TO: All Hebrews
FROM: Jehovah, God of the Hebrews
This confirmation hearing is written and presented to Hebrews by Jehovah God, testifying with indisputable evidence, qualifying and justifying God’s Holy truth, removing all doubt, that His Son, Yeshua, is the heir of all things.
Pray to the Creator, Almighty JEHOVAH and Holy God to open your ears to hear and your heart to accept His Word of Truth by revealing the answers for your troubled soul.
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 In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the Fathers through the prophets. 2But 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. 4 So He has become much better than angels, and the name God has given Him is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Also, God never said of any angel, “I will be His Father, and He will be my Son.” 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”; 8but to the Son, God says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; you rule your Kingdom with a scepter of equity; 9 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you with the oil of joy in preference to your companions”; 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.” 13Moreover, to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
In this chapter, God brings to mind how He spoke to your forefathers through the prophets many times and various ways, but in these Last Days, God speaks through His Son, Yeshua.
God, the Supreme Judge, the Holy Almighty Jehovah and Creator of life, presents His final edict by a proclamation concerning the indisputable evidence and His declaration of conformation to you the jury [mankind] for your heart to decide with God the Father, this impeccable truth, that His Son, Yeshua, is the Heir of all things!
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.
How is it, being like-kind with Yeshua, having been born a Jew into the Hebrew Nation of Israel, as God’s select, set apart, chosen people and nation, to have eyes that cannot see and ears that do not hear the complete truth of God’s message? From the ear to hear to heart!
If you are willing to open your heart to truth, God’s Holy Spirit will reveal truth to you!
Warning to Pay Attention!
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 deserts in full measure, 3 then how will we escape if we ignore such a great deliverance? 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 which He distributed as He chose. 5For it was not to angels that God subjected the ‘olam haba – which is what we are talking about. 6 And there is a place where someone has given this solemn testimony*(Psalms 8:4-6): “What is mere man, that you concern yourself with him? or the son of man, that you watch over him with such care? 7You made Him a little lower than the angels, you crowned Him with glory and honor, 8 you put everything in subjection under His feet.” In subjecting everything under Him, God left nothing that is not subject to Him, yet, at present, we don’t see everything subject to Him. 9 But we see Yeshua – who indeed was made for a little while lower than the angels – now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by God’s grace, Yeshua might taste death for all humanity. 10 For in bringing many sons to glory, it was only fitting that God, the Creator and Preserver of everything, should bring the author of their salvation to the goal through sufferings. 11 For both Yeshua, who sets people apart for God, and the ones being set apart have a common origin – this is why Yeshua is not ashamed to call them brothers 12 when He says, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 Also, “I will put my trust in him, . . .” and then it goes on, “Here I am, along with the children God has given me.” 14 Therefore, since the children share a common physical nature as human beings, Yeshua became like them and shared that same human nature; so that by His death He might render ineffective the one who had power over death (that is, the Adversary) 15 and thus set free those who had been in bondage all their lives because of their fear of death. 16 Indeed, it is obvious that he does not take hold of angels to help them; on the contrary, “He takes hold of the seed of Avraham.” 17 This is why He had to become like His brothers in every respect – so that Yeshua might become a merciful and faithful cohen gadol in the service of God, making a kapparah for the sins of the people. 18 For since Yeshua Himself suffered death when He was put to the test, He is able to help those who are being tested now.
Are we paying attention? How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?
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?
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you. Ezekiel 36:26
Yeshua made like His brothers.
11 For both Yeshua, who sets people apart for God, and the ones being set apart have a common origin – this is why Yeshua is not ashamed to call them brothers.
17 This is why He had to become like His brothers in every respect – so that Yeshua might become a merciful and faithful cohen gadol in the service of God, making a kapparah for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:11,17
Yeshua lived among mankind, being perfect without sin, for He was born of His Father God and not of the earthly origin of Adam.
Yeshua Greater than Moses
1 Therefore, brothers whom God has set apart, who share in the call from heaven, think carefully about Yeshua, whom we acknowledge publicly as God’s emissary and as cohen gadol. 2 He was faithful to God, who appointed him; just as “Moshe was faithful in all God’s house.” 3But Yeshua deserves more honor than Moshe, just as the builder of the house deserves more honor than the house. 4For every house is built by someone, but the one who built everything is God. 5 Also, Moshe was faithful in all God’s house, as a servant giving witness to things God would divulge later. 6 But the Messiah, as Son, was faithful over God’s house. And we are that house of his, provided we hold firmly to the courage and confidence inspired by what we hope for. 7 Therefore, as the Ruach HaKodesh says, “Today, if you hear God’s voice, 8 don’t harden your hearts, as you did in the Rebellion on that day in the Wilderness when you put God to the test. 9 Yes, your fathers put me to the test; they challenged me, and they saw my work for forty years! 10Therefore, I was disgusted with that generation I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, they have not understood how I do things’; 11 in my anger, I swore that they would not enter my rest.” 12Watch out, brothers, so that there will not be in any one of you an evil heart lacking trust, which could lead you to apostatize from the living God! 13 Instead, keep exhorting each other every day, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you will become hardened by the deceit of sin. 14 For we have become sharers in the Messiah, provided, however, that we hold firmly to the conviction we began with, right through until the goal is reached. 15 Now where it says, “Today, if you hear God’s voice, don’t harden your hearts, as you did in the Rebellion,” 16 who were the people who, after they heard, quarreled so bitterly? All those whom Moshe brought out of Egypt. 17 And with whom was God disgusted for forty years? Those who sinned – yes, they fell dead in the Wilderness! 18 And to whom was it that he swore that they would not enter his rest? Those who were disobedient. 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of their unbelief.
God’s ways are not man’s ways. As far as the heavens are above the earth, so are God’s ways above man’s. The greatest prophets of old; Noah, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Daniel, Ezekiel, Joshua, and the list goes on and on, are all born of Adam! The One and only Yeshua, God’s Son, is the only perfect One who saves, forgives all our sins, because of His death, burial and resurrection. He opens the door of salvation to any one who receives Him as personal Savior and Lord of their life.
“Our God Is Greater”
performed by Chris Tomlin
1 Come, let’s sing to ADONAI! Let’s shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation! 2 Let’s come into His presence with thanksgiving; let’s shout for joy to Him with songs of praise. 3 For ADONAI is a great God, a great King, greater than all gods. 4 He holds the depths of the earth in His hands; the mountain peaks too belong to Him. 5 The sea is His – He made it -and His hands shaped the dry land. 6 Come, let’s bow down and worship; let’s kneel before ADONAI who made us. Psalms 95
Warning Against Unbelief.
15 Now where it says, “Today, if you hear God’s voice, don’t harden your hearts, as you did in the Rebellion,” 19 So we see that they were unable to enter His rest because of their unbelief. Hebrews 3:15,19
7 For He is our God, and we are the people in His pasture, the sheep in His care. If only Todayyou would listen to His voice: 8″Don’t harden your hearts, as you did at M’rivah, as you did on that day at Massah in the desert. Psalms 95:7-8
There is no time like today to prepare for an eternity without end.
Believers Enter God’s Rest
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; 2for 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. 3For it is we who have trusted who enter the rest. It is just as God said, “And in my anger, I swore that they would not enter my rest.” He swore this even though his works have been in existence since the founding of the universe. 4 For there is a place where it is said, concerning the seventh day, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5And once more, our present text says, “They will not enter My rest.” 6 Therefore, since it still remains for some to enter it, and those who received the Good News of the Gospel earlier did not enter, 7 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.” 8For if Y’hoshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later of another “day.” 9 So there remains a Shabbat-keeping for God’s people. 10 For the one who has entered God’s rest has also rested from his own works, as God did from his. 11Therefore, let us do our best to enter that rest; so that no one will fall short because of the same kind of disobedience. 12 The Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword – it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart. 13Before God, nothing created is hidden, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must render an account.
Awake O Israel! Call on your God, the same God of Abraham; bow down before Him asking for mercy and forgiveness. Render your heart and not your clothes; humbly seek Him and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart!
7 For He is our God, and we are the people in His pasture, the sheep in his care. If only today you would listen to His voice: 8 “Don’t harden your hearts, as you did at M’rivah, as you did on that day at Massah in the desert, 9 when your fathers put me to the test; they challenged me, even though they saw my work. 10 For forty years I loathed that generation; I said, ‘This is a people whose hearts go astray, they don’t understand how I do things.’ 11 Therefore I swore in my anger that they would not enter my rest.” Psalms 95:7-11
Yeshua, The Great High Priest …Forever!
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
The book of Hebrews brings the way it was and the way it is, a then world and the now world, to completion in the order of Malki-Tzedek (Melchizedek). Just as Malki-Tzedek was the foreshadow/forerunner of Yeshua, the now Yeshua is being proclaimed by His Father God to be the Great High Priest forever. The following scriptures tie the prophetic scriptures to their fulfillment in Yeshua, through God’s progressive revelation to mankind through God’s Holy Word.
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
ADONAI has sworn it, and He will never retract -“You,Yeshua are a cohen forever, to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.” Psalms 110:4
Also, as God says in another place, “Yeshua,You are a cohen forever, to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.” Hebrews 5:6 This scripture in Hebrews refers to Psalms 110.
Since Yeshua had been proclaimed by God as a cohen gadol to be compared with Malki-Tzedek. Hebrews 5:10
We have this hope as a sure and safe anchor for ourselves, a hope that goes right on through to what is inside the parokhet, 20 where a forerunner has entered on our behalf, namely, Yeshua, who has become a cohen gadol forever, to be compared with Malki-Tzedek. Hebrews 6:19
1 This Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem, a cohen of God Ha’Elyon, met Avraham on his way back from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; 2 also Avraham gave him a tenth of everything. Now first of all, by translation of his name, he is “king of righteousness”; and then he is also king of Shalem, which means “king of peace.” 3There is no record of his father, mother, ancestry, birth or death; rather, like the Son of God, he continues as a cohen for all time. 4 Just think how great he was! Even the Patriarch Avraham gave him a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 Now the descendants of Levi who became cohanim have a commandment in the Torah to take a tenth of the income of the people, that is, from their own brothers, despite the fact that they too are descended from Avraham. 6But Malki-Tzedek, even though he was not descended from Levi, took a tenth from Avraham. Also, he blessed Avraham, the man who received God’s promises; 7 and it is beyond all dispute that the one who blesses has higher status than the one who receives the blessing. 8 Moreover, in the case of the cohanim, the tenth is received by men who die; while in the case of Malki-Tzedek, it is received by someone who is testified to be still alive. 9 One might go even further and say that Levi, who himself receives tenths, paid a tenth through Avraham; 10 inasmuch as he was still in his ancestor Avraham’s body when Malki-Tzedek met him. 11 Therefore, if it had been possible to reach the goal through the system of cohanim derived from Levi (since in connection with it, the people were given the Torah), what need would there have been for another, different kind of cohen, the one spoken of as to be compared with Malki-Tzedek and not to be compared with Aharon? 12For if the system of cohanim is transformed, there must of necessity occur a transformation of Torah. 13 The one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar; 14for everyone knows that our Lord arose out of Y’hudah, and that Moshe said nothing about this tribe when he spoke about cohanim. 15 It becomes even clearer if a “different kind of cohen,” one like Malki-Tzedek, arises, 16 one who became a cohen not by virtue of a rule in the Torah concerning physical descent, but by virtue of the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is stated, “You, Yeshua, are a cohen FOREVER, to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.” 18 Thus, on the one hand, the earlier rule is set aside because of its weakness and inefficacy 19 (for the Torah did not bring anything to the goal); and, on the other hand, a hope of something better is introduced, through which we are drawing near to God. 20 What is more, God swore an oath. For no oath was sworn in connection with those who become cohanim now; 21 but Yeshua became a cohen by the oath which God swore when He said to Yeshua, “ADONAI has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You Yeshua, are a cohen forever.'”
Warning Against Falling Away!
11 We have much to say about this subject, but it is hard to explain, because you have become sluggish in understanding. 12 For although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the very first principles of God’s Word all over again! You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who has to drink milk is still a baby, without experience in applying the Word about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by continuous exercise to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14
1 Therefore, leaving behind the initial lessons about Yeshua the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of turning from works that lead to death, trusting God, 2 and instruction about washings, s’mikhah, the resurrection of the dead and eternal punishment. 3And, God willing, this is what we will do. 4 For when people have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become sharers in the Ruach HaKodesh, 5 and tasted the goodness of God’s Word and the powers of the ‘olam haba – 6 and then have fallen away – it is impossible to renew them so that they turn from their sin, as long as for themselves they keep executing the Son of God on the stake all over again and keep holding him up to public contempt. 7 For the land that soaks up frequent rains and then brings forth a crop useful to its owners receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it keeps producing thorns and thistles, it fails the test and is close to being cursed for in the end, it will be burned. 9 Now even though we speak this way, dear friends, we are confident that you have the better things that accompany salvation. 10For God is not so unfair as to forget your work and the love you showed for him in your past service to his people – and in your present service too. 11 However, we want each one of you to keep showing the same diligence right up to the end, when your hope will be realized; 12 so that you will not become sluggish, but will be imitators of those who by their trust and patience are receiving what has been promised. 13 For when God made his promise to Avraham, he swore an oath to do what he had promised; and since there was no one greater than himself for him to swear by, he swore by himself 14and said, “I will certainly bless you, and I will certainly give you many descendants”; 15 and so, after waiting patiently, Avraham saw the promise fulfilled. 16 Now people swear oaths by someone greater than themselves, and confirmation by an oath puts an end to all dispute. 17 Therefore, when God wanted to demonstrate still more convincingly the unchangeable character of His intentions to those who were to receive what He had promised, He added an oath to the promise; 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we, who have fled to take a firm hold on the hope set before us, would be strongly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as a sure and safe anchor for ourselves, a hope that goes right on through to what is inside the parokhet, 20where Yeshua, the forerunner has entered on our behalf, namely, for it is Yeshua, who has become a cohen gadol forever, in the order of Malki-Tzedek.
