- The Way Biblical Fellowship: Standing (Torah Portion: Nitzavim) 2015 - 2016
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- 2013 Broadcast
Scriptures in Week 51:
TORAH:
Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20
PROPHETS:
Isaiah 61:1-63:9
NEW TESTAMENT:
Matthew 5:17-19
Luke 24:1-12;
Romans 9:30-10:13;
1 Timothy 6:1-21;
Hebrews 12:14-15;
1 John 5:1-21
TORAH
Happy Yom Teruah! May God immediately seal you for a good year! The King is in the field!
As Moses' final speech comes to a close, he reveal what it means to take hold of the covenant and to walk in it. It looks at how the covenant and the law are indisputably connected. This is a perfect Torah Portion to illustrate how separating the book of the covenant and the book of the law cannot be done.
This Torah Portion is not only the end of the speech of Moses, it is the summation of the entire Torah.
When YHWH says He is making the covenant with those here today and those not here, He is referring to us and the future generations.
When we have entered into covenant, we are witnesses against ourselves. We are now responsible.
"Joshua 24:21-26 World English Bible (WEB)
21 The people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve Yahweh.” 22 Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him.”
They said, “We are witnesses.”
23 “Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel.”
24 The people said to Joshua, “We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice.”
25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Yahweh."
Deuteronomy 29:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;"
What YHWH is saying here to His people is that idol worship produces a spiritual wormwood or bitterness. Throughout Scripture, Wormwood has very interesting references.
"Psalm 19:7-11 King James Version (KJV)
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward."
Woe unto those who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Here, honey would be the opposite to wormwood. Moses is saying to not have rebellion as a root among us.
"Jeremiah 23:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land."
"Amos 5:7 (KJV)
Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,"
Proverbs 5:3-5 King James Version (KJV)
3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell."
A woman is a symbol for a body of believers. A strange woman would be a church that teaches against the Torah and will lead you astray. It appears to be sweet, seductive.
Now when we get to a verse like this in Revelation, it makes sense there will be an principality of kosmokrator named Wormwood and plagues that result form this judgement. This being called Wormwood in Greek is in the feminise so it could be referring to the return of the goddess. Semiramis, Danu, Isis, Ishtar, Jezebel. Like we saw above, a wicked seductive woman is like wormwood so it proves this point according to the logic of Scripture. So anyone with covenant with this goddess, it will lead up to you feeling bitter, distraught, depressed and suicidal.
Revelation 8:10-11 King James Version (KJV)
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter."
This Torah Portion is not only the end of the speech of Moses, it is the summation of the entire Torah.
When YHWH says He is making the covenant with those here today and those not here, He is referring to us and the future generations.
When we have entered into covenant, we are witnesses against ourselves. We are now responsible.
"Joshua 24:21-26 World English Bible (WEB)
21 The people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve Yahweh.” 22 Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him.”
They said, “We are witnesses.”
23 “Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel.”
24 The people said to Joshua, “We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice.”
25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Yahweh."
Deuteronomy 29:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;"
What YHWH is saying here to His people is that idol worship produces a spiritual wormwood or bitterness. Throughout Scripture, Wormwood has very interesting references.
"Psalm 19:7-11 King James Version (KJV)
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward."
Woe unto those who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Here, honey would be the opposite to wormwood. Moses is saying to not have rebellion as a root among us.
"Jeremiah 23:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land."
"Amos 5:7 (KJV)
Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,"
Proverbs 5:3-5 King James Version (KJV)
3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell."
A woman is a symbol for a body of believers. A strange woman would be a church that teaches against the Torah and will lead you astray. It appears to be sweet, seductive.
Now when we get to a verse like this in Revelation, it makes sense there will be an principality of kosmokrator named Wormwood and plagues that result form this judgement. This being called Wormwood in Greek is in the feminise so it could be referring to the return of the goddess. Semiramis, Danu, Isis, Ishtar, Jezebel. Like we saw above, a wicked seductive woman is like wormwood so it proves this point according to the logic of Scripture. So anyone with covenant with this goddess, it will lead up to you feeling bitter, distraught, depressed and suicidal.
