visitor to our website. That comment--more a question than a comment I should say--seemed to call into...
Rejected by Family and the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections-68
Rejected by Family and the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections-68 Master Yahoshua was rejected by the very people He grew up. All indications are that Master's hometown rejected His Messianic works and wisdom because they could not get past His...
A Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit Gets God’s Attention–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections-67
A Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit Gets God's Attention A Question of Numbers--Affiliation--Religion--Or Something Else “With all the billions of people in the world—believers and non-believers alike—what makes me stand out from all the others? What makes...
Hollywood and Atheism
Hollywood and Atheism Atheism is Alive and Well in Hollywood I came across an article the other day that just solidifies for me how shallow some of the more elite of us are in our western society. When it comes down to the question of "do you believe in God?" I...
How Must We Deal with a World that is in Chaos–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections–Episode 66
How Must We Deal with a World that is in Chaos? Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections—Episode 66 Vanity of Vanities for all is Vanity! Well, unless you’ve been completely off the grid—that is, in complete seclusion without access to news of any sort—you are no doubt...
Will the True God of the Old Testament Please Stand-Up–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections–65
Will the True God of the Old Testament Please Stand-Up? The so-called God of the Old Testament: This is somewhat of the focus of this episode/post. As I completed chapter 24 of Deuteronomy in my Torah studies this week, I came to realize that we serve a most loving...
The Costs of True Discipleship–A Hebrew Roots Perspective–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections–64
The Costs of True Discipleship A Hebrew Roots Perspective Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections--Episode 64 Opening Passage: 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it? 29 Lest...
What Must Our Focus Be in Hebrew Roots–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections–63
[podcast src="https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4475152/height/90/width/480/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="480"] What Must Our...
The Mixing of Seeds in our Faith–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections–Episode-62
[podcast src="https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4455245/height/90/width/480/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="480"] The Mixing of...
The Value of Life According to Yahovah–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 59
[podcast src="https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4423863/height/90/width/480/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="480"] The Value of Life...
Pope Francis and the Spirit of Anti-Messiah–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections–Episode 58
[podcast src="https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4405449/height/360/width/480/theme/standard/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/" height="360" width="480"] Pope Francis and the Spirit of...
Counting Omer and a Question of Circumcision–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections Episode 57
[podcast src="https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4384332/height/360/width/480/theme/standard/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/" height="360" width="480"] Counting Omer and a Question of Circumcision...
The World Loves Baal (aka Nimrod)–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections–Episode 56
The World Loves Baal (aka Nimrod) Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections--Episode 56 In this episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections, I reflect upon the realization that the world loves Baal (aka Nimrod). This comes to mind in light of a couple YouTube videos that I...
10-Key Teachings of Yeshua Messiah Leading Up To Passover–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 55
10-Key Teachings of Yeshua Messiah Leading Up To Passover Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections--Episode 55 The week leading up to His sacrifice on the execution stake, Yeshua Messiah delivered a number of key teachings to us, contained in the Gospel Record. I selected 10...
Purim–The Providence of God–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections Episode 54
Purim--The Providence of God Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections--Episode 54 In Purim-The Providence of God: Then Mordekai commanded to answer Hadassah: “Think not with yourself that you shall escape in the king’s house more than all the Yahudiym. For if you altogether...
Purim–Mourning in Sackcloth and Ashes–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 52
Purim--Mourning in Sackcloth and Ashes Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 52 Well, we can say that we’re still in the Purim season as we work through the latter half of this Adar Bet—the 13th Month of the Biblical Calendar year—and I would refer you to STAR...
Is the Hebrew Roots of the Christian Faith in a State of Crisis? STAR 50
Is the Hebrew Roots of the Christian Faith in a State of Crisis? Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections Episode 50 Well, I have to tell you, I was hard-pressed and set to continue with the Purim series for this posting when I got tangled up with thoughts on the...
What do you Mean the Barley is not Aviv? Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 49
GUARD the month of Aviyv, and keep the Pecach unto Yahovah your Elohim: for in the month of Aviyv, Yahovah your Elohim brought you forth out of Mitsrayim (that is Egypt) by night. (Deuteronomy 16:1) as I am publishing this episode, which I believe to be a very...
