No really! I'm almost finished with the umpteen other sites I've been working on. Whew!
At this point I am really trying to complete these and get them up and running. Building 4 different sites at once is a bit challenging, but it's so much fun too! I'm also in the process of transferring a number of articles here over to the new "main" site. You're excited, I can tell. -_- Haha!
The new sites are as follows:
A site on Health.
One on my Music.
Another on the Word of our Creator.
And the main site which will basically take the place of this one and include links to the others.
I'm really looking forward to what Yahuweh is going to do with these!
Well I just wanted to give a quick update and so I did.
Peace and blessings,
Jason
4/15/13
2/6/13
Waiting or Moving Forward?
It's been a while since I've posted anything on here. I guess it's the uneasy struggle we all have sometimes of trying to balance work, family, friends, and other things that consume our time. Not that any of those are bad (most of the time), but they do require our attention.
I suppose another reason I've been a lazy blogger as of late is because I've been working on...drum roll...a new site! Well, a few sites actually. I know, you're thinking, "Geez, you can't even keep up with this one consistently but you're gonna add more?! Okay, Mr. Overachiever." Or maybe you're thinking, "I really need to get groceries tomorrow." Or maybe, "I wonder what clouds look like over China?" I don't know. Maybe I'm way off on that last one.
Anywho...
When I started this blog I didn't have a specific purpose in mind (kind of like that last paragraph) other than to share my thoughts on things in my life. I realize that's what blogging is often times, sharing one's thoughts, but I wanted a little more direction. A little more direction and a lot more room! I've got a lot of things I'd like to share and this just doesn't seem like the right place for all of it, so I'm going to offer a few places for your reading and listening pleasure.
Yah willing I will be launching a new site dedicated to looking more intently at His Word. I also am in the works of launching 2 other sites: 1. Will be a site focusing solely on Health and the other 2. will be a site offering up music that I hope to record within the next few months. I'm super excited! I'm not rushing things though because I want them to be in HIS timing, not mine. I also have to be realistic in knowing I've got a busy schedule coming up. I'll be recording drums on a full length album, I have to get the garden ready for planting in the next couple of months and I have a business to keep up with. Whew! I need a nap.
So what does all this have to do with the title of this post? I think it's a timing issue. Often times we like to "go" when our Creator says, "Stay here a while" or "stay" when He says, "Okay, time to head out". But as we walk with Him, seeking to please Him in obedience to His Word we find ourselves in that process of waiting AND moving forward (just not at the same time since that'd be kinda hard). He never tells us to stay in one place for the rest of our lives nor does He want us to always keep hiking along if He has something for us by the way.
Hopefully I'm learning better each day to "stay" when He says stay and "go" when He says go.
Whether I'm here or there I'm just very thankful to be on this journey with my Shepherd.
Blessings!
I suppose another reason I've been a lazy blogger as of late is because I've been working on...drum roll...a new site! Well, a few sites actually. I know, you're thinking, "Geez, you can't even keep up with this one consistently but you're gonna add more?! Okay, Mr. Overachiever." Or maybe you're thinking, "I really need to get groceries tomorrow." Or maybe, "I wonder what clouds look like over China?" I don't know. Maybe I'm way off on that last one.
Anywho...
When I started this blog I didn't have a specific purpose in mind (kind of like that last paragraph) other than to share my thoughts on things in my life. I realize that's what blogging is often times, sharing one's thoughts, but I wanted a little more direction. A little more direction and a lot more room! I've got a lot of things I'd like to share and this just doesn't seem like the right place for all of it, so I'm going to offer a few places for your reading and listening pleasure.
Yah willing I will be launching a new site dedicated to looking more intently at His Word. I also am in the works of launching 2 other sites: 1. Will be a site focusing solely on Health and the other 2. will be a site offering up music that I hope to record within the next few months. I'm super excited! I'm not rushing things though because I want them to be in HIS timing, not mine. I also have to be realistic in knowing I've got a busy schedule coming up. I'll be recording drums on a full length album, I have to get the garden ready for planting in the next couple of months and I have a business to keep up with. Whew! I need a nap.
So what does all this have to do with the title of this post? I think it's a timing issue. Often times we like to "go" when our Creator says, "Stay here a while" or "stay" when He says, "Okay, time to head out". But as we walk with Him, seeking to please Him in obedience to His Word we find ourselves in that process of waiting AND moving forward (just not at the same time since that'd be kinda hard). He never tells us to stay in one place for the rest of our lives nor does He want us to always keep hiking along if He has something for us by the way.
Hopefully I'm learning better each day to "stay" when He says stay and "go" when He says go.
Whether I'm here or there I'm just very thankful to be on this journey with my Shepherd.
Blessings!
12/23/12
Truth
Remember two things:
1. Do not add to or take away from the Word of Elohim (which is transliterated in our bibles as 'God' but more closely means 'mighty ones' or Mighty One). When we do this we begin to make His Word say whatever we want it to say, and that's definitely not a good thing.
