SELAH Jubilee Lady Writes 4 Shalom

Many in the religious/spiritual communities are echoing the age old questions; "Are we nearing the end of what we know as Time? Are we living in the last of the Last Day?"  Could the Messiah come at any minute? How can we know if His time is at hand? What clues seem to be pointing to that possibility?"

We are plainly told by the Messiah that we can not know the day and the hour, because He does not know it Himself! So what is the point of these questions? It is to stay alert! In order to keep ourselves in a state of readiness, since we can never know for sure. However, as it is recorded in three of the four eyewitness accounts of His life, death and resurrection, He did give some instruction on what the “World News Headlines” might be reporting around that “end” time. Please read, Matthew 24:1-44; Mark 13; and Luke 21; in each of these He gave us hints as to what to look for, and also instruction on how to be ready for His ultimate return.

But as for the “signs of the times”, today alone there was a report of an outbreak of a dreaded “flesh-eating” disease, a report of a new hybird of wasp which are attacing cicada's, a report of multiple beheadings over the past months right here on our own soil (an event, which only occurring ONCE, would have led to the swift closing of mosques, the dismissing of college professors, and the deporting of muslims, a mere couple of decades ago!). There have also been several reports of really weird storms from nontypical sources – and other biologically “out of order”, and scientifically unexplainable occurrences. The weird occurrences in nature do seem to be on the rise while the scientific community scratches their heads to make sense of it all.

But what most miss, because few are real students of the Word any more, (and even fewer of those real Disciples of HIS Spirit) is that the Word of God has forewarned us of these phenomena for centuries! It has given us many clues, which are becoming increasingly evident in today's headlines - especially “wars and rumors of wars”! We seem to be in an all time high for that one!

But there are also other red flags, such as the sudden increase of men claiming to the be embodiment of the long awaited Messiah! We've always had kooks and false prophets and questionable shepherds among us, but now this is getting spooky! I have read at least four posts concerning four of these guys in the last couple of weeks,in four different geographical locations, and from four different people groups!

For years, those of us who are older have observed things like the seasons being mixed together instead of falling in their respective times and places. We have all grumbled about how “time flies”, or have at least joked about it. But the joke isn't funny any more. Even the very young are noticing how quickly holidays come now. How very short summer is. Even winter doesn't seem to drag on like it used to! What is up with that? I just want to share some Scriptures to consider, which seem to speak to these odd phenomena. See what you think.

Of course we can begin with the ones already listed in the epistles. This was Yeshua's direct teaching to His disciples – whose places we have taken. But I want to focus for a couple of minutes on the book of Revelation as well. Frankly, I don't usually spend much time on this book. It is a difficult book to discern, and I have heard or read so many wildly erroneous interpretations of it that I hesitate! But it is the only book in the entire Scripture which comes with a direct admonition, and a special blessing, to those who have the discernment and chutzpah to read and obey its writings, “because the time is at hand”. (Rev. 1:3)

The book of Revelation is believed to have been written by John, “the disciple whom Yeshua loved” (those referrences to this specific disciple being made in the book by that name, this phrase was used throughout the whole book by the author in referrence to himself, or he referred to himself as “that other disciple”, rarely did he identify himself by name: John 13:23; 19:26;20:2; 21:7 & 21:20) .

Contrary to popular speculation, this “John” was not Yeshua's “lover” in today's perverse sense of that Word. I know this, as well as I know that He did not have a “thing” going on with any of the Marys (Mirriams) in His life. Because it is declared of Him that He had no sin (otherwise He couldn't have been an acceptable sacrifice for our sin - obviously)! And whether we want to justify it in our own lives or not, He preached that all forms of sexual immorality (which He plainly defined as anything from lustful thoughts about another to any kind of intimate interaction before marriage) as sin. Pure and simple, if uncomfortable! Not really sorry about that.

