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)   

 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.          

My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O YHWH, how long? (Psalm 6:3 KJV)

How long wilt thou forget me, O YHWH? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? ² How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? ³ Consider and hear me, O YHWH my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; (Psalm 13:1-3 KJV)

Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. (Psalm 35:17 KJV)

O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? (Psalm 74:10 KJV)

 How long, YHWH? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? (Psalm 79:5 KJV)

 O YHWH God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? (Psalm 80:4 KJV)

 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. (Psalm 82:2 KJV)

 How long, YHWH? wilt thou hide thyself forever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? (Psalm 89:46 KJV)

 Return, O YHWH, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. (Psalm 90:13 KJV)

 YHWH, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? ⁴ How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? (Psalm 94:3-4 KJV)

 O YHWH, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! (Habakkuk 1:2 KJV)

 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O YHWH, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:10 KJV)  

 In our fast paced world of modern conveniences, quick fixes and time saving technology, waiting is not understood to be a virtue.  I remember being given an electric wok and a microwave oven on the same day.  We could cook so fast that we could eat leftovers the same day!  Television shows, newspaper and magazine articles, class-room lectures have all be reduced to 10-15 minute “sound-bytes” because people have lost the patience for watching, reading, and learning.  Our culture has accommodated our fleshly impatience and desire for more stimulation and titillation by more rapid pace of life.  We want to solve problems with the push of a button. We want to change the world by writing a check.  We want to be healthy by taking a pill.  But there is no such quick fix for the cross.  The cross is not something to be cured—but something that must be patiently endured.  Oh yes, we can cry out, shout, and scream at its pain.  Even Yeshua cried out and questioned while enduring the reality of the cross.

 And at the ninth hour Yeshua cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34 KJV)

 What is important in the story of Yeshua upon the cross is not that he cried out and questioned, but that in spite of all the taunting, pain and suffering, he did not come down from the cross, but endured it until the work of the cross was finished.

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, ³⁰ Save thyself, and come down from the cross. (Mark 15:29-30 KJV)

When Yeshua therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30 KJV)

We too must learn from our Master to patiently endure the cross until the work is finished, whatever the cross or the work to be accomplishes may be. 

I will be the first to confess that there are times when I cannot stand the pain of the cross any longer.  There are times that my flesh wants so desperately to climb down and run away from the cross that the Father has asked me to bear.  There are moments when the cross is so appalling and repulsive to me that I simply cannot bring myself to accept that it is my Heavenly Father that is asking me to patiently endure it.  There are times when I cannot see any reasonable purpose or positive outcome to what the Father is asking me to do and to endure. Through prayer, however, there have been four revelations that have helped me to endure the cross. 

The first is simply that YHWH’S grace is sufficient for us.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Messiah may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

Even though the cross, whatever it may be, pushes me beyond all of my human strength and ability, it is then at the end of me, that the Father’s love, grace, and strength is seen.  In my own strength I would have stopped a long time ago. But the longer I endure the cross, the more evident it becomes that it is not me but YHWH that is enduring.  It is in my finiteness, weakness, and brokenness that YHWH’S infinite, strong, and perfect love, mercy, grace, and character becomes manifest.  It is no longer me that bears the cross but YHWH.

The second revelation is that YHWH is likewise waiting and enduring, the offense, hurt, heartache, frustration and disappointment with his people. We should realize that as we are waiting on YHWH to answer our prayers, he is waiting for us to turn to him in every circumstance.  The cross is part of the means by which YHWH takes us beyond ourselves so that we will call upon him and seek answers, strength and comfort from him.  We need to recognize that YHWH too is asking “How long?”

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith YHWH God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me. (Exodus 10:3 KJV)

And YHWH said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? (Exodus 16:28 KJV)

And YHWH said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? (Numbers 14:11 KJV)

How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. (Numbers 14:27 KJV)

And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which YHWH God of your fathers hath given you? (Joshua 18:3 KJV)

 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? (Jeremiah 4:14 KJV)

 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; (Jeremiah 23:26 KJV)

 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end. (Jeremiah 12:4 KJV)

 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for YHWH hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. (Jeremiah 31:22 KJV)

 Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? (Jeremiah 47:5 KJV)

  Then Yeshua answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. (Matthew 17:17 KJV)

 While I patiently endure the suffering inflicted by the sins of others (as well as the pain of my own sinfulness), I must recall that YHWH patiently suffers waiting for me to confess, repent and restore, the damage done by my sins.  We must remember that Yeshua was not simply giving us an example of how to bear the cross, he was actually suffering our sins upon the cross!  As he has patiently borne the cross of our sins, so we too are asked to bear the cross of our brother’s sins. 

 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. (Romans 5:8 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)

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

 The third revelation is related to the second.  We need to recognize that patience or longsuffering is an attribute of YHWH that was clearly embodied in Yeshua our Master. 

 And YHWH passed by before him, and proclaimed, YHWH, YHWH God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (Exodus 34:6 KJV)

 YHWH is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. (Numbers 14:18 KJV)

 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15 KJV)

 O YHWH, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. (Jeremiah 15:15 KJV)

 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4 KJV)

 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (Romans 9:22 KJV)

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22 KJV)

 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:20 KJV)

 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Peter 3:15 KJV)

 Clearly patience and longsuffering are attributes of YHWH and Yeshua.  As the body of Messiah, filled with the Spirit of the Holy One we should be embodying the attributes of YHWH in our flesh and in our lives.  This is our calling as the children of Israel and the body of Messiah.  We are to be the image of YHWH in the world.  If YHWH is holy then we are to be holy.  If YHWH is longsuffering and patient then we too must be longsuffering and patient. 

 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, (2 Corinthians 6:6 KJV)

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22 KJV)

 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Ephesians 4:2 KJV)

 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (Colossians 1:11 KJV)

 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (Colossians 3:12 KJV)

 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Yeshua Messiah might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:16 KJV)

 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (2 Timothy 3:10 KJV)

 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2 KJV)

 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Messiah Yeshua: (Romans 15:5 KJV)

 We should understand that at those times when we are asked to endure the cross, but cannot see any possible reason for the request, it is in the longsuffering that YHWH is made manifest in our lives.  At times such as this, the cross we endure is not for us, but for a testimony for those around us who are in desperate need of faith.

 The fourth revelation is a simple one.  While we are enduring the cross we must try to remember that the story of the body of Messiah did not end with death upon the cross but with resurrection from the grave to a new and glorious life in the presence of the Father.  Regardless of what we suffer, and regardless of why we suffer, we must recognize that the suffering is temporary and that victory over death lays at the end of its working.

