Newsletter: 2008-04 On the 10th day – GOD Test

Greetings from HomeWorship 101™

“… they received the word with all readiness,
and searched the Scriptures daily
to find out whether these things were so.”
- Acts 17:11

The Spring Holy Days will be officially starting on the 14^th day of the 1^st month (April 21), and I call the whole season of Biblical Holy Days our CREATOR’S Spiritual Opera, or YHWH’s higher spiritual lessons. Sadly most religions have turned their faith into ceremony and miss most of YHWH’s spiritual meaning. All the Biblical Holy Days of Lev.ch.23 are visual representations of the higher spiritual world leading a-l-l humanity from our present dark and evil chaos to our CREATOR’S eternity; and how to live a GODly life in this evil world (1Tim.4:12).

Please remember these are not Jewish holy days, and observing them is not done for salvation. These are YHWH’s ordained Holy Days, and we observe them out of love and respect for our CREATOR and HIS Covenant with us (1Jno.5:3). The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 that there is a time for everything. These days, beginning with YHWH'S New Year, are a busy time of spiritual reflection, and making preparations for the start of the new years Holy Days. Those preparations begin on the 10^th day (April 17).

~Test YHWH~

“...On the tenth day of this month
every man shall take for himself a lamb...,
Your lamb shall be without blemish,
a male of the first year.” - Exodus 12:3-5

In the ancient times of Moses, during this very season, YHWH was performing miracles to free the Hebrew people from their evil Egyptian bondage (Exo.ch.7-11). Through all the spectacular miracles that were performed, YHWH identified HIMSELF, and showed the world HIS superior authority and power. The ancient Hebrew people were the participating party and YHWH showed the world that he would protect those people in HIS Covenant.

When YHWH dictated the Torah to Moses, as the above quote states, HE instructed the Hebrew people to choose their sacrificial lamb for the Passover the 10^th day of the 1^st month. Choosing their lamb for the Passover sacrifice was a very painstaking process. They were instructed to choose a lamb "without blemish" which would require very close and careful examination, almost to the point of looking it over with a magnifying glass, to be sure of its quality (Exo.12:3-5). By analogy, the followers of YAHWEH were to examine the quality of HIS Kingdom Covenant teachings very carefully to be sure of the quality of its truth, and confirming that one is on the right spiritual Path. Yahshua did not come to change or do away with His FATHER’s Laws (Mat.5:17-19), His teachings were based on His FATHER’S Words given in the Torah and the Prophets of the Hebrew - Old – Testament (Heb.8:8-10).

YHWH is admonishing us to look HIM over - very carefully, ask questions, dicker a little, if you have the chutzpah (Gen.18:22-33). Unlike the pagan religions that demand mute obedience and blind faith, YHWH clearly challenges a-l-l humans, Angels, or otherwise, to prove or disprove that HIS way is the best way for a-l-l the citizens of the Kingdom to live. Over the years I have read a fair amount of history and religion, I do not recall anywhere in the pagan or secular world were their leadership or deity commands the people to test them. Mostly if you open up your mouth to question them you would get your head lopped off. But here, on this day, YHWH invites inspection and respectful comments.

The question is how do you really prove GOD exists? The first thought that comes to mind is if you test somebody, first, one must recognize the fact that that person exists. Secondly is proving who is the one and only, most powerful GOD. This has been the thorny question that humankind has debated since the beginning of time. As always, the Bible has the simple answer, if one has the ears to hear.

"...I am God, and there is none like Me. Declaring the end from the beginning.
And from ancient times
things that are not yet done..."
- Isaiah 46:9-10

Prophecy validates the Bible, and proves the existence of our CREATOR. There are approximately 10,835 prophecies in the Bible, some are of curses and punishments, some are of blessings and redemption, and they are of two types, fulfilled, and unfulfilled. The fulfilled ones we learn from, and the unfulfilled ones are the ones we are watching for.

Prophecy should lead us to YAHWEH. Prophecy reminds us that YAHWEH’S Hand is in control of the course of humanities history. Prophecy assures us that good will triumph over evil, and it gives us hope for a future peaceful and just world. Prophecy tells us beyond the injustice of today, and wars of tomorrow, that there is good news in the future. Log on to learn more: http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c9_prophecy.htm

~Test YHWH’s Messiah~

The major element in YHWH’s plan for redeeming HIS Creation is HIS Messiah. It is no coincidence that on this 10^th day, what has now become know as Palm Sunday in the Christian world, YHWH sent HIS Son Yahshua/Jesus to present himself to the Jews and the general audience, as the Messiah. Yahshua’s’ doctrine that every life was precious, in an empire where human life was held so trivial, was a powerful idea and a welcome message. Log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c7b_are_you_the_messiah_ministry.htm

Let us remember, in Yahshua’s time, on an average high Holy Day, Jerusalem swelled to nearly five times its normal population of 125,000. Some Roman records show over a million people, both Jew and gentile, some from very far away places, would come to the city for Passover. On this day Jerusalem was very crowded with visitors who would witness the unfolding events that the holy season would bring.

