How to Correctly Keep Yom Kippur

by | Sep 30, 2017 | Blog, Podcasts

How to Correctly Keep Yom Kippur

How to Correctly Keep Yom Kippur

by Rod Thomas | Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections--96

How to Correctly Keep Yom Kippur

Believers Want to Know How to Keep Yom Kippur Correctly

We have brethren in our Faith Community who are seeking Truth and want to understand when and what Yom Kippur is and how to properly observe and celebrate the day.

As mature Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah, we are compelled to remind ourselves of the meaning and purpose of the day and prepare ourselves (emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and even physically).

Permit me to approach this briefly from a personal perspective and from the perspective of one who has folks who will listen to this program and need and desire to know how to make the day relevant to them as a 21st-century Messianic Believer.

The Overall Basis for the Day

Yom  Kippur—Hebrew for Day of Atonement—is considered by most in our community (and I would tend to agree as well) as the holiest day of the Father’s sacred calendar year. For this is a day to commemorate and reflect upon our need for a savior. More specifically, reflect upon sin and the influence of sin on our relationship with the Creator of the Universe.

Another aspect of the day is that it is a day to reflect upon the sin of the nation and to seek forgiveness and atonement (at-one-ment) for violations of Torah.

  • It is a complete “fast” day.
  • The Day of Atonement is to be a statute (a chuqqah—an enactment or prescription given to us by Father) forever that we are to observe (Leviticus 23:31).
  • When this statute was given to us at Sinai, Father set out the process whereby the Levitical High Priest would make animal sacrifices on behalf of himself and the whole nation: to atone (to cover and bring us back into the good graces of our Father) for national (I believe to a somewhat lesser sense individual) sins.
  • The specific passages of Torah that directly address Yom Kippur are found in Leviticus 16 and Numbers 29. (Leviticus 16 and Numbers 29 go into specifics on the animals to be offered and on how those sacrifices were to be presented and administered by the High Priest on behalf of himself and the entire nation.
  • The sacrifices would be offered and applied to the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant located in the Holy Place (the Holy of Holies) of the Tabernacle. (NOTE: The Levitical High Priest could enter the Holy Place of the Tabernacle only once a year: that being Yom Kippur). It is on that day, in the Holy Place, that the High Priest would apply the blood of the atonement sacrifice to the Ark of the Covenant).

  • The Two Goats Before Yahuah

    The High Priest Presents the Two Goats to Yahuah.

    The entire chapter of Leviticus 16 addresses the Day of Atonement. There was a sequence of events and actions that were to be followed and all those events and actions are rich in meaning and prophecy.

The bottom line elements of The Day of Atonement are as follows:

  • It is to be a day of convening a holy convocation (a sacred gather).
  • It is to be a day where NO work is to be done.
  • It is to be a day where an offering of fire is to be made.
  • It is to be a day where we afflict (anah—oppress; humble; deny) our souls.

Judaistic Traditions Applied to Yom Kippur

Most Jews believe that Yom Kippur is the most solemn and sacred time of the calendar year.

It is a time of great introspection and reflection on one’s life. It is a time where the Jew deals with their guilt and shame and takes actions to address those guilts and shames by seeking forgiveness from those they’ve offended or wronged and from God. (This process of introspection and reflection actually takes place over the entire 10-days leading from Trumpets to the Day of Atonement—traditionally referred to as the 10-days of awe.

At least one popular Hebrew Roots teacher has applied significant prophetic meaning to these 10-days of Awe.

The following are Jewish general practices of Yom Kippur:

  • Judaism requires members to attend synagogue on the Day of Atonement.
  • The day before Atonement, many Jewish families will prepare and enjoy a festive meal.
  • It is a day of charitable giving and visiting others’ homes seeking and giving forgiveness.
  • Most Jews observe a 25-hour fast on the day—that extends from sundown the day before Atonement to just after nightfall on the day of Atonement.

How Should a Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah Observe Atonement?

What follows is based solely upon my opinion which is based upon my personal study of Scripture, prayer, meditation and years of personal experience related to the Feasts of Yahovah and Yom Kippur.

At the very least, we must observe the day as a special Sabbath—mainly, no work and a day dedicated to focusing upon Father and our relationship with Him.

Additionally, we must consider what it means to afflict our souls and how we will convocate. These two aspects or elements of the Scriptural undergirding of the day must be worked out between us as individuals and with our Father.

The Temple is no longer with us. We are now the Temple of Yahweh (I Corinthians 3:16,17).

The High Priest applies the blood of the sacrifice to the mercy seat.

The High Priest applies the blood of the sacrifice to the mercy seat.

The offerings and the application of the blood to the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies in the Temple have been replaced by Master Yeshua who ceremonially accomplished this once and for all upon His ascension to heaven just after His crucifixion and resurrection. Hebrews 10:1-12.  Thus presenting an offering made by fire is not truly possible. Such offerings for us today take on a meaning that must be reconciled between us as individuals and Yahovah our Elohim.

Some give financial offerings and tithes to their assigned congregations and favorite Messianic ministries.  Some take a more spiritual bend (to which I tend to personally agree), whereby sacrifices of praise are offered—that is, the fruit of our lips giving praise to His Name (Hebrews 13:15).

In terms of afflicting our souls, I believe it should be a “complete fast” as suggested in Isaiah 58:3-6 and Acts 27:9.  I believe it could go even further than a fast, whereby we deny ourselves anything that we desire or feel we need for that day. (What that may be is again, between us as individuals and our heavenly Father.)

Prophetic Utterances of The Day of Atonement

The Feasts of Yahweh (the Moedim of our Elohim) are divinely appointed times of the sacred calendar year (Abba’s calendar) where He from the beginning determined to meet and commune with us (Genesis 1:14 and Leviticus 23:4).  They also serve as a yearly reminder of the things of our God (throughout the whole of Torah it talks about memorial).

Additionally, the Feasts of Yahweh seem to brilliantly paint for the Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah, Father’s Plan of Salvation. Hebrews 9:28-10:1 (READ) strongly suggests this.

  • Passover-Yeshua our Passover Lamb slain for the sins of the world.
  • Unleavened Bread—the purging of sin from our lives.
  • Shavuot—the filling and indwelling of the Holy Spirit (i.e., the Ruach Kodesh) in our lives.
  • Yom Teruah/Day of Trumpets—the resurrection and translation of the saints.
  • Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement—the banishment of hasatan from the earth.
  • Sukkot/Tabernacles—The advent of the Millennial Kingdom and Yahovah finally, once and for all, tabernacling amongst us—His people.

At least one prominent Messianic/Hebrew Roots teacher ties the Day of Atonement to the Great Tribulation and the destruction of Israel and Jerusalem.

Many tie The Day of Atonement with the prophetic event of Revelation 20:2,3 (READ) when hasatan will be eliminated and the world is freed from his deceiving influences. Then the Word of Yahovah will be proclaimed upon the earth and men will once and for all realize Truth without being deceived by the enemy. This is certainly a brilliant comparison to the ceremony involving the scapegoat being taken from the midst of the people and dragged out to the desert forever (Leviticus 16:7-10).

