Are we really sure of what we are supposed to be doing?
Messiah was very clear in His instructions.
First we are to follow Him… and next to
Go therefore and make DISCIPLES of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and OBEY My words], immersing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 Amplified Bible
We are to become MORE THAN just believers in Him,
we are to become disciples/talmidim ourselves; for only disciples can make disciples. We will never be greater than our Master/Messiah but we can become like Him.
yet this way is both narrow and difficult.
Matthew 7:13-14.
If we are going to live as disciples of Messiah we have to be obedient to ALL His words and remember that all efforts that are of worth and excellence are difficult. We were never promised an easy life and the difficulties we face are not supposed to make us faint, they are to stir us up to become overcomers.
We may need to rethink our understanding of being an obedient follower of Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach.
Jesus/Yeshua gives a parable about life and death. He urges His disciples to
seek life
by entering through the narrow gate the one that runs opposite to the way of the world.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Only one way leads to life!
Matthew 7:13
His gospel, His Truth, has been so watered down and In western society the focus is too much on blessing, comfort and physical prosperity rather than that of life in the Spirit.
Do we really, seriously appreciate the miraculous free gift of salvation offered to us? We are saved by His grace only through the atoning work of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, which cost Him everything. Philippians 2:13
It is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. NOT ours!
Then it is up to us to work out that salvation in our practical daily life. Philippians 2:12.
We will find out that we can do it, if we will only begin on the basis of His redemption and to do what He commands.
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments. John 14:15
If we do not put into practice what our Heavenly Father has placed within us, that‘s when we fail; and a crisis will show whether or not we have been doing so. It’s not what we think we know that will save us or make us free.; its only the Truth we know, believe and act on that will. Mental assent does not help us to reach spiritual maturity.
If we will obey the Holy Spirit of our Heavenly Father and practice in our physical life that which He has placed within us by that same spirit; when a crisis comes, we will find that our own nature as well as His Grace/chen will cause us to stand strong in Him and the power of His might. Eph. 6:10.
He told us that in this life we will have tribulation and it will test us for all we are worth.
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] John 16:33 Amplified Bible
Why?
Hebrews 2:10 tells us why ….. it is because He is
bringing
and He will not shield us from the necessary requirements of son-ship, that of being His child. We should rejoice that He gives us difficult things to do because His salvation is a thing of joy and
the joy of the Lord is our strength. Neh. 8:10.
At the same time it also requires of us much bravery, courage and holiness. The work of our Heavenly Father’s grace within our lives is to produce men and women who display a strong family resemblance to Yeshua HaMashiach/Jesus Christ.
We are not to be spoiled, pampered, entitled, complaining, weaklings. We should not be deceived, because it takes a huge amount of personal discipline to live the life of a disciple. One that is worthy and excellent, while facing the realities of a life in this world; however that’s what we are called to do.
We looked at the example of Daniel and an excellent spirit in a previous post.
It is a daily choice, every day.. it is not a one time thing and then we go on our merry way! Its ongoing and lasts as long as we are here on earth, we are to daily take up our cross ….
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. Luke 9:23. Amplified.
Are we truly willing to daily take up our cross..even if it means enduring pain loss and physical torture and death???
Are we willing to do so for Him?
Many around this world already are…
It is up to us to choose, because
an individual’s will is embodied in the actions of the whole person.
We must exercise our will, putting it in to action; because we cannot give up our will, we must choose to obey, we must set our will to obey and we must will to receive our Heavenly Father’s spirit and those who are obedient will receive His spirit.
And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”NAS Bible Acts 5:32
When the truth is revealed to us, the only question is what will we do, not what the Father will do. When God places big plans in front of us, a wise thing to do is to remember what we did before He touched our lives. If we can remember when we first received Messiah or had a truth revealed to us, it was easy to yield our will to Him and it will help us when His spirit brings something new before us.
Joshua 24:15 choose for YOUR SELVES this day…
Our Heavenly Father does not choose for us, we are to choose for ourselves. It’s not something which we’ll automatically slide into, it is a deliberate determination to choose our Heavenly Father’s Way over our personal way, or what someone else is telling us to do. Galatians 1:16 do not confer with flesh and blood.
The choice is between our Heavenly Father and ourselves, and everything in our lives will be on hold, paused, until we make a decision. In these situations, tension can develop and He allows other believers opinions to matter to us and yet we sometimes wonder if they really understand the steps we are taking; and this makes those around us seem to become more and more separated from us. Faith demands that we have to stop trying to figure out when and where His Spirit is leading; we just have to declare that we will be faithful.
Joshua reminds us in chapter 24:22 that even in this, as soon as we make that choice, we become witnesses against ourselves.
The choice to serve the Lord is personal, we are to will to be faithful, this choice is not something we need to consult with other believers, nor rely on anything or anyone other than the Fathers’ spirit and that includes ourselves. We cannot live a holy life without His Spirit, but we can decide to submit for Him make us holy. Joshua 24:19 reminds us also that neither can we serve the Lord in our own strength, but we can put ourselves in the correct position so that His power will flow through us; and that is all dependent on relationship and requires setting our will to align with His.
Obedience takes faith
and
faithful people are obedient.
In Joshua 24:21 when the people said to him we will serve the Lord.
It was not an impulsive action but a deliberate commitment. It is high time that we make that choice, no more wavering. We must be quick to obey as David said:
I will be quick to obey your commands Ps 119:60
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will OBEY my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14:23
James 1:19 And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger
We are to be slow to speak, quick to hear and in hearing be a doer.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
To be quick to hear and slow to speak means, having both humility and respect for others as well as for Messiah. It means we take the necessary time to listen to people instead of just speaking our opinion.
The moving of the Father’s Spirit of Holiness is many times inconvenient to our flesh and it’s often completely opposite to reason or what we sometimes call common sense. We are to obey Him regardless of the cost, yet He will never force us to make the choice; and there will always be an easier away out open to us which will seem more sensible and have less risk involved. All the challenges He places in front of us are to test and develop our faith as well as our obedience, which is needed for the choosing process and to reveal just how much we love Him.
Matthew 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and MANY enter through it.
