At that time I said to you, ‘I am not able to bear you by myself.'
Deuteronomy 1:9
This recounting of the appointing of judges as recommended by Jethro appears to place the event almost 40 years after Exodus 18 says it happened, but that's a misunderstanding of the nature of the text. "At that time" refers to the era of Sinai, as in "during the time we spent in the wilderness around Sinai", not to a precise sequence of events.
Interesting aside: It appears that the people nominated their own leaders who were then confirmed or ranked by Moses.
The enemy didn't want this getting out, but we have finally managed to get it up online. Please watch and share as widely as you can!
The message, "Stand Against the Enemies of God," was delivered on location at 60 Bailey Ave., Manchester, NH for First Fruits Ministries Sabbath celebration on July 15, 2023. The message is an important look at some more controversial Old Testament passages regarding Phinehas's swift action to spear Zimri and Cozbi on account of their sexual immorality in Numbers 25 and Israel's resultant destruction of Midian in Numbers 31. There are no contradictions or inconsistencies in these passages, for they relate directly to today's world, the modern church and the coming judgment of the world. Watch this video to learn how followers of Yeshua should be handling themselves on account of what Scripture teaches in these verses.
Here is the Odysee video archive: https://tinyurl.com/k3ztf7yh
For the presentation transcript, download the PDF here: https://tinyurl.com/2743d2uh
Sermons at First Fruits Ministries are loosely based on the week’s
Torah portions: Numbers 30:1-36:13; Jeremiah 1:1-2:28; Jeremiah 3:4; Jeremiah 4:1-2; Luke 13:1-9; Mark 11:12-23; Acts 9:1-22; James 4:1-10: https://tinyurl.com/ycx2krch
It isn't healthy to stay still for long. Stagnation and atrophy are the poison fruits of a sedentary life. We must keep moving and growing throughout our lives or we'll die. This means constant learning, career advancement, greater responsibilities, spiritual growth, and seeking out challenges.
Deuteronomy 1:6-7
God is Gad is Ghode is god is Gade is the pagan idol of fortune! Lord is Hebrew for Ba'al and Ba'al is Hebrew for Lord! Ba'al Gad is Lord God! Christ is the Greek idol Christus. B.C. is Before they started calling their idols 'Christs'. Jesus is Greek for 'hail zeus'! Yeshua ir Yehoshua is Joshua, not Jesus. Idolatry is sin and no one choosing their own ways will enter the reign coming down from the heavens. There is no going to heaven! The skies are called the heavens. Taken up into the heavens to a safe place on His mountain. If you can't be bothered to respect the most quoted command in all of Scripture which is to keep Yahuah's Name set-apart! That is the most disrespected command and people always have excuses to fit in! There is One Name under the heavens in which you can be saved! Titles are not names! Rock, Teacher, Master, are titles, but His Name is Yahuah! Yahuah does nit share esteem with another! Yahuah is so jealous that He doesn't even want the names of idols and mighty ones to come to our lips! How can you ignore Scripture? Judaism is a works only religion based on dead works while Christianity is a greasy grace religion that abolished Yahuah's Torah as Jewish, even though the Jews are only 1 of the 12 Hebrew tribes. Yisra'êl was black in case anyone forgot. 2,000 years of slavery in different environments and diets eventually change their pigments. Yisra'êl is a multi-coloured coat and you can follow the major slave trades out of the middle east that turned into the trans atlantic slave trade. The Jews were exiled to Africa while the poor became what we know now as Palestine. The state of Israel is Babylon! Come out of her My people says Yahuah! I know it's hard, that's why you gotta count the costs of standing with the real Yisra'êl and keep Yahuah's Torah by the blood of Yahshua Messiah as a grafted in member! HalleluYah!
Are We “Under The Law”?
The short answer to the question is NO… but what law is scripture talking about?
These words must be taken in context in complete harmony of scripture for it to make sense.
The bible is one book, about one God, and one law of love for His one and only bride.
Original biblical languages require the reader to understand the subject and context as it’s being read. We must take off our western lenses and look at scripture through the lens of that time through the Messiah.
God’s bride/Israel is married then divorced:
Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
God has a law for a divorce.
Deuteronomy 24:4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin
(reread 1 John 3:4), because we are not under the law [law of divorce], but under grace? God forbid.
Marriage to the one and only creator of the universe = eternal life. Atheists and those that do not believe in God manifest in Yeshua are not married to the only God that can give them eternal life. Marriage to lesser gods cannot give eternal life like Yehovah can.
Marriages have agreements/rules and those that consent to them are bound to those agreed upon rules until death do they part. Breaking the rules/infidelity = breaching the marriage contract, is grounds for divorce and the offending party is separated and no longer has the liberties and benefits of the marriage contract.