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!
“El Shaddai”
performed by Amy Grant
“BE MY WITNESSES; GO TELL!” . . . YESHUA
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 Gamli’el advice. Acts 5
“Use Me”
performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
This chapter begins with the timeframe of 33AD in Galilee, on a mountain where Yeshua leaves His last “Great Commission” to His eleven disciples.
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 from all nations, immersing them into the name of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, 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.” Matthew 28
The apostles waited in Jerusalem until the promised gift of the Holy Spirit was given to them by Yeshua’s Father God. This spectacular event of The Power Within: Chapter 17 describes the third person of the Trinity. The Mind of Almighty God, the body of Yeshua Messiah and now, the power of the Holy Spirit coming to live within believers!
“I Will Follow”
performed by Chris Tomlin
The prime example of God’s all-powerful Holy Spirit within each believer is shown in these passages given by Peter to the Jewish people. Yes! The one and the same disciple that denied, not once, but three times that he even knew Yeshua the night before Yeshua was crucified!!
22 “Men of Isra’el! Listen to this! Yeshua from Natzeret was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God performed through Him in your presence. You yourselves know this. 23 This Man was arrested in accordance with God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge; and you, through the help of wicked men, put Him to death by executing Him on a stake! 24 “But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death; because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. 25 For David says this about Him: ‘I saw the Lord ADONAI always before me, for He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. 26 For this reason, my heart was glad; and my tongue rejoiced; and now my body too will live on in the certain hope 27 that you will not abandon me to Sh’ol or let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life, You will fill me with joy by Your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I know I can say to you frankly that the patriarch David died and was buried – his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that one of his descendants would sit on his throne, 31 he was speaking in advance about the resurrection of the Messiah, that it was He who was not abandoned in Sh’ol and whose flesh did not see decay. 32 God raised up this Yeshua to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact! 33 “Moreover, He, Yeshua the Messiah, has been exalted to the right hand of God; has received from the Father what He promised, namely, the Ruach HaKodesh; and has poured out this gift, which you are both seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into heaven. But he says, 35 ‘ADONAI said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”‘ 36 Therefore, let the whole house of Isra’el know beyond doubt that God has made Him both Lord and Messiah – this Yeshua, whom you executed on a stake!” 37 On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Kefa and the other emissaries, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Kefa answered them, “REPENT from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh! 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away – as many as ADONAI our God may call!” 40 He pressed his case with many other arguments and kept pleading with them, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” 41 So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people. Acts 2
Other accounts recorded of Peter and the apostles included a man crippled from birth, sitting by the temple gate begging for money.
6 Kefa said, “I don’t have silver, and I don’t have gold, but what I do have I give to you: in the name of the Messiah, Yeshua of Natzeret, walk!” 7 And taking hold of him by his right hand, Kefa pulled him up. Instantly his feet and ankles became strong; 8 so that he sprang up, stood a moment, and began walking. Then he entered the Temple court with them, walking and leaping and praising God! 9 Everyone saw him walking and praising God. 10 They recognized him as the same man who had formerly sat begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were utterly amazed and confounded at what had happened to him. 11 While he clung to Kefa and Yochanan, all the people came running in astonishment toward them in Shlomo’s Colonnade. 12 Seeing this, Kefa addressed the people: “Men of Isra’el! Why are you amazed at this? Or why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk through some power or godliness of our own? 13 The God of Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya’akov, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Yeshua – the same Yeshua you handed over and disowned before Pilate, even after he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the holy and innocent One, and instead asked for the reprieve of a murderer! 15 You killed the author of life! “But God has raised Him from the dead! Of this we are witnesses. 16 And it is through putting trust in His name that His name has given strength to this man whom you see and know. Yes, it is the trust that comes through Yeshua, which has given him this perfect healing in the presence of you all. Acts 3
1 Kefa and Yochanan were still speaking to the people when the cohanim, the captain in charge of the Temple police, and the Tz’dukim came upon them, 2 greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people the doctrine of resurrection from the dead and offering Yeshua as proof. 3 The Temple police arrested them; and since it was already evening, they put them in jail overnight. 4 However, many of those who heard the message trusted; the number of men alone was about five thousand. Acts 4
The next question asked by the ruling scribes and Pharisees was:
16 “What can we do with these men?” they asked each other. “Why, anyone in Yerushalayim can see that a remarkable miracle has come about through them – we can’t possibly deny that. 17 But to prevent it from spreading any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them in again and ordered them under no circumstances to speak or teach in the name of Yeshua. 19 But Kefa and Yochanan answered, “You must judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God. 20 As for us, we can’t help talking about what we have actually seen and heard.” 21 They threatened them some more but finally let them go – they couldn’t punish them because of the people, for everyone was praising God over what had happened, 22 since the man who had been miraculously healed was more than forty years old. 23 Upon being released, they went back to their friends and reported what the head cohanim and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard it, they raised their voices to God with singleness of heart. “Master,” they prayed, “You made heaven, earth, the sea and everything in them. 25 By the Ruach HaKodesh, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, you said, ‘Why did the nations rage and the peoples devise useless plans? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand; and the rulers assembled together against ADONAI and against his Messiah.’ 27 “This has come true in this city, since Herod and Pontius Pilate, with Goyim and the peoples of Isra’el, all assembled against your holy servant Yeshua, whom you made Messiah, 28 to do what your power and plan had already determined beforehand should happen. 29 “So now, Lord, take note of their threats; and enable your slaves to speak your message with boldness! 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and to do signs and miracles through the name of your holy servant Yeshua!” 31 While they were still praying, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, and they spoke God’s message with boldness. Acts 4
The Apostles filled with the Holy Spirit and healed in the name of Yeshua.
12 Meanwhile, through the emissaries 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. Acts 5
“Daystar”
performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
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 5Does this sound like the same Peter that denied Yeshua? Does this sound like the disciples that fled when the soldiers came to arrest Yeshua in the garden of Gethsemane the night before He was crucified? Does this sound like the disciples, together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, after Yeshua had been raised from the dead?
The Apostles witnessed throughout Jerusalem with the gospel that upset the establishment; they were thrown into prison and counted it all for joy that they could witness for their Lord Yeshua. They rejoiced in their sufferings, beatings and persecutions for Yeshua’s name. Being a witness for Yeshua in the world today is likened to the same persecutions as described by the apostles. Every believer is a missionary and every unbeliever is a mission field. The only way to be an effective witness, you must be taught, trained and motivated by the power of the Holy Spirit. Never, never underestimate the power and work of the Holy Spirit!
You have now read the testimonies and witnesses of the apostles and new believers.
The question is this:
The question is this:
After 2000+ years, was this movement of human origin (it would collapse), or of God (forever eternal)?
Herein lies a great born-again, body of believers – the Church.
“The Way”
performed by Jeremy Camp
Gods’ Law + New Blood Covenant = Fulfillment
7 The Torah of ADONAI is perfect, converting the inner soul. The instruction of ADONAI is sure, making wise the thoughtless. Psalm 19:7
Torah/Law:
1) Rules and regulations given to God’s people to maintain an order to society; a foundation of government to abide by to establish civil order, mandated by men, established by God.
2) The perfect divine rule or commandments; the collective body of precepts received from God; The first five books of God’s word, the Bible, the foundation of Law for mankind, is known as the Mosaic Law.
Soon after leaving Egypt, the Israelites were incorporated. God was the first lawgiver. God chose the place – Mount Sinai, covered in smoke for the Lord descended on it in fire. Mount Sinai was the highest in the range of mountains and surrounding the mountain was a wasted and barren desert. There were no magnificent structures or palaces. God wrote the first law on stone tablets, the Ten Commandments. He gave the Law to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the Israelites, to read to this newly formed nation, called Israel.
The Ten Commandments
6 “‘I am ADONAI your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you lived as slaves. 7 “You are to have no other gods before me. 8 You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline – 9 you are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, ADONAI your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents, also the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot. 11 “‘You are not to misuse the name of ADONAI your God, because ADONAI will not leave unpunished someone who misuses his name. 12 “‘Observe the day of Shabbat, to set it apart as holy, as ADONAI your God ordered you to do. 13 You have six days to labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Shabbat for ADONAI your God. On it you are not to do any kind of work – not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your ox, your donkey or any of your other livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property – so that your male and female servants can rest just as you do. 15 You are to remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and ADONAI your God brought you out from there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore ADONAI your God has ordered you to keep the day of Shabbat. 16 “‘Honor your father and mother, as ADONAI your God ordered you to do, so that you will live long and have things go well with you in the land ADONAI your God is giving you. 17 “‘Do not murder. 18 “‘Do not commit adultery. 19 “‘Do not steal. 20 “‘Do not give false evidence against your neighbor. 21 “‘Do not covet your neighbor’s wife; do not covet your neighbor’s house, his field, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Deuteronomy 5
Moses put a veil over his radiant face because he had spoken with the Lord. God’s glory directed His chosen by day as a cloud pillar. The cloud remained over the tabernacle to direct the Children of Israel how long to stay in a location. The Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the tabernacle by a veil. The veils and the clouds separated the people from God’s Shekinah glory.
10 As Aharon spoke to the whole community of the people of Isra’el, they looked toward the desert; and there before them the glory of ADONAI appeared in the cloud. Exodus 16
29 When Moshe came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, he didn’t realize that the skin of his face was sending out rays of light as a result of his talking with [ADONAI]. Exodus 34
34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of ADONAI filled the tabernacle. 35 Moshe was unable to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud remained on it, and the glory of ADONAI filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40
3 Behind the second parokhet was a tent called the Holiest Place, 4 which had the golden altar for burning incense and the Ark of the Covenant, entirely covered with gold. In the Ark were the gold jar containing the man, Aharon’s rod that sprouted and the stone Tablets of the Covenant; 5 and above it were the k’ruvim representing the Sh’khinah, casting their shadow on the lid of the Ark – but now is not the time to discuss these things in detail. Hebrews 9
God began a relationship with His chosen and elect people. They had been set free from the bondage of slavery and given the Ten Commandments and decrees from God to live by.
2 “Because you are a people set apart as holy for ADONAI your God. ADONAI your God has chosen you to be his own unique treasure out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 14
4 “Sh’ma, Yisra’el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra’el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]; 5 and you are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. 6 These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; 7 and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorframes of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6
The Israelites lost their focus on the way to the Promised Land. After leaving Egypt, God provided a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide their direction. After they left Egypt, the Children of Israel saw the Egyptian army approaching and they were terrified and cried out to the Lord and said to Moses, “What have you done?” “In Egypt we said, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians, better to serve them than to die in this desert!’”
This was just the beginning of the grumblings. God delivered them again by opening the Red Sea and allowing then to walk through on dry ground. While on their journey, the Lord fed them manna and quail and provided water from the rock, yet their grumblings continued. Upon reaching the Promised Land, God directed Moses to send 12 men, one from each tribe, to explore the land. After forty days the scouts returned and ten of them reported that the inhabitants were powerful and the cities were very large and fortified! “We can’t attack, for they are stronger than us.” Only two scouts, Joshua and Caleb, tore their clothes and told the entire Israelite assembly, “The land is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord.”
This was the straw that broke the camels’ back. Beware, for when there is disobedience – judgment follows!
26 ADONAI said to Moshe and Aharon, 27 “How long am I to put up with this evil community who keep grumbling about me? I have heard the complaints of the people of Isra’el, which they continue to raise against me. 28 Tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, ADONAI swears, as surely as you have spoken in my ears, I will do this to you: 29 your carcasses will fall in this desert! Every single one of you who were included in the census over the age of twenty, you who have complained against me, 30 will certainly not enter the land about which I raised my hand to swear that I would have you live in it – except for Kalev the son of Y’funeh and Y’hoshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, who you said would be taken as booty – them I will bring in. They will know the land you have rejected. 32 But you, your carcasses will fall in this desert; 33 and your children will wander about in the desert for forty years bearing the consequences of your prostitutions until the desert eats up your carcasses. 34 It will be a year for every day you spent reconnoitering the land that you will bear the consequences of your offenses – forty days, forty years. Then you will know what it means to oppose me! 35 I, ADONAI, have spoken.’ I will certainly do this to this whole evil community who have assembled together against me – they will be destroyed in this desert and die there.” 36 The men whom Moshe had sent to reconnoiter the land and who, when they returned, made the entire community complain against him by giving an unfavorable report about the land – 37 those men who gave the unfavorable report about the land died by the plague in the presence of ADONAI. 38 Of the men who went to reconnoiter the land, only Y’hoshua the son of Nun and Kalev the son of Y’funeh remained alive. Numbers 14
God’s Promised Land awaited the Israelites. God said, “Go!” and ten said “No!” Looking back, we can see the people focused on their circumstances without exercising trust or faith in the One Jehovah God who brought them out of Egypt and provided for their needs. Now, before them is a beautiful land flowing with milk and honey, a description of food and drink unlike anything they had ever seen. There were houses they did not have to build, vineyards they did not have to plant, wells they did not have to dig; everything in place for the taking!
