Overcoming the Cares of Life–STAR-94
Overcoming the Cares of Life
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 living that consume and occupy much of our focus. I would say that jobs, careers, children, relationships; issues and things of everyday life that crop-up out of nowhere like car repairs, illnesses, financial problems, the daily grind of tasks and responsibilities, all fit the bill for what I mean when I refer to the cares of modern-day 21st century life.
The cares of this world, or the cares of this life, are those things—those events, conditions, activities and aspects of life–that “choke-out” the delivered Word of our Elohim that should be operating in each of our lives and that cause us to be “unfruitful.”
The Spirit that is dwelling within each of us tells us that we must not allow the cares of this world to overtake, control or hinder our walk with Messiah. Nevertheless, the cares of life have disproportionately more occasion than naught to overtake, control and hinder our walk with Messiah; and that’s just not the way our life in Messiah should ever be. Unfortunately, the vast majority of us are too tied and influenced by our flesh to not be a constant victim to the cares of this world. What did Master say: “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41)?”
The Cares of Life Embodied in the Parable of the Sower
The concept of the cares of life is in great part embodied in “The Parable of the Sower.” Although primarily addressing the various states of would-be believers in receipt of the delivered Word of Yahuah, I believe that the principles contained in this parable certainly apply to our topic at hand.
Consider the parable of the sower:
The same day went Yahoshua out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Mat 13:1-9 KJV)
Verse 7 of this passage provides us a slight glimpse into the detrimental nature of the cares of life. Master contends, as we will more clearly see explained in verse 22, that the cares of this life have the natural tendency of “choking-out” the spiritual life of a would-be believer. Let’s continue reading:
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.1
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
(Mat 13:18-23 KJV)
Clearly Master understood how the cares of this life or of this world can adversely affect the life of any would be believer or disciple of His.
So in what forms and influences do the cares of life take?
- Relationships (i.e., marital; work; community; faith community; business; and family)
- Our day-to-day responsibilities
- Our finances
- Our health or the health concerns of loved ones
- Careers
- The material aspects of life, according to the NET Study Bible
- According to Master, even the deceitfulness of riches
Is it no wonder why so many of us in the Faith suffer so many problems and are constantly marginalized and made ineffective by these situations? Individually and collectively, these are focus and time consuming elements.
The Cares of Life and the Sermon on the Mount
The concept of the cares of this world or the cares of life and how it detracts from our daily focus and walk is gloriously touched upon, although not mentioned by name by our Master, in the famously named: Sermon on the Mount. Although taught extensively in the Sunday Schools and pulpits of our Christian denominational past, most of us remember or focus on the very first portion of this amazing teaching where Master goes through the list of kingdom traits: meekness, poorness of spirit, humbleness, teachableness, righteousness, mercifulness, peacemakers and purity of heart; all essential traits for the disciple of Messiah. Nevertheless, possessing and living out such traits are easily overshadowed by the cares of this life. And I believe that Master inherently knew this; He knew the audience that sat before Him on that hillside; He knew the lifestyles and the difficulties and hardships that the average Palestinian Jew of the first-century faced each day of their lives: widespread poverty; political and military oppression from the Romans and a corrupt Herodian governorship; oppression from their religion, Judaism; and of course every conceivable socio-economic ill and corruption one could or would expect in any bustling city or state. Life was amazingly difficult for the average Palestinian Jew and our 21st-century life challenges would easily pale in comparison.
Sakari Häkkinen is a professor of New Testament Studies at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. As it relates to the socio-economic system of the first-century Palestinian Jew, he writes in his research paper entitled: Poverty in the first-century Galilee:
The social and economic policy of the Roman Empire could well be summarised in a phrase: ‘the Roman system of inequality’ (Garnsey & Saller 1987:125).1 Governing the entire Mediterranean world, Rome maintained its domination through judicial institutions developing legislation concerning property ownership and labour control – and through the use of brutal force. The whole system was based heavily on the inequality of people, which was thought to be either natural or at least inevitable, in order to secure peace and stability in the society.
