Yep … we all hate sticking out like a sore thumb … “You want me to do what? Wear white and blue strings around my waist?” Talk about standing out! BUT, if it’s a command of God … there is no question, “Yes sir”.

(I am using NIV below)

The command: Numbers 15:38-40 … “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.”

The command … again: Deuteronomy 22:11-13 … “Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together. Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear. If a man takes a wife and, after lying with her, dislikes her …”

• The passage found in Numbers 15:38-40 is right after the recording of the Sabbath-breaker being stoned. As if, DO THIS (wear these tassels) so that this does not happen again (as verse 40 states … “By wearing them … THEN you will remember to obey”. Remember the “tying a string around your finger to remember what you are to remember?” God uses tassels!)
• Also found are the words “throughout the generations” and the verb “TO MAKE”.
• Let me ask you, are these following commands still valid today?:
- Putting a parapet around your roof so that no one gets injured by falling?
- Not planting two kinds of seed in your vineyard?
- Not plowing with and ox and donkey yoked together?
- Leaving part of your field (the corners) for the poor and hungry?
- Rising up when the “gray-haired” enters a room (the elderly)?
- If we find our neighbor’s ox (animal) we are to take it in and care for it until they return?
- Not wearing clothes of wool and linen woven together?

• If yes … then the verse on the tassels is the very next statement of some of the above … not skipping a beat … “Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.” … (It then continues on marriage violations) as well as mixed in with the others above.

People may use excuses for not obeying certain commands, such as:

1.) It doesn’t say “forever” or “for all generations”, so it’s not for us today (Can’t use this excuse, it does say throughout the generations!) Did you know that the Ten Commandments do not say “forever” yet we know that it is to be. Hmmm …
2.) They (the Jews) had the tassels to remind them of God’s Law … we have the Spirit now (We are never to negate a command because we know the spiritual meaning … “You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Matthew 23:23) and “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.” (1 John 2:7) This is how we KNOW that the Spirit is within a child of God … their flesh obeys the Law (For it is through the Spirit that it is done)!
3.) I have even heard that it was used as a similie … you know, describing something else. Let us examine that one for a moment:

Two similes come to mind … Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and another similar one in Exodus 13:7-9. A Simile is comparing two items using the words like or as. Below, in blue, are descriptive words or action words. The underlined are the similes. Note: wearing tassels is not used as NEVER used as a descriptive word for an action. Simply, by wearing them, you are reminded.

(I am using NASB below)

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 … “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you get up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Exodus 13:7-9 … “Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be seen among you in all your borders. You shall tell your son on that day, saying, “It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt. And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt.” (BY observing this feast, and by doing so, it will be “as if” it were written on our hands and displayed on our foreheads.)

Can you see in the above passages that there is a difference between actually being asked to do something (in blue) VERSUS being told that doing something was “as if” it was like doing something else (a simile … see the underlined items)

For example:

1.) You just finished a beautiful vacation that was absolutely breathtaking. You come back to explain it to your friends … “It was as if I was in paradise” (Were you actually in paradise, or was it like you were?).
2.) Again, many people living out in the farm lands of the country often say, “Living in the country is as if you are living in heaven.” (Are you actually living in heaven, or is it “LIKE” living in heaven, “as if” you were?)

The same with the above passages … by doing one thing, it is “as if” you were doing another. As you can see, wearing tassels is never mentioned as a similie. It even explains what they will do when worn.

Let me ask you:

How do you exactly live out “Keeping the Sabbath”? I often look and see what my forefathers have done … I often institute my own precautions, as well. What if our Master (Yeshua / Jesus Himself) did or did not do something on the Sabbath … would that be a good enough test on what to do? Well … He wore His tassels! Matthew 9:20 … “Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak.” (Edge is strong’s # G2899 … specifically a fringe or tassel) Are we not to be imitating what HE does? (1 John 2:6).

Matthew 23:5 … “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;” (We often say that the Master had many opportunities to address an issue such as nullifying the Sabbath, but He never did (He simply corrected the interpretation of how to obey it). Same with this passage, He had the opportunity to let us know that wearing the tassels is NOT a command. Instead, He corrects the way they were being worn. The leaders were making their tassels and prayer shawls longer and wider to show others that they were superior to the “common folk”)

4.) (Regarding excuses for not wearing tassels) “I don’t have a 4 corner garment, so I don’t have to wear them.” OR “you are not wearing them right, since you are not wearing a 4 corner garment” (some attach them on their belt loops around themselves).

Here’s a thought regarding how to wear tassels:

• I have been criticized about wearing them on the belt loops of my pants. (Yet, I do not hear criticism of those who hide them by tucking them in?). What is the proper way to wear them? Let me ask you, what if someone was wearing his tassels on the bottom of His pant-legs? To him I would say, “Ah, Great!” (I would then ask him how he came up with that, but great!) What are the four corners of your garments? If you use other Scriptural references to four corners which simply refers to being “around the entire object” … the object, in this case, is me. I have nothing against those who actually wear them on a 4 corner garment (that happened to be what they were wearing at that time in history).

“Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.” (Ezekiel 7:2) (Since Israel’s land is not a square … the combined meaning in Strong’s means “border”, “end”, or “uttermost part” … in word search it also describes it as “It took on the sense of the outer edges, corners, or extremities of something.”

“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.” (Revelation 7:1) (Maybe this is where they got that whole “the world is flat” idea? Instead, I think that the writer meant that there was no escaping the four angels … they covered the earth, they had it surrounded!!))

“When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth – ” (Revelation 20:7-8a) (Maybe this is why they believed the earth was flat?)

(I enjoyed this next one … most heads are not square, nor do they have edges / corners … except mine … it has a flat top! Get it? (Wow, tough crowd!))

(NIV) Leviticus 19:7 … “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shall thou mar the corners of thy beards.” (I don’t know if anyone told Moses, but God already rounded off the corners of my head … it’s now a ball-shape)
(NASB) Leviticus 19:17 … “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.”
(KJV) Leviticus 19:7 … “You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads, nor harm the edges of your beard.” (Question: Where would the side end and the top begin? That would be the next controversy, eh?)

Makes you think again … “Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.” (Deuteronomy 22:12) (How do I see it? You should be surrounded by God’s Word … these tassels shall be all around you. They are on the edge of my garment (the top of my pants) and my brothers can see them and remember to obey God’s Laws. What does “all around” mean to you? As long as we are practicing … that is what pleases God, I believe.

But what about woman? Are they to wear them too?

Deuteronomy 22:12 simply states to do “this”: “Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.” To answer the question about who this command is to, let me ask you, who is Deuteronomy 22:11 to? (“Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.”). Obviously, this is for the woman to do, as much as for the men. I think about Adam and Eve. Adam (the man of the house) was given the command and HE was to pass it on to Eve. That is the job of the men or husband, to be spiritual heads of their household. ALL the commands were to the “Israelites” or “sons of Israel” (unless a certain command was for the woman or man, it then said “a man is not to …..” or “a woman is to do ….”) Below is the Strong’s definition of “Israelites” or “sons of Israel”:

H1121
bên
bane
From H1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like H1, H251, etc.):

Numbers 15:38-41 … “Speak to the Israelites (many translations have “sons of Israel”) and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of YHVH, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am YHVH your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am YHVH your God.’” Could this be to the men, like Adam, the builders of the family name, to tell the woman? Oh … you thought that I would have an answer? I don’t know. My wife has put them on her prayer shawl she covers herself with during her intimate prayer times. We are saved by faith as we try to figure out how to obey God.

FIRST THOUGHTS:

We have all seen them before: Children who act like they love their parents only when they want something. (Some of us may even have a child like this). We all know what they look like. The parent’s first thought is, “Okay, what do you want, now.”

I don’t know about you, but I would simply hate to have this kind of a relationship that is based upon what the child receives. But we see it all over!! Many think that they are actually building a relationship when they give and give to their children … they are not. Just like our pets, our children know who “feeds” them. They know which parent is the “Daddy Warbucks”. These children know how much they can get away with and they know who has the money and how to get it! This is NOT true love. Actually, many of us may even have friends like this, as well!! The only reason they may be a friend is for THEIR own gain (what they can get out of the relationship)?

