The Power of the Imagination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For thousands of years, about 6,000 to be exact, mankind has struggled with making the correct decisions.  In fact, from the beginning that was the issue with Adam and Chavah (Eve), making the wrong decision.  We all have seen the drawing I have posted above in some form of comic or cartoon, someone trying to make a decision while an angel (or good decision) sits on one shoulder and a demon (bad decision) sits on the other.  Where does this concept come from and could this comedic image be based upon truth from Scripture?  If this is a real and serious issue, why don’t we see and hear more about it from our teachers and/or preachers?

In Hebraic thinking among Judaism this concept is called yetzer יצר.  It is referred to as yetzer tov and yetzer hara, in English we would say good imagination or inclination and evil imagination or inclination.  Are there any Scripture verses that talk about a good or evil imagination? 

A principle that works in the Hebrew (Old Testament) Scriptures is to find the first time a word or phrase is used and let it define the usage going forward.  So this phrase is probably found in Proverbs or Psalms first, right?

Genesis (Bereshit)6:5  And יהוה saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination (yetzer) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Wow, it took just six (6) chapters or barely 1,000 years, before יהוה discovers than mankind has become a creature that thinks of wicked things all of the time or as Bereshit says, has an evil inclination.  An inability to control their thoughts has led people to have wicked hearts or an evil will.  But to be honest with you, didn’t we make the decision at the WRONG Tree to become that way?  We chose knowledge of tov/good and hara/the evil, over Life from the onset.  Today the same insanity continues among mankind, yes the same choice is available and we are still choosing the power to make our own choices over Life.

But isn’t that what יהוה wants is for us to make choices and not be robots?  יהוה certainly didn’t create humans so they could walk around as robots or perfect little clones, right?

Absolutely not what יהוה is looking for from His creation!  יהוה wants us to have the power of choice and without us choosing we are not any different than any other living thing He created.  Think about that for a minute.  All animals have a preset list of functions they do and can only choose from those listed.  Animals don’t wake up one day and decide to do a thing that isn’t part of their day to day existence.  No dog that I know of has made the sudden decision to leave home and go to obedience school on their own. 

So if יהוה wants us to have the power of choice, why is it so bad that we have this power?  It can seem somewhat conflicting to want us to have choice but want us to control that power to choose at the same time.

Why is it that we consistently choose Death/Sin/Sickness over Life/Torah/Health?  Are we not smart enough to make these decisions on our own?  NO!  Our pursuit of earthly knowledge instead of Life from יהוה, has made us into creatures who operate as if we cannot make intelligent decisions on our own.  Let’s see what Paul/Shaul said about that issue.

Rom 7:15 For I do not know what I do. For I do not do the thing that I want; But I do the thing which I hate, this is what I do.
Rom 7:16 But if I do what I do not wish to, I agree with the Torah, that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then, it is not I who do it, but the sin which dominates in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that it does not fully dominate me, (that is in my flesh) but as far as good is concerned, the choice is easy for me to make, but to do it is difficult for me.
Rom 7:19 For it is not the good that I desire to do, that I do. But it is the evil that I do not desire, that I do.
Rom 7:20 But if I do what I do not desire, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin which dominates me.
Rom 7:21 I find therefore that the Torah agrees with my conscience, when I desire to do good, but evil is always near, distracting me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the Torah of יהוה according to the inward man;
Rom 7:23 but I see another law in my members having warred against the law of my mind, and taking me captive by the law of sin being in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this mortal body?
Rom 7:25 I thank יהוה through Y’shua Messiah our Master! So then I myself with the mind truly serve the Torah of יהוה and with the flesh the law of sin.

WOW!  Does that passage make more sense now in light of what we have been discussing?  Shaul is saying that his flesh wants to do sin, but his mind or conscience wants to do good.  Evil is lying at the door, waiting to dominate, but he has to take dominion over it and choose to do good (Torah), even when his body doesn’t want to do what’s right.  How long has this condition been around?

Genesis (Bereshit) 4:7  If thou (Cain) doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

יהוה lets Cain know that he has the power to choose good or evil and that Cain can rule over his evil inclination (yetzer hara) if he chooses to do so.

So from the beginning (bereshit) we have had the power to choose good thoughts and actions over evil.  We have had the power or authority over evil imaginations all along.  But what about the theory that we all or going to choose sin from time to time even after we have came to the saving knowledge of Y’shua?  Doesn’t verse go against this theory and all it stands for, and is it possible to NOT choose sin?

Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 26:3  “The one steadfast of mind (yetzer) You guard in perfect peace, for he trusts in You.
Isa 26:4  “Trust in יהוה forever, for in Yah, יהוה, is a rock of ages.

