Restoration Times May-June 2014

Magazine

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so Yahweh is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. Pslams 125:2

C O N T E N T S

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Magazine

VOL. 4 | No. 3 | May - June 2014

A R T I C L E S

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3 | The One Feast Churches Accept by the late Donald R. Mansagerr

6 | Resolving the Count to Pentecost

12 | Paradox of Grace

by Randy Folliard

16 | The Most Neglected Command

by Randy Folliard

8 | Charismatic Confusion

by Alan Mansager

19 | Winning Over Your Spouse

by Alan Mansager 21 | QA

COVER: Night scene at the southern wall near the Jaffa Gate in the Old City in Jerusalem.

Photo by Ryan Mansager

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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 sent free of charge, made possible through the tithes and offerings of those who desire to see the truth of Scripture restored in our day. © 2013 Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry

23 | Feedback 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

The One Feast Churches Accept (Only Six More to Go) by the late Donald R. Mansager

Although it ignores the six other annual observances of Scripture, churchianity recognizes Pentecost or Feast of Weeks. Learn the facts of this Feast and its spiritual significance.

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ahshua’s disciples were now overjoyed and had not been disappointed. For almost three days they worried because the One they had accepted as the Messiah had been put to death. Their hopes and dreams were all on the line.

They had hoped that this Yahshua whom they had believed in so strongly would restore to Israel the splendor of the Kingdom as it was under the days of Solomon.

How elated they were on that first day of the week when they learned that the report of the women was indeed true — this same Yahshua of Nazareth had risen from the dead. He was alive! They had seen Him and touched Him. He had been with them and eaten a meal with them, Acts 1:4.

He told them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await the Father’s promise.

The disciples understood that they were to be immersed in the Holy Spirit, and that they would receive power to reign and rule. Perhaps sitting at His left or right hand, for He said they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and around the world, Acts 1:8.

Now they were together in Jerusalem awaiting the Feast of Firstfruits (Feast of

Weeks or Pentecost). The harvest of the barley was almost over, and the ripening wheat was ready for threshing. It was early June and they were joyfully awaiting the second of the annual special holy times all the saints had observed since the law was given by Moses.

Apparently they thought this power to be given them from on high meant that they were to be given rulership positions either in Jerusalem or perhaps in Judea. Maybe even some place like Rome. Imagine, they could then get rid of those detestable Roman occupiers!

Although the disciples were a bit presumptuous in thinking the Kingdom of Yahweh would immediately appear where they might be sitting as rulers, the promise of Yahshua was in fact Kingdom rulership, Matthew 19:28. What they did not understand was when His Kingdom would reign.

They Came to Keep the Feast of Weeks

Acts chapter 2 records the Holy Spirit coming to this earth and the big change it made in the disciples and those who followed the teachings of the Messiah.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one

place,” Acts 2:1. They had gathered to celebrate the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.

Yahshua’s disciples were obeying the command in Leviticus 23:21, “And you shall proclaim on the selfsame day that it may be a holy convocation unto you: you shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.”

This holy day was still in effect even after the Savior’s death, as are all of Yahweh’s holy, appointed times.

The Holy Spirit came upon the 120 and empowered them to speak in other languages on this day of Pentecost. But it was not the Holy Spirit they sought.

There were devout Jews from 16 nations who were in Jerusalem for the purpose of observing the Feast of Weeks, Acts 2:5.

These Jews were astounded that the “ignorant” Galileans (Acts 4:13) were speaking in various languages native to these Jews, Acts 2:8. They understood all that the disciples were saying as they heard in their own tongues the great things of Elohim. It wasn’t jibberish they were talking, but Truth they heard expounded.

All were amazed by their teaching.

According to Acts 2:16-21 this miracle of the Holy Spirit was a partial fulfillment Restoration Times Magazine May-June 2014

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of Joel 2:28-29. The disciples were given supernatural power when the Holy Spirit came to earth to stay on this Pentecost day in 32 C.E. This Spirit power was needed to get the early Assembly off the ground.

The miracles the disciples were able to perform caused a sensation not only among the assembled Jews, but later among other residents of Jerusalem. Before the Holy Spirit came to earth at Pentecost, the Spirit was given to men for a special task and then removed from them. When Yahshua’s innocent blood was spilled atonement was made and Yahweh’s Spirit could then remain here on earth, indwelling the hearts of His people.

The Spirit Is Here Now

Today His Spirit is in and around the believer, protecting and guiding those who seek to walk in the footsteps of Yahshua.

We no longer pray for Yahweh to send us His Spirit. It is already here with those who obey Him, Acts 5:32.

It should be noted that had the Jews at that time accepted the message of the disciples, the Millennial Kingdom could have been set up immediately. However, the religionists of that day rejected both them and later Paul, just as they had in general rejected the Messiahship of the Savior Yahshua.

Little has changed in 2,000 years.

Many religionists today reject the simple message of the coming Kingdom of Yahweh as is shown us in His Feast Days.

This is important because Joel said that “in the last days” Yahweh would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh (“a portion of His Spirit on all mankind,” New English Bible). He has not done that yet.

The Pentecostal movement tries to emulate this occasion, but forgets that it took place at Pentecost, a very special day among six others that Yahweh has ordained that we should remember and observe! We cannot “call down another Pentecost” for Holy Spirit power whenever we want to, because this Feast comes at a precise time of year, Acts 2:1.

More Miracles on the Way

What happened during the time of the Apostles on the day of Pentecost could take place again with even greater significance.

It is obvious that not all the prophecies of Joel were completed then.

A little reflection on Joel 2:28-32 Times Magazine 4 Restoration May-June 2014

shows that there will yet come another pouring out of Yahweh’s Spirit before the Savior returns.

We are told that sons and daughters shall prophesy (“tell forth the divine counsels,” Amplified Version). There will also be marvels in the sky above and the earth below, blood, and fire, mist of smoke, and the sun will change into darkness and the moon to blood. All of this before the great and resplendent day of Yahweh arrives.

There will be a people who will also perform miracles again, much as the early disciples did in Acts 2. They will be given the same supernatural power as was given to the early disciples to get the Assembly off to a flying start.

Many shall learn of Yahweh’s Name.

We read in Joel 2:32, “Whoever makes his prayer to the name of [Yahweh] will be kept safe,” Basic English Bible. Or as the New English Bible renders this verse, “Then everyone who invokes [Yahweh] by name shall be saved.”

When the Bible speaks of “calling upon the Name Yahweh,” it means to call upon Him in all His power and splendor, exemplified by His Name. His Name means that He will be whatever His people need of Him at that time. He will be their Protector, Deliverer, Provider, Strengthener, Healer, Guide — whatever they require of Him is what He will be to them. “Yah” means, “I will become,” or “I will be,” as it is the Hebrew verb of existence.

We simply cannot expect the same promise and results by calling on the generic “G-d,” as it has no such meaning or power. It was Paul who said there be “gods many, and lords many,” 1Corinthians 8:5.

We cannot prove that the future fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32 will take place at Pentecost as before. However, His promise is sure and we must be prepared for that time so that we will not be caught unawares.

Acts 3:19-21 certainly shows that the Savior will remain in the heavens until there is a universal restoration (Greek apokatastasis — re-establishment from a state of ruin) of Yahweh’s truth on this earth.

A Harvest Feast of Rest

Not only was the Assembly started at Pentecost in the year 31 C.E., but the Apostle Paul also continued to keep the day long afterwards. Acts 20:16 says he

wanted to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost. In 1Corinthians 16:8 we learn that he would stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, for a great door was opened to him, verse 9.

Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks is one of two harvest feasts. In Exodus 23:16 and 34:22 we learn that it is the firstfruits of the wheat harvest; Tabernacles is the in-gathering at the year’s end (margin: revolution of the year). It was the time to bring the offering of firstfruits to the house of Yahweh, Exodus 23:19 and 34:26.

The Feast of Weeks is a time when no work is to be done. “Also, in the day of firstfruits, when you bring a new meal offering unto Yahweh, after your weeks be out, you shall have an holy convocation; you shall do no servile work.” Note that Pentecost is observed when the “weeks are out.” A week is over on the Sabbath, the seventh day. Because it falls on the “morrow after the [weekly] Sabbath,” Pentecost is always on Sunday.

Some say this holy day could never fall on the “venerable day of the sun” (Sunday). But there is little difference between the day of the sun and the day of the moon (Monday). Or “Woden’s day” (Wednesday). We cannot be bothered by what pagan titles man calls the days of the week, for even the Sabbath is called “Saturn’s day,” but we do not worship the Roman deity Saturn on that day.

Firstfruits of a Spiritual Harvest

The Feast of Weeks is a special time for offering up the firstfruits, as we have seen.

Ezekiel 48:14 reveals that they are holy to Yahweh. Firstfruits will again be offered in the Kingdom, Ezekiel 20:40, “. . .there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.”

Jeremiah 2:3 refers to Israel as Yahweh’s firstfruits. They did not, however, measure up to His high calling.

New converts to the body of Messiah, the assembly, are referred to as firstfruits, Romans 16:5; 1Corinthians 16:15.

James said believers “should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures,” 1:18.

Yahshua is referred to as the Firstfruits from the dead, 1Corinthians 15:20. Note especially verses 22-23: “In Messiah shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order. Messiah the firstfruits: afterward

they that are the Messiah’s at His coming.”

It should be noted that the Jews do not keep Passover at the proper time. They continue to keep Passover a day late by observing it at the end of the 14th of Abib instead of at the beginning of the 14th as the 13th ends, just as they did at the time of the Messiah, John 18:28.

Thus, they fail to grasp the significance of Yahshua and do not understand that He is the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.

