Colossians 1:18 Also Yeshua is head of the Body, the Messianic Community/the Church. Yeshua is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that Yeshua might hold first place in everything.
“The Love of God” performed by Mercy Me
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 11 “Blessed are you, when people insult you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake! 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Matthew 5 is a direct quote from Yeshua’s teachings of the Beatitudes to the Jewish crowds known as the Sermon on the Mount.
In relating to the prophets standing firm even in persecution and hardships, one account comes to mind: the prophet Daniel and his three friends (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) are captured and taken to Babylon. Orders were given to them to worship the gods of king Nebuchadnezzar and bow down to the golden image he had made, but they refused.
In Daniel 5, King Nebuchadnezzar tells the three, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “If you do not serve my gods and worship the image of gold I have set up, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then, what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
Their reply to the king, “We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the Jehovah we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah trusted in Jehovah God and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own Jehovah God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The three were firmly tied and then cast into the blazing furnace, which was heated seven times hotter than usual. It was so hot that the flames of the fire killed the men that threw them in.
Then the king leaped to his feet in amazement and asked, “Wasn’t it three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a Son of the gods!” The king told the men to come out! Come here! The crowd of royal advisors crowded around them. They saw that the robes were not scorched and there was no smell of fire on them. Then King Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of three young trusting Jewish men for their God sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in Jehovah God and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own.
The following is a dream of King Nebuchadnezzar interpreted by Jehovah’s prophet Daniel while in exile in Babylon in 586 B.C.
Daniel 2:31 “You looked, O king, and had a vision of a statue, very large and extremely bright; it stood in front of you and its appearance was terrifying. 32 The head of the statue was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its trunk and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you watched, The Rock was cut out, but not by human hands. The Rock struck the statue on its feet made of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken into pieces which became like the chaff on a threshing-floor in summer; the wind blew them away without leaving a trace. But The Rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
As part of His Second Coming, Yeshua, The Rock, will destroy all manmade kingdoms of the earth and reign on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem forever and ever without end.
“The King is Coming” performed by The Gaither Vocal Band
For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling: This is My resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
1 “Now listen, Ya’akov my servant, Isra’el whom I have chosen: 2 Thus says ADONAI, who made you, formed you in the womb, and will help you: Don’t be afraid, Ya’akov my servant, Yeshurun, {Israel} whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, my blessing on your offspring. 4 They will spring up among the grass like willows on the riverbanks. 5 One will say, ‘I belong to ADONAI.’ Another will be called by the name of Ya’akov. Yet another will write that he belongs to ADONAI. and adopt the surname Isra’el.” 6 Thus says ADONAI, Isra’el’s King and Redeemer, ADONAI-Tzva’ot: “I AM the first, and I AM the last; besides Me there is no God. 7 Who is like me? Let him speak out! Let him show me clearly what has been happening since I set up the eternal people; let him foretell future signs and events. 8 Don’t be frightened, don’t be afraid – Didn’t I tell you this long ago? I foretold it, and you are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? There is no other Rock – I know of none.”
1 In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the Fathers through the prophets. 2 But now, in the acharit-hayamim, God has spoken to us through His Son, Yeshua, to whom God has given ownership of everything and through whom He created the universe. 3 God’s Son, Yeshua, is the radiance of the Sh’khinah, the very expression of God’s essence, upholding all that exists by His powerful word; and after Yeshua had, through Himself, made purification for sins, Yeshua sat down at the right hand of HaG’dulah BaM’romim.
“Mary, Did You Know” performed by Mark Lowery
15 Yeshua is the visible image of the invisible God. Yeshua is supreme over all creation, 16 because in connection with Him were created all things – in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, lordships, rulers or authorities – they have all been created through Yeshua and for Yeshua. 17 Yeshua existed before all things, and Yeshua holds everything together. 18 Also Yeshua is head of the Body, the Messianic Community, The Church. Yeshua is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that Yeshua might hold first place in everything. 19 For it pleased God to have His full being live in His Son 20 and through His Son to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace through Yeshua, through having His Son shed His blood by being executed on a Cross.
22 Also, God has put all things under Yeshua’s feet and made Him head over everything for the Messianic Community {the Church}, 23 which is Yeshua’s body, the full expression of Yeshua, who fills everything in every way, all in all.
Let us define the Messianic Community, or Church as “one collective body of believers in Jehovah God through faith believing by accepting His firstborn and only begotten Son, Yeshua as personal Savior from their sin and choosing His way over their own.”
When and where did the church begin? Yeshua referred to the Church when He was on earth over 2000 years ago. Before the “Church Age,” also known as the 6th dispensation, the meeting place of Jehovah and His Chosen was referred to as the Congregation, Tabernacle, Synagogue, Sanctuary or Holy Temple.
Jehovah’s divine plan for man was carried out through His only begotten Son, Yeshua. The account is found in God’s Holy Word, the Bible. Yeshua is the Builder, Foundation, Rock, Chief Cornerstone, and the All-in-All.
Here is Yeshua’s decree for His Church:
13 When Yeshua came into the territory around Caesarea Philippi, He asked His talmidim, “Who are people saying the Son of Man is?” 14 They said, “Well, some say Yochanan the Immerser, others Eliyahu, still others Yirmeyahu or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” He said to them, “who do you say I Am?” 16 Shim`on Kefa answered, “You are the Mashiach, the Son of the living God.” 17 “Shim`on Bar-Yochanan,” Yeshua said to him, “blessed are you, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Kefa and on This Rock {Yeshua}, I will build my Church, and the gates of Sh’ol will not prevail against it.
Isaiah 26:4 Trust in ADONAI forever, for in Yah ADONAI, the ADONAI, is the Rock Eternal.”
Matthew 7:24 “So, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on The Rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers flooded, the winds blew and beat against that house, but it didn’t collapse, because it had its foundation on The Rock.
Matthew 7 records the teachings of Yeshua to His disciples and to the crowds of Jewish followers. Found in chapters 5-7 is the account of The Sermon on the Mount in Israel.
1 Peter 2
4 As you come to Yeshua, the living stone, rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to Him, 5 you yourselves, as living stones (believers), are being built into a spiritual house to be cohanim set apart for God to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Him through His Son, Yeshua the Messiah. 6 This is why the Tanakh says, “Look! I am laying in Tziyon a Stone, a chosen and precious Cornerstone; and the one who trusts in Yeshua will certainly not be put to shame.” 7 Now to you who believe, this Stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The very Stone that the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone.” 8 also, Yeshua is the Stone that causes men to stumble and the rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey God’s Holy Word, which is also what they were destined for. 9 But you are a chosen people, the King’s cohanim, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Yeshua, who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
21 In Yeshua Christ all the building (spiritual body of born-again believers/saints/disciples) is fitly held together, and is growing into a holy temple (spiritual) in the Lord. 22 Yes, in Yeshua Christ we are being built together as a body of believers into one spiritual (Holy Spirit) dwelling-place for God! All things Spiritual!
14 For this reason, I fall on my knees before the Holy Father, Jehovah God, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that from the treasures of His glory He will empower you with inner strength by His Holy Spirit, 17 so that Yeshua Messiah Christ may live in your hearts through by faith believing. Also I pray that you will be rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp the breadth, length, height and depth of the love of Yeshua Messiah Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses ALL knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power {Holy Spirit} that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the Messianic Community {Church} and in Yeshua Jesus Messiah Christ throughout ALL generations, for ever and ever! Amen!
Yeshua tells His disciples they will be hated by the world.
18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would have loved its own. But because you do not belong to the world — on the contrary, I have picked you out of the world — therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you, `A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you too; if they kept My word, they will keep yours too. 21 But they will do all this to you on My account, because they don’t know the One who sent Me. 22 “If I had not come and spoken to them, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin; but now, they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done in their presence works which no one else ever did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now, they have seen them and have hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this has happened in order to fulfill the words in their Torah which read, `They hated me for no reason at all.’ 26 “When the Counselor {Holy Spirit} comes, whom I will send you from the Father — the Spirit of Truth, who keeps going out from the Father — He will testify on My behalf. 27 And you testify too, because you have been with Me from the outset.