Purim-Haman, the Anti-Christ (aka Anti-Messiah) Cometh–STAR-48
Purim-Haman, the Anti-Christ (aka Anti-Messiah) Cometh Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections-48 Chapter 3 Verse 1 (cf. 5:11) Haman is advanced by Achashverosh to the rank, according to JFB, of vizier or prime confidential minister Achashverosh establishes Haman’s authority...
Thoughts and Reflections on Purim–Yahovah’s Providence Over the Will of Man and Satan–Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections 47
Thoughts and Reflections on Purim--Yahovah's Providence Over the Will of Man and Satan Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections 47 As I reflect and put together this episode, we find ourselves on the 11th Day of the 12th Biblical Month known to some as Adar. The next...
The Cepher Bible–A Violation of Torah? Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 46
The Cepher Bible--A Violation of Torah? Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections Episode 46 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the...
Praying to the Man Upstairs? Really? Torah Living Daily Challenge–Episode 35
Praying to the Man Upstairs? Really? Torah Living Daily Challenge—Episode 35 As I was driving into the office this morning, I was listening to one of Southern California’s 24-7 news radio stations as I often do to get a sense of what’s happened in the world over...
Spiritual Darkness in the Desert–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 45
Spiritual Darkness in the Desert--Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 45 Territorial Spirits in Las Vegas? Biblical Calendar The writer of Psalms got this principle and I believe it is only by the Ruach--the Spirit--of the Most High that he was led to write this...
A Postmortem Examination on David Jesse’s Defense of Christmas and the Top 7-Issues Most Affecting Hebrew Rooters in 2016–STAR 42
A Postmortem Examination on David Jesse's Defense of Christmas and the Top 7-Issues Most Affecting Hebrew Rooters in 2016 Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections Episode 42 Shalom and Welcome Calendar 27th day of the 10th Biblical Month which is the 9th of January, 2016...
Grace-God’s Sovereignty or Man’s Free Will–Part 11 of the Grace and the Law Series–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 41
Grace--God's Sovereignty or Man's Free Will Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 41--Part 11 in the Grace and the Law Series Opening Scripture-- 12 ¶ And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; ...
Falling into Idolatry and Paganism–Torah Living Daily Challenge 34
Falling into Idolatry and Paganism Torah Living Daily Challenge 34 Deut. 13:13-19 speaks to the destruction of those people and places that are considered heretical and that follow after pagan gods and practice paganism. We live in a secular society, far different...
The Real Hanukkah Story–Torah Living Daily Challenge 33
The Real Hanukkah Story Torah Living Daily Challenge 33 The true story and meaning of Hanukkah is encapsulated and recorded for posterity sake—praise Yahovah for that!—in the Maccabean Revolt or movement that occurred between the rise to power of Antiochus IV—surnamed...
Hanukkah–The Ultimate Torah Challenge–Torah Living Daily Challenge-Episode 32
Hanukkah-The Ultimate Torah Challenge Torah Living Daily Challenge Episode 32 No better time of the Torah Observant Believer in Y’shua Messiah’s calendar year better exemplifies challenge—that is the daily life of living Torah Y’shua-style that Hebrew Rooters face,...
What About Grace Then? Part 10 of Grace and the Law Series–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 39
What About Grace Then? Part 10 of the Grace and the Law Series Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 39 Calendar 22nd day of the 9th Biblical Month—Kislev Just 2-days before the start of Hanukkah—sundown December 7th, ending on Sunday the 14th According to the Calculated...
Torah and Politics–Torah Living Daily Challenge 31
When you have come unto the land which Yahovah your God gives you, and shall possess it, and shall dwell therein; and shall say: I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me; you shall in any wise set him king over you, whom Yahovah your God...
Grace or the Law, Which is it? Part 9 of the Grace and the Law Series–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 38
Grace and the Law, Which is it? Part 9 of the Grace and the Law Series--Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 38 As I am putting the finishing touches on this Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections, Thanksgiving is at the door. Despite what is typically a joyous time of year,...
Israel Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow–Torah Living Daily Challenge 29
Israel Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Torah Living Daily Challenge 29 As I came to the end of Parashah 47, I went over to the Haftorah reading that is found in Isaiah 54:11-55:5. What a heart-lifting passage of Scripture. And let me just say before I move forward with...