However, this John may have been Yeshua's biological half-brother, by some historical accounts. That might explain the closeness of their relationship - not that we need an explanation. “John” was his greek name, but his real Hebrew name was “Yochanon”. This disciple apparently proved exceedingly difficult to execute (which also went along with allusion of our LORD, which suggested that perhaps he would not die as martyrs as the others (Jn. 21:19-23). He was therefore exiled to an island, where he received many profound revelations from the Spirit of God. A being who appeared as “The Angel of the LORD” Himself – so as to instruct him on what believers were to expect in the Last Days of this dispensation of time on earth.

I want to list just a few of these pronouncements, which may sound rather uncomfortably familiar, in view of someof our headlines, these days. First of all, he begins with exhortations to seven differing sects of Messianic believers, followers of Yeshua – a.k.a. “The Seven Churches”. It has been speculated that these refer to different “dispenstions” or specific “time periods”, spread over the last several thousand years. I have heard it taught for the last few decades (since the 70's when I first landed in the middle of the hyper-faith movement by virtue of being baptized in the Holy Spirit) that we are in the very last of these “dispenstions”, and therefore answer to the title of “The Church at Laodicea”. If so we have much work to do before He comes back for us, apparently. These exhortations are found in the first three chapters of Revelation.

This speculation has been considered the correct interpretation of these scriptures for many years, and seem plausible. However, after many years of observation and study of the subject,I have come to have a different speculation, for whatever those are worth. I have come to suspect that it is merely addressing different types, or sects, of “Christians”, which have developed over the centuries and decades.

We have the Catholic version with its many sects – but which are still mostly united (much to their credit), and then we have the “black sheep” which fell from her tree – which represent the many Protestant versions – a widespread and myriad entity which is broken down primairily into - “Fundamentalists”, “Pentecostals”, “Charismatics”, “Non-denonminationals”, the recently increasing, Torah enlightened, “Messianics”, and last but not least, the many “questionable” groups, for lack of a better term, such as “Christian Scientists”, “Jehovah's Witnesses”, “Mormans”, etc.; (and then there are the radical truth seeking rabble, such as yours truly, who do not really belong succinctly, nor fit exactly, within any of the tidy parameters of any of these particular disciplines, but have gleaned from most all of them at one time or another!). I don't think I left anyone out. Each of these religious ideologies, and entities continues to morph, and much like the cancer which religion has become, each continues to “multiply” by division (bringing more death than life, by my limited observation).

But the Spirit of God which came to John is not addressing religion – in all its myriad forms - He is addressing the true believers of the Jewish Messiah which are entangled therein! Hence the term “Churches”, when it is supposed to be “One Body”, ONE entity IN HIM. The Spirit of God really has His work cut out for Him if He is to unify this mess! I think that is to be the purpose of the judgment which is drawn out for us in the chapters of this most interesting book. “For those who have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches”!

Chapter four establishes the government from which the authority comes to write these warnings and exhortations, and from which the resulting judgments will be issued. Chapters five through seven describe the seven seals which are broken, and the contents behind them which are poured out on the earth in judgment.

My question, in reading these, has been for some time now - “Hasn't this process already begun?” Because, as I read, I see things that cause me to ponder this possibility. I mean, hasn't there already been plenty of conquest ( 6:2); war (6:4); famine and economic collapse (6:6) – for example? And the number of incidences of deaths by swords (recent beheadings?), hunger, and weird occurrences involving beasts (6:8) is on the rise – I would say in at least in “a fourth part of the earth”! Wouldn't you say so?

I am not trying to freak anyone out. However, I do want to impress upon us all that it is high time we put our petty religious differences aside, climbed down off our various high-horses of traditional religious pridefulness, shot those beasts in the head, gave them a decent burial, and moved on - to actually being about the business which our Savior left us! Which was to do His Father's will! Increase His Father's Kingdom, and restore His Father's creation!

Please remember that even the writer of this book, who lived and died, a couple of thousand years ago, was sure that “the time was at hand”. And many since him have thought that surely it must be on them! Those who lived during the Crusades, for example, or who endured the dark days of the Holocaust in Hitler's Germany. However, the point is not to panic! It is to prepare!