For the Roman State, the provinces were a main source of revenue through taxes. A small number of Romans made large fortunes as provincial governors, tax collectors and moneylenders in the provinces, in the imperial service under the emperors. There were rich Romans who acquired extensive domains in the provinces, which they normally held as absentee landlords (Finley 1999:158). Most of the population of the empire lived either in rural areas or small towns. Only 10% – 15% of the population lived in cities that had more than 10 000 inhabitants. This means that some 80% – 90% got their living from agriculture and that any large-scale commercial or manufacturing activity was rare. There was no middle class at all. The majority of people in an agrarian society like the Roman Empire were peasants, living in villages that surrounded a city. The ancient city was largely parasitic on its surrounding villages. Cities extracted agricultural surpluses through taxes and rents. The benefits they supplied were cultic services and administration (Kloppenborg Verbin 2000:234).2
Interestingly enough, Yeshua, the brilliant teacher and Master that He is, addressed this socio-economic quagmire head-on:
24 No one can be slave to two masters; for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first. You can’t be a slave to both God and money.
25 “Therefore, I tell you, don’t worry about your life – what you will eat or drink; or about your body – what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds flying about! They neither plant nor harvest, nor do they gather food into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they are?
27 Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why be anxious about clothing? Think about the fields of wild irises, and how they grow. They neither work nor spin thread,
29 yet I tell you that not even Shlomo in all his glory was clothed as beautifully as one of these.
30 If this is how God clothes grass in the field – which is here today and gone tomorrow, thrown in an oven – won’t he much more clothe you? What little trust you have!
31 “So don’t be anxious, asking, ‘What will we eat?,’ ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘How will we be clothed?’
32 For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all.
33 But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Don’t worry about tomorrow – tomorrow will worry about itself! Today has enough tsuris (i.e., problems; challenges) already!
(Mat 6:24-34 CJB)
The Difficulties in Gaining Control of the Cares of Life
I would not be so presumptuous to suggest that Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua will not go through stuff or experience the deleterious effects that the cares of this world can have on Father’s elect. We all experience such things and we, depending upon what level of spiritual maturity we find ourselves, handle the situations accordingly or consistent with our level of spiritual maturity.
Nevertheless, we should be compelled to learn and grow from our clashes with the cares of life. For if we continue day-after-day, month-after-month, and year-after-year to allow the cares of life to overtake us and compromise our effectiveness as Yeshua’s disciples, it would seem that we may “have a problem Houston.”
The Weakness of the Flesh Dictates How We Deal with Life
Consider for a moment this nugget—this construct of truth if you will. The cares of life, although seemingly pervasive and at times overwhelming, are fluid and in many cases fleeting. They’re here today and gone tomorrow. Nevertheless, along comes another issue or element to consume us and we find ourselves back in the same rut yet again. The carnival ride of life—of this world—generally has no time and place whereby we can get off and get our feet back on solid ground. Indeed, off to the side, there is a door marked in big red letters—EXIT—but we tend to get so caught up with the intensity of the ride we are on—that is the overwhelming nature of the experience that has imprisoned our thoughts, hearts and bodies–that we’re too “afraid” (for lack of a better descriptor) to simply demand to be let off that ride/experience and then take the exit that leads back to our life in Messiah.
Yet the pursuit of money, careers, fame and fortune often leads to temptations, perversions and personal and spiritual destruction. This of course is not to say that we should not work hard to provide for our families. Our efforts to advance in life must be managed by Father—He will provide for all our needs according to His riches in glory by Yeshua Messiah (Phillipians 4:19.)
Caustic and troublesome relationships will consume and rob us of our joy. Yes, I’m talking about troublesome marriages and other family relationships. Somehow those things must be moderated and subjugated to the will of Father. The longer we allow those relationships to eclipse our focus on Him and consume our spirit, the harder it it is to recover. I’m speaking from experience here. Unhealthy relationships are poisonous and detrimental to one’s walk with Messiah. They must somehow be dealt with.
Politics, financial difficulties, health concerns: they all must be dealt with once and for all through prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21).
Think about it: the specific cares that you and I may be dealing with today will likely become non-issues and forgotten in the days, months and years ahead. Everything that we worry over and stress about will inevitably come to its proper end in due time. Half the time we don’t even have control over those cares in the first place. Yet at the end of the day, Yahuah remains the only eternal constant in the universe. Somehow we have to be able to put life into its proper perspective and not allow the troublesome things, issues and people in life to get in the way of our eternal destiny and calling. Again, we inherently know this to be Truth, yet so many of us are incapable of actually realizing and living this thing out as we know that it should be. Thus it stands to reason that the one thing that hinders us from living out this Truth and putting life into its proper perspective is the weakness of our flesh. Our spirit-woman or man tells us: you can do this; you can overcome, but our carnal nature tells our spirit that life is just too difficult and impossible to overcome.