Now it was God who said No – Go back to the wilderness for 40 years. God is a just God and justice against disobedience will be served. Do you suppose the idol of the golden calf came to minds of the Israelites?
God’s word is the final authority on all the issues of life – for all time and eternity.
The first account of a recorded sin against God by man is in Genesis, the first book in the Bible. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. On Day 6, God created man in His own image, both male, whose name was Adam, and female, whose name was Eve. Everything was perfect. God gave one command to them in Genesis 2:
15 ADONAI, God, took the man and put him in the garden of ‘Eden to cultivate and care for it. 16 ADONAI, God, gave the man this order: “You may freely eat from every tree in the garden 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You are not to eat from it, because on the day that you eat from it, it will become certain that you will die.”
The nature of sin is in all humans, for all are born of Adam.
12 Here is how it works: it was through one individual that sin entered the world, and through sin, death; and in this way death passed through to the whole human race, inasmuch as everyone sinned. 13 Sin was indeed present in the world before Torah was given, but sin is not counted as such when there is no Torah. 14 Nevertheless death ruled from Adam until Moshe, even over those whose sinning was not exactly like Adam’s violation of a direct command. In this, Adam prefigured the One, Yeshua, who was to come. Romans 5
The Jews and the Law:
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rest on Torah and boast about God 18 and know his will and give your approval to what is right, because you have been instructed from the Torah; 19 and if you have persuaded yourself that you are a guide to the blind, a light in the darkness, 20 an instructor for the spiritually unaware and a teacher of children, since in the Torah you have the embodiment of knowledge and truth; 21 then, you who teach others, don’t you teach yourself? Preaching, “Thou shalt not steal, do you steal? 22 Saying, “Thou shalt not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? Detesting idols, do you commit idolatrous acts? 23 You who take such pride in Torah, do you, by disobeying the Torah, dishonor God? – 24 as it says in the Tanakh, “For it is because of you that God’s name is blasphemed by the Goyim.” 25 For circumcision is indeed of value if you do what Torah says. But if you are a transgressor of Torah, your circumcision has become uncircumcision! 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the Torah, won’t his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 Indeed, the man who is physically uncircumcised but obeys the Torah will stand as a judgment on you who have had a b’rit-milah and have Torah written out but violate it! 28 For the real Jew is not merely Jewish outwardly: true circumcision is not only external and physical. 29 On the contrary, the real Jew is one inwardly; and true circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code of Torah, so that his praise comes not from other people, but from God. Romans 2
19 What then, was the purpose of the Torah? It was added in order to create transgressions, until the coming of the Seed about whom the promise had been made. Moreover, it was handed down through angels and a mediator. 20 Now a mediator implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Does this mean that the legal part of the Torah stands in opposition to God’s promises? Heaven forbid! For if the legal part of the Torah, which God gave, had had in itself the power to give life, then righteousness really would have come by legalistically following such a Torah. 22 But instead, the Tanakh declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin; so that what had been promised being given through faith, in Yeshua the Messiah, might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before the time for this One trusting faithfulness came, we were imprisoned in subjection to the law which results from perverting the Torah into legalism, kept locked up until this yet-to-come trusting faithfulness would be revealed. 24 Accordingly, the Torah functioned as a custodian until the Messiah came, so that we might be declared righteous on the ground of trusting and being faithful. 25 But now that Messiah the trusting faithfulness has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the Torah. Galatians 3
4 Everyone who keeps sinning is violating Torah – indeed, sin is violation of Torah. Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the Law; for sin is the transgression of the Law. 1 John 3
19 Moreover, we know that whatever the Torah says, it says to those living within the framework of the Torah, in order that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world be shown to deserve God’s adverse judgment. 20 For in
His sight no one alive will be considered righteous on the ground of legalistic observance of Torah commands, because what Torah really does is show people how sinful they are. Romans 3
The Law of Jehovah God cannot take away sin. The Law only makes one conscious of their sinful condition. How does one become conscious of sin? God’s Holy Spirit convicts one of their condition, for within one’s heart the guilt of sin against God is revealed. Each one either chooses to listen or ignore their guilt of conscience. The heart of those who refuse to know and follow His truth, becomes calloused and hardened, causing blindness and deafness, no longer hearing the plea of God’s Holy Spirit saying through Yeshua, “Repent, Come follow Me for My yoke is easy and My burden is light, in Me you will find everlasting life.” God’s Holy Spirit is shown to man through the life of His Son, Yeshua, bringing love, mercy, grace and life to the Law. The following account shows the Law alone:
17 As Yeshua was starting on His way, a man ran up, kneeled down in front of Him and asked, “Good rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?” 18 Yeshua said to him, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good except God!
19 You know the mitzvot — `Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony, don’t defraud, honor your father and mother, . .'” 20 “Rabbi,” he said, “I have kept all these since I was a boy.” 21 Yeshua, looking at him, felt love for him and said to him, “You’re missing one thing. Go, sell whatever you own, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!” 22 Shocked by this word, he went away sad because he was a wealthy man. 23 Yeshua looked around and said to his talmidim, “How hard it is going to be for people with wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 The talmidim were astounded at these words; but Yeshua said to them again, “My friends, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 It’s easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” 26 They were utterly amazed and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Yeshua looked at them and said, “Humanly, it is impossible, but not with God; with God, every thing is possible.” Mark 10
What was the problem? All Law and no love! It is not the money, but the LOVE of money, as recorded in 1 Timothy 6:
6 Now true religion does bring great riches, but only to those who are content with what they have. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world; and we can take nothing out of it; 8 so if we have food and clothing, we will be satisfied with these. 9 Furthermore, those whose goal is to be rich fall into temptation; they get trapped in many foolish and hurtful ambitions, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all the evils; because of this craving, some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves to the heart with many pains.
So, now we know you can’t have one without the other! The following account is vital in knowing the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the complete truth.
Law + Love = Fulfillment
34 but when the P’rushim learned that Yeshua had silenced the Tz’dukim, they got together, 35 and one of them who was a Torah expert asked a sh’eilah to trap Him: 36 “Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important?” 37 He told him, “`You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’ 38 This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. 39 And a second is similar to it, `You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot.” Matthew 22
To understand the application of God’s Law, we must know:
1. God is Holy, righteous, and perfect in all things.
2. God gave the first Law to the new nation, Israel.
3. God is truth and cannot lie.
4. Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden.
5. We are all born of Adam and inherited the sin nature.
6. Mankind could never, nor will ever be able to keep the Law of God.
7. Through God’s Law, each one becomes conscious of sin.
8. God has the perfect solution – fulfillment through His New Blood Covenant.
“I Lift My Hands”
performed by Chris Tomlin
Amazing! You are rich beyond belief! In your wildest dreams, did you ever think for one moment that you could communicate with the one true Holy Jehovah, the Creator God and maker of all things? This communication is called prayer. No cell phone is needed and no communication towers are necessary, for God is our tower of strength. Through His Holy Spirit, each believer is given a private line, with direct access, where there is never a busy signal for He always answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“I Stand Amazed”
performed by GlassByrd
Prayer expresses your personal relationship and fellowship with your Father God and Yeshua His Son, sitting at His right hand and interceding as Great High Priest for each of you who have chosen to follow Him. Read carefully the account written in Hebrews 4.
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. 15 For we do not have a cohen gadol unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect He was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that He did not sin. 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.
How are you able to enter the very throne room of Almighty God? This is the parallel of the earthly and heavenly tabernacles. A curtain divided the earthly tabernacle. The first room was called the Holy Place and the second room was called the Most Holy Place.
11 But when the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent (Tabernacle) which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), 12 He 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. Hebrews 9
This curtain was split in two from top to bottom the moment Yeshua gave up His life on the cross outside Jerusalem 2000 years ago. If man had split this curtain, it would have been split from bottom to top. The account in Matthew 27 reads:
50 But Yeshua, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit. 51 At that moment the parokhet {curtain} in the Temple was ripped in two from top to bottom; and there was an earthquake, with rocks splitting apart. 52 Also the graves were opened, and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life; 53 and after Yeshua rose, they came out of the graves and went into the holy city, where many people saw them. 54 When the Roman officer and those with him who were keeping watch over Yeshua saw the earthquake and what was happening, they were awestruck and said, “Surely He was the Son of God!”
This is why you have access to the very throne room of God, for His Son, Yeshua, paid the sin debt, once for all, by the shedding of His blood for any one who comes and follows Him as Savior and Lord. He gives us a pardon; “Paid-In-Full” is stamped on our hearts and our sins are forever forgiven! We are forever a part of the Family of God with access to our Father God, in His heavenly throne room, through the Great High Priest, Yeshua, the One who is Holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, and lives forever exalted above the heavens.
Prayer is spiritual.
9 But you, you do not identify with your old nature but with the Spirit – provided the Spirit of God is living inside you, for anyone who doesn’t have the Spirit of the Messiah doesn’t belong to Him. Romans 8
24 God is spirit; and worshippers must worship Him spiritually and truly. John 4
Prayer is asking and receiving. It is talking to your heavenly Father God from your heart, in thanksgiving and worship and making your requests known to Him, both physical or spiritual.
14 This is the confidence we have in His presence: if we ask anything that accords with His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – then we know that we have what we have asked from Him. 1 John 5
Prayer is seeking and finding. Since we need direction in all things, God tells you to seek His way and it will be found.
12 When you call to me and pray to me, I will listen to you. 13 When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly. Jeremiah 29
Prayer is knocking and opening. When the mountains are too high and the valleys are too deep and God does not seem to be hearing my heart as I pray. The door is closed to what seems to be the path to follow. These are the prayers where our faith stays strong and the impossible becomes the possible!
20 Have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, you will be able to say to this mountain, `Move from here to there!’ and it will move; indeed, nothing will be impossible for you!” Matthew 17
Do you have that mountain that is too high or the valley that is too deep? What hurt seems almost too much to bear? The burdens are more than you can stand. God still moves mountains! Nothing is too hard for Him. Call on Him – take your hurts, heartaches and burdens to the Lord and leave them there. He will make a way when there seems to be no way! That is what He does best!
“God Will Make A Way”
performed by Don Moen
Our Lord God is in the miracle working business! Always remember; your heavenly Father God made and is in charge of ALL things, for all things work together for your good, according to His riches in Heaven. AMEN and AMEN
26 Similarly, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don’t know how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words; 27 and the one who searches hearts knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for God’s people accord with God’s will. Romans 8
7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps asking receives; he who keeps seeking finds; and to him who keeps knocking, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone here who, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? 10 or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 So if you, even though you are bad, know how to give your children gifts that are good, how much more will your Father in heaven keep giving good things to those who keep asking him! 12 “Always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that sums up the teaching of the Torah and the Prophets. Matthew 7
Consider the gifts you have received thus far because of choosing Yeshua as you personal Savior and Lord! You are a New Creation, having been born again spiritually for the old ways are gone and the New Freedom from the penalty of sin has come.
2 Why? Because the Torah of the Spirit, which produces this life in union with Messiah Yeshua, has set me free from the “Torah” of sin and death. Romans 8
You now have God’s Holy Spirit within you to teach His Word and direct your paths. You now have God as your heavenly “Abba” Father, Yeshua as your Savior and Lord, and the Holy Spirit living within you completing the Trinity; Father God, Yeshua the Savior and the Holy Spirit within! The awesome, amazing love of God!
15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”). Romans 8
“I Bowed On My Knees and Cried Holy”
performed by Michael English & The Gaither Vocal Band
You now have a New Direction, God’s way over your own, with your New Mind, discovering the truth of God’s Word, resulting in New Love, New Faith, and for the first time real peace, joy and hope for you have been given a New Destination – Eternal Life in Kingdom of Heaven!
22 However, now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you do get the benefit – it consists in being made holy, set apart for God, and its end result is eternal life. Romans 6
Your heavenly Father God gives you New Armor for the spiritual battles ahead. This armor includes sandals of Peace, girded about with Truth, the breastplate of Righteousness, sword of the Spirit, the shield of Faith and the helmet of Salvation.
