Given all the chaos and turmoil that is ongoing in the world today, I was led to talk to you today about duty. Specifically the Messianic duty in the midst of global chaos. Are we as Messianics required to put our two-cents towards fixing the clobal crises that are ongoing round about us?

 Defining Moment in Time

I believe this time in which we are currently living and experiencing to be a defining moment for those of us who are of the True Faith once delivered–Set-apart children of the Most High–Netzarim–Nazarenes. For all that we have endured over the last 4-months for the most part is coaxing/enticingus into making critical decisions regarding our day-to-day lives which can in many circumstances impact (either negatively or positively) our eternal lives and our entry into the Kingdom of Yah.

Society Riding the Wave of Chaos

Society in general (secular), riding the wave crest of the chaos that has pervaded much of the world over the last 4 or more months–the uncertainty–the fear–the weirdness of the various issues related to our health, our government, our national security and our social stability, is demanding we choose a side on the issues of our day. There’s a politicizing of all the issues; there’s a weaponization of all the issues; throw in there a forced compliance to government rule in all these issues. And we who are of Faith, because of how pervasive these issues have become in everyone’s life, are being manipulated into siding with one of several competing sides to these issues, all the while having our constitutional rights to worship the God of Avraham, Yishak and Ya’akov quietly and expertly being stripped away from us.

 Governments-Societies-Community Seeking Trust in Handling the Crises

Our secular governments are encouraging us all to trust in all that they claim to be doing on our behalf and that they have our best interests at heart. Society and local communities are trying to get us to abandon our reliance on YHVH and take up humanistic ideologies and social justice causes; trust in the moral sensibilities and the will of the talking heads that head up our media systems and the top leaders of industrial complexes of the world; see how life should be from their established perspective; all the while ignoring the Godless injustices that continue to transpire/to take place right under their noses. These seek to steer us and control us with an established rhetoric and narrative. And any who would express an opposing perspective is to be ostricized and persecuted by society as a whole. These hate the One True God of Avraham, Yishak and Ya’achov; the Father of our Master and Messiah Yahoshua because His Ways diametrically oppose their ways (the government’s and society’s ways) and the ways of their handlers–their leaders–the globalists–and the globalists’ leaders who are the fallen ones–hasatan–the enemy–the Dragon.

 The Citizens of the World Are Blind

And the terrible tragedy about this whole thing is that the peoples of this world are blindly and ignorantly signing their own death warrants by taking the sides of the enemy. Yes, even our cousins in Christianity and Judaism. For some strange and unfathomable reason, many in both religions have come to believe that their denomination’s ideals and doctrines are aligned with the world’s ideals and doctrines. So no longer is the Christian Church set on winning souls for Christ (which is a bastardization of the Great Commission) but instead to participate in social engineering and lead the call for social justice. Thus, the LGBTQ community is welcomed in much of Christendom today; abortions are an acceptable form of population and birth control; politicians can purchase the votes of its members by simply uttering key phrases and insinuating that they are in fact one of them. All the while no attention is ever given to the injustices (vehemently in violation of Torah) that are commonplace in society: child abuse; abortions; gang violence; elder abuse; domestic violence; black-on-black violence; government corruption; and the list goes on.

Much of Judaism on the other hand appears to be caught up in the pervasive secularism of society. Because YHVH has remained true to His covenant and love for the Jewish people, the Jewish community as a whole has prospered. And being drunk with these immense blessings and enticed into becoming more influential and wealthy, they find themselves in the forefront of much of the evil that society embraces. In fact, many of these are behind the terrible injustices that we hear and read so little about these days; those injustices such as pedophilia; political assassinations , sex slavery, pornography, and the list goes on.

 Current World Crises

Just in the last 4-months, our nation (ie., the United States) has endured a global pandemic; government upheaval; media manipulations of the truth; racial division and violence; attacks on people of Faith; destruction of economy; and many other things that don’t readily come to mind at the moment. And the powers that be are capitalizing on the uncertainties of these perilous times to enslave the minds, hearts and souls of this nation’s people. And I’m certain the same thing is happening in many of the other western nations of this world.