This is the gate of true conversion, of self-denial, dying to the self life, and of walking the way of holiness; the gate which few, comparatively speaking, are inclined to choose.
This Way, this gate, cannot be entered into without
teshuvah-repentance.
Acts 3:19 “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3
In the Hebrew Alefbet/alphabet,
the letter Hei
is the 5th letter and
a symbol of repentance
HEY or HEI ה is the letter H
Rabbis in the time of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, would often illustrate spiritual truths using Hebrew letters.
The letter hei makes the sound of the H. Jewish literature teaches that Moses could not speak properly because ‘he was thick of tongue.’ Having an unusually ‘thick tongue’ would make it very difficult for someone to pronounce a name of God that necessitated having to use their tongue to say it; so it is said that our Heavenly Father gave Moses a name for Himself which had letters in it that he didn’t need to use his tongue in order to pronounce.
The letters yod making a Y sound
and the letter vav which makes a V (waw) sound
and the letter Hei which makes the H sound.
The name Yod Hei Vav Hei -YHVH or YHWH
is the name which could be spoken out loud with breath only
and without needing to move the tongue.
Traditionally the letter
hei represents:
the breath and the presence of God.
Some Hebrew scholars teach that our Heavenly Father created the world with the letter hei, H,
meaning:
that He created the world with His breath and presence. He breathed His own life into His creation.
The letter Hei was known as the broken letter.
It is almost identical to the letter Cheth
CHETH (or HETH) kāth ח ḥeṭ .
Sometimes written Chet, but more accurately Ḥet.
As the 8th letter of the Hebrew alphabet
it represents the number 8.
This letter looks the same except that there is a narrow space, a brokenness in the upper left hand corner of the letter hei /H.
This space was known as
the narrow or strait gate
that leads to the Heavenly Father’s presence.
The bottom of the letter is open
and is known as:
the wide or broad gate.
As the Hei represents the breath of God,
and through brokenness which leads to teshuvah/repentance;
an individual will find
the breath of God
which will blow through the narrow gate.
Without repentance we cannot find the Hei,the breath of God which will sustain us so and then we will fall to destructionthrough the wide gate at the bottom of the letter.
The rabbis taught that the letter Hei represents:
the presence and breath of God and that it is very hard to climb to the narrow gate; and few there are who can rise to that narrow gate and achieve such a state of righteousness that they are able to pass through that narrow gate to the Shekinah or the presence of God, but many are those who pass through the broad gate that leads to destruction.
It is possible that Messiah was making reference to this when He said “Enter the narrow gate, for the gate, is wide and the road is spacious which leads to destruction, and many are those who are going in it.” Matthew 7:13?
One thing is certain, our walk with Messiah is a daily walk along the Way that leads to life and to be in His presence for eternity. He is our righteousness and so the climb to the narrow gate is made easier.
However it takes faith to obey, to trust.
Sometimes the simplest statements are the most profound!
Trust and obey for there’s no other way …
as little children would say and sing,
simple and uncomplicated to
trust in,to have faith in
and
obey His commands
because
we truly do love Him above all else
and
put Him 1st in everything we do.
If we truly love Him then we will be truly obedient
and we will be sure of what we are supposed to be doing!
We are to be MORE THAN just believers we are to be
His obedient Disciples/talmidim.
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם,
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 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.
Just before His death and subsequent resurrection, Messiah said to His disciples:
Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. John 16:32
Messiah Jesus knew what was ahead both for Himself and for His disciples. He was giving them a warning in verse 32,
you will be scattered..
it was not a rebuke!
Within the next 24 hours He would be taken from His disciples, but three days later, after His resurrection, they would see Him again. Their sorrow would be replaced by joy, just as a woman’s pains before giving birth are replaced by joy after the child is born. John 16:16-22. Messiahs’ victory through death and resurrection would give them a confidence in the Father that they never had before. They would see Him as the mediator through whom they could confidently pray to the Father and receive the Father’s blessings with thankfulness. John 16:23-24.
Before His resurrection Messiah spoke to His disciples in figurative language and parables, the resurrection would give them a clearer understanding of the purpose of His mission and the fulfillment of prophecy; and their prayers no longer be dependent on Him. Instead, they would learn to come before the Father personally and with confidence and this would only be possible because of who He was and what He had done.John 16:25-28.
Quoting from Zechariah 13:7 Messiah said in Matt 26:31
For it has been written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
The disciples’ faith was strengthened by Yeshua/Jesus’ words, but they didn’t realize that a few hours later their faith would be put to the test. Frightened and confused they would leave their Rabbi/Lord and Master in His last hours. However, this would only be temporary; because through His victory, they would also be triumphant. John 16:29-33.
In other words He was saying to them:
You will very soon need all the faith you profess to have. Right now you believe Me to be all powerful; but it will be hard to maintain this faith when you see Me arrested, tried, condemned, and crucified as a malefactor/criminal. Then your faith will be so severely shaken that you’ll run away, each one of you will strive to save himself within his own home, or among his family.
Because of the events that were unfolding, Jesus/Yeshua knew that their faith was disordered and unfocused. They had not taken their thoughts captive, rather they were scattered and directed towards their own concerns and other interests they had apart from Him.
Our faith must become active too and be exercised in the realities of our every day lives. If our faith is sustained only by our physical feelings and the blessings we see in the natural realm, then we need to remind ourselves that without Him there is really only barrenness and an emptiness, because the things of this world are fleeting and will all pass away.
This is no doubt what the disciples suddenly experienced after He was gone. Initially they must have felt an emptiness and they looked to themselves; and in doing so their reliance on self, caused them to turn back to what they had known previously.
They returned to what was familiar, to what they knew how to do and were confident in, which was the fishing business.
Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.”
“We will go with you,” they said.
John 21:3
When Peter went back to the old life he knew, he also took 6 others with him. This reminds us we are to be mindful of those we influence by our actions. Their old ways/fishing, did not produce fruit – they caught nothing. Why? Was it because the Lord wasn’t with them? Was it because their faith was in the ways of the flesh rather than the Way of His Spirit?