 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV)

 We may also recognize that it is through the cross that YHWH builds our faith and perfects our character, making us a little less like me and a lot more like our Master, Yeshua.

 In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19 KJV)

 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua Messiah: ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit of the Holy One which is given unto us. (Romans 5:1-5 KJV)

 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:25 KJV)

 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4 KJV)

 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12 KJV)

 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. ⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:3-4 KJV)

 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7 KJV)

 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. ¹¹ Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:10-11 KJV)

 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; ⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; ⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. ⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua Messiah. (2 Peter 1:4-8 KJV)

 Brothers and sisters, we must learn to patiently endure the cross as we wait upon the Father to answer our prayers, hear our cries, and heal our wounds. 

 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon YHWH, they shall inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:9 KJV)

 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon YHWH our God, until that he have mercy upon us. (Psalm 123:2 KJV)

 But they that wait upon YHWH shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

 It is our faith in the character of YHWH that allows us to find the strength to patiently wait upon YHWH, trusting that what he wills, and what he allows, is consistent with his nature and character.  Therefore, even the cross must be understood to be good, holy, righteous, just, merciful and compassionate and about life and not death.  While the cross may repulse our flesh, our spirit touched by the love of YHWH will learn to embrace it.  For in the embracing of the cross the character and attributes of YHWH and the body of Messiah become manifest in our world.

 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Yeshua Messiah, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; ⁴ He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, ⁵ Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:3-7 KJV)

 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴ Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ⁶ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁷ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. (2 Timothy 3:1-7, 9 KJV)

Even in the days of Shaul there were many who realized that “religion” sells. In the days of Shaul and Timothy, the Roman Empire ruled the world. For the genuine believer (i.e., those who keep the Torah and believe in Yeshua as the Messiah) life was very difficult and even dangerous.  Believers were surrounded by the pagan world with all of its licentiousness, perversity, and ungodliness. Believers were persecuted, oppressed, and often poor.  The world of the ancient believer was filled with all manner of gods, demigods, shrines, temples, priests, priestesses, and religious ideologies.  There were many who honestly hungered and thirsted for righteousness, hope and truth.  In their desperation these humbly, honest, hungry souls were vulnerable to those who would prey upon them for personal gain and self-promotion.  The “form of godliness” is easy to imitate, market, sell, and promote to the unsuspecting and vulnerable souls who hunger and thirst for truth and hope.   

 Things have not changed much in modern times.  Even in our day and age there are believers who genuinely hunger and thirst for righteousness truth and hope.  Given the social, political, and financial, violence, injustice, and ugliness that pervades our culture today life as a believer can be challenging and even dangerous.  Various philosophies, ideologies, theologies, and toxic religious systems all vie one with another for adherents, disciples, and donors. We are once again surrounded by gods, priests, priestesses, shrines, temples, cathedrals, synagogues and mosques.  Given the dire social, political and financial situation of many believers they once again hunger and thirst for justice, righteousness, and hope.  It is upon these hungering souls that the less godly prey.  Unfortunately, Shaul’s warnings to Timothy are still very appropriate for us today.  There are still self-promoting false teachers and false prophets that put on the “form of godliness” because they know that religion sells.  These charlatans know that if people are desperate enough and hungry enough they will swallow anything.  Solomon declared,

 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. (Proverbs 27:7 KJV)

 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. (Proverbs 20:17 KJV)     

 It is difficult to watch as the ungodly and wicked seem to prosper and become wealthy in our world. It is difficult not to envy the success, power, fame, wealth, comfort, and extravagant life of the wicked. These master-salesmen and women are able to sell the Torah and the Gospel with great personal success and very little sacrifice.  The desperate soul, hungering for truth and hope, often sell all that they have to eat of the sweet bread of deceit only to find that they have been sold a mouth full of gravel!

 Let me state clearly, that I say all of this as one who makes his living, and supports his family by the teaching the word of YHWH.  I make no apologies for this.  Like every other believer who supports his family, I work for a living.  My work just happens to be teaching and ministering the word.

 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. (Deuteronomy 25:4 KJV)

 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? ⁸ Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? ⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? ¹⁰ Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. ¹¹ If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (1 Corinthians 9:7-11 KJV)

 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. (1 Timothy 5:18 KJV)

 That people make their living from the ministry of the word is not a contradiction of the word.  However, the calling of the ministry of the word must be clear.  The ministry of the word is not a ministry of self-promotion, or self-profiting, or self-serving.  The ministry of the word is the ministry of the sower who sows seed in the hope of an abundant harvest for the sake of the kingdom.  The minister of the word promotes and advances the kingdom of YHWH, and magnifies the name of YHWH, and edifies the body of Messiah.  For the genuine teacher, pastor or evangelist the primary focus is upon building the kingdom, glorifying YHWH, and edifying the body of Messiah, the financial rewards, however great or small, are just the natural fruit of their labor.  For the charlatan, talk of the kingdom of YHWH, the name of YHWH, and the body of Messiah are merely the means by which they promote themselves and make their wealth.  For the genuine teacher and prophet the object of their labor is other than themselves.  For the charlatan the object of their labor is themselves.

 Unfortunately, it is often the charlatan that knows the world and how to manipulate things to accomplish their self-centered agenda.  It truly is as Yeshua our Master taught;

 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. (Luke 16:8 KJV)

 Though the worldly, wicked, and ungodly, do prosper in this world we are warned repeatedly not to covet or envy their wealth and achievements. 

 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of YHWH all the day long. (Proverbs 23:17 KJV)

 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. (Proverbs 3:31 KJV)

 The Psalmist reveals why this is so.

 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. ³ For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ⁴ For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. ⁵ They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. ⁶ Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. ⁷ Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. ⁸ They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. ⁹ They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. ¹⁰ Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. ¹¹ And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? ¹² Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. ¹³ Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. ¹⁴ For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. ¹⁵ If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. ¹⁶ When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; ¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. ¹⁸ Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. ¹⁹ How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. ²⁰ As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. ²¹ Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. ²² So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. ²³ Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. ²⁴ Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. (Psalm 73:2-24 KJV)

 While worldly wealth may bring with it certain worldly benefits and comforts, of what value are they if they separate us from the Father? Of what value is gold, silver, and copper if in the end the Sovereign Creator of the universe despises you?  What joy and pleasure could be endured knowing that in the end it will cost you everything?  Yeshua our Master asked;

 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26 KJV)

 We may likewise recall Yeshua teaching about those who call “Lord, Lord”.

 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22-23 KJV)

 Surely Yeshua is speaking of those who use his name to promote themselves and gather their wealth at the cost of the kingdom and the body of Messiah. 

 We would do well to heed the loving wisdom of our Heavenly Father as revealed in the scriptures.