“The ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore.”

Most have a romantic remembrance of the Palm Sunday event. It was a stunning time. Just as the Prophets foretold, Yahshua rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (Mat.21:1-11; Zec.9:9). As He rode in, the people called out “Hosanna,” which means in Hebrew “save us.” The people of Jerusalem thought that He would deliver them from the cruelty of Roman bondage. They shouted praises to YAHWEH - HalleluYAH! - for the miracles they had seen Yahshua do. They treated Him like a conquering king.

Unfortunately, most missed the subtle symbolism. On this same day, the Jews were carefully examining and choosing their sacrificial lambs, making sure they were "without blemish.” By analogy, the followers of Yahshua were to examine Him, and His is teachings of the Kingdom, very carefully, to be sure of the quality of His simple spiritual truths. And Yahshua’s simple truths are rooted in HIS FATHER’S Words.

In the Book of John, when Yahshua witnessed the Gospel to Nicodemus a Pharisee, he could not understand Yahshuas’ plainness of speech (Jon.3:1-21). He also admonished them for not being able to see the signs, “You look but can’t see; you listen but do not hear . . .,” (Mat.13:13; Luk.6:42).

Many say Yahshua did away with the Old Testament, but nothing could be further from the truth. He was YHWH’s perfect teacher and His New Covenant teachings were based on the Torah, and the Prophets (Heb.8:8-10). He was a believer and teacher extraordinaire of the literal understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures, a-l-l the Sacred Scriptures, including the Prophets. Many of His lessons reflected this, for example, He quoted the Book of Deuteronomy over 130 times. He was a Master of His FATHER’S Words recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures. No Lawyer of the Temple, no priest or rabbi, could argue with Him. Even at twelve years old He could intellectually confer with the Temple priests (Luk.2:41-50).

“Coincidental dates?” If one walks YHWH’s Ancient Path then HE will reveal mysteries, and show us wondrous miracles along the Way. I mentioned that prophecy validates YHWH, and shows us that HIS Hand is in control of the course of humanities history, and on this date, for those who can see, HE fulfilled a biggie. Known as Daniels Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks of Years (Dan.9:24-27). The prophet Daniel prophesized the day of Israel’s visitation and when the Messiah would be cut off at the 69^th week (483 years from the day prophecy was given). This prophecy was fulfilled exactly to the day by Yahshua on 10^th day of Abib / Nisan, which was Sunday April 6, 32CE. It was Palm Sunday and the day of Israel’s visitation was at hand, and you know the rest of the story. >http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c7a_are_you_the_messiah_prelude.htm

Make-no-mistake, Yahshua of Nazareth was the only man to fulfill to the letter over 200 Scriptural prophecies, many were predicted some 1,000 years in advance of His life. Every single messianic prophecy of the Hebrew Bible was precisely fulfilled by the life of Yahshua, in a literal, common sense way. And there are over 300 prophecies in the New Testament of Yahshua's second coming as the conquering-redeeming Messiah – which gives us hope for the future. The prophecies surrounding His trial and death are so accurate that critics have argued that the accounts must have been written after the event. But that lasted only until the discovery of Dead Sea Scrolls which recorded the words of Isaiah 53:1,3,7,12 at least 250 years before Yahshua’s birth and could have not been added to the Book of Isaiah after the life of Yahshua.

~Test Your Theology~

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
...Serpents, brood of vipers!
How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”
- Matthew 23:29-33

Many seem to forget, Yahshua had a prickly side to Him and often irritated the religious leadership. The point often missed is that Yahshua was also a religious reformer (Mat.3:7, 5:20, 7:6-13, 22:15-46, 23:1-36; Luk.11:37-54, 18:9-14; Jno.8:44). A point is that His church is not a church of potted plants; we should test the priests we follow.

As the reformer Yahshua challenged the orthodoxy. No one had ever before denounced the priests and Pharisees, or dared to question the doctrine of the elders. He expertly quoted the Prophets as He strongly rebuked Judaism’s stiff-necked religious hierarchy - the establishment religionists who never lived the righteous life. They were corrupt. They were blind guides. They were play-actors, and did not live according to the spirit of the Law (Mat.3:7, 5:20, 23:1-36; Luk.11:37-54, 18:9-14; Jno.8:44).

Yahshua challenged the doctrines of the scribes and rabbis, telling them bluntly that they did not know the Scriptures (Mat.22:29). At least eight times Yahshua scornfully denounced them for being legalistic and fourteen times for being hypocritical. They were excellent in reading and quoting Scripture, to keep the people on a tight leash, but in practice they themselves disobey by following their own ritualized customs.

“True religion is the life you lead,
not the creed you possess.”

