December 19, 2011

Can we really know when Messiah was born?…..YES!!

Filed under: Torah Life — Tags: , — Teresa @ 10:24 am

For hundreds of years the Church has been celebrating the birth of Messiah in the dead of winter at the Winter Solstice. But is that realistically when he was born?  Can we really know?  There is only one trustworthy source we can access to find our answers.  The Holy Scriptures, the Torah, The Gospels…The Word of Yahweh.

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  Luke 1:5

These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron…David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering….the eighth to Abijah.    1 Chron 24

If we start counting on the 1st day of the month of the aviv/Nisan, we find that he should be serving in the 10th week of the year. The extra two weeks are for the weeks of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and for the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). In fact, in verse 10, we see that there are a “multitude of people”, which means this is a pilgrimage feast day, specifically, Pentecost! Without going into detail on the calendar, believe me when I say that Pentecost occurs in the first 6 – 12 days of the 3rd month (May / June). After his priestly course is over, Zechariah goes home to his wife, Elizabeth, where shortly she becomes impregnated. [1]

Each year when the Jews celebrate Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, they always set an empty place at the table for Elijah. They have been doing this since Malachi prophesied that “Elijah would come before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Yahweh” (Mal 4:5). To this day Jews of all sorts, who do not believe in the Messiah and will have nothing to do with the New Testament (Apostolic Scriptures) set a place for Elijah, then just before the meal, they open the door to see if Elijah has yet showed up.   [2]
It is that just before our Passover Lamb was born and sacrificed, the voice of one crying in the wilderness (Is 40:3, Matt 3:3), the messenger sent to prepare the way (Mal 3:1) the one Jesus said was Elijah (Matt 11:14, 17:11), was actually born at Passover, exactly when the Jews were looking for him! [3]

See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. Mal 4:5

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.  John 9:5

From these verses, we can with great certaintity, discern when Zachariah was in the Temple and from that when Elizabeth conceived and from that what time of year it was when Mary conceived..in the Winter during the Feast of Dedication-the Festival of Light!!!

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathath, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  Micah 5:2


The sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy would have been around Kislev-Nov/Dec.


In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, Luke 1:26

Mary, at John’s birth is 3 months pregnant, so she is set to deliver in the 7th month. [4]


Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.  Is 60:1

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind, John 1:4

Then came the Festival of Dedication (Chanukkah) at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.  John 10:22-23

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.  Rev 22:5

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  John 3:19

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.  Is 9:2

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling (Tabernacled) among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

The two pictures above look very similar  but are traditionally from two different seasons. The first being a nativity scene show Messiah’s birth. The second is a traditional Sukkah or Booth or Tabernacle.  The Scriptures tell us to live in tabernacles-temporary dwellings during the fall Feast of Sukkot.  Messiah took on the temporary dwelling of a human body to bring us Salvation.

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”  Luke 2:28-32


I hope I have demonstrated clearly thru Scriptures and pictures that we can know when Messiah was born and as you can see it was not in the middle of winter.

Here is another way of looking at all of this information…

When we live our lives according to God/Yahweh’s calendar we see His plan of redemption and His will for our lives in a simple and clear manner.  This year I challenge you to re-dedicate your bodily Temple, the dwelling place of the holy Spirit, to live a holy and set-apart life unto your Elohim/God. Live according to His calendar and meet Him on his appointed days and receive the blessing of your Father in Heaven.

In Messiah, Navah/Teresa

Quotes above were taken from…http://www.restoringthelatterhouse.net/The_Birth_of_Messiah.pdf

February 1, 2011

Wordless Wedneday

Filed under: Mind, Body & Spirit — Teresa @ 10:41 pm

Natures perfect food..wheat grass.

November 17, 2010

Wordless Wednesday

Filed under: Goats & Gardens, Uncategorized — Tags: — Teresa @ 11:23 am

Chickens in my window

November 15, 2010

Covering Principles for the Bride

Filed under: Torah Life — Tags: , , , — Teresa @ 9:47 am

Yahuweh is bringing many sons to Glory.  As part of this process, those that will bear His Glory are to understand Yahuweh’s requirements for bearing this Glory.

In this writing, we will look at several aspects of Yahuweh’s Glory.  We will narrow our focus to the Scriptures that reveal a very important Truth:  that wherever Yahuweh’s Glory resides, He requires an appropriate covering of that Glory.

We will look first at two basic principles laid out in Scripture, and then we will observe the inspired commentary in the New Testament, as revealed by the Holy Spirit to the Apostle Paul.

First Principle

Notice the following passages in Exodus and Numbers:

Here is the Covering required for the Tabernacle while stationary:

14 And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.   (Exodus 26:14)
19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that.   (Exodus 36:19)

Here is the Covering required for the Ark of Testimony and all its Furniture when in transit:

5  And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:
6  And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.
7  And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:
8  And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.
9  And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:
10  And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar.
11  And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:
12  And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put them on a bar:
13  And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
14  And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers’ skins, and put to the staves of it.
15  And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.    (Numbers 4:5-15)

Here is the Covering required for the Tabernacle when in transit:

25  And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers’ skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation…   (Numbers 4:25)

The first basic principle is seen in the passages above.  Notice the highlighted words, each indicating some type of cloth for covering.  Notice that in many cases, this cloth covering is a “double” covering, consisting of two separate coverings, one on top of the other.

