Repeat the Warning

 

On April 8, 2008, I wrote the following commentary on a passage in Obadiah.  Do we really think it is a coincidence that our nation is literally being torn apart by tornadoes, wildfires, and earthquakes at the very time we are tearing apart Israel?  What a joke that our legislators are blaming the CEOs of oil companies for the fuel crisis, when their 'worship of creation' has caused what they now rail against.  Our Creator warned throughout scripture what would happen to those nations that would bring harm to His bride and her land.  Forgive me for the repetitive post, but I fear more destruction is coming!

Obadiah 1:15    “For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near;    As you have done, it shall be done to you;   Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.

This passage concerns the nations that would divide Israel.  To the degree that the United States of America participates in this division, we too face that division at the hand of the Almighty!   Psalm 83 speaks of a coalition of nations that come against Israel in the last days.  That day is now upon us.  Any push by the United States government for Israel to give up more land is in direct violation of the Word of the Almighty.  I encourage believers to examine their bibles for the consequences to nations that deliberately disobey.  My friends, swift and sudden destruction is headed our way.   It is very likely too late for the United States of America to repent.  Therefore a clarion call must  go out to the body of Messiah to prepare for what is coming.  The question is, "How does a human being prepare to be a participant in the Judgement of Yahuweh?"  In other words, "What must we do to be saved?"  The answer is found in the book of Acts, verses 19-21.  "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Yeshua the Messiah, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Shalom

Calendar Restored?

I want to take an opportunity here to address more of the Scriptural restoration process. 

How do you view restoration?  Do you see it as non-consequential or as having only minor importance.  Is the restoration process disconcerting to you because it requires response?  Are you satisfied with a 'status quo' that you moved into during a time of revelation, and are now afraid to move on?  Have your previous crops of spiritual grapes turned to vinegar or fine wine?

As we look to our Messiah for the restoration of all things, we must not neglect the process of change He desires for us.  2 Corinthians 3:18 says "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."  In other words, when we observe His Glory (in restoration) we take on His glory.

What if I don't agree with what is being uncovered?  What if I have problems with those through whom the restoration is coming?

Well, my friends, it is time to make another choice.  You can choose to face the world each day without looking in the mirror before you leave the safety of your home.  Or, you can make sure that the image that is reflected back to you is seen in the faces of those with whom you fellowship.  Just because we see the same image, however does NOT necessarily mean that it is the image of Messiah!  I remind you of the pious images of the women's dress of the polygamist sect whose children were removed from them.  Just because they looked a certain way certainly did not guarantee the safety of the children entrusted to them.

Taking on the image of Messiah requires constant and continual (redundancy intended) change.  Yeshua required change when He came the first time...The same requirements are in place now!

 

Shalom

The Creator's Calendar

House To Life Ministries is excited to present The Creator's Calendar.  This is a fulfillment of Scriptural prophecy.  We are told in Acts 3:21 that all things will be restored before Messiah returns to earth.  Daniel prophesied that knowledge would increase in these days and that certainly includes Scriptural knowledge.  We have, at our disposal, the Creator's Calendar for you to download and use.  Simply click on the banner at the top of this page and follow the links.

Thanks to Don and Pam Harris at www.thinkredink for making this resource possible.  I encourage you to check out this brother's material.  You will find it extremely beneficial to  your walk with Messiah.

In the days ahead we will use this calendar to teach in greater detail the Feasts of Yahuweh as well as gain insight into Scriptural prophecy.  Be sure to watch the videos that will be produced over the next few weeks as they will refer to this calendar.

 

Shalom

What If???

I truly believe that we are in the last of the last days before the return of our Messiah. I believe that Jerusalem is about to be divided and the city of Damascus is about annihilated, all according to Biblical prophecy. I believe that EVERY governmental system on the face of the earth will fail, for the ultimate purpose of the establishment of a Kingdom designed by Yahuweh Himself. I believe that over the next two years we will be able to know, without doubt, where we are in the timeline of Apocalyptic Scripture.

Having said that, what if I'm wrong? What if this is just another bump in the road of human experience? Yeshua gave us a parable (Luke 11:19-27) that challenges what our attitude should be while we await His return. In the parable, the servants are to "occupy till I come". Carry on...Hang in there...Keep on keepin on...Take care of your family....Do what you normally do...etc.,etc.,etc., can all fit within the quotation marks. In other words, for the true believer, the return of Messiah is NOT something you prepare for...It was already prepared for when He accepted you into His kingdom! The return of the Master is part and parcel of our relationship with Him! You see, the question is NOT have you prepared your heart for the Messiah's return, but "Have you allowed the Messiah to prepare YOU for His return.

It is entirely possible that all of my research and study is completely on the wrong track, but that is entirely inconsequential because MY reputation is not what is at stake. If I live my life in proper relationship to my Savior, His reputation is my charge! It matters not what you think of me, but what do you think of Yeshua? Have you allowed Him to prepare you for His return?

Shalom

Enter HERE for Rest

Our previous post consisted entirely of a scripture portion taken from the book of Hebrews, chapter 4.  I would encourage you to read it in its entirety before proceeding. 

Verse 12 of this chapter speaks of the Word of Yahuweh being alive and powerful.  If that is the case, is it not torture to the Living Word to take verses and/or passages out of context and build doctrines and even denominations of them? 

The context of this chapter is entering into the rest of the Almighty through what Yeshua accomplished for us on the cross.  We enter that rest through His gift and nothing else.  The 'unmerited favor' extended to us as human beings was so costly to our Heavenly Father that He would declare it impossible for anyone to enter His kingdom through any other method. 

Look at Hebrews 6:4-6:  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Any time we take what has been given to to us by grace, and then attempt to add requirements to it we are guilty of adding to the Word of our Creator.  Scripture strongly warns against this (Rev. 22:18,19).  {This reference is specifically referring to the prophecy in the book of Revelation, but is a repetition of Torah commands in Deuteronomy} 

Because we enter His rest (salvation) by His grace, EVERYTHING from that point on must be done out of love and respect for what He has done.  If you are going to obey scriptural injunction, it must be because you love, and not to earn!   When we come to this understanding then passages of scripture such as Romans 6:1-4 take on new meaning.  Please don't misuse the grace that has been extended to you.  It cost Yahuweh the death of His Son.  It is Grace that allows you to attempt walking in obedience!

 

Shalom

Rest IS Available

Hebrews 4 speaks to us of the rest of the Almighty.  Because of the length of this passage, I reserve comment for the next post. 

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
    “So I swore in My wrath,
    ‘They shall not enter My rest,’”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”
Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
    “Today, if you will hear His voice,
    Do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:1-16)

 

 

Shalom

The Spiritual Blame Game

We have spent a considerable amount of time and space, on this blog, encouraging and challenging believers pertaining to their relationship with Yeshua.  While this topic remains our highest priority, I want to discuss another extremely important relationship with you. 

If you have been married for any length of time (more than one hour) you have probably had disagreement with your spouse.  These disagreements take on a sinister nature when there are spiritual overtones.  As believers, we have a tendency to personify the attitude: "If he/she were as spiritual as I am, there would be no argument here!"  What would happen if we carried into this extremely important relationship the belief that our spouse is just as close to their Messiah as you are?  In other words, disagreements happen when both parties are in right relationship with our Creator! 

In counseling many married couples through the years a principle has risen to the top of rules for believers.  That principle:  NEVER use the Word of Yahuweh against each other!

The Bible teaches that the Word is a weapon (see Hebrews 4:12) and most times when it is used to prove a point in an argument, it will cause irreparable damage to the relationship.  Our lives are governed by scriptural principle, therefore preaching to our spouse can be perceived as "hitting below the belt."  If I use scripture against my wife, I have become the voice of the Holy Spirit to her...a role I could not possibly fulfill.  It is far better to trust the Almighty to get His word across to your spouse.  After all, it is His Word. 

A couple of years ago, my child bride and myself were at an impasse.  I was shocked to come to the realization that BOTH of us were praying fervently about our situation.  We were BOTH seeking our Father's will.  We simply had a disagreement that we were taking from the natural (carnal) realm into the spiritual.  When we dealt with the problem where it originated (our own wants and desires) the solution was ridiculously simple.  It became a relatively easy matter of communication rather than an eternal problem. 

I believe it is a devious trap of the enemy of our souls to get us to spiritualize our petty problems.  Our Loving Heavenly Father has given us a brain to use.  Using it to further our interpersonal relationships is also furthering His Kingdom!

 

Shalom