Revelation 8:10-11 King James Version (KJV)
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter."
The waters are the people. So the people will be poisoned or be seduced by the wickedness of Wormwood the kosmokrator to rebel against Torah
"Revelation 17:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."
If so, there are 7 billion people, and about a third of them are Christians 2.3 billion just as the third of the people (waters) of the earth became wormwood.
This is what those that fail to prepare for the Tribulation spiritually by following Torah, will go through.
"14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not." Lamentations 3:14-22
We are to not bless ourselves when in sin.
"Jeremiah 9:13-16 World English Bible (WEB)
13 Yahweh says, “Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in my ways, 14 but have walked after the stubbornness of their own heart and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them.” 15 Therefore Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, “Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. 16 I will scatter them also among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them.”
"Deuteronomy 29:29 World English Bible (WEB)
29 The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
There are some things in the Torah we may never understand. We do not grasp some ideas on why to do them, because there are spiritual ramifications of doing them. They all belong to YHWH. We just have the words of the Torah persevered for us telling us what to do.
"Psalm 119:160 World English Bible (WEB)
160 All of your words are truth.
Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever."
Just because we have moved on culturally, does not mean that we do not obey YHWH's law. The Word of God is holistic and should be considered as a whole and not dissected. If we just do what He says, we would not struggle with addictions.
"Deuteronomy 30:1 World English Bible (WEB)
30 It shall happen, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations where Yahweh your God has driven you,"
The use of the words "shall" and "when", implies that this will occur and is prophetic. Indeed, this Scripture is being fulfilled when i began to awaken to Torah as well as many others. It is the return to righteousness. When we are driven out in the diaspora (now) and have woken up and reaped the curses, and we return.
How will Israel return to the land?
2 and return to the Lord your God, and you and your children obey him with all your heart and with all your soul, just as I am commanding you today, 3 then the Lord your God (not the Zionist, Rothschilds, Freemasons, Edmonites) will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 Even if you are exiled to the ends of the world, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you back. 5 The Lord your God will bring you into the land that your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it; he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.
God cannot go against His own commandments, decrees and promises. True Israel will once again be brought into the land only when she complies with Leviticus 18 and 26 and with Deuteronomy 30.
Are the commandments too hard to do?
Deuteronomy 30:
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
11 Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” 14 No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
It has begun. The two sticks are now returning to become one body in the Messiah. It is the story of the prodigal son. Israel is rising and though the enemy wants to convince us that we are few in number, God promises that we will be a mass multitude. The natsarim are rising. Oh Father we have strayed from your covenant. We have been stiff-necked people. We have sinned against heaven and the earth. We are not worthy Father. We have done wickedly by following after other gods and the traditions of men and the doctrines of devils. But now, oh YHWH please have mercy on us as we come back from the filth of the world into your loving arms, to return back into covenant. This is the gospel! We are now free to return to His ancient ways with all our heart and will all our soul in Yeshua's name!
This is what it takes for people to turn back to YHWH and to return into His covenant and circumcise their hearts. What we have seen throughout history, the history of the Lost Israelites, all of it is what has taken for us to reach this point and turn back to Him and follow Him.
"Ezekiel 36:26-28 World English Bible (WEB)
26 I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them. 28 You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. You will be my people, and I will be your God."
"2 Corinthians 3 World English Bible (WEB)
3 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men, 3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. 4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God, 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away, 8 won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. 11 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, 13 and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. 14 But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away. 15 But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit."
"Daniel 12:9-10 World English Bible (WEB)
9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand; but those who are wise will understand."
"Hebrews 8:7-10 World English Bible (WEB)
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, he said,
“Behold,[a] the days come”, says the Lord,
“that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers,
in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
for they didn’t continue in my covenant,
and I disregarded them,” says the Lord.
10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel.
After those days,” says the Lord;
“I will put my laws into their mind,
I will also write them on their heart.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people."
Jeremiah 6:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 To whom should I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can’t listen. Behold, Yahweh’s word has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it."