We can see from the Exodus passages above, that Yahuweh required the Tabernacle to have this double-covering, while stationary.  Likewise, while in transit, the Numbers passages reveal that the Tabernacle, and the Ark of the Covenant (Ark of Testimony), and each item of its furniture, were to be covered.  These will serve as examples for us, when we discover the reason behind these coverings.

Second Principle:

Now notice the following passage in Isaiah Chapter 4:

5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence <02646>.   (Isaiah 4:5)

The Second basic principle can be seen in the above passage in Isaiah.  First, notice that the Hebrew word translated “defense” is the word chuppah, Strong’s number <02646>, meaning “chamber or canopy”, and is from the word chapha, Strong’s <02645>, meaning “to cover or be covered.”

We know from Psalms 132:13-14, that “Mount Zion” is figurative of the dwelling place of Yahuweh.  So the Isaiah 4:5 passage above is telling us that “upon every dwelling place of Yahuweh” will be His Glory, and that “upon all His Glory is to be a covering.”

With the understanding of the Isaiah 4 passage, we are able to understand a little more about the Numbers 4 passages, and why the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the Ark of the Covenant (Ark of Testimony) and all its furniture, had to be covered.  It is because the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and in particular the Ark of the Covenant (Ark of Testimony), was a ‘dwelling place’ of Yahuweh Himself.  Here is where His Glory resided.  Here is where the “coverings” were required.

The Ark of Testimony, and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat – all speak of that one New Covenant Truth:  Messiah in you, the Hope of Glory (Col 1:27).  This Truth of man’s body being the “Tabernacle of Yahuweh” and the “Temple of the Holy Spirit” was seen in Numbers 19:13, and confirmed to us by Yahushua Himself in John 2:21, and by the Apostle Paul in 1Corinthians 6:19 and in 2Corinthians 5:1-4.

So we realize now that the Glory of the Ark, and the Furniture, and the entire Tabernacle of the Congregation, speaks of Yahuweh Himself abiding within Man.  As a believer in Yahushua, your body is now the dwelling place of His Glory.  Your body is His dwelling place, and it must be covered.

The Glory of the indwelling Yahuweh, as seen in the Ark and its furniture, and all its coverings – is for Mankind.  The Tabernacle, and the Ark and all its furniture, were the ‘dwelling place’ of Yahuweh, and all foretell of “His People” as His dwelling place today.

Yahuweh Himself, dwelling within His people individually, and within the Congregation or assemblies corporately, are both places where His “Glory” dwells.  Therefore they must be appropriately covered.

Covering the Glory

It is very probable that the Apostle Paul understood the Numbers passages of the covered Glory of Yahuweh, and also Yahuweh’s requirement in Isaiah that “all the glory” must be covered.  These two sets of passages form the probable reasoning behind the Corinthians passages on coverings.  Having this understanding of the coverings passages in Numbers and Isaiah, we will now examine the Corinthians passages.

3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.    (1Corinthians 11:3)
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.    (1Corinthians 11:7)
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power <1849> on her head because of the angels.   (1 Corinthians 11:10)
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.   (1 Corinthians 11:15)

In the Corinthians passages above we see four things:

1. the man is the glory of God;
2. the woman is the glory of the man;
3. her hair has been given to her for a covering;
4. her hair itself, is a “glory.”

These passages, along with the Isaiah passage, tell the story for us clearly, even illustrating the pattern set out for us in Numbers:

1. the man is the glory of God, thus he needs a covering per Isaiah 4:5;
2. Christ is the Head of Man, and becomes man’s “covering,” meeting the requirement of Isa 4:5;
3. the woman is the glory of the man, thus she needs a covering per Isaiah 4:5;
4. her hair has been given to her for a covering, meeting the requirement of #3;
5. her hair itself, is a “glory,” and thus her long hair needs a covering per Isaiah 4:5;

The Glory of the Man

Now we can see this more clearly.  The man is the Glory of God, and as such requires the double-covering to cover the Glory.  It is obvious that Yahuweh has given men and women hair to meet this first covering requirement.  We now look to see how the second covering requirement is to be met for the man.

From the 1Corinthians passages, we see that the second covering requirement of the man can be met by man’s spiritual Head.  That spiritual head is Christ Himself.  It appears from these Biblical passages that the man’s hair, together with the Headship-Covering of Christ, meet Yahuweh’s requirement for the double-covering of the Glory of God within the man.  The covering of the Glory for the woman, however, appears a little more complicated.

The Glory of the Woman

We are told in 1Corinthians 11:7 that the woman is the Glory of the man.  As such, she needs the same double-covering as the man, to cover the Glory that she is.  Her first covering is the obvious presence of her hair, which is given to the woman as a covering, as stated in 1Corinthians 11:15.  This is the Greek word “peribolaion,” Strong’s number <4018>, and is the first covering for the woman, who is herself the Glory of the Man.

The woman’s hair, however, is itself a Glory, necessitating its own additional covering.  She can not take credit for her hair being her second covering, because her hair is already designated as a first covering.  She must now provide an additional covering, to cover the Glory which is her hair.

We can see from 1Corinthians 11:10 that the woman is to provide a “token” covering to meet this second covering requirement.  The word translated “power” in verse 10 is the Greek word exousia, Strong’s <1849>, meaning “token or sign of authority.”  This token covering is a “sign” that the woman is under Yahuweh’s headship order, as the Strong’s definition of the Greek word indicates – under the headship of the man – and that she is indeed covering her Glory as Yahuweh requires.

