ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE VS. THE TRUTH – Part 2

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ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE VS. THE TRUTH – Part 2

2 Pet 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of Elohim, and of Yahushua our Master,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Master Yahushua Messiah.

“It is entirely possible, even after years of dedicated study of the Scriptures that one can arrive at a relatively accurate understanding of doctrines while still not at all possessing the Truth.  Yahushua, not doctrine, is the Truth.”

Academic knowledge of the Scriptures is of little benefit to the believer if they are content with information as an end in itself.  Within religious circles, people rise to positions of respect and esteem, even honor, if they possess a vast knowledge of the Scriptures.  It is intimidating to the masses of Christians who spend very little time at all in the Scriptures; and such learned people are looked upon as worthy teachers and leaders.  The problem with amassing knowledge is that it produces a reward in the natural world, a fleshly reward of exaltation, which generally produces pride.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 8:1, that “knowledge puffeth up.”

Throughout the book of Proverbs we see repeatedly instruction to “get wisdom,” and “with thy getting, get understanding.”  Solomon does not instill the notion that we must accrue knowledge.  Knowledge, the possessing of information, does not profit in the Kingdom of Heaven as an asset by itself.  Without wisdom and understanding, knowledge is like a loaded pistol in the hands of a child. It is more dangerous than good.

Last week we discussed the necessity of the “Aha!” moment when information is converted into revelation.  This transition is absolutely critical; because it takes knowledge which is obtained in the natural world and converts it into wisdom in the spiritual world.  Yahushua concluded his famous “sermon on the mount” (Matthew 7:24-29) with a description of two people: one who built his house on a rock which could withstand the storms of life; and one who built his house on the sand, which was totally destroyed by the storms of life.  Do you know the only thing that made the difference between these two men?  It was the foundation they chose for their house. What was the rock and what was the sand?

Matthew 7: 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Matthew 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Knowing the Scriptures is not the same as doing them.

James 1: 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Let me illustrate the difference between knowing and doing the Scriptures.  I would dare say that ALL of the men and women who are teachers or preachers in contemporary Christianity; as well as a large percentage of the general masses of believers in the world today are familiar with the following verses of Scripture…and probably many could quote them.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of Elohim in Messiah Yahushua concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

How many people do you know that always rejoice?  Today, most have no concept of rejoicing unless it comes from an unexpected blessing, a worldly promotion, a victory over one’s enemy, etc.  How many go throughout their day rejoicing simply because of their relationship with IAUE or Yahushua?

Do we pray without ceasing?  Many believers avoid prayer like the plague. For the most part, it is regarded as just a waste of their time.

How about giving IAUE thanks in every circumstance of life, throughout every day?  What about not just avoiding evil; but avoiding the very appearance of evil?  Most believers aren’t truly bothered with avoiding evil; much less the appearance of it. 

I could use many other passages of Scripture that provide clear instruction for us to do this or that; and we would be able to understand that we KNOW these passages of Scripture; but we are not DOING them?  So, according to Yahushua’s teaching in the sermon on the mount, does that not make us people who are building our houses upon the sand? 

What makes the difference between these two? How can we move from building on sand to building on the rock?  It is obvious that it is DOING the word and not hearing it only; but it is the “Aha!” moment that ultimately makes the difference.  Let’s look more closely at our opening verses, today.

2 Pet 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of Elohim, and of Yahushua our Master,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Master Yahushua Messiah.

 

The apostle Peter makes it abundantly clear that all of our advancement in grace and peace and in the virtues of righteous living are through the knowledge of our Father and our Master Yahushua.  We must pursue our study of the Scripture in such a way as to seek to know IAUE and Yahushua more perfectly; not just to know the letter, the academic understanding of the words we are reading.  Paul tells us that the letter kills. It is the spirit that gives life (1 Corinthians 3:6).