You now have a New Relationship, a personal kinship with the same Holy God and Father who made you in His image that He may love, fellowship and care for you. The Fruit of the Spirit is lived out in your life along with the Beatitudes {attitudes} naturally because of you New Life in Yeshua. These identify believers and sum up the Greatest Commandment:
37 Yeshua told the Pharisee, an expert in the Law, “`You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’ 38 This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. 39 And a second is similar to it, `You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22
Yeshua gave the “Model Prayer” to His disciples in Matthew 6.
9 You, therefore, pray like this: `Our Father in heaven! May your Name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. 11 Give us the food we need today. 12 Forgive us what we have done wrong, as we too have forgiven those who have wronged us. 13 And do not lead us into hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One. For kingship, power and glory are yours forever. Amen.’
“The Lord’s Prayer”
performed by Andrea Bocelli
Yeshua not only gave the Model Prayer but also prayed for Himself, His disciples and all believers. These prayers are recorded in John 17.
Yeshua prays for Himself:
1 After Yeshua had said these things, He looked up toward heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that the Son may glorify you — 2 just as you gave Him authority over all mankind, so that He might give eternal life to all those whom You have given Him. 3 And eternal life is this: to know You, the one true God, and Him whom You sent, Yeshua the Messiah. 4 “I glorified you on earth by finishing the work You gave Me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify Me alongside Yourself. Give Me the same glory I had with You before the world existed.
Yeshua prays for His Disciples:
6 “I made Your name known to the people You gave me out of the world. They were Yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they know that everything You have given Me is from You, 8 because the words You gave Me I have given to them, and they have received them. They have really come to know that I came from You, and they have come to trust that You sent me. 9 “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given to me, because they are Yours. 10 Indeed, all I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine, and in them I have been glorified. 11 Now I am no longer in the world. They are in the world, but I am coming to You. Holy Father, guard them by the power of Your name, which You have given to Me, so that they may be one, just as We are. 12 When I was with them, I guarded them by the power of Your name, which You have given to Me; yes, I kept watch over them; and not one of them was destroyed (except the one meant for destruction, so that the Tanakh might be fulfilled). 13 But now, I am coming to you; and I say these things while I am still in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14 “I have given them Your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world– just as I myself do not belong to the world. 15 I don’t ask You to take them out of the world, but to protect them from the Evil One. 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Set them apart for holiness by means of the truth — Your Word is Truth. 18 Just as You sent me into the world; I have sent them into the world. 19 On their behalf I am setting Myself apart for holiness, so that they too may be set apart for holiness by means of the truth.
Yeshua prays for believers:
20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in Me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with Me and I with You, I pray that they may be united with Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given to Me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as We are one — 23 I united with them and You with Me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that You sent Me, and that You have loved them just as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I want those You have given me to be with me where I am; so that they may see My glory, which you have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. 25 Righteous Father, the world has not known You, but I have known You, and these people have known that You sent Me. 26 I made Your name known to them, and I will continue to make it known; so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I Myself may be united with them.”
20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in Me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with Me and I with You, I pray that they may be united with Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given to Me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as We are one — 23 I united with them and You with Me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that You sent Me, and that You have loved them just as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I want those You have given me to be with me where I am; so that they may see My glory, which you have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. 25 Righteous Father, the world has not known You, but I have known You, and these people have known that You sent Me. 26 I made Your name known to them, and I will continue to make it known; so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I Myself may be united with them.”
Sometimes God answers your prayers with a yes, or yes, but in My timing, or no, because I know what is best for you. Be thankful for your heavenly Father, for He always knows what is best for you in all circumstances. This is called Faith, for it is true. Prayer is the key to heaven but faith unlocks the door.
6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. Philippians 4
The prayer for the Ephesians by the apostle Paul is my prayer for you:
14 For this reason, I fall on my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its character. 16 I pray that from the treasures of His glory He will empower you with inner strength by His Spirit, 17 so that the Messiah may live in your hearts through your trusting. Also I pray that you will be rooted and founded in love, 18 so that you, with all God’s people, will be given strength to grasp the breadth, length, height and depth of the Messiah’s love, 19 yes, to know it, even though it is beyond all knowing, so that you will be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3
“I Get On My Knees”
performed by Jaci Valesquez
19 People in Tziyon, who live in Yerushalayim, you will weep no more. At the sound of your cry, how gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you. 20 Although Adonai gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk ye in it.” Isaiah 30:19-21
“Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; 14 but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way, preserveth his soul. Proverbs 16:17
Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Yeshua. 2 Corinthians 10: 3, 5
My sheep wandered around aimlessly on every mountain and hill; yes, My sheep were scattered all over the land, with no one to search for them or look after them. 7 “‘Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of ADONAI: 8 “As I live,” Adonai ELOHIM swears, “because My sheep have become prey, My sheep have become food for every wild animal, since there was no shepherd, since My shepherds didn’t look for My sheep, and instead My shepherds fed themselves but not My sheep,” 9 therefore, shepherds, hear the word of ADONAI! 10 Adonai ELOHIM says, “I am against the shepherds. I demand that they hand My sheep back to me. I will not allow them to feed the sheep, and they won’t feed themselves either. I will rescue My sheep from their mouths; they will be food for them no longer.” 11 “‘For here is what Adonai ELOHIM says: “I am taking over! I will search for My sheep and look after them, Myself. 12 Just as a shepherd looks after his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so I will look after My sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. 13 I will bring them back from those peoples, gather them from those countries and return them to their own land. Then I will let them feed on the mountains of Isra’el, by the streams and in all the livable places of the land. 14 I will have them feed in good pastures; their grazing ground will be on the high mountains of Isra’el. They will rest in good grazing grounds and feed in rich pastures on Isra’el’s mountains. 15 Yes, I will pasture My sheep; and I will let them rest” says Adonai ELOHIM. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the outcasts, bandage the broken, and strengthen the sick. But the fat and the strong I will destroy – I will feed them with judgment.” Ezekiel 34:6-16
The sheep knows and follows the Good Shepherd, Yeshua, through the sheep gate that leads to safety.
“Yes, indeed! I tell you, the person who doesn’t enter the sheep-pen through the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who goes in through the gate is the sheep’s own shepherd. 3 This is the one the gatekeeper admits, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls His own sheep, each one by name, and leads them out. 4 After taking out all that are His own, He goes on ahead of them; and the sheep follow Him because they recognize His voice. 5 They never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him, because strangers’ voices are unfamiliar to them.” 6 Yeshua used this indirect manner of speaking with them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them. 7 So Yeshua said to them again, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that I Am the gate for the sheep. 8 All those who have come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I Am the gate; if someone enters through Me, he will be safe and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure. 11 “I Am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:1-11
The Good Shepherd did lay down His life for His sheep and those of you who believe in Him, not knowing the paths ahead, follow because of love and trust, the One ADONAI, Yeshua, who is leading.
1 A psalm of David: ADONAI is my Shepherd; I lack nothing. 2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures, He leads me by quiet water, 3 He restores my inner person. He guides me in right paths for the sake of His own name. 4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; for You are with me; Your rod and staff reassure me. 5 You prepare a table for me, in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Goodness and grace will pursue me every day of my life; and I will dwell in the house of ADONAI forever. Psalms 23:1-6
“I Can Only Imagine”
performed by Mercy Me with the London Symphony Orchestra
Yeshua answered: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
Genuine saving faith changes your lifestyle, transforms your thinking and behavior and puts within your heart a New Direction. With this New Direction also comes a new set of desires to please God by growing in the likeness of Yeshua. How does one begin this journey? You do not live by the standards of this world, but have enlisted in basic training to follow the example of Yeshua. God issues each a spiritual armor!
3 For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a worldly way; 4 because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
The Spiritual battles that fight the forces of evil require Spiritual Armor!
10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with His mighty strength! 11 Put on the Full Armor of God, so that you will be able to take your stand against the devil’s deceptive tactics. 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 Therefore, put on 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 firm then, with the Belt of Truth buckled around your waist, with the Breastplate of Righteousness in place, 15 and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of the Gospel of Peace. 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 of the Holy Spirit, that is, the Word of God; 18 as you pray at all times in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests, keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-17
Every day is a new day! God has given you His Spiritual armor to protect your mind, body and soul. An effective way to follow these instructions is when your feet hit the floor each morning, pray this prayer; Lord, for this day, I pray for Your sandals of Peace, Your belt of Truth around my waist, Your breastplate of Righteousness, Your sword of the Holy Spirit, Your shield of Faith, and Your helmet of Salvation for wisdom to rightly divide Your Word of truth and protection from evil. In Yeshua’s name I pray, Amen.
You are not what you used to be, for by the love, mercy and grace of your Heavenly Father God, in repentance, you have turned from evil and are now pursuing the things of Yeshua by faith believing with the power of His Holy Spirit within. Forget the past; your sins are gone! You have dropped your baggage of sin at the cross where it is remembered no more! When you chose Yeshua, you are justified from sin by your faith in Him.
“He Reigns”
performed by Newsboys
10 It is in connection with this will that we have been separated for God and made holy, once and for all, through the offering of Yeshua the Messiah’s body. 12 But this one, after he had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God. 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. 17 He, Yeshua, then adds, ” ‘And their sins and their wickednesses I will remember no more.’ ” 18 Now where there is forgiveness for these, an offering for sins is no longer needed. Hebrews 10:10-18
Keep your mind on living His way and not the ways of self. Recall the scripture Yeshua quoted as the believers Greatest Commandment:
32 `I am the God of Avraham, the God of Yitz’chak and the God of Ya`akov’? He is God not of the dead but of the living!” 33 When the crowds heard how He taught, they were astounded; 34 but when the P’rushim learned that He had silenced the Tz’dukim, they got together, 35 and one of them who was a Torah expert asked a sh’eilah to trap Him: 36 “Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important?” 37 He told him, “`You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’ 38 This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. 39 And a second is similar to it, `You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot.” Matthew 22:32-40
The attitudes for the believers’ lives are found in the early ministry of Yeshua in the Sermon on the Mount. These attitudes are called, “The Beatitudes” and can be found in, Chapter 10 “Come! Follow Me.” Continue to set your mind on living the ways of Yeshua, through the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
13 For, brothers, you were called to be free. Only do not let that freedom become an excuse for allowing your old nature to have its way. Instead, serve one another in love. 14 For the whole of the Torah is summed up in this one sentence: “Love God wholeheartedly and love your neighbor as yourself” 15 but if you go on snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other! 16 What I am saying is this: run your lives by the Spirit. Then you will not do what your old nature wants. 17 For the old nature wants what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to the old nature. These oppose each other, so that you find yourselves unable to carry out your good intentions. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism. 19 And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency; 20 involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue 21 and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God! 22 But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, 23 Humility, Self Control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things. 24 Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires. 25 Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:13-26
This is your New Direction, remove your hands from the steering wheel and follow the leadership of the power within; God’s Holy Spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to continue to transform you into the likeness of His Son. The Holy Spirit is now your teacher and guide, giving you the wisdom and understanding of God’s Word which comes alive as you hear, see and understand because you know Yeshua personally, the Good Shepherd, whom you are following.
Even if you don’t have all the answers, you still have something amazing to share. As a new believer, the most effective way of telling others of your first hand experience of God’s love and grace is by sharing your personal testimony. Reference the scriptures from this section of Chapter 18 – God’s only way of Salvation.
The Holy Scriptures speak for themselves:
God’s Only Way of Salvation
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
In the beginning was the Word (Yeshua), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
Yeshua said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
For Yeshua also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Yeshua died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Yeshua Messiah, Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord Yeshua. Acts 3:19
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. Ephesians 2:8-9
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! James 2:19
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua Messiah and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Therefore whosoever confesses Me (Yeshua) before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33
Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Yeshua Messiah for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
Yeshua said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbors as yourself.” Luke 10:27
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Rejoicing shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth! Luke 15:7
The next chapter continues with more new gifts…
“More Than Ever”
performed by the Gaither Vocal Band
My beloved brothers and sisters in Yeshua, this is just the beginning of the transformations from what we were to what we have become. We now can experience God’s ultimate love gift for the first time. Listen! Be still and experience the arrival of God’s priceless love gift to man.
The heavens announced His arrival. The brightness of the star led the way. The angels followed, praising and glorifying God; announcing peace on earth to those people of good will. The grand entrance was made, but there was no room in the hearts of men. Sorry, I have no room for you in the living-quarters, but there is a stable you can use. The King had arrived!!
He was not dressed in royalty, but in swaddling clothes. He had no castle, only a stable with a feeding trough as a bed. He came, as King but became the Savior. His name was Yeshua and what He had was life-saving love that was freely given to those like you who have chosen to follow Him.
Then came the New Love. The purest love comes from the very heart of God; a part of Himself, wrapped in the swaddling cloths of forgiveness, mercy and grace. Yeshua came to love, forgive, heal and set the people free!
Freedom! A word the people only talked about, but very few had ever experienced until a babe, innocent and perfect in every way, stepped down from the throne in Heaven to become the Savior and Servant to a lost people. He came to show each one, first hand, a love so amazing, so divine, so sincere, but only through knowing Him as Savior, can it ever be experienced!
