How Many Ways Are There?

We are all familiar with Messiahs own words:

I AM the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE.

In Hebrew it’s

Ha Derek ha emet ha chaim.

We know Yeshua/Jesus is Truth/Emet because God’s Word is the Truth and He is the Word made flesh and the One Who dwelt among us (John 1:14) and He is the Life/chaim. Eternal life in the spirit, everlasting life from above, from the Father through Yeshua/Jesus and no man comes to the Father but by Me. John 14:6

What about THE WAY? What does that mean?

We can understand truth and apply that to our lives by doing what the scriptures tell us to do in obedience and faithfulness.

We can believe for everlasting life through Yeshua/Jesus sacrificial death and resurrection. By faith in the Son of God who gave His life a ransom for many. Galatians 2:20

How do we describe the Way and

how do we apply that to our lives?

The term WAY was a popular turn of phrase used to describe believers in, and followers of Messiah long before they were called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:25-30

In fact the WAY is used more than 50x in the Hebrew scriptures and 12x in the Brit Chadashah/New Testament. The first time was in Genesis 18:19 in a reference to a walk, a halakah with the Lord God. Abraham I know him and they will keep the WAY of the Lord.

What a challenge to each of us! Can that be said of us? The Lord knows us also are we keeping the way of the Lord?

It was also in Genesis 3:24 at the entrance to Eden.

In Acts 9:2 …who were of the Way …haderek

and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

The WAY refers to those who are totally committed to God it is those who walk with Him continually not just one or 2 days a week or when its convenient. It’s a total life style change, completely changing priorities by laying aside our plans, goals, methods and ways of doing things; and instead putting the Lord and His WAY first.

There are many other WAYS described in the scriptures and looking at these will help us to know what His way is, and also which ways are not our Heavenly Fathers ways.

The WAY of life the path to life. Proverbs 2:19

The WAY of death.. 

all sin when it is full brings forth death.

James 1:15

Romans 6:23. the wages of sin is death.

The WAY of sin is by giving in to the evil inclination of the old man and the lusts and ungodly desires of the flesh. To satisfy cravings which can lead to addictions and obsessions in the form of lures, traps and snares. 2Timothy 2:26. snare of the devil being taken captive a prisoner and slave.

We are to pray that they come to their senses and escape.

Genesis 3:14-20 The WAY of Cain is one that leads to murder; it’s a road from jealousy, to hate, to anger which can lead to murder. This is a warning of not being self absorbed and selfish and only thinking of, what we want in the way that we want it and think that it should be.

“The WAY of Cain” refers to

Genesis 4:16:

Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord,

and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 

The WAY of Balaam is a description and example of cursing what is good for monetary gain. Balaam tried to go against the will of God. 

 

The WAY of the world and its’ systems, which are under control of the adversary or he couldn’t have offered them to Jesus/Yeshua. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

Luke 4:6

Korah (Korach) was the leader of a rebellion against Moses and his brother Aaron, during the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Land of Israel. As punishment, he met his end by miraculously being swallowed up by the earth. His story is told in the Book of Numbers.

Korah was a great-grandson of Levi, the third of Jacob’s twelve sons, and a first cousin to Moses and Aaron, the Jewish leader and High Priest, respectively. 

Korah was born in Egypt,2 at the time when the Jews were enslaved to King Pharaoh. He experienced the miraculous Exodus from Egypt and journey through the Red Sea on dry land, and received the Torah at Mount Sinai along with the rest of his brethren.

Korah was extremely wealthy, and was a clever and astute individual. His status as a member of the Levite tribe enabled him to participate in the service in the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary the Jews carried with them throughout their journey to the Promised Land. 

Despite, and because of, his many qualities, he felt able to take a stand against Moses and Aaron, which ultimately led to his downfall.

The rebellion of Korah demonstrates the serious consequences of usurping the authority of God and of those whom He has chosen to be leaders of His people.

 Jude 1:11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

The WAY of light from the first, let there be light, spiritual light not physical light. God was separating light from darkness before He created the sun, moon and stars. In Him there is no darkness. 1 John 1:5 This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect 

and John 1:1-4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

which is adhering to the truth.

