Sunday, March 27, 2011

Listen






















Jeremiah 6:10 To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

Most of us can hear, but we may not really be listening. Sometimes we are just too busy thinking about what we want to say. Perhaps we have our own agenda or we are just too hurried to stop and listen. We may have preconceived ideas about a person, culture or circumstance that causes us to become closed to what the Father is trying to show us and as a result be unable to see truth or possess understanding. When we close our hearts and ears to the Father truth becomes just an irritating noise to us. We miss a lot that way. We miss things that could change our lives, cause us to grow in maturity and gain wisdom, connect us to others, experience healing and ultimately, and most importantly, connect us deeply to Abba. In our pridefulness, we choose to remain "stiff necked".

In the Bible when YHVH refers to a stiff necked people it means that they are "stubborn," "untractable," and "not to be led." This term "stiff necked" is an agricultural term. When a man would plow, his plow was usually driven by two oxen. As the plowman required but one hand to guide the plow, he carried in the other an "ox-goad." This was a light pole, shod with an iron spike. With this he would prick the oxen upon the hind legs to increase their speed, and upon the neck to turn, or to keep a straight course when deviating. If an ox was difficult to control or stubborn, it was "hard of neck," or stiff-necked. This presented a huge problem for the plower and made it very difficult for any seed to be sown properly as he would have to fight the uncooperative ox. So, this figure was used in the Scriptures to express the stubborn, untractable spirit of a people not responsive to the guiding of their Elohim. Since the culture of that time was primarily an agricultural one, people could easily relate to the example YHVH was giving them in using the term "stiff necked".

Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye.

I have heard many give sermons over the years about "those people" in the old testament and how "they" were stiff necked. I don't think we need to be throwing stones. Honestly, we are no different. We haven't "evolved" or become "enlightened" as many would claim. We are still doing our "own thing", just like those who came before us. We think we have all the answers and our destiny is in our hands. We keep an iron grip on what we "want" to believe, rather than what is true. If anything I really think we have become more "stiff necked" in recent decades than any generation that came before us. It seems more and more people dismiss the wisdom and direction of a Holy Elohim in favor of worldly and selfish pursuits. They will listen to any new cat on the scene with a "fresh perspective" and it doesn't matter if this individual considers or twists the Word of YHVH. How would they know anyway, they don't "listen" or even know what the Word says? They are doing their "own thing" or a "new thing".

Luke 16:15 He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts.

In the scope of the sheer magnitude of this vast universe that God has created......teeny, tiny, little men (and women) still shake an angry fist at a Holy and All Powerful Creator. Like the ox we fight against the goad, and wonder why we are unable to walk a straight line! We certainly don't want to listen to the Plower of the field. It would be rather comical if it wasn't so sad. We truly oppose ourselves in the worst possible ways because we have a really BIG Abba that loves us and wants the best for us. We are more than just ox to Him, but we behave in a manner that is so below us and what He created us for. In doing so we do great damage, to ourselves, others and our world.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,  And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

I look back and I see that suffering that I experienced was a useful tool or "ox goad" in the hands of my Abba in my life. I don't blame Him for my suffering for I alone bear the responsibility of my choices and the consequences of them. I personally was pretty full of myself and on a path of eminent destruction. I thought I had all the answers and was the master of my own destiny, in my human imagination. Without the sting of the goad I would have destroyed myself and hurt others in my path. Rather than ask why I had to suffer I now ask why it took so long for my pride to be overcome. I now see the merit of suffering in my own life, though I would never want to entertain it again. The pain of my own choices was a faithful teacher that I finally received instruction from and it led me from a path headed towards certain death to a path heading towards life, toward my Savior. Further down the road, with the pain in my rear view mirror, I am now grateful for those experiences. I never want to forget where I came from. It reminds me how far He has brought me and it keeps my feet on the ground. I am nothing without Him.

Father, forgive me, when I entertain thoughts of any sufficiency apart from you. Help me to not just hear you, but really LISTEN.

Many blessings to you!


Sunday, March 20, 2011

The Late Zola Levitt Interview with Nehemia Gordon

This is a very interesting interview that Zola Levitt did with Nehemia Gordon back in 2005, one year before Zola's death. I enjoyed it very much and I hope you do too.

Disclaimer: I do not care for the "title" of these videos. They are not mine, so I have no control of that.










Shalom Aleichem!

Should Christians Keep the Sabbath? (Jim Staley, Passion for Truth Ministries)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

The Invitation






















Anger is an interesting thing. It can motivate us to do very good things or it can imprison us and lead us into a deep pit of bitterness. There are two kinds of anger. There is an anger that is a righteous one. The Word speaks of this kind of anger. God gets angry, but His anger is always righteous and in response to the transgression of His Holy Word.