Neither do they observe Pentecost on the correct day, but allow it to float through the week instead of observing it “on the morrow after the Sabbath,” which is Sunday. It is also the time when “the weeks

are out.” This year it falls on June 8.

It is important that we understand that the Holy Spirit monitors the believer today. Now it is possible to obey Yahweh in fullness as His Spirit power is with us day by day to guide and keep us in the narrow way. Through observing His Feast Days we obtain a fuller understanding of His plan of redemption for mankind.

Many significant events took place on the Feast days. Yahshua died on Passover.

Yahweh’s law was given on Pentecost and the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost so we could keep His law.

But a greater fulfillment awaits mankind. The last four Feast days in the seventh month have not been fulfilled. Trumpets,

Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles are ahead of us. The last Feast is a special time when we shall “see His face” and Yahshua who was the Immanuel (El with us) will be joined by the Father Yahweh Himself, as we see in Revelation 21-22.

Are you missing out in your spiritual growth by not observing these days kept by Yahshua and the early Assembly under the direction of the Apostles? Will you be able to teach others how to keep these times in the Kingdom? (see Zechariah 14:16-18 and Ezekiel 45:21 to the end of the chapter).

Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation. Forsake the holidays of the world and show your love to your Creator by keeping the days He commanded!

Seven Arches Hotel

It is said that King Hussein of Jordan had the Seven Arches Hotel built in 1964 on the Mount of Olives. During the construction engineers discovered that a major geological fault line was directly beneath the construction site running east to west. They relocated the site just to the south on the Mount of Olives.

This fault line is important prophetically as we read in Zechariah 14: “On that day his [Yahshua’s] feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.”

Pictured is the (sealed-up) Golden Gate just to the east of the Dome of the Rock on the temple mount. Coming from the Mount of Olives Yahshua will more than likely pass through this gate at His return.

Restoration Times Magazine May-June 2014

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Resolving the Count

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Pentecost

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ahweh made a covenant, a binding agreement, with His people through His ordained annual Holy Days. Most people have not been taught His covenant and the role these special days play in it. Because of that they don’t realize the larger scope of why they must allow the Scriptures to direct their lives.

There are seven special times we are to meet in convocation. Pentecost especially emphasizes a renewal of this covenant relationship with our Creator.

Also known as the “Feast of Weeks,” Pentecost was the time in which the Covenant between Yahweh and Israel was ratified at Sinai. In spite of the presence of Moses and the Aaronic priesthood, say nothing of Yahweh’s guiding them by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, Israel rebelled. Only the next generation crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land.

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Restoration Times Magazine May-June 2014

Enter a New Covenant

It was in Acts 2:1-4 where a New Covenant was made with those “called-out ones” of the New Testament. The sacrificial system and ceremonies had been set aside by Yahshua’s death and resurrection and now the Holy Spirit was sent to this earth.

The Feast of Weeks commemorates the Covenant made at Sinai and in the New Testament (covenant) is the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to keep the covenant by observing the Law. With the Holy Spirit having been placed within us through baptism into Yahshua the Messiah’s Name, we no longer reject His laws, but obey them from the heart. Notice the promise to saints: “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says Yahweh, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more,”

Hebrews 10:16-17.

Pentecost is reckoned from the Days of Unleavened Bread which follow the Passover, as we see from Leviticus 23.

“And he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it,” Leviticus 23:11.

Bread to Firstfruits

The count toward Pentecost is from the “morrow after the Sabbath” which falls within the days of Unleavened Bread. We know this count begins with Sunday, the day after the weekly Saturday Sabbath. The Hebrew word for Sabbath is Strong’s No. 7676, “intensive from No. 7673; intermission, i.e. (spec.) the, Sabbath.” Clearly it means the weekly Sabbath.

Verses 15 and 16 mention the Sabbath (No. 7676) three times, meaning the

weekly Sabbath. Thus, we see our count begins with the first day of the week, and we are to count until we reach 49 days.

This is a Sabbath when the week is out, and the next day is Sunday, the proper day for Pentecost.

However, in verse 24 the Sabbath referring to the Feast of Trumpets is Shabbathown, which is not the weekly Sabbath, but is a “High Sabbath.” As we move to verse 39 we again find the Hebrew Shabbathown, which refers to the High Sabbaths of the Feast of Tabernacles. This, according to Strong’s No. 7677, means a “sabbatism or special holiday.”

Leviticus 23:32 refers to the day of Atonement which is to many the holiest day of the year. The verse uses the term “Sabbath of Sabbaths” to describe this special day of fasting.

Count from the Weekly First

What all this means is that the morrow after the Sabbath cannot be the day after Abib 15, the first day of Unleavened Bread; it cannot be the 16th. The 15th is Strong’s No. 7677, which is Shabbathown. Nor could it be the 21st day of Abib, which is also Shabbathown, No. 7677.

The day to begin our count toward Pentecost has to be Sunday, the day after Saturday, the weekly Sabbath, (No. 7676).

This makes our present Sunday as day one in the count and 50 days later it ends on a Sunday, the proper day for Pentecost.

Had Yahweh wanted us to begin our count with Abib 16 He surely would have instructed, “On the morrow after the fifteenth,” or He could have said to observe the Feast of Weeks on Sivan 6, the sixth day of the third month, as presently kept by the Jews. But He did not.

The morrow after the Sabbath is the first day of the week as any ordinary calendar shows. “Morrow” is No. 4283, translated “on the morrow” in 25 other places. The Hebrew mochorath or mochoratham is translated either “morrow” or “next day.” The next day after a Sabbath would be the first day of the week, our Sunday.

Leviticus 23:15 clearly says, “And you shall count from the morrow after the Sabbath (No. 7676, weekly Sabbath) from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete.” Other translations such as the NRSV and

NIV understand the last phrase to read, “... seven weeks; they shall be complete.”

The Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society) reads “seven weeks: They must be complete: You must count until the day after the seventh week-fifty days.”

Deuteronomy 16:9 reads, “Seven weeks shall you number unto you.” We are to count seven full weeks in arriving at Pentecost. We cannot begin the count on a high day of the Feast for a partial week.

“Weeks” is No. 7620 and has the meaning of “sevened,” or counting in increments of seven as in a week. Seven sevens are 49 days, which brings us to the end of the week, Sabbath, Saturday. The next day is Sunday, the correct day for the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.

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that point and counting 50 days, we again end on a Sunday, which is the day for Pentecost.

Eschew Traditions

We cannot accept the erroneous tradition of the hypocritical Pharisees in counting Pentecost from Abib 16, the day after the High Sabbath. Yahshua condemned their tradition: “He answered and said unto them [Pharisees], Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honours me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of Yahweh, you hold the tradition of men, [as]

The proper day to begin the count toward Pentecost is the day the wavesheaf of wheat is offered Complete Weeks Needed

In no way can one count from Abib 16 (the day after the High Sabbath of Abib 15) and have a complete week. The Jews’ own Bible (NOT their traditions) says these weeks must be complete weeks, seven weeks of seven-day weeks equals 49 days, and after these seven weeks are completed on a Sabbath, the next day is the day to observe Pentecost.

The proper day to begin the count toward Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) is the day the wavesheaf of wheat is offered, which is from the day after the Sabbath, being the Sunday that falls within the week of Unleavened Bread.

Harvesting of any grain could not commence nor could they eat of any of the new crop or of bread, parched grain or fresh ears, before the wavesheaf of firstfruits was waved before Yahweh.

John 20:17 shows that Yahshua had not yet ascended to the Father, for He told Mary not to cling to Him. Verse 19 tells us it was then evening on the first day of the week and in Luke 24:39 He invites them to touch Him. Obviously Yahshua ascended to the Father in the dark part of the first day of the week (Sunday), which is the first day of His acceptance. Beginning our count at

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the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do” (Mark 7:6-8).

Note the attitude of the hypocritical Pharisees “Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him, “Matthew 12:14. “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk, “ Matthew 22:15.

It is most amazing that those who champion the Pharisees’ position in counting from Abib 16 to arrive at Pentecost overlook or deliberately condone the scathing denunciation Yahshua gave the Pharisees. Eight times in Matthew 23 Yahshua pronounced a woe upon the Scribes, Pharisees, and such hypocrites.

Finally, he told them, “YOUR house is left unto you desolate.” Through twisting of Yahweh’s Commandments by their tradition and customs they had made the Temple the house of the Pharisees.

After the Pharisess had completely rejected Yahshua, the Temple was no longer the Temple of Yahweh as in John 2:16, but had become the Temple of the hypocrites.

Yahweh’s Spirit was taken from the Temple.

Within 40 years the Temple was destroyed by Titus.

To follow the teachings of the Pharisees (which often run counter to the Bible) is like going to churchianity to find authority for keeping Sunday.

Request our booklet The Biblical Calendar for an in-depth look at the timekeeping according to Yahweh’s word. To read, visit yrm.org/literature.htm To request, see back cover for details

Restoration Times Magazine May-June 2014

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Charismatic Confusion

by Alan Mansager

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rom start to finish, top to bottom, inside and out, from Genesis chapter 1 through Revelation 22, the teaching of the Bible centers on honoring and serving Yahweh.

Everything Israel was commanded ultimately pointed to venerating and revering Yahweh; all that Yahshua taught, and all that the disciples observed and later taught themselves was centered on Yahweh. He is the undisputed axis of the Scriptures on which everything pivots. It is HIS book, after all. He inspired it.

So where do many teachers today get off turning the lens away from Yahweh – the one worshiped – to focus exclusively on the worshiper? In the world of cameras, it’s called a selfie. In the world of Scripture, it’s called self-exaltation.