John 15 from the Gospel of John Movie, The Visual Bible
After Yeshua was crucified, buried, rose from the grave and returned to His Father, Jehovah God; the Holy Spirit was sent from Jehovah to the disciples, living within them and then all of those who become followers of Yeshua the Christ, to be their Counselor and Comforter for their lives.
The persecution of believers was an ongoing process. The apostles were given power from within by Jehovah’s Holy Spirit to bear witness of their new life in Yeshua through the testimony of eyewitness accounts, along with countless miracles of physical and spiritual healing. Click this link to review Chapter 17: The Power Within.
12 Meanwhile, through the emissaries {apostles} many signs and miracles continued to be done among the people. United in mind and purpose, the believers met in Shlomo’s Colonnade; 13 and no one else dared to join them. Nevertheless, the people continued to regard them highly; 14 and throngs of believers were added to the Lord, both men and women. 15 They went so far as to bring the sick into the streets and lay them on mattresses and stretchers, so that at least Kefa’s shadow might fall on them as he passed by. 16 Crowds also gathered from the towns around Yerushalayim, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits; and every one of them was healed.
Those who openly step out and witness for Yeshua will see the onset of different degrees of persecution. The apostles were bold and openly witnessed in Solomon’s Colonnade. Guess who came calling?!?
17 But the cohen hagadol and his associates, who were members of the party of the Tz’dukim, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the emissaries and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night, an angel of ADONAI opened the doors of the prison, led them out and said, 20 “Go, stand in the Temple court and keep telling the people all about this new life!” 21 After hearing that, they entered the Temple area about dawn and began to teach. Now the cohen hagadol and his associates came and called a meeting of the Sanhedrin (that is, of Isra’el’s whole assembly of elders) and sent to the jail to have them brought. 22 But the officers who went did not find them in the prison. So they returned and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened it, we found no one inside!” 24 When the captain of the Temple police and the head cohanim heard these things, they were puzzled and wondered what would happen next. 25 Then someone came and reported to them, “Listen! The men you ordered put in prison are standing in the Temple court, teaching the people!” 26 The captain and his officers went and brought them, but not with force; because they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 27 They conducted them to the Sanhedrin, where the cohen hagadol demanded of them, 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in the name of Yeshua! Look here! you have filled Yerushalayim with your teaching; moreover, you are determined to make us responsible for Yeshua’s death!” 29 Kefa and the other emissaries answered, “We must obey God, not men. 30 The God of our fathersl raised up Yeshua, whereas you men killed Him by having Him hanged on a stake. 31 God has exalted Yeshua at His right hand as Ruler and Savior, in order to enable Isra’el to do t’shuvah and have her sins forgiven. 32 We are witnesses to these things; so is the Ruach HaKodesh, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” 33 On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were infuriated and wanted to put the emissaries to death. 34 But one of the members of the Sanhedrin rose to his feet, a Parush named Gamli’el, a teacher of the Torah highly respected by all the people. He ordered the men put outside for a little while 35 and then addressed the court: “Men of Isra’el, take care what you do to these people. 36 Some time ago, there was a rebellion under Todah, who claimed to be somebody special; and a number of men, maybe four hundred, rallied behind him. But upon his being put to death, his whole following was broken up and came to nothing. 37 After this, Y’hudah HaG’lili led another uprising, back at the time of the enrollment for the Roman tax; and he got some people to defect to him. But he was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these people, but to leave them alone. For if this idea or this movement has a human origin, it will collapse. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them; you might even find yourselves fighting God!” They heeded his advice. 40 After summoning the emissaries and flogging them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Yeshua, and let them go. 41 The emissaries left the Sanhedrin overjoyed at having been considered worthy of suffering disgrace on account of Yeshua. 42 And not for a single day, either in the Temple court or in private homes, did they stop teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Yeshua is the Messiah.
Persecutions and trials come to those who stand firm in the faith of knowing Yeshua the Christ.
Many accounts come to mind that reflect the persecution of the early Church, which began in Jerusalem by the apostles and believers who accepted Yeshua as Savior. Early believers met in homes and other locations, the Word of Jehovah spread and the number of disciples increased rapidly.
“Break Every Chain” performed by Jesus Culture
The apostles gathered all the disciples together and suggested that seven men from among them who were known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom be chosen in order to reach out to those in need. A man named Stephen was one of the chosen. Stephen, being full of Jehovah’s grace and power, began doing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose against him from Jews of Syrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia, and members of a sect called Synagogue of the Freedom. They argued with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Holy Spirit by which he spoke. They secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against Jehovah.” The following is Stephens’ testimony to the Sanhedrin:
12 They stirred up the people, as well as the elders and the Torah-teachers; so they came and arrested him and led him before the Sanhedrin. 13 There they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the Torah; 14 for we have heard him say that Yeshua from Natzeret will destroy this place and will change the customs Moshe handed down to us.” 15 Everyone sitting in the Sanhedrin stared at Stephen and saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.
1 The cohen hagadol asked, “Are these accusations true?” 2 and Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to Avraham avinu in Mesopotamia before he lived in Haran 3 and said to him, ‘Leave your land and your family, and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 So he left the land of the Kasdim and lived in Haran. After his father died, God made him move to this land where you are living now. 5 He gave him no inheritance in it, not even space for one foot; yet he promised to give it to him as a possession and to his descendants after him, even though at the time he was childless. 6 What God said to him was, ‘Your descendants will be aliens in a foreign land, where they will be in slavery and oppressed for four hundred years. 7 But I will judge the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterwards they will leave and worship me in this place.’ 8 And he gave him b’rit-milah. So he became the father of Yitz’chak and did his b’rit-milah on the eighth day, and Yitz’chak became the father of Ya’akov, and Ya’akov became the father of the Twelve Patriarchs. 9 “Now the Patriarchs grew jealous of Yosef and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But ADONAI was with him; 10 he rescued him from all his troubles and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him chief administrator over Egypt and over all his household. t 11 Now there came a famine that caused much suffering throughout Egypt and Kena’anu 12 But when Ya’akov heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. 13 The second time, Yosef revealed his identity to his brothers, and Yosef’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 Yosef then sent for his father Ya’akov and all his relatives, seventy-five people. 15 And Ya’akov went down to Egypt; there he died, as did our other ancestors. 16 Their bodies were removed to Sh’khem and buried in the tomb Avraham had bought from the family of Hamor in Sh’khem for a certain sum of money. 17 “As the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise God had made to Avraham, the number of our people in Egypt increased greatly, 18 until there arose another king over Egypt who had no knowledge of Yosef. 19 With cruel cunning this man forced our fathers to put their newborn babies outside their homes, so that they would not survive. 20 “It was then that Moshe was born, and he was beautiful in God’s sight. For three months he was reared in his father’s house; 21 and when he was put out of his home, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22 So Moshe was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became both a powerful speaker and a man of action. 23 “But when he was forty years old, the thought came to him to visit his brothers, the people of Isra’el. 24 On seeing one of them being mistreated, he went to his defense and took revenge by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed his brothers would understand that God was using him to rescue them, but they didn’t understand. 26 When he appeared the next day, as they were fighting, and tried to make peace between them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers! Why do you want to hurt each other?’ 27 the one who was mistreating his fellow pushed Moshe away and said, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me, the way you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 On hearing this, Moshe fled the country and became an exile in the land of Midyan, where he had two sons. 30 “After forty more years, an angel appeared to him in the desert near Mount Sinai in the flames of a burning thorn bush. 31 When Moshe saw this, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to get a better look, there came the voice of ADONAI, 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya’akov.’ But Moshe trembled with fear and didn’t dare to look. 33 ADONAI said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, because the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have clearly seen how My people are being oppressed in Egypt, I have heard their cry, and I have come down to rescue them, and now I will send you to Egypt.’ 35 “This Moshe, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge?’ is the very one whom God sent as both ruler and deliverer by God through the angel that appeared to him in the thorn bush. 36 This man led them out, performing miracles and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moshe who said to the people of Isra’el, ‘God will raise up a prophet like me from among your brothers’ 38 This is the man who was in the assembly in the wilderness, accompanied by the angel that had spoken to him at Mount Sinai and by our fathers, the man who was given living words to pass on to us. 39 “But our fathers refused to obey him. On the contrary, they rejected him and in their hearts turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aharon, ‘Make us gods to go before us; because this Moshe, who led us out of Egypt – we don’t know what has become of him. 41 That was when they made an idol in the shape of a calf and offered a sacrifice to it and held a celebration in honor of what they had made with their own hands. 42 So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the star – as has been written in the book of the prophets, ‘People of Isra’el, it was not to me that you offered slaughtered animals and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness! 43 No, you carried the tent of Molekh and the star of your god Reifan, the idols you made so that you could worship them. Therefore, I will send you into exile beyond Bavel.’ 44 “Our fathers had the Tent of Witness in the wilderness. It had been made just as God, who spoke to Moshe, had ordered it made, according to the pattern Moshe had seen. 45 Later on, our fathers who had received it brought it in with Y’hoshua when they took the Land away from the nations that God drove out before them. “So it was until the days of David. 46 He enjoyed God’s favor and asked if he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Ya’akov 47 and Shlomo did build him a house. 48 But Ha’Elyon does not live in places made by hand! As the prophet says, 49 ‘Heaven is my throne,’ says ADONAI, ‘and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house could you build for Me? What kind of place could you devise for my rest? 50 Has not My hand made all these things?’ 51 “Stiffnecked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You continually oppose the Ruach HaKodesh! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute! 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who told prophesied the coming of the Righteous On, and now you have become His betrayers and murderers! – 53 you! – who receive the Torah that was put into effect through angels – but have not obeyed it!”