Can you imagine how God feels? Many say, “I love you”, but in actuality they believe that they are gaining eternal life by saying so. Some say, “I love you, Lord”, but actually they are being taught that they will gain wealth in saying such words or by a certain style of worship.

Spoiled children.

Yes, these people cannot hide behind their curtain of fake godliness. Can you talk about God with them? If it’s not during their scheduled weekly hour (at church) … forget it. That kind of stuff takes up way too much time. Do they want to learn something new about God? That, too, is impossible for they are content with where they are at and what their pastor is preaching. They may even feel that their relationship with God is perfect, for their life is going great … in their eyes. (You know … why “rock the boat” … Why spoil a “good thing”)

VERSES THAT TOUCH ON THE THOUGHT:

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by me.” (Matthew 15:8-9)

(Mark expands on it, in Mark 7:8-9) “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” And He said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!”

LAST THOUGHTS:

1-800-CALL-GOD

When they are in trouble is the only time many will call upon God. That seems to be their emergency number. Until then, this number is kept in the phone book. Just like those children who give lip service … there is no real relationship. They just keep their parents close enough for support.

God knows the heart of these “want-a-be” children. He is not being fooled, in the least. When His righteous judgment is reveled is when they will find out that “that number has been disconnected!

Yep, spoiled is what they are.

God cannot be mocked. Many think that they are fooling God with their traditions and man-made days … but they are not fooling God. This is where Satan’s deception comes in: Since life is good and problems are few and money is flowing … “God must be pleased” (Funny, it is when all these things are taken away and they are in need, that they finally truly search for God’s face)

Just something to think about

FIRST THOUGHTS:

• I have to be honest with you, I truly anticipated doing a study on a subject people tell me they want to hear about. You know, God’s love, God’s forgiveness, God’s blessings (never curses), wealth, health, prosperity … ahhhhhhh. These topics make us feel good about ourselves and life. Don’t get me wrong, we all need these types of studies, also. However, the Lord seems to be calling me to preach a different message (I guess He feels we enough of those). Many of you don’t know that I really don’t like preaching about repentance and obedience to God (especially since I know that I, myself, am utterly ruined before God in my sinful flesh. Praise His name for His forgiveness!)
• WE ARE COMMANDED TO OBEY THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE!!
• Okay, I feel a little better after that outburst.

• Before I began to write about an “easy hearing” subject, I wanted to spend some time in God’s Word. He took me to Jeremiah 8 and 9. Jeremiah was explaining the reason God withdrew His presence at that time and sent His children into exile, scattering them throughout the nations. So, why was God was so upset?
• Now, if this doesn’t wake us up, I don’t know what will!! (Remember, God does not change!)
• Read these passages very carefully. And to think that we, today, count on the “wisdom” of men like they did the scribes and teachers of the Law back then. Again, the people trusted and admired their leaders (just like we do). However, they were leading God’s people astray.

ALLOW ME TO SHOW YOU SOME OF WHAT I READ OUT OF JEREMIAH 8 and 9:

• “At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings and officials of Judah, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves … they will not be gathered up or buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground. Wherever I banish them, all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life, declares the Lord Almighty.”(8:1 and 2b-3) Don’t you just want to know what these people (God’s children) did that upset the Lord of hosts so much? I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to repeat their mistake!! As you will see, they were and are NO different from us today. They believed their “scribes” like many do today.
• “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: When men fall down, do they not get up? When a man turns away, does he not return? I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle.’” (8:4 and 6) Okay, it sounds like they were sinning without any remorse. It sounds like there was no repentance or turning back to God. Sinning … forsaking God’s Laws. They were kind of doing what many today do, playing “follow the leader”. What ever pleased themselves was their attitude, as well. Whatever the leaders said, well, must be right … right?
• “But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.” (8:7b) Have you ever wondered why many times God will separate those who teach from those who are taught? In the end BOTH will be held accountable for what they believed and lived out. But here, God is saying that His people do not know His Laws! He was upset about this (Don’t we get upset when our children do not listen?). BUT HOLD ON! Continue reading … Who is to blame? Please understand that this was approximately 800 years after Moses had received God’s eternal Laws. I am not going to be quiet about this fact, but it has been 2,000 years since our Messiah attempted to set them straight about these Laws. However, MANY Pastors and leaders are repeating the mistakes of the past.
• “How can you say, “We are wise,fro we have the law of the Lord,” when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, wheat kind of wisdom do they have?” (8:8-9) Yes, the Lord of hosts is saying that the leaders were wrong. Even today, many leaders have rejected the Word of God (Rejecting His Laws and ordinances regarding how to live as children of the King).
• “They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me,” declares the Lord.” (9:3) (Did you see that God relates obedience to knowing / acknowledging Him? Wow!! You have heard it before, truly believing in God should MAKE us obey whatever He asks of us. Truly understanding should cause us to want to obey like His Son did (Isn’t that how we become like Him?) Wow, this sure sounds like Matthew 7:22-23 …. “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” These people, in the end, thought that they knew God. They did many things for God, but never knew Him and what He desrires for their lives … “Observe them carefully, for THIS will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations.” (Deuteronomy 4:6a) Today, Many of His children are not even trying to obey His Laws. Many have listened to the “scribes” of our day and discarded His Laws! Question: How can someone claim that God’s eternal laws are done away with? Better yet, how can someone believe this when God’s Word clearly says, “All your Words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.”? (Psalm 119:160)

LAST THOUGHTS (We MUST learn from the past):

• I will close with the following words from Jeremiah (given to Him by God). Again, WHY was God so upset? Let us read VERY carefully (for THIS is the revelation of the heart of God!):

- “The Lord said, “It is because they have forsaken My Law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my Law..” (9:13)

• Now, wait a minute. We often hear that “they” had to obey God, but we don’t (I could not find this in the Bible, so if someone could show me where it says that, I would be quite amazed!). Many say that “they” had the Law, but we have grace … really? Continue reading to see just how false this cliché is and how much grace and mercy “they” truly had: “This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” (9:23-24) and again in 31:34b … “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” That’s odd. So there WAS mercy and grace back then, too! A child who loves his parent, obeys his parents. What was Adam and Eve’s fall? It was sin … they did NOT obey God. Whose children are we … Adam’s or the Messiah’s? Let us be honest, God has ALWAYS been merciful and gracious … Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the lord, ‘I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt (sin) – you have rebelled against the Lord your God, … and have not obeyed me,’” declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 3:12-13 … p.s. … in verse 14, God even calls Himself HER husband. So either He is talking to us and His Word is eternal for all generations, or it is not. If it is, then we must acknowledge our sins, repent, and obey Him again (No matter what any leader says otherwise)!

- “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)
- “So you MUST obey them (The words of Moses) and do everything he (original word is singular) tells you. But do NOT do what they do (Speaking about the leaders of that time), for they do NOT practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:3) (Those words in red are not mine, but are words from our Savior!! He is commanding us to do what Moses said, NOT what their leaders were saying! We did it again … we trusted in men!! Oops.)
- “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, BUT whoever practices and teaches these commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19)

• So how do we show God that we believe in Him? How do we show God that we love Him and have given Him authority over our lives? How DO WE look like His Son (our example)?

• By obeying His Laws (These Laws tell us “HOW” to love God and our neighbor.)

• Just something to think about as we attempt to be like Him … obedient to the Father (In ALL ways, not just what the leaders pick and choose as relevant and applicable for us today).

SO … WHEN DID OUR SAVIOR DIE?
(Good Friday? It is more like Good Thursday.)

There are a few different opinions regarding when Yeshua (Jesus) was crucified and when He rose. God’s Word does not contradict itself … so we will take each opinion and test it against His Perfect Word. Does it fit?

- One thing that we MUST remember is that the evening (after sundown) belongs to the next day. In other words, a day starts on the evening of the day before. This is based upon creation and God’s timing … not man-made … so evening (sundown) to evening (sundown) is a day to God.
For example: If a verse says … “The first day of the week” … this could be “our” Saturday night.
- Another misunderstanding in our Greek culture, are not knowing the Feast days of God. It is very important to understand these days that God has put aside for us to celebrate.

