The Bible-The Answer to Every Concern or the Ultimate Instruction Manual-STAR-92
The Bible-The Answer to Every Concern or the Ultimate Instruction Manual
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 book in the history of literature.
To the world at large, the Bible is a book containing ancient writings of dead idealists who got together to compose writings to convince the world of the existence of God–the Creator of the Universe. These folks believe the book to be a book of positive affirmations and a compilation of the best examples of writing pros known to mankind. They believe the Bible to be fabled history, but also a book that offers mankind an idealistic image of what man should and could be if he were to simply give him/herself over to this God and His Son, Jesus Christ. To these individuals, the Bible offers little to no value to the world’s human population.
To secular scholars, the Bible is simply another literary compilation of ancient writings that have little to no relevance to this world apart from its ancient near east historical placement. To these folks, as it relates to its literary place in the world, it ranks with ancient writings such as the Iliad, Homer, the Koran and various Hindi writings. To these individuals, the Bible only has literary significance and should not be taken seriously as any sort of life instruction .
To the 30,000 or so Christian denominations; the various and sundry Catholic sects and Jews, the Bible is the foundation of their Faith. To most, the Bible is the principle vehicle by which God/Jesus Christ communicates with His people. To many, it is an instruction manual; the Faith’s primary record of its history; a devotional tool; a discipleship resource; a source of profound hope and trust; the glue that binds the members of the Faith community together.
To those of us in Hebrew Roots, or as I prefer to call us, Spirit Filled Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah, the Bible is our Creator’s instruction manual for living the way He has always intended man to live. Indeed, within this instruction manual, we find the summation of our trust and hope in Yahoshua Messiah; we find our heritage and strength; we find lessons to be learned to prevent us from falling from grace; we find Truth; we find peace; we find clues to our amazing future.
With that said, the Bible also is different things to various people in our Faith. It means all that I’ve just mentioned, but it also has unique appeal and understanding to each of us as we go through our day-to-day walk with Master Yahoshua. I guess it comes down to how much we actually tap this amazing resource and tool: if we dive into its boundless pages each day we live, then this book means everything to us; if we reach for it on rare ocassions for whatever reason, its significance to us is debatable. If we never open the covers of our Bible, then certainly the Bible becomes nothing more than an asterick; a semi-colon; or at best, a footnote in our spiritual journey. The Bible is a pretty good gauge as it relates to how we perceive and live out this walk of ours. If the Bible is indeed that foundational and primary resource to our Faith and walk, then it must be tapped constantly with great intensity, anticipation and hope. Otherwise, it becomes as any other book on our dusty shelves.
For me, the Bible is the one printed resource that I tap on a daily basis; often multipe times in a day. It calls to me throughout the day and beckons me to explore its vast depths and mysteries. It serves as my daily medicine regimen, correcting me when I’m wrong and encouraging me when I’m down. It educates me. In a synergistic manner with the Holy Spirit, it connects me with the Creator of the Universe in a way that is not understood by carnal man. It fills my thirst for righteousness. It instructs me on what it means to be a true disciple of Yeshua Messiah. It sets me apart from the 7-Billion people on this planet that may or may not know Father. The Bible is the calling card that connects me with other like-minded believers in Yeshua Messiah. It serves as a reminder that no matter how tough things get down here, Master can identify and provide the blessed assurance that if I stay the course and run the race set before me, there is a prize at the end that awaits me and my fellow Torah Observant Believers in Yahoshua Messiah.
Thoughts and Reflections Part 2: The Bible: A List of Does and Don’ts or Instructions for Righteous Living
Most of us realize that the main disagreement that exists between Torah Observant Believers and Fundamental/Charismatic/Traditional Christians is the efficacy and application of “The Law” for Gentile believers. Essentially, Christianity teaches that the “Law” was done away with once Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Many place their belief in this assertion on a skewed understanding and misinterpretation of Colossians 2:14, that they insist proves that the Law was nailed to the cross along with Jesus. In nailing the Law to the cross, a new era of “freedom in Christ” emerged whereby the would be Christian was no longer subject to the extensive laundry lists of the do’s and don’ts of the Bible.
Sadly, this is the attitude that millions of would be believers in Messiah (more so Christ) hold regarding Torah: that it is a list of do’s and don’ts. Of course, no one likes being told what to do, even if the person telling us what to do is the Cretor of the Universe and the giver of the Law.
There are many problems associated with such a skewed understanding of the Law/Torah. The one that I wish to reflect upon in this episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections has to do with the erroneous perception that the Bible is simply a list of do’s and don’ts for the would be believer; that our God is a terrible and tyranical Being who despises His creation (i.e., man) and demands that they do this and do that; that He demands strict and uncompromising obedience (which He does but not in such a crude, unloving and harsh manner) .
The Bible is in no way this magical 8-ball of answers to every question man has related to his or her present condition. In fact, the Bible is not the mystical book that tradition has assigned it, although I truly believe the Bible to be of divine origin.
Paul (i.e., Shaul) described the Bible as being given to mankind by the Creator of the Universe and that it is a valuable resource in leading every man and woman to Truth; that it is effective in correcting man’s behavior and showing him/her the right direction he/she should go; and lastly that being a disciple of the True Messiah, we have been tasked with bearing good fruit and living righteous lives. In order to accomplish this, the Bible is an apt resource for equiping any who would be of Yeshua HaMashiyach’s chosen (1 Timothy 3:16, 17; CJB with my embellishments). Nowhere in this passage did Paul indicate that the Bible should be looked at and treated as a book of answers. More so, Paul sees the Bible as “an instruction” manual.
Because we tend to not fully grasp the full meaning and purpose of the Bible, we tend to treat the Bible as a “spiritual Google,” where by we search out specific answers to our modern day problems and challenges. As much as it would be a lovely thing to have at one’s disposal, I do not believe the Father desired His Word to be used in such a fashion. I believe He gave us His instructions upon which we would build our lives and walk accordingly. If we simply follow these instructions, the rest will naturally fall into place: that is, our modern day issues and challenges would become non-issues and non-challenges.
A dear sister recently asked what the Bible had to say about “shacking up” (that is living unmarried) with a fella. To her credit, she didn’t want any denominational perspectives and no personal opinions on this issue. All she wanted was chapter and verse. Needless to say, there appears to be no such content to be found in the pages of our Bible as it relates to the question of shacking up. There are passages that suggests to us that shacking up is not a thing that Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah should be doing, but there are no “thou shall not hook up and live together as an unmarried couple” passages to be found in the Holy Writ.
