God Gets Upset with His Disobedient Children

06 / 02 / 07
(NIV used)

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).

When Did the Son of God Die?

We are always to be searching for God’s face. This is just part of it … Is God “close enough” or is He “exact”? The God I serve hits it on the head of the nail every time.

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.

The Jobs of a Priest Are like Being on the First String Team

“Does not the Potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some
pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”

(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)

Yeshua (Jesus) Was Never Unclean … He Makes Things Clean

Was Yeshua (Jesus) ever unclean from touching that which was unclean?

“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?

We Are to Look Like Israel, Not a Mainstream Jew or Church Go-er

I want to be the Israelite that God intended!
(To those trying to imitate our Master)

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.).

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