Babylonian Citizens

As ignorant as the average citizen of this world may be as it relates to their understanding of what is really going on around them—all the injustices—all the lies—the manipulations—the evils; etc., they are citizens of Babylon. Indeed, some may not be directly contributing to these injustices and such. But they are supporting these injustices and evils simply by virtue of their refusal to abandon the ways of the world and seek the Kingdom of Yah and Yah’s righteousness.

This world is Babylon. The communities we reside in are essentially jurisdictional prefectures of Babylon. And what we know of Babylon–we who are of Faith—is that it is the antithesis of the Kingdom of YHVH. So hated is Babylon by our Creator that He will mete out terrible judgment upon it and its people in the end times (Rev. 14; 16; 17; 18). Yet the so-called Church appears oblivious to this reality thinking and believing that this country of ours is a Judeo-Christian country that is impervious to judgment.

 Babylon A World System

Folks, Babylon is not simply one country. Babylon is the current world system composed of all the peoples of this world who have not given themselves to YHVH.

As the redeemed of Messiah and of our Creator, we are compelled to take on Yah’s ways in this world. In fact, we are to live separate from the Babylonians. We are to live according to the ways of Yah’s Kingdom as taught to us through Father’s Torah and the teachings of Yeshua Messiah. So we can’t, as a community and as individual Netzari, get involved in the affairs of Babylon. Doing so would violate our charter as emissaries of the Most High.

 Are We Dealing with Spiritual Warfare?

Many within and without our Faith Community will believe within their heart of hearts that all that has and is currently going on around us is a spiritual war–a battle for the hearts and souls of this world and our nation. And to some degree–actually to a rather small degree–I would agree with them. But the truth of the matter is that whenever we read about spiritual warfare in scripture, the context of that warfare is having to do with a battle between God’s people and the enemies of Yah—be they human or spiritual. You see, the world—Babylon–has been bought and paid for by the enemy. The unredeemed or the citizens of Babylon are owned and operated by the enemy. So we are naturally and spiritually separated from them.

 We Are Not Babylonians

And by virtue of our present life situations—that being humans living on this earthly plain–we are forced to live within the confines of Babylon. However, we cannot be Babylonians. We have been called out of Babylon by the Almighty:

Isaiah 48:20—Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, ‘YHVH has redeemed his servant Jacob!’ (Yes, by virtue of our engrafted status as members of the Body of Mashiyach, we are of Jacob, Halleluyah!)

Yochanan the Apostle hears an voice in heaven saying in the end of times: “Come out of her (speaking about Babylon), my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelation 18:4, 5; ESV). 

Because we have been called out of Babylon and we are no longer citizens of Babylon, we have no business placing our noses into Babylonian affairs: be they political or be they socially.

 What Do We Do About Babylon?

Sure, we can and should pray for this nation and for our government leaders that they lead their charges rightly and with wisdom. We can and should pray for the Babylonian that Father will have mercy upon them for their sinful ways and their rejection of Yah and His Way of life. Certainly we are compelled to make disciples for Yeshua Messiah out of the Babylonians in obedience to Master’s Great Commission. But that’s about the extent of our involvement with Babylon.

More than these types of petitions that the Babylonians of our day will come to know our Father in a true and substantive way and abandon their evil ways for the ways of YHVH, we really should be praying that Abba bring forth His Kingdom sooner than later…”Thy Kingdom come thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). More so we are compelled to earnestly pray for one another (James 5:13-16); to care after one another; to love one another and so forth—those within our Faith Community.

 Avoid the Trap

Look, I get it: it’s so easy to be pulled into all the craziness that’s going on around us today, especially given the high emotions that are tied to these issues. We must not be drawn into that spiritual trap. Because all that comes from falling into such a trap are things that are not in alignment with the Ways of YHVH and things that corrupt our soul and relationship with the Almighty:

Ephesians 4:31—Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (ESV). 

That’s why I avoid getting into discussions about the things going on around us these days because doing so only leads to bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, fear and slander. And once these things take hold within our spirit and they overshadow the working of the Ruach haKodesh (ie., the Holy Spirit) in our lives, our walk with Mashiyach stands to be corrupted and our eternal life can be in jeopardy.