Our Elohim's word as a WHOLE (Genesis to Revelation) is ALL relevant for us today to learn from.
However, if we add to/take away from it we are choosing to say that we decide what is important and what is not in the Word.
Eve did this in the Garden and look at the mess we ended up with. She added to Elohim's word.
How did she do that? Yahuah (Elohim's name) told Adam that he could eat of any tree in the Garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The day he ate of it would be the day that he would die.
When the serpent told Eve to eat some of the fruit of that tree, she said that they could neither eat it nor touch it.
Did you catch that? Eve added to the word of Yahuah, because He never said they couldn't touch the fruit, only that they would die if they were to eat it.
Either Eve thought it was a good measure not to touch the fruit, or Adam didn't relay the instructions correctly, but he was standing there beside her and never spoke a word, so in the end they were both disobedient.
When Eve added to Elohim's word, Satan saw an open door and walked right in. He said, "Surely you will not die" and when Eve touched the fruit and saw that she didn't die, she then believed that she could eat the fruit and live. However, we know what happened.
We cannot add to nor take away from Elohim's word without receiving judgment for it, and He has a standard which His judgment is based on. That standard is His Law.
We have to look at the foundation of Yahuah's Word which is Genesis through Deuteronomy, also known as the Torah (meaning instructions or teachings). This is what Elohim established as the foundation for His entire word, and the Prophets, the Writings (Psalms, etc...), and the whole New Testament confirm what He said in His Torah while bringing further revelation.
If we understand this, then things really start to make sense. No more trying to fill in the blanks like we've done before. Elohim intended His word to be read and understood by anybody and everybody, and for His people to obey it.
2. The Scriptures can't contradict themselves if they are the inspired Word of Yahuah. In fact it will always explain itself if we read not just a verse or two, but the whole context of what is being said in any given chapter or book. We have to look throughout Elohim's word and keep our mind focused on what He is trying to say to us.
We also have to try and set aside many of the commentaries, books, and devotionals where men try and "explain" the bible. Don't get me wrong because the Spirit of Elohim does bestow gifts of teaching to men but when any man teaches anything in contradiction to the Word he is in serious error and sin. We need to simply look at what Yahuah Himself is saying in His word, remembering that His Torah(Law) is the foundation for everything He says.
It's not that all those men and women aren't educated or don't have a heart for Yahuah, but when we look to their writings and commentaries for our answers instead of the One who has all the answers we'll often get confused and misdirected by the enemy. The gift of teaching is there to confirm what the Spirit has already said to someone who reads His Word.
The heart of every man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked! (Jeremiah 17:9). When we look to the teachings of man and hold them at or even above the word of Elohim then we are standing in great peril.
We don't need a scholarly professor to tell us the truth of the Scriptures. Remember, the Holy (set apart) Spirit is here to teach us which means we really CAN understand what Elohim is saying through His word!
If we are saved then we have the Spirit Who sets us apart from those things that oppose His truth and He will teach us the truth. As Jesus (Yahushua) said, "..Your [the Father] Word IS truth" - John 17:17
"Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is truth" - Psalm 119:142
The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever." - Psalm 119:160
Just keep reading the Scriptures everyday, keeping in mind that as New Covenant believers Elohim's WHOLE word, Genesis to Revelation, is relevant and applicable for us even today! Nowhere in the Scripture does Yahuah say that the "Old Testament" in now done away with or useless or just "for the Jews". In fact, every New Testament author and even Yahushua Himself proclaimed the relevance and importance of the Old Testament (Scriptures) and proved that point by constantly quoting from it. And they did so, not just to point to fulfilled passages about Jesus, but to also show how important and applicable the Old Testament is in the life of a New Covenant believer!
1. Do not add to or take away from the Word of Elohim (which is transliterated in our bibles as 'God' but more closely means 'mighty ones' or Mighty One). When we do this we begin to make His Word say whatever we want it to say, and that's definitely not a good thing.
Our Elohim's word as a WHOLE (Genesis to Revelation) is ALL relevant for us today to learn from.
However, if we add to/take away from it we are choosing to say that we decide what is important and what is not in the Word.
Eve did this in the Garden and look at the mess we ended up with. She added to Elohim's word.
How did she do that? Yahuah (Elohim's name) told Adam that he could eat of any tree in the Garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The day he ate of it would be the day that he would die.
When the serpent told Eve to eat some of the fruit of that tree, she said that they could neither eat it nor touch it.
Did you catch that? Eve added to the word of Yahuah, because He never said they couldn't touch the fruit, only that they would die if they were to eat it.
Either Eve thought it was a good measure not to touch the fruit, or Adam didn't relay the instructions correctly, but he was standing there beside her and never spoke a word, so in the end they were both disobedient.
When Eve added to Elohim's word, Satan saw an open door and walked right in. He said, "Surely you will not die" and when Eve touched the fruit and saw that she didn't die, she then believed that she could eat the fruit and live. However, we know what happened.