This second covering is the covering, or veil, spoken of in 1Corinthians 11:6.  This is the Greek word “katakalupto,” Strong’s number <2619>, which is a different word from <4018> seen above.  This cloth covering now becomes the outermost covering, and designates to all the Heavenly Host that the woman is under the headship of a father or husband.  This token cloth covering becomes a sign that the Glory reflected by the woman, of the father or husband, is indeed a “Glory,” and not a “shame,” since the Glory is appropriately and adequately covered.

This cloth covering most appropriately reflects the glorious and set-apart nature of the Bride of Messiah.  Just as the various articles of the Tabernacle were to be covered because of their glorious and set-apart nature, so the Bride will correspondingly cover herself.

Conclusion

We have seen that where the Glory of Yahuweh dwells, a double-covering is required.  We have also seen the expression of this Glory in the man, and in the woman.  We have seen how hair is both a covering, and a Glory.  We have seen that a cloth can be used to cover the Glory.  This is just as we see in the examples of the Tabernacle, and of the Ark and its furniture, in the Book of Numbers.

From the examples in Numbers, and from the testimony of Isaiah, and the Holy Spirit-inspired commentary by the Apostle Paul, we have now come to realize that the hair covering issue is not a “cultural” issue at all, but an issue of fulfilling all righteousness, just as the water-baptism issue was for Yahushua in Matthew 3:15.  It is one of bringing Glory to our Creator, and our head, when we follow His instructions and the examples in His Word.

The Bride-Candidates have this one characteristic: Messiah-in-them is their Glory.  Wherever the Glory of Yahuweh resides, there is the appropriate covering found.

The physical cloth covering of the females’ hair is surely an issue of “fulfilling all righteousness.”  It is the Bride-Candidates who have this desire and focus – to fulfill all Righteousness, just as did their Bridegroom.  It is the Bride-Candidates who, having the Glory of Yahuweh, have the desire to be fully covered.

source  http://www.thewayprepared.com/studies/bride-covering-principles.html

November 13, 2010

A Different Look at Galatians

Filed under: Torah Life — Tags: , , — Teresa @ 12:49 pm

For many years now well meaning and loving Christian friends and family have warned us against our “doing Jewish things” or “going back under the bondage of the LAW”. Many have quoted Paul’s epistle to the Galatians as their proof text that if you are a follower of Messiah you should “not follow any Jewish laws or customs”. This has always concerned me. I will not at this time go into the details of how we, speaking of my husband, children and myself, came to understand the Hebrew roots of our faith and began to live our lives in accordance with the Instructions for Righteousness (2Tim 3:16 speaks of ) also known as the LAW or Torah of YHVH. But what I would like to do here is to give my understanding of Paul’s words and show that they do indeed support and back up our lifestyle and the method in which we follow our Messiah.

First I must give some background and we must come to an agreement on a few issues. We must agree that God/YHVH does not change. Malachi 3:6, Psalm 110:4 We must agree that HE is the author and source of all Scripture- Old Testament/Torah and New Testament/Apostolic Scriptures, 2 Tim 3:16. We must also agree to read Scripture in its original context and not to add or remove anything from it, Deut 12:32. We can not overlay our current theology upon words that were spoken/written at a time where those doctrines were not in use.

With that said let us appreciate the setting in which the letter to the Galatians was written and to whom it was written. This letter was one of the first that Paul wrote. Who was Paul anyway? He was a Pharisee who was commissioned directly by Messiah, after His resurrection, to be his emissary to the Gentiles, By Paul’s own words in Acts he never stopped being an observant Jew, Acts 21:39. He was fully a Jew same as his master,Yeshua, was fully a Jew and continued to be His whole life. Almost all of the first disciples and all of the apostles were Jewish. They never found anything in the teachings of Messiah or Paul to direct them to abandon their faith in the God of Israel and the obedience to His Instructions/Torah. But Paul was bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles. These were men and women who had already turned to or were at least interested in the God of Israel when they heard the message of Paul. They were Gentiles not Jews. But they were very familiar with the prophesies of Messiah and thus received Paul’s message about Yeshua with joy. So this congregation in Galatia was Gentile and Paul was telling them that their coming to Messiah gave them access to the Family of God with out having to undergo ritual conversion to become Jewish. This was good news indeed!

One thing we must also discuss is the relationship between the Gentile and Jewish believers in Messiah. Well before we do that we must look at the general behavior of Jews towards Gentiles long before Messiah came. At one point in time the Jewish leaders came up with 18 measures concerning Gentiles and how Jews were to behave concerning them. If a Gentile wanted to become a part of the covenant community and become Jewish they had to undergo ritual conversion. Part of this ritual conversion was circumcision and immersion. They believed that when a man or woman came up out of the water that they became genetically different, literally a natural born Jew. A very serious result of the 18 measures was the Soreg, the dividing partition in the Temple courts (Eph 2:14) that kept Gentiles from approaching YHVH to worship. Part of these 18 measures is the instructions against eating and being in the home of a Gentile. We see this addressed in Peters vision and interpretation in Acts ch10:13-16 & 28. The law that Peter is referring to is in the 18 measures not in the Torah of YHVH. We must understand how deep these measures were ingrained into the lives of the Jews of Paul’s day.

Another thing we should do is to define a few phrases Paul uses and explain where they came from.