The Stoning of Stephen:
54 On hearing these things, they were cut to their hearts and ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Ruach HaKodesh, looked up to heaven and saw God’s Sh’khinah, with Yeshua standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look!” he exclaimed, “I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 At this, they began yelling at the top of their voices, so that they wouldn’t have to hear him; and with one accord, they rushed at him, 58 threw him outside the city and began stoning him. And the witnesses laid down their coats at the feet of a young man named Sha’ul. 59 As they were stoning him, Stephen called out to God, “Lord Yeshua! Receive my spirit!” 60 Then he kneeled down and shouted out, “Lord! Don’t hold this sin against them!” With that, he fell asleep.
1 and Sha’ul gave his approval to his murder. Starting with that day, there arose intense persecution against the Messianic Community/Church in Yerushalayim; all but the emissaries were scattered throughout the regions of Y’hudah and Shomron. 2 Some godly men buried Stephen and mourned him deeply. 3 But Sha’ul set out to destroy the Messianic Community/Church – entering house after house, he dragged off both men and women and handed them over to be put in prison.
Note: Sha’ul’s (Paul) one-on-one experience was with the very One who had given His life to save him, Jehovah’s only Son, Yeshua.
1 Meanwhile, Sha’ul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord’s talmidim, went to the cohen hagadol 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Dammesek, authorizing him to arrest any people he might find, whether men or women, who belonged to “the Way,” {Messianic CommunityChurch} and bring them back to Yerushalayim. 3 He was on the road and nearing Dammesek, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” he asked. “I am Yeshua, whom you are persecuting. 6 Now get up, and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.” 7 The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 They helped Sha’ul get up off the ground; but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So, leading him by the hand, they brought him into Dammesek. 9 For three days he remained unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. 10 There was a talmid in Dammesek, Hananyah by name; and in a vision the Lord said to him, “Hananyah!” He said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to Straight Street, to Y’hudah’s house; and ask for a man from Tarsus named Sha’ul; for he is praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Hananyah coming in and placing his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 But Hananyah answered, “Lord, many have told me about this man, how much harm he has done to your people in Yerushalayim; 14 and here he has a warrant from the head cohanim to arrest everyone who calls on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name to the Goyim, even to their kings, and to the sons of Isra’el as well. 16 For I myself will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
Acts Chapters 7-9
Who is this Yeshua Jesus Messiah Christ and Savior of all? Call on Him in repentance of sin, by faith believing and receive Him as Personal Savior and Lord of our lives.
Yeshua’s credentials are in perfect order. Born of Jehovah God, not of Adam, to the Virgin Mary, but not of human descent. He kept the Jewish Law and traditions, but He came to fulfill the Law, bringing love, forgiveness, mercy, grace and redemption from sin for whosoever believes and follows Him. Yeshua came and died on a cross for our sins.
O what a Savior! What love of the Father and the Son that they should do this for you and me! Yeshua established the Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it!
“Jesus Loves Me” performed by Chris Tomlin
Yeshua is our only way and foundation for eternal life. There is no other way whereby one can be saved from sin and have eternity in Jehovah’s Kingdom of Heaven without end! Yeshua is the way, the truth and the life! NO one comes the His Father Jehovah except through HIM. AMEN and AMEN.
The Battle of the Ages continues to be fought for the souls of men. Light vs. Darkness – Good vs. Evil. It is a choice we all make. Choose light and life everlasting by choosing Yeshua Messiah OR choose the darkness and evil of Satan and live for eternity in hell.
Therefore, listen! Be still! Jehovah God says call on Me and I will hear you and I will show you Truth and Life. Yeshua died for you and me. The very least we can do is to live for Him.
“It is Finished” performed by The Gaither Vocal Band
WHAT WAS WHAT IS WHAT WILL BE
Our subject matter now turns to What Is. According to Jehovah God’s scriptures in His Holy Bible events from the past are still relevant TODAY! These scriptures, as foretold by the prophets, give us the correct heading and direction in the present and a look forward to the What Will Be as the result of our choices.
Our current age, according to the scholars through their studies of times and events, is called the Age of Grace, or the 6th Dispensation, and is the last age for mankind as we know it. This timeframe began with the descent and dispensation of God’s Holy Spirit, who is present in the souls of all believers. This account is recorded in the book of Acts.
1 Dear Theophilos: In the first book, I wrote about everything Yeshua set out to do and teach, 2 until the day when, after giving instructions through the Ruach HaKodesh to the emissaries whom He had chosen, Yeshua was taken up into heaven. 3 After His death He showed Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. During a period of forty days they saw Him, and He spoke with them about the Kingdom of God. 4 At one of these gatherings, Yeshua instructed them not to leave Yerushalayim but to wait for “what the Father promised, which you heard about from me. 5 For Yochanan used to immerse people in water; but in a few days, you will be immersed in the Ruach HaKodesh!” 6 When they were together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra’el?” 7 He answered, “You don’t need to know the dates or the times; the Father has kept these under His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Ruach HaKodesh comes upon you; you will be my witnesses both in Yerushalayim and in all Y’hudah and Shomron, indeed to the ends of the earth!” 9 After saying this, Yeshua was taken up before their eyes; and a cloud hid Him from their sight. 10 As they were staring into the sky after Him, suddenly they saw two men dressed in white standing next to them. 11 The men said, “You Galileans! Why are you standing, staring into space? This Yeshua, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come back to you in just the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
I AM
performed by Mark Schultz
Do you believe in Jehovah God the “Always Present and the Great I AM” of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Do you believe Jehovah’s Holy Word of – What Was – What Is – What Will Be? If yes, then you do believe in Jehovah’s only begotten Son, Yeshua? Do you believe in the Trinity – the Three in One – Jehovah the Father, Yeshua His Son and Jehovah’s Holy Spirit indwelling all believers? All questions are complete in one simple answer: it is either Yes or No. There is no middle ground. You either trust and believe or you do not.
The deceiver Satan’s answer is yes. So what is the difference from his yes and your yes? Satan knows Jehovah’s truth but rejected it and chose to continue with his own agenda. You say yes to Jehovah’s truth, the sending of His Son Yeshua, and by repentance of sin and self, you serve and follow Him. Joshua said, choose you this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Let us go back and read the account of Moses and Joshua (who succeeds Moses).
14 ADONAI said to Moshe, “The time is coming for you to die. Summon Y’hoshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, so that I (Jehovah) can commission him.” Moshe and Y’hoshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.