Closing Thoughts and Reflections

I do not presume to tell you how you should celebrate, observe or honor Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). It must be a thing between you and Yahovah. What I will say, however, is that we must honor the day, at the very least.

Presuming that we elect to honor the day, I believe that our efforts must transcend any and all taught or suggested rote/mechanically prescribed ideals and traditions and beliefs.

As well intending people of our Elohim, we tend to fall into this belief that we need to be told how to do—how to observe—what not to do—how best to do it—when it comes to the things of Yahuah; especially when it comes to the Feasts of Yahuah.

Why do we do this? Why do we acquiesce to the directions and prodding of those whom we hold up as paragons of our Faith Community as if they are Yeshua or Moses? I believe we do it because we genuinely want to do it right and we don’t want to make mistakes. We genuinely want to please our Elohim. Thus we seek direction on how to do it right and how to please our Elohim.

The truth of the matter is, however, that we have it within each of us to please Father without having to resort to the prescriptions of other people as relates to pleasing Father and observing His holy days. Such prescriptions are purview of religion. Religion’s role in the earth is to control the people and dictate to them how they are supposed to live.

I decided in my walk with Messiah to reject religion with all her trappings and traditions. Religion by her very nature is anti-Torah; anti-Elohim and anti-Messiah. Religion offers no place for the true worship of Yahovah and the working of the Holy Spirit (i.e., the Ruach Kodesh) in every aspect of the believer’s life. Why? Because the controllers of religion make the rules and dictate to the members how, when, where, why and everything in between. Religion then becomes man-centric as opposed to Elohim-centric.

The one thing I would not like us to do on this solemn, most sacred day of the Creator’s calendar year, is to acquiesce to the constructs of religion to direct our observance and honoring of the day. Instead, let us acquiesce to the leading of the Spirit to direct our observance and honoring of the day; with Torah as the foundation upon which we construct and put into practice our actions for the day.

No, I’m not saying that we go rogue and leave our observance of the day to chance and do whatever it is that we think is best to do. No. I’m saying, let us turn the day over to Father: His Word and His Ruach HaKodesh. Then and only then will be please our Father in heaven and observe the day properly.

In confronting the Judaizers, who were aggressively attempting to gain total control of the Messianic Assembly of Believers in Colossae, the Apostle Paul (i.e., Shaul) profoundly instructed:

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:1 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,1 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,1 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.1 (Col 2:16-3:1 KJV)

Now, churchianity would use this passage to support her claim that the Law was done away with. However, we who are in Messiah know the truth of this matter. Shaul was setting the plumb-line here and communicating to the Colossian Assembly that they are no longer men and women practicing the religion of Judaism. Instead, the assembly of believers were now dead to their dead religion with all her trappings and man-made traditions. Like the Colossian assembly members, we now belong to Messiah. Our worship of Yahuah is based upon our trusting faith in Messiah and is executed through the leading and agency of the Holy Spirit (i.e., the Ruach Kodesh).

Master informed the Samaritan Woman at the well:

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (Joh 4:21-24 KJV)

I say, on this Day of Atonement, that we worship our Creator in Spirit and in Truth. Do that which is pleasing to Father. Let our hearts and minds be turned fully toward Him and His ways.

It is my sincerest hope, trust and prayer, that you have a spirit-filled—blessed and meaningful day and that we all come out on the other side of this moed, better than when we began it.

Shabbat Shalom. Have a blessed Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur. Shavuatov. Until next time.

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Day of Trumpets—Yom Teruah—Rosh Hashanah—Subject to God or to the Rabbis?–STAR-95

by | Sep 22, 2017 | Blog, Podcasts

Day of Trumpets—Yom Teruah—Rosh Hashanah—Subject to God or to the Rabbis?–STAR-95

Day of Trumpets—Yom Teruah—Rosh Hashanah—Subject to God or to the Rabbis?

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer's Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections

The Calender:

  • Friday 9-22-2017—Yom Teruah—Day of Trumpets
  • Sunday 10-1-2017—Day of Atonement—Yom Kippur
  • Friday 10-6-2017 through Friday 10-13-2017—Feast of Tabernacles—Sukkot

Commentary: The World is Falling Apart and Coming to an End

Although the Day of Trumpets is supposed to be a joyous moed—a feast day—a divine appointment—it comes at a very challenging and sad time in our history:

  • Hurricane Harvey’s devastation of Texas and other Gulf Coast states of this nation
  • Hurricane Irma’s devastation of some Caribbean island nations and of course Florida and other eastern states of this nation
  • Now Hurricane Maria that left behind death and destruction in her path on the island nations of Dominique and Puerto Rico and other nations
  • Two earthquakes in Mexico—a 8.1 over a week ago and just this past week a 7.1—both of which has caused untold destruction and many many deaths
  • Thoughts abound that man is responsible for all these natural disasters—politically; manmade driven, either through global warming/climate change, or even weather manipulation and earthquake creation
  • Radical Islamic Terrorism continues to plague many European Countries, with England being the latest victim this past week in a subway explosion, resulting in the loss of 22 or so lives
  • Korean leader—is threatening the existence of the United States with his nuclear military capabilities
  • This nation—the United States—is still undergoing through some of the worse racially driven violence it has ever experienced. The puppet masters holding the purse strings funding and organizing these violent protests no doubt have an agenda that is not only self-serving, but also serving hasatan and his kingdom

Then add to all of this natural and manmade turmoil, we have opportunists who have taken it upon themselves to deem the 23rd of September, 2017, as either the end of the world day; the day that Jesus Christ returns to the earth; the day the world’s economies collapse; or the day that Planet X strikes this planet in one big extinction level catastrophe. One prominent Hebrew Roots teacher predicts that the Ark of the Covenant will be found at this time as either the end product of an existential war the world wages against Israel or leading up to such an existential war.

Allow me to give you my humble perspective on the current state of world events, based upon my understanding of our Master’s prophecies and the Apostle Paul’s teachings and predictions.

  • The 23rd of this month WILL NOT be the end of the earth nor will it likely be the day that Jesus Christ returns to this earth.
  • Father is in control of everything and anything that will happen will take place when, and only when, the Father wills it to happen.