1.) First view of our Savior’s death:

“Jesus died and was buried on Friday and rose on Sunday”

Fri-day Fri-night Sat-day Sat-night Sun-day

Died 3:00

day one night one day two night two (He was risen by a.m. … no day three)
(partial)

Passage that seems to contradict this view:

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40)

Hole in this view: There are not three days or three nights. (And God’s Word is true)
How was this view developed? Verses such as Mark 15:41 which recounts when the Savior was buried. “It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached,” (then we read about Joseph of Arimathea going to Pilate for the body). When we don’t view the “New Testament” in light of the “Old Testament” … we will miss many points God is trying to tell us. In other words, we will be in error more often than not. The fact is, the Feast of Passover is immediately followed by the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread … this day is a Special Sabbath. So when our Savior was crucified … they had to remove His body and bury it before the Sabbath … the first day of Unleavened Bread’s Sabbath.
What might be a response to these facts? “Oh, it’s close enough.” (And then they smile, as if we were cute to ask such a silly question). Well … for God’s children … close enough is not good enough. So let us examine it further.

2.) Second view:

Yeshua (Jesus) died and then was buried on Wednesday at evening (based upon the above passage in Matthew 12:40…. “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. And on Leviticus 23:5 … “The Lord’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.”) We know that the crucifixion was at 3:00. This view states that He was taken off the cross and then was buried at the fading of one day (Passover) and the entering in of the next day (Unleavened Bread) … thus twilight … the time between). This view assumes that the Jonah passage means He was in the tomb three full 24 hour periods and three complete nights. Then, He rose on Saturday evening just after sundown which is actually Sunday.

Wed-evening Wed-night Thur-day Thur-night Fri-day Fri-night Sat-day
(Sabbath) (Not a Sabbath) (Sabbath)

(died 3:00) night one day one night two day two night three day three (buried in evening) (Risen at the
end of day)

Passages that seem to contradict this view:

“They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” (Matt. 17:23) Also, Matt. 20:19, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:34, Luke 9:22, and Luke 18:33 which all state that He would rise on the third day.
If He was in the tomb for three full 24 hour periods, then He would not have risen on the third day, but actually on the fourth day. This is further clarified in the following passage:

“The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.” (Luke 24:20-21) Now from Luke 24:13, we know that this conversation took place on the same day the women went to the tomb which was the first day of the week very early in the morning according to Luke 24:1. Then, later that same day, we are told it is the third day since his crucifixion. If this second view was true, and He was crucified on Wednesday, then this would be the fourth day. God’s word never contradicts itself and is never wrong.

Hole in this view: The Jonah passage says that He will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. This is referring to the fact that He was no longer in this body on the surface of the earth. Thus, the three days and nights begin to be counted at the 3:00 death of our Master … The time that His Spirit was given up. Thus, by 3:00 pm on Saturday, we have already hit three 24 hour periods and at 3:01p.m. we enter the fourth day. Even if we count from the moment He was put in the tomb, we know from Luke 23:54 that He was placed in the tomb on Preparation Day which means the sun had not yet set, so it was still the day He was crucified. If this view is true, then He rose, in fact, on the fourth day which contradicts the whole list of Scriptures above. This cannot be.
Possible other hole: If He was crucified on Wednesday, this would mean that Friday was not a Sabbath. Therefore, the woman were anxiously waiting for the Sabbath to be over to anoint the body of the Son of God … they would have had time to do this on Friday before the weekly Sabbath began.

3.) Third view:

Yeshua (Jesus) died and was buried on Thursday (Again, based upon Leviticus 23:5 … “The Lord’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.”) The crucifixion was at 3:00 … but He was taken off the cross and then was buried before the Sabbath of Unleavened Bread began. Using the verse “Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes . But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” (Luke 23:56) this shows that these woman had time to prepare spices BEFORE the Sabbath … just not time to go to the tomb.

Thur-day Thur-night Fri-day Fri-night Sat-day Sat-night Sun-day
Died 3:00 (Sabbath) (Sabbath)

Day one night one day two night two day three night three
(parital) (risen by a.m.)

Passages that seem to contradict this view:

None that we can come up with. The Spirit of God departed Him at 3:00 … this is where we start counting (even if one does not agree with this … the body was buried before the sun set and the next day started). 3:00 p.m. on Thursday to 3:00 on Saturday is two FULL days and nights … The third day would begin after this 3:00 p.m. mark on Saturday, as well. Saturday night gives us our third night, and He rose before sunrise on Sunday. This is rising on the third day. This view makes both the three days and three nights passage true and the 3rd day rising passages true. The three days were not three full 24 hour periods, but partial Thursday before sunset + partial Saturday after sunset until rising just before sunrise, Friday, and Saturday.

Hole in this view: There does not appear to be any.

How was this view developed? By trying to make sure our interpretations of Scripture match up with all the rest of Scripture so that there are no contradictions. By doing so … is searching for God’s Truth.

Just think about it. This is what us Gentile believers are missing when we let go of God’s Feasts … His truth. Good Friday? I suppose every day is good if we wake up breathing … but Friday is not when our Savior died. Thursday seems to fit Scripture the most.

(Romans 9:21)

02 / 09 / 08
(NIV used)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

Within the body of Christ, we are ALL on the same team, but only the “Priests” are on the first string.

The coach: the Potter (Or God)
The team: the lump of clay (All Israel … God’s chosen ones by faith)
The first string: clay for noble purposes (The Priests)
The second string: clay for common use (They help the Priests, just like the second string assists the first string team)

I have played on many sports teams in my life. On some teams I was a starter, which is often called being a first stringer. On other teams I was a second stringer. Here, we simply relieved the first string players when they were tired. Yet on some other teams I was, well, a “bench warmer”. But when the team did well, we ALL got praised and we ALL won. When the team did poorly, we ALL got punished and had to do extra laps. The purpose of this devotion is to remind us of the commitment and dedication it takes to be on the first string of God’s team. We are all saved by faith! However, everyone must answer these questions:

1.) Are you satisfied by simply being on the team? You know, enjoying the win that others have achieved?
2.) Are you satisfied with simply relieving those players who have sacrificed everything to be the best and are, therefore, on the first string? (If we dare to admit it, this is probably most of us. “Hey, let me know when you guys get tired. We’ll come in for ya … but only for a short time.” This way, if we win, we can say that we played.)
3.) Or have you given up your life to practice night and day to be best player you can be: a first string player?

Let us look at the original starting lineup:

The first stringers (chosen by the Coach): (Numbers 18:1 and 7) “YHVH said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your father’s family are to bear the responsibility for offenses against the sanctuary, and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses against the priesthood.” and “But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

The second stringers (chose by the Coach to relieve the starters when they are tired): (Numbers 18:2 and 6) “Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister before the Tent of the Testimony.” and “ I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites (the rest of the team) as a gift to you, dedicated to YHVH to do the work at the Tent of Meeting.”

SINCE WE SHOULD OBVIOUSLY ALL BE STRIVING TO BE ON THE STARTING LINEUP, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THAT ENTAILS:

The first stringers are to teach righteousness (obedience):
- “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven (the rest of the team), but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (the starters) (Matthew 5:19)
- “I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:15-16) Recall the job description of the priests (first stringers) and the Levites (the second stringers) from the book of Numbers. It was their “… responsibility for offenses against the sanctuary…” They had to make sure that the offerings were acceptable to God. Paul is describing his “priestly duty” to make sure that the “rest of the team” (The Gentiles) are an “acceptable offering” to God.
- Do you remember the “greats” of the past … Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, even Michael Jordan? God’s team also has its “greats”. Just scan through Hebrews, Chapter 11, for a glimpse into the “hall of fame” (I mean “hall of faith”). Let’s look at 2 Peter 2:5 for another example, “… when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others. (The rest of Noah’s team)”
- “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” (Acts 26:20) What was the message? That they should all be first stringers by repenting and proving it by striving to obey (Turning from sins).

