Tag: faith

Torah Is a Testimony

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According to the apostle John, obeying the commandments of God is proof that we know Him.

Do you know God?

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

I John 2:3 ESV

Today, I start our journey down the road with our tour guide, John, The Beloved Disciple. He has been considered by theologians as a close friend of Jesus as well as a disciple. He was given watch over Miriam, Jesus’ mother, by the Savior as He was on the cross.

The NASB states it in this way, “This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him…” So, seeking to follow Torah is actually a confirmation or an outward sign that we know the Messiah.

Think About It

whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

I John 2:6 ESV

This is how He walked. He followed Torah perfectly. It only makes sense that a disciple at least tries to be like his teacher, his rabbi. Put your earthly relationship in an illustration of how to behave with God. I know dads are not perfect (see a picture of me in the dictionary next to the word “flawed.”) but ideally we seek obedience from our children. We don’t preach to them that they are going to mess up so I want them to stop listening to our instructions. Can you imagine, “Don’t worry about walking across the street. Looking both ways is legalism?”

Who benefits from the testimony of our Torah Testimony?

  • Others
  • Ourselves

John (through the breath of God) says that we are liars if we say that we know God without keeping His commandments. Wow. “Them’s strong words.”

Very simply, we will know them by their fruit.

that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

Matt. 5:16 ABIPE

The love of God is perfected in us if…

We KEEP His Word.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven. Your name is Holy. Your Word is holy and true. I want to know you more. Let me not fall away into lawlessness. Let me not lean on grace without leaning into your commands. I want to testify to the world and I want my prayers to be heard. Bless my brothers and sisters with the knowledge of your Word and the knowledge of You. May your Ruach bear fruit in us and may we not bring your name low.

In the mighty Name of Yeshua, Amen.

Thank you for reading. Come back tomorrow for another word from God.

If you can help this ministry by sponsoring through “Buy Me A Coffee” we would be honored. If you choose to support us by buying a few stickers from our sticker store, I think you would benefit as well. Who doesn’t like stickers (besides my wife)?

Torah Is From God

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Today we finish our series on the instances of the word Torah in Psalm 119. In the future, we will go further and list within the Psalm.

In Psalm 119, we have 176 verses which explicitly support the gift of Torah. With all this, I lived much of my life with a soft disdain of Torah. These are the myths which I believed, and are still taught as mainstream Christian doctrine.

  • Torah was made by Moses.
  • Torah was done away with by Jesus.
  • Torah keeps us from following Jesus.
  • Grace did not come until Jesus died.
  • The Torah was only meant for people who were Jewish.
  • Seeking Torah is legalism.
  • Legalism is among the worst of sins.
  • Not an exhaustive list.

There’s just something about that name.

This verse would be a good T-Shirt or plaque. How cool to see the actual name of our savior (Yeshua) in the same old testament scripture with the word Torah (law).

He is the great shepherd. He is our Rabbi. He kept Torah and was the only perfect man. He taught individuals to go forth and teach the world His words.

Nowhere in the Gospels is the Torah smeared or cancelled. It is fulfilled by Jesus. It is upheld by His followers. I am one of His followers. As for me and my house, we choose life. We choose blessings.

This book of the Torah shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may guard to do according to all that is written in it: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

Yahoshua (Joshua) 1:8

Yes, Moses delivered and taught the Torah.

He walked down the mountain with the Torah. He did not invent it. He did not inscribe into stone. He did break the tablets after his people broke the Torah with the vile golden idol.

God gave Torah to you.

Not sure about rock and roll, but I am 100 % convinced that

  • Torah is from God.
  • Yeshua/Jesus is God.
  • Grace is from God.
  • Torah and grace are for me.

If there were no Torah, there’s no need for grace.

If we did not break something, we would not need repair. If we did not sin, we would have no need for forgiveness. Torah is the measure of what is sin. Sin is the breaking of the law. The life that we receive through the blood of Messiah and the grace of God, is due to the death curse that was pronounced over our lives within the Torah.

Without Torah nothing is sin. Without Torah there is no wage of sin – which we know is death. Without Torah there is no underserved gift in the blood of Messiah.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Hacketh thy KJV – law/grace

Our KJV bibles have implied that there is an antonymous relationship between God’s law and His grace. This is seen in the following scripture.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1:17 KJV

Notice the italics on the word “but.”

This verse is used by many preachers to somehow assert that the law and grace are the cosmic cage match enemies. No. It’s more like disobedience and obedience. Here’s a better translation of the popular bible verse.

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:7 ESV

No but

Very simple. Moses was a mighty prophet. He delivered the instructions of YHWH. Jesus was a greater prophet (he is God). He delivered grace through His great sacrifice. Praise Yah! Halleluyah!

Prayer

Yes, Father. I long for your Salvation. I long for your Yeshua. Yes, Father, your Torah is my delight. Please forgive me for missing the mark. Guide me with your very Breath to follow the Way of Messiah. I receive your instructions into my heart, as you have promised in the New Covenant. I receive the blessings over my life proclaimed in your Word. I receive the grace which you gave to me in the shed blood of Yeshua. Teach me each day to walk in your Way. Show me the truth of your love. Grant me the life in your future renewed earth and New Jerusalem with Messiah on the throne. Halleluyah!

This sticker, plus others, is available at my Torah Is Sticker Shop: https://torahisshop.com/

Torah Is Compassionate

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Big Tent

Yah has room under His tent.

As I drive the country, occasionally I see a large tent set up in an open space. There is usually a sign saying something like “Revival” or “Tent Revival.” Whenever we see that, we should pray that lives will be changed. We should root for a true revival. We can lift them up in prayer, both the ministers and the attendees of this event.

The real thing that happens in true revivals is repentance. Simply put, we all get hit with the reality of our sins (no matter what level) and we are drawn to seek forgiveness and (big AND) to change our ways. Here is the door for a continued training after the decision point of repentance.

I have often wondered if anyone would just label the tent event as “Repentance” or “Tent Repent.” Maybe we need to market it in a more positive way, but that is what is essentially the goal. Large changes have followed when a cluster of communities bow down to Yah and repent.

The Weeping Wallow

Occasionally we are moved to weeping for the things that the Father weeps for. Jesus wept. Jeremiah wept. We can weep. This brings today’s characteristic of Torah. Because Torah is good and given by God, we can be sad for those who live without it. Those who live outside His word and His way, live outside His will. Living outside His will denies us the natural benefits, the blessings of Torah.

But Torah also brings death.

Yes the end of sin, is death. The end of Torah (think goal line) is YESHUA/Jesus.

Torah has blessings to the faithful and curses to the ones who reject it (the lawless).

Sadness through our joy

God doesn’t want us to fall into the pit of judgement. He doesn’t desire that we reject what He has to offer. He is compassionate and His Torah Is Compassionate.

Through Eyes Of Love

YHWH has eyes of love. Whenever we hear the words “eyes” or “ears” we need to keep in mind the different levels of our seeing and hearing. We need to see with spiritual eyes as well as our physical eyes. Our eyes of faith can see farther. They can see beyond walls and beyond the constraints of time.

Let us see with compassion. I have realized that my mouth, in prayer is more effective than my blabbing in the physical. I have rarely changed a mind, changed a heart by speaking or lecturing. I’m not that eloquent. However, I have prayed (out loud, with mouth and mind) and seen people change.

Don’t stop believing

Keep it up. Follow Messiah. Speak out when He calls you to do so. Preach the good news of salvation. But don’t forget how powerful it is to pray for the lost ones, and weep over their sins. But for the grace of God, we would all still be lost in our sin and lawlessness.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, gracious and Holy are You. Be blessed in Heaven and earth. Keep us in your grace and let us not forget the lawless ones. Bring repentance to the lost nations and the lost sheep. Be glorified in your servants. Be lifted up in this land. Halleluyah! Blessed be your Name! Amen.

Torah Is Loved

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Can you say you love Torah? Would you say you hate those who are double-minded.

I would say I am frustrated by those who change their mind over and over, but I would not say I hate them. “I mean, pick a lane. Do you want a taco or a beef burrito? Move along here. We got places to go. People to see.” Right?

But I think, as the entire subject of the longest Psalm is Yah’s Torah and righteous living, this double-mindedness is in regards to God’s Ways. In many ways, the double-minded are worse than the ignorant, or the depraved soul.

Maybe that should give us some perspective on this principle.

So—because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit you out of My mouth;

Revelation 3:16 ISV

I do prefer the term “spew” but “vomit” works.

Again, Torah is the key

The hate, if you will, is directed toward those who are double-minded or half-hearted toward God’s Law, His Torah.

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Romans 9:13

This can be a confusing concept at first. But, keep in mind two things. 1. Yah is sovereign. 2. Our contemporary definitions are often somewhat off from original context.

However, you will see that this word “hate” is used more in scripture than we often want to admit.

Here’s My Takeaway

Yah spells it out for us clearly in His word that our part of the covenant is to obey His word. I go so far as to say, “obey His Torah.” If we choose to disobey, He can choose to reject (hate) us as he did Esau.

Now… Let me share a good video with you. This ministry does a good job on several subjects. I haven’t seen them all but this one gives, I think, a good perspective on the issue at hand.

As we know, God Is Love. But God can also choose. He can disfavor. He can reject (and He does). Often rejection helps bring us back to His home, under His loving arms of forgiveness. Torah, however, is a huge reason for His choosing (or hating). Even His special seed, Israel, was rejected for a season as they strayed from His Torah.

Let us choose Torah. Let us choose favor. Let us reject evil, even flee from it, to embrace, and run to, His instructions.

Prayer

Father in Heaven. I love you and thank you for bringing me back into your arms with grace, with compassion, with joy as I turned (shuva) from my evil. Help me to love what you love and hate what you hate. Amen

Do you love what God loves?

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Torah Is Memorable

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A Breeze?

My life is continually in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your law.

Psalm 119:109

This is something we often forget as believers. Our lives are in our hands.

What? I thought we have placed our lives into God’s hands.

Exactly. Our lives are in our hands. Free will in action. Therefore, we, place our lives into the hands of the one who made us. We open ourselves to change, to transformation. In doing this, we have received an eventual glorified body, mind, spirit.

I realize there are ultra Calvinists who reject this scripture. Personally, I’m just not concerned with giving my time to Mr. Calvin.

Instead, I choose, with my own mind, and my own will to trust in Yah, and His directions for my life, found in Torah.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 14:26

Easy Breezy

The very Breath of Yah is our comforter. We have this Spirit, this breeze, in our lungs to guide us in His way of living. The very word of God will be brought to mind, rememberance, as we walk through our days. Amen.

Prayer:

Father of grace and mercy. My life is now in your hands. I surrender to your word. I surrender to the leading of your Ruach, your breath. Help me to walk in the ways of your teachings. Help me to hear your voice as you dwell in me. Fill me with your Breath. Bring to my mind all the words of truth and power that have been written down. Let me speak these words of power with your almighty power and authority. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for bringing my heart to you and uniting my heart with the heart of Messiah and your will. Amen.

Torah Is Enjoyable

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The pull of Torah

Simply put, the pull of Torah is a lifeline to keep us from destruction.

Torah gives us a hope. Torah gives us something to cling to. Will we go through the life of a disciple without a rope, without a lifeline?

If it was so wretched, I would not crave it.

If you’ve been told that Torah is burdensome, you’ve been lied to. The scripture says that His commandments are NOT a burden. They are to be loved. As Jesus is to be loved, we are to love His instructions.

It is because of that love, we are sustained during affliction, famine, disease, and destruction. We can be held up from the death of the sinners.

It is a Tree of Life

Cling to that central root of the olive tree. If you were grafted on, do not push off. Do not be as one who is pruned off the tree. Live and learn from the Yeshua (salvation) of your soul.

Prayer:

Thank you Oh Father of fathers. Thank you King of kings. You have sent me a lifeline. You sustain me in persecution and distress. Keep your servants in your Way. Help us cling to your lifeline. Help us wander not away. Give us strength to pursue the truth. Thank you that there is joy, and not pain in Torah. Amen.

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Torah Is A Target

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Why is everyone always picking on me?

For those of us who have added the honoring of Torah to our Christian walk, we understand.

Christians, in general, are targeted all around the world, but try being Jewish. Yep. Jews have been persecuted since there was such a thing. What is that? Well, it can be a long discussion, but the point I want to bring out is that anyone, Christian or Jewish who honors “real Torah” will find themselves as a subject of scorn.

The one who honors Feasts and Torah is dishonored by friends and family. The main-stream Christian often speaks of Torah followers as “too Jewish.” On the other hand, the Orthodox Jewish person looks to one who simply follows the living Messiah as a threat. Messianic believers in Israel are often discriminated against.

Arrogance Happens

It takes tremendous humility to look deeper into our own lives and make a huge change. Most Christians live under the construct of a Jewishness out there that threatens the very cross and resurrection of Messiah. Much wind is expelled in fighting Judaism in the church. My friend, Judaism in most forms and Jews themselves are not a threat to your Jewish Messiah.

Arrogance can be a real problem. Arrogant atheists can join hands with Muslims, we are watching that in a significant way right now in this world. But many, many Christians are doing the same; making themselves busy laying traps for the Torah followers. The zeal can be misplaced when one nestles into his religion with a sword and a machine gun.

We only have to look at the pride displayed in the Nazi war machine of the 30’s and 40’s Europe.

Embracing Automatic Curses

If you press against children of Abraham, you instantly accept a curse. This curse was a forever promise. Why not seek the blessings and reject that curse. That’s one of the easiest blessings to add to our being. At the very least, honor children of Abraham. Support Jewish organizations, ministries, and individuals.

Another way to receive the blessing is to lay ahold of, embrace the nature of your Salvation (Hebrew word YESHUA) as being from “the Jews.”

You worship that which you don’t know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.

John 4:22

At the very least, we can say, according to today’s scripture, that those who are laying a trap for the people of God’s kingdom are without Torah, and arrogant.

Perhaps we should humble ourselves in the sight of YHWH. Perhaps we should realize that if we follow God’s true Torah (not the so-called torah of the Babylonian sages) we are on the winning side.

Instead of being in a hole. And more than simply standing on level ground, we will be lifted up.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Jacob (James) 4:10

We Will Be Lifted Up

In more ways than one, we will be exalted… By King Jesus. Lifted up in authority as His ambassadors, plus lifted up in the sky to join Him in Jerusalem.

In more than one way, as well, the wicked will be brought low. They will fall into disease and death. They will also be judged guilty, and places physically into the pit with Satan and the evil angels.

We all broke Torah by sinning. We all need a Savior. May the world repent of evil against others. Through God’s grace, I have been saved. I now walk (and sometimes run) the very path that God has set out for me in Torah (God’s instructions for righteous living).

If you are a Christian who has bounced back and forth with a desire to please God (natural) and serve Him. I urge you to humbly look at your inheritance as being more than a Salvation from hell. I offer to you that Torah has always been part of our discipleship learning. And we are always learning.

The arrogant will scheme their plot. But, thanks to our blessings, they will receive their own curse.

Prayer:

Father we love you and lift you up. We ask that you save us from the snare of the evil one and the arrogant ones. Please grant us safety under your wings. Send your angels to provide guard over your righteous ones. May all the world know your true Torah. May there be no false Torah or false sense of a new gospel that is void of Torah. Thank you for bringing me to the humble place where I saw what I was missing as a Christian. Give me endurance as a runner in the race. Let me obtain the prize laid before me. Blessings for your kingdom are many. I receive in the name of Yeshua. Amen.