Joshua was filled with Jehonah’s Holy Spirit of wisdom when Moses laid his hands on him. Joshua said to the people, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:
13 Then I gave you a land where you had not worked and cities you had not built, and you live there. You eat fruit from vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’ 14 “Therefore fear ADONAI, and serve him truly and sincerely. Put away the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve ADONAI! 15 If it seems bad to you to serve ADONAI, then choose today whom you are going to serve! Will it be the gods your ancestors served beyond the River? or the gods of the Emori, in whose land you are living? As for me and my household, we will serve ADONAI!” 16 The people answered, “Far be it from us that we would abandon ADONAI to serve other gods; 17 because it is ADONAI our God who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from a life of slavery, and did those great signs before our eyes, and preserved us all along the way we traveled and among all the peoples we passed through; 18 and it was ADONAI who drove out from ahead of us all the peoples, the Emori living in the land. Therefore we too will serve ADONAI, for He is our God.” 19 Y’hoshua said to the people, “You can’t serve ADONAI; because He is a holy God, a jealous God, and He will not forgive your crimes and sins. 20 If you abandon ADONAI and serve foreign gods, He will turn, doing you harm and destroying you after He has done you good.” 21 But the people said to Y’hoshua, “No, but we will serve ADONAI.” 22 Y’hoshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen ADONAI, to serve him.” They answered, “We are witnesses.” 23 “Now,” Y’hoshua urged, “put away the foreign gods you have among you, and turn your hearts to ADONAI, the God of Isra’el.” 24 The people answered Y’hoshua, “We will serve ADONAI our God; we will pay attention to what He says.” 25 So Y’hoshua made a covenant with the people that day, laying down for them laws and rulings there in Sh’khem. 26 Y’hoshua wrote these words in the book of the Torah of God. Then he took a big stone and set it up there under the oak next to the sanctuary of ADONAI. 27 Y’hoshua said to all the people, “See, this stone will be a witness against us; because it has heard all the words of ADONAI which He said to us; therefore it will be a witness against you, in case you deny your God.”
19 If there is such a person, when he hears the words of this curse, he will bless himself secretly, saying to himself, ‘I will be all right, even though I will stubbornly keep doing whatever I feel like doing; so that I, although “dry,” [sinful,] will be added to the “watered” [righteous].’ 21 ADONAI will single him out from all the tribes of Isra’el to experience what is bad in all the curses of the covenant written in this book of the Torah. 22 “When the next generation, your children who will grow up after you, and the foreigner who arrives from a distant land, see the plagues of that land and the diseases with which ADONAI has made it sick, 23 and that the whole land has become burning sulfur and salt, that it isn’t being sown or bearing crops or even producing grass – like the overthrow of S’dom, ‘Amora, Admah and Tzvoyim, which ADONAI overthrew in His furious anger – 24 then all the nations will ask, ‘Why did ADONAI do this to this land? What is the meaning of such frenzied, furious anger?’ 25 People will answer, ‘It’s because they abandoned the covenant of ADONAI, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. 26 They went and served other gods, prostrating themselves before them, gods they had not known and which he had not assigned them. 27 For this reason, the anger of ADONAI blazed up against this land and brought upon it every curse written in this book; 28 and ADONAI, in anger, fury and incensed with indignation, uprooted them from their land and threw them out into another land – as it is TODAY.’
4 Then the Sovereign Lord said to me, “Prophesy over these bones! Say to them, ‘Dry bones! Hear what ADONAI has to say! 5 To these bones Adonai ELOHIM says, “I will make breath enter you, and you will live. 6 I will attach ligaments to you, make flesh grow on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you. You will live, and you will know that I am ADONAI.”
11 Then ADONAI said to me, “Human being! These bones are the whole house of Isra’el; and they are saying, ‘Our bones have dried up, our hope is gone, and we are completely cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy; say to them that Adonai ELOHIM says, ‘My people! I will open your graves and make you get up out of your graves, and I will bring you into the land of Isra’el. 13 Then you will know that I am ADONAI – when I have opened your graves and made you get up out of your graves, my people! 14 I will put my Spirit in you; and you will be alive. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, ADONAI, have spoken, and that I have done it,’ says ADONAI.”
24 For I will take you, O House of Israel, from among the nations, gather you from all the countries, and return you to your own soil. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit inside you and cause you to live by my laws, respect my rulings and obey them. 28 You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanliness. I will summon the grain and increase it, and not send famine against you. 30 I will multiply the yield of fruit from the trees and increase production in the fields, so that you never again suffer the reproach of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your actions that were not good; as you look at yourselves, you will loathe yourselves for your guilt and disgusting practices. 32 Understand,’ says Adonai ELOHIM, ‘that I am not doing this for your sake. Instead, be ashamed and dismayed for your ways, O house of Isra’el.’
21 Then say to them that Adonai ELOHIM says: ‘I will take the people of Isra’el from among the nations where they have gone and gather them from every side and bring them back to their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Isra’el; and one king will be king for all of them. They will no longer be two nations, and they will never again be divided into two kingdoms. 23“They will never again defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, or any of their transgressions; but I will save them from all the places where they have been living and sinning; and l will cleanse them, so that they will be my people, and I will be their God.
THE BEAUTIFUL LAND
D.E.H. 2014
“There is a place beyond the ocean
Whose land kisses the sea.
Its beauty is in the many stones
and the Sea of Galilee.
A thousand and a thousand years have passed since 70AD
Jehovah’s chosen people were scattered throughout the earth
and the nation of Israel was no more.
Then came that day, the greatest day, May 14,1948
The nation that was not was now born again!
Its people came from every country and from every land.
The people came from far and wide to settle again their beloved land.
With tears of joy, they kissed the ground
Their land to work, to build and to plan!
What a sight to see – the changing of a desert to a beautiful green!
The nation that was and was no more is again and better than before.
Along with their beautiful land, their Hebrew language was born again.
The language that was and was no more is again forevermore.”
The final step is confession and restoration with your Jehovah God. Will you pray along with the great prophet, Daniel, as he confesses his sins and the sins of Jehovah’s chosen, the people of Israel?
4 I prayed to ADONAI my God and made this confession: “Please, Adonai, great and fearsome God, who keeps His covenant and extends grace to those who love Him and observe His commands! 5 We have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled and turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We (Isra’el), have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our leaders, our ancestors and to all the people of the land. 7 “To you, Adonai, belongs righteousness; but to us today belongs shame – to us, the men of Y’hudah, the inhabitants of Yerushalayim and all Isra’el, including those nearby and those far away, throughout all the countries where you have driven them; because of our unfaithfulness to you. 8 Yes, ADONAI, shame falls on us, our kings, our leaders and our ancestors; because we sinned against you. 9 Adonai our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him. 10 We didn’t listen to the voice of ADONAI our God, so that we could live by His laws, which He presented to us through His servants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Isra’el flouted your Torah and turned away, unwilling to listen to your voice. Therefore the curse and oath written in the Torah of Moshe the servant of God was poured out on us, because we sinned against him. 12 He carried out the threats He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us disaster so great that under all of heaven, nothing has been done like what has been done to Yerushalayim. 13 As written in the Torah of Moshe, this whole disaster came upon us, yet we did not appease ADONAI our God by renouncing our wrongdoing and discerning your truth. 14 So ADONAI watched for the right moment to bring this disaster upon us, for ADONAI our God is just in everything He does, yet we didn’t listen when He spoke. 15 “Now, Adonai our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a strong hand, thereby winning renown for yourself, as is the case today – we sinned, we acted wickedly. 16 Adonai, in keeping with all your justice, please allow your anger and fury to be turned away from your city Yerushalayim, your holy mountain; because it is due to our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors that Yerushalayim and your people have become objects of scorn among everyone around us. 17 Therefore, our God, listen to the prayer and pleadings of your servant; and cause your face to shine on your desolated sanctuary, for your own sake. 18 My God, turn your ear, and hear; open your eyes and see how desolated we are, as well as the city which bears your name. For we plead with you not because of our own righteousness, but because of your great mercy and compassion. 19 Adonai, hear! Adonai, forgive! Adonai, pay attention, and don’t delay action – for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people bear your name!”
