VOL. 1 | No. 2 | September-October 2010 A R T I C L E S
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3 | EDITORIAL What a Difference a (Right) Day Makes FEATURE ARTICLE 8 | Is the New Testament really Christian?
by Alan Mansager
14 |Questions and Answers 19 | Letters
ARTICLES 4 | From Sitting to Serving Baptism into Yahshua is not an end in itself, but is just the beginning of a whole different life. by Donald Mansager 6 | Joy In Living With all the suffering and turmoil in this world, retaining joy in our lives is paramount. by Joel Wirl 12 | The Sabbath- Glory to Yahweh by Robert Wirl VIRTUOUS WOMAN SECTION 16 | Emotional Woes Stimulate Women to Shop by Amy Pletz
n FRONT COVER: iStockphoto image - Shofar symbolizing the Hebrew Roots of the New Testament.
Restoration Times is published bimonthly by Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry. We have restored the true names of the Heavenly Father, Yahweh, and His Son, Yahshua the Messiah. These names were hidden by biblical scribes and translators and can be easily proved in any good encyclopedia or dictionary (under “God,” “Jehovah,” “Lord,” “Jesus” or “Yahweh”). They are found in ancient manuscripts from which we derive our modern translations. Our desire is to return as closely as possible to the pure teachings of scripture. That includes rooting out many popular doctrines and traditional teachings that are not Biblical, but which developed through the centuries from human custom or by compromise with error. We encourage each reader to prove scripturally for himself what he reads here, 1Thessalonians 5:21. 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.
17 | Suffer the Little Children by Debbie Reed 18 | Feast of Tabernacles Preparation Tips
Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry PO Box 463 Holts Summit, MO 65043 Telephone: 573-896-YAH-8 (9248) Fax: 573-896-9533 www.yrm.org info@yrm.org
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s we leave the lazy, hazy days of summer behind we are again awakened to the utter contrast between the holy days of the Biblical seventh month and the yearend, man-made holidays. From a worldly perspective, the Feasts of the Scriptures come without any great fanfare, except among Yahweh’s people who relish the time to gather with those of like faith to honor the Father and “see His face.” For His True Worshipers the Feasts present the highlight of the year. Yahweh’s Spirit, not tradition, draws you to His days and so the spiritual uplift derived personally from these true, Biblical observances is indescribable. Yahweh says there are real blessings and deep-down satisfaction in His days for those who keep them. The common holidays of the secular world arrive with all the glitz, glamour, frills, and flourishes money can buy and are sustained by their own inertia. “The holidays” as they are known, are the way many even mark time: “It happened around Xmas four years ago.” That’s how ingrained they are to millions. And after all the crinkled and torn wrapping paper is thrown away and the ham dinner dishes are washed and dried, celebrators with an emptiness still gnawing inside look at one another wondering, “Is this it?” Months of buildup for one day of fleeting self-indulgence!
Isn’t it time you discovered the difference and learned the true holidays, the only ones commanded, sanctioned and blessed by your Creator? They are the true observances that give back again and again, because they belong to Yahweh Himself, Leviticus 23. The feasts of the seventh month this year are: Trumpets, Sept. 10; Atonement, Sept. 19; Tabernacles, Sept. 24-30 and the Last Great Day, Oct. 1. All of these dates are contingent upon the sighting of the new moon the evening of Sept. 9. If the crescent is not sighted until the next night of the 10th, all Feasts will be set back a day. Join us for Tabernacles at Shakamak and take in the blessings yourself. The premier issue of Restoration Times has been received well. It fills an important gap in this ministry’s outreach and we pray it will help ground many in sound teachings. If you are reading this and have no subscription, just write, click or call and begin receiving your own copy of RT today. There is no charge. We have expanded this issue to 20 pages, four more than the premier issue, and added more articles. Although this will be our typical size, the number of pages may vary slightly. May Yahweh Almighty guide you into a lifetime of learning and applying His precepts to your life and the lives of those you love. ■ THE RESTORATION TIMES September/October 2010
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Baptism into Yahshua is not an end in itself, but is just the beginning of a whole new and better life.
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he faithful who have been baptized by immersion into Yahshua’s Name and with hands laid upon them have been pressed into a force that will ultimately change the world. 4
They have responded to Yahweh’s call to obedience and have yielded to the tugging of Yahweh’s Spirit, realizing the life they were living was a dead-end. For the first time the Scriptures make real sense to them as they continue going deeper into His Word and as Yahweh gives them more light—even as they walk in that light. When we were immersed into
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Yahshua’s Name each of us was promised a certain spiritual gift to be used in the high calling we have in the Messiah. Those who have been baptized and congregate with others of like faith as a body are to assume a measure of responsibility toward the body of believers. Yahweh, who produces spiritual gifts through His mighty Power, provides each one with his and her special ability. All of the various gifts are of the same Spirit. Note that Paul goes into detail for his Corinthian converts as well as us, as each of us is now his protege: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these work that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1Cor. 12:7-11). It is surprising to learn that some who seek baptism are unaware that baptism puts them in a special group that belongs to Yahshua and they are then under His care. They serve and sacrifice for His sake. Paul refers to this group as the “body of Messiah.” “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in the Messiah, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which
is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Sovereign; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (Rom. 12: 4-12). Paul is adamant that baptism into Yahshua is not an end in itself, but is the beginning of a devoted life dedicated to Yahweh through Yahshua. Those who have been baptized should be acutely aware of what special spiritual gift is theirs and have set their goals to become an active part of the body of Messiah. They are given a charge, which is to use their gift for the benefit of those in the assembly. Paul explained this in his letter to the Ephesians. “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of the Messiah. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. 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 in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Messiah” (Eph 4:713). Any combination of abilities or talents suddenly given or leisurely cultivated may qualify as a spiritual gift if used for Yahweh’s honor and glory and His work in the world. Because none of the lists of spiritual gifts is the same, Paul evidently felt others may have a similar experience as his and would seek to use whatever combination of talents and abilities might be needed for the common good of the Assembly. Upon being baptized into Yahshua’s saving Name, the brethren are urged by
Paul to get involved in the Assembly and participate as the Spirit leads. It is time to get active as a member of that assembly. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Elohim, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Elohim, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of Elohim” (Rom. 12:1-2). The following is taken from “The Open Bible” (NASB) study section: “Paul, Peter, and the other apostles learned the secret of developing an eternal perspective in the midst of earthly problems. They were able to live above their circumstances and rejoice even while being persecuted because of their firm grasp on who they were in [Messiah] and where they were going. In spite of his imprisonment, Paul could write, ‘For me to live is [Messiah] and to die is gain’ (Phil 1:21). Are you looking more at ‘the things which are seen’ or at the things which are not seen? The former are temporary, but the latter are eternal” (2Cor. 4: 18). Rather than to just sit quietly listening to sermons week after week, the audience should also be challenged to represent Yahshua wherever they might be. The early apostles thought of themselves as doing the same work as Yahshua, living and proclaiming Yahweh’s truth wherever possible. The converts shared their knowledge with those they knew, especially among other Israelites and Judahites. Our task is no different from theirs. We must make the world aware that Bible truth exists and that that Word will one day judge them. Yahweh does not give us this special knowledge only to have us hide it forever out of sight. “[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom Yahweh would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory”
(Col 1:26-27). Ours is to be a light and example. Yahshua’s parable of the talents should be lesson enough for us. We will each be rewarded in direct proportion to the amount that talent profits and aids others seeking the Word.n by Donald R. Mansager
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With all the suffering and turmoil in this world, retaining joy in our lives is paramount. Joy can help give hope and peace in your life even when the entire world seems to be crumbling around you. It is this type of joy we seek after and can be found by following some simple advice from the Scriptures.