I don’t mean to beat up on this sister, or anyone who looks to the Bible in such a manner. Nevertheless, I truly believe that if we truly have the Ruach of Yah dwelling within us, we should have a pretty good idea what is pleasing to Father and what is not.
Unfortunately, this is a common practice among many members of both fundamental Chritianity and Hebrew Roots communities. These individuals, instead of walking out their Faith in accordance with the Torah-based principles as taught to us by Master, use the Word to spell out to them almost verbatim what they can and can’t do in their day-to-day lives. Can I cook on the Sabbath? Can I worship alone on the Sabbath? Can I stay in a hotel during Sukkot or do I have to live outdoors in a Sukkah? Can I socialize with members of the opposite sex during fellowship? Can I put gas in my car on the Sabbath? Do I have to conduct a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in order to properly observe the Feasts of Yah? Can I use the title God when addressing the Creator of the universe? Must I grow a beard if I’m a male in our Faith? And what we find when we seek to answer for ourselves these and countless other such questions is that the Bible in more situations than not does not have the specific answers to our specific questions.
So in the absence of answers to such probing and specific questions, what many do is create their own answers devoid of living out the life that scripture spells out for us. Yet the truth of the matter is that the answers to such questions will never be found in the Bible. They were never supposed to be found there in the first place. For Father gave us all that we needed to know to live according to the way He wants us to live. Anything else that pops up that is unclear in scripture then becomes a thing that should be rationalized in light of scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit. We can never live the instructions contained in our Bibles without the guidance of the Holy Spirit; for without the Holy Spirit, we become no different than our forefathers who go about mechanically living out their religion. It becomes robotic and those individuals who go about living such a mechanical lifestyle end up being tossed about the waves and winds of life. There’s never going to be an answer good enough–there’s always going to be “but what if’s” and “but what about’s.” We’re human. We’ve unfortunately evolved into such a way of thinking and living.
If we can simply learn our Bibles; live out that which is spelled out before us in the pages of our Bibles; and leave the rest up to the guidance and instructions of the Holy Spirit, we will be alright.
Paul wrote to Timothy: “Timothy my son, do the best you can (in the KJV, it is famously written–“study to shew theyself approved-Christianity has wrongly interpreted the word spoodadzo to mean study of the scriptures, which is not at all correct. Spoodadzo means to be dilligent or endeavor) to present yourself to Yahuah/Yahweh/Yahovah as someone worthy of His approval; and in so doing, we will not have any need to be ashamed of the life we’ve lived.” (2 Timothy 2:14,15; my paraphrasing of the KJV)
It’s one thing to confer with Scripture on life’s issues; it’s entirely another to rely upon Scripture to tell us what in life should be obvious. If we feel funny about the thing we’re thinking to do and we aren’t sure if doing that thing would be sanctioned by Father, then we should know right off the bat the answer to our question.
The culture, timeframe and geography in which the bible was written 9-times outta 10 does not afford us a keen match as it relates to our particular 21st-century life issues. Sure, there’s nothing new under the sun as Solomon once wrote, but much of what is contained in scripture is not going to be a verbatim rehashing of our modern 21st century lifestyle. So we gotta know the mind of God in conjunction with the specific instructions outlined in His Torah in order to live the best life we can in Yeshua Measiah.
Thoughts and Reflections Part-3–What is the Bible Anyway?
With the exception of the Torah (i.e., the first-five-books of the Tanakh/the Old Testament), the Bible is a compilation of inspired writings. I separate the Torah from the rest of the Bible, not to insinuate that Torah is uninspired; on the contrary, I believe that Torah was communicated directly from the mouth of Yahweh/Yahovah/Yahuah to Moses as Israel’s constitution; the manual that defines righteous living and leads to an unparalleled relationship between the Creator and His people. The remainder of the Holy Writ came about as men (i.e., the authors) were moved to write by the Holy Spirit; to write about the events that were transpiring before them; to write about the things that they saw with their very own eyes and heard with their very own ears; to write about their feelings, thoughts and fears; and to write that which Father desired be communicated to the select reader.
The Bible as we have it today is a compilation of some 66-books (i.e., cephers and letters): some of these cephers are prophetic writings that foretell of things that were to happen to us as we lived in the land of promise as well as things that are to happen to us in the Last Days; some of these cephers were composed of songs and poems; some of these cephers were historical in nature and served to document the history of our people (i.e., the Hebrew nation) in perpetuity; some of these cephers were letters written to specific individuals, addressing specific issues and questions that were posed to the writer. Although the Bible has been known from time-to-time to resonate with us as a people and as individuals, and to speak to our souls in very profound ways (which I would identify more as a gift to us by the Creator at the time we need His touch the most), the thing we have today that we call the Bible is a repository and collection of ancient writings that served (and for that matter, can serve today) specific and diverse purposes for its readers. Again, the Bible is not this mysterious 8-ball that gives us magical answers to the questions we have for Father at any given hour of the day. More so, it is a training manual; a guide to Truth; a behavior corrector; a history book; and an equipping resource guide.
Nevertheless, I have had to go out of my way to keep in mind what the Bible is when I go about studying and researching in its pages. When we neglect having a True understanding of what the Bible is and what it is supposed to be used for, we invariably find ourselves misusing it; misinterpreting its content; damaging our relationship with the Most High; and leading others down a wrong path.
Yes, I believe with my whole heart that the Bible is Yahuah/Yahweh/Yahovah breathed; but it is also a product of man. Do I believe the Bible to be the Word of God? Well, I believe the Bible contains the Words and thoughts and love of God for all of mankind, especially for His chosen people. I believe for us to gain the greatest benefit we could possibly get from our Bibles, we must view and use the Bible from an entirety perspective (i.e., the Bible as a whole instead of scriptural soundbites that so many of us often hang our spiritual hats upon and develop these doctrines and beliefs that are rarely based upon any Biblical truth or reason). I believe that we must view the Bible from the perspective of the Creator of the Universe desiring to eternally connect with the jewel of His creation: mankind and that the bridge between man and Creator is our Master Yeshua Messiah. Everything in the Bible points us to the second-Adam: Yahoshua HaMashiyach.
As an aside to all this, many of us in Hebrew Roots spend the vast majority of our time in Torah and our focus is upon fulfilling the ceremonial and moral elements of the Law. Over time, we inadvertently write Yeshua out of the Bible and instead of living Torah the way Master taught us to, we live Torah in rote manner–striving to relive Torah the way our forefathers did in Synai and in the Land. Many of us eventually learn to become, what I’ve chosen to call them, Yeshua-haters. These individuals take on a pharisaical-like mentality and lifestyle that they somehow fool themselves into thinking, will earn themselves eternal life, devoid of anything having to do with Master Yeshua.