Our faith needs to progress beyond feelings and blessings in order to sustain us. When there is no other option, then our faith in Him and what we truly believe and trust in becomes very real. When we find ourselves in that situation, no matter where that is, or whatever inner emptiness we experience; we know for certain that we can trust/have faith in Him. Then we can praise and thank Him that all is well.
This is what is meant by faith being exercised in the realities of our lives.
Have we left Messiah Jesus alone?
Have we been scattered and not focused?
Are we not seeing His provision and care for us?
Do we see Him at work, even in the tough, dark times, which He allows us to go through?
Are we prepared to be separated from the outward physical evidence of His provision and blessings, and still trust and have faith in Him?
Until Messiah Jesus is truly and unshakably our Lord and Master, we each tend to have goals of our own which we serve. They can come in many guises, distractions, personal preferences, etc. etc. Our faith although real, is not yet permanent and unshakable, not fully mature; which is what was meant by Him saying:
ye of little or immature faith.
When someone accepts Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, they receive the same quantity or measure of faith as every other believer previously.Romans 12:3.
Faith is like a seed,
it grows and matures just like any plant or tree.
It starts with faith in Jesus the Messiah.2 Tim 3:15; Rom 3:22-28.
He said to those whom He healed:
thy faith hath made thee whole, or
thy faith hath saved thee.
And then He added instructions such as,
Go and sin no more.
The idea was, that their lives were supposed to change as a result of their faith, and so too our lives should begin to change once we are saved.
Faith grows with believing His words1 Thes. 2:13.
Stephen was full of faith Acts 6:5, 8. Notice those who disputed with him were not able to resist his wisdom and spirit. Acts 6:9-10. His wisdom and spirit came from his knowledge of the words of God. Acts 7; Rom 10:17.
Paul encourages us that we are to have
Exceedingly growing faith.
How does faith grow exceedingly?
A believer with an exceedingly growing faith is not the one that doesn’t face any hard time or difficulty in life or spiritual walk; but is rather, one who can be recognized by how they handle hard times or adversity that comes their way.
Paul said concerning the believers with exceedingly growing faith:
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure. 2Thessalonians 1:3-4
The word exceedingly is from the Greek word,
perissos meaning:
Superabundant in quantity or superior in quality, and by implication, it means to be excessive.
Spurgeon said, “A little faith will being your soul to heaven; a great faith will being heaven to your soul.”
From the above scripture,
2 Thess. 1:3-4
it is clear that we can recognize believers with an exceedingly growing faith, by their patience and faith during persecutions, trails, testings and tribulations.
How many scriptures a person can quote, or how much faith they profess when everything is going well, does not identify a believer with an exceedingly growing faith. Neither are they identified by how much zeal or excitement displayed when everyone is in harmony and agreement with them.
Instead, believers with an exceedingly growing faith are known by their affirmation, profession, attitude, patience, perseverance, tolerance, confidence and assurance in our Heavenly Father while in the midst of strong afflictions or oppositions.
Many believers can agree with truths from the Bible, and profess them loudly with great fervor and zeal, however, when they face serious persecution, challenges or adversity, they waiver and falter in their profession, and some give up on the faith they have zealously professed before many witnesses.
Faith is like a muscle, and just like muscles, faith needs to be exercised through tests and trials for it to increase and become strong. Our Heavenly Father will point out to us where we have been only interested in His blessings instead of having our focus in and on Himself. We are always to ask Him about everything first and foremost.
Faith continues growing when we continue living by faith.
Rom. 1:17 the just shall live by faith.
In Hebrews 11, all those mentioned did something with the faith they had, it was action, they were doers. 1 Thess. 1:3 shows us what happens when what we believe begins to affect what we do, this is the work or working of faith. We are to not only believe what the Scriptures say, but we are to obey what they say.
Faith is not believing that God can, but that He will.
Faith is strengthened as we go through trials.
2 Thess. 1:4; Jas. 1:2-4.
Our Heavenly Father allows our faith to be tried, so that it will grow exceedingly strong. He brings the trials, and at other times, He allows the enemy to bring them. When we come through them, we will be
perfect, established, strengthened and settled.
1 Pet 5:8-10.
(perfect here has the meaning of: mature)
Our faith grows exceedingly when we survive the trials and keep believing by faith that our Heavenly Father’s words are working.
That kind of faith sees the invisible,
believes the incredible and
receives the impossible!
It all comes back to Messiah’s instruction to seek first, Him, His kingdom and His righteousness and then all these things will be added.
Seek Him first for Him, because we love Him, nowhere do the scriptures tell us to seek only blessings.
We are to ask, seek and knock.
At this Passover season when we think of Gethsemane and Calvary, it’s good to remind ourselves that although they represent something that happened long ago, yet they remain totally unique. These two locations offer the gate, the door, the way to life everlasting for us.
Was Messiah Jesus concerned that as the Son of man, the struggle He was about to face in the flesh body may be the harder test? As the Son of God, the devil could not touch Him and that had been proven in Luke 4. Satan’s final assault came in the garden, it was the opportune time he had waited for since the wilderness testings. Luke 4:13
BUT he was overthrown again!
The Son of man overcame for us as He fulfilled His destiny as Savior of the world.
Here the veil is pulled back and reveals all that it cost Him in order to make it possible for us to become Sons of God. His agony was the foundation for the simplicity of our salvation; and the way of access/door into the very presence/life of our Heavenly Father.
Though simple, we should not take it for granted or esteem it lightly. The new birth was gained for us that day and has enabled us to become born again from above. We are new creatures, new creations in Christ/Messiah, the old has gone. He gave us the power to become Sons of God.
The physical human body should no longer be a restricting controller, limiting us as we daily crucify the flesh life.
So what are we?
We are born from above, we are newly created beings from above, from heaven, more specifically we are truly new creations.
If we are still identifying with the old, we are not walking in the fullness of what He has paid the price for.
We are now Sons of God.
(Meaning His children, both daughters and sons.)
The whole world is groaning and waiting for
the Sons of God to be manifest,
to be revealed
and
to take up our position spiritually.
Time to wake up not to sleep!
