O n t h a t d a y liv in g w a t e r w ill flo w o u t fro m J e r u s a le m , h a lf o f it e a s t t o t h e D e a d S e a a n d h a lf o f it w e s t t o t h e M e d it e r r a n e a n S e a , in s u m m e r a n d in w in t e r. Zechariah 14:8
3
7
VOL. 10 | No. 4 | July-August 2020
A R T I C L E S
12
8 3 | Fruits of the Spirit - Longsuffering by Randy Folliard
12 | Satan Strikes Out by Alan Mansager
7 | Energy of the Holy Spirit 8 | Disengaged Devotion
15 | Q & A
19 | Letters
by Alan Mansager
Restoration Times expounds the close ties between the Old and New Testaments. We teach the continuity and harmony that extend from Yahweh’s actions anciently down through His present activity in Yahshua the Messiah. This was also the conviction of the early New Testament Assembly. This publication is made possible through the tithes and offerings of those who desire to see the truth of Scripture restored in our day. © 2020 Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry
COVER: Couple in the Judean Desert looking toward the Dead Sea, Israel. iStock
EDITOR Alan Mansager COPY EDITOR Debra Wirl GRAPHICS / LAYOUT Ryan Mansager CONTRIBUTING WRITER Randy Folliard DIGITAL PUBLISHINGS Lucas Cecil
Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry PO Box 463 Holts Summit, MO 65043 Telephone: 573-896-1000 Office hours M-F 8am-4pm
www.yrm.org info@yrm.org
Fruits of the Spirit
Longsuffering
by Randy Folliard
I Longsuffering is one of the most important fruits of the spirit. Not only does it exemplify who our Savior was, but it’s also something we desperately need.
n this installment of our Fruits of the Spirit series we reflect upon the spiritual fruit of longsuffering. But first, let’s review all nine fruits of the spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law,” Galatians 5:22-23. Here is the bedrock of what it means to be a believer. While we know that the commandments are important, it’s equally imperative that we live by the attributes we find here. Yahshua exemplified each of these attributes and as His people we must emulate and follow His examples. Longsuffering is one of the most important spiritual fruits. This word comes from the Greek makrothumia (No. 3115 in Strong’s Dictionary) and means “longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude.” Synonyms include patience, self-control, restraint. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines this word as, “patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs.” So, we see that longsuffering also includes the idea of slowness of anger or retribution, therefore having a connection to forgiveness. Think about how often we regularly practice longsuffering. We are patient with our spouses, with our children,
with our friends, and even with those we don’t know. I often share with those I’m counseling for marriage that marriage is not always easy. One reason is that marriage involves two people with often different views, likes, and opinions. And at times, these differences will cause conflict in the relationship. While there are many ways of dealing with differences, an absolute must is having patience or longsuffering for one another. Being a parent often requires a tremendous amount of patience, as children will try your fortitude like nothing else. If you have children of your own, as I do, you know what I’m talking about. Or perhaps you have an overly critical, demanding co-worker who pushes a personal agenda and is consistently counterproductive. These are just a few instances of where we need longsuffering or patience. Anytime we have a relationship with someone, whether as a parent, spouse, friend, or even a co-worker, patience is required. This is one reason I believe longsuffering is one of the most important fruits of the spirit. Not only does it exemplify who our Savior was, but it’s also something we desperately need as believers. The bottom line is, if Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
3
we are patient we will be a better person. However, there is one caveat: in some cases, it’s possible to be too patient, enabling people with bad behavior or who make dreadful decisions. In these situations we can also put ourselves at risk. However, this scenario is rare, as most of us could use more patience, not less. Psalm 37:7-9 provides a lesson in patience. “Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon Yahweh, they shall inherit the earth.” When we see some sort of injustice, do we ever become upset or impatient? Maybe one of our co-workers gets a promotion we wanted by cheating or through maliciousness. Assuming there’s nothing we can do about it, we need to rely on Yahweh and have patience that He will provide. Sometimes we act rashly instead of having faith and waiting on Yahweh. We need to remind ourselves that as long as we’re living for Yahweh, He’s with us. Think about that reality for just a moment: the most powerful Being in this universe is the One supporting and providing for us. Does this mean that we’re going to receive health, wealth, and prosperity in this life? As many of us know, this isn’t the case; just because we live for Yahweh doesn’t guarantee we’re going to prosper in this way. What it does guarantee, though, is that we’re going to flourish in the life to come. This is one reason we should be focused on the future and not the present. There are many blessings awaiting those who are found worthy at Yahshua’s coming, one of which is the change from mortal to immortal, being like the angels in heaven and living forever. Also, the righteous shall rule and reign with Yahshua the Messiah in the millennial Kingdom. But to achieve this, we must learn to be patient or longsuffering and to have faith in Yahweh. In Isaiah 40:31 we learn we’re to wait on Yahweh to renew our strength. “But
4
Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
they that wait upon Yahweh shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we’ve exhausted our patience and have nothing more to give. It is these situations that the above passage seems to refer to. When we’ve given everything we have and have nothing more to offer, we need to wait on Yahweh and allow Him to renew our strength. No matter how dire the situation might be, our Heavenly Father can see us through. That doesn’t mean we always get the answer we want, but He will provide an answer and a way of escape. Forbearing One Another Colossians 3:12-13 instructs us to be patient with one another. “Put on therefore, as the elect of Elohim, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Messiah forgave you, so also do ye.” Before viewing the facets of longsuffering, let’s look at some of the other attributes we find in this passage. Paul mentions several important characteristics: mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, forbearance, and forgivingness. Delving into the meanings of each we find: • “Mercy” refers to showing pity or compassion. • “Kindness” ascribes to showing gentleness. In the Greek it also conveys the thought of moral excellence in character or demeanor. • The phrase “humbleness of mind” comes from the Greek compound tapeinophrosune and refers to humility or modesty. • According to Strong’s, the word “meekness” literally means mildness and by implication, humility. • The word “forbearance” derives from the Greek word anechomai. The King James translates this word as to endure, forbear, and suffer. • Lastly, the word “forgiving” means to grant as a favor, i.e. in kindness, pardon or rescue. 24/7/365 video streaming and LIVE Services.