The passage we just read from James describes it like this:

James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

We look into the Scriptures, the perfect law of liberty, with the purpose of seeing our Master reflected back to us.  We hear his commands and we do them. 

How do we facilitate “Aha!” moments of revelation?  First, we must be committed to DOING what we read in the Scriptures.  If we are instructed to DO something, we cannot content ourselves with just KNOWING it says we should do it.  Without that purpose of heart to fully obey the Master, we cannot expect Him to show Himself to us.  Secondly, we must understand that knowing doctrine is not an end unto itself.  It is a pathway to knowing our Heavenly Father and knowing our Master Yahushua.  They sent us the Holy Spirit for this very purpose.

To the Pharisees, the ultra-religious Jews of the day, who paraded around their superior knowledge of the Scriptures, Yahushua said:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

If knowledge of the information contained within the Scriptures was enough, the Pharisees would have recognized Yahushua was the Messiah the Jews had been awaiting for centuries. The very writings whose purpose was to REVEAL Yahushua had shown them nothing of the Messiah. They believed that knowledge of the Scriptures was an end in itself.  Without revelation, without seeing the Scriptures revealing Messiah, it profited them no more than if they were proficient in the writings of any worldly author.

We must begin to DO what we read in the Scriptures when they give us something to do.  We cannot be satisfied with just knowing what they tell us to do.  That will help begin the process of living in “Aha!” moments of revelation.  There are other obstacles, however, to receiving Truth.  We will take them up next time.

ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE VS. THE TRUTH - Part I

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ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE VS. THE TRUTH – Part 1

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

(It has been nearly a year since I made the last post to this blog.  The Holy Spirit has been dealing with me on a number of topics, bringing much wanted insight and instruction; and I did not want to proceed until I believed I had captured His heart on the matters that He wanted me to share.  It is the explanation of that very process, capturing His heart, that He wanted to be the subject to resume this blog.  Understand that this blog has not been instruction to a particular congregation, a particular group or a specific individual.  It has been designed to serve as an encyclopedia of information and experience accrued during a lifetime of service to the Master, put in a format that any disciple, anywhere in the world, can come to draw living water to refresh his/her soul and find insight and answers to their spiritual questions.)

For many years, I taught weekly Bible studies in various cities.  Eventually, there would come a time when I would take the opportunity to do something in order to drive through a very important point.  While teaching (especially demonstrative from a pulpit; but it has been effective even from a chair sitting in a circle of believers), I would pick up my Bible and literally send it airborne across the room. It would come crashing to the floor and not very neatly.  You might imagine the gasps of the people as they saw such callous and reckless behavior with “The Holy Scriptures.” There were always gasps. Sometimes it seemed they would suck the air out of the room.  Then I would ask them, “What’s the problem?”  They were always speechless.  I would then explain, “This is just a book.  If it had fallen apart, I could go to a book store and buy another one in the morning, or just use one of the many I still had in my personal library.  There is nothing ‘holy’ about the physical book itself. Yes, the words are precious; but they could be written down on notebook paper, the margins of a newspaper, or even transcribed to a roll of toilet paper.  Pages could be torn out of the Bible and wadded up in your pocket for transport.  The book, as a book, is not what is important about the Bible.”

They would quickly settle down with that explanation; but some still felt it was a defiling action on my part.  They were the ones who missed the whole point of the exercise.

So, is the Bible the holy and divinely inspired word of IAUE?  If it is, are all translations equally divinely inspired, or is the King James Version more inspired than the New American Standard?  Is the New International Version better or worse than the Revised Version, or the Amplified Bible or the Living Bible?  If we are asserting that the Bible is divinely inspired, how is it possible that a verse could read so differently from one translation to another?  Often the message of a verse can be translated such that one version expresses the totally opposite or conflicting meaning of the translation in another version.  For example:

KJV  - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

NASB - I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

So, do we live BY the faith OF Yahushua; or do we live by OUR faith IN Yahushua?  The difference in these two verses is tremendous.

