Tag: free will

Torah Is Shalom

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A person who lives in harmony with God and His creation, doesn’t just feel peace, but experiences it completely.

The person who kicks against His Heavenly Father’s will, experiences a wide variety of peace stealing forces.

Broken Record

I’m like a broken record here. But I guess repeating certain things is important, because the Bible does it. Over and over we see the results of obedience and of disobedience.

When I was convicted and convinced that honoring Torah is for me, I went from turmoil to peace. Turmoil is, in fact, what dropped me to my knees.

Of course I haven’t been perfect. Pharisees and Roman priests have tried to codify perfection by building up zillions (according to my last count) of man made rules and regulations in an attempt to perfect the pious ones. Still hasn’t worked.

Give me 613

The average person does not know that the pharisees were loading up the people with their cement mixer of minutiae… Even though the Bible tells me so.

You leave the commandment of 

God and hold to the

tradition of men.

Mark 7:8

Then He emphasizes,

But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God) then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.

Mark 7:11-13

We generally don’t think of Pharisees as being particularly peaceful.

We mistakenly attribute this grumpy nature to the fact that they were too busy following Moses’ law.

News alert: To anyone who believes the Law was done away with at the Cross; Jesus was still alive.

The Pharisees clearly were following an accumulation of laws that were not so called “laws of Moses.” They were making stuff up and calling it “oral Torah.” How convenient is that? I’m writing this on the day after Reformation Day. If you remember, Martin Luther (not King) hung up his points which addressed 95 new laws made up by man. He realized that tyrants could just make it up. The church that was called Catholic, was under roman authority. The Pharisees were in authority under roman rule as well. Why do we miss this stuff? That’s why I’m here, I guess.

It is so important to know that our Joy comes from God. He says that His Torah brings Shalom. Peter said to seek Shalom, referencing Psalm 34.

I don’t think it’s an accident that the Psalm relates obedience to peace.

Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14

Shalom in adversity

When we are walking in God’s will, we walk in peace, even in the presence of enemies.

Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

I Peter 3:13-14 ESV

Shalom means more than peace, my friend.

The shalom of YHWH is complete. It means wholeness. It includes what we call “wellness.”

This is the kind of peace that passes all understanding. This is the type that is hard to measure, but you’ll know it when you’re there. This shalom is only truly found in Messiah. He is the prince of Shalom.

May He keep you in His perfect peace.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, I lift up your Name. I lift up my prayer in the name of Yeshua. Please keep my brothers and sisters in your perfect peace. Please shield us from evil and let us rest in your shalom. Help us walk in your Way and shelter under your tabernacle. You are the wise and loving Father, but you always were. You have always shown us more grace than we deserve. Help us to show grace on our neighbors. Amen.

Torah Is Timely

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His Promise Of Judgement

We don’t like to talk of the Judgement of God. We often dispensation-ize it. We sing songs that tell us that judgement and wrath were for times like the Old Testament Sodom and Gomorrah… “BUT mercy and grace He gave us at the cross,” as if setting the old testament apart from the new is easier to gulp down.

We often forget that the judgement would have been withheld if there were only 10 people who were righteous. The grace of God was alive in 2000 BC as well as 2000 AD. As a matter of fact, ALL of scripture speaks of the judgement at the end of this age. This grace was what kept Yah from destroying the nations who inhabited Canaan while Israel awaited return to their promised land.

Torah Brings Promised Judgement

Judgement is not simply a punishment, it is a vengeance.

The wicked people of the nations do wicked things.

Wicked people do unmentionable things to the “least of these.”

Wicked people fight for the rights of people to do those wicked things. Judgement is, in a real sense, God’s answer to the prayer of the persecuted.

We often ask why so much evil is allowed to exist. “How can a loving God…”

Our loving Savior will come for the very purpose of executing judgement over evil deeds and the people who do them. He will also be setting the captives free and rescuing the little ones who have seen pain and distress at the hands of the wicked.

But Yah Will Save Even The Repentant Evil-doers.

LORD is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering to us, not intending any to be lost, but all to come to conversion,

II Peter 3:9 (LSV)

He really does love us. You and I were outside His Way for too long. We can be so grateful that He is so graceful in his judgement.

Not everyone will be saved.

But Yah wants them to.

When will it be time?

When will he deal with the sins of the world? These sins bring death, disease, war, and all types of pestilence. At some point, He will blow the trumpet and take action. There will be weeping, there will be gnashing of teeth. There will be a world of people who say…

Gulp!

At some point, it will be too late. At this point, many of us say,

“Return, Yahweh, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.”

Numbers 10:36

I pray that you are “in that number” when Yeshua returns to reward the faithful with glory and to judge others with the end of their story.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven. You are great and most wise in your actions. Thank you for your patience with mankind. Keep me in your shalom as I wait for the promise. Keep me in your provision as your enemies seek to take away our life.

Your promise will be fulfilled to your perfection, in your perfect time. Help us lead people to the light and away from the dark as we wait for your Hosannah! 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.