Grace

By Grace, which is conviction in our hearts, we have been given the favor (mercy) to repent of our former lawlessness and turn to obedience to YHWH's instructions, His Torah. Not by anything we have done are we given this gift to repent but by YHWH’s Grace.

Romans 10:9 says, ”If you confess with your mouth that ‘Yahshua is the Messiah’ and believe in your heart that Elohim raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

It continues on to read…

“For with the heart one BELIEVES UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS, and one confesses with the mouth, and so is saved."

Many people in religion think that by just believing in “Jesus” that they are saved and that they do not need to do anything else on their part and continue to live in sin. The demons also “believe.” 

What is “sin”?

1 John 3:4 CJB

"Everyone who keeps sinning is violating TORAH — indeed, sin is violation of TORAH." 

Just mentally acknowledging that “Jesus is the Christ” without any fruits of righteousness is not sufficient. Grace is not a license to sin.

Anyone who continues to sin is under the false assumption that being “saved by Grace” allows them to do so, but the reality is, they are essentially scorning the Spirit of Grace, which is the same as “blaspheming the Set-Apart Spirit of YHWH." There is no forgiveness for this type of sin, as per Numbers 15:29-31 and Deuteronomy 17:12-13.}

It is our faith and belief that produce righteous acts of obedience. To obey YHWH and His Torah is to love Him. This is the fruit of our salvation.

Titus 2:11-14

For the Grace (turning to the Torah instruction) of YHWH has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

We are not justified and saved by the works of the Torah alone, but by faith in Yahshua Messiah. Faith brings us salvation and obedience brings us blessings.

2 Peter 3:18

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Master and Savior, Yahshua Messiah. To Him be the glory, both now and forever! Amein.

A Lesson in Reverence and Obedience

In the story of Uzzah, we read that the Ark of the Covenant was returned from the Philistines and it was eventually brought to the house of Abinadab, which was on a hill, and his eldest son, Eleazar, was set apart to care for the Ark (1 Sam 7.1). 

We learn later that Abinadab had two other sons named, Uzzah and Ahio (2 Sam 6.3). The Scriptures are silent about where Abinadab and Eleazar were, perhaps they had passed away, but it was up to his remaining two sons to bring the Ark to David. They drew the cart along with oxen, with Ahio leading the oxen (2 Sam 6.4). When they reached the threshing floor of Nachon, Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark because the oxen nearly upset it (the road was rough) and he touched the Ark, killing him instantly (2 Sam 6.7).

The lesson is clear: If they had followed and “kept” the Torah (the tavnit; pattern; blueprint), this would have never happened. But they may have possibly followed what the Philistines did and Uzzah died. David finally realized what they did wrong and corrected it, following what YHWH said to do, by doing certain things at certain places at certain times by certain people.

In 1 Sam 15.22 it says, “And Samuel said, ‘Has Yahweh as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams.'” 

Sadly, this is the problem today with people who think that they can keep the biblical festivals and to ignore what YHWH has said about them. Israel still refuses to listen to YHWH and keeps certain festivals, like Passover, while ignoring the fact that there is no Temple, holy vessels, or functioning priesthood. But Israel hasn’t followed Moses for over two thousand years.

The Book of Deuteronomy will refer to the Temple as the place that YHWH will select to establish His name. When the Torah refers to the Temple as the place where YHWH’s Name will be established, it is a telling statement of the Temple’s purpose: the Temple is a house for YHWH’s Name and symbolizes a public declaration of YHWH’s sovereignty.

That is why Isaiah writes in Isa 33.20, “Look upon Zion (Jerusalem), the city of our appointed feasts.” 

The festivals can only be kept in Jerusalem and the Temple.

Shalom.

[Excerpts from White Feather Ministries]

The Power of Obedience

When we consider the extraordinary ways YHWH worked through men such as Moses and Paul, we may think, "I can't measure up to people like them. I don't have what they had."

But you must realize that these "heroes" of the faith were just common, ordinary people. It was their obedience, their complete yieldedness to YHWH, that gave them uncommon strength, perseverance, and faith. They submitted their lives whole-heartedly to YHWH, which moved YHWH to work through them.

Their examples should inspire each of us to re-evaluate our own obedience. Are we reluctant to listen to YHWH because we think He is asking the impossible?  

Yoḥanan Aleph (1 John) 5:3 TS2009 "For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy, because everyone having been born of Elohim overcomes the world."

Are we failing to make ourselves available to Him because we are doubtful or afraid? 

When we doubt, we are not putting our trust in YHWH. James 1:6 states that for the one that doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Yoḥanan Aleph (1 John) 4:18 TS2009 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear holds punishment, and he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

Our part is to simply obey, and YHWH will do His part.

