Obedience is Up to Us

by Jeannie Ladd

Yeshua IS the Word made flesh. He Himself said that NO man has ever seen or heard the Father, but Him!!

So, every single word spoken or written in scripture was from Yeshua.

It was Yeshua that walked in the garden, met with Avraham, wrestled with Yaacov, spoke with Moshe, showed Himself to Moshe, wrote the commandments with His own finger on the tablets given to Moshe.
It was Yeshua that spoke to the prophets, revealing His displeasure at the wickedness of ALL of Yisrael, choosing to walk in their own way, doing what was right in their own eyes.

It was Yeshua who said He does not change!!

“For I am יהוה, I shall not change, and you, O sons of Ya‛aqoḇ, shall not come to an end. “From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My laws and did not guard them. Turn back to Me, and I shall turn back to you,” said יהוה of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what shall we turn back?’
Malachi 3:6-7

How then, did He change ANY requirement for obedience to His commands? How did He require ancient Yisrael's obedience, but not ours? Wouldn't that mean He changed? Or that He has differing weights and measures, which scripture tells us He hates!?!

Yeshua in NO way condones sin, which is lawlessness. He did NOT die to set us free from obedience, which by the way, He promised would bring BLESSINGS & PROTECTION. When He says if you love Me, you will keep My commandments, don't you see, they are all His?!? From Genesis to Revelation.

“If you love Me, you shall guard My commands".
John 14:15

If you think that YHVH is going to overlook breaking His Torah, doing what is right in your own eyes, that it's ok, you're covered by Yeshua's sacrifice no matter what you do, then you my friend are worshipping a false Messiah, not the Yeshua of scripture.

‘Do not do as they do in the land of Mitsrayim, where you dwelt. And do not do as they do in the land of Kena‛an, where I am bringing you, and do not walk in their laws. ‘Do My right-rulings and guard My laws, to walk in them. I am יהוה your Elohim.
Leviticus 18:3-4

He made it clear over and over and over again, that we are NOT to do as the nations do. In NO way are we to walk in their ways. We are not to MIX the ways of the nations into our worship of Him, EVER!! Yet the mixing happened clear back at the beginning and continues to happen. It didn't become okay all of the sudden because we are more "civilized" or because Yeshua died. It STILL is forbidden!! Ancient Yisrael also saw no harm in incorporating it into their worship either, and it didn't bode so well for them.

And I heard another voice from the heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. “Because her sins have piled up to reach the heaven, and Elohim has remembered her unrighteousnesses. “Render to her as she indeed did render, and repay her double according to her works. In the cup which she has mixed, mix for her double.
Revelation of John 18:4-6

It doesn't matter if what you are mixing comes from Judaism or Christianity, it's ALL grievous to Him, and He will not turn a blind eye to it.

BOTH houses have error and blindness. It's not exclusive to one or the other!!

Yeshua made it abundantly clear that the road is narrow and few there be that find it. The wide road is easy, and it leads to destruction. He EXPECTS that we walk as He walked. That means, we follow His example, His way of life, His complete Torah obedience, that we walk uprightly, with our hearts fully set on Him and HIS way!! He told us to be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect. Hmmm, Yeshua said that!!!

He will not excuse our excuses!! There will be no prize of we don't overcome and endure til the end. WE must overcome!!! We MUST obey!!!

Yeshua did not do for us what we need to do for ourselves.

Prayer

by Jenna Caruthers

In English, the word "pray" originates as begging or entreaty. When I was fleeing Roman Christianity, one of the things that used to bug me was their seeming passivity. One way that showed up was in terms of "prayer." Recently I saw an initialism that drove home that point: "P.U.S.H--Pray Until Something Happens." While I sort of understand the perceived desirability of persistence, their degrees of distance from the destination guarantee their flight to Hawaii ends up in Alaska instead.

Roman Christians seem to conceive of prayer as, okay, you have or know about a situation, you tell "God" and wait for Him to do something. And yet, a study of the Hebrew word "palal"--which is among the words used for communicating with the Almighty--tells a different story. We have the letter pey-lamed-lamed. Pey is the mouth, speaking. Lamed is the shepherd's staff--the authority; it's doubled here denoting the emphasis.

The word itself even seems to portray a supplicant kneeling before the throne where YHVH and Yahshua are seated.