Some translations do not even seem to be coming from the same text, totally unrelated in their content. Which one is holy?  Which one is inspired; and if one verse is totally incorrect, does that render that entire version of the Bible unholy and wicked?

See the problem?  Our understanding of the usefulness of the Scriptures has been misdirected for centuries.  Don’t get me wrong, I seldom read any outside works of authors teaching biblical subjects.  If I have time to read, I would much prefer to read the Bible.

For years, I have taught disciples of Messiah a foundational principle about the Bible.  The Bible should serve as a platform for connecting with the Holy Spirit.  The problem is most Christians read the Bible as an end in itself.  Let’s look more closely at our opening verse of Scripture.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

At this point in time, when Messiah said this to his disciples, there were not copies of the Tanak (the Old Testament Scriptures) in every house, in every hotel room, available at a local bookstore…they weren’t even available in most synagogues.  Each synagogue had portions of the Scriptures.  If they were fortunate to be a wealthy synagogue, they probably had a complete Torah (the first 5 books of the Old Testament) and some of the prophets.  It was a painstaking and very time consuming and very expensive process to make a single copy of any book of the Scriptures. They simply did not abound; and virtually no one had personal copies.  They were either maintained by the synagogues or schools of the Law. So, when Yahushua told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things, he was not suggesting that the Holy Spirit would teach them exclusively through the Scriptures.  In fact, if you look at this passage of Scripture, nowhere does Messiah even refer to the Scriptures. The teaching the Holy Spirit would do would be principally by direct instruction.

Most of the teachers and preachers in Christendom have spent lengthy hours studying the Bible as an academic.  Many of them began in classes in seminaries or Bible Colleges.  They have studied the Scriptures to understand the basic message and content of the various books; then they have done word studies or topical studies referencing the Scriptures from one book to another through both Old and New Testaments.  Eventually, they arrive at a body of doctrines they feel they can support by their academic understanding of the teaching of the Bible at large. Unfortunately, it is entirely possible, even after years of dedicated study of the Scriptures that they can arrive at a relatively accurate understanding of doctrines while still not at all possessing the Truth.  Yahushua, not doctrine, is the Truth.

Many years ago, one of my brothers was staying with me for a period of time.  We often would study the Scriptures in the living room; each of us doing our own study in our own way.  I lifted my head from reading with abject wonderment on my face and I said, quite loudly, “Rick!”  He had become quite familiar with these “moments” I would have, and with expectation of some amazing revelation, he answered “What?”  I replied, “Jesus loves me!”  Rick paused silently for a second or two, looking somewhat disappointed, then he responded, “Where’ve you been?”  Which was his way of saying that I should have learned that 20 years ago in Sunday School as a child.

What happened to me in that instance?  It was what I have come to call an “Aha!” moment. It was when I became connected with the Teacher, the Holy Spirit, who transformed the academic knowledge into a spiritual revelation of Truth. My brother had not yet experienced the Truth of the Master’s love; but he knew it academically.

THIS is the point I want to convey to you. Without the “Aha!” moment, what you think you know is still just human knowledge of the Scripture.  We must pursue time in the Scripture to know what it says; but then we must keep our heart inclined to the voice of the Holy Spirit and trust that he will transform the words on the page to life-giving Truth.  It is Truth that sets us free. It is Truth that brings us life.  It is Truth that directs our path.  Doctrine doesn’t do it.  Knowledge puffs up the believer and makes him proud and arrogant. When pastors and teachers amass knowledge without the Truth, it causes the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes (which Yahushua hates) to enter the church; and preachers and teachers are elevated in the minds and practice of the Body as being on a higher level or a more worthy or exalted place than the general masses of believers. They are not.  When a preacher or teacher walks in Truth as opposed to his/her superior academia, they are marked by humility, meekness and longsuffering.  They do not require that they be the center of attention or even the one doing the talking.  They trust the Holy Spirit.