 Emotions Unhinged and Out of Control

Interestingly, at least one prominent Messianic/Hebrew Roots teacher I’ve come across lately has been fasting and praying for the righteous judgment of Yah to be poured out upon the evil doers of this world. And although I can identify with that sentiment on a human level, spiritually it’s a rather fruitless prayer to pray, especially when we have been tasked with so many other things to not only do but to also pray for. Yah will bring judgment upon this world, including this nation of ours. (And one could safely argue that judgment–to some degree–is even now being meted out upon this world It’s recorded and established in Yah’s Word. Between now and the time that that judgment is fully meted out upon this world—even Babylon, we are compelled to work the fields while it is day for the night cometh when no man can work (John 9:4).

 True Messianics Staying the Course in the Midst of Global Crises

But I will say that for the most part, there are some truly committed, Ruach-filled members of our Faith Community who have put these difficult times into a clear and proper perspective. These focus on the task at hand, evangelizing the lost for Messiah. These are exhorting and admonishing the Body of Messiah to work the fields and to stay strong. They are not giving in to the political and social pressures to take a side on the political and social issues plaguing the nations of the world. They are all about Scripture and doing the Will of their Father in Heaven. And I’m so proud of these individuals for their focus and dedication to do the Will of our Father. Unfortunately, these are but a remnant—a precious few in number. But that’s no surprise. Master in dismay asked of His disciples: “When the Son of Man returns will He find Faith in the earth?”(Luke 18:8).

 Scriptural Guidance for the Messianic During Global Crises

So I just want to share a few Scriptural passages with you as it relates to our Messianic Duty in the midst of the global chaos that’s transpiring around us. And it is my hope, trust and prayer that these passages will encourage us all to not just stay the course in our walk with Mashiyach, but to also intensify our commitment and efforts to the Faith and the Kingdom of Elohim in these perilous times.

Searching for a City Not Made by Man 

Hebrews 11:8-10—⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.⁹ By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.(Heb 11:8-10 ESV) 

Indeed, Avraham was committed to the will of His Father who called Him out of Babylon, just as we must be.

Citizens of Heaven

Philippians 3:13-21—¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.¹⁷ Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.(Phi 3:13-21 ESV)

To Be Found Without Spot Nor Wrinkle  

2 Peter 3:10-18–¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.¹¹ Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,¹² waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!¹³ But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.(2Pe 3:10-14 ESV) 

Our focus must not be on the temporal things that comprise modern day Babylon that the Apostle prophesies will all burn away in the end times. Our focus then cannot be the temporal things of Babylon. Instead, our focus must be getting ourselves to a place in our walk with Mashiyach where we are found by Master at His return without spot or blemish and at peace with both Yah and with one another. Halleluyah.

We Look to the Unseen Realm 

2 Corinthians 4:17, 18—¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.(2Co 4:17-18 ESV) 

Thus our focus is to be on things that are eternal which are presently inhabiting the unseen realm.

No Soldier Concerns Himself With Civilian Pursuits 

2 Timothy 2:3-5—³ Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.⁴ No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.⁵ An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (2Ti 2:3-5 ESV) 

Folks, we are employed by our Master to tend to the concerns of the Kingdom of Yah, not the affairs of Babylon. Our focus and work for the Kingdom must be discerning and distinct and not entangled in Babylonian concerns.

 The Indestructible Never Ending Kingdom of God

Daniel 2:43-44—⁴³ As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.⁴⁴ And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,(Dan 2:43-44 ESV) 

Let us not be pulled into the concerns of Babylon friends. For Babylon is destined to be broken into pieces by the Kingdom of YHVH. And Yah’s Kingdom will stand for eternity. So if there is any side to take, we should be compelled to stand with the winning team brethren. And the winning team is the Kingdom of YHVH.