It is Time to Watch and Pray… Matt. 6:21
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom. 13:11
For this reason He says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.” Eph. 5:14
Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you. Revelation 3:2
No obstacle within us can restrict His grace and mercy because during the testing and maturing of our faith, our Heavenly Father’s mercy always flows in the stream of all our trials.
He uses many vessels while they are struggling with their failures; for in their conscious sense of need, they are more yielded to Him than they who think of themselves as being without flaw.
Nothing restricts the spirits work more than the smug, self satisfied attitude of the heart that is spiritually proud. To feel need is to openly receive His grace.
The amazing things we don’t comprehend and all the miraculous things which we don’t understand; these are the things our Father does through us in the times we humbly acknowledge we need Him. He acts in and through us, according to His grace and ability, not according to ours.
We are not to be scattered in any part of our lives and relationships concerning our Heavenly Father. We are not to be distracted or lured away by others things, nor seduced by fascination or empty promises.
What we do need to have is unyielding spiritual fortitude, patience and perseverance and this will be achieved by yielding our hearts towards His purposes and plans; and furthermore by being obedient to that which He has instructed us…
And some people will say knock on wood, as a form of hopeful luck similar to keeping your fingers crossed.
Naqash is a word used for a musical instrument
which you strike to make a loud sound,
like a drum or a symbol.
The idea is: a loud urgent knock.
In the first century people were poor and had few possessions not like today’s consumer society. So folks were always knocking on someone’s door asking to borrow something. Similar to war and post war times, when there was rationing on food and folks for example, would borrow a cup of sugar, milk, butter or flour.
It was a custom and an unspoken rule that, if someone needed something you had, you would give it to them as a loan; but you would never ask for a return because you knew that one day you would be knocking on that neighbors door in need.
There is an example in the parable of the man already in bed and a knock at the door and he finally gets up to give him bread that he is needing. Luke 11:5-8.
There were many different types of knocks, and people learned to recognize the knock of a friend or neighbor.
A beggar would gently tap the door with a stick. And the occupant would appear with a piece of bread.
A traveler/ Holy man or any stranger would get a soft tap with his knuckles.
The knock of a person with a bad reputation was always recognized and the door was never opened to them.
Luke 18:1
However that was one knock that always brought a quick and swift response and that was
the naqash knock.
This was a
loud rapid knock of urgency
the knock of an emergency,
and the door was opened swiftly no matter who it was and help was offered immediately.
Jesus said to simply ask and it would be given.
If we don’t get a response then we are to seek out the answer we need to search for it and find it by being persistent.
However, if you’re in desperate need then
naqash, knock…
start pounding loudly, urgently,
and the door will always open to you.
Those listening to Him, understood this concept very well.
We should ask ourselves,
are we asking forgiveness
and seeking His face?
And what kind of knock are we using?
The last thought is this:
Just as Messiah said in John 16:32
He is also with each one of us…
Indeed the hour is coming…let’s not be those who will be taken by surprise. Messiah warned us of the events that would unfold just before His return…
Indeed the hour is coming and is here as we see
those very things happening all around us today.
Matthew 24:1-31; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-28
Indeed the hour is coming…
it will be the hour of testing…the testing of our faith in Him
….and when it does…
will we be scattered?
Or
will we trust and have faith
in our Heavenly Fathers
unfailing love, provision and protection…..
will we have exceedingly growing faith?
Faith to stand; knowing the everlasting arms are underneath us?
Maybe the knock we are hearing is
Messiah knocking on the door of our heart!
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם,
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 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.
Phonetic Spelling: daw-nee-el is pronounced Dah-nee-eyl in the Hebrew text of the Bible.
This name is composed of two words:
– דני (dah-nee) and אל (eyl).
The Hebrew word דן (dahn) Via דין ( din ): means a judge.
and
אל (eyl) Via אל ( ‘el ):
Daniel 5:12 HEB: דִּ֣י ר֣וּחַ ׀ יַתִּירָ֡ה וּמַנְדַּ֡ע וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֡וּ NAS: [This was] because an extraordinary spirit, KJV: Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, INT: whom spirit an extraordinary knowledge and insight
that sustained him when his faith was tried and tested
by facing hungry lions.
Daniel chapter 3 records the story of the three young men that are thrown in fire because they refused to worship the image of gold that Nebuchadnezzar made. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3:1
There is a promise made by Messiah Himself recorded in Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Here is a spiritual law in connection with the laws of opposition. We are at war and there has been no real peace on the earth since Jesus time.
When nations declare war, everything changes. Preset protocols are initiated and security systems are enforced and all military and defenses are put on high alert. Life without war is impossible in both the natural and spiritual realms until Messiah establishes His rule and reign of Shalom/Peace in the Millennial Kingdom which is here in part and yet still to be fulfilled by His return/second coming.
Daniel was a man living by faith in a hostile world. The same could be said of believers in Messiah today.
When John saw Messiah open the seals was it a future event??
In Revelation 6–7 Jesus Christ opens the book with seven seals. As each seal is opened, John sees a representation of an event or events in the earth’s history. Chapter 6 records the opening of the first six seals.
The seven seals are one of a series of end-times judgments from God. The seals are described in Revelation 6:1–17 and 8:1–5.
have trouble. But take heart! … I have overcome the world.”
In this world we will have tribulation.
Note in the verse He is telling us so that IN HIM we will have peace/shalom not in the world. The peace we will know is inside us in our spirit, a deep inner knowing that when our lives are lived IN HIM we are safe and secure. The world cannot and will not provide the peace we need.
The end times began when Messiah Jesus came. There has been no peace since then, wars and rumors of wars, pestilences and famine have been all been ongoing and will continue until He returns.
Rev 5:1 only Messiah is worthy to open the seals.
One of the Elders comforts John with the great news that there is someone worthy to break the seals and read the book. The Lamb of God is equal to the task.
Here we read of a new song in Rev. 5:9 And they are singing a new song, saying “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and You bought for God with Your blood some from every tribe and nation.
Only Messiah is worthy and able to open the seals because of His newly resurrected status.
We are in a battle and connected to both realms/kingdoms. We are supernatural eternal spirits in natural physical bodies which will decay, it is not a supernatural body, not yet. It is a fact that there is a continuing struggle in the physical, mental, moral and spiritual areas of life. Spiritual Health is the balance between the physical parts of our bodies and all the things and forces surrounding us. To maintain good health we must have sufficient internal strength to fight off the things that are external.