We cannot add to nor take away from Elohim's word without receiving judgment for it, and He has a standard which His judgment is based on. That standard is His Law.
We have to look at the foundation of Yahuah's Word which is Genesis through Deuteronomy, also known as the Torah (meaning instructions or teachings). This is what Elohim established as the foundation for His entire word, and the Prophets, the Writings (Psalms, etc...), and the whole New Testament confirm what He said in His Torah while bringing further revelation.
If we understand this, then things really start to make sense. No more trying to fill in the blanks like we've done before. Elohim intended His word to be read and understood by anybody and everybody, and for His people to obey it.
2. The Scriptures can't contradict themselves if they are the inspired Word of Yahuah. In fact it will always explain itself if we read not just a verse or two, but the whole context of what is being said in any given chapter or book. We have to look throughout Elohim's word and keep our mind focused on what He is trying to say to us.
We also have to try and set aside many of the commentaries, books, and devotionals where men try and "explain" the bible. Don't get me wrong because the Spirit of Elohim does bestow gifts of teaching to men but when any man teaches anything in contradiction to the Word he is in serious error and sin. We need to simply look at what Yahuah Himself is saying in His word, remembering that His Torah(Law) is the foundation for everything He says.
It's not that all those men and women aren't educated or don't have a heart for Yahuah, but when we look to their writings and commentaries for our answers instead of the One who has all the answers we'll often get confused and misdirected by the enemy. The gift of teaching is there to confirm what the Spirit has already said to someone who reads His Word.
The heart of every man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked! (Jeremiah 17:9). When we look to the teachings of man and hold them at or even above the word of Elohim then we are standing in great peril.
We don't need a scholarly professor to tell us the truth of the Scriptures. Remember, the Holy (set apart) Spirit is here to teach us which means we really CAN understand what Elohim is saying through His word!
If we are saved then we have the Spirit Who sets us apart from those things that oppose His truth and He will teach us the truth. As Jesus (Yahushua) said, "..Your [the Father] Word IS truth" - John 17:17
"Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is truth" - Psalm 119:142
The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever." - Psalm 119:160
Just keep reading the Scriptures everyday, keeping in mind that as New Covenant believers Elohim's WHOLE word, Genesis to Revelation, is relevant and applicable for us even today! Nowhere in the Scripture does Yahuah say that the "Old Testament" in now done away with or useless or just "for the Jews". In fact, every New Testament author and even Yahushua Himself proclaimed the relevance and importance of the Old Testament (Scriptures) and proved that point by constantly quoting from it. And they did so, not just to point to fulfilled passages about Jesus, but to also show how important and applicable the Old Testament is in the life of a New Covenant believer!
12/13/12
Walking in the Spirit
What does it mean to "walk in the Spirit"? Paul uses this phrase in Galatians 5:16, but what is it that he's speaking of?
Many professing christians today believe that walking in the Spirit is many different things depending on how they interpret the Scriptures.
John MacArthur, a well known pastor and author, said this of the Holy Spirit:
At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the life of a believer and becomes the source of power for his life."
The question is - "The source of power for his life...to do what?"
Is the Holy Spirit working in us to give us power so that we can live according to how we think we should? Many people believe so. How many times have you heard, "If God wanted me to do that, then He would have..." Just fill in the blank, as I'm sure we can come up with a million reasons as to why we disobey the Lord in what He tells us to do.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9
The fool has said in his heart "There is no God."
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none who does good. God looks down from heaven
upon the children of men to see if there are any
who understand, who seek God. Every one of them has turned aside;
They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good.
No, not one.
Psalm 53:1-3
How can we think that we can know best, that we can set the standard of how we should live? Yet we do all the time. "Oh no, not me!" Yes, even you. I have found myself far too many times deciding that I know better than God what is best for my life, and I'm sure that you've done it from time to time.
How do we do it? By adding to His Word, or taking away from it. It is a constant process of submitting to His will and letting go of ours that will give us direction, because we are choosing to follow the One who knows ALL things, and certainly knows what's best for us.
Only by keeping (treasuring) His Commandments can we begin to see the corrupt nature of our flesh and crucify the "old man", that sinful nature.
This is where the discussion usually has people spewing out terms like, "legalist" or "bondage", in reference to a believer choosing to obey God's Commandments. "We're free from the Law." "The Law is dead." Really? That's not what Jesus said,
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For assuredly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
Matthew 5:17-18
Until when? Until heaven and earth pass away, not one single mark will be removed from the Law (His Word)! Has heaven or earth passed away yet? Nope. When will they? Not until Messiah returns to consumate the marriage with His bride (the church). In 1 John 3:4, John writes that "sin is lawlessness." Jesus Himself said that there will be people who come to Him and claim to have done great things in His name, but He will say to those people, "I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23)
How can we know Christ if we do not know His Law? The answer is - we can't. Remember, it's HIS law, not ours. Since He is the Creator of life and the giver of all good things, then He knows what is good for those who love Him.
