Ahhhh…. Life

Enjoy (i am only doing what my Master did … please realize that). for some of you, you enjoy confirming your walk with these studies, but for many, this is a pill that i pray will change your life to be like the Master. know that my love is deep - brother kyle

08 / 06 / 11

(Comments in parentheses and emphasis within Scriptures are mine.)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

A common perception of life is: Ahhhh … there is some money in the bank, my house is ample, I have a nice network of friends, and my family is healthy and beautiful … therefore, God is happy with me and my spiritual life, and my salvation is secure.

Throughout history, there have been in each generation, people who hold to a similar such notion. However, God’s Word does NOT back up this perception. Take the following passage, for example. The nation had NOT been righteous or obedient to YHVH, yet they were seeking Him as if they had been. They were deceiving themselves, just as countless generations of people have been deceiving themselves:

“Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, As a nation that has done righteousness And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God.” (Isaiah 58:2)

People today say, “Yes, we are sinners, but God sees only Jesus and His righteousness when He sees me. Anyway, Jesus did away with those Old Testament Laws.” Now, read the above passage again, which is addressed to people who disobey Him, and yet call out to Him as if He were pleased with their disobedient lifestyles.

Go ahead, I will wait.

“Yet they seek Me day by day (well, at least for an hour a week) and delight to know My ways (They buy book after book about ‘how to’, yet they do not study the Laws and the Prophets as Yeshua taught us to do), As a nation that has done righteousness (”Look at me, I am righteous through the blood of the Messiah’” Note: then why are they still sinning by repeatedly breaking the same Laws?) And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God (”We obey God … we love everyone-so we have obeyed all God wants us to”). They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God (”We have such a good time at church with all the functions and we feel so close to God”).” (Isaiah 58:2)

Yet, God is silent in their lives. Oh, they pray, but how does He answer them? “Sometimes what I ask comes to pass … sometimes it does not” (What, is prayer like Russian roulette?) God is clear about those who ‘act’ like and ’say’ they love Him, but do not because they do not obey His Laws:

“16 But to the wicked God says, ‘What right have you to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth? 17 For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you. 21 These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes. 22 Now consider this, you who forget God, Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.”" (Psalm 50:16-17, 21-22)

He is also clear about those who pray to Him while ignoring His Laws:

“He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9)

Many people claim that they are part of the New Covenant, but claim though they may, their lives do not show that they are part of it. They tell of the stories of old, yet ignore His wrath, “Oh, that is not for me” they assume, as they continue to ignore His Laws … they have forgotten that YHVH said that “they are your life“. Instead, they say, “Oh, our loving Master simply would not tell me to ‘go away’ and send me to damnation for not practicing His Father’s Laws. He must be talking to someone else.” Then, they continue to disobey and ignore His Sabbath, feasts, and eat what HE says is detestable. They are wrong; it is VERY clear (they just need to desire to know the truth at all cost). The Son (who could say NOTHING on His own, but only what His Father told Him to say) is talking to those who are claiming His covenant promises, yet are living without His Laws (Law-LESS-ness):

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS (a life without the Law).‘” (Matthew 7:22-23)

Then the Master continues in vs 24 about those who hear His Words and practices them, thus are wise.

I WILL GIVE YOU JUST A FEW PASSAGES TO MEDIATE ON (Many people throughout history thought the same thing, “As long as we are worshiping and sacrificing to Him, our obedience to His laws doesn’t really matter”.)

“It shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, ‘I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart’.” (Deuteronomy 29:19)

“But you have behaved more wickedly than your fathers. See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying me.” (Jeremiah 16:12)

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5)

Being repentant means to be sorry and to turn from that sin and set up your life to be in obedience, instead. Have you come to the place where you are truly repentant for transgressing His Laws?