YHWH can do anything through the believer who has a yielding heart towards Him and a strong devotion to walk in His ways. The power of obedience bears much fruit, which in turn, brings great blessings. HalleluYAH!

The Blessing of Abraham

When we read Genesis 12:1, we learn that YHWH called Abraham out of his land from his relatives and father's house where they worshipped other mighty ones [Joshua 24:2]. 

Genesis 12:3 “And in you [Abraham], all the clans of the earth will be blessed.” 

YHWH promised Abraham to make him a great nation and to bless him and his descendants, so Abraham left as YHWH instructed and He multiplied his offspring and Abraham then became the “father of many nations.” 

Berĕshith (Genesis) 26:5 TS2009

because Aḇraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My commands, My laws, and My Torot.”

Abraham's belief was counted to him as righteousness because his faith worked together with his works. Abraham set the example of what a true believer is. Those who are of "belief" are sons and daughters of Abraham and heirs according to the promise.

Acts 2:39: “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all that are far off, as many as YHWH, our Elohim, shall call.”

According to Acts 1:4, Yahshua instructed His disciples to wait on the promise of the Father - the Ruach [Spirit] of YHWH - the blessing of Abraham. They would receive power when the Ruach would come upon them and be filled with YAH’s Set-Apart Spirit enabling them to perform mighty works and speak in other tongues [languages], which was spoken by the Prophet Joel [2:28].

In the last days, believers will also prophesy and dream dreams like the original Hebrew prophets and will receive the blessing of Abraham, but cursed is the one who does not continue in all that is written in the Torah, to do them.

Torah defines sin but does not have the power to make someone obey it; yet, the Ruach Hakodesh empowers us and equips us, as believers, to walk according to His will and to be witnesses to all the nations and proclaim the Good News message to all who will accept the invitation.

Acts 5:32 “And we are His witnesses to these matters, and so also is the Set-apart Spirit whom Elohim has given to those who obey Him.”

Our obedience cannot be apart from belief in Yahshua. It takes both faith and obedience to the Father’s commandments. When we obey, we receive the Spirit of Truth and the blessing of Abraham, and anointing just like Yahshua, to bring the Good News, to heal, and to help release and set the captives free.

1 Corinthians 12:7 “We are given the manifestation of the Spirit for profiting” or, for the benefit of others and for ministry. We receive wisdom through the Spirit and to another, knowledge, and other gifts, and works all these according to the same Spirit.

YHWH will reveal Himself to those walking in His will. Wisdom and other gifts come from the Ruach for the benefit of others and for ministry, which glorifies our Father in Heaven.

Luke 11:13 “If you then, being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father from Heaven give the Set-Apart Spirit to those asking Him!”

The blessing of Abraham is available to believers of all nations.

Galatiyim (Galatians) 3:29 TS2009

And if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Aḇraham, and heirs according to promise.

Therefore, all nations, through Abraham and his seed, will be blessed. HalleluYAH!

Deborah - A Great Leader of YHWH

In the book of Judges, Deborah is portrayed to be a woman of great courage and wisdom who ruled underneath the palms. She lived around 1150 BCE, about a century or so after the Hebrews entered Canaan.

Deborah was a judge, warrior, poet, and prophetess as well as singer and songwriter and was said to hear YHWH/God’s voice and share His Word with others. Her position as a prophetess meant she was involved in spiritual guidance, which included leading worship.

She settled disagreements but also under her military leadership, she was called to defend Israel against the forces of King Jabin of Canaan who ruled from Hazor. 

Fearless and obedient to YHWH, Deborah led the Israelites to victory and out of bondage. 

Victory Against All Odds:

Deborah’s confidence in YHWH’s plan encouraged Barak, Israel’s military commander, to lead the troops into battle.

Against all odds, and with YHWH’s intervention, the Israelite army, under Barak’s command and inspired by Deborah’s faith, achieved a miraculous victory over Sisera’s forces.

The Song of Deborah, a victory hymn found in Judges 5, celebrates this triumph and acknowledges YHWH’s hand in their victory.

Many biblical scholars believe that Deborah was a wife, as well.  However, in Hebrew, the same word is used for “woman” and “wife,” so it is unknown, with certainty, if Deborah was a “woman of Lappidoth” (a place) or the “wife of Lappidoth” (a person).

We can learn so much from Deborah’s achievements but there are three lessons we can all learn from:

1. Be Obedient 

If YHWH is telling you to do something or go somewhere, despite your fears, listen to His call.  He has plans that we cannot begin to understand, and hearts and lives may be changed by our obedience.

