Thanks to Hilltop House of Prayer, Tallahassee.
What is Hanukkah?
Author: PaulBass
I write, I doodle, I produce videos about biblical things. I scramble like a squirrel through woods.
Hanukkah 1 – Build Back Better
From these descendants sprouted a sinful root—Antiochus Epiphanes. He was a son of King Antiochus, and he had been brought up in Rome as a hostage. Antiochus Epiphanes began to rule in the year 137 according to the calendar of the Greek kingdom.
At that time, some renegade Israelites emerged. These people went against their ancestral laws and encouraged many other Jews to join them. They spoke up, saying, “Let’s make an agreement with the Gentiles around us, because many horrible things have happened to us since we separated ourselves from them.”
– 1Maccabees1:10-11 CEB
The people of God have tried to assimilate with the pagans (gentiles) throughout the ages. As we journey through the story of the Maccabees, we will see both the wages of doing so, and the power of standing up for God’s truth. There is a power that derives from the Creator. This power becomes the tool of His children.
Why Do We Celebrate?
In Second Maccabees we see the reason for the celebration of Dedication (Hanukkah). In the same way Nehemiah reinstated the Feast of Booths, Israel was instructed to celebrate Booths and Fire. Most resources don’t point this out. The Feasts had been outlawed. Now, a couple months after the Tabernacles/Booths celebration of 7 days plus one, the dedication of the temple will be celebrated, with the sacrifices of that accompany that Feast.
“Since we are about to celebrate the cleansing of the temple on the twenty-fifth of Kislev, we thought it right to notify you so that you yourselves might also celebrate the Festival of Booths and Fire, when Nehemiah offered sacrifices after he had built the temple and the altar.” – 2 Maccabees 1:17
What great miracle happened?
Though they were few in number, they took back the whole country, chased off the barbaric hordes, regained the temple renowned throughout the whole inhabited world, freed the city, and restored the laws that were almost abolished—because YHWH with all kindness was merciful to them.
2 Maccabees 2:21-22
There is much that happened which has not been related. It’s hard to edit it all down.
For those of us who engage in the strenuous task of abbreviation, it isn’t easy but involves sweat and loss of sleep,
2 Maccabees 2:26 CEB
True, so true.
It started with a greedy and needy priest. Simon didn’t get his way and decided to betray the good priest named Onias. He decided to get all teacher’s pet and reveal to the Syrian governor that there was treasure in that there Temple mount.
Here’s an interesting find from the second temple.
Heliodorus was sent to snatch up the goods, even though Simon had exaggerated. The people prayed and there was a great miracle.
Heliodorus got body slammed by an angelic rider and horse. Then he received several blows from another two angels.
The bodyguards who were useless in this case, pleaded with Onias. Onias prayed that Heliodorus would recover so the Syrian king should not show wrath on the people.
The same two angels who gave H. the beat-down, ministered to him and brought him healing.
Heliodorus went back to the Syrian king to report the struggle and the miracle in the Temple. The king asked an interesting question. He basically asked what kind of person should he send to get the job done.
Heliodorus’ response to the king was epic.
“If you have an enemy or someone plotting against your government, send him, and he will come back badly beaten if he should come back at all, because some divine power truly surrounds the temple. The one who lives in heaven watches over that place and will strike and destroy anyone coming with evil intent.”
2 Maccabees 3:38-39
But Simon Continued His Treachery
He slandered Onias and even sent a goon to try to assassinate him.
We will visit the next miracle of Hanukkah tomorrow.
Happy Hanukkah 1
Are You Of God or Of The Devil?
I used to point my finger…
at my brother. When he would hit me in the back of the head, or trip me or try to get me killed by a rabid dog, I used to yell at him, “You’re of the Devil!”
I don’t know where I got that, or why I thought that would work, but it was my attempt to “preach” him away from me…leave me alone.
The truth is, I did plenty of mischief to my brother. Some brothers truly are born for adversity.
it was my attempt to “preach” him away from me…leave me alone.
Today, he is known as Uncle Wes. And he is the best. He is top notch. The best brother, the best uncle.
The prophet Yochanon (John) gave us a simple formula.
Inspired by the Breath of God, John told us there’s one way you can tell if someone is “of the devil” or of God.
By this the sons of God are separated from the sons of Satan. Everyone who does not do a just [thing] and does not love his brother is not from God.
I John 3:10 ANTE
The NASB says, “This is how God’s children and the devil’s children are made evident.”
Are you of God?
This is what we have misunderstood about Torah for centuries. We are finally, through the Holy Breath of Yah, being inspired and taught to unteach the mistakes in the past. The very instructions of God show us who is God’s children.
Do we follow Him, or not?
If we do not follow God, we follow the Devil. Following God is doing what’s right. Specifically, it is loving God and loving our brother.
If we hate, we are guilty. Guilty of what? Murder. Jesus said it and John preached it.
For everyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that everyone who is a murderer is not able to remain in eternal life.