“YHVH (The Lord) says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.‘ (Isaiah 29:13)

I write because I love each of you (NOT to boast, nor to mock, but to pull people from the raging fire who think their salvation is secure despite their lack of obedience). Unfortunately, many people honor YHVH by celebrating and worshiping Him on Sunday (a rule taught by man ; not in Scripture), yet disregard His command to honor the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath. They also worship Him on different man-made feast days (celebrations taught by man, but are not in Scripture) and they praise Him, yet do not celebrate and honor Him on the days He commands us to. They don’t even know His name OR the name of His Son (LORD and Jesus are NOT the names of the Father and Son;… they are names given by man- … NOT in the original Scriptures). All the while, they are also eating what HE calls detestable (but man teaches that it is clean and good to eat) … yet they come near with their mouths to honor Him, HE says.

Many people justify their disregard for His laws by saying, “Oh, He knows my heart and that I love Him“. This is half right… He DOES know each of our hearts, but as far as loving Him, He has been clear in the Torah, as well as the Apostolic writings about what loving Him looks like:

In the Torah:

“I command you today to love YHVH your God, (’what does loving YHVH look like?‘) to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that YHVH your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. 17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall surely perish (Never enter the Kingdom that is coming).” (Deuteronomy 30:16-18)

I would list more, but many feel that the Old Testament is done away with and not for us Gentiles. This is sad and could not be farther away from the truth. So, let us look at the New Testament and what it says loving God looks like (Remember: the NT must line up with the OT, or else it would be a false teaching)!

In the New Testament:

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

We know that Yeshua (Jesus) NEVER taught that the Law was done away with or not to be obeyed (Many use Paul’s misunderstood and hard to understand writings OVER those of the Master). We know that Yeshua could ONLY speak what the Father told Him to speak. We know that whatever is the Father’s is the Son’s … It is obvious that the Son commanded obedience to the Father.

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (2 John 1:6)

“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,” (1 John 5:2-3)

This was not something new… “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you,” (Deuteronomy 30:11)

IS YOUR DESIRE TO BE A PRIEST IN THE KINGDOM (GOVERNMENT) OF GOD?
(Then which priest do YOU think He will be coming for?):

“Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” (Ezekiel 22:26)

This is referring to Israel’s priests of old, yet many of the pastors and priests of today would fit this description very easily.

OR

“Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 In a dispute they shall take their stand to judge; they shall judge it according to My ordinances. They shall also keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed feasts and sanctify My sabbaths.” (Ezekiel 44:23-24)

This is referring to those who have the Spirit of Truth and are rising up and acknowledging the Laws and practicing them … getting ready for His return! These devotions are teaching the difference between the holy and the profane.

It all has to do with our flesh. I am doing nothing more than what my Savior did, “Repent, less you perish in your sins” (Yeshua: “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5))

Not many listened to His warning, either (back then, or even today). Satan convinced Adam to sin, he convinced Israel to sin, he convinced the priests of Israel to sin, he did the same to the multitudes today … did he convince YOU too? Oh, they all were still worshiping YHVH, yet it is all in vain.

Shalom Shalom!

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Joining the Family: Baptism

It is always good to go back and re-visit what we believe. this week, i visited baptism (and yes, i changed a bit more with the Scriptures I read) … enjoy as i did! brother kyle

“Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.
He got up and was baptized.”
(Acts 9:18)

07 / 30 / 11

(Comments in parentheses and emphasis within Scriptures are mine.)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

Baptism. It is an act of submission and obedience. It is a picture of death and life, of being washed and cleansed. It is a choice. Just like any other command of God, we can either choose to obey or disobey … we can either be sons of obedience (Romans 6:16, 6:26), or sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2, 5:6, and Colossians 3:6).
I would like to address a common tradition on this subject, first. I was raised with the traditional teaching that we must baptize our infants (in order to ‘impute’ the Holy Spirit, as if a human can apply water and the word to secure eternal salvation for that baby). It is a common belief that when we baptize an infant, they then received the Holy Spirit and became a member of God’s family (saved). This view, however, does not line up with Scripture and cannot be found ANYWHERE in His Holy Word (I challenge anyone to find ‘infant baptism’ in the Bible).
Baptism does not save, neither does obedience, but we do both out of a submitting heart that believes WHO He is and WHO we are in comparison to Him. Let us take a look at God’s teachings on this subject.

We are saved by faith alone in YHVHs Salvation (Yeshua).