Circumcision These are the Jewish believers who were trying to convince the Gentiles to undergo ritual conversion.
Uncircumcision These are the Gentile believers who were uncircumcised.
Works of the law A phrase of Paul’s that comes from Essene writings referring to the oral laws and the 18 measures.
Under the Law Referring to having undergone ritual conversion to become Jewish and gain righteousness apart from Messiah. Also referred to as the Oral law or Traditions of men

With that said let us begin to look at Paul’s words in his letter to the believers in Galatia. Right off the bat he reprimands them. He says that they have abandoned the Gospel and have turned to another gospel. What was the Gospel that Paul preached? Thru faith in Messiah Gentiles are grafted into the Family of God. This was not a new idea. A quick reading of Exodus will show that Gentiles, strangers and foreigners at the gates, have always been included in the covenant community as long as they follow the instruction of YHVH. But over the years Gentiles caused a lot of trouble with the House of Jacob. Naturally Jews became cautious and restrictive when they should had been a light to the nations around them.

Paul preached that Jew and Gentile are equal in the sight of Messiah. So what was this “other gospel” that they were following after? They had heard some “good news” that was not good news at all. Other Jewish followers of Messiah were telling the Gentiles that they needed to undergo ritual conversion and thus become Jews to be fully a part of the covenant community. This was contrary to what Paul had taught them, contrary to what Yeshua taught. This was the big deal and it was a big deal. The Galatian believers were being drawn away from the liberty they had in Messiah. By undergoing ritual conversion they would be negating the work of Messiah.

Here I must explain something. As a follower of Messiah we are called, by HIM, to follow and live as HE lived. It was not a random thing that Messiah was born of the tribe of Judah. Israel was, is and will always be the Creator’s chosen instrument to bring HIS glory to the nations of this planet. His instructions that HE gave to Moses at Mt Sinai are the protocols of approach and how we are to live as the Bride. Messiah followed His Fathers instructions perfectly for HE was the living Torah/WORD of YHVH. There was never any question in any of the minds of the followers of Messiah that they should not keep the Torah. And they did. All thru the book of Acts we see incident after incident of Paul, Peter, James and John’s observance and respect for the Torah of YHVH.

So let’s get back to the Galatians. When you read it in this historical context we see that Paul is admonishing the believers in Galatia to remain as they are; to keep following Messiah in spirit and truth.

(Words in italics are not original text)

Paul’s letter to the Galatians
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, Paul is reminding them that he did not receive this message from a man but from Yeshua himself.
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. How was this a distortion of the Gospel? That you must undergo ritual conversion to fully be a part of the covenant community-Isreal and thus be saved. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. The gospel they received was faith in Yeshua alone and obedience to HIS commands.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. A servant is one who obeys his Master. Our Master is Yeshua and His Father Yahweh.
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life His persecution of the believers in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. He was a very learned man. He knew and probably had memorized all of Torah as well as the Oral law and its traditions. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me. No where does he say he abandoned his observance of Torah or Judaism. What does it mean-look like to glorify God?
2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom These were men who claimed to be followers of Messiah but were false brothers. These were not true followers of Messiah that were trying to get them to undergo ritual circumcision. that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— The slavery-bondage he is referring to is the Oral law or ritual conversion to Judaism under the 18 measures. 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised Gentiles, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised Jews 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. When there were not any Jews around he ate with Gentiles/Uncircumcised. But when men came from Jerusalem, fellow Jewish believers sent by James, he would not eat with any of the Gentile believers. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him others followed in Peters actions. so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” Was Peter/Cephas one who was spreading this false gospel by his actions among the Gentiles? Was it not Peter who received the vision of the sheet and the interpretation that YHVH is no respecter of persons and peter should not call “unclean” what YHVH has pronounced “clean” .Acts 10:13-15,28
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we Jews by birth know that a person is not justified by works of the law Remember this is referring to ritual conversion but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law not talking about the Torah of YHVH no one will be justified.
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law ritual conversion-oral traditions, or the Torah of YHVH then Christ died for no purpose. Read Deut 6:25, Rom 2:12-15, 25-27, ch7:7-13,21-23 & 25 Salvation is always by faith through grace and not by any law – man’s or YHVH’s
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law ritual conversion-oral traditions or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh undergoing circumcision for conversion to Judaism? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law Oral tradition, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Salvation has always come thru faith.
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on works of the law ritual conversion-oral law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Did you hear that? You are cursed if you do not abide by/continue/remain in and do all the things written in the Book of the Law-this is the Torah that YHVH gave to Moses. Those relying on the works of the law were adding to and not following other parts in the Book of the Law. See Deut ch 27 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law The curse of the Law is death. Sin is not hitting the mark of Torah. by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— Romans 6:23 … the wages of sin – breaking God’s commands – is death 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. The gospel of Messiah to the Gentiles is that by faith we receive the Spirit of YHVH.
15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law ritual conversion, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. YHVH’s covenants do not replace each other, thy all run concurrently and build upon each other. Inheritance/Salvation comes by faith, not thru the Law-Torah. By faith we are grafted into the Covenant Community.
19 Why then the law-Torah of YHVH? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. Man didn’t add ritual conversion because of transgression. YHVH gave Torah so man would understand transgression.
21 Is the law Torah of YHVH then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law Torah. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. The Torah does not save anyone, was never meant to bring salvation or righteousness. It is instructions in holiness-a set apart life unto YHVH. It is how we can approach and stand before a Holy God.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith He in whom we should put our faith-Messiah would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian Pedagogue G3807- one who is a guardian who takes the student to his master. Imagine that Torah is the guardian that makes sure we get to the Master. Once we get to the Master the guardian is still a very necessary part of our life. The Torah directs us to the lessons and knowledge of the Master. We are constantly learning and need the Torah-our guardian to lead us back to our Master-Yeshua. With out Torah we would not have known Messiah, recognized him. until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. This is the mystery of the Gospel. We are one new man in Messiah. He did not intend for us to remain separate-Jew and Gentile. Gentiles were to be brought into the family of faith as Sons of Abraham. Not become a totally different religion-Christianity. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. The promises are for all-Jew and Gentile , we are all Abraham’s children.
4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children Pagans, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world The gods of Nature. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law Jews, so that we Gentiles might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods Paganism. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God This is a very important distinction. See Mt 7:23, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world They are falling back into a works based religion, just as Paganism was, by undergoing ritual conversion, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! This is not referring to the Feast days and Sabbaths of YHVH. The commands of YHVH are not “weak and worthless”. Paul’s own testimony and life attest to that. He is referring to days apart from Torah or Pagan days. Are not Christmas, Easter and Sunday observances of days and months and seasons that are foreign to Torah? 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of the blessing you felt? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out that you may make much of them. The Jews were shutting out the Gentiles from the synagogue-from the congregation of believers- unless they underwent ritual conversion 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law go thru ritual conversion, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh Sarah sent Hagar to Abraham to have the promise of YHVH fulfilled in her way., while the son of the free woman was born through promise Sarah eventually giving birth to Isaac. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically as a parable: these women are two covenants covenant of faith by obedience and covenant of flesh by works. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery Judaism in bondage to Oral traditions; she is Hagar Circumcision of flesh-ritual conversion. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now/was with them. The Circumcision (Jews-flesh-faithless) was persecuting the Uncircumcision (Gentiles-Spirit-Faithful). 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave Flesh but of the free Spirit woman.
5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery Ritual conversion-Oral Traditions-Paganism.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision Ritual conversion, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law The Oral Torah w/ the 18 measures as well as the Torah of YHVH. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law Thru ritual conversion; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Here is a question: Does “not being under the law” mean we are able to sin? If we ignore the Law of YHVH we do not see what our sin is and we do not know we are sinning. See Rom 10:3