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o matter what age we are, we will always be considered by Yahweh as His children. Yahweh is sovereign in the heavens, the earth, and all of creation, and we are a part of His creation. It is Yahweh through Yahshua whom we trust who provides for our needs, just as a child looks to one’s parents for his or her needs. We all have needs, and many times when those needs are not met when we believe they should be met, we get 6
anxious and worried about life. Pray to Yahweh and ask that He provide for your needs. In Philippians 4:6-7 Paul says, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto Elohim. And the peace of Yahweh, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Messiah Yahshua.” Pray, believe, and have joy knowing that Yahweh is in control of all things and can provide for your needs. Also, praying for our own needs is not enough; we must pray for the needs of others. Look beyond yourself and find out how you can help someone by saying a prayer for his or her needs. Praying for another’s needs is an act of love, and that love will yield joy within your heart. Humility of Mind Humility is more than just being humble toward Yahweh but also humble toward
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one another. In Philippians 2:3-4 Paul says, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” To view oneself as less important than someone else is contrary to the mentality of this world. So much emphasis in this world is placed upon serving self rather than serving one another. Yahshua came to this Earth to serve rather than to be served. He gave up everything that he had and emptied himself because he had a desire to please Yahweh and to give us a way to eternal life through his life, sacrifice, and death. He did not do all these things for himself or to serve Himself, but He served for Yahweh and for us. We ought to model ourselves after Yahshua’s example and give to others freely with humility of mind just as He did.
Joy doesn’t come from merely fulfilling our own needs and desires, but real joy comes from forgetting about ourselves for a while and focusing in love on what can be done for someone else. As Paul says in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Attitude Joy can truly come from how one approaches a situation. In Philippians 2:14 Paul says, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” This type of attitude doesn’t mean the tasks that we are not so fond of must suddenly become fun, since everyone is different and everyone has certain likes and dislikes of what to do. But we are told that in all the things, even the not so fun tasks, that we must not complain. Consider the example of Yahshua. When He came to earth He didn’t complain to Yahweh about coming. He came with a joyful spirit, even though He fully knew He would die a painful death. He didn’t squirm or try to get out of what He had to do. He came without complaint. Yes, there are many bothersome things in life, but complaining about every one of them will not make the situation better, but will only make us feel worse. Just the small effort of not complaining about every bad situation will assuredly increase the amount of joy in life. Someone said, “The antidote to negative thinking isn’t positive thinking, but gratitude.”
Free Offer Galatians Unveiled The most misinterpreted book in all of the Bible is Paul’s letter to the Galatians. It has been hailed as the Magna Carta of Christian freedom, with “freedom” meaning freedom from Biblical law.
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www.yrm.org/literature.htm
Thankfulness Focus on the blessings that Yahweh has given and not on the things that we don’t have. We humans tend to have wandering eyes toward what we don’t have and forget about all the things that we do have. In Philippians 4:12-13 Paul says, “I know how to be abased and I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to abound and to
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” The characteristics in this verse are attributes of Yahshua and are a glimpse into the kind of thoughts He had. We become the thoughts that we think, so it is important for us to fill our minds with good things and forget all the negative
suffer need; I can do all things through Messiah which strengthens me.” Paul was content in all these situations because his goal wasn’t for comfort in his life but to glorify Yahshua through his life. Life is not about what we own, but about living as Yahshua did, and realizing that the things we do have are blessings that Yahweh has given us. Be content and thankful for the blessings you have been given, and joy will truly follow.
thoughts. In dealing with others Paul says the following in 1Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.” Yes, we are to be lights to the world, but when you hang around someone too much who constantly has a bad attitude, that attitude tends to rub off on you. If at all possible, surround yourself with people who would rather encourage you than complain about everything. Peace comes from being around those of a like-minded faith and joy, and in turn will produce joy in our lives. Our circumstances don’t have to regulate our joy, but the things we do, the things we think, and our attitude about life will regulate our joy. To dovetail all these points, loving Yahweh and loving others really is the focal point of all these ways to create joy in your life. Focus on good things, do good deeds, and Yahweh will surely fill your heart with joy. n
Surroundings Our surroundings are more than just what’s around us. They are also the thoughts we have and the people with whom we associate. These are the influences that can either erode the joy in our lives or create joy. In dealing with our thoughts Paul says in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
by Joel Wirl
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One of the greatest deceptions foisted on believers of the Bible is that Christianity’s teachings and practices replaced virtually everything in the Old Testament, including laws and promises. To understand this error, we take a look from the other direction and ask, is Christianity the religion taught in the New Testament?