The ever-popular faith craze says Times Magazine 8 Restoration May-June 2014

—It’s not just the tongues

that you the worshiper can expect to be granted whatever you wish – mainly, health, prosperity and happiness – simply by speaking it. It’s been called “name it and claim it.” Whatever you call it, it’s all about the individual and Yahweh is left out.

It’s All About Me!

Self was at the center of the original sin.

Eve was told she could be Elohim. It’s in the DNA of us humans to aspire to be someone, to make a mark in this world, to be paid attention to, right down to what we are doing each hour of every day. Which is why Facebook holds such vast appeal.

“Look at me, see what I am up to now.”

Rather than fixate on themselves, believers must overcome those natural, selfish inclinations and learn to focus on Yahweh. It is a human pull that we spend a

lifetime overcoming. But for many, even a lifetime isn’t enough to learn the lessons.

Modern evangelicals have hit on a highly attractive formula for the selffocused worshiper – the personal prosperity teaching. This belief says that the faithful have been given special privileges because they are made in Yahweh’s image. They can expect a blessing simply by claiming it.

The teaching says that positive confession allows them to exercise control over their world and material things.

Poverty and illness are seen as curses that can easily be broken. (If that’s true, then why didn’t Yahshua and His disciples live like kings, and why couldn’t the Apostle Paul heal Trophimus, whom he left behind at Miletum sick?)

In this modern world of self-absorption, Yahweh is reduced to a heavenly genie

just waiting to grant every request. Once the human desire is satisfied, the Father is relegated to a secondary or tertiary role until the next time He’s needed to fulfill a selfish want.

Sadly, today there is little desire to know what HE expects of His worshipers.

The self-focused ways of worship are strikingly like Satan’s temptation of Eve in the Garden. In Genesis 3:4-6 we read,

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For Elohim doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as mighty ones, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

In this first, historic temptation Satan’s promise to Eve was, “You can be a mighty one.” Notice how he shifted her attention and obedience away from Yahweh to herself. Today’s charismatics say it’s all about you the worshiper and how you can profit from their superficial devotion.

From the account, Satan said only that she could be like a mighty one. Those other enticements Eve dreamed up herself as her mind started toying with the temptation.

In her mind the temptation was looking better and better.

▪ The fruit looked wonderfully tasty.

▪ It was also very attractive.

▪ I can be wise as an elohim if I eat it. Everything was now positive and beneficial. What’s one little bite, anyway?

Instead of turning away from it, Eve enriched the temptation. She explored its personnas. As she dwelt on the potential sin its appeal grew stronger.

This is the first step in the process of committing most all sins. The mind starts working overtime and the more it toys with the idea, the greater the desire to act on it.

It all starts with a focus on self. “How can I benefit from this action? Imagine what I can do. Just think where it will get me.”

Self Veneration or Pleasing Yahweh?

There are different levels of self-exaltation as well. When you hear someone say, “Yahweh spoke to me and He said…” that’s one level.

Expressing this to others selfelevates the individual and puts him

at center stage. At its very heart it mirrors Satan’s great ploy for self-glorification.

It says I am so important that Yahweh communicates special things exclusively to me.

The test of anyone’s claims to direct, divine communication is, do they speak the teachings of the Word? The prophet Isaiah warned, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them,” 8:20.

Can you validate what they say through their personal obedience to Yahweh’s

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just in their hearts. Yahshua reminded Satan that the biblical message is, “LIVE by every word of Yahweh,” Matthew 4:4.

Luke 4:4.

It was the same thing physically obedient Israel was admonished in Deuteronomy 8:3, which is what Yahshua was quoting. They didn’t just think about keeping the Sabbath holy, they were expected to cease from work and business on the Sabbath, Exodus 20:10, Nehemiah 10:31.

John in 1John 1:7 admonishes us to

In ancient mystery worship the pagan’s mind shifted into neutral and emotions took over.

laws? Do they follow the teachings of the New Testament (the testimony)? Are they humble? Do they reflect the fruits of the Spirit, like meekness, temperance, longsuffering, and gentleness? Do they even have His Spirit, which Yahweh gives to those who obey Him, Acts 5:32?

Is their claim to spiritual gifts directed toward helping the body of Messiah? Paul admonished, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the assembly.”

Is there an air of selfish arrogance or a servant’s heart?

Word of Faith: Mind Over Matter

A focus on the individual worshiper over even claims of Scripture is the key part of a credo that began as Word of Faith. The Word of Faith Movement sprang from the early 1900s. It gained traction in the 1950s and 60s and its promotion of the worshiper over the one worshiped now saturates evangelical ministries everywhere. The teaching was inspired by Mind Science, while embracing New Age and gnostic beliefs.

Gnostics believed that the physical is evil and the human mind through a positive mental attitude has the power to create its own reality. This ties right in with the pervasive mantra of faith-over-works doctrines. Obedience for such believers is only spiritual. They keep Yahweh’s commands “in the heart,” rather than in actions.

Nowhere in Scripture do we find the faithful keeping Yahweh’s commandments

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WALK in the light if we want Yahshua’s blood to cleanse us from sin. Furthermore, putting something in our hearts means literally to obey, Deuteronomy 5:29 (see Restoration Study Bible note).

Gnostic beliefs emanate from the core of ancient mystery religion and its worship, where the pagan’s mind shifted into neutral and emotions took over. In that religion you would see whirling dances, mind-numbing music, hallucinating, and people going out of themselves to connect with the divine.

The worshiper in this state of supposed ecstasy was lifted out of mundane normalcy into an abnormal consciousness. Like the modern charismatic, the ancient worshiper felt that his spiritual state got him the ability to commune with the spirit world. Both ancient and modern charismatics say they understand things that only the spiritually enhanced can behold.

To believe that the only true reality is spiritual, and that the human mind has the potential to create it, is sorcery. The Hindus call it Maya, which is based on the ancient sorcerer’s belief that the entire universe is an illusion created by the mind. n this seductive system the deity was not personal, but a great Mind that was activated by the worshiper’s thoughts and would actualize them into a concrete form.

The implication is obvious: Man is divine and can control spirit powers. And isn’t that what Satan said? You can be like Elohim?

Self-denial Not Popular Today

Today’s church is being swept by a revival of New Thought, known variously as

Request our booklet Tongues of Fire for an in-depth look at what the gift of tongues is and why so many churches get it wrong . To read, visit yrm.org/literature.htm To request by mail see address on the back cover.

Restoration Times Magazine May-June 2014

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Positive Thinking, Possibility Thinking, Positive Confession, Positive Mental Attitude, and Inner Healing. It all centers not on Yahweh, but on the worshiper.

In this belief, since Yahweh is the supplier of all good things, if you are not receiving these blessings, then there must be something wrong with YOU. So the impoverished person who remains in that state is deceived into losing hope and faith. He sputters off track, traveling in an endless loop of dejection.

The overwhelming emphasis is on satisfying selfish wants rather than holiness that comes from pleasing Yahweh. These believers strive for heaven-on-earth now.

This cart-before-the-horse approach does not work with Yahweh. Yahweh calls His people to obedience first and foremost.

That is the clear mandate on every page of the Scriptures. Then blessings follow.

Compare self-seeking with what Yahshua taught. Matthew 16:24-26 reads, “Then said Yahshua unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

What does He mean, deny himself?

He’s telling his listeners to stop coveting.

Paul also said in Romans 13:14 not to make provision for the flesh, to fulfill fleshly lusts. To put on Messiah means to make no room for self-serving. Paul explains further in Romans 8:5-7:

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against Elohim: for it is not subject to the law of Elohim, neither indeed can be.”

In essence those who argue against Yahweh’s laws are judged as carnally minded and unwilling to sacrifice self.

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please Elohim. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Elohim dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Messiah, he is none of his.

And if Messiah be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness,” vv. 8-10.

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The charismatic puts strong emphasis on feeling and emotion versus logic, study, and critical thinking. It’s a belief that relies on intuitive guidance from the “hidden man of the heart” versus Bible study.

Stealing Yahweh’s Authority

A piece came in the mail promising a divine answer to your three biggest needs. Just pray on this prayer mat, it read. The sender was a channel for divine blessings, and had the affrontery to hijack Yahweh’s sovereign authority and Spirit by saying, “We release this help to this dear one’s address…”

The mail piece quoted Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself also in Yahweh; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” It all sounded so simple and easy. But it didn’t quote the essential next verse: “Commit thy way unto Yahweh; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

First, we commit our lives to Him and follow His direction in our lives. THEN the blessings will come. That’s what David meant by delighting yourself in Yahweh.

The Word Faith teachings and those like it center on “power” and “anointing.”

They stress the authority of the believer over Satan, demons, and angels (and even Yahweh!).

It seems they are not content to stop at elevating themselves over others, but also want control over powerful spirit beings.

Angels are servants, they say, and they can command them. You’ll hear them use terms like “bind the spirit,” meaning unholy spirits, as they quote Matthew 18:18. The passage says nothing about spirits, but about disciplining members in the Body of Messiah.

Not even Yahshua took on Satan directly when He was tempted after His immersion in Matthew 4. He just answered Satan’s taunts with Scripture. “Make these stones bread,” Satan said. Yahshua quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, not to live by bread alone. “Jump down from the pinnacle of the temple.” His answer: don’t tempt Yahweh, Deuteronomy 6:16. “Worship me and I’ll give you all these kingdoms.” Yahshua’s response? Deuteronomy 6:13: fear Yahweh and serve Him.

We humans don’t rule angels. They are Yahweh’s servants, his ministers, and we don’t command them. We are lower than they are, but one day angels will probably serve the resurrected saints because those in the resurrection will one day judge

angels, according to 1Corinrthians 6:3.

The faith movement is characterized by the absence of systematic instruction.

Charismatics are notoriously weak in the Scriptures. Emotion, not doctrine, drives them. There is a lopsided emphasis on the Holy Spirit and the spirit world.