Then there is the New Testament, or as known in our circles, the Brit HaDashah, which so many in all faith community treat as do’s and don’ts answer books. The fact of the matter is that the Gospels, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, serves as our history book about the ministry of Master Yahoshua and the Holy Spirit, as well as it serves as our instruction manual related to our being His loyal disciples who have been tasked with fulfilling His Commission (Matthew 28:19,20)–and I would include the Book of Acts in the Gospels and maybe even the Book of Revelation.
Then there are the epistles or letters from Jude, James, John, Peter and of course Paul, which have been used by denominational Christianity to develop doctrinal structures within the body. The fact of the matter is that these are letters, written by men–apostles–to specific individuals, addressing specific issues and topics. It just so happens that these letters have been preserved, codified and translated for our benefit. Thus, in effect, when we open one of these letters, referred to in the Bible as books, we are essentially snooping in on a private communique that the author had originally posted to specific individuals related to issues and topics that he chose to address. Consequently, when we read one of these epistles–books–letters–we must always keep in mind what it is we are reading and thus it would behoove us to take specific passages within proper context.
All too often we spot a verse or two, and build an understanding about spiritual things without taking into account the whole of the conversation or discourse. Look how Christianity built around a couple verses, the doctrines of “grace” and the understanding that the Law was done away with. If those same individuals who took liberties to snag these scriptural soundbites and build around them vast and emcompassing doctrines would have studied the whole of the texts from the standpoint of contextual criticism and true Biblical scholarship, I believe it’s a fair bet that we wouldn’t have 30,000-plus Christian denonimations in existence today, for the truth of the matters in questions would be clearly evident and things such as Sunday worship, eating of uncleaned food and whether it is cool for Believers in Messiah to keep Torah would no longer be in question.
The quintessential passage of Bible that describes what the Bible is and what purpose it serves in the body of Messiah is of course found in 2 Timothy. Paul wrote:
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.1 (2Ti 3:14-17 KJV)
Paul’s prolific brilliance shines exceptionally forth here as he summarizes for his young apprentice the purpose of scripture. We must bear in mind that at the time of this writing, scripture was the Old Testament writings–the Tanakh. So here he is specifically speaking to Timothy on the purpose of the Torah, the prophets and the writings. So much is contained in these 4-verses that one could spend hours exploring and pondering their significance to any Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah.
- The scriptures are the paramount pathway to all Truth which leads one to salvation in Yeshua Messiah
- The scriptures, although written by the hand of men, is God-breathed–an amazing meeting and coming together of the Divine and the mortal. Father spoke and men wrote as the Spirit so-led and guided. And Abba’s divine providence ensured that His Word would remain intact such that it would reach and be available to us in these last and evil days
- Scriptures/the Bible must be viewed as the foundation upon which the instruction of Truth is to be taught
- Scripture provides us instruction and defines what sin is
- Scripture corrects our faults
- Scritpure outlines the path that leads to righteous living
- The Bible is the ultimate equipping agent in all spiritual and human matters
- Strict adherence to the tenets of the Bible lead to good works/the bearing of good fruit, which is the meat and potatos of every believer’s life and calling.
Although the Bible is the ultimate instruction manual, every believer must be cognizant of its origin, the culture in which the writers of the books of the bible lived, the purpose for which each book was written, the meaning of words and phrases, and the effectiveness and accuracy of the translations we are using. Reading and understanding the Bible requires work on our part, and those who are willing to invest the time and energy to explore its great spiritual riches will come out on top everytime–these will be the most well centered and grounded and not be blown about by every wind and doctrine. Far too many of us have given only a passing read to the Bible. Far too many of us have only punched the pages of our Bibles to see if we can get away with something we know very well is wrong. Far too many of us have relied upon preachers, teachings, pastors, evangelists and deominations to tell us what the Bible says, when the truth of the matter is, that anyone of us who has access to a Bible, some basic Bible helps and tools, a willing and obedient heart and mind, and the Holy Spirit dwelling within, can know what Father is revealing in His word to us. As much as I respect scholarship and the accomplishment of some of our Faith leaders, which Father will on ocassion use to provide us with information that may not be readily available to us at the time, nothing trumps sitting down with a cup of coffee or tea and diving into the pages of one’s Bible to learn “what sayeth Yahuah/Yahweh/Yahovah. Father has no problem telling us what He wants from us and what He expects from us through the pages of His Bible. Churchianity has programed us to believe that we simple lay folk are incapable of effectively studying the Word of Yah. Nothing can be further from the truth.
If we are unable to receive that which we are searching for in the Bible, it behooves us to turn to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to, in Father’s perfect time, reveal those truths to us. He may send someone to us with the answers to the questions we seek. He may involve us in a situation where the answers to our questions will become quite evident. He may lead us to other areas of scripture that will illuminate within us that Truth that we are seeking.
The Bible–our go-to spiritual Google? Not hardly. A simple laundry list of do’s and don’ts? It certainly tells us what things are permissible and what are not in terms of living life Abba’s way, but it is not a simple do’s and don’ts list that we are to mechanically follow. Torah is supposed to be written on our hearts and minds and we should not focus on the rote, mechanical applications of the Word, but living lives that are pleasing to Father and provide an effective and righteous witness to the world around us. If we but take the time to read the Bible–the whole thing–multiple times through–and apply those principles to our day-to-day walk with Messiah, we will be apt workman approved of God needing not to be ashamed.
Thoughts and Reflections Part 4: The Bottom-Line to the Question of Do’s and Don’ts as Related to the Bible
I have always felt that anyone who would become a disciple of Yeshua our Master, before they were left to forge out on their own and walk out their Faith, that they first be equipped. Some organizations within our Faith Community, like the Church of God splinters, provide their initiates a great amount of teachings and valuable content to help them get acquainted with their new found Faith and walk with Messiah. The problem is that the teachings and content they offer are specific to Church of God doctrine and mindset and is not entirely based upon a literal, contextual and Spirit-led dispensing of the Truth. So any who would venture into a Church of God congregation to begin their walk with Messiah, would find themselves being indoctrinated into a Church of God body. The fact of the matter is that these are not being discipled into the true Body of Messiah. I’m not trying to bad mouth the Churches of God. I myself began my Torah Observant life in the United Church of God. That experience, which lasted roughly two-years was a positive one that introduced me to foundational tenets of the Hebrew Roots Faith. Certainly not a place one would spend the remainder of his/her life if they are truly desirous in fulfilling their unique role in the Great Commission and walking out their Faith profession in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit.
