Listen

A maskil of Asaf: Listen, my people, to my teaching; turn your ears to the words from my mouth. (CJB) Psalm 78:1

In the first verse, Asaph wants the people to listen to God’s truth, not only to listen but he begs them to listen closely and carefully. Asaph speaks as one with power who deserves attention and obedience to his teaching of God’s truth. He goes on in the following verses to list the reasons why the people must diligently do that which he speaks concerning God’s truth. He desperately wants them to listen to the teaching he is about to deliver. Asaph writes this psalm as a means to remind those of the next generation of the works of the Lord. He does not want the next generation to forget the works of God. However, through out God’s word from one generation to the next, this is the case. Asaph begs the people to listen closely as he teaches the word of God.

This must be our heart concerning God’s truth too. We must not be nonchalant in our teaching as well as our listening to the word of God. We must not want this gospel message, these works of God to be forgotten by the next generation. We must have as much passion as Asaph had in wanting others to listen to God’s truth which we proclaim with our lives as well as our words. Do we? In some ways it seems we have forgotten, or that we are not listening closely and carefully to God’s truth. Not only that but that we are not giving attention to Him and walking in obedience to the teachings of God’s truth. Are we hearing what the Spirit is saying? Are we the generation who has forgotten the works of God? We must listen closely to what the Spirit is saying.

This Is For Keeps!

For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.(CJB) Ephesians 6:12

There has been much talk recently about the Ouija Board on the market at a popular toy store. It is geared for children as young as eight years old. It is being marketed as a “toy”. However, this is not a toy! Others have made mention of the dangers of this so called “toy” and many “Christians” have commented by saying this “Board” is not real. Folks, may we be reminded we are in a war. Whether we want to admit it or not, it does not matter. There is a war going on. We are in a spiritual battle. Ignoring this spiritual battle or being ignorant of it does not negate the fact that it still is going on. Our struggle is not against men. Our real enemies are evil spiritual powers, one’s we cannot see. These enemies are not going to wear signs which tell us to watch out for them. No, these enemies are more subtle, sneaky. Think back to the Garden of Eden. What the adversary offered Eve seemed beautiful to the eye, tasty and not harmful. However, we know how that ended. (Genesis 3) The adversary still goes about packaging things this same way. Why do we not pay attention?

This is why Paul warns believers to the fact of spiritual warfare. This is a point which seems to get lost in the Church. Many “Christians” get so caught up in struggling against human beings. When the real battle, the real struggle is spiritual enemies we cannot see, whose main purpose is to knock us down. When it comes to an invisible enemy we just do not take it seriously. The world takes the invisible seriously, just look at all the movies, books etc on the occult. Why can’t the Church? This is not something we can call a time out on. This is not something to which we can say we do not want to play anymore and forget about it. No, this is for keeps! It is a life or death war to the finish against the adversary and his cohorts. Do we live like we are in a war? We need to be getting a bit more serious about this folks. This war, this battle we need to be prepared for is not against flesh and blood. Our enemy is a powerful and invisible foe who we must be on guard against. We cannot win this battle in our own strength. However, because we are in Messiah Yeshua, we have His Word, His blood, His Spirit and prayer we can win this war. We can defeat the enemy. The problem is most of do not read His Word, walk in His Spirit or pray. This is why so many in the Church are deceived. Why so many say this stuff is not real because they have not read and studied His Word to know what the Bible truly says about these things. The world knows this stuff is real. When will we? When are we going to take this seriously? This is for keeps! Forever! Let’s wake up!

Whose Side?

Whoever belongs to God listens to what God says; the reason you don’t listen is that you don’t belong to God.” (CJB) John 8:47

The scribes and the Pharisees did not show a readiness to obey the commands of God which proved they were not of Him. On account of this was their rejection of Messiah Yeshua. They would not hear the words of God which shows how baseless their claim to a relationship with God was. They did not hear or understand Yeshua because they were not of God as they claimed. They were not born again. God was not their Father as they had bragged. They were not born of Him. They were not of God. Since this was the case, they had not the eyes to see, nor ears to hear or the heart to understand the words of God. If they were of God, they would love, fear and honor God. They would give attention to the commandments of God. This is evidence of true devotion to God. Those who have a willingness to receive all God teaches as well as to obey His commands is proof they are His. The Pharisees did not show forth these characteristics so they were not of God, no matter what they boasted.

The same holds true today. What about us? Which category do we fit into? Whose side are we on? Are we listening to what God is saying? If we belong to Him, we will give attention to His commands. We will do what He says. We will accept His message. This is proof we are His. Is that us? Or do we not accept what He says? We do not gladly listen to the word of God? We do not obey His Word? If this be the case, no matter what we boast about God, we do not belong to Him. However, we can belong to Him. It starts with giving our heart and life to Messiah Yeshua. It does not stop there though. We must gladly receive and obey His commands daily. This is proof we belong to Him! We can start to belong to God today through Messiah Yeshua! Do not delay!

More Than Enough

However, it’s Shaddai I want to speak with; I want to prove my case to God. (CJB) Job 13:3

Job say it is Shaddai he wants to speak with. Shaddai is the plural form of the Hebrew word Shad which means strong or powerful. Another possible root for Shaddai is from the word “breast”. This implies a God who nourishes, supplies and satisfies. In the book of Job, Shaddai is found 31 times. Job uses the name Shaddai to convey the truth that on one hand God is omnipotent and on the other hand He is sufficient. Job knew El Shaddai or God Almighty is the sufficient One and mighty One. He is more than enough. So this is why he proclaimed he had it with his friends. He was taking his case straight to God Almighty. He was going directly to God. He knew Shaddai was more than enough. He knew he would find acceptance in Him.

God desires to bless us and provide in abundance all our needs. Shaddai is powerful enough to do just that. Only an all powerful God can bless us with all manner of blessings. God is powerful enough to provide His people with blessings. He not only is powerful enough to provide blessings for His people, He wants to, but He also wants us to worship and obey Him. Many times we want the blessings He has to offer but we are not willing to obey Him. No matter if things go well or not so well in our lives, there is a Sufficient One, a Mighty One, One who is more than enough we can turn to. Job knew it was Shaddai he must speak to, so should we.

Special Access

Moshe came and told the people everything ADONAI had said, including all the rulings.(CJB) Exodus 24:3
Then he took the book of the covenant and read it aloud, so that the people could hear; and they responded, “Everything that ADONAI has spoken, we will do and obey.”(CJB) Exodus 24:7

Moses went to the people and told them everything ADONAI had said. He relates to them all the words of ADONAI and all the judgements to Israel. ADONAI speaks to Moses alone. Others come up the mountain with Moses but He alone approaches ADONAI. Moses was allowed special admittance to ADONAI, so He could speak to Moses, who would speak to Israel. Those thing Moses heard from ADONAI he wrote down. He took what he wrote down, the book of the covenant and read it aloud so the people could hear. After they heard, they responded to what ADONAI said.

Israel could worship from a distance but they waited for Moses to come down from the mountain to give them instructions from God. Moses wrote down the words God spoke so he could remember what he was to tell the people. At this time, the people had to rely on Moses to know what ADONAI was telling them. Their relationship with God was from afar. They were dependent on another to go before God as well as read His Words for them. We are blessed not to have to wait on someone to tell us everything ADONAI has said. For us to worship from a distance and wait for someone to go before God to see what He has to say. Let alone read the Word of God so we can hear. We can turn to His Word ourselves. It is because what Messiah Yeshua did we can approach ADONAI alone. We have been given special access to God through Messiah Yeshua. But even with this awesome privilege we have been given, many do not take advantage of it. Many do not seek God on their own. They only look to what some preacher has said and never come to God on their own. Same goes for His Word. Many never crack open the Bible and read it for themselves. They rarely, if ever read and listen to see what He could personally be speaking to them. The only Word of God they hear is whatever passage the preacher reads before his message. The ultimate sacrifice was given through Yeshua so we could come to God ourselves, so we could read His Word and hear from Him ourselves. Yes, the messages we hear are important but we need to stop being lazy. Let’s start approaching God ourselves. Reading His Word for ourselves. Let what we hear from pastors and preachers be secondary to what we are hearing ourselves. Let’s no longer neglect the special access to God we have been given through Messiah but take full advantage of it ourselves.

Anyone?

“Roam the streets of Yerushalayim look around, observe and ask in its open spaces: if you can find anyone (if there is anyone!) who acts with justice and seeks the truth, I will pardon her. And though they say, ‘As ADONAI lives,’ the fact is that they are swearing falsely. (CJB) Jeremiah 5:1,2

The Lord speaks to Jeremiah to search Jerusalem for honest people who try to be faithful. If there is anyone who acts with justice and seeks truth, He will pardon Jerusalem. Though the people profess Him, they do not really mean it. They are telling lies. They are swearing falsely. Jeremiah was to look for anyone who does what is right and tries to live a true life. Anyone living like this would cause God to pardon Jerusalem. God would spare the city for one righteous person. Many professed to know God but in their works they denied Him. They people were saying the right words but it was not coming from their hearts. “As the Lord lives” was the catch phrase of this time. The “Christian lingo” of the time. Their “Christianese” which they spoke. Even though they were saying the “Christian lingo,” the fact is the Lord knew they did not really mean it. They were lying. What about us?

Today, many times people can say all the right things. “Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus! Amen! ” and all the other spiritual jargon and not really mean it. They say these things to deceive, to lie. In fact they are swearing falsely and the Lord knows. Others might be fooled but He knows all things. What would happen if God searched our nation? Would He be able to find anyone who does what is right? Anyone who lives a true life? Anyone who does justice, who seeks truth, sincerity and faithfulness? Is there any uncompromising righteous people? Or is there only those who say all the spiritual lingo to lie about how they are truly living? God knows who is lying so stop kidding yourself and get right with Him!

Ten Commandments

Then God said all these words: “I am ADONAI your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery. “You are to have no other gods before me. You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline. You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, ADONAI your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot. “You are not to use lightly the name of ADONAI your God, because ADONAI will not leave unpunished someone who uses his name lightly. “Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God. You have six days to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat for ADONAI your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work -not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. For in six days, ADONAI made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why ADONAI blessed the day, Shabbat, and separated it for himself. “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land which ADONAI your God is giving you. “Do not murder. “Do not commit adultery. “Do not steal. “Do not give false evidence against your neighbor. “Do not covet your neighbor’s house; do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.(CJB) Exodus 20:1-17

In this passage of Scripture is the infamous Ten Commandments which God gave to the children of Israel. There has been movies made, books written and much debate concerning the Ten Commandments. Much debate, at least in the “Christian” community, as to whether we are to keep the Ten Commandments today. Some say, “Yes, we are to keep them today.” While others say, “No, Messiah has come, we no longer are under the Law but under grace, so we no longer need to keep the Ten Commandments”. Messiah Yeshua did come but He did not say we no longer have to keep the Ten Commandments. In Matthew 5:17 Yeshua said, “”Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. ” We are no longer under the Law but under grace in regards to our salvation. Salvation is not the end but the beginning. Our relationship with Messiah Yeshua does not stop there. This is what He says in regards to His relationship with us. See if it sounds like we are no longer to keep the Ten Commandments. In John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” John 14:21:”Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me, and the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” John 15:14 :”You are my friends, if you do what I command you.” Messiah Yeshua was not saying we do not have to keep His commandments. He was saying that to love Him is to obey Him. If we claim to have a relationship with Yeshua, we will keep His commandments.

It must be clearly stated that we are not justified or saved by trying to keep the Law, the Ten Commandments. Keeping the Ten Commandments does not save us. However, having a relationship with Yeshua does save us. We could not keep the Ten Commandments before our relationship with Yeshua. But because we are saved by grace, we want to show our love for Messiah by obeying the Law, by obeying the Ten Commandments. We do not have to keep the Ten Commandments. We get to keep the Ten Commandments to show our great love and appreciate for the brutal death Messiah Yeshua died in our place for. Our salvation is by grace and only grace and not of works. However, the fruit of our salvation is obedience to His Commandments. This includes the Ten Commandments folks!

They Did Pray

So Kefa(Peter) was being held under watch in prison, but intense prayer was being made to God on his behalf by the Messianic community. Meanwhile, Kefa(Peter) kept knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.(CJB) Acts 12:5,16

Peter had been thrown in prison by Herod. Herod had Peter in chains and guarded by soldiers with the intent of bringing him to trial after Passover. While Peter was chained and asleep between two guards, those from the congregation prayed intensely to God for Peter. They were praying that God might deliver Peter. They knew in the natural they could do nothing to free Peter. Nothing seemed more hopeless than the thought of rescuing Peter from Herod, out of prison and out of the hands of the guards. Let alone for this to happen by prayer. However, they had no resource but to bring Peter before God in prayer. Intense prayer was made to God on his behalf. More than likely Peter was in prison a few days because Herod wanted to being Peter to trial after Passover. He was released miraculously from prison the day before his trial. Passover is seven days. So all during this time the congregation never stopped praying for Peter. God miraculously freed Peter from prison the night before his trial date. Peter went to where the congregation was praying. He kept knocking on the door until they opened it. When they opened the door and saw him they were amazed. Their prayer was answered but they could not believe it.

How are we any different? It is easy for us to chuckle when we read this story but we know what happens. We question why they were amazed their prayer was answered. At least they did pray. They prayed and never gave up. What if this took place today? What would we do? Would we pray? Would we never stop praying for him? They had no resource but to bring Peter before God in prayer. Our problem is we have too many resources. Often times prayer is our last resort instead of being the first thing we do. There might be more answers to prayer as well as we might pray more if we did not have so many resources available. We rely too much on stuff to get us through instead of relaying on Him through prayer to get us through. We ask ourselves why were they surprised or amazed what God did? He does answer prayer. What is wrong with them? They were praying for Peter to be freed and he was. We read this and think we would never do what they do. They had sense enough to pray. What about us? We read this. We quote Yeshua is the same yesterday, today and forever but as a whole most of us are not even praying. How can we be sure we are not praying? Miraculous things happen when God’s people pray. Seen many miraculous things lately? Anything similar to Peter’s release? They prayed intensely for Peter’s release. What have we prayed for intensely that was for someone else and not for ourselves? When we as the Body of Messiah can get to a point where we truly know that we have no other resource in any given situation but prayer to God. We are good about talking about prayer, reading about prayer, writing about prayer . When are we going to pray? They were amazed God answered their prayer. Would others be amazed how little we truly pray? It would be better to have prayed and been amazed at the answer than not to have prayed at all. They did pray. Are we?

Only His Approval

Instead, since God has tested us and found us fit to be entrusted with Good News, this is how we speak: not to win favor with people but with God, who tests our hearts. (CJB) 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Paul message to Thessalonica was that God was pleased to trust them with the Good News. They did not speak to please people, but to please God who knows their motives. He knew they were messengers approved by God entrusted with His message. Their purpose is to please God, not people. God, alone, examines the motives of their hearts. He wanted them to be assured that when they speak about the Good News of Messiah Yeshua, they were not after the crowd’s approval, only God’s approval. Paul wants to insure them the integrity of the message and those in his ministry giving it, are free of error, mixed messages and hidden agendas. They have a sense of responsibility before God. There was no skimping on integrity when it came to the Good News of Messiah Yeshua where Paul was concerned. Paul was about pleasing God. It was His approval he wanted not the crowd’s approval.

Is there this type of sense of responsibility to God these days? Or could we as a Body be more concerned with the crowd’s approval than with God’s? It seems as a whole we are a tad too much into what the crowd thinks, the crowd’s approval. We look for way after way on how we can make the crowd more comfortable so they will come and sit in our congregations. If they like what we are doing, possibly they will become a part of our congregation. There is nothing wrong with making the Gospel attractive but never by changing Messiah Yeshua or the message’s focus. We must never compromise the message of the Good News Of Messiah Yeshua. There are many ministries, many people that cannot assure us that when they speak to us, they are not after the crowd’s approval, only God’s approval. They are after the crowd’s approval. They cannot say, they and the message they give is free of error, mixed messages and hidden agendas. Why is this? It possibly could be they do not feel integrity is important. Also it could be there is no fear of God in their lives. Either way it is not right whether it is a person or a ministry. God has trusted us with His message. As an individual or as a ministry, it is important how we must speak the message of Messiah Yeshua to others. We speak not to win favor with people but with God, who knows our motives. The exaggeration and the deception need to stop. We need to get back to having a sense of responsibility before God once again. We need to get back where the message of Messiah Yeshua that we bring, along with ourselves, is one of integrity. We need to get back where God’s approval, His favor matters more to us than the crowd’s approval. Only His approval is what really matters!

People Not Food

As he talked with him, Kefa(Peter) went inside and found many people gathered. He said to them, “You are well aware that for a man who is a Jew to have close association with someone who belongs to another people, or to come and visit him, is something that just isn’t done. But God has shown me not to call any person common or unclean; so when I was summoned, I came without raising any questions. Tell me, then, why did you send for me?” Cornelius answered, “Three days ago around this time, I was at minchah prayers in my house, when suddenly a man in shining clothes stood in front of me and said, ‘God has heard your prayer and remembered your acts of charity. Now send to Yafo and ask for Shim’on, known as Kefa; he is staying in the house of Shim’on, a leather-tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now all of us are here in the presence of God to hear everything the Lord has ordered you to say.” Then Kefa addressed them: “I now understand that God does not play favorites, but that whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him, no matter what people he belongs to. (CJB) Acts 10:27-35

The vision Peter had was to show him how he should be relating to the Gentiles who he previously thought to be unclean. God, through the vision removed the barrier which allowed Peter to relate to the Gentiles. The vision was about showing Peter that salvation was not just for the Jewish people. God wanted to show Peter that He does not play favorites, but that whoever, Jew or Gentile that fears Him is acceptable. Peter’s eyes were opened and this was the very thing he proclaimed. Now he understood the purpose of the vision was to allow Gentiles into the congregation of God that was set up by Moses in the wilderness. The purpose of the vision was not get rid of the dietary laws. They remain intact. No, this vision was concerning people not food.

How can we be so sure? In verse 28, Peter stated God has shown him not to call any PERSON common or unclean. He was talking about people not food. God was not cleansing unclean animals and making them clean. He was showing Peter that He was about to cleanse the hearts of the people whom the Jews considered unclean. Peter let the Gentiles know that God had cleansed that which separated the Jews from the Gentiles. Where did this cleansing come from? This cleansing came through the blood of Messiah Yeshua which the Jews had thought were only for themselves. Now up to this time Peter had continued to keep the dietary laws.He had not eaten anything unclean. This was some time, about 20 years, after the death and resurrection of Messiah Yeshua and he was still keeping the dietary law. Why would Peter still be keeping the dietary law 20 years later after Messiah Yeshua’s death and resurrection? For some reason we have this idea that Yeshua did away with the Law. Or at least that is what we like to think. Or we like to pick and choose what parts of the Law we like. The truth is Yeshua did not do away with the Law. This is why Peter is still following the dietary laws. Do not agree? Yeshua gives us the answer. Here is what He says in Matthew 5:17-19, “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened. So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” God wanted Peter to know that salvation through the blood of Messiah Yeshua was for everyone. People not food. Anyone who fears and does what is right is acceptable to Him, no matter what people they belong to. Anyone who calls on the name of ADONAI will be saved. Call on Him today!