Amnesty.org.uk defines "Free speech" as:

"Freedom of speech is the right to say whatever you like about whatever you like, whenever you like, right? Wrong.

'Freedom of speech is the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, by any means.'

Freedom of speech and the right to freedom of expression applies to ideas of all kinds including those that may be deeply offensive. But it comes with responsibilities and we believe it can be legitimately restricted."

How would you define "free speech" in the Bible if you have to draw examples from Scripture?

Proverbs 28:13, “Whoever hides his transgressions will not succeed, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy.” While it is not possible to hide from our Creator, some attempt to conceal their sinful actions. Sin is impossible to hide, Adam and Eve couldn’t hide from their sin and we are no different. Because sin will always be found out, the only way to defeat it is through confession and repentance.

"If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and withereth: and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they burn."

Jn 15

ill shall hunt him Original Hebrew Scripture from Psalm 140
"A man of violence, ill shall hunt him to overthrowings."
אִישׁ־חָמָס רָע יְצוּדֶנּוּ לְמַדְחֵפֹת

I have just finished a five-week study with my group about the elementary teachings.
Let us read: Heb 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.

Next Matt 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
v20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you

When I first approached these subjects, I based the foundation on these two passages, fundamentally.

Yeshua tells us to 'Make', disciples and to not generate converts.

In Hebrews 6, we are given a clue into what should be attained and understood as a believer. Discipleship must include these teachings and it is incumbent on all of us to teach these elementary principles to those who are being established.

These elementary teachings are foundational to every disciple, but how many are taught them and how many can teach them?
The challenge is: Can you?

The early church had to have a good grasp of them. Laying this foundation helps us to move on to maturity.

it is one thing to debate the aspects of the law and the observances but it is another to obey the teachings of Yeshua and to live in the freedom which His commands bring.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed and commissioned me To bring good news to the humble and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up [the wounds of] the brokenhearted, To proclaim release [from confinement and condemnation] to the [physical and spiritual] captives And freedom to prisoners

Perhaps the lack of this foundation illuminates what will be the destabilising factor in the faith community and which will in some part explain the turning away of many from the Word.

Is our foundation built upon the sand or the Rock?
The journey of the Hebrews in their exodus took forty years and they walked predominantly upon the sands of the wilderness. They could base their future upon what they walked upon (the sand) or on what they could rest upon (the Rock). Both were with them throughout.

The law of YHVH's covenant would bring freedom to them but only when they understood its foundation and the true freedom it is meant to give.

#wordsofyahuvah #wordsofyahusha #wordsofyeshua

#wordsofyahuvah #wordsofyahusha #wordsofyeshua

Thought for Today: Tuesday March 19

When life is hard, we depend on Elohiym to brighten our lives with joy, we trust in Him to give us strength and lean on His grace to sustain us.

"Behold, the judge standeth before the door."

Ja 5