Everything outside our physical life is designed to cause our death, including other humans. If we have enough inner strength to fight, we help to produce the balance needed for health. The same is true for the mental life we have to fight. This struggle produces the mental balance we identify as thought. We are to take captive all thoughts…2 Cor. 10:5
Morally it’s the same, because anything that does not strengthen our morals is the enemy of virtue within us. …If there be any virtue…Phil. 4:8….Whether we overcome and produce virtue depends on the level of moral excellence in our lives….
However we must fight to reach that standard, because morality does not occur by accident or chance, or by itself, it is acquired. This also means that anything which is not spiritual can lead to a downfall.
Again…Jesus/Yeshua said,
in the world you will have tribulation… John 16:33
However He also said, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
We must learn to fight against and overcome the things that come against us and in that way produce the balance of holiness in our lives; if we do, then it will create in us a positive attitude when we meet opposition.
Without holiness no man can see God. Heb. 12:14
In context: Hebrews 12:13-15
New American Bible Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for thatholiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled.
Here we see the danger of roots of bitterness that can grow when peace holiness and grace are lacking…
Everything Adonai says is out of His Holiness.
Psalms 89:36; Amos 4:2;Ps. 60: 8.
God in His Holiness spoke and like the psalmist, we can take joy in His promise and the Nehemiah 8:10 joy of the Lord is our strength.
Holiness is the balance between my/our nature and the law/directions for living/teaching of God/Torah, as expressed in and through Messiah Yeshua/Jesus.
Excellent Spirit –
YATARA’ RUCHA רוח יתירא
in Aramaic
Resh vav cheth yod taw yod resh aleph
Daniel was a godly man forced to serve a pagan Persian king whose belief system was Zoroastrianism, which is one of the oldest monotheistic religions dating back to ancient Iran 3,500 years ago. It’s similar in some ways to the Hebrew faith and yet still very different. The Zoroastrianism god is known as Ahura-Mazda (as in the make of the car). This god is considered the supreme deity and the name means Wise Lord. The belief is that this Ahura -Mazda is almighty but not omnipotent; the emphasis on duty to protect nature puts it in the pantheistic fold of religions.
Although not by any Hebrew standard Godly, Darius was a spiritual man and he saw an excellent spirit in Daniel.
Chapters 2 through 7 in Daniel are written in Aramaic and the remaining portions are in Hebrew. The Dead Sea Scrolls have revealed five copies of the Book of Daniel and all are in perfect harmony.
In Aramaic the word excellent is yatara
which is slightly different than the word in Hebrew:
yetarand infers more of the idea of: an abundance;
whereas the Aramaic word
yatara carries the idea of pre-eminence.
This suggests a
yatar rucha or excellent spirit
is one where:
the Spirit of God’s desires, is pre-eminent over a persons flesh/carnal life and desires.
King Darius was very perceptive and he noticed something different in Daniel compared to all the other wise men because Daniel seemed to be more focused on his relationship with God than the other wise men did. The other wise men were continually seeking the king’s favor, yet Daniel was seeking only the favor of his God. Darius recognized Daniel was a man whose spirit was pre-eminent over his flesh.
Daniel would speak of new and wiser things from his God, innovations that would bring about a transformation whereas all the other wise men were repeating the same old things.
Did Darius see a man who was not focused on making an impression but one who would speak the truth of God?
Maybe he could sense Daniels rucha or his spirit/mind?
Whatever the reason, the king recognized that there was something different about Daniel that was pure and holy; and this was no doubt due to the fact that Daniel had a pure heart and pure motives.
Daniel, was a man who had every reason to hate his employer, who was also his king and was now trying to replace his God too. Daniel had to divide and separate within the context of the existing relationships and by establishing boundaries for that which was the preeminent focus of His life and calling. His excellent spirit was the deciding factor and resulted in his elevation before both God and man. Our Heavenly Fathers’ patterns are threaded throughout His Word. When we recognize them we will understand how He is leading us and dealing with us for His Glory.
Daniel 6:3: “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”
It may be true to say that if a person who loves Jesus with all their heart and has anexcellent spirit, ayatar rucha, other people will notice but the individual will probably not even be aware of it.
In 607BC, when the people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon their identity was to be totally changed by being brainwashed and if necessary, beaten into total submission.
All their hopes were now forced to focus around the ruler Nebuchadnezzar who was also now to be their god: and any dreams of a future family life taken away.
Some 70 years later Belshazzar, while drunk sees the writing on the wall and being terrified, was advised to call for this now elderly seer who may by the Spirit of God, be able to interpret this phenomena.
On meeting Daniel he asks,“Art thou Daniel, which art of the captivity of Judah …”
This once young prince of Judah was now a very old resident of Babylon, yet there was no change at all to the man of faith inside because his character and the qualities that endeared him to his captors; those that made him stand out, had been formed when he was very young, not in Babylon but in the court of Josiah.
Daniel was a handsome young man; and had the bearing of a person of noble birth, as one from a royal line, dignified but not arrogant; being well educated, and both knowledgeable and wise. Because he could manage himself, he could also manage others, his discerning ways were superior to those of his peers.
Furthermore he was full of courage and faith in His God, which supported this bravery. Equally notable was that he was unwavering and from youth to old age, his outlook and conduct as a man of faith never really changed and due to this steadfast loyalty to his God, his enemies could not take advantage of him.
He must have retained humility to the degree that great rulers promoted him to positions of great power and never felt threatened. They could make use of his insight without being afraid his ego would challenge their leadership.
The one attribute that set Daniel apart which was repeated 3 or 4 times was an excellent spirit, and seems to be the key to really knowing him.
What does an excellent spirit mean?
Basically, that wherever he went and the way he conducted himself and his attitude to life, made an lasting impression on people.
Because he had an excellent spirit in him, he showed respect and dignity to others; He was able to solicit a tender affection from men who were brutal and hardened in cruelty by the careful way that he answered people. He could turn away the wrath of kings and change the attitude of courtiers.