A contemporary teacher has said, “If there is anything in the Scripture that you know that you are not DOING, you are backslidden.”  That is a brilliant statement; and it basically defines the vast majority of Christendom; but more so, what it reveals is that the majority of the church walks in academia and not the Truth.

We will discuss this necessary “Aha!” moment in greater detail and with supporting Scripture next week.  Be blessed and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – Part 2

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THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – Part 2

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve IAUE, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve IAUE.

Shunning evil and choosing good is a natural by-product of the word of righteousness.  If we are still “choosing evil,” we are lacking experience in the word of righteousness.

Centuries of what I refer to as “pagan Christianity” has robbed the true church of its vitality and its intended influence in the world.  The introduction of the worship of pagan gods, the willful infiltration of pagan leadership and the resulting iniquity-creep into Christianity has all but destroyed the truth of the gospel. I know this is a powerful statement; but only spiritual blindness would allow for any defense against it.  Churches today that pride themselves of being superior fellowships use language straight out of Revelation 3 that describes the church of Laodicea.

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

The Master warned his disciples, “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees,” and the apostle Paul twice explained that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump;”  and, “Bad company corrupts good morals;” and, in an amazing close to the epistle of 1 John, a letter that is largely about the love of IAUE, John says, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

The Scripture tells us to be holy as IAUE is holy more times than possibly any other single instruction in all of the Scripture.  Now, being holy does not mean something esoteric or super-spiritual. It does not require that we glow with the shekinah glory of IAUE.  It simply means that we are to be set apart. We are not to be like the rest.  We are to be the possession of IAUE for His purposes, for His use; and we are not to be available for use by others.  That is what “set apart” means.  By illustration, let’s imagine that Bob, Carol, Jim, and Susan are invited to my home for dinner and Jim is running a bit late.  If I tell them that they are welcome to get something to drink; but then I point to a particular glass and say, “That is Jim’s glass.”  No one but Jim will use that glass.  Why is that?  It is because it has been set apart for Jim’s use only.  Only Jim may use that glass because it is holy unto Jim.

If we apply to the Scriptures this definition of being holy, then we immediately understand why we should be wary of the leaven of the Pharisees; and why we should be conscious of the deleterious effect of choosing to spend time with people who are evil (of a bad nature and having corrupt morals).  The result will be compromise; and once we compromise, holiness will have been forfeited.  We are letting our glass be used by someone other than IAUE.  So, if we are given unto IAUE, what would you imagine would define our lives?  What kind of behavior?  What kind of speech?  What kind of attitudes?  These are not trick questions.  It is obvious that we would be righteous.  Our behavior, speech and attitudes would demonstrate the moral purity, love and compassion of IAUE.  We would be unconcerned about our own lives.

Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of Elohim, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Today, on a typical Sunday, congregations sit in pews (or folding chairs), following a predetermined “order of service” and go through the motions while oblivious or uncaring about the fact that there are “believers” in their midst (or are sitting next to them…or ARE them) who are living in fornication, adultery, pornography, unlawful business practices, cheating, stealing, lying…and maintaining secret lives in darkness.  We are unaware that our secret lives are in fact practices of worship of pagan deities.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve IAUE, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve IAUE.

This passage is at the end of the book of Joshua.  Joshua had led the people of Israel to overthrow 31 nations of giants, all of whom worshipped false gods (gods who were their pre-flood ancestors among the fallen watchers and the Nephilim.).  Joshua challenged the people to choose if they were going to serve the fallen watchers and the Nephilim from “the other side of the flood” or if they were going to serve the idols of the Amorites that were images of these pre-flood deities.  They needed to make a choice. They needed to declare the purpose and intention of their heart.  Joshua was in essence asking the people to declare their holiness; to declare unto whom their lives would be set-apart.  Once the choice was made that they were going to serve IAUE, compromise was not going to be an option without extreme consequences.

