The New Covenant: According to the Scriptures

Genesis 18

We are walking in today:  The New Covenant: According to the Scriptures

Witness covenant throughout the Bible:  H1285 beriyth--covenant, alliance, pledge, to be joined by league

Genesis 6:18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; H1285 and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

The Torah ..................…
 Exodus 34:10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: H1285 before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.

The prophets ...............…
 Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant H1285 of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;


The writings  .............
 ​J​udges 2:2 And ye shall make no league H1285 with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant H1285 that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Most Citizens today would be quick to say that they are 'New' Covenant Citizens. Many will say that they want no part of the 'Old' Covenant, for that has been replaced by the New. Many religious leaders today even go so far as to teach their followers to completely avoid the 'Old' Covenant.

But what do the Scriptures say? 

We must begin our look at these highlights of the New Covenant with a warning.

A Warning for the Bride

One important bit of information we may not realize is that the Covenant between The Most High and His people is actually the Marriage Contract between the Bridegroom and the Bride. A few of the highlights of this Marriage Contract are found in the New Testament writings. However, most of its promises, its provisions, and its Terms and Conditions, are 'hidden' within the Old Testament writings.

With that in mind, we must ask the question, "Do we really want someone else to determine our eternal destiny?" That is, do we want our religious Leaders deciding for us, what is true, and what is not — for something so important as our eternal relationship with the King of Kings? Have we not learned the lesson from the Bride in the Song of Solomon passage?

"The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me." (Song of Songs 5:7)

As it is many of the 'Watchmen' of today — the Ministers, Pastors, Preachers, and other spiritual Leaders — who continue [unknowingly] to smite the Bride, and to kill them that are fed [See Isaiah 56:10-11; Ezekiel 34:1-3 to see their prophetic identity today]. The goal of satan is to use these Leaders who are well-meaning, but spiritually asleep, to do satan's work out of ignorance.

As a result, through ignorance of the New Covenant, much of what some Leaders are teaching today is a mixture of Bible truths mixed with the Traditions and Doctrines of Men. Feeding upon this mixture removes the Bride qualities from those who desire to be among the Bride-Company, and prevents them from being "prepared as a Bride for her Husband" (Rev 21:2).

The Bride is hereby warned, that only by studying the Scriptures for oneself, can that one break free of the modern-day paradigms, the religious 'spin' that the Doctrines of Men have put on Scripture, twisting the Scriptures to mean what they do not say. Only then can the Bride prepare herself, and make herself ready (Rev 19:7). With this warning in mind, let us review some of the major points of the New Covenant.

The New Covenant: An Overview

We recall that The Most High made a Covenant with Abraham, and extended its promises to Abraham's Seed:

"As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham... And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." (Genesis 17:4-5,7)

So we see here that The Most High's Covenant was between Himself, and Abraham — but extended to Abraham's Seed as an 'Everlasting' [eternal] Covenant. But look at the following passage:

"And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice ('Righteousness') and judgment ('mishpatim'); that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." (Genesis 18:17-19)

This passage reveals the condition that must be met by Abraham, and his Seed, so that the promise may be realized. That condition is called in the above passage, "keeping the Way of The Most High."

This Covenant condition is an important part of The Most High's Covenant, and we will recall this when we look at Israel as our example. It is this condition that the Israelites, while in the Wilderness, did not fulfill, except for Joshua and Caleb of that original generation brought out of Egypt.

It is this same condition that Messiah did fulfill, as the 'Seed' of Abraham. Messiah continues to fulfill this condition, for those who continue to abide in Him. But lest we get ahead of ourselves, we will look at a few highlight Scriptures. Let's first look at this important passage:

"He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant..." (Psalms 105:8-10)

Here we see The Most High's view of His Covenant. Here we see that The Most High has only ONE covenant with His people. Yet, He has also expanded this Covenant, in nature and scope, each time it was made, reaffirmed or confirmed to successive generations. Men have called it many covenants — but The Most High calls it 'His Covenant.' Notice the above verse tells us it is the same 'Law' that was given to Jacob, that is given to Israel as an Everlasting Covenant. But now let us notice the following verse:

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ..." (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Here we see that the Blood of Yahushua that has redeemed us is called the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant. This is a clear indicator that all who are partakers of Yahushua's Blood-redemption are partaking of The Most High's Everlasting Covenant. So we see that The Most High calls it 'New' [literally, 'renewed'], but in the greater sense it is the Everlasting Covenant.

The name of The Most High's Covenant is a vital piece of understanding for us, for there are many hidden pieces of our preparation hidden throughout the 'Old' Testament writings. These Everlasting Covenant provisions have been laid up, and 'hidden' by the Bridegroom, for the Bride to find, both in the 'New' Testament writings, as well as in the 'Old' Testament writings (Proverbs 25:2; Matthew 13:52; Song 7:13).

The Bride-Candidates will take careful notice!! That wherever the Hebrew words for 'everlasting covenant' appear, there is likely a Bride-preparation provision described! The Hebrew word for everlasting is owlam, Strongs number <05769>. This word is also translated 'perpetual,' and means "eternal; for ever." This is the Covenant known in Hebrew as the "owlam berith."

The Old Covenant: Israel's Failure in the Wilderness

We are reminded (1 Corinthians 10:11; Heb 4:11) that Israel's failure to enter the Promised Land is for our example, and learning. So we had better look closely at this issue.

An entire generation of Israelites (except Joshua and Caleb) failed to enter into the Promised Land in that day, due to disobedience. They were refused entry into the Promised Land due to disobedience of The Most High's Commandments, Statutes, and Precepts!

We also saw the bigger picture, that The Most High's purpose for the Promised Land was "That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws." This is simply a more detailed description of the 'Terms and Conditions' that were given to Abraham and to his Seed that we saw above — the condition called "keeping the way of the LORD."

We saw also in the above-mentioned article, that The Most High's stated purpose for His people is not just a description given for the Israelites in that earlier day, but is The Most High's purpose for His Redeemed, New Covenant people today! This purpose is a detailed description of the daily walk of those who are in Messiah, and describes those who will be allowed to 'enter in.' Like the Israelites in the Wilderness, many Citizens in our day may fail to enter in for the same reason of disobedience, because they have been given wrong information by their spiritual Leaders!

To summarize the experience of Israel in the Wilderness, we may say that they had been given the Commandments, statutes, and precepts, written by Messiah's own finger, on external tablets of stone. It was because they did not take His Commandments to heart, and did not mix them with faith, that they disobeyed His commandments. As a result, most were refused entry into the Promised Land of their inheritance, that had been promised to Abraham and his Seed.

Of that original generation, only Joshua and Caleb were allowed into the Promised Land. Together, Joshua and Caleb are a prophetic picture for us today, of those who will enter — and they reveal how the Bridegroom and Bride will enter together, through obedience.

The New Covenant: How We May Enter In

As a result of Israel's failure we are told the following regarding The Most High's Covenant:

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:31-33)

Here we see that The Most High spoke of a New Covenant, which was to be not according to the previous one that had been broken — which was external — written on outward tables of stone. The New Covenant, The Most High tells us in the above passage, will not be external, but internal — written on the heart. The Most High tells us He will write His laws inwardly, on the tables of the heart, but in this passage He does not give us details on how this is to be accomplished.

The prophet Ezekiel gives us further insight into how the New Covenant is to occur: 

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

From the above passage, and from the insight given to the apostle Paul, we now understand that "Messiah-in-you" is the one who will do this writing, necessitating that one first be Born-Again, whereby Messiah Himself becomes 'birthed' within us, by His spirit, and grows and matures in us. Father then tells us that His Spirit will cause us to walk in [obey] His statutes [ordinances, decrees, commandments] and His judgments [His mishpatim, which can be likened to His 'Household Rules']. The above revelation given to us by Ezekiel is one of the many pictures of the Grace Father supplies to His people, by which we are enabled to obey.

Fiveamprayer, did we catch that? He will 'cause us' to obey His statutes, and His judgments [this includes the Law of Moses - see Ex 21:1; Lev 26:46]. He will not force us, or compel us to obey, but He will guide our feet into the way of peace, by guiding us, and leading us into all Truth. He will then provide us the Grace to walk in obedience. In order to do this, however, we must first choose the Fear of The Most High (Prov 1:28-29). Those who choose the Fear of The Most High are those who are totally committed to obedience to His Word, and who are willing to 'let go' all the Doctrines of Men that are not in agreement with His Word. It is the Bride-Company whose hearts are soft enough to obey first, and understand later. But let's continue.

Many think that The Most High made an Old Covenant, which was not 'good enough' because it was too weak, then said, "Oops!" and then decided to make a better Covenant. But The Most High does not make mistakes. He merely wants His people to learn that without Messiah, we can do nothing (John 15:5) — but that if we abide ['remain'] in Messiah, then through Messiah, we can do all things (John 15:5-8; Philippians 4:13) — we can even obey all of His Word!

The apostle Paul tells us (1 Corinthians 10:1-6) that the Israelites in the Wilderness, in failing to obey the 'Old' Covenant, became our example [for our warning] of how we today are to live, day-by-day, in the 'New' Covenant! And we are told in the Book of Hebrews, chapters 3 and 4, what Israel did do, and did not do, for our warning. And those things the Israelites failed to obey, are exactly those things Messiah, living within us, desires that we obey today. But how do we know this from Scripture? Let us see.

First, in order for us to understand how the New Covenant is to operate in this regard, we must recall that it was the WORD of The Most High [Messiah Himself - John 1:14] who spoke all of the 'Old' Testament Commandments. So we see that Messiah's commandments consist of 'every word that proceeds from the mouth of The Most High' (Matt 4:4; Luke 4:4). Thus when we read, "If you love me, keep MY Commandments" (John 14:15), consisting of all of the Scriptures, we then understand what Messiah is telling His Bride.