Please know that I am in no way looking to badmouth the Churches of God–I love them and the people who attend these congregations are wonderful, sincere folks. Unfortunately, I truly believe that the vast majority of Church of God attendees may be too comfortable in their set-church lives to move beyond the walls of that community and achieve the great things that Father has in store for everyone of His beloved children. The point of my bringing up the Churches of God in the first place is the element of doctrine and indoctrination that pervades these communities. The same thing seems to be true as it relates to certain Messianic Jewish communities where members are taught Judaism first and foremost, and then maybe some of the teachings of Master Yeshua. These and other such communities endeavor to provide their followers laundry lists of do’s and don’ts that carry the weight and authority of scripture. Most of these communities, again, are devoid of anything having to do with the Holy Spirit.
Bottomline dear friend, the Bible is not, nor should it ever be treated or seen as a grab-bag of answers to questions related to our day-to-day living. I concede that there is nothing wrong with punching the pages of one’s Bible to see what Father has to say to us on a particular topic or issue. Absolutely, the Bible is the absolute best resource we have to put us in sync with Father’s will for us as His special possession and kingdom of priests. The problem comes, unfortunately, when we ignore the things in Torah and the teachings of Yeshua in the first place, but choose instead to follow our own pathways to righteousness while using the Bible as a means to that end.
Abba has given us all we need to know to live according to the way that He wants His children to live. If we simply employ the commonsense that He has given each of us; come to Him in prayer and meditation with a pure heart; search the scriptures with an open mind to receive that which Father wishes to reveal to us; and give heed to the leading of His Holy Spirit that will guide us into all understanding and give us the wherewithal to walk out our Faith perfectly in the midst of this perverse and dying world.
The brilliant and prolific apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian assembly:
For, brothers, I don’t want you to miss the significance of what happened to our fathers. All of them were guided by the pillar of cloud, and they all passed through the sea,
2 and in connection with the cloud and with the sea they all immersed themselves into Moshe,
3 also they all ate the same food from the Spirit,
4 and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit – for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah.
5 Yet with the majority of them God was not pleased, so their bodies were strewn across the desert.
6 Now these things took place as prefigurative historical events, warning us not to set our hearts on evil things as they did.
7 Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were – as the Tanakh puts it, “The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to indulge in revelry.”
8 And let us not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, with the consequence that 23,000 died in a single day.
9 And let us not put the Messiah to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.
10 And don’t grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroying Angel.
11 These things happened to them as prefigurative historical events, and they were written down as a warning to us who are living in the acharit-hayamim (i.e., the end of the ages). (1Co 10:1-11 CJB)
Thus our Bibles serve, according to Paul, as a warning–given the examples lived out by our forefathers in the desert and in the land of promise–a warning to live according to His prescribed ways and methods so that we may flourish and be a blessing and please Him. It would seem as we read the Bible and the Spirit speaks to us where we live at the moment–see what happened to our forefathers because of their insolence and stiffneckness. Don’t let it happen to us. Do the opposite. And how do we go about successfully living out this Faith? Through the example and teachings of our loving and blessed Master Yahoshua HaMashiyach.
Paul further wrote related to the use of scripture in governing our lives, this time to the Roman Assembly of believers:
So we who are strong have a duty to bear the weaknesses of those who are not strong, rather than please ourselves.
2 Each of us should please his neighbor and act for his good, thus building him up.
3 For even the Messiah did not please himself; rather, as the Tanakh says, ‘The insults of those insulting you fell on me.’
4 For everything written in the past was written to teach us, so that with the encouragement of the Tanakh we might patiently hold on to our hope. (Rom 15:1-4 CJB)
Thus the Bible serves as an instruction manual that teaches us how to live so that we “might patiently hold on to our hope” –that is, keep a positive spiritual perspective on life; enjoy life to its fullest; serve one another and act for their good and work towards edifying and building up one another in righteousness; to remain strong so that we may bear the weaknesses of those in our Faith Community who are struggling; to imitate Yeshua our Messiah and not take the things of this life too personal and do the best that each of us possibly can. That’s all that we can do. As far as Father is concerned, that’s all that He’s asking of us.
However, in order to fulfill these expectations, we must fully grasp the purpose and reality of what the Bible is and use it in the spirit and fulness in which it was given to us. Indeed, the Bible is not to be worshiped as so many of us tend to do, delving into the mystical elements that define much of Kaballah and Jewish mysticism. No, the Bible is our roadmap to righteous living and instruction manual that ultimately connects us with the Creator of the Universe.
I hope, trust and pray that this episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections has been a blessing to you, as much as it has been a blessing to me to ponder and reflect upon this subject of the Bible. Keep on keeping on, despite all the things that are going on around us in this nation and in the world today. Don’t focus on those things if you can help it for we have other matters to tend to. For Paul wrote to Timothy:
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.1
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (2Ti 2:1-4 KJV)
Let us therefore strive for higher heights and deeper depths in Yeshua Messiah so that we may successfully be that kingdom of priest to the world that Father has assigned us to be.
Certainly, if you are reading this transcript or listening to this episode online, leave a comment in the comment box that follows this post if you are so led. Otherwise, you can connect with me either on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I’m here for and with you. Stay well and blessed fellow Saint.
Until next time, I bid you warmest and loving shalom.
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By Grace are You Saved Part 2 of the series: Grace and the Law In part one (1) of this series entitle Grace and the Law, we critically looked at some of the key bible passages that our cousins in fundamental and charismatic churchianity (or Christianity...
Listen to What God Says–Torah Living Daily Challenge–Parashah 47 Part 5
Listen to What God Says Torah Living Daily Challenge--Parashah 47 Part 5 We are commanded to listen to what Yahovah says as recorded in Deuteronomy 13: 5. What does that look like to us living in the 21st century? 15 ¶ All the people experienced the thunder,...
By Grace are you Saved–Grace and the Law, Part 2–STAR 28
By Grace are you Saved--Part 2 of the multi-episode series on Grace and the Law Supreme Court Ruling on Gay and Lesbian Unions Blog Post We're roughly 10-days out from Yom Teruah, or Day of Trumpets, or in Jewish circles, Rosh HaShanah The Creator's...