Yeshua came, taught and exemplified how to live a holy life of obedience to His Father's Word and Will. And then left His Ruach Ha Kodesh behind to lead us into all that Truth, and to aid us in that transformation process - of dying to the fallen nature, and receiving God's Loving nature. This book was written not to terrify us, but to keep us alert to the times in which we exist! Let us be about our Father's business!

We never know when that last Shofar, or Shout, is going to come. It is our job to be ready, with the help of His Spirit. We'd best get busy. No matter how many years or days we have left, we know, if the Word of God is anything to go by, that one day it will end! I exhort us to get ready, and stay ready! The only safe place for any believer is in the Secret Place of the Most High! Therefore it is written that the “Just shall live by Faith” (Habbakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17 (Shaul was quoting the previous Scripture); Galatians 3:11)! The question we should be asking ourselves, then, is – Am I truly living by faith? And IN what or whom does my faith reside? Who is my God? Whom do I actually serve – with my heart, time, resources and strength?

I am led to echo the author's exhortation, to those who have ears to hear:

“Blessed is he that reads, and hear the words of this prophecy, and who keep those things which are written therein, because the time is at hand.”

And I return a hearty “Amen!”.

Shalom Chavarim, and Happy Son Day!

And for those still celebrating, and those who should be, Chag sameach Yom Kippur! We are atoned for! He is risen! (And as the Holy Day which just passed, Yom Teruah alluded to – He is coming soon! And as the next appointed time approaches, which is Sukkot, or “Tabernacles” suggests - soon we will live with Him forever! Hallelujah to the Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world!)

Thoughts on Legitimate Intimacy

Legitmate intimacy. That terminology just popped into my mind as I began typing. It is not a new concept, but I don't think I have ever heard it put quite that way before. It is thousands of years old, in fact. The Torah Elohim (The Word of God) is full of what constitutes real intimacy that God will bless.

Of course, in the universe in which I choose to live, God's blessing is what determines whether something is “legit” or not! That which engenders His judgment is therefore to be avoided at all costs! Apparently, however, that is not as simple as it sounds, nor as well taught as it should be!

That being said I want to take a few moments to explore the wide world of marital intimacy, also known as “sex”. Sex has become such a cheapened word, which can mean anything from “making out” to “hooking Up”. Wow. Such romantic and appealing terms! This act of intercourse has gone from a spiritual mystery in which two people become one entity in God, while exemplifying massively intense eternal mysteries - to sounding more like a tow truck dragging something off. And unfortunately that analogy is entirely to close for comfort! The way most people go at it there will be significant wreckage before it is all over!

As tedious and irrelevant as this concept has become in today's idea of personal “freedom”, I must reiterate that ALL parts of the sexual act, from kissing to consumation, is to be reserved for the marriage bed! No ifs, ands, buts, or exchanges!! That is, you don't get to milk the cow, or play with the sausage, until you legally own the beast! Don't do it! There are myriad curses on disobedience – that is ignoring God's boundaries - and none more-so than on these intimate relationships! God considers breeching this boundary to be both usury and defrauding one another! And though the curses for these crimes against holiness may be a long time manifesting, they are a recipe for utter misery and disaster down the road – usually “til divorce do us part”.

I have listened to so many bitter wives who struggled to trust, respect and love their husbands because those things were slain and consumed in the fires of lust! They wanted to, but he was not a faithful, trustworthy man – he was a horny jiggalo, so no real trust was possible! And what is worse is that the church judged her harshly and condemned her for not being “fully submissive”! Oy! And I've also seen this scenario many times - she was a hot little seductress, and now she is surprised that her husband is jealous and insecure and a little too “protective” (read possessive)! He “bought the cow”, but can never be sure all the milk is for himself alone! Often I have encountered both in the same marriage! Talk about misery! Real intimacy and unity have got all the chance of a snow-ball in hell! Their only hope is that they can give the thing over to God for the ultimate “make-over”, a.k.a. “Transformation” - He alone can redeem that mess, and restore the victims of that kind of train wreck!