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" Jesus said this in John 14:15 and it is not an ultimatum or a command, but simply a fact. If we truly love Him, then we will naturally obey His Word, His Commandments. This is walking in the Spirit.
The Spirit is our Helper, our seal of redemption, and He gives us the power, by His grace, to obey His Commandments through faith. It is only through faith that we can access grace and it is only by God's grace that we can hope to be obedient to Him. Like James writes,
"faith without works, is dead"
James 2:26
If our faith is real, then good works will follow. Those works are proof that our faith is real. These are the fruits of the Spirit. These are the works that God prepared beforehand in Messiah for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:8-10).
So let's look at Paul's discussion of what walking in the Spirit is about, in Galatians 5.
He writes:
"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
Galatians 5:16-18
Before we move on I want to point out that this argument is identical to what Paul wrote in Romans 7 and 8.
Paul cries out "O wretched man that I am who will save me from this body of death?" Of course we know the answer - Yeshua! (Jesus). But why does Paul say that? In verses 14 through 23 we see the struggle that is in all of us! Our spirits want to do one thing, but our sinful nature wants to do another, and sometimes we end up doing things against the will of our spirit because we've given room for our flesh to win a victory in our lives instead of yielding control over to the Holy Spirit. In Romans 6:18-19 Paul points out that we are to be slaves of righteousness, going against the will of our flesh and obeying the Law of God.
In Romans 7:14 he writes that the Law is spiritual. The Spirit and the Law work together in the life of the believer because they are both "spiritual" (Romans 8:2-4). The flesh hates both the Spirit and the law. In fact Romans 8:7 says this:
"Because the carnal mind [sinful nature] is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."
Romans 8:7
Did you get that? Our flesh CANNOT be subject to God's Law and it is hostile toward Him. Is it any wonder that we don't "feel" like obeying the Commandments of Yahweh?! That's because our flesh is lying to us, telling us that we don't need to follow a "dead law", as it says. However, the Law is NOT dead, as Jesus already said He didn't come to destroy it, but to fulfill it. That word "fulfill" actually means to fully preach!
What about Paul's statement back in Gal. 5:18 about not being under the law if we are led by the Spirit? The same thing we just talked about. To be under the Law is to be under God's wrath and the condemnation of death. Remember, the Law shows us what sin is, what sinners we are, and our need for a Savior. This is being "under" the Law. Perhaps you recall the verse that says "Christ is the end of the law". Well, it says
"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
Romans 10:4
If Christ already said that He didn't come to destroy the Law but to fulfill (fully preach) then what is being said here? The word for end in the above verse actually means 'goal' or aiming for a mark.
G5056
τέλος
telos
tel'-os
From a primary word τέλλω tellō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly the point aimed at as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically an impost or levy (as paid): - + continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost. Compare G5411.
The Law is all about Messiah - the Living Word! It points to Him, but that doesn't mean that He did away with it in the process of fulfilling it!
To be under the Law is death, that's one of it's ministries
(1 Corinthians 3:7) as it was, written on stone. The Law is the knowledge of sin and therefore shows us our sin - that which leads us to death, but it is also for our good (Deuteronomy 10:13; Romans 3:17-18) and David and Paul both said they delighted in the Law of God (Psalm 1:2; 19; 119; Romans 7:22). Paul also said that he serves the Law of God with his mind and that we, as believers, actually establish the Law through faith! (Romans 7:25; 3:31)
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kindgom of God."
Galatians 5:19-21
Practice what things? All of the things Paul just listed - which are sinful. Sin is what? - lawlessness. People who practice lawlessness will be told by the Lord that He never knew them and they will be told to depart from Him.
"but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Galatians 5:22-24
The Law of God, which not only shows us our sin, but shows us how to live for Him, tells us what HE wants from us. The Spirit, testifying with our spirits that we are children of God, shows us this by acknowledging whether or not we love Him and whether or not we'll follow Him.
We crucify our flesh by dying to it daily. Laying ourselves on the altar as living sacrifices. How do we do that? By loving the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and strength and loving our neighbor as ourself - by obeying His Torah/Law which can only be accomplished by an indwelling of the Holy Spirit!
"On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 22:40
How do we love God and love others?...by obeying His Commandments. Simple. What does walking in the Spirit look like?...by obeying His Commandments. Again, simple.
Many professing christians today believe that walking in the Spirit is many different things depending on how they interpret the Scriptures.
John MacArthur, a well known pastor and author, said this of the Holy Spirit:
At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the life of a believer and becomes the source of power for his life."
The question is - "The source of power for his life...to do what?"
Is the Holy Spirit working in us to give us power so that we can live according to how we think we should? Many people believe so. How many times have you heard, "If God wanted me to do that, then He would have..." Just fill in the blank, as I'm sure we can come up with a million reasons as to why we disobey the Lord in what He tells us to do.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9
The fool has said in his heart "There is no God."