Yehovah will never change His marriage contract (see bible study Law of Love) and He has clearly enumerated in scripture what He desires for His bride and we either agree to those terms that delight Him or not… It's our choice. Agree and follow them out of love and we are blessed and stay married to Him with eternal life. Dont agree and we are cursed, no longer married and we live out our term here on earth in this flesh temple until it expires. Just as Yeshua stated, the law of love is not burdensome… It's LIGHT! If you actually love Him, which one of the commands would you break? Worship another? Steal from your neighbor? Cheat on your spouse? You tell me which one? You get it… it really is love, and it really is easy and you're probably following all or most of the law already out of love (Torah… God’s marriage agreement is what He desires in His bride). The more you learn what He desires and loves, the more you apply it, the more He blesses you and the more He gives you to learn. Don't apply what you learn… and He takes it away. Learn, apply, test… if we fail, He will relearn us to see if we apply and then retest… repeated until we either grow closer or harden our heart.
Any time you see “Under the law” mentioned 12 times in scripture = it has context dealing with being “bound to the current state of marriage liability” married to whom or unmarried based on time and or acceptance… Before and without Yeshua we are bound/under the original marriage contract that was assigned a bill of divorce and cursed to die. Follow this 1611 KJV bible dictionary and look at the definition 11 for the word “under”. www.av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/under.html
Accepting that our God/Husband provides for His bride… manifest in the flesh as Yeshua is agreeing to be bound/under the original vows of love that never changed through Yeshua Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not…
These marriage terms were already established G3549 and because He loves us soooo much (John 3:16) they get renewed out of grace in the new marriage mentioned in Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant [where we get to see our groom/God manifested in the flesh], which was established[G3549 injoined to the original covenant] upon better promises.
New Testament Grace = God manifest in the flesh and accepted the punishment for the offending party of the original marriage contract to dissolve those bonds or chains where God had given a bill of divorce, so we can come back without being an abomination into the marriage and not die from the separation from divorce.
Romans 7:1-2 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) [the law of divorce (rules and stipulations of the marriage)] how that the law [of divorce] hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? (2) For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law [those who don't except Yeshua]: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. [if you don't accept Yeshua then you are bound by divorce and those people who are divorced will be found guilty and tossed into the lake of fire]
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you [Because you accept Yeshua]: for ye are not under the law [Law of divorce because you accept Yeshua], but under grace [because God manifest in the flesh died for you to dissolve the law of divorce and now should you accept it, you are under the new marriage/covenant through Yeshua].
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin [should we break the original marriage agreement that never changesG3549, now that the first divorce was dissolved are you really trying to get divorced again?
1 John 3:4], because we are not under the law [Law of divorce], but under grace [because God manifest in the flesh died for you to dissolve the law of divorce and renew the original vows]? God forbid [God forbid we break the law of love because He died for us just to get divorced again?].
1 Corinthians 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law [those who don't except Yeshua], as under the law [the law of divorce], that I might gain them that are under the law [those who don't except Yeshua];
1 Corinthians 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law [bound to the new or current marriage contract] to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law [those who haven't accepted Yeshua].
The law(marriage vows) is perfect and good, including its judgment which is a curse to those that do not abide in it. God did not torture a group of people before Yeshua was born with a set of marriage agreements (law of love) to show us they cannot be followed… that would be absurd, cruel and unjust. The law is a marriage vow, then and now. Blessed if you abide, cursed if you don't.
Read Deuteronomy 28.
https://docs.google.com/docume....nt/d/18FLLzOBhxVUx9L
BIBLE STUDY LESSON 03
SERIES V --- JOURNEYS FOR YESHUA
MISSIONARY ADVENTURES
THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY: ICONIUM, LYSTRA AND DERBE
From Acts 14
When Paul and Barnabas arrived in Iconium, they followed the same method they had used at Pisidian Antioch. First, they went to the local synagogue, where they preached the Gospel with such power that many Jews and Gentiles believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up trouble, turning many Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. However, the two men remained at Iconium for quite some time, preaching fearlessly with great confidence in Adonai, Who confirmed that they were His messengers by working miracles through them. Before long, the city divided into two groups -- those who sided with the unbelieving Jews, and those who sided with the two apostles. The situation got out of hand when a band of people, including Gentiles, Jews, and Jewish leaders planned to attack Paul and Barnabas and kill them. The two left Iconium immediately, realizing they would be killed if they stayed, and headed for the Lycaonium towns of Lystra and Derbe and the territory surrounding these two towns. There they preached the Gospel as they had done at Pisidian Antioch and Iconium. While they were preaching at Lystra one day, Paul noticed a man who had been crippled since birth. Paul noticed also that the man was listening