Self-Control and purity (also known as “Goodness” or “Holiness”) are in the list of “Fruit of the Spirit”, that which is worked into us by His Spirit, that God-like Character which is inborn in us at the New Birth, or “Salvation”. This Fruit, and the character traits which are described by it, are qualities that must be found in people in order for them to qualify as people of God! Yes. There are expectations in this deal! People who are led around by their, um, hormones, often fail to qualify!

Oh yes! They may indeed have been “saved” at one time, and they may indeed have “decided” to “accept Christ as their Savior”! However, if this area has not been brought into obedience to His Word, and under the control of His Spirit, then clearly they have not decided to let Him be “LORD” yet. And as the saying goes, “If He is not LORD OF ALL, then He is not LORD AT ALL.” It is that simple. It IS of course an ongoing process, but there should be visible progress eventually!

We should not go on allowing ourselves to be deceived on this subject. Sin is sin, is sin. Simply calling it something else will not change its nature. And sexual sin offends God more than anything else. It is a subtle form of murder. It plays with life in so many ways, and it wrecks His perfect object lesson of eternal bliss and ultimate unity! He hates it, and He always arrays Himself for battle against the offenders! That is a frightening concept. And we have the gall to grouse because America has come under judgment! When even pastors and spiritual leaders can't keep their eyes in their heads, and their junk in their trunk – what the heck should we expect?!

Listen men of God - It is time you stopped sucking your thumbs about “not getting your needs met” and grow a spine, and produce the Fruit of the Spirit instead of the deeds of the sorry spoiled flesh (Gal. 5)! And Women of God – It is time you stopped dressing and acting like a bunch of prime time harlots and began to reflect the Holiness to which you were called! Yeshua did not command us to go out and seduce the nations! He commanded us to preach and operate in His anointing – which He is never going to pour into impure vessels, by the way!

It is high time that the people of God regained their dignity, their purity and their unity! It is high time we stopped merely prating about the Fruit of the Spirit and actually cooperated with the production of it in our character (which will mean letting the fleshly man die – with his lusts, addictions and low-life preferences and habits)! It is time we became a people of prayer, a people of purity, and a people of productivity! It is time we stopped spreading strife, and spread His Life! It is time we took sex back from the domain of the devil and learned what Holy Matrimony looks and feels like! It is time we went back to saving the honey moon for AFTER marriage!! It is time we stopped using marriage as a camouflage for our lust issues, and learned to trust and obey God!

It is time for those who preach His Word to stop prevaricating around bushes trying to be “relevant” and became good Shepherds and righteous Stewards of the manifold grace of God once again! It is time they returned to teaching God's people how to once again be REVERENT toward His boundaries, instructions and commands – instead of sugar-coating sin, and coddling rebellion to insure their income! It is time we learned the difference between the bad news of religion and the Good News of the Anointing – which is the only thing that can break the yoke of sexual sin and restore whiteness to that very stained garment!

And it is time we took intimacy off the screens and back into the private chambers where it was meant to be! We were never meant to be stalkers, and participate in voyeurism! We were never meant to waste our time on near pornographic slop, which desensitizes us to the deeper value of intimate arousal, and makes us thick, selfish and grasping sluts! We were never meant to touch and fondle everyone we date or court. There are some things which were NOT meant to be “tried on for size”! There are some things which are supposed to be left up to God to insure a “perfect fit”! He is the only ONE who knows us that well!

Just as the literal sacrifices are gone, because Messiah paid that debt once and for all, we are now led by His Spirit on the things which concern our lives. No longer do our parents pick out our mates for us (although – statistically speaking, where marriage is concerned that system was far more effective so far....) but our heavenly Father will direct us if we give Him a chance! But we MUST be teachable enough to grasp this truth – that we can not sow to the flesh and reap to the spirit! That will never, can never, work!