 

The person who has their mind/inclination established or steadfast upon יהוה will be kept in shalom shalom (perfect peace).  Trust, rely upon or make our refuge in יהוה, and He guards us in perfect peace or complete wholeness.  The opposite of a complete or peaceful mind is a chaotic or unstable mind.  So if one would have an unstable mind it would be a result of their mind (yetzer) not being established upon  יהוה.  Is their any Scriptural evidence of someone becoming unstable by trying to listen to both good and evil?

James (Yacob)1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it shall be given to him.
Jas 1:6  But he should ask in belief, not doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
Jas 1:7  For that man should not think that he shall receive whatever from the Master –
Jas 1:8  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 

So belief is considered as thinking on good (yetzer tov) and doubting is seen as thinking on evil (yetzer hara).  Are we not encouraged to think on good things?  Trying to think on good and evil at the same time creates chaos, making us unstable.  In this state we are unable to make the correct decisions, so we struggle with good and evil.  One who has their mind stayed or fixed upon יהוה makes the right decisions, because יהוה gives that person wisdom.

Shaul clearly establishes in the passage from Roman posted above, that the mind (yetzer) can control the body when the yetzer is submitted to Y’shua (Torah).

This is the spiritual battle we fight on a daily basis, warring against an evil mind that wants to serve sin and pleasure.  When we choose to serve  יהוה and shomer (guard) His Torah, we bring into captivity all thoughts that tries to lift itself above יהוה

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through Elohim to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Elohim, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Moshiach;

Do you see that the issue is submitting our mind (yetzer) to יהוה so that our very thoughts are on good things only?  When we let our minds rule us we are slaves to the evil mind. By placing our yetzer into submission unto יהוה we are free to serve Him and not be slaves to the flesh.

Over the years I have seen many people on social media outlets who claim to follow יהוה , but consistently post statements that show they are slaves to their netzer hara.  When we are slaves to earthly desires and fleshly needs, we are submitted to that evil inclination. 

Not all earthly desires are evil.  We all desire a comfortable bed and even though we can live without that desire, there is nothing inherently evil in desiring a better place to sleep.  When someone becomes captivated with constant earthly desires that is when the netzer hara has become master.

Training our mind (netzer) to choose good is the way to win this battle.  Dwelling on the Torah, putting on the mind of Y’shua is the way we prepare our minds for this battle.  If we consistently choose the wrong thoughts and do not wash our minds in the Word, neglecting to put on the helmet of Salvation (Y’shua), we loose these battles that eventually result in a lost war.

So you still believe it doesn’t matter what you think about?  What you read, listen too or watch is insignificant?  Are you constantly striving to fill desires and wants to no avail?  Does everything you acquire leave you unfulfilled and wanting more?

Teshuvah.

Turn around and go back to יהוה  Lay your inclinations/thoughts/imaginations at His feet.  When you become His bond servant, you will no longer be a slave to sin.  You can walk in newness of life, with a mind that chooses Life.

Sukkot 2012

A Stumbling Block or a Stepping Stone?

Just a little research in to Scripture reveals the cyclical patterns of life. All things are a never ending cycle as time moves in a circular motion. This is first explained in Bereshit (Genesis)

While the earth remains, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22 HRB)

The old saying is that history repeats itself and we see that this is in fact true. The psalmist David wrote about this in probably the most popular psalm of all time.

He restores my soul; He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. (Psalms 23:3 HRB)

The word translated as paths is the Hebrew word “magal” or מעגּל. The word actually means; a track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as circular): - going, path, trench, way. It comes from the Hebrew word “agol” or עגל which means revolve or circular around. Davis is clearly stating that יהוהis leading him in a circular path of righteousness for the sake of His Name. This would indicate that יהוהwould lead those He loves in this circular Path or Way to bring honor and glory to His Name.

Schlomo (Solomon) the son of David writes of this Path as well.

Consider the path “agol” of your feet, And all your ways are established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Turn your foot away from evil. (Proverbs 4:26-27 The Scriptures 1998+)

This proverb tells us to ponder or prepare the circular Path of our feet, and let them be established, erect or perfect. Here we see clear and precise instructions to follow this circular Path or Way so we can walk in perfection.

Growing up, I remember being told repeatedly in school that “practice makes perfect” and “repetition is the essence of learning.” These pieces of advice annoyed me as a teenager trying to rush through school. Now I find myself saying these same things almost daily to my home schooled son. By establishing routine or repletion, my son is able to identify areas of weakness or deficiency and make the proper corrections that lead to success.

Could it be that this simple life lesson is a part of a greater lesson our Abba desire to teach us?