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t is incredible the matter-of-factness with which many scholars and laymen accept traditional notions about the New Testament without doing any honest investigating on their own. Few ever ask about the background of those who wrote it, when it came into being and how it was used early on. If they did an open-minded inquiry they would be shocked at their findings and their traditional beliefs would be shaken to the core. Flowing smoothly as velvet from the lips of “scholars” are terms like “first Christians,” “primitive Christians” or “early Christianity.” Sometimes you hear, “The first Christians were Jews.” What a tricky statement that is! The early New Testament believers were certainly all Jews. But, were they also “Christians” too? Just when and how did the conversion 8
into full-blown Christianity occur? Who exactly were these early believers? Were they Protestants? Catholics? Evangelicals? Strangely enough, they didn’t even have a name. You read it right. Those early believers ascribed as “Christians” did not go by any formal name. The term Christianity derives from a Grecian-based reference to the Messiah. Okay, so when were they first called that? Was it when Yahshua said, “Follow me?” Or did they take on the new identity at Jerusalem on Pentecost? Or did they go from being Jews to becoming Christians instantaneously at baptism? Acts 11:26 reads, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the assembly, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” It says they “were called Christians,” not that they called themselves “Christian.” The term Christian(s) occurs only three times in the entire New Testament of 27 books. It was tacked onto believers by the Gentles; the Idumean Herod Agrippa was one. Think about this
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fact for a minute. Shouldn’t this term be all over New Testament Scripture if that Scripture served as the operational handbook for this new faith? If I were to publish a book about computers, I’ll warrant that the term “computer” would appear time and again throughout its pages. After all, it is indeed about computers and you’d expect nothing less. Why don’t we find the words Christianity and Christian everywhere in a collection of writings purportedly about Christianity? Amazingly, the term “Christianity” doesn’t even appear in the Bible. This absence of a name or even a well-defined description is one of the first among many anomalies we encounter with this new movement that others called Christianity. And it speaks volumes to those who want the truth that leads to salvation. The actual designation these believers attached to themselves in 50 CE was “the way” or people of that way. This self-designation may be based on Yahshua’s statements about His being the way (John 14:4-6), or perhaps the effect of the movement (as in the “way of salvation” Acts 16:7), or it was simply a reference to the correct way of Yahweh (Acts 18:25-26).
The Savior Was a Jew The biggest shock of all is that the New Testament religion known as Christianity didn’t start with its assumed founder. Strange but entirely true. Yahshua the Messiah was a Jew. He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew and died a Jew. He lived an essentially different religion from the one He is believed to have started! It is easy to prove in the Evangels that Yahshua kept the “Jewish” Sabbath and Feasts; He never observed Sunday, Easter or Xmas in His entire lifetime. He attended synagogue worship; He quoted from and taught the Old Testament because the New was not even in existence in His time. Talk about getting off on a different foot! Christianity doesn’t have much of a factual leg to stand on. But the intrigue doesn’t stop there. The Evangels present Yahshua as a Jew, who incidentally had a Hebrew Name, not a Greek one—just another witness against a Greek-based religion. As a Jew He lived in a Jewish context and rarely came in contact with non-Jews. He is shown sometimes in conflict and at other times in consensus with other Jewish groups. But we never see Him interacting with or attending Christian worship. That’s because there was no such thing as Christian worship in His day and neither would there be until hundreds of years later! Every religion He confronted as He traveled in and around Jerusalem was either from Judaism or paganism. Christianity as the movement or faith we know was nonexistent. Even the writers who later documented Yahshua’s teachings to give us the New Testament were Jews —Hebrews. Not one of them converted to Christian practice, or ever taught nominal Christian teachings themselves. Not Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter or Paul. Roots of True Worship Nowhere did the apostle Paul, the other assumed champion of Christianity, worship on Sunday; keep Easter; adore
Our Hebrew Savior Years ago the writer was asked to prove that Yahshua the Messiah was a Jew, a Hebrew Israelite. The inquirer was of such persuasion that he didn’t want to accept the simple fact that His Savior’s lineage traced directly to the tribe of Judah. He was shown the following: • Matthew’s genealogy in chapter 1 verse 3 begins with Judah and ends in verse 16 with Miriam, the Jewish mother of Yahshua. • Luke 1:32 corroborates 2Sam. 7:12, referring to David, of the tribe of Judah, as Yahshua’s earthly forefather. • Hebrews 7:14 says plainly that He came from Judah: “For it is evident that our Master sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.” • The Samaritan woman in John 4:9 called Him a Jew. • Pilate called Him “King of the Jews” in John 19:19-21.
a cross; hold communion; observe Palm Sunday; or replace obedience with faith alone. There is not one verse where he advocated any of today’s popular Christian teachings or practices. “Grace alone through faith alone” is a modern mantra entirely missing in the New Testament. It appears in the writings of Martin Luther, however, some 1500 years after Yahshua. The only place where the words “Faith” and “alone” exist together is in James 2:17: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Here the actual verse negates the reason so many use it, and that being that there is more than just faith itself needed for salvation. What did the New Testament writers teach, exactly? They taught the “everlasting covenant” (Isa. 24:5; Rev. 11:19) and our opportunity to join in it through obedience (Heb. 8:10). Their teachings never discussed the bringing of a new faith to the world—complete with a whole new paradigm of love and grace as the only foundation of everything — with obedience to Yahweh’s laws pitched out the nearest window.