The choice is ours weather or not the word of God will be a reproach or life.
Jeremiah 6:16 World English Bible (WEB)
16 Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it."
"Deuteronomy 30:19-20 World English Bible (WEB)
19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."
The first pathway you see, is the bridegroom's pathway. If we choose that pathway, it is the bridegroom's will that will determine our every step, and the bridegroom's glory that will be the reason behind everything we do. It is well-lit, and it's boundaries are clear, but it is treacherous like a hiker's track. It is satisfying when overcome and you are constantly surrounded by blessing and life.
The second pathway is the way of the runaway bride. It is for self-willed souls who what do not want to be told what to do and how to live from the bridegroom or anyone else for that matter, telling them where to go. It is not a pathway really, but desolate because this path is an outback and wide and more appealing to those that do not wish to take the hiking trail. It seems to offer a thrilling experience and many more opportunities as it is not as constricting as the life path. The choice of which trail to pursue us man's and man's alone, bit since God really loves us, He recommends we choose life.
"Matthew 7:13 World English Bible (WEB)
13 “Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it."
"1 John 4:16-21 World English Bible (WEB)
16 We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this, love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so we are in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother."
John 15:13-14 World English Bible (WEB)
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you."
The invitation is now issued.
The choice is now yours.
The benefits and the disadvantages are easy to weigh.
The costs associated with both alternatives are clear.
The consequences for the wrong choice - for you and for your family - are dire.
All "it's too hard for any human being to do" and "it's too old for us today" and "but i am not Jewish" and "i though Jesus did away with all that" excuses are clearly revealed as utter nonsense.
And so now you know. That the study of Torah is not just a nice bible study or an academic review of Jewish roots.
Torah is real. It is life eternal from the Holy One which cannot pass away.
And Torah say that your fate and the well-being of your children hand in the balance, depending on how you will respond to the Divine Bridegroom in this moment.
It comes down to just you and Him.
The bridal march is playing.
Angels and saints from every age are standing at attention and staring in wonder the mass spiritual awakening today.
Heaven and Earth have been called as witnesses.
Moses is pulling your hand toward the waiting Hand of the Bridegroom.
What will you do, Beloved?
It is time to chose.
B'charta b'chay'im! (Choose life!)
"Revelation 17:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."
If so, there are 7 billion people, and about a third of them are Christians 2.3 billion just as the third of the people (waters) of the earth became wormwood.
"14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not." Lamentations 3:14-22
We are to not bless ourselves when in sin.
"Jeremiah 9:13-16 World English Bible (WEB)
13 Yahweh says, “Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in my ways, 14 but have walked after the stubbornness of their own heart and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them.” 15 Therefore Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, “Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. 16 I will scatter them also among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them.”
"Deuteronomy 29:29 World English Bible (WEB)
29 The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
There are some things in the Torah we may never understand. We do not grasp some ideas on why to do them, because there are spiritual ramifications of doing them. They all belong to YHWH. We just have the words of the Torah persevered for us telling us what to do.
"Psalm 119:160 World English Bible (WEB)
160 All of your words are truth.
Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever."
Just because we have moved on culturally, does not mean that we do not obey YHWH's law. The Word of God is holistic and should be considered as a whole and not dissected. If we just do what He says, we would not struggle with addictions.
"Deuteronomy 30:1 World English Bible (WEB)
30 It shall happen, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations where Yahweh your God has driven you,"
The use of the words "shall" and "when", implies that this will occur and is prophetic. Indeed, this Scripture is being fulfilled when i began to awaken to Torah as well as many others. It is the return to righteousness. When we are driven out in the diaspora (now) and have woken up and reaped the curses, and we return.
How will Israel return to the land?
2 and return to the Lord your God, and you and your children obey him with all your heart and with all your soul, just as I am commanding you today, 3 then the Lord your God (not the Zionist, Rothschilds, Freemasons, Edmonites) will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 Even if you are exiled to the ends of the world, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you back. 5 The Lord your God will bring you into the land that your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it; he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.