Where’s Your Obedience?

It has been said that if the Bible is not used to formulate a doctrine, sooner or later whatever is occurring will degenerate into heresy.

Paul knew that, and so he admonishes in 1Thessalonians 5:21 to examine every teaching carefully. John, right after mentioning that the Holy Spirit bears witness to Yahshua, tells us to test the spirits for authenticity (1John 4:1). Testing the spirits is NOT a sign of defiance, but of submission to the counsel of Scripture.

Now let’s read 1John 3:24: “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

Yahshua stressed the importance of obedience, indicating that there will be those who mistakenly think they are right with Yahweh and have His Spirit because of their involvement in supernatural activities in His name. But they refuse to be obedient.

He told His followers, “Not every one that saith unto me, Master, Master, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. But don’t they have proof of His acceptance through their successes?

“Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” v. 22.

Their entire focus is on themselves and what they themselves have done, not on worshiping or pleasing Yahweh.

Yahshua answers, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity,” v. 23.

The claim of working miracles in His Name is no validation of an authentic ministry. The credential means little if we don’t follow what He taught. Without repenting of sin and turning from it, all the “miracles” we might claim amount to little or nothing.

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:26-27: Nominal worship is facing a crisis.

The Bible is fading fast, giving way to experiential faith—a reliance on how one feels and how many blessings one can get rather than how one stays faithful to the Word.

Since the Garden of Eden, we’ve come full circle. It’s about me all over again and what I can gain in this life. I am the center of my faith. Yahweh wants ME to be happy.

He wants to please me. I can write my own ticket just by claiming it.

For many, what I experience in my life is my Truth. I AM ELOHIM! I know good and evil through my experience in the spirit.

The Biblical covenant Yahweh made with Israel, and with us, commanding adherence to His ways and law as a prerequisite to salvation, is for many transcended by the ecstasy of personal, private feeling.

Something Old, Something New

This worshiper-centric approach to devotion was a big part of Baal worship.

The emphasis of Baalistic religion was subjective experience, It was worship reduced to the spiritual stature of the worshiper.

Yahweh appealed to reason and rational understanding, along with the personal will from His people. He expects that we conform to Him. Obey my Word, He says, and you will be blessed.

One major difference between Yahweh and Baalism was His covenant which can be known and obeyed, as opposed to the blind, life-force in nature that could only be felt and absorbed.

Today’s extreme emphasis on personal experience in charismatic worship is neoBaalism! Experiences are made through physiological, psychological and demonic influence. The only legitimate, biblical test is, does it square with Yahweh’s Word?

It comes down to authority. What is the authority in your life: your own private experience, or Yahweh? Yahshua said in John 17:17 that the word is Truth.

The charismatic would rather not have sound teachings. In his book, A New Way

of Living, author Michael Harper wrote, “The world awaits a fresh manifestation of Messiah within His body, the Church.

It is tired of…the airy-fairy doctrines of theologians.” (p. 12), We have clearly arrived at 2Timothy 4:3: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

If someone wants to debate an issue not based on Scripture, we have no common ground with him or her. It is pointless to continue unless he or she accepts the Scriptures as the basis of truth.

For the experientialists, the Bible is insufficient. They want more. They want to feel their faith. So instead of converting to the mandates of Yahweh, which leads to REAL inner peace, they come through the back door and mimic the ancient pagans

Did You

in their ecstatic displays and emotional outbursts that they think is manifesting the Spirit.

Isaiah 8:20 cautions, “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their Elohim? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

The word “peep” derives from the Hebrew for chatter, as in tongues speaking.

These are in a trance. People whose minds are opened to any evil influence.

The entire Word of Faith system, which is key in most all charismatic activities, is predicated on glorifying the worshiper over Yahweh. The arrogance of worshipercentered religion completes the circle that was begun in Eden and that accepts the lie that man can be an Elohim by a simple act.

Name it and claim it, eat the fruit.

?

Know

Hocus-pocus This term commonly used by a magician performing tricks is a Latin invocation based on a perversion of the sacramental blessing from the Mass, Hoc est corpus meum: “This is my body.” The first known person to make this assumption on its origin was English prelate John Tillotson (1630-1694).

“I will speak of one man ... that went about in King James his time ... who called himself, the Kings Majesties most excellent Hocus Pocus, and so was called, because that at the playing of every Trick, he used to say, Hocus pocus, tontus tabantus, vade celeriter jubeo, a dark composure of words, to blinde the eyes of the beholders, to make his Trick pass the more currantly without discovery.” [Thomas Ady, A Candle in the Dark, 1655]

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Paradox of Grace

by Randy Folliard

What is the purpose of grace? Does grace free us from biblical commands? Does Yahweh care how we live?

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race has been confused and misused by the majority of theologians and ministers today.

This confusion can be seen from two extremes.

From one extreme it is believed that we earn salvation from works apart from grace. The other extreme, which represents the majority view, says that because of grace there’s nothing more man needs to do for salvation. In other words, with grace there’s no further need to obey our Father’s commandments.

Neither of these two views reflects the truth that we find in our Father’s Word. So what does the Bible really say about grace?

Yahweh’s grace? Verse 9 says that Noah was a righteous man and perfect in his generations. Scripture confirms that he received grace because he was righteous, meaning that he followed and obeyed the will of his Father in Heaven.

Grace derives from the Hebrew khane and means graciousness or kindness.

The impact here of Yahweh’s grace is significant. If Noah had not found grace, he would have perished and mankind also would have ceased to exist. In essence, we all are here today because our Father Yahweh showed grace to an obedient man 4,000 years ago.

What? Grace in the OLD Testament?

One of the most enlightening books in the New Testament regarding this topic is Romans. Here Paul explains what grace is and what grace is not. We begin with Romans 3:24: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Messiah Yahshua: Whom Elohim hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of Elohim.”

Paul here provides the purpose and

Before we answer this all-important question, let’s first establish the foundation.

We need to go to the first place grace is mentioned. Many assume that would be the New Testament. To their surprise, grace is found in the first book of the Bible. Grace is first mentioned in reference to Noah in Genesis 6:8, which says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of Yahweh.”

Grace was alive and well in the Old Testament. Now why did Noah receive Times Magazine 12 Restoration May-June 2014

Justified Freely by Grace

reason for grace in the New Testament.

In verse 24 he states that we are justified by grace through the Messiah. The word “justified” means to render a person just or innocent. In other words, when we are justified we are cleansed from our sin and are “just” as if we had no sin. We are justifed only through baptism. This is why baptism into Yahshua’s Name is so important.

Paul continues and confirms that the Messiah was set forth as a propitiation through his blood. Propitiation refers to an atoning victim. Only through Yahshua’s atoning blood do we find salvation.

Understand that we cannot receive this redemption through our own works or effort. Keep in mind that Yahshua’s atonement and redemption were initiated by or through Yahweh’s grace. Without His grace we would have no Savior and without a Savior we would still be lost in our sins.

In Ephesians 2:5-8 we find that Paul continues with this theme. He says, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Messiah, (by grace ye are saved); And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Messiah Yahshua: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his

grace in his kindness toward us through Messiah Yahshua. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Yahweh.”

Consider these points: first, it was only through grace that Yahshua quickened us or made us alive through his sacrifice. Even though we were physically alive, because of our sins we were spiritually dead. It was again only through the Messiah’s blood that we found forgiveness and reconciliation.

Prior to this, Scripture says we were enemies or adversaries of our Father in heaven.

In addition, Paul says that we are saved by grace and not by ourselves. Salvation or eternal life in Yahweh’s Kingdom is something we can’t earn or receive on our own. This is because we have all sinned and come short of Yahweh’s glory, Romans 3:23. For this reason it’s impossible to justify ourselves when it comes to our sin. It is for this purpose that we require a sacrifice and Savior.

Also, grace is a gift from our Father in heaven. A gift is not earned but something we receive based on someone’s kindness or compassion. Yahshua’s redemption through His sacrifice is also a gift from Yahweh.

This is not something we’ve earned or even deserve, this is what He’s offered through His grace. Again we see that we are saved not by our own works, but through the grace of our Father in heaven.

Grace Leads to Baptism

Paul in Titus 3:5-7 verifies that by this same grace the faithful will receive eternal life.

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of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” The word “washing” comes from the Greek loutron and refers to a bath and by extension immersion or baptism.

The word regeneration is from the Greek paliggenesia and means a spiritual rebirth. Paul is discussing baptism or immersion. But how does the Holy Spirit fit into this rebirth?

Acts 2:38 confirms that at baptism we receive both forgiveness from sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Understand that baptism is evidence of Yahweh’s grace working in our lives. He also states that we are justified by his grace and because of this we are made beneficiaries to the promise of eternal life. So through grace we find justification or cleansing from our sins and through that washing, the promise of His kingdom.

In Scripture, grace is not of works and only by grace do we find justification or redemption and therefore the hope of salvation. Because justification does not come through works but through grace, many have the notion that obedience is no longer necessary. Is that true? On the contrary, the Scriptures say that once we are justified we must then live a life of sanctification or holiness. That means obedience to Yahweh.

Misuse of Grace

In Jude 4 we find a warning for those who view grace as an opportunity to forsake holiness or righteousness. It reads, “For there are certain men crept in unawares,

Many, even those who profess to believe, have forsaken the Word of their Father in heaven and as a result sin has mushroomed.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; Which he shed on us abundantly through Yahshua Messiah our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

To begin with, eternal life is not gained or received by our own works; instead Paul says that it happens through His mercy. He says that we are saved through the “washing

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who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, wicked men, turning the grace of our Elohim into lasciviousness, and denying the only Sovereign Yahweh, and our Master Yahshua Messiah.”

