Explaining the Spring Holy Days

Explaining the Spring Holy Days

Explaining the Spring Holy Days

When we put the traditional observances of Christianity to the test, well, they often fail. The Bible doesn’t support any observance remotely similar to Easter. The apostles never gathered on a Sunday in honor of the resurrection, they never had anything to do with eggs or bunnies, and none of them at pork at any point in their lives. The reality is that Jesus, aka Yeshua, commanded a specific observance on a specific annual date to be added to the Holy Days the disciples were already observing.

The Night He was Betrayed

On the night He was betrayed, He washed the feet of the disciples, and shared bread and wine. He said the bread and wine were symbolic of His body and blood. After washing the feet of the disciples, he said that they (we) should do to each other as He had done for them. And He specifically said to have that bread and wine in remembrance of Him.

These commandments are added to the Spring Holy Days the apostles already kept. The Passover, which can refer to the entire week-long observance, continued to be kept by the disciples once they became Apostles. Paul was taught to keep the Night He was Betrayed directly from the resurrected Messiah. He then commanded the congregations he either started or visited do as was done on the night Yeshua was betrayed. This included observing not just that night, but also the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. The message above in video, and below in print, is titled Explaining the Spring Holy Days. With comments from our congregation, I explain when to observe each day of this week-long celebration. I explain what to do as well, and support it all with easy to follow scripture. It would be best to watch the video, but the notes are there for easy searching.

You Matter

Nobody lights a lamp and puts it under a basket means that you matter. Jesus Christ died for you because you have worth and can be righteous.

Nobody lights a lamp and puts it under a basket means that you matter. Jesus Christ, aka Yeshua, died for you because you have worth and can be righteous. The mainstream Christian doctrines surrounding works being somehow bad force a conclusion that believers are worthless. If there are none righteous, and you are going to stay unrighteous, then the Messiah died for nothing.

This teaching unravels these destructive and evil doctrines. These wrong teachings, called the doctrines of men, must be refuted because you matter. Yeshua taught expressly against these concepts, and I explain why people believe the opposite of plain scripture in the message. Nearly every page of the Gospels contains parables, teachings, or stories about righteous deeds versus unrighteous deeds. Christ clearly expressed that the disciples, prior to His death and resurrection, were the light of the world. They needed to live so that their righteous deeds could be seen by men and thus draw men closer to Yahweh.

The book after the Gospels is not called Acts because it is fashioned after a play. It’s called Acts because it records the righteous deeds of the first century believers. Their righteousness was based upon the Torah and they lived their lives precisely so mankind could follow their lead and learn righteousness. This teaching is provided in pdf and video format because you matter and it is Yahweh’s desire that you be saved and learn to be righteous.

The Most Important Moment in History

The Most Important Moment in History

The bible chapter Acts 2 records the most important moment in history to date. The events from Creation through the Gospels all point to this moment in time when salvation is offered to all mankind. This message explains how the significant events in history connect to Acts 2.

The Input

The Creation of the earth displays how YHVH is a God of order. The Torah outlines a culture. It is not just a law but a comprehensive way of life. The prophets and history offer remarkably accurate prophesies. They also show us how to appreciate the structure of biblical literature. The Gospels show us what God expects of us through His Son. The remarkable culmination of prophesies and the emotional pain the Mesiah experienced illustrate YHVH’s plan for mankind.

The Output

From Acts 2, we see the Ruach ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) given directly to the common man. This enabled the apostles to communicate to people in their native languages so there is no confusion about the The Most Important Moment in History. The people who participated in the Messiah’s murder are humbled. They publicly profess their sins and repent. They, and we, learn the recipe for salvation: repent of your sins, accept Yeshua as the Messiah, and be baptized for forgiveness. Then Peter explains this message is for all whom God will call to Himself, which is why it matters to us.

Please enjoy this video on The Most Important Moment in History as we explain an overview of God’s plan of salvation for mankind.

Arguments Against the Trinity

Arguments against the Trinity are necessary because this doctrine has been made mandatory for salvation when it is not. This comprehensive and thorough study shows who Jesus aka Yeshua really is from both the Old and New Testaments. The message is available in video above and written out in pdf below for easy reference.

The Trinity and its related doctrines (such as Oness) are not found in the scriptures. These doctrines are absolutely not required for salvation. There isn’t a single scripture mandating these beliefs and there are more verses that refute the Trinity and its variations than one can count. What we must believe for salvation is expressed plainly and frequently in the New Testament. I begin the message with a brief note on how to be saved.