God cannot go against His own commandments, decrees and promises. True Israel will once again be brought into the land only when she complies with Leviticus 18 and 26 and with Deuteronomy 30.
Are the commandments too hard to do?
Deuteronomy 30:
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
11 Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” 14 No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
The Prodigal Son
AND the MYSTERY of the KINGDOM
By Christine Egbert
Most everyone in the western world has heard the parable of the prodigal son, even those who have never opened a Bible. The first time I read this amazing parable I understood its larger theme: Sin leads to degradation, but our Father will eagerly restore those who return to Him with repentance.
It wasn’t until I studied the Hebrew Scriptures and learned that the whole House of Israel had been torn in two—the House of Israel and the House of Judah—that I understood the prophesy contained in Yeshua’s parable of the prodigal son. For at that time, only the House of Israel remained scattered into the nations, like the prodigal son. That’s why Yeshua instructed His disciples, in Matthew 10:6, to “go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” and why in Matthew 15:24, He said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Bearing in mind that Scripture must interpret Scripture, I will from time to time insert bracketed passages from various books of the Bible.
(Luke 15: 12-31)
“There was a man (Father YHVH) who had two sons (Israel, known as Ephraim & Judah). The younger one (Ephraim) said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son gathered all he had and set off for a distant country where he squandered his wealth in wild living. After he (Ephraim) had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country. He began to be in need. So he hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. (Hosea 8: 8-10; Israel is swallowed up. They’re now among the nations as a vessel in which is no pleasure…they’ve hired themselves among the nations). He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, (Hosea 9:3; Ephraim shall return to Egypt and shall eat unclean things), but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you (Hosea 5:15; in their distress they will seek Me diligently). I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ (Deut 4:29 “If you shall seek YHVH your God from there, then you shall find Him, if you seek Him with your whole heart and soul in your distress when all these things have found you.)
So he got up and went to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
(Due 4:31 For YHVH your God is a merciful God. He will not forsake you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.)
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
(Acts 5:31 God has exalted a Ruler and Savior to His right hand to give to Israel repentance and remission of sins.)
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
(Hosea 14:4 I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him.)
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again…
(Jer 31:33 This is the covenant I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days…I will place My Laws into their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people) He was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son (Judah) was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he is back safe and sound.’
“The older brother (Judah) became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.
(Hosea 11:12 Ephraim circles Me with lies and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still rules with God, and is faithful with the saints)
Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours (EPHRAIM) who has squandered your property with prostitutes (idolatry) comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
(Rom 11:11 Have they (the Jewish people) stumbled that they should fall? God forbid! Through their fall salvation has come unto the Gentiles (scattered Israel) to provoke them (Judah/ those not scattered) to jealousy.
“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me (Judah has certainly sinned, but Judah never renounced the Sabbath or TORAH. The fact that Rabbinic Judaism has thus far rejected the Messiah is a problem, but it is not the focus of this particular parable), and everything I have is yours. But we have to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’”
WAIT! Romans 11:11 Is About Gentiles!
Some of you might want to claim that the Prodigal Son refers to all sinners (and it certainly can), and that Romans 11:11 is about Gentiles making Israel jealous, not Israel making Judah jealous. But is it? Let’s read John 11: 50-52 and find out.
“Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man (Yeshua) should die for the people, and that the whole nation (Israel) not perish. This he spoke not of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Yeshua should die for that nation (Israel), and not for that nation only, but that he also should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. [At the time this was written only the House of Israel, known as the northern tribes, were scattered abroad.]
CHILDREN OF GOD SCATTERED ABROAD
If you read Hosea Chapter 1, verses 4 through 9, you will discover that because of Israel’s (Ephraim’s) spiritual harlotry, 1. Yahweh scattered Ephraim into the nations. 2. YHVH would no longer show Israel mercy. AND 3., Israel would no longer be called YHVH’s People.
BUT THEN…
Then, in the very next verse an amazing prophesy is given.