7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
13 For you were called to freedom means to not be under the yoke of the Oral Torah, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Torah of YHVH tells us how to love one another and how to love YHVH 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk Derech-how you live out Torah in your everyday life by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression Transgression being a trespass-crossing a boundary, not a willfull breaking of Torah, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ The Torah of YHVH. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.
6 One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap If we sow in sin we will reap death. If we sow in righteousness we will reap blessings. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised Ritual conversion, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. When they were circumcised they were considered Jewish and not persecuted by those who sought to convert the Gentile Believers 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law They have added and negated to The Torah of YHVH and thus have made it of no account in their eyes, because their traditions nullify the Word of God, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Those of the Circumcision were causing discord in the body of Believers, not unity that should come from the Spirit between Jew and Gentile. This is also stated that flesh is nothing, lineage is nothing, only faith like the faith of Abraham in Yeshua has value 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Thank you to my dear friend, Julie, who has been close sister and best critic and editor for her additions and comments. I did not delineate whose comments are whose because they come from the same source- the Holy Spirit of YHVH.

April 26, 2010

A word about Idols

Filed under: Torah Life — Tags: , , , — Teresa @ 10:11 am

Idol : a representation or symbol of an object of worship; broadly : a false god

Well that is pretty clear and so is this….

Exo 20:4-5 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

Lev 26:1 “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God.

Ok, So that pretty well covers it, right? So why then are there still people on this planet who call themselves Christian or followers of Jesus/Yeshua or that they believe in God who still do these horrible things? Setting up idols? Making shrines and beautiful gardens into which to put their idols? They visit these idols and pray to them,light candles and incense and lay flowers at their feet or even the unfathomable –they kiss the feet of the statue!! They travel with their statues and the statutes travel between homes of the devoted flowers. They have special feast days to celebrate their idols and days to beat themselves up in shame for not loving their idols more.

Are ya getting as picture here? Are ya telling yourself that you do not have any statues of dead people in your home, so you are not included in my chiding? Really now?

Did Yahweh just direct against statues? Or was there something else? Oh, yes!! Worship! Service!

So what is worship..

Reverent honor and homage paid to god or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred. Formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage: adoring reverence or regard.

Seriously folks, if you feel any of the above or do any of the above for anyone or anything other than the Creator of the Universe, the Holy One of Israel you are participating in idol worship. But if you do not claim to be a part of His family or to be His Bride, the above verses from Scripture do not apply to you.

Have a nice life!

Now unfortunately the justification and rationalizing gets really thick. But I have a really awesome tool to clear the air of the lies. Do you follow Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel? or do you follow men and their traditions? Pretty clear!

Anything, any person, any anything that gets more attention, more time, more money, more effort spent on than what time you spend with your Heavenly Bridegroom is an idol. Read that again!

Now if you come back with “I do not have the free time to be running around with my bible open all day. I have a full time job and children to raise and a house to keep and a ministry to maintain….” Did Jesus/Yeshua ever tell his disciples to exhaust themselves with running here and there? Did he tell everyone…”Follow me and get your own ministry to maintain”? We are called to baptize and make disciples. Disciples, mind you, not converts not members not missionaries. Disciples. But that is for another day…

So are your idols actual statues? Is it your marriage? Your job? Your ministry? Your church? Is it scrapbooking? or community service? or food? Maybe it is a sport or a TV show. Is your TV your altar of worship?

