We are walking in today: Wilderness Series: The Two Love Tests
Witness anointed one throughout the Bible: H4899 mashiyach--anointed, anointed one; of the Messiah, Messianic prince; of the king of Israel; of the high priest of Israel
Psa 132:17
There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. H4899
The Torah testifies...............
Lev 6:22 And the priest of his sons that is anointed H4899 in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt.
The prophets proclaim..................
1 Sa 2:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed H4899 for ever.
The writings bear witness............
Psa 28:8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his
anointed. H4899
Psa 84:9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. H4899
Many today are told they will enter the Kingdom, because they are Born Again, or saved.
But what did Yahushua say? Let’s look closely:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)
Here we see not everyone who says — but only those who do the Father’s will — will enter the Kingdom.
When we were in school, we remember that we had to devote a certain amount of time required by all the courses. Although a student might have met the time requirement for all the courses, it was the Final Exams that determined who would graduate, and who would not.
The Most High likewise has Final Exams for us, in order to determine those who merely say, and those who do His will. Just as the professor tested the students to see who would graduate, and who would fail; in the same way The Most High tests us, to see who will enter the Kingdom, and who will not.
If we pass the first test, we are allowed to graduate, and enter in to the Kingdom. If we fail the first test, we will find ourselves repeating the course, with a new chance to pass a second test.
Scripture reveals these two tests very clearly. Just as when we were in school, if we know in advance what the test will cover, we can study those items very diligently, and we might pass the first test!
However, if we fail the first test, The Most High may give opportunity to take the second test. And because we do not want to fail either of The Most High’s tests, we will look carefully at both of these tests in Scripture.
The Two Love Tests
Believe The Law Has Been Nullified? You Will Fail the Test!
As a review, let us ask ourselves, What is the New Covenant? To summarise, we might answer, The New Covenant is simply our allowing of Yahushua to live within us, as He writes the Torah on our hearts (Jer 31:31-33; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27). What does this involve?
We might summarise by saying, that everything Yahushua did while He walked on the earth 2,000 years ago, is for OUR example.
Yahushua desires to live the full, vibrant Life of Messiah [within you] each day. The life of Messiah-in-you has NOT been nullified, canceled, or done away with. In fact, Yahushua wants to live the same life in you, and in me, that He lived in His own flesh 2,000 years ago!
Nothing of Torah has disappeared — there are simply better things concerning the Priesthood, and the sacrifice, and the Blood, as described in the book of Hebrews. Yahushua tells us this very clearly:
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18)
In spite of this clear word from Yahushua, many today refuse to keep even the simplest Passover Lord’s Supper, just as Yahushua kept, and which He invites His people to keep. For many of us, the pagan, man-made substitute for passover has prevented Messiah-in-you from keeping the Truth of this simplest of commandments, of celebrating Passover.
Have ‘My’ Commandments been nullified? Most today, who refuse to practice the full counsel of The Most High, thinking they have been nullified, will not pass this first love test. They will fail the test, for they have rejected the words Yahushua gave to Moses, which are called ‘My’ Commandments. As Ephraim in Scripture is prophetic of Born-Again Believers in the Last Days, we see prophesied in Scripture that “they have willingly departed from following the Commandment” (Hosea 5:11).
So we see those who fail the first love test will be given opportunity to take the next or second test. Let’s now look at the Second Love Test.......
Yahushua has devised a two-fold test he will use to determine who will be allowed into the kingdom, into the City of the King, and who will not. The Most High’s resurrection harvest is a two-phase harvest of the fruit of the earth — the fruit of Love — therefore the tests are two corresponding Love tests. These two tests will determine the timing of our graduation, and tell us clearly in which phase of the harvest [which resurrection] each of us will be gathered.
Every Believer throughout history has, during his lifetime, undergone one or both of these two tests. But because these tests will soon be vividly seen and experienced by the generation that is alive when the Bridegroom returns, we must begin preparing for these tests.
Here are the two tests to be given:
First Love Test:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
Second Love Test:
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
Each of the above verses shows the built-in test for the corresponding phase of the harvest; each passage speaks of those who pass the test for that particular phase of the harvest. The first test is for the first phase of the harvest, and corresponds to the first resurrection. The second test is for the second harvest-phase, and corresponds to the second resurrection. Let’s look at each one of these in detail.
