Shalom Kol Yisrael,
First, if the Ruach leads we will return to our series next week. However, this week Abba put something on my heart based on a verse a brother shared with me. Here is the verse.
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith YHWH, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Today, Christianity is suffering the consequences of saying they will not walk in the old/ancient paths. I have talked to some believers where the resistance to the old paths was so strong that it brought about both anger and rage. And yet not once did I say to them about living a Torah lifestyle. I just lived my life and did not say anything. I guess my life example was even too much for them. I would hear responses, “I am not going under the law, I am free! Besides, I keep the 10 commandments. Those are the only laws that are necessary.” I have been in discussions where they will refuse to even listen to a verse from the Tenach (or Old Testament). They would, however, quote from the text if it served their own purposes. In their ignorance, they fail to look beyond the 10 commandments which are filled with guidelines to live a righteous life. For instance, admonitions against having relations with a beast are not in the 10 commandments. So does that mean this action is permissible since it is not in the 10 commandments? Yah forbid. The definition of sin has been lost – the transgression of the Torah (see 1 Yochanon/John 3:4).
But, some say it is not possible for us to live a righteous life. Yes, while it is true that we have no righteousness on our own, we have have a righteous Holy Spirit living inside of us that we can submit to who will empower us to live righteously!
I believe most have forgotten what freedom is. The Apostle Shaul/Paul asked the question, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:12) Shaul answered may it not be so. Kefa/Peter said of Shaul's writings that they are hard to understand and unlearned and unstable will misinterpret them to their own destruction. (see 2 Kefa/Peter 3:16) In other words, if you do not know that the old/ancient paths are good for you, you will never understand the Apostle Shaul/Paul's writings. Today, when someone gets saved the first thing we do is give them a New Testament. Hmm. The first century believers who lived a life empowered by the Spirit never had a New Testament! They had a manual to the ancient paths – the Tenach. If you don't know the Tenach first, it will lead you to a life of not finding rest for your souls. If you refuse to walk in the ancient ways, you will even open doors to false prophets. Thus, the problems that plague modern Christianity.
This past Torah portion shows the great blessings that are awaiting those who walk in the old/ancient paths. But, it also spells out the curses that follow if you refuse. (Devarim/Deut. 27 and 28). By submitting to the Holy Spirit, we are released to live in the ancient paths and be a witness to a darkened world.
Shavua Tov,
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!
www.chazakyisrael.blogspot.com
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