Obeying God’s Commandments–Torah Living Daily Challenge–Parashah 47 Part 4
Obeying God’s Commandments Torah Living Daily Challenge—Parashah 47 Part 5 Remaining in verse 5 of the 13th chapter of Deuteronomy, I want to examine the second directive and that is to “obey His mitzvot” (or rather, “obey his commandments”). What does that look like...
Grace and the Law–Hasn’t the Law Been Done Away With?–Part 1–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 27
Grace and the Law Hasn't the Law Been Done Away With? That Which Separates Us Those of us in the Hebraic Roots of the Christian Faith (Messianic Believers in Y’shua Messiah; Torah Observant Believers in Y’shua Messiah) are comparatively the smallest of...
Christianity and Biblical Inspiration–Understanding the Bible Part 4–STAR 26
Christianity and Biblical Inspiration Introduction This will be part 4 of the series generally subtitled "Understanding the Bible." Today's title is "Christianity and Biblical Inspiration." Certainly one of the most familiar phrases known by Bible readers and...
Babylon Rising and the First Shall be Last–Rob Skiba–Messianic Torah Observer Book Review
I came across Rob Skiba this past May while attending his breakout session at the 2015 United in Torah Conference in San Diego, California. I had never heard of Rob Skiba prior to attending the conference. Since coming into the Faith I had for all-intents-and-purposes...
Idolatry-False Prophets and Teachers–Clinging to the Father–Torah Living Daily Challenge–Parashah 47–Part 3
Idolatry-False Prophets and Teachers-and Clinging to Father Deuteronomy 12:28-13:19 Picking up where we left off in parashah 47, we come upon this portion that addresses three key issues: (1) the consequences associated with inquiring after the gods of those nations...
The Prayer Shawl Controversy-Part 1–STAR 25
The Prayer Shawl Controversy--Part 1 In recent months we've noticed a rather disturbing trend taking place in traditional Christianity, especially in the more charismatic circles of the Christian Faith. As more and more adherents/believers/Christians, if you will, are...
Where Do You Worship Yahovah?–Torah Living Daily Challenge–Parashah 47–Part 2
Where Do You Worship Yahovah Deuteronomy 12:10-28 Continuing on in my Torah daily Torah studies, beginning with verse 10 and reading through verse 28, Yahovah provided us clear instruction as to where “Central Station Worship” would be. At this early juncture, that...
Torah: Is it liberty or bondage?
There is a beautiful doe that has chosen our "back four" as her favorite place to give birth to her baby every year. Why here, is anybody's guess, but it seems she feels safer on our fenced property in the underbrush of a dry creek bed than she does in the forest,...
Blessings and Curses–Part 1–Parashah 47 (See)–Torah Living Daily Challenge
Blessings and Curses Part 1 I had somewhat of a short week this past week as I was returning from attending to a family emergency on the East Coast. I sort of alluded to this situation in my last podcast entitled Defeating Satan. If you’ve not had the opportunity to...
Blessings and Curses–Stuck in the Middle–STAR 24
Blessings and Curses Stuck in the Middle Why did Father drill in our heads in anticipation of entering the land of promise--over and over--the idea of blessings to be had if we stayed/remained in His Torah and curses if we strayed from His Torah? I have some thoughts...
Defeating Satan–Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections 23
Defeating Satan Matthew 4 and Luke 4 record Satan's tempting of Y'shua (Jesus) in the wilderness and how Y'shua was able to overcome those temptations. This event provides the Torah observing believer in Y'shua Messiah with an example and prescription for defeating...
The Bride of Christ (Messiah) Part 2–STAR 22
The Bride of Christ (Messiah) Part 2 is the second part of a two-part discussion between Hilary and Rod on the subject. Who or what is the Bride of Christ (Messiah)? This is the central question that demands an answer that most believers are not clear on....
The Bride of Christ–Part 1–Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 21
What did Shaul and John mean when they made reference to the bride of Christ? Were they referring to the Church Triumphant? Were they referring to individual born again Christians? Hilary and I discuss this important element of our Faith in the first of a two-part...
Occupying Territory–Parashah 46 Part 7
Occupying Territory Deuteronomy 11:22-25 This passage brings us to the end of Parashah-46. As it has been throughout this lengthy portion, we see again Moshe's admonishment that we love Adonai our God. This concept of love in the Ancient Near East continues to be...
The Great Commandment–Torah Living Daily Challenge–Parashah 46 Part 6
The Great Commandment Deuteronomy 11:10-21 Verse 10 gave us a glimpse of the many features associated with our pending inheritance. One of those features included the fertileness of the land. Yahovah compared the fertileness of the land of Canaan compared to Egypt,...
The Messianic Declaration of Independence–Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections 20
The Messianic Declaration of Independence InfoWars on Americans' knowledge of history and Independence Day. Galatians 5:1 Matthew 23:23-34 The Opening of the Declaration of Independence When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to...
Barna Group on Same Sex Marriage
The Barna Group Reports on Same-Sex Marriage I came upon these statistics published by the well established and respected Barna Group, regarding the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage. I found these statistics not so surprising I must admit and it...
The Supernatural, Evil and Darkness of our Day–Torah Daily Living Challenge
Last week SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) legalized same sex marriage in all 50-States of union; a week ago, a crazed, seeming racist young man shot and killed 9 men and women attending a bible study in a black-church in Charleston S.C.; last month rioters...
Willing Obedience is a True Act of Love–
Willing Obedience is a True Act of Love Deuteronomy 10:12-11:9 What does our experience tell us about Yahovah? What is our testimony? It is these exploits, these events that occurred in our lives that make us strong and ready to possess the land. We must not...
God’s Law Written on our Hearts–Parashah 46 (Part 4)
God's Law Written on our Hearts Deuteronomy 10:1-12 Moshe regales the time past when Yahovah instructed him to come up the holy mountain with two tables of hewed stone, similar to the ones that Yahovah provided in the first time. (Reference Exo. 34:1, 2) Prior to...
“Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads”? (Deuteronomy 6: 6-8)
What do you think YHWH (Yahweh) meant by: "Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads"? Deuteronomy 6: 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home...
The Supernatural, Evil and Darkness of our Day–STAR 19
The Supernatural, Evil and Darkness of our Day This week SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) legalized same sex marriage in all 50-States of union; a week ago, a crazed, seeming racist young man shot and killed 9 men and women attending a bible study in a...
The Supernatural and Evil–Torah Living Daily Challenge
The Supernatural and Evil This month of June in the year 2015 may mark on of the worst months on record for the proliferation of evil throughout the world. Word on the street is that the Supreme Court of these United States will rule on same sex marriages sometime...