Preview

Arguments against the Trinity span history as well as scripture. This doctrine is supremely entrenched into Christianity as a precept of men. It was created over time and codified in the 400s AD. I go into the history of the Nicene Creed in a different message called “God is not a Trinity”, but in short, the Trinity is 100% a precept of men. Yeshua was specifically adamant against making doctrines out of the precepts of men. He is recorded as saying this in Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7. He was citing the Old Testament when He admonished the Pharisees about this practice. The prophet Isaiah uttered this in Isaiah 29:13 as a comprehensive refutation against those who make traditions and the ideas of men out to be doctrines equal to the commandments.

The Trinity is a documented doctrine of mankind. It’s history is traced starting with the council of Chalcedon in 451 and working backward. With this doctrine, Christianity hasn’t just taught a precept of men as a commandment, it has made this false doctrine a requirement for salvation.

Arguments against the Trinity are abundant. The New Testament seems to contradict this doctrine on each page in some fashion. I made this study to be a comprehensive and understandable as I could. Understanding the Yeshua is the Son of God who took on a mission from Yahweh to save mankind from eternal death is the most important information in history.

If My People

If My People

The phrase “If My People” is used to reference scripture about humbling ourselves. The context of these verses shows us how to obtain humility. Most of Christianity uses these verses properly, to show believers that if we bumble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, and seek the face of God then He will hear us. However, the context is when Solomon had finished the first Temple and the entire nation of Israel was keeping Torah properly.

In fact, the Temple completion took place during Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, which is a holy day from Leviticus 23. The Israelites were at the pinnacle of faithfulness and blessings and they were warned, just as Moses warned them prior to his passing, that they would fall away. When they fell away, Yahweh would communicate this to them by having bad things happen, which needed to drive repentance.

How does “If My People” apply to us?

Repentance is only possible when we follow the Commandments, the Torah. As Paul wrote, we only know of sin if we know the Law. This message explains the scripture surrounding the phrase “If My People” and then connects it to First Century Christianity. These verses only apply to us if we are His People. The New Testament explains how those who accept Yeshua as the Messiah become adopted children of Yahweh. We, who were not a people, become His people through His Son, and then we learn repentance.

The inauguration of the Temple when these scriptures were recorded is also a foreshadowing of the return of the Messiah. The first temple was filled with Yahweh’s presence so much that the priests could not enter. This was a baptism by fire. When Yeshua returns, He is brining a temple not made with hands. He will rule from Jerusalem and all mankind will need to go there for Sukkot. If you want to be part of that, click here to learn how to seek His Face and have “If My People” apply to you!

The Recipe for Salvation

The Recipe for Salvation

When the Spirit came upon the Apostles in acts two, Peter was inspired to explain the recipe for salvation with power and authority. The video below is a group discussion about the requirement for water baptism in detail. We cover the origins of baptism, who is authorized to baptize another, when it’s appropriate to be re-baptized, and the theological/spiritual meanings of this outward sign of faith.

Tagore Kota visited this week. He is studied on Koine Greek and explained in great detail the meaning of the Greek words behind baptism. He also gives a remarkable correlation between Noah’s Ark and the blood of Messiah. Other contributors to the discussion are Everett Leisure, Tim Roberson, and Tiffany Flores.

Acts 2 is the dividing line between the Old Covenant and the New. The Spirit guided Peter’s words and allowed the message to be heard in all the languages present. Peter was inspired to preach, just as Yeshua prophesied. Most of his sermon were direct citations of the Old Testament. But the new information included the recipe for salvation: Repent of your sins, accept Yeshua as the Messiah/Son of God, and be baptized. This is the Gospel that was preached to the known world from that moment on.

Theologically and spiritually, the fulcrum point between the Old and New Covenant is the death and resurrection of Yeshua. But the 50 days after His resurrection go on the left side of the dividing line because He was teaching them without parables and explaining everything, starting with Moses. The Ruach, aka the Holy Spirit, was yet to come, as well. Once the Ruach came, the New Covenant kicked off and the word went forth from Zion.