I have taught you in the way of wisdom, I have led you in right paths “agol”. When you walk your steps shall not be hindered, And if you run you shall not stumble. (Proverbs 4:11-12 The Scriptures 1998+)

Schlomo tells his father (David) told him that he had led Schlomo in a right or upright circular Path and this would keep Schlomo from being distressed or hexed and when he ran he would NOT totter or waver.

Now we are getting somewhere with this Path. Walking the circular Path or Way will keep us from being distressed or even wavering. We can walk and even run with certainty because we are cycling UPWARD!

We all know that there are many things we come across (sometimes the hard way) while on our walk. Now we can see that if we are on the circular Path these so called obstacles will not cause us to stumble or certainly not fall, but instead become stepping stones that launch us ever upward. Yet we see so many who seem to be stumbling and even falling, departing from the Faith.

But the Spirit distinctly says that in latter times some shall fall away from the belief, paying attention to misleading spirits, and teachings of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having been branded on their own conscience, forbidding to marry, saying to abstain from foods which Elohim created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1-3 The Scriptures 1998+)

Moshe (Moses) even told the children of Israel that he knew they would do this very thing:

“For I know that after my death you shall do very corruptly and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil shall come to you in the latter days, because you do what is evil in the eyes of יהוה, to provoke Him through the work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 31:29 The Scriptures 1998+)

If we refuse to follow the Path or Way of יהוה, we will end of stumbling or falling away from Him. We must not murmur or complain when we face adversity, but know that these things are stepping stones.

If you falter in the day of distress (adversity), Your strength is small! (Proverbs 24:10 The Scriptures 1998+)

Then, it is to you who believe, that this honor is given. But to disobeying ones, He is the "Stone which those building rejected; this One became the Head of the Corner." (Psa. 118:22) He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence. And they stumble at it, because they believe not the word: for which they were appointed. (see Isa. 8:14) (1 Peter 2:7-8 HRB)

It is יהושע Messiah that is either or stepping stone or stumbling block. We choose to step on the Stone and go up closer to יהוה, or stumble and waver as we fall away from our Abba. As always we make the choices that result in our progress or impediment. But for some strange reason we are not getting this, we blame our Father for the bad things and sometimes even take credit for the good. It is this spirit or attitude that leads to a great falling away.

If we stumble or fall back, יהוה still loves us. How does He prove His love? By allowing us to go around again and try to get it right the next time. Life cycles, things come and go and you will have another chance, IF you seek יהוה. It’s only when we run from יהוה and His Path/Way that we are free falling.

Do you not know that those who run in a race indeed all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it. And everyone who competes controls himself in every way. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we for an incorruptible crown. Therefore I run accordingly, not with uncertainty. Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air. But I treat my body severely and make it my slave, so that when I have proclaimed to others, I myself might be rejected. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 The Scriptures 1998+)

So therefore, we also, having so great a cloud of witnesses lying around us, having laid aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us, through patience let us also run the race set before us, looking to the Author and perfecter of our faith, יהושע, who for the joy set before Him endured the torture stake, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of So therefore, we also, having so great a cloud of witnesses lying around us, having laid aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us, through patience let us also run the race set before us, looking to the Author and perfecter of our faith, Yahshua, who for the joy set before Him endured the torture stake, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of יהוה. (see Psa. 110:1) (Hebrews 12:1-2 HRB)

So we MUST begin to realize we are in a race, there are things that might appear to be obstacles, but we can overcome them and run upward if we keep our eyes on יהוה. Don’t be like our forefathers and mumble and complain, or worse yet fall away from the Faith. Stay on this circular Path/Way and move up to יהוה.

You Don’t Know Me!

 

A few years ago someone began using the slang phrase “you don’t know me” whenever they felt judged or criticized by others. It was a person’s way of saying to their critics that they were not qualified to pass judgment on them based upon the lack of knowledge they possessed. The problem today is, do we ever REALLY know someone? How often do you hear of some strange or horrific deed that is committed by someone that is totally out of character? After years of establishing a reputation and pattern, someone will completely deviate from what seems normal and the typical response is “I thought I knew him/her.”

Knowing someone does seem to be impossible to a large degree, and since everyone reacts to and handles situations differently, maybe we never do really know another human. I wonder sometimes if we even know ourselves. People lie to themselves and often deceive themselves, so maybe this is another impossible task. Who can we know? Is there anyone that we can have an intimate knowledge of today?

We read that when Y’shua returns, He will say to a group of people who claimed to know Him that He did not know them.