 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. (Psalm 37:16 KJV)

 Better is little with the fear of YHWH than great treasure and trouble therewith. (Proverbs 15:16 KJV)

 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. (Proverbs 16:8 KJV)

 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:19 KJV)

 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. (Proverbs 19:1 KJV)

 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. (Proverbs 19:22 KJV)

 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. (Proverbs 28:6 KJV)

 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. (Proverbs 25:7 KJV)

 While I will most ardently confess, that I enjoy knowing that I have the provisions to put a roof over my families head, clothes on our backs, food on the table, and means to not only survive but enjoy life, and especially to be generous with others, all of these would quickly become a curse to me, if they separated me from the Creator.  No amount of fame, power, or wealth can replace and rival the security, peace, and joy to be found in a relationship with the Father, as made possible by the Messiah Yeshua.  There is no greater honor to be found, than being associated with the great and exalted name of YHWH.  There is no greater love or life to be found anywhere in creation that could rival that which emanates from the Father.  Let the world and worldly have their silver and gold, fame and fortune, I desire only intimacy with YHWH.

 Every time I pray this psalm I find myself wondering if my Christian brethren have ever prayed or read these words.  My Christian brethren contend that they believe the bible to be the true word of God. Many of my brethren adamantly proclaim that the bible is the divinely inspired, ineffable and infallible word of God.  These same brethren are also those who boldly declare that they believe and teach the whole bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.  And yet, when they discover that I am keeping and teaching the Torah, they tell me that I am under a curse, that I am in bondage, that I have denied “Jesus” and that I have rejected salvation.  I am genuinely at a loss to understand the logic of such thinking.  Let us look again at the description of the Torah as given above.

 The TORAH of YHWH is PERFECT

• The TESTIMONY of YHWH is SURE
• The STATUTES of YHWH are RIGHT
• The COMMANDMENTS of YHWH are PURE
• The FEAR of YHWH is CLEAN
• The JUDGMENTS of YHWH are TRUE and RIGHTEOUS

 The first thing that we should note from this description is that the Torah, Testimony, Statutes, Commandments, Judgments and even the Fear of YHWH, are all from YHWH.  These are not the laws of the Jews, nor the laws of Moses, nor of any other man.  These instructions, testimonies, statues, commandments, and judgments are the words of YHWH the Sovereign Creator and Ruler of the Universe.  Therefore we must acknowledge their validity and authenticity. We must likewise acknowledge that the Torah, testimony, statutes, commandments, and judgments are the “doctrine of devils” being taught by “seducing spirits” as some would contend from a misreading and application of the Apostle Shaul’s letter to Timothy.

 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1 KJV)  

 YHWH is not a “seducing spirit” nor do I believe his teachings to be “doctrine of devils.” The “Spirit that speaketh expressly” in this verse is the Spirit of YHWH who is concerned about those who being led away from “the faith” as it is taught through his Torah, testimony, statutes, commandments and judgments!

 The second thing we should note is that this positive description of the Torah, Testimonies, Statues, Commandments and Judgments of YHWH appears in the scriptures—the inspired word of YHWH. In other words, this positive description is YHWH’S description and assessment of his own word.  The psaltery is the Creator’s prayer book given to his people to aid them in their worship and devotion.  The Book of Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs of worship, inspired by the Spirit of the Holy One in the hearts of his loving and faithful servants.  Therefore we must declare the description of the word of YHWH to be as true as the word itself. If YHWH has declared his word to be perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true and righteous, who are we to judge his word otherwise? 

 Third let us carefully note the very attributes ascribed to the word of YHWH.

•  Perfect (tamiym) which means complete, lacking nothing, whole.
• Sure (aman) which means faithful, dependable, true, certain.
• Right (yashar) which means they are correct or accurate.
• Pure (bar) which means pure, without defilement, sincere.
• Clean (tahor) which means it is acceptable, useful, and consistent with being the image of YHWH.
• True (emet) which means it is indeed the truth and therefore sound and dependable.
• Righteous (tzadak) which means correct, right, and just.

 What offense to YHWH could possibly be found in any of these attributes? What curse would YHWH bestow upon those guilty of embodying these attributes in their lives? Only the enemies of YHWH and lovers of darkness would take offense at or feel cursed by the embodiment of these attributes. By giving our lives to embodying the Torah, Testimony, Statute, Commandments, and Judgments of YHWH we manifest these same attributes in our own lives and beings.    

 Finally, let us note that not only are the Torah, Testimonies, Statutes, Commandments, and Judgments, perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true, and righteous, but they are also of considerable benefit to those who would embrace them.

 The Torah of YHWH is given for the converting of the soul

• The Testimony of YHWH is for making wise the simple
• The Statutes of YHWH rejoice the heart
• The Commandment of YHWH enlightens the eyes
• The Fear of YHWH endures for ever—this implies that those who fear YHWH will likewise endure forever

 We may note that the last one is are described differently.

 The Judgments of YHWH—because they are true and just are to be desired more than gold, and should be seen as sweeter than honey.

 These last two descriptions are describing a genuine believer’s attitude toward the Torah, Testimony, Statutes, Commandments and Judgments of YHWH.

 Let us note that nowhere does it say that we are “saved” by keeping the Torah, Testimony, Statutes, and Commandments of YHWH.  Rather that we will be converted, made wise, enlightened, and have our hearts uplifted.  How can keeping the Torah, Testimony, Statutes, Commandments, and Judgments of YHWH be a curse?  How can the Fear of YHWH be bondage?  How is it possible that Yeshua the Messiah could have kept Torah, Testimony, Statutes, Commandments, and Judgments of YHWH perfectly, be declared “pleasing” in the sight of YHWH, and then teach his disciples to live contrary to all that he taught by his words and especially by his life!   

 The truth of the matter is the Church is wrong in its view of the Torah!  Those who teach and believe that the Torah, Testimony, Statutes, Commandments and Judgments of YHWH are “done away with” or are no longer applicable to a believer’s life, or that they are a curse and bondage to those who live them, do not understand the Word of YHWH. While they contend on the one hand that the word of YHWH is true, inspired, ineffable, inerrant, or infallible, they contradict their own confession by teaching that the word of YHWH is a curse and bondage to those who embrace and live it. If one truly believed the scriptures to be the word of YHWH then they could not teach that the Torah has been done away with.  Those who call the Word of YHWH a “curse,” and describe a life of obedience to the Word of YHWH as “oppression and bondage,” have not truly understood the Torah.  Only those who seek “license” from the word of YHWH would understand the Torah as a curse.  Only those who desire to save their fleshly, carnal, self-centered life from the pains and ravishes of the cross of submission and obedience to the Word of YHWH would dare to call the Torah a curse.  The Torah is only a curse to those who seek to avoid it. According to the scriptures the word of YHWH is a light. Only the wicked seeks to live in darkness.