Yahshua strongly scolded them because they were always bitter and constantly finding faults, tearing everyone apart. This, the “holier than thou” crowd, by their own attitude, promoted bigotry, prejudice, and hatred. He showed them that their religious worship was mere ritual, with emphasis on minor details, “while ignoring the weightier matters of the Law,” such as “justice, mercy, and faith.” He taught that the motive of the heart was important, not just the outward action (Mat.23:1-23).

Yahshua chastised them for the many traditions they added to YAHWEH’S Law, making the Law a hardship on the people. The religious authorities pretend to love you, but in reality they just want to hold you hostage. The Pharisees slowly gained power over Jewish society, by being the overseers of the many elaborate and intricate Jewish oral laws that they required the people to live by. These “traditions of men,” in an effort to micro manage the people, only burden the community, and has reduced righteousness to mere ceremonialism of outward splendor (Mar.7:6-13). YAHWEH calls HIS people to unity, not uniformity. The simple - common sense - Laws of YAHWEH do not enslave people, it sets them free, because less civil laws are needed to govern the people.

The Christians have their problems too with the traditions of men. We often hear from the Christians that all we have to do is believe in Jesus – donate to their church - and we will be saved. If only it were that easy. Yahshua clearly said not all who call me Lord would be saved (Mat.7:20-23). And if one reads Yahshua’s message to the seven churches (Rev.ch.2-3), only one out of seven, and one possible maybe, makes the grade. It’s not just talking the talk, but we have walk the walk (Mar.7:6-13; 1Tim.4:12)

"Be an example to all believers
in what you teach,
in the way you live,
in your love,
your faith, and your purity."
- 1 Timothy 4:12

In the above quote, Timothy says be an example in your faith, funny he didn’t say religion. What Timothy was doing was outlining YHWH’s Ancient Path, which is based on love and kindness. The faithful of humanity is already blessed because we believe without seeing (Jon.20:29). Coming to belief in YHWH is the hard part, now all one has to do is learn the spiritual wisdom of HIS Ancient Path, and teaching is the key word. Teaching, not browbeating preaching, or hi-brow lecturing, but teaching was crucial in Yahshua’s ministry. He did not take an opinion poll and then tell the people what was popular. He taught the ways of His FATHER’S Kingdom - like it or not! His Kingdom message was captivating and inspirational. He taught the higher force of the spirit is to take the place of the earthly forces of the flesh. He knows that the people will come to understanding of the higher spiritual order when the truths of the Scriptures are taught properly.

He was the teacher of teachers, and He trained His twelve Disciples to go forth and teach. When people came to hear Him they filled the hillsides, and Yahshua did not stand above the audience and speak down to them. In one of His most electrifying discourses, His famous “Sermon on the Mount,” He stood at the bottom (beneath them) and spoke up to the audience with force and clarity. That famous discourse recorded in Matthew ch.5-7, has been called by some Biblical scholars “the Constitution of the Kingdom of GOD.”

The Pharisees were experts at using a lot of words to say very little. But Yahshua taught His Kingdom lessons in simple terms: Love and kindness, replaces hate and bitterness, and the intents of the heart will be judged (Heb.4:12), not your ‘holidays’ and rituals. He taught that our FATHER is love, and that our FATHER is also infinite intelligence; therefore, developing YAHWEH’S everlasting spiritual wisdom, HIS perpetual Way of Life, is the perfect blending of intelligence and love. His Gospel was practical, and perfectly expresses YAHWEH’S simple and inescapable perpetual Code of Life. For those who would follow, He promised: “His yoke is light and His burden is easy.

“Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men
but in the power of God” - 1Corinthians 2:5

REMEMBER: On this day, YHWH is teaching humanity be to critical thinkers. Question your spiritual teachers and leaders! Wisdom is based on the foundation of the Bible as opposed to mans spontaneous logic which is built on sand and will not stand the test of time - test everything, and consider carefully what you accept as everlasting spiritual truth – lest it leads you into damnation (Mark 4:24; Acts 17:11).

“Teach no other doctrine,
nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart,
from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk.”
- 1 Timothy 1:3-6

Enjoy the journey of learning…
>Ego religion: http://www.homeworship101.com/wp_ego_religion.htm
>Thinking Persons religion: http://www.homeworship101.com/NL_2005_01.htm
>The Ancient Path of YHWH: http://www.homeworship101.com/NL_2008_01.htm
>Covenant Theology: http://www.homeworship101.com/NL_2006_02.htm

Please remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and for all those who stand with Israel (Ps.122).

Take care. Peace and blessings, Errol.
**********************************************
Errol Mueller, chronicler extraordinaire
e-mail: errol@homeworship101.com
website: www.homeworship101.com
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WSC Newsletter 2008-04, posted 04/12/08.

Copyright © 2008 Errol Mueller. All rights reserved. Short quotations, page copying, or redistribution for personal or non-commercial group study is permitted and encouraged, provided they are copied in total with no alterations or deletions. Author’s name, website address, and copyright notice must be included. If any other use is desired, written permission is required.
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Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.

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On the 10th Day - GOD Test

Greetings from HomeWorship 101™

~Test YHWH’s Messiah~