“But He shall say, ‘I say to you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of unrighteousness.’ (Luke 13:27 The Scriptures 1998+)

So it appears that in some cases we can think we know Y’shua or יהוה but He does not know us. Certainly things we “do” seemingly for His cause doesn’t make us be known by Him, and did these people really know Him and somehow not be known? That seems ludicrous, so I will venture that the people spoke of in here in the passages in Luke neither knew Him nor were known by Him.

What do the Scriptures mean when it talks of “knowing” someone? In Bereshit (Genesis) chapter 3 we see the first use of the word “know” (Hebrew word yada ידע) used.

“For Elohim knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5 The Scriptures 1998+)

Here we see the word yada ידע used for the first and second time in Scripture. Hasatan says that יהוה Elohim yada that in the day Adam and Chavah eat from the Tree of Knowledge (דּעת da’at from the root word yada) that they would be like Elohim and yada good and evil. So without debating the truthfulness or lack thereof in hasatan’s words, we can see that “know” or yada is connected to an intimate gathering of information.

In the ancient Hebrew pictograph language, yada is a picture of an eye and a door. This paints the definition of the door of the eye. Through one’s eyes information is processed and we can see or know by using our sight. The eye is the window into the man’s very being. Experience is gained through visual observation. Knowledge is achieved through these experiences.

So can we know or yada someone just be looking at them? Cannot our physical eyes be deceived?

“By their fruits you shall know them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? “So every good tree yields good fruit, but a rotten tree yields wicked fruit. “A good tree is unable to yield wicked fruit, and a rotten tree to yield good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “So then, by their fruits you shall know them – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:16-23 The Scriptures 1998+)

Here we see the same story we read of earlier in Luke, retold in Matthew. Here Y’shua clearly defines that you can know yada someone by their fruit. Good trees (people) bear good fruit, bad trees (people) bear bad fruit.

So what is fruit? If we know what to look for, might we be able to know a person correctly and not be deceived anymore? Let’s take a short rabbit trail here and determine what it means to bear “fruit.”

“For a good tree does not yield rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree yield good fruit. “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. “The good man brings forth what is good out of the good treasure of his heart, and the wicked man brings forth what is wicked out of the wicked treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:43-45 The Scriptures 1998+)

Here we see that the fruit, whether good or bad, comes forth from the heart of a man. If a man has a good heart, good comes out of his mouth. Likewise a evil heart produces evil from the mouth. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for fruit (p’riy פּרי) paints the word picture of a man’s head and a mouth. So the very word fruit is connected to the words that come out of our mouths.

If a person has a bad heart the fruit of the bad heart will be bad words coming out of their mouth. Mean, vindictive, degrading, condescending or derogatory words flowing from the mouth. A good heart will produce good fruit manifested in good words coming from our mouths. Uplifting, encouraging, honest, loving and peaceful (shalom) words being spoken indicate a good heart.

When we hear good, we are seeing good. When we hear bad, we are seeing bad. It’s seems too simple but it is SO true. If you hang out long enough with someone, their words will always display their heart. So listen to a person’s mouth (fruit) and know yada their heart.

Now using this Scriptural principle, how can we know yada our Heavenly Father? This is the goal or target for what I am writing here. My desire has always been to intimately know my Abba. I desire to commune with Him, walk with Him and become one (echad) with Him. So it is catamount that I (and all who share this same desire) learn how to know yada יהוה. In knowing Him, I then can better emulate Him and carry this knowledge to others.

So if we know yada someone by their fruit and their fruit comes from their heart and out of their mouth in the form of words, is it possible to know יהוה using this same technique?

Where can we find or hear His Words? His Word is obviously written in the Scripture, so we can through study and application hear the heart of יהוה.

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to shtel zich (study, apply yourself), to present yourself to יהוה as one approved, a po'el (workman) without bushah (shame), keeping on a derech (path) yashar (upright) the Dvar (Word) HaEmet (of Truth).

So by studying and applying the Words of יהוה we keep on the Path or Way this creates workers who can without shame discern or divide these Words of Truth. This is how we KNOW yada Him. When we shema (hear and do) the Word of יהוה, we establish a foundation that builds a house/temple of יהוה. You say you want to know yada Him, but you won’t study (not just read, but study) His Word? You only determine the type of Tree by the Fruit (Words) that it bears. When we eat His Fruit (His Word in us) we in turn will become good trees bearing good fruit.

We can also know yada by hearing His Word through prayer and meditation. We tend to make prayer a one sided conversation where we air our grievances or laundry list and then stop praying. Meditation is SHUTTING UP and listening. You cannot hear His Words and come to know Him when we don’t SHUT UP. Take time to stop and let Him speak to you. We are SO impatient, we rarely take time to talk to Him and never make time to listen.