Amazing love! There is no greater love than that of our Father God and His only begotten Son, Yeshua. God defined love when He gave His Son to die for you that you may have eternal life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. John 3:16
You demonstrate love for God when you live for Him, for to know God is to love Him and to love Him is to serve Him.
The following chapter speaks of this new love.
1 I may speak in the tongues of men, even angels; but if I lack love, I have become merely blaring brass or a cymbal clanging. 2 I may have the gift of prophecy, I may fathom all mysteries, know all things, have all faith – enough to move mountains; but if I lack love, I am nothing. 3 I may give away everything that I own, I may even hand over my body to be burned; but if I lack love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful, 5 not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not gloat over other people’s sins but takes its delight in the truth. 7 Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. 8 Love never ends; but prophecies will pass, tongues will cease, knowledge will pass. 9 For our knowledge is partial, and our prophecy partial; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, argued like a child; now that I have become a man; I have finished with childish ways. 12 For now we see obscurely in a mirror, but then it will be face to face. Now I know partly; then I will know fully, just as God has fully known me. 13 But for now, three things last; trust, hope, love; and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13
Listen as George Beverly Shea sings
“The Love of God” by Frederick M. Lehman (1917)
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The love of God is greater farThan tongue or pen can ever tell;It goes beyond the highest star,And reaches to the lowest hell;The guilty pair, bowed down with care,God gave His Son to win;His erring child He reconciled,And pardoned from his sin.
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Refrain:Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!How measureless and strong!It shall forevermore endure—The saints’ and angels’ song.
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When hoary time shall pass away,And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,When men who here refuse to pray,On rocks and hills and mountains call,God’s love so sure, shall still endure,All measureless and strong;Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—The saints’ and angels’ song.
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Could we with ink the ocean fill,And were the skies of parchment made,Were every stalk on earth a quill,And every man a scribe by trade;To write the love of God aboveWould drain the ocean dry;Nor could the scroll contain the whole,Though stretched from sky to sky.
Along with experiencing this new love you have been given a new heart! “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.”
24 For I will take you 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. Ezekiel 36
Yeshua accepted you, just as you were and created within you a new heart, filled with His love and direction for your life. Becoming a believer changes your lifestyle, transforms your thinking and behavior with a new set of desires. Your deep desire is to please God by knowing His Holy Word, the Bible. You also have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit directing your life each and every moment.
Spiritually, Yeshua transformed your stony, hard, blackened heart filled with sin into a cleansed receptive heart that is as white as snow. He fills it with His love and Spirit to become more like Him. This is the miracle of being born again!!
The following passage speaks of Holy living.
1 So if you were raised along with the Messiah, then seek the things above, where the Messiah is sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Focus your minds on the things above, not on things here on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. 4 When the Messiah, who is our life, appears, then you too will appear with him in glory! 5 Therefore, put to death the earthly parts of your nature – sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (which is a form of idolatry); 6 for it is because of these things that God’s anger is coming on those who disobey him. 7 True enough, you used to practice these things in the life you once lived; 8 but now, put them all away – anger, exasperation, meanness, slander and obscene talk. 9 Never lie to one another; because you have stripped away the old self, with its ways, 10 and have put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in fuller and fuller knowledge, closer and closer to the image of its Creator. 11 The new self allows no room for discriminating between Gentile and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, foreigner, savage, slave, free man; on the contrary, in all, the Messiah is everything. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with one another; if anyone has a complaint against someone else, forgive him. Indeed, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive. 14 Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; 15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body. And be thankful – 16 let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts. 17 That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3
With a New love comes a new heart, then comes a new mind!
5 For those who identify with their old nature set their minds on the things of the old nature, but those who identify with the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 Having one’s mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one’s mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom. Romans 8
You are not what you used to be, for by the mercy and grace of the only loving Almighty God, in repentance, you have turned from evil and now pursue the good and righteous things of God through faith believing in His Son, Yeshua. The power of the Holy Spirit within you is greater than the power of evil in the world. Now, forget the past and set your mind on pursuing God’s direction through His Holy Spirit.
Dare to be a Daniel!
But Dani’el resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or the wine he drank, so he asked the chief officer to be excused from defiling himself. Daniel1:8
Daniel made up his mind and did not compromise. Daniel’s three friends made up their minds as well when told to bow down and worship the image of gold.
1N’vukhadnetzar the king had a gold statue made, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, which he set up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Bavel. 4 and a herald proclaimed, “Peoples! Nations! Languages! You are ordered 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, zither, lute, bagpipe and the rest of the musical instruments, you fall down and worship the gold statue that N’vukhadnetzar the king has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship is to be thrown immediately into a blazing hot furnace.” 13 In a raging fury N’vukhadnetzar ordered that Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go be brought. When the men had been brought before the king, 14 N’vukhadnetzar said to them, “Shadrakh! Meishakh! ‘Aved-N’go! Is it true that you neither serve my gods nor worship the gold statue I set up? 16 Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go answered the king, “Your question doesn’t require an answer from us. 17 Your majesty, if our God, whom we serve, is able to save us, he will save us from the blazing hot furnace and from your power. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want you to know, your majesty, that we will neither serve your gods nor worship the gold statue which you have set up.” 19 N’vukhadnetzar became so utterly enraged that his face was distorted with anger against Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go. He ordered the furnace made seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men in his army to tie up Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go and throw them into the blazing hot furnace. 21 So these men were tied up in their cloaks, tunics, robes and other clothes, and thrown into the blazing hot furnace. 22 The king’s order was so urgent and the furnace so overheated that the men carrying Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go were burned to death by the flames. 23 These three men, Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go, fell, bound, into the blazing hot furnace. 24 Suddenly N’vukhadnetzar sprang to his feet. Alarmed, he asked his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the flames?”They answered the king, “Yes, of course, your majesty.” 25 But he exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied up, walking around there in the flames, unhurt; and the fourth looks like one of the gods!” 26N’vukhadnetzar approached the opening of the blazing hot furnace and said, “Shadrakh! Meishakh! ‘Aved-N’go! You servants of El ‘Elyon! Come out, and come here!” Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go emerged from the flames. 27 The viceroys, prefects, governors and royal advisers who were there saw that the fire had had no power on the bodies of these men – not even their hair was singed, their clothes looked the same, and they didn’t smell of fire. 28N’vukhadnetzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him. They defied the royal order to the point of being willing to give up their bodies, in order not to serve or worship any god but their own God. 29 Therefore I herewith decree that anyone, no matter from which people, nation or language, who says anything to insult the God of Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go is to be torn limb from limb, and his house is to be reduced to rubble; because there is no other god who can save like this.” 30 Then the king gave Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go higher rank in the province of Bavel.
Daniel 3
They made up their mind! They stood firm and proved there is no God but Jehovah God. How great is our God!! God + 1 = majority!
Everything written concerning the new gifts given to each new believer is the result of God’s love for you.
“Change My Heart Oh God”
By Eddie Espinosa
In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed. Romans 12:2
The old self-nature is gone and the New Spirit nature, God’s Holy Spirit has come! You have shed the old man and put on the new man. You are not patched up, but you are now a new creation in Yeshua Messiah! The following scriptures illustrate what you were vs. what you have become through God’s miracle of being born again through Yeshua!
21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old coat; if he does, the new patch tears away from the old cloth and leaves a worse hole. 22 And no one puts new wine in old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is for freshly prepared wineskins.” Mark 2:21-22
9 Never lie to one another; because you have stripped away the old self, with its ways, 10 and have put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in fuller and fuller knowledge, closer and closer to the image of its Creator. Colossians 3: 9-10
22 then, so far as your former way of life is concerned, you must strip off your old nature, because your old nature is thoroughly rotted by its deceptive desires; 23 and you must let your spirits and minds keep being renewed, 24 and clothe yourselves with the new nature created to be godly, which expresses itself in the righteousness and holiness that flow from the truth. Ephesians 4:22-24
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation – the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new! 2 Corinthians 5:17
12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit of God, so that we might understand the things God has so freely given us. 13 These are the things we are talking about when we avoid the manner of speaking that human wisdom would dictate and instead use a manner of speaking taught by the Spirit, by which we explain things of the Spirit to people who have the Spirit. 14 Now the natural man does not receive the things from the Spirit of God – to him they are nonsense! Moreover, he is unable to grasp them, because they are evaluated through the Spirit. 16 But we have the mind of Yeshua
2 Why? Because the Torah of the Spirit, which produces this life in union with Messiah Yeshua, has set me free from the “Torah” of sin and death. 3 For what the Torah could not do by itself, because it lacked the power to make the old nature cooperate, God did by sending his own Son as a human being with a nature like our own sinful one, but He being without sin. God did this in order to deal with sin, and in so doing he executed the punishment against sin in human nature, 4 so that the just requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not run our lives according to what our old nature wants but according to what the Holy Spirit wants. Romans 8:2-4
3 You make it clear that you are a letter from the Messiah placed in our care, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on human hearts.
18 So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into His very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by God’s Holy Spirit.
14 All who are led by God’s Holy Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Holy Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”). 16 The Holy Spirit Himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God.
Your body is now the spiritual Temple of God, with His Holy Spirit dwelling within your heart. The old sinful nature has been replaced by the new nature of God’s Holy Spirit.
How great is our God that He would give you and I the gifts of His love, His Son, His Holy Spirit and being made free from sin to serve Him with the fruit of the Holy Spirit unto holiness, with everlasting life in our future home: the Kingdom of Heaven! Praise, glory, honor and power be to the God of our salvation!! AMEN and AMEN!
“How Great Is Our God”
Music and Lyrics by Chris Tomlin
Shout it from the mountaintops with the shofar! Just as one follows the Law and celebrates the New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and the Fast Day, Yom Kippur, for the atonement for sins, one can celebrate a new birth by being born-again spiritually through Yeshua, declaring eternal victory and freedom from sin.
Shout it from the valleys and ravines with echoes going on and on! Shout from your rooftops the message of love and forgiveness and truth! Yeshua Messiah is today, giving you a beckoning call to “Come, follow Me.” Stop now and say this prayer with all sincerity: Open my heart Lord, I want to see You. Show me Your truth, Oh God, for I am willing to follow. I want eyes to see You and ears to hear You, to heed Your truth and Yours alone. I ask for truth, I seek truth, and I knock for I know Your word says, “Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps asking receives; he who keeps seeking finds; and to him who keeps knocking, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
I turn in repentance to You, Oh God. Grant me understanding through faith to experience Your love for me. Amen.
“Open The Eyes of My Heart, Lord”
performed by: Michael W. Smith
One must begin with an open, receptive mind and heart to receive the convicting power of God’s Holy Spirit, for He is the revealer of God’s truth. Let us look at some often asked questions, not for critical information but for spiritual application, and we will answer these questions using God’s Holy Word.
A question about sin: What about the origin of sin? Sin began in the heart of the anointed cherub, who had the seal of perfection, was full of wisdom and beauty and blameless in his ways from the day he was created until unrighteousness was found in him. Internally he was filled with violence, and he sinned; therefore his creator, Jehovah God cast him as profane from His Holy Mountain. The heart of the anointed cherub became proud because of his beauty and he corrupted his wisdom by reason of his self-will.
12 “How did you come to fall from the heavens, morning star, son of the dawn? How did you come to be cut to the ground, conqueror of nations? 13 You thought to yourself, ‘I will scale the heavens; I will raise my throne above God’s stars. I will sit on the Mount of Assembly far away in the north. 14 I will rise past the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.’ Yesha-Yahu 14
Sin was displayed outwardly, but originated in the mind and heart. Pride is the anti-God state of mind, for it is all about I, me, my and mine – the self-will, which rules one’s being. It is because of pride that the devil became the devil, for pride produces selfishness, greed, anger, envy, hate, lust, sexual immorality, jealousy, and unfaithfulness; the list goes on. The one to fall from God’s Holy Mountain, the heavens, has many names: Satan, devil, deceiver, the lawless one, the dragon, the ancient serpent and the accuser just to name a few.
19 And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency; 20 involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue 21 and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God! Galatians 5
The account of Avram and Lot best illustrates how the old nature of selfish ways of the flesh, directed by the ancient serpent in the garden, can blind the eyes and deceive a person’s heart. They come to the crossroads of life; they must choose one of two directions.