The path in Proverbs 4:18 is the one that gets ever brighter as we walk it correctly.

The WAY of honesty, walking in truth and not defrauding others. God hates the false balance.

Proverbs 2:13 those who leave the paths of honesty to walk the ways of darkness.

Proverbs 10:29 The WAY of Adonai is a stronghold to the upright but ruin to those who do evil.

The WAY of darkness where promises of fame, fortune, power, influence and control can tempt people, luring them into dark ways to get what they want. It causes the drive to fulfilling all the lusts and desires of the carnal, unregenerate, human psyche which began in eden. The lust of the eyes. the desire for knowledge and wisdom to be like God, and the pride of life; they never change and are powerful means of causing humanity to walk along the wrong way.

The WAY of compromise, toying with options and playing with fire. Can a man take fire in his bosom and not be burned? Prov.6:27. Those who compromise paddle in the shallows of sin, and over time are swept away in the tides of temptations.

The WAY of good people. Prov. 2:20 and paths of the righteous. This WAY is taken by those who lay down their life to obey the Lord because they love Him, and understand the price that was paid for our forgiveness and salvation. They have counted the cost, and count not their lives unto death as something to withhold from the one who died in their place.

The WAY of evildoers, Proverbs 4. Those with no desire to follow God, the tares we encounter in life, those whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life. Matthew 13:24-30.

Those who sometimes appear to be His, yet He will say to them I never knew you. Matt.7:21-23. That means they were never His in the first place.

Those of the serpents seed as clarified in Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed, 

The straight and narrow WAY, this is the way that Messiah said, there are few that find it, and yet we are to strive to enter in through that narrow way. Straight is the gate and this is the only WAY to the Father through Messiah, sadly many do not agree with this truth. It is a fact that it does not matter what we choose to believe, it will never change or alter what is the absolute truth.

“Enter through the narrow gate…But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14.

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The BroadWAY is wide and many there are that walk along that WAY and it is not strange that the famous place of entertainment, acting, fantasy and theatre is called BROADWAY – the one that leads to destruction.

Solomon reflects on things amazing to Him in

the way of an eagle, a serpent and a ship on the sea.

 Proverbs 30:19 KJV The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; 

God has given us the power of freewill choice, to choose which WAY we will walk; and yet He also gives us the answer, choose this day whom you will serve and choose life.

Today is the day of salvation, today is the day to choose life, there are always going to be daily choices, which one will we commit to? Only one WAY leads to life/chaim. By applying the guidelines all through the scriptures, we can become not only His children and not only believers, followers and servants; but we can become His disciples and those He calls His friends.

All these are rooted in the spiritual laws that are eternal in nature and yet are invisible to humanity but like the wind that we cannot see, we can see the results of its influence. The fruit of our actions in life will be visible to everyone and the spiritual doors we leave open in our lives can give opportunity to unclean spirits. These will not wait for an invitation but take advantage of our weaknesses and long to steal, kill and destroy our lives;. They will ultimately draw us away from the kingdom of light, love and life; and condemn us to the kingdom of darkness, hate and spiritual death, which is eternal separation from our heavenly father.

If we will place our trust in Him, He is the One Who is able to keep us from falling, Jude 1:24, we must simply keep our eyes on Him and He promises to help us when we cry out to Him.

He will not leave us or forsake us…. Ever!

The following song by Phil Wickham was to have been included in last weeks post: the Guardian in our Refiners Fire. Although titled: ‘It’s Always Been You’, the lyrics include the words My guardian was always You. As our Guardian, He is always there, sometimes ahead of us leading the way, sometimes walking with us along the way, and sometimes behind us saying:

And thy ears shall hear the word of one admonishing thee behind thy back: This is the way, walk ye in it: and go not aside neither to the right hand, nor to the left. Isaiah 30:21

Don’t pass the point of no return….

because there are many WAYS to choose daily.

Stay on the narrow WAY...

the only WAY…

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Peace to friends and family.

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord, Deliverer and soon returning King; and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

Not sure ..you can be…

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,

SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past. I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.