They are to forgo their own desires for His. They give up this world and its passions to achieve their goal. They accept the rigorous training it takes to be a starter (the best):

- “I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession.” (Ezekiel 44:28) God knew that if His first team got distracted, the whole team would suffer. So, the Coach had to make sure He kept the first stringers focused! I have been on sports teams that kept us from the rest of the school crowd so that we would stay focused on the “big game”!
- Occasionally, though, the Coach still has to remind the team: “Hey, the big game is coming, stay alert!” “For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:16-17) and “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans (The other team) run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (The win), and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:31-34)

They are held to a higher standard. The Coach knows that if the leaders are bad examples, the rest of the team will follow. The leaders MUST know the Laws (God’s play book) and MUST know how to teach others with compassion and love:

- “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1)
- “This sin of the young men (priests who did not take their job seriously) was very great in YHVH’s sight, for they were treating YHVH’s offering with contempt.” (1 Samuel 2:17) Not every season was a winning season! These priests were wicked, therefore, so was the rest of the team.
- “In all that has happened to us (the team), you (the Coach) have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong. Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers did not follow your law (the play book); they did not pay attention to your commands or the warning you gave them (the extra laps and longer practices).” (Nehemiah 9:33-34)

Every team has a team captain, or the team leader! This player is the ultimate player and example. He is the one who pumps up the team and gets them to play their hardest. The whole team looks to the Captain!

- “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

Here is just one of the pre-game “pep talks” for the big game coming up:

- “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us … Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” (1 peter 2:9-12 and 16) Did you catch the Captain’s charge?:

o We are to be “aliens and strangers in the world” and to “abstain from sinful desires” In other words, if you want to be a starter don’t worry about making it big here on earth, but focus on the win (eternity and its wealth). The good players are the ones who take the play book home to study and walk through it in their heads. They go over it and practice continually. “Practice makes perfect” is their standard and rule.
o “Live such good lives among the (other teams) that, though they accuse you of (cheating), they will see your (obedience and righteousness) and glorify (the Coach) on the day He visits us.”
o “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil (sin).” This is a huge one for the starters. Yeshua (Jesus) is our example – NOT our excuse to sin! Since we are free from death, we are NOT to use that freedom as a cover-up for evil! “Thanks for the pointer, Captain!”

- We all know that the Captain can do ONLY what the Coach tells Him to do. Although He is the best player on the team, the Captain does NOT make the plays! The coach gives the plays! “… I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the son also does.” (John 5:19) Why do you think He was chosen to be Captain? He executed the plays perfectly and adhered to every wish that the coach desired! The Captain is always encouraging His teammates to imitate Him so that they will become the best … “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5-6) “You too can be a starter”, He says, “If you do what I say.”

The big game has finally come! The bleachers are full with spectators. In the crowd are past players that have been your idols and that you have set as your role-models. In other words, you “… are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us thrown off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1).

There you are, though, sitting on the bench … again (been there and done that). You are cheering on those who are in the game. Cheering on those who practiced endlessly, while you fooled around or were watching the cheerleaders during practice. You watch and cheer, satisfied with your position on the bench. As you are cheering: “GO team … GO!” Something happens! “Oh no! Johnny is injured really bad! He is being taken out of the game!” Your head turns to the coach, then back to the field, then back to the coach. Is this your chance? Is this the opportunity you have been waiting for?

“Then I heard the voice of the (Coach) saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

“Yes!” You think. “I know the plays (Laws of God)! I know how to lead with compassion!” You stand up and scream back to the Coach:

“…. Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)

“Or if he touches human uncleanness – anything that would make him unclean –
even though he is unaware of it, when he learns of it he will be guilty.”

Leviticus 5:3

11 / 18 / 06
(NIV used)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

Was our Master and Savior ever “unclean”? We know that being unclean is NOT a sin, but keeps one from temple worship. Still, our Savior touched the lepers, was touched by a woman bleeding, and touched the dead. According to the Law, was He, therefore, unclean?

IF He was, then why don’t we EVER see Him, like He commanded the lepers, present himself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded?

Verses which could lead us to believe that He became unclean by that which contacted Him:

- (He touched the lepers … ) “Yeshua (Jesus) reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Yeshua (Jesus) said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (Matthew 8:3-4)
- (He was touched by a woman that was bleeding … ) “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.” (Luke 8:43-44)
- (He touched the dead … ) “He said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at Him. After the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.” (Matthew 9:24-25)

It appears that the Son of God, at first glance, became unclean. Making such statements about God can be very dangerous, though. I am in agreement that it is not a sin, but I differ with those who claim that our Savior was unclean even for temple worship. Below is the support for my claim.

Let us turn to the one who wrote about Him: “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45b) and “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.” (John 5:46). Moses wrote about Him, so I believe it is the writings of Moses that holds the answer to this puzzle.

VERSES REVEALING OUR SAVIOR (Look carefully, and see how it all compliments each other!):

(Keep in mind that our Savior is our sin offering and guilt offering. Look at what Moses foretold / talked about the Son of God.) “Like the sin offering and the guilt offering, it is MOST HOLY … WHATEVER TOUCHES them will become holy.” (Fragments of Leviticus 6:17-18)

“Say to Aaron and his sons: ‘These are the regulations for the sin offering: The sin offering is to be slaughtered before YHVH in the place the burnt offering is slaughtered; it is MOST HOLY. … WHATEVER TOUCHES any of the flesh will BECOME HOLY.” (Leviticus 6:25-27)

(Oh, I love this one. Who is the Spring of living water? Who is the cistern used to collect water? Our Messiah is the living water! Check this one out regarding a dead carcass.) “Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; an oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean, and you are to regard them as unclean. A spring, however, or a cistern for collecting water REMAINS clean, but anyone who touches one of these carcasses is unclean.” (Leviticus 11:35-37) (Can you see that our Savior REMAINED clean?)

(Who is OUR anointing oil? Isn’t God’s Spirit the “Oil” that makes us holy?) “Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointed oil. Then use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You shall consecrate them so they will be MOST HOLY, and WHATEVER TOUCHES them will BE HOLY.” (Exodus 30:25-29) Whatever touched Yeshua (Jesus) will be holy (set apart). Unlike this world (when dirt touches a clean item, it is the clean item that becomes dirty with the dirt), Yeshua (Jesus) makes things clean and holy!

(In fact, it appears that whatever touches that which is most holy … becomes clean!) “Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them. Sacrifice a bull each day as a SIN OFFERING to make atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. THEN the altar will be most holy, and WHATEVER TOUCHES it will be holy.” (Exodus 29:35-37)

LAST THOUGHTS:

Can you see how our Savior, being MOST HOLY, remained clean each time He came in contact with the unclean. In fact, this is why they (those who were unclean) became clean (they touched what was most holy). I believe, based upon the laws for sacrifices, that our Savior (even though being unclean was not a sin) was never unclean Himself.

- HE is the sin offering, (Romans 8:3 and others)
- HE is the spring of living water (John 4:14 and others)
- HIS Spirit is the anointing oil (1 John2:27 and others)

Yeshua (Jesus) and His Spirit (both of YHVH) is most holy and whatever He touches; whatever touches Him; even whatever falls on Him … becomes clean.

OKAY … ANOTHER LAST THOUGHT:

Can you see why it is awfully confusing when many claim to be in Yeshua (Jesus), yet continue to blatantly sin against God’s Laws? I mean, His Spirit is MOST HOLY and is within the believer writing the Laws of God on their hearts to obey. Read these verses and realize the beauty in being touched by the Holiness of God. We should be becoming holy and righteous:

- “If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.” (Romans 11:16) (IF you are part of the dough or part of the root, you should be imitating that which supports you. Our Savior obeyed His Father … then so should we.)
- “Because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are BEING MADE holy.” (Hebrews 10:14)
- “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) (Are you being touched by that which is most holy? Then be holy in all you do!)
- (Are you realizing the holiness of God’s Laws yet? Are you being touched by them? They are holy, as well) “So then, the Law is Holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.” (Romans 7:12)

Let us act like we have been touched by the Most Holy God. For God said, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Acts 11:9) Whatever HE touches becomes clean … has He touched you?