5 Lot, who was traveling with Avram, also had flocks, herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support their living together, because their possessions were too great for them to remain together. 7 Moreover, quarreling arose between Avram’s and Lot’s herdsmen. The Kena’ani and the P’rizi were then living in the land. 8 Avram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between me and you, or between my herdsmen and yours, since we’re kinsmen. 9 Isn’t the whole land there in front of you? Please separate yourself from me – if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.” 10 Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Yarden was well watered everywhere, (before ADONAI destroyed S’dom and ‘Amora,) like the garden of ADONAI, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Tzo’ar. 11 So Lot chose all the plain of the Yarden for himself, and Lot traveled eastward; thus they separated themselves from each other. 12 Avram lived in the land of Kena’an; and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, setting up his tent near S’dom. 13 Now the men of S’dom were evil, committing great sins against ADONAI. B’resheet 13
1 ADONAI appeared to Avraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the entrance to the tent during the heat of the day. 2 He raised his eyes and looked, and there in front of him stood three men. On seeing them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, prostrated himself on the ground, 3 and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please don’t leave your servant. 4 Please let me send for some water, so that you can wash your feet; then rest under the tree, 5 and I will bring a piece of bread. Now that you have come to your servant, refresh yourselves before going on. “Very well,” they replied, “do what you have said.” 20 ADONAI said, “The outcry against S’dom and ‘Amora is so great and their sin so serious 21 that I will now go down and see whether their deeds warrant the outcry that has reached me; if not, I will know.” 22 The two men turned away from there and went toward S’dom, but Avraham remained standing before ADONAI. B’resheet 18
1 The two angels came to S’dom that evening, when Lot was sitting at the gate of S’dom. Lot saw them, got up to greet them and prostrated himself on the ground. 2 He said, “Here now, my lords, please come over to your servant’s house. Spend the night, wash your feet, get up early, and go on your way. “No,” they answered, “we’ll stay in the square.” 3 But he kept pressing them; so they went home with him; and he made them a meal, baking matzah for their supper, which they ate. 4 But before they could go to bed, the men of the city surrounded the house -young and old, everyone from every neighborhood of S’dom. 5 They called Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to stay with you tonight? Bring them out to us! We want to have sex with them!” 6 Lot went out to them and stood in the doorway, closing the door behind him, 7 and said, “Please, my brothers, don’t do such a wicked thing. 8 Look here; I have two daughters who are virgins. Please, let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them what seems good to you; but don’t do anything to these men, since they are guests in my house.” 9 “Stand back!” they replied. “This guy came to live here, and now he’s decided to play judge. For that we’ll deal worse with you than with them!” Then they crowded in on Lot, in order to get close enough to break down the door. 10 But the men inside reached out their hands, brought Lot into the house to them and shut the door. 11 Then they struck the men at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they couldn’t find the doorway. 12 The men said to Lot, “Do you have any people here besides yourself? Whomever you have in the city – son-in-law, your sons, your daughters – bring them out of this place 13 because we are going to destroy it. ADONAI has become aware of the great outcry against them, and ADONAI has sent us to destroy it.” 15 When morning came, the angels told Lot to hurry. “Get up,” they said, “and take your wife and your two daughters who are here; otherwise you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 23 By the time Lot had come to Tzo’ar, the sun had risen over the land. 24 Then ADONAI caused sulfur and fire to rain down upon S’dom and ‘Amora from ADONAI out of the sky. 25 He overthrew those cities, the entire plain, all the inhabitants of the cities and everything growing in the ground. 27 Avraham got up early in the morning, went to the place where he had stood before ADONAI, 28 and looked out toward S’dom and ‘Amora, scanning the entire plain. There before him the smoke was rising from the land like smoke from a furnace! 29 But when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Avraham and sent Lot out, away from the destruction, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived. B’resheet 19
Sin is a folly to deceive you, a force to destroy you, and a fact to condemn you. Sin is the revolting act of disobedience against the perfect will of God for your life. The first recorded sin of man took place in the perfect Garden of Eden.
Click on this link to review Chapter 1: Come Let Us Reason Together to read this account in Genesis.
12 Here is how it works: it was through one individual, Adam, that sin entered the world, and through sin, death; and in this way death passed through to the whole human race, inasmuch as everyone sinned. Romans 5
17 For if, because of the offence of one man, Adam, death ruled through that one man; how much more will those receiving the overflowing grace, that is, the gift of being considered righteous, rule in life through the one man, Yeshua the Messiah! 18 In other words, just as it was through one offence of Adam that all people came under condemnation, so also it is through one righteous act of Yeshua the Messiah, that all people who follow Him will be considered righteous. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man, Adam, many were made sinners, so also through the obedience and righteousness of the other man, Yeshua Messiah, many will be made righteous. Romans 5
2 “Hear, heaven! Listen, earth! For ADONAI is speaking. “I raised and brought up children, but they rebelled against me. 3 An ox knows its owner and a donkey its master’s stall, but Isra’el does not know, my people do not reflect. 4 “Oh, sinful nation, a people weighed down by iniquity, descendants of evildoers, immoral children! They have abandoned ADONAI, spurned the Holy One of Isra’el, turned their backs on Him! 5 “Where should I strike you next, as you persist in rebelling? The whole head is sick, the whole heart diseased. 6 From the sole of the foot to the head there is nothing healthy, only wounds, bruises and festering sores that haven’t been dressed or bandaged or softened up with oil. Isaiah 1
For those who are hurting physically and spiritually, Yeshua delivers a parable to return to Him for He is waiting.
11 Again Yeshua said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of the estate that will be mine.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 As soon as he could convert his share into cash, the younger son left home and went off to a distant country, where he squandered his money in wild and reckless living. 14 But after he had spent it all, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch. 15 “So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him any. 17 “At last he came to his senses and said, “Any number of my father’s hired workers have food to spare; and here I am, starving to death! 18 I’m going to get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.” 20 So he got up and started back to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him warmly. 21 His son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son — 22 but his father said to his slaves, “Quick, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the calf that has been fattened up, and kill it. Let’s eat and have a celebration! 24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he’s alive again! He was lost, but now he has been found!” And they began celebrating. Luke 15
Return to Father God, your creator, by faith, believing in His Son, Yeshua, and you who are lost, will be born-again and become a part of the family of God.
18 “Come now,” says ADONAI, “let’s talk this over together. Even if your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; even if they are red as crimson, they will be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you will be eaten by the sword”; for the mouth of ADONAI has spoken. 27 Tziyon will be redeemed by justice; and those in her who repent, by righteousness. 28 “Rebels and sinners together will be broken and those who abandon ADONAI be consumed. 31 The strong will be like tinder and [the idol’s] maker like a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put them out.” Isaiah 1
The next important question is: What is God’s remedy for sin? The ultimate sacrifice was made by His Son, Yeshua, not born of the seed of man, but of His Father God’s Holy Spirit. He is referred to as the Holy One of Israel.
The Holy Scriptures speak for themselves:
God’s Only Way of Salvation
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
In the beginning was the Word (Yeshua), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
Yeshua said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
For Yeshua also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Yeshua died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Yeshua Messiah, Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord Yeshua. Acts 3:19
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. Ephesians 2:8-9
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! James 2:19
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua Messiah and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Therefore whosoever confesses Me (Yeshua) before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33
Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Yeshua Messiah for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
Yeshua said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbors as yourself.” Luke 10:27
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Rejoicing shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth! Luke 15:7
For those of you have chosen Yeshua as your personal Savior and Lord you have made the most important decision of your life! This is called being born again, not a physical rebirth, but a spiritual rebirth. You now have a new life in Yeshua Messiah and the Holy Spirit is now lives in your heart to guide and direct you in all things. You have become a child of God because Yeshua, God’s only Son, shed His blood to forgive your sins – past, present and future. He gave you the most awesome gift – everlasting life! The Holy Bible, the living Word of God, provides you with assurance of eternal life for the Bible will separate man from sin or sin will separate man from the Bible. Your Word, O God, have I hid in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:11
“Saved”
performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
God’s love for you cannot be measured. He is always there for you in any situation. You can talk to Him 24/7 for He is never too busy to listen. This is only the beginning; you are a new creation in Yeshua Messiah! You have much to experience in your new walk with Yeshua. The next chapter is so amazing as you begin to treasure God’s gifts to you as a new believer!!!
Yeshua set the example of baptism as an outward testimony of what you believe in your heart. To review this account, click this link Chapter 9: Behold the Lamb of God.
WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND
THE FAMILY OF GOD!!
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This portion of the message is for those who still doubt the truth because of the deceiver. You are holding back as he puts doubts in your mind: I am not good enough – What will others think – I can’t be saved in the condition I am in – I am not sure where to begin – I need to put this decision off until tomorrow…
If the knowledge found in all the books of law, science and math were archived by the mind without the experience of knowing God as one’s Father, accepting Yeshua as one’s Savior and Lord, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within one’s very heart and soul, this knowledge would be for naught. For in the end, the mind and the body exist in the darkness of hell just as the person who lives in darkness in life because he has not chosen the way provided by Yeshua Messiah. If heaven is not your destination, you have chosen darkness. The soul of each and every man lives forever either in heaven or hell. This decision is your personal choice and must be made by you for no one can choose for you. You can do everything by the book, but if you do not humble yourself before God, repent and accept Yeshua Messiah as Savior, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. God has provided salvation to you through his Son, Yeshua. It is your personal decision to choose or refuse God’s Son.
If you have chosen the wrong direction at your crossroads, as Lot did, there is still time to repent and turn to Yeshua. In all humility, ask for forgiveness and by faith believing, follow His path that leads to eternal life by way of the cross.
Hebrews 4:7 “Today, if you hear God’s voice, don’t harden your hearts.” Today is the day of salvation. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Your decision must be made Today, for the past is gone and tomorrow is promised to no one. It can only be done Today.
“Just As I Am”
performed by David Phelps
performed by David Phelps
“Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)”
Written and performed by Chris Tomlin
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
The third Person of the Trinity has arrived. The Apostles’ wait is over! The almighty power of God unites the Apostles with His Almighty Power, the Holy Spirit. The Mind of God, the Body of Yeshua, and now, the Holy Spirit comes to live within believers.
Acts 22:2-4
2 Suddenly there came a sound from Heaven like the roar of a mighty rushing, violent wind, and He filled the whole house where the Apostles were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of Fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 The were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak.
2 Suddenly there came a sound from Heaven like the roar of a mighty rushing, violent wind, and He filled the whole house where the Apostles were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of Fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 The were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak.
Take note of the words in verse 3, each referring again to the fact that being born again (salvation) is a personal one-on-one relationship with Almighty Jehovah God through believing in His Son, Yeshua.
The first representation we see of the Holy Spirit is a mighty rushing, violent Wind. The wind speaks of the immeasurable depth of the mighty regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.
4 Nakdimon said to him, “How can a grown man be `born’? Can he go back into his mother’s womb and be born a second time?” 5 Yeshua answered, “Yes, indeed, I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 6 What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is spirit. 7 Stop being amazed at my telling you that you must be born again from above!
8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
Book of Acts Chapter 2
The second representation of the Holy Spirit is Tongues of Fire. The spiritual meaning speaks of the Holy Spirit as the consuming and purifying power in the life of the believer.
16 so Yochanan answered them all, “I am immersing you in water, but He who is coming is more powerful than I – I am not worthy to untie His sandals! He will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh and in fire. (Luke 3)
One of this writer’s most loved passages from the Word is found in Yesha ‘Yahu (Isaiah) 6:1-8. Most Holy God, may we see your holiness and our condition and bow before You in deepest repentance and humility.
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, “I’m here, send me!” (Isaiah 6:1-8)
5 Now there were staying in Yerushalayim, God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered; they were confused, because each one heard the believers speaking in his own language. 7 Totally amazed, they asked, “How is this possible? Aren’t all these people who are speaking from the Galil? 8 How is it that we hear them speaking in our native languages?
14 Then Kefa stood up with the Eleven and raised his voice to address them: “You Judeans, and all of you staying here in Yerushalayim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me! 15 “These people aren’t drunk, as you suppose – it’s only nine in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken about through the prophet Yo’el: 17 ‘ADONAI says: “In the Last Days, I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions; your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my slaves, both men and women, will I pour out from my Spirit in those days; and they will prophesy. 19 I will perform miracles in the sky above and signs on the earth below, blood, fire and thick smoke. 20 The sun will become dark and the moon blood before the great and fearful Day of ADONAI comes. 21 And then, whoever calls on the name of ADONAI will be saved.” (Acts 2)
In verse 17, ADONAI refers to the Last Days. When does this time period take place? In Hebrews 1:1-4 we read:
1 In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to our forefathers through the prophets. 2 But now, in the acharit-hayamim, Last Days, 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 Yeshua had, through Himself, made purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of HaG’dulah BaM’romim. 4 So He has become much better than angels, and the name God has given Him is superior to theirs.
Remember when Yeshua was with His Apostles He foretold of this Power from His Father God that was to be poured out from above in the Last Days, being His Holy Spirit. This is Deity, God of all gods, expressed in His Trinity, three in One!
44 Yeshua said to them, “This is what I meant when I was still with you and told you that everything written about me in the Torah of Moshe, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds, so that they could understand the Tanakh, 46 telling them, “Here is what it says: the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day; 47 and in His name repentance leading to forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to people from all nations, starting with Yerushalayim. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 Now I am sending forth upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been equipped with power from above.” (Luke 24: 44-49)
33 “Moreover, Yeshua has been exalted to the right hand of God; has received from the Father what He promised, namely, the Ruach HaKodesh; and has poured out this gift, which you are both seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into heaven. But he says, 35 ‘ADONAI said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”‘ 36 Therefore, let the whole house of Isra’el know beyond doubt that God has made Yeshua both Lord and Messiah – this Yeshua, whom you executed on a stake!” 37 On hearing this, they were pierced to the heart; and they said to Kefa and the other emissaries, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Kefa answered them, “Turn from sin and turn to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh! 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away – as many as ADONAI our God may call!” 40 He pressed his case with many other arguments and kept pleading with them, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” 41 So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people. (Acts 2)
Could it be? Could it be that this is the same Kefa that denied Yeshua three times the night of His trial before He was crucified? Yes, one and the same. But oh, what a difference the power of the Holy Spirit makes! Kefa now has the awesome power of God’s Holy Spirit to speak through him as teacher, counselor and comforter in any and all things. The result of God’s Holy Spirit speaking through Kefa resulted in three thousand people added to the Kingdom of God! The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit revealed both their sinful condition and their need of salvation.