I John 3:15
It is most important to love. Loving God and following His Instructions (Torah) is good, and provides blessings to all people… and it gives us a clear signal that we are “of God.”
Are you of God? I was wrong when I was seven years old. Uncle Wes, loves his brother, so I can assure you, he is of God and not the devil.
Are you of God?
Introducing Torah Testimonies
Once upon a time, I read a scripture and a voice inside said something like this, “How can that mean something other than what it says? How can I be expected to obey this scripture unless I do what it instructs?
The scripture: Matthew 5:17-19.
Do not think that I have come to change the law or the prophets. I have not come to change, but to fulfill [them].
For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one stroke will pass from the law until everything happens.
Therefore, whoever changes one [jot] of these small commandments (and will teach so to men) will be called little in the kingdom of heaven. But all who will do and teach this [law] will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-19
That began my journey…
I asked myself, what if I started reading the “law” and implementing those instructions in my life? It might look weird, or feel weird, but would that be so bad? Would it take me away from God?
God calls it “Good Works”
I want to do good deeds. Many Christians do, as well. I’m not alone in this…
And neither are you.
This article begins a new series on
Torah Testimonies
I posted for some volunteers for sharing their own testimony. I am in the process of gathering them and bringing them to you.
If you have been discouraged, if you have been shunned or derided by those who are close to you, listen to these testimonies. There are others who have made the choice to run to God instead of becoming lesser in His Kingdom.
Obeying the Father…
I had read the Bible from cover to cover several times and things weren’t adding up to me. There were too many instances where our Elohim said NOT to do certain things. Yet, in every mainstream Christian church I had attended, they did those things.
I kept trying to find a church that actually taught what the Bible and Yeshua Jesus said, did, and taught. Finally, thinking that I was the only person on earth who could see these things, I stumbled across 119 ministries. I read many things on their website, watched a few videos, then discovered their fellowship finder map. I located a group near us and my husband, who was not all in agreement with me, and we went for a visit. After a few more visits and some very loving and kind people who gently explained the truth to my husband, he too finally came in board too.
Now, we live in north east Michigan and are obeying the Father. We have about 8 acres that we are hoping to be able to use for His glory and honor. We are clearing the land, planting fruit trees, putting in a garden and loving our Elohim.Nancy and Nick from Hawks Michigan.
– Nancy and Nick from Hawks Michigan.
Thank you Nancy and Nick for taking the time to bless us with your story.
Do you have a Torah Testimony? Share it with our tiny but growing group of believers.
Torah Is Not Sin, The Bible Says Sin Is Breaking Torah
This is a simple concept that should clear up any confusion.
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
I John 3:4
I shall declare it again.
The Messiah did not come and die to wipe out law so that we can just do sin, but He wiped out our sin so that we could be righteous like Him.
As verse 5 goes on to say, He came so that “He might take away our sins.” And, He didn’t break the law because there is no sin in Him.
He lived a perfect life so that we could be made perfect through His grace. We just need to acknowledge that we have blown it. We just need to add faith to our fear (reverence of God). The faith that we need has actions. If you have the good deeds, Others will see that and in your obedience, you are testifying to Him and His kingdom.
The entire journey through scripture shows us the term “walk” (Halacha) in reference to obedience to God’s laws. In the following scripture, I like how Paul calls it a run, or race. Is this because he was driven to make up for lost time? If so, I can relate.
Paul agrees in Romans 7
What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
Romans 7:7
Why do we keep thinking the law was done away with? How can so many of us be wrong – for so long?
I think, for many, it is misunderstanding due to popular preaching. Preaching that is from ones who will be judged more harshly for leading people astray. For some teachers (“fathers” and “rabbis”) it is a matter of selfish fulfilment of the flesh. How fun to think we all make our own rules, or adhere to none that have been given us?
Check this:
Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight. Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
I Peter 3:14-16
Some people are ignorant. Some are unsettled, or unstable. I have been both. Now, by His grace, I understand that His wisdom can be found in the Torah.
Halleluyah.
Have you been ignorant, or unstable in the instructions of YHWH?
Prayer:
Father in Heaven. I only want to know you. I only want to see you. Will you fill me with a fresh puff of your Breath. May I understand you more tomorrow than today, if you choose to give me another day. I know Father that there are many out there who have listened to what the Spirit says in them to follow the ancient ways, just as your Son walked. Walk with me – and run with me in the forest of my faith. Amen.
I am looking for people to help me spread the good news of Messiah’s Torah. Will you share your Torah Testimony on this blog. I would like to eventually include it in my next book, with your permission. Just contact me below. Blessings.
Torah Is Practicable
Why should we not care?
If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
I John 2:29 ESV
We will know them by their fruit.
If we know a person who claims to be a follower of Jesus, you expect them to act differently – different from the world, the pagan.
Ask any atheist if we should follow God’s laws, he will say, “H#@* no!”
