HOPE
PART 2
SO WHERE DOES HOPE COME FROM?
Psalm 39:7: “Adonai, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You.” Psalm 71:5: “O Adonai, You alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Adonai, from childhood.” -- Adonai Himself is the source of hope because he determines our future.
WHY SHOULD I TRUST YHVH AS MY HOPE?
Hebrews 6:18-19: “YHVH has given us both His Promise and His Oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for YHVH to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to His Promise with confidence. This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain of heaven into YHVH’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews 10:23: “Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for YHVH can be trusted to keep His Promise.” 1 Peter 1:21: “Through Moshiach you have come to trust in YHVH. And because YHVH raised Moshiach from the dead and gave Him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in YHVH.” -- YHVH cannot lie because He is truth. YHVH, therefore, cannot break His Promises. His word stands forever. YHVH must be trusted for our hope because He alone conquered death by raising Moshiach from the dead.
WHERE CAN I GO DAILY TO REINFORCE MY HOPE?
Romans 15:4: “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for YHVH’s Promises.” Psalm 119:43, 74, 81, 114, 147: “Do not snatch Your Word of Truth from me, for my only hope is in Your Laws… May all who fear You find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in Your Word… I faint with longing for Your Salvation; but I have put my hope in Your word… You are my Refuge and my Shield; Your Word is my only source of hope… I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in Your Words.” -- Each day I can visit YHVH’s Word and have my hope renewed and reinforced. His Word never fails or wavers.
HOW DOES HOPE HELP ME LIVE BETTER TODAY?
Philippians 3:13-14: “No, dear friends, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which YHVH, through Moshiach Yeshua, is calling us up to heaven.” -- Hope focuses on our future, especially our eternal future.
1 John 3:3: “All who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Moshiach is pure.” -- Hope helps keep my life more pure before YHVH.
WHAT CAN I DO WHEN THINGS SEEM HOPELESS?
1 Samuel 1:1-28: “Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to Adonai.” -- In the midst of Hannah’s hopelessness, she prayed to YHVH, knowing that if any hope was to be found, it would be found in Him.
Acts 16:16-34: “He took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to YHVH.” -- Paul and Silas were on death row for preaching about Yeshua, yet in this hopeless situation they sang praises to YHVH. Why? Because they had an eternal perspective.
Proverbs 10:28: “The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked are all in vain.” -- No matter how hopeless things seem here on earth, in Moshiach we have ultimate, eternal hope. People who don’t know Moshiach have nothing but their own hopelessness to cling to.
Psalm 27:14: “Wait patiently for Adonai. Be brave and courageous.” -- Hope is trusting YHVH to act in His good timing.
Haggai 1:9: “You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because My House lies in ruins, says Adonai Almighty, while you are all busy building your own fine houses.” -- When we honour YHVH, our hopes can be richly fulfilled.
Psalm 18:4-6: “The ropes of death surrounded me; the floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death itself stared me in the face. But in my distress, I cried out to Adonai; yes, I prayed to my YHVH for help. He heard me from His Sanctuary; my cry reached His ears.” -- Hope is trusting YHVH to act in His good timing. Hope also means carrying with us an eternal perspective that realizes sin and evil may sometimes thwart our plans here on earth but never YHVH’s plans in Heaven.
WHAT PLANS DOES YHVH HAVE FOR ME? HOW IS HOPE INVOLVED IN YHVH’S PLAN FOR ME?
Jeremiah 29:11: “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says Adonai. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Philippians 3:13-14: “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which YHVH, through Moshiach Yeshua, is calling us up to heaven.” -- YHVH never plans evil or hopelessness for His people. And His ultimate plan is to give us eternal life with Him in Heaven, where pain, sorrow, and suffering are gone forever. Hope involves an understanding of the future.
Romans 12:12: “Be glad for all YHVH is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.” -- Our greatest hope is that we will live in heaven forever with Adonai. In the meantime, He created each of us with a plan for our lives, and we must hope that we are listening to Him and following Him closely so that we might fulfil His plan for our lives.
OUR HOPE IS BUILT ON A TRUST RELATIONSHIP WITH YHVH.
Psalm 71:5: “O Adonai, You alone are my hope.” -- Who but YHVH controls the future? Who but YHVH has a home for us that is eternal? Who but YHVH forgives our sins? Who but YHVH can give us a life that lasts forever? No wonder He is our hope!
Romans 8:24: “Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don’t need to hope for it.” -- Salvation comes through trust in Moshiach, believing He will do for us that He has promised. Hope is expecting that He will give us everlasting life and that we will live with Him forever. We can’t see these things, but we can hope with assurance, for our hope is built on a trust in the most trustworthy one of all.
Hebrews 11:1: “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.” -- We have faith in YHVH to do what He has promised, and we can be absolutely sure that he will. So, our hopes are not idle hopes, but built on the solid foundation of His trustworthiness.