Who can forget the Garden of Gethsemane scene where Master was enduring the greatest internal struggles of His earthly life and ministry: He was dealing with the reality of His impending ignominious torture and death and His humanity had begun to overshadow His Spirit. His companions had all but checked out over by the way, succumbing to the weaknesses of their flesh and falling fast asleep, leaving Master to languish in his internal struggles all alone. Yes, even Master had to deal with the cares of this world in one form or another. The passage reads:
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
(Mat 26:36-41 KJV)
Master overcame his struggle simply by turning it over to the will of His Father. He said: “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
The example painted by the disciples: they succumbed to their flesh and slept when their Master needed their support the most.
The Cares of Life and Operating in the Spirit
Sometimes we just don’t want to face the reality of our flesh and subjugate it to the will of our Father. Is it a question of faith? Or is it a question of us feeling more comfortable living out our present situation than relegating those cares to the will and control of Father? I know that many times, when I’m going through the slings and arrows of life, I feel as though I can handle the situation better than Father can—which is a stupid thing to feel, but do not our actions reveal the reality of our spirit—whatever spirit we are working under at the moment?
Operating in the Spirit is an entirely new and uncertain realm for most of us. We can’t see, smell, taste or hear in this realm. Our natural senses do not comfortably serve us in the spirit realm as they do in the carnal realm.
Yet, in order for us to overcome the adverse affects of this world and of life in general, we absolutely must make that transition from the carnal to the spiritual, with the ultimate aim of the Spirit realm being the default realm that we choose to operate in.
A decision has to be made at some point in our walk: will it be about Him or will it be about me? We all know what the correct answer must be: it must be about Him. Ultimately our purpose in the whole scheme of things is to deny self and set out on that march—that race—that journey—that transcends any of the great adventures of man throughout history. The cares of this life cannot impede this journey; for this is a calling that transcends those cares. And you know what: when we are able to properly deal with the cares of life through the Holy Spirit (i.e., the Ruach Kodesh) operating in our lives, we become exceptional husbands, wives, fathers, children, bosses, employees, neighbors and people. I desperately want that for my life.
Paul wrote:
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision (i.e., the mutilators; the false circumcisers).
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
(Phi 3:2-16 KJV)
How Do We Overcome the Cares of Life
So I asked myself: how do I overcome this thing? How do I overcome the cares of this life? It’s one thing to know and understand that I must pray, fast and power through life, but it’s an entirely different thing to actually live this out and not succumb to this fleshly tendency to allow the cares take over. There must be an overriding fix to this perpetual problem; some secret but powerful method to overcoming life’s many challenges; to staying focused; to defaulting to living in the Spirit as opposed to living in the flesh. What is that? What could that be?
As I searched the Bible for answers to these questions, the Spirit led me to what I believe to be the answer (or at least a potential answer): that being adopting, maintaining and exercising “The Mind of Messiah.”
The Mind of Messiah—A Must for Overcoming the Cares of Life
The “Mind of Messiah” (in the KJV, “Mind of Christ) is a concept found but one place in the Bible, at the end of a dissertation on the subject of “wisdom,” by the Apostle Paul. The passage reads:
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.1
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.1
(1Co 2:6-16 KJV)
Concepts such as wisdom, the wisdom of God, the world tomorrow, the spirit of this world, the Spirit of God, man’s wisdom, spiritual things, the natural man, spiritual discernment, and of course, the mind of Messiah are essential to our spiritual wellbeing and our ability to overcome the cares of life.
Closing Thoughts and Reflections
The concept of adopting, maintaining and exercising a “Mind of Messiah” is not a concept that I would dare to explore and reflect upon during the remaining moments of this episode—the content is just too vast and important for me to rush through it. So what I would like to do is stop here and pick this topic up next episode—Abba willing. That way I can cover more ground without extending the length of time for this episode further, as well as it will provide me a few days to allow my spirit to connect and understand this concept even better than I already do.