Now I am not advocating you shoot your TV, just cut off the cable, hehehe. But I am asking you to evaluate your spending of your precious time every day. Who/what gets your first and best? Your treadmill? Your computer? Shouldn’t your Savior get your best and your first hours of your day? Shouldn’t your heart long to spend your idle minutes talking with him and not gossiping with your neighbor? If we are sold out for Him and devoted followers living our lives as sacrifices of praise shouldn’t that be evident in our daily management of our time? or is that just for fellowship times of corporate worship?

What idols are in your life that need to be removed and burned down? If you are truly a child of the Living Elohim then you may have some house cleaning to do. Re read the verses I posted. I could have posted more but I wanted to you to examine your heart. A multitude of verses will not change a hardened heart. If you choose to keep your idols, that is your choice. But let me just give you one more verse..

Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

April 7, 2010

Wordless Wednesday

Filed under: Goats & Gardens — Tags: , — Teresa @ 9:47 am

Western Meadowlark- Nebraska State Bird

These little guys are all over my yard and driveway. Beautiful!! Wish it was nicer so I could open the window and listen to them sing.

Praise Yah!!!
Listen to his song here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvAUgFb1cLY

April 6, 2010

Strange Fire

Filed under: Torah Life — Tags: , , — Teresa @ 10:53 am

Strange Fire.

Strange Fire?

Strange Fire???

What does that mean?

In this weeks parsha, Sh’mini, Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aahron were struck down by a flame from Heaven for offering “Strange Fire” This is pretty serious stuff. This is something we should stop and consider here for a moment.

In Leviticus ch 9 Aaron is going thru the consecration offerings of his priesthood. In a very spectacular show of HIS mighty presence, Yahweh sends a Flame of Fire from Heaven to consume the offering on the altar.

Our God is a Consuming Fire!!!

The whole of the congregation, the whole nation of Israel falls down to worship the Creator, The Holy One.

Then something very confusing and frightening happens. Two of Aaron’s sons take a censor of incense and fire and take it to the altar.

Lev 10:1-2 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

What did they do that was so bad? Did they really do something so bad that it warranted the taking of their lives? Let’s look at what has been happening. Moses has just given Aaron and his sons the very detailed instructions of how to approach the Holy One. The day has come and Aaron is making the offerings, His sons are supposedly helping in this service. They are expected to assist and to eventually to take their fathers place as High Priest. We can assume that they were fully educated in the protocols of the service to the Holy One.

So what happened? What did they do wrong? Why the swift judgment against them? Why not a little mercy and a chastisement maybe?

They just watched the power and might of Yahweh completely consume the offering right before their eyes. The whole congregation was moved to worship as they fell before this awesome display. My feeling is that they were so moved by this awesome act that they wanted to express their worship by offering incense to Yahweh. That doesn’t seem so bad, right?

Pro 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Let’s make this understandable to us today. In His WORD, Yahweh has given us very detailed instructions as to how to live and approach Him. We have further example in the life and death of Messiah, the Living Word.
He has set apart certain days out of the year and one day every week to meet with Him and to get to know our Heavenly Bridegroom. When we neglect these special times, date nights with our Bridegroom, or we show up on a different day, how can we expect Him to reveal Himself to us, or how can we expect to get to know Him? How can we call ourselves His Bride when we are disobedient and rebellious to His Ways and His Instructions for us?

Do we not bring “strange fire” when we celebrate pagan holy days and call on the Name of Yahweh? When we celebrate the Resurrection of Messiah from the dead on a day, and in a way that it is purely pagan and has very little to do with His Atoning work? Are not eggs and bunnies and lilies strange fire? Pine trees decorated with gold and silver, a red clothed elf and poisonous fungus are definitely strange fire?

Why do we ignore the explicit and detailed and very clear instructions of our Creator and heed the strange fire, the words and customs of men?

Jos 24:14 “Now therefore fear Yahweh and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve Yahweh.

My challenge to you is to examine yourself. Are you offering Strange Fire to The Almighty? Is your worship pure or is it tainted and commingled with idolatry and pagan feast days?

March 31, 2010

Confusion about the Feasts of Yahweh. Redux

Filed under: Torah Life — Tags: , , , , — Teresa @ 11:34 am

Here we go again.

Which day does the Feast fall on this year? Has the barley been designated as “abib”? Have you spotted the new moon yet? These and many other questions come up every year at this time. And predictably we get into the same discussions with folks about why we keep the Feast according to the Hillel calendar along with our Jewish brethren. The comments on the other side of the issue range from “I keep it this way because it is what it says in the Bible to do.” “I follow what it says in the Bible and in so doing I honor my Messiah and Yahweh” “This is the way Yahweh wanted it done before Judaism came along and messed it all up.” The bottom line is that we are all doing what we think is right. But my question is “are we doing these things this way in the spirit of Yeshua’s commands to His followers?”

Lets get back to the specifics of the disagreement. Many like our family observe the Feasts according to the Hillel or Jewish standard calendar. Our reasoning is that since the destruction of the Temple our Jewish brethren have diligently guarded and protected Torah so that you and I would have an intact document of our Creators instructions for us. They came up with a standard calendar to aid in maintaining order in the keeping of the Appointed times for those who were dispersed among the nations. us!! Since there is no Temple and acting priesthood to be the authority we differ to keep the Feast with our Jewish brethren and be a witness to them of Messiah. We may not be doing it exactly correct but we have decided to side with moving toward unity to the house of Jacob and following the authority of our elder brother Judah.