Another way we can hear and see the Fruit of יהוה is by observing His creation. Every tree, plant, stream, mountain and animal is praising יהוה. We should listen to the birds, the wind whistling through the tree and the water babbling in a brook. These creations are praising their Creator. Science has proven this by constantly discovering things such as the stars are singing a song. Scientist can’t understand the song and don’t know where it is going. We can know the song and who it is sung for by reading His Word. It’s a song of praise to יהוה. You want bear good fruit? Sing His praise.

We can know yada Him and His attributes. We can know the power of His resurrection Philippians 3:10. We can know His love Ephesians 3:19. Know His wisdom Psalms 51:6. We can know His truth John 8:32. Know his kindness and favour 2 Corinthians 8:9. He makes Himself know to those who seek Him.

You can know Him today.

Ekev

Wherefore it shall come to pass (ekev - “seeing surrounds the house"), if ye give heed to these mishpatim (right rulings), and are shomer (guard), and do them, that יהוה Eloheicha shall be shomer (guarding) over the Brit (Covenant) unto thee and the chesed (kindness) which He swore unto Avoteicha (your Fathers); Debarim 7:12
Ekev can also mean "on the heel of" So we can read this as "On the heel of, coming right behind you, if you hear and do these right rulings and guard them in the future, that יהוה your Mighty One shall guard over the Covenant (Alef-Tav) the kindness which He swore unto your Fathers.
When we walk the Way and guard the right rulings we enter into the Covenant made between our Forefathers and יהוה Then He will not let the Covenant He made with them be taken from you, He will preserve and protect it as He gives us kindness.

Do you WANT to be "set free" from the "bondage" of a Contract that guarantees you the promises made to our Forefathers are yours also, and you get kindness from Abba יהוה ?
Not me!!

Knowledge of Good and Evil

 

What does it mean to “have knowledge of good and evil”?

‘And your little ones and your children, who you say are for a prey, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they are going in there. And to them I give it, and they are to possess it.
(Deuteronomy 1:39 The Scriptures 1998+)

"Have NO knowledge of good and evil."

Let Scripture define Scripture and use the first occurrence of a word/phrase set the definition.

And out of the ground יהוה Elohim made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, with the tree of life in the midst of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
(Genesis 2:9 The Scriptures 1998+)

And יהוה Elohim commanded the man, saying, “Eat of every tree of the garden, but do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you shall certainly die.”
(Genesis 2:16-17 The Scriptures 1998+)

When Adam and Chavah ate of the wrong tree, they HAD knowledge of good and evil. By choice, they allowed a physical metamorphosis to transpire after a spiritual action had culminated in physical transgression of YHWH's commands.

These children in Debarim 1:39 had NO knowledge of good and evil.

“Learn to do good! Seek right-ruling, reprove the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says יהוה. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. “If you submit and obey, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword,” for the mouth of יהוה has spoken.
(Isaiah 1:17-20 The Scriptures 1998+)

Submit and obey and you shall eat the good of the land.

So we can see that having knowledge of good and evil ties into being unrighteous or living in sin (transgression of the Torah).  Only those who submit and obey are worthy to enter the Land. 

How do we who are born into sin become un-knowledgeable of good and evil?  The Blood of Y’shua was shed so we can be covered and become (metamorphosis) into righteous children.

Redeemed, Restored and Saved

 

There is quite a bit of confusion among the Body concerning the three topics of redeemed, restored and saved. In churchianity, confusion reigns regarding these subjects. It would be beneficial to take some time to go over these topics and clarify what Scripture says about these issues.

Throughout Scripture there is one central theme; the relationship with our Abba and how we can return to the status we lost in the Garden. Everything in the Scriptures is about this topic. Most Bible scholars understand that Genesis (Bereshit) and Revelation are the same story with different characters. The difference is Revelation is Bereshit in reverse. Bereshit starts in a Garden with Adam and Chavah (Eve) establishing a personal relationship with their Creator. The fall (sin entering mankind) creates chaos and separation from Abba. Revelation starts with chaos and separation from our Abba, those who choose redemption are restored and ultimately find salvation. They are returned to a Garden and have relationship with YHWH again.

Probably 99.9% of us came from some kind of religious background into this Way. Unfortunately, we also come in carrying all of our baggage from that religion. This means the words; terminology and thought process we bring must be reevaluated and corrected as we go. Whatever background you came from had some sort of process by which you obtained salvation. If you aren’t “saved” in that particular method you are “lost.” So when we learn that we must unlearn, it can be quite shocking to discover new definitions and Scriptural Truth.

When is a person “saved?” By what actions or procedures do we become “saved?” Isn’t this what we must know in order to reach the goal line? Let me assure you, the vast majority of churchianity do not have a clue what is Truth regarding these questions.

Redeemed

What does it mean to be redeemed? How are we redeemed and who is the Redeemer?

Let’s address Who our Redeemer is first.

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and as the Last shall rise over the dust; and after my skin has been struck off, then in my flesh I shall see Eloah,

(Job 19:25-26 The Scriptures 1998+)

Job says his Redeemer lives and in his flesh he will see Eloah. So there is a Redeemer who was alive and well in Job’s day. This Redeemer would ensure that even though Job’s flesh was rotted away, Job would still live to see Eloah. This verse can also be taken to mean that Eloah was IN Job’s flesh. For Job to be redeemed, he would need a structural DNA change so that Eloah was IN Job. This was and is the primary function of the Redeemer; changing this mortality into immortality. Metamorphosis in our fleshly bodies resulting in something different that the state we are in since the Fall.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, O יהוה, my rock and my redeemer.

(Psalms 19:14 The Scriptures 1998+)

Here the songwriter David says יהוה is his Redeemer. The word David uses is ga’al, it means next of kin or deliverer. Ga’al suggest returning something back to its original state i.e. putting us back into the state we were before the Fall in the Garden.

Ya’cob is near the end, he calls all of his sons and grandson around him to bless them before he passes on. When he is blessing Yosef he says,

the Messenger (Malak) who has redeemed (ga’al) me from all evil – bless the youths! And let my name be called upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Yitshaq. And let them increase to a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

(Genesis 48:16 The Scriptures 1998+)

So Ya’cob knew his ga’al (Redeemer) was the Malak (translated incorrectly as angel) he encountered on the day his life was changed (or returned back to the original state of mankind before the Fall).

So when we encounter our Redeemer (Ga’al) something happens and we are returned (shoob where we get teshuvah -repentance the act of returning) back to mankind’s original state before the Fall in the Garden. Without a face to face (Paniym Paniym) experience with ha Ga’al (the Redeemer) we cannot be returned and have NOT teshuvah (repented). ONLY after teshuvah can we be ga’al (redeemed) and begin the next step of the process.

In Torah the laws concerning the kinsman redeemer use the Hebrew word ga’al. This explains the hidden meanings in the story of Ruth (the bride) and Boaz (the ga’al). This story in Ruth is the complete process by which one is redeemed, restored and ultimately saved.

Draw near to my being, redeem (ga’al) it; Ransom me because of my enemies.

(Psalms 69:18 The Scriptures 1998+)

And they remembered that Elohim was their rock, And the Most High Ěl their redeemer (ga’al).

(Psalms 78:35 The Scriptures 1998+)

Give thanks to יהוה! For He is good, For His kindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of יהוה say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,

(Psalms 107:1-2 The Scriptures 1998+)

“Do not fear, you worm Yaaqoḇ, you men of Yisra’ĕl! I shall help you,” declares יהוה and your Redeemer, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl.

(Isaiah 41:14 The Scriptures 1998+)

But now, thus said יהוה, your Creator, O Yaaqoḇ, and He who formed you, O Yisra’ĕl, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name, you are Mine.

(Isaiah 43:1 The Scriptures 1998+)

And they sang a renewed song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, because You were slain, and have redeemed us to Elohim by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

(Revelation 5:9 The Scriptures 1998+)

“You are My witnesses,” declares יהוה, “And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no Ěl formed, nor after Me there is none. “I, I am יהוה, and besides Me there is no saviour. “I, I have declared and saved, and made known, and there was no foreign mighty one among you. And you are My witnesses,” declares יהוה, “that I am Ěl.

(Isaiah 43:10-12 The Scriptures 1998+)

“Because there was born to you today in the city of Dawiḏ a Saviour, who is Messiah, the Master.

(Luke 2:11 The Scriptures 1998+)

We have a Redeemer Y’shua our Messiah, He redeems us by returning us to the original state we (mankind) were in before the Fall in the Garden.

Restoration

Restoration is the act of restoring. To restore in Hebrew is the word shoob. This is the root for the word teshuva which is the Hebrew word for repent. Teshuvah means to turn around and go back. When we are redeemed we begin the restoration. Walking out the Torah and returning to the old paths.

The first time we see “shoob” used is in the curse mankind receives after the Fall in the Garden.

“By the sweat of your face you are to eat bread until you return (shoob) to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you return (shoob).”

(Genesis 3:19 The Scriptures 1998+)

Here we see that the sin code brought on the curse to return to the earth from which we came. So we see shoob used to indicate returning to dirt. Sin caused mankind to be turned away from Abba YHWH and to return to the ground/dirt. The dirt/ground was not to be our goal line. After YHWH had breathed breath (ruach) into mankind we were set on course to become spirit, soul and body. The sincode reversed our status making us body, soul and spirit that eventually dies and returns to the dirt.