So – whatever it is that has wedged itself between you and God, whatever is messing with your “fruit” or purity, I urge you to get that fixed before you ever go near any real relationship! A real relationship - which must be based on real Love, and real intimacy - requires two whole real people! Otherwise it becomes an exercise in futility! Like two ticks and no dog – people just suck each other flat! And then they give up and go find someone else to do the same thing with! Hence the divorce statistics in our nation!

And in the fallen human condition it can't work any other way! Marriage was God's invention! He wrote the manual on it! His Spirit is the best marriage counselor there is! As one who was badly damaged, and yet still managed to follow the Spirit of God on some level, I can say that marriage can not work without God having the part of the “dog” in that analogy, from which the two “ticks” find sustenance! It is foredoomed to failure otherwise! We'd have never made it through 31 and ¾ years of life-threatening storms without Him! Ultimately our damage – which was considerably worse that most - did not win; our faith in Him – which was also considerably stronger than most – did! (Contrary to popular opinion, but the proof is in the pudding, as they say) That is why it is written, that there is HOPE in the LORD. Because it is true!

So for those of you out there who are already married, but the “good feeling is gone” or you are SO “not having fun yet”, you need to check to be sure that you haven't got this “sex” thing above God. He doesn't bless that. It is sort of like wiring an engine, if you get the order right the thing will run smoothly – but if something is out of line its going to be a bumpy ride! If you haven't dealt with lust issues, then do it! It is never too late! Don't procrastinate another minute. This can mean the difference between living in heaven on earth or your own private corner of hell! Nothing sucks worse than a dysfunctional marriage! But we don't have to live like that!

If you are single, contemplating marriage, then first of all get whole in God! Seek Him with ALL of your heart, soul, mind and strength! Make Him the be-all-to-end-all! Because, we tend to be drawn to those who are spiritually where we hang out! If we hang out in heathen-ville and sin-city for more than half of our existence then guess who, or what, will be attracted to us?!

In order to have a God approved and supported marriage one must first BE a God approved and supported person, and marry someone who is God a approved and supported person! That is NOT rocket science! But how many are totally missing that! His real people exist IN HIM! So if you want a Godly mate that is where you have to shop!

It is time that God's people stopped flirting around with sin and got with the program! Otherwise, just go ahead and prepare to stubbornly enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and then reap its ratchety curses for the rest of your miserable lives! As always, the choice is up to us. All you “pro-choicers” out there, it is time to put your money where your mouth is - “Choose you this day whom you will serve!”

It will not only mean the difference between life and death, it will mean the difference between Holy Matrimony in your own piece of heaven, as opposed to an unholy torture in your own little hell on earth! It is time for God's people to stop defrauding one another and practice legitmate intimacy only. Like furniture bought on credit, premature sex costs way too much and is worn out before it is paid for! Go where the good stuff is – in God! Why settle for less than the best? There is such a thing as Holy Matrimony, and heavenly sex, but it is reserved for the real people of God only – Flesh pots and Defrauders need not apply!

Selah

SCD 9/28/14

Psalm 23 – Amplified

The LORD is my Shepherd (the protector of my soul, the One who leads me in the way that I should go) I shall not want (any good thing, since He provideds for every need I have);

He makes me to lie down in green pastures (not bug ridden dried up weeds)!

He leads me beside still waters (safe and clear, where there is no danger of drowning, but only refreshment and hydration);

He restores my soul (He deals with my mental/emotional wholeness as well!);

He leads me in the Paths of Righteousness for His Name's Sake (He leads me on my own individually designed path of HIS righteousness, for His Name's sake, not for my individual glory!);

Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (whether that be the death of a vision, the death of dreams and ambition, death to self, or physical death) I will fear NO evil, for You (My LORD and Shepherd) are with me!