According to Jude, there are those who will turn Yahweh’s grace into lasciviousness, referring to immorality and by extension the rejection of Yahweh’s commandments. Paul in Romans 3:20 states that through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. His commandments

define morality and immorality.

When we therefore accept lasciviousness we reject the commandments. As we find here, this is not the purpose for grace. Grace wasn’t given so that we could continue in sin and forsake our Father’s Word.

Sadly, that’s essentially the message we often hear from ministers today. They say that we are now living under a new dispensation of grace and free from that archaic Old Testament with its religion of legalism. Not only is this untrue, but it goes against the core purpose of grace.

A Call to Sanctification

Grace is not permission or justification to continue in sin, but evidence of Yahweh’s compassion and His desire that we turn from it.

Yahweh is calling out a kingdom of priests, a set-apart people who will stand by the ethics of His Word. For this reason, those who view grace as an approval to continue in their pursuit of sin are missing the mark.

Paul in Romans 1:5 states, “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name.”

Now even though this passage applies to Paul, the part about grace applies to all believers. Simply put, grace is given so that it might bring us to a state of repentance and compliance to Yahweh’s Word. This is the real purpose and reason for grace.

Scripture says that Yahweh’s will is to see all of mankind saved.

Our Father in heaven wants nothing more than for us to repent and follow Him. Understand that the walk in Truth begins with His grace or favor and without it we are lost in our sins with no hope of redemption or eternal life.

Why do we see a decline in virtue today?

Many, even those who profess to believe, have forsaken the Word of their Father in heaven and as a result sin has mushroomed.

Everything in Yahweh’s Word has meaning and purpose. If the people of this nation would only acknowledge this one fact we would see a great change in society.

False Teaching Harms Society

In many ways our decline as a culture is because of the false teachings of grace.

Grace is not given so we could simply continue living without changing.

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Paul in Romans 6:1-4 asks an important question that is at the root of this message: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Certainly not. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Yahshua Messiah were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Paul asks rhetorically whether we should continue in sin that grace might proliferate. What was his own response?

“Certainly not.” Why did he even ask the question? Because there was a belief at the time that the more you sinned, the more grace you would receive. This gross misinterpretation of Yahweh’s Word is the same message we read in Jude 4, where he said that some would turn Yahweh’s grace into lasciviousness or immorality.

Paul then asks, “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

How can we as believers continue to live in sin once we come to the knowledge of Yahweh’s Word? The answer is simply, we can’t; once we know the truth we have an obligation to live that truth.

So that there’s no confusion, 1John 3:4 says that sin is the transgression or breaking of Yahweh’s commandments. Grace leads us away from sin.

Paul continues in Romans 6 with baptism. He says in verse 4 that immersion represents the burial of Yahshua the Messiah. Through baptism into Yahshua’s Name we die to our sins and must from that point on walk in a new life.

This is the purpose and reason for grace. Yahweh wants nothing more than to see us achieve eternal life through His Son, Yahshua the Messiah. To do this, however, we must first repent of our sins, seek baptism into Yahshua’s Name, and walk in the examples of our Savior. This is what it means to walk in newness of life.

Live Holy Under Grace

If you are reading this and debating your need for baptism, we encourage you to deliberate no longer. Yahweh’s grace has brought you to this point for a reason. He is calling you. He wants you to repent and turn from your sins, be immersed and receive the Holy Spirit that will one day

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raise you to everlasting life at Yahshua’s return.

Now in verses 14-15 Paul reiterates the need for living in holiness, even when we are under grace. He says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Certainly not.”

What does he mean to be under grace and not law? Paul is simply confirming that we are not saved by the law, but by grace.

That being the case, he explains that we must not sin. The definition of sin is the breaking of Yahweh’s law, 1John 3:4.

Now if we are under grace, why should we not continue to sin? In verse 16 Paul explains why it’s imperative that we avoid sin. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey…” He explains here that we can either serve sin, which leads to death, or righteousness, which leads to everlasting life.

The notion that we are our own masters is nothing more than self-delusion.

Whether we realize it or not, we all serving something and as we find here, we are either serving sin and Satan the devil or righteousness and our Father in heaven.

Justification is the process of rendering a person free from sin; sanctification, on the other hand, is living a life of holiness or piety once we are justified. Grace is to bring us to the state of justification so that we can then pursue sanctification.

The idea that grace is an allowance to continue in sin is a perversion of our Father’s Word. This was never the purpose of Yahweh’s grace or favor and yet this is the message that we often hear today.

Paul says that we have a choice; we can either live for sin and reap death or live for righteousness and reap eternal life. As Yahweh told the Israelites of old, I have set you before you life and death; blessings and the curse, choose which you want. This is the same choice we must make today. To make the right choice it is imperative that we understand the purpose of grace.

Forsaking Past Sins

Our calling is not to pursue sin, but holiness through Yahshua the Messiah, 1Peter 1:13-15. Peter says, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of

Yahshua Messiah; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”

Does Peter say here that since we are under grace that we can live life with abandon, absent from our Father’s Word?

Of course not! He says that we are to gird up the loins of our minds, a Hebrew idiom that means to be prepared for action and to serve Yahweh however you are called to do. He also says to be sober, meaning to be discreet and wise.

He goes on to say that we must be obedient children, not serving our former or previous lusts which we pursued in ignorance. Peter here is referring to the process of sanctification. When we find grace and justification from our sins through baptism, we then have an obligation to live in newness of life. This means that we avoid former sins. The fact is, we cannot please our Father in heaven if we continue living in sin once we receive his grace. If we do, we are guilty of turning Yahweh’s grace into lasciviousness.

To paraphrase Acts 17:30, Yahweh overlooked our sins when we were ignorant, but now commands all men to repent. Repent in the Greek literally means to think differently and to go a different direction. This is the message we find here from Peter.

Living in our old ways is not an option. When we come to the knowledge of the truth we have a choice – either to accept or to deny that truth. If we choose the latter then we will continue to serve sin and reap death and miss our opportunity for everlasting life.

Before moving on, notice what Peter says in 1Peter 1:15: be holy in all manner of conversation. In the Greek conversation literally means, “behavior.” So from this we must walk in holiness and obedience.

Liberty Is Not Sin

Grace does not remove our responsibility as believers to pursue holiness, which is found in obedience to Yahweh’s Word. In Galatians 5:13 Paul warns not to use our freedom for the selfish pursuit of sin. It reads, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

Here Paul is conveying the same

Archaeology

Dan TelTelDan

Tel Dan is the northernmost city of the Kingdom of Israel belonging to the Tribe of Dan. This city is identified with the “tel” prefix known as Tel Dan (“Mound of Dan” ‫ןד לת‬ in Hebrew).

Pictured is Randy Folliard sitting on the judges or king’s platform.

This was a canopied structure with a chair placed on top placed strategically at the gate’s entrace.

These areas were common in ancient cities, as we read in 2Samuel 19:8: “Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.”

Tel Dan is estimated to have been originally built around 1750 BCE. Abraham traveled to Dan to rescue his nephew Lot, Genesis 14:14

message that we heard from Peter. We are not to continue in sin once we’ve come to the knowledge of Yahweh’s truth through His grace. If we ignore this, then we are not fulfilling our calling as believers. Grace is an illustration of Yahweh’s favor and kindness; let’s not use this gift to justify our continued acceptance of sin.

Paul in the second chapter of Titus states: “For the grace of Elohim that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying perverseness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and piously, in this present world…Who gave

himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works,” verses 11, 14.

Is he stating that once we’ve received grace that we no longer have any moral obligation to Yahweh’s Word? Of course not, he is confirming just the opposite; once we receive grace we then have a calling to live in holiness. Paul confirms that now we must avoid perverseness, worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and piously.

Now in verse 14 Paul refers to the redemption of Yahshua the Messiah. He says

Yahshua redeems us from our iniquity or sin so that He may call a peculiar or special people unto Himself, zealous of good works.

Even after receiving His grace are we called to have good works.

We pray that you will not be guilty of misusing Yahweh’s grace, but understand its scriptural purpose. Yahweh wants all mankind to repent and come to the salvation that He offers through His Son.

This important walk begins with Yahweh’s grace and a desire to press on to perfection, which is achieved through a life of sanctification and obedience!

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The Most Neglected Command in

Scripture

by Randy Folliard

Y

ou might be surprised to discover what Yahweh says about tithing and that so few honor this command today.

According to the Barna Group, a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture, “The percentage of adults who tithe has stayed constant since the turn of the decade, falling in the 5% to 7% range.”

The Barna tracking reported that the proportion of adults who tithed was 7% in 2006 and 2005; 5% in 2004 and 2003; 6% in 2002; and 5% in 2001.

“Several categories stood out as highly unlikely to tithe: those under the age of 25, atheists and agnostics, single adults who have never been married, liberals, and downscale adults. One percent or less

of those in each of those classes tithed in 2007.”

On average the number of those who tithe in America is in the single digits. The news is not much better for the sincerely religious, including those who call upon Yahweh’s Name.

This source also found, “Among the most generous segments were evangelicals (24% of whom tithed); conservatives (12%); people who had prayed, read the Bible and attended a church service during the past week (12%); charismatic or Pentecostal Christians (11%); and registered Republicans (10%). Among all ‘born again’ adults, 9% contributed onetenth or more of their income.”

While these numbers are certainly better than the population at large, the fact

is, only a small fraction of Bible believers tithe regularly. Did our Heavenly Father leave tithing optional? While some are sincerely confused about the tithing debate, the sad reality is that many simply cannot part with a small fraction of their income, even when it means withholding that which belongs to the One they worship.

In Leviticus 27:30-32 Yahweh states that the tithe is holy to Him, “And all the tithe of the land, 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 ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto Yahweh.”

