| Semachiah | -- 04-06-2009 @ 6:55 AM |
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Shalom, Scripture references are from, the SET (Stone Edition Tanach) or the CJB (Complete Jewish Bible) for the OT and the PNT (Power New Testament ) for the NT unless otherwise specified. Eph 4:25. On this account when the falsehood has been put off "You must each speak the truth with his neighbor," (Zch 8:16) because we are part of one another. 26. "Be angry but do not sin:" (Ps 4:4) the sun must not set on your anger, 27. so you do not give a place to the devil. 28. The one who steals must no longer steal, but rather let him toil as he works good things with his own hands so that he would have something to share with the one who has need. (Ro 12:8) 29. An unwholesome word (Mt 12:36,37) must never come out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up, meeting their need, so that it would give help to those who are listening. 30. And you must not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with Whom you became sealed for the Day of redemption. 31. Every bitterness and impulsive outburst and anger and clamor and blasphemy with every wickedness must be taken from you at once! 32. And with one another you must continually be kind, compassionate, freely forgiving others of your own accord, just as also God granted forgiveness to you in Messiah. Eph 5.1. Therefore you must continually be imitators of God as beloved children 2. and you must walk constantly in love, just as also the Messiah loved us and gave Himself over on our behalf, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a fragrant aroma. 3. But any immorality or impurity or covetousness must not be named among you, as is fitting for saints, 4. nor foul speaking or foolish talking or low jesting, which things do not belong, but rather thanksgiving. 5. For you know this very well, that anyone who practices immorality or uncleanness or covetousness, who is an idol worshipper, does not have any inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and God. Did you know that YHVH was a baseball fan? HE is and I can prove it. HIS favourite team is?.... the Angels. In addition HE starts off the Bible talking about baseball when HE states... "In the Big Inning (beginning). Putting the childish humour aside lets consider our text from another view? Let's take the time to concentrate a bit on what YHVH has said when HE has Paul to write... Eph 4:32. And with one another you must continually be kind, compassionate, freely forgiving others of your own accord, just as also God granted forgiveness to you in Messiah. Eph 5.1. Therefore you must continually be imitators of God as beloved children 2. and you must walk constantly in love, just as also the Messiah loved us and gave Himself over on our behalf, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a fragrant aroma. As I pointed out in What is it that is between your eyes?, Jonah, who was as much of a metaphor for the nation, the people, of Israel as he was a real person, had a possessive nature that was the breeding ground within him for anger. This anger caused him not to want to obey YHVH when he was told to take his knowledge of YHVH to the Ninevites. Even after he had done as YHVH had asked of him this possessiveness fostered more anger within himself that caused him to be angry toward YHVH. He was so desirous of keeping YHVH for himself and his people, for keeping that "special-ness" that went along with being a "chosen" child of YHVH that he lost his compassion for the rest of YHVH's creations. If we really examine human nature and other nations throughout time we can see something akin to this manifesting itself over and over again. Mankind is continually trying to make oneself appear or to be superior to others. It is this 'nature' within us that often fuels our wars as we attempt to prove our superiority over others by taking what they have. it is this "superiority" nature within us that causes us to covet things which of course we are told not to do (Ex 20:17). It was this covetous nature that was the demise of Lucifer before the creation of mankind as metaphorically recorded in... Isaiah 14:11 Your pride has been brought down to Sh'ol with the music of your lyres, under you a mattress of maggots, over you a blanket of worms.' 14:12 "How did you come to fall from the heavens, morning star, son of the dawn? How did you come to be cut to the ground, conqueror of nations? 14:13 You thought to yourself, 'I will scale the heavens, I will raise my throne above God's stars. I will sit on the Mount of Assembly far away in the north. 14:14 I will rise past the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.' 14:15 "Instead you are brought down to Sh'ol, to the uttermost depths of the pit. ... and it was this vary same nature that caused the fall of mankind... Gen 3: 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any wild animal which ADONAI, God, had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You are not to eat from any tree in the garden'?" 