Something noble shone forth from him and they saw in him a disposition that was warm and appealing, by maintaining that throughout his whole life: it never left him and neither did the favor of those around him.
This favor was said of both Samuel, and Messiah, that they grew in favor with God and men. And Daniel had the same spirit, because he pleased God and men doing the right thing and in the right way.
It is noteworthy that Daniel and Ezekiel were of similar age and both spent their childhood and early teenage years in Jerusalem. They carried Jeremiah’s mantle together into the Babylonian captivity even though they lived around 50 miles or 80 kms apart.
In a nutshell, Daniel’s life began around 626BC born of royal stock. His relationship to King Josiah although close is not certain. Following the rediscovery of the book of the Law, the palace walls echoed with the words and prophecies of Jeremiah so His childhood was lived in an era of spiritual regeneration/revival.
Josiah was killed in battle when Daniel was around 15 years old, and 3 years later the conquering king of Babylon arrived in Jerusalem and Nebuchadnezzar forced the Jewish academics and intellectuals to relocate to Babylon. These included Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah who were all very gifted young princes. They were selected to serve as royal court officials. They were made eunuchs which was a very cruel act to the self worth of any man and especially to ones so young. It meant that even though they were of a royal blood line they now had no possibility of royal offspring.
The city that Daniel found himself was the one that had come to dominate the world.
Daniel, was already an accomplished scholar, further achieved remarkable proficiency in many disciplines, along with his three colleagues. We may be more familiar with them as Shadrach Meshach and Abednego who was already an accomplished scholar,
A royal decree was issued to slay all the wise men of the kingdom for their failure to help Nebuchadnezzar recall a mysterious dream he had seen. Daniel heroically averted this when with less than 24 hours to live, the 4 of them pleaded before the Lord to interpret the dream. Their request was granted and Daniel was able to remind the king of his dream, and also gave him a remarkable vision of the future.
King Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed that he promoted Daniel to the governors position over the whole province of Babylon and also to be prime minister over all the wise men of Babylon, whose lives were also spared.
Daniel served the One True God and he prayed and worshiped God faithfully every day. There is something about a person when their light is shining that causes them to be noticed.
The wisdom and favor with the king given to him by God caused jealousy in the hearts of the 120 Princes, who tried to find fault with Daniel however the only thing they could find was to pick on was his religion. He was faithful to his God and to the king and all he did was blessed so the Princes planned to trick the King. They suggested that the King make a decree that for 30 days that no one be allowed to ask anything of anyone else except of the King and the penalty for breaking this decree was the offenders were to be cast into the lions den.
Here we have a spiritual principle, which shows that Daniel was not rebellious, but he was faithful to his God. There are times when we must obey God over human civil rulings when it violates what the Scriptures decree.
We should obey God rather than man…
Acts 5:29
The scheming Princes found Daniel praying as he always did and told the King who, realizing he had been deceived, tried to find a way out, but he couldn’t as the men reminded him that his own decree was irreversible. Finally the King summoned Daniel and told him, I believe your God is able to save you, and I hate to do this, but I must cast you into the lions den.
The King fasted and prayed all night, until morning and with a sorrowful voice he called out, “Daniel, was your God whom you serve, able to deliver you?”
Daniel replied, from the lion pit,“Oh King, my God sent an angel to shut the lions mouth and I am safe.”
The King was relieved and angry at the same time; relieved that Daniel was alive but angry at the Princes. He ordered them and their wives to be cast into the lions den; their bodies did not reach to the den’s floor before the lions killed them.
The third chapter of Daniel tells another account of King Nebuchadnezzar who made an image of gold to be worshipped and any failure to do so would result in being cast into the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, refused to bow down to the statue and some of the Chaldeans reported their rebellion.
The King was angry but gave them a second chance to worship the image.
They stated, Be it know to you oh King, our God is able to deliver us, but if NOT, we will not serve your gods.
Infuriated by their non compliance, he commanded that they be bound and cast into the burning furnace, however as the people watched, they clearly saw not only the three men but also a fourth figure walking around in the fire.
The king became fearful and called them to come out, he realized that their God had sent an angel to protect and deliver them. When they emerged from the furnace, they were not harmed, their hair wasn’t singed, nor did they even smell of smoke. Because of this miracle, the King promoted them with honor making a new decree with penalties, that no one was to speak against the Hebrew children’s One True God.
We may all have had people we thought were our friends, and then they planned evil against us, perhaps they snared us into a pit, betraying our trust and bringing great sadness to our lives….but God’s plan is to bring us new life in Messiah Jesus. He can restore what has been lost or stolen from us in every area and relationship and with our loving Heavenly Father the new is always better. He has a good plan for each of us and will bless those who are faithful to keep His commands and serve Him, charging His angels to protect and watch over us. It is up to us to keep our relationship with our Father in Heaven consistent and to be like Daniel, who was faithful to pray and worship Him every day. Reading His Word and building ourselves up in our faith and courage by feeding daily on fresh manna, getting to know Him and the reason we are here and what He wants us to do.
Continue to be faithful family and know that the choices we make to love and serve Him with our whole heart, mind and strength really do matter. We know not one of us is perfect, only He alone is perfect, yet He is continually working on us, with us and through us, to become mature/perfection in His eyes, by our willing obedience and fulfilling the task He has placed before us; and like Daniel staying humble, that excellent spirit may come to indwell us too!
Daniel purposed in his heart …we can too!
Understand that Messiah is returning soon for those who have repented of their sins, been washed in His Blood and fully received Him into their life. All we have to do is Ask, Seek, Knock and the door of salvation shall be opened unto you. Luke 11:9.
Shalom shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
You are loved, appreciated and prayed for..
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART 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. Amen
What are we to do when we hear of wars and rumors of wars?
Messiah Himself prophesied of the signs that will occur and increase in both frequency and intensity before His Second Coming and the end of the world/age.
As it is today, we see a worldwide convergence of these signs like never before in history!
Matthew 24:6. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English It is going to happen that you are going to hear battles and reports of wars. Take heed that you will not be troubled, for it is necessary that all these things should happen, but it will not yet be the end.