We then see in Scripture that it is Messiah Himself who will prepare His Bride. It is Messiah-in-us, Messiah living within us, who will cause us to obey His Everlasting Covenant. He will do this, by His Spirit, and by His enabling Grace, as we abide in Him! The Scriptures go on to tell us in detail exactly how Messiah's Bride will become prepared. For some of these Scripture details Fiveamprayer is directed to study (Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 57:14, 62:10; Ezekiel 36:27; John 15:10; Philippians 1:11; 1 John 3:24).

Many are not yet prepared, however, because they do not understand the identity of those included in the New Covenant. Let us now look further at this.

The New Covenant: Only for "My People"

We next notice the identities of those with whom The Most High made His Covenant. As we saw in the above passage in Genesis 17, The Most High made a covenant between Himself and Abram, then extended His Covenant to include Abraham's Seed as an 'Everlasting' [eternal] Covenant. Let's see what Scripture tells us of the identity of these Everlasting Covenant participants:

"...and to thy seed after thee..." (Genesis 17:7)

"...and to Israel for an everlasting covenant..." (Psalms 105:10)

"...a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah..." (Jeremiah 31:31)

"...this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel... and they shall be my people..." (Jeremiah 31:33)

"And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel..." (Matthew 2:6)

Notice carefully the wording in the above passages, that The Most High's Covenant is not made with any particular religion, or even with the nations; but only with those called 'thy seed' and 'My People,' whose name of endearment is "Israel." Let us discover some basic truths, to see who is included in The Most High's Covenant: 

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29)

In the above passages, the apostle Paul tells us two important bits of information. First, he tells us that the identity of the "Seed" of Abraham is Messiah Himself. Then Paul tells us that those who belong to Messiah [those who are 'in' Messiah (Rom 8:1; 2 Cor 5:17)] are included in this identity.

But notice again, that the New Covenant was promised only to the house of Judah, and to the house of Israel. Notice there are no nations in this promise. So how is it that the nations can be included in The Most High's New [everlasting] Covenant, and in the promises? The apostles Paul and Peter tell us: 

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles/nations... 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11, 12-13)

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people... 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9, 10)

In the above (Ephesians 2:12) passage, Paul tells us that previously, as Gentiles/nations apart from Messiah, we were "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise." Likewise, Peter tells us in the (1 Peter 2:9, 10) passage, that the Gentiles/nations in time past "were not a people, but are now the people of God." The apostle Paul then tells us how one may become 'grafted-in' to the Olive Tree of Israel, through faith in Messiah:

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the nations be come in. (Romans 11:13-25)

In the above passage, Paul tells us that the nations times past had no part in The Most High's Covenant, because they were not included in the commonwealth of Israel; but can now as nations become a part of the overall commonwealth called 'My People Israel' by virtue of becoming grafted in to the natural Olive Tree of The Most High's people called Israel.

Are all nations grafted in? As we saw in the (Ephesians 2:12) passage above, only those who are 'apart from Messiah' are still aliens. Citizens who are 'in Messiah' have been grafted-in to My People Israel. Those who are grafted-in are now partakers the promises — and are also subject to the conditions of the promises — that the fullness of the promised blessings hold true only for those who abide ['remain'] in Messiah. This last condition is perhaps the reason that Paul continued to teach and to warn the Citizens night and day with tears:

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (Colossians 1:27-28)

Apparently there were teachers in Paul's day who were telling the Citizens that they need not be obedient to the Commandments of the Law [Torah] in order to remain [abide] 'in Messiah,' in direct contradiction of Messiah's Words, and of the words of the apostles:

Peter, an apostle of Yeshua, to the strangers ['Gentiles']... 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:1, 2)

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1 Peter 1:22)

If ye love me, keep 'my' commandments. (John 14:15)

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10)

And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit [the Holy Spirit, who leads us to obedience] which he hath given us. (1 John 3:24)

These corrupt teachers in Paul's day were apparently those who did not know Messiah. They did not know that the One who accompanied the Israelites in the Wilderness was none other than Messiah Himself (1 Cor 10:4); that it was Messiah who led them by a pillar of cloud by day, and by a pillar of fire by night. Nor did these corrupt teachers in Paul's day realize it was Messiah who gave the tables of stone to Moses, and indeed gave all the Commandments to Moses. It did not register with them, that the Commandments of the Law of Moses are part of 'MY' Commandments, as Messiah calls them throughout the Scriptures. Thus Messiah continues to cry out, "If ye love me, keep 'my' commandments" (John 14:15).

Fiveamprayer, what are your teachers telling you?

Would you not rather read the Scriptures for yourself, to see what they actually say?

Continuing with the identity of The Most High's Covenant people today, let us notice further what the Scriptures say. Notice the following passage:

"Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." (Psalms 50:5)

Here we see that the saints, the 'set-apart' ones of The Most High, are those that have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice. However, covenants are always cut with a Blood [representative] sacrifice involved. The only acceptable Blood sacrifice today is that of Messiah's Blood. So it follows that these set-apart people of The Most High are those redeemed by the Blood of Yahushua Messiah Himself. But there is one additional identifying mark of the saints.

Just as the Blood identifies initially the parties to the Covenant, so their obedience identifies those who will enter in as a Bride. Recall that the Israelites were partakers of the Blood Covenant in Egypt, but failed to enter in due to their disobedience. Scripture reveals how the saints further identify the Bride: 

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)

In these last two passages above, we are told that the saints are further identified by their obedience to The Most High's Commandments; and that those who perform His Commandments, are those who will be allowed to enter in to the City of the King, which is the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Messiah.

Let's now look at some further pictures of the New Covenant.

Jacob or Israel?

Again we confirm that the 'My People' that make up Israel consists of all those in Messiah, either natural or wild Branches, that are grafted in. There is, however, one thing we might mention.

Although many have made the covenant by Sacrifice in Yahushua's Blood, not all view His Covenant in the same way. Recalling the passage in Psalms, note the two different perspectives of the same covenant:

"...And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant..." (Psalms 105:8-10

Here, The Most High reveals to us who we are, by how we view His Covenant. First we recall that Isaac and Jacob were both called heirs of the same promise, along with Abraham (Heb 11:9). So we see that Jacob is indeed a son of the Promise.

Next we recall that Jacob and Israel are one and the same person. Jacob's name was changed to Israel, only after he wrestled with The Most High, and prevailed, to receive the Blessing (Genesis 32:28, 30). So we see in the Psalms 105 passage above, that those who have the traits of Israel — those who have wrestled with The Most High, and have prevailed — are those who see The Most High's Covenant as an Everlasting Covenant.

On the other hand, those who have not yet wrestled with The Most High — nor have they prevailed, nor overcome — are still as 'Jacob.' They are children of Promise through faith in Messiah, but they have yet to wrestle with The Most High. And as a result, they see The Most High's Covenant not as everlasting, but as merely A Law, perhaps as a temporary decree that is no longer necessary, and is disdainful to them.

There is a time coming soon, however, when the 'Jacob' congregation of saints will be put in a corner, and will be forced to wrestle with The Most High. This will be called the Time of Jacob's Trouble, and that time is almost upon us, as a woman in travail, as a time in which the offspring are revealed.

So, as Sons of the Promise, who are we? Are we Israel — or are we Jacob?

How we view The Most High's Covenant reveals our identity.

Let us now look at some of the New Covenant provisions.

Shema Selah what will you choose are you Jacob or Israel?? https://www.facebook.com/fiveam.prayer/videos/1682531948491581/?l=8391212836839863278

The Mystery of Abba's Will

Ephesians 1

We are walking in today:   The Mystery of Abba's Will

Witness declare throughout the Bible:   H3045 yada-- to make known, declare
 

2 ​Samuel 19:6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, H3045 that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

​​The Torah testifies..................…


The prophets proclaim...............…
 Nehemiah 8:12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared H3045 unto them.

The writings bear witness............. 

 Psalm 77:14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared H3045 thy strength among the people.

Isaiah 41:26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? H3045 and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

We see in the book of Hebrews, chapters 3 and 4, that THE MOST HIGH desired the Israelites in the wilderness to obey His Word. We are told the reason they did not obey Him, was because the Word proclaimed unto them was not mixed with faith.

The account of the Israelites in the wilderness is given in the book of Hebrews, and ends with a stern warning for Born-Again Believers today: We are warned to avoid falling under the same example of unbelief as did the Israelites!

The various accounts given in Scripture tell us in great detail exactly what caused the Israelites to fall in the wilderness. For example, we see in Ezekiel 20:21, that it was due to failure to keep THE MOST HIGH's Commandments, and for polluting His Sabbaths. Beloved, the Book of Hebrews is warning us today not to fall under the same example as they did!

This truth should be a shock to many Born-Again, Blood-redeemed, followers of Yahushua Messiah. Have we misunderstood Father's will? If we are to follow Messiah closely, we must first know His will for us. To make matters more difficult, He tells us His will is a mystery. Let us seek to find His will in Scripture.

The Mystery of His Will

We will first try to catch a small glimpse of the Mystery of His Will. Notice the following:

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:9)

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)

As we see above in John 7:17, one part of the Mystery of His Will is that if any man will do, he shall know, he shall gain understanding of what it is. Father's will must first be done, and only then will it be known or understood.

Beloved, if we are first trying to understand His will before we do it, we will never arrive at that understanding! That is a major part of the mystery of His Will!

Another aspect of understanding the Mystery of His will is in the above Ephesians passage, where we are told:

"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will...."

Did you see that? He has already made known to us what His will is! He has spoken His will throughout the Scriptures, but He has also demonstrated for us, by His example, what His will is for us! His example is seen in the four Gospel accounts. We need only ask, "WWYD? What did Yahushua do?" and "What did Yahushua say?" Let us then believe His words, and emulate His actions, as He is for our example in all things (1 Peter 2:21).

