Comments on: Yesterday and Today

By: Christopher Slabchuck

Christopher Slabchuck — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 08:47:32 +0000

“Grace comes with rules.” John the Evangelist would say grace comes with power, the power to become sons and daughters of Adonai. It is the power to obey the law, the power of obediance … our shamah is not in the things of this world , but rather in Jesus and Adonai – in the Paraclete he has sent. When we are made new there is nolonger a desire to hide from Adonai’s presence. It has been replaced with giyl. Adonai perfects us constantly like gold and silver in the refiners fire. We walk Torah with Adonai exchanging the perishable desires of the flesh for the imperishable desire of Adonai. That unity is our Shalom from which our Hesed flows like rivers of flowing water. At first we experience darkness and loss as we put away the things of a child, but when we embrace the things of a man Adonai replaces our joy in these former things with himself. We burn with the joy of his presence like sparks amid the stubble …

By: Dorothy

Dorothy — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:37:41 +0000

Lame excuses don’t hold water then or P.R. (post Ressurection). God is the same forever. Peter didn’t see the quick judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira as unduly harsh. They knew what they were doing and God saw it as temping Him. v.3 “Why has Satan filled your heart”, Peter asked them. Willful deceit is spiritually disastrous! Truth and integrity are the norm of a Godly life. Sin is not trivial with God. (consider the cross!)
There still will be a lot of little whole burnt idiots–the penalty will come due–unless repented of–His grace gives time for repentence–let us tremble in Holy fear!
Sometimes it doesn’t appear God is paying attention, but only the faithless are so blind/stupid. The penalty will be paid–unless repented of, it is only a matter of time.

By: Pam

Pam — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 17:13:04 +0000

Skip I would love for you to elaborate on the goal of the sacrifices.

The only reason to go to the temple was so that the worshiper could draw near to the throne of YHVH and experience His awesome presence. We have this stupid idea that every time someone sinned they had to go stand in line at the temple to offer a sacrifice. Nothing could be further from the truth! It was a privilege not a punishment!

You couldn’t even think about approaching the temple (where the throne of God on earth was) if you were not walking in righteousness and keeping yourself in a state of purity according to the torah.

I personally have come to believe that it was and is Grace that our Father destroyed the temple so that we ignorant idiots couldn’t draw near and become little whole burnt offerings at the gate. Pseudo-believers would have been found out. I’m thinking may that’s what Heb. 4 is about. Those who demonstrated unbelief in the wilderness are examples for us. With the verb tenses in Heb. 10 being changed in our English versions we tend to believe the temple was already gone.

I’m now thinking maybe the writer to the Hebrews was talking to a group of folks who gathered there at least for the festivals if not daily. They would not have been able to do that had they not kept themselves “clean”. The sin sacrifice was for unintentional sin that the worshiper was unaware of. Perhaps that’s one reason why we see the sacrifices reinstated in the temple in Ez.?

In any case we need to “purify ourselves” 1 Jn.3:3 because when He appears He will draw near and we want to be ready for Him like the Children of Israel were ready when He drew near to Egypt and took the first born and passed over them. It’s not safe to draw near to YHVH or have YHVH draw near to us in a state of purposeful uncleaness.

Our lame excuses won’t hold water in that day. Especially for those of us who have been enlightened and refuse to shema. The fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom. There is no sacrifice for intentional sin.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:12:56 +0000

I started reading a book called, “Disciplined By Grace”. It’s only so-so, but the premise was really good:

Main Point – We don’t preach grace too much, we preach it too little. If we taught the fullness of grace, we would see that it is a DISCIPLINING force in our lives. A distinguishing feature of grace in the life of a believer is SELF-CONTROL. Titus 2:11-13

I sort of ‘reverse engineered’ this verse and asked myself, “Do I have more self-control/discipline now that I am a Christian? Or than 5-10 years ago? Am I ‘increasing in grace’?” The answer was no, but it gave me hope to know that my feelings of discontent were valid.

By: carl roberts

carl roberts — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:02:48 +0000

Is there a Christian among us who does not know liberty is not licentiousness? ~ Shall we continue in sin (doing what we want- fulfilling the desires of our mind) that grace may abound? -And the answer is? “God forbid.” If we are to follow Christ- (and we are to follow Christ for His instructions ARE not Were, “follow Me”- Do as I do. Not just “believe as I believe”- but “Follow Me”- “Be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love.” We are to mimic our Master.
Do children ever worry about “what’s for lunch?” – or do they just trust their parents to provide? What about me? – what is my “trust level?”- Do I trust my Prodigal Father – and is He worthy of my trust? – And the answer is… ~ but God is (always) Faithful- Semper Fi. Amen. Our God has-does-and will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ~ He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all- how shall He not with Him also freely give (the Prodigal Father) us all things?- All things that pertain unto life and godliness? – “Every” good and perfect gift?
We are not “saved” to do as we please, we are saved/delivered to do as we ought. And what we “ought” to do is to ~love the LORD our God (our God) with ALL of our heart-soul-mind-and-strength~ and ~ to love one another with a pure heart fervently.~ Avad ADONAI Amen. 1,2, and 3. Do it. Why?
My friends- this is exactly how our Example and our Examplar, the LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ lived. ~I do always those things that please the Father ~ – We also, as children of El Elyon- the Mighty God- must also “do” those things which please our ABBA. Yes, to “break it down” even further- we are to “love God and love people”- all people everywhere. Why? Because God is love and because we love Him we also will love what He loves,- all people everywhere, yes, -even (gasp!) “sinners.”
But in my house – there are “house rules.” These are the rules of my house. I have instructed my children: “junior, do not play in heavy traffic”- “junior- don’t place your hand on a hot stove..” “junior, – brush your teeth.” All of these “commands” are for the benefit and blessing of “junior.” And every “thou shalt” of our heavenly Father is “help yourself to happiness.” Every “thou shalt not” is our Father saying- “don’t hurt yourself.” Are His rules for righteous living to our benefit and for our blessing? – And Who was the most obedient Man- ever to have lived, breathed and walked upon this green planet? And what marked His life? Love, peace and joy. Shalom unspeakable and full of glory- ~He went about doing good..~ And yes, “this is my Father’s world!” His by right of Creation and again because of Calvary.
And what father among us does not delight in (and desire to reward!) obedient children?
What we believe we “live by”- all the rest is just religious talk- and if any man -does “any man” include the Jew also?- what about those Episcopalean vegetarians? or shall we listen (again for the first time) to His words from His Book?

~For if a man (any man) will be a hearer of the word and not a doer of it, this one is like one who sees his face in a mirror, and studies himself carefully, and then goes off and immediately forgets what he looks like ~ (James 1.24)

Ahh,- but there is another man- “This man.” The man who is blessed. Who is this? – Shall we?

~ But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing ~ (James 1.25)

~ But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you ~ (Psalm-song 81.16)

~ This book of direction-instruction-law-torah shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success ~ (Joshua 1.8)

Yes, Abraham “believed God”- but the next morning he got up and saddled his donkey.. He believed and then proceeded to carry out the instructions he had received.

~ Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?~ (Luke 6:46)

Oh? we think we know a better way? Let me know how that works out for you.. ~ There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD ~ (Proverbs 21.30)

And what about stupid people in large numbers?- ~ Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered ~ (Proverbs 11.21) Mom, dad, -the best thing you can do for your children today is to obey God.