For some these facts are a big pill to swallow, considering centuries of misguided, traditional thinking and teaching that most modern Bible believers grew up with today. It is time to look outside the box and discover what has been hidden there in plain sight for millennia. It is time to return to the true roots of New Testament worship. Who Started Christianity? Jude, Yahshua’s half brother (his actual name was Judah), wrote in Jude: 1:3: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence
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to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” That faith (conviction of the truth) that was given is not a reference to what the apostles taught. Look at the succeeding verses. Jude says remember how Yahweh saved the Israelites from Egypt. That is the faith Jude is talking about: the original covenant truths given when Yahweh presented them to Israel at Sinai. If Christianity did not begin with the historical Messiah, when did it begin? Did it come about when the Apostle Peter finally came to the irrefutable conclusion that Yahweh had raised Yahshua from the dead, and did he suddenly say to himself, “From now on I am no longer a Jew but now I’m a Christian”? No. That never happened. This messianic group existed in Jerusalem at the beginning of the Jewish-Roman war as one Jewish
group among others. That it was perceived as a Jewish group by other Jews is revealed by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. We are still left with the basic question, when did Christianity as a movement start? In the church, Stephen is considered to be the first Christian martyr. But was Stephen a Christian? He belonged to the “Hellenists,” that is, Greek-speaking Jews in Jerusalem who believed in Yahshua as Messiah. Luke presents this in Acts 7 and 8 as a Jewish quarrel. At that time Jews were not turning against “Christians” but against other Jews, whose specific characteristic was that they considered Yahshua to be the Messiah, and this provoked vehement confrontations. The killing of Stephen was a result of mob mania. Was the Apostle Paul out attacking Christians before he was knocked down on the Damascus road? Not on your life. He was carrying out Sanhedrincourt- ordered punishment measures on Messianic Jews. When he was called to
Sanhedrin illustration from an 1883 encyclopedia
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the truth himself, he didn’t say, “Now I am no longer a Jew but a ‘Christian.” Paul never uses this designation anywhere. Of course he experienced a transformation, but it was a change from a Pharisaically-defined Jew to a Messiah-believing Jew. Paul never gave up his Jewishness, at least not according to his own admission. If other teachers emphasize their Jewishness, he says he can do likewise: “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I (2 Cor. 11:22). I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin” (Rom. 11:1). He says of himself and Simon Peter, “We ourselves are Jews by birth, and not Gentile sinners” (Gal. 2:15). When entering a new city, Paul almost always went to the synagogue first. The Messiah-believing people coming from Cyprus and Cyrene to Antioch will first have gone to the synagogue. They will also have appeared there on the Sabbath to hear the law. The Big Question With this background we come to the core of the issue: how different should Christianity be from Judaism? What changed? Why did it change? And who changed it? Getting the right answer to these questions opens up a whole panorama of new Biblical understanding. Most apologists will answer that it was the Messiah who changed everything. He changed worship to the first day of the week; He transformed the Passover into Easter; He abolished the sacrificial system; he eliminated the law and the need to obey it. He invented Christianity, they say, which by necessity must throw out the Old Testament. In truth, He never did any
of that. For one thing, He commanded us not to ignore it but to use the Old Testament. In John 5:39 He said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” The “Scriptures” were the Old Testament, the only Bible in existence in His day. Yahshua the Messiah, your Savior and mine, was a law-observing Jew. And He set us an example that we should follow in His footsteps, 1Peter 2:21-22, 1John 2:6, Rev. 14:4. In Matthew 5:17-20 He taught, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” And then the Savior proceeded to magnify the law. He made it even more binding. Throughout His ministry Yahshua introduced spiritual applications that rendered the law even more critical and binding. He taught the spiritual dimension of the law, as well as the physical. He revealed that the guiding principles He lived by must also guide our hearts. If it was right for Him it is surely right and proper for us. Far from abolishing our need to obey, He magnified the need for obedience, placing it on an even higher level! He raised the bar. He said in Matthew 5 and elsewhere that if you just think sinful thoughts you are breaking the law and therefore sinning. This is one way He taught the deeper, spiritual dimension of the law of His Father Yahweh.
When He was asked how one can find everlasting life, He immediately enumerated 5 of the Ten Commandments and admonished the inquirer to keep the commandments, Matthew 19:16-19. Trouble Came with Added Laws Many today are fixated on what they believe Paul did away with. They best be focused on what their Savior said was necessary for salvation—obedience to the commandments of Yahweh. When Yahshua the Messiah explained how to love Him and be loved of the Father, He said keep my commandments (John 15:10). He told the woman who issued a blessing about His mother in Luke 11 that more of a blessing than even family are those who hear the Word and keep it. In verse 50 He said, “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Yahshua’s problem with the
religious leaders was in their adding their own laws, not their keeping of Yahweh’s laws. The other problem was that they didn’t allow Yahweh’s law to transform their hearts. They simply used it as a political weapon. He emphasized the principle of love as fulfilling the law because they were using the law to assault others. Especially so with their own man-made laws. He told them in Mark 7:8, “For laying aside the commandment of Elohim, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do.” n (We continue next issue with more about the early body of Believers and how they taught and were taught Old Testament precepts that were still in use in the days when the Messiah Yahshua taught them. These precepts are operating today.) by Alan Mansager
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ccording to the sacred Scriptures, nearly six thousand years ago life as we know it began on planet Earth. Genesis chapter one records the six days of creation beginning with light and ending with man (Adam). As miraculous an event as all this was, Yahweh the great Creator created one last thing to memorialize His spectacular work. He rested on the seventh day and created the weekly Sabbath. “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day Elohim had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And Elohim blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (vv.1-3). To commemorate His physical creation Almighty Yahweh has given humankind a special spiritual gift, His Sabbath. He blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy (Hebrew—qadash). The weekly Sabbath has been set aside from the six days of labor. It is a sacred and sanctified day that was given for rest and worship. The Sabbath day makes the vastness of Yahweh’s great creation complete. It is a holy gift from 12
our Heavenly Father to His people. In this article we will consider the weekly Sabbath and its special significance to those who worship Yahweh in Spirit and in Truth. We will learn why it is necessary to keep it. And, we will learn the proper way to keep it holy. We will consider the history of the seventh-day Sabbath and how it has always been and will always be kept on the seventh scriptural day (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown). Obedience to Yahweh’s Law An important concept that we will first consider is that down through the ages True Worshipers obeyed the Law of Yahweh. From Abraham in the Book of Genesis to the saints in the Book of Revelation, commandmentkeeping was their hallmark. “Because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws” (Gen. 26:5). “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey Yahweh’s commandments and remain faithful to Yahshua” (Rev. 14:12). Yahweh’s Law is eternal. “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal” (Psalm 119:160). The weekly Sabbath is