This passage of Scripture should remind us of the words of the apostle Paul.

Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto Elohim through Yahushua Messiah our Master.

This is our consecration to be holy, to be separated unto the purpose and will and use of IAUE.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto Elohim, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto Elohim.

This is the expectation of being set-apart.  We do not compromise by letting our bodies be used for purposes of unrighteousness.  In Romans 12:1-2, we understand that we are to offer our body as a living sacrifice to be used for His will and for His purposes.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? IAUE forbid.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But IAUE be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

This explains there is no room for compromise.  Once set-apart, we cannot be used by another to serve their purposes.

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Like James tells us, “Faith without works is dead,” so too, holiness without righteousness is dead.  James challenges his readers to demonstrate the reality of their faith without works.  It cannot be done.  In like fashion, one cannot demonstrate holiness, one’s separation unto IAUE, without righteousness.  Righteousness, then, is the key.  It is the unquestioned object of our redemption.  There is no redemption without righteousness any more than there is faith without works.  There is no maturity in Messiah without an actively righteous life. 

The word of righteousness (Hebrews 5:13) is the instruction in allowing the spirit of Yahushua within us to manifest his nature within and through our physical bodies.  It requires us to yield our bodies to him as a living sacrifice so his nature can be manifest in our lives.  What is his nature?  It is righteousness; moral perfection, purity of heart and mind; and the unmovable commitment to obedience to the will of IAUE.  This is the heritage of the saints in light; not unchallenged lives of sin and darkness while sitting in the pews of a church building on Sunday. What no one knows can kill us.  We must bring our lives into the light; and we must walk in the light. This is the Father’s expectation of all of His children.

THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – Part 1

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THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – Part 1

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of Elohim; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The Holy Spirit has been cultivating for several weeks, now, the message that will occupy the next few posts in this blog.  I have not known how or where to begin this subject matter until this past week. I was asked a question by a new disciple of Messiah. “What do I do, now?”  This brother gave his life to Messiah just a few months ago; and he has been desperate to grow up and mature in Messiah.  It has been wonderful to watch such commitment to the Master in contrast to the sleepy masses of believers that fill church pews every Sunday morning who have never seriously reflected on this question. 

The intention of my friend’s question had to do with how to pursue whatever it was that Messiah was calling him to do…or to become.  My immediate and simple answer to him was, “Our life in Messiah is not about what we are to do or what we are to become; but rather, how we are to be.”  If we do as our Master commands and take up our stake (cross) daily to follow him; then we will walk in obedience to the will of IAUE each and every day; and our daily obedience will bring us to what we are to be doing and what we may be called to become.  Our focus is not to be on either of these outcomes; but rather on what we are to be each day.

This may come as a total shock and surprise to most “Christians,” but what we are to be is righteous. I want to use today’s Scripture text to sort of “back in” to explaining this.

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of Elohim; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

The first thing I would like to note from this passage is the implied expectation that ALL disciples should eventually (and that it should not take long to arrive at this point) be qualified, at a minimum,  to teach new believers the foundational “first principles” of the word of IAUE; and of life as a disciple of Yahushua.  We see just a few verses later in Hebrews 6:1-2 that these first principles were:

Repentance from dead works.

Faith toward Elohim.

The doctrine of baptisms.

Laying on of hands.

Resurrection from the dead.

Eternal Judgment.

How would you do as an instructor to young disciples on these topics?

The writer of the book of Hebrews is actually rebuking his readers in this passage for their failure to mature as disciples; and he attributes their immaturity to just one thing.