Your rod – (of gentle but firm correction) and Your staff (of awesome, mighty protection) – they comfort me – (knowing that You will not allow me to stray into enemy territory and be devoured, and that You will keep me safe in any circumstance, giving Your life for me if necessary);

You prepare a table before me – in the very presence of my enemies! (You turn every circumstance to my good, so that I can know that NO weapon formed against me can prosper- even in the enemy's astounded face!)

You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over! (Your anointing brings abundant life in every area, so that I always have more than I need, so that I am blessed to be a blessing! - And the excess is used to bring blessing to others)

Surely Goodness AND Mercy, WILL follow me ALL the days of my Life, and I WILL dwell IN the House of the LORD forever!

Amen!

Love is God's Law, God's nature, and God's plan for man. Simple logic tells us this. God IS Love. He had His many writers declare this reality about Himself. And when He made His prime creation, He made them – us - in His own image and likeness! We were created to be lovers, not fighters! So what happened? 

The popular idea of the demi-god is a fleeting imaginary construct of the created being. God was making the real thing. Demi-gods are fallen or weaker god-like creatures, who are made in the image of fallen man, and generally born out of his corrupted imagination. Therefore they take on the petty, broken, defiled image of the sin-nature. They have a bit more power than mere mortals, as their story goes, but they are driven by lusts only, not love, making them deficient beings. (Besides the fact that they are imaginary in the first place).

We have dreamed them up, perhaps, because we sense our loss of true power and entertain a subconscious dream of regaining it through an allegiance with “other beings”. Or perhaps is isn't our dream at all, but a subliminal message from the one who thinks himself the god of this world? Whatever the origin of that dream, there is only ONE other being that can help us regain our God-like status! Only ONE, in fact, who yearns to help us at all. That "other being" out there, to whom I was alluding, only wants to use our lusts to annihilate us, if possible. But he is also only a created being, who could be considered to be, perhaps, by a stretch of the imagination, the first and only, the original, self-proclaimed “demi-god”. After all, he does sort of hold the lease on the place right now, doesn't he?

But God, the real God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth and all it contains – that God – is driven by nothing, and motivated only by LOVE. His writers have written, “Out of the heart the mouth will speak....”, and, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he...” And God has revealed Himself to us as LOVE. And though it is inconceivable at times, we struggle to grasp that God has given us His creative bent, and the ability to produce whatever we put our faith in. The problem is what we believe. How our beliefs are formed. What we put into our creative processes. Because this will determine what comes out!

The writer of Galatians five states, “The whole Law of God (Torah) is fulfilled in one statement, you shall Love your neighbor as yourself...". That is quite a statement. One might be tempted to think one has misread something, if he had not continued to expound on that idea by saying, "But I say walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh...But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the LAW”. So how can the Law be the only standard of righteousness by which we are made acceptable to God, and us not be under it, or accountable to it? Just wait. This gets really good! 

God made us in His image, but gave us authority over ourselves. So that obedience to His Law must be an act of free will, or it doesn't count! When sin came in, however, that authority was hi-jacked by the enemy of God. The enemy of God could not introduce sin without using our God ordained authority. In fact, he still can't get us to sin without first tricking us into relinquishing our authority to him! He could not break down God's design of Loving - mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually pure LOVE – without gaining access to man's gift of authority.

The enemy of God was an exile, and had no power, but he was cunning. And using that one gift he has gained himself a temporary empire. It doesn't seem temporary to us who are even more limited, thanks to him. But it is on the clock, which is winding down. The truth is, however, that he has deceived himself as badly as he has us, and that God's Law of Love overcomes his deceptive power. Truth really does "Make us free"! In every way possible.

But back to our original design. God did His best to describe it to us over and over again in His Word of Life, His Love letter to us which His many writers wrote down over the years of recorded history of life on this quarantined planet. One of the clearest descriptive passages is found in the fifth chapter of the letter to Galatians, to which I have already alluded. This writer goes to great lengths to distinguish between “The fruit, or produce, of the Spirit (of God, which is the character and likeness which we lost); and the resulting “Deeds of the Flesh” (that fallen nature which we inherited, which has been robbed of its God-likeness).

First we are given the discouraging and unfortunate state of the flesh which has been separated from God's likeness and character, and then the contrasting Fruit which comes from abandoning the flesh to crucifixion and going after the Holy Spirit (of God, and of the Anointed One – which are One - Echad). But the writer, before going into these descriptive passages, makes an astounding statement, which is often misconstrued by the believing world at large, which I have stated but feel led to reiterate, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” Of course, he is speaking of THE Spirit of the living and holy God, which manifests His holy character IN those being led by Him – not just any spiritual force out there!

I see many who take this verse, and those like it, as a loop-hole to get around God's righteous standard! I see verses like this more often used as a license for pursuing the whims of the flesh, which the writer had just spent a copious amount of words discouraging - than as an impetus for forsaking known sin! I see those who are under spiritual deception, who believe they are “using great discernment”, and yet the fruit they continually produce is clearly "flesh" (if compared to the two lists given), and is NOT the produce of the HOLY Spirit! So deception becomes obvious. This Law, we then conclude, must be spiritually discerned, and properly obeyed to work for us rather than against us. It must be allowed to change our very nature. Not in legalistic, resentful observance, but in a total change of heart! It must become our singular heart motivation.

He records for us, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: Immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, socery, enmities, strife, jealously, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, factions, envying, carousing, drunkenness, and things like these (the list is virtually endless), of which I forewarn you, and have forewarned you, that those who practice (make it a habit of doing) such things will NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” That's the bad news! Here's the good news: “But (in contrast) the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (!) Meaning that these things do not bring judgment.

Again he seems to put those who believe above, or outside the Law of God, the Torah. However, what is usually missed are the conditions! Which were stated before and after these lists! The writer continues, “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus (Yeshua the Messiah/Anointed One) have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

So what he is saying is not that believers are exempt from the Law of God, but that by inherently partaking of His nature through His Spirit we are already keeping it! We become inherently obedient to it, through a profound change of nature. What the writer of Romans referred to as “being Transformed into His image....by the entire renewing of our minds (both conscious and subconscious). It becomes our subconscious motivation, in other words. We are so changed by His transformation process that His Law of Love becomes our ruling motivational structure, as we willingly, with His help, forsake the desires of the flesh. This happens by a daily practice of judging them by the Law, and condemning them to death, with Messiah, on the cross. He did take our sin to the cross, remember?! That is what Salvation is about - getting that corrosive mess out of here! So we can see by this that we need not fear legalism if we are operating in His LOVE!

Logically, then, can it be right that we take hold of His Name, and His Salvation, and His gifts to us, and still go on protecting that which He went to such lengths to annihilate on our behalf!? He had no sin of His own for which He would've had to endure such punishment! It was for our freedom – from the grasp of sin - that He went to such measures! So why would we want to pet and cuddle sin? Why would we spend so much time and money supporting its deadly addictions and playing its deceptive games? We are a complex and confusing people.

But it should not be so of us who claim to believe! We should be becoming less complicated every day! It comes down to choosing whom we will serve. We must choose between the Spirit, Nature and Character of our LOVING GOD, or the fallen nature of the craven, sinful flesh which we've inherited “in the natural”!

But we can not expect to dance between the two, as most seem to do! We can not even hope to comply with the Law in the flesh, much less aspire to rise above it! It is utter cooperation with the Wonderful Spirit of God that causes us to follow our Messiah in “fulfilling all the Law”. His Love alone is what accomplishes that perfect obedience in and through us. Our Love for Him, which is the only proper response to His Love for us is what motivates that cooperation. We must let His Spirit work that love into our character, one choice at a time. Then we will keep His Law, the Perfect Law of LOVE – which is what effectively casts out fear, and brings true Liberty – Life, more abundantly – as our Messiah put it.