Read the repentant prayer and commissioning of Isaiah, Jehovah’s humble prophet.
1 In the year of King ‘Uziyahu’s death I saw Adonai sitting on a high, lofty throne! The hem of His robe filled the temple. 2 S’rafim stood over Him, each with six wings – two for covering His face, two for covering His feet and two for flying. 3 They were crying out to each other, “More holy than the holiest holiness is ADONAI-Tzva’ot! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” 4 The doorposts shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe to me! I [too] am doomed! because I, a man with unclean lips, living among a people with unclean lips, have seen with my own eyes the King, ADONAI-Tzva’ot!” 6 One of the s’rafim flew to me with a glowing coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Here! This has touched your lips. Your iniquity is gone, your sin is atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying, “Whom should I send? Who will go for us?” I answered, “Here am I, send me!”
Here I Am
performed by Downhere
This should be the testimony of every believer! We have only TODAY to tell of Jehovah’s love and grace. Jehovah’s Son Yeshua gives believers the following command after His resurrection and as He was returning back to His Father, Jehovah God. The Great Commission – our marching orders from our Commander-in-Chief, Yeshua!
18 Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Ruach HaKodesh, (The Trinity) 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.”
1 In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the Fathers through the prophets. 2 But now, in the last days (acharit-hayamim,) He has spoken to us through His Son Yeshua, to whom He has given ownership of everything and through whom He created the universe. 3 This Son is the radiance of the Sh’khinah Glory of His Father God, the very expression of His (God’s) essence, upholding all that exists by His powerful word; and after He had, through Himself, made purification for sins, Yeshua sat down at the right hand of His Father God, the Majesty in Heaven (HaG’dulah BaM’romim.)
This is our time! TODAY is our day in history to carry on the truth and witness of our testimony in proclaiming the salvation available through Yeshua the Christ and Messiah to the lost people around us and throughout the world. Every believer is a missionary for Christ Messiah and every lost person is our mission field! Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Yeshua, Jehovah’s only Son, was born to bring the message of love and eternal life to any who choose to follow Him!
“How Great Is Our God”
written by Chris Tomlin and performed by Joshua Aaron
Chorus:
Gadol Elohai
Shiru ki Gadol Elohai
Kol echad Yirei
Ki gadol Elohai
Bridge (Name above all names):
Shem me’al kol shem
Otcha raui le’halel
Libi yashir ki gadol Elohai
Trust in Jehovah = Faith in Yeshua = Trusting Faithfulness
ALL THINGS SPIRITUAL
Come let us reason together. The life of man is all about the foundation of truth, which brings on the actions of trust. Then there is faith, which is a spiritual transformation of each soul to know without a doubt that one is saved by faith, believing in Yeshua when one receives forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit within each one, and the guarantee of a home forever in God’s Kingdom of Heaven. Remember, all things Spiritual!!
The Word of Truth is Jehovah God as He spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways. Hebrews Chapters 1 & 2
The Word of Truth, the Holy Bible, is God’s Holy Word. 2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Review Israel’s Ultimate Victory Chapter 17: The Holy Spirit.
The Word of Truth, Yeshua, is the Son of Jehovah God. John 1:14
Hebrews 7 tells us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The Son was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only Son, who came from the Father God, full of grace and truth.
Therefore, we have the Word of Truth, the Trinity; the three in one: Jehovah God, Holy Spirit the Holy Bible, and Yeshua the Son.
“Praise the Father, Praise the Son” performed by Chris Tomlin
What is truth? Is it the foundation for trust? Let us look at a passage of scripture from the gospel of John 18:36-38. Yeshua has been taken by the Judeans to the Roman governor, Pilot, to be found guilty of being the Son of God and sentenced to death by crucifixion.
36 Yeshua answered, “My kingship does not derive its authority from this world’s order of things. If it did, my men would have fought to keep me from being arrested by the Judeans. But my kingship does not come from here.” 37 “So then,” Pilate said to him, “You are a king, after all.” Yeshua answered, “You say I am a king. The reason I have been born, the reason I have come into the world, is to bear witness to the truth. Every one who belongs to the truth listens to me.” 38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” Having said this, Pilate went outside again to the Judeans and told them, “I don’t find any case against Him.
John 19 19 Pilate also had a notice written and posted on the stake (cross); it read, YESHUA OF NATZERET: THE KING OF THE JEWS 20 Many of the Judeans read this notice, because the place where Yeshua was put on the stake was close to the city; and it had been written in Hebrew, in Aramaic, in Latin and in Greek. 21 The Judeans’ head cohanim therefore said to Pilate, “Don’t write, `THE KING OF THE JEWS,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” In my heart, I would really like to believe that Pilot meant what he posted.
Yeshua’s reason for coming into the world was to bear witness of the Truth.
John 14 1 “Don’t let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in God and trust in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many places to live. If there weren’t, I would have told you; because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also. 4 Furthermore, you know where I’m going; and you know the way there.” 5 T’oma said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going; so how can we know the way?” 6 Yeshua said, “I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me. 7 Because you have known me, you will also know my Father; from now on, you do know him — in fact, you have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it will be enough for us.” 9 Yeshua replied to him, “Have I been with you so long without your knowing me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, `Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? What I am telling you, I am not saying on my own initiative; the Father living in me is doing His own works. 11 Trust me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. But if you can’t, then trust because of the works themselves. 12 Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever trusts in me will also do the works I do! Indeed, he will do greater ones, because I am going to the Father.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands; 16 and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Holy Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. 17 The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees nor knows Him. You know Him, because He is staying with you and will be united with you.
The Gospel of John Chapter 14 from The Gospel of John DVD
Hebrews 11 1 Trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see. 2 It was for this that Scripture attested the merit of the people of old. 3 By trusting, we understand that the universe was created through a spoken word of God, so that what is seen did not come into being out of existing phenomena. 4 By trusting, Hevel offered a greater sacrifice than Kayin; because of this, he was attested as righteous, with God giving him this testimony on the ground of his gifts. Through having trusted, he still continues to speak, even though he is dead. 5 By trusting, Hanokh was taken away from this life without seeing death – “He was not to be found, because God took him away” – for he has been attested as having been, prior to being taken away, well pleasing to God. 6 And without trusting, it is impossible to be well pleasing to God, because whoever approaches Him must trust that He does exist and that He becomes a Rewarder to those who seek Him out. 7 By trusting, Noach, after receiving divine warning about things as yet unseen, was filled with holy fear and built an ark to save his household. Through this trusting, he put the world under condemnation and received the righteousness that comes from trusting. 8 By trusting, Avraham obeyed, after being called to go out to a place which God would give him as a possession; indeed, he went out without knowing where he was going. 9 By trusting, he lived as a temporary resident in the Land of the promise, as if it were not his, staying in tents with Yitz’chak and Ya’akov, who were to receive what was promised along with him. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with permanent foundations, of which the architect and builder is God. 11 By trusting, he received potency to father a child, even when he was past the age for it, as was Sarah herself; because he regarded the One who had made the promise as trustworthy. 12 Therefore, this one man, who was virtually dead, fathered descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and as countless as the grains of the sand on the seashore. 13 All these people kept on trusting until they died, without receiving what had been promised. They had only seen it and welcomed it from a distance, while acknowledging that they were aliens and temporary residents on the earth. 14 For people who speak this way make it clear that they are looking for a fatherland. 15 Now if they were to keep recalling the one they left, they would have an opportunity to return; 16 but as it is, they aspire to a better fatherland, a heavenly one. This is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city. 17 By trusting, Avraham, when he was put to the test, offered up Yitz’chak as a sacrifice. Yes, he offered up his only son, he who had received the promises, 18 to whom it had been said, “What is called your ‘seed’ will be in Yitz’chak.” 19 For he had concluded that God could even raise people from the dead! And, figuratively speaking, he did so receive him. 20 By trusting, Yitz’chak in his blessings over Ya’akov and Esav made reference to events yet to come. 21 By trusting, Ya’akov, when he was dying, blessed each of Yosef ‘s sons, leaning on his walking-stick as he bowed in prayer. 22 By trusting, Yosef, near the end of his life, remembered about the Exodus of the people of Isra’el and gave instructions about what to do with his bones. 23 By trusting, the parents of Moshe hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they weren’t afraid of the king’s decree. 24 By trusting, Moshe, after he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose being mistreated along with God’s people rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin. 26 He had come to regard abuse suffered on behalf of the Messiah as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he kept his eyes fixed on the reward. 27 By trusting, he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered as one who sees the unseen. 28 By trusting, he obeyed the requirements for the Pesach, including the smearing of the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Isra’el. 29 By trusting, they walked through the Red Sea as through dry land; when the Egyptians tried to do it, the sea swallowed them up. 30 By trusting, the walls of Yericho fell down – after the people had marched around them for seven days. 31 By trusting, Rachav the prostitute welcomed the spies and therefore did not die along with those who were disobedient. 32 What more should I say? There isn’t time to tell about Gid’on, Barak, Shimshon, Yiftach, David, Sh’mu’el and the prophets; 33 who, through trusting, conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, received what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, had their weakness turned to strength, grew mighty in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead resurrected; other people were stretched on the rack and beaten to death, refusing to be ransomed, so that they would gain a better resurrection. 36 Others underwent the trials of being mocked and whipped, then chained and imprisoned. 37 They were stoned, sawed in two, murdered by the sword; they went about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, mistreated, 38 wandering about in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground! The world was not worthy of them! 39 All of these had their merit attested because of their trusting. Nevertheless, they did not receive what had been promised, 40 because God had planned something better that would involve us, so that only with us would they be brought to the goal.