 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105 KJV)

 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. ²¹ But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:19-21 KJV)   

 Yeshua is the word become flesh.

 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 KJV)

 As such he was the light of the world.

 Then spake Yeshua again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12 KJV)

 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5 KJV)

 We should note that Yeshua embodied the word perfectly, doing all things perfectly pleasing in the eyes of the Father.

 Think not that I am come to destroy the Torah, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17 KJV)

 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (John 8:29 KJV)

 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. (Matthew 12:18 KJV)

 Our Master, Yeshua, called us to likewise be a light by submitting our lives in obedience to the word of YHWH. 

 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14 KJV)

 To follow Messiah, in a life of complete submission and obedience to the Word of YHWH five things are necessary:  1) The Spirit; 2) The love of YHWH; 3) the Cross; 5) Grace of YHWH; 5) Faith.       

 The SPIRIT:  It is the Spirit of the Holy One that convicts us of sin and draws us toward the source of forgiveness and life.  On our own we will constantly seek freedom (license) from YHWH.  Our flesh will dominate our spirit and lead us to self indulgence and death.  The evidence of this is clearly seen in numerous unhealthy and self-destructive behaviors that we all indulge in, in spite of knowing their destructive effects upon our health, lives and families (such as smoking, over spending, over working, over eating, drugs, alcohol, promiscuous sex, excess). When convicted of our immorality, mortality, sinfulness, and rebellion (usually because we are facing some crises or threat to our life, ego or property) we desire to find the source of healing, help, forgiveness and life.  This is the work of the Spirit which leads us to YHWH through the Messiah and begins the process or creating a new and pure heart within us.  It is the Spirit that begins the process of writing the Torah upon our hearts and inward parts so that we desire to do the word and will of YHWH not seek freedom from it.

 The LOVE of YHWH: Once touched by the overwhelming love of the Father toward us, our hearts are stirred with incredible gratitude toward the one who rescued us, adopted us, blessed us, forgave us, healed us, and loves us.  This is the sole motivation for obedience.  Only obedience motivated by love is acceptable to YHWH—everything else is legalism or manipulation.  Those who attempt to keep the Torah to be saved, gain earthly or spiritual rewards, or to escape the pains of hell, are not pleasing to YHWH; such are motivated only by self-love not the love of YHWH. Those who keep the Torah to gain heaven or escape hell are no different than those who seek license from the Torah. Both positions are an offense to YHWH. To genuinely keep the Torah one must love YHWH above all else including, and especially, the self.

 The CROSS: It is the flesh, with its appetites, instincts, and desires that motivates the flesh’s relentless pursuit of pleasure, satisfaction, and indulgence and causes one to rebel against the notion of living for someone else, or serving others, or giving instead of receiving.  Recognizing that it was “self” that created all of the problems, those moved by the Spirit of the Holy One and touched by the love of YHWH, want considerably less of “self” and more of YHWH!  The only way for this to happen is for one to take the flesh to the cross. Only when a vessel is empty can it be filled.  Only when we have been emptied of “self” can we be filled with the Spirit.  There are many would be believers in the world today claiming to be filled with the Spirit of YHWH—when in fact, they are full only with themselves!  Until the believer takes the flesh/self to the cross there is simply no room for the Spirit of the Holy One.  The emptier we are of self the greater the potential for the filling of the Spirit.  The more we are full of ourselves the less of the Spirit of the Holy One is evident in our lives.    

 GRACE:  Here, we need to be clear not to confuse “grace” with “mercy”.  It is unfortunate that the church has confused the definitions of these two words.  Mercy is undeserved favor.  Grace, on the other hand, is a special gift or endowment.  With this gift of grace we would not, in our own flesh, have the power to overcome our flesh/self and wrestle it to the cross.  The only way that we will take our “self” to the cross is with and by the grace that the Father gives us to do so.  The self is a powerful force.  We will not overcome the self with self.  Rather the self is overcome only by the gift of grace that YHWH bestows upon those the Spirit has stirred and his love has touched.

 FAITH: finally we must have faith.  Here we must understand the difference between faith and belief.  I am a big man (still around 300 pounds).  If I see an old wooden ladder leaning against the side of a building, I evaluate it and must determine whether I believe that this old wooden ladder can support my weight.  After examining the ladder “I believe” it will safely hold my weight—this is belief.  Faith, however, is when I take the first steps on the ladder and actually commit the safety of my life to what I believe.  To keep the Torah in a manner pleasing, acceptable and useful to YHWH requires that I be filled with the Spirit, stirred to love, and take my flesh to the cross.  I will only dare to place my life upon the “old wooden” cross if I believe that YHWH will not leave me hanging there permanently. Faith is the first actual steps of taking the flesh to the cross.  We should note that the crucified were left hanging on the cross until they were dead.  Many victims hung on the cross for days.  Yeshua, however, died quickly.  This was so because Yeshua had faith.  He was completely committed to letting go of self.

 And when Yeshua had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46 KJV)   

 Yeshua had faith that death of self was not the end of life but its beginning.  So too, like our Master, we must have the faith to commit ourselves to death in complete confidence that when the old self is dead, life begins.

 Let us be clear, that we do not come off the cross to live the same old self-loving, self-serving, self-satisfying life that we lived before.  We die to live for YHWH.  The old self that constantly sought license and freedom from the word of YHWH, now, filled with the Spirit, touched by the love of YHWH, equipped by grace and filled with faith, lives to keep the word of YHWH out of gratitude for all that YHWH has done.  Our obedience to the Torah, Testimony, Statutes, Commandments and Judgments of YHWH is a revelation and living confession of the Spirit of YHWH in our lives stirring us to gratitude, obedience, and love.  Never should keeping the word of YHWH be considered bondage or a curse.  Only the flesh which lacks the spirit, grace, faith and love of YHWH would refuse the cross and consider the Torah a curse.

“What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”

Gertrude Stein expressed a similar thought in her poem “Sacred Emily,”

“Rose is a rose is a rose

Loveliness extreme

Extra gaiters,

Loveliness extreme

Sweet ice-cream

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In his “Apothegmata” Plutarch wrote

“ten skafen skafen legontas” (Greek for; “Call a trough a trough”)

Erasmus later wrote,

“Ta suka suka ten skafen de skafen onomason” (Greek for; “Calling a fig a fig and a trough a trough”)

It is said that Erasmus understood the Greek word “skafen” to be a “shovel”. It is from this misunderstanding that we have received the popular expression,

“Call a spade a spade.”

