Tag: faith

Again, Torah Is A Delight

Published on by PaulBassLeave a comment

Through compassion, we receive His favor.

“May Your compassion come to me that I may live,
For Your law is my delight.”
— Psalm 119:77

Am I a broken record.

If so, I’m a true record, even in my brokenness. In my life, as gracious Father let me repent and be made new, I was brought to my knees. I was at a point that if I knew one thing, I could at least go to paradise with that one thing in my brain. At least I know that God’s law is truth.

Why do I keep saying Torah is a gift, Torah is a benefit, Torah is, simply good? Because the Bible keeps saying it. God keeps saying it. It wouldn’t be repeated so much if it was insignificant or detrimental.

Halleluyah. I can be like a tree planted by the river. I can bear fruit, even as an old crickety dad.

Compassion is undeserved. Life is borrowed. We have zero life in ourselves. We get breath from God. He is the author of life. He is the giver of life through His loving compassion. And our God has given us a way to live. That way is in Torah. Why would I be like the one who walks in the counsel of the ungodly? Why listen to scornful? I guarantee, demons and deceptive spirits do NOT like God’s principles for living.

Do you like, do you delight in Torah?

this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.

1 John 5:3

We don’t understand every precept instantly. Let’s be like the new converts in the time of the Jerusalem council. Let’s start following Messiah, then read through and incline our ears to Torah as we go.

“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

Acts 15:19-21

First Things First

As Mike Sundin of One In Messiah, Tallahassee points out. Modern churches don’t really teach the first part of the Jerusalem council conclusions. Take a look and ask yourself if you’ve been taught to be careful of any of these food guidelines.

What about verse 21? Are you hearing the Torah each week? The new converts from Paganism (former gentiles) in that time were being taught Torah. It is not warned against. It is not important, or even possible to make sure a pagan is fully observant before coming to Messiah – entering into the fellowship of Israel.

Let them come to Messiah and turn from immorality, then learn as they go. We all do this. Unless we tell ourselves that Torah dishonors YHWH.

I found Messiah, but many years later, I found His delight in Torah. Guess what. Still not perfect. Good thing I didn’t hold off until I was perfect.

But I know YHWH. I breathe His spirit in my lungs. The Messiah is in me and I am in Him. His Torah is a delight. And this won’t be the last time I tell you that.

Prayer:

Father, I love you and delight in your presence. Thank you for rest, and health. Thank you for shalom in your Way. Keep me inside your compassion and love. I do not call your ways a burden. I call it a delight. Dwell in me and let me forever be in your faith and provision. Amen.

Torah Is Most Valuable

Published on by PaulBassLeave a comment

More than gold

The proverb says that wisdom is more valuable than gold and silver. Where do we start with wisdom? Reverence for Yah.

The psalmist tells me that Torah is worth more than gold or silver. More than thousands of pieces. Have you betrayed the Savior’s teaching? His Torah? If so, how many pieces of silver did it take?

Cha-Ching

Do you think, with all the prophecy in Psalms, David could have known that Paul would abolish the Torah? Sarcasm. Did David know that preaching would depend upon a philosophy of the law being a curse and being done away with in the new testament? Sorry, sarcasm again.

My purpose in this series is to define Torah with the very words of Yahweh. What is Torah? What is its purpose and benefit? For me to know this, I want to know what God thinks of it. Was Paul working against the grain? Or have contemporary Christians largely misunderstood him? Have we misrepresented the Torah from the lecterns across this world?

How can the law be such a blessing and be such a curse at the same time? Perhaps we should cling to the many biblical praises for Torah and dissect the sayings of Paul in Galatians.

Who are the lawless ones?

The ones who get literally locked out of the Kingdom of Heaven. The lawless ones. Jesus doesn’t even know them. Why would we preach lawlessness? Why would we practice lawlessness?

Lawlessness? Gulp!

Doing the will of God is an evidence of relationship. We want to heal, to prophesy, we want to cast out demons? All those things are possible without a relationship. What? Matthew 7:21-23 tells us. Messiah tells us this will happen. Who wants to ignore this warning? Not me. I want to be His friend. His servant. I know I’m not perfect, so does He. I want Him to claim me. I want to stand strong in the judgement.

Yes, I want to please Him. Is this legalism? Not according to the Word of God. According to God, that’s being rich. That is to be sought as precious gold and silver. Have you ever, perhaps unknowingly, turned away from Torah, seeing it as legalism? Why? What have you been taught regarding the Torah of Yahweh?

Torah Is A Lifeline

Published on by PaulBassLeave a comment

Bring me to safety!

The cords of the wicked have encircled me,
But I have not forgotten Your law.
— Psalm 119:61

I think of Jonah. He was pulled down by the kelp and the weight of his sin.

The waters closed in over me to take my life;

    the deep surrounded me;

weeds were wrapped about my head

Jonah 2:5

Be gracious to me, O Lord!
    See my affliction from those who hate me,
    O you who lift me up from the gates of death,

that I may recount all your praises,
    that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
    I may rejoice in your salvation.

The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
    in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.

The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
    the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

– Psalm 119:13-16

This is great. I love how Jonah tells us of the parallel. Death wraps around us. Evil tries to ensnare us and bring us down into the depths. But YHWH saves. His Torah is a lifeline.

But the evil will be brought down in the end. The wicked will be caught in their own trap. The end will be a literal pit. The pit that the fallen angels experience now will one day be a forever pit of fire.

This same pit will be the judgement of all the evil ones. No longer will they have a hand to touch the chosen (us). No longer will we be a target.

But we have hope. We have it now. We have it eternally. We follow His Torah. We receive comfort. We grab onto the inheritance through the bloodline of the Messiah.

Embrace your adoption. Your heritage and draw near to Him with teaching (Torah) that brings life, that brings light.

Prayer:

Father, you are beautiful. May we flee from evil. Keep us from the wicked that we not be ensnared. Keep us in your love. Keep us in your covenant. Redeem us and feed us through the bread of Messiah.

Father, thank you for the hope in your Torah. Thank you for the promise of your eternity, your kingdom come. May your will, your Torah, be done in our hearts and in our hands. Amen.

My friend. Cling to Torah. It is a life-saver. Have you ever been snared by the cords of death and evil? How did you find the shore and safety?

Torah Is: Not Liked By Some

Published on by PaulBassLeave a comment

Who are they.

According to the Word of God, it is the wicked, the guilty ones, who forsake His Torah.

David expressed a burning that seized him because of that lawlessness.

Sometimes I know the feeling.

I think we are too much on the defensive these days. Lawlessness has become a thing off popular culture. It has become the norm in many (mostly urban) strongholds across the USA.

But we see it in school boards and city councils in small towns too. The guilty ones, the wicked ones, have achieved a level of authority in many places.

It is wake-up time (or a few exits past it) for a follower of Messiah. We need to be busy, busy, not just taking things back, but jailing the law of the land breakers and keeping the vigilance.

Much to be said of such things

There’s no time for this post to wake up the masses. But I can ask you a question or two. What do you feel when you see lawlessness/torahlessness? Are you immune to a burning in your soul? Or does zeal spark up a flame?

How do you pray? Do you simply pray that everyone will be saved? Accept Jesus? That would be fine. Some are coming to repentance. Or do you pray for Justice? Biblical prayers for Justice abound.

He is YHWH Elohaynu: his judgments are in all the earth.

TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 105:7 את CEPHER

Many times, when the psalmist asks for Justice, he’s speaking of his times but also of a prophetic time in the future when the Messiah embodies one of His end times roles. Judge.

And He uses a sword.

Use that sword now.

The sword of the Messiah is the Words of His mouth. As He left, he willed something to His apostles. That thing is the very Breath (Spirit) of YHWH in our lungs and in our presence, walking with us and the authority of ambassadors. We can speak the actual words of God.

That is what Jesus did, and the Devil and his spirit slaves (demons) had to flee.

You and I wrestle with the spirit realm. It would be best to to three things to be mighty warriors.

  • Learn about the armor of God
  • Draw closer to the Breath of YHWH within.
  • Use his Sword. Speak it with true faith and authority.

Simple – Not Simple

Which side are you on. Sometimes it takes a thief to discover the truth.

What?

Have you been stolen from? Have you been mocked or hurt deeply in your emotions by a loved one, a long time friend? You have been robbed of your trust. You have also seen the light.

Our national leaders, some of our neighbors, some family, friends, even pastors have robbed us.

They speak lies to us and even about us.

Step Back

I believe the Father provides a refuge for us if we step back into safety as we identify the spiritual enemies. And await His charge.

You are not alone.

You are strong because the Breath of God is in you. You are powerful because the blood of Yeshua and His DNA is at your core. And you are victorious because you wield the mighty Sword of His Word. Stronger than the demons weapons.

Prayer

Father in Heaven, we worship you, the maker of heaven and earth. Hosannah. Come save us. Father I receive your helper. I receive your Breath into my lungs, into my temple. Give me guidance and strength through your mighty Word. Lead me in the paths of righteousness and restore my strength in the mighty name of YESHUA. Give me zeal enough for each day and give me compassion enough to perceive when your gospel is working it’s good work. Thank you for your Torah. May I never be one who is guilty, who seeks evil and torahlessness. May the blood of YESHUA cleanse me and make me more than whole. Amen.

Torah Is Forever

Published on by PaulBassLeave a comment

Is Heaven Still There?

For amein I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one yod or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Torah, till all be fulfilled.

Matthew 5:18 Cepher

David agrees with Jesus again. He must have known the Messiah would be pro Torah and that the Torah was for all time. Jeremiah knew it. Paul, yes, Paul, knew it.

Sorry, but if He didn’t he would be guilty of preaching a new gospel. He even warned against that.

even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.

Galatians 1:8

Why wouldn’t David want forever? Why wouldn’t he choose liberty-freedom?

Why give back a gift?

In the covenant, there is an agreement. The same applies with the old covenant and the new (renewed) covenant. God’s part + our part. The part about the new covenant that most people misunderstand, is all of it.

But this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Yashar’el; After those days, says Yahuah, I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohiym, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah 31:33 Cepher
  • The “who.” Israel. Are you in? Or out?
  • Torah – in our hearts. Have you accepted or rejected Torah.
  • He will be our God, and we will be His people.

There is a new Kingdom which is the renewed throne of David (Messiah Ben David). We will be there. However, those who accept the inheritance of Salvation but rejecting Torah in our hearts puts us in an interesting class of believers according to the Messiah.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5:19 Cepher

David was forgiven, and He is considered Great.

The LORD has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed Him ruler of His people.

1 Samuel 13:14

When I run, I challenge myself to go farther and run more efficiently. I’m happy to see the finish line. I’m glad to reach the goal. But if my goal is to only be at the finish line, I could take a car, or a bus, or a boat. But if the walk (or run) is part of the journey, I know that each step was made with my feet, through the power of God. If I took a golf cart, no one’s giving me a medal. Some people might even call me a thief or at least dishonest to myself and everyone else.

Messiah is the gate. We must, of course, come to YHWH through Messiah. If not, we are a thief or a liar. Once I have come to Him, I want His Torah. And I want all of Him, forever.

Prayer:

Father, please forgive me through your grace through your Son. I receive my inheritance of Salvation and I long to be in your presence in your house. I receive your instructions, I receive your feast and cherish your wisdom and light to carry me on the path.

Let me not stray. Keep me from evil that I may dwell in your New Jerusalem. Amen.

Torah Is Observable

Published on by PaulBassLeave a comment

A Better You

It’s about being a better person and, yes, pleasing our King. The King that God anointed prayed for better understanding so that he could observe and keep God’s Torah.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29

Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

1 John 3:7

This is understandable by children. Doing righteousness (as taught in Torah) is righteous. Good is good. I can’t tell you how many preachers speak against Torah. How can we have success in following Christ if the preachers send us the other way?

Be a humble servant

Let Jesus be your rabbi. He followed Torah and his disciples walk after Him. If we sin, He is our advocate, but by no means should we seek to disdain Torah.

Pray for understanding in walking it out in your own life.

Prayer:

Father in heaven. Thank you for your Torah. I receive with joy, your instructions in the Bible, for my life. Give me understanding to better observe, guard, and keep your instructions. Amen.

Buy a few to support our mission.

Torah Is Gracious

Published on by PaulBassLeave a comment

But I thought grace was invented at the cross.

KJV has a bias. Sorry. It’s visible throughout. They are not unique in that but other translations are more accurate in some points. It has an anti-jewish bias. Test it and see. Be open to the holy spirit as you listen to anti Jewish phrases. Or simply anti Old Testament. Look at John 1:17.

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

John 1:17 KJV

At least in the current printing we have a little help. Notice the word “but” in italics. That word is not in the Aramaic or Greek. It makes a huge difference. This verse is used to contrast grace and law.

Here’s a problem

What about all those people in the bible? Were they all condemned? Did they all go to hell? Did God never think of grace until year 33AD?

the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

John 1:17 WEB

Torah and grace are not opponents. They work together.

Then there’s this

The anti-christ is the man of lawlessness (Torah less). The truth of Torah is found in Jesus. The truth , the way, the life.

God grants us Torah through grace.

Psalm 119:29 states “Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously!”

He actually grants us law through His grace. That is huge. When he met with Moses and gave him sapphire tablets inscribed with Torah, God was showing grace to his beloved Israel.

Do you love God? Why not receive His instructions (Torah) and receive His Son, who forgives us of the times we have broken the Torah. And you can join the list of saints in Hebrews 11 who broke Torah but received grace from God and forgiveness of sins.

We don’t want to be this guy.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Jesus – Matthew 7:21-23

Have you accepted Torah in your heart? This is a phase 2 plan for all former pagans as introduced to early converts into Israel (the assembly known as the church presently).

Prayer:

Thank you Father for your spirit of truth over the false way of the enemies of your people. I pray that more and more people will see that they have broken Torah, but your Son was broken for them. Please bring revival of repentance and faith to walk in your Torah through the power of your Ruach (Spirit). Amen.

Order this sticker and more >