2. Be Courageous

The old saying "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called"  applies here.  Doing something out of your comfort zone to glorify Him can be terrifying, but faith was never promised to be easy.  Be bold. Be courageous - for His glory.

3. Stand True

Never waiver in your faith. We may not always know what the road ahead will look like, but we only need to remember that YHWH will faithfully guide us and lead the way.

Women, unlike many of the things we have been taught, had places of leadership in Biblical times. 

Deborah's story in the Bible serves as an example of a woman who played a key leadership role during a crucial period in Israel's history and is remembered for her wisdom, prophetic insight, and courage in times of crisis.

[Article excerpts]

The Mysteries of YHWH Revealed

We see from Scripture that YHWH REVEALS the MYSTERIES of Heaven IF we OBEY Him and diligently SEEK Him. Many have received the spirit of error rather than the SPIRIT of TRUTH; thus, it is important that we test the spirits and we do this by studying the word of Elohim and showing ourselves approved.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he called Satan, “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the SONS of DISOBEDIENCE.” (Ephesians 2:2)

“The mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His set-apart ones.” 

Colossians 1:26

The MYSTERIES of YHWH are spiritual truths known only by revelation. YHWH REVEALS His mysteries to those who are OBEDIENT to His will and some of Elohim’s MYSTERIES are yet to be REVEALED.  But it is given unto you to know the MYSTERIES of the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 13:11)

“For to us Elohim REVEALED them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of Elohim.” 

1 Corinthians 2:10

“You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave doesn't know what his master is about; but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made KNOWN to you.” 

John 15:14-15

“And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom Elohim has given to those who OBEY Him.” 

Acts 5:32

“It is He who REVEALS the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness,

And the light dwells with Him.” 

Daniel 2:22

“The SECRET things belong to YHWH our Elohim, but the things REVEALED belong to us and to our sons forever, to do all the words of this TORAH.” 

Deuteronomy 29:29

This point was also highlighted when His disciples asked, “Why do You speak to them [the multitudes] in parables?” (Matthew 13:10) He told them, “Because it has been given to you to know the MYSTERIES of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” (v. 11)  

He simply told them that the truth about the Kingdom of Elohim was NOT for the MULTITUDES to understand. He continued, “Therefore, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do NOT see, and hearing they do NOT hear, nor do they understand” (v. 13). 

He went on to explain that this was a fulfillment of prophecy and that it was NOT the time for the MULTITUDES to understand (vv. 14–15). He then closed the conversation by telling them, “But blessed are your eyes for they SEE, and your ears for they HEAR; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (vv. 16–17).

Paul, referring specifically to Israel, said, “Israel has not attained the goal for which she is striving but the elect (the chosen) have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written: ‘YHWH has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that should NOT see and ears that they should NOT hear, to this very day.’” (Romans 11:7–8) 

Yet, we also see in Scripture that Elohim is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9) and that Elohim “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

“Those who ACCEPT my commandments and OBEY them are the ones who LOVE me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and REVEAL myself to each of them.” John 14:21

So it’s pretty self-explanatory; those who do the Father’s WILL and OBEY His commandments, it is THEM who the Father will REVEAL His Spirit of Truth.

“Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth.”

John 4:24

In Jeremiah 29:13, Elohim says, "You will seek Me and FIND Me when you SEEK Me with ALL your heart." 

HalleluYAH!

By: Edith Sapaugh

[@thegraftedones]

The Goal of the Torah is Messiah

Some may have a zeal for Elohim but it is not based on His understanding but their own. They have not submitted themselves wholeheartedly to His way to be made righteous.

Romiyim (Romans) 10:4 TS2009

"For Messiah is the goal of the ‘Torah unto righteousness’ to everyone who believes."

Torah is to take "aim."

Messiah is the "goal" of the Torah.

Sin is to "miss the mark."

Righteousness is in the Torah. The person who does the things of the Torah lives by them and will attain life.

Romiyim (Romans) 10:5 TS2009

"For Mosheh writes about the righteousness which is of the Torah, “The man who does these shall live by them.”

When we put our trust in YHWH, we believe and obey His word and continue toward deliverance. The problem is that not everyone is paying attention and obeying it.  

"So trust comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through a Word proclaimed about the Messiah." Romans 10:17

What is the "Word" proclaimed about the Messiah? Torah!

For the righteousness of belief means the Word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart. But how can someone proclaim Him UNLESS they are HEARING and DOING the will of the Father? 

“As it has been written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those announcing Good News of peace, who bring the Good News of the good!’” Romans 10:15

By: Edith Sapaugh