The word “holy” is the Hebrew qodesh

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and refers to what is sacred. Being holy to our Father, the tithe belongs to Him and not to us, and for this reason we don’t have discretion over its use. We must not hold back or neglect what belongs to Him. Is this command any less important than any other we find in Yahweh’s Word?

While there are some who would like to believe that this is more a suggestion than a command, the truth is the tithe carries the same weight and obligation as any other law in Scripture. It is Yahweh whom we dishonor when we forfeit or disregard this responsibility. Plainly, tithing is part of worship.

Old Testament Examples

Let’s review a few cases showing when and how this command was observed in the Old Testament. The first traces to around 1,900 years before the Messiah and 500 years before Moses and the Levites.

In the 18th chapter of Genesis, Abraham tithed to Melchizedek: “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high El. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high El, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high El, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all,” verses 18-20.

To break it down, first we find an established priesthood long before Moses and the Levites. The book of Hebrews confirms that this was the Melchizedek priesthood – the same priesthood Yahshua the Messiah is part of today.

Scripture is vague as to exactly who Melchizedek was. It confirms only that he was king of Salem and a priest of Yahweh during the time of Abraham. Abram gave to him a tithe of all. He just returned from victory in battle and had with him the spoils of war. These are what he tithed to Melchizedek.

This is important for two reasons.

First, it shows tithing was practiced prior to the Levitical priesthood, and second, tithing was given on more than produce or livestock. It’s been said, however, that this passage isn’t referring to a tithe, but to an offering. A tithe is a command and is always ten percent, while an offering is something freely offered and is not limited to an amount.

We learn which of these this one was in the seventh chapter of Hebrews: “Now

consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him,” verses 4-10.

What Abraham gave to Melchizedek was equivalent to what Israel gave to the Levites. So the belief that Abraham gave only an offering is false.

Abraham was not the only man who tithed prior to Sinai. Genesis 28:20-22 states that his grandson, Jacob, also gave tithes to His Father in heaven: “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If Elohim will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall Yahweh be my Elohim: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be Elohim’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”

Right before this account the Bible records that Jacob had a dream and in that dream he saw angels descending and ascending from and into heaven. Now prior to this dream Jacob was not fully converted. It wasn’t until this point that Jacob finally committed himself to serving the Elohim of his fathers. This can be seen from the nature of the vow he made here.

Again, verse 22 says, “Then shall Yahweh be my Elohim.”

If he were already committed, there would have been no purpose for these words. This was a turning point in Jacob’s life. As part of this vow of total commitment he promised to give a tenth or tithe of all.

This also happened prior to the Levitical priesthood.

This account shows that tithing is a sign of conversion. As an expression of his newfound faith and resolve, Jacob promised that he would give to Yahweh

that which was holy to Yahweh.

Purpose of Tithing

Yahweh does nothing without purpose.

Numbers 18:24 reads, “But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto Yahweh, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.”

The Levites belonged to Yahweh and were responsible to minister His worship and teach His Word as did Ezra. The tithe provided for their physical needs. Without it they could not accomplish Yahweh’s worship and service. In essence Yahweh was their employer and the tithe was their wage.

Don’t Neglect Nehemiah’s Call

In Nehemiah 13:10 we find Judah neglecting their responsibility: “And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of Elohim forsaken?

And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries,” verses 10-11.

Nehemiah was displeased with the people. They were not providing the tithe for the Levities and priests and consequently they had no choice but to return to the fields to survive. As a result Yahweh’s house was forsaken. In response to this neglect, Nehemiah commanded that the tithe be restored so that the priesthood could return to minister in Yahweh’s house.

When the tithe is withheld, Yahweh’s work goes undone. Sadly, this is still often the case. Nehemiah’s call is as relevant today as it was then.

We find a similar case in the New Testament. Paul in 1Corinthians 9:9-11 explains why we’re to support those who minister in the Word. It reads, “For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth Elohim take care for oxen?

Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?”

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Paul explains that the command of not muzzling the ox has a greater meaning.

The command points to those who minister today in the Word. When he speaks about sowing spiritual things, he’s referring to those who benefit from the Word. When he speaks about reaping carnal things, he’s referring to the physical needs of those who minister the Word.

Paul is saying simply this — those who minister in the Word should be supported by that Word, mainly through the provision of the tithe. Again, everything Yahweh does has purpose. The tithe was to support those who ministered in the Word.

Some will say that the tithe was only for those in the Old Testament and that now we should rely only on free-will offerings.

It doesn’t make sense to change the rules.

Just as the Levites ministered before Yahweh to the people, His ministers today do the same.

Open the Windows of Heaven

The book of Malachi provides both blessings and curses related to the tithe.

Malachi asks, “Will a man rob Elohim? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith Yahweh of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith Yahweh of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith Yahweh of hosts,” Malachi 3:812.

Through the prophet Malachi, Yahweh accuses Israel of robbing Him by withholding their tithes and offerings.

Remember that the tithe is holy to Yahweh and for that reason is not within our discretion to keep back.

Now for those who are faithful to Yahweh’s Word regarding tithing, notice again what He says in verse 10, “Prove me now herewith, saith Yahweh of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

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He promises great blessings for those who tithe. Some might say, “But I simply can’t afford to tithe.” Yahweh promises that if we step out in faith and give that which belongs to Him, we in turn will be blessed.

According to a 2013 article from The Christian Post, those who tithe experience greater financial security: “The finances of Christians who tithe are generally healthier than the finances of those who do not, according to a new report that takes a close look at the financial, spiritual and giving practices of people who give 10 percent or more of their income away to churches and charities each year.”

“Researchers compared tithers to non-tithers using nine financial health indicators, and found that tithers were better off in every category. Among tithers, for example, 80 percent have no unpaid credit card bills, 74 percent don’t owe anything on their cars, 48 percent own their homes and 28 percent are debt free.”

“The weird thing is, a tither looks at that and says to himself, ‘Well I’m better off because I give.’ A non-tither looks at that and says, ‘Oh, they give because they’re better off,’” said Brian Kluth, founder of the study and Maximum Generosity, who called the findings ‘unprecedented.’”

We see here actual statistics validating what Yahweh promises. When we obey Him, we are blessed! This does not mean, however, that He will bless us with untold health, wealth and prosperity, as many false teachers proclaim today. When our Father promises to open up the windows of heaven, He’s promising to meet our needs. Nowhere in the Bible do we find the promise of meeting our every want.

Content to Cover the Basics

We are commanded to be content with the basics. Paul in 1Timothy 6:6-10 states, “But holiness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

We should not covet riches. Instead, we are to be content with what we have.

As Paul states, “holiness with contentment is great gain.” Too many ministers today are speaking lies for their own gain, saying and promising things that they should not.

Don’t be deceived into believing that our Father is going to give you untold wealth for simply obeying His Word and doing His will. While He does promise blessings for those who obey, He doesn’t promise unlimited health, wealth and prosperity.

The Woman Who Gave All

Yahshua in the twenty-first chapter of Luke speaks of a woman who serves as an example of generosity and faith: “And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of Elohim: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had,” verses 1-4.

This poor widow literally gave everything she had as a show of her devotion and faith. Yahshua said that she gave more than all the rich men who gave of their wealth. Yahweh cares most about our heart and our willingness to sacrifice for Him than the amount we provide.

Paul in 2Corinthians 9:6 says, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for Elohim loveth a cheerful giver.”

If this widow was able to give of her entire substance in her extreme poverty, we too can give that which belongs to Yahweh.

For those who do, He will provide a way and a blessing. Those who withhold rob the One they worship. As believers we must be willing to fully commit, as Jacob did, to show that we’re fully converted and willing to sacrifice to obey Yahweh.

Read or request our free booklet, “The Poor Widow’s Challenge,” to gain an even better understanding on tithing and why this concept is misunderstood today.

Winning Over Your Unbelieving

Spouse

for His Truth.

In addressing Yahshua’s marriage to Israel, Jeremiah prophesied, “…and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion,” Jeremiah 3:14. This is also how Yahweh calls His people today—individually.

Spouses typically do not accept the Truth simultaneously. Usually the Believer has the task of convincing his wife or her husband of the newfound Truth.

Paul gives his own advice on living with a nonbeliever in 1Corinthians 7:1216. He says that if a husband or wife has a nonbelieving mate who doesn’t cause problems, then the believing mate must not forsake the nonbeliever. The believing mate sanctifies the family. But if the nonbelieving spouse leaves the marriage, then let him or her go, verse 15. Paul says that conjugal duties at that point stop (“is not under bondage”).

What’s a Wife to Do?

by Alan Mansager

A

desperate wife said, “My husband does not share my faith and he’s always wanting me to do what dishonors Yahweh, like break the Sabbath and serve him unclean food. How can I change him? I don’t want our marriage to be a constant struggle.

What can I do?”

A marriage in conflict over the faith can pose the greatest of challenges. But Believers are not left without hope or recourse, either. The Word addresses this difficult issue head-on, and provides help for such relationships.

When a husband or wife does not join his or her spouse in accepting Yahweh’s truth, conflict usually results. Feelings of distance in the relationship can easily lead to resentment and worse when there is unrest in the home.

Any marriage can begin to lose closeness over time unless both spouses work to renew their love regularly. But when a believer is married to an unyielding nonbeliever there is a built-in danger of alienation as feelings of rejection and loneliness take root.

Some spouses have learned to work around differences so that the Believer can still maintain integrity in his or her convictions while living peacefully with the nonbelieving mate. Other couples have more difficulty, sometimes to the point of separation.