Paul tells us we should be exhibiting these characteristics with one another, i.e., to the assembly or body of believers, truly elements of the weightier matters Yahshua spoke about in Matthew 23:23. As we see in Matthew 15 and Mark 7, Yahshua was especially concerned with what is in the heart. As I’ve stressed throughout this series, it’s much easier keeping the Sabbath than changing who we are on the inside. Showing Empathy Colossians 3 also instructs us to exhibit longsuffering for one another. This is from the same Greek word for longsuffering that we see in Galatians 5 where Paul speaks about the fruits of the spirit. As believers we’re to be patient with those in the assembly. This means that instead of passing judgment or being critical, we show empathy and forgiveness, as Yahshua showed during His ministry. The question then is, just how many times or how often must we show this longsuffering or empathy? In Matthew 18 Peter posed this same query to Yahshua when he asked how many times we should forgive our brother. Yahshua told Peter that we must forgive seventy times seven or as often as they ask for forgiveness. As you can imagine, this kind of forgiveness would require a great deal of longsuffering or patience. We also know that through trials and tribulation, patience builds character. Paul speaks about this in Romans 5:3-4. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” We find a spiritual progression of growth here. As a side note, the Greek word for experience is dokime, deriving from dokimos, meaning acceptable or approved. When we show patience, then, we find acceptance or approval by Yahweh. Notice this process begins with tribulation and patience. The fact is, if
we never suffer from trials, we will never have an opportunity for growth. And part of this growth is learning to be patient or longsuffering. Kingdom Consequences The hope Paul refers to most likely points to the promise of Yahweh’s Kingdom. A similar passage is found in James 1:2-4. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Notice the first thing James says is that we should be glad when we come against temptations or trials because through temptations we build patience, which leads to perfect works and inevitably to Yahweh’s Kingdom. Based on what we find here and in Romans, how important is it that we have patience or longsuffering? I would say that in many ways our position in the Kingdom partially depends upon our patience. So, how patient are we? On a scale from 1 to 10, how would we rank ourselves? Would we say we’re a very patient person or would we acknowledge that we fall somewhat short? Do we show forbearance with our families and those in the assembly? As believers, we’re to strive to live by and adopt the characteristics we find in the fruits of the spirit, including patience and longsuffering. In James 5:10-11 we find a reference to a man who exemplified patience. “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of Yahweh, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of Yahweh; that Yahweh is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James begins by discussing the prophets of old and how through their afflictions and patience they were counted as happy or blessed. So, again, we find a blessing for those who show patience and fortitude. The Patience of Job Recall that the Greek word for longsuffering is makrothumia and refers
Will we have the longsuffering and fortitude to remain true to our commitment or will we give up and throw in the towel? to forbearance and fortitude. One man who showed incredible patience or forbearance was Job. In fact, James uses Job as THE example for patience. Let’s read the first chapter of Job and reacquaint ourselves with how much this man suffered. “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared Elohim, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed Elohim in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. Now there was a day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan came also among them. And Yahweh said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, From
going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And Yahweh said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth Elohim, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, Doth Job fear Elohim for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And Yahweh said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of Elohim is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Yahweh gave, and Yahweh hath taken away; blessed be the name of Yahweh. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged Elohim foolishly.” We see that Job was perfect and Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
5
rd
upright and that he feared Yahweh, a good man who was devoted in his faith. A father of seven sons and three daughters, Job was also a very wealthy man, the owner of 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 5,000 oxen, and 500 donkeys. But Satan was allowed to take all of this away from Job. His children died tragically, and his animals were stolen by his enemies and consumed by fire. As we go through the story, we find that Job also suffered from nasty boils and other health issues. Things got so bad for Job that his own wife encouraged him to curse Yahweh and die. We find that he was distraught and bewildered as to why these things were happening. In fact, most of the Book of Job is a dialogue between him and his friends trying to answer why these things were happening. Job claimed his innocence, while his friends accused him of doing something wrong. Considering all that this man suffered, it’s amazing that he never cursed Yahweh or walked away from his faith. While he struggled to understand why these things were happening, as any person would, he never denounced Yahweh. This is why Job is THE example for patience and longsuffering. He never blamed or gave up on Yahweh, even though everything he had was taken away. Imagine yourself in Job’s position – losing everything that you cherish and value. Would you have the same longsuffering and patience that Job showed? I would say that very few of us, including myself, would’ve shown the same patience as Job. Because of this patience and faith in Yahweh, in Job 42:10-17 we find that Yahweh blessed him in a great way, with twice what he had before as well as another seven sons and three daughters! “And Yahweh turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that Yahweh had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and
6
Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
every one an earring of gold. So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this Job lived an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days.” What lesson do we glean from Job? In one word – patience. Job exemplified what it means to be longsuffering and patient. Even though he literally lost everything that he loved and valued, he never quit or relinquished his faith. Even after being told by his own wife to curse Yahweh and die, he refused. I believe part of the reason Yahweh allowed Satan to test Job as he did was an example for us. As believers, then, we should consider Job when we’re going through trials or tribulation and endeavor to have the same longsuffering and patience that he had. Perils of Paul One more lesson to consider is found in the New Testament. In 2Corinthians 11:23-28, we find the suffering of the Apostle Paul. “Are they ministers of Messiah? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside
those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the assemblies.” While Paul did not suffer quite like Job, we would all agree that he went through an awful lot. He was whipped and beaten with rods, stoned, imprisoned, and shipwrecked; his life was often in danger, and without the basic necessities of life. Beyond that he had the weight of the assemblies on his shoulders. Paul suffered a tremendous amount during his ministry. This is one reason I admire this man. He was completely devoted to Yahweh and to Yahshua the Messiah and nothing was going to discourage him from fulfilling his course. No matter what tribulation he had to suffer, nothing was going to stop him from sharing the Good News. Except for Yahshua the Messiah, I’m not sure there was another man in the New Testament more determined than the Apostle Paul. As believers, do we have this same determination? If we suffered as Paul did, would we have the same longsuffering and patience that he showed? Would we have the same drive and devotion to continue on no matter what? As we get closer to Yahshua’s coming, questions like these will become more important, especially with some of the signs we are seeing today, e.g. the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest here and abroad. Yahshua in the Olivet Prophecy said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” The Great Tribulation is going to be a time like none other. The persecution that many believers will suffer during this time will test their faith and devotion like nothing before. The question is, will we have the longsuffering and fortitude to remain true to our commitment or will we give up and throw in the towel? This is why the characteristics we find through the fruits of the spirit are so important. Each one holds value that will make us into a better believer and disciple of our Savior, Yahshua the Messiah. They will also make us a better person when it comes to our relationships now.
Energy of the Holy Spirit Below is an excerpt from the Topical Reference of the 4th Edition Restoration Study Bible
T The Holy Spirit is the acting agent by which Yahweh and His Son accomplish their will.
he Holy Spirit is an incredible, invisible force proceeding from the Heavenly Father. It is in essence the mind and power of Yahweh, which was also bestowed upon the Son, Luke 24:49; John 15:26. The Holy Spirit is the acting agent by which Yahweh and His Son accomplish their will. The Holy Spirit is endowed upon the baptized following their repentance and baptism into the saving Name of Yahshua the Messiah through the laying on hands of the presbytery (ministers), Acts 2:38; 5:32; 8:17; 19:6; 1Timothy 4:14; 2Timothy 1:6. Through this power a person receives Yahweh’s strength to overcome sin, live a repentant life and is also given spiritual gifts to be used for the benefit of the Body of Messiah, 1Corinthians 12. A person endowed with the spirit also displays fruits as listed in Galatians 5:22-23. The Holy Spirit is also given in measure, 2Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, Romans 8:23, Ephesians 1:13-14, except in Yahshua’s case, John 3:34.