Now we seek a reversal of the curse. We desire to return to the blessing of becoming echad (one) with YHWH and regaining the authority the sincode stole from us.

Let’s see what the prophet Nehemiah says about restoration.

but if you shall turn back(shoob) to Me, and guard My commands and do them, though you were cast out to the end of the heavens, I shall gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen, to make My Name dwell there.’

(Nehemiah 1:9 The Scriptures 1998+)

No matter how far you might have strayed, if you shoob (return) back to your Abba, and guard/uphold/keep His commands, He will bring you back. Kind of sounds like the story of the prodigal son doesn’t it?

The Torah of יהוה is perfect, bringing back (shoob) the being; The witness of יהוה is trustworthy, making wise the simple;

(Psalms 19:7 The Scriptures 1998+)

Here we see an interesting verse, the Torah of יהוה is perfect, is brings our soul/being/nefesh back. Torah brings restoration. We have been told by churchianity that we have been “set free” from the Law/Torah, but David says the Torah restores the soul.

In Psalms 23, David says YHWH restores his soul/nefesh and leads him in the paths of righteousness for His Names sake. So restoration is a returning to a Path that is righteous, and this return causes His Name to be glorified.

Now let’s take a quick look at the verse churchianity uses to describe what they call revival.

and My people upon whom My Name is called, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn (shoob) from their evil ways, then I shall hear from the heavens, and forgive their sin and heal their land.

(2 Chronicles 7:14 The Scriptures 1998+)

NONE of the promises, YHWH hearing us, forgiving us and healing us, will happen until we shoob (return) from our evil ways. As we learned earlier, it is His Torah that leads us back from evil ways. So how can one see “revival” while denying and refusing His commands? We must turn back to Him and His Torah, otherwise we crucify Y’shua afresh every time we continue to sin (transgress the Torah) We are being restored to a previous state of existence, a state that returns authority to Adam (mankind) so we are no longer under the curse of the sincode.

To understand this process we must know and understand our Redeemer. When Y’shua came as Moshiach ben Joseph, He was basically Adam again. Just as Adam in his original state existed without the sincode in his flesh; Y’shua was the Ruach of YHWH comingled with a human ruach, a human nefesh (soul) submitted to the Ruach and a fleshly body. He suffered, felt pain and was tempted in all manners as all flesh is tempted. However, in His sinless blood was DNA that could not be sick and His nefesh and Spirit couldn’t be killed. Now before you stone me hear me out.

Sickness, aging and death are the results of the sincode. Prior to eating from the Tree of Knowledge, Adam was not susceptible to sickness, aging or death. Therefore, if he didn’t eat from the wrong Tree, he wouldn’t die.

And יהוה Elohim commanded the man, saying, “Eat of every tree of the garden, but do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you shall certainly die.”

(Genesis 2:16-17 The Scriptures 1998+)

Common sense will tell you if you eat of the Tree you die then if you don’t eat of that Tree you live, right? It was the sensual pursuit of carnal knowledge (YHWH didn’t want them ignorant, just not pursuing carnal knowledge) that introduced sickness, aging and death. Anyone and everyone who has the blood from Adam with the sincode written in our DNA, will eventually be sick, grow old and die.

“The being who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the crookedness of the father, nor the father bear the crookedness of the son. The righteousness of the righteous is upon himself, and the wrongness of the wrong is upon himself.

(Ezekiel 18:20 The Scriptures 1998+)

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is Lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

(Ezekiel 18:21 IAV)

“Again, when I say to the wrong, ‘You shall certainly die,’ if he turns from his sin and does right and righteousness, if the wrong restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the laws of life without doing crookedness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. “None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him – he has done right and righteousness; he shall certainly live.

(Ezekiel 33:14-16 The Scriptures 1998+)

“See, all beings are Mine, the being of the father as well as the being of the son is Mine. The being that is sinning shall die.

(Ezekiel 18:4 The Scriptures 1998+)

For this reason, even as through one man sin did enter into the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned –

(Romans 5:12 The Scriptures 1998+)

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves servants for obedience, you are servants of the one whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?

(Romans 6:16 The Scriptures 1998+)

For the wages of sin is death, but the favourable gift of Elohim is everlasting life in Messiah יהושע our Master.

(Romans 6:23 The Scriptures 1998+)

But each one is enticed when he is drawn away by his own desires and trapped. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death. Do not go astray, my beloved brothers.

(James 1:14-16 The Scriptures 1998+)

So, as we can clearly see, death is the end results of sin. Y’shua knew no sin and therefore had to choose to lay His life down for us all.