HOPE
PART 1
To hope is to expect the fulfilment of a desire or wish. As humans, we need hope to help us deal with pain in the present and fear for the future. Worldwide poverty, hunger, disease, destruction, and everyday suffering create a longing for something better. Scripture tells us that those who do not have YHVH do not have hope (Ephesians 2:12). The modern world has often looked for hope in human effort, believing that with time, things would naturally get better and better. The current wars challenged that optimism, and many have given up hope for a better future. Others continue to trust that humans will find solutions to the problems that they have created. But human history raises the question of whether this trust is well placed. In discussions about hope, many thinkers and writers have attacked believer’s faith as a bad basis for hope. Early in the church’s history, theologians, ministers and priests often focused on the contrast between YHVH’s Kingdom and this world. Some believers began to believe that it was pointless to try to create a better world here and now, since YHVH’s Kingdom was coming soon. This belief was widely criticized in the nineteenth century because it allowed some believers to be cold and indifferent to human suffering. Prussian philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) claimed that faith in Yeshua made people cowards because it taught that whatever happened was YHVH’s will, thus discouraging efforts to change the world. Karl Marx (1818-83) said that religion was the “opiate of the people,” a drug that numbed the poor and exploited them and kept them from fighting those who oppressed them. Theologian Jürgen Moltmann is one of the writers who has attacked this kind of faith in his “theology of hope.” After the violence of World War II, many who had trusted in human progress felt that life was hopeless. Moltmann believes that the future gives us a reason for changing the present. When we think of YHVH’s Kingdom, Moltmann says, we should be inspired to work here and now to make that Kingdom a reality, rather than abandoning the world because we know that a better place awaits us after death. The resurrection can bring hope to us in our suffering by inspiring us to fight that suffering. But Moltmann’s trust in human effort to change the future could lead some to think of the resurrection as a hopeful symbol or nice story, rather than as a historical reality, something that really happened. Also, too much emphasis on group social action to change the world could cause some to neglect their need to repent and follow Moshiach from the heart, and not just in their outward actions. But Moltmann has still helped many believers to examine what the Bible says about hope. Biblical hope is hope in what YHVH will do in the future. At the heart of believer’s hope is the resurrection of Yeshua. Paul discussed the importance of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12-28). He said: “If we have hope in Moshiach only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world” (15:19). Thus, Moshiach’s resurrection not only shows Moshiach’s victory over death, but it also extends that victory to those who belong to him: “Moshiach was raised first; then when Moshiach comes back, all His people will be raised” (15:23). The apostle Peter said, “All honour to the YHVH and Father of our Adonai Yeshua Moshiach, for it is by His boundless mercy that YHVH has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Yeshua Moshiach rose again from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). In that passage, Peter says that the resurrection of Moshiach gives us living hope and points to YHVH’s future blessing upon those who belong to Moshiach. That future hope gives believers the power to live without despair through the struggle and suffering of the present (compare Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Believer’s hope is securely based upon the words and actions of YHVH. YHVH’s Promises are dependable. The resurrection of Yeshua becomes the ultimate basis for hope. Since YHVH has already overcome death through Moshiach, believers can live with confidence in the present. No matter how dark the present age seems, believers has seen the light to come. People need to hope, and hope placed in the personal promise of YHVH is secure. However, this secure hope has many consequences for the way we live in our present world. It frees us from having to live as if the material world, fame, money, reputation, and other aspects of life are the only things that exist, and frees us to live in a way that puts Moshiach first and others ahead of ourselves. Believer’s hope offers security for the future and loving involvement in sharing for the present.
WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF A BELIEVER’S HOPE?
A MOSHIACHIAN’S HOPE IS BASED ON YHVH’S FAITHFULNESS.
“Despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel My Covenant with them by wiping them out. I, Adonai, am their YHVH.” (Leviticus 26:44) These verses show what YHVH meant when He said He is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6). Even if the Israelites chose to disobey and were scattered among their enemies, YHVH would still give them the opportunity to repent and return to Him. His purpose was not to destroy them, but to help them grow. Our day-to-day experiences and hardships are sometimes overwhelming; unless we can see that YHVH’s purpose is to bring about continual growth in us, we may despair. The hope we need is well expressed in Jeremiah 29:11-12: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says Adonai. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen.’”
Retaining hope while we suffer shows we understand YHVH’s merciful ways of relating to his people.
HOPE COMES FROM TRUSTING MOSHIACH.
“Yeshua ignored their comments and said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just trust Me.’” (Mark 5:36) Jairus’s crisis made him feel confused, afraid, and without hope. Yeshua’ Words to Jairus in the midst of crisis speak to us as well: “Don’t be afraid. Just trust Me.” In Yeshua’ mind, there was both hope and promise. The next time you feel hopeless and afraid, look at your problem from Yeshua’ point of view.
He is the source of all hope and promise.
HOPE COMES FROM REMEMBERING ALL THAT YHVH HAS DONE FOR US.