Yet another piece of the puzzle of the Mystery of His will is in finding out in Scripture those things in which He delights, and those things that are abomination to Him, things He hates. For example, notice the connection between His will, and delight, or lack of delight, in the following passages:

Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. (Psalms 119:136)

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalms 40:8)

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (Romans 7:22)

The first verse above in Psalms 119:136 (see also Isaiah 44:22), is the cry of the heart of Yahushua, and speaks of today, prior to His return. Here He speaks prophetically of Believers, those that have been redeemed by His precious Blood, and set free from the bondage of sin; Yet as Believers, they have been trained by their Leaders to disobey His Law — His Torah — the Torah He desires to write upon our hearts as part of His New Covenant.

In Psalms 40:8 reveals the mystery of His will, in capsule form. This shows an important cause and effect relationship regarding the mystery of His will.

The last verse above in Romans 7:22 was spoken by the Apostle Paul, as he reveals the distinction between the external letter of the Law [that kills, convicts or pronounces death], and the internal spirit of the Law [that brings resurrection Life], which is Yahushua Himself, written on the heart of man. Paul delighted in practicing, in obeying the Law of THE MOST HIGH [the Torah], not out of compulsion, but out of his own choice.

The apostle Paul did not like being under condemnation of the Law through disobedience, and the temporary separation it brings (Isaiah 59:2; 1 John 1:9). Paul learned to walk in obedience to the Law, simply because of his love for Yahushua (John 14:15). This sounds quite different from what we have been taught regarding Paul, and his imagined disdain for the Law, as some who wrest Paul's words (2 Peter 3:15-16) would describe him.

How well we remember Paul's admonishment of the Galatian church, and that church's attendant problems, but this is a different matter altogether. The Galatians were desiring to require the external sign of circumcision of the new converts, but the Galatians did not understand that the New Covenant is a covenant of internals, and not of externals; and certainly not a covenant of compulsion, but of love, of making a personal choice. It is well to note that the Galatians were known of THE MOST HIGH, but they did not know Him! Let us look at a few details, and more clues as to Father's delight:

The Mystery of His Delight

The Scriptures are full of passages regarding the delight or pleasure of THE MOST HIGH. Our heavenly Father desires that we seek out in Scripture, those things He delights in, and that we would make them our delight. In this way He will multiply our delight in Him! Notice the following passages, where we can find some clues:

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel..." (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:8)

Beloved, the New Covenant is with Israel. It is not to be made with the Gentiles, but only with Israel — and this includes all those grafted in to Israel by faith in Messiah (Romans 11:17-22). Are you grafted in? If so, you are a part of Israel, and have a part in the inheritance! Notice however, that the fine print [the T&C — Terms and Conditions] of the New Covenant, and the inheritance, are what we call the 'Old' Testament!

But how is the New Covenant different from the Old Covenant?

"...Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers..." (Jer 31:32; Hebrews 8:9)

The main difference is that the New Covenant is internal, not external; and will be accomplished by the internal Grace provided by Messiah-in-you, and not by man's own effort. The minor differences are fully detailed in the Book of Hebrews, and are related to changes in the sacrifices, and in the priesthood.

"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10)

The Old Covenant was the Law, the Torah, written on external tables of stone; the New Covenant is the same Law, the Torah, written internally on the fleshly tables of the inward heart of man, and consists of the living person of Messiah writing himself, as a seal on our hearts, and will be accomplished by His Grace, His enablement.

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalms 40:8)

This is both the definition, and the source, of our delight for Father, and of His delight for His people.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (Romans 7:22)

This is the Apostle's description of the inward New Covenant description, and revelation of, the Psalmist's prophetic picture given in Psalms 40:8.

And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. John 8:29

We do not grieve the Spirit of Messiah living within us today, when we are doing what Father delights in, just as Yahushua did what Father delights in when He lived on the earth, in His own body 2 thousand years ago.

Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. (Exodus 31:13)

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father:

For the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 58:13-14)

Again, the above passages reveal, as an association of clues, one of Father's great delights!

Conclusion

Only the Saints of THE MOST HIGH that seek Him diligently — with a heart of obedience — are going to be able to break free of the lies and deception that has snared the entire professing church. If we do not have a fervent love for the Truth, then THE MOST HIGH will surely send deception, that we should believe a lie.

The Flaming Sword of THE MOST HIGH is sharp toward His enemies. This Flaming Sword is the Word of THE MOST HIGH that has been wrested and twisted, and used by wicked men crept in unawares, and has become a lie in their mouths, as they preach and teach, and minister. With His Flaming Sword Father continues to guard the Tree of Life, preventing His enemies from drawing near, because of their lack of obedience to His Word.

THE MOST HIGH looks at the signs and the signals, and our flag, or banner that we display, to determine who knows Him, and who does not. It is only when we seek THE MOST HIGH with all our heart, and find out who Yahushua really is, and then begin to obey these sayings of Yahushua, that we can become free of the trap of man's false teachings.

Likewise it is only when we begin to obey that we acquire the sign or token of our consent, of our betrothal to Him, and which sign reveals to Yahushua, that we are one of His own.

Today, as then, Yahushua is asking us, "Whom do you say that I am?"

Shema Selah, Fiveamprayer will you lay down your will for HIS will?? 

Let No Man Steal Your Crown!!!

Revelation 3

We are walking in today:  Let No Man Steal Your Crown!!!

Witness steal throughout the Bible:   H1589 ganab--to steal, steal away, carry away, to be stolen away, be brought by stealth

Proverbs 30:9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, H1589 and take the name of my God in vain.

The Torah ..................…
 Genesis 31:27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away H1589 from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

The prophets  ...............…
 Jeremiah 23:30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal H1589 my words every one from his neighbour.

The writings  .............
 Job 27:20 Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away H1589 in the night.

Hosea 4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, H1589 and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

THE MOST HIGH has promised a great inheritance to those who overcome, and to those who hold fast in their obedience to Him. Two of the items promised to THE MOST HIGH's people are a wedding veil, and a crown.

As we search the Scriptures, we find that the veil speaks of the promise of Betrothal of the Bride to the Heavenly Bridegroom. The crown is the right to rule and reign for eternity with the King's Son, who is the Bridegroom.

Our Heavenly Father knew, however, that in this last generation, there would be those who would try to take away our wedding veil, and also our crown. In this writing we will look carefully at this warning in Scripture, to see what it says, and then discover how we might prevent these promises from being stolen from us.

Stealing Your Veil, and Your Crown

We gain our first bit of information from the Scriptures, as part of a stern warning in the book of Revelation. Let's look at the following passages:

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11)

As we see in the entire Book of Revelation is a message THE MOST HIGH gave to Yahushua Messiah, in order that Yahushua might show to His Servants those things which will shortly come to pass. In particular, we saw how the messages within the Book of Revelation are directed to His future Bride, to give her vision, hope, and encouragement, as well as warnings of danger, as she goes about her preparation.

In the above verse in Revelation 3:11, we see that Yahushua warns His Bride to hold fast what we have (of that which is truly of Him), because there will be those men who would take away — or steal — our crown from us. But who would do this? How would this happen? Notice we are told in Song of Songs the answer to this question:

The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. (Song of Songs 5:7)

Here we see it is the watchmen, the 'keepers of the walls,' who smite the Bride, and attempt to take her veil from her. Who are these watchmen? Fiveamprayer, it is the spiritual watchmen, the keepers of the walls of salvation — the spiritual Leaders of this generation — that are removing the veil, and the crown, of multitudes of Believing ones. If this sounds preposterous, let's look further into the Scriptures, to see what THE MOST HIGH's Word says.

To begin our search, let us first ask two important questions:

1) How can someone remove our veil, and our crown?

2) How do we prevent someone from removing our veil, and our crown?

To answer these two questions with Scripture, let us begin, by noticing a very important account of an historical event, described in (1 Kings 12:28-33). Here we see that King Jeroboam decided to make two golden calves, and to implement a 'substitute' Feast Day for Israel. This substitute was to be located in Beth-El and in Dan, and would be just like the one ordained by THE MOST HIGH — except for the day of the Feast, and its location. The addition of the two golden calves at the two locations identified the entire substitution as idolatry.

We are told that Jeroboam devised a day "of his own heart," and called for the Feast to be celebrated on the eighth month instead of the THE MOST HIGH-ordained seventh month, as described in Leviticus 23:34 and Numbers 29:12. These are such small changes! Yet under King Jeroboam's leadership, idolatry was introduced to Israel, and the entire nation became deceived. THE MOST HIGH, in His mercy, gave the people much warning through His prophets, and time to repent; yet the people refused to repent, and continued to walk in disobedience. As part of THE MOST HIGH's judgment, the people were taken captive.

We are in much the same state today. The spiritual kings of the religious world have devised the eighth day of the week in the imagination of their own hearts, as a substitute for the THE MOST HIGH-ordained seventh day Sabbath Feast Day. Having originated by Roman decree in the early centuries, this substitute feast-day continues to be honoured today, in most evangelical congregations. Most do not realize they are practicing a Roman substitute that contradicts both Old and New Testament Scriptures.

So we see that the modern-day Kings, the spiritual Leaders, have done just as Jeroboam did. They have concocted a 'Doctrine of Men' in the imagination of their own hearts — a man-made teaching about this substitute sabbath day — and by twisting the apostle Paul's teachings (2Peter 3:16), they have thus caused their followers to walk in disobedience to the will of THE MOST HIGH! The Scriptures listed below will elaborate in greater detail for us.

Through their doctrines, these modern-day Kings, or spiritual Leaders, have led the people into practicing outright disobedience to THE MOST HIGH, and even various forms of idolatry, both of which can cause the veil, and the crown, to be removed.