People generally appreciate “straight shooting” leaders who are faithful in speaking the truth. This is especially true when it comes to the Word of YHWH.  King Solomon in his wisdom taught that it was necessary to call things what they are. 

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to YHWH. (Proverbs 17:15 KJV)

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: ²⁵ But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. (Proverbs 24:24-25 KJV)

As the children of Israel, we are called to be the image of YHWH.  We have been called to be holy as YHWH is holy.

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 11:45 KJV)

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16 KJV)   

YHWH commanded Aaron to place his name upon the children of Israel.

And they shall put my name (YHWH) upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:27 KJV)

Since we are associated with, and the bearers of, the name and image of YHWH in the world, we must learn to embody his nature and character.  Truth and honesty are clearly essential aspects of YHWH’S character.  It is for this reason that YHWH condemns the lying tongue.

These six things doth YHWH hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: ¹⁷ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, ¹⁹ A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV)

The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. (Proverbs 12:19 KJV)

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. (Proverbs 21:6 KJV)

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. (Proverbs 26:28 KJV)

YHWH is truth.  The Word of YHWH is truth.  YHWH desires us to be about the truth.

Because I will publish the name of YHWH: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. ⁴ He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:3-4 KJV)

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. (Psalm 31:5 KJV)

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. (Psalm 43:3 KJV)

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. (Psalm 119:142 KJV)

Thou art near, YHWH; and all thy commandments are truth. (Psalm 119:151 KJV)

Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: (Psalm 146:6 KJV)

The Father genuinely desires us to seek and possess the truth.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (Psalm 51:6 KJV)

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23 KJV)

Because of our calling we must “call a spade a spade, a rose a rose, a fig a fig, and a trough a trough.”  The priests and leaders of Israel were soundly condemned for failing to be honest with the distinctions of YHWH.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20-21 KJV)

The gravity of this situation is spelled out for us in the words of the following proverb,

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. (Proverbs 27:7 KJV)

Those who have spent a life time studying the word of YHWH and have been blessed with knowledge, insight, wisdom, understanding and spiritual maturity have built their house upon the rock and little will cause them to stumble or fall.  A little discernment will go a long way in sorting out the truth. However, in this current move of the Spirit there are many souls who have been mislead by denominational dogmas, toxic religious systems, and false prophets.  Now, these poor liberated souls who inherited lies from their fathers are without a sound foundation upon which to build their faith.  These poor souls are  hungry and vulnerable to deception and falsehoods. The newly awakened believer or convert often lacks the ability or knowledge to discern truth from deceit and fall prey to the sweet sounding words of false teachers.  It is this lack of discernment that leaves them vulnerable to the false prophets, false Messiahs, and false shepherds who seek to fleece them.  Therefore it is of utmost importance that we speak the truth and call things what they are. YHWH is a God of distinctions, who separated the light from the dark.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:4 KJV)

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5 KJV)    

This must then be true even within the body of Messiah, which is to be the image of YHWH.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what concord hath Messiah with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ¹⁶ And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith YHWH, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Corinthians 6:14-17 KJV)

We must be clear that light is light, dark is dark, tahor is tahor, tamei is tamei, sin is sin, righteousness is righteousness, lies are lies, truth is truth, a rose is a rose and a spade is a spade. We must not excuse that which is clearly contrary to the nature of YHWH even when it is found in a brother or sister, a teacher or leader or even in ourselves!  We cannot try to justify the wicked. We should not call a liar honest, nor should we call the wicked righteous.  Such behavior just creates confusion in the body and leads to further deception and distortion of the image of YHWH.  We should therefore, call a spade a spade and speak honestly with our brethren.

With this said, however, we must also recognize that the greatest attribute of YHWH is that of love.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. ⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:7-8 KJV)

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16 KJV)

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (1 John 4:20 KJV)

Since we, as the children of Israel and disciples of Yeshua, are called to be the bearers of the name and image of YHWH, love should be a central attribute of our lives and character.

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

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1 Peter 1:22 KJV)     

Therefore, while we are called to speak the truth to one another, we are to do so only in a spirit of genuine love.

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Messiah: (Ephesians 4:14-15 KJV)

We should remember that we are all part of the same body.  We need one another. We are dependent upon each other.  The object is not to bash and beat our brothers into submission when they are in error.  Our calling is to speak the truth to them in love, encouraging them, reasoning with them, and edifying them, so that they will repent and be restored to their proper calling and place in the body of Messiah.

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:20 KJV)

While speaking the truth to our brother or sister in love, we are not to publically expose them, humiliate them, or shame them.

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. (Proverbs 10:12 KJV)

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. (Proverbs 17:9 KJV)

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 KJV)

Here we must understand the gentle balancing act.  We must not publically expose our brother, while at the same time we must call a sin sin! We do not justify the falsehood or error in order to protect the sinner. 

Our first priority must be the image of YHWH.  We must remember that we are the image of YHWH in all that we do. Since his name is upon us, everything we do reflects upon YHWH. We must protect the image and name of YHWH always.  Therefore, we may confront our brother privately and not make the error of his way public, but we do not change YHWH’S designations or judgments to do so.  We must not allow the vulnerable who are hungering for truth to become a victim of deceit.  If our brother or sister does not repent, then it may be necessary, unfortunately, to make his wickedness known among the brethren, in order to protect the vulnerable and hungry brethren as well as the image of YHWH.  Our Master, Yeshua, gave us a pattern to follow in such matters.

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. ¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the body of believers: but if he neglect to hear the body of believers, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (Matthew 18:15-17 KJV)

The public exposing of another’s faults is never undertaken alone.  Everything must be done by witnesses, in good order, and only as a last resort to protect the body.  If the errant member of the body is recognized locally or nationally as an elder of the body especial caution must be exercised due to the potentially negative impact on the body of Messiah and on the elder’s ministry and reputation.   

We must also exercise great caution in our discernment of another’s failings, that we neither rejoice in their fall, nor fall into pride and self-righteousness ourselves. 