In Matthew chapter 24, Messiah describes the events leading up to His second coming and the establishment of His Kingdom on the Earth for His Millennium Kingdom. The scriptures in Revelation 5:10 New KJV And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth. and in 2Tim. 2:12 if we endure we shall also reign with Him. as well as in 1Pet.2:9.
tell us that His chosen, will be kings and priests ruling with Him on earth.
This post is not a line by line study of all these verses in Mathew, rather a look at verse 6 wars and rumors of wars; and how we are to respond as His talmidim/disciples. Today there are many conflicting news reports of what is happening in the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere. This post is not a commentary on the wars in any measure, only on our response to how scripture is being fulfilled in our day and time.
We must as believers and disciples of Messiah pray earnestly for His will and plan and purpose to be established, and not what we think should be done. At times like these when distractions come and propaganda is flourishing, we should do as the disciples did and ask the Lord
what is happening,
how we should respond and
what is our role in these days.
This chapter in Matthew is doubly prophetic, in the sense that the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. after Messiah/Christ was resurrected and His ecclesia/called apart-ones/ church was established. However, it is also prophetic of events leading up to His return/ 2nd coming, when the Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt.
Jesus/Yeshua answered their questions and in all the scriptures we read He says we are:
to not be worried.
In verse 6
see that ye be not troubled:
Why?
Because our Heavenly Father knows what is happening
and what the final outcome will be.
Psalm 33:10-11 tells us clearly that:
8Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. 9For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
10The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. 11The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.NKJV.
We are to look to Him, Who is the author and finisher of our faith and not to the arm of the flesh.
What does this mean for us?
It means, is He really first place in our lives?
Here in Lamentations 4 there is a great example for us.
Lamentations 4:17
New King James Version Still our eyes failed us, Watching vainly for our help; In our watching we watched For a nation that could not save us.
Amplified Bible [And as for us,] yet our eyes failed, Looking in vain for help. Watching [from the towers] we watched For a nation that could not save.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English The Person of LORD JEHOVAH divided them, and he will not continue to gaze at them. Do not accept the persons of the Priests, and to the Elders do not show affection
Definition. to disappoint, deceive, FAIL, grow lean
Lamentations 4:17 HEB: (עֹודֵ֙ינוּ֙ ק) תִּכְלֶ֣ינָה עֵינֵ֔ינוּ אֶל־ NAS: our eyes failed, [Looking] for help KJV: As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain INT: while failed our eyes to
New King James Version Still our eyes failed us, Watching vainly for our help; In our watching we watched For a nation that could not save us.
Amplified Bible [And as for us,] yet our eyes failed, Looking in vain for help. Watching [from the towers] we watched For a nation that could not save.
The Assyrians were ready to march on Judah and instead of turning to God for help, they, Judah, looked to the nation of Egypt to help and deliver them, yet Egypt had their own problems and would not come to help Judah. The people placed their hope of salvation in the arm of the flesh instead of the arm of the Lord.
The words..
our eyes yet failed for our help in watching…
is a sad state of affairs giving a picture of their situation.
We could say it in today’s vernacular as: our eyes have become worn out, or tired and exhausted watching for the help that never arrived.
This is reflected in our nations today.
Here in Lamentations, it is clear in what and in whom the hearts of the people were trusting; and the condition of their hearts was obvious by their behavior. We could say it’s the fruit ..it’s what is obvious for all to see.
Another Hebrew word for failed is kalah
which has the idea of:
becoming exhausted after putting
every part of your being into something.
kalah
Strongs# 3615
to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent.
Original Word: כָּלָה Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kalah Phonetic Spelling: kaw-law’
Kalah
hey lamed kaf
כָּלָה
KALAH: Word Origin: a prim. root Definition: to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent NASB Translation accomplish (2), accomplished (1), annihilate (1), annihilated (2), been consumed (2), been spent (1), brings to pass (1), brought (1), came to an end (1), ceased (1), come to an end (5), complete (1), completed (10), completely gone (1), completion (1), consume (6), consumed (16), decided (3), demolish (1), destroy (10), destroyed (4), destroyed them all (1), destroys (1), destruction (1), determined (1), devoured (1), died (1), end (4), ended (3), ending (1), exhausted (2), exterminated (1), fail (10), failed (1), fails (2), faints (1), feed (1), finish (6), finished (67), finishes (1), fulfill (2), languish (1), languishes (1), longed (1), make an end (1), over (1), perish (1), perishing (1), plotted (1), put an end (2), ravage (1), settled (1), spend (3), spent (5), terminate (1), use (1), used (1), vanish (2), vanishes (1), waste away (1), wastes away (1), yearned (1).
To waste away, be exhausted, fail, especially of eyes exhausted by weeping Lamentations 2:11,
strained by looking (figurative) for relief or refreshment, pine, languishLamentations 4:17;
Kalah is like waiting for that phone call that never comes, or the letter that never arrives; today it could be the unreceived text or email that would indicate our release from a stressful situation. Both Joseph and Daniel had to wait….
It’s easy to understand that both in and relying on our own strength, we would soon be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent or exhausted.
The people of Judah were unable to trust in the God they could not see. Their faith was not in His promises and the supernatural assistance He would provide.
They chose instead to trust in the strength of Egypt to help them.
In scripture, Egypt is a type of the world and its’ systems. They put their faith in the physical/tangible help that they could see and they believed that Egypts’ physical strength would save them; and yet it did not;
it failed- kalah –them.
It is the same today, for many who call themselves Christians by name, yet only pay lip service to our Heavenly Father. This is often because they do not have a personal relationship with Him; and although they say they have faith, and trust in God, when a crisis hits, they will look for an Egypt to trust in first, one that they can see to help them.
As examples, this can be in the form of people and government aid and help.
Jesus/Yeshua said of them: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. Matthew 15:8.
We must heed the warning of those who have gone before us, that if the help/deliverance is not our Fathers’ planned way of escape, then doing it our way using the arm of the flesh, it will fail.
There is a well known old song whose lyrics say:
“stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone, the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own”.
Yes, the arm of flesh will fail you.
Why?