I believe we must synchronize our understanding of the above mentioned current events with the teachings and predictions of our Master Yahoshua HaMashiyach:

As Yeshua sat on the Mount of Olives, four of His disciples [Kefa, Yaakov, Yochanan, and Andrew] came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming, and the events at the end <sunelia> of the age?” And Yeshua answered and said to them, “TAKE HEED THAT NO MAN DECEIVE YOU! Many will come in my name, acknowledging that I am Messiah, yet they will deceive many. You will hear of wars and threats of wars—do not be terrorized. All these things must come to pass, but the very end <telios> is not yet. Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom shall rise against kingdom. There will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in many places. All these are just the beginning of the birth pangs. Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted and they shall kill you. You will be hated of all nations because of me. At that time many will be caught in the snare [that has been set by false teachers] and then they will hate one another and betray one another. Many false teachers shall rise up [among the believers] and they will mislead many. Because those who are without Torah will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the very end <telios> shall indeed be saved. This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached throughout the entire world for a witness to all nations.The end <telios> will come when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place. (Whoever reads, let him understand!) Then let those who are in Yehudaea flee to the mountains. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. Woe to those who are with child and to those who give suck in those days. Pray that your flight is not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath. For then [when you see the abomination of desolation] there will be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Unless those days are shortened, there would no flesh be saved—but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:3-22; Rood’s Chronology)

I also believe Shaul was given an understanding and proper perspective of such times as we are living as made evident in this passage:

I don’t think the sufferings we are going through now are even worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us in the future. The creation waits eagerly for the sons of God to be revealed; for the creation was made subject to frustration—not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it. But it was given a reliable hope that it too would be set free from its bondage to decay and would enjoy the freedom accompanying the glory that God’s children will have. We know that until now, the whold creation has been groaning as with the pains of childbirth; and not only it, but we ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we continue waiting eagerly to be made sons—that is, to have our whole bodies redeemed and set free. (Romans 8:18-23; CJB)

So let us not get caught up in all the hubbub floating about, both within and without our Faith Community. If we believe the Bible to contain the God-breathed Words of Yahovah our Elohim, then we should have absolute confidence that the things we are seeing manifested before us are destined to happen and they are not indicative of the end of the world. There are just a few prophetic loose ends that must first be tied up for the return of Master and the end comes.

Our time then should be spent equipping ourselves for the times ahead; prayer; fasts; doing our part in the great commission; living Torah to the best of our abilities; studying; loving; being the best people we can possibly be on this planet—preparing the way for our Master’s Kingdom.

Day of Trumpets—Yom Teruah—Rosh Hashanah—Subject to God or to the Rabbis?

The Day of Trumpets

It is to be a day of blowing of trumpets. A Holy convocation. Day of rest.

The Day of Trumpets is defined in Exodus 19, Leviticus 23 and Numbers 29

    • We were officially introduced to our Creator and given Torah in the midst of the sounding of Trumpets (although not likely falling on the Day as Father originally moved it to (at the start of the 3-Fall Feasts), it was to me an obvious precursor of this sacred day.
    • A day of complete rest—a Sabbath
    • A day to convene a Holy Convocation (i.e., a solemn calling together)
    • A day of memorializing the blowing of trumpets (teruah)
    • A day when no servile/ordinary/laborious work is to be done
    • A day to present an offering by fire to Yahovah

The Bible records key events that occurred on this Sacred-Holy-Feast Day

  • The Dedication of the Temple under King Solomon—I Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 5 and 7
  • Worship was restored to the people of Judah—Ezra 3
  • The so-called Bethlehem Star was likely first sighted by the Chaldean astronomers on this day—Matthew 2:1-8–and some 2-weeks later the Master was born conceivably sometime during the Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot—Luke 2:7-20 and John 1:14
  • Prophetically, the Last Trumpet may conceivably be blow on Yom Teruah, signaling the Resurrection of the Saints—Revelation 11:15-19

Judaism’s Treatment of Yom Teruah—provides a stark example of how the traditions of man have the potential of nullifying the power and effectiveness of the Word and the worship of Yahovah our Elohim.

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mat 15:1-9 KJV)

At least one Hebrew Roots teacher has taught that we (the Hebrew Roots and Christian communities) must allow Judaism to interpret their scriptures (i.e., the Tanakh) while the Christians interpret their scriptures (i.e., the Brit Hadashah). A wise thing to do?

Renamed Rosh Hashanah, Yom Teruah for the Jews signals “the opening of the economic year” (The Jewish Encyclopedia). The Rabbis took from the Torah the instructions on The Regnal Year (i.e., the 7th year)—recently getting a lot of press in certain Christian and Hebrew Roots circles relating to the Shmita and Jubilee years—Leviticus 25:9. The Rabbis teach that the Levitical Year places the beginning of the Sabbatical-year in the autumn on the 10th-day of the 7th-month of Tishri (Tishri being a Babylonian name for the 7th month). Father only named one month—the Month of the Abib—the rest were numbered only.

Abba was very clear, as recorded in Exodus 12:2; 13:4, that the month of the Abib would be the beginning of months and the first months for us. “This system of dating the New Year is that which was adopted by the Semites generally while other peoples, as the Greeks and Persians, began the year in spring, both methods of reckoning being primarily agricultural and based on the seasons of seed-time and harvest” (The Jewish Encyclopedia). Rabbinic understanding of Yom Teruah, as we will see further, is based upon a twisting of Torah and the prophets, claiming that the beginning of the Biblical calendar year had always, from the beginning, been in the autumn of the Hebrew sacred calendar year. This is based upon the aforementioned treatment of the Regnal—Jubilee—years.

From there it is believed that the beginning of the flood occurred on the 17th-day of the 2nd-month, which would coincide better with the rainy season in the land (Genesis 7:11; Josephus, Ant. I. 3, 3). Additionally, the Rabbis provided for the synchronization of the 25th-year of Nabopolassar and the Battle of Carchemish and the 1st-year of Nebuchadrezzar and the Babylonian year reckoned from spring (Jeremiah 25:1; 46:7). This would permit the 2nd-half of the Hebrew year to correspond to the 1st-half of the Babylonian year. Oh, and we should not forget that the prophet Ezekiel’s vision occurred in the month of Tishri (Ezek. 40:1).

The Rabbis surmised that Babylonian influences (i.e., their year commencing in the spring of the sacred calendar year), resulted in a split in understanding when the Hebrew year was to begin. Rabbis acknowledge, however, that there is sufficient Biblical proof for the reckoning of the year commencing at the vernal equinox (which occurs in the spring of the year), for which they cite 2 Sam. 11; 1 Kings 20:22,26; and 2 Chron. 36:10.These passages speak to the commencement of military campaigns which would sensibly begin in the spring of a year as opposed to the fall, leading in to winter.

Rabbis question whether the commandments related to Passover are pre-exilic. Many believe that Passover is a post-exilic “practice” (i.e., post-6th-century BC) and because of heavy Babylonian influences, Nisan (another Babylonian name, this one for the first month) ultimately superseded Tishri as the 1st of the year.

The Rabbis contend that the Festival of the New Year continued to be observed in the autumn of the year in Tishri. The Rabbis further contend that although Moshe (i.e., Moses) appointed Nisan (really Abib) as the first month of the sacred festivals, he preserved the original order of the months for buying and selling and other financial transactions. Thus the Rabbis conveniently cleaved into two the calendar year heads: the Ecclesiastical Year beginning in the Spring of the Year (Nisan) and the Civil Year beginning in the Fall of the Year (Tishri).

This whole thing of assigning the beginning of the year to the Fall Day of Trumpets was seemingly finalized in 312 BC when the Seleucidan calendar set the beginning of the year in autumn, while the Palestinian Jews continued to reckon the beginning of the calendar year in the Spring.

To make matters even worse, the Rabbis decided to cleave the calendar into 4-heads of the year that would be based upon varying standpoints:

  • 1st Nisan (Abib) for so-called “regnal” dating, based upon the Exodus story (1 Kings 6:1)
  • 1st Tishri (7th Month) as the “agricultural New Year” which commences the harvest (Exo. 23:16; 34:22) . At the year’s end these verses speak to the Feast of Ingather (i.e., Sukkot/Tabernacles).
  • 1st of Elul (12th month-summer in the Jewish civil year) for reckoning tithes of cattle—based upon Tishri as beginning of the civil calendar year.
  • 15th of Shebat (5th month—winter—of Jewish civil year)—the New Year for trees.