“Yet the number of the sons of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which is not measured or numbered, and it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them (Israel), “YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,” there it shall be said to them (Israel), “You ARE SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”
In Romans chapter 9, verses 24 through 26, Paul writes to Roman believers (former Gentiles) and he connects the dots concerning this mystery laid out in Hosea. Let’s read it:
Rom 9:24-26 “…whom He also called, not only us, of Jews, but also out of the nations, as He also says in Hosea, ‘I will call those Not My people (the northern tribes known as the House of Israel), My people! And those not beloved, Beloved!
(Hosea 2:23) ‘And it shall be in the place where it was said to them (scattered Israel), You are not My people, there they (scattered Israel) will be called, “Sons of the Living God.”
Hosea Chapter 2 verses 9 through 23 make this even more clear.
“So I will return and take My grain in its time, and My wine in its season. And I will take back My wool and My flax that she uses to cover her nakedness, and now I will reveal her shamefulness to the eyes of her lovers, and no man shall deliver her out of My hand.
ISRAEL FORFEITED the FEAST DAYS
I will also cause all her joy to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts. And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees of which she said, They are my rewards, my lovers have given to me…And I will visit on her the days of the Ba’als in which she burned incense to them…
YHVH WILL AGAIN HAVE MERCY ON ISRAEL
…Therefore, behold, I will lure her and bring her to the wilderness, and speak to her heart. From there I will give her, her vineyards and the valley of Achor for a door of hope. And she shall answer there as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And at that day, says YHVH, you (Israel) shall call Me, My husband, and shall no more call Me, My Ba’al. For I will take away the names of the Ba’als out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
THE NEW (RENEWED) COVENANT
And in that day I will cut a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of the heavens, and the creepers of the ground. And I will break the bow and the sword, and the battle out of the earth, and I will make them to lie down safely. (Eze 34:25) And I will betroth you to Me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in mercy, and compassions. I will even betroth you to Me in faithfulness. And you shall know YHVH, and it shall be in that day, I will answer, says YHVH. I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth, and the earth shall hear the grain and the wine, and the oil, and they shall hear Jezreel (scattered Israel), and I will sow her to Me in the earth. And I will have mercy on ‘No Mercy.‘ And I will say to ‘Not My People,‘ You are My people! And they shall say, My God!”
MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM
In closing let’s read what Yeshua told His disciples in Mark 4: 11; “He said to them, To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those outside, all things are given in parables.”
"Ezekiel 36:26-28 World English Bible (WEB)
26 I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them. 28 You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. You will be my people, and I will be your God."
"2 Corinthians 3 World English Bible (WEB)
3 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men, 3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. 4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God, 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away, 8 won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. 11 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, 13 and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. 14 But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away. 15 But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit."
"Daniel 12:9-10 World English Bible (WEB)
9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand; but those who are wise will understand."
"Hebrews 8:7-10 World English Bible (WEB)
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, he said,
“Behold,[a] the days come”, says the Lord,
“that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers,
in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
for they didn’t continue in my covenant,
and I disregarded them,” says the Lord.
10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel.
After those days,” says the Lord;
“I will put my laws into their mind,
I will also write them on their heart.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people."
Jeremiah 6:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 To whom should I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can’t listen. Behold, Yahweh’s word has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it."
The choice is ours weather or not the word of God will be a reproach or life.
Jeremiah 6:16 World English Bible (WEB)
16 Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it."
"Deuteronomy 30:19-20 World English Bible (WEB)
19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."
The first pathway you see, is the bridegroom's pathway. If we choose that pathway, it is the bridegroom's will that will determine our every step, and the bridegroom's glory that will be the reason behind everything we do. It is well-lit, and it's boundaries are clear, but it is treacherous like a hiker's track. It is satisfying when overcome and you are constantly surrounded by blessing and life.The second pathway is the way of the runaway bride. It is for self-willed souls who what do not want to be told what to do and how to live from the bridegroom or anyone else for that matter, telling them where to go. It is not a pathway really, but desolate because this path is an outback and wide and more appealing to those that do not wish to take the hiking trail. It seems to offer a thrilling experience and many more opportunities as it is not as constricting as the life path. The choice of which trail to pursue us man's and man's alone, bit since God really loves us, He recommends we choose life.