Who Do You Think You Are?-Torah Living Daily Challenge-Parashah 46 Part 3
Who Do You Think You Are? Deuteronomy 9:4-29 Verses 4-6 of part 3 of parashah 46 sort of puts us in our respective places, so to speak. Moshe reminds us thusly: "Don't think to yourself, after your God has pushed them out ahead of you (speaking of the nations...
Remembering God–Torah Living Daily Challenge (Parashah 46 Part 2)
Remembering God Deuteronomy 8:11-9:3 Part 2 of Parashah 46 (Because) reminds us to "Be careful not to forget Adonai (i.e., Yahovah) your God." (verse 11). How is it even possible to forget the Creator one could ask, at least that was the question in my mind initially....
TLDC-2–Read Torah Daily and Obey (Parashah 46 Part 1)
Deu. 7:12-8:10--Read Torah Daily and Obey Commentary Continuing my foray into Torah, I've come to this Torah portion, #46, day 1, entitled "Because." For the newbies among us, every Torah portion takes from the first verses of that portion a descriptive word that...
A Conversation with Chaim Goldman–STAR 18
Join me as I converse with Chaim Goldman of Repairing the Breach Ministries. You will be blessed.
What’s the difference between a “Greek” and a “Hebrew” mindset?
What is the difference between a Greek and Hebrew mindset? Have you ever thought about what it means when someone tells you you have a "Greek mindset?" Well, "Hebrew mindset" and the "Greek mindset" refers to the fact that there is a difference in their respective way...
What is Torah? – The condensed version!
What is Torah? Here is a condensed explanation. YHWH (God the Father) created everything, including Man. He commanded all living things - the birds, fish and animals - to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:21-25). He gave man some rules to follow as well. That is...
Questionnaire for our Christian friends
Shalom, everyone! My name is Carmen and I love to help people become Torah observant! To help you along the way, I have made up this questionnaire for our Christian friends. Enjoy! QUICK INTRODUCTORY QUESTION: Is it really true that to gain eternal life, all we have...
STAR 17–My Discussion with Author and Messianic Teacher Carmen Welker Part 2
Carmen Welker discusses her ministry--what The Refiner's Fire is all about and how it is impacting the Christian and Jewish communities.
STAR 16–A Discussion with Carmen Welker Part 1
STAR 16--A Discussion with Carmen Welker (Part 1) Shalom Saints! Check out Carmen's Webites and Associated Ministry: The Refiner's Fire Reality Check TV The Aramaic English New Testament
STAR 15–Understanding the Bible Part 3–A Question of Inspiration or Perspiration
Understanding the Bible Part 3—A Question of Inspiration or Perspiration What is the Bible? As it relates to the Bible, how many of you have heard the Bible described and labeled as the Holy Bible? What about the bible as the “unadulterated Word of God?” How bout...
STAR 12–Understanding the Bible Part 2 (Why Should Believers Read Their Bibles)
Understanding the Bible Part 2--Why Should Believers Read the Bible? Opening Scripture Passage: Hos 4:1-6 KJV The Moedim Conference--United in Torah--May 1-3, 2015 in San Diego, CA. Featured Guests: Psalmstress Elisha Rico Cortes--Founder Wisdom in Torah Ministries...
Torah Living 50–Understanding the Bible (Is the Church Suffering from Biblical Illiteracy?)
Introduction What is the bible? Some would contend the bible to be the “unadulterated Word of God.” Others would similarly contend that the bible is NOT the word of God per se, but rather it contains the Word of God. Others would say that it is an instruction manual...
STAR 11–Understanding the Bible or Is the Church Suffering from Biblical Illiteracy?
Understanding the Bible Part 1--Is the Church Suffering from Biblical Illiteracy? What is the bible? Some would contend the bible to be the “unadulterated Word of God.” Others would similarly contend that the bible is NOT the word of God per se, but rather it contains...
Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections 10–The Day of Firstfruits or the Wave Sheaf Offering
9 ¶ Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 "Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, 'When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and areap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest....
Torah Living 49–The Day of Firstfruits or the Wave Sheaf Offering
Yom Bikkurim or the Day of Firstfruits This Feast of Firstfruits in Hebrew is referred to as Yom HaBikkurim (meaning the Day of the First ripe fruits of a crop) or the Day of the Wave Sheaf. On this day, the cohen (aka priests) would wave a sheaf of the first fruits...
Mentally Preparing for Passover
6 aYour boasting is not good. bDo you not know that ca little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?7 Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our aPassover also has been sacrificed.8 Let us therefore...
STAR 8–Preparing for Passover Mentally, Physically and Spiritually
Preparing for Passover Mentally, Physically and Spiritually Preparation is a key factor in getting the fullest possible spiritual, cognitive and physical benefit from the Feasts. Failure to adequately prepare in every aspect of our being could lead to a less-than...
Because you are Obedient Part 3–Forgetting Yehovah
Picking up in Chapter 8, verse 11, we find that we are commanded not to forget Yehovah our Elohim. The passage reads: 11"Beware lest you aforget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;...
Because you are Obedient to Torah Part 2
Picking up from the previous section of Deuteronomy 7:12-8:10: 7:12--there is a 3-part requirement related to Torah observance: (1) listen (i.e., to shama or to hear); (2) keep (i.e., to watch and preserve); and (3) obey (i.e., to do them). What we have here is a...
Because you are Obedient to Torah-Part 1
Because you are Obedient to Torah (Part 1) Greetings Saints, My Daily Torah studies took me to D'varim 7 (Deut 7). Beginning at verse 12, we find Moshe speaking to the nation of Israel from a reassuring perspective. He'd already established the need for them to keep...
Episode 6–Hilary Thomas on the Hebraic Roots of the Faith
Calendar--March 14, 2015--23rd Day of the 12th Biblical Month 6014 (aka: Adar 5775) This past week, according to Rood's "The Chronological Gospels--The Life and 70-Week Ministry of Yeshua Messiah," Yeshua travels to the city of Ephraim as found in John 11:54: "Because...
Standing Up To The Christian Bullies Part 1
Standing Up to the Christian Bullies Part 1 Commentary on "Hebrew Roots Heresy" Facebook Page One of the posts on this site rails upon Hebraic Roots advocating Christian believers being Torah Observant. This post went out of its way to insist that the New Testament...