Once we repent and our lives turn toward the One who Saves (Yeshua – YHVH’s salvation), our outward response is to be baptized in Him. So, baptism is an act of obedience which is an outward sign of an inward reality. Even our Master, whom we are to imitate, did so:

“Then Yeshua (Jesus) came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.” (Matthew 3:13)

Why did Yeshua (Jesus) find it necessary to be baptized? His own words tell us in Matthew 3:15:

“Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness…”

Notice He did not simply say, “it is proper for ME“, but He said “US“. We will now take a look at many passages about baptism. Please note that it was always done in response to a decision made by the person, himself. Being baptized is a choice a person makes upon repentance and a desire to obey God. They repent of their sins and then are baptized, as our Master says, “to fulfill all righteousness.”

“Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” (Matthew 3:6)

This is NOT a ‘one time’ sin, but a lifestyle of sin. In other words, when someone realizes that the whole Torah (Law) is for their lives today and they turn toward it and look to the Messiah and how He obeyed it … one should be baptized. It is when we leave our sinful lifestyle and begin living for Him, we consider this a washing away of the old sinful lifestyle and the rising up to a new lifestyle of obedience and service to God. When someone realizes that God’s entire Word (including His Laws and Commandments) is the manual for their life, and that they must live according to it, they realize just how bad their former way of life has pained their Creator. Baptism is simply an act of cleansing.

“He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Luke 3:3)

Can you see that baptism of the flesh is an outward sign of submission to God? By seeing our sins as utterly wicked before God, we are to die to our flesh (symbolized by submersing ourselves in the water that washes our flesh) and be raised as new creatures (being baptized with the Spirit that washes us INSIDE, by teaching us God’s ways).

“having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12)

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Yeshua (Jesus) were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ” (Romans 6:3-4)

Baptism, just like any other act of obedience to God does NOT save anyone. Our obedience is an act of faith. We believe God is God and we are His servants. If a child dies before accepting Christ, and thus could not make this choice to be baptized, it is YHVH Who decides the fate of all creation. That child simply may not have been created to rise up in the first resurrection as a priest, but in the second resurrection.

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.‘” (Mark 16:15-16)

I love this one. Can you see that we are saved by faith (justified), and then obedience such as baptism follows (which is sanctification). However, he who does not believe is condemned? He is condemned because of his disbelief in God (That person’s disobedience is the PROOF they do not believe in God) … they are NOT condemned because he or she did not get baptized.

Can an infant repent and accept Yeshua (Jesus) as His Savior? NO! We men cannot perform a ritual of baptism on an infant to impute the Holy Spirit or salvation into that baby. If you believe this traditional teaching, I urge you to go to the Bible and try to find Scripture to support this belief. You will not be able to. Notice, it says, “Whoever BELIEVES and is baptized,” or many times, “REPENT and be baptized,” … in both cases, it is a decision that one who has understanding makes (babies cannot make this choice, but that doctrine came out of a misunderstanding about two resurrections … one for the priests and the other for the rest of Israel.)!

“After this, Yeshua (Jesus) and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. (John 3:22-23)

This was not a line of baby carriages … but people who were repenting of their sins.

“Before the coming of Yeshua (Jesus), John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.” (Acts 13:24)

Notice, again: Repentance comes before practicing obedience. We die to self (symbolized in baptism) and are to rise up a new person (by the washing of God’s Spirit within!), then we live a lifestyle of obedience to His Laws (by the work of the Spirit writing them on our heart and teaching us). Can you see the combination? We put our flesh under HIS authority through the outward sign of baptism (cleaning the outside), and then we show the fruit of our salvation by our obedience to God through the work of His Spirit (cleaning the inside …where sin starts).

“And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1:4)

We must realize that our lives are ‘under the bondage of sin’ and repent before we can be forgiven. Just like our forefathers in the desert, the act of faith was putting the blood on their doorposts … it was only subsequent to that faith that they were then baptized in the Red Sea … then there was the giving of the Law!

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

Notice, again, the flesh first, then the Spirit. In order to allow the Spirit full control, we must submit our flesh!