Called to a Special Walk

Scriptures do not provide a quick and easy solution to the problem of a nonbelieving spouse. The situation arises from the way Yahweh typically seeks out and calls those

First Peter 3 gives special guidance for marriages in this situation. Peter starts out with strategies for women with nonbelieving husbands. He emphasizes that she should be submissive to her husband.

In doing so she has a favorable opportunity to win him over.

Subservience may appear sexist to our liberated culture and some wives may find it difficult to defer to a nonbelieving mate, especially when she has greater knowledge through the Truth she now understands.

Consider this. Contrary to many views, submission is not wrong or evil. It is natural and necessary for a functioning society. All of us, men and women, already submit to many others in our lives. An employee defers to the employer, a student concedes to the teacher, while everyone yields to the authority of police and government.

A wife as well must accept her secondary position in the marital union as Yahweh ordained, Ephesians 5:22, Colossians 3:18, Titus 2:4-5.

In 1Peter 3:1 Peter tells the believing wife, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [behavior] of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation [behavior] coupled with fear.”

The scriptural command to cede to her husband is paired with the wife’s “chaste conversation,” meaning her Restoration Times Magazine May-June 2014

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upright behavior. This one-two punch will have a great impact on whether her husband accepts the Truth. At the least it will remove barriers that might otherwise inhibit his conversion.

The believing wife’s compliant attitude will work to advance the truth in society as well, when others observe whether her profession of faith is genuinely backed up by her behavior. An argumentative attitude may easily be seen as hypocrisy. Others will turn away from what the Believer professes if he or she fails to walk the talk.

Believers make the truth real to outsiders in how they live it. Teaching by personal example is a key way Yahshua taught.

An elderly sister in the faith once gave her advice after many years of successfully navigating through life with an unbelieving husband. When asked how a wife should live scripturally with an unbelieving mate, she said, be the best wife you can be. He will then realize that your faith is also a great benefit to him and he will look much more favorably on it.

That is the first step in convincing him that Yahweh’s ways are far superior to the ways of the world and carry much greater blessings.

Another wife in the faith never gave up on her husband, even when he persecuted her for her beliefs. After years of solitarily living for Yahshua she rejoiced when he was finally baptized into Yahshua’s Name.

Her tenacity will be to her credit when Yahshua returns to reward His people.

Attitude and Behavior Are Key

A Believer’s success with an unbelieving mate will hinge greatly on attitude. It is human nature to respond in kind to the way we are treated. A gentle approach will elicit a similar response. A contentious attitude will provoke hostility. Wise Solomon wrote, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger,” Proverbs 15:1.

Peter admonishes women to focus on inner beauty rather than on outward attractiveness. He calls it, “the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit” which Yahweh highly values. He cites women of the Scriptures who trusted in Yahweh, verse 5, and who were examples of righteous character while being subject to their husbands, like Sarah, 1Peter 3:6.

The only time a wife’s priorities should change is when her husband’s requests of

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her conflict with Scriptural mandate. At that point the believing wife must take a stand for her faith. By doing so she will also show her husband how seriously she takes her faith (sending the message that he should do the same).

In his advice to wives, Peter never says that when all else fails leave your husband, even if the situation seems hopeless. By teaching persistence and patience, Peter mirrors the instruction of the Apostle Paul in 1Corinthians 7:14, where Paul says the believing wife must not leave her unbelieving husband. Because of her he is sanctified, as is the unbelieving wife through her believing husband. The believing spouse also sanctifies their children, he adds.

Sanctifying happens when the believer becomes the avenue of blessing to the marriage and family. The nonbelieving spouse gets the favor of living in a blessed, set-apart environment. This was true when Jacob came to live in Laban’s house (Gen. 30:27) and when Joseph joined Potiphar’s household (Genesis 39:5). Bessings came to both families.

The believing spouse acts like a spiritual guide in the family. Without a believer in their midst the family could be spiritually jeopardized. That is reason alone for the believing spouse to remain in the relationship and not jettison the spouse and family even when hard trials come.

Neither does Peter tell her to constantly preach at him. He doesn’t tell her to tape Bible verses on the bottom of his beer cans or leave evangelistic tracts in his car seat. In the marriage her husband has the headship, and she has her place as well. The only thing that trumps that sacred order is Yahweh’s authority.

Nor does Peter tell her to demand her rights. She knows that she is equal to her husband on the spiritual level. But she also knows that both cannot be in charge if they hope to have a harmonious marriage.

In marriage there is a leader and there is a second in command. A dual leadership won’t work; one person must make the final decisions. Yahweh said that person is the husband.

Paul wrote: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Master. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Messiah is the head of the assembly: and he is the savior of the body,” Ephesians 5:22-23.

There is no guarantee that a wife’s efforts to change her husband’s beliefs will yield the results she hopes for, but by trying she will at least have gained Yahweh’s favor. Nothing we do in life is more important than bringing another to repentance and salvation.

Husbands Honor Wives

Peter addresses husbands next in 1Peter 3:7: “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” Husbands are told to honor their wives who share in their lives. This is so that they don’t displease Yahweh and lose His favor when seeking answers to prayer.

Having the leadership position already, it is easier for the husband to influence his wife than the other way around, as women naturally prefer to let the man take the lead.

An unbelieving wife may not understand the big picture, but she is more likely to give it a chance if he approaches her the right way.

The believing husband must never browbeat or dictate to his unbelieving wife, but show her in love why he believes as he does and why she should as well.

Forcing her to worship and pray is futile.

Unbelievers have no basis to want this.

Why would they pray when they have no faith? Pushing an unbelieving wife may lead her away from the truth.

All believers should pray for their unbelieving spouses, Colossians 1:9.

Encourage the unbeliever to fellowship with others in the faith, when possible.

Their influence can mean a great deal, Hebrew 10:25, 1Corinthians 7:14, Realize that your faith will be tested and tried, and you will have ups and downs.

At times you may feel you are not making any difference in the life of your mate.

Never give up because there is always hope.

Paul, the great evangelist who met opposition to the truth nearly every day of his life, wrote, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love Elohim, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Let Yahweh work. He allows difficulties to build patience, perseverance, strength and character in us. That is key to what life in Him is all about.

in Scripture I am soon to encounter my aunt. She is a member of the denomination I was raised in. One of the areas I am sure she will argue against is the fact that the law and the Old Testament are still alive today. I am pretty sure I can show her that they are, but how can I show her that the sacrifices are no longer used since Yahshua provided the final sacrifice?

The fact that the Truth seems so “far out there” for people today shows just how far churchianity has deviated from it in 2,000 years.

In anticipating your aunt’s questions, you should first review our booklet, The Old Testament Lives, or find it online at yrm.org. Remind her that the Old Testament was the only Bible Yahshua and the apostles taught from. Paul in 2Timothy 3:16 says all Scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable for doctrine and instruction in righteousness. The only Scripture he knew of was the Old Testament as it was all that he, Yahshua, and the rest of the apostles had available to them. The New Testament was not yet written.

The key to the Bible is the covenants, and the only significant change in going from the Old Covenant to New was in sacrifices and administration of the law.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 prophesies this clearly.

The biggest change is that He put His laws in our hearts, which doesn’t mean to throw them out, but to make them even more binding, Hebrews 8:10. It means to obey, Deuteronomy 5:29, 6:6, 1Samuel 16:7, Psalm 40:8, Luke 6:45, 12:34, Romans 6:17 (RSB note on Heb. 8:10). Yahshua raised the bar on the law and obedience, Matthew 5, making it even more binding.

Man shall live by EVERY word, Luke 4:4.

At the end of the Scriptures, Revelation 12:17, 14:12 and 22:14 all show that we must have Yahshua AND the law together, and not just one or the other. Hebrews 10 details the change in animal sacrifices to Yahshua’s sacrifice, especially vv. 8-10 and 12.

In your approach, challenge her to back up her points with Scripture. Then ask her to refute with Scripture those passages you present. The biggest mistake most make is to allow the challenger to try to change the subject or sidestep with some other verse or argument instead of addressing the point.

Don’t allow smokescreening. If you do, the challenger will walk away believing he or she got the upper hand and nothing will change.

If I believe that (Yahshua) died, was buried, and was resurrected by the Father for the sins of mankind, is that good enough for salvation?

Also, is the gift of faith to believe a gift from (Yahweh)?

We believe we must get back to the pure teachings originally given, Jude 3.

When the young man asked Yahshua the Messiah what he must do to be saved, Yahshua said “Keep the commandments,” Matthew 19:17.

Yahshua kept His Father’s Commandments and taught us to do the same, John 15:10.

He came to do His Father’s will, John 4:34.

Faith is a spiritual gift, 1Cor. 12:9. The gift of faith is victorious when it overcomes the world, 1John 5:4; faith without works is dead, James 2:20; the law is established through faith, Romans 3:31; and certainly

we must have faith that our Savior died to pay the penalty of our past sins.

My wife is of another denomination. This has caused lots of contention in our relationship. What should I do?

Religious disputes between spouses are often the most difficult to deal with. Yahweh doesn’t call everyone at this time, Jeremiah 3:14. We encourage you to convey your sincere conviction without condemning hers. It’s important that you remind one another that you must prove all things (1Thes. 5:21) and that salvation is an individual walk (Phil.

2:12).

In certain cases, spouses must stand up for themselves even though it will cause contention. We spoke with a lady believer the other day who is married to a Sunday keeper. She eventually stopped observing Sundays and while it caused strife for about three weeks, eventually she and her husband were able to make amends and respect each other’s beliefs. During those three weeks, this believer did all she could to show her love and devotion to her husband, but not compromising her biblical conviction. Pray often. Yahweh has a way of softening hearts and providing a solution in these matters. See Winning Your Unbelieving Spouse in this issue.