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

This word, “unskillful” (apeiros) means “inexperienced.”  These immature disciples were still partaking of milk and not able and simply not qualified to partake of meat because they were without experience in the word of righteousness.  They should have been teachers by now; but they were still base-level students all because of their lack of experience with the word of righteousness.  Why do I say “base-level” students?  It is because this word “babe” is from the Greek word nepios.  In the Greek there are three words used for a child:  nepios, teknon and huios.  The huios are the matured children who have learned to do the work of their father (it is also translated “son.”)  The teknon are the juveniles who are children in training; but the nepios are infants, unable to do a thing for themselves, totally dependent upon others to care for them. For a person to be a disciple of Messiah and remain a nepios, it is an insult to the blood of Messiah and the grace of IAUE.  Such a rebuke from the writer could have been avoided had they simply become experienced with the word of righteousness.

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We will discuss “strong meat” at a later time.  What I want to focus on in this verse is that strong meat is for those of “full age” (teleios) – perfected/made perfect.  This idea of being made perfect is restated as those who have their senses “exercised” (quite literally – which implies a designed effort to train) to recognize the difference between good and evil.  There has been purpose of heart to develop even a natural discernment to accompany their spiritual discernment…but unto what end?  To shun the evil and choose the good, of course…to choose righteousness.

We have discussed at great length in other series in this blog how it is the Father’s intention that the nature of the spirit of his son placed within us should find through our renewed minds, avenues of expression in and through our physical bodies.  This was an early focus of our Master in his own childhood.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore IAUE himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

Shunning evil and choosing good is a natural by-product of the word of righteousness.  If we are still choosing evil, we are lacking experience in the word of righteousness.

More on this next week.

RIGHT THINKING - 2

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RIGHT THINKING - 2

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of IAUE, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto IAUE, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of IAUE.

Understanding that as disciples of Yahushua we actually have the spirit of Yahushua dwelling within our bodies, animating the life of our body (see last post), we understand why it is our reasonable service to offer our body to him.  It is “right thinking” to consider as reasonable that we should allow our Master to live through us as he pleases. It is “right thinking” for us to get out of his way by putting an end to our persistence in living our lives as we please.

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve Elohim and mammon.

It is interesting that this verse appears to contrast Elohim and mammon as the only options to be our master. It is also interesting to note that “mammon” was transliterated and not translated from the Greek manuscripts.  The Greek word used here is “mamonas.”  This was not an English word at the time of the English translation of the Scriptures.(Have you ever heard anyone use this word in a sentence who was not referencing this verse?)  Some contemporary English translations of the Scripture render this word as riches, money, wealth and possessions.  It literally means “treasure” in the sense of the thing(s) in which you place your trust.  Following are the verses that precede this one, which will give us a better context for understanding the meaning and role of these two masters.

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

We are instructed not to “lay up” “treasures” on earth.  This is literally, “Do not accumulate valuables in repositories on earth,” for they can be taken away from you by thieves.  Valuables accumulated in heaven cannot be depreciated nor are they accessible to thieves that they might be stolen from you.  More importantly, the place where you keep your repository of valuables is where your affections will be.

Then this passage says something quite intriguing. “The light of the body is the eye.”  A “single eye” is one that allows the light within man’s spirit to be seen; and it is manifested by giving generously. If a person’s eye is dark, he has cut off the light within his spirit (if there is any) from being seen by others, from helping others; because his own needs and success are regarded as more important to him.  He is stingy because his treasure is here on earth; and the more he gives away, the less he has left for himself.

You may be wondering why I have gone on what appears to be a long “rabbit trail,” discussing this issue of mammon; but this passage lays out a clear presentation of right and wrong thinking, showing the consequences of each.

As disciples of Yahushua, the light of the world is residing within us.  To the degree that our heart, our affections, are seated in all that he is to us, his light will shine through our lives to others.  As long as we are still clinging to things in this world that we hold dear, that we trust in, rely on, cling to…we block the spirit of Yahushua from manifesting his glorious life through us to others.  We have chosen a different master after all has been said and done.  Wrong thinking has taken over our minds, and we have ceased
abiding in the vine.  We become dried up and good for nothing but to be gathered together and cast into the fire (John 15).

2 Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Master, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of IAUE.