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: ¹⁸ Lest YHWH see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. (Proverbs 24:17-18 KJV)

We should recall that that ALL of us have been deemed guilty of sin in the eyes of YHWH. None of us can stand on our own merit before the Sovereign One.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. ⁷ And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. ⁸ But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isaiah 64:6-8 KJV)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV)

Therefore, when we deal with our fallen, errant brethren, let us remember that we are dealing with members of the body of Messiah, and show them the same love, compassion, and respect that we would show our Master, and would hope to have shown to us in our time of weakness.  Since we have all, at one time or another, been shown the mercy of YHWH upon our own sins and wickedness, let us be the image of YHWH to our fallen brethren.  Our actions must never be motivated by revenge, personal justice, or hope of personal gain.  As members of the body of Messiah, our ministry must always be one of reconciliation.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Yeshua Messiah, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:18 KJV)

For generations the children of Israel waited for a Messiah that would restore the glory days of the kingdom of Israel.  In the time of Yeshua the Messiah was thought to be another King David who, as a great warrior conquered the Philistines, established Jerusalem as the capital of the kingdom and set the stage for the glorious days of expansion under his son Solomon.  The Messiah was to be a warrior king who would drive out the Romans occupiers and reestablish Israel as a mighty and self ruled nation to be reckoned with.

After listening to Yeshua’s powerful teachings of love, forgiveness, justice, integrity of worship, and especially after having observed the numerous displays of power evidenced in the many miracles and healings, the disciples were convinced that Yeshua was indeed one sent by the Father to restore life in Israel.  Yeshua taught with power and authority.  Yeshua boldly challenged the religious oppression of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Priests.  Yeshua was gaining a following among the poor, the down trodden, the common people.  Clearly there was something different about this wandering, miracle working, prophet and rabbi from Nazareth.  One could only hope that Yeshua was indeed the fulfillment of what Israel was waiting for.

But when Yeshua prophesied of all that he must endure as the “Son of man” there was an emotional and intellectual disconnect between the words of Yeshua and the expectations of his disciples. The thought that Yeshua would be rejected by the religious establishment of Israel seemed like a foreign concept.  Surely the religious establishment was waiting for the coming of the Messiah and would welcome him with open arms.  That the warrior king and Messiah would be rejected by Israel’s religious establishment and killed, was so contrary to everything that the disciples believed that it could not possibly be true. 

Upon hearing, what for Peter was an absurd and utterly preposterous declaration, Peter rebuked his Master.  This was NOT what Israel was expecting.  This was NOT what Israel wanted.  This was NOT what Israel believed. This was NOT what Israel was hoping for. Cleary, as far as Peter, and most likely all of those standing with him, was concerned Yeshua was way out of line with this statement.

We have rushed to judgment on Peter for lashing out and rebuking the Master.  Clearly it was inappropriate for the disciple to rebuke his Master.  However, there is a much deeper issue at hand.  Let us take careful note that what Peter was rebuking the Master for.  Peter was rebuking Yeshua for his failure to comply with his and all Israel’s beliefs.  All Israel was waiting for the Messiah to come and restore Israel to power and glory.  All Israel was waiting for the Messiah to kick the Roman’s out of Israel and to sit upon the throne and rule over the people like David.  This belief is still evident in the disciples even after Yeshua’s resurrection.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6 KJV)

But we must understand that this was NOT the original messianic hope.  The original Messianic hope as it was declared to Havah in the Garden of Eden was NOT about restoring the Davidic Kingdom to Israel, but about overcoming the power of sin and death for all people. 

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15 KJV)

All humanity was in bondage to sin, fear, and death because of the fall of Adam and Havah.   

Yeshua answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:34 KJV)

Yeshua did not come to throw the Romans out of Israel.  Nor did he come to sit upon the throne in Jerusalem to rule over the secular state of Israel.  Nor did he come to fulfill the political ambitions of men.  Nor did he come to conform to their religion, expectations, or hopes.  He came to win the hearts of anyone who would dare to draw near to the Father in love and submit themselves to keeping the Covenant as given to Moses at Mount Sinai.  He came to provide a means for humanity to draw near to the Heavenly Father.  He came as the provision by which YHWH would express his deepest love for sinful humanity.  He came as the provision by which sinful humanity could express their love for the Father.  To do this Yeshua had to teach his disciple the way of the cross.  Yeshua came for the cross.

Only by putting to death the flesh, with all of its political ambitions, self determination, selfishness, self-centeredness, self-beliefs, ambitions, expectations, hopes, dreams and desires, will one willingly submit to a life committed to living the Torah as received by Moses, and taught by Yeshua.  Only when we have embraced the cross (i.e., given up our all and all of us) will the Spirit of the Holy One write the Torah upon our hearts.  This is what Yeshua came to do. He came to fulfill the will of the Father not the will of the people.  To do this, Yeshua, likewise had to face the cross.

But let us note that Peter, and probably the others, were hindered from receiving what Yeshua was teaching, because they were holding onto the convictions of their own understanding of what the Messianic hope was.  Because they could not let go of the belief system that they were raised with, that surrounded them, that was affirmed and confirmed by every religious expert and authority of their day, they could not receive Yeshua’s message, but instead stood against him to protect their belief, their religion, their hopes and ambitions.

I fear that many of us may do the same thing.  There is so much that we don’t know or understand about the mighty and magnanimous works of the Creator.  Truly, we see through the glass dimly and know only in part.  But, if we hold onto the doctrines and dogmas of our youth, our culture, our denomination, and our religious systems, we may also find ourselves standing against our Master!  I cannot even begin to tell you, how many of my once core convictions have been eradicated from my life, because I have come to new knowledge and understanding.  Now, I am slower and more tentative about what I proclaim as truth.  What I know, I know only in part and only imperfectly.  I am thousands of years removed from the events and teachings recorded in the scriptures.  I am inundated and infused with values and perceptions rooted in a culture completely foreign to the scriptures.  I read of the teachings of the Master only second or third hand after they have been filtered through years of mistranslations, misinterpretation, and ignorance.  I do not want to hold on to these things so tenaciously that when the Master speaks I find myself unable to receive his word, or worse yet, at odds with him.

Yeshua, rebuked Peter calling him “Satan,” the adversary.  He rebuked Peter not because Peter was possessed by a demon, but because he was possessed with the doctrine, theology, ideology, hope, expectation, and political ambition of men—who sought the restoration of the kingdom for sake of personal and political pride and glory and not for the sake of fulfilling the calling of YHWH upon the people of Israel to manifest the image of YHWH in the world, by submitting to the Torah.  In other words, those looking for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel were truly looking for the ejection of Rome and the re-establishment of “self-rule” rather the YHWH’S rule.