This is the gospel message:
1. The Holy Spirit draws and convicts one of sin and separation from God. It is described as “piercing the heart.”
2. One realizes they are lost, without direction, no hope and in need of The Savior, Yeshua.
3. The next step, “Brothers, what shall I (we) do? Willing to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit.
4. (38) Kefa answered them, “Turn from sin, turn to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh! (Acts 2)
5. Praise God for salvation through His Son Yeshua. For the Holy Spirit now takes residency within my heart and soul 24/7 to be my resident teacher, guide and comforter – my all in all! Born again and bound for the Kingdom of Heaven!
11 For who knows the inner workings of a person except the person’s own spirit inside him? So, too, no one knows the inner workings of God except God’s Holy Spirit. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the Holy Spirit of God, so that we might understand the things God has so freely given us. 13 These are the things we are talking about when we avoid the manner of speaking that human wisdom would dictate and instead use a manner of speaking taught by the Holy Spirit, by which we explain things of the Spirit to people who have the Spirit. 14 Now the natural man does not receive the things from the Spirit of God – to him they are nonsense! Moreover, he is unable to grasp them, because they are evaluated through the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2)
The third representation we see of the Holy Spirit is Water.
2 The earth was unformed and void, darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the water. (Genesis 1)
This scripture shows that the Holy Spirit was with Jehovah God in the beginning of the creation of earth. All Powerful!
37 Now on the last day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah, Yeshua stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!” 39 (Now He said this about the Holy Spirit, whom those who trusted in Him were to receive later – the Holy Spirit had not yet been given, because Yeshua had not yet been glorified.) (John 7)
Here is an awesome example of the cleansing power of the spiritual water of God’s Holy Spirit.
24 For I will take you 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. (Ezekiel 36)
The spiritual water speaks of the power of the Holy Spirit to fill the believer to overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, self-control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things. (Galatians 5)
God is love. The Holy Spirit is love. With the Holy Spirit living within the believer, this inward love is expressed outwardly by joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control: Joy is love’s strength, Peace is love’s security, Patience is love’s endurance, Kindness is love’s conduct, Goodness is love’s character, Faithfulness is love’s confidence, Humility is love’s gentleness, and Self-control is love’s victory! God’s amazing love!!
“Against such things there is no law.” Nothing in the Torah stands against such things. When the believer is obedient to the will of the Holy Spirit, one needs no law to live a righteous life.
1 I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and set apart for God. This will please Him for it is your spiritual “Temple worship.” 2 In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh (pattern of this world). Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; then you will be able to know and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. If these are present in your life, you know the power of a yielded life that lifts you above circumstances. If one is weak in this area, yield to God’s Holy Spirit and allow Him to live His life through you by faith.
The fourth representation is the Dove as recorded in Matthew at the baptism of Yeshua by John. The pure-white dove, with its gentle and peaceful nature, is often used as a peace emblem.
16 As soon as Yeshua had been immersed, He came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, He saw the Spirit of God coming down upon Him like a dove, 17 and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love;
I am well pleased with him.” (Matthew 3) This shows the Trinity in one verse: God, Son and Holy Spirit.
The fifth representation of the Holy Spirit is Oil.
Oil was used in biblical times for the anointing of Kings and officials for service. Oil speaks of the power of the Holy Spirit to anoint for service. Psalm 23, as written by King David, is such a psalm and in it he gives all praise and glory to the Lord.
1 A psalm of David: ADONAI is my shepherd; I lack nothing. 2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures, he leads me by quiet water, 3 he restores my inner person. He guides me in right paths for the sake of his own name. 4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; for you are with me; your rod and staff reassure me. 5 You prepare a table for me, even as my enemies watch; you anoint my head with oil from an overflowing cup. 6 Goodness and grace will pursue me every day of my life; and I will live in the house of ADONAI for years and years to come. (Psalm 23)
The perfect example of the anointing of oil is found in Hebrews: 1:8-9, when God, the One Jehovah Father God, calls His Son, God:
8 But about His Son, Yeshua, God says, “Your throne, O God,(Yeshua, now reigns as the King of kings) will last forever and ever; You rule Your Kingdom with a scepter of equity; 9 You, Yeshua My Son, have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore, O God, Your Father God has anointed You, Yeshua with the oil of joy in preference to Your companions.” The Trinity shown once again!
The sixth representation is the Seal, which speaks of the power of the Holy Spirit, showing the security of the believer as a finished eternal transaction. Destination: The Kingdom of Heaven!
In summary, the six representations; the all powerful wind, the all purifying fire, the all cleansing and filling pure water, the true perfect peace, the all anointing oil for service, and the eternal security of being sealed, symbolize the spiritual power of the Holy Spirit.
The presence of the Holy Spirit is found throughout the entire Word of God, the Book, the Bible, the Holy Bible, which is complete Truth and authored by God’s Holy Spirit, the same resident teacher that is within the heart of the believer!
The following passage explains:
13 However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative but will say only what He hears. He will also announce to you the events of the future. 14 He will glorify me (Yeshua), because He will receive from what is mine and announce it to you. 15 Everything the Father has is mine; this is why I said that he receives from what is mine and will announce it to you. (John 16) {The Trinity}
21 For never has a prophecy come as a result of human will – on the contrary, people moved by the Ruach HaKodesh spoke the message from God. (2 Peter 1)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; 17 thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3)
To the one who does not know Yeshua Messiah, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth that they must be born again, through exposure of hearing, reading or seeing the witness of believers through their attitudes and actions. The Holy Spirit convicts and draws one to the truth of the gospel message. At this point they know they are lost without hope and are separated from God because of their sin.To those who have become believers, each has received God’s gift of the Holy Spirit! He is all power, all knowledge and is eternal, without boundaries. He is the Spirit of Truth, Teacher and Translator of God’s Word to the believers’ heart. He is Comforter and can carry any size load given to the believer! His power is given to the believer for witnessing and testimony of Yeshua Messiah as Savior and Lord. God’s Holy Spirit conceived the virgin by an overshadowing of His power and the Holy Child shall be called the Son of God. The Holy Spirit was also there in Yeshua’s resurrection.
11 And if the Spirit of the One who raised Yeshua from the dead is living in you, then the One who raised the Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit living in you. (Romans 8)
The Holy Spirit convicts the believer of unforgiven sin in their life which breaks the fellowship with Father God, but never the relationship. (1 John 1:9) 9 ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and He will forgive us our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness.’
The power of God’s Holy Spirit is the only means by which a believer can mature into the likeness of Yeshua the Christ. This is an ongoing process called sanctification.
How great is our God! What love the creator God has for each of us to send His Son, Yeshua to provide any who choose to follow Him, the free gift of eternal life. Then He sends His Holy Spirit as a gift to live within the heart and soul of each believer to become more like Yeshua Messiah the Christ. God’s Holy Spirit gives me the power to say no to sin. The choices I make – make me.
“Holy Spirit Rain Down”
performed by Hillsong
performed by Hillsong
Before reading this, please refer back to our Chapter 3 posting to the account taken from Exodus 12:1-13 of the Passover in Egypt, then read the following of the Passover in Jerusalem.
21 Indeed, this is what you were called to; because the Messiah too suffered, on your behalf, leaving an example so that you should follow in His steps. 24 He himself bore our sins in His body on the stake, O so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness – by His wounds you were healed.
18 You should be aware that the ransom paid to free you from the worthless way of life which your fathers passed on to you did not consist of anything perishable like silver or gold; 19 on the contrary, it was the costly bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah, as of a lamb without defect or spot. 20 God knew Him before the founding of the universe, but revealed Him in the latter days for your sakes.
There is only one more week, Passover week, then all sin will be atoned for and the Lamb, God’s Sacrificial Passover Lamb, God’s Perfect Lamb, God’s only begotten Son, once for all will pay our sin debt, with a pardon.
“Paid-in-Full” to the Kingdom of Heaven!!! Hallelujah and praise be to the Lamb!!
Even Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us. 1 Cor. 5:7
“Who Am I”
performed and written by Casting Crowns
The last days leading up to Passover begin with Yeshua and His apostles stopping in Bethany on their way to Jerusalem to perform yet another miracle.
1 There was a man who had fallen sick. His name was El`azar, and he came from Beit-Anyah, the village where Miryam and her sister Marta lived. 2 (This Miryam, whose brother El`azar had become sick, is the one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent a message to Yeshua, “Lord, the man you love is sick.” 4 On hearing it, he said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may receive glory through it.” 5 Yeshua loved Marta and her sister and El`azar; 6 so when he heard he was sick, first he stayed where he was two more days; 7 then, after this, he said to the talmidim, “Let’s go back to Y’hudah.” 8 The talmidim replied, “Rabbi! Just a short while ago the Judeans were out to stone you — and you want to go back there?” 9 Yeshua answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a person walks during daylight, he doesn’t stumble; because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if a person walks at night, he does stumble; because he has no light with him.” 11 Yeshua said these things, and afterwards he said to the talmidim, “Our friend El`azar has gone to sleep; but I am going in order to wake him up.” 12 The talmidim said to him, “Lord, if he has gone to sleep, he will get better.” 13 Now Yeshua had used the phrase to speak about El`azar’s death, but they thought he had been talking literally about sleep. 14 So Yeshua told them in plain language, “El`azar has died. 15 And for your sakes, I am glad that I wasn’t there, so that you may come to trust. But let’s go to him.” 16 Then T’oma (the name means “twin”) said to his fellow talmidim, “Yes, we should go, so that we can die with him!” 17 On arrival, Yeshua found that El`azar had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Beit-Anyah was about two miles from Yerushalayim, 19 and many of the Judeans had come to Marta and Miryam in order to comfort them at the loss of their brother. 20 So when Marta heard that Yeshua was coming, she went out to meet him; but Miryam continued sitting shiv`ah in the house. 21 Marta said to Yeshua, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 23 Yeshua said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said, “I know that he will rise again at the Resurrection on the Last Day.” 25 Yeshua said to her, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life! Whoever puts his trust in me will live, even if he dies; 26 and everyone living and trusting in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” 28 After saying this, she went off and secretly called Miryam, her sister: “The Rabbi is here and is calling for you.” 29 When she heard this, she jumped up and went to him. 30 Yeshua had not yet come into the village but was still where Marta had met him; 31 so when the Judeans who had been with Miryam in the house comforting her saw her get up quickly and go out, they followed her, thinking she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Miryam came to where Yeshua was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Yeshua saw her crying, and also the Judeans who came with her crying, he was deeply moved and also troubled. 34 He said, “Where have you buried him?” They said, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Yeshua cried; 36 so the Judeans there said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “He opened the blind man’s eyes. Couldn’t he have kept this one from dying?” 38 Yeshua, again deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying in front of the entrance. 39 Yeshua said, “Take the stone away!” Marta, the sister of the dead man, said to Yeshua, “By now his body must smell, for it has been four days since he died!” 40 Yeshua said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you keep trusting, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they removed the stone. Yeshua looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I myself know that you always hear me, but I say this because of the crowd standing around, so that they may believe that you have sent me.” 43 Having said this, he shouted, “El`azar! Come out!” 44 The man who had been dead came out, his hands and feet wrapped in strips of linen and his face covered with a cloth. Yeshua said to them, “Unwrap him, and let him go!” 45 At this, many of the Judeans who had come to visit Miryam, and had seen what Yeshua had done, trusted in him. 46 But some of them went off to the P’rushim and told them what he had done. 47 So the head cohanim and the P’rushim called a meeting of the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? — for this man is performing many miracles. 48 If we let him keep going on this way, everyone will trust in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both the Temple and the nation.” 49 But one of them, Kayafa, who was cohen gadol that year, said to them, “You people don’t know anything! 50 You don’t see that it’s better for you if one man dies on behalf of the people, so that the whole nation won’t be destroyed.” 51 Now he didn’t speak this way on his own initiative; rather, since he was cohen gadol that year, he was prophesying that Yeshua was about to die on behalf of the nation, 52 and not for the nation alone, but so that he might gather into one the scattered children of God. 53 From that day on, they made plans to have him put to death. 54 Therefore Yeshua no longer walked around openly among the Judeans but went away from there into the region near the desert, to a town called Efrayim, and stayed there with his talmidim. 55 The Judean festival of Pesach was near, and many people went up from the country to Yerushalayim to perform the purification ceremony prior to Pesach. 56 They were looking for Yeshua, and as they stood in the Temple courts they said to each other, “What do you think? That he simply won’t come to the festival?” 57 Moreover, the head cohanim and the P’rushim had given orders that anyone knowing Yeshua’s whereabouts should inform them, so that they could have him arrested.
