A SALUTE TO MY FRIENDS

A SALUTE TO MY FRIENDS

                “To my wonderful friends with whom I am in labor until Christ be formed in you; grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Gal. 4:19 1:3.

                I want to apologize to you all for the intrusion that took place in regards to my article “The Front Man.” I have had to block access to that person for a couple of reasons. 1. He was introducing heretical doctrines about Yeshua and the Word, denying both the Son of God and also the Holy Spirit, and 2. He was abusive, unkind and argumentative and I don’t allow that on my site. That is not the way of Christ.

                I want to thank you all for coming to my defense and it hurts deeply that he was shredding your personal testimonies about your walk with the Lord. Don’t feel bad. You can’t really win an argument against an abusive person, because they always resort to name calling and withering  and intimidating speech, which amounts to witchcraft.

                Well, enough about that situation. I love every one of you with all of my heart and Bonnie and I pray for you all daily as we include you in our most blessed covenant before God. We see you not only as Facebook friends, but as friends for eternity.

                Those of you that know me know that I make no claims at being a prophet. In fact I deny it for indeed I do not hold the office of a prophet, which is different than the general gift of prophecy that Paul mentions in 1 Cor. 14: 1, The prophetical gift mentioned here is the gift of speaking forth the word of God, as is contrasted with verse 2 where the gift of tongues is said to be a gift that no one understands, but it is rather a gift of praying in the Spirit to God.

                So if I have that gift of prophecy it is because I spend many hours in the Word and in the presence of God. And in denying that gift of prophecy I would be walking a thin line. I certainly want to give glory to God for the revelations of understanding that He gives me and to deny that fact would be to say that all I write comes forth from my own clever mind. That would be a lie and I would be taking glory to myself which belongs to God alone. We know nothing without the Holy Spirit who makes the Word alive and teaches us day by day. And He teaches not only me, but you.

                Now because there were statements denying that John chapter 1 is talking about Yeshua, let us take a quick reality check. It was stated that the statement…”In the beginning was the Word” Jn. 1:1 is not about Yeshua. This is ludicrous for a number of reasons:

1.       John’s entire book is about Yeshua and in John chapter 1 he lays a groundwork of who Yeshua really is.

2.       Verse 2 assures us that He, Yeshua, was in the beginning with God.

3.       Verse 3 tells us that it was through Yeshua that God created everything that exists in our universe.

4.       And just in case we have any doubt as to whom John is talking about John says in verse 14:         “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. “  So, to deny that this is talking about Yeshua is blasphemy as far as I am concerned.

                Now as it pertains to Genesis 1:1, I will defer to Mark Biltz and also to my own Rabbi, David Sumner for whom Yeshua is everything.  Mark Biltz is one of my sources of understanding when it comes to the Feasts of Israel, the signs in the heavens such as the blood moons and the eclipse, which he explains without imposing personal opinions upon them.

                Mark teaches that the Aleph Tav is included in Genesis 1:1. The Aleph Tav represents the beginning and the end of the Hebrew alphabet (Aleph bet) and we know this better in its Greek form as the Alpha and the Omega.

                So we go to the last book of the Bible written by the same John that introduced Yeshua as the Word of God and we see Yeshua Himself announcing 4 times in Rev. 1:8, 1:11, 21:6, and 22:13 saying:                                  “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.” (Rev. 1:8) ”I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.”(Rev. 1:11) “And he said unto me,” It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” (Rev. 21:6) “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Rev. 22:13) So if Yeshua was speaking in Hebrew or Aramaic He would have said, “I am the Aleph and the Tav, the beginning and the end.

In John 8:56-59 Yeshua said an astounding thing.  He said: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it and was glad.” The Jews therefore said to Him, “ You are not yet fifty years old and have You seen Abraham>” Jesus said to them, “ Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.” Therefore they ( understanding what He was saying) picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.”

                There can be no doubt that from the beginning of Genesis to the last book and last chapter of Revelation, Yeshua is the Messiah and Savior of the world. He is our Creator and our Redeemer. He was involved with the Father from the beginning to the end.

                Jesus said in John 5:39, 40: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me that you may have life.”

                In Luke 24:27 it says about Yeshua: “And beginning with Moses and with ALL the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in ALL the Scriptures.”

                Now as to the precious Holy Spirit we read: “And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:1-4.

                 Don’t let anyone belittle you for being Pentecostal or Spirit filled.  Messianic Jews were the first Pentecostals when they received the promise of the Father on the very day of the Feast of Pentecost which they had celebrated in type from Sinai. The Holy Spirit is the very presence of Yeshua in our lives. He makes the Word of God living and active and sharper than any two edged sword. He guides us into all truth and He is the agency in our lives that is forming us into the image of Christ. (Rom. 8:39)

                Galatians 5:22, describes for us the fruit of the Spirit in our lives so that as we walk in faith in Yeshua and in His Word and in His Holy Spirit, this fruit will be manifested in our lives.  Yeshua is the Vine and we are the branches and when we are connected to Him we bear the fruit of the Spirit.( John 15:5) And 1 Cor. Chapter 14 describes for us the Gifts of the Spirit as well, by which we may have power to witness to others.

                Don’t ever let anyone steal your joy and confidence in the Word, in Yeshua and in the Holy Spirit Who has become the very presence of Yeshua in our lives. Yeshua is the Way, the Truth and the Life and as important as these languages are, we don’t need to understand either Hebrew or Greek to understand that Yeshua is the center of God’s plan and that we can have fellowship with Him through His Word and through His Holy Spirit. What a desperate and meaningless life we would lead without the Word, the Holy Spirit and Yeshua of whom they testify.

                “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” Rom 8:14 and that is exactly what you are my friends. You are sons and daughters of God.

                “For whom He foreknew He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

                Listen, my friends: The very fact that you have an interest in the Lord or His Word or His Holy Spirit, is a testimony to the fact that you have been predestined to be conformed to the image of Yeshua and He is at work in you by His Holy Spirit and His Word doing just that in your lives.

                “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. (Rom. 8:33, 34) Study chapter 8 of Romans. It is a treasure trove of great assurances.

                “But in all of these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”  Rom. 8:37

There is nothing in heaven or on earth that can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39.

                Jude, the brother of Jesus summed up his testimony by saying: “But beloved, remember you the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But you beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 18-21

                “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 24, 25.

                I salute you my friends for your steadfastness and faithfulness to the Lord to whom be glory and honor and power forever and ever.