³³ But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.(Mark 8:33)

How many of us, are likewise waiting for Messiah to return that he may vindicate our theology and fulfill our personal agenda?  How many of us are waiting for the return of the Messiah so that all those people who thought we were annoying, crazy, pushy, and wrong will see that we were right all along?  How many of us are waiting for the return of the Messiah so that we will see all those people who rejected us, called us names, thought we were annoying and crazy, get what’s coming to them? How many of us are waiting for the return of Messiah so that we will be healed, the threat of death removed from us, and so that we may receive all the blessings of heaven?  How many of us are, like Peter and the people of his day, waiting for Messiah for all of the wrong reasons?  How many of us are only waiting for the return of Messiah for the fulfillment of what we believe, want and hope for?  How many of us are waiting for the Messiah so that we will have every dream, desire, ambition, hope, and idol that prevents us from submitting perfectly to the will of YHWH removed from our lives?  How many of us will be willing to lay down everything we have believed for years, and all that we once held dear that we may receive the truth as the Master speaks directly to us? 

Yeshua is speaking to us, in his call to pick up the cross and follow him.

 ³⁴ And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ³⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. ³⁶ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:34-36 KJV)

We must be ready to lay down everything, if we desire to be a disciple of Yeshua.  We cannot come to him with preconceived ideas, theologies, convictions and beliefs and expect him to fulfill our thoughts, theological inventions, ambitions, and beliefs. The Master did not come to fulfill our beliefs. The Master came to fulfill the will of the Father.  The Master will not return in order to fulfill our desires, he will return to fulfill the will of the Father.  It is we who must conform our beliefs and lives to the Master’s teachings.  If we hold onto what we believe, in spite of what Yeshua is teaching, we shall surely find ourselves in the role of Satan the adversary, and may expect the Master’s rebuke.  There is, according to Yeshua, no profit in holding onto to what we believe if it in the end it prevents us from perfect unity with the Father.  If, on the other hand, we are ready to erase the board of all that we once believed, confessed, and taught as truth, then the Spirit of the Holy One will fill the void with all truth, and we shall be ready to receive the Master when he returns. 

This story has puzzled me for a very long time.  Recently, however, I felt that I gained some understanding.  I have always wondered why the man could not see clearly the first time.  Why did Yeshua have to touch him a second time for the man to be restored.  There are really no clues given in the text itself.  Thus what I have come to understand is based purely upon speculation and must, therefore, be taken with a grain of salt. 

In the scriptures righteous men are often described as trees. 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ² But his delight is in the law of YHWH; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3 KJV)

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. (Psalm 52:8 KJV)

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. (Psalm 92:12 KJV)

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30 KJV)

After the blind man’s first encounter with Yeshua his eyes were opened, but without discernment.  He could see but not clearly.  When unbelievers first come to faith in Messiah, they are often filled with zeal, but do not necessarily have discernment.  In their zeal anything that speaks of “Jesus” or “Yeshua” or God or YHWH appears to be good and wholesome to them.  The new convert, hungry for understanding and knowledge, is ready to eat from the table of anyone ready to feed him.  In the church, people almost immediately run to the “successful” congregations, and television evangelists and their ministries and begin devouring their teachings.  These preachers appear like “trees” or righteous men to those whose eyes have just been opened.  The same may be said of those in the Messianic movement.  So many “converts” to the Messianic movement have their “eyes opened” for the first time and quickly go running after the “kosher” teachings of the rabbis, who appear as “trees/righteous” men to them.  Unfortunately, as Yeshua clearly warns, not everyone is as the first appear.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15 KJV)

We know that there are indeed many ministers, teachers, prophets, priests, and rabbis that are genuinely serving themselves and their toxic religious systems.  They have polluted the pure water of the Torah with their takanot and ma’asim (precedence and reforms). They have twisted and perverted the truth with their self serving interpretations and poisoned philosophies.  To such shepherd, YHWH declared;

And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying, ² Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord YHWH unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? ³ Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. ⁴ The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. (Ezekiel 34:1-4 KJV)

Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of YHWH; ¹⁰ Thus saith the Lord YHWH; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. (Ezekiel 34:9-10 KJV)

I need not remind you that there were two trees in the garden.

And out of the ground made YHWH God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9 KJV)

But as we know all “trees” are not equal.

And YHWH God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: ¹⁷ But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV)

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil may have looked pleasant to the eyes and as if it would be good for life sustaining food, but as we well know it was deceptive. 

In the story of the blind man, Yeshua touched the man a second time and he saw every man clearly.  Such is often the case with the new believer or convert.  It is our constant contact with the Master that not only opens our eyes but blesses us with discernment, knowledge, wisdom, understanding and clarity.  We learn from this story that appearances, especially first impressions, can be deceiving.  While it may appear that certain ministers and ministries are righteous, we must be careful not to jump to conclusions.  Instead, we should turn to YHWH in prayer and seek counsel from the one who searches the heart.  We are not to follow men—but Messiah.  When we are in constant contact with Messiah our eyes will be opened.  The more we know about Messiah, the more we will recognize him when we see him even in his genuine disciples.  The more we have contact with Messiah—the clearer the hearts, lives, and motives of others will be. The more we are connected to Messiah the easier it becomes to recognize who truly belongs to the body of Messiah, speaks in the name of Messiah, and is genuinely  motivated and animated by the spirit of Messiah within them.  We will begin seeing clearly who is bearing genuine fruit for the kingdom and who is but a fruitless branch waiting to be pruned.  The closer we are to the true “Vine” the easier it becomes to know the difference between a real “tree” and a “virtual tree.”

For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. (Luke 6:44 KJV)

I have been listening to Bible stories of the great works of God since I was an infant.  I was given my first King James Bible when I was only five years of age and could not yet read.  I “read” picture bibles, and listened to grandparents, parents, Sunday School teachers and preachers teach about God creating the entire universe in seven days, flooding the whole world in forty days, repopulating the earth with a handful of people and rescued animal.  I watched as the God of Israel turned the Nile to blood, overran Egypt with frogs, flies, lice, locusts, hail and fire.  I watched as Charlton Heston parted the Red Sea and the children of Israel passed safely to the wilderness of Midian.  I participated in various Christmas pageants, playing a donkey, a shepherd, a sage, and an angel.  I watched the King of Kings, the Greatest Story Ever Told, Jesus of Nazareth, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, and even the Passion.  I have a B.A. in Religious Studies, and a Masters of Divinity Degree. I have spent the greatest portion of my adult life reading, studying and researching the scriptures.  And yet, I still find myself relating to the disciples of Yeshua as they are portrayed in the story above.  