The gift of the Spirit can be stirred up, 2Timothy 1:6. The Spirit can also be quenched or neglected, 1Thessalonians 5:19, Ephesians 4:30, 1Timothy 4:14. It can also be removed from an individual as found in David’s plea in Psalm 51:11. It is the Holy Spirit dwelling in the saints that will raise them at the resurrection, as it did with Yahshua, Romans 8:1; John 6:63; 1Corinthians 6:14; 2Corinthians 3:6, 1Peter 3:18. The Holy Spirit is equated with Yahweh Himself, 2Corinthians 3:17, and to subvert His Spirit through a total falling away carries the worst consequence. Complete rejection of Yahweh means to be rejected by Him in return. “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mark 3:29, NIV). Blasphemy against the Spirit is “perhaps a complete denial of the Truth once the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit is witnessed” (RSB). Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
7
Disengaged Devotion Worship is not a passive, spectator exercise. The Word requires total commitment not only in the heart while sitting in a pew, but also in every aspect of our lives. by Alan Mansager
C
ompare two worship scenes: It’s the seventh day of the week. Dressed rather simply, an unassuming man who looks like everyone else sits on a seashore rock, speaking and gesturing to a growing group of curious gatherers. A gust of wind wafts a scent of seaweed. Waves roll over the sand as the teacher, now just offshore in a weathered fishing boat, tells a parable about a sower scattering seed on a field littered with rocks and weeds. His manner is straightforward as he punctuates his message with warnings against lust and sin, urging the crowd to beware of wicked and adulterous generations. Quoting liberally from the Old Testament Scriptures and their prophecies, he explains that he has come not to bring harmony to this world but to separate those who would follow truth from those who are at home with traditions and the allures of the world. His listeners are spellbound by his penetrating insights and boldness. They listen intently, captivated by the incisive truth of his words. Some are convinced to change their lives. He is provocative, unlike anyone they have ever heard. Some are a bit offended. Others so seethe with anger they would like nothing more than to stone him. Sensing their hostility, he breaks away, only to be followed by a large part of the crowd wanting more. We switch now to a different teacher in another place and time.
8
Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
It’s morning, the first day of the week. An individual wearing a white robe with gilded sleeves enters an ornate sanctuary and climbs ceremoniously to a high oak podium decorated with various symbols. Nearby a golden altar supports tiers of ivory candles. Rays of rainbow-drenched light beam through stained window glass. A red-robed choir presents a melodious chorus to the rich sounds of J.S. Bach played on a massive pipe organ. The audience rises from plush pews to repetitively chant the minister’s doxology, who then motions them to sit in unison. His euphonic voice speaks of love and grace and peace and getting along with people of all faiths. He tells the halfengaged audience they are all one in the family of humanity and must accept the great diversity of religious beliefs in the interest of love and unity with all men and with planet earth. Drawing his 20-minute homily from a snippet of a “Pauline” verse, he bids farewell to the genteel laity. Another organ number breaks into a crescendo to end the service, anticipated by a congregation looking forward to finishing the rest of the day in worldly entertainment. It’s two different modes of worship totally out of touch with each other. One is firmly planted in ancient truths and is alive, relevant, spontaneous, riveting, and life-changing. The other is stale, predictable routine, low impact, and – most importantly – filled with platitudes
and centuries of musty tradition in all its fallacies. Conditioned for Error Could they be transported back 2,000 years to stand on the seashore and listen to the Savior, most churchgoers today would be too uncomfortable to linger long. It just wouldn’t feel like “church,” so how could it be right? Our society is so accustomed to tradition in worship that anything different from what many have grown up with is rejected as heresy. Especially is that true of ingrained teachings. The centuries-old legacies handed down through the mainstream have put today’s worshiper in a spiritual straitjacket. For fear of what they might discover, most are unwilling to take their Bibles out of their closets and prove what they are told. Others simply lack the motivation to test whether what they have grown up believing is in tune with scriptural teaching. Few even take their Bibles to church services to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good,” as the noble Bereans were praised for doing (IThes. 5:21, Acts 17:11). If they did, they would quickly discover that the Bible instructs very differently from what centuries of tradition and amalgamation with other belief systems have led millions to accept as truth. How many have stopped to consider that the Savior was not a “Christian,” but a Hebrew, a Jew. He based His teachings exclusively on truths taught in the Old
Testament (the ONLY Scriptures in existence at that time). How many churchgoers today really grasp the plain fact that Christianity sprang from Old Testament Israelite worship? This simple reality is a thinly veiled secret in denominational religion, yet the evidence cries out in many traditions and practices of worship. Having Israelite roots explains why churches today still have “altars,” as did ancient Israel. It is the reason churches continue to take up what are known as “offerings,” just as Israelites brought their sacrificial offerings before Yahweh. Because it grew out of Judaism, churchianity still gives lip service to worship on one day of the week as Judah and Israel did on the Sabbath. In revealing its roots, the weekly Communion service replicates Israel’s Passover with its symbols of the body and blood ingested by the congregation. Easter is a perversion of the Passover (Acts 12:4, where “Easter” is a mistranslation of the Greek Pascha or Passover). Some churches have “sanctuaries,” or holy places. Others see the church building itself as holy. This is simply a throwback to the Jerusalem temple and the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle of Israel where Yahweh dwelled and where no one dared enter but the high priest on Atonement. The music of the modern church song service is directly tied to the Old
Testament practice of singing Psalms, which King David set to music, as well as the songs Israel sang. Terms like “elder,” “teacher,” “pastor,” and “shepherd” trace to the worship of ancient Israel. Similarly, “amen,” “halleluyah,” and other terms used in modern worship have been adapted from Hebrew. Rejecting the Roots of Truth Regardless of these and many more similarities in practice and doctrine, to advocate seriously investigating the Old Testament as the foundation of biblical truth would get one quickly ushered out the door of most churches today. Through centuries of conditioning, the average Bible believer today has been led by the erroneous notion that the Old Testament, its system of worship, its laws, and its people are superfluous; that the 39 books that come first in the Bible are essentially dead, and have nothing to do with modern worship. Its the same conditioning that would make today’s churchgoer uncomfortable meeting at a seashore for services. The masses have been indoctrinated for centuries with the false idea that anything occurring before the Book of Matthew has no real significance for True Worship today. Never mind that the Apostles and the Savior Himself quoted from, referred to, and based all their teachings on the Old Testament Scriptures! The New Testament contains 263 direct quotations from the Old Testament.
Receive prayer, pray for others...
yrm.org/prayer
Check it out on YRM Mobile too!