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an important part of that eternal law. It is the Fourth Commandment in the Ten Commandments. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Ex. 20:8-11). By properly observing the seventhday Sabbath we pay homage to Yahweh as the Creator of all things. We openly express our opposition to the theory of evolution and glorify our great Creator. Observance of the seventh-day Sabbath is an opportunity to show our love for our Creator, Almighty Yahweh. “This is how we know that we love the children of Yahweh: by loving Yahweh and carrying out his commands. This is love for Yahweh: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,” 1John 5:2-3. What better way to show our love for Yahweh than
by keeping the Sabbath day holy? Take note of the fact that the seventhday Sabbath is an integral part of Yahweh’s eternal Law. It is incumbent upon all those who truly love their Heavenly Father to observe the Sabbath along with all the other commandments. With the exception of the sacrificial laws, the Law of Yahweh is still in effect in New Testament (Covenant) times (Matthew 5:17-20 and 19:17). This also, and especially, includes the seventh-day Sabbath. “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of Yahweh; for anyone who enters Yahweh’s rest also rests from his own work, just as Yahweh did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience” (Heb. 4:9-11). Yahweh’s Law was given for our good. One of the reasons He has given us the weekly Sabbath is for our physical well being. After six days of labor man needs to recover his physical and spiritual strength. How wonderful it is that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us the seventh-day Sabbath for our spiritual and physical welfare. “Then he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Master even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28). Yahshua Kept the Sabbath We know that our Savior, Yahshua the Messiah, was perfect in every way. He never sinned (transgressed the Law—1John 3:4). In addition, He correctly observed the Sabbath leaving us an example to follow. The irony in this is that the religious establishment of His day (the Scribes and Pharisees) continually accused Yahshua and His disciples of breaking the Sabbath. Nothing could be further from the truth. He showed by word and deed that the Sabbath was made for the good of man and that the Pharisees had turned it into a burden. “At that time Yahshua went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath. He answered, Haven’t you read what David did when
Free Offer Sabbath Keeping
Answering the Arguments
Many spin the word of Yahweh to support the dictate of a pagan Roman emperor’s decree to change the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. To receive your copy write to the address on page 2, or read and request on our website:
www.yrm.org/literature.htm he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of Yahweh and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Master of the Sabbath” (Matt. 12:1-8). This passage clearly shows the opposition that Yahshua faced throughout His ministry. Falsely accused by the Pharisees, He properly showed that He and His disciples had not desecrated the Sabbath. Yahshua and His disciples were not in violation of Yahweh’s Law. On the contrary, their actions showed that they were keeping it. “If you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to his standing grain” (Deut. 23:25) Yahshua’s disciples were hungry. Through the mercy of the Word of Yahweh made flesh and the Master of the Sabbath they received food to eat. That is true mercy from above. Being rebuffed by Yahshua did not stop the Pharisees from once again accusing Him of breaking the Sabbath. The story continues, “Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Yahshua, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Matt.12:9-12). Truly Yahshua set the perfect example for keeping the Sabbath. From Sabbath to Sabbath He accomplished good by teaching the people the Word of Yahweh and by healing those who were sick. For Yahshua, the Sabbath was without question holy time when good was done and Almighty Yahweh was exalted. It was Yahshua’s custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath and teach. “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read” (Luke 4:16). Could there be a better reason to keep the seventh-day Sabbath than that our Savior and Redeemer Yahshua the Messiah observed it? If we accept Him as the Messiah, then we must obey His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23) and understand that He was following His Father’s commandments (John 14:10, 31). Furthermore, in Matthew chapter 24 when Yahshua prophesied concerning the time of the end, He specifically cautioned about the Sabbath. “Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath” (Mat. 24:20). Yahshua mentioned the Sabbath because He knew that end-time True Worshipers would be keeping it holy. If it wasn’t important to sanctify the Sabbath, He never would have expressed His concern in this prophecy about fleeing in the time of the end. Everlasting Covenant Sign In his Epistle to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul made the point that what really counts is that we are part of spiritual Israel. As such we are partakers in the rule of Yahweh’s everlasting covenant. “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of Yahweh” (Gal. 6:15-16). The seventh-day Sabbath is part of the rule that falls under Israel’s everlasting covenant with Almighty Yahweh. Consider Exodus 31:12-17 in this regard. “Then Yahweh said to Moses, Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the See Sabbath, page 15
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I have two questions - (1) we need help on the doctrine of the new moon (2) we need help on doctrine of the Holy Spirit, please. –Isaac, Kenya The new moon is the first visible crescent. The word “month” as found in Exodus 12:2 is derived from the Hebrew “chodesh,” meaning, “new moon.” The root of chodesh, Hebrew “chadash,” means to be new or to rebuild. Historically the Jews determined the month by the first visible crescent: “The Hebrew or Jewish calendar had three stages of development: the preexilic, or Biblical; the postexilic, or Talmudic; and the post-Talmudic. The first rested on observation merely, the second on observation coupled with calculation, and the third on calculation only. In the first period the priests determined the beginning of each month by the appearance of the new moon” (International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, “Calendar”). Yahweh uses the new moon to establish moedim, or commanded observances, Psalm 104:19. Special offerings were also given on the new moons, 2Chronicles 2:4; 8:13; 23:31. We find many references to the new moon or beginning of months in the Scriptures, including the obligation for True worshipers to observe them, Numbers 10:10; 28:11-15; 1Chronicles 23:31; 2Chronicles 2:4; 8:13; 31:3; Ezra 3:5; Ezekiel 46:1, 3, 6; Colossians 2:16. Apostolic Believers, who remained true to His Word, continued to honor new moon days as well as observe Feast days in the New Testament, Acts 18:21; 27:9; 1Corinthians 5:7-8. Further, we learn from Ezekiel’s prophecy (46:3) that new moon days will be kept in the coming Kingdom: “The people of the land shall also worship at the 14
doorway of that gate before Yahweh on the sabbaths and on the new moons.” The Holy Spirit in an extension of Yahweh’s power and not the third person of triune majesty. It should be noted that the Holy Spirit is never directly prayed to or addressed. Instead, Yahweh uses His Spirit to guide His people into His truth. Note the definition of the word ruach (Heb. for “spirit”): “The basic meaning of ruach is both ‘wind’ or ‘breath,’ but neither is understood as essence; rather it is the power encountered in the breath and the wind, whose whence and whither remains mysterious…2. ruach as a designation for the wind is necessarily something found in motion with the power to set other things in motion…The divine designation also apparently has an intensifying function in a few passages: ruach elohim (Gen 1:2) and ruach yhwh (Isa 59:19)” (Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament, “Ruach”). This lexicon also states that ruach implies a power that is within the breath and wind, which is connected to the Name YHWH or Yahweh. The Holy Spirit is the power emanating from Yahweh, the Heavenly Father. It can be further demonstrated through Scriptures that the Holy Spirit is not a separate being, but an inanimate power that proceeds from the Father. In Isaiah 32:15, 44:3, and Acts 2:17 the Holy Spirit is described as being poured. How can a being be “poured” into another? Titus 3:5-6 and Acts 2:33 testify that the spirit is shed. How can a being “shed” itself onto another? The Spirit is also described as something that can be stirred up, 2Tim. 1:6; quenched, 1Thes. 5:19, and renewed, 2Cor. 4:16. These attributes are far more fitting for a power than a person. You can find more on the Spirit in our booklet, The Trinity, Fact or Fiction?, which also is online.