For example, when Moses came down from the mountain, having just received the ten commandments from  YHVH, the people, having just agreed earlier not to make any graven image (Exodus 20:4) had made a golden calf and there they were having a big party and bowing down to the thing. YHVH got angry!

Exodus 32:10 And now let me alone, that my Anger may burn against them, and I may consume them; and I will make of thee a great nation.

The Word is very clear and gives instruction to us in Ephesians 4:26-27 Be angry, but don't sin - don't let the sun go down before you have dealt with the cause of your anger; otherwise you leave room for the adversary. So, yes, be angry, however do not sin in your anger. The only way to not sin in your anger is to be righteous, as is YHVH, and be angry about what angers Him. It isn't easy to be like Him, is it?! The second warning, in this set of scriptures, warns us to resolve such anger before the sun sets, otherwise we will open the door to the adversary, the enemy of all mankind, Ha'Satan. Even righteous anger can turn unrighteous in the human heart, because of our fleshly tendencies, if it is not resolved quickly. Righteous anger will move us at times to take action. Perhaps it is to step in to protect someone. Maybe it is to protect an entire group of individuals. Maybe it is to move us to lovingly confront another believer in his or her sin and hopefully motivate them to reconcile to the Father or another believer. We need to diligently seek the Ruach Ha'Kodesh, The Holy Spirit, to guide us during these times, so that our flesh does not chime in and we are able make decisions that honor Him and His Word. Righteous anger always seeks to restore the order of Yah's Word. Righteous anger never transgresses His Word in it's expression. Righteous anger comes from a very deep love for Ha'Shem and for others and it is not self seeking, it is selfless. It seeks to be resolved quickly.

There are things in this world that we should be angry about. Sin and it's resulting horrific consequences in our society should stir us. Especially when these things are committed against those who are helpless to defend themselves. I would have to check my pulse to see if my heart was still beating if some of the things happening in this world and in my life-time did not anger me. There are some that do not believe anger is appropriate in any circumstance. These individuals may unknowingly be adhering to a philosophy called stoicism. Stoicism, a school of Hellenistic philosophy, is an incredibly unrealistic option that I personally do not practice and I don't know how any human being truly could....unless of course they are not breathing. It sounds great in theory. A bus drives into your house, oh well. Don't get excited. Stoicism, simply put, can be defined very well in Doris Day's rendition of "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)". It seems to me that far too many in our society have opted for such a philosophy and ignore that which is morally reprehensible as if it were a mere fly on the windshield of a car. There seems to be a serious confusion within circles of believers and in society, as well, that this philosophy comes from the Word of God, when in fact these ideas are rooted in the teachings of Zeno of Citium of Athens and propagated by others in Rome in the early 3rd century BC and not the Word of God. This kind of attitude has created serious, societal altering consequences that have torn at the fabric of our civilization. I don't believe that anxiety is necessary or correct but to feel nothing or worse yet, do nothing, in the face of injustice is just as bad as the injustice itself. Certainly we should become angry, but not at the people involved, because our battle is not against "flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities of this dark world" (Ephesians 6:12). We should however be angry at the sin itself and the dark spirit or spirits behind it. Very simply put, be angry at the sin, not the sinner.

Now that we have covered the first kind of anger, lets take a look at the second and it's long range, wicked potential. This kind of anger leads to bitterness that can inflict an enormous amount of damage to the individual entertaining it and those closest to him or her. This second kind of anger is very self seeking. This kind of anger begins with an offense or a wound if you will. Most of the time the individual has been hurt by another in the past or perceives that they have. Sometimes they are even angry with God. It must be dealt with quickly, before the sun sets, or it will immediately begin to be very destructive. This unrighteous, unholy anger gives the adversary license to enter our lives. It is an engraved invitation to him. Because he is the liar of all liars he will take full advantage of this invitation that we have given him. This brand of anger has little to do with the Word of God. However, some folks will use the Word illegitimately, twisting it and using it out of context either to justify wrong actions or to be used as a weapon to injure others and maintain control as they entertain anger. The adversary capitalizes on the pain the individual has experienced and drives his talons deep into the existing wound. These people are in serious pain. If the anger continues, it becomes a deep pit of pain piercing through the very depths of one's soul. It becomes what is known as bitterness. It causes the individual to be given to confusion and rage. The world becomes a very distorted place to a person that remains in bitterness. This is a very sad state to live in. I have been there and I don't ever want to be there again.

