There have been a lot of things that have seemed really jumbled for me in the past year and I couldn’t understand how they all fit together… until today! Surrender and Slavery I was listening to Dutch Sheets speak about Intercessory prayer, and something he said suddenly just clicked! God created man (Adam) to be an image (a shadow, an illusion, a re-presentation) of Him and His glory here on earth. Adam looked like YHWH and was given His authority to re-present the will of YHWH on earth. Unfortunately, Adam surrendered that authority and gave it to Hasatan, our Adversary, and in doing so, turned over YHWH’s kingdom to the enemy. Now Adam was stripped on that authority and a slave or captive. But YHWH promised the enemy who had gained authority that a time was coming when his rule would be crushed. Reclaiming the Kingdom Four thousand-ish years later, Yeshua came. A man surrendered authority and a man had to take it back. To do this, Yeshua had to overthrow the rule of the enemy, death. When Yeshua rose again, defeating death, He took back the kingdom authority for YHWH on earth. Once again, the true King rules and reign. Redemption So what does that have to do with people? What does it mean to “trust in Yeshua”? When I trust in Yeshua, when I surrender my will to His, when I choose to believe and accept that He is the One, true King, I choose to become part of His kingdom. Kind of like a naturalized citizen in a country. I swear my allegiance and submission to the rule and reign of YHWH. I turn my back on my former citizenship and slavery, and I choose to submit to His rules and His ways. Reigning As a citizen of YHWH’s retaken kingdom, I choose to submit to His laws, the Torah. As His embassador to this earth, it is my role to live a life that demonstrates what it means to be a part of His kingdom. And since His kingdom is totally different from the enemy’s, my life should reflect that difference. Just like Roman ambassadors were charged with making conquered citizens more Roman, I am charged with showing the newly freed and those who still live in bondage what it means to be a part of YHWH’s rule and reign. Reconciling the Torah One confusing bit was how the Torah fit in. I believe in its relevance, but how does it work with what Yeshua did? Here’s my thoughts: I can live by the Torah and never enter into and submit to YHWH’s kingdom authority by believing that Yeshua, His Son has reclaimed the keys to the kingdom (so the Torah can’t bring me true life, but my inability to follow it does show me that I need Yeshua, someone to save me from slavery.). But, if I do believe that Yeshua crushed the rule of the enemy and now rules this earth, and if I submit myself to His rule, then I also choose to obey His rules (Torah). Do people break rules? Yeah. Sometimes on purpose, and sometimes in ignorance. Are there consequences for breaking rules? Yeah. Some are more obvious than others, though. If I choose to eat pork, the consequence may be a build up of fat and being unhealthy. It may not kill me, but I won’t be all that I could be. On the other hand, there are some laws that, if broken, carry more obvious consequences. Like murder. I can live in YHWH’s kingdom and not follow Torah. But life will be richer, and I will be a better light and re-presentation of YHWH’s kingdom if I do.
There are two questions I’ve had a lot: does Torah matter and how were the Gentiles (sons of strangers) supposed to know this law? Skip Moen answers these questions with insight in two posts: Food in the Garden This article discusses the role of Israel. God clearly states (in Hebrew) that all men live by the Torah. This begs the question of how the rest of us are supposed to know about Torah if it was given to the Israelites. The answer is that they are chosen as God’s priestly people whose role is to tell the world how to live according to God’s standard and to return to the Garden. Read the whole article >> The Certificate Many of us wonder, then, what got “nailed to the cross” when Yeshua died? Our Bibles translate it as the Torah… but is that correct? This article explores what the Hebrew text says and clarifies the role of Torah in our lives today. Read the whole article >>
I am a fellow citizen with the saints and the household of God. Ephesians 2:19-20 So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, 2:20 because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. A citizen is a person that is a legally recognized as a member of a state, with associated rights and obligations. So, as a citizen of God’s kingdom, I am legally recognized by Him and I have associated rights and obligations that accompany that citizenship. Being legally recognized means that no one else can claim me nor do they have rights over me. My rights are those promises and blessings given in the Bible. My obligations are the guidelines of Torah. Just like I accept and obey the laws of my country, I should do the same for God’s kingdom, of which I am a citizen. I can’t expect to benefit from my citizenship without also fulfilling the obligations.