Talmudic Understanding of Trumpets

Servants were formally freed on Rosh Hashanah (based upon Lev. 25:9), although they are physically released on the Day of Atonement (10-days later). Additionally, there was a restoration of fields to their former/original owners (based upon Ezek. 40:1).

Jewish Tradition for Trumpets

Day of Trumpets is regarded as the most solemn day of the sacred calendar year next to Yom Kippur (reference Lev. 23:24; Neh. 8:9). It is regarded as a day of “mishpat,” judgment, of “the God of Jacob,” which indicates the character of Rosh Hashanah.

It is a day in which all the inhabitants of the world pass for judgment before the Creator. In that passing before the Creator to be judged, 3-books are opened: (A) the wicked (these are blotted out of the book of the living); (B) the righteous (these are sealed to live eternally); and (C) the intermediate class (these are not utterly wicked, but these have 10-days of respite to live and repent by Yom Kippur and become righteous or else).

Other traditions include:

  • The zodiac sign is the balance in which scales of judgment represent the day; balancing the meritorious against the wicked acts of the judged.
  • Taking of annual inventory of accounts.
  • The beginning of Creation occurred on this day.
  • The means of sustenance of every person are apportioned for the ensuing year as well as everyone’s destined losses.
  • Weather determinations are made: if the day is warm, the next year will be warm; if the day is cold, the next year will be cold.
  • For good luck, Jews are to eat pumpkins, leeks, beets and dates. Ezra taught that Jews are to eat fat and drink the sweet. Palatable meals are eaten. Some means in some Jewish communities include eating the actual heads of certain animals. Eating animals’ heads which include calf and deer heads signify that the consumer will be ahead (no pun intended) and not backward in their undertakings during the ensuing year.
  • One may not, however, eat nuts because the numerical Hebrew numbering system suggests that nuts is the equivalent to the Hebrew term for sin.
  • Tables are adorned with grapes, fruit and honey.
  • Prayers are offered.
  • Feasts are held.

Master was the walking, talking, the living Torah—The Word of Yahovah. So He was quite aware of what the Pharisees and Scribes and all the Jewish religious leaders had and were doing to corrupt His Father’s Torah. He railed against that and in effect, that is what got Him killed—although that move by the religious leaders was for our eternal benefit.

In Deuteronomy 4:1-9, Father admonished us NOT TO ADD TO OR SUBTRACT FROM HIS WORD! (verse 2). Father demanded that we listen and do the statutes and rules given us by Him (verse 1).

Father promised that if we simply stuck with Him and stayed the course and walked out this thing the way He outlined it for us, we would live (verse 3).

Oh some will contend that we needed the Rabbis to interpret the Word of God for us—that Father’s Torah and way of life for man requires special individuals to make it understandable and to tell us how we are to understand the Word of God. Father did not mince words—He said:

10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. (Deu 30:10-20 KJV)

That which we received at Synai we are to take and behave (i.e., obey) accordingly and we were to carry on those instructions when we entered the Land of Promise (verse 5). Because of our steadfast obedience and reverence of Torah, we would be a beacon to the world, and seen as a people of wisdom and understanding (verse 6).

Father required that we (1) be careful; (2) watch our lives; (3) not forget that which we experienced and witnessed and allow them to vanish from our hearts; (4) and teach those things that we experienced, witnessed and heard and were taught to our children and grandchildren.

Closing Thoughts and Reflections

Yom Teruah—Day of Trumpets–is a day that holds great historical and prophetic significance. It would be foolish for any would be Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah to sully and marginalize those significances and the command to observe/celebrate the day by giving credence and practice to the traditions of men (in this case the Rabbis and sages).

Hasatan has a plan to destroy Father’s Torah and to prevent us from realizing our eternal purpose in the world and to the Kingdom of Yahuah.

Let us stand fast on the promises and commandments of our Heavenly Father and be about seeking out the Kingdom of Yahovah and His righteousness.

Have a blessed Day of Trumpets—in that which Father commanded and in the Spirit of Yeshua our Master.

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Overcoming the Cares of Life–STAR-94

by | Sep 16, 2017 | Blog, Podcasts

Overcoming the Cares of Life–STAR-94

Overcoming the Cares of Life

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer's Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections

 

 

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

Sermon on the Mount

Classic artist rendering of 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

Sakari Häkkinen wrote on the challenges of 1st century life in palestine.

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.

Mount Gathsemane

Yeshua’s soul wrestled with the reality of His pending death at Mount Gathsemane.

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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The Bible-The Answer to Every Concern or the Ultimate Instruction Manual-STAR-92

by | Aug 28, 2017 | Blog, Podcasts

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

by Rod Thomas--The Messianic Torah Observer | Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections--92

Thoughts and Reflections Part 1: The Great Book Known as the Bible

The Bible–The Holy Writ–The Word–The Word of God–The Sword–The 66-Special–The Book–The Good Book: these and many more are the descriptors and titles of arguably the most famous and well known 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 Weightier Matters of the Law

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.

The Famous Dead Sea Scrolls.

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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Controlling Our Emotions for the Work of the Gospel–STAR-90

by | Aug 13, 2017 | Blog, Podcasts

Controlling Our Emotions for the Work of the Gospel–STAR-90

Controlling our Emotions for the Work of the Gospel

by Rod Thomas--The Messianic Torah Observer | Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections-90

Shabbat Shalom fellow saints in training. Greetings and blessings to you on this day that Yahuah our Elohim has made—one that we were admonished by the psalmist to be glad and rejoice in it. This is especially so given that the Sabbath is a most sacred day to us Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah. This 7th day was the only day of the 7 days of our week that was blessed and sanctified by Father and we have been commanded by Abba to maintain its holiness (Genesis 2:3 and Exodus 20:8 respectively). And how do we keep it holy? Well, the best place to start is to treat the day unlike any of the other 6-days of our week by not participating in any servile labors and to set our focus squarely upon Him and His Word. The lighting of candles, citing of rote prayers and the serving of traditional meals are not commanded of us to do. Thus, it is between each of us as individuals and Yahovah our Elohim to flesh our the mechanics of how we observe and honor Sabbath. Regardless, let us guard this gift of the Sabbath with zeal, love, peace and obedience.

In case you are new to this podcast series, allow me to introduce myself: I’m Rod Thomas, your Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections partner and fellow disciple of Yahoshua our Messiah. Whether you are a veteran Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua or not, you are welcome here. All I ask is that you share these moments with me with an open heart, mind and spirit and whatever is presented here, that you take it in the spirit that it’s delivered and that you do your own research, prayer and meditation on the content herein.

As always, it is my hope, trust and prayer that this episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections finds you, your families, and fellowships well and blessed.