3:2 The woman answered the serpent, "We may eat from the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3:3 but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, 'You are neither to eat from it nor touch it, or you will die.'" 3:4 The serpent said to the woman, "It is not true that you will surely die; 3:5 because God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it had a pleasing appearance and that the tree was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her; and he ate. It is to this vary nature within mankind that Paul also writes... Rom 12:3. For I say, through the grace that has been given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think too highly of yourselves beyond which it is necessary to think, but to think to put a moderate estimate of yourself, in the same manner as God divided to each a measure of faith. 4. For just as we have many members in one body, but all the parts do not have the same function, 5. in this way, we, the many, are one body in Messiah, but each one part of one another. 6. And having different gifts according to the grace given to us, whether prophecy according to the proportion of his faith, 7. or ministry in his service, or the one who teaches in the teaching, 8. or the one who encourages in encouragement: the one who shares, (Eph 4:28) in sincerity without grudging, the protector or guardian giving aid in diligent eagerness, the one who is merciful in cheerfulness. Y'SHUA also addressed this innate nature within mankind when He stated... Mat 6:25. "Because of this I say to you, stop being anxious for your life, what you would eat or what you would drink, or what you would put on your body. No indeed! Is life not more than food and the body more than clothing? 26. You must consider the birds of the sky that do not sow and do not harvest and do not gather into a storehouse, and your heavenly Father feeds them: are you not worth more than they? 27. And who of you if you are anxious is able to add one single hour upon his age? 28. And concerning clothing, why are you anxious? You must observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not labor and they do not spin: 29. but I say to you that Solomon in all his glory did not dress himself as one of these. 30. And if God clothes the grass of the field this way, which is here today and tomorrow is cast into a furnace, will He not much more clothe you, little faiths? 31. Therefore you should not be anxious saying, 'What could we eat?' or, 'What could we drink?' or, 'What should we wear?' 32. For the heathens are striving for all these things: for indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33. But you must continually seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these things will be provided for you. 34. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious of itself: each day's trouble is enough for that day." However the nature of a New Creature, a CHRISTian, a CHRIST-like one, is to be like that of The CHRIST, Y'SHUA. We are told in Rom 8:29 that we are to be "conformed into the image" of Y'SHUA, the FIRSTborn Son of MANY Brothers and thereby know that we too are Sons of YHVH. Just after Paul has told us this YHVH also has him to tell us... Rom 12:9. Love must be sincere. Abhorring evil, clinging to the good, 10. devoted to one another in brotherly love, trying to outdo one another in showing respect, 11. in eagerness not sluggishness, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 12. rejoicing in hope, persevering in affliction, persisting in prayer, 13. sharing what you have in the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality, 14. you must continually bless those who persecute you, you must continually bless and you must stop cursing. 15. To rejoice with those who rejoice, to weep with those who weep. 16. Being of the same mind with one another, not being proud but yielding to the lowly menial tasks. Do not ever become wise in your own estimation. 17. And by not paying back evil against evil, taking thought for good before all mankind: 18. if able from yourselves, living in peace with all mankind: 19. not avenging yourselves, beloved, but you must now give place to the wrath of God, for it has been written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," (Dt 32:35) says the Lord. 20. But "If your enemy hungers, you must continually feed him: if he thirsts, you must continually give him drink: for doing this you will heap coals of fire upon his head." (Pr 25:21,22) 21. I do not overcome evil by doing evil but I overcome evil by doing good. All of this however is conflicting within us! The things that we know we are to do are raging in a war with our basic nature. Notice however that this is not the nature with which mankind was created. Once Adam partook of sin or once he disobeyed YHVH's Words, the YHVH given spirit within him died and the spirit of a sin-nature reigned within him. This nature was then passed down to every subsequent generation through the bloodline (Num 14:18). As YHVH delivers the Jews from the bondage of slavery, as HE metaphorically delivers mankind from sin HE also instructs them in a way to stay free from sin... Ex 13:1 ADONAI said to Moshe, 2 "Set aside for me all the firstborn. Whatever is first from the womb among the people of Isra'el, both of humans and of animals, belongs to me." 3 Moshe said to the people, "Remember this day, on which you left Egypt, the abode of slavery; because ADONAI, by the strength of his hand, has brought you out of this place. Do not eat hametz. 