Now the other side of the question. Those that follow the strict letter of the Bible. Which I am all for!! But what they disregard is that to follow the instructions correctly and exactly two things must be in place. One- we must be in the Land. Two- there must be a governing body ie priesthood or Sanhedrin to proclaim the New moon. Now many of us are in the Land, I understand that. But there is no authority to judge the barley and sight the new moon. Yes there is a group in Israel that has taken it upon themselves to designate when the barley is ripe and to proclaim the new moon. IF you wish to follow this man’s lead go ahead. But he is a man, appointed by himself. Be careful! He is not even a follower of Messiah. Then this leads to folks getting word that the barley has been deemed ripe and watching for the new moon. Which we do as a practice. But unfortunately you get someone in one part of the world sighting the moon one day and others elsewhere seeing it another. What you end up with is confusion. Some keeping the Feast this day and another the next and still some days later. This is a negative witness on so many levels. It shows the world that we are in confusion. That we are ignorant followers of men. How about our call to be a light to the Jew? to bring them to jealousy? to show them the way to Messiah? How can we do these things if they look on us as dangerous maligners of Torah?

Are we called to be Torah Keepers only? or are we called to be Light Bringers and Truth Spreaders? I do not have a problem with people keeping the Feast in their own way, not on their own day. I do have an issue with how it taints my testimony and witness to my Jewish brethren. It makes me look like a confused idiot because of my association with other Messianic/Hebraic Believers.

Am I worried more about how I look to others than how well I keep the Feast?You bet! Think about it how many times in Scripture did they keep the Feasts on the wrong days because they had totally forgotten and neglected Torah? Should they have waited till the right day to honor Yahweh? Maybe but they didn’t.

My whole point is don’t get so bogged down in the details that may not even apply to us. Keep the Feast with joy and fellowship with Judah. Get used to it. We are grafted into Judah not Judah grafted into Gentiles.

When Messiah returns He will set it all to rights. Let’s do what we can to model Messiah and to draw Judah to their Messiah. The bottom line is this..What is more important….To keep the Feast in our own way and with confusion or to Keep the Feast in the spirit and love of Messiah for His Children, Israel?

I just needed to get that out there. We need to understand that time is short and we need to get together on these things. Divided we fall. Legalism is when we get so focused on the details of the Feast and forget the Author of the Feast!!

I know I have stepped on a few theological toes. I am not going to argue. I wrote this just to explain my position, that is it. I will not reply to comments that wish to engage in debate on this issue.

So with that said here is a comment that I will add to my post. It is very well written and adds much to my thoughts…..

Matthew 26:17 “On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Yeshua and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

Why did his disciples call the Passover the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

Mark 14:12 “On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?

Why was it CUSTOMARY to sacrifice the Passover lamb on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Or were they again, the same day according to custom?

Luke 22:1 “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching …”

Why is the Feast of Unleavened Bread called Passover here when it wasn’t in Leviticus 23?

Luke 22:15 “And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.”

Yet, here, Yeshua makes NO mention of Unleavened Bread, but only the Passover!

John 13:1 “It was just before the Passover Feast. Yeshua knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.”

Here, Yeshua understood there was a difference between Passover and Unleavened Bread.

John 18:39 “But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews?’”

John 19:14 “It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

Why does Pilate call the day of Passover, Preparation of Unleavened Bread, Preparation for Passover week?

1 Corinthians 5:7 “Get rid of the old yeast … Messiah our Passover Lamb has been slain.”

Why does Paul tell us to get rid of yeast because the Lamb has been slain?

As I mentioned before there were TWO Passovers – the Nazarene and the Sanhedrin (I’m not sure that’s the two names). I like to call them the Biblical Passover and the Traditional Passover. Yeshua kept the Nazarene Passover on the 14 of Nisan while the Sanhedrin (Rabbinical) was kept on the First Day of Unleavened Bread. At least this is how it was explained to me at **** ****** – actual Messianic Jews who would know the history. Even today Orthodox Jews/Hillel consider the first day of Passover and the First Day of Unleavened Bread the SAME DAY. Why? I don’t know. Scripture is VERY clear there are TWO different days for two different things. It is also CLEAR that you begin counting the Omer on ‘the first day of the week after the Sabbath’. Which Sabbath?

I personally believe there is only ONE SABBATH – the weekly Sabbath. When YHVH gave the Feasts in Leviticus 23, he listed the Sabbath, then Passover, the Unleavened Bread, then First Fruits …. It is man made tradition to call Passover and Unleavened Bread SABBATHS – though the Scripture says ‘do no regular work’. YHVH never calls them Sabbaths. When he refers to the Festivals in Scripture, he calls them His Feasts, Festivals, Appointed Time. When he refers to Sabbaths, I believe He’s referring to the weekly Sabbath. It is the weekly Sabbath that is mentioned in the 10 Commandments – not all of the festivals. The rendering of the Feast days as Sabbaths also causes problems for timing – which Sabbath is it? The HIGH one or the Weekly One. What makes the Weekly One less important? Or what makes the Passover MORE important???

I believe that we begin counting the omer after the Sabbath on the ‘first day of the week’ that the sheaf of grain was waved according to Leviticus.

