TK Torah Keepers

For I am YHWH your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ⁴⁵ For I am YHWH that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44-45 KJV)

Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am YHWH your God. (Leviticus 20:7 KJV)

O worship YHWH in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. (Psalm 96:9 KJV)

As the children of Israel we are called to be holy as YHWH is holy.  We are to worship and serve YHWH in the beauty of holiness.  When we see something pure, undefiled, unpolluted, uncorrupted, and holy it is indeed beautiful. Seeing the fresh snowfall of the morning, before it is corrupted by footprints and car tracks truly is spectacular.  A virgin patch of forest that has not been marred by chainsaws and two-tracks is a wonder to behold.  A clear sky unscarred by jet-streams and pollution is truly awe inspiring. The virtue of pure, unstained, unpolluted, undefiled holiness is indeed beautiful.  But the process by which we become holy is not always so pretty or painless.  As a boy growing up, life was a giant dirt pile. As a child I rejoiced in building miniature highways in the pile of topsoil. Football was always better in the rain.  Crawling through the dirt, rocks, sticks, leaves, and mud added to the realism of our imaginary military operations.  As a boy I delighted in the dirt of life.  But the process of getting clean was not always so pleasant, as Mom would scrub from head to toe, behind our ears and beneath our nails to get us pure and beautiful once again. 

As we grow in flesh and in spirit, we come to realize that life (in this fallen world) is one big dirt pile.  Only now, the filth, pollution, corruption and dirt we stain ourselves with is not always external.  It is impossible to live in this world and not be stained by it.  The sins of the world leave marks, blemishes, wounds, and scars upon our lives, hearts, minds, and souls.  It is these stains, wounds, and blemishes that prevent us from experiencing true intimacy with the Creator.  We cannot, in our current filthy state draw near to the Holy One.

YHWH’S holiness is often described as a consuming fire.

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. (Psalm 50:3 KJV)

A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. (Psalm 97:3 KJV)   

And the sight of the glory of YHWH was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. (Exodus 24:17 KJV)

For YHWH thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24 KJV)

Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of YHWH our God any more, then we shall die. ²⁶ For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? (Deuteronomy 5:25-26 KJV)

Understand therefore this day, that YHWH thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as YHWH hath said unto thee. (Deuteronomy 9:3 KJV)

When the holiness of YHWH comes in contact with that which is other than pure, unpolluted, undefiled, or holy is will, by its very nature, consume it.  In this regard YHWH’S holiness may be compared to a refiner’s fire.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: ³ And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto YHWH an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:2-3 KJV)

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, YHWH is my God. (Zechariah 13:9 KJV)

And there went out fire from YHWH, and devoured them, and they died before YHWH. (Leviticus 10:2 KJV)

And there came out a fire from YHWH, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. (Numbers 16:35 KJV)

And when the people complained, it displeased YHWH: and YHWH heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of YHWH burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. (Numbers 11:1 KJV)

We observe the truth of this statement in YHWH’S concern for Israel after they defiled themselves with the golden calf.

… for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. (Exodus 33:3 KJV)

For YHWH had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. (Exodus 33:5 KJV)

Seek YHWH, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. (Amos 5:6 KJV)

The holy and the unholy cannot dwell together.  It is for this reason that YHWH gave Israel the altar and sacrificial system, whereby they could make a “covering” for themselves to protect themselves against the holiness of YHWH when he dwelt among them.  We should recognize that it is only by the covering of Messiah Yeshua that we as members of the body of Messiah can currently enter into the presence of YHWH in prayer.

There is much that we can do to put away or avoid the defilement of the world.  We can be selective as to what we read, watch on television, or online.  We can avoid defiling places like bars, strip-clubs, and places of vulgar worldly entertainment.  We can even be cautious about who we allow into our homes and lives.  But even with every effort to avoid the external contamination of the world, there is still the matter of our own sin nature that defiles us.  It is for this reason that we must go through the refiner’s fire.  We may wash and scrub away all of the external defilement, but that which is intrinsically a part of our very nature will require a greater refining—dross is only removed by fire!  It is for this reason that Torah commanded that everything that can withstand the fire must go through the fire.

Everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water. (Numbers 31:23 KJV)

John the Baptist declared that he washed people with water but the Messiah was come with a baptism of fire.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Spirit of hte Holy One, and with fire: ¹² Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:11-12 KJV)

Yeshua himself declared,

I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? (Luke 12:49 KJV)

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. (Mark 9:49 KJV)

Yeshua came to cleanse and purge the earth of the defilement of sin.  We too, as members of his body must undergo this purging, cleansing, refining fire.

The Apostle Shaul warns,

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵ If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15 KJV)

The Apostle Peter wrote,

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Yeshua Messiah: (1 Peter 1:7 KJV)

While the finished product, holiness, is indeed beautiful, we must understand that the process of getting there can be quit dangerous, uncomfortable, and painful. Most of us want to avoid any discomfort in our lives.  We want to simply put on a pretty white garment to cover our pollution and call it good.  But this is not what the Creator desires.  The Creator is seeking to restore all things to their original pristine beauty and holiness, that he may have full fellowship and communion with his creatures. YHWH does not just desire to be near his creation but to become one with them. In order for this intimacy to happen we must do more than just cover our stains, scars, blemishes, pollutions and defilements.  We must undergo the baptism of fire that will truly purge them away. Like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azarriah (better known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) we too must have the faith to enter the fiery furnace and remain there until YHWH has perfected us.  We must be careful to understand that the fire of purging is not because YHWH hates us or has rejected us, but because he desires us to come yet closer.  The purer we are the closer we may get to the Holy One.  The purer we are the closer YHWH can draw to us, without the threat of consuming us completely.  In the fire we shall learn what in our lives is wood, hay, stubble and dross. In the fire we shall learn what is truly the work of YHWH and what is the fruit of our own egos, delusions, desires and imaginations.  We may expect that everything that is fruitless or contrary to his will shall be burned up in the fire.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Matthew 7:19 KJV)

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. (Matthew 13:40 KJV)    

The degree to which we genuinely desire complete intimacy with the Holy One will determine how long we will tolerate the pain of the purging fires of YHWH.  An athlete determined to win the gold medal continues to endure the pain and discipline of training in spite of the cost.  As the children of Israel, called to be a holy people, we too must be willing to suffer and endure the pain and discipline of YHWH’S refining fire if we desire to be the pure gold in the end.  Like the cross this process is not romantic, but it is necessary.  Again let us recognize and recall when we face the flames of purging that while it may feel like YHWH is out to destroy us, it is, in fact, the opposite that is true.  The purging is so we may draw closer.  It is true, however, that the person that enters into the fire will not be the same person to come out of the fire.  Hopefully when all of the dross is removed from the gold—it will be the image of the Holy One that is seen in us.

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. (Proverbs 25:4 KJV)

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15 KJV)   

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? ³⁴ But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. (Mark 9:33-34 KJV)