What is that something better that would involve us? What is the goal? Along with verse 40, let’s read Hebrews 10:1, 9:11-15, 1:1-3
1 For the Torah is only a shadow of the good things to come, but not the actual manifestation of the originals. Therefore, it can never, by means of the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, bring to the goal those who approach the Holy Place to offer them.
11 But when Yeshua the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), 12 Yeshua entered the Holiest Place once and for all. And He entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of His own blood, thus setting people free forever. 13 For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; 14 then how much more the blood of Yeshua Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God! 15 It is because of this death that Yeshua is mediator of a New Covenant because His death has occurred which sets people free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.
1 In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the Fathers through the prophets. 2 But now, in the acharit-hayamim, he has spoken to us through his Son, to whom he has given ownership of everything and through whom he created the universe. 3 This Son is the radiance of the Sh’khinah, the very expression of God’s essence, upholding all that exists by his powerful word; and after he had, through himself, made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of HaG’dulah BaM’romim.
Therefore, Jehovah’s plan for something better, because He so loved us, is the sending of His only begotten Son, Yeshua into the world, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
“Lead Us On” performed by Kristian Stanfill
Something better is Jehovah’s Son, our key to the goal – Heaven! The word goal signifies completion of whatever fulfilled or accomplished in any given effort. Yeshua came to Earth to do His Father God’s will, to be the once-for-all sacrificial Lamb for the sins of those who choose to follow Him. On the cross Yeshua said, “It is finished!” The work He had come to Earth to do was complete and He would return again to His Father.
Paul, a member of the ruling body in Israel, was chosen by Jehovah to take the gospel message to the Gentiles, spoke these words at his journey’s end.
2 Timothy 4 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord Yeshua, “the Righteous Judge,” will award to me on that Day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for Him to appear.
In fighting the good fight, all believers are given a spiritual suit from God. This is a spiritual battle! All Things Spiritual!
Ephesians 6 10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! 11 Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. 12 For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. 13 So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing. 14 Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist, put on righteousness for a breastplate, 15 and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. 16 Always carry the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. 17 And take the helmet of salvation; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God.
Hebrews 1 1 In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the Fathers through the prophets. 2 But now, in the acharit-hayamim, he has spoken to us through His Son, to whom He has given ownership of everything and through whom He created the universe. 3 Jehovah’s Son, Yeshua, is the radiance of the Sh’khinah, the very expression of God’s essence, upholding all that exists by his powerful word; and after Yeshua had, through Himself, made purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of HaG’dulah BaM’romim (Majesty on high) in Heaven.
“All to Us” performed by Chris Tomlin
In the beginning of this part IV of Hebrews we spoke of truth, trust and faith. Many times these words seem to be interchangeable. Let us consider the word faith and its association with the “Last Days” and the Gospel message of salvation presented by Yeshua while He was on Earth. The following scriptures give spiritual insight in relation to the word faith.
Galatians 3 21 Is the Torah against the promises of God? God forbid! For if there had been a Torah given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the Torah. 22 But instead, the Tanakh has concluded all under sin; so that the promise by faith of Yeshua Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith, which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the Torah was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Yeshua Christ, that we might be justified by faith, 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Yeshua Messiah. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ Yeshua have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Yeshua Christ. 29 Also, if you belong to Yeshua Messiah, then you are the seed of Avraham and heirs according to the promise.
Ephesians 3:9 Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Torah, but that which is through the faith of Yeshua Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Romans 3 22 Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Yeshua Messiah unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference; 23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Yeshua Messiah; 25 Whom God has set forth to be the propitiation through faith in Yeshua’s blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Yeshua. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By the Torah? Of works? NAY: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the Torah.
Romans 1 16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation for every one who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the Gospel, the righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
May you be receptive to this truth from Jehovah, His Son Yeshua, the Holy Spirit, and His word – the Holy Bible. Believing is seeing! All things Spiritual!
“He’s God” performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
TO: Hebrews
FROM: Jehovah, God of the Hebrews
The timeframe for man begins and ends in Hebrews.
This all-powerful, spirit-filled book written to the Hebrew nation of Israel has the presentation of indisputable evidence justifying the complete truth of Jehovah God and His Son, Yeshua, from creation, “In the beginning,” to “the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in Heaven” to “Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.”
Let us summarize the timeframe: What was. What is. What will be.
What Was. In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens. On day 1, You created light and darkness, thus, time began for man. In the past, God used our forefathers through the prophets to communicate with our people.
The new Hebrew nation of Israel was founded on Jehovah’s ten commandments given to Moses in the desert wilderness. Moses was a faithful servant of the living Jehovah God, but the hearts of the people rebelled against Jehovah by going astray, therefore the covenant between God and His chosen Hebrew people was broken and in need of a new covenant.
What Is. In the Last Days, Jehovah has spoken to us through His Son, Yeshua, by His coming to planet earth to do the will of His Father Jehovah in sacrifice of Himself, once for all, providing eternal life to any who follow Him, by faith believing and receiving Yeshua as Savior and Lord of their lives.
Hebrews 1:3 “Jehovah’s Son, Yeshua, is the radiance of the Sh’khinah, the very expression of God’s essence, upholding all that exists by His powerful word; and after He had, through Himself, made purification for sins, Yeshua sat down at the right hand of HaG’dulah BaM’romim (Majesty of heaven, Yeshua’s Father Jehovah).
Today is a warning from God, do not ignore His Son, Yeshua, the provider and author of your great salvation! Yeshua is over My house, the Great High Priest, the mediator of the New Covenant, and He will remain forever and ever without end!
While it is Today, do not harden your hearts as those who fell in the rebellion in the desert. Today is your only day to obey Yeshua when He says, “Come, follow Me, for I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.”
What Will Be. The foundations of the earth and heavens will wear out but You, Yeshua, will remain the same forever.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. 2 Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and He Himself, God-with-them, will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.” 5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!'” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the ‘A’ Alpha and the ‘Z’ Omega, the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty I myself will give water free of charge from the Fountain of Life. 7 He who wins the victory will receive these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the untrustworthy, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those involved with the occult and with drugs, idol-worshippers, and all liars – their destiny is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, this is the second death.”
“Alpha and Omega” performed by The Gaither Vocal Band
Let us look at Jehovah’s timeframe from Hebrews.
10 and, “In the beginning, Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth; heaven is the work of Your hands. 11 They will vanish, but You will remain; like clothing, they will all grow old; 12 and You will fold them up like a coat. Yes, they will be changed like clothing, but You remain the same, Your years will never end.”