John 10:10
The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

In the eyes of the world system, in my lifetime, I have had more than enough "just" cause to become bitter. Perhaps you have too? If I was a perfect person that excuse might fly. I am not and I don't know of any human being that is. I do know One who is perfect. He is Holy and He is perfect. Forgiveness by and reconciliation to a Holy Elohim was costly. Yahshua, our Messiah, paid that price for us on the tree by the shedding of His blood. We must seek to honor Him and what He did for us by not believing the enemy's lie that somehow we have a "right" to hold on to anger towards others. Let's seek to forgive quickly, let go of our anger and as far as it is up to us live in peace with all men (and women).

Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men.

Anger is a like a dangerous tightrope. Hopefully we can walk it carefully, examining it and making sure that our walk is straight, most importantly using the light of the Word and the counsel of the Holy Spirit to navigate us through it. Once we have done that, lets get to the other side in a rapid fashion. Let's forgive quickly and seek to reconcile in a timely manner as if our very lives depended on it. Who knows, maybe our lives do depend on it? (Job 5:2). Otherwise we might cause an invitation to go out to a visitor we'd rather not entertain; and He comes to steal, kill, and destroy, make no mistake.

Blessings to you!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Love is Truth




When I was a little girl I read a lot! Just about anything I could get my hands on. I still have a real love for reading. One book that left a lasting impression on me was the book, The Emperor's New Clothes. Have you ever read it? Quick synopsis: These "tailors" come to town. They are really con men, thieves if you will. They sell the Emperor on the idea that they are going to make this spectacular new outfit for him! "You know", they say, "all Royalty wears our clothes, we are the best designers out there and we only work with the most important clientele". Well, the egotistic Emperor jumps at the chance and they design an outfit for him (it is really air, he is naked, there is no outfit). He thinks there is something wrong with his eyes that he can't see it, so he decides to believe it's there, as do all the citizens of his country (because they are afraid of him and what other people will think) as he parades around naked!!Everyone is participating in the charade,except one small child, who is brave enough to say, "Hey, the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes!!!!!!" Smart kid.

Can I tell you that there is something very, very wrong in our churches? OK, you know I usually don't go here. I am never quite sure about what kind of audience I might have or what they think, but I am going to be like that brave child and speak the truth. Did you know that it is loving to speak the truth? If anyone in the emperor's kingdom, described above, loved him, they would have told him the truth. Did you know that sometimes speaking the truth can bring division? The Truth, God's truth, sets people free.......but sometimes it makes people a little angry at first. I am willing to take that chance because Yahshua was willing to take that chance. There is a "gospel" being preached that is not of the Word. It is a gospel that focuses on a unqualified unity, rather that the Truth of the Word of God. It is a gospel that puts the word and doctrines of men over the Word of the God. It is a gospel that is calling evil good and good evil. It is politically correct and very tolerant of evil and it is NOT God's Word. There is no room for other gods in our worship of Him. There is no room for other philosophies in our worship of Him. Darkness does not have fellowship with light, period. Sound familiar, it should!

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Amos 5:7 You who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground

Habakkuk 1:4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with your words. "How have we wearied him?" you ask. By saying, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of justice?"

Isaiah 30:10 They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.

OK, so perhaps you are saying at this point, "well that is all old testament". Well, check this out.

Matthew 6:22-23 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Luke 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.

Luke 11:35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.


Do you know Whose Words those are? They are the Words of YHVH, God. He changes not. He isn't into a "new thing". The Holy and the profane do not belong together. The church has been seduced and taken captive by smooth words.

Somehow, as a church, we have gotten the idea into our heads that we can pick and choose what scriptures we consider valid and what scriptures we do not. Let me ask you this, if we serve a God that never changes, how can we justify that? I am here to tell you we can not if in fact we want to call ourselves believers in the Messiah, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Mal.3:6 I the Lord do not change.

Numbers 23:19 God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.


I didn't become a believer so I could have my ears tickled. When I became a believer it was because the selfish way that I was living my life was not working for me. In the end it gave me nothing but pain. I was lost. Now I am found! I wanted and desparately needed to be changed. His Word, His Torah, if you will, brought me freedom, peace and blessing.......and change. Faith is all that saves a person, but who exactly do we believe in if we don't recognise or seek to follow His Word? Scary question, but one that deserves an answer. Is it a god that we have created in our minds? Perhaps, a god that tells us what we want to hear and makes us feel good? Or is it the God that changes lives with the washing of His Holy Word?

2Tim.3:16 - 17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"


"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many" -- Matthew 24:11

His Word has not changed. He has not changed. Don't fall for a gospel that preaches anything different. The truth delivered in love to you.