Removing the Veil

Here is where we see the removal of the veil. In summary, those who refuse to do the will of the Father, are those who continue to refuse to walk in the Way of THE MOST HIGH, instead walking in disobedience to THE MOST HIGH's eternal Law [the Torah, called the Law of Moses]. It is these who are are known throughout the Scriptures as 'workers of iniquity' (Matthew 7:23; 1 John 3:4).

Those who are found to be workers of iniquity at the time of the Bridegroom's appearance are specifically named by Yahushua, and are said to be among the Foolish Virgins (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 13:27). These will be disqualified from entering in at the same time with the Wise Virgins (Matt 25:11-13; Psalms 45:14), and some of these will not be among the Bride-Company.

As Virgins, they were Born-Again, Spirit-Filled Citizens. Why were they considered workers of iniquity? Fiveamprayer, participation in THE MOST HIGH's eternal Sabbaths is a vital part of the New Covenant — which is better known as THE MOST HIGH's Everlasting Covenant, which Covenant describes the Way of THE MOST HIGH (Hebrews 13:20).

As revealed in the above passage in Song 5:7, it is the watchmen of this generation [along with some of the 'modern' Bible versions based on men's paraphrases of Scripture] that are telling the Born-Again, New Covenant Citizens that they need not obey THE MOST HIGH's Law. Those who are gullible (who believe everything they hear, and do not read for themselves what the Scriptures actually say) have been told that the eternal Law of THE MOST HIGH [the Torah] has been nailed to the stake, and abolished.

Fiveamprayer, have you heard [or read] this claim? Those who continue to believe this claim, and who continue to walk in disobedience to the eternal Law of THE MOST HIGH, will have their veil [the token of obedience that identifies the Bride] taken away from them. They will be found among the workers of iniquity (Matt 7:23, 13:41; Psalms 125:5), and will be disqualified from being among the Bride-Company!

How do we prevent our veil from being removed by men?

Yahushua has said, "If you love me, keep [obey] MY Commandments" (John 14:15). Those who do not know who He is, think that His commandments are limited to only the 'New' Testament commandments.

Those who do know who Yahushua is, know that it was Yahushua Himself who, as the Word of THE MOST HIGH, accompanied the Israelites in the wilderness (John 1:1, 14; 1 Corinthians 10:4; Num 3:16), and led them by His presence by night and by day — it was Yahushua Himself who wrote the Commandments onto the tablets with His own finger, and gave them to Moses.

Those who know Him, and who love Him, are those who keep all 'MY' Commandments as Yahushua calls them. And so we see it is the Bride whose actions exhibit love for the Bridegroom-Messiah, by simple obedience to all of Yahushua Messiah's Words [including those He gave to Moses]. Simple obedience to all of Messiah's Words reveals those who will be found among the Wise Virgins, and among the Bride-Company.

So we see that it is when we begin to walk in obedience to all Messiah's Commandments, instead of the doctrines and commandments of men, that we begin to hold fast to our veil. Only in this way, can we prevent our veil from being removed by men.

From this day forward, we must each choose whom we will serve (Joshua 24:15).
Let us choose wisely!

Removing the Crown

Let's look now at a similar reference to our crown. Notice the following passages:

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Daniel 7:27)

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Yeshua. (Revelation 14:12)

In the above passage in Daniel, we see that the dominion or rule will be given to the saints. But in the Revelation passage, we see who those 'saints' are — they are those who have the Faith of Yahushua, and who [by His Grace], allow Messiah-living-within-them to keep the Commandments of THE MOST HIGH. Again, notice in these verses that the dominion — the rule or crown — goes to those who are obedient.

Just as in the above example of our veil being taken by men, in the same way our crown can be taken by men.

Let's see what the Scriptures tell us:

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by... Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee..." (Zechariah 3:7-8a)

The above passage is a prophetic, then-future vision of Yahushua Messiah's commission, which He would later fulfill during His earthly lifetime. In this passage, the one condition given for Messiah's future ruling and reigning, is that He must "walk in THE MOST HIGH's ways." We know Yahushua met this requirement, and was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

As we see in the same verse, those who 'sit before' Messiah [who abide in His presence], have the same requirement. To rule and reign with Messiah, we must "walk in His Ways." This is the single, defining characteristic of one who is "in Messiah," one who fears THE MOST HIGH, and is "in the Faith." Today we may depend on His Blood of redemption to provide our forgiveness, and His indwelling Spirit to lead us into [the doing of] all truth, and to give us the Grace [enablement] to walk in His Ways (Hebrews 3:10; 1 John 1:9; John 16:13; Galatians 3:11; James 1:25; Romans 2:13).

But we have a problem! Notice the following:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, [because they are] giving heed to seducing spirits, and [that is,] doctrines [teachings] of devils speaking lies..." (1 Timothy 4:1-2a)

In the latter times, many shall depart from The Faith, due to doctrines of devils speaking lies. What are these doctrines that are considered lies? These doctrines are not the words of the student, but of the teacher. What is the teacher saying in the latter times, that is considered to be "speaking lies?"

First, we note that the two identifying features of those who are in Messiah, those who are "in" The Faith, are 1) they walk in His Ways, and 2) they fear THE MOST HIGH (Deut 10:12; Psalms 128:1). Thus it must be, that those who "depart" from The Faith are they who abandon or depart from these two key features. Let's see in Scripture what these are:

Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, [in order] to walk in his ways, and [in order] to fear him. (Deuteronomy 8:6)

In the above passage, we see that to fear THE MOST HIGH and to walk in His Ways, we keep His Commandments.

So we see that, according to the logic of the above Scripture passages, those who depart from The Faith in the latter times must be students who depart from keeping THE MOST HIGH's Commandments, as a result of devils speaking lies through their teachers.

We have seen abundant testimony in many other articles, that those who abide in Messiah, and come to know THE MOST HIGH, are those who learn His Ways, and walk in His Ways. These allow Messiah to live in them, and allow Messiah to provide His Grace, His enablement, to keep Father's Commandments.

Let's look carefully at a few additional passages that speak prophetically of our day. Notice the passages that describe those teachers [and students] who have been redeemed, but who refuse to walk in His Ways. The result is that they have been robbed of the knowledge of THE MOST HIGH, through deceit and false teachings, and through a lifestyle and culture that is void of keeping the Commandments of THE MOST HIGH:

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:6)

For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. 27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. (Jeremiah 5:26-27)

How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; (Jeremiah 23:26)

Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err [go astray] by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:32)

Why then is this people of Jerusalem [this is prophetic of those who are grafted into Messiah and His people] slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. (Jeremiah 8:5)

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me [notice that THE MOST HIGH is pleading with His redeemed people to return to Him!]; for I have redeemed thee. (Isaiah 44:22)

Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. (Hosea 7:13)

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err [wander away; go astray], after the which their fathers have walked: (Amos 2:4)

The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. 22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled [plundered]; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses [their individual doctrines]: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. (Isaiah 42:21-24)

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err [go astray] in their heart, and they have not known my ways: (Psalms 95:10)

When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err [go astray] in their heart; and they have not known my ways. (Hebrews 3:9-10)

Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel [those who are in Messiah] had walked in my ways! (Psalms 81:13)

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake... 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. (Titus 1:10-11; 13-14)

The above are a few of many passages that give us the prophetic view of the greater Body of Messiah in our day, as THE MOST HIGH see us.

Notice what the last verse above tells us. It is the Commandments of Men that turn men away from the truth. We recall that it was the Traditions and Commandments of Men that Yahushua confronted when He rebuked the Pharisees. The man-made doctrines become substitutes for the true Words of THE MOST HIGH, and rob the people of knowing THE MOST HIGH.

From these Scripture passages, we see that our crown can be removed by those prophets and teachers who, by trickery and deceit, teach THE MOST HIGH's people to be disobedient, even while being un-aware of their own disobedience.

As we saw above, it is our continued disobedience to the eternal Scriptures that can remove our veil. But it is the teachings given by the Keepers of the Walls — the Traditions and Commandments of Men — that teach their followers to justify their disobedience.

The Traditions and Commandments of Men teach people to justify their disobedience, based on the following false notions, each of which contradicts both 'Old' and 'New' Testament Scripture:

Teachings of the Traditions and Commandments of Men
1)Tradition #1 — the false notion that because our sins are forgiven by His Blood, our continued disobedience is now acceptable to our Heavenly Father (Acts 10:35; Eph 5:6; Col 3:6; Heb 2:2-3);

2)Tradition #2 — the false notion that the eternal Law [Torah] has been cancelled or abolished, so that our disobedience to the Law is 'no longer' considered to be sin (1 John 3:4).

3)Tradition #3 — the false notion that the Law [Torah] has been done away with. This idea is the central teaching of the Doctrine of Balaam today, and is discussed below.

So we see that our continued disobedience to the eternal Scriptures — because we have learned from some man, teaching man-made doctrines [or because we have believed some man's paraphrased version of the Bible] — can remove our crown!

We are thus told, "... hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Revelation 3:11). Let us now notice another crown stealer.

Idolatry: Another Crown-Stealer

In the early days of the First Century, the following warnings were given to the Citizens:

"...our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [twist; pervert], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:15b-16).

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [wanton; lacking restraint], and denying the only Lord God, and our  Yeshua Mashiach " (Jude 1:3-4).

In the early days of the apostles, as the above passages tell us, there were some who had crept in unawares, perverting the words of Paul, and thus teaching a perverted doctrine of Grace to the people. This twisting or perverting of Paul's words continues to this day. A modern, twisted or perverted form of the Bible doctrine of Grace has turned the lives of multitudes of Born-Again, Spirit-filled Citizens into wantonness, into lives that are unrestrained and unaffected by the eternal Law [Torah] of THE MOST HIGH.

Not only has the doctrine of Grace been perverted today from its Biblical meaning, but many other Biblical Doctrines have been wrested, or twisted away from their original meaning. This twisting occurs when man's own ideas or opinions are added, giving the Scripture passages a different spin or paradigm, causing men to think these passages mean something different from what Scripture intends. Just as the keeping of THE MOST HIGH's Sabbaths has been hidden from the people, likewise the teaching of the importance of the Second Commandment has been obscured from the people.

The Second Commandment deals with removal of idols and idolatry from the lives of THE MOST HIGH's children. Today, most Citizens have been taught by their Pastors and spiritual Leaders a twisted version of the apostle Paul's words, to say that idols 'are nothing.' Thus in the thinking of the majority of Citizens today, the Second Commandment has no relevance. Fiveamprayer, if the Second Commandment has no relevance today, what is the purpose of the following passages? Let us look carefully at these:

Wherefore, my dearly Fiveamprayer, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:14)

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21)

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14)

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (Revelation 2:20)

Fiveamprayer, if the Second commandment were not very important for us today, the above passages would not be there. In fact, most Citizens today have their lives filled with idolatry, and they think they are simply Citizens in good standing with THE MOST HIGH, because of what their Pastors and leaders have told them. They think that idols are not relevant, and idolatry is not relevant, because of the non-Biblical notion of 'Grace' that most evangelical Pastors and teachers have embraced.

Most Pastors today are not teaching their people about the importance of avoiding idolatry. "If we commit idolatry," as they go on to explain, "We are forgiven!" Then they go on to say, "When THE MOST HIGH looks at us, He does not see our sin, He sees the Blood of Yahushua." What does THE MOST HIGH say about such un-Scriptural ideas? We must warn every child of THE MOST HIGH that has heard such teaching, to repent, and obey the Gospel of Yahushua, which was preached unto both the New Testament Disciples, and also to the Israelites in the Wilderness.

If idols are nothing, then why are we warned to flee idolatry? Yahushua has also warned us that two of the seven churches in Revelation had one fault: they taught the people to eat things sacrificed to idols. Now, if idols are nothing, why did Yahushua mention it? It is evident that Yahushua thinks as highly of the liars that teach such teachings to His people, as He does of idolaters, as they will both be excluded from the City of THE MOST HIGH! Fiveamprayer, Yahushua describes many of the modern-day Pastors and Teachers and their followers. Notice the following warning given to us by the apostle John:

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)

The Bible tells us the Liars are those who say they know Him, but do not keep THE MOST HIGH's Commandments! This should be a strong enough warning to send every sincere little one to the prayer closet, to cry out for mercy and understanding, that the Light of THE MOST HIGH’s precious Word would be revealed and understood.

Stealing Your Crown: The Doctrine of Balaam

Fiveamprayer Saints, we also see from Yahushua's message to the Seven Churches that some of them held the Doctrine, or teaching, of Balaam. Let us remember what Balaam did. THE MOST HIGH had told him once not to go with Balak, but with a new and better offer in hand, Balaam decided to ask THE MOST HIGH once again, just to 'confirm' things in His own mind. After all, this is a lot of money! And, it is a very great honour that Balak is offering!

"Perhaps THE MOST HIGH has done a New Thing," Balaam might have mused. "Perhaps the old things are passed away, and all things are become new." So then after Balaam sought THE MOST HIGH again for new confirmation, THE MOST HIGH told him, "Go ahead, but say only what I tell you." And as he was going, THE MOST HIGH would have killed him, if it had not been for Balaam’s ass, who saw the Angel of THE MOST HIGH in the way, ready to kill Balaam with the Sword of THE MOST HIGH.

Fiveamprayer, the Citizens of this generation today have not understood the Doctrine of Balaam. We have been told by our Pastors and teachers that the Doctrine of Balaam is greed, or avarice, and is a spirit of covetousness. Yes, those are certainly some of the fruits of the Doctrine of Balaam, and they can be the motives for the Doctrine of Balaam. They are not, however, the Doctrine of Balaam itself. The Doctrine of Balaam is actually simple to see in Scripture, and easy to understand, because it can be observed in the actions of Balaam.

As an overview of the Doctrine of Balaam, we can say that it is simply what Balaam did — the rejection of one part of THE MOST HIGH's Eternal Word, while accepting another part. It includes the notion that, even though THE MOST HIGH has said something once, we must 'hear it again' to confirm what He has said.

Yes, THE MOST HIGH spoke His Commandments to us once in the 'Old' Testament, but we have been taught by our spiritual Leaders that we must see them once again in the 'New' Testament, before we obey them. As a brief illustration of its application, let us look at the following passage:

Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:3)

Let us first notice that the above passage is in the 'Old' Testament. The apostle Paul tells us that we are not under the Law, but under Grace — so that when we hear teachers wrest, or twist Paul’s words telling us this means that the Law has been abolished, we have simply ignored the above passage in Leviticus 19:3. The notion that the Law has been abolished, is a popular, but twisted meaning of Paul's words.

With that in mind, let us next notice the truth the above passage in Leviticus 19:3 reveals. Yahushua, who is the Word of THE MOST HIGH, has told us three times [in the 'Old' Testament] that we are to fear, reverence, and honor, our mother and father. But we have been taught to look in only the 'New' Testament to see whether a commandment is repeated by Yahushua, or repeated by the apostles, before we obey it.

Now, notice what Yahushua said [in the 'New' Testament], in the following verses:

For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death" (Matthew 15:4).

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death" (Mark 7:10).

"Well, Yahushua repeated it, and it's in the New Testament — so it must be for us" we recite. We have not realized that we have been trained by the Doctrine of Balaam. We have been trained to split Leviticus 19:3 apart, — to keep the first half of the verse [fear every man his mother, and his father], and to discard the second half [keep MY sabbaths]. Never mind that there are fifteen occurrences of the phrase "My Sabbaths" in the Old Testament, and only three references to fearing and honouring one's father and mother!

Most would agree that the use of caution is necessary when distinguishing between what is shadow of the Old Covenant, from what is fulfillment of the Old Covenant. However, the requirement that we must hear a New Testament repeating of an Old Testament commandment, before we obey it, is a Classic example of the Doctrine of Balaam, which Yahushua mentions to us as a warning, in the Book of Revelation!

So we see how the Doctrine of Balaam is in operation in our own Congregations, today in our generation!

By embracing and teaching the Doctrine of Balaam today, most Pastors and spiritual Leaders have lost sight of the New Covenant purpose. We could say the same about the subject of idolatry, and of many others. In this writing, however, we will simply restate THE MOST HIGH’s overall intention for the New Covenant. Ours is not a Covenant of compulsion to keep THE MOST HIGH's eternal Commandments, but is an eternal Covenant of Love as a motive, whereby Messiah is 'birthed' within His people, and lives within them, to provide His Grace — His enablement to keep the His eternal Commandments!

We must remember, under the 'Old' Covenant, we are commanded to love THE MOST HIGH, with the penalty of death as our motive for keeping His commandments. Under the 'New' Covenant, also called the Everlasting Covenant, we are not compelled to obey His Commandments. We do obey His Commandments, however, but we do so because of a new motive – one of love. Thus we see that love is stronger than death, as a motive for obedience.

We obey Him, and do what we know pleases our Lord, because we love Him; and we do so because He has given us the understanding, desire, and ability – by His Grace – His enablement, to keep His Commandments. Under the 'New' Covenant, we have been set free from bondage, and now we are to simply choose which 'Master' we will serve, and choose which Husband to whom we will be married (betrothed). We then set out to find out, to learn, and then to do, by His Grace and virtue, what is His will, and to do what pleases and delights Him.

Conclusion

We have seen that by embracing man-made doctrines, Citizens today continue to live in disobedience to the eternal Law of THE MOST HIGH, resulting in the potential loss of their Bridal veil — their future place as being among the Bride-Company. We have also seen that by the same disobedience, Citizens face the potential loss of their crown — their future dominion and rulership with Messiah.

We have seen that Citizens are exhorted to keep, and hold on to their Bridal veil, and their crown. We have seen that we can prevent any man from taking, or stealing our veil, and our crown, by guarding against embracing man-made doctrines, and by seeking carefully to walk, by Father's Grace, in obedience to the eternal Law of THE MOST HIGH.

Fiveamprayer, the entire 'Old' Testament is full of details about Father's New Covenant, also called His eternal or Everlasting Covenant. It is in the 'Old' Testament that we find the details of what pleases our Master, and also the details of what He hates. It is in the 'Old' Testament that we find Father's delight, and His pleasure, all of which are tied in with the mystery of His will.

Fiveamprayer, THE MOST HIGH is pleading with His redeemed people to return to Him! He desires that you would be a part of that Company who will receive the veil of Betrothal, and the crown of ruling and reigning with Him.

To accomplish this, you must be vigilant — and let no man steal your crown!
Shema Selah, we have to be on constant guard that no man steals our crown!!  https://www.facebook.com/fiveam.prayer/videos/1674951362582973/?l=2863550387446944274

Things Your Pastor Never Told You About the Early Church Fathers

Revelation 3

We are walking in today:  Things Your Pastor Never Told You About the Early Church Fathers

Witness speak throughout the Bible:   H559 'amar--to say, speak, utter

Genesis 31:29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake H559 unto me yesternight, saying, H559 Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

The Torah ..................…
 Numbers 23:12 And he answered and said, H559 Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?

The prophets ...............…
Jeremiah 26:2 Thus saith H559 the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:

The writings .............
Joshua 22:24 And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, H559 In time to come your children might speak H559 unto our children, saying, H559 What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?

Isaiah  8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak H559 not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

For almost a century, the early believers in Yeshua the Messiah were culturally and ethnically the same as, and worshipped alongside, mainstream Hebrew believers. The first "Christians", as such, were Hebrew. The Torah was of great importance to them and they kept its laws, observing the Sabbath and performing circumcision. They did not follow "another religion", but remained within the Torah framework of the Hebrews.

This Messianic movement spread largely among Hebrew to begin with, and for some time it remained a sect within Judaism, mostly known as the sect of the Nazarenes. Early in the second century, the Nazarene sect, consisting of both Hebrew and Gentile believers who converted to the Hebrew belief, became subjected to a number of religious and political events.

In 117 CE, the Roman Emperor Hadrian built a temple to Jupiter in Jerusalem and renamed the city Aelia Capitolina, turning Jerusalem into a Roman City. Demoralized after such a loss of Hebrew national and religious life, which had begun with the destruction of the second Temple in 70 CE, the Hebrew people looked for a Messiah to save them from the oppression of Rome.

In 132 CE, Simon Bar Kochba was endorsed by the leading Hebrew intellectual of the time, Rabbi Akiba, to be the promised Messiah, and in 135 CE, Bar Kochba led a revolt against Rome. The Nazarene Hebrews, however, refused to join in the revolt, as they concluded this would go against their belief in Yeshua as the Messiah. Although they had fought in the initial revolt against Rome, when Bar Kochba was declared the Messiah, they refused to fight under his banner. This resulted in bloodshed between Hebrew on both sides. By the end of the second century CE, a wedge was driven between the Nazarene movement and mainstream Judaism.

However, the Bar Kochba revolt was not the only reason for this separation. As more and more Nations joined the new Hebrew movement, the actual Hebrew presence became progressively less numerically significant. Although Christianity didn't officially take a stance against Judaism until early in the fourth century, divisions and differences of opinion began in the first century CE. As a result of the Apostle Paul's mission to the Nations, the ethnic composition of the Nazarean movement began to rapidly change from a Hebrew majority to a Gentile majority. For some time, Nations remained within the Nazarean movement. However, by the end of the first century, non-Hebrew influences affected the structure and beliefs of the now Gentile-dominated movement.

In the second century CE, many of the "Early Church Fathers", or "Apostolic Fathers", began to make statements which further separated nations from everything Hebrew. Non-Hebrew doctrines began to be developed which became the foundational beliefs of Christianity. Although those in the nations who were Christians were not particularly opposed to the Hebrew and many still converted to Judaism, the formal position of the Church was decisively set against the Synagogue. The Church sought to conquer the Synagogue which, in their view, continued to cling stubbornly to its ancestral faith.

Frustrated and embittered, the Church Fathers set out to prove that Judaism was a legalistic, dead and superseded religion. By reversing the Biblical image of the Hebrew, the Church claimed to be the "New Israel", the "Jacob", whereas the Hebrew were Esau and Cain, the murderers of their brother. Israel was portrayed as blind and divorced by God. This theology of replacement, which evolved into a theology of displacement, stated that the Hebrew had forfeited what God had given them and now Christianity was the new "heir" to the promises and blessings of God. The Hebrew, however, could keep the curses.

In the Epistle of Barnabas, written around 135 CE, this "replacement theology" is clearly stated. Referring to the Mosaic Covenant, Barnabas writes:

"Indeed it is ours; for Moses had hardly received it when they (the Hebrew) forfeited it forever."

The Church, however, did not claim the Biblical commandments in a literal sense, but rather "spiritualized" them. They perceived the literal as being only a shadow of what was to come, being that Yeshua completed and abolished law. To continue observing the literal Sabbath, literal circumcision, literal dietary laws etc., was foolishness and nonsense. The Church Father, Tertullian, wrote concerning the Sabbath and circumcision:

"It follows, accordingly, that, in so far as the abolition of carnal circumcision and of the old law is demonstrated as having been consummated at its specific times, so also the observance of the Sabbath is demonstrated to have been temporary."

In a letter to Diognetus, possibly written by Justin Martyr in the second century, similar statements are made concerning Hebrew practices:

"As for their scrupulousness about meats, and their superstitions about the sabbath, and their much vaunted circumcision, and their pretentious festivals and new moon observances - all of them too nonsensical to be worth discussing...."

The Apostolic Fathers continued issuing statements clearly divorcing Christianity from anything Hebrew. The Mosaic Law, including the Festivals and the Sabbath, circumcision and Israel's election by God, were all brushed away as things of the past. Also, in order to gain the acceptance of Rome, the now Gentile-dominated "Church" made it loud and clear that it had nothing in common with Judaism. In the Epistle of Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, to the Magnesians in 115 CE, Christians were warned of the error of looking to Judaism:


"To profess Yeshua Christ while continuing to follow Hebrew customs is an absurdity. The Christian faith does not look to Judaism, but Judaism looks to Christianity...."

The teaching of the Church Fathers managed to invalidate Judaism in the eyes of the Gentile world. Although up until now the Hebrew/Christian debate was not much more than a debate, the real turning point for the Hebrew in the Roman Christian world was the Council of Nicea, held in 325 CE. At this Council, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman State and the concepts and claims of the theologians were put into practice and the separation between Christianity and Judaism became official. Constantine, Emperor of Rome and leader of the Church declared:

"You should consider not only that the number of churches in these provinces make a majority, but also that it is right to demand what our reason approves, and that we should have nothing in common with the Hebrew."

As the Church developed into the fourth century and became an international political power, it was confronted with the terrible fact that the Hebrew, merely by continuing to be Hebrew threatened the very legitimacy of the Church. They concluded that if Judaism remained valid, Christianity would then be invalid. Christianity's idea of redemption was so manifestly in opposition to that of the Hebrew, that it rendered their mutual coexistence inconceivable. The Church Fathers had to deal with this Hebrew challenge and they did so in a most logical manner.

The Hebrew belief was declared an apostate and superseded religion and the Hebrew had now lost their right to exist. However, the Hebrew did exist and so the Church needed a reason for their continued existence. If their failure to recognize the Christ resulted in their dispersion, and if Christianity had superceded Judaism in being a "light to the nations", then why were the Hebrew around at all? The Church concluded that the reason Hebrew survived was to prove the truth of Christianity. They were to be around always, to be persecuted, vulnerable, wanderers on the earth without a home, as proof of God's wrath upon them.

The condition of the Hebrew was to be a negative witness to their crime of deicide. This was the purpose of their existence. The Hebrew, therefore, were forever, everywhere, held collectively responsible for Yeshua’s death because they were "a wicked nation." Furthermore, the calamities that befell the Hebrews--the destruction of the Temple and the dispersion--were seen as having Christological import, pointing to what Christians saw as just desserts for killing Christ.

Augustine declared:

"The true image of the Hebrew is Judas Iscariot, who sells the Lord for silver. The Jew can never understand the Scriptures and forever will bear the guilt for the death of Yeshua."

Concerning the accusation of "deicide", the killing of God, Justin Martyr, in his dialogue with Trypho the Jew, stated that the Hebrew should "rightly suffer", for they had "slain the Just One." If the Church believed that the Hebrew had, in fact, killed God, then it would stand to reason that "God is dead".

The stereotype of the "deicide people" was transmitted through theological writings, sermons and in following centuries, through Passion plays, folklore and the arts. Christian theologians condemned Hebrew, accusing them of being idolaters, torturers, spiritually deaf, blasphemers, gluttons, adulterers, cannibals, Christ-killers, and beyond God's forgiveness. John Chrysostom, known as the "golden mouthed" orator due to his eloquence in speech, unleashed a series of "Homilies Against the Hebrew." In the late fourth century he falsely wrote:

"They sacrificed their sons and daughters to devils; they outraged nature and overthrew their foundations of the laws of relationship. They are become worse than the wild beasts, and for no reason at all, with their own hands, they murder their offspring, to worship the avenging devils who are foes of our life. They know only one thing, to satisfy their gullets, get drunk, to kill and maim one another. The Hebrew are the most worthless of all men. They are lecherous, greedy, rapacious. They are perfidious murderers of Christ. The Hebrew are the odious assassins of Christ and for killing God there is no expiation possible, no indulgence or pardon. Christians may never cease vengeance, and the Hebrew must live in servitude forever. God always hated the Hebrew. It is incumbent upon all Christians to hate the Hebrew."


Chrysostom argued that Hebrew will be crucified throughout history because they crucified Christ:

"It is because you shed the precious blood, that there is now no restoration, no mercy anymore, and no defense ….”

Persecution and violence toward the Hebrew became common due to heavy restrictive measures imposed by the Church against the Hebrew people. In the three centuries from 300 to 600 CE, a host of rules were passed containing discriminatory provisions against the Hebrew in the Christian Roman Empire. These were summed up in four major rules contained in the Laws of Constantine the Great (315 CE); the Laws of Constaninus (399 CE); the Laws of Theodosius II (439 CE) and the Laws of Justinian (531 CE).

"Under Emperor Justinian, Roman Law was systematized and codified as Corpus Iuris Civilis, or "the Justinian Code". Church Law and doctrine now became state policy. The total of these laws declared that Hebrew were no longer allowed to hold high offices or have military careers. It became a capital offence to convert to Judaism and intermarriage between Christians and Hebrew was punishable by death. The Torah was forbidden to be read exclusively in Hebrew and Hebrew were allowed only a prescribed version of Scripture in their synagogues and were also prohibited to use prayers that were seen as anti-Trinitarian. The keeping of the Sabbath, Hebrew Festivals and performing circumcision were banned and Hebrew property was confiscated. Rabbinical jurisdiction was curtailed; all former religious and governing privileges were removed and Hebrew were not permitted to testify against Christians. With the Christianization of the Roman Empire in east and west throughout the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries, the increase in anti-Hebrew legislation and teaching reduced Judaism to a position of permanent legal inferiority. In all respects, the Jew had to remain subservient to the Christian, and Christianity soon began to enjoy a position of superiority over Judaism, which caused serious consequences for the Hebrew."