1 In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the fathers through the prophets. 2 But now, in the acharit-hayamim {last days} Jehovah has spoken to us through His Son, Yeshua, to whom He has given ownership of everything and through whom He created the universe.
6 And again, when God brings His Firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 Indeed, when speaking of angels, He says, “. . . who makes His angels winds and His servants fiery flames”; 8 but to the Son, He says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; You rule Your Kingdom with a scepter of equity;
A word used throughout the scriptures is therefore. What is it there for? The word therefore refers to the subject matter that precedes it, by giving instructions to hear and obey.
7 Therefore, as the Ruach HaKodesh {Holy Spirit} says, “Today, if you hear God’s voice, 8 don’t harden your hearts, as you did in the Bitter Quarrel on that day in the Wilderness when you put God to the test.
1 Therefore, we must pay much more careful heed to the things we have heard, so that we will not drift away. 2 For if the word God spoke through angels became binding, so that every violation and act of disobedience received its just punishment in full measure, 3 then how will we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first declared by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him; 4 while God also bore witness to it with various signs, wonders and miracles, and with gifts of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) which He distributed as He chose.
1 Therefore, let us be terrified of the possibility that, even though the promise of entering His rest remains, any one of you might be judged to have fallen short of it; 2 for the Good News of the Gospel has also been proclaimed to us, just as it was to them. But the message they heard didn’t do them any good, because those who heard it did not combine it with faith and trust.
7 Therefore God again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David, so long afterwards, in the text already given, “Today, if you hear God’s voice, don’t harden your hearts.”
1 Therefore, brothers {believers} whom God has set apart, who share in the call from heaven, fix your minds on Yeshua, whom we acknowledge publicly as God’s emissary and as cohen gadol.
14 Therefore, since we have a great cohen gadol who has passed through to the highest heaven, Yeshua, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we acknowledge as true.
16 Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.
1 Here is the whole point of what we have been saying: we do have just such a cohen gadol as has been described. And He does sit at the right hand of HaG’dulah in heaven. 2 There Yeshua serves in the Holy Place, that is, in the true Tent of Meeting, the one erected not by human beings but by ADONAI.
16 “This is the covenant which I, Jehovah, will make with My chosen after those days,” says ADONAI: “I will put My Torah in their hearts, and write it on their minds. “ 17 He then adds, “and their sins and their wickedness I will remember no more.”
This book of Hebrews is written to the Jewish believers, revealing the timeframe in God’s continuing, progressive revelation of His complete truth contained in His Holy Word. This timeframe, as expressed in “after those days,” refers to when blood animal sacrifices, offered repeatedly year after year yet never able to take away sin, were replaced by Yeshua’a body, a once-for-all sacrifice for sin for each one who chooses to follow Him. Yeshua said to His Father Jehovah God, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” JEHOVAH God set aside the first covenant, followed by His Son, Yeshua, to establish the new second Covenant.
7 Indeed, if the first covenant had not given ground for faultfinding, there would have been no need for a second one. 8 For God does find fault with the people when he says, “‘See! The days are coming,’ says ADONAI, ‘when I will establish over the house of Isra’el and over the house of Y’hudah a new covenant.
There is no longer a need for a priest or animal sacrifices. There is no longer need for the first covenant since it has been rendered null and void for it was broken by the people. There is no longer a need for the temple since the veil to the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom when Yeshua died on the cross, ushering in the New Covenant, giving direct access to Jehovah God through Himself, now the Great High Priest and intercessor for all believers! (The temple was destroyed in 70AD, thus ending the Jewish sacrificial system.)
6 But the Messiah, as Son, was faithful over God’s house. And we are that house (the temple of believers) of His, provided we hold firmly to the courage and confidence inspired by what we hope for.
24 But because Yeshua lives forever, His position as cohen does not pass on to someone else; 25 and consequently, He is totally able to deliver those who approach God through Him; since He is alive forever and thus forever able to intercede on their behalf.
9 “Look, I have come to do your will”; Yeshua takes away the first system in order to set up the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Yeshua Messiah Christ once-for-all.
1 For the Torah is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. Therefore, it can never, by means of the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who approach the Holy Place to worship. 2 Otherwise, wouldn’t the offering of those sacrifices have ceased? For if the people performing the service had been cleansed once and for all, they would no longer have sins on their conscience. 3 No, it is quite the contrary – in these sacrifices is a reminder of sins, year after year. 4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. 5 This is why, on coming into the world, Yeshua Christ says, “It has not been Your will to have an animal sacrifice and a meal offering; rather, You have prepared for me a body. 6 No, you have not been pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. 7 Then I said, ‘Look! In the scroll of the book it is written about me, Yeshua, I have come to do your will.'” 8 In saying first, “You neither willed nor were pleased with animal sacrifices, meal offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings,” things which are offered in accordance with the Torah; 9 and then, “Look, I have come to do your will”; Yeshua takes away the first system in order to set up the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Yeshua Messiah Christ once-for-all. 11 Now every cohen stands every day doing his service, offering over and over the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But Yeshua, after He had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from then on to wait until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by a single offering He has brought to the goal for all time those who are being set apart for God and made holy. 15 And the Ruach HaKodesh too bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 ” ‘This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days,’ says ADONAI: ‘I will put my Torah on their hearts, and write it on their minds . . . ,’ 17 He then adds, ‘and their sins and their wickedness I will remember no more.’ 18 Now where there is forgiveness for these, an offering for sins is no longer needed.
- The Law is not sacrifice. God’s Lamb, Yeshua, is the sacrifice.
- The Law condemns. Yeshua’s love forgives = complete fulfillment.
- Without the shedding of Yeshua’s blood, there is no remission of sin.
- Blood is life. Yeshua gave His blood for you and me.
Do not focus on the shadow (Law). Focus on Yeshua, Jehovah’s Son, who casts the shadow.
“Amazing Love” performed by Chris Tomlin
35 So don’t throw away that courage of yours, which carries with it such a great reward! 39 You are of those who believe by faith and are saved for eternity!
Let Us Persevere
19 So, brothers, we have confidence to use the way into the Holiest Place opened by the blood of Yeshua. 20 He inaugurated it for us as a new and living way through the parokhet (curtain torn from top to bottom in the temple when Yeshua died on the cross), by means of His body. 21 We also have a great cohen over God’s household (believers). 22 Therefore, let us approach the Holiest Place with a sincere heart, in the full assurance that comes from faith and trust – with our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us continue holding fast to the hope, Yeshua, which we acknowledge, without wavering; for the One who made the promise is trustworthy. 24 And let us keep paying attention to one another, in order to spur each other on to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing, but, rather, encouraging each other. And let us do this all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, of raging fire that will consume the enemies. 28 Someone who disregards the Torah of Moshe is put to death without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses. 29 Think how much worse will be the punishment deserved by someone who has trampled underfoot the Son of God; who has treated as something common the blood of the covenant which made Him holy; and who has insulted the Holy Spirit, giver of God’s grace! 30 For the One we know is the One who said, “Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay,” and then said, “ADONAI will judge His people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God! 32 But remember the earlier days, when, after you had received the light, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. 33 Sometimes you were publicly disgraced and persecuted, while at other times you stood loyally by those who were treated this way. 34 For you shared the sufferings of those who had been put in prison. Also when your possessions were seized, you accepted it gladly; since you knew that what you possessed was better and would last forever. 35 So don’t throw away that courage of yours, which carries with it such a great reward. 36 For you need to hold out; so that, by having done what God wills, you may receive what He has promised. 37 For “There is so, so little time! The One coming will indeed come, He will not delay. 38 But the person who is righteous will live his life by faith, and if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39 However, we are not the kind who shrink back and are destroyed; on the contrary, we are of those who believe by faith and are saved for eternity!
You have just experienced firsthand Jehovah’s complete truth taken from His perfect and inerrant Word, the Holy Bible. The greatest single event of all time was the life of this Man of Galilee, Jehovah’s Son Yeshua, the only One who can forgive sin, once-for-all and provide the way of salvation and eternal life through His death and resurrection to those who choose to follow Him. Only Yeshua can bring love, light, life and purpose to our lives.