Every Believer throughout history has, during his lifetime, undergone one or both of these two tests. But because these tests will soon be vividly seen and experienced by the generation that is alive when the Bridegroom returns, we must begin preparing for these tests.
Here are the two tests to be given:
First Love Test:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
Second Love Test:
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
Each of the above verses shows the built-in test for the corresponding phase of the harvest; each passage speaks of those who pass the test for that particular phase of the harvest. The first test is for the first phase of the harvest, and corresponds to the first resurrection. The second test is for the second harvest-phase, and corresponds to the second resurrection. Let’s look at each one of these in detail.
The First Love Test: Keep My Commandments
Yahushua reveals the first love test in John 14:15:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
In order to see the Truth of Scripture, it is often profitable to lay out the contrasts, such as wise vs foolish, and obedient vs disobedient, for our learning.
For this test, we will look at what Scripture says about ‘My’ Commandments, and then show in contrast some examples of not keeping ‘My’ Commandments.
First, let’s notice that Yahushua spoke the phrase “My Commandments” 31 times in Scripture — three in the New Testament, and 28 in the Old Testament. Thus we see vividly that “My Commandments speak” of all the words and sayings Yahushua spoke, which are the same as The Most High’s Commandments. This truth is verified by Yahushua Himself:
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father‘s which sent me. (John 14:24)
Thus we realise that all of ‘My’ Commandments are the same as the Father’s Commandments.
We see further confirmation of this Truth in the Book of Revelation, of these who keep the Faith of Yahushua, by keeping the commandments of The Most High. To do so, these must endure, and overcome, in order to pass the first test:
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14)
Notice above in Rev 14:12, these end-time Believers keep the commandments of The Most High, ‘and’ [“which is”] The Faith of Yahushua. As a result, we see above in Rev 22:14 they are blessed. These must have passed the test, for they are granted right of access to enter into the City!
When Yahushua spoke the words, “Keep My Commandments,” the ‘New Testament’ did not even exist. Thus the Disciples understood that Yahushua’s words referred to all the Commandments of the Old Testament.
The early Believers in the first century were actively living “The Faith once delivered to the saints,” which was simply living out the New Covenant by being a DO-er of the Scriptures. They actively kept ‘My’ Commandments that Yahushua had given to ‘My’ People, which are seen throughout the Old Testament. Indeed, the first-Century Believers knew of the supreme importance of meeting with Yahushua on the special days He had appointed.
These first-century Believers understood the Scriptures, wherein Yahushua calls His People to keep and observe Yahushua’s special days and Festivals that He has set apart for the purpose of meeting with His People.
In the Gospels and the Book of Acts, we see Yahushua, as well as all the Apostles and Disciples, living The Faith that we are exhorted to live. We are then told that Yahushua, and all the Apostles and Disciples, are our examples today! (See Acts 18:4; 1 Cor 11:1; 1 Pet 2:21.)
These early Believers all chose to keep Yahushua’s Commandments, Sabbaths and Feasts, as a required part of New Covenant life. They also urge us to make the same choice today! (See Acts 15:20-21; Acts 18:21; 1 Cor 5:8; Heb 4:10, 11.)
Yahushua reveals the first love test in John 14:15:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
In order to see the Truth of Scripture, it is often profitable to lay out the contrasts, such as wise vs foolish, and obedient vs disobedient, for our learning.
For this test, we will look at what Scripture says about ‘My’ Commandments, and then show in contrast some examples of not keeping ‘My’ Commandments.
First, let’s notice that Yahushua spoke the phrase “My Commandments” 31 times in Scripture — three in the New Testament, and 28 in the Old Testament. Thus we see vividly that “My Commandments speak” of all the words and sayings Yahushua spoke, which are the same as The Most High’s Commandments. This truth is verified by Yahushua Himself:
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father‘s which sent me. (John 14:24)
Thus we realise that all of ‘My’ Commandments are the same as the Father’s Commandments.
We see further confirmation of this Truth in the Book of Revelation, of these who keep the Faith of Yahushua, by keeping the commandments of The Most High. To do so, these must endure, and overcome, in order to pass the first test:
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14)
Notice above in Rev 14:12, these end-time Believers keep the commandments of The Most High, ‘and’ [“which is”] The Faith of Yahushua. As a result, we see above in Rev 22:14 they are blessed. These must have passed the test, for they are granted right of access to enter into the City!