Pal-from the root word--means to fall. This is literally a recognition of one's status of coming before the king and showing respect before pleading one's cause. "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name."

Another aspect of palal is that of discernment. The one to whom you plead is making a judgment about what you've said. He tells you what to do about it. Our Western orientation makes a distinction between words and actions but Hebrew makes no such separation. After telling your side of the story, the Judge will make a determination directing you to take some action. Often, even in courts today, there is a "brief" about the decision that explains the judge's point of view and precedents.

When you don't humbly wait, but just sort of sign off with the tagline "in Jesus' name," you miss the point: relationship, communication, understanding, obedience.

Truth!

by Jeannie Ladd

For what purpose does YHVH open our eyes to the truth of His whole Word, when we come to understand that Torah was NOT done away with, but is still relevant today, as it has always been?

Is it to give us knowledge to puff us up? Is it to beat people with? Is it to disregard as Christianity has done for 1700 years?

I have watched a disturbing trend among those who would call themselves Torah obedient or Torah keepers.

There seems to be a blatant disregard for the REQUIREMENT to obey. There is still such a mindset that it's all just too difficult to keep, that we don't NEED to anymore, etc., etc.

So then, what is the purpose in Him opening our eyes, if we just remain unchanged, still thinking that obedience is not REQUIRED?

If Yisrael was divided and scattered because of disobedience, what makes us different? Did YHVH change?? Is He guilty of keeping differing weights and measures, which scripture tells us He hates??

Yeshua changed NONE of the requirements for obedience, NONE!!!! That is NOT why He died!!

I submit to you, that if He opened your eyes, He called you to change!! To Teshuva to Him, His Ways!!! To OBEY!!!

Because we have seen, we are held to a greater accountability!!

I didn't post this to condemn or argue with anyone, but to challenge each and everyone of us. Yeshua died to redeem us, to RETURN, not to remain in our sin. He is calling the First Fruits. Will we obey?? We MUST deny ourselves, die to our own way. We must work out our salvation, endure to the end. Yeshua is the door, but we first have to walk the path to the door.

We MUST have BOTH.

Then יהושע said to His taught ones, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake, and follow Me.
Matthew 16:24

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to fight with the remnant of her seed, those guarding the commands of Elohim AND possessing the witness of יהושע Messiah.
Revelation 12:17

Women Teaching

I don't know who originally wrote these thoughts or where I found them, but I've seen several posts this week about women, so I'm going to include this, for those who will read, pray, and seek . . .

From the Pope to various Messianics, some hold the opinion that women should not teach "spiritual matters" to men. Certainly, there is one verse that many interpret to support this position. Nevertheless, we know that any one verse can be used to support just about any position. (Peter's vision, for example.) We must look at the totality of Scripture.

If one holds the opinion that it is wrong for a woman to teach spiritual truths to men, then one must also conclude that Mary Magdalene and Priscilla were among Scripture's foremost sinners. Fortunately, that opinion is incorrect.

"Yeshua saith unto her, 'Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.' Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her." (John 20:17-18)

"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." (Acts 18:24-26)

His Return

I have been longing to post this, but I don't know the author . . . so with that being said, I am not claiming copyright, nor am I claiming an exclusive, I just think this information is pertinent to end time events!  the Editor of the Goshen Gazette ~


In Matt. 24, Jesus is told us what signs would lead up to His return. One of those signs is this:

"At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and HATE one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead MANY. Because LAW-lessness is increased, most people's LOVE will grow cold." Matt. 24:10-12

What is the LOVE that will grow cold?

"For THIS is the love of God, that we KEEP His commandmentS.; and His commandments are NOT burdensome." 1 John 5:3

"Now I ask you lady, NOT as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the BEGINNING, that we LOVE one another. And THIS is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the BEGINNING, that you should walk in it." 2 John 1:5-6

" 'Teacher, which is THE great commandment in the Law/Torah?' And He said, ' "You shall LOVE the LORD your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Deut. 6:5)." This is the great and FOREMOST commandment. The second is LIKE it, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18)." On these TWO commandments (quoted from Torah) depend the WHOLE Law/Torah AND the Prophets.' " Matt. 22:36-40

The 10 Commandments tell us what God expects of us, and are summed up as loving God and loving our neighbor. Torah INSTRUCTS us in DETAIL on HOW to love God and love our neighbor. Jesus (the Word/Torah made flesh), Himself, taught and demonstrated a DEEPER revelation on what it means to love our neighbor (Matt. 5:20-48).

"Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We KNOW that we have passed out of death into life, BECAUSE we LOVE the brethren. He who does not love ABIDES in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer (Matt. 5:21-22); and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the BRETHREN. But whoever has the world's goods and sees his BROTHER in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed AND truth." 1John 3:13-18

"Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law/Torah is TRUTH." Ps. 119:142

"Those who follow after wickedness draw near; THEY are FAR from Your Law/Torah. You are NEAR, O LORD, and ALL Your COMMANDMENTS are TRUTH." Ps. 119:150-151

***
Warning: "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; and the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does NOT bring THIS teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting. for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil DEEDS." 2 John 1:9-11

The Human Race

                                   Contributed by Lenzey Coble

God made one race. Human. To believe that someone is less than because of the color of their skin is the most ignorant, hateful, and hideous thing I have ever encountered. I have seen the up close and personal of racism more times than I care to admit, and it is disgusting. I don't think there is anything I hate more in this world than hearing some ignorant racist fool, popping off at the mouth.

All living things (plants, animals, humans) adapt to their surroundings. Over a period of time diet, environment, and lifestyle make small changes to certain DNA markers. These traits pass on to future generations. Adaptation doesn't mean "less than." It means survival... It means *strengthening* your DNA to live in your environment. Adaptation to surroundings is what causes differences in the human race. Not some God given hierarchy based on pigment. You have got to get over yourselves, people. Stop seeing status where there is only different levels of melanin.

Would you believe that just a few generations before me, my maternal family was considered black? The census cards of my ancestors have a very COLORFUL range of "race." Just a quick glimpse: "Negro," "Black," "Foreign," "Mulatto," "Mixed," "Caucasian," "Native American," "Indian" (the country). My own mother, just because of her olive complexion, was made fun of as a child for being "mulatto." She passed her GORGEOUS coloring on to my brother and youngest sister, who regularly gets asked what country she's from. Their father had blue eyes and blond hair. My other sister, with the same parentage, has an even paler complexion than I do. Beautiful ivory skin, blond hair, blue eyes. My mother's sister, despite both parents being very olive-toned, has blue eyes and blond hair, but can tan just as dark as the rest of them. You CANNOT judge a person based on the color of their skin! You have absolutely no idea what their genetic markers are! You don't even know how your own children will look until they are a few months old, sometimes even longer than that! Black couples have white children. White couples have black children. A set of twins can have one white and one black! My olive skinned grandparents have a rainbow of complexions in their five children, and my mama had four beautifully different colored babies of her own. It happens more than you realize. Shocking, right?

You're all killing each other, threatening violence, and saying DISGUSTING things about another human being. Some of these voices are coming from my own family members, ignorant of their own heritage. I am humiliated by some of the things I have read over the last few days. People make bad decisions because they genuinely do not know any other way. If you know better, be a better example! Show them, IN LOVE, how to act. Poverty, lack of good education and failing to raise children with respectful, wholesome values... This is what causes violence. This is what breeds hatred. Last I checked, we're all guilty of it. It's the HUMAN race that's the problem, guys... We're all a bunch of selfish brats, wanting our way and throwing a fit when we don't get it. All of us.

People are people. We all come from the same dirt, the same Breath, and we all bleed red. I try to hold my tongue when stuff makes me angry. I try to speak in love, but this is ridiculous. I am embarrassed by it. Y'all need to get yourselves right with the Creator. Messiah is coming back to JUDGE. Get your hearts right with Him, and get your heads out of your butts. Seriously. I apologize for my anger, but I hope it leaves you with some quality self-examination time. Peace and love and blessings to you all.