Society on Life Support Suppose you were given a two-part drama to read. How much would you understand if you were told to skip Part One and start with Part Two? Without an understanding that the New Testament Assembly has Hebraic roots, that “Christianity” grew out of Judaism, that the promise was given to Israel and still is – without these anchors to stabilize it, nominal worship found itself adrift, being blown about by every teaching and subject to all sorts of doctrinal aberrations. Without a foundation established on adherence to and teaching of Yahweh’s law embodied in the Ten Commandments, the modern church is powerless to confront today’s lawless, sin-filled world. The religious establishment has effectively tied its own hands. For the church to condemn society’s murder, stealing, lying, adultery, and other rampant sins would be hypocrisy when the church itself teaches that biblical laws against such are no longer binding on the believer! In Romans 11 we have a portion of a letter by the champion of nominal worshipers. Paul is often quoted, especially in his Galatians, as supporting a new, “law-less” worship. But notice what he says about our roots: “For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be COME IN. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away unrighteousness from Jacob” (Rom. 11:25-26). He calls it a “mystery,” mustedon in the Greek. It refers to a sacred secret that Yahweh intends to carry out for the purpose of His Kingdom. That secret rests in the duration of Israel’s blindness. To bring it about He sent a deliverer from Zion, not from Athens or Rome. Paul doesn’t say that Yahweh has a different plan for the church, which would succeed Israel. He says Yahweh has opened a way up for Gentiles to come into essentially the same covenant Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
9
promise established with Israel. There is only one covenant today, and that covenant is based on the first covenant made with Israel. Ignorant of this foundational truth, popular is the idea that everyone is going to their heavenly reward regardless of the life they lived or their worship. Many would be shocked to learn that no human being other than Yahshua has gone to heaven (John 3:13), and that the Kingdom is promised only to those who are of Israel. Those who take hold of the Israelite promise are grafted in to that promise. That is the substance of what Paul was writing in Romans 9 and 11. Old Testament Influence But why has the Old Testament not been accepted as the foundation that it is for proper worship today? We’ll look at a few practical reasons before we investigate the underlying doctrinal causes. First is its sheer size. The Old Testament makes up two-thirds of the Bible. As our society becomes increasingly non-reading, the Old Testament with its sometimes ponderous detail will be mysterious to the increasing masses. Then there is the fact that the Old Testament contains hundreds of difficult place names and characters. It includes long genealogical tables, as well as chapter after chapter of chronology encompassing thousands of years. These self-affirming proofs of its veracity make for rather dull reading for most people. The time the Old Testament was written is itself remote, as it deals with a people of a much different culture from our own. Besides this, sociologists tell us that we in the West have a Roman-Greek world view, while the Old Testament is couched in Near Eastern thought-forms with many unfamiliar metaphors and idioms in its Hebrew. This difference has hindered a correct grasp of the Old Testament from the beginning. Another impediment some have to reading the Old Testament is its many wars, violence, slavery, and difficult conditions that Israel faced. Yahweh was establishing a people for Himself in an incorrigible world filled with sin
10
Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
(just like today), and that called for some drastic measures on occasion. All of which makes for some uncomfortable reading for those who cannot grasp the concept of crime and appropriate punishment. Differences Emphasized But by far the big reason that the Old Testament is not considered essential today is a doctrinal one. Through the centuries the masses have been preconditioned to reject the Old or original Testament in favor of the New. For millennia the teachings about Old and New testaments have stressed differences rather than similarities. Contrast and contradiction were played up, while relatedness and parallels were downplayed. As the church became more Grecianized and infused with Platonic thinking, the Old Testament was increasingly seen as a book just for Jews. Reflected in that attitude was an antiSemitic undertone born of Gnosticism. This brought its own reaction from the Jews, who looked on Gentiles with similar disdain. These widened the gap between Old and New, making the Old Testament the Bible for the Jews and the New Testament the exclusive Scriptures for Christians. Instead of seeing harmony, the Old Testament today is usually contrasted with the New, such as: The New superseded the Old; the Old is seen as a book of wrath, while the New is a book of grace. The Old is an archaic book of Law, the New a “Gospel” of peace and love. What the True Worshiper must ask himself, however, is what are the attitudes of Yahshua and the others in the New Testament toward the Old Testament? This seems to be the logical and in fact the only way to go about understanding the proper relationship. Why worry about what some may say? Just go to the source! Yahshua Taught and Obeyed Law The Savior said in Matthew 5, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Matt. 5:17). These are the words of the Messiah Himself, who said that He did not come to do away with
The Bible teaches only one system of worship. the Old Testament and its laws. Rather, He came to bring them to their proper realization. He came to show by His life how Yahweh’s laws are to be lived to produce the complete and righteous individual. How do we fulfill the law under the New Covenant? The same way. Paul tells us in Romans 8:4: “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Yahshua maintained that He did not come to destroy the law or prophets established in the Old Testament, and then in the rest of Matthew chapter 5 goes on to show how the Ten Commandments are to be observed in various applications and circumstances today! No doubt that through His many teachings that revealed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in their keeping the letter of the law and completely missing the point of it, people were thinking even back then that He came to abolish Old Testament law. He says don’t think that! If you do you aren’t getting the gist of what I am saying. You are missing the heart and soul of my message. I’m not saying the law is done away, nor are the writings of the Old Testament. I’m saying look deeper into the reason for lawkeeping. Have the right motives for your obedience and not to display your own righteousness as the Pharisees do. Notice what Yahshua said in the last part of John 10:35: “If he called them elohim, unto whom the word of Yahweh came, and the Scripture cannot be broken.” The phrase, “the Scriptures cannot be broken” in the Greek means loosened or undone. Those who claim the Old Testament is out of date must realize that there are over 1,600 quotations, references, and allusions linking the Old with the New. The relationship between Old and New testaments is complex and
interwoven — which is obscured when today’s Bibles separate them into two distinct sections. Without the Old Testament, the New would be virtually impossible to understand correctly. The original Testament explains: • Creation; • The fall of humanity and our need of a Redeemer; • The concept of grace by the way Yahweh dealt with a sinful Israel; • The concept of love Yahweh showed Israel; • What the covenant is; • What the law is and why it is necessary; • The priesthood, of which our Savior is chief; • Yahshua’s Messiahship and His sacrifice. The Old Testament constitutes nearly 80 percent of the Bible directly or in shared quotations and references with the New. How can anyone ignore 80 percent of a book and claim to understand it? It’s time to stop seeing the Old Testament as optional reading and begin to see it as essential to understanding the entire Word of Yahweh. Doing so shows just how far off the mark churchianity has been for the past 2,000 years. In 2Timothy 3:16 we learn that the Old Testament is inspired, which means breathed by Yahweh. (Latin: inspire = in- into + spirare, to breathe). The Scriptures are literally spoken by Yahweh, “Yahweh breathed.” “All scripture is given by inspiration of Yahweh, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Yahweh spoke the words of His book through the Holy Spirit, which served as a conduit to pass them on to the inspired writers of the Bible. From a Hebrew Heritage When you read Mark Twain you need some understanding of the times in which he wrote to fully grasp his writings. Try to read Shakespeare or Chaucer only in the context of today’s culture and you’ll miss much of the significance of what is written. Even more fundamental, however, is the simple fact that we cannot