Sabbath Thoughts 5–Standing up to the Christian Bullies Part 1
Calendar--March 8, 2015--16th Day of the 12th Biblical Month 6014 (aka: Shevat 5775) This past week, according to Rood's "The Chronological Gospels--The Life and 70-Week Ministry of Yeshua Messiah," Lazarus is raised from the dead on Purim. Recorded in John 11:17-53...
Two of Purim’s Greatest Secrets
Happy Purim! Well, here we are in the Month of March which translates to the 12th Biblical Month or the Month of Adar as recorded on the Rood “Astronomically and Agriculturally Corrected Biblical Hebrew Calendar.” At the time of this post it will be the beginning of...
Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections 4–7 Reasons Why Hebraic Roots Over Mainstream Christianity
Calendar--March 1, 2015 This past week, according to Rood's "The Chronological Gospels--The Life and 70-Week Ministry of Yeshua Messiah," Miriam and Martha sent emissaries to Yeshua to report on the dire situation of their brother Lazarus. Passage found in John...
Why Hebraic Roots–An Ongoing Debate–Post 1
Why Hebraic Roots The Messianic/Hebraic Roots of the Christian Faith focuses on what the Father truly has to say to us. Thus, in order to understand what it is the Father has to say to us, it is vital that we somehow come to a place in our lives, existence, etc.,...
Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections 3–Dealing with Naysayers
Calendar--February 21, 2015 Renewed moon was sighted over Israel--New moon sighted from Jerusalem on Feb 20, 2015 by Gil Ashendorf at 5:54pm and Devorah Levine at 5:57pm. The photo at the top of this message was taken by Devorah Levine from Jerusalem.We will be...
Grieve the Holy Spirit?
Don't cause grief to God's Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. (Eph 4:30 CJB) It comes down to us simply giving in to the leading of the Ruach Kodesh in every aspect of our lives. Things are not always going to go...
Doctrine of Baptisms
Doctrine of Baptisms Having just posted the latest episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections where my focus was on baptism or the Doctrine of Baptisms as mentioned in Hebrews 6, a full day later I'm just as fired up about this topic as I was when I recorded and...
Sabbath Thoughts #2
Sabbath Thoughts #2--Baptism and Teachers Calendar--February 14, 2015--the West is celebrating St. Valentine's Day 24th Day of the 11th Biblical Month 6014 (aka: Shevat 5775) Upcoming Feasts and Messianic Celebrations Purim--Est. 03/06/2015 or 14th day of the 12th...
TL-46-Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections–Who’s Your Daddy?
Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections for February 7, 2015 Calendar 11th Biblical Month 6014, 17th day Upcoming Feasts and Messianic Celebrations Astronomically & Agriculturally Corrected Biblical Hebrew Calendar--Michael Rood Firstfruits--Est. 04/12/2015, or 22nd...
TL 45-We Must Deal with the Stronghold in our Life
We Must Deal with the Stronghold in our Life The Challenge--Causes of Strongholds What is a stronghold? The true, exegetical explanation of strongholds as I've learned this past Sabbath through Arthur's message and my own studies of the chapter has completely...
Yeshua teaches in the Dead Sea Valley During the Winter of 27 CE–Part 1–Prayer and the Disciple of Messiah
My Torah studies have stopped for a time to examine portions of the Gospel that correlate to this time of the year as it relates to the Creator's Calendar. During this period, the Master is believed to have been teaching His disciples in the Dead Sea region as winter...
Hanukkah’s Greatest Hidden Secrets Part 2
Part 2--A Case of Anti-Jewish/Anti-Hebrew Sentiments Leading to Christianity's Profound Ignorance On the Keeping of Easter--From the Letter of the Emperor to all those not present at the Council (Found in Eusebius, Vita Const., Lib. iii., 18-20) Jude 1:4 speaks to...
Deuteronomy 7:8–The Everlasting Love of Yehovah–Part 1
My Torah studies have brought me to Deuteronomy 7:8 which reads thusly (by the way, I attached verse 7 to verse 8 to ensure a complete thought and complete sentence): CJB Deuteronomy 7:7 ADONAI didn't set his heart [His love-chashaq] on you or choose you because you...
Torah Living 44–Hanukkah’s Greatest Secrets, Part 1–Context, context, context
I posted this audio blog episode specifically for our sister site "It's Not As You Perceive." I was led to post it here for your review as well. I realize that many of you who are of the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Community might be familiar with the context. But I hope,...
The Love of a Father for His Creation
My Torah studies brought me to Deuteronomy 7: 8 this morning and the passage reads accordingly: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you...
Torah Living-Episode 43–5 Reasons to Observe Hanukkah (and Reject Christmas)
Many in the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Community reject Hanukkah as a legitimate time of observance and celebration. The primary reasons are that Hanukkah is not one of the mandated Feasts of Yehovah and that Hanukkah is not found in our Bibles. Both of these are sound...
In Yehovah’s Eyes, Size Doesn’t Matter
Continuing my Torah studies, I've come to Deuteronomy 7:7 &8: 7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would...
Torah Living Episode 42–The Oneness of Yehovah–A Salvation Issue?
Dt. 6 speaks to the oneness/uniqueness of Yehovah and the love the nation must have for Yehovah. This is the basis of the Hebrew Faith. This mitzvah is not only central to the Hebrew Faith but also the Faith once delivered. All indications are that it is this creed....
The Shema is NOT a Precursor to the Trinity
Read each of these translations of Deuteronomy 6:4 and see for yourself how the Shema (incorrectly referred to by many) states the "oneness of Yehovah:" ASV Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah: (Deu 6:4 ASV) CJB Deuteronomy 6:4 "Sh'ma,...
Deuteronomy 6:5-Shema Yisra’el, Yehovah is Our God is One Yehovah
My Torah studies brought me today to The Shema, which remains the pearl--the gem--the beacon that stands out in the whole of the Holy Writ. It certifies that Yehovah is the one and only True God of the universe. It crushes (in my mind) any doctrine that insists that...
Speak to Us Yehovah as You did at Horeb
Continuing my Torah studies, I come to Deuteronomy 5: 24 (the corresponding Complete Jewish Bible's verse is 21). The CJB reads as follows: and said, 'Here, ADONAI our God has shown us his glory and his greatness! We have heard his voice coming from the fire, and we...
Commandment Keeping, Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Spiritual Side to Torah Observance
My Torah studies has taken me to Deut. 4:41-5:18 Passage Outline: * vss 41-43--Moshe establishes 3 cities of refuge (love of neighbor) * vss 44-49--Taking and marking of the boundaries of the land of promise * 5:1-4--Moshe reminds the people of the covenant that...