"Matthew 7:13 World English Bible (WEB)
13 “Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it."
"1 John 4:16-21 World English Bible (WEB)
16 We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this, love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so we are in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother."
John 15:13-14 World English Bible (WEB)
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you."
The invitation is now issued.
The choice is now yours.
The benefits and the disadvantages are easy to weigh.
The costs associated with both alternatives are clear.
The consequences for the wrong choice - for you and for your family - are dire.
All "it's too hard for any human being to do" and "it's too old for us today" and "but i am not Jewish" and "i though Jesus did away with all that" excuses are clearly revealed as utter nonsense.
And so now you know. That the study of Torah is not just a nice bible study or an academic review of Jewish roots.
Torah is real. It is life eternal from the Holy One which cannot pass away.
And Torah say that your fate and the well-being of your children hand in the balance, depending on how you will respond to the Divine Bridegroom in this moment.
It comes down to just you and Him.
The bridal march is playing.
Angels and saints from every age are standing at attention and staring in wonder the mass spiritual awakening today.
Heaven and Earth have been called as witnesses.
Moses is pulling your hand toward the waiting Hand of the Bridegroom.
What will you do, Beloved?
It is time to chose.
B'charta b'chay'im! (Choose life!)PROPHETS AND NEW TESTAMENT
Yeshua appears many times in Isaiah.
"Isaiah 62:11 World English Bible (WEB)
11 Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth,
“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your salvation (Yeshua) comes!
Behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him!’”
"Isaiah 63:5
"I looked, and there was no one to help;
and I wondered that there was no one to uphold.
Therefore my own arm brought salvation to me.
My own wrath upheld me."
Yeshua could literally be the hand of YHWH. He has redeemed His bride as Romans 7 says, if Yeshua is the son of YHWH that married Israel, it would be breaking the Torah unless, Yeshua is God. The tetragrammaton means behold the hand behold the nail. Yeshua's name in Hebrew means the hand that destroys the establishment of the eye. Just like our hand does whatever our brain says to do, just like Yeshua the hand of God does exactly what God says.
Could Mt Zion be Mt Meru at the North Pole?
"Isaiah 62:11 World English Bible (WEB)
11 Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth,
“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your salvation (Yeshua) comes!
Behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him!’”
"Isaiah 63:5
"I looked, and there was no one to help;
and I wondered that there was no one to uphold.
Therefore my own arm brought salvation to me.
My own wrath upheld me."
Yeshua could literally be the hand of YHWH. He has redeemed His bride as Romans 7 says, if Yeshua is the son of YHWH that married Israel, it would be breaking the Torah unless, Yeshua is God. The tetragrammaton means behold the hand behold the nail. Yeshua's name in Hebrew means the hand that destroys the establishment of the eye. Just like our hand does whatever our brain says to do, just like Yeshua the hand of God does exactly what God says.
Could Mt Zion be Mt Meru at the North Pole?
Because Moses called heaven and earth to be witness to the acceptance or refusal to obey the law, Jesus said:
Matthew 5:17-19
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
We show our love for YHWH by keeping His commandments:
1 John 5
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
Matthew 5:17-19
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
We show our love for YHWH by keeping His commandments:
1 John 5
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
If we turn to YHWH with all our hearts, then it will not be hard to keep His commandments the ways it is laid out for us. If the word is in our heart, it will be something we would want to do.
"Romans 10:1-10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the fulfillment (point) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”Leviticus 18:5 6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’Deuteronomy 30:12 (that is, to bring Christ down); 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’Deuteronomy 30:13 (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;”Deuteronomy 30:14 that is, the word of faith which we preach: 9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation."
"Romans 10:1-10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the fulfillment (point) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”Leviticus 18:5 6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’Deuteronomy 30:12 (that is, to bring Christ down); 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’Deuteronomy 30:13 (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;”Deuteronomy 30:14 that is, the word of faith which we preach: 9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation."
Shalom
Jonathon Karagiannis 28/9/19