Well, how goes it? How was your week? It is my hope and heartfelt desire that if you went through any hardships, trials or tribulations this past week, that your deliverance and healing is on its way. As I’ve said countless times on this program, this is an arduous journey that we’ve embarked upon as disciples of Yeshua and when you add to that difficult walk the cares and trials of this life, there can be moments in time when we simply want to throw in the towel; that we want to walk away from it all and find a corner or hole somewhere other than where we are at the moment and just let the world pass us by.

The enemy has studied and analyzed each and everyone of us and he knows our vulnerabilities. He is not above exploiting those weaknesses of ours to further his kingdom goals. I’ve come across a number of dear brothers and sisters over the course of the last couple weeks who are going through stuff: debilitating and consuming illnesses; financial struggles; family strife; depression; confusion and uncertainty. Why is this stuff happening to us in the midst of everything else that is going on in the world? Well, the Spirit (i.e., Father’s Ruach) clearly wants us to be aware of the ploys and tactics of hasatan that we not be fooled or taken off our established spiritual course. You see, if the serpent can distract us with stuff, then our effectiveness as workers in the Kingdom of Yahuah will have been successfully compromised.

Father’s plan for mankind includes us as essential workers in His fields, working the waiting harvest; fulfilling Master’s Great Commission (reference Matthew 28:19, 20). No, contrary to traditional/fundamental Christianity, we’ve not been commissioned to go out and get people saved nor teach and preach a gospel about the death, burial and resurrection of Master Yahoshua. Instead, we’ve been commissioned to go out and make disciples for Master and to teach them all that He’s taught us. And when we become beset by the cares of this world, our effectiveness in that Greatest of Commissions is severely diminished. Somehow, some way, we must not allow our lives to be waylaid by the enemy and the primary way we accomplish this is by our maintaining a steadfast vigilance; developing and maintaining a complete reliance upon the provision and guidance of Father; and obedience to His Word.

On this subject, the Apostle Peter (i.e., Kepha) wrote in his first letter to the first-century saints: “Submit yourselves to those who are elders. Yes, all (i.e., all of you) be subject one to the other, and be clothed with humility; for Yahweh resists the proud, but gives mercy to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of Yahweh, in order that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom she may devour; resist her by remaining firm in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are fully endured by your brothers in the world. But may all merciful Yahweh Himself—Who has called us to His eternal glory in Yahshua Messiah, after you have suffered a while—perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you (I Peter 5:5-11, The Book of Yahweh)”

Saints, troubles are going to beset us, it’s just a fact of our spiritual life. But we’ve been given a method of overcoming troubles and that is humbling ourselves before our Creator through a strict regimen of obedience and honor; remain vigilant and knowledgeable of the ways hasatan goes about tripping us up; resist the tugs and pulls of hasatan and not give him one inch in our lives; and then casting our cares upon Him and trusting Him to deal with those issues on our behalf.

This is just as much a lesson on trusting in the Almighty for me as it hopefully is for you.

 

Part-1-Microchipping and the Mark of the Beast

Have you all seen the articles that have been written regarding microchipping that is being reported in the various news media around this country?

Over the last couple weeks, I’ve heard and read stories of companies that are pushing and even requiring their employees to be chipped—that is, to have a microchip placed in their bodies for purposes of tracking them and allowing them access to various electronic systems in their company’s facilities.

The troubling thing here is not that microchipping of people is actually being done out there in the world today (for we knew this was coming a long time ago and that for years it has become an expectation in our society to microchip our pets), but that mainstream media is not picking up on stories of companies and entities that are now microchipping their employees as common practice and not sounding an alarm to their readers and listeners to beware of this coming trend. This is something that the world needs to be made aware of, especially members of our Faith Community and Fundamental/Evangelical Christianity who subscribe to the concepts of freedom, truth, Faith and righteousness. Seems that the press is too concerned these days with what President Trump is doing at any given moment; so much so that they are missing and even intentionally bypassing stories of existential importance like the ones I’m about to speak briefly to you about.

In an article written 8/2/2017 by InfoWars Steve Watson entitled, “Creepy: Wisconsin Tech Company Parties After Implanting Employees with Microchips—Citing Need to Control Our Employees,” Watson reported that Wisconsin company “Three Square Market” got consent from her 41-employees to have RFID chips (i.e., Radio Frequency Identification chips) implanted in their hands. Company spokespersons cited a need to give their employees access and control of certain electronic devices and doors to various spaces in the company’s facility.

The company wanted to make it clear that the chipping of Three Square Market employees was purely voluntary. And isn’t that the way the introduction of most technologies and innovations are introduced to the public; that the implementation of such things are initially voluntary with a focus on communicating to the public how and why these products are going to greatly benefit society in the end.

This company cites that microchipping would conceivably be used to identify and even track people by law enforcement personnel as well as entities with a need to know who you are and what your business is in the place that you are found by them at any given moment.

So I thought to myself: well, that’s somewhat disconcerting, but knowing what I know about scripture and the high probability that the mark of the beast as mentioned in Revelation 13:16,17 could actually be implanted microchips, I will certainly not fall for such a shenanigans when microchipping goes full blown mainstream.

Well, that was the sentiment I had until I came across an article posted on qpolitical.com entitled, “NBC Warns All Americans Will Be Microchipped in 3-Years.” The unnamed author gives commentary on the Mark of the Beast and possible connections to that mark being that of microchips. However, I found that the real meat is found in the last two paragraphs of the article. The author rightly says that the government is quietly preparing the public to accept the implantation of microchips in every citizen of this nation.

The article goes on to describe how once the benefits of the new technology is sold to the public by our governments and you then get a few carefree individuals to partake in the technology implementation, all it takes is one major catastrophe like 911 to set the public into panic which in turn would cause the public to demand their government do something to protect her citizens. (Remember how 911 gave birth to the TSA because we demanded that our government protect us and assure us that another 911 would never occur. And it was not long before we citizens gave over total and complete control of our basic human rights to these goons who take great pleasure in demeaning and disrespecting the traveling public.) For the next such catastrophe, our government has an easy solution to address the problem—microchip every citizen of the United States.

The microchipping of every soul in the world becomes no longer a question of “what if” but of “when;” and according to this article we are just 3-years out from the microchipping of every U.S. citizen. It is a fair bet that the rest of the world will not be too far behind in their implementation of microchipping their citizens, if not that they beat the U.S. to the punch and begin microchipping their folks first.

Is microchipping the infamous Mark of the Beast? I don’t rightly know, but it certainly seems suspiciously so right about now, doesn’t it? Our Faith Community as well as Churchianity as a whole, has gone round and about on this question of just what is the Mark of the Beast. For years the prevailing theory of what the Mark of the Beast would be was something akin to what we’re talking about here—at the very least it was surmised to be something like a bar-code that would be imprinted on the hands and heads of every individual in the world in the end times.

Recently a new theory began to emerge throughout many Faith Communities that the Mark of the Beast would not be microchips or bar-codes as originally postulated; instead, the Mark of the Beast would be a written or stenciled form of Allah on the persons of this world and that Islam would control the citizens of this world and by not having this mark, one would be prohibited in buying or selling or working or whatever; that the world’s citizens would have to give over their independence and life to the tenets of Islam or die. And given all that has gone on the last couple years, especially in Europe with the refugee crisis and in the middle east with the Syrian and Iraqi conflicts involving ISIS, this current line of thinking seemed quite compelling to me. In fact, I watched a teaching series by Hebrew Roots teacher Rico Cortes entitled, “Is Islam the Beast?”, aired on the Hebrew Roots Network (i.e., HRN), in which Mr. Cortes’ presented a very compelling argument in favor of the Mark of the Beast being that of Islam.