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● Sonship
We Must Operate at Abraham’s Trusting Faith Level-So How Do We Get There? STAR 12
Today’s Torah Reading discussion will touch upon a great many themes that include operating in a trusting faith; the righteousness of Elohim; obedience to Yah’s instructions; divine protections and rewards; and the wisdom of challenging or questioning Yehovah.
Our Example of Abraham Being a Friend of God-STAR-11
The circumcised heart of an individual—contrite and broken and humble in spirit—is the one thing that captures Yah’s attention and places him or her in contention for being chosen as His friend and ultimately His child. If our heart ain’t right, we ain’t going to be chosen to enter into an obedient covenant relationship with Yehovah, much less a friend or child of His.
The Righteousness of God Rests Upon the Faithfulness of Yeshua Messiah
Indeed, the Righteousness of God is the place where faith and obedience come together through the Person and Ministry of Yahoshua Messiah. His faithful obedience to Yehovah becomes our faithful obedience, even unto death.
The Abrahamic Covenant Holds the Key to God’s Plan of Salvation-STAR 10
The Abrahamic Covenant is the essential element of this week’s Torah Reading. We find in our discussion that the Abrahamic Covenant holds the key to God’s Plan of Salvation. Shabbat Shalom.
Hanukkah-Truth and Spirituality Versus Traditions of the Rabbis
Many within our Faith Community will be celebrating Hanukkah this week. But is their celebration aligned with the Truth and Spiritual Reality of the Holiday or rather on the Traditions that revolve around it.
The Towers and Nimrods of our Life that Separate us From God
This week’s Torah Reading is based upon the Tower of Babel story. This story may cause us to reflect and think about those towers in our lives that cause us to be separated from God.
As the Days of Noah Were…Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 8
What are the implications for us of Yeshua’s prophecy that the world He would return to would be as the days of Noah were? We discuss, think and reflect. Shabbat Shalom.
The Difference Between Faith and Belief-The Righteousness of God is the Place Where Obedience and Faith Intersect-Part 3
In our continuing exploration of Shaul’s teaching on the Righteousness of God, we answer the critical question: Is there a difference between biblical “faith” and “belief? Both terms are mentioned as important elements to our receiving of God’s Righteousness.
We Serve a Covenant-Keeping Life-Giving God-STAR-7
In this week’s Torah Reading, we discuss the Truth about the Noahide Laws; the true significance of the rainbow; and the character of God that promotes life and covenant among humanity. Come study and fellowship with us. Shabbat Shalom.
And God Remembered Noah-Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections 6
This week’s Torah Reading is the story of the saving of Noah and his family brought about through God keeping covenant and manifesting His righteousness. Come study with us. Shabbat Shalom.
The Righteousness of God is the Place Where Obedience and Faith Intersect-Part 2-The Righteous Shall Live By Faith
Paul declared to the Romans that the just shall live by faith. What exactly did he mean by that statement, especially as it relates to our walk in Messiah? We discuss
How to Please God in Perilous Times-Lessons from the Life of Noah-STAR-5
Noah pleased God in one of the most wicked periods of human history. What was it about Noah that pleased God? His story is the key to our pleasing God in these perilous times and we discuss in this installment of TMTO STAR.
Forbidden Messianic Titles and Roles for the Body of Messiah
This is "Forbidden Messianic Titles and Roles for the Body of Messiah." And this discussion is within the purview of the central theme for this ministry: "Yeshua-focused Torah Living." We are all about promoting the Netzari Faith that was once delivered to the...
What it Means to Walk with God? STAR-4
Today’s discussion is entitled: “What it Means to Walk with God;” it is a Messianic Discussion of the 4th Parashah in the 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. Our discussion text for this Shabbat will be Genesis 5:1-6:8. I will be reading and commenting from the...
The Righteousness of God is the Place Where Obedience and Faith Intersect-Part 1-What is the Righteousness of God?
This is “The Righteousness of God is the Place Where Obedience and Faith Intersect—Part 1—What is the Righteousness of God?” Pose the Central Questions Inevitably, the central question facing Messianics is how does one balance a life of Torah-honoring with that of...
The Heart of True Worship-STAR-3-A Messianic Discussion of Genesis 4:1-26
Today’s discussion is entitled: “The Very Heart of True Worship;” it is a Messianic Discussion of the 3rd Parashah in the 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. Our discussion text for this Shabbat will be Genesis 4:1-26. I will be reading and commenting from the...