Today is the time for the Hebrew people to declare, with courage and boldness, their belief in Jehovah God and Yeshua His Son, born to be our Savior, Lord and soon returning King!
“Jesus Messiah” performed by Chris Tomlin
He became sin, who knew no sin
That we might become His righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing, love so amazing
Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all
His body the bread, his blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled, and the veil was torn
Love so amazing, love so amazing, yeah
Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all
All I hope is in You, all I hope is in You
All the glory to You, God, the light of the world
Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all!
WHAT WAS:
- Earthly priesthood
- Order of Aaron
- All born of Adam (Aaron)
- Tribe of Levi (descendants)
- All sinful and inefficient
- Sins covered by animal blood
- Continuous sin offerings
- Temporary
- Passed to next generation
- Earthly tabernacle
- Mortal death
- Heavenly priesthood
- Order of Yeshua
- Born of Jehovah (His Son, Yeshua)
- Tribe of Judah (born of the Virgin Mary)
- Sinless and perfect in all ways
- Sins forever covered by Yeshua’s own blood
- Removes sin debt once-for-all
- Permanent
- Never passed to others
- Living tabernacle (our bodies)
- Lives eternally as Great High Priest and as King of kings and Lord of lords
- A priest of Most High God
- Not of Aaron
- Not a descendant of Levi
- King of Righteousness
- King of Salem (peace)
- Without genealogy of man
- Without beginning or end
- Bread and wine with Abraham
- Foreshadow of Yeshua: God’s Sacrificial Lamb
- A priest of Most High God
- Not of Aaron
- Not a descendant of Levi
- King of Righteousness
- King of JeruSalem (coming)
- Without genealogy of man
- Without beginning or end
- Bread and wine with Disciples
- Completed Mission: the New Covenant
The High Priest of the New Covenant
TO: All Hebrews
On October 13, 1881, determined to bring about the revival of Hebrew as a spoken language as a way of unifying Jews, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda had what is believed to be the first modern conversation in Hebrew while living in Paris, France.
It can only be a God-ordained fulfillment for both the nation of Israel and their language to be a nation and a language, then to disappear as a nation and language, and then on May 14, 1948 be reborn as both a nation and language. It is truly amazing what God does to preserve His beloved people! If you are willing to ask, seek and knock, then ASK for the truth of this “Book of Hebrews” to be revealed to your soul, then my friend, you will be free indeed by knowing the complete truth and purpose of God’s Holy Word.
1. God speaks to us through His only Son, Yeshua, in these last days.
2. God appointed His only Son Yeshua, Heir of all things.
3. Through Yeshua, God made the universe.
4. Yeshua is the radiance of His Father God’s glory.
5. Yeshua is the exact representation of His Father God’s being.
6. Yeshua sustains all things by His powerful Word.
7. Yeshua provided purification for sins (for each those who chose Him as personal Savior and Lord).
8. Yeshua sits at the right hand of the Majesty (Father God), in Heaven.
9. Yeshua is as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs.
10. God and Yeshua are One: Yeshua is God-Visible to mankind.
God cannot look upon sin. There is no sin in the Kingdom of Heaven. The only way sinful mankind can ever be a part of His Kingdom is to be forgiven of our sins. God sent His Son, Yeshua, to earth to lay down His life to pay our sin-debt on a rugged cross outside Jerusalem on a hill called Mt. Calvary. Pray to God in repentance of sin and ask forgiveness by faith believing in Yeshua as personal Savior for He paid a debt He did not owe, and we owe a debt we cannot pay. Yeshua, once-for-all, forgives our sins and we each receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit to direct our paths, teach us God’s Word and comfort us in our sorrows of life on this earth until we pass from this world to be with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Yeshua paid the price…are you ready to receive Him as Savior and Lord?
Yeshua Greater than Moses
Believers Enter God’s Rest
14 Therefore, since we have a great cohen gadol who has passed through to the highest heaven, Yeshua, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we acknowledge as true. 15For we do not have a cohen gadol unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect Yeshua was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that He did not sin. 16Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
1 For every cohen gadol taken from among men is appointed to act on people’s behalf with regard to things concerning God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and with those who go astray, since he too is subject to weakness. 3 Also, because of this weakness, he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor upon himself, rather, he is called by God, just as Aharon was. 5 So neither did the Messiah glorify Himself to become cohen gadol; rather, it was the One who said to him, ” Yeshua,You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 6 Also, as He says in another place, “You are a cohen forever, to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.” 7 During Yeshua’s life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions, crying aloud and shedding tears, to the One who had the power to deliver Him from death; and He was heard because of His godliness. 8 Even though He was the Son, He learned obedience through His sufferings. 9 And after Yeshua had been brought to the goal, He became the source of eternal deliverance to all who believe in him, 10 since He had been proclaimed by God as a cohen gadol to be compared with Malki-Tzedek. Hebrews 5:1-10
18 Malki-Tzedek king of Shalem brought out bread and wine. He was cohen of El ‘Elyon [God Most High], 19 so he blessed him with these words: “Blessed be Avram by El ‘Elyon, maker of heaven of earth. 20and blessed be El ‘Elyon, who handed your enemies over to you.” Avram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:18-20
God is Holy and cannot lie! God’s Holy Word is spiritually alive and sharper than any two-edged sword.
Thus far, God has given three distinct warnings to His people:
- Warning to Pay Attention
- Warning against Unbelief
- Warning Against Falling Away
Hear O Israel! God has spoken! God wants you to render your heart, not your outward rituals. God gives His people the blessed Hope and that Hope is found in none other but His Son, Yeshua, known only to those who follow Him. The result of Hope is receiving Yeshua as personal Savior and everlasting life in His Kingdom of Heaven! Let everyone that has breath praise the Lord!
The apostles were arrested again:
17 But the cohen hagadol and his associates, who were members of the party of the Tz’dukim, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the emissaries and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night, an angel of ADONAI opened the doors of the prison, led them out and said, 20 “Go, stand in the Temple court and keep telling the people all about this new life!” 21 After hearing that, they entered the Temple area about dawn and began to teach. Now the cohen hagadol and his associates came and called a meeting of the Sanhedrin (that is, of Isra’el’s whole assembly of elders) and sent to the jail to have them brought. 22 But the officers who went did not find them in the prison. So they returned and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened it, we found no one inside!” 24 When the captain of the Temple police and the head cohanim heard these things, they were puzzled and wondered what would happen next. 25 Then someone came and reported to them, “Listen! The men you ordered put in prison are standing in the Temple court, teaching the people!” 26 The captain and his officers went and brought them, but not with force; because they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 27 They conducted them to the Sanhedrin, where the cohen hagadol demanded of them, 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name! Look here! You have filled Yerushalayim with your teaching; moreover, you are determined to make us responsible for this man’s death!” 29 Kefa and the other emissaries answered, “We must obey God, not men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Yeshua, whereas you men killed him by having him hanged on a stake. 31 God has exalted this man at His right hand as Ruler and Savior, in order to enable Isra’el to do t’shuvah and have her sins forgiven. 32 We are witnesses to these things; so is the Ruach HaKodesh, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were infuriated and wanted to put the emissaries to death. 34 But one of the members of the Sanhedrin rose to his feet, a Parush named Gamli’el, a teacher of the Torah highly respected by all the people. He ordered the men put outside for a little while 35 and then addressed the court: “Men of Isra’el, take care what you do to these people. 36 Some time ago, there was a rebellion under Todah, who claimed to be somebody special; and a number of men, maybe four hundred, rallied behind him. But upon his being put to death, his whole following was broken up and came to nothing. 37 After this, Y’hudah HaG’lili led another uprising, back at the time of the enrollment for the Roman tax; and he got some people to defect to him. But he was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these people, but to leave them alone. For if this idea or this movement has a human origin, it will collapse. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them; you might even find yourselves fighting God!” They heeded his advice. 40 After summoning the emissaries and flogging them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Yeshua, and let them go. 41 The emissaries left the Sanhedrin overjoyed at having been considered worthy of suffering disgrace on account of him. 42 And not for a single day, either in the Temple court or in private homes, did they stop teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Yeshua is the Messiah. Acts 5The question is this:
