Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
EGOS NEED NOT APPLY
We are all ministers of God whether we recognize it or not. We minister in the way we live, we minister in the way we dress. We minister in the way we talk and we minister in the way we act. And of course, we minister in the way we preach. The world is watching and they get their opinion about us in the way we minister. Today I want to talk about arrogance. This is something that we have to watch out for because, sometimes we forget why we are ministering and lose focus on our purpose and start making it out to be about us (me). I will give you an example of this.
There are a few Christian Jews/Hebrews on the Internet that are ministering and I personally believe that some of the Jews, while they recognize that we (Gentiles) are now a part of them, they love to remind us that it's because of them. That's an arrogant attitude. They are not doing like Paul where he explained this so that we Gentiles will not become boastful in our salvation, it's just because they feel they have to DE-program the Gentiles from thinking "Christianity" is our religion. I found this out when I visited a particular website. I do not remember the name because I did not stay on the website long. Also I am sending this because I am a big advocate for Christians learning Hebrew and I feel I should warn you about websites that are not on the same page as us (for lack of a better word)
I will say that I could tell that the man loves the LORD and that he have a lot of knowledge. He is working on his 3rd doctored degree and he have been teaching this for a little over 30 years.
He starts out by saying his message is highly controversial and that what he has to tell us is something that we are not use to hearing and if we don't like what he has to say than he would say things like "Don't bother to write me if you disagree with me because there is nothing you can say to change me and I will not read it because I have a filter for all the hate mail." "Even though I don't know it all, I've been doing this for 30 years so I've studied enough to know what I am talking about". He even said that if you don't like it, then you would serve best to do your own website. I will only say this in his defense that he probably got a lot of complaints and possibly hate mail from viewers and he felt the need to make a statement about that, however, this is no way for a minister of God to behave. Paul stressed in great details that without love, your work means nothing to God. One of the biggest dangers a messenger of God have is when they discourage a believer and cause them to doubt their salvation. Not based on because they are living in darkness totally against God's word like John explained in his three letters, but for example, because they believe salvation only comes to those who follow the law of Moses. Paul had a problem with members of this group all the time and this man is one of them. This is what you have to watch out for when you look for a place to study "Christian" Hebrews and I wanted to warn you about this.
He is a Jew that believes on Yeshua. He denies the name Jesus because he says this is not the real transliteration and that the real transliteration is Yeshua which is true that Yeshua is the true transliteration of His name. He says the believing Jews do not recognize the name Jesus nor do they recognize the name Jehovah for both are incorrect transliterations (because there is no "J" in the Hebrew transliterations). He also denies the word "church" because he says "the Gentiles got it all wrong, you belong to (our faith) not us belonging to (your faith)." He is right in that sense that some Gentiles may have forgotten how we became saved in the first place, meaning, we forgot that our roots are from the Jews and that they always had the truth and we are the ones who converted to their faith. He says the proper name, for us, is "THE WAY" which was the name given to them during that time. He also deny the name "Christian" because it was a derogatory name given to those who followed Jesus and that that name is tagged to those who persecuted the Jews. Most importantly, to him, the name "church" means that we think we are the true or new church and that we are trying to convert the Jews to join our church. Regarding forgetting where we came from, he is really dealing with "The Replacement Theology" group and he probably believe that most Christians think this way. NOTE: The replacement theology group does not have the correct understanding. He believes that the only reason Paul sent the letter to the Gentiles that they did not have to follow the law of Moses was because it was too soon for them to receive all the information at once so to resolve the separation issue with the Jews and the Born again Gentiles, is to have them to refrain from things that are offensive to the Jews but it was not intended for them to NOT obey the law of Moses. He says that anyone who does not follow the law of Moses is not truly saved and is not living a righteous life.
Well what I have to say about that is...
First, if that was the case than Paul would not have been so against the group telling the Gentiles about the law and circumcision since according to him, it is something that they need to do to be righteous. This is not the only account where Paul got after the Gentiles for believing the others who pushed the law of Moses on them. In Galatians when Paul saw that the Gentiles were observing the law he said who bewitched you Gal 3:1-5.
Second, he forgot that only Jesus Christ was the only one who walk on the earth as a true Torah observer. With that being said, that means that this man get no credit for his "so called observing the law" (using his expression) because it's the faith and the belief in Jesus Christ that has saved him and made him righteous, not of any works he is doing. He is in the same boat as the rest of us.
Third, he was born Jew not by work but because his mother and father are Jews. He does not get Brownie points for being born.
Fourth, as far as the name "church" and "Christian", he is putting too much emphasis on a name just to make himself look like he has something great to argue about. If the Gentiles called the gathering place a church, than so be it. It is not a thing that will make a difference in your salvation by using the name Church and Christian. The Bible that have been translated for the English speaking people have the words Church and Christian in it and both words were used before the publishing of the King James Bible. We are not sinning because we call the gathering of Christian people a church. Regarding the name "Christian" even if it was true that they called them Christian hoping to upset them, they gave us a word that is actually honorable because the word derives from Christ. Christian simply means Christ-like and that is how the world recognize it today.
He seems to hate anything that would appear to be the idea of a Gentile and that we must stop that and follow everything that they say for it is the only way and right way. When the disciples went to Antioch, that is when they first used the name Christian (notice the word church listed also) and yes, it was the Gentiles who used that name and I didn't hear anything about the disciples disapproving of it. Acts 11: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
I've made a choice to embraced my spiritual heritage by learning the Jewish culture. I learn better by not only studying the word and going to school, but also doing/observing some of the things they do and celebrating with them some of the things they celebrate (Hebrew Christians). Again it's just to embrace the Hebrew culture, not because I think I will get brownie points from God. I also want to have fellowship with my Christian Hebrew brothers and sisters but that is because the Holy Spirit moved me in that direction and because I prayed and asked for this as well. It doesn't make me better or less in God's eyes. It is my desire and the LORD approves. This is why I appreciate the school that I am going to because he embrace and love the Gentiles and welcome us to get to know our new roots now that we are saved and he lovingly invite us to join them in how they live only if we choose to and if the LORD places it on our hearts. There is no pressure at all because it's not necessary.
No one has the right to boast about being saved or being born a Jew. It was all God's work and will period and He gets all the glory. We work because we love the LORD, not because we are made holy by works. Works make no one holy. Jesus was not holy because he worked however, because Jesus is Holy, He worked. He was holy first before doing any work at all. I will say it again, WORK DOES NOT MAKE YOU HOLY OR RIGHTEOUS!
This man's problem is that he want us Gentiles "to get it straight" and that is, the Jews are the true vine and their ways (Moses Law) is the only right way to live and if you are not obeying that law, you are not living righteously. What this man failed to realize is that God called Abraham righteous because Abraham believed God's word. What act did Abraham do that was so great that made him righteous compared to the works giving in the law of Moses that was given after Abraham? God gave Abraham the promise and Abraham believed God's word and it was then that God called Abraham righteous.
So the work that Abraham did that made him righteous was not only that he believed, but that he also ACTED on that belief. When God told Abraham to go, he went. When God told Abraham you will have a child (when Abraham was old), he believed. When God told Abraham to use his ONLY PROMISED son as a sacrifice, Abraham obeyed and followed and believed God. See the pattern? The work that Abraham did was faith.
Today God gives us a word on what to do through the Holy Spirit. We must live our lives and walk by faith. Being saved means truly believe on Jesus as the Son of God who is fully God and human and that He was the sacrificial lamb who carried our sins on the cross who died on the cross and who finished the work when He rose again the third day as it was prophesied and that He showed Himself to the disciples and others and that He accented into heaven and is currently sitting on the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. The Bible says if you will confess with your mouth and believe it in your heart, you are saved. And now the promise that was given to all people who believe on Him is the Holy Spirit who is our Teacher. Now if the law was our teacher than what is the need for the Holy Spirit when we already have a teacher? The Holy Spirit teaches us how to obey the LORD and law correctly. Love the LORD with all of your heart soul and might and to love your neighbors as yourself. As Christians, having the Holy Spirit in us, it is automatic that we will have no other gods before Him and that we know not to kill or steal and that we will honor our parents and we know not to covet and not to bare false witness and not to commit adultery and the Holy Spirit will show us through our walk what to do and what to say. Obeying the Holy Spirit is the same as obeying God's law because it's God's word and God's word or command is law. Jesus said that the Father works always even on the Sabbath and so does the Son. The same goes for us, our work is never done. We have liberty in our salvation and we serve the LORD always. Our lives and our living is a holy sacrifice unto the LORD. We don't stop helping people because it's the Sabbath. We are still at work if we go to church on a different day. God is working in the church on Sunday and God is working in the church on Saturday as well. And any other day that a person can go to worship the LORD, the LORD will be at work there as well. The LORD is always at work and never stop and we never stop. John 5:16-18
I am writing this because I hate for anyone to be discouraged over something that is not true. It's so easy to come across something like this on the Internet and feel bad about yourself. I know someone who constantly post on his Facebook page the same message that this man is saying and he is related to me. My main purpose on this blog is to encourage others but there are times when I will give a warning message about living right and checking yourself because God requires us to do that. I do it all out of love because when I write this, I am checking myself also. I do not think highly of myself more than anyone else. We all have to crucify our flesh and carry our own cross. We are all working out our salvation. Not saying we are not saved but living in sanctification. Walking in the word of God.
All foolish ego has to go and it has no place in our lives. We are saved ONLY because of what God has done. If God did not do it, we would all go to hell. It's just that simple.
Bless the LORD, oh my soul and all that is within me bless His holy Name!
As always I love you. God bless you.
There are a few Christian Jews/Hebrews on the Internet that are ministering and I personally believe that some of the Jews, while they recognize that we (Gentiles) are now a part of them, they love to remind us that it's because of them. That's an arrogant attitude. They are not doing like Paul where he explained this so that we Gentiles will not become boastful in our salvation, it's just because they feel they have to DE-program the Gentiles from thinking "Christianity" is our religion. I found this out when I visited a particular website. I do not remember the name because I did not stay on the website long. Also I am sending this because I am a big advocate for Christians learning Hebrew and I feel I should warn you about websites that are not on the same page as us (for lack of a better word)
I will say that I could tell that the man loves the LORD and that he have a lot of knowledge. He is working on his 3rd doctored degree and he have been teaching this for a little over 30 years.
He starts out by saying his message is highly controversial and that what he has to tell us is something that we are not use to hearing and if we don't like what he has to say than he would say things like "Don't bother to write me if you disagree with me because there is nothing you can say to change me and I will not read it because I have a filter for all the hate mail." "Even though I don't know it all, I've been doing this for 30 years so I've studied enough to know what I am talking about". He even said that if you don't like it, then you would serve best to do your own website. I will only say this in his defense that he probably got a lot of complaints and possibly hate mail from viewers and he felt the need to make a statement about that, however, this is no way for a minister of God to behave. Paul stressed in great details that without love, your work means nothing to God. One of the biggest dangers a messenger of God have is when they discourage a believer and cause them to doubt their salvation. Not based on because they are living in darkness totally against God's word like John explained in his three letters, but for example, because they believe salvation only comes to those who follow the law of Moses. Paul had a problem with members of this group all the time and this man is one of them. This is what you have to watch out for when you look for a place to study "Christian" Hebrews and I wanted to warn you about this.
He is a Jew that believes on Yeshua. He denies the name Jesus because he says this is not the real transliteration and that the real transliteration is Yeshua which is true that Yeshua is the true transliteration of His name. He says the believing Jews do not recognize the name Jesus nor do they recognize the name Jehovah for both are incorrect transliterations (because there is no "J" in the Hebrew transliterations). He also denies the word "church" because he says "the Gentiles got it all wrong, you belong to (our faith) not us belonging to (your faith)." He is right in that sense that some Gentiles may have forgotten how we became saved in the first place, meaning, we forgot that our roots are from the Jews and that they always had the truth and we are the ones who converted to their faith. He says the proper name, for us, is "THE WAY" which was the name given to them during that time. He also deny the name "Christian" because it was a derogatory name given to those who followed Jesus and that that name is tagged to those who persecuted the Jews. Most importantly, to him, the name "church" means that we think we are the true or new church and that we are trying to convert the Jews to join our church. Regarding forgetting where we came from, he is really dealing with "The Replacement Theology" group and he probably believe that most Christians think this way. NOTE: The replacement theology group does not have the correct understanding. He believes that the only reason Paul sent the letter to the Gentiles that they did not have to follow the law of Moses was because it was too soon for them to receive all the information at once so to resolve the separation issue with the Jews and the Born again Gentiles, is to have them to refrain from things that are offensive to the Jews but it was not intended for them to NOT obey the law of Moses. He says that anyone who does not follow the law of Moses is not truly saved and is not living a righteous life.
Well what I have to say about that is...
First, if that was the case than Paul would not have been so against the group telling the Gentiles about the law and circumcision since according to him, it is something that they need to do to be righteous. This is not the only account where Paul got after the Gentiles for believing the others who pushed the law of Moses on them. In Galatians when Paul saw that the Gentiles were observing the law he said who bewitched you Gal 3:1-5.
Second, he forgot that only Jesus Christ was the only one who walk on the earth as a true Torah observer. With that being said, that means that this man get no credit for his "so called observing the law" (using his expression) because it's the faith and the belief in Jesus Christ that has saved him and made him righteous, not of any works he is doing. He is in the same boat as the rest of us.
Third, he was born Jew not by work but because his mother and father are Jews. He does not get Brownie points for being born.
Fourth, as far as the name "church" and "Christian", he is putting too much emphasis on a name just to make himself look like he has something great to argue about. If the Gentiles called the gathering place a church, than so be it. It is not a thing that will make a difference in your salvation by using the name Church and Christian. The Bible that have been translated for the English speaking people have the words Church and Christian in it and both words were used before the publishing of the King James Bible. We are not sinning because we call the gathering of Christian people a church. Regarding the name "Christian" even if it was true that they called them Christian hoping to upset them, they gave us a word that is actually honorable because the word derives from Christ. Christian simply means Christ-like and that is how the world recognize it today.