Regardless which of these theories turns out to be true in the end (or for that matter, maybe it will be a combination of the two), there is no getting around the profound concern that we all should have as it relates to microchipping. At the very least, this thing when fully implemented and foisted upon the citizens of the world, will certainly be a tool to effectively control us and ultimately take our focus away from Yahuah our Elohim.

Let us stay informed, well and blessed as we continue on in this journey. Let us know with the greatest of shalom that our Father remains on the throne and that we have nothing to fear—as long as we stay within the confines of His perfect will.

Part-2-Wars and Rumours of Wars

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: (Mat 24:6-7 KJV)

Have you all been keeping up with the disturbing exchange of inflammatory rhetoric between the United States and North Korea the last week or so? The news media is certainly making much to do about these exchanges, choosing to focus more and criticize President Trump’s eyebrow raising statements related to this crisis.

While addressing reporters’ questions at a news conference in New Jersey this past Tuesday, President Trump stated that North Korea’s threats to use nuclear weapons on the United States would be met with “fire and fury,” the likes of which this world has never seen before. This statement from the president came in response to reports produced by various U.S. intelligence agencies that North Korea possesses miniature warheads that could fit atop some of her ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) and after a few successful test missile launches by North Korea’s military.

Then it was reported yesterday that China is threatening to stop the U.S. if she preemptively strikes North Korea, but that she would stay out of the way if the U.S. were to respond to a first-strike by North Korea on U.S. territories. China also called both sides—the U.S. and North Korea—to remain calm during this crisis.

China is taking the above position for a few reasons: (1) China is North Korea’s primary ally and trading partner and does not want to see any harm come to that relationship. (2) China does not want to see an immigration crisis emerge from a potential war between the U.S. and North Korea nor does China want to see a reunified Korea (i.e., North and South become officially reunited). Both an immigration crisis and reunification of the two Koreas would place tremendous stress upon China and her political and economic systems. Yet China seems to not have enough sway with her trading partner and ally to rein in North Korea’s aggressiveness towards the United States and that creates a problem for the entire world to have to deal with.

North Korea made matters worse this past Thursday by stating her intentions of using Guam as a test target of her nuclear missile program in coming days and weeks. Thus, the U.S. administration is hard pressed to find a military solution to this problem, and there is extremely high risks ramifications associated with any potential U.S. military response. The most glaring risk associated with any potential strike against North Korea’s missile arsenal is a full blown retaliatory military strike or invasion of South Korea by the North.

Having served as a reservist and participated in a couple of Korean military exercises in the 90’s, I can attest to the horrendous problems associated with a Northern strike and invasion of the South—untold lives would be lost and the threat of the conflict spreading beyond the confines of the Korean peninsula to other nations in the region is a certainty. Clearly this Korean conflict has the potential to be a world war igniter and no one wants that—well, with the exception of the military-industrial complex, but that’s a debate for another time and place.

Nevertheless, we were taught by Master that as we draw nearer towards the end times, there would be an uptick in the number and intensity of wars. Where such wars and rumours of wars would take place was not revealed to us by Master. All that Master would say to us is that these things such as we are currently witnessing on the world stage today, are things that must come to pass. He instructed us to not be troubled by such news and to understand that such occurrences are simply means to an end—literally.

As scary and troubling as news like the North Korean conflict may appear to us these days, these things serve as guideposts; landmarks; opportunistic markers for us to take advantage of as we continue on our walk and journey with Yeshua our Messiah. I believe it behooves us to be acutely aware of all that is going on about us and to process these things into their proper Biblical and spiritual perspectives so that we stay focused on the tasks set before us and not be easily distracted.

Thus, let us stay focused, prayed up, fasted up, studied up and understanding of the things that are going on about us at any given time. It is up to us to remain Master’s steadfast servants and disciples.

Part-3-Holiness and Righteousness-Inputted or Practiced

This past week I came across a FaceBook post, along with that posts’ various responses, related to the question of one’s holiness and righteousness and whether or not one should be obedient to Torah. The writer of the post simply posted a commentary on the efficacy and validity of obeying and honoring the food laws and that post of his was met with a great deal of criticism and challenge.

Now the poster of the commentary I believe is an established and learned Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah and his intentions in posting the commentary was strictly to edify and encourage the Body of Messiah to not abandon this area of Torah—that being the instructions given to us by Yahovah relating to what He has deemed as food and what He has deemed as not food. I personally found his commentary to be sound as it relates to my understanding of this aspect of Torah.

The poster’s commentary was met, as I said, with a great deal of criticism and challenge by individuals who I have no idea as to their religious affiliation or Faith Communities. Nevertheless, what was being posted in opposition to this brother’s commentary was nothing short of the standard talking points and retorts to general keeping of Torah and how any thought of believers keeping any aspect of the Law was indicative of that individual’s fall from grace.

I felt bad for this fellow who I believe exercised nothing but noble intentions. So I came to his defense and stated in my often verbose way that that which the man is stating is spot on and instead of members of this FaceBook community criticizing and maligning this gentleman for doing what he as a believer was led by the Spirit to do, consider what the Bible has to say on the subject and not argue their denomination’s stance on the subject.

Much of the opposing side’s arguments against the poster’s food Laws comment involved the concept of holiness and righteousness. The contesters’ positions on the subject of the food laws and whether believers in Yeshua (really believers in Jesus) should continue to honor our Elohim by abstaining from consuming foods that were banned by Father centered upon the doctrines of “grace.”

Liberal, churchianity, as we all know, strongly feel that Torah was done away with upon the death, burial and resurrection of our Master 2,000-years ago. That doing away with the “Law” by the work of the Master was replaced by “grace,” which many have taken upon themselves to fashion into a belief that all righteousness and holiness is inputted—that is granted or bestowed upon us. Thus, there is no reason or purpose in continuing to observe and obey Torah, or as the Church likes to refer to Torah, the Law.

But the truth of the matter is that the Bible makes it clear that we are to be holy. Abba stipulated in His Torah that we are to be holy as He is holy (reference Leviticus 20:7). So as to not incur the criticism of those who would say that Christ had not done away with Torah or the Law when this portion of Leviticus was written, the same sentiment of being holy was spoken and written of by both apostles Paul (Shaul) and Peter (Kefa): that as Spirit-Filled-Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah, from the foundations of the world, we were called to be holy in love (Ephesians 1:4); that we be obedient children who do not conform to the former lusts we had when we lived in ignorance (I Peter 1:14-16). Where is this imputed holiness that churchianity demands that we hang our spiritual hats upon so that we can toss Torah into the scrapheap of history? Not in there now is it?