Who is to Blame for the Sin of the World? Adam or Eve?” STAR-2-A Discussion of Genesis 2:4-3:24
INTRODUCTION This is Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections 2—A Discussion of Genesis 2:4-3:24—Parashah 2 in our 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. Since the rabbis did not have a hand in naming the individual Torah Readings in the 3-year Reading Cycles, for the sake of reference,...
The Call to True Biblical Repentance is to Teshuva
A Question of Kingdom Preparedness This was a teaching I delivered to a Sabbath-keeping group online this past Sukkot. I've entitled it "The Call to True Biblical Repentance is to Teshuva." This teaching is actually the firstfruits, if you will, of an overall...
Made in the Image of God-Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections on Genesis 1:1-2:3
"In the beginning Yehovah created..." appears to be a subordinate or supportive statement as opposed to an independent clause. Assuming subordinate/supportive is accurate, the clause is better rendered: "When Yehovah began to create the heavens and the earth..."...
[If] The Law Does Not Save—[Then] What Good Is It–A Messianic Discussion of Romans 3:9-20
Goal Today’s installment of The Messianic Torah Observer is entitled: “[If] The Law Does Not Save—[Then] What Good Is It--A Messianic Discussion of Romans 3:9-20.” Our goal for today’s discussion is to draw from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the first-century Roman...
What Right Does God Have to Punish Anyone? A Messianic Discussion of Romans 3:5-8
Goal: This is a continuation and an expansion of the diatribe the apostle began back in the second half of the second chapter of Romans which I’ve entitled: “What Right Does God Have to Punish Anyone—A Messianic Discussion of Romans 3:5-8.” And our goal for this...
Let God Be True and Every Man a Liar–A Messianic Discussion of Romans 3:3-4
Goal: This is “Let God Be True and Every Man a Liar—A Messianic Discussion of Romans 3:3-4.” It will be a resumption of our examination and discussion of Romans chapter three (3), picking up where we left off from the last installment of our overarching Paul and...
The Oracles of God-The Jewish Advantage-A Messianic Discussion of Romans 3:1-2
The Oracles of God-The Jewish Advantage-A Discussion of Romans 3:1-2 Today’s discussion is entitled: “The Oracles of God—The Jewish Advantage--A Discussion of Romans 3:1-2. This will be a continuation of our long-running Paul and Hebrew Roots Series. Looking...
Paul on Physical Circumcision-A Question of One’s Jewishness Part 4
In today's post we answer the questions: Is physical circumcision still a valid commandment for men of faith to keep and obey? What advantage is there to physical circumcision? Synopsis of the Preceding Installments to the Series Over the course of the last three...
Marriage and Divorce According to Torah Part 2–A Discussion of Parashah 144
Marriage and Divorce According to Torah Part 2—A Discussion of Parashah 144 This is the second post or second half of the overall discussion I have for you regarding this week’s Torah Reading of Deuteronomy 24:1-4. In this post we will cover the teachings of Y’shua...
Marriage and Divorce According to Torah Part 1–A Discussion of Parashah 144
Marriage and Divorce According to Torah Part 1—A Discussion of Parashah 144 Although our Torah Reading for today, Parashah 144, covers Deuteronomy 24:1–25:19, I was led by the content to focus only on the first four-verses of the entire reading. The focus of these...
What Loving One Another Looks Like–The Morality and Love of Torah-Parashah 143
What Loving One Another Looks Like--The Morality and Love of Torah-Parashah 143—Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections Our Torah Reading This Week—Parashah 143—Is Found in Deuteronomy 22:8-23:25 The physical should always be followed when applicable, but also the...
What is the True State of our Worship?–Parashah 139 Discussion and Study
What is the True State of our Worship?--Parashah 139 Discussion and Study In today’s installment we will be discussing Parashah 139—which is contained in Deuteronomy 17:1-20. So grab your bible and maybe a cup of coffee or tea, and let’s get into our study of Yah’s...
A Sit-Down Conversation with Dr. Miles R. Jones on the Survival of the Hebrew Gospels
Greek Primacy vs. Hebrew We have been indoctrinated and taught that the original Gospel texts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and Revelation were all written in ancient Greek. But is this in fact true? For one must rationalize that the writers of these texts were...