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none who does good. God looks down from heaven
upon the children of men to see if there are any
who understand, who seek God. Every one of them has turned aside;
They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good.
No, not one.
Psalm 53:1-3
How can we think that we can know best, that we can set the standard of how we should live? Yet we do all the time. "Oh no, not me!" Yes, even you. I have found myself far too many times deciding that I know better than God what is best for my life, and I'm sure that you've done it from time to time.
How do we do it? By adding to His Word, or taking away from it. It is a constant process of submitting to His will and letting go of ours that will give us direction, because we are choosing to follow the One who knows ALL things, and certainly knows what's best for us.
Only by keeping (treasuring) His Commandments can we begin to see the corrupt nature of our flesh and crucify the "old man", that sinful nature.
This is where the discussion usually has people spewing out terms like, "legalist" or "bondage", in reference to a believer choosing to obey God's Commandments. "We're free from the Law." "The Law is dead." Really? That's not what Jesus said,
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For assuredly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
Matthew 5:17-18
Until when? Until heaven and earth pass away, not one single mark will be removed from the Law (His Word)! Has heaven or earth passed away yet? Nope. When will they? Not until Messiah returns to consumate the marriage with His bride (the church). In 1 John 3:4, John writes that "sin is lawlessness." Jesus Himself said that there will be people who come to Him and claim to have done great things in His name, but He will say to those people, "I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23)
How can we know Christ if we do not know His Law? The answer is - we can't. Remember, it's HIS law, not ours. Since He is the Creator of life and the giver of all good things, then He knows what is good for those who love Him.
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" Jesus said this in John 14:15 and it is not an ultimatum or a command, but simply a fact. If we truly love Him, then we will naturally obey His Word, His Commandments. This is walking in the Spirit.
The Spirit is our Helper, our seal of redemption, and He gives us the power, by His grace, to obey His Commandments through faith. It is only through faith that we can access grace and it is only by God's grace that we can hope to be obedient to Him. Like James writes,
"faith without works, is dead"
James 2:26
If our faith is real, then good works will follow. Those works are proof that our faith is real. These are the fruits of the Spirit. These are the works that God prepared beforehand in Messiah for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:8-10).
So let's look at Paul's discussion of what walking in the Spirit is about, in Galatians 5.
He writes:
"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
Galatians 5:16-18
Before we move on I want to point out that this argument is identical to what Paul wrote in Romans 7 and 8.
Paul cries out "O wretched man that I am who will save me from this body of death?" Of course we know the answer - Yeshua! (Jesus). But why does Paul say that? In verses 14 through 23 we see the struggle that is in all of us! Our spirits want to do one thing, but our sinful nature wants to do another, and sometimes we end up doing things against the will of our spirit because we've given room for our flesh to win a victory in our lives instead of yielding control over to the Holy Spirit. In Romans 6:18-19 Paul points out that we are to be slaves of righteousness, going against the will of our flesh and obeying the Law of God.
In Romans 7:14 he writes that the Law is spiritual. The Spirit and the Law work together in the life of the believer because they are both "spiritual" (Romans 8:2-4). The flesh hates both the Spirit and the law. In fact Romans 8:7 says this:
"Because the carnal mind [sinful nature] is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."
Romans 8:7
Did you get that? Our flesh CANNOT be subject to God's Law and it is hostile toward Him. Is it any wonder that we don't "feel" like obeying the Commandments of Yahweh?! That's because our flesh is lying to us, telling us that we don't need to follow a "dead law", as it says. However, the Law is NOT dead, as Jesus already said He didn't come to destroy it, but to fulfill it. That word "fulfill" actually means to fully preach!
What about Paul's statement back in Gal. 5:18 about not being under the law if we are led by the Spirit? The same thing we just talked about. To be under the Law is to be under God's wrath and the condemnation of death. Remember, the Law shows us what sin is, what sinners we are, and our need for a Savior. This is being "under" the Law. Perhaps you recall the verse that says "Christ is the end of the law". Well, it says
"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
Romans 10:4
If Christ already said that He didn't come to destroy the Law but to fulfill (fully preach) then what is being said here? The word for end in the above verse actually means 'goal' or aiming for a mark.
G5056
τέλος
telos
tel'-os
From a primary word τέλλω tellō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly the point aimed at as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically an impost or levy (as paid): - + continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost. Compare G5411.
The Law is all about Messiah - the Living Word! It points to Him, but that doesn't mean that He did away with it in the process of fulfilling it!
To be under the Law is death, that's one of it's ministries
(1 Corinthians 3:7) as it was, written on stone. The Law is the knowledge of sin and therefore shows us our sin - that which leads us to death, but it is also for our good (Deuteronomy 10:13; Romans 3:17-18) and David and Paul both said they delighted in the Law of God (Psalm 1:2; 19; 119; Romans 7:22). Paul also said that he serves the Law of God with his mind and that we, as believers, actually establish the Law through faith! (Romans 7:25; 3:31)
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kindgom of God."