In terms of righteousness, Paul (Shaul) and James (Ya’achov) taught that Abraham’s faith was of such a high caliber that Father imputed righteousness unto him. Nevertheless, there is no one individual in and of themselves who is righteous according to the writer Paul (Romans 3:10), and the prophet Isaiah goes so far as to insinuate that that which we deem as righteousness when compared to the requirements of righteousness as dictated to us by Father, is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Thus righteousness, according to such individuals, as part of the plan of salvation, has been imputed to us. However, for us to exist and live holy and righteous lives, it becomes a must for every Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah. Peter (Kefa) wrote that we must die to sin and live righteous lives (I Peter 2:24). In other words, we cannot on our own achieve an acceptable level of righteousness to match the requirements of our Heavenly Father. Thus Father, through the agency and work of His Son, Yahoshua Messiah, we were given right standing before Him—that is, righteousness was imputed unto us. This was a gift of the Father to us. Therefore, as a response to that imputed righteousness, we are to tap into Torah as our instruction manual and walk out this walk as Father has prescribed and in so doing we live righteous, holy lives. The Holy Spirit (the Ruach Kodesh) empowers and enables us to live righteous and holy lives in the midst of a perverse and evil world.

Thus when it comes down to something in Torah as simple as eating pork or any other prohibited items deemed not food by the Almighty, it behooves us under the auspices of living holy and acceptable lives unto the service of Yahovah our Elohim, to be obedient to the instructions of Yahuah.

In coming in to this Faith, we gave up our independence and became bond slaves unto the Almighty. Thus we are not our own (I Corinthian 6:19). Whenever I read or hear of anyone saying that we can eat swine, dog, cat, buzzard, shrimp, possum, or any other forbidden items, I understand them to say to all of us in the clearest and loudest of voices, that they belong to themselves and not to Yahovah our Elohim. For Master admonished those of us who belong to the Father and who are His disciples, “ If you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15; 2 John 1:6).

Maybe some of us should keep our thoughts to ourselves and not be so quick to reveal our true selves and intentions. Just saying.

Part-4-Controlling our Emotions for the Work of the Kingdom

In episodes 88 and 89 of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections, I touched upon a very important topic and issue to me and that has to do with emotions and how emotions when exploited and improperly displayed can blind us to Truth and steer us off course in the work of the Gospel.

I drew a great deal of my content in these two episodes from my recent experiences having newly arrived here in North Carolina and re-experiencing the Baptist Church of my youth with all her traditions and practices. In these episodes I spoke to a common practice employed by the church of exploiting and manipulating members’ emotions for various and sundry reasons. I also touched upon how some emotions, when sparked, can bring out a side of us that would not be pleasing to Father and that makes for a bad witness for the sake of the Gospel.

Bottom line, our emotions can be problematic and a hindrance to us in the work of the Gospel and in our day-to-day walk with Messiah, if we do not somehow, get control of them. Envy, anger, hatred, fear, self-loathing and the like, are emotions that can often manifest within us and cause us to be blown off spiritual course.

So my thing this week, as I pondered this issue further is to figure out, through Yah’s Word, how we get firm control over our emotions.

When I first began researching this, I came straight away to the 5th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatian Assemblies of Believers. Now Galatians has to be one of the most feared books in the Brit HaDashah (the New Testament) to Messianics, for this is the stronghold book of the anti-Torah crowds of churchianity. But we are not here to discuss whether or not the Book of Galatians contains proof positives that we are not to obey Torah. What we are here for today is to consider ways to get a hold of our emotions

As it turns out, Paul’s letter to the Galatian Assemblies, is believed to have been written in great part by him for purposes of directly addressing the insidious activities of embedded Judaizers in the various Galatian Assembly. Whether it was a single offender or a handful of them, Paul (Shaul), identified a problem that needed addressing by him as the assembly’s spiritual leader.

The specific issue facing the Galatian assemblies appears to be the issue of whether or not it was required of all male converts to the Faith once delivered to be circumcised in order for them to enter into the Faith Community and to be saved. We know that Shaul was addressing a precise issue in his letter here and it was that one issue that was confusing the members of these communities and that issue was circumcision. However, churchianity has taken that specific issue that was being addressed by Paul to develop and spread an anti-Torah agenda to the entire Body of Messiah and they are using Paul’s brilliant prose contained in this letter as the instrument by which they will further their anti-Torah agenda.

For my purposes here today, however, I wish to reflect upon the concept of temperance, which means self-control. Temperance is a behavior that is mentioned as being a “Fruit of the Spirit.” The larger concept of the Fruit of the Spirit is contained in the 5th Chapter of Galatians and they are as follows: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness (humility), temperance (self-control): against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23 KJV)

When we talk about being Spirit Filled Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah, the Fruit of the Spirit, these 9 or so fruits (if you will), become expected byproducts of our obedience and honoring of Torah as Yeshua modeled and taught. Why? Because we perfect love for Father and love for one another that we as True Believers and Followers of Yeshua HaMashiyach have been commanded to possess and exercise. Allow me to comment briefly on each of these fruits:

  • Love comes from our worshiping and honoring Abba as He instructed and stipulated in His Torah. Love comes from our treating brother and sister according to the tenets of Torah and denying ourselves the opportunity to covet, envy, taking that which does not belong to us, providing assistance to a brother or sister in need, etc. Love is in great many respects an emotion that is critical to our day-to-day walk in Messiah. However, the emotion of love can easily be influenced, manipulated and exploited in so many different ways. It is up to us as disciples of the Most High to identify what true love is all about and to enact that love accordingly and without compromise.
  • Joy is one of those natural outcroppings that we experience when we are in the complete and full embrace of Yahuah our Elohim—when we know that we are operating in His perfect will; when we honor and obey Him and His Torah and we sense within our very being that we’ve pleased Him. That joy is a joy that the world did not give nor can the world take away from us. The only way that we loose that joy is through the consequences that come out of our own works—especially so when we give that joy over to the enemy. Like love, joy is an emotion that can be easily manipulated, exploited and influenced by the enemy. Joy is a wonderful gift that we must guard and exercise within the confines of the True Faith.
  • Peace becomes a natural outcropping of the love we experience from Abba as He has instructed us to love Him and then love neighbor to the same extent that we love ourselves. Granted, the peace that we receive may be lopsided from time to time as not everyone we love according to Spiritual Torah will reciprocate the same love and behavior. But at least there will be peace within our souls and minds, knowing that we’ve pleased our Father in heaven and did what we were supposed to do as His beloved children.
  • Patience comes once we realize that we are living amongst and dealing with individuals from the human race: we are flawed creatures who are continuous works in progress and not all of us are where we should be in terms of a being like our Master. Thus, we must learn forgiveness and patience and understanding. Otherwise, we stand always in a place of impatience and frustration and that is not a good place to be.
  • A natural outcropping of treating one another the way Spiritual Torah instructs us to is the gentleness that we display towards one another. We become patient and kindness toward those who may not be at a similar place in the Faith that we are. At some level we understand what may be going on with and within them as they seek Truth; we see that we were in their current position at one point in our journey; we better appreciate that Abba has delivered us and fashioned us and moved us from the place that a struggling brother or sister may currently be holed up in. Thus we empathize and maybe even sympathize with one another. Besides, being jerks towards one another only exacerbates an already miserable situation and opens the door for the enemy to do his thing in our lives.
  • Living and walking and loving Spiritual Torah can only bring about good things—goodness—nuf said.
  • Trusting—having an unshakable faith–that Abba will deliver and sustain and provide for all our needs is part and parcel of the relationship we are to have with the Most High—nuf said.
  • Humility comes when we abandon the stuffiness that so many of us carry around with us, especially those of us who take pride in accumulating knowledge and understanding that we use to beat one another over the head with whenever such opportunities present themselves. Such behavior actually nets us very little in the Kingdom. Such behavior only serves to puff us up and cause us to loose track of our purpose in the work of the Gospel. Have we not been called to be servants and to serve (Matthew 20:27; 23:11).
  • Self-control is essentially dying to self and being led by the Ruach Kodesh (i.e., the Holy Spirit). Bottom line: this is what this portion of the post is all about—self-control—something that I definitely need to constantly monitor and exercise as it relates to my emotions.