Then why spend our energy defending the idea that God’s laws were abolished or that they should be ignored? We can do His will. We can serve Him in this way. Here it is called practicing righteousness.
I used to think if I followed the laws (His Torah) that I was being like a pharisee. Since the Pharisees (many of them) were evil, I don’t want anything to do with that.
Listen, God is Not the author of evil. He is not the author of lies. He asks us to follow Jesus’ example, to follow His word. His Torah can transform out thoughts. But we have to relax our hard line against it as a body of Messiah.
We must know and make known that Messiah is our sacrifice. However, we must acknowledge His gift of Torah and Holy Ruach (breath) to guide our actions. This is our reasonable service. Our righteous deeds are evidence of our righteous new birth.
The one who does what is right (righteousness) is born of Him. The ones who seem to do otherwise, we can’t be so sure. We cannot bet our PBJ sandwich on the man who shuns God’s laws.
Clean your Temple.
Yes, as sinners, we can repent and be saved. But we must cleanse our Temple. Our bodies are that special place of God’s presence. Use the water of His word to wash and purify. Yes, it takes effort. It takes some work. We can’t save ourselves with works, but we can use real endeavors to do His will.
Speak it and live it at the same time.
The concept of literally making our disobedience an actual method of serving God sounds ludicrous. However, we often obey with our actions, yet speak against God’s holy Torah. I simply say, let’s be consistent and read further than our misrepresented scripture support for lawlessness.
In every role, we are expected to do the work.
As many of us are employed, we submit to our boss’s authority. Think of our Christian (Christ-like) life as our job, I’d you will. Think of our role as followers as one that has built in responsibilities. At work, as I am offered a duty such as the production of a short video, I wouldn’t look at my boss and say “nope.” I wouldn’t explain that it would be legalism to comply and it is best to reject the request. From cover to cover, God asks for us to do our duties and make the world a better place.
Prayer:
Father, your awesome will be done. May my life align with your will and your Kingdom. May I not bring shame to your throne. I thank you for your special grace to learn as I live. Thank you for your patience with me. Help me to understand the hard sayings of your scripture. If there are personal constructs that are getting in my way, please sanctify my mind to the mind of Messiah. May I live your Torah for my life. May I work to cleanse my way more each day. Amen.
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
I John 3:3
Torah Is Old, Torah Is New
Draw closer. Dig deeper.
Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
I John 2:7
At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
I John 2:8
How can it be old and new? Well, simply, a new law can be the same as an old one but may contain more context for your present life. Through deeper study, we can uncover more detail in order to bring newness to the word.
Messiah did this when He taught on the mount.
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Matt. 5:21-22
The Savior did not destroy the old law against murder. He explained how we can break that law inwardly. The old law became new, if you understand more. The level of obedience was expanded.
Most people don’t realize that New Covenant laws can be actually harder to obey.
For most of us, it’s easy to refrain from doing fatal violence to another. But, most likely, all of us have experienced hatred in our hearts and minds. That’s harder to address, if you ask me. As we draw closer to His righteousness, we become more righteous.
Covenant or Torah?
I want to bring something to mind in regards to the idea of a new covenant. That is that a covenant is not a commandment or law. A covenant is an agreement. The Hebrew word Beriyth (covenant) is not the same as the word Torah (instruction). There are laws or commandments inside an agreement known as covenant. There are even conditions in covenants.
When there is a fault in a covenant, it does not mean that a covenant is faulty or poorly thought out. It simply means it is broken. Someone didn’t keep their part of the bargain.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
Hebrews 8:7
The drawing board did not happen because the first was silly, or poorly thought out. There was a divorce, of sorts. In order to bring the bride back in, she needs to be married again. Some theologians point out that the term “new” can be seen as “renewed,” as in “renewed mind.”
my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:32
I actually believe Torah always was. That, at least at the beginning of earthly time, it was established. Many people would argue with this but the I John 2:7 seem to support this idea. After all, John is the one who gave us, “In the beginning was the Word.”
I John 2:7
an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
It appears that Torah was here and given to God’s children before and after the stone tablets. At different times the Father brought it forth in an agreement with key prophets.
I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
Jeremiah 31:31
As for me and my house, we don’t only run to Torah (rather than away), we embrace our identity as grafted and adopted into Israel. The New Covenant, which the church embraces in name, is given to Israel and Judah. I figure I must be one of those (or both) if I am to have Torah implanted in my heart and an inheritance called Jerusalem – New Jerusalem.
Prayer:
Father in heaven, may your name be blessed. You are almighty king forever. I thank you Father that there is nothing that can separate me from your love. Thank you that I have been adopted by you. I love your Kingdom. May I always be doing kingdom ministry. Keep me in the ancient way. Let me hear the sound of your voice in the morning and the evening. Let me welcome your instruction. Thank you for Messiah’s teaching to better clarify to me your word and your way. Amen.
Will you be in New Jerusalem? …Old Jerusalem will be there too.
Torah Is 