comprehend the New Testament if we sever it from its Old Testament Hebrew roots. You can’t read it through Greek or Latin filters and claim a complete and true understanding. From the start in Matthew 1 Yahshua’s human side is presented through the line of David. What way of life was He following? Which days did He observe? Which foods did He eat? Which commandments did He follow? The same ones Yahweh gave in the Old Testament. “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.” Yahshua grew up among Jews and followed Hebrew and Jewish custom, practice, and law, both civil and biblical. Understand that He did not chastise the Pharisees and Scribes for their obedience to Old Testament statutes and laws, but for their hypocrisy. He told the people to follow what the Scribes and Pharisees said, but not do what the Pharisees and Scribes did. “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not after their works: for they say, and do not” (Matt. 23:2-3). When they sat in Moses’ seat they had the authority of Moses to teach the law. They had access to Old Testament teachings, and our Savior is clearly telling the multitude and His disciples to observe what they are told to observe in keeping with Old Testament legislation. Far from disclaiming the law of the Old Testament, Yahshua the Messiah upheld the keeping of those precepts as showing love for Him and His Father Yahweh. He tells us in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Naturally it would be the same for us as it was for Him and His followers under the New Covenant. He adds later that disobedience to what is set forth in the Old Testament is showing dislike for Him and His Father: “He that loves me not keeps not my sayings: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:24). The Old and New testaments are two parts of the same book. The Old explains the New and the New completes the Old through the fulfillment shown us by our
Savior. The Bible teaches only one system of worship. Nor does it offer many kinds of salvation. There is only one faith: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Master, one faith, one baptism,” Ephesians 4:4-5. Neither is salvation variable. Both Judaism and Christianity have made themselves mutually exclusive, and because of that both suffer from fundamental error. They need to come together and rid themselves of the falsity that comes with rejecting the Messiah on the one hand and rejecting Yahweh’s laws on the other. A Parable Speaks Yahshua said in the parable of Lazarus in Luke 16 that if you do not believe and hence keep the precepts found in the Old Testament, you do not really know Me. It’s as simple as that. This parable is not about hell fire but about the fact that the gentiles (represented by Lazarus) were rewarded for their fidelity to the truth. The rich man represents Judah in royal garb and with many riches, who kept the promises to themselves. The striking message of this parable comes to us in the last comment Yahshua makes about it. The rich man wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers so they would repent and not be lost. But Yahshua said, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31). If churchianity will not heed the teachings of the Old Testament as given through Moses and the prophets, they cannot be persuaded (much less truly repent) if one came to them (like Yahshua) from the dead. First comes a heart willing to obey. Without that no amount of lip-service will do any good. The missing link that nominal worship lacks today and why it wanders around in darkness is what connects today’s worshiper to his Old Testament roots. If we understand and follow the precepts of the first covenant, the second covenant with the law in our hearts (Hebrews 8) will be fulfilled and completed. Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
11
Satan Strikes Out The Adversary tried three times to overthrow Yahshua’s faith and commitment to His Father Yahweh. Through Yahshua’s response we learn how we should deal with temptations and challenges to our faith.
by Alan Mansager
I
f you ever had a pristine experience suddenly shattered by an unpleasant one, then you can identify with what happened to Yahshua right after His immersion by John the Baptist. Matthew 3:16 says: “And Yahshua, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of Yahweh descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Who among the faithful would not want to be there witnessing the baptism of Yahshua? It was one of those dramas you would cherish forever, an unforgettable moment for all eternity. But then comes the downer– haSatan enters in. “Then was Yahshua led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” Not only to cast a pall over the event, the Deceiver tried to destroy the afterglow of Yahshua’s sacred and pristine act of obedience. His real
12
Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
objective was to derail Yahshua’s faith, as the evil one often tries with us after our immersion. Destruction could be his middle name and those who destroy become his agents. HaSatan claps at our calamity; delights in our downfall; laughs at our losses; savors our sadness; rejoices at our ruination. The evil one has been at it since the creation of man. He never stops and never slows down. From Physical to Spiritual Yahshua, is known as the second Adam. 1Cor. 15:45: “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” 15:47: “The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Master from heaven.” We start physically as sons of Adam, but will end up spiritually as children of Messiah—if we remain faithful. Verse 49 says, “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall
also bear the image of the heavenly.” We are seeing the devil hard at work right now doing his level best to wreak havoc in our world and throw the faith of even the saints. We cannot get caught up in the world’s lawlessness but continue resolutely on the path of righteousness, for which we will be judged. We look and live for a greater kingdom life, no matter what. Like Stephen, totally at peace while the stones were flying and killing him How will those who let the worldly mess impact their lives and faith ever overcome in the coming Tribulation? This is just the runnerup. This is just carnal humans doing what they do naturally. This world will fade and die away. We must be a force for right and Truth in an age of lawlessness. We don’t need to fear if we trust Yahweh. Psalm 119:165 reads, “Great peace have they who love thy law: and nothing shall cause them to stumble.” Hebrews 13:5-6: “He hath said I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee….So that we may boldly say Yahweh is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” What do we have to fear anyway? If we are focused on Yahweh He will guide us through all trials and tribulation. As Yahshua was tempted to prove His devotion to the Father, so we get tested during trials of life, small or great. Each time we overcome Satan’s wiles, we grow stronger in Yahweh. Like a muscle. Satan Strikes During Vulnerability
Let’s see how Yahshua handled temptation right after His baptism. Matthew 4:1 reads,“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.” That was the understatement of the year. We don’t read of any complaints from Yahshua as He starves from lack of food and water for well over a month. We, on the other hand, may do some grumbling during just one day of fasting. We must be careful that we don’t turn into Israel, craving the leeks and melons of Egyptian captivity, or like the crowds following Yahshua around just to stuff their bellies with bread and fish. We as His firstfruits must get past the physical and focus on the spiritual wherein lies our salvation. First Pitch
So the supreme tempter came to Yahshua and said, “If thou be the Son of Yahweh, command that these stones be made bread.” What a strategist! Satan hits at a time we are most vulnerable with the most enticing of temptations. He leads off with questioning the legitimacy of our Savior. That would get the natural spirit riled up immediately. “But Yahshua answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh.” Feeding his belly was far from Yahshua’s mind. His focus was on the spiritual. Physical satisfaction is temporary; spiritual needs are far more critical. That’s the lesson of this first temptation Satan levelled at our Savior. So was the Deceiver washed up after
losing round one to Yahshua’s wisdom and faith? Not by a long shot. He won’t let up on us, either. We are the prize in Satan’s eyes, because we are the apple in Yahweh’s! Pitch No. 2
Round 2, vv. 4:5: “Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of Yahweh, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” What’s THIS?– tempting Yahshua to play superman? But think deeper. We can take away at least two lessons from this encounter: First, humans have a natural desire to grandstand. To be someone. At social gatherings many like to steal the show and be the center of attention. Imagine what a hit Yahshua would be with local spectators by jumping off the high pinnacle and then be swept up by a couple of angels just before hitting the ground. Now there’s a rush! THAT would prove you are the son of Yahweh. At least, this may appeal to the flesh, but Yahshua was far above – so to speak – such theatrics. What a miscalculation on Satan’s part. The second takeaway is that Satan is well-versed in the Scriptures. And he will use them and abuse them to