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?” (Notice that they heard the message about the Messiah, first. Then, upon realizing their errors and sinful lives before God they cried out, “What shall we do?”) “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom YHVH (the Lord) our God will call.” (Acts 2:37-39)

(This passage shows that baptism is available to our children once they understand and are able to repent. However, a parent can NOT decide for their children or babies), as John 1:12-13 explains: “…to those who believed in His name, HE gave the right to become children of God; children born NOT of natural descent (being born Jewish or even of Christian parents), nor of human decision (A parent baptizing their child) or a husband’s will, BUT born of God.” It is only upon hearing the message and subsequent repentance that one is to be baptized: “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:40-41)

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Yeshua (Jesus) Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Acts 8:12)

Again, no babies, but all adults.

There are several examples of whole households being baptized. This, however, does not mean that one person believed and then that person decided that his or her whole household was to be baptized. Instead, these passages show the excitement of a single person realizing the errors of the teachings of their day, then proclaiming it to those he or she loves the most … the members of his or her own household. Thus, by hearing and believing, they too decide to be baptized, as well.

“One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house,’ And she persuaded us.” (Acts 16:14-15)

“At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.” (Acts 16:33)

“Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.” (Acts 18:8)

Final thoughts:

There is no greater honor for a parent than to have your child come to you and say, “Daddy, I am a sinner and I am giving my life to God. I want to be baptized.”
Baptism is an act of obedience that points to the greater baptism … that done by the Spirit:

“who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand–with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” (1 Peter 3:20-22)

Repent from your sins … and be baptized and sin no more. Obedience is the fruit of the Spirit within a child of God … baptism is part of that obedience.

One last thought: Many people realize that infant baptism is not Biblical, but may still be in error regarding baptism in one respect. If you notice, I always put back the names of the Father (NOT ‘the LORD’) and the son (NOT ‘Jesus’). Consider what Yeshua commanded….

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Many baptisms go something like this, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” based upon the above Scripture. But what did Yeshua actually say? The word Name is singular. The common Name they all share is YHVH. YHVH the Father, YHVH’s Salvation (Yeshua), and YHVH’s Spirit all share the Name YHVH! Also, notice that after you baptize them in the name of YHVH, you are also commanded to teach them God’s Laws (observe everything that is commanded us). Hmmmm … Just something to think about.

My thought? We must believe in YHVH (and His plan of Salvation) and be baptized and practice His Laws to be saved … but, we will perish because we do not believe in Him (which our lack of obedience actually reveals). Let me know if you see it any other way (and use Scriptures, not teachings of men).

So, are we saved by baptism? No, but by not doing it we prove that we do not believe in Him.

Are we saved by obeying His Laws? No, but by not practicing them we prove that we do not believe in His Word.

Shalom Shalom!

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Satan is a Deceiver and Father of Lies

DEVOTION
12 / 09 / 05
(Comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

One of the most used sayings I have heard as I have gone through my life as a child of God is: “We have the victory, we know the outcome.” Although this is true for those truly in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus), the war is far but over, my friends. Even for His true children. I keep saying, “true children”, because we are losing potential fellow-heirs all the time. Satan is a deceiver and a liar. (“… for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44b))

As I see Satan’s army, they are divided into two fronts. The purpose of the first front, are the obvious ones. This group seems to show the world “what evil is”. This group makes Satan’s second group look mighty holy and good. You know, “Wow, that person sure is evil, eh? I mean, straight from the lineage of Satan.” All the while, an elderly lady may be gently preaching a lie about the kingdom of God to them. The later is Satan’s elite, his undercover soldiers, if you will. Their aim? To convince people that they are from God and that they hold the truth. Remember when Satan tested our Savior in the desert? Satan used Scripture … straight from the Word of God!! Our Savior used the truth to combat “twisted truth”. Satan is working overtime to win those who have heard the truth! “Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:12)

Wow!! There will be, and are, people who THINK that they are saved children of the living God, yet are perishing! They have been deceived and thus, have lost the battle. They heard that the war is over and have given in to the enemy. All the while, they still THINK that they are saved, yet helping the advancement of Satan. “The coming of the lawless one (the one who hates the law) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they REFUSED to love the TRUTH and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful DELUSION so that they will believe the LIE.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11) (Satan can use a well loved leader of a growing church or a homeless man on the street … do NOT be deceived, my friends! We know that the world will LOVE the lie in the end … for they will THINK the lie is God’s truth, this is why they worship the anti-Christ and his followers! “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. He who has an ear, let him hear.” (Revelation 13:8) (Keep asking yourself, why don’t those who truly love God recognize these false teachings?)