Galatians 5:19-21
Practice what things? All of the things Paul just listed - which are sinful. Sin is what? - lawlessness. People who practice lawlessness will be told by the Lord that He never knew them and they will be told to depart from Him.
"but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Galatians 5:22-24
The Law of God, which not only shows us our sin, but shows us how to live for Him, tells us what HE wants from us. The Spirit, testifying with our spirits that we are children of God, shows us this by acknowledging whether or not we love Him and whether or not we'll follow Him.
We crucify our flesh by dying to it daily. Laying ourselves on the altar as living sacrifices. How do we do that? By loving the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and strength and loving our neighbor as ourself - by obeying His Torah/Law which can only be accomplished by an indwelling of the Holy Spirit!
"On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 22:40
How do we love God and love others?...by obeying His Commandments. Simple. What does walking in the Spirit look like?...by obeying His Commandments. Again, simple.
11/10/12
Romans 7:18 (The NEED for God's Torah)
"For
I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to
will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not
find."
This was written by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans, and here in the seventh chapter we see in such clarity the struggle between our spirit and our flesh (sinful nature).
In particular, Paul makes an interesting case for the importance of God's Law(Torah) in our lives as followers of Jesus(Yeshua)!
We of course have to remember that in Paul's case that he's making to the Romans, it is not just for them....it's for us as well. Simply put, Paul is building a case against all mankind that we all are sinners in need of a Savior. That savior is Christ.
We cannot do anything to earn our salvation, because we are sinful from birth and have no hope of attaining perfection outside of our Savior. In fact, His salvation is a free gift, but it still must be excepted under His terms or it will not take effect in our lives.
His terms are that we walk in His truth (word) and come to Him in repentance, otherwise we will never be able to receive His salvation.
So in verse 18 of chapter 7, Paul points out that in his flesh (sinful nature) there is NOTHING good. But then he says, "for to WILL is present with me". What does he mean by this?
"for to will" is simply referring to what Paul wants to do according to his spirit, which is born again of God. Remember, there is no struggle between the flesh and the spirit in someone who isn't saved.
Only those who have accepted Messiah Yeshua as their Savior and walk in obedience to Him are saved/born again, and therefore experience the battle between the spirit and the flesh. Or in other words, what the mind wants to do (according to the will of God) and what the flesh wants to do conflict within the life of the believer.
Paul also writes that to will is "present with me". The will to do good in the sight of the Lord is "with" him and us because the Spirit of the Living God is within us. He is with those who are His and works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Since, as he first said, there is nothing good in a person because of our sinful nature which we inherited at birth, then it is only God who is the ONLY good thing present within us.
Then Paul makes the statement, "but how to perform what is good I do not find". To truly understand the context of what Paul is saying here one must go back and read through the preceding chapters of Romans. But we can understand from just a few verses back that Paul, in and of himself, cannot find anything good within him nor can he find out how to perform that which is good.
So how can he, or any of us know what is good and how to perform it? By the Torah of God and His Word in it's entirety. As Paul just wrote back in chapter 6 verse 12,
"Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good."
AND
"and know His will and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law," - Romans 3:18
The Torah of God is not only good but also our instructions of His good will. He therefore, through His commandments, instructs us as to what is good and how to perform them.
That is why Paul goes on to say in verse 25 of chapter 7 that he thanks God through Messiah for delivering him from his own body of death and that with his mind he serves the Law of God!
Paul served God's law and delighted in it because he served in the newness of the Spirit, not in the oldness of the letter which brings condemnation and death.
That's why Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:6 that we are ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life, which is a partial fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-34.
The Law for an unbeliever brings about wrath and death, showing us what our sin is and that we need a Savior. However, once we're in Messiah, we are no longer under the Law but are free from sin and death and free to become servants of righteousness...now walking in His Law which is a light unto our path (Psalm 119:97-106).
Sadly, many in professing Christendom have twisted the message of God saying that His Law is bondage in the life of a believer and thereby, in essence, they make sin good. This is heretical to say the least!
It is through the Law that we know what sin is (Romans 7:7) and it is by faith that we establish the Law (Romans 3:31). So how does repentance figure in to all of this? Well, quite simply, if we don't repent then we harden our heart to what the Lord is trying to say to us through His Law.
In Psalm 51, David writes,
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart -
these, O God, You will not despise." - Psalm 51:17
In Ezekiel 36, the prophet, speaking of the new covenant, shows us what God says about the heart.