I am having a hard time dealing with sin. How do I handle temptation that hounds me until I give in, and then feel terrible for having done what I hate?

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Many times very powerful, personal temptation requires your intense prayers. When your prayers seems weak, fasting is a key spiritual supplement. In addition, read the Word. If you are struggling with a specific sin, select passages that directly address that sin and meditate upon those passages when the temptation comes and until it wanes. The Psalms are encouraging and strengthening.

Take control of your thoughts and never dwell on the sin. Seek Yahweh for help.

I want to express my sincere thanks to your ministry for opening up my eyes to the truth. I am 52 years old, single, never married, and no children. I have pastors in my family and know for sure they are all on the wrong path. This health, wealth, and prosperity message I tried to live and it never worked.

I had hands laid on me for healing and tongues and had strange experiences. In my local church I use to attend, I was a prayer warrior and have always been bold for the faith. At least I thought I was.

I don’t know how I found Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry but I am glad that I did. I did not know that I was violating the Sabbath with Sunday worship. Every opportunity I get to share my faith I do. I don’t want to be the one who hides his talent and have Yahshua be ashamed of me. As I was praying today, I repented of everything I ever did in life and I said that I need to be more serious than ever and that I need to be re-baptized in Yahshua. Honestly, I don’t know what this means but I need to do it so I don’t become like Hebrews 6:4.

Have I already crossed the line? I need all the support I can get and this is why I have contacted you.

We rejoice to know that you have found the truth and that the Ministry has been a blessing to you! There is indeed much falsehood in nominal worship today.

We cannot agree more with you on the pervasive health, wealth, and prosperity teaching! While some ministers are simply misinformed, the motivation for many is less than honorable. See the article in this issue, “Charismatic Confusion.”

Regarding your past, realize that

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Yahweh is a loving Elohim, Psalm 103. He does not condemn the ignorant, Acts 17:30 and John 9:41. However, once we do know the truth we must embrace it and never turn back. It sounds as if you have committed to this path. Yahweh looks favorably upon such actions.

I’m getting baptized from a church I do not attend. I asked to be baptized in the name of Yahshua the Messiah. I have no idea about the laying on of hands thing or if it is real and an active practice today. I do not go to church because I want to learn the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith and not from a politically correct place to fill seats. That’s how I found this ministry on Google. I’m still pretty skeptical of any ministry (yes, this one too), so far so good though. I quit the pagan holidays a long time ago as well as not eating unclean foods which I learned on my own. So I would appreciate any advice as well as scriptures you can provide.

You touched on two key aspects of immersion: baptism into Yahshua’s true Name, which is the only Name given for salvation (Acts 4:12), as well as the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit, 1Timothy 4:14. Both of these key essentials are ignored by most ministers today. The other is immersion rather than the improper sprinkling.

Understand that biblical immersion cannot be performed by just anyone.

Yahshua specifically went to John the Baptist to be immersed. He didn’t even have one of His disciples do it. John the Baptist was ordained for the purpose. John was a believer who obeyed and taught Yahweh’s Word and His commandments.

Anyone who does not will not have the blessings of Yahweh and will not have the Spirit, Acts 5:32, 1John 3:24.

Secondly, the granting of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands by the ministry (1Tim. 4:14) is an essential part of the immersion. The Apostle Peter confirms that laying on of hands is necessary for proper baptism, Act 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua the Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Those who had been immersed by John had

to be rebaptized because they knew nothing about the Holy Spirit, Acts 19:2-6.

We counsel the candidates before baptism to make sure they know what it entails and to make sure they understand repentance before taking this life-changing step. Many have told us that they were never even counseled when they were baptized in the churches. We perform baptisms at the ministry as well as at our Feasts.

We encourage you to seriously consider the facts presented here and make the right choice. There is only one faith and only one true baptism, Ephesians 4:4. We also encourage you to read our booklet, If You Seek Baptism.

Must a believer join a group?

Should True Worshipers be organized, or is it okay to worship independently of any organized body?

Everything about the New Testament plainly shows organized worship As the Rock,Yahshua established His Assembly as an organized body, Matthew 16:18. In that same spirit, Paul went out to the Gentiles and established assemblies wherever he went.

The majority of the New Testament is composed of his letters to these various organized bodies dealing with their problems in light of one common and true doctrine they were all to follow.

Acts 16:4-5 shows the Jerusalem apostles and elders making judgments for the assemblies that Paul and others had established in various cities. The gifts of the spirit in 1Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 are to be used for the benefit of the entire Body, not for just one or two people off in a corner by themselves. Notice: “And He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of the Messiah: Till we all come into the unity of the faith...”

Each of these offices (which are all masculine in the Greek), is given for an organized effort so that everyone may benefit from all. Paul says in 1Corinthians 12: “By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...For the body is not one member but many.” Worship disconnected from a body is not taught in the Word.

Feedback From Mail | Emails | Social Media

Guidance and Insight Through DTT “Here’s wishing the very best of Yahweh’s gifts to His servants there at the YRM offices. I know from His Word that he will reward you all greatly for your service to him in feeding the household of Elohim, for we are told in Matthew 24:45-47, ‘Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others their food at the right time? How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes! Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his property.’ And this is what you do when you provide guidance and insight in his word through the Discover the Truth broadcast and the Restoration Times.

Keep up the good work, and thanks!”

– D.M. Surfing for Spiritual Help “I wouldn’t be where I am today spiritually without Yahweh leading me to YRM. I started out by following [another ministry] two years ago right after my (atheist) dad passed away. In that time I was praying for discernment and started seeing that they were making their own interpretations to the Word.

So while channel surfing for spiritual ‘help,’ I saw one of your programs and have been drawn to YRM ever since.” Anon.

Makes More Sense “You all have helped me SO much in my understanding of Yahweh’s Word.

It all makes so much more sense. All the things I have wondered about are coming to light with every service, every video. I’m ever so grateful for all of you.”- Anon.

Diversions on the Sabbath “It just rocks me that there is so much sin in everything, everywhere, all around us! Songs on the radio, movies, what I used to think were “nice” ones are laden with sinful messages. So

many activities all promoted on the Sabbath day. It makes perfect sense for deception and to draw people away from the truth....very sad.”- Anon.

Addicted to the World “Is it possible to have the Holy Spirit in me before baptism because many times I feel moved to do (and not do) things.

I get gut feelings that sometimes I can’t ignore, like maybe I’m being guided.

And looking back it seems that I have been protected many, many times even through my most sinful days. Reflecting on my past I cannot imagine what Yahweh could possibly see in me but I know He knows me better that I know myself. I owe Him absolutely everything and all I want now is to serve Him in any way I can. But it is hard to let go of all you know after 50+ years; coming out of this world is like quitting an addiction or at least a BAD habit. Not holidays though, they’ve never really meant anything to me and I’m more than happy to separate myself from that madness! Oh, and I love my RSB.” Leaving Was a Sad Time “Praise Yahweh for the message that was delivered to us all from Deacon Terry O’Neal [during the Feast of Unleavened Bread]. I so enjoyed meeting all of my brothers and sisters in the faith at YRM. I was sad when it was time to leave yesterday. I am home safely and I look forward to every Sabbath continuing to join in the Sabbath services on Livestream. Most of all I look forward to being obedient and setting the second tithe up so I can prepare for the Feast of Tabernacles in October! I love my Yahweh Family and I miss you so much already! May Yahweh continue to Bless YRM and the great work that they are doing to reach the world and those Yahweh is calling out.” - Anon.

Sent to Help Us “We love y’all’s TV program and all the materials you have! We would love to

Send us your comments Visit: yrm.org/feedback have a church in Brandon, MS. Like your church! We want to serve Yahweh like He wants us to serve Him. We have asked Yahweh for the truthful way to serve him and we believe you have been sent to help us!” -JC Restoration Is Worldwide “I thank Yahweh for leading me to YRM ministry site and being able to learn several biblical truths thru their literature, Sabbath messages (mp3 and videos). I am on the other side of the globe and Yahweh is using brethren there at YRM to reach his sheep at all corners of the world. Thank you for your efforts. The restoration is worldwide, brothers!” - AY More RSB Comments “Your ministry allows my ministry team and myself to take a part in services with like-minded believers. The RSB is a welcome addition to our lives, and in my humble opinion the ‘Best’ study Bible to date!” - DB “I am not a part of the YRM team. I am pastor of another ministry of truth in Yahweh, and I wanted to tell you I have never found any better information on the truth of Scripture anywhere else in the world than I have found here through YRM....they are a ministry of Yahweh’s truth! And you’ll love their Restoration Study Bible. I own two, and just bought another to give away to a friend...”- Anon.

“I have this RSB Bible I sent off for with some of our wedding present money.

It’s the best present we had.” F.B., H.W. “Just received our Restoration Study Bible today. It’s beautiful, but its contents are what’s the most beautiful.

Praise Yahweh!” - A.A “This RSB is the Bible we use in our Ministry... it is, in our humble opinion, the greatest study Bible ever written!”

- Anon.

“The Restoration Bible hands down is the best study Bible available anywhere! Thank you YRM!” -YTM

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Seen on these stations and networks across the USA and the world!

COMING SOON

Visit www.discoverthetruth.tv for a complete list of stations and times.

From Israel

The Discover the Truth television crew along with host Randy Folliard journeyed to Israel filming amazing archaeological sites. We were accompanied by renowned Israeli archaeologist Eli Shukron, who discovered the Pool of Siloam and the Citadel of David, among others.

He provided his expertise throughout the entire 10-day expedition. In the coming months we will release many of these interviews and videos on the Discover the Truth TV program. Be sure to watch and spread the word as we bring the Bible to life visiting the places where it all happened!

Photo: overlooking the plains of the Dead Sea from Massada.

www.discoverthetruth.tv