I personally believe Yeshua celebrated THE Passover on the right day/time/evening. He died at the end of that day -Passover – at the afternoon sacrifice at 3 p.m. He was buried and put in a tomb before Unleavened Bread and was in the tomb 3 full days and nights as the Unleavened Bread from heaven – the Afikomen that was hidden in the burial cloth. On the Feast of Firstfruits He rose from the dead probably at the moment the sun set. According to Scripture, we are to eat unleavened bread until the day of the waving of the sheaf of grain which means “the Ressurection”. I believe that the command to eat Unleavened Bread for 7 days has to do with the differing time periods of celebration meaning Passover can fall on a Sunday or a Monday and we eat until Resurrection or Passover can fall on a Thursday or Friday and we eat Unleavened Bread until that first day of the week, Resurrection.

This comment clears up a great deal for me. I hope it does for you also.

March 24, 2010

The Holiness Factor

Filed under: Torah Life — Tags: , , , , — Teresa @ 4:14 pm

The guilt offering

The Holiness Factor

The first thing we need to note about what the Holy One tells us in today’s aliyah about the korban asham-Guilt Offering is that the Holy One considers the surrogate used in such approach k’dosh k’dosh’im – holy of holies. The Holy One declared it twice – in verse 1 and then again in verse 6.

Lev 7:1 This is the law of the guilt offering; it is a holy of holies.

Lev 7:6 Every male among the priests shall eat of it. In a holy place shall it be eaten; it is a holy of holies.

Did you catch that, Beloved?

The Holy One wants us to know that He considers the approach of a sinner who admits, and wishes to make reparation for his sin, and be restored in his relationship with His Creator and covenant partner, every bit as holy as the place atop the “mercy seat”, between the wings of the cherubim. The Holy One actually calls the korban asham by the same name as the cubicle behind the veil, which the high priest can only enter once a year.

You see, Beloved, the Holy One has always loved, and reached out to, and met with, those who come to Him in t’shuvah [heartfelt desire to return to covenant faithfulness]. This is not a “New Testament” doctrine.

If you realize what this means, you will be amazed. Think about it. No one would make korban asham unless he had broken the Holy One’s covenant – had failed to sh’ma-Hear and sh’mar-Do the Holy One’s instructions for living.

Consider also that the breach was well known to the Holy One, for nothing is hidden from Him.

What had the Holy One done when He saw the person break His covenant? Though He could have, He did not send a lightning bolt to “zap” the person. He did not write the person off. He gently and lovingly “woo’d” the man, drawing the man back to Him, and to His Torah lifestyle, by His Spirit [yes, the Ruach was already in the world – ask David!], calling Him to make t’shuvah. And He waited, patiently, until the man responded, and made korban asham. And when the man did make korban asham, the Holy One accepted him back into the fold as if he’d never left, and met with him, and communed with him – not only on the level of the earthly tabernacle, but in the eternal place in the Spiritual realm which the Holy One showed Moshe on the mountain, after the pattern of which the earthly tabernacle and altar were built.

Forgiveness of Sin and Clearing the Conscience of Guilt­ The ‘Good News’ from the Torah

I know this is not the image of the “Old Testament” God you may have heard or read about. But it is precisely the God Torah presents to us.

Perhaps because the world has seen fit to divorce itself from Torah, it simply cannot understand the God of Torah.

Y’shua of Natzret did not introduce the concept of forgiveness of sins to mankind in 29 C.E. He walked a path that the Holy One had established a long, long time before Pontius Pilate or Herod or the corrupt high priest Caiphas were ever born, much less placed in power.

Y’shua did not come to earth and walk out the korban asham principle embodied in Torah for all to see in order establish some new religion.

He came to bring the heavenly reality of forgiveness and reconciliation which a few had come to know through the torah of the korban asham, to the entire world.

He came because the priesthood of Aharon had become corrupted, was being sold by Rome to the highest bidder, was not being administered in a manner consistent with either the letter or the spirit of Torah, and was ready to be suspended.

As the prophet Yeshayahu had said of the priests who officiated at the altar in Jerusalem:

He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers an offering, [as he who offers] pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations:
[Isaiah 66:3]

And, as Malachi had spoken on behalf of the Holy One – as the Holy One’s last prophetic message before Messiah’s birth:

Now, you Kohanim, this mitzvah is for you.
If you will not sh’ma, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name,” says the Holy One of Hosts, “then will I send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your seed, and will spread dung on your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.* * *. . . the Kohen’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the torah at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Holy One of Hosts. But you have turned aside out of the way.You have caused many to stumble in the Torah.You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Holy One of Hosts. “Therefore I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according to the way you have not kept my ways, but have had respect for persons in the law. [Malachi 2:1-9]

A corrupt priesthood had to be cut-off, exiled, as a corrupt people had been cut-off and exiled in the time of Nebuchadnezzar. An incorruptible, faultless priesthood – the Heavenly priesthood of Messiah after which the earthly priesthood had been patterned in the first place — had to be established on earth, in order that the truth of Torah, and the pathways of intimacy the Holy One established in Torah, might be kept open for all who were broken and contrite of heart.

Thanks be to the Holy One, the pathways of intimacy of the Holy One are indeed open to us today. The priesthood of Y’shua after the order of Melchi-Tzedek, applying the same Hebraic concepts as we have been studying in Sefer Vayikra-Leviticus, is in place.

Blessed be the name of the Holy One!

Courtesy of Bill Bullock – the Rabbis Son Parsha Tzav

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