The disciples of our Master Yeshua, were blessed to have heard the Master teach in person. They did not have to read about Yeshua and imagine what he was like.  They were present in the synagogues, on the hillside, by the sea shore and in people’s homes when he taught.  Up to this point in the Gospel of Mark, the disciples have heard Yeshua teach (with authority), and observed him cast out unclean spirits, heal Peter’s mother-in-law, heal many of diverse diseases, cast out numerous devils, cleanse a leper, heal a man with palsy, heal a withered hand, heal a woman of a hemorrhage, raise a dead girl, calm a storm, feed 5000 people and then again 4000 more with but a few loaves of bread and a few fish.  One would think that after witnessing all of these miraculous events first hand, and after sitting day after day  in the company of Yeshua, while listing to the Master teach—one would have great faith.  But instead, we observe the disciples worrying about their failure to secure the necessary provisions for their journey.  They had just witnessed Yeshua feed 4000 people with seven loaves and a few small fish. After which the disciples gathered seven baskets full of leftovers.  They had also observed Yeshua feed 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish, and gathered 12 baskets of leftovers.  Now, in the boat with Yeshua, the disciples are concerned about feeding 13 people with one loaf!  How could they so soon forget what Yeshua had done?  How could they so soon forget who Yeshua is?  The disciples were right in the boat with Yeshua, what could they possibly have to worry about?

Yet, I find myself empathetic to the disciples.  I too have heard and read all of the stories of the great and miraculous works of YHWH.  I too have head the testimony of the loving, patient nature of our God.

YHWH is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. (Psalm 103:8 KJV)

YHWH is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. (Psalm 145:8 KJV)

YHWH is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. (Numbers 14:18 KJV)

Know therefore that YHWH thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; (Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV)

I have read and been told that nothing is impossible for God.

Is anything too hard for YHWH? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. (Genesis 18:14 KJV)

Behold, I am YHWH, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV)

But Yeshua beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26 KJV)

And Yeshua looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27 KJV)

For with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37 KJV)

While I have hear all that YHWH did for Israel and while I have read of all that Yeshua did for others, when I am faced with my own temptations, tests, challenges, hurts, heartaches, etc, I find that I often forget everything I heard, read, or know from past experiences.  Anxiety, fear, insecurity, doubt and pain overwhelm my knowledge and my faith.  The miraculous stories of how YHWH delivered and sustained his people through persecution, famines, floods, wars and even lions’ dens all become distant memories in light of present pain and persecution. 

This failure of faith is purely the fruit of the fall.  In the Garden of Eden Adam and Havah were blessed with the ability to commune with the Creator.  Man was created with two natures, the spiritual nature through which the Spirit Creator could commune with man, and impart revelation knowledge and truth, and a carnal nature by which man could manifest this revelation knowledge to the world.  This carnal or animal nature contains man’s senses, to help protect and sustain the body that it may serve the revealed purposes of the creator.  In their created order, man was to be predominantly oriented to the spirit.  In other words, the Spirit of the Creator revealed knowledge to the spirit of man, which informed the soul of man, which in turn informed the flesh of man how to act and what to do in any given situation.  But at the fall, Adam and Havah chose to live predominantly by their carnal senses rather than their spirit.  (This is the mixed fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.) At the fall, Adam and Havah’s eyes were opened. 

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. ⁶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. ⁷ And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (Genesis 3:5-7 KJV)

Now the first couple lived by what they saw, heard, smelled, tasted, and touched for themselves.  Adam and Havah would sensually experience the world around them and compare it to what the Spirit Creator had revealed to them.  With their senses awakened they would reason for themselves what was good and what was evil.  With their senses awakened Adam and Havah became their own elohim (authority).  The descendants of Adam and Havah progressively became more and more sensually oriented until finally what YHWH revealed is overwhelmed by what is seen, heard, smelled, tasted, and touched by the senses. 

The spies that were sent to scout out the land of Israel had received the promise of YHWH, that he would evict the Canaanites and others from the land of promise.  But when the spies saw the inhabitants of the land, they forgot all about YHWH’S promises and were overwhelmed by fear at what they saw and reasoned for themselves.

But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. ³² And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. ³³ And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. (Numbers 13:31-33 KJV)

As children of Israel and disciples of Yeshua, we are to be a people of faith!  We are to trust YHWH at his word.  We are to live, not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of YHWH. We are to live by the Spirit not our flesh.  We are to walk by faith not by sight.

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:4 KJV)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 KJV)

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 KJV)

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17 KJV)

For we walk by faith, not by sight: (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV)

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 KJV)    

To fulfill this calling we must develop spiritual discipline.  We must learn to take our flesh to the cross.  Not just our lusts and desires, but also our proclivity to live by what we see instead of the word of YHWH.  Yes, in the real world we must carefully observe and evaluate our circumstance, abilities, strengths and weaknesses.  But we must evaluate them based upon the word and promise of YHWH.  We must not be naïve in our faith.  The saints suffer and even die.  John the Baptist and the Apostle Shaul both were beheaded.  Yeshua was crucified.  The Great Tribulation is promised to be worse than anything that we have ever seen in the history of mankind.  However, we are still called to tenaciously hang on to what has been revealed to us.  The promises of YHWH are sure, certain and true.  We must discipline ourselves not to make snap judgments based upon what our senses have experienced, but instead we must return to the word of YHWH and search out what the Sovereign Creator has promised about any given circumstance.  We must train up our spirit and strengthen our faith by standing firm upon the word of YHWH in spite of what we see, hear, taste, touch, or smell with our own senses.  We must learn not to reason but to believe.  This is no small matter and clearly demands the grace of YHWH.  Our Master, Yeshua gave us a perfect example of this discipline when he departed for prayer and communion with the Creator prior to acting upon any challenge.  While our senses are screaming at us and filling our heads full of external information, raising our blood pressure and anxiety levels, there is a still small voice speaking from within our spirit that is reminding us of the word of YHWH.   The Spirit of Truth speaks of YHWH and is trying to bring to remembrance all that our Master has taught us. 

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17 KJV)

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26 KJV)

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13 KJV)

But the Comforter, which is the Spirit of the Holy One, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV)  

Quiet prayer in the face of temptations, challenges, trials, and testings, is what will build our faith.  The Spirit will bring to mind all that we have forgotten or become suddenly blind to because of our fears, doubts and anxieties.  The testimony of scripture is overwhelming; YHWH is faithful to his promises!  Yet our immediate circumstances, pain and anxiety will blind us to this testimony unless we are able to hear the voice of the Spirit of YHWH speaking to our spirit.  Practicing this discipline regularly will help us to grow strong in faith in the times of our greatest challenges. Learning to listen to the Spirit of the Holy One is a critical discipline in our lives and walk.  Yeshua our Master declared,

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27 KJV)

Note that we are to hear HIS voice and follow HIM…not hear our own anxiety and respond to it.  Now it the time to learn the Master’s voice.  We do this in quiet prayer, confirming everything we hear with the written word. If YHWH does not change then the voice of the Spirit will be consistent with the testimony of the scriptures.      

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