4 You are leaving today, in the month of Aviv. 5 When ADONAI brings you into the land of the Kena'ani, Hitti, Emori, Hivi and Y'vusi, which he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you are to observe this ceremony in this month. 6 For seven days you are to eat matzah, and the seventh day is to be a festival for ADONAI. 7 Matzah is to be eaten throughout the seven days; neither hametz nor leavening agents are to be seen with you throughout your territory. 8 On that day you are to tell your son, 'It is because of what ADONAI did for me when I left Egypt.' 9 "Moreover, it will serve you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder between your eyes, so that ADONAI's Torah may be on your lips; because with a strong hand ADONAI brought you out of Egypt. 10 Therefore you are to observe this regulation at its proper time, year after year. 11 When ADONAI brings you into the land of the Kena'ani, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and gives it to you, 12 you are to set apart for ADONAI everything that is first from the womb. Every firstborn male animal will belong to ADONAI. 13 Every firstborn from a donkey, you are to redeem with a lamb; but if you choose not to redeem it, you must break its neck. But from people, you are to redeem every firstborn son. 14 When, at some future time, your son asks you, 'What is this?' then say to him, 'With a strong hand ADONAI brought us out of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh was unwilling to let us go, ADONAI killed all the firstborn males in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of humans and the firstborn of animals. This is why I sacrifice to ADONAI any male that is first from the womb of an animal, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.' 16 This will serve as a sign on your hand and at the front of a headband around your forehead that with a strong hand ADONAI brought us out of Egypt." If we could keep these thoughts in the forefront of our minds, if we could keep YHVH's Word squarely before our eyes, it is less likely that we would sin. To this end YHVH gave these instructions to the Jews. They still missed it, they still blew it if you will. They fulfilled the legal requirement with what are known as "Frontlets" but failed to understand their purpose. Eventually YHVH manifest HIS Word in another form, a human form to live before them and to show them and us "the way", the way to be free from the basic influence of the sin nature of mankind. This "way" is the way that will return mankind from the sin-nature to the original nature he was created with... Genesis (B'resheet) 3:24 So he drove the man out, and he placed at the east of the garden of 'Eden the k'ruvim (Cherubims) and a flaming sword which turned in every direction to guard the way to the tree of life. Our "way" back to a perfect relationship with YHVH, a relationship without sin that will allow us to live forever before HIM, is through HIS Word. Jn 1.1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. He was with God in the beginning. 3. All things came through Him, and there was not one thing that came into being without His participation. (Wsd 9:1) What had come 4. in Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind: 5. and the Light shines in the darkness, nevertheless the darkness has not appropriated it (Jn 3:19). What YHVH says is what YHVH is! What YHVH says is HIS very nature, HIS essence. It was by words that everything has been created. Gen 1:3 Then God said... Throughout the story of the creation of the earth for mankind's use "YHVH said" and it became what YHVH said it was to become. Thus by YHVH's Word was everything created. YHVH then said to the fallen angel Lucifer now known as satan that appeared in the Garden east of Eden in the form of a serpent that HE would... Gen 3:15 I will put animosity between you and the woman, and between your descendant and her descendant; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel." Later through the words of Abraham HE states to Isaac... Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. KJV And yet later still HE tells Mary through HIS angel that... Lk 1:35. Then the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and power of the Most High will cover you: for this reason then the Holy One Who is birthed will be called the Son of God. All of this was yet still insufficient for mankind so YHVH said... Lk 3:21. And it was while all the people were being baptized, Jesus was also baptized and while He was praying heaven opened 22. and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, I have been well pleased with You." From Heaven YHVH declares that HE is well pleased with Y'SHUA, HE declares Him to be HIS Son or one that is without sin for only a sinless being could be a child of YHVH. Deut 8:3 He humbled you, allowing you to become hungry, and then fed you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had ever known, to make you understand that a person does not live on food alone but on everything that comes from the mouth of ADONAI. By The Word of YHVH were all things created and by The Word of YHVH are all things given life! Y'SHUA attempted to make this point clear when He declared... Jn 5:24. Most certainly I say to you that the one who listens to My message and believes in the One Who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but he has departed from death into life. If by all of this YHVH has still not made HIS point, if HE is still not clear then HE has the writer of Hebrews proclaim... Hbr 1.1. Long ago and in many various ways when God spoke to our fathers, He spoke through the prophets. 2. On the last of these days, He spoke to us through a Son, Whom He appointed heir of all, through Whom He also made the universe: 3. He is the radiance of the glory and representation of His nature, and carries everything by the power in His word. After He made Himself purification for our sins, He sat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4. then He became so much higher in rank than the angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs. The word that I have highlighted, "universe" is in the Greek the word ai?n and really should not be considered a place at all such as a universe or the worlds but understood as a period of time. It is the word from which is derived the English word of "eon", or an extremely long time period such as the time we live in. It was by HIS Word that YHVH has created every thing! It is by HIS Word that HE has promised that we will be saved if we will keep HIS Word, keep HIS commandments. It is HIS Word that HE said we were to keep in front of our eyes, on our foreheads in the form of frontlets. It is this keeping of The Word of YHVH before you that Paul is referring to in our text when he states that we are to... Eph 4:26. "Be angry but do not sin:" (Ps 4:4) the sun must not set on your anger, ... 29. An unwholesome word (Mt 12:36,37) must never come out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up, meeting their need, so that it would give help to those who are listening. YHVH spoke a Vow to the serpent that the seed of the woman would bruise his head. YHVH spoke through Abraham a Promise that HE would provide HIMself for a Lamb as a sacrifice for mankind. YHVH spoke to King David that there would never be a time when one of his heirs would not be on the throne of Israel. YHVH spoke through a angel that The HOLY SPIRIT would overcome Mary to give birth from within her of a son. By HIS Word YHVH has created all things and by HIS Word HE has created the eons. By HIS Word, by the keeping of HIS commandments, we are saved. Y'SHUA was HIS Word made flesh and by HIS Word, by the life, death and resurrection of Y'SHUA, HIS Word we are Born Again, we are born into the eons. The Jews kept HIS Word before them in the form of frontlets, we have the cross! When we keep what the cross represents before us we will be capable of being angry but sinning not. When we keep what the cross represents before us we will be saved. Rev 13:8. And all those who live on the earth will pay homage to him, whose name is not written (Ex 32:32,33, Ps 7:10, 69:28) in the Lamb's Book of Life, the book of the One Who has been slain from the foundation of the universe. ( Is 53:7) Before sin existed YHVH had ordered the steps of mankind to be saved from the effects of sin. HE had placed into action a plan by which all that would listen to HIS Words and keep them in front of them would be able to pass through sin and to come before HIM as HIS Sons. Through the application of the blood of HIS sacrificial Lamb to the posts of the doorway they would be protected from the angel of death and be able to Passover from their life in bondage into HIS Promises and into HIS presence. By this sacrificial Lamb, by this Lamb of YHVH hanging upon the cross you can be saved! This Easter, this Passover will you put on the frontlets? Will you place and KEEP The Word of YHVH before you? Will you keep the cross squarely before your eyes? Shaking everything that can be shaken of "Traditional" (Mk 7:13) religion in order to establish you on The CORNERSTONE and foundation of our faith! Click here to visit --> The Tree
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