Round and Round the Asherah Pole We Go–Parashah 138
This Week’s Torah Reading This week’s Torah Reading, Parashah 138, is contained in Deuteronomy 16:13-22. My ruach eye (that is, my spirit eye) seemed focused primarily on Deuteronomy 16:21-22. These two verses has to do with, yet again, another admonishment to avoid...
Paul on Physical Circumcision for God’s People–A Question of One’s Jewishness Part 3
Opening Remarks on Paul on the Question of Physical Circumcision for God’s People In this installment of the Messianic Torah Observer, we return to our Paul and Hebrew Roots Series and to our series within a series entitled: “A Question of One’s Jewishness.” Today,...
God’s Food Laws-Tithing-Walking in Obedient Covenant Relationship with God-Parashah 136
This Week’s Torah Reading is found in Deuteronomy 12:20-15:6. I’ve entitled this discussion: Gods Food Laws-Tithing-Walking in Obedient Covenant Relationship with God-Parashah 136 Personal Perspective—Opening Remarks Our obedient covenant relationship with the...
Racism and Faith–What Walking in Torah With a Circumcised Heart Looks Like—Parashah 134
How Yah views race and skin color This past week’s interaction with Faith and Race. Not a direct interaction, but an interaction that directly affected friends of this ministry. And these friends ended up having a very troubling experience with a member a black...
Humility-Pride-Remembering-God’s Grace and God’s Faithfulness—Parashah 133
Our Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 9:1-29—Humility-Pride-Remembering-God’s Grace and Faithfulness—Parashah 133 Father’s Faithfulness Stands Despite Our Debased Nature How are we to understand Father’s faithfulness towards us despite our incessant propensity to...
Who and What is Yeshua Messiah-My Personal Perspective on the Person of Yeshua Messiah
Recently, a dear sister discovered this ministry through our website, www.themessianictorahobserver.org. She reached out to me via a couple email messages. And she posed the question: Who or what I believe Yeshua Messiah to be? And she prefaced her question by...
Yeshua-The Bread of Life-Torah Reading-132
Introduction to Parashah 132—Yeshua, the Bread of Life Our Parshah this week, under the 3-year Torah Reading cycle, is found in Deuteronomy 8:1-20. The most prominent verse in the reading is verse 3: “Thou shalt not live by bread alone, but by every Word that...
Blaspheming the Name of God-Part-2 of the Series A Question of One’s Jewishness
Picking-Up Where We Left Off What I want to do this week is to pick-up from where we left off from the last installment of this series within a series which was entitled: "You Are Called a Jew" and move on through verses 19 through 24 in this installment. And...
The Shema-God’s Word Dwelling Within Us-Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections-Parashah 131
Today's Torah Reading Shabbat Shalom beloved of the Most High and sister and brother of the true Faith once delivered. Today's Torah Reading or Parshah is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-7:26; Zechariah 14:1-9; and Mark 12:28-34. But given the content rich nature of this...
Hear O Israel The Statutes and Ordinances Which I Speak-Thoughts and Reflections on Parashah 130-Deuteronomy 5:1-6:3
What Yehovah Expects of His Children This week's Torah Reading (aka parshah), found in Deuteronomy 5:1-6:3, is a reiteration of the 10-Commandments by Moshe to the generation slated to enter the Land of Promise. And along with that iteration comes clarification as to...
Heeding Zophar’s Wisdom About Yehovah
Job: A Story With Many Complexities You know, the story of Job is not by any stretch of the imagination an easy one to work through. Theres just so many complex literary and spiritual textures and concepts woven into the baseline story. The Cepher of Job is in part a...
Can I Get a Witness Up In Here?
A Story of Witness and Commitment to YHVH Picking up from my last blog-post taken from the Cepher of Y’hoshua (aka Joshua), I wish to now turn our attention to chapter 22, verses 10-34. And what we find here in this passage of Holy Writ is an amazing but awesome...
The Great Commitment to Kingdom Living by God’s Elect
My daily Torah studies this morning brought me to the Cepher of Y'hoshua (aka Joshua), chapter 22. By the end of my studies this morning, I was compelled to ask myself, what is the level of commitment I had to walking and living Kingdom. You'll soon see what I mean....