 Babylon Will Seek to Kill You 

Revelation 6:10, 11—⁹ When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.¹⁰ They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”¹¹ Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been (Rev 6:9-11 ESV) 

The very individuals and government institutions and such that some members of Faith choose to side with in their social justice/engineering efforts will ultimately be the very individuals and institutions and organizations that will persecute and martyr us in the end times. It will be like the dog biting the hand that feeds them. And that is what’s going to happen in the end times. In fact, we see the beginning of this in many of the cities and towns in which we live. Governments and society in general are becoming intolerant and very hostile to people of Faith. The Christian Church is being persecuted in numbers unimaginable throughout both the western and eastern nations. Yet many people of Faith believe that it is their duty to enlist in the causes of Babylon. We know, however, that Babylon will viciously turn on the true child of Yah, bringing about widespread martyrdom. We are in fact destined for martyrdom if we live to see the end times written about in the Book of Revelation. 

Think about this: the Supreme Court of these United States just sided with government entities that your constitutional right to assemble and worship can be denied you in times of civil national emergencies such as this current global pandemic. The rioters in Washington DC this past weekend were responsible for destroying 2-churches. Folks, Scripture is clear that Babylon is going to turn on the people of YHVH. So there’s no reason to side with Babylon whatsoever.

 The World Hates You Because You Love God 

John 15:16-19-–¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.¹⁷ These things I command you, so that you will love one another.¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (Joh 15:16-19 ESV) 

Because of our relationship with the Almighty, Babylon by default hates us and hates our ways. Let us not be fooled into thinking that because we show our concerns and support the causes of Babylon that Babylon loves us. Because they don’t love us. They hate us. And we have to recognize and eternalize this. Not for purposes of starting a fight with Babylon. Actually the opposite. We need to live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18); pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:2) and be a light to the world and a witness for Yeshua Messiah (too many scriptures in the apostolic record to mention).

 I Never Knew You 

Matthew 7:21-23—²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’²⁴ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Mat 7:21-27 ESV) 

Folks, do you grasp what the Master is really saying here to His Disciples? He’s saying that when Master returns and starts to separate the goats from the sheep, He’s going to put those who He has determined were doing things they were never instructed to do in His Name on the side of the goats. And these individuals will be dismissed and denied entry into the Kingdom. It’s not going to be a pretty sight. 

So Master is giving all of us a heads-up so that we do not find ourselves in that terrible predicament. He simply instructs us to make sure that we hear all that which He has taught us and then go about doing those things. Those  that do that which Master has instructed them to do will be deemed as wise for they have chosen to build their eternal salvation upon the Words of their Master, and not upon the instructions and teachings of the citizens and leaders of Babylon.

Master declared that those who, on the other hand, choose to do their own thing and attach Master’s Name to their activities will be deemed as foolish. For these will have chosen to build their eternal life upon their own means and ways: not the Master’s means and ways.

 Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

Matthews 6:33–Master admonished us to “seek first His Father’s Kingdom and His righteousness.” 

Overall, this is what we have been tasked with doing by Master. And if we can just focus on this assignment, everything else in our Walk with Mashiyach will fall right into place.

 Exhort and Admonish One Another During Times of Crises 

Colossians 3:16—¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16 ESV) 

This may sound selfish and isolationist in tenor. But the fact of the matter is that Paul was admonishing the Colossians to place their focus on their brothers and sisters. Nowhere in his letter here do we find mention that the Colossians were to be focused on what was going on in and around Colossae’s social circles; the Colossae neighborhoods; the Colossae government; etc. The focus was on the Body of Messiah that resided in Colossae.

Be Encouraged Saints 

Fellow Saints in Training, I hope, trust and pray that this installment of the Messianic Torah Observer will encourage your heart and that we not feel pressured to side with the elements of Babylon. In are in a proper and right place. We know what we’ve been tasked to do; we know what is right and what is wrong because we keep and obey Abba’s holy Torah and the teachings and example of Yeshua our illustrious Messiah. We recognize that Babylon is not our home. Our home is coming and that home is the home we must side with in all things. That home we know will be eternal and will destroy and break into pieces Babylon. We are members of the winning team—we are citizens and emissaries of the Kingdom of YHVH. 

May Abba richly bless and keep you in these difficult times fellow saints in training. Shalom.