intently, and that he had the faith to be healed. [Stand up on your feet!] Paul called to him in a loud voice. The man believed and was immediately healed, so that he jumped up and walked. There was quite a stir among the people who had seen that. They began shouting in their native language, [They’re gods! They’re gods!] They thought that Barnabas was the Greek god Jupiter, or Zeus, and that Paul was Mercury, or Hermes, for they recognized that Paul was the chief speaker. As soon as the priest in charge of the temple of Jupiter, which was at the edge of town, heard what had happened, he rushed before Paul and Barnabas with wreaths and oxen and made plans to sacrifice to them. Paul and Barnabas tore their clothing in distress, ran among the people and shouted, [Stop this! We’re just men as you are. We’re here to bring you the Good News about Yeshua, and to help you turn away from these worthless things to the Elohiym Who made heaven, earth and sea, and all they contain. At one time He let the nations go their own ways, even though they could always see His goodness in the gifts He gave, such as rain and fruitful harvests, with good food and the joy it brought.] Although Paul had clearly shown that YHVH was the One Whom they should worship, the people still wanted to sacrifice to them. But some of the troublemakers arrived from Antioch and Iconium and stirred up the crowd. Before long, the people who had tried to worship the apostles turned against them and stoned Paul, dragging him out of the city when they thought they had killed him. When the believers gathered around Paul, he got up and returned to the city. But the next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. There were many in that city who believed when they heard the apostles preach. Leaving Derbe, Paul and Barnabas made their way back through Lystra, Iconium and Pisidian Antioch, strengthening those who had become believers and encouraging them to remain faithful. [There are many persecutions on the way to the Kingdom of YHVH,] the apostles reminded them. With prayer and fasting the apostles appointed elders in each church, committing them to Adonai in Whom they believed. Traveling through Pisidia to Pamphylia, they returned once more to Perga, where they preached about Yeshua. From there they went to the seaport of Attalia and sailed to Antioch, where the believers had committed them to Adonai. When they arrived at Antioch, Paul and Barnabas called the believers together and told them what Adonai had done especially in making the Gospel available to the Gentiles. There they remained for quite some time with the believers.
COMMENTARY
MAJOR GODS OF GREECE AND ROME
Before the Romans became masters of a great empire, they were a small tribe of farmers and herdsmen. They worshiped the forces of nature and gave names to the powers controlling the earth, sea and sky. These early Romans had no temples or statues. Their gods were faceless powers without human personalities. As the Romans grew stronger, they began to conquer surrounding countries. After each victory, the gods of the defeated people were invited to join the Roman cause. The statues and temples of the adopted gods soon inspired the Romans to picture their own gods in human form. The conquered Greeks had the greatest influence on the religion of the Romans. The Romans adopted the Greek myths and identified their own deities with the gods on Mount Olympus. Zeus was the supreme ruler of the Greek gods on Mount Olympus. Statues and paintings show him in the form of a great king armed with bolts of lightning. Zeus was a powerful weather god. The Romans believed that he was the same god they called Jupiter. Zeus’ wife was named Hera in Greek mythology, but the Romans knew her as Juno. She was the special goddess of women, but many kings and nobles worshiped her as well. Greek artists portrayed her as a tall and stately matron, wearing a crown and carrying the sceptre of a queen. Ares, the Greek god of war, was the son of Zeus and Hera. The Romans called him Mars. According to their tradition, Mars was the father of Romulus, the founder of Rome. They celebrated his festival during March, the month named in his honour. Zeus’ brother, Poseidon, was the Greek god of the sea. He lived in an underwater palace and travelled the oceans in a chariot drawn by a team of seahorses. In Greek art he carries a trident, the three-pronged spear of a fisherman. The Romans identified him with their own sea god, Neptune. Hermes, the messenger of the gods, was also the son of Zeus. The Romans gave him the name of Mercury. He was the protector of travellers and the patron god of merchants and thieves. Statues and paintings show him as a young man with wings on his helmet and his sandals. He carries a messenger’s staff called a {caduceus.} Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love. Not even Zeus could resist her. She had the power to make both men and gods fall in love. The Romans, who called her Venus, honoured her as the mother of their race. Demeter was the great fertility goddess whose blessing on the earth produced abundant crops. In Greek her name meant {Mother Earth,} but the Romans called her Ceres {our word [cereal] comes from her name}. Although she was the sister of Zeus and one of the twelve gods of Olympus, she preferred to live on earth among the farmers and herdsmen who worshiped her. Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire and metalworking, is better known by his Roman name, Vulcan. He was the son of Hera and the husband of beautiful Aphrodite. But Vulcan was no match for his wife. The other gods often teased him because he was lame and ugly. He made thunderbolts for Zeus in his forge on Mount Olympus. Apollo was such a graceful and gifted god that the Romans could not find any god of their own to compare with him. He was the patron of prophecy, medicine, music and the arts. In addition, he was the protector of herdsmen and a sun god. Caesar Augustus chose Apollo as his favourite god and built a temple in his honour in Rome.
One final set of passages I would like to discuss regarding Paul.
Act 18:3 and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers. (Speaking of Paul)
1 cor 11: 7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.