“Because of this the Father loves Me (Y’shua), because I lay down My life, in order to receive it again. “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

(John 10:17-18 The Scriptures 1998+)

The end result of true restoration is becoming like Y’shua. To become like Y’shua, we must become one (echad) with Y’shua.

Salvation

Salvation; what and who is it? How and when do we obtain it?

This is what we have come to and we will conclude with this final subject.

"And you will be hated by all on account of My (Y’shua) name. But the one enduring to the end will be saved.

(Matthew 10:22 MRC)

Y’shua says the one who endures, tarries has patience to the end will be saved. Endures what? Is choosing to follow Y’shua as we experience restoration a test of endurance?

For I am already being poured out, and the time of my departure has arrived. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have guarded the belief. For the rest, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Master, the righteous Judge, shall give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all those loving His appearing.

(2 Timothy 4:6-8 The Scriptures 1998+)

Then יהושע said to His taught ones, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake, and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.

(Matthew 16:24-25 The Scriptures 1998+)

Blessed is the man who does endure trial, for when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life which the Master has promised to those who love Him.

(James 1:12 The Scriptures 1998+)

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

(1 Corinthians 9:24-27 KJVA)

We too, then, having so great a cloud of witnesses all around us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, looking to the Princely Leader and Perfecter of our belief, יהושע, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the stake, having despised the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim. For consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and faint in your lives. You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the appeal which speaks to you as to sons, “My son, do not despise the discipline of יהוה, nor faint when you are reproved by Him, for whom יהוה loves, He disciplines, and flogs every son whom He receives.”

(Hebrews 12:1-6 The Scriptures 1998+)

So it would appear that after teshuvah (to repent, turn around and go the other direction) we are ga’la (redeemed or put back into a former state) then we are enduring, preserving or running a race (restoration) to the end where a crown awaits (salvation).

How do we receive salvation? Well first we must know salvation.

“I have waited for your salvation (Y’shua), O יהוה!

(Genesis 49:18 The Scriptures 1998+)

And Mosheh said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation (Y’shua) of יהוה, which He does for you today. For the Mitsrites whom you see today, you are never, never to see again.

(Exodus 14:13 The Scriptures 1998+)

“Yah is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation (Y’shua). He is my Ěl, and I praise Him – Elohim of my father, and I exalt Him.

(Exodus 15:2 The Scriptures 1998+)

He alone is my rock and my salvation (Y’shua), my strong tower; I am not shaken. My salvation (Y’shua) and my esteem depend on Elohim; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in Elohim.

(Psalms 62:6-7 The Scriptures 1998+)

And יהושע said to him, “Today salvation (Y’shua) has come to this house – since he also is a son of Abraham. “For the Son of Adam has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

(Luke 19:9-10 The Scriptures 1998+)

Y’shua is our salvation, His name means salvation. So how do we receive or become one with Salvation? The way YHWH created that two become one is marriage. So is there a time that we (the Bride) marry Salvation and the two become one?

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him praise, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife prepared herself.” And to her it was given to be dressed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the set-apart ones. And he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true words of Elohim.”

(Revelation 19:7-9 The Scriptures 1998+)

In the end there is a wedding of the Lamb to a pure Bride. They will become one and the Bride will become saved. That is at the end not at the beginning as churchianity has erroneously taught. We don’t become truly one until the marriage is consummated. Now we are betrothed and are preparing for a wedding. We have been redeemed by our kinsman Redeemer, we are preparing for the wedding day so we are being restored and the culmination is salvation, becoming one with our Groom.

So my beloved, we must understand the process and seek the relationship that leads us to salvation. Along the Way of Restoration we should receive power from on High.

“But you shall receive power when the Set-apart Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Yerushalayim, and in all Yehudah and Shomeron, and to the end of the earth.”

(Acts 1:8 The Scriptures 1998+)

We will be able to do signs and wonders to deliver and set free the Lost Sheep and for the glory unto YHWH.

And fear came upon every being, and many wonders and signs were being done through the emissaries.

(Acts 2:43 The Scriptures 1998+)

And through the hands of the emissaries many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one mind in Shelomoh’s Porch.

(Acts 5:12 The Scriptures 1998+)

Elohim also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Set-apart Spirit, distributed according to His own desire?

(Hebrews 2:4 The Scriptures 1998+)

You see, once we are conformed to His Image we receive back the authority that we lost back at the wrong Tree in the Garden. Once YHWH fills us with His Ruach we are able to do His work without the hindrance of the sincode. It’s not about ANYTHING else but these three things; Redeemed, Restored and Saved.

Shalom