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Salvation is a gift. A reward is something given for merit or accomplishment. We didn’t do anything to
merit salvation. It comes as a gift through faith. Isn’t your statement saying salvation is a reward giving the wrong idea about salvation? It implies that salvation is somehow earned. I have been following your website and teachings for a while now. I am puzzled by this statement. Because we are unable to earn salvation through our own merit, salvation is indeed a gift (Rom. 6:23). This does not, however, take away our responsibility to obey. One requirement for all believers is to show love to Almighty Yahweh. According to Scripture, we love Him by obeying His Commandments (1 John 5:3). If we ignore this love, we will not receive eternal life (Rev. 22:14). In this way, salvation is a reward to those who faithfully follow Yahweh. The relationship is the same with our own children. While our love for our children is not based on merit, it does not absolve them of the consequences for rebellion or a lack of obedience. When children behave, they are rewarded with our favor. When they misbehave, they are punished. Looking at it from another perspective, although we cannot earn salvation, Yahweh will not reward a practicing sinner with everlasting life. He says the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom, and in 1Corinthians 6:9-10 He lists numerous sins that will keep all who practice them shut out of everlasting life. Obedience does not of itself earn passage into His kingdom but it does make one worthy of it, and also earns Yahweh’s favor. After reading many articles, I have two questions. “To be absent from the body is to be present with the L-rd” and “today you will be with me in paradise” both passages seem to indicate that something follows death besides sleep or the end of existence (prior to the resurrections). What do you take as the meaning of those two scriptures?
When Paul stated in 2Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Master,” he was simply saying that he would prefer to be with the Master, not that he was or could. He was not ever sure of his own salvation, 1Cor. 9:27. The common misquotation of the passage is, “To be absent from the body IS to be present with the Master.” The two are not symbiotic. Being without a body following death is not the same as being with Yahshua, as the misquotation suggests. Besides, not everyone without a body (in death) will receive salvation. When Yahshua stated in Luke 23:43, “Verily I say unto thee, today shall you be with me in paradise,” we understand He was saying, “I say to you today, you shall be with me in paradise.” It was an emphatic statement and the Greek did not have punctuation to bring that out. Yahshua was assuring the thief that very day that upon His return that the thief would be with Him in paradise or the kingdom.” We use the same terminology when we say, “I’m telling you right now…” Punctuation was added by English translators based on their understanding of the context. We know that the common misquotation of the verse is in error because Yahshua never went to paradise that day. He was in the tomb three days and nights before He resurrected from death. Can I attend a wedding, funeral, or bridal or baby shower on Saturday? The Sabbath is a day when we are to avoid not only work, but also the pursuit of our own words and pleasures (Isa. 58:13). It is a day to focus entirely on Yahweh, which is not possible when one is busy focusing on those in a wedding, funeral, or shower. In specific regard to a funeral superseding a day of worship, Yahshua said, “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead,” Matthew 8:22. Yahweh’s days of worship, including His annual Sabbaths (Lev. 23), should always come before our pleasures or personal commitments.