In 418 CE, Bishop Severus of Majorca forced Hebrew to convert. Violent street fighting broke out with a mob incited by the bishop. The synagogue was burnt. Finally the leaders of the Hebrew community gave in and 540 Hebrew were converted. St. Jerome, who had studied with Hebrew scholars in Palestine and translated the Bible into Latin wrote about the synagogue:

"If you call it a brothel, a den of vice, the Devil's refuge, Satan's fortress, a place to deprave the soul, an abyss of every conceivable disaster or whatever you will, you are still saying less than it deserves."

In 489 CE, a Christian mob set fire to the synagogues in Antioch and threw the bodies of slain Hebrew into the fire. Hebrew could exercise no position of authority and Christianity had to be rigidly protected from "contamination" through living, eating or engaging is sexual relation with them.

The status of the Jew was thus no more than that of an animal, as Peter the Venerable, Abbot of Cluny, declared to the faithful:


"Truly I doubt whether a Jew can be really human... I lead out from its den a monstrous animal and show it as a laughing stock in the amphitheater of the world. I bring thee forward, thou Jew, thou brute beast, in the sight of all men."

Under the stigma of this image, the Hebrew were gradually excluded from every sphere of political influence and their political and civil rights were increasingly denied them, until eventually such rights were almost entirely a thing of the past. Church teaching, such as that of John Chrysostom, paved the way for the slaughter of countless numbers of Hebrew throughout history.

Statements such as these from Cluny and Chrysostom were constantly reiterated by Church leaders. The image of the Jew progressively evolved from that of "apostate", to the total representation of evil--the very incarnation of the devil himself. The "Church triumphant" saw herself as bearing the task of making the Holy Land (and other lands along the way) Judenrein. The leader of the First Crusade, Godfroi Bouillon, in 1096 CE, swore to avenge the blood of Christ in Israel and to leave no single member of the Hebrew race alive. When the Crusaders arrived in Israel, then called Palestina, they rounded up the Hebrew in Jerusalem, herded them into the synagogue and burned the building to the ground. Marching triumphantly around the inferno, they sang a hymn-- "Christ We Adore Thee". Inside the burning synagogue, no doubt the Hebrew heard these strains of "Christian worship" as they perished.

Shortly before the Church's Fourth Lateran Council, held in 1215 CE, Pope Innocent III condemned the Hebrew to eternal slavery by decreeing:


"The Hebrew, against whom the blood of Yeshua Christ calls out, although they ought not to be killed, lest the Christian people forget the Divine Law, yet as wanderers ought they remain upon the earth, until their countenance be filled with shame."

With this statement, the Church settled the destiny of the Hebrew people for many centuries. Church doctrine ultimately legitimized the torture and murder of Hebrew in Christendom for nearly two thousand years. They were to live as wanderers on the earth, having no home, rights or privileges. The Hebrew were treated as pariahs and became the scapegoats for all the ills of society. People everywhere, in all classes, were eager to exterminate the Hebrew. These people were not born with an instinctive hatred in their hearts toward the Hebrew people, their hatred was the product of clerical propaganda.

The doctrines and teachings of the Church from its beginnings to the Fourth Lateran Council, laid the initial layer of "Hebrew hatred" and took the Hebrew people all the way to the Holocaust. This first step began with the attempt to drive Hebrew either into Christianity or into a place of non-identity, as Judaism was no longer recognized as a valid religion. By doing so, the Church clearly defined anti-Semitism's first characteristic — "You have no right to live among us as Hebrew."


Some Closing Thoughts

As we see in the brief and tragic historical account above, It was the 'Church Fathers' quoted above, who introduced the erroneous and shameful "strange fire" into the life of the Believers, through their man-made doctrines.

It is the seeds of man-made religious doctrines that, if allowed to germinate, eventually evolve into a false Religious system — whose corrupted fruit is hatred of the Hebrew, and abandonment of living according to the Scriptures.

As a result of this corruption, the Biblical practices and celebrations of the Born-Again Believers began to be outlawed, and then snuffed-out altogether, only to be replaced with man-made religious doctrines, un-Biblical practices, and pagan celebrations.

All of the protestant and evangelical religions of today stem from this early, 'evolved' form of religious doctrine and practice seen above, which has yielded the corrupt fruit of "Replacement Theology" and anti-semitism. This inherited corruption defines the current state of evangelical Christianity today, which bears no resemblance to the first-century followers of Messiah.

In light of this information, it appears that the Believers of today have been robbed by the 'Church Fathers' of their true, Biblical heritage (Isaiah 42:21-22; Jeremiah 16:19).

But The Most High has promised a full restoration of all things, before He returns (Mat 17:11; Mark 9:12; Acts 3:21) — and this restoration is now well underway! Both Hebrew and Gentile Believers today are coming out from among the long-standing, man-made religious teachings and idolatrous practices found within both Judaism and Christianity.

Instead, they are beginning to 'keep' (the Hebrew word means 'to guard;' to 'watch;' to beware, take heed, and observe) the Biblical doctrines, practices and celebrations — just as Yahushua and the early Disciples did. This remnant of Biblical Believers today have a genuine love for the Hebrew people, and an inward love for Israel.

As the Bride-Company is being led by the Holy Spirit into all Truth, she is being restored, and 'cleaned-up' by the Bridegroom Himself!


"If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief,

and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." (Rev 3:3)

Shema Selah, we have to go to the origin of that thing to get to the truth!!  

What Your Pastor Never Told You About The Second Commandment

Deuteronomy 4


We are walking in today:  What Your Pastor Never Told You About The Second Commandment

Witness pastor throughout the Bible:   H7462 ra`ah--to shepherd, of ruler, teacher, of people as flock

Jeremiah 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

The Torah  ..................…

The prophets proclaim...............…
 Jeremiah 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors H7462 also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

The writings bear witness.............

Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors H7462 according to mine heart, which shall feed H7462 you with knowledge and understanding.

As Bible Believers and as Parents, we need to raise our children according to the Faith of THE MOST HIGH, and not according to the ways of the world, and certainly not under the influence of devils. When THE MOST HIGH commanded His people that "no graven images" were to be made, acquired, or kept, He was not being cruel and heartless. He knew the great harm these objects could do to His people.

Notice what we are told in the Second Commandment:

Thou shalt not make <06213> unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (Exodus 20:4)

In the above verse, the Hebrew word asah is Strong's number <06213>, and means "make, acquire, keep, use, prepare, work, execute, accomplish, fashion," and a host of other meanings, depending on context. From this word we get the idea that graven images are off-limits to THE MOST HIGH's children, in every way. Since this is one of the greatest sources of problems between THE MOST HIGH and His people, we will look at what a graven image is.

What Is A Graven Image?

Mankind is always trying to justify his own actions by attempting to re-define Bible words and meanings. Man would define a Graven Image or idol as something that one would physically bow down to. THE MOST HIGH, on the other hand, is very specific about His definition:

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (Exodus 20:4)

Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: (Deuteronomy 4:16-18)

Notice that THE MOST HIGH's definition of a graven image in the above verses is not dependent on what a man does, or does not do, with that object. In the above Scripture passages, THE MOST HIGH makes no distinction between an object that is worshipped, and one that is not worshipped. These are simply Graven Images by THE MOST HIGH's definition.

THE MOST HIGH's definition is simply based on a clear explanation of being an image or likeness of a living creature, as given in general in the Exodus verse, and in greater detail in Deuteronomy, as we see above. The term 'likeness' narrows it down to a 3-dimensional object, since a 2-dimensional object bears no likeness to a 3-dimensional object.

Examples of these objects today are abundant, and can be in the form of art objects or figurines in the likeness of people, animals, or angels. They can likewise take the form of stuffed animals and other toys; and also brass eagles, carved birds, fish, horses, and other animals as found in homes and offices; and ceramic sun and moon objects, carved and cast statues, statuettes, African and other native masks, and many others. We will look at what Scripture reveals about the great danger to our wellbeing, and to the wellbeing of our families, as a result of having these items.

Why Do Objects Attract?

Visible, physical objects often appeal to the senses, delight the flesh, and have great attraction to man's soulish realm. However, we need to be cautious, and realize that such objects can carry with them unseen spiritual realities that can actually bring a curse to the one who has the object in his home or office. Notice what THE MOST HIGH warns us about:

Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. (Deuteronomy 7:26)

It is clear throughout Scripture that graven images and idols were among the many forms of abominations that were off-limits to THE MOST HIGH's people. We see in the above passage that if an abomination were to be brought into our place of habitation, whether home or office, it will put the same curse upon us, that that object is under.

We have been clearly warned. These are not simply figurines, art objects, or toys, as the world sees them. In the spiritual realm, these objects are abominations, and are the equivalent of spiritual 'dog dung.' They not only stink, but they attract spiritual 'flies' or dysfunction, and the curses that go along with the dysfunction. Do we want our homes full of these dysfunction? It is this dysfunction that can cause uncurable sicknesses, and all types of troubles in the home, which take the form of curses.

Bible-Believing families should be shocked to learn these things that their Pastors and Leaders never told them, but that affect our lives so greatly. We should check our homes for any objects that fit the Scriptural definitions, and we ought to destroy them, or burn them, or throw them out immediately!

"Housecleaning" is what we call getting rid of anything in our homes that may cause demonic problems. We must look throughout our homes, and pray diligently, seeking THE MOST HIGH's guidance about any items that need to be destroyed — items that are graven images by the Bible definition, and are idols or abominations in THE MOST HIGH's eyes. This covers all statues, figurines, dolls, stuffed animals, and the like. There comes a great freedom and healing in all areas of our home — in the health of our bodies, in our emotional wellbeing, and in the peace in our home — when we begin to be obedient to the Second Commandment.