Today’s teaching may not be received well by all. Neither was the message that John the Baptist preached, as well as our Master’s message! Who were John the Baptist and our Master preaching “repent” to and why? It was to the leaders of their time. They had become so “religious” that they actually hindered many people who truly loved God. (Matthew 23:13 … “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you Hypocrites!! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”) I feel that those walking in obedience as Yeshua (Jesus) did may, at times, be doing the same thing. Because of a zeal to imitate what our Master did, they believe that the closest thing to what He looked like was a Jew, so they grasp on to everything that is Jewish. Our goal is to be an Israelite, not a Jew, so in grasping onto everything that is Jewish, are we still pressing toward that goal? Let me repeat: Are we so zealous for God’s natural branch, the Jew, that we are looking less like an Israelite (made up of ALL nations and nationalities. Speaking and singing in Hebrew, wearing traditional Jewish clothing or accessories, and imitating Jewish culture is all good in and of themselves, do not get me wrong. But that is not my goal. For there are JUST as many good traditions that the Gentiles have, as well, but we seemed to be forced to let go of.

My friends, the religious leaders were clearly rebuked by our Master for their piety. Have, we too, gone so far as to hinder those who are new to the ways of God? Do they feel comfortable, welcomed, or even drawn to us? Many of us have abandoned the “Jesus” that was being taught and all the traditions of the Gentile leaders (claiming that they are not Biblical) … only to grasp a hold of the traditions of the Jews (which many are not Biblical either). Do the newcomers see what we do as validating God’s Word? Or do they see just another set of traditions? Can they see what we do written in God’s Word? Or do we try to tell them about the Oral sayings and that the Jews have it right? I am NOT anti Jewish but accept the teaching that a believing Jew and believing Gentile are equal within Israel (THAT is the Law of the Messiah). There are not two ways to be saved: One by faith and the other by being a Jew.

Many seemed to be hindered because they know that they are to obey, but then see all the added traditions and ways of some of those who are not obeying God out of faith. Let me ask you: Does God only understand Hebrew? Of course not. Why does it seem that one of the mandates of being a believer is that we must know Hebrew?

John the Baptist and our Messiah were not there to pamper anyone. I, too, am not here to pamper anyone, either. Preaching repentance is not a sermon about making someone feel better about themselves. Let the church do that. True believers do NOT get offended by this type of article. Our hearts are always repenting … always changing and adjusting. These preachers of repentance, with our Savior at the lead, sought to bring about repentance and expose the religious hypocrisy and refocus them on being a true Israelite again … the Israel that God intended … the name given to our forefather, Jacob (who was not a Jew). P.S. … Joseph’s marriage to a non-Hebrew is a beautiful picture of such an idea. No doubt their message cut to the core of the leaders of Israel. It cut so much that they killed many of those who preached it.

The point is simply, we have to be careful when speaking Hebrew and imitating Jewish customs and their traditions. There is NOTHING wrong with them, do not misunderstand this message. But, are we no better than the ‘Mexicans on the bus’ syndrome? Those speaking Spanish when no one else knows what they are saying. It is but gibberish to those listening. Are we here to show that we have a knowledge and wisdom by doing all the extra items? Are we making others uncomfortable because they don’t understand? (Like me – smile) Is this what we should be focused on? Rather, shouldn’t we be concerned for the Jew who is still stuck in the traditions (who think that we must wear a cap when wearing tassels). Or how can we touch the lives of true believers who are already bogged down in the church, by presenting another set of bogged down rules?
This message is NOT going to be a study on the word “repent” (we have enough of those kind of teachings, already.). This message is NOT going to be a study on “seeing our Messiah” in the topic of the word “repentance by looking at the original words. We are not going to find “something new” in hidden passages (this is all good, fun and dandy). Doing these things are good only if used as a source to be another stepping stone of humbling ourselves before our maker and becoming more like Him. Otherwise, those kind of teachings are simply theological exercises and a show of one’s self proclaimed knowledge and wisdom to others.

The message is clear … repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.

Here is an everyday example. We have all been around people who can list all the players of a professional team. They can explain each play and why it will or will not work against a certain type of defense. They can even give the statistics of each player for the past 20 years … but put on a uniform and gear on them and give them a ball … their theory may be second nature to them but the practical application is poor at best. (Can you tell that I never loved watching games on t.v.? Either I play, or I find something else worthwhile to do!) We, too, must be careful! We (Note that I said “we”) can teach our children how to quote scripture, how to speak Hebrew, how to study and think logically, but do they not know how to live it out in real life? Are we simply raising up Rabbis who, again, will be rebuke for their piety? When real-life situations arise, do they live out Torah and the words of our Master? How do they treat their siblings and those they play with (equal to themselves or do they put others below themselves by their speech and action?) Can you tell that I am against “organized sports” who teach to win and beat others? Do our children look out for those who are not as talented (Not only in sports, but anything) and raise them up? Do they humble themselves or do they look like the typical kid down the street when with their friends?

REPENT!! FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR!

So, as we examine Jewish traditions and whether or not to embrace them as our own family traditions (My family has done so, but with much caution and are quick to say, “This is not Biblical, but…”), we must be careful that we don’t become like the Jews that our Savior rebuked. Let me say something that is going to cut some flesh: There were two types of people going out to be baptized by John, the “general, common” people and the “Leaders” of those people. We, who have embraced Torah as our standard to live, are the forerunners of the future generations. We have been given the truth and we are the leaders. WE are the ones who will be held accountable for the message we are giving to those now coming in. What is the message we are showing? To obey God’s Word in its purist form? Or is the message to embrace the Hebrew language and Jewish culture along with God’s word? We are to be Israelites! We are supposed to be showing what Israel (God’s children) are to look like. Just take a moment and look at how Yeshua rebuked the leaders for their religious piety and we will see this truth.

REPENT … for the Kingdom of God is near!

So who were they preaching “repent” to? Let us not forget that the message was to those many are trying to imitate!! Therefore, we must be careful as to WHY and WHAT we are imitating and if these things will hinder those trying to come in!

REPENT … go back to your first love! (Revelation 2:4-5)

Have we forgotten our first love?
Have we stopped becoming like little children? Or are we too old for such wisdom as they? (Matthew 18:3 … “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” We must remind ourselves that He did say “NEVER”)

Have we become so concentrated on our studies and the rituals and traditions of our forefathers, that we don’t smell the burning flesh of those around us? Maybe our children, our friends, or even a spouse? Are we becoming so consumed by becoming a Jew that we no longer hear their cries? Okay, so we know the Law of God!! “So you also, when you have done everything you were TOLD TO DO, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” (Luke 17:10) So we found out that we are to obey the Laws of God! Big deal … if it is not done with a love and concern for those perishing. Hey! We were supposed to be obeying them from the beginning anyway!!! Don’t gloat over this new found truth … we are still unworthy servants now doing what we are supposed to do. The job is NOT done! We now have to live it out! There are so many who yearn as you did, so many who are still in pain and we don’t even care! We may cry, “Show me more truth, Lord. Give me more wisdom. Give me more understanding” For what? It means absolutely nothing if we miss those trying to come in from the heat!! Instead, we seem to feel a need to be more intelligent and knowledgeable. I guess that will show others that we are good leaders or more righteous. What kind of leaders do we want to be anyway? Do we want to model and show others how to bring those perishing up out of the fire? Wake up! Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand. Obedience is only half the job! There is a greater job to do without neglecting the former! (“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” … Matthew 23:23)

Are we teaching our children, the next generation, how to cry and weep for those who are lost? How to reach out and pull them out of the pit of hell they are in? Or are we teaching them how to speak a good talk and show them how those outside are lacking?

Are we teaching our children how to be humble? For those will inherit the kingdom of God!

Are we teaching our children how to be merciful? For they will be shown mercy!!

Are we teaching our children how to STAY pure in heart? How to increase in knowledge and yet, remain pure? For they will see God!