 I can only image what it would be like if the Messiah showed up at one of our Messianic conferences, synagogues or church meetings, or home fellowships.  The doors to the auditorium, conference center, sanctuary, or living room open and in walks our Master, Yeshua the Messiah.   All eyes turn and greet him with looks of awe and amazement.  The Master smiles and nods in acknowledgement of the participants’ admiration. All music, worship, teaching, and conversation comes to a profound stop.  Pregnant silence fills the room as everyone waits for the Master to speak……..then he speaks.  “So, what were you discussing?” he asks.  Again the room is filled with stunned silence.  Only this time the silence is a contemplative one.  Instantly every teacher begins evaluating the theological and biblical correctness of the position taken in the last teaching given. As for the members of the audience, congregation, or fellowship, everything the speakers, teachers, or leaders have ever said vanishes from memory….the Master is present.  Whatever the topic was that was being so passionately presented, so ardently defended, so decisively debated, suddenly is forgotten. No can even remember what they were discussing or arguing about.  Somehow everything that seemed to be a doctrinal foundation stone and an uncompromisable dogma of truth now seems but an irrelevant and trivial intellectual exercise that pails in the presence of the Master.  Disagreements, for which we have proudly divided the body of Messiah into a million micro denominations and sects of one or two people each, now seem to be a source of shame and embarrassment in the presence of the Master. But as the pain and discomfort of the unrelenting silence builds within the room some poor soul breaks under the conviction of the silence and speaks… “We were debating why our understanding is correct and everyone else is wrong,” or “We were debating why this ministry is better than that ministry,” or “We were discussing who the best Torah teacher is,” or “We were discussing why we don’t associate with that group.” A slow blush covers the face of the crowd as a wave of shame and humiliation fills the room in silence.

 What were we thinking?  What were we doing?  What were we talking about?  Was there even a need for words? What have we been doing all of these years?  We have been talking and teaching as if the Master (the resurrected and living Messiah) is not the head of the body or even present in our meetings, conferences and fellowships. We have been listening to men who have appointed themselves as temporary heads over the body in the absence of the Master.  We have been following men and their opinions about YHWH, Moses, the Torah, and the Master Yeshua, while at the same time living seperate from our our head (our Master Yeshua). We have been debating, defending and dividing the body of Messiah over who is the greatest, who is right, who is best, who is wrong, who is worst, who is to be welcomed and who is to be avoided.  We have been arguing over trivia and speculative prophecy.  We have been warning about the imagined dangers of the end times while at the same time neglecting the very real and experienced needs and dangers of the present.  We have been spouting and spewing our own interpretations, translations, understandings, beliefs, and guesses about the Creator, the Messiah, and the Torah.  We have been teaching about Yeshua—but not as Yeshua.  Somehow, we have missed the idea that we are to be empty vessels, sanctified and set apart for YHWH to pour out himself through. Instead we have filled ourselves with so much self understanding, and intellectual fluff. Somehow our heads have been inflated while our hearts, like the Grinch, have grown small.  We have embraced all of the stimulating debate about the Messiah but have not truly embraced the Messiah as our Master and head.

 Finally at the right moment the Master speaks,

 “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. (Mark 9:35 KJV)

 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 KJV)

 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29 KJV)

 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34 KJV)

 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV)

 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (John 15:12 KJV)

 These things I command you, that ye love one another. (John 15:17 KJV)

 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1 John 3:11 KJV)

 It becomes immediately clear that the Master’s teachings are not about doctrine and dogma and intellectual concepts, but about relationships, serving, caring, helping, and loving one another.  The Master’s teachings are not primarily about thinking but doing that which the Father has commanded.  This is not to say that we are free to believe whatever we want, or that we need not engage our brains, but it is saying that we need to re-evaluate what we are teaching, how we are teaching, and what we are doing or not doing.  While we all have thoughts, ideas, and insights, we must remember that our primary purpose for following the Master, is to become his body and to manifest his teachings not our own.  The question is not “what do I believe?” but “what does the Master believe?”  To be a genuine disciple and member of the body of Messiah we must submit ourselves wholly to the Master’s teachings—our own personal concepts, insights, and understandings, we are to take to the cross. Instead of our own understanding we seek the Master’s knowledge, wisdom, understanding, beliefs, and heart.  The object for the disciples is to bring his or her own understanding into submission, conformity and alignment with the Master’s understanding.  Everything we know should flow from the Head (i.e. the Master) not our own limited intellect.  What we learn should be learned from the Spirit of the Messiah and confirmed in the written word of God.  What we hear from the Spirit of the Master, confirm by the testimony of the scriptures, we are to manifest in our lives.   It really is that simple.