overthrow Yahweh’s people if he can. He does this by twisting Scripture or leaving parts out. But when we study and know the Scriptures, subterfuge will fail. Here the evil one quotes Psalm 91:12, using Yahweh’s very Word in a vain attempt to entice His Son. He tries to turn an illustration of Yahweh’s faithfulness into a literal demonstration. The entire Psalm 91 is so powerful about Yahweh’s protection of His people, especially with what is happening today. Let’s read the entire Psalm: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of Yahweh, He is my refuge and my fortress: my Elohim; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made Yahweh, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any
The TRUE Messiah? A great deal of misinformation has been written about notable personalities down through history, but nothing compares to the delusion and confusion in the minds of millions regarding the true Messiah and His earthly mission. yrm.org/the-true-messiah
Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
13
plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
worked in Eden with the first Adam, and why not with the second Adam using the same enticements? John speaks of it in 1John 2:16: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Let’s dissect these three in light of the temptations of the two Adams: Lust of the flesh: delicious forbidden fruit and – for a famished Yahshua – hot, delectable bread Lust of the eyes is next: Eve, “your
Third and Final Try
Having struck out twice, Satan now tempts Yahshua with the best he can muster. First it’s food, then it’s showmanship, now it’s for all the marbles. He strikes at the core for which Yahshua came to earth: to lay the groundwork in establishing Kingdom rulership. We continue in Mathew 4:8: “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Sell your soul. Most people crave either power, prestige, or respect. Having worked in the political environment for many years, I can testify to that. The devil’s offer meant that Yahshua could have vaunted power immediately, without going through all the pain and suffering of fulfilling Yahweh’s plan to the end. All Yahshua had to do to achieve this shortcut was to bow down to Satan instead of His own Father. If this challenge were successful, it would also spell doom for humanity. Our salvation was hanging in the balance. “Then saith Yahshua unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship Yahweh thy Elohim, and him only shalt thou serve.” Game over. What is behind all of Satan’s evil devices is to separate us from Yahweh. He goes about like a roaring lion seeking to undermine and destroy our faith. It
14
Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
eyes will be opened to new and greater understanding / Yahshua, jump off the pinnacle and the spectacle would be the talk of the world. This will give you legitimacy like nothing else. Pride of life: Eve, just imagine, you can be a mighty one. You can be somebody / and Yahshua, You can have planet-wide rulership now, with all the glory it brings, avoiding all the pain and suffering you are otherwise in for. Satan knew that if he could somehow pull Yahshua away from His Father, he would have the ultimate prize, infinitely greater than what he got when he enticed a third of the angels to follow him. Why did Satan even try? Why not? He had nothing to lose and a world to gain. If there were zero chance of success, would he have tried? That’s the question. Through Yahshua’s responses we learn a boatload from this encounter with
the adversary. • Against the “stones to bread” temptation, Yahshua counters with, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh.” The words that proceed from the Father’s mouth are the Old and New testaments. The foundation of YRM is ALL the Bible. That makes us rare among churches and ministries, most of which like to pull the New away from the Old and teach only a third of the Word. Even though a third of the NT is made up of quotations and references to the OT, 2,600 times! • As for the “pinnacle temptation,” Yahshua responds, “It is written, thou shalt not tempt Yahweh thy Elohim.” i.e., Do not put Yahweh to the test. Interesting that Satan quotes Scripture, but leaves out the part Yahshua quoted. Yahshua says don’t play games with Yahweh. I knew of a fellow who was showing off by driving his jeep very close to the edge of a 100-foot cliff. Boasting that Yahweh would not let anything happen to him as a believer. Reminds me of the famous last words of a civil war officer who was advised to take cover as the advancing enemy started toward him. The stubborn officer arrogantly replied, “They couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn at this dis…” His bravado came at the highest cost. • As for the “mountain vista and Kingdoms” temptation, Yahshua answered with, “It is written you shall worship Yahweh your Elohim and Him only shall you serve.” In these temptations we learn three lessons: physical always takes a backseat to spiritual; never tempt Yahweh; and always make Yahweh top priority in life and worship. In a dispute with someone over beliefs, use Yahshua’s approach: quote the Word. If someone wants to take on your faith, have enough knowledge to support your beliefs with Scripture. Go to the source. Who can argue with direct, biblical quotations? We should all be able to defend our faith with the Word, as Yahshua did. The ministry that fails to make teaching the Word a top priority is negligent and is headed for trouble. That’s a guarantee.
Q
Will we see Yahweh face-to-face in the eternal kingdom?
A
The resurrected saints will definitely see Yahweh as they serve Him in His Kingdom. Note the following: In Psalm 17:15 David wrote, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” In Matthew 5:8 Yahshua said, “Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see Elohim.” Revelation 22:3-4 tells us: “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of Yahweh and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads.”
as a theocracy or nation under a religious government headed first by Yahweh. We today are under a secular Roman system and therefore many of the Old Testament governmental laws are impossible to keep today. Many laws were also to regulate a worship system centered in the Temple, which doesn’t exist today and therefore we are unable to perform them. But the majority of those “613” laws are moral/spiritual in nature and are incumbent on us, such as: not to bear a grudge (Lev. 19:18); not to wrong any one in speech (Lev. 25:17); not to curse a father or mother (Ex. 21:17); and to follow through with our words and commitments
Q
I have just recently become aware of the Feasts and Sabbath that I, as a follower of Yahshua, should be observing. I’m not sure how to go about this. There is no group where I live that follows the Sabbath/Feasts of Yahweh. Can you give me any advice on how to observe the Feasts?
A
One of the best ways to understand proper observance of these days if you can’t be personally present is to watch them being observed live on our Webcasts. In the case of the Feast of Tabernacles, we urge you to join us, as we are commanded to leave our homes and stay in booths or temporary dwellings for eight days (Lev. 23:42). Here are links to our live Webcast and Feast of Tabernacles information; yrm.org/yrmchannel.htm www.yrm.org/registerforfot.htm
Q A
A friend told me that if I keep the Sabbath then I must also keep all 613 laws of the Old Testament. Is this true? I didn’t know there were that many. The Jewish Talmud lists the number of laws at 613, although that total is disputed. The laws of the Old Testament were the constitution of Israel
(Deut. 23:23). And of course there are the Ten Commandments. These kinds of ordinances apply to everyone’s personal behavior and are meant to mold us into the image of Yahshua the Messiah (Deut. 28:9). Many laws were given to Israel at a particular place and time and have been usurped by the governments in power today. These include: to appoint judges and officers in every community of Israel (Deut. 16:18); not to execute one guilty of a capital offense before he has stood trial (Num. 35:12); not to sell a field in the land of Israel in perpetuity (Lev. 25:23); never to settle in the land of Egypt (Deut. 17:16); not to allow a witch to
live, Exodus 22:18. These kinds of laws are governmental or judicial and are out of the jurisdiction of today’s believer. Then there are laws specific to men and women that are not intended for the other sex. We find laws regarding the priesthood and temple worship, which are impossible to observe today or that were changed with Yahshua’s sacrifice and role as our High Priest. Such laws include: not to tear the High Priest’s robe (Ex. 28:32); a person with a physical blemish shall not serve in the Sanctuary (Lev. 21:23); and all the laws regulating animal sacrifice. Certain laws are for health and cleanliness, such as: the leper shall shave all his hair (Lev. 14:9); a woman’s running issue of blood defiles her (Lev. 15:25-27); to have a place outside the camp for sanitary purposes (Deut. 23:13). Other laws are for safety and are specific to a historical time, like to make a parapet (perimeter fence) on your roof because a person’s roof was also a living space in Israel (Deut. 22:8); A general guideline is, if the laws deal with our worship as defined in the New Testament, and if they are moral/spiritual laws of behavior and decency, they must be observed just as Yahshua and His followers observed them in the New Covenant.