Are we teaching our children how to be peacemakers, or are we teaching them how to hold grudges? For the peacemakers will be called sons of God.

Again … the prophets were persecuted from WITHIN the family … their own blood and kind! The leaders simply did not like the message! Prophets were NOT preaching to the outsiders, but to the family. So, when we read Matthew 5:10-12 who is doing the persecuting? Who is speaking evil of the prophets? Who is insulting the prophets? It is their own kind and family. We have been taught that the world is the one persecuting us … the message was to the family! Let us not forget that. We can’t become so studied and well-versed that we fail to heed the call when God sends it to us.

There is nothing wrong with Jewish traditions or the Hebrew language. There is also nothing wrong with Greek traditions or language (There are quite a few good songs on that side, as well). But who are you trying to impress or witness to? The Gentiles in Acts who were coming to the Lord and proving that the Spirit was within them too, were simply obeying God’s Word. That was the proof that they were children of God. They had no traditions or big fancy explanations of verses. They came and were accepted simply with their child-like love for God. Who are we trying to impress or witness to? I pray that such acceptance of tradition and teachings are simply to bring yourself closer to God (Not to show that you are a “want-a-be Jew”)!

I needed to unload what God had put on my heart. I hope no one has been offended by these words (too much). I have a passion for the lost, as I know all of you do, as well. We must keep each other in check, though. I have seen firsthand good people from the church searching for the truth we have found, only to go BACK to the church because they feel: “What is the difference between the two. There are just as many unbiblical traditions.” I just feel the need for us all to refocus on what is truly important. The time is short and those who are perishing have very little time. We must sound the shofar and call them to repent. But first, we must repent and reconsider what our Goals truly should be – verses – what they seem to be. We should want to be the Israel that God intended, and pray for our Jewish brothers to see the Messiah (I can never be a Jew, but I can look up to them as a natural branch next to me and equal with me, if they believe.).

“Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles
to make Israel envious.”

(Romans 11:11b)

02 / 24 / 07
(NIV used)

NOTE:

This devotion is NOT for everyone. If you are feeling that there is more to God and the Christian life than what you are being taught; If you feel that you want to give God ALL of yourself (no matter what); If you want to get into the meat and potatoes of God’s will … well, then this is for you. There IS more to life, there IS more to the story than most are teaching, and there IS a piece of the puzzle that has been missing.

FIRST THOUGHT

What makes us envious or jealous? It is usually caused when someone else has something that we want. It might be a barren woman being jealous of a mother of three. It might be one employee being jealous of a fellow employee who just received a substantial raise or even a promotion. The fact is, jealousy is wanting something that someone else has (attention, a material object … you name it).

On the other hand, if someone receives (or even believes) something that we do NOT desire, it would not even phase us. We would not be jealous of something that we do NOT want or desire. In fact, we may even be sad for them. One such example for a Christian is that of someone being a Buddhist. We are not envious of his or her god, for we do not desire his or her god. Understand? And this is vice-versa … they do not desire our God.

Are you following? Remember, salvation has come to the Gentiles; NOT because we deserve it, but to make Israel envious. So, do they desire the Savior that you are worshipping? Or is your Savior just another god to them?

Let me ask you, have you ever been used or taken advantage of? Let’s say that someone became your friend, but all the while, they were using you to get next to someone else. How about this … as a rebellious and stingy child, you are playing with your favorite toy that you will not share with your siblings. Your Mom or Dad come and take your toy, only to give it to your brother or sister. This does not make you happy, but jealous and even mad. Can you see, based upon the passage and others that I will present, God is using us Gentiles. Hey … God is God … and He can do what He wants (but that should humble us). Just like the Jews were nothing when God chose them, even so with us Gentiles! We, the Gentiles, are the siblings that God told Israel He was going to go to if they continued to rebel against Him (Hey, I don’t know about you, but I am okay with it! He can use this piece of pottery (my life) as He pleases!) I am going to give you a quick history lesson before trying to show you how we, the Gentiles, are in great error.

What we will learn: The Jews are NOT envious of the life of faith that most Christians are living – so was God wrong in prophesying that we would provoke them to jealousy, or are we wrong in how we live out our faith?

THEIR FIRST HINT / WARNING: Was waaaaaaaay back in time … After God gave Israel, through Moses, His Laws which He desires His children to live by … warned them that IF they did NOT put these laws in their hearts (obey them out of love for God), He would scatter them among the Gentiles (Leviticus 26:33 … “I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins.”) (NOTE: This is still seen today … the Jews are throughout the world … and the land had been laid waste (Until 1948 … again, this is part of God’s plan … AND was prophesied!)

THEIR SECOND (of many) WARNINGS: They did not heed the original warning. They did not realize their rebelliousness and that God is compassionate and merciful. God continues to warn them to return to Him. Many think that it was their failure to obey the Law perfectly for which they were punished. IT WAS NOT. They were NEVER told to obey them perfectly, but to protect them and guard them as they practice them (We will find that the same is true today). It was ALWAYS a heart condition that their hearts were far from Him. Here it comes, we must remember that God already warned them to turn back to Him and He would forgive them. If not, then He would scatter them! Remember the example of the rebellious and stingy child? Read God’s next warning, this time in Deuteronomy 32:21b … “I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding.” Ah, excuse me. But if I read this correctly, did God just call us a bunch of nobodies? Did He just call us ignorant? Yes, I am afraid so people! The time of history we are in has been prophesied about and talked about …. waaaaaaay back then. Those outside the family of Israel are not considered, by God, to be “a people” or even to have understanding. Did you know that part of God’s plan was to make His children forget the Sabbaths and Feasts (and ALL His Laws). Read carefully, for this is the blindness the Jews have … for OUR sake!! “He has laid waste His dwelling like a garden; He has destroyed His place of meeting. YHVH has made Zion FORGET her appointed feasts and her Sabbaths;” (Lamentations 2:6a). Did you catch that? He laid waste the land (check … done), destroyed His place of meeting (check … done) and caused His children (Zion … you and I and the believing Jew) to forget the Laws of God (check … done). It is all true. He caused the very Laws that were intended to giver live, to be forgotten, for HIS sake. (“I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.” Romans 7:10) He did not want to be associated with rebellious children.

HISTORY CONTINUES TO REPEAT ITSELF (Use this example for what the church is doing today, as well!!):

“But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time. (You can see us doing the same thing today!!) You warned them to return to your Law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, by which a man will live if he obeys them. Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.” (Nehemiah 9:28-30) (Wow … I am having a hard time deciding if this is about the Jews or the Gentile teachings today.)

THE TIME WE ARE NOW LEAVING BEHIND:

When is the last time that you read a Buddhist book on spirituality? No? Why is that? It is because we know that they speak of a false god! Take that SAME thought and ask yourself, why would a Jew desire to read the New Testament? We, over the last 2,000 years, have been showing the Jews that the New Testament speaks of a false prophet. They have NO desire to read it … because of us! Romans 11:25 is being fulfilled … “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” God “hardened” them for OUR SAKES! That hardening was accomplished by what we displayed as a false messiah. We have been in error! We too have been disobedient to God because we became conceited and refused to realize the truth. Therefore, “As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for Gods gifts and His call are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:28-29) God will always love and reach out to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s natural children! They may not all be saved, but His call to them is irrevocable.

This time of the Gentiles is coming to an end and God is now opening His children’s eyes to the truth! (Believe me, I am not the only “nut” standing up and obeying God out of faith.) Let me be perfectly clear, the teaching that says that God’s Son did away with the Laws is the reason the Jews believe He is NOT the Messiah. This false teaching that we no longer have to obey the Law (mostly due to misinterpreted passages) have kept the blinders on the natural children – the Jews. Since this is what the Jews have heard all these centuries, they do not desire this “Jesus” we preach. In other words, they are NOT jealous of this savior that is worshipped by the Gentiles (Actually, the “Jesus” that the Gentiles show is a false prophet according to the Law itself). They are not envious of us!! For example:

- We have been showing the Jews that the Messiah they missed has changed the Sabbath Day to another day (This is a false teaching that Yeshua (Jesus) NEVER instituted and would have been a sin if He did. That’s odd, but we are told that the seventh day Sabbath will be celebrated in the end times of which we are in … Isaiah 56:1-2 and others.)