Messianic Prophecies in Hebrew Scripture

                                      by Pamela Wood

Old Testament Scriptures That Describe The Coming Messiah
The Messianic Prophecy (paraphrased) Where the prophecy appears in the Old Testament (written between 1450 BC and 430 BC) Jesus’ fulfillment of the prophecy in the New Testament (written between 45 and 95 AD)
The Messiah will be the offspring (descendant) of the woman (Eve) Genesis 3:15 Galatians 4:4
The Messiah will be a descendant of Abraham, through whom everyone on earth will be blessed Genesis 12:3; 18:18 Acts 3:25,26
The Messiah will be a descendant of Judah Genesis 49:10 Matthew 1:2 and Luke 3:33
The Messiah will be a prophet like Moses Deuteronomy 18:15-19 Acts 3:22,23
The Messiah will be the Son of God Psalm 2:7 Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22
The Messiah will be raised from the dead (resurrected) Psalm 16:10,11 Matthew 28:5-9; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:4-7; John 20:11-16; Acts 1:3 and 2:32
The Messiah crucifixion experience Psalm 22 (contains 11 prophecies—not all listed here) Matthew 27:34-50 and John 19:17-30
The Messiah will be sneered at and mocked Psalm 22:7 Luke 23:11,35-39
The Messiah will be pierced through hands and feet Psalm 22:16 Luke 23:33 and 24:36-39;
John 19:18 and 20:19-20,24-27
The Messiah’s bones will not be broken (a person’s legs were usually broken after being crucified to speed up their death) Psalm 22:17 and 34:20 John 19:31-33,36
Men Will Gamble for the Messiah’s clothing Psalm 22:18 Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23,24
The Messiah will accused by false witnesses Psalm 35:11 Matthew 26:59,60 and Mark 14:56,57
The Messiah will be hated without a cause Psalm 35:19 and 69:4 John 15:23-25
The Messiah will be betrayed by a friend Psalm 41:9 John 13:18,21
The Messiah will ascend to heaven (at the right hand of God) Psalm 68:18 Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9; 2:33-35; 3:20-21; 5:31,32; 7:55-56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20,21; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Pet 3:22 . . . sorry, we got carried away! 
The Messiah will be given vinegar and gall to drink Psalm 69:21 Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23; John 19:29,30
Great kings will pay homage and tribute to the Messiah Psalm 72:10,11 Matthew 2:1-11
The Messiah is a “stone the builders rejected” who will become the “head cornerstone” Psalm 118:22,23 and Isaiah 28:16 Matthew 21:42,43; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-8
The Messiah will be a descendant of David Psalm 132:11 and Jeremiah 23:5,6; 33:15,16 Luke 1:32,33
The Messiah will be a born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-35
The Messiah’s first spiritual work will be in Galilee Isaiah 9:1-7 Matthew 4:12-16
The Messiah will make the blind see, the deaf hear, etc. Isaiah 35:5-6 Many places. Also see Matthew 11:3-6 and John 11:47
The Messiah will be beaten, mocked, and spat upon Isaiah 50:6 Matthew 26:67 and 27:26-31
The “Gospel according to Isaiah” Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
People will hear and not believe the “arm of the LORD” (Messiah) Isaiah 53:1 John 12:37,38
The Messiah will be rejected Isaiah 53:3 Matthew 27:20-25; Mark 15:8-14; Luke 23:18-23; John 19:14,15
The Messiah will be killed Isaiah 53:5-9 Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37-39; Luke 23:46; John 19:30
The Messiah will be silent in front of his accusers Isaiah 53:7 Matthew 26:62,63 and 27:12-14
The Messiah will be buried with the rich Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:59,60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:52,53; John 19:38-42
The Messiah will be crucified with criminals Isaiah 53:12 Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:32,33
The Messiah is part of the new and everlasting covenant Isaiah 55:3-4 and Jeremiah 31:31-34 Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; Hebrews 8:6-13
The Messiah will be our intercessor (intervene for us and plead on our behalf) Isaiah 59:16 Hebrews 9:15
The Messiah has two missions Isaiah 61:1-3 (first mission ends at “. . . year of the LORD’s favor”) First mission: Luke 4:16-21; Second mission: to be fulfilled at the end of the world
The Messiah will come at a specific time Daniel 9:25-26 Galatians 4:4 and Ephesians 1:10
The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4-7
The Messiah will enter Jerusalem riding a donkey Zechariah 9:9 Matthew 21:1-11
The Messiah will be sold for 30 pieces of silver Zechariah 11:12,13 Matthew 26:15 with Matthew 27:3-10
The Messiah will forsaken by His disciples Zechariah 13:7 Matthew 26:31,56
The Messiah will enter the Temple with authority Malachi 3:1 Matthew 21:12 and Luke 19:45