Q A
What would be wrong if I used my tithe to help my needy neighbor and the poor?
The tithe is holy to Yahweh. It is to be used to glorify Him by helping proclaim the evangel to expand His kingdom. “And all the tithe of the lsand, (whether] of the seed of the land, [or] of the fruit of the tree, [is] Yahweh’s: it is holy unto Yahweh. And if a man will at all redeem his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall he holy unto Yahweh,” Leviticus 27:30-32.
LIVE Sabbath Streaming Watch some of the latest captivating sermons that challenge the status quo! Live Stream starts 1:20pm Central, Saturdays
yrm.org/live-archives
Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
15
When something is holy to Yahweh we must be careful how we handle it. Yahshua said we would always have the poor with us, Matthew 26:11. We are expected to do good to all people, but especially to those of the true faith, Galatians 6:10. This often means some sacrifice on our part in being faithful to Yahweh. Yahweh commands three tithes. He provides for the needy through the third tithe given every three years, Deuteronomy 14:28-29. We are commanded to deliver the first tithe to the treasure house (Neh. 10:3839), which is put in the charge of certain ones to administer (Neh. 12:44; 13:11-12). Hebrews 7:5 says the Levites, the priests, were to take the tithe (reference to Num. 18:22-26). A special chamber was set aside for the tithe, 2Chronicles 31:11-12. In Malachi 3:10, He says, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there might be meal in Mine house.” We are to take care of Yahweh’s work first and foremost. If Yahweh’s people do not do their share in proclaiming the Good News, who will? We know that 90 percent of our increase with Yahweh’s blessing will go further than 100 percent without it. If the Kingdom is to be ours then we will be expected to teach tithing to others (Rev. 2:26-27). How can we teach others to do something we never did?
Q A
Why would Lot offer his daughters to the Sodomites? Did he think the angels could not defend themselves?
Lot’s attempt to give his daughters in place of the angels was a case of human weakness in trying to protect the angels who were greater in power than any human could be. Yahweh would never have permitted compromise with sinners in allowing these evil men to defile Lot’s innocent daughters. The action was entirely Lot’s. It could have been a test for Lot, just as Abraham was tested. Abraham was willing to slay his only legitimate son and heir at Yahweh’s command, proving that he loved Yahweh and was willing to obey Yahweh at
any price. Yahshua said, “If any man come to me, and hate not [does not love less] his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple,” Luke 14:26. Righteous Lot no doubt was exhibiting this love for Yahweh – which was greater than for his own daughters – even as Abraham’s love for Yahweh was greater than his love for his own son. This is no justification for defiling the flesh, but a lesson showing that Yahweh comes before everything on this earth, including family.
Q
Who or what are the spirits in prison mentioned in 1Peter 3:19? Aren’t they condemned souls of wretched people suffering for eternity in hellfire? Why would Yahshua go preach to them?
A
If the widely-held understanding is correct as stated, what would be the point of Yahshua’s going to hellfire to preach to lost souls? Were they not already lost? In Yahshua’s parable of Luke 16:26, Abraham says that in “hell” there is a “great gulf fixed, so that they which would pass from here to you cannot.” Being that they would
be forever stuck in hell, to preach to them would only be torturing them further. The Bible tells us that the dead are just that:“for the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten,“ Ecclesiastes 9:5. “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?” Psalm 6:5. “His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish “ Psalm 146:4. Hell is sheol in Hebrew and its equivalent word hades in Greek simply mean the grave. It was the pagan Greeks who gave it the meaning of an unseen world, not Yahweh. The passage does not say that Yahshua Himself preached to the spirits in prison, but “by which,” meaning by the Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit, the same that Yahshua had, that was in Noah. It was by the Holy Spirit that Noah had that preached to the “spirits in prison” in the days that the ark was being prepared (verse 20). Noah is called a preacher of righteousness in 2Peter 2:5. “Spirits in prison” simply means people in bondage to sin and death (see Isa. 42:6-7; 61:1). If the dead never die, then Yahshua never died and we have no sacrifice for our sins. Sin requires a sacrifice that dies, not one that lives on in another form. The wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. If Yahshua didn’t pay that debt with literal death, then you and I must pay for our sins with our own deaths and that would mean we have no hope for everlasting life. The notion that the dead live on in a tortured state is right out of Greek paganism, and from the writings of Plato and 13th century Italian writer Dante Alighieri.
Q A
My minister says that Isaiah 1:13-14 tells us not to keep the Feasts. Can he be right?
Here is how the passage reads: “Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons
yrm.org/smile AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry every time you shop, at no cost to you. You’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the Ministry.
16
Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
(Free QR code scanners can be downloaded free from the app store.)
and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.” First, if Isaiah is nullifying the Feasts and Sabbath, then he is violating Yahweh’s very command to observe the Feasts and Sabbath as a statute “forever” (Lev. 23:14, 21, 31, 41). In addition, he would be contradicting what he himself wrote in the Book of Isaiah about the necessity of the new moons and Sabbaths (Isa, 66:23, 56:4; 58:1 3), as well as Yahweh’s ways and laws, which include His Feasts (Isa. 2:3). For proper understanding, we need to know the reason Isaiah wrote the passage. The context is found in verse 2 of the chapter. Judah was in rebellion against Yahweh. Isaiah calls them a sinful nation, evildoers that have corrupted the way and forsaken Yahweh and gone backward, 1:4. Then in verse 10 he denounces Judah’s rulers, comparing them to those of Sodom and Gomorrah, invoking the law of Yahweh as he does 12 times in the book. The law included the proper observance of the Sabbath and Feasts of Yahweh. We see that Judah is apostatizing and in rebellion against the laws of Yahweh. They had debased themselves and polluted True Worship. Now in verses 1:13-14 Isaiah says that because their hearts aren’t right and their sins have separated them from Yahweh, that even their worship is polluted. Notice in verse 14 he says “your” new moons and “your” appointed feasts My soul hates. In contrast Yahweh calls the Feasts and Sabbath His, Leviticus 23:2, 4, 5, 6. Their worship was so perverted that these were not even Yahweh’’s Feasts they were keeping, but their own, in their own way, with hearts that did not reflect submission to Yahweh’s will. In that way it was false worship and Yahweh says to repent of your sins, verse 16. Theirs was a lesson for us. Observing Ya h w e h ’s c o m m a n d s i s m o r e t h a n mechanically going through a certain ritual. If it doesn’t produce conversion in the heart and a desire to come close to Yahweh, then all they are doing is their own worship. This is what Yahshua castigated the Pharisees for. They kept the letter, but their hearts were far from Yahweh. Therefore their devotion was pointless.