- We have been showing the Jews that the Messiah changed God’s appointed Feasts to Easter and Christmas (This is a false teaching that Yeshua (Jesus) NEVER instituted and would have been a sin if He did. We cannot find these man-made holidays anywhere in Scripture. Matter of fact, God even tells us that we are NOT to take another god’s celebration and make it His (“You must not worship YHVH your God in their way.” … Deuteronomy 12:4). We are even told that the feast of Tabernacles will be celebrated in the end times … Zechariah 14:16 and others.)

- We have been showing the Jews that the Messiah changed God’s diet for His children (If we would only search on our own, we will see God describing what the wicked will be doing in the end times … “who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of unclean meat;” … Isaiah 65:4b and others)

- In fact, us Gentiles have been showing that this “Jesus” that we worship has done away with ALL the Laws of His Father! This is false and a gross misunderstand of the work of the Messiah. To the Jews, this must NOT be the Messiah (Number one: If “Jesus” said this … He sinned. Number two: If “Jesus” said this, God tells us to kill such a prophet and have nothing to do with him … “That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against YHVH your God, … he has tried to turn you from the way YHVH your God commanded you to follow…” Deuteronomy 13:5. Because of all the added man-made laws … they thought that they were doing so to Yeshua (Jesus). They did not know the Laws of God anymore (sound familiar?).

Can you now see why a Jew, who is still waiting for the Messiah, today, would NOT desire the “Jesus” many preach? Why would they EVER believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is the promised Messiah, if we teach this error? Paul addresses our acceptance of man’s error / teachings over time in 2 Corinthians 11:3 … “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For IF someone comes to you and preaches a Yeshua (Jesus) other than the Yeshua (Jesus) we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” Of course we see that Paul did NOT preach the “Jesus” that we preach today (So, we must have accepted a different Yeshua (Jesus) easily enough, as he told us not to). Paul even writes what HE believers:

- “… though I am NOT free from God’s Law but am under Christ’s law)” (1 Corinthians 9:21b) (Christ’s Law is that the Jews and Gentiles are brothers in the family of Israel.)

- “Do we, then, nullify the Law by this faith? Not at all!! Rather, (Through this faith) we uphold the Law.” (Romans 3:31)

- Yes, this truth is verified by our Savior in Matthew 5:17-19, as well as John in 1 John 2:6-7!

- (Note: before you throw in verses like the law being nailed to the cross, etc … study the meanings. Why? Because you care if you are sinning against God.)

LET US LOOK AT THE TIME WE ARE NOW ENTERING:

It was prophesied that one day we will accept the name Israel (our inherited name) … “One will say, ‘I belong to YHVH’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘YHVH’s.’ and will take the name Israel.” (Isaiah 44:5) Read the next prophesy in … Zechariah 8:23 … “This is what YHVH Almighty says: “In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem (meaning his tassels) of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.” The time of the Gentile is coming to an end. I cannot convey enough how obeying the Sabbath, the Feasts, the New Moon, praying during the times given and even eating the way God commanded us … by faith in His Salvation (Yeshua) shows the Jews that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah they are waiting for. Many are embracing God’s Laws again (BY FAITH), as if we are taking hold of the Jew and saying, “You had it all … but missed the Messiah!!” Or … “Take us with you, because God is about to reveal the truth to you!” Amen. Oh, here is another one passage that speaks about the same thing: “This is what the Sovereign YHVH says: “See, I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.” (Isaiah 49:22) Can you picture this? We are realizing that all the Laws that were given to our forefathers … are OURS to protect, as well. By obeying the commands / Laws of God out of faith is showing that we have the Spirit of God in us. This was given to them and they will AND ARE becoming jealous. They, through the recent obedience of the Gentiles, are now seeing that Yeshua (Jesus) WAS the Messiah!

Listen carefully, for I have been asked, “Kyle, why do you celebrate Jesus’ birthday on a different day than the rest of the “Christians”? Why do you care what you eat, since the New Testament says that all food is clean (NOTE: it does not)? Why do you look different from the rest of us?” To them, I respond:

- First, it is not to gain salvation! Salvation alone is Yeshua (Jesus) … YHVH’s Salvation.

- Second, how else can I show God that I love Him?

- “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are NOT burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)

- “IF you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)

- “Yeshua (Jesus) replied, “IF anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” (John 14:23)

Third, how else is the Jewish nation going to become envious and jealous? I am not envious of the Buddhists or their god (For they have something I do not want!). Now that I am walking in the light (obedience) like HE is in the light (For He obeyed God first), then the Jews will look and see that Yeshua (Jesus) was (and IS) the Savior they are, and have been, waiting for! A Messiah like Moses!! “YHVH your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to Him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15) Can you see it?! I now have what they want and desire … THE MESSIAH!

What about you? Are you causing the Jews to be jealous? Or is the Savior you are showing them a savior that they do not desire? By faith we are to uphold the Law and by faith we are to do our job: To bring about a jealousy among the Jews just as Paul did: “I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.” (Romans 11:13b-14)

Do not be disheartened, my friends, we simply lost the purpose of our mission. “… salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” (Romans 11:11b)

I am here to testify that there is no greater joy than to be questioned by a Hebrew. It goes something like this:

- “Hey, why are you celebrating our Passover? Why are you wearing Tzitzit (tassels)? Why do you celebrate the Sabbath on the seventh day?”

- To their questions, I humbly respond, “Doesn’t the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob us command us to?”

- The Hebrew then says, “Well, Yes He does, but I thought that you were a Christian.”

- I, then, in all humility and respect, respond, “I am, but I am not worshipping the god that is based upon traditions. I worship YHVH and His Salvation.”

- He enviously responds, “I don’t understand. If you are a Christian, then why are you doing the stuff our God gave to us?” .

- “Because Yeshua (I do not say Jesus because that was not His name. They DO know the name of Yeshua.), YHVH’s Salvation that we have been waiting for, commands us to obey His Father.” (To that, there is no response.)

- He ponders … Was He, indeed, the Messiah?

“Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Yeshua (Jesus) did.”
1 John 2:6

12 / 09 / 06
(NIV used)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

Most people would agree that a true disciple of Yeshua (Jesus) will strive to do whatever He says to do. Many do not realize that throughout history, disciples actually tried to imitate their teacher in everything He said, did, and even thought. They followed their teacher throughout the day and learned his movements and thoughts. Since they learned from their teacher, in the end, you would not be able to tell the difference between the student and the teacher.

WWJD? Everyone knows this cliché … “What would Jesus do?” (HE is the Teacher we are to imitate)

Did you know that Matthew, Peter, John, and the others, being disciples, lived by this very same question? In order to find out WWJD, then we must search … WDJD?!! (What DID Jesus do?). Since all those who “claim to live in Him must walk as Yeshua (Jesus) did.” (1 John 2:6). We, as His disciples, ought to find out what He did so that we can imitate and follow the words and actions of our Master?

Below are just a few examples of WDJD … “What did Jesus do” … so that we can do the same.

WDJD?

In John 2:23a we find our Savior in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast. “Now while He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast …”

“Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. (Hanukkah or Feast of lights) It was winter, Yeshua (Jesus) was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.” (John 10:22). Of course, this is why, even though this is NOT a command, my family celebrates this holiday … because HE did. Since WDJD, so do we, for we are His disciples. And it is a most beautiful celebration! We are simply practicing to be like our Teacher.

I see so many churches today using “God’s house” to promote their own agenda (such as selling CD’s, books or even to promote car washes for the Youth programs) … WDJD … “So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:15-16) Many today will say that they are doing it for God … let us not forget … they were selling doves to be sacrificed for worship, FOR GOD, as well. Selling doves was not what upset our Master … it was where they were doing it.

John 6:12 … “When they had all had enough to eat, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” I just think about all the food that we allow our children to put on their plates … only to be left over and thrown away. I think of the rich and their self-indulgence and how many eat as if they were a king … “You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.” (James 5:5). I know a lot of poor godly people … I have seen their dinner tables … “Let nothing be wasted”. (last part of John 6:12 above) Disciples of the Master are to imitate Him and follow His Words!

There are so many verses, today, that are misunderstand about the Sabbath (As well as God’s Law). WDJD? When we find our Teacher obeying His Father’s Law by teaching on and keeping the Sabbath. If we only take the time and effort , we would realize that it was the leaders and their teachings that were wrong … He rebuked their teachings that over time, had become laws in themselves. Many think that He was rebuking the Law (His Father forbids this), He was rebuking their understanding or teaching of the Laws of His Father. Read the following carefully:

- “On another Sabbath He went into the synagogue and was teaching.” (Luke 6:6a) Yeshua (Jesus) was obeying the Sabbath. He was then challenged by a leader. The story then reveals Him healing a man on the Sabbath. NOwhere does it say the Sabbath is done away with … just reference to WHAT can be done on it. The question is: can a life be saved on the Sabbath? YES! Life has always been of greater value … that, too, is a command of God.

- Luke 13:10 … “On a Sabbath Yeshua (Jesus) was teaching in one of the synagogues …” …. Then we find their accusation in verses 14-17)

- Yeshua (Jesus) honored the Sabbath, therefore, so did His disciples. That is why we find Paul imitating His walk … “On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets …” (Acts 13:14b-15a) Why would Paul listen to the Law and the Prophets if it was taught that they were done away with? Because his Teacher taught that they were not done away with and preached and lived in obedience to them.

- We can also find out what Yeshua (Jesus) taught by observing those who were with Him … “Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” (Luke 23:56) Can you imagine … they were preparing to anoint the body of the Son of God! But even this does not supersede the command of the Sabbath. Isn’t that interesting? And many today simply do as they please on this appointment of God. Many even ignore the day God originally blessed … (Genesis 2:3))

WDJT (What did Jesus TEACH?) … He taught us to obey His Father’s Laws … He also obeyed them … Therefore, we should strive to do the same and teach others likewise (Remember … HE is our Teacher we are to imitate). “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks ne of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices (continually strives) and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19) By doing so, you will find the excitement and joy of living in the footsteps of the Master. When one walks the way He did, there is a joy and complete feeling as one celebrates, ministers, and acts like the Son of God (Our Teacher). Who obeyed His Father out of Love … not a chore.

LAST THOUGHTS:

Search after search … the conclusion will be the same … There is NOT a single verse that states, “He obeyed perfectly so that we don’t have to” (Absolutely nowhere.) The opposite can be found, though. Numerous times we are told to imitate Him, to be in HIS likeness and image! (Like a true disciple should … who seeks to imitate his Teacher)

- “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son,” (Romans 8:29a)

- “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Yeshua (Jesus) did.” (1 John 2:6)

- “Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (Colossians 3:9-10)

Just something to think about.

“… they will break through the gate (door) and go out…”
Micah 2:13b

08 / 04 / 06

(NIV version)

HERE’S A THOUGHT:

We have all heard the phrase ”Life is a rat race.”

Now picture a mouse running through a maze. As long as there is not a wall, the mouse will continue to run through the maze of open doors (If he hits a wall he follows the wall until there is another opening). He smells the prize at the end (a big chunk of cheese). The point? The only way to get to the prize is through the “Open doors” of the maze. Isn’t it odd that many people live their lives in this same manner regarding God’s will in their lives … they run as a mouse in a maze.

Okay, okay, many don’t call it a “rat race,” but consider it more of an “open door policy”. If God wants it, He will allow it. If God wants that (put your desire here) for my life, He will “open that door. If not, He will close it.” There are so many who are so deep into the maze, though, that they do not know the way BACK to start over … so they continue to race without questioning if their walking through the “open door” or stopped at the “closed door” was actually God’s will in their lives.

Disclaimer: This devotion is not saying that God does not create the path that we are to go through. This devotion is not saying that we are not to pray about a situation and ask Him to prepare the way. This devotion is to show that a life of “open doors” is not the litmus test for how we are to live … simply going through the easy, open doors of life. This way of life is actually not Biblical. We must ask, “Is this of God, or will this hinder my walk with Him and hitting the mark.” We may also ask, “Do I simply want this to satisfy my flesh, or is it what God would have me do.” Do NOT live your life feeling as if “Life is good, therefore, God is pleased with me.” Sadly, this is the way many people view their relationship with God.

Okay, now that I have said that … what is your “cheese” on the other side? What is the prize for which you are running? How do you know that God is pleased with your decisions in life? MANY assume that having a life of pleasures is the proof that God even okay with them. (If that was the case, Yeshua (Jesus), his disciples and even Paul must have thought that God was quite disappointed with them … simply look at their lives!) Many people live today as if wealth, honor, and pleasures are at the other end of the maze, (their “cheese” being sought after). So they continue to go through the “open doors” of life; never looking for or creating another door OR never refusing to walk through an open door. (As long as the door pleases their desire). As children of God, we must know God’s will and laws for us here on earth and put a “heat sensing lazer” on the target and pursue it with all that we are.

VERSES REGARDING THE THOUGHT:

Imagine someone coming up to you and offering you all the money in the world. Although YOU knew that accepting such a thing would hinder your walk with God … would you consider that an open door? (Of course many would rationalize that they would use “a good portion” of it to help God and His cause!) Would you accept it knowing that it will hinder you and your Creator?

“He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Hebrews 11:25-26) (He was focused on the target and refused the riches.)

“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “If you will bow down and worship me.” Yeshua (Jesus) said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship YHVH your God, and serve Him only.” (Matthew 4:8-10) (Even our Master, of whom we are to follow, rejected the same. When faced with an “open door”, we must first check it against God’s Word to see if there is any contradiction. It is never God’s will for us to do something against His written Word. Our Savior KNEW His Father’s will and He even quoted from the book of Moses to rebuke Satan and keep on target.)

How about if the door is obviously closed or difficult to pass through … would that be a “sign from God” not to enter?

“Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Yeshua (Jesus). When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Yeshua (Jesus). When Yeshua (Jesus) saw their faith, He said, Friend, your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 5:18-20) (Many would have walked away and left the paralytic to fend for himself, never allowing him to know the Messiah; Never allowing him to be healed. This “door” was obviously closed, but these men KNEW God’s will. Would you have done the same?)

Deuteronomy 1:19-32 is about the twelve spies who were sent out to report about the land that God had promised them. Two of the spies (knowing that God had promised them the land) brought back some of the fruit and reported saying, “It is a good land that YHVH our God is giving us.” (v25b). Now, if you know the story, through merely human eyes, this definitely seemed to be a closed door! The people who were occupying the land they were about to take were giants and well-barricaded in and protected. The other ten spies (opposite of the two) saw this as a “closed door” and thought since God was not handing it to them on a silver platter, it must not be from God. This would be the report from most of those who live by the “open door policy”: “The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky… ” (vs 28b).

You see, many people will choose the door that simply pleases their flesh and then think that it is an “open door” from God. Why? Well, of course, “God is all loving”, they rationalize, “God overlooks our sins and wants us to enjoy life”. Read the following example of one who thought the same thing … This “open door” or “what is being offered before me” must be from God.

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Genesis 3:6)

CLOSING THOUGHTS:

My friends, we must decide in our hearts, today, who we are going to follow … our flesh (and its desires), or the Lord (by obeying His voice and Laws). Let me ask you, what is keeping you from obeying God’s Word and His appointments? For many, it is the “closed door” of the pressures of society, “Nobody else is obeying the ‘seventh day Sabbath’ or ‘other laws’ … so why should I”?

Do you realize that God may actually be testing us with these doors? “If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. YHVH your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)

The door, above, was open, there was even a miracle that proved it! Do we know the truth of God’s Word well-enough to avoid the wrong door and not walk through it? (Many seem to be counting on the opinion of learned men for their knowledge of God’s Word.) We were created to serve and love God above all.

Just something to think about as we walk through this maze of life.