He seems to hate anything that would appear to be the idea of a Gentile and that we must stop that and follow everything that they say for it is the only way and right way. When the disciples went to Antioch, that is when they first used the name Christian (notice the word church listed also) and yes, it was the Gentiles who used that name and I didn't hear anything about the disciples disapproving of it. Acts 11: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
I've made a choice to embraced my spiritual heritage by learning the Jewish culture. I learn better by not only studying the word and going to school, but also doing/observing some of the things they do and celebrating with them some of the things they celebrate (Hebrew Christians). Again it's just to embrace the Hebrew culture, not because I think I will get brownie points from God. I also want to have fellowship with my Christian Hebrew brothers and sisters but that is because the Holy Spirit moved me in that direction and because I prayed and asked for this as well. It doesn't make me better or less in God's eyes. It is my desire and the LORD approves. This is why I appreciate the school that I am going to because he embrace and love the Gentiles and welcome us to get to know our new roots now that we are saved and he lovingly invite us to join them in how they live only if we choose to and if the LORD places it on our hearts. There is no pressure at all because it's not necessary.
No one has the right to boast about being saved or being born a Jew. It was all God's work and will period and He gets all the glory. We work because we love the LORD, not because we are made holy by works. Works make no one holy. Jesus was not holy because he worked however, because Jesus is Holy, He worked. He was holy first before doing any work at all. I will say it again, WORK DOES NOT MAKE YOU HOLY OR RIGHTEOUS!
This man's problem is that he want us Gentiles "to get it straight" and that is, the Jews are the true vine and their ways (Moses Law) is the only right way to live and if you are not obeying that law, you are not living righteously. What this man failed to realize is that God called Abraham righteous because Abraham believed God's word. What act did Abraham do that was so great that made him righteous compared to the works giving in the law of Moses that was given after Abraham? God gave Abraham the promise and Abraham believed God's word and it was then that God called Abraham righteous.
So the work that Abraham did that made him righteous was not only that he believed, but that he also ACTED on that belief. When God told Abraham to go, he went. When God told Abraham you will have a child (when Abraham was old), he believed. When God told Abraham to use his ONLY PROMISED son as a sacrifice, Abraham obeyed and followed and believed God. See the pattern? The work that Abraham did was faith.
Today God gives us a word on what to do through the Holy Spirit. We must live our lives and walk by faith. Being saved means truly believe on Jesus as the Son of God who is fully God and human and that He was the sacrificial lamb who carried our sins on the cross who died on the cross and who finished the work when He rose again the third day as it was prophesied and that He showed Himself to the disciples and others and that He accented into heaven and is currently sitting on the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. The Bible says if you will confess with your mouth and believe it in your heart, you are saved. And now the promise that was given to all people who believe on Him is the Holy Spirit who is our Teacher. Now if the law was our teacher than what is the need for the Holy Spirit when we already have a teacher? The Holy Spirit teaches us how to obey the LORD and law correctly. Love the LORD with all of your heart soul and might and to love your neighbors as yourself. As Christians, having the Holy Spirit in us, it is automatic that we will have no other gods before Him and that we know not to kill or steal and that we will honor our parents and we know not to covet and not to bare false witness and not to commit adultery and the Holy Spirit will show us through our walk what to do and what to say. Obeying the Holy Spirit is the same as obeying God's law because it's God's word and God's word or command is law. Jesus said that the Father works always even on the Sabbath and so does the Son. The same goes for us, our work is never done. We have liberty in our salvation and we serve the LORD always. Our lives and our living is a holy sacrifice unto the LORD. We don't stop helping people because it's the Sabbath. We are still at work if we go to church on a different day. God is working in the church on Sunday and God is working in the church on Saturday as well. And any other day that a person can go to worship the LORD, the LORD will be at work there as well. The LORD is always at work and never stop and we never stop. John 5:16-18
I am writing this because I hate for anyone to be discouraged over something that is not true. It's so easy to come across something like this on the Internet and feel bad about yourself. I know someone who constantly post on his Facebook page the same message that this man is saying and he is related to me. My main purpose on this blog is to encourage others but there are times when I will give a warning message about living right and checking yourself because God requires us to do that. I do it all out of love because when I write this, I am checking myself also. I do not think highly of myself more than anyone else. We all have to crucify our flesh and carry our own cross. We are all working out our salvation. Not saying we are not saved but living in sanctification. Walking in the word of God.
All foolish ego has to go and it has no place in our lives. We are saved ONLY because of what God has done. If God did not do it, we would all go to hell. It's just that simple.
Bless the LORD, oh my soul and all that is within me bless His holy Name!
As always I love you. God bless you.
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