Paul explains to the Corinthian disciples that when a person turns his heart to Yahushua Messiah, when he affections are turned from this world to the Master, reading the Scriptures will be like looking into a mirror to reflect back to us the nature and character and attributes of the spirit of Yahushua that is within us; and it will change us outwardly to become more and more like him.

When Philip asked Yahushua to show him the Father, Messiah answered him, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”  Then he continues on to explain that the Father was in him, and he was in the Father.  Messiah offered his body a living sacrifice to IAUE long before he rendered his body a physical sacrifice for the sins of man.  Consequently, there was no hindrance to the Father who was living inside of him from being demonstrated in the physical life of Yahushua. (John 14:7-12)  A few chapters later (John 17), Yahushua prays for us to experience that exact same unity that he has with the Father…him in us, and the Father in him…that we might be one.  This is the heritage of the saints in light…but it is a heritage that can never manifest if we are still serving two masters.  “Right thinking” understands this.

That brings us, finally, to our second verse.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of IAUE.

The simplest way of expressing this verse within the context of our study would be:  STOP being like the world.  Learn “right thinking” so the spirit of Yahushua within you can live freely through your body.

So important was this concept to the wisest man who ever lived that Solomon twice said: 

Proverbs 14:12, 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.

We must have an anchor to that which we hold to be truth.  The world’s truths change from generation to generation and from culture to culture.  Untold thousands through the ages have invested in things and have laid up in store things which the next generation or even the next modification of culture or change in technology no longer valued at all; or which others dispossessed from them through theft, fraud or other means. The world currently holds nothing of value except the souls of men.  The moment we realize this, the less difficult it will be to relinquish our grasp on our own life and release ourselves into the trustworthy care of the spirit of the Master Yahushua living within us.

The problem is, for the most part we have no idea where our thinking is getting in the way of our Master living his life through us. That is why we need to be regularly reading the Scriptures, speaking to the Father and listening to His Spirit…all with a sense of urgency to remove all obstacles to the glory that is within us.  Notice how Paul puts it:  “that we might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Elohim.”

I have heard some use this verse to suggest that there are three levels to the will of IAUE.  What Paul is telling us is that the will of IAUE is good, acceptable and perfect; and that understanding it should be an urgent objective in the life of the disciple.  There isn’t a half-way-to-perfect, “good” will of IAUE.  We either do His will or we fail to do His will.  The word “acceptable” in this verse means “well pleasing.”  Paul is explaining how doing the will of IAUE is seen by Him, not by us.  To IAUE, doing His will is good to Him, well-pleasing to Him, and perfect…the fullness of what He desires from His children.

Right thinking will align us to desiring to know IAUE’s will in order to allow him who died for us to live through us.  Some people have expressed, “Well doesn’t this make me little more than a zombie?  I am alive, but I am not living.  Someone else is living in my body.”  The short answer to this question is, “No!”  This is a participation.  We are being changed from glory to glory as we learn to more effortlessly allow Messiah’s life to be manifest through our own life.  Yahushua asks us to take up our cross every single day.  We make this choice every day because He has become our treasure; and experiencing his life working through us is the grandest experience available to man on earth!

2 Corinthians 4:6 For IAUE, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of IAUE in the face of Yahushua Messiah.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of IAUE, and not of us.

We cannot think rightly as long as we are still being programmed by this world.  We cannot successfully become the light of the world while our thinking suppresses his light within us.  We must choose this day and every day whom we will serve and not back down from our choice.  The Master is still on a mission to save lives. He has not placed his spirit within us in order to know what it feels like to earn a million dollars, go to Disneyland, ride on jet skis, climb Mt. Everest, etc.  He had the opportunity to gain the whole world, but he turned it down.  He relinquished his rights to all things in order to do the will of his Father.  He is no longer here in person; but we are; and he wants to continue doing his Father’s will in us and through us and by us.  The only way he can accomplish that is if we possess and act upon right thinking.