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generations to come, so you may know that I am Yahweh, who makes you holy. Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.’” The seventh-day Sabbath is an eternal sign between Yahweh and His people. The punishment of death is pronounced on those who desecrate the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36). It is to be kept holy. It is a day of rest in which no work is to be done. In the prophecy of Isaiah we learn there are blessings to be had for all people who properly keep Yahweh’s Sabbath. “Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil” (Isa. 56:2). This verse begins a passage which reveals also that the Sabbath was given not just for physical Israelites or Jews, but also given to all people everywhere. Yahweh goes on to emphasize this point as He states in Isaiah 56:3-8, “Let no foreigner who has bound himself to Yahweh say Yahweh will surely exclude me from his people. And let not any eunuch complain, I am only a dry tree. For this is what Yahweh says: To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant — to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. And foreigners who bind themselves to Yahweh to serve him, to love the name of Yahweh, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant — these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. The Sovereign Yahweh declares — he who gathers the exiles of Israel: I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.” The Sabbath was given for all people everywhere not just physical Jews or Israelites. Spiritually speaking, all people everywhere are part of the exiles who return to Yahweh. Observance of the Sabbath is an important step in the process by which we enter into a covenant with Almighty Yahweh. Yahweh further states in Isaiah 58:13-14, “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and Yahweh’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in Yahweh, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob. The mouth of Yahweh has spoken.” We can clearly see that the seventhday Sabbath is to be kept holy by ceasing from our labor and to even going so far as to not do as we please. The Sabbath day is meant to be a delight to those who observe it. It is sanctified as Yahweh’s day of worship. “Yahweh said to Moses, Speak to the Israelites and say to them: These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of Yahweh, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to Yahweh” (Lev. 23:1-3). These Scriptures plainly state Yahweh’s purpose for the seventh-day Sabbath. It is a special day of worship in which all people everywhere have been commanded to gather together to worship Yahweh. In Leviticus chapter 23 it is listed first among Yahweh’s sacred feast days. It is the one day of the week on which we set aside doing our own pleasure and concentrate on Yahweh and spiritual things. The Sabbath is a special everlasting sign between Yahweh and His people.n by Robert Wirl 15
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ccording to psychology professor Karen Pine, an expert in the psychology of money, women shop more when emotions, both positive and negative, are running high. This in contrast to times of stability. She says, “A significant proportion of women (79 percent) said they would go on a shopping spree to cheer themselves up.” What does this mean? Pine conducted in-depth research and produced, “Sheconomics: Report on a survey into female economic behavior and the emotion regulatory role of spending.” I contacted Professor Pine to further inquire about motivations for emotional spending. Pine said, “Some women use shopping as an emotional regulator to 16
numb themselves to negative feelings or dissatisfaction with life.” Where do you fall in this mix of emotional spending? Have you ever shopped as a means to feel better, and if so, did you have regrets? According to Pine, 35 percent of women said they had buyer’s remorse—feelings of guilt—after a recent shopping trip. So why the attraction to this pastime if one is often left feeling lower than when one started? The answer is that we tend to seek quick fixes to happiness and contentment. Sorry, my shop-tillyou-drop friends, but I have some bad news for you: true happiness cannot be purchased. The good news is that pure happiness, the kind that doesn’t wear thin, is free! You don’t have to wait for
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a coupon in the mail or waste gasoline driving to the mall. Prayer is the meeting place and the Holy Spirit is the bearer of such a gift. Go to Yahweh in prayer, and ask Him to open your heart and your eyes as to why you are feeling down and out. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Ladies, let us not desire things to make us happy. Paul admonished in 1Corinthians 13 to desire spiritual gifts. These cannot be measured by worldly standards, but rather by the love we have inside for one another, and above all, by the love we bear for our Father Yahweh and His son, Yahshua Messiah. So, the next time you have the urge to grab your purse and head to the store, to buy a box of happiness or a can of joy, why not instead open your Bible and find peace in the Word. Best of all—it’s free! And, I don’t know about you, but my husband is always glad for that. n by Amy Pletz
Part 2 will focus on reasons women shop, including financial intimacy and the real price of giftgiving to keep up appearances. Part 3 will focus on practical helps and tools to better manage the pocket book, as we strive to be virtuous women.
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uffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for such is the kingdom of heaven Matthew 19:14. Yahweh gives us many wonderful gifts, foremost among them are children. But these delightful little bundles can be very demanding upon our time, resources, and patience. Their abundance of energy can make even the most devoted parent question his or her sanity. How many times have you seen a child acting obnoxiously at the mall –demanding to have some gadget in the window of a store, or whining that he is hungry or tired. I have seen older preteens ignoring their parents directions or even backtalking or cursing them. The parents’ reactions vary greatly from passive resignation to angry verbal and physical attacks. But, what constitutes child abuse? The very term conjures up images of beatings, profane, verbal lashings, starvation, and abandonment. And while instances of real child abuse are purportedly increasing, I’d like to think that the majority of parents are nuturing and loving. Just as our Father desires to give us good things and admonish us when we stray, we, too, should strive to do the same for our children. Scripture provides parents a guide to their children’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Following are some areas of scriptural advice for raising right children. Discipline There are those who insist that spanking a child is a form of abuse. This could be true if done in anger. However, spanking, if done out of love and out of concern for the child’s behavior, does not constitute abuse. Scriptures say, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he
Proper Nutrition Taking only quantity into consideration, we are a wellfed nation with well-fed children. But, is the quality of food we provide to our young sufficient for their needs? Busy schedules often demand “virtual meals” – those fatty, salty and sugar-laden fast foods or chemical-drenched instant meals. Busy schedules may also be responsible for the large number of students coming to school without an adequate breakfast. Our children could be “nutrient starved” in the midst of plenty. “She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family…” Proverbs 31:19
who loves him is careful to discipline him,” Proverbs 13:24. Regardless of the discipline methods used, parents who do not correct their children may be creating a dismal future for them as selfish and disrespectful adults. Mental/Emotional Support Raising children can be extremely tiring and frustrating, and there are times when it is hard not to raise one’s voice. But constant yelling is counterproductive and accomplishes little but to build resentment and anger. “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged,” Colossians 3:21. Using profanity is even more destructive and sets a harmful example. “But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more unrighteousness.” 2Timothy 2:16
Guidance Are we relinquishing the task of teaching our values and beliefs to our young ones, in opposition to Yahweh’s command? “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up,” Deuteronomy 11:19. Often a child is sent to daycare at six-weeks of age, then pre-school, elementary, middle, and high school with baby-sitters and latchkey programs to pick up the slack. We have television, computers, video games, and a whole array of screens to babysit for us, as well. We must ask ourselves whether the monetary gain derived from excessive work is worth the lost time spent raising our young. No child is born holding onto an instruction booklet and parents often must learn as they go. Assistance is available, however. We have Yahweh’s Word to instruct and inspire us in this sometimes arduous and perplexing, yet most important and profoundly joyful, undertaking. n by Debbie Reed