“Since we have been made right in YHVH’s sight by faith, we have peace with YHVH because of what Yeshua Moshiach our Adonai has done for us. Because of our faith, Moshiach has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing YHVH’s glory.” (Romans 5:1-2) As Paul states clearly in 1 Corinthians 13:13, faith, hope, and love are at the heart of a believer’s life. Our relationship with YHVH begins with faith, which helps us realize that we are delivered from our past by Moshiach’s death. Hope grows as we learn all that YHVH has in mind for us; it gives us the promise of the future. And YHVH’s love fills our life and gives us the ability to reach out to others.
HOPE GROWS AS WE DEPEND ON YHVH IN THE DIFFICULT TIMES.
For first-century believers, suffering was the rule rather than the exception. Paul tells us that in the future we will become, but until then we must overcome. This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow. We rejoice in suffering not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know YHVH is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attacks to build our character. The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance-which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in YHVH, and give us greater confidence about the future. You probably find your patience tested in some way every day. Thank YHVH for those opportunities to grow, and deal with them in his strength (see also James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7).
HOPE GROWS AS WE REMEMBER THE PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION.
“Brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to believers who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) Because Yeshua Moshiach came back to life, so will all believers. All bel, including those living when Moshiach returns, will live with Moshiach forever. Therefore, we need not despair when loved ones die or world events take a tragic turn. YHVH will turn our tragedies to triumphs, our poverty to riches, our pain to glory, and our defeat to victory. All believers throughout history will stand reunited in YHVH’s very presence, safe and secure. As Paul comforted the Thessalonians with the promise of the Resurrection, so we should comfort and reassure each other with this great hope. For a prisoner on death row, a pardon offers hope of freedom. For the spiritual prisoner on death row because of the consequences of sin, YHVH offers ultimate hope by forgiving our sins so that we can be with him in heaven forever. When life seems impossible, YHVH brings eternal hope. Hope is essential to our perseverance, our getting through the tough times. Without hope we give up. Hope requires one thing, though-a trust in the one who brings real hope.
"when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, although I walk according to the stubbornness of mine own heart, adding drunkenness to thirst: Yahweh will not forgive him"
De 29
RELATIONSHIP WITH YHVH
The Bible says: “Draw near to YHVH, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). As believers in YHVH, we all know that it’s very important to draw near to YHVH and have a normal relationship with YHVH. Then, do you know exactly how to get closer to YHVH? Let us discuss the three paths of how to get closer to YHVH, which will enable our relationship with YHVH to become closer.
1. PRAY TO YHVH WITH A CONCENTRATED HEART.
YHVH’s words say: “YHVH is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth” (John 4:24). First, begin from the aspect of prayer. Pray with undivided attention and at fixed times. No matter how pressed you are for time, how busy your work, or what befalls you, pray every day as normal, and eat and drink YHVH’s words as normal. From YHVH’s words we can see that if we want to draw near to YHVH and build a normal relationship with YHVH, the most crucial step is to quiet ourselves before YHVH and pray to Him with a concentrated heart. This is a lesson that we are in urgent need of entering. Because we will encounter all kinds of outside people, matters and things every day that often disturb and occupy our hearts, and quite often our prayers just cling to rules and are just spoken as a formality without really meaning any of it -- such prayers are not sincere and YHVH doesn’t approve of them. So, if we wish to get closer to YHVH and have a normal relationship with YHVH, we should first let go of all rules and practices, withdraw our hearts from all people, events and things and focus on quieting ourselves before YHVH, and pray to Him with a sincere heart, speak to Him from the heart and tell Him about our true difficulties to seek His will. Only in this way can we gain the guidance and leadership of Ruach HaKodesh, and can our relationship with YHVH become more and more normal. For example, when our hearts are disturbed by some people, events and things and we thus shun YHVH, we can pray to YHVH with a concentrated heart: “YHVH, my stature is too small and my heart is disturbed by these people, matters, things and environments, and has shunned You. May You care for and protect me so that my heart may be quiet before You, not be disturbed by these external things and not grow apart from You.” When we encounter various difficulties and problems, we should be open and sincere with YHVH, speak to Him from our hearts, tell Him about our real states and difficulties, seek YHVH’s will and the path of practice…. If we always pray like this and speak from the heart, YHVH sees our hearts are honest and that we are not going through the motions, He will work on us, and no matter what situation we experience, He will enlighten, guide and move us so that our hearts don’t leave Him. This way, with YHVH’s guidance, our relationship with YHVH will become even closer.
2. PRAY, READ AND MEDITATE ON YHVH’s WORDS OFTEN.
Yeshua’s words say: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Because you are always pondering YHVH’s Words, and your heart is always drawing close to YHVH and always being occupied with the current words of YHVH, those negative things will fall away from you without you realizing it. When new and positive things occupy you, negative old things will have no place, so do not pay attention to those negative things. You need not make an effort to control them. You should focus on being at peace before YHVH, eat, drink, and enjoy YHVH’s Words as much as you can, sing hymns in praise of YHVH as much as you can, and let YHVH have a chance to work on you, because YHVH now wants to perfect humanity personally, and He wants to gain your heart; His Spirit moves your heart and if, following the guidance of Ruach HaKodesh, you come to live in YHVH’s presence, you will satisfy YHVH. Today’s fast-paced life in a cