The Word of YHVH

Without question, this subject will be the most controversial of any that I have written on to date.  I ask that the reader seriously consider the subject matter in the light of Scripture.

Jeremiah prophesied that in the last days the Gentiles would begin to wake up (spiritually speaking) and realize that we have inherited lies (Jer. 16:19).  I believe that it is my own responsibility to expose these lies and present Truth in ways that will facilitate the soon return of our Messiah.  Fasten your seatbelt, here we go!

Is Jesus your Bible?  Does Yeshua = your Bible?  Is your Messiah limited to the pages of a book?

Why is it, when we ask these questions, we will answer with a thoughtful, but resounding no, but we have no difficulty stating that the Bible is the word of God.  Is there a conflict here? 

When we take the time to examine if both sides of this issue really are equal,  we find ourselves in a conundrum, not really sure what to do with our statement “The Bible is the Word of God.”

We have only one source to examine to determine Truth in this matter, and that is the pages of Scripture themselves.

John 1 tells us that YHVH created all things by His Word.  Did He create all things with the Bible, or was it through Yeshua, His only Son?  Verse 14 of the same chapter tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  We realize that it is foolish to say, “Our Bibles became flesh.”

Hebrews 4:12,13 states, “For 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.”

Personally, I have preached many sermons from this passage, relating it to the writings of Scripture instead of a living Messiah.  Here is the problem:  When I elevate the Scriptures and say, “The Bible is the Word of God” I am also saying that Jesus and my Bible are one and the same! 

Here is the proper (Scriptural) equation: YHVH=Yeshua: God=Jesus: They are the Divine inspiration for Scripture!  Jesus/Yeshua is the Word of YHVH. 

Revelation 19:11-13 says, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.   His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.   He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

The most salient point in all of this:  My Messiah is BIGGER than scripture!  John said that if all the things that He did while He walked on earthly soil were recorded, the earth could not contain the volume of material! See John 21:25.

One other very important point: Yeshua/Jesus still speaks into the hearts of every believer while Scripture is considered a “closed” canon.  Scripture can give you general guidelines on most subjects, but the voice of the Messiah, speaking into your spirit, will give you Divine clarification.

Yeshua is the Word of God!

The scripture is the word from God!

 

Shalom!

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

My wife and I just returned from a trip to Pie Town, New Mexico.  This was a first for us, as we packed our travel trailer, and headed south, purely as an act of obedience to our Creator.  I realize that Pie Town is not Jerusalem, but I have to trust that leaving the comforts of home is keeping the spirit of the command.

Pie Town, New Mexico sits at an elevation of approximately 8000 feet.  Needless to say, the weather was cold.  The wind blew a with a fury that would rival a redheaded Irishman's temper.  We woke several mornings with 1 to 2 inches of snow on the ground.  Water hoses had to be disconnected every night keep them from freezing.  The tent of meeting had to be constantly watched in order to keep it from being destroyed by the wind.

The Scriptures tell us that three times a year all of the men must present themselves before YHVH.  The three times are, The Feast Of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and the Feast Of Tabernacles.  The Scriptures also teach us these presentations must occur on very specific dates.  Because YHVH is so specific about these dates, we have no excuse for not celebrating these holidays on these dates.

Is it really necessary to get so technical in our acts of obedience?  Does our Heavenly Father really care as long as we observe the days?  What difference does it make if we are a day or two off from what He commanded?

The answer to these questions will require some serious introspection on your part.  Scripture teaches us that before our Messiah returns, all things will be restored.  This includes the Creator's calendar.  When Yeshua comes back, will he be operating on a Rabbinic timeline, or will it be on a timeline that He Himself created?  Remember, these convocations, are also referred to as rehearsals.  By their design, they are intended to remind us of things to come.  I don't know about you, but my heart's desire is to get it right the first time!

 

Shalom

A NEW COVENANT PASSOVER?

Yeshua said, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35). He also said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." (John 6:54-58).

Just before his crucifixion, Yeshua told his disciples to go and prepare for the Passover. He told them where to find an upper room that was waiting for their preparation. Because these men were Jewish, they understood the preparation required certain things. Celebrating the feast of unleavened bread required that they clean the room in very specific ways. The purpose of the cleaning was to make sure any and all leavening was disposed of by burning it with fire. What happens next in the Biblical account completely escapes our western gentile thinking. It seems, according to John’s account, that after dinner,(13:4) Yeshua got up and began to watch the disciples' feet. Peter was appalled at this action. Yeshua explained to him that unless Peter allowed this action, he would have no part in the kingdom that was to come. We understand that Yeshua was talking about a spiritual cleansing. Yeshua also told them at this time that one of them was about to betray him. They queried among themselves as to whom it might be. Yeshua told them it was he to whom he would give a morsel of bread dipped in the soup. Here is where we come to the Biblical conundrum.

What was this morsel of bread, (clearly bread with leavening) doing at this Passover? In John 13, verse 18, Yeshua says that one who would eat bread with him is his enemy, and will betray him. The Greek word for bread here, and other places throughout this passage, is ARTOS. It means “a leavened loaf". In Mark's account of this story, and also in Luke's, we see the same word. ARTOS is used consistently throughout the New testament when referring to what Yeshua did on this night. Paul the apostle, when referring to this night, in first Corinthians chapter 11, used the same Greek word. “and the Lord Jesus, in the same night in which he was betrayed took ARTOS, and broke it. How can this be in the light of the commands of Torah? Could it be that Yeshua was giving us a brand new concept that would apply to us as New covenant believers? If that is the case, is this an unprecedented act found nowhere else in scripture? I submit to you, Yeshua is God, and he has chosen to govern himself by His word. In the application of this concept, we must remember that His ways are far above our ways.

Let me ask you a very pointed question. Does Yeshua, as YHVH, have your permission to do things that are above your ways or your understanding? Does he somehow need your approval to operate beyond your way of thinking? We bristle at this, thinking that somehow He has circumvented His own laws. Is this the only place in the entire New testament that this has happened ? What about in the book of Hebrews the where the writer is explaining to us the concept of the “priesthood forever” after the order of Melchizedek?

The bottom line is this : Yeshua is the bread of life! The leavening that is in Him speaks of the newness of life that He has given us. If He chooses to use the concept of a brand new leavening agent, that is His prerogative!

Shalom!