When Yahushua spoke the words, “Keep My Commandments,” the ‘New Testament’ did not even exist. Thus the Disciples understood that Yahushua’s words referred to all the Commandments of the Old Testament.
The early Believers in the first century were actively living “The Faith once delivered to the saints,” which was simply living out the New Covenant by being a DO-er of the Scriptures. They actively kept ‘My’ Commandments that Yahushua had given to ‘My’ People, which are seen throughout the Old Testament. Indeed, the first-Century Believers knew of the supreme importance of meeting with Yahushua on the special days He had appointed.
These first-century Believers understood the Scriptures, wherein Yahushua calls His People to keep and observe Yahushua’s special days and Festivals that He has set apart for the purpose of meeting with His People.
In the Gospels and the Book of Acts, we see Yahushua, as well as all the Apostles and Disciples, living The Faith that we are exhorted to live. We are then told that Yahushua, and all the Apostles and Disciples, are our examples today! (See Acts 18:4; 1 Cor 11:1; 1 Pet 2:21.)
These early Believers all chose to keep Yahushua’s Commandments, Sabbaths and Feasts, as a required part of New Covenant life. They also urge us to make the same choice today! (See Acts 15:20-21; Acts 18:21; 1 Cor 5:8; Heb 4:10, 11.)
No Life In You
Yahushua goes so far to tell us that unless we keep the Passover meal — with the new understanding that the bread and cup of Passover speak of His New Covenant sacrifice, of His Body, and of His Blood — then we have NO life in us! (Matthew 26:19, 26; John 6:53)
Yahushua is saying, No Passover = No Life in You.
That may sound harsh, but that is what He said! Today’s congregations have all but lost this fervent life of living ‘The Faith,’ which consists of keeping The Most High’s Passover and other Festivals, as well as His Statutes, Commandments, and Judgments.
Indeed, in John 5:46-47, Yahushua reveals it is impossible to believe [become a DO-er of] Yahushua’s words, if one does not first believe [is not already a DO-er of] Moses’ words. We recall that it was Moses’ words that tell us of salvation and redemption by the Blood of an acceptable sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22; Exodus 12:3-14; Lev 16:3-31; and many other passages).
Likewise, it was Moses’ words that are the basis for our redemption, salvation, and eternal life today, that was accomplished for us by Yahushua’s death, burial, and resurrection (Galatians 3:13; Deut 21:23; and many other passages).
Most evangelicals today understand that Yahushua is the Word of The Most High — but most of us have forgotten that Yahushua is the Word who spoke the words to Moses! Thus Moses’ words are Yahushua’s words!
So we see that ‘My’ Commandments are Yahushua’s Commandments, and they include the Commandments He gave to Moses!
We now turn to the contrast, for our instruction, to give us understanding of why current teaching has prevented us from keeping ‘My’ Commandments.
The Doctrine of Balaam
The Doctrine of Balaam is perhaps the most prominent feature of today’s evangelical Doctrine. The Doctrine of Balaam is simply the teaching that results in the Error of Balaam in the lives of the people. So we must look to see what the Error of Balaam is.
We might say in summary that Balaam nullified the earlier word given by The Most High, in favour of a later word from The Most High, hoping that the later word might be more favourable to him.
Because Balaam disregarded The Most High’s earlier commandment, “Do not go with them,” but went anyway, The Most High sought to kill Balaam (Num 22:12, 22).
The Doctrine of Balaam today is seen in the teaching that says, “the earlier word of The Most High has been nullified, in favour of the later word of The Most High.” Thus multitudes of Believers today have learned this Doctrine, and as a result are walking in disobedience to the earlier Word. This disobedience to The Most High’s earlier Word is the Error of Balaam.
Many today are being taught that the ‘Old’ Testament commandments have been nullified and already done away with, contrary to all of Scripture, contrary to the Word of the Psalms and the Prophets, and contrary to Yahushua Himself.
What is the danger of the Doctrine of Balaam? Let’s look at the results of this Doctrine from Scripture.