The Second Commandment says to NOT MAKE or ACQUIRE a graven image of any living being. THE MOST HIGH knew if we were to make them or have them, we would become attached to them, and that is a form of worshipping them. Through our natural sentimentality toward an object, we can create an attachment to that object, and an eventual stronghold of idolatry.

Besides this, having something in our home that THE MOST HIGH has told us NOT TO MAKE or ACQUIRE is disobedience. THE MOST HIGH knows that having forbidden graven images leads to idolatry.

Our disobedience becomes idolatry when we practice 'our own understanding' of the Scriptures, rather than what the Scriptures actually say. Our own understanding becomes an idol, when it becomes a substitute for THE MOST HIGH's Word. Thus many Believers today are unknowingly practicing idolatry, when they make or have a forbidden object, yet do not 'bow down' to it.

Simply having these things in our homes gives the dysfunction a legal right to enter our homes, and to remain, until we repent of all disobedience! This is the source of much sorrow today in homes and families of otherwise faithful Believers. They are simply ignorant of the importance of obedience to the Second Commandment!

In Romans 1:25, the Scripture points out that there are MANY who change the truth of THE MOST HIGH into a LIE, and by doing so they worship and serve a creature more than the Creator. Think about it. If Yahushua came to your door and said, "Get rid of your carved images," could you readily discard them and trash them? Would you hesitate, aching over the value and sentiment that they represented and held to you?

The Family Toybox

The Holy Spirit has revealed a tactic of the enemy against our children. This attack is presented in the form of dolls, stuffed animal toys, and figures of toy soldiers, heroes, monsters, and objects imitating other life forms, whether real or imaginary. These are graven images by THE MOST HIGH's definition!

As parents, we desire the obedience of our children. So it is with THE MOST HIGH. He desires the trusting obedience of His children. Are you one of His children? He has told you very simply, "to obey is better." (1 Sam.15:22) Those who love their heavenly Father, are those who will obey Him.

What Are Dolls?

Most parents like to give their daughters dolls to play with. But what are dolls? Have we ever looked at the history of dolls?

Let's look at this example. One encyclopedia says that the origin of dolls is witchcraft and magic; in other words — demonic. In many early societies, only witch doctors or medicine men were allowed to handle them, because of their close association with demonic influence and curses. To this day, multitudes of idol (demon) worshippers use dolls in pagan religious ceremonies.

The dictionary gives one definition of a doll as "a small carved or molded figure that served as a cult object or representation of a nursery story, cartoon, or puppet character." Much of the history of dolls includes the reputation of dolls as being used to bring good luck to their owners. Children were not allowed to touch the dolls, because they were thought to have magical powers.

These 'Good luck' dolls were supposed to bring rain or food when there was a desperate need. Sometimes it was believed that such dolls could make goats give more milk or could help win wars. Some thought dolls could make sick people become well. In voodoo practice, dolls are supposed to bring curses on people, and also to make healthy people become sick. Since they are accursed by THE MOST HIGH, they actually can and do bring these and other bizarre results.

Some primitive tribes would make wooden dolls that looked like ugly elves. They were supposed to frighten people. When an Egyptian died, dolls would be buried with the dead person, to become friends and servants for him in the spirit world.

Every time the Israelites started worshipping idols, THE MOST HIGH sent them into captivity and bondage as punishment. Phrases such as, "lest your corrupt yourselves," (Deut. 4:16); "the anger of the LORD burned against Israel," (Judges 3:7); "it is abomination," (Deut 7:25,26); "the LORD thy God hateth," (Deut 16:22); "provoked him to anger," (Ps 78:58); and "moved him to jealousy," (Ps 78:58) — all these phrases are associated with graven (carved) images.

Homes Under A Curse

Today many homes of Bible Believers are under a curse, and the inhabitants are not even aware of it. The Proverbs tell us that the curse does not come without a cause (Prov 26:2). The moment we bring a forbidden object into our house or building, we establish a legal cause for a curse to come into that realm of our authority.

As a result, problems and difficulties that arise with your children or other inhabitants, in the form of unusual discipline problems, out-of-the-ordinary or chronic sickness, accidents, emotional problems, and many others, may be likely caused by an accursed object in the home. Parents and children alike may need DELIVERANCE from the demonic influence, and from the curse of idolatry of these graven images (formed, carved, fashioned images).

Enemy Strongholds In Our Homes

Objects, including some that are not graven images of living things, can become enemy strongholds; and it is because of these strongholds, that many of THE MOST HIGH's people are not able to stand before their enemies (Josh 7:11-12; Jud 2:14-17). These can be in the form of a trinket, jewelry, or sentimental object, received as a gift or memento, or inherited from someone previously involved in occult practices of any kind, as far back as the third and fourth generation (Deut 5:9). Having such objects give the dysfunction the legal right to remain.

These strongholds must be removed from the house or building. The parents must repent, by destroying the object. If possible, it should be burned, so that no one else may find or retrieve the object, and become accursed likewise.

Once the legal right to remain has been removed from the house, an eviction must take place, by commanding these spiritual 'flies' or dysfunction, in the name of Yahushua Messiah, to leave, and never return.

Acknowledging to THE MOST HIGH our sin of idolatry is an important step in gaining deliverance from demonic strongholds. A simple confession and renouncing of our sin, and coming out of agreement with idolatry, and coming into agreement with THE MOST HIGH, is often the key to freedom. Both children and parents may need to do this.

It is our repentance and obedience that restores our household and our authority in Yahushua. Once we are restored, we can then exercise our authority in the name of Yahushua. We may then command the dysfunction to leave, and break the curse.

Dysfunction knows exactly when someone has authority, and when they do not. This is not a game; and a flippant attitude may create a problem seven times worse than before (Matt 12:43-45). It is safe to first remove the object, then through prayer, receive direction on any further steps to be taken.

If these steps do not result in a sense of peace and freedom, then you may need to seek the help of others. There are many deliverance ministries today that have a heart to help those who are seeking freedom from demonic strongholds.

Idols of the Heart

One consequence of having de jure idols (idols by legal definition only) is that they later become de facto idols, or idols of the heart. Are we attached in any way to our collection of graven images — our figurines, dolls, or toys? Our flesh will scream out against obedience to the Second Commandment. Nevertheless, this is the sin of idolatry, which is a stronghold in many lives, and is forbidden. Idolatry manifests itself in many ways. First, let's look at what Scripture tells us about idols and idolatry:

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:14)

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21)

Fiveamprayer, we are to flee from idols, and from idolatry. In the New Testament times, most knew what idols and idolatry were. It is only the gentiles, the heathen, that had no background in the Commandments of Scripture, and were ignorant. Today there are multitudes of Believing ones, who likewise are ignorant of the commandments in Scripture, and the effects of disobedience. Their Pastors and Leaders have simply not told them anything about this Truth of Scripture, because it would not 'fit into' the theology they learned from their Theological Seminaries and Bible Schools.

Notice what else THE MOST HIGH tells us about idolatry:

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (<08655> 'teraphim' = "household images"). Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (1 Samuel 15:23)

This example spoken to King Saul, reveals the same result He will speak to us, if we refuse to allow "Messiah-in-us" to walk in obedience to the Second Commandment, just as Messiah did when He walked the earth 2,000 years ago in His own body.

THE MOST HIGH does not need us to have or to use any graven images, idols, or statues of any kind to sell and promote His Kingdom. All that is required is walking in the Truth of the Bible. Our simple obedience to the true teachings of the Word of THE MOST HIGH will result in signs, wonders, and miracles following. Our Saviour said that if you do not believe Me, then believe My miracles. He brought deliverance and set the captives free.

"Taste and see" the goodness of THE MOST HIGH, when we begin to obey the Second Commandment. He will give us victory over demonic strongholds, and the peace that surpasses our ability to understand how great it is. These are blessings that the disobedient, and those of the world, can never taste.

Conclusion

The world's way of raising children is NOT THE MOST HIGH's way. Love your children the way THE MOST HIGH wants you to love them. Remove the graven images from their toybox, and from their rooms, and from your home — and deliver them out of the hand of the enemy. Repent of your lack of knowledge of THE MOST HIGH's Word, and love your children enough to remove the curses that continue to come upon them, simply because we as parents have been as disobedient children of THE MOST HIGH (Eph 5:5-6; Col 3:5-6).

Any type of collection of figurines, art objects, dolls, toys, or any other likeness of living things (such as owls and frogs especially, which are stated as abominations to THE MOST HIGH), unicorns, birds, elephants, mice, fish, bears, soldiers — any object which depicts one of THE MOST HIGH's created living beings, as well as likenesses of the heavenly bodies — are graven images, and are idols.

THE MOST HIGH strictly forbids the MAKING or ACQUIRING of them. You may have just one or two of these items in your home or office, but only a few are just as deadly as a whole collection.

Because of idols, many of THE MOST HIGH's people become deceived, and thus they prevent themselves from making progress and attaining victory in many little ways in their walk with THE MOST HIGH. Refusing to clean out the home of graven images causes a blockage in their progress, therefore they begin to lack the willingness to 'do what it takes' to grow and mature further — to become a mighty overcomer. This deception often begins with the thought, "Oh, THE MOST HIGH knows my heart; He knows I love Him, and these objects are insignificant, and nothing to concern myself over."

Pastors, do you experience a lack of prayer results, or perceive a blockage in your ministry? Perhaps you might want to consider whether you have unknowingly allowed forbidden objects into your home or office.

Many Bible Believers have given testimony of deliverance from curses brought on by these objects. Many have testified of what these objects can do, and of the curses these objects bring on individuals and entire households — until they begin to walk in obedience to the Second Commandment.

"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:17)

Shema Selah what items are in our homes as idols that will eventually be in our hearts and moved us away from the Most High!! https://www.facebook.com/fiveam.prayer/videos/1669869433091166/?l=2877239072206218933