The Bottom Line

The final, and perhaps most important topic covered, is what exactly the Jews who didn’t accept Yeshua rejected. The recipe for salvation is defined above but is a starting point. After one is baptized, one must learn the Torah. This is because the remnant, those who are Messiah’s at His return, are those who believe in Him and who keep the Torah. The Jews believe in Yahweh and keep the Torah. Mainstream Christianity believe in Yeshua (they call Him Jesus), but they do not keep the commandments. Please enjoy the discussion!

Be Holy as I am Holy

Be Holy for I am Holy

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Messiah Yeshua. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” (1Pe 1:13-16)

Peter was not creating a new type of holiness when he wrote these verses. He was drawing from the Old Testament. The phrase “because it is written” is our hint to look for this concept in the Torah. Since this concept is from ancient times, the video below will show how to achieve holiness from the relevant passages. Since many Christians don’t believe that holiness or righteousness can be achieved at all, this message is a way to counter that misconception. Believeing that one cannot be holy leads to a doctrinal error that can be psychologically damaging. In short, Peter would not have told us to be holy if it were not possible. Each of us has worth and is to strive for the goal of Messiah. We were created by Yahweh for a purpose.

The Problem Statement

Western society has lost the concept of holiness or holding things sacred almost completely. Mainstream Christianity holds December 25 as its most sacred day of the calendar. In our faith, we know that Christmas is not a bilbilcal holiday at all. However, while watching football on Christmas, I realized that our nation appears to hold nothing sacred anymore. For football to be on TV during this holiday at all is a huge change from just 20 years ago. Having three games on so people could spend their day immersed in the NFL is astonishing.

The message is available in video from a couple providers below. It’s written out in pdf below that. Enjoy and please like and share this wherever you find it!

Deception

Title slide for the message titled Deception

In this message/discussion, I explain the depts of deception within our society and how we arrived in the present state. This deception includes confusion within religions, of course, which was and continues to be done by Satan. The adversary wants to deceive whoever he can to draw worship for himself or, at a minimum, draw worship away from Yahweh, the one true God, and His Son, Yeshua. However, our present state of confusion goes beyond religion.
We can trace our present state of affairs to a nation that no longer exists. The USSR purposely introduced deceit and confusion through the countries they overthrew. This was done by infiltrating schools and the media in order to introduce conflicting messages and concepts into a society. I prove they did this to use with a video of a former KGB agent who defected in the 1980s. This agent outlines how the USSR would destroy societies from within through methods of deception.
Because we have lost fundamental tools of comprehending information. I briefly outline the differences between social sciences and pure sciences. How we receive, categorize, and digest information on a basic level is crucial to returning society to normal. This pertains to religion because people are coming to the knowledge of the truth but then immediately being pulled into ludicrous directions. Folks who are easily led astray often have much zeal but entertaining flawed information, by mis-categorizing good information, or by setting unreasonable expectations of proof for doctrines. Please enjoy this message through one of the video offerings and provide some feedback! Shares and like are always appreciated!

Are Underdogs Good or Bad?

Does David and Goliath realty support an underdog story?

Is David and Goliath Really about Underdogs?

The story of David and Goliath is often used to showcase the power of underdogs. We often give deference to the powerless through a conditioning that says those with power are usually the bad guys. Is this really the case? I contend the story of David and Goliath isn’t really about the weak or powerless, though. If we pick that story apart, it’s about a larger theme that plays out in the end times.

The United States is often paralleled with Israel and sometimes these parallels are impossible to ignore. Israel has both been the underdog and the overwhelming power, so has the United States. Our nation has had a series of “come from behind” victories that no other civilization shares, which helps condition us to favor come from behind victories. After World War II, though, the USA had to stop being the underdog and become the world’s policeman.

At both ends of the bible, those with overwhelming power are actually the good guys! This message shows how underdogs are neither inherently good or bad and shows that we in the USA are conditioned to favor the weak because of our country’s history, not because of Marxism.

There is a sinister nature to favoring the underdog. The Torah tells us not to favor the poor or the rich, the weak or the powerful, in matters of judgment. We must base our judgments on individual circumstances to determine proper justice.

How to Choose a Bible

Oftentimes, the first time we learn something becomes the baseline for anything related to that skill or knowledge. Choosing the best bible available allows one to set the best foundation for a lifetime of learning. This message provides litmus tests to determine very quickly if a bible is worth your time. I also recommend the most accurate and readable translation I know of and why. The written Word is primarily how God has chosen to communicate with us and the only way for us to determine false teachings. Please watch this presentation and allow me to help you choose the best bible with which to start or continue your walk.