Yahushua goes so far to tell us that unless we keep the Passover meal — with the new understanding that the bread and cup of Passover speak of His New Covenant sacrifice, of His Body, and of His Blood — then we have NO life in us! (Matthew 26:19, 26; John 6:53)
Yahushua is saying, No Passover = No Life in You.
That may sound harsh, but that is what He said! Today’s congregations have all but lost this fervent life of living ‘The Faith,’ which consists of keeping The Most High’s Passover and other Festivals, as well as His Statutes, Commandments, and Judgments.
Indeed, in John 5:46-47, Yahushua reveals it is impossible to believe [become a DO-er of] Yahushua’s words, if one does not first believe [is not already a DO-er of] Moses’ words. We recall that it was Moses’ words that tell us of salvation and redemption by the Blood of an acceptable sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22; Exodus 12:3-14; Lev 16:3-31; and many other passages).
Likewise, it was Moses’ words that are the basis for our redemption, salvation, and eternal life today, that was accomplished for us by Yahushua’s death, burial, and resurrection (Galatians 3:13; Deut 21:23; and many other passages).
Most evangelicals today understand that Yahushua is the Word of The Most High — but most of us have forgotten that Yahushua is the Word who spoke the words to Moses! Thus Moses’ words are Yahushua’s words!
So we see that ‘My’ Commandments are Yahushua’s Commandments, and they include the Commandments He gave to Moses!
We now turn to the contrast, for our instruction, to give us understanding of why current teaching has prevented us from keeping ‘My’ Commandments.
The Doctrine of Balaam
The Doctrine of Balaam is perhaps the most prominent feature of today’s evangelical Doctrine. The Doctrine of Balaam is simply the teaching that results in the Error of Balaam in the lives of the people. So we must look to see what the Error of Balaam is.
We might say in summary that Balaam nullified the earlier word given by The Most High, in favour of a later word from The Most High, hoping that the later word might be more favourable to him.
Because Balaam disregarded The Most High’s earlier commandment, “Do not go with them,” but went anyway, The Most High sought to kill Balaam (Num 22:12, 22).
The Doctrine of Balaam today is seen in the teaching that says, “the earlier word of The Most High has been nullified, in favour of the later word of The Most High.” Thus multitudes of Believers today have learned this Doctrine, and as a result are walking in disobedience to the earlier Word. This disobedience to The Most High’s earlier Word is the Error of Balaam.
Many today are being taught that the ‘Old’ Testament commandments have been nullified and already done away with, contrary to all of Scripture, contrary to the Word of the Psalms and the Prophets, and contrary to Yahushua Himself.
What is the danger of the Doctrine of Balaam? Let’s look at the results of this Doctrine from Scripture.
Results of the Doctrine of Balaam
We are told in Rev 2:14 that the Doctrine of Balaam results in committing of fornication and idolatry. We have not realised that much of our evangelical religious practices are seen by The Most High not as worship, but as fornication and idolatry. Let us look at one example, to see why that is true.
One of the foremost practices among faithful Believers today is the practice of taking communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, which is taken frequently, and with reverence, in remembrance of Yahushua, and of His death. We have been taught to do this, just as Yahushua and the Disciples did, as seen in (Matt 26:26-27; Mark 14:22-23; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 10:16; 1 Cor 11:26-28).
What we were NOT taught, however, is that every instance in the Gospels show this bread and cup memorial as a part of celebrating of Passover! Yahushua did not initiate something new, but celebrated Passover, and He invites us to do so today!
Perhaps we have not realised that the current practice of taking communion or the Lord’s Supper, is simply a tradition of men, and is a substitute for the true Passover Supper, on a day that is not the prescribed day of Passover.
Thus if we practice the tradition of taking communion, or the Lord’s Supper, while rejecting the True Passover, we are actually practicing idolatry, for we have created a substitute — an ‘idol’ — in place of the Truth of The Most High. Thus what we are eating is thus NOT the symbolic flesh and Blood of Messiah, but things sacrificed to idols!
This is just one of MANY examples of idolatry that result from walking in the Error of Balaam — when we reject the full counsel of The Most High’s Word.
Yahushua then warns us, that if we do not repent of this Doctrine of Balaam, and keep the Truth, He will personally fight against us with the sword of His mouth (Rev 2:16). What is the sword of His mouth? It is His Word! But this is a two-edged sword, and it cuts both ways. If we mishandle it, or wrest [twist] it, it will cut us! If we do not have a love for the Truth, but instead choose to believe a lie [Doctrines of Men], we will be given a strong delusion, that we might believe a Lie (See 2Thess 2:11). Yahushua gives us some strong words!