The Lord said, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and you will keep My judgments and do them." - Ezekiel 36:26-27
Notice that he says the "heart of stone" and "a heart of flesh". It's the heart of flesh that the Lord is giving us when we are born again. This heart of flesh is soft and workable, and the more so, the easier it is for God to reveal His Law in our hearts and minds. But our heart is workable only when we come before God in repentance. If we continually refuse to humble ourselves before the Lord and His mercy then we will harden our hearts and make it more and more difficult for His Law to penetrate it. This will eventually lead us away from His love and salvation until we are no longer in Him (Hebrews 6:4-6).
We must repent before the LORD and seek out His Law for our instruction in the things that He approves of for our lives. In this, we will be like a lamp for all to see and glorify Him thereby.
This was written by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans, and here in the seventh chapter we see in such clarity the struggle between our spirit and our flesh (sinful nature).
In particular, Paul makes an interesting case for the importance of God's Law(Torah) in our lives as followers of Jesus(Yeshua)!
We of course have to remember that in Paul's case that he's making to the Romans, it is not just for them....it's for us as well. Simply put, Paul is building a case against all mankind that we all are sinners in need of a Savior. That savior is Christ.
We cannot do anything to earn our salvation, because we are sinful from birth and have no hope of attaining perfection outside of our Savior. In fact, His salvation is a free gift, but it still must be excepted under His terms or it will not take effect in our lives.
His terms are that we walk in His truth (word) and come to Him in repentance, otherwise we will never be able to receive His salvation.
So in verse 18 of chapter 7, Paul points out that in his flesh (sinful nature) there is NOTHING good. But then he says, "for to WILL is present with me". What does he mean by this?
"for to will" is simply referring to what Paul wants to do according to his spirit, which is born again of God. Remember, there is no struggle between the flesh and the spirit in someone who isn't saved.
Only those who have accepted Messiah Yeshua as their Savior and walk in obedience to Him are saved/born again, and therefore experience the battle between the spirit and the flesh. Or in other words, what the mind wants to do (according to the will of God) and what the flesh wants to do conflict within the life of the believer.
Paul also writes that to will is "present with me". The will to do good in the sight of the Lord is "with" him and us because the Spirit of the Living God is within us. He is with those who are His and works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Since, as he first said, there is nothing good in a person because of our sinful nature which we inherited at birth, then it is only God who is the ONLY good thing present within us.
Then Paul makes the statement, "but how to perform what is good I do not find". To truly understand the context of what Paul is saying here one must go back and read through the preceding chapters of Romans. But we can understand from just a few verses back that Paul, in and of himself, cannot find anything good within him nor can he find out how to perform that which is good.
So how can he, or any of us know what is good and how to perform it? By the Torah of God and His Word in it's entirety. As Paul just wrote back in chapter 6 verse 12,
"Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good."
AND
"and know His will and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law," - Romans 3:18
The Torah of God is not only good but also our instructions of His good will. He therefore, through His commandments, instructs us as to what is good and how to perform them.
That is why Paul goes on to say in verse 25 of chapter 7 that he thanks God through Messiah for delivering him from his own body of death and that with his mind he serves the Law of God!
Paul served God's law and delighted in it because he served in the newness of the Spirit, not in the oldness of the letter which brings condemnation and death.
That's why Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:6 that we are ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life, which is a partial fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-34.
The Law for an unbeliever brings about wrath and death, showing us what our sin is and that we need a Savior. However, once we're in Messiah, we are no longer under the Law but are free from sin and death and free to become servants of righteousness...now walking in His Law which is a light unto our path (Psalm 119:97-106).
Sadly, many in professing Christendom have twisted the message of God saying that His Law is bondage in the life of a believer and thereby, in essence, they make sin good. This is heretical to say the least!
It is through the Law that we know what sin is (Romans 7:7) and it is by faith that we establish the Law (Romans 3:31). So how does repentance figure in to all of this? Well, quite simply, if we don't repent then we harden our heart to what the Lord is trying to say to us through His Law.
In Psalm 51, David writes,
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart -
these, O God, You will not despise." - Psalm 51:17
In Ezekiel 36, the prophet, speaking of the new covenant, shows us what God says about the heart.
The Lord said, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and you will keep My judgments and do them." - Ezekiel 36:26-27
Notice that he says the "heart of stone" and "a heart of flesh". It's the heart of flesh that the Lord is giving us when we are born again. This heart of flesh is soft and workable, and the more so, the easier it is for God to reveal His Law in our hearts and minds. But our heart is workable only when we come before God in repentance. If we continually refuse to humble ourselves before the Lord and His mercy then we will harden our hearts and make it more and more difficult for His Law to penetrate it. This will eventually lead us away from His love and salvation until we are no longer in Him (Hebrews 6:4-6).
We must repent before the LORD and seek out His Law for our instruction in the things that He approves of for our lives. In this, we will be like a lamp for all to see and glorify Him thereby.
10/9/12
Green Protein Smoothie
Here's one recipe for a smoothie full of protein and good greens.
