Can YHWH Trust You to Trust Him?

Got Light?  Can You See? 
by py thomas
© May 14, 2013

The million dollar question today, do you have the proper light to see through life's waters? 

 

Today is the eve of Shavuot / Pentecost; and the conclusion of the season of Counting of the Omer, where those of us who observe this season, allow the Holy Spirit to examine and search us out as it relates to our walk of faith and how it is, or is not applied to our lives. For me personally, it has truly been a time of serious introspection. 

 

It is my prayer and hope that those who read this blog will be encouraged and strengthened in the promises and requirements of our covenant of salvation we have mercifully received from the LORD, through His son, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah and our Savior.

So here we are at the conclusion of the season of Counting the Omer, and the impending celebration of Shavuot/Pentecost - the NEW BEGINNING.   I was led to meditate and study of Psalm 36, with a special emphasis on verses 8 through 12:

⁷ How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
⁸ They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
⁹ For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.

¹⁰ Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,
And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
¹¹ Let not the foot of pride come against me,
And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹² There the workers of iniquity have fallen;
They have been cast down and are not able to rise.

Thus, I have resolved  that I shall be satisfied with the anointed temple You (ELOHIM) are building and repairing in me through Yeshua. You shall water and refresh me from Your river that’s like a winter torrent/a flood of abundantly pleasing refreshing; and I shall not look to the world or people, but depend on you.   

 

This is the new beginning You O Mighty GOD desire for us – to come up higher and be abundantly refreshed and rejuvenated from Your fountain of life that we may see even clearer from the light that illuminates from You, for us to see with greater clarity that which we need to fill up in and by You.   I personally thirst for the true and living God and for His refreshing, His new beginnings on this eve of Shavuot/Pentecost.  

I realize that the true richness of my faith will be to be found that YHWH can trust me to trust Him – my Creator and Righteous Judge. It is through the seasons of my testing that I take a step closer to this truth. Even when I slip and step backwards and go in my own way instead of trusting Him, it too can be a step forward when I’m willing to be honest and accountable, confessing to Him (YHWH); and confessing my trespasses to my like-minded brothers and sister in Yeshua  in accordance with the requirements of His Word and covenant of salvation. 


It is at this the point of accountability and confession where I have found that pride is dismantled and replaced with a spirit of humility – a needed characteristic that needs to be developed in all of the sons and daughters of the Most High God. Truly the road to decrease so He (Yeshua) can increase even more in us is a life-long pursuit of holiness and the call of surrender to obedience. Selah.

Yeshua (Jesus) is indeed the light of the world, which directs us to the Heavenly Father. He (Yeshua) is the provider of a well-lit path to see and be drawn into closer communion with the Creator, ELOHIM - to become one (echbad); and be on one accord with Him and those like-minded in the covenant of salvation. Shalom.

 

In His name, for there is none greater in the Heavens and Earth - one of many maid/bondservants to Yeshua,

py thomas

 

Meeting the Conditions of Prayer

 

Conditions of Prayer

by py thomas
© May 9, 2013

Can we believe partially and expect to have whole faith?  What have we believed; and what have we cast aside?  In our casting aside and dismissing various parts of the word of the YHWH (the LORD GOD), we have also (unknowingly) have cast aside part of the faith that is included in being pleasing to YHWH; and knowing how to pray in accordance to His will that our prayers are answered. 

In our partial obedience, and partial faith, we can only "partially" glorify the YHWH; and we can only "partially" love one another.  We therefore prohibit our ability to become one with Yeshua (Jesus), who is one with YHWH; and therefore we are found to be partially “like-minded “in Yeshua; and with each other.  

Our prayer life suffers tremendously when we have not allowed YHWH to give us His desires for our hearts, in exchange for our casting aside our natural desires.   Additionally, Yeshua says that we should make our petitions and prayers by faith:

"So Yeshua answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  (Matthew 21:21-22)

However, what is our faith suppose to be in?  It’s supposed to be based on the YHWH’s will, which is made known to us through His word.  One needs to consider what they believe about YHWH.  But, how will they know apart from surrender to first wanting to know, secondly, studying His word; and thirdly and even more importantly, APPLYING His word to their lives?  Sadly, they won’t know. 

Of course there is an alternative - another choice one can make - they can choose to deceive themselves – go into denial and tell themselves, it doesn’t take all of that and do nothing; and their prayer life will amount to the same, nothing.  Selah (seriously consider).

So how does one develop an "effective" prayer life?  They must first come to a place of utter despair of doing things their way and from their own perspective -  to be willing to unleash and let go of "their" desires, and surrender to a willingness for YHWH to replace their desires with His desires/His will. 

Again, His will is the perfect will, so why would He answer a prayer that is outside of His will – do you really think YHWH will side with corruption when He is holy?   Thus, one of the conditions to an effective prayer life is the surrender/the act of dying to self, the “nevertheless let Your (YHWH’s) will be done.” 

Wisdom is the Life of Understanding

“Give Me Understanding and I Shall Live.”

py thomas © Omer Notes  May 7, 2013 –Week Six
Tsadde - Psalm 119:137-144

This blog was the result of one of my studies during the season of "Counting the Omer" that those in covenant relationship with GOD are  directed to observe.  So I've taken a moment to provide a short overview of what this season means in accordance to the LORD's (ADONAI) word in scripture in the following 4 paragraphs.  I encourage you to read, as during this season its also a season of introspection, where we examine ourselves in terms of the needed surrender of obedience to our Creator and the Righteous Judge, ELOHIM (GOD).




What Is the Omer and Why Is It Counted? 
“From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf [omer] of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks [Sabbaths].” (Leviticus 23:15)

An Omer is a unit of measure that refers to sheaves of a harvested crop. In ancient times, the Jewish People brought the Omer of barley to the Temple as an offering on the second day of Passover. The Torah commands the Jewish People to count seven weeks (49 days) from the time of this wave offering until the evening of the festival of Shavuot (Pentecost). Shavuot occurs on the fiftieth day.

 The number 50 is associated with theYear of Jubilee and, therefore, represents freedom and liberation (Leviticus 25:10)—a time when the shofar (ram’s horn) would sound and all slaves would go free and all debts would be cancelled.

Since the number seven represents wholeness, perfection and completion, the seven weeks are also significant. For example, in six days God created the universe but on the seventh day, His work was completed and He rested. The counting of the Omer, therefore—seven weeks of seven days (49)—represents the expectation of the final completion, or the age of a universal "rest"—the coming of Messiah and the Messianic age.

Counting the Omer today reminds the Jewish people that their redemption from slavery in Egypt was not complete until they received the Torah (the Law). Similarly, we are to be counting the days in blessed anticipation until Yeshua returns and establishes His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and justice on this earth.


Likewise for those who have entered into the covenant of salvation, the Counting of the Omer reflects our deliverance from the bondage of sin, and the introspective process of our examining ourselves in accordance to Yeshua’s (Jesus) life and the Word of YHWH, especially since we are called to be conformed and pattern our lives after His (Yeshua). We too are counting down Yeshua’s return for the Body of Messiah.
Psalm 119:137-134

ץ Tsadde

¹³⁷ Righteous are You, O Lord,
And upright are Your judgments.
¹³⁸ Your testimonies, which You have commanded,
Are righteous and very faithful.
¹³⁹ My zeal has consumed me,
Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your word is very pure;
Therefore Your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have overtaken me,
Yet Your commandments are my delights.
¹⁴⁴ The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting;
Give me understanding, and I shall live.

Word Study
The following is  short word study to help understand the context of the scripture above.  I have only included two words that the Holy Spirit brought to my attention for my personal consideration and understanding of what is spoken in the above passage of scripture. 
 
Verse 138 -Testimonies [5713] is the Hebrew word “edah” (pronounced ay-daw’); which means witness in the presence of an assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm.

Verse 144 – Testimonies [5715] is the Hebrew word “eduwth” (pronounced ay-dooth); fem. of [5707]; testimony witness

• 5707 is the Hebrew word “ed” ayd, from 5749 contr.; concr. a witness: abstr. Testimony; specifically a recorder, i.e. prince – witness.
• 5749 is the Hebrew word “uwd” to testify to duplicate by  reiteration; admonish, restore, to record, stand upright, testify, give warning, bear to call (witness)

Verse 144 Righteousness [6664] is the Hebrew word “tsedeq” (pronounced tseh-dek’) from [6663 – morally cleansing]; which means right morally, legal; that which is altogether just.

The Conclusion of the Matter

Thus, the morally right, legal and altogether just of ADONAI's (the LORD's) witness (testimonies) will stand forevermore, is recorded forevermore; and bears witness forevermore!  No matter what way I may try to rationalize carnal and unrepentant behavior, ADONAI’s law is and always will be truth.  
 

It would be wise for me to always seek, refer and surrender to the obedience of His testimonies – the witness of His righteousness (and likewise you too). Without this understanding there is no eternal life, but only death.  This is the meaning of Yeshua fulfilling the law, and through it He has given every soul born the opportunity to receive this eternal life, based on the law which is morally cleansing, morally right, and morally legal –that which is altogether just!
 

If we waste all of our younger years without surrender to obedience to the whole counsel of ADONAI’s word; and are allowed to live to see old age, it will cut us to our hearts to face the consequences for not having made provision for old age (spiritually, financially and for not having dealt with our sins); and even more so for life eternal and have deceived ourselves that we won’t face an eternal death.  That unfortunately will be the saddest and most grievous surprise for some.  Selah.

How we spend the life we’re given on earth will most certainly determine where we ultimately spend eternity.  This should be a sobering thought to those who have eyes to see; and ears to hear what the Spirit of the LORD is speaking daily when He allows us to awaken one more time.
 

Many of us don’t realize that every new day we’re given, is another day for us to have the chance and opportunity to get things right with our Creator and the Righteous Judge ELOHIM.  Can we really afford to squander our lives?

Selah – worth our deepest consideration.
 

One of the LORD's maidservants, the least of these,

py thomas
(c) May 7, 2013