Today many would say, “But we have been taught the ‘Old’ Testament Law has been nullified, and done away with.” However, most do not study the Scriptures for themselves, to see if this claim is true or not. Let’s look further.
We are told in Rev 2:14 that the Doctrine of Balaam results in committing of fornication and idolatry. We have not realised that much of our evangelical religious practices are seen by The Most High not as worship, but as fornication and idolatry. Let us look at one example, to see why that is true.
One of the foremost practices among faithful Believers today is the practice of taking communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, which is taken frequently, and with reverence, in remembrance of Yahushua, and of His death. We have been taught to do this, just as Yahushua and the Disciples did, as seen in (Matt 26:26-27; Mark 14:22-23; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 10:16; 1 Cor 11:26-28).
What we were NOT taught, however, is that every instance in the Gospels show this bread and cup memorial as a part of celebrating of Passover! Yahushua did not initiate something new, but celebrated Passover, and He invites us to do so today!
Perhaps we have not realised that the current practice of taking communion or the Lord’s Supper, is simply a tradition of men, and is a substitute for the true Passover Supper, on a day that is not the prescribed day of Passover.
Thus if we practice the tradition of taking communion, or the Lord’s Supper, while rejecting the True Passover, we are actually practicing idolatry, for we have created a substitute — an ‘idol’ — in place of the Truth of The Most High. Thus what we are eating is thus NOT the symbolic flesh and Blood of Messiah, but things sacrificed to idols!
This is just one of MANY examples of idolatry that result from walking in the Error of Balaam — when we reject the full counsel of The Most High’s Word.
Yahushua then warns us, that if we do not repent of this Doctrine of Balaam, and keep the Truth, He will personally fight against us with the sword of His mouth (Rev 2:16). What is the sword of His mouth? It is His Word! But this is a two-edged sword, and it cuts both ways. If we mishandle it, or wrest [twist] it, it will cut us! If we do not have a love for the Truth, but instead choose to believe a lie [Doctrines of Men], we will be given a strong delusion, that we might believe a Lie (See 2Thess 2:11). Yahushua gives us some strong words!
Today many would say, “But we have been taught the ‘Old’ Testament Law has been nullified, and done away with.” However, most do not study the Scriptures for themselves, to see if this claim is true or not. Let’s look further.
Believe The Law Has Been Nullified? You Will Fail the Test!
As a review, let us ask ourselves, What is the New Covenant? To summarise, we might answer, The New Covenant is simply our allowing of Yahushua to live within us, as He writes the Torah on our hearts (Jer 31:31-33; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27). What does this involve?
We might summarise by saying, that everything Yahushua did while He walked on the earth 2,000 years ago, is for OUR example.
Yahushua desires to live the full, vibrant Life of Messiah [within you] each day. The life of Messiah-in-you has NOT been nullified, canceled, or done away with. In fact, Yahushua wants to live the same life in you, and in me, that He lived in His own flesh 2,000 years ago!
Nothing of Torah has disappeared — there are simply better things concerning the Priesthood, and the sacrifice, and the Blood, as described in the book of Hebrews. Yahushua tells us this very clearly:
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18)
In spite of this clear word from Yahushua, many today refuse to keep even the simplest Passover Lord’s Supper, just as Yahushua kept, and which He invites His people to keep. For many of us, the pagan, man-made substitute for passover has prevented Messiah-in-you from keeping the Truth of this simplest of commandments, of celebrating Passover.
Have ‘My’ Commandments been nullified? Most today, who refuse to practice the full counsel of The Most High, thinking they have been nullified, will not pass this first love test. They will fail the test, for they have rejected the words Yahushua gave to Moses, which are called ‘My’ Commandments. As Ephraim in Scripture is prophetic of Born-Again Believers in the Last Days, we see prophesied in Scripture that “they have willingly departed from following the Commandment” (Hosea 5:11).
So we see those who fail the first love test will be given opportunity to take the next or second test. Let’s now look at the Second Love Test.......
Shema Selah we are being tested in the wilderness, do we love the Most High according to our obedience????
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