This miracle illustrates the greatest upcoming event in the history of man! The miracle foretells the crowning proof of all- Yeshua Messiah’s own resurrection!
“Revelation Song”
performed by Guy Penrod
A brief review of this account identifies Yeshua, yet again, as the fulfillment of the long awaited Messiah, the true Son of God. A powerful plea sent to Yeshua, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick”, yet He waited two more days before going to Bethany. Martha met Yeshua and said, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” {This event happened that the Son of God might be glorified, giving perfect timing for Yeshua to work the glorious miracle; the raising from the dead.} Yeshua answered Martha, “I AM the resurrection and the life, do you believe this? “Yea, Lord” was her answer. Martha quotes, “ I have believed that You are the Christ Messiah, and therefore, I do believe this!
Therefore Martha believed and confessed that:
Yeshua is the Christ Messiah.
Yeshua is the Son of God.
Yeshua is the prophesied One to come.
Yeshua is the resurrection.
Yeshua is the blessed Life.
Yeshua is the light and truth.
Yeshua is divine and faithful.
Yeshua then prayed to His living Father God in heaven with praise and thanksgiving for hearing Him. Prayer is connecting one’s soul with the very heart of God. After the prayer, Yeshua said in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” and he came forth – – perfectly!
Lazarus was Jewish, in the presence of many Jewish people, in order that they may witness the glory of God! Many of the Jewish people saw the things that Yeshua did and believed on Him. They had heard of the miracles, but now they had seen for themselves, first hand, and their unbelief changed to belief!!
Other Jews were irritated by it, and hardened in their unbelief. Some went to the Pharisees and reported what they had seen. The Pharisees called the Council to order to inflame one another with rage against the Christ. What do we do? If we don’t silence Him, all men will believe on Him! (That would set up a new King, and the Romans would take away our place and nation). Then Caiaphas, the high priest, spoke, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Yeshua would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day they plotted to take Yeshua’s life.
If I had been in the crowd that day, would I have seen and believed or would I have turned and walked away? Each one must choose.
John 12 1 Six days before Pesach, Yeshua came to Beit-Anyah, where El`azar lived, the man Yeshua had raised from the dead; 2 so they gave a dinner there in his honor. Marta served the meal, and El`azar was among those at the table with him. 3 Miryam took a whole pint of pure oil of spikenard, which is very expensive, poured it on Yeshua’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of the talmidim, Y’hudah from K’riot, the one who was about to betray him, said, 5 “This perfume is worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” 6 Now he said this not out of concern for the poor, but because he was a thief — he was in charge of the common purse and used to steal from it. 7 Yeshua said, “Leave her alone! She kept this for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” 9 A large crowd of Judeans learned that he was there; and they came not only because of Yeshua, but also so that they could see El`azar, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 The head cohanim then decided to do away with El`azar too, 11 since it was because of him that large numbers of the Judeans were leaving their leaders and putting their trust inYeshua.
17 As Yeshua was going up to Yerushalayim, he took the twelve talmidim aside by themselves and said to them, as they went on their way, 18 “We are now going up to Yerushalayim, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the head cohanim and Torah-teachers. They will sentence him to death 19 and turn him over to the Goyim, who will jeer at him, beat him and execute him on a stake as a criminal. But on the third day, he will be raised.”
This was prophesied by Isaiah in chapters 52 and 53.
13 “See how my servant will succeed! He will be raised up, exalted, highly honored! 14 Just as many were appalled at him, because he was so disfigured that he didn’t even seem human and simply no longer looked like a man, 15 so now he will startle many nations; because of him, kings will be speechless. For they will see what they had not been told, they will ponder things they had never heard.”
1 Who believes our report? To whom is the arm of ADONAI revealed? 2 For before him he grew up like a young plant, like a root out of dry ground. He was not well-formed or especially handsome; we saw him, but his appearance did not attract us. 3 People despised and avoided him, a man of pains, well acquainted with illness. Like someone from whom people turn their faces, he was despised; we did not value him. 4 In fact, it was our diseases he bore, our pains from which he suffered; yet we regarded him as punished, stricken and afflicted by God. 5 But he was wounded because of our crimes, crushed because of our sins; the disciplining that makes us whole fell on him, and by his bruises we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, went astray; we turned, each one, to his own way; yet ADONAI laid on him the guilt of all of us. Or: and in fellowship with him 7 though mistreated, he was submissive – he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to be slaughtered, like a sheep silent before its shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 After forcible arrest and sentencing, he was taken away; and none of his generation protested his being cut off from the land of the living for the crimes of my people, who deserved the punishment themselves. 9 He was given a grave among the wicked; in his death he was with a rich man. Although he had done no violence and had said nothing deceptive, 10 yet it pleased ADONAI to crush him with illness, to see if he would present himself as a guilt offering. If he does, he will see his offspring; and he will prolong his days; and at his hand ADONAI’s desire will be accomplished. 11 After this ordeal, he will see satisfaction. “By his knowing [pain and sacrifice], my righteous servant makes many righteous; it is for their sins that he suffers. 12 Therefore I will assign him a share with the great, he will divide the spoil with the mighty, for having exposed himself to death and being counted among the sinners, while actually bearing the sin of many and interceding for the offenders.”
These passages were prophesied hundreds of years before Yeshua was born.
Yeshua’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem as recorded in Matthew 21:1-9. (Known also as Palm Sunday)
1 As they were approaching Yerushalayim, they came to Beit-Pagei on the Mount of Olives. Yeshua sent two talmidim 2 with these instructions: “Go into the village ahead of you, and you will immediately find a donkey tethered there with its colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him, `The Lord needs them’; and he will let them go at once.” 4 This happened in order to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, 5 “Say to the daughter of Tziyon, `Look! Your King is coming to you, riding humbly on a donkey, and on a colt, the offspring of a beast of burden!’ 6 So the talmidim went and did as Yeshua had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put their robes on them, and Yeshua sat on them. 8 Crowds of people carpeted the road with their clothing, while others cut branches from trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds ahead of him and behind shouted, “Please! Deliver us!” to the Son of David; “Blessed is he who comes in the name of ADONAI!” “You in the highest heaven! Please! Deliver us!”
Continuing in Luke 19:39-44
39 Some of the P’rushim in the crowd said to him, “Rabbi! Reprimand your talmidim!” 40 But he answered them, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones will shout!” 41 When Yeshua had come closer and could see the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “If you only knew today what is needed for shalom! But for now it is hidden from your sight. 43 For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will set up a barricade around you, encircle you, hem you in on every side, 44 and dash you to the ground, you and your children within your walls, leaving not one stone standing on another – and all because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Yeshua entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The next day Yeshua clears the Temple.
12 The next day, as they came back from Beit-Anyah, Yeshua felt hungry. 13 Spotting in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came up to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it wasn’t fig season. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his talmidim heard what he said. 15 On reaching Yerushalayim, he entered the Temple courts and began driving out those who were carrying on business there, both the merchants and their customers. He also knocked over the desks of the money-changers, upset the benches of the pigeon-dealers, 16 and refused to let anyone carry merchandise through the Temple courts. 17 Then, as he taught them, he said, “Isn’t it written in the Tanakh, My house will be called a house of prayer for all the Goyimp But you have made it into a den of robbers!” 18 The head cohanim and the Torah-teachers heard what he said and tried to find a way to do away with him; they were afraid of him, because the crowds were utterly taken by his teaching. 19 When evening came, they left the city.
The withered fig tree
20 In the morning, as the talmidim passed by, they saw the fig tree withered all the way to its roots. 21 Kefa remembered and said to Yeshua, “Rabbi! Look! The fig tree that you cursed has dried up!” 22 He responded, “Have the kind of trust that comes from God! 23 Yes! I tell you that whoever does not doubt in his heart but trusts that what he says will happen can say to this mountain, `Go and throw yourself into the sea!’ and it will be done for him. 24 Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, trust that you are receiving it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive your offenses.” 26 But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your offenses.”
Continues the same day. The authority of Yeshua questioned.
Mark 11:27 They went back into Yerushalayim; and as he was walking in the Temple courts, there came to him the head cohanim, the Torah-teachers and the elders; 28 and they said to him, “What s’mikhah do you have that authorizes you to do these things? Who gave you this s’mikhah authorizing you to do them?” 29 Yeshua said to them, “I will ask you just one question: answer me, and I will tell you by what s’mikhah I do these things. 30 The immersion of Yochanan — was it from Heaven or from a human source? Answer me.” 31 They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, `From Heaven,’ he will say, `Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, `From a human source, . . . ‘” — they were afraid of the people, for they all regarded Yochanan as a genuine prophet. 33 So they answered Yeshua, “We don’t know.” “Then,” he replied, “I won’t tell you by what s’mikhah I do these things.” Yeshua continued teaching many parables in the Temple.
Continuing the week.
1 It was now two days before Pesach (that is, the festival of Matzah), and the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers were trying to find some way to arrest Yeshua surreptitiously and have him put to death; 2 for they said, “Not during the festival, or the people will riot.” 3 While he was in Beit-Anyah in the home of Shim`on (a man who had had tzara`at), and as Yeshua was eating, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfume, pure oil of nard, very costly. She broke the jar and poured the perfume over Yeshua’s head. 4 But some there angrily said to themselves, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for a year’s wages and given to the poor!” And they scolded her. 6 But he said, “Let her be. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 7 For you will always have the poor with you; and whenever you want to, you can help them. But you will not always have me. 8 What she could do, she did do — in advance she poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial. 9 Yes! I tell you that wherever in the whole world this Good News is proclaimed, what she has done will be told in her memory.” 10 Then Y’hudah from K’riot, who was one of the Twelve, went to the head cohanim in order to betray Yeshua to them.
Judas Iscariot – one of the Twelve – agrees to betray Yeshua
1 But the festival of Matzah, known as Pesach, was approaching; 2 and the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers began trying to find some way to get rid of Yeshua, because they were afraid of the people. 3 At this point the
Adversary went into Y’hudah from K’riot, who was one of the Twelve. 4 He approached the head cohanim and the Temple guard and discussed with them how he might turn Yeshua over to them. 5 They were pleased and offered to pay him thirty silver coins. 6 He agreed and began looking for a good opportunity to betray Yeshua without the people’s knowledge.
7 Then came the day of matzah, on which the Passover lamb had to be killed. 8 Yeshua sent Kefa and Yochanan, instructing them, “Go and prepare our Seder, so we can eat.” 9 They asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” 10 He told them, “As you’re going into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters, 11 and say to its owner, `The Rabbi says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the Pesach meal with my talmidim?” ‘ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs already furnished; make the preparations there.” 13 They went and found things just as Yeshua had told them they would be, and they prepared for the Seder. 14 When the time came, Yeshua and the emissaries reclined at the table, and he 15 said to them, “I have really wanted so much to celebrate this Seder with you before I die! 16 For I tell you, it is certain that I will not celebrate it again until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God.”
1 It was just before the festival of Pesach, and Yeshua knew that the time had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. Having loved his own people in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 They were at supper, and the Adversary had already put the desire to betray him into the heart of Y’hudah Ben-Shim`on from K’riot. 3 Yeshua was aware that the Father had put everything in his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God. 4 So he rose from the table, removed his outer garments and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured some water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the talmidim and wipe them off with the towel wrapped around him.
12 After he had washed their feet, taken back his clothes and returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me `Rabbi’ and `Lord,’ and you are right, because I am. 14 Now if I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you.
Yeshua came to serve and this example is the height of humility!
17 Then, taking a cup of wine, he made the b’rakhah and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on, I will not drink the `fruit of the vine’ until the Kingdom of God comes.” 19 Also, taking a piece of matzah, he made the b’rakhah, broke it, gave it to them and said, “This is my body, which is being given for you; do this in memory of me.” 20 He did the same with the cup after the meal, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant, ratified by my blood, which is being poured out for you.
11 But when Christ came as High Priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a New Covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the First Covenant.
During the Passover meal Yeshua said, “I tell you a truth, one of you will betray me. The Twelve began to ask, “Is it I, Lord?” Yeshua replied, “the one who dips his hand in the bowl with me, will betray me. Judas looked at Yeshua and said, “Surely not I, Rabbi.” Yeshua answered, “Yes, it is you. What you are about to do, do quickly. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out – and it was night.
Yeshua conferred upon the apostles an honored position in His Father’s Kingdom.
28 “You are the ones who have stayed with me throughout my trials. 29 Just as my Father gave me the right to rule, so I give you an appointment, 30 namely, to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom and to sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Isra’el. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The Passover meal has ended. This begins the unveiling truth of the progressive revelation that started as a shadow in Egypt, now, it is being fulfilled in the reality of the once-for-all sacrifice of God’s loving Lamb – His Son! Yeshua’s statement says it all:
And Yeshua took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body given for you; Do this in Remembrance of Me.”
From this time forward, Passover has taken on a full and complete reality of truth, behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
The Passion of the Christ – The Last Supper
“Remembrance”
performed by Matt Maher