One thing I’ve found as I’ve searched and explored is that I’m no longer certain about some of the beliefs I thought I was certain about. I no longer completely understand how some things fit together, nor do I understand how to do many of the things that I thought were basic. The conflict between my western/Greek theology and the Hebrew theology that I am learning is so great that I feel like I walk on egg shells. How far does God’s grace extend? Does he understand that I am trying my hardest to be obedient to Him, to worship Him the way He wants to be worshiped, to pray the way He wants to me to pray, and to live the way He wants me to live? If I get it wrong, does His grace take into account how much I want to get it right but don’t know how because it’s been jumbled in 2000 years of politics and confusion? I sure hope so. There is really only one thing I do know for sure: YHWH is God. He is ONE. The only one. I also know that Yeshua came as a man and died and rose again for me, to repair the relationship that was severed in the garden. And I know that the Torah is my act of obedience in response to Him. It doesn’t save me (only God’s graciously attributing righteousness to me can do that), but it shows me how to live as a citizen of His kingdom. I helps me be “set apart” from the world. Beyond that, I’m a little confused and uncertain. I don’t know how singing praises fits in to all of this, and I don’t know how sacrifices and such fit in so long ago, and I don’t know how these things that seem to attack my brother-in-law and husband fit it, and I don’t know how to apply a lot of the things I’m learning. Sometimes I wish the answer was more obvious.
How do you deal with something that people don’t believe exist. Or that you’ve seen and heard, but people think aren’t really there. I’m not talking about ghosts. My family, unfortunately, is dealing with darker things that hang on with tentacles and growl in the dark. How do you address something that the Bible hardly talks about? How do you fight something that you aren’t even sure you understand? Have I mentioned how much I love the fact that I can now go and research all this, from a Hebrew view, no less!
Bring us back, our Father, to Your Torah, and bring us near, our King, to Your service, and influence us to return in perfect repentance before You. Shemoneh Esrei hashivanu This is from a post that Skip made yesterday, but I thought it was so beautiful in its wording. It’s part of the morning prayers from the Jewish prayer book. The parallel structure emphasizes the parallels between His Torah, His service, and our desire to return to Him in repentance. It also emphasizes two unique roles that He plays: Father and King. I also like that it’s about desire. Asking for forgiveness without desiring to return is an empty request. Asking for the desire to return takes us much further down the path. You can read Skip’s full post where he talks about the word “influence” here.
This was posted as a comment on Skip Moen’s blog, but I wanted to repost it here because it clarifies a lot of questions I had/have. Granted, it’s one person’s view and since I don’t know much about the Jewish beliefs (other than what’s in the Bible), I don’t know if it’s perfectly, precisely, 100% right. However, it really helps me see much more clearly how the Torah applies to worshiping God. Thanks to Rodney who wrote this post! No-one was ever justified by bringing sacrifices and it was never about removing sin. Torah defines sin; it does not remove it. The 13 sacrifices given in Torah relate to the 13 aspects of the mercy of God. They were given to teach us how to approach God in a right way, not presumptuously but humbly and with reverence. They point us to Messiah and all speak of His ministry and work in us. The outward act of bringing the sacrifice or offering was supposed to teach us how to offer ourselves on the altar of our hearts. Isn’t that what Paul said in Romans 12? “I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God topresent yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship”. The external acts are supposed to be internalised and acted on in our heartsand, as such, are still as valid today as they ever were. What are the 13 sacrifices? 1. Minchah – a meal offering of grain, flour, bread or cakes. Is not Jesus the “bread of life”? Did he not break bread and say, “this bread is my body, broken for you?” 2. Olah – a whole burnt offering, completely given to God, to be lifted up onto the altar. Was not Messiah lifted up for us? Completely given to God? He is our Olah, our Lamb (the Lamb of God), our whole burnt offering. 3. Chata’ah – a sin offering for unintentional sin. Messiah took on himself our sin and is our sin offering. 