You Are Called a Jew-Part 1 of the Series: A Question of One’s Jewishness
Goal Today we continue our exposition into some of the Apostle Paul's most challenging and hard to understand writings and teachings, having just concluded in our previous post a discussion on the apostle's naming the "gospel" as "my gospel." (I would humbly...
The Gospel According to the Apostle Paul
Our New Challenging Pauline Passage--Romans 2:16--A Seemingly Bold and Curt Statement From the Apostle. Our focus passage, or more precisely, our focus verse today is Romans 2:16. And we find when we read this verse a rather bold and seemingly curt statement...
Are You Under the Law? Part 4 of the Paul on Being Under the Law Series
A Culmination of the Previous 3-Installments Today's discussion is a culmination of the previous 3-installments of this series within a series where we'll finally answer the question: What did Paul mean by one who is under the Law as mentioned in Romans 6:14-15. And...
Paul on Being Under the Law Part 3–Keeping Passover 2021 and Sin Consciousness
1 Corinthians 5:7-Get rid of the old hametz, so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach lamb, the Messiah, has been sacrificed (CJB). Yeshua is our Pesach How appropriate for this time of year wouldn't you say. And...
Paul on Being Under the Law-Part 2-Torah Meets Grace
Goal What I would like to do in today's installment of TMTO is to lay the ground-work or set-the table if you will in our gaining as complete an understanding of what the Apostle Shaul (aka the Apostle Paul) meant when he wrote to his Roman Messianic readers that "sin...
Torah Readings and Studies-Deuteronomy 13–Beware of False Prophets
Prophets That Enticed Departure From Covenant A most timely Torah Reading this past Sabbath I must say: Deuteronomy 13:1-5, which addressed the issue of false prophets amongst Yah's set-apart people. This mitzvah (or commandment) was not so much against those who...
The False Hope of Imitation Christianity
If you've been called and chosen, this message is for you. But it's not for everybody. Questions: What does John 8:32?--You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free. We are to get our information from Scripture. Do you know what you worship? What's the...
Overcoming Obstacles to Faith-Part 3-Learning From Ancient Israel’s Mistakes of Not Finding Contentment
Picking-up From Part 2 of the Series My goal in this message is to pick-up where I left off from my previous two messages on overcoming obstacles to belief. Quick Review of Parts 1 and 2 In Part 1 of this series, we looked at overcoming...
Overcoming Obstacles to Belief Part 2-Learning From Ancient Israel’s Mistakes of Murmuring/Complaining
Goal: Last week I presented to you an overview of the important differences that exists between believing IN YHVH verses believing YHVH and how life can and does create obstacles to our believing Yah. Also recall that I discussed two behaviors that proved to...
Overcoming Obstacles to Belief–Part 1: Learning From Ancient Israel’s Mistakes
Goal: What I intend to address in my message today is something that I believe is crucial for our (1) making it into the Kingdom of Yah; (2) successfully walking out our Faith in Spirit and in Truth; and (3) living the life abundant that Yeshua our Master...
Should Messianic Torah Observers Keep Thanksgiving? The Re-Broadcast
Should Messianic Torah Observers Keep Thanksgiving? In this installment, we reflect upon Torah-Keeping Believers in Yeshua celebrating Thanksgiving: Is it a terrible reminder of genocide that New World Settlers brought upon Native American Indigenous Peoples, or a day...
Lashon Hara-The Sin You Never Knew You Were Committing-Torah Reading Numbers 12:1-15
Verse-by-Verse Discussion Miriam and Aharon Engage in Subversive Conversation Verse 1—Two of Moshe's family members, Miriam and Aharon, engaged in some subversive conversation against Moshe. Moshe apparently married an Ethiopian woman which seemed to outrage the...
Finding Contentment in our Faith–Torah Reading-Numbers 11:1-35
Finding Contentment in our Faith--Torah Reading--Numbers 11:1-35 Verse 1--The peoples' complaining or murmuring (complaining about their hardships openly in Taberah or The Place of Burning) displeased Yah which led to His wrath coming down upon the people...
What Did Paul Mean by Being Under the Law–Part 1
Goal of this Post “For Yah shows no partiality (that is, Yah shows no favoritism). For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are...