Galatians 5, verses 19-21 lists unGodly behaviors that should not be named among the true people of Yahuah. Paul warns that the exercising of these behaviors, and I should mention a few of these behaviors are considered emotions; that the exercising of these behaviors places us in the terrible position of eventually not having the opportunity of sharing in the Kingdom of Yahovah.

Yet so many of us go about each day of our lives, being emotional about so many things, and actually making a spiritual fool of ourselves. In so doing, we sully our witness as disciples of Yeshua Messiah and slowly but surely lose our place in the coming Kingdom of Yahovah.

Folks, this is serious stuff. If we are constantly envious of others; if we are always bitter and angry and disgusted of others, and we allow our emotions to consume us to the point that we are no longer any good to the cause of the Kingdom, then we can say goodbye to the bright future that was promised to us in the world tomorrow by Master Yahushua. We have to get a hold of our emotions and practice temperance—self-control—and that is facilitated in great part by the working of the Holy Spirit (i.e., the Ruach Kodesh) in our lives (verses 22 and 23).

Paul reminds us in verse 24 of the same 5th chapter, that if we have truly become Yahushua’s disciples; that we’ve forsaken our old master—self and hasatan—if we are truly Master Yeshua’s disciple, then we should have left our old natures at the spiritual door when we signed up to serve. In verse 26 of the same 5th chapter, Shaul counsels us that if we’ve not done so, that we abandoned those things–those habits and emotions that hinder our walk in Messiah.

I know that this may seem like an impossible task, but gaining control over those troublesome emotions I have found is doable if we are willing to give it all up for the work of the Gospel of the Kingdom and for the love of Yeshua our Messiah.

So I’ve taken the liberty of sketching out a personal plan of action to deal with my emotions that I hope will somehow aid you in your journey towards achieving complete control of your emotions.

  1. Like with any 12-step like recovery program, the first step in gaining control of one’s emotions is to first acknowledge that I have a problem controlling my emotions. I love Paul’s commentary on this step: CJB Romans 12:3 For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust. (Rom 12:3 CJB) Thus Paul is saying to me that I must get past my own perceived self-importance and conduct a “sober (serious) estimate of myself based upon the standard which Yahuah our Elohim has give to us which is trust” and Torah the way Master taught and modeled it.
  2. Understand how our lack of control over our emotions hinders our walk with Messiah by sullying our witness; taking the focus away from Abba and placing it on us as individuals and others; hiding Truth from us; and causing us to stumble and violate Torah and the instructions of our Master. I do not have a scriptural backing for this step, but this should regardless be obvious. In my case if I am constantly dealing with my internal struggles and I squirrel myself off to the side and away from the place where I should be operating, then I am forfeiting my identity and purpose in the kingdom. If I allow my emotions to control my behavior and worldview, then the Spirit (i.e., the Ruach) cannot effectively guide my steps nor can I identify Truth when it stares me in the face.
  3. Determine to do something about the problem—whatever it takes—to mitigate or completely eliminate the threat. I say to develop a plan of action that would address each emotional issue that I’m struggling with. If I know that I am a hothead, then maybe I need to start looking at the situations where my hotheadedness stand the greatest chances of being manifested and maybe avoid those places and situation for instance.
  4. Take action to address the problem:
  5. Prayer and fasting.
  6. Study of Scripture to better understand that which is expected of us. Certainly being a hothead is not conducive to being an effective witness for Yeshua Messiah. If someone contradicts me or maligns me and my character, for instance, over something I may say or write, it benefits the Kingdom of Yahuah if I simply walk away and choose to disagree with that individual; to no longer engage that individual; to instead pray for that individual to eventual come to see the error of his or her ways. I have witnessed way too many FaceBook fights over the last few years; fights over issues and topics that in the big scheme of things mean very little to the Body of Messiah. Yet hot heads feel that they have to defend their understanding of the Gospel and they launch into a tirade against the opposing individual over the contested issue. All that results from the brutal exchange is bruised egos and unbridled anger and resentment for all concerned. The Bible takes emotions out of the equation. Our work in the Kingdom is not nor should it not be fueled by our emotions, with the sole exception of love, where love of Father and love of one another is the overarching foundation of Torah itself.
  7. Avoid situations, places and even people that create the potential of igniting my emotions.
  8. Let the Ruach take full control of my life—walk in the Spirit—operate in the Spirit—pray in the Spirit. Paul (Shaul) writes in Galatians 5, verse 16, that if I walk in the Spirit of the Most High, then I will not run the risk of defaulting to my old ways.
  9. Exercise militaristic self-control—yet remain vulnerable enough that I may work the work that has been given to me to do and not be numb to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the needs of others.

A more encapsulated method for controlling my emotions is by seeking the Kingdom of Yah first and foremost in my life along with seeking out His righteousness. In so doing, everything else of any concern will otherwise fall right into its proper place, including any needed control of my emotions or other troublesome behaviors.

Part-5-Closing Thoughts and Reflections

This Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections episode was more a lesson to me than a lesson to anyone else. Yet it is my heartfelt hope, trust and prayer that the content of this episode will be of some eternal spiritual use to you as you walk this narrow arduous path with Yeshua Messiah.

As I’ve said in so many previous episodes of this program, we are all on individual journeys with Messiah, but we are also a body—a living breathing body that happens to be also on a journey with Mashiyach. Whatever I can do to help edify and exhort the Body of Messiah as I explore these topics and issues of relevance to our Faith is in accordance with my obedience to Messiah and my good pleasure as I serve the Kingdom of Yahovah.

As we embark upon a new week and ask Father for the strength to make it through to the next Sabbath, I ask Father to let not His precious Holy Spirit leave us; that His Spirit abide in us ever so strongly such that our way is made clear and our obedient efforts remain effective and true. The funny thing is that I, like all of you hopefully, have the Spirit dwelling within me and thus I have available to me all the strength and authority required to overcome my old nature and to control my emotions. I just need to get out of the way and allow the Spirit to work His work in me unimpeded. Unfortunately, a great deal of the time I don’t get out of the Ruach’s way or I end up second guessing or even ignoring the leading of the Ruach when I most need Him in my life. Again, it’s that temperance—that self-control—that comes into play here.

May you walk in the power and might of His Holy Spirit this week. Until next time, may you be most blessed fellow saints in training. Shavuatov. Warmest shalom. This is Rod signing out.

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