4. Nesek – a drink offering (of wine). Did not Jesus take the cup and say, “this cup is the blood of the new covenant, my blood poured out for you”? 5. Tenuphah – a wave offering (usually loaves of bread or leafy branches), lifted up and waved before God. Is this not what we do when we lift our hands in worship to our Saviour and King? 6. Asham – a guilt offering (for an unintentional mistake by a leader). Messiah is our true leader, the only perfect leader and example, yet he offered himself as our guilt offering; thus we are made righteous and declared “not guilty” – as Skip has just pointed out in the last couple of days, we are “justified by faith” by believing and acting on God’s declaration of righteousness bestowed on us. 7. Millu – an ordination offering, where priests and kings were anointed. Is not Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One? 8. Shelem – a peace offering. Is He not the Prince of Peace? 9. Todah – a thanksgiving offering (usually at the completion of something). Do we not still give thanks to our Heavenly Father for his strength, provision, sustenance and guidance in our lives? 10. Nedabah – a freewill offering (to celebrate with the Lord or involve Him in a celebration). Do we not still bring gifts to God and offer praise and thanksgiving as part of our celebrations? 11. Neder – a votive offering (in connection with a vow). Has our Father not vowed that “I will never leave you nor forsake you“? Does he not vow to save us through the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua? He is the votive offering that guarantees and completes God’s vow to us. 12. Terumah – a heave offering (a contribution from the heart). Do we not still give alms as a contribution from our hearts? Messiah taught about this when He said, “Don’t sound a teruah(trumpet) when you make a terumah (give alms)”; in other words, “when you make a true contribution from the heart, don’t make a big noise about it, but do it quietly – you’re giving to God and it is betwen you and Him”. 13. Azkarah – a memorial offering (a remembrance). Did Jesus not say to His disciples, “As often as you do this, remember me”? Each of these offerings was called “Qorban” – brought near – to be brought near when we approached the Lord. Only 2 have anything to do with sin and none are for intentional sin. The Torah is clear – there is no sacrifice that a man can bring that atones for intentional, wilfull sin – the penalty for wilfully sinning against God (which we have all done at some time in our lives) is death. The only way out of that is to be passed from death to life and that is only done through the sacrifice brought by God Himself- the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. OurPassover Lamb that passes us from death to life. Oh, by the way, that wasn’t taught by Moses – that one was taught to us by Abraham. Remember? Isaac was to supposed to be up on the altar, but Abraham prophesied that “God will provide Himself a Lamb in this place“. Isaac was passed from death to life in the same way we are; through the substitutionary sacrifice of the Lamb of God. In that place. Mt Moriah. Known later as the Temple Mount. No-one was ever justified by “keeping the Law” (obeying Torah). That was never its purpose. It had two functions – to define sin and to teach us about Messiah. If you remove the definition of sin, then there is no more sin – therefore there can be no judgment for sin (and no-one on earth need fear God’s judgment because God has no grounds for judgment if there is no sin). BTW, Paul said this over and over again. We just twisted his words to say what we wanted them to say because we didn’t like the message. Just one thing to clarify – I said above that the sacrificial system is still just as valid today. It is, but we don’t have an operating Levitical Priesthood to assist with bringing and presenting the sacrifices, we don’t have a consecrated altar on the temple mount nor do we have a temple; therefore we obey Torah by not bringing the sacrifices, except in our hearts. Oh, yes. About the fact that each of the sacrifices was assisted by a priest? Yeshua is our High Priest – He is the one who assists us to bring the sacrifices on the altar of our hearts. We would all do well to study and learn how to apply that to our lives today (and our relationship with our Father will be all the richer for it). How’s that for awesome? I like it! I know there is some controversy over the part about Isaac (due to later comments), but it’s still amazing! God’s pretty incredible to come up with a system that had meaning then and that can continue to have meaning today! Skip’s Original Post is here. Rodney’s website is here.