Deut 4: 9-40–Avoiding Idolatry at any Cost
As I continue my daily Torah studies, I come to Deuteronomy 4:9-40. What follows is a summary for your reference and review, followed by commentary and application: vs 13--He proclaimed His covenant to you which He ordered you to obey, the Ten Words which He wrote on...
Torah Living Episode 39-Halloween, Christianity (Messianic Believer) and the Bible (Torah)
In the West, this coming Friday--October 31st--will be Halloween. It is a time deemed primarily for children, although many adults take great pleasure in celebrating that night as well. As the day wanes and night settles in, millions of children will emerge from...
America the Beautiful versus Torah
7 For what nation [goy=nation=gentiles] is there so great, who hath God [elohim] so nigh unto them, as the LORD [Yehovah] our God [elohim] is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath *statutes [choq] and judgments...
Keep and Do Torah
6 Keep [shamar-guard, observe, give heed] therefore and do [asah] them; for this is your wisdom [chokmah] and your understanding [biynah] in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding...
Deuteronomy 4:2–Neither Add Nor Subtract from the Word of Yehovah
We've violated this mitzvah on so many levels in our Faith. Catholicism and protestantism alike have added to and taken away from the Word of Yehovah despite His clear admonishment to the contrary (2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye...
Torah Living 37-Yeshua’s Earthly Family
Now the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) was drawing near. Yeshua's brothers said to him, "Depart from here and go into Yehudaea that your other disciples also may see the works that you do. For there is no man that does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be...
Looking for Signs
As my practice, I began my day with prayer followed by reading Torah. I deter from Torah reading, however, when specific events contained in Rood's Chronological Gospels correspond to our Gregorian calendar date. In this case, events 114 and 115 happen to occur on...
Torah Living 34-John the Baptist (Yochanan), Christianity and Sex
My daily travels through the Torah was interrupted last week when Michael Rood's Chronological Gospels, event 100, correlated with September 14, 2014. As has become my practice, I temporarily stopped my Torah studies to examine this passage which is found in Matt....
Torah Living Daily Reflections-8-The Art of Listening (from a Hebraic/Messianic Perspective)
Continuing with my daily foray in to the Torah, we come to Deuteronomy 4:1 which reads as follows: "Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the...
Torah Living Daily Reflections 6–The Kingdom of Yehovah (of Yahweh or of God)
Continuing my daily ritual of Torah Study and incorporating Rood's Chronological Gospels as the dates correspond to the Julian calendar--specifically on August 25, 2014, I came across the passage in Matthew 13:36-43 (recorded as event 86) where Yeshua expounds for His...
Torah Living Daily Reflections 5-When Emotions Get in the Way of Service to Yehovah (Yahweh or God)
Continuing my trek through the Torah, I pick up where I'd left off--at Deuteronomy 3: 23-29. I found here a very touching and emotional passage. Despite what most scholars have to say about Deuteronomy not possibly being written by Moshe, my spirit tells me otherwise....
Torah Living Daily Reflections 4–Yehovah Your God will Fight for You-Don’t be Afraid
My daily Torah study foray took me to D'varim (aka: Deuteronomy) 3:1-22. Here Moshe continues to summarize Yisrael's conquest of the promised land in detail. By now, Moshe is 120-years old. The generation of Israelis that left Egypt in the great Exodus had all but...
Torah Living Daily Reflections 3–Following Messiah is not for Everyone
Continuing my foray into the life and 70-day ministry of Yeshua HaMashiach through Rood's Chronological Gospels, today's corresponding passage or event was found in Matthew 8:18-27 (also mark 4:35-41 and Luke 8:22-25). The passage reads as follows: "When Yeshua saw...
Torah Living Daily Reflections 2–Parables and Prophecy
Continuing on my in my reading of the date-sensitive, corresponding passages of the Rood Chronological Gospels, I came across an excellent example of the Master use of parable to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. I picked up right after the parable of the tares in...
Torah Living Daily Reflections 1–The Sabbath–True Torah Observance versus Our Own Preconceived Notions
A practice that I've begun following of late is incorporating the Michael Rood Chronological Gospels into my regimen of Torah Study. I do this following the Rood Astronomically & Agriculturally Corrected Biblical Hebrew Calendar and looking at the corresponding...
Torah Living 33–The Age Old Problem of New Wine in Old Wineskins
Continuing on with the inclusion of Michael Rood's Chronological Gospels and its date-sensitive corresponding passages in addition to my daily Torah studies, I came to the passage in the chronology where the Master responded to a question as to why His disciples did...
Post Sabbath Reflections for August 16–Faith, Spiritual Gifts and Personal Testimony
* Shabbat Night Live--Michael Rood and The Ark of the Covenant--Into the Wilderness * Michael continues on the subject of discovering the location of the Ark of the Covenant--sets the foundation of His coming in to the truth about the end times. He picked up from last...
A Case for Eating Out on the Sabbath or Not
A practice that I've begun following of late is incorporating the Michael Rood Chronological Gospels into my regimen of Torah Study. I do this following the Rood Astronomically & Agriculturally Corrected Biblical Hebrew Calendar and looking at the corresponding...
Torah Living Episode 28–The Israel-Arab Conflict and the Disciple of Yeshua
If you have been keeping up with news of late, you should be aware of the conflict that wages on between the Palestinian peoples and Israel. You may recall that this all started about a month ago--June 12th to be exact--when 3 Israeli teenagers were abducted by...
Vows–Where Should a Believer Stand on this Issue? (Torah Living 26)
I bet you've heard this before: I swear to God I did or didn't... How about: I solemnly swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth...so help me God. Hilary tells me of this one from her youth: truth that God loves? (simply saying, are you telling the...
Torah Living 25–Freedom
Having observed (to some slight degree) the U.S. holiday of Independance Day this past 4th of July, the concept of "freedom" came to my mind. Indeed, the U.S. celebrates its freedom from British rule every 4th of July and has done so since the year 1776. We all know...
Yeshua the Light of the World (Torah Living Episode 24)
So this past Sabbath while listening to some great Messianic teachings from some of the world's best Messianic teachers, I was taken by the passage in John where the Master described Himself as being the "light of the world." John records the Master as thus: "I am the...
Demons Once Again Reveal Themselves through a Ouija Board Game
Just when the 21st century western world has relegated demons and the topic of demon possession to the primary domain of fictional books and blockbuster movies, comes a story from the “Daily Mail” that reminds the spiritual minded of us that demons and demon...
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