Shabbot Shalom Chavarim! L'Chaim, and L'Ahavah!

Sabbath Peace, My friends! To Life, and To Love!

SCD 9/13/14 

I have heard this old saying most of my life. It is southern for, “things are very close to impossible”. There isn't much ground between the rock and the hard place. Not much air either. No “wiggle room”, or opportunity for strategizing. One is pretty much stuck and at the mercy of life, or whatever we perceive has us so cornered. There isn't much hope of escape, or survival. It is the toughest test we face as redeemed ones. Mainly because it seems so opposite to what we are taught to expect “spiritual growth” or “progress” to look like. And yet, after wearing myself out trying to find a way out of this place, I am beginning to reconsider.

Yeshua is often referred to as the “Rock”... of Redemption, or Salvation. The very Cornerstone, in fact, of God's building! He is the solid ground upon which we are to stand. However, if one has not reached the place in Him where one is securely fixed upon Him, then He only will be to us like the other side of the vice that threatens to squeeze the life from us! He Himself said that He was the main cornerstone, and the rock of offense. To the flesh nothing is more offensive than His high and mighty holy ways. And nothing is more deadly. He came to crucify sin. First by taking it to Himself on the cross, outside the camp. And then by coming after it in us, to eradicate it from us!

That is scary stuff when you finally get your head around it. I think it may be the beginning of the concept known as “The Fear of the LORD”. But what the flesh can not ever truly get, (and doesn't need to because it is going to die anyway) is that true life can never be lived in the sinful flesh and that is why it is being targeted for crucifixion (or in this analogy, suffocation). The Life which God meant for His prime creation can only be lived through, and ON the Rock of our Salvation, Yeshua the Anointed One! So what the Ruach Ha Ko-desh does is effectively round us up into this canyon, with Yeshua on one side and the pressures of earthly “life” on the other, until we leave the shell of the fallen flesh dead in the crevice and begin the climb upward - which happens to be the only direction “out” of this predicament, by the way.

We hadn't noticed that out before, because we were too busy panicking to trust Him. Too busy trying vainly to save the fleshly “us” - that we once thought to be the “real us” - to cooperate with His plan! But now, the flesh being closer to dead than ever, we finally look up and are surprised to see day light! Glorious freedom!And even more surprised to find that there are places carved in the Rock to aid our upward journey! Suddenly we sheepishly realize (pun intended) that this was where He has been leading us all along! We are not sure at first if we should feel relieved or betrayed! But this is the perfect One we are talking about – so – relief it is!

The climb is scary too. It isn't something we feel trained to do. It wasn't something we feel prepared to handle. It is entirely out of our league! But it is NOT out of HIS league! This is the part of following where our mettle is tested and our devotion is proved. This is the part where we finally commit with utter abandon or turn back and run for our former “lives” (once this decision is made the way out magically, suspiciously appears – He will hold no one against their will!). This is the part for those “few” of whom He speaks, who find the narrow way, and do not forsake Him for the broader, easier route.

This is the place that separates the courageous from the cowards, and the grown-ups from the infants. This is the crux of what is blithely called “sanctification”, in religious circles. Such a tame and harmless sounding word for such an utterly challenging undertaking! This is the place where we abandon our rights to our old lives, old selves and old worlds, once and for all, and never look back. This is it. That tiny speck of ground between the Rock and the Hard Place.

As the anvil is to forged steel, as the fire-pot is to impure gold, as years of pressure and time are required to form the diamonds from the coal, this is the place where true followers of Yeshua are formed. Are you there yet? If suddenly there seems to be no place to look but up, you very well might be! Don't sweat it! Just look up and start climbing. Leave the low-life behind - the unsatisfying, unchallenging pseudo-life of low thoughts, low deeds and low habits! It is time to trade it in for His High-Life of purity, holiness and perfection! This swap is made right here, between the Rock and the hard place! L'Chaim!

Happy climbing, Chavarim!

SCD 9/6/14