Because as humans, we are fickle, weak, and self-serving. We have a natural tendency to look out for our own interests. It’s not that our Heavenly Father cannot or will not use people and institutions to aid us; rather it’s who we turn to and trust in first. This is clear in His Word and even warns us there is a curse for trusting in man!
Amplified Bible Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in and relies on mankind, Making [weak, faulty human] flesh his strength, And whose mind and heart turn away from the LORD.
Jeremiah 17:5 Aramaic Bible in Plain English Thus says LORD JEHOVAH: “Cursed is the man who trusts a son of man and will make a son of flesh his arm, and from LORD JEHOVAH his heart will turn away Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and will lean his arm of flesh upon him, while his heart departs from the Lord
New King James Version Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.
2 Chronicles 32:8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. Psalm 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.
Isaiah 2:22 Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? Isaiah 20:5 Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. Isaiah 30:1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin.
The word vain comes from vanity, which we associate with pride.
Proverbs 16:18 warns us that
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
First pride, then the crash –
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
Trusting in the arm of flesh
is simply
trusting in human natural strength.
There is so much arm of the flesh available today, in the various arms of government which offer support; that people don’t need faith in God, and many simply feel entitled to all the governments so named ‘free’ handouts. These are not free as they are only available from the population who pay taxes on their earnings.
The scripture says we are to:
trust in the Lord.
WHY?
because this world and it systems have an expiration date.
Who and what do we look to for help in a crisis?
To whom do we turn first?
Whose name is the first one on our lips?
Of course we are to help each other, but as David said:
I look to the hills whence cometh my help?
and David qualified it precisely:
My help comes from the Lord which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
With all the negative news swirling around us and the uncertainties of what may happen next we are
not to be alarmed.
Don’t be troubled family.
He knows all these things are happening and is allowing them to proceed in order for all things to be fulfilled, according to His prophetic word.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Our Heavenly Father is in control, no one or anything else is, whatever they may believe or tell us. The battle is spiritual first and we see the outworking in the natural realm.
But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31
Nothing happens without our Fathers’ acknowledgment and agreement, it’s all in His prophetic timing.
As Yeshua/Jesus said, you could have arrested Me anytime but this is the hour given to you according to Gods plan.
When Jesus was arrested, He said to them, “This is your hour—when darkness reigns”. Luke 22:53.
Every day of Me being with you in the temple, you did not stretch out the hands against Me; but this is your hour, and the power of the darkness.”
Aramaic Bible in Plain English I was with you every day in The Temple and you did not stretch forth your hands against me, but this is your hour and of the Prince of Darkness.”
The reason is clear, the darkness is given its’ allocated hour/time..but only for a short season as our Heavenly Father allows.
Amplified Bible The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil.
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars:
see that ye be not troubled:
for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
This has happened all throughout the church age, the age of grace, and is not the only signs of the end. However, with a search you’ll see many rumors in news articles that line up with the rest of the verses.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Pestilence can mean any plague/virus or natural disaster that disrupts normal life or way of living.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows (birth pains).
verses 7-8 are specific signs of the second coming, and they are similar to birth pains as they increase in intensity and frequency.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Nothing is a surprise or shock to Him.
This is why we are to
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart
Aramaic Bible in Plain English Hope in LORD JEHOVAH from your whole heart and do not trust upon the wisdom of your soul.
Amplified Bible Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
New King James Version Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Keep our eyes on the Lord keep our hearts open to our Heavenly Father as He leads and directs us and keep our words in line with His. Don’t focus on the negative things that fight our faith, but on those things that increase and sustain it which are listed in Phil. 4:8.
Not only on what but more importantly WHO
is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise, we are to think on things that are of excellence. We are to think of our loving Heavenly Father, our Savior Who is full of mercy and truth, He is worth thinking and meditating on continuously. This faith this trust, of an absolute certainty, will never fail – kalah us.
Joshua 21:45 Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.
and Joshua 23:14 And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.
Romans 9:6 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen. 6It is notas thoughGod’s wordhas failed.
Amplified Bible However, it is not as though God’s word has failed [coming to nothing].
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
It’s time to rise up, by forging deep roots in Him, for He is our strength and our salvation.
We are to build inner faith 1Samuel 17:36 strong in the inner man. He builds us up from the inside out where no one but Himself can see the progress. It is a pattern, a blueprint, used over and over in all His courageous Saints, who became great warriors and who won great victories.
Are we daily building inner faith?
David is one we easily recall. As a youth he was given charge over his fathers’ sheep, tending the flock making sure they were fed, watered; and protected from predators and enemies that would harm them and seek to kill, steal and destroy.
He killed the lion and the bear. Developing great courage and tactics of a fight that proved victorious; then when the giant Goliath challenged, he moved unflinchingly to confront this uncircumcised Philistine.
That which had been tested and tried when he was alone and no one had witnessed but God; became very evident to everyone present, in this moment of national crisis. It was said David was, above his fellows, and it was in this area of faith in his God; and the courage developed through experience, that his God would be his strength and work victory for him. Secret training through tests and trials, developed the secret faith, which had its’ moments of open revelation. It is our Heavenly Fathers’ Way. We are to build faith from the lesser challenges and it will be the measure of our deliverance and victory in the times of need.
During the greatest tragedies, David’s character, obedience and willingness to be a servant was proved; and he was given charge over his Heavenly Father’s flock, to guide guard and govern. To tend them and make sure they were fed, watered and protected from enemies who would steal, kill and destroy.
Our Heavenly Father tests before He entrusts. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by His Word and is also built up through our times of greatest need for the critical reason: to show us where help truly comes from….Not from the hills, but from God.
Is He really first place?
Trusting in the arm of flesh = kalah/failure
In the uncertain days we find ourselves living, when we are hearing of wars and rumors of wars
always remember that He said…
Do not be alarmed or let your heart be troubled…
…because He also said..
In Him there is NO failure..
No kalah..
NO disappointment..
and He will never deceive, grow tired or exhausted.
His eyes are always on us and will
NEVER FAIL…
so LOOK UP and
Trust in the Lord!
Shalom shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
You are loved, appreciated and prayed for
… and…
it’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART 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. Amen.
Are we really sure of what we are supposed to be doing?
On meeting Daniel he asks,
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