We are no longer under the Law? Grace and the Law Part 8–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 37
We are no longer under the Law? Grace and the Law Part 8 Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 37 Calendar 2nd-day of the 9th-Biblical Month--also known as Kislev. The renewed moon was sighted over the land of Israel by members of the New Moon Society—headed by Torah...
Where is God’s Dwelling Place-Part 2-Torah Living Daily Challenge 28
Where is God's Dwelling Place Part 2 Torah Living Daily Challenge 28 In my last Torah Living Daily Challenge, we discussed the last Torah Portion section of Parashah 47 that addressed the Feasts of the Lord and our celebrating before Yahovah at the place of Father’s...
The Feasts of the Lord and our Priorities–Where is God’s Dwelling Place Part 1–Torah Living Daily Challenge 27
[podcast src="https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/3942165/height/360/width/480/theme/standard/direction/no/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/" height="360" width="480"]The Feasts of the Lord and our Priorities Where is God's...
Opinions Matter Only So Much–Torah Living Daily Challenge 26
Opinions Matter Only So Much Torah Living Daily Challenge 26 The other day, I found myself in an awkward situation, which I surmise is not uncommon to many of us in the Hebraic Roots. And I would venture to say that, with the advent and popularity of social media,...
Living Under the Curse of Torah–Grace and the Law Part 7–STAR 36
Living Under the Curse of Torah Grace and the Law Part 7--STAR 36 Calendar 25th/26th day of the 8th Biblical Month--also known as Marheshwan Approaching the beginning of the 9th Biblical Month—if all goes as expected, this coming Friday at sundown, the 13th of...
Exorcism and the Torah Observant Believer in Y’shua Messiah–Torah Living Daily Challenge 25
Exorcism and the Torah Observant Believer in Y'shua Messiah Torah Living Daily Challenge 25 This morning I stumbled upon an article that got my attention. It was entitled, “The Great Exorcism Boom,” by Andrew Chestnut; dated 11/5/2015. This article was written...
Leaving Church–Torah Living Daily Challenge 24
Leaving Church Torah Living Daily Challenge 24 Article entitled: "Americans become less religious, especially young adults: poll" by Mary Wisnieswski of Reuters (11/3/2015) Americans becoming less religious--mostly among adults according to recent poll conducted by...
Righteousness and Torah–Grace and the Law Part 6–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 35
Righteousness and Torah Grace and Law (Part 6)--Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 35 Calendar 17th/18th day of the 8th Biblical Month--also known as Marheshwan Next festival is Hanukkah--slated for December 8th or at the end of the 9th biblical month Hanukkah is the...
Torah Teaches Love for Humanity–Torah Living Daily Challenge–Episode 22
Torah Teaches Love for Humanity Torah Living Daily Challenge 22 Continuing on in my Torah studies this morning, I am still in Parashah 47, but in section 6. This portion of Torah addresses the very timely topic of the Shmittah. (And Shmittah has a number of...
Tithing and Torah–Torah Living Daily Challenge–Episode 21
Tithing and Torah Torah Living Daily Challenge My Torah studies brought me to Parashah 47 section 6; a portion of Torah that addresses tithing. Now I must admit that I thought I knew all there was to know about tithing until I came upon this Torah portion. As it turns...
Don’t Eat the Bacon–The Duty of Holiness (Part 2)–Torah Living Daily Challenge 19
Don't Eat the Bacon The Duty of Holiness (Part 2) You are the sons of Yahovah your God…For you are a holy people [set apart]to Yahovah your God; and Yahovah has chosen you to be a peculiar people to Himself, above all the nations on the earth. (Deuteronomy 14:1, 2)...
The Duty of Holiness (Part 1)–Torah Living Daily Challenge 18
The Duty of Holiness (Part 1) Torah Living Daily Challenge 18 You are the sons of Yahovah your God…For you are a holy people [set apart]to Yahovah your God; and Yahovah has chosen you to be a peculiar people to Himself, above all the nations on the earth. (Deuteronomy...
What is our identity and purpose? Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 34
What is our Identity and Purpose Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 34 Understanding our Identity--who we are as a people of Faith--is paramount for each of us to grasp Our identity defines who we are--in my line of work, one of the most important aspects of my job is...
Your Faith Might Get You Hurt–Torah Living Daily Challenge 17
Your Faith Might Get You Hurt Torah Living Daily Challenge 17 Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man! (Luke 6:22 ESV) I came across a very disturbing articles this week,...
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