Paul and the LGBTQ Community–A Messianic Perspective
The Indictment Against Homosexuality In our ongoing quest to untangle and clarify some of the more difficult and challenging Pauline writings, (of late making our way through the Book of Romans), I want to next tackle Romans 1:26-27. Now, most of us should be...
Feast of Tabernacles and the Kingdom of God in You
The Feast of Tabernacles and the Kingdom of God (of Yah) in You My goal in delivering this discussion to you here today is to communicate to you another way of looking at and understanding the Kingdom of Yah. Another perspective. Another angle. Another Truth....
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)–A Messianic Torah Observer Perspective
Introducing Yom HaKippurim (aka, Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement) Instead of trying to figure out what the Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur/Yom HaKippurim is about through hearsay, public discourse or opinion, what do you say we delve into the riches of Torah to get...
Yom Teruah’s Greatest Truths and Mysteries (Revealed)
Yom Teruah's Greatest Truths and Mysteries (Revealed) Today I want to expand our understanding of Yom Teruah (aka The Day of the Blowing of Trumpets or simply the Day of Trumpets) from the day being just another one of the 7-annual Feasts of YHVH; just that...
Polygamy and the Bible–A Messianic Perspective
My Interest Piqued In my studies of this past week’s Torah Reading, I was drawn to Deuteronomy 21:15-17. Many modern English bibles generally entitle this passage something akin to “The Right of the Firstborn.” That being said, this short passage really is about the...
Picking Up and Moving Forward With TMTO
Update on TMTO (Special post without any fanfare and promotion)--Where we are today and where we'll be going. Discontinuing Live-Stream and Why. The failure of the Livestream. Non-committal group of individuals. Newsletter failures. Loss of focus on the original...
Torah Reading 48–Shofetim–Judges–Reading Outline
This week's Torah Reading is contained within Deuteronomy 16:1--21:9 and is entitled Shofetim. In English, Shofetim means Judges. If one were summarize the content of this reading I guess it could be described as a discussion of Yah's established civil...
The Righteousness of God Revealed From Faith to Faith—Its True Meaning and Reality for God’s People
Today’s discussion is entitled, “The Righteousness of God Revealed From Faith to Faith—Its True Meaning and Reality for God’s People.” Why The Church Loves This Romans 1:17 Fundamentalists; traditionalists; and evangelicals absolutely love this passage. Why? Because...
Jews Before Gentiles?
Today’s discussion is entitled, “Jews Before Gentiles? How Does that Work?” And the biblical basis for our discussion this evening is found in Romans 1:16 which reads: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation...
Torah Reading 46–Ekev (Because)–A Focus on the Kingdom of God
Highlights and Comments Shalom Saints. This week's Torah Reading is entitled, "Ekev," or "Because." The portion covers Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25. I wish to share with you some of my thoughts and reflections on the many life truths that I drew from my study of this...
To Whom Do You Pray?
Who do you pray to and worship and give thanks? Yeshua? YHVH? Both? Is it Biblical to pray to and worship Yeshua as so many Christians routinely do? In this installment of the Messianic Torah Observer, we will continue our review of the Book of Romans and Paul's...
Messianic Sainthood–Paul and the Book of Romans
Paul Calls His Roman Readers Saints. What Gives? Our next challenging Pauline passage of the Book of Romans is found in chapter 1 verse 7 and it reads as such: "To all those in Rome who are loved by G-d and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from G-d our...
Chevra Kadisha-Honoring the Jewish Dead
An Intriguing Article I recently became intrigued by an article I came across on the "My Jewish Learning" website. The article was entitled: "Chevra Kadisha or Jewish Burial Society." It was written by a Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. And yes: I do from time to time visit...
Guarding the Righteous Heart–The Breastplate of Righteousness–Paul and Hebrew Roots Series
How does the Child of Yah put on and use the Breastplate of Righteousness? Yeshua taught us how and we discuss in detail how to don and use this vital piece of spiritual armor: The Breastplate of Righteousness.
Putting on God’s Image-The Belt of Truth-Part 1 of the Armor of God Series
Ephesians 6:11-18—The Armor of Yah Famous passage of Scripture that most evangelical and fundamental Christians know and understand from a denominational standpoint. In fact, whole ministries have been launched and based upon this passage alone. And the focus seems...
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