Serves: 1-2
Ingredients w/ Protein Content:
1-1/2 to 2 cups - Milk (9-16g of protein; depending on whether it's goat or cow)
4 - raw eggs or favorite protein powder (24g)
1 - Banana (ripe) (1g)
1 - half Avocado (1g)
1 cup - Spinach (6g)
1 teaspoon - Honey (or 1/2 t of Stevia) (0)
1-2 dashes - Cayenne Pepper (0)
Directions:
Pour the Milk in blender and add other contents. Blend. Drink!
A few notes:
It should go without saying but always try and use Organic ingredients.
Milk:
I use raw goat milk rather than cow's milk because:
A) Goat milk is healthier and more bioavailable to the body.
B) Goat milk is higher in protein than cow's milk. Approx. 9grams of protein in Goat milk as
compared to 5-6grams of protein in cow's milk per 1 cup.
Eggs or Powder:
You'll also notice I listed RAW eggs. This is ONLY because I raise my own chickens! If I didn't have my own fresh, healthy source of eggs I wouldn't be using raw. If you have your own, or you know of a trusted source for them, there's nothing better for protein (and a host of nutrients and vitamins), as well as omega 3 fatty acids, than a raw chicken egg! 6 grams of protein in 1 egg.
But if you don't (or just can't bear the thought of downing raw eggs) then your favorite protein powder will do just fine. Here's a couple of recommendations I have:
 | ||
| Jay Robb Egg White Protein powder. 24grams per serving! |
 |
| Nutiva Hemp Protein powder. 15 grams per serving. |
Spinach:
Not only do you get the benefits of added iron, vitamins K, A, C, and E and fiber BUT you get 6 grams of protein in a cup of spinach! Yes, it would seem Popeye knew what he was talking about.
Avocado:
While the Avocado doesn't have all that much protein, it DOES have some amazing benefits. One of them is the fact that it supplies some really good fats to your system. Our bodies need protein, carbs, and fats so survive. Healthy fats are needed for brain and nerve function, as well as much needed energy. Plus the avocado adds a nice creamy texture to the smoothie!
Cayenne Pepper:
In a smoothie??? While there's no protein benefit in adding some cayenne pepper to your green smoothie (it's even the wrong color!) it adds a nice little "kick", but it's certainly not necessary. :)
Cayenne does help support blood flow and pressure. It also boosts the metabolism, thereby helping to burn excess fat!
10/5/12
Spaghetti...Squash!
How 'bout Spaghetti Squash?
Here's a super easy recipe for a new twist
on an old favorite.
Serves: 2-4
Prep Time: 10 mins.
Cook Time: 25-30 mins.
Total Time: 35-40 mins.
Ingredients:
1 - Spaghetti Squash
1 - Red Pepper
1/2 - Red Onion
1/2 cup - Sliced Almonds
1/3 cup - Pepitas or Pumpkin Seeds
3/4 - 1 cup - Sun Dried Tomatoes (chopped)
Feta Cheese...and lots of it! :)
1/2 teaspoon - Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon - course ground Garlic Powder
Marinara sauce of choice
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Cut your Spaghetti Squash length wise down the middle and scoop out seeds. You will be left with a long crater in the center of each squash half.
Lay each half face down on a baking sheet. If you need to wipe a little oil on the sheet first then do so.
Next, slice up your Red Pepper, removing as many seeds as you can (unless you like some extra heat in your spaghetti).
Slice and chop the Red Onion half into small chunks.
By this time, or maybe a little sooner, your oven should be preheated so go ahead a place your squash halves inside and bake for 25-30 minutes. 30 is probably best unless the squash is very ripe and your oven runs real hot.
Chop up the Sun Dried Tomatoes.
Now place a skillet on your oven and warm it up on Med/Hot.
Coat the skillet with Olive Oil and let it warm up for a few minutes.
When your squash is done baking, pull them out and let them cool for a 5 minutes or so. Caution, they will be hot to the touch for a few minutes. Duh, right? Well I didn't think they'd be THAT hot, but I twas wrong.
Okay, so now place your slices of Red Pepper, Almonds, and Pepitas in your skillet and saute for 3-5 minutes. Watch out for that hot oil. Then add in your Onion for just a couple more minutes.
You can also throw in the Sun Dried Tomato if you want to warm them up a bit, but I don't.
Once everything in the skillet has only a minute or so left grab one half of the spaghetti squash and scrape out the "noodles" into your bowl or plate. Trust me, if you've never had spaghetti squash before, it's too much fun to see the squash come out as noodles. :) To add your salt you want to divide it evenly among the bowls or plates of spaghetti squash. So if you're serving 4 divide your salt into 4 portions. Otherwise if you're only doing 2 then dividing the amount of salt in half is whatchya want to do.
Mix up the "noodles" and salt.
Pour some Marinara sauce of your choice onto the squash and add the skillet contents.
Sprinkle...oh, who am I kidding?...DUMP a bunch of Feta Cheese on top! There's nothin' betta' than Feta!
Sprinkle a little Garlic Powder to finish it off and you have Spaghetti Squash for dinner!
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