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The most complicated preparations we have to make are arranging for the care of our animals in our absence (one I like to use the FOT dog, three cats and four cows). The as an excuse to clothes dog goes to the kennel and the cows shop prior to going are separated into two pastures due to and while there, so different feeding needs. We also have mostly I take a limited to make certain that the cat door is left amount of clothing, open in the basement, the cattle tubs and possibly add to and barn are cleaned, and enough feed my collection while has been bought and stored. Most of gone. I like to scope all, we have to make certain that we out the resale shops for have not bred any cows to calve while clothing, which helps we are gone (we have lost two calves keep the cost down. We in past absences). Thankfully others are also like to know about there to help us out in our absence –submitted by Debbie Reed the bed situation prior to going to FOT, and if space allows in the Preparing for important observances cabin or bunkhouse, like the Feasts takes a great deal of bring a good-quality planning as we not only gather all the queen-sized air essentials needed for a week’s stay mattress. This helps away from home, but also arrange us get a good night’s for being gone from home, work and sleep during most of school for a week or longer. ¬¬More the feast, because we important, however, is to make sure etting ready for the Feast of are used to sleeping next to one another our hearts are ready spiritually for this Tabernacles each fall is exciting at home, and if we have to sleep on time. Yahweh says His Feasts are when but can be overwhelming at unfamiliar bunk mattresses separately, we come to see His face. One of the most effective ways to draw closer to the same time. For the benefit of new we end up not resting well. attendees, as well as seasoned veterans, – submitted by Meschelle Sevier Yahweh in preparation for such key times is through prayer and fasting. here are some interesting insights and tips for preparing for FOT 2010. Starting in October of each year, I put No wonder Yahweh commands us to My feast tip would be, pack light. aside a certain amount of money for the fast on the Day of Atonement five days I try to find items that can be worn following year’s Feast of Tabernacles. before the Feast of Tabernacles. And more than once. I will be packing a In July or August prior to the Feast I put this principle should be followed any black skirt and some jean skirts that aside special clothes, medications and time we need to draw closer to Him. As can be worn a couple times each, just other items I will need so that I will not you fast, pray that He will guide you with different shirts. Also, try to pack forget them as the time to leave draws and protect you and your family from harm, discouragement, and worry. Ask clothes that do not need to be ironed. near. – submitted by Nancy White Him to strengthen your faith so that any Hippie skirts are naturally wrinkly so obstruction HaSatan throws at they make a great choice. To you will not deter or dissuade make less clothing and make you from being obedient. my day easier without all the Show Yahweh that He comes changing I keep the children’s n Feast of Trumpets September 10 first in your life by being like clothing simple. For non-high the Apostle Paul, who said, days I put my boys in a pair of n Day of Atonment September 19 “I must by all means keep nice jeans and a t-shirt with a this Feast!” Then go and join button up dress shirt over top. n Feast of Tabernacles September 24-30 others of like faith for the time As soon as services are over I of your life! snag their button up top and let n Last Great Day October 1 – submitted by them play. For my girls I put These days may be observed a day later if the New Moon Alan Mansager them in dresses that I do not is not spotted on September 9. mind if they run and play in afterwards. – submitted by Jessica Mansager
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Letters So Much and for FREE “I love your Website teachings. I just signed up for a lot of free literature. I would like a copy of every pamphlet you produce. I wonder if I may make copies of them to hand out. I met you on Abib Moon Network first. Today I was reminded of your ministry on Face Book. I will be posting a link to you on my FB page. I will send donations for what I requested. I do appreciate your work. I have been looking for a place to send donations. Because your ministry offers so much and for free I feel this is the best place. I do not have a lot of money, and most people I know are even worse off. There is so much need for the info you put into your pamphlets. I believe I could use them to help spread the True Evangel, which is recorded in Rev. 14:6.” – LD, email (We are gratified that you are finding our resources helpful and that you want to share with others. To be able to maintain enough literature supply our policy is to send two free booklets per request. More quantities are available with any donation. The literature can be read on our Website as well. You are free to make copies so long as you don’t make changes or deletions. – ED)
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Restoration Hopes for India “Keep it up! Hope you can do something to restore Yahweh’s people here in Northeast India...” – L.G., Facebook
Hungry for More “Thank you for your wonderful teaching website! It has been such a blessing to be part of the 60-plus online Sabbath Day viewers for the past two weeks. I have been keeping the Sabbath alone for the past year. Now my online study takes up much of my Sabbath day. Your site is incredibly easy to maneuver and download information. I thank you for the DVDs which I plan to share with some family and friends. Thank you also for the informative Restoration Times. I am also reading in your archives, very hungry to learn more. I left my church of 28 years (employment of 15 years) after researching divorce and remarriage as a ministry leader of women and professional counselor.” – R, email G Determination and an Old Truck “Thank you for the literature you have sent to us. Finding others that believe as we do FINALLY has been incredible for us! Please bear with me... My wife and I have long sought people who had the intense desire to learn and share the truth with others. Until recently it was to no avail… We have made a commitment to Yahweh to serve Him and to be bold in talking about Him. We have made drastic changes in our lives. We have gone from $60K a year job to living on about $600 a paycheck just so we could obey the fourth commandment. I have never felt such freedom and peace. My family is closer than we have ever been. We haven’t the means to make the 1200 mile trek [to Tabernacles] but are going anyway. Until recently we had no vehicle for the trip and recently I was paid for a home remodel job with ‘Very Much Meat’ “I’ve really enjoyed this Ministry, I happened to find it on one of my Face-
book Friends pages, and I can’t get enough of it...Very much meat of the Word...” – MH, email Looking for a Penpal I want to thank you for the dvd’s and the newsletter that you have sent me. They have given me much to think about. I have no one here that I can ask questions of and I was wondering if there is a sister in the fellowship there who would be willing to be a pen pal with me and assist me in my search. – JS, email. l Needs More Magazines “Congratulations on your new magazine format. Excellent! I left it at jail for the inmate ladies to read. They gleefully salivated over the recipe section. I usually have two sessions: about an hour with those mentioned and about an hour with the men. If you have any spares left over, I’d gratefully accept another copy for a good friend at work.” – MG, MN
Truth Is Rare “Just a note to let you know I received my copy of the Restoration Times and think it along with all of your other media is excellent. I rely heavily on your materials because I am all but housebound and my internet is dial-up so I really can’t tune in to Sabbath services but do so on the DVDs. It is very hard to find the truth so I am happy to have found your site. It has taken many years for me to find the truth and Yahweh has guided me as He does all those who want the truth. Thank you and all those at YRM who have devoted all their time and resources to get the truth to those who seek it.” – Jan, email
THE RESTORATION TIMES September/October 2010
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