biblical hebrew word lesson
.
ryc . Transliteration
Shir
Phonetic sheer
Composition: Shin, Hireq, Yod, Resh. The Hebrew word Shir means “song.” It occurs 78 times in the Hebrew Bible. “Sing to Yahweh a new song, And His praise from the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 42:10
Outreach Program’s Current Partners We recognize our outreach partners for their outstanding dedication to the Truth in their effort to fulfill the Great Commission. If you are interested in becoming an outreach partner to help us spread the Truth, visit: http://www.yrm.org/outreach or call us at (573) 896-1000 during normal office hours (M-F, 8:00 am- 4:00 pm.) We willl explain how you can join this group committed to spreading the Good News!
Zipporah Mwangi
Larry Godejohn
David Nesta
Robert Kountz
James Williams
Michael & Meandy
Steve Twillegar
Bishop
Michael Hubbard
Linda Lowe
Antonio Kimble Restoration Times Magazine July-August 2020
17
RESTORATION
Study Bible 4th Edition
Premium $49.99
Designer $35.99
Outreach $18.99
What’s New in the Fourth Edition Topical reference section (over 120 pages) More commentary Many new charts Double the archaeology charts Cowhide leather edition available Stitched binding (Premium and Designer) Order online: yrmstore.org
It may be affordable but it’s still priceless!
Feedback
From Mail | Emails | Social Media
“Very informative and punchy articles. Thank you.” – BL “I have greatly enjoyed your ministry and what it provides. I am a firm believer that the Old and New testaments are one book and not to be separated. Your ministry has helped me greatly in prison and even today, now that I am a free man. Thank you!” – RF “I’m from the Solomon Islands. I was born into SDA but through the leading of the Holy Spirit in my personal Bible study and digging for truths that the church ignored like Yahshua’s own words in the 3 days and 3 nights, the true Name of The Father and the Son, and Yahweh’s Feasts... these issues have made me to search and study and the more I do Yahweh shines His Light of Truth on the path.. I also thank Yahweh for you through your ministry in making His Truth more clear in your ministry. At the moment, I’m the only one in the country awake to the great deceptions going on for thousands on years.”. – HS “ “I love the way you honour Yahweh as the Most High, incomparable [Elohim],
YRM Mobile
Search: Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry
the only true [Elohim]. I was recently led back to your site again. I had visited before. Something kept telling me to go back. I love your application of Corinthians 11:1-16. I believe in the head covering for women. I believe Paul about men and women and the creation order. I have recently started attending a church where women cover their heads during meetings/ gatherings. I live in Ireland.” – GS “I love your teaching. Yah declared the end from the beginning. I love and live for it all. I praise Yah for your ministry!” – Carolyn “I thank you for these booklets. Here where I live, people who go to church believe in the trinity, and this makes me sad that they are going only by tradition. I am thankful for the truth you share and helping me to really understand.” – SG “My husband had a stroke and heart attack so I was home for many years. When he improved enough for me to visit a church, I went to one only blocks from home in case I had to return quickly. They called God Jehovah, so I was good with that, having once been a Jehovah’s Witness 27 years ago. But when they wanted me to sign up, I saw that they were a Trinitarian denomination and wouldn’t join. I sent an email to the pastor and off I went. … I began studying my Bible and Bible history in earnest. Then I came across your site. After four online Sabbaths with you, and reading lots of your Website information, which is terrific, by the way, and I LOVE your Bible search option. I’m buying your Bible now that it’s available. I’ve decided you’re right where I need to be. Thank you for keeping the light on for those of us who have been seeking to worship Yahweh and Yahshua in spirit and in truth.” – BW “I have been a member of UCG for about 8 years and I started to attend a local Bible study with someone I had met. They told me about the
Send us your comments Visit: yrm.org/feedback
sacred Name and how the feasts were based on the harvests and the moons, not the Hillel calendar. I listened, studied, and came to believe that it was all true. … Just ordered two of your 4th edition Bibles (one for me and one for my daughter). I only wish I were closer so that I could attend Sabbath services in person. Thank you for your broadcast and informative magazine. May Yahweh continue to bless your work.” – RJB Recent comments on the new fourth edition Restoration Study Bible “The (expanded) topical index in the fourth edition Restoration Study Bible is EXACTLY what was missing! I am pretty good at remembering passages, but I am horrible at remembering where the passages are. So with this, I have no doubt I’ll be able to find the correct one. Also, the ability to study a specific topic when it comes up... thank you so very much.” – AR “Love this Bible. Have the 3rd edition and just ordered edition 4. Gave a 3rd edition to my sister and she also loved this Bible. Very nice to have the concordance included.” - GL “My RSB 4th edition just arrived. When I first ordered my third edition a few months back, [husband] did not want one. Well, now that I have the 4th edition he asked me if he can have my old 3rd edition. He is really excited to read it! Yesterday I was talking to my neighbor because her grandson is good friends with [our son]. Her grandson wanted an RSB because of our son, so I ordered him one. (Yes, he has been talking to his friends about Yahweh!) Yesterday when I let my neighbor know that I had placed the order, we got to talking for an hour about Yahweh, ... This Bible is already opening up so many possibilities! It’s already a huge blessing in my life and my family’s.” - JS
Simplify Your Hectic Life You can now conveniently donate to Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry by regular, automatic withdrawal from your bank account. Save time and effort. Go online and print and complete the Pre-Authorized Debit Authorization form and mail it to the postal address below. If you do not have Internet access, you can receive the form by calling (573) 896-1000. (US accounts only) YRM | POB 463 | Holts Summit, MO 65043
YAHWEH’S
R E S T O R AT I O N Ministry PO Box 463 Holts Summit, MO 65043
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Holts Summit, MO Permit No. 463
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Streaming 24/7/365 Sabbath, Torah, Holy Names... Watch on our Roku channel, the YRM mobile App, or yrm.org
B ec a u se yo u c a n’t h ave res to ratio n w ith o ut to ra h ...
Here’s how to request free literature offered in this magazine: Online: www.yrm.org E-mail: request@yrm.org Phone: 1-573-896-1000
Mail: Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry PO Box 463 Holt’s Summit, MO 65043 Read back issues online: yrm.org/restoration-times-archive
