The Price was Not Right

Isra’el & The Church - The High Cost of Not Following YHVH’s Instructions
by py thomas
all rights reserved.  © July 25, 2014




Consequences are the reflections of truths we tried to ignore.  Selah.

The high cost of not obeying YHVH – we see Isra’el  and the Church (the “Commonwealth of Isra’el) suffering from the results of disobedience many generations ago being played out even today because of our unwillingness to come to repentance.  However, YHVH longs for His people and has established His covenant with us.    Isra’el remains troubled by their enemies, as they did not deal with them as instructed by YHVH.  When we pray for Isra’el and the “commonwealth of Isra’el (the Church), let us not only pray for their victories over their enemies, but first pray for the Godly sorrow that yields repentance, that YHVH’s favor, blessings grace and mercies will be on His people in the midst of this perverse and dying generation so that El Elyon (the Most High GOD) will be glorified.

So while we should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Isra’el in their conflicts, we should also understand that we are in essence standing for our fellow brothers and sisters because of the covenant of salvation we have with YHVH through the Messiah Yeshua, knowing that of all people we are to share the Gospel with, we are to share it with Isra’el that scripture will be fulfilled about the prophecy of Isra’el coming to know Yeshua as the Messiah.

Further, let none of us deceive ourselves into thinking the conflicts and wars in the Middle East have nothing to do with our well-being…and no, it’s not just about oil, but more so the anointing oil YHVH has poured on His covenant with Abraham; Moses, Isaac, Jacob and the Church for our redemption, sanctification unto holiness and salvation through the innocent shed blood of Yeshua the Messiah.  It is in Him alone, we should rejoice!

⁵⁰ Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying, ⁵¹ “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, ⁵² then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; ⁵³ you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess. ⁵⁴ And you shall divide the land by lot as an inheritance among your families; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance; there everyone’s inheritance shall be whatever falls to him by lot. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. ⁵⁵ But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. ⁵⁶ Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.’” (Numbers 33:50-56 NKJV)

⁹ Adonai said to Moshe, ¹⁰ “Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘When you cross the Yarden into the land of Kena‘an,…²⁹ These things shall constitute your standard for judgment through all your generations, wherever you live. (Numbers 35:9; 29 CJB)

So who is the commonwealth of Isra’el?  John Hendrix  provided insight on what Scripture teaches us about this very topic in his online article, “An Observation about Israel in Ephesians 2:11-21 & 3:5, 6” explains:

[1]"The following passage really makes up the heart of Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians. Here he reveals a great mystery which was hidden in previous ages:

"Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ ... So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord."

Notice in this passage that Paul speaks to Gentiles as having been previously separate and alienated from Israel and the covenants of promise, but in the Messiah, Gentiles have also become citizens of Israel. The phrase "brought near" was their modern day parlance for Jewish proselytes. According to this passage we Gentiles now partake of the same promises and are no longer strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, but citizens of it.

Notice the clear reference to Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) as the true Israel, and this includes are all who are joined to His body. Let’s have a closer look: Verse 12 "alienated from the commonwealth of Israel" Paul now joins Gentiles to (vr. 19) "you are no longer strangers and aliens".  No longer aliens to what? No longer aliens to the commonwealth of Israel. That means that Gentiles who are in the Messiah are now "citizens" (v. 19) of Israel built as a house with the Messiah as the chief cornerstone. In other words, Yeshua the Messiah is the True Israel of Elohim (its fulfillment and foundation) as are all who are joined in union to Him. To say it another way, both OT and NT saints who are in union with the Messiah are now citizens of Israel.

Likewise, according to Ephesians 3: 4-6, Elohim made known a mystery to Paul "...the mystery of the Messiah, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in the Messiah Yeshua through the gospel."  Partakers of what promise? The promises given to Israel to Abraham of course.

Did not Elohim promise to Abraham that through him all the nations would be blessed? And since the Paul elsewhere asserts that the gospel was preached to Abraham beforehand (Gal 3:8), the OT and NT saints were both saved by the same grace in the Messiah and are members of the same body .... partakers of the same covenant promises. The difference is simply (if you think about it organically) that one was a mere seedling or immature branch and the other a fully mature fruit-bearing tree, but both are part of the same tree. The OT saints saw the Messiah from a distance in promises and shadows, yet in God's economy those regenerate were, even then, united to the Messiah, part of the same body and saved by the same blood ... the blood which the signposts of the temple sacrifices pointed to.

“And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” (Heb 11: 39, 40)

Just as we can never separate the Law from the lawgiver, we likewise cannot separate the benefits from the benefactor. Many in modern day evangelicalism have wrongly divided the people of God, even while Paul here was at pains to show them both in union with the Messiah.

Since Paul stressed the importance of this lets look afresh at the Scripture beyond our traditions and errors regarding this issue. The Text of Scripture is not Israelocentric but Messiah-ocentric.  Yeshua himself bore witness to this: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me." (John 5:39)

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[1] An Observation about Israel in Ephesians 2:11-21 & 3:5, 6, by John. Hendryx  - http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/ephesians2.html

 

 

The Fools Among Us...Are You One?

The Fool & His Heart
by py thomas
© July 9, 2014

There are those that I’ve described who insist of having emotional eruptions like an angry volcano.  They have to have their “eruption” before being willing to hear or see anything the opposing party is trying to communicate to them; and even then the lava overflow continues to spew from their lips, unleashing an uncomfortable and toxic burn to all who are on the receiving end of their emotional eruption. 

ELOHIM's (GOD) Word calls one who does this “a fool” that has no appreciation for understanding…no understanding is the result of pure selfishness – this is the evidence displayed when it’s just all about “you” and no one else. 

A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart. (Proverbs 18:2)

However, on the other side of the spectrum, those who love and appreciate wisdom, have allowed wisdom to conform their hearts to the righteousness of their redeemer Yeshua (Jesus).  When YHWH’s right spirit has been renewed in us, it starts in our heart, and from that point on, that which flows from our mouth will reflect the righteousness of the Messiah in our hearts. 

For its not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out of their hearts.  Selah.  How quick we are to say, “God knows my heart.”   For me personally, that’s a frightening thing.  Had it not been for Yeshua’s death and resurrection for my sins, I’m sure that I would have been killed and sent to hell many years ago because of what resides; and resided in my heart.  We have all fallen short of the glory of ELOHIM.

Beware!

Are you brave enough to face the truth about what traditions you have allowed to  creep in and be a part of your worship and fellowship of Adonai?  Do you know what YHWH’s requirements are for our worship of Him?  Have you read His instructions/guidelines for righteous living yourself (yet)?  Or perhaps you’re waiting for others to teach you, apart from what Yeshua said the role of the  Holy Spirit is to be to each of His followers?

The traditions of men will always oppose YHWH’s will for our lives.  In essence when one chooses traditions of men vs. YHWH’s Word, they are literally living lives that witness to their belief that mortal men know what’s best for us apart from YHWH’s Word.  It says they know more and what’s best more so than Yeshua (Jesus).  It does not matter how much they say they love YHWH and Yeshua when their actions contradict YHWH’s requirements of those in covenant relationship with Him.

Are you more focused on what are the right things to do, or living right?  Is your heart near or close to YHWH?  Unless the heart of the person has been changed through the work of redemption through the Messiah Yeshua, the Word of Elohim, the teaching and help of the Holy Spirit, we see their sin nature alive and well…a sinful heart separated us from YHWH in the beginning. 

The million dollar question for each of us is, “Are we just giving lip service in our worship of YHWH, or are we worshipping Him with our hearts?”  This is what Yeshua says…

15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Yeshua, saying, ² “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

³ He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of Elohim because of your tradition? ⁴ For Elohim commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to Elohim”— ⁶ then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of Elohim of no effect by your tradition. ⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

⁸ ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me. 
⁹ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

¹⁰ When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

¹² Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

¹³ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴ Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

¹⁵ Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

¹⁶ So Yeshua said, “Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. ²⁰ These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” (Matthew 15:1-20)

Money, Money, Money!

Stop, Think & Consider Before You Act
by py thomas
© July 9, 2014

Warning to those who obtain(ed) wealth using dishonest means to acquire it – when you make “fast cash” on the wrong side of the Law, you can be sure it won’t last. 

Ask Bernie Madoff and the others you’ve seen on American Greed, neighbors, friends and family members who are now serving prison sentences, or connected to those who have been down this path.  Or, ask any former drug dealer about all the money, cars, homes, clothes, etc. they got from illegal activities…do they still have it? 

Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase. (Proverbs 13:11)

You may get away with it for a while, but eventually what is done in the dark, will always come to light, leaving those exposed to hang their heads in shame.  Our hope should be for the Godly sorrow that brings repentance will be manifested in their lives that they might receive forgiveness and be delivered from the bondage of sin. 

 

YHWH is so mindful of us and pleads with us through our circumstances, other people, His Word; and most of through His Son Yeshua – the ultimate plea for mankind to repent  from their sin so that they will no longer be separated from Elohim – this is what glorifies the Father ELOHIM.

 

 

 

How long before you stop? 

The wages/payment for sin is death – spiritual and physical for all of eternity.  Surrender to the lordship of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) and be set free.  Shalom.
The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. (Proverbs 15:28)