HINT: Satan knows that God desires obedience!

1.) In the garden (He made Adam and Eve disobey)
2.) In the desert (He made Israel disobey)
3.) Today (He makes many disobey as well)

The only One who did not disobey was Yeshua (Jesus). But that is what Satan used … disobey God! Have you fallen for the lie that the Law is no longer valid for today?

Let us read how Yeshua (Jesus) told his followers to beware and know the truth so that they are not deceived by the father of lies, Satan. The time is coming when even those who have given their life over to serve the Lord (the elect) will have a hard time distinguishing the truth from a lie (I testify today, the lie looks like the truth!):

- “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.” (Matthew 24:24-25)

How close are we to the end? Look who the masses are flocking to:

- Some denominations teach that we are to rebuke Satan and bind him (there is only One who can bind … we are to flee!) “This is especially true of those who follow the CORRUPT DESIRE of the sinful nature and despise authority. BOLD and ARROGANT, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men BLASPHEME in matters they do NOT understand.” (2 Peter 2:10-12a) and “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these men speak ABUSIVELY against whatever they do NOT understand … Woe to them!” (Jude 9a)

- There are colossal churches performing great and miraculous signs and wonders as if performing a show on stage or at a theater (when did the Messiah do His miracles like this?)

- The most loved false doctrine is, because of the desires of their flesh, God is a big money tree or piggy bank … “who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” (1 Timothy 6:5b) and “They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit…” (Jude 9b)

Can you see that we must combat Scripture with Scripture (Just like Yeshua (Jesus) did)? Satan’s job is clearly to get us to believe the lie and turn us away from the truth. My friend, are you seeking the truth with all that you are? Are you too busy with life and its gain to search? Would you rather follow man’s wisdom, than the wisdom given by His Spirit? Whose voice are you hearing?

- “When He (Yeshua (Jesus)) has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:4-5)

This is not a slumber party, my brothers and sisters! The war has increased in intensity now that the Messiah has come! If you are not feeling the heat … the love of the world, instead of the love of God, might just be in you. “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:19) (The world seems to hate what I, and many others in these end days, are preaching. Come to think of it, they hated what the Messiah and His followers were preaching too!)

Many who have been deceived, because they did not love the truth, will stand before the Lord waiting to be embraced by the Master. Instead, they will get the following answer and it is then that they will realize their negligence! “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 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!” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Just so you know: The above people “thought” that they were saved. These are NOT Muslims, Atheists, or any other foreign religion but “Christian”. They are calling Yeshua (Jesus) Master thinking that they gave their life over to Him. The scary part? Is WHY Yeshua (Jesus) sent them away: They were transgressing His Laws / commands that HE gave to us in the Old Testament. Some translations have it “You who practice lawlessness” (NASB) or “You who work iniquity (sin)” (KJV).

Have you fallen for the lie (deception) that the Law is not for us?

The Law: Who is it For?

DEVOTION
11 / 25 / 05
(comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)

FIRST THOUGHTS:
• What is the truth about the Laws of God?
• It is apparent that when our Savior came, that the Jews obeyed them to be saved.
• The church interprets God’s Word as if to say all, but a choice few, of the Laws no longer valid.
• I have even heard that the Law is mandatory for everyone, regardless of whether or not they are a child of God.
• So, is there still a Law? If so, who is it for?
• After careful reading and study, it seems to me that God’s Laws are only for the family of God (Oh, they are AVAILABLE for all men, just like salvation. But, just like salvation, only those who believe become part of His family, and therefore, receive the gift of His Laws!).
• Think about it … those who say that they are children of God show what this means by the way they live out their lives. Through our words and deeds we show the world who OUR God is! How did His Son reveal Him? Through obedience (love of God) and laying down His life (love of neighbor)!

WAS THE LAW GIVEN TO THE WORLD, OR JUST TO GOD’S CHILDREN? READ FOR YOURSELVES:

• “Do not eat anything you find already dead.” (Yes, this is a Law for God’s children. Obviously, not a hard one to obey, I might add. The verse continues, as if we are asking God, “But Lord, then what are we to do with this dead carcass?” To me, God’s answer is hilarious. Now we, God’s children, cannot eat it, but He says that …) “You may give it to an alien living in any of your towns, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. But YOU are a people holy to the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 14:21a)
• “He has revealed His word to Jacob, His laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for NO OTHER nation; they (The other nations) do not know His laws. Praise the Lord.” (Psalm 147:19-20)
• (Even when it comes to lending to a brother in need, or loaning to a foreigner, it is the foreigner that we are not to hold to the same Law as a fellow citizen of God!) “You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your brother owes you.” (Deuteronomy 15:3)
• (Okay, our forefathers are about to enter a foreign land by dispossessing of it. God is revealing to His children that this foreign nation does things that He does not permit them to do. Why? Because God is holy, we, His children are to be holy and we are a separated people unto HIM!) “The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for YOU, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.” (Deuteronomy 18:14) (I ask you, can we, now that the Messiah has come, break any of these laws, now? Of course not! But WE are to uphold them!!! (Romans 3:30 … “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the Law.”) We cannot pick and chose which laws to obey just because of the traditions passed down through generations, even centuries, to us. Do not fear persecution of man, but of God who gave us this precious gift … His laws!)
• (Many Christians no longer believe the Laws given through Moses are for them, so the world is no longer envious of us! Let me ask you, how does your child show you that he understands what you told him to do? By DOING it correctly. THAT is showing that he understands!) “Observe them (the laws) carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations (those not part of the family), who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” … “And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:6 and
• (These laws of God, given to us, are actually a way to have a closer relationship with God, through His Son. They are even a possession that we can pass on, or give to our children. (They are better than any pearls or keep-sakes!)) “Moses charged us with a law, a POSSESSION for the assembly of Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 33:4) (Yes, we are that assembly. Along with all those who believed and lived by faith before us!!)
• (The law is not for the un-believers to obey! It is ours and is the very Law that the Spirit is writing on our hearts today (Hebrews 8:8-11). The Spirit does NOT write these precious laws on the hearts of someone who is NOT a child of God!) “He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel.” (Deuteronomy 33:10a) (Again, we find God revealing later in Romans 9:6-8 WHO Israel really is … those who believe and live by faith.)
• (Finally, remember when Paul was sent to the Gentiles? The Gentiles did NOT have the Law, since it was never given to them! Paul makes it clear, as he witness to the un-believers, that he was NOT free from God’s law, but by witnessing to them, he was actually adhering to the law of Christ!) “To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am NOT free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law (Let us NOT forget, that it was the Gentiles obedience to the Law, in fact, that proved that the Spirit of God was in them too! “For it is not those who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the Law who will be declared righteous.” (Romans 2:13). We are NOT justified by obeying the Law!! But the obedience to the Law shows that we have been justified (it is revealing the sanctifying work of the Spirit within us).

LAST THOUGHTS:
• I humbly introduce to those who want a closer relationship with their Lord, Jesus Christ, to allow His Spirit to have access to their hearts to write His law. Do not fear man’s rebuke (most comes from inside the church), but fear God. He gave us the right food to eat, the right Sabbath to obey, the correct festivals to celebrate (they ALL of which point to the work of His Son!!). His Laws even show us how to treat our neighbors as ourselves; How to give until we have nothing more to give, but need to receive back; How to lay down our life for another human being; How to pray for our enemies (not curse them) … By obeying God’s eternal Law, we teach our children who God is … unchanging and trustworthy!! Yes, OUR God is the same today as He was yesterday!!
• So how do you show God that you understand Him and love Him? (“THIS is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are NOT burdensome…” (1 John 5:3)
• So let us enjoy the gift God gives freely to His children, and sing as King David did in Psalm119:33 and 97 … “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.” and “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (Remember, it is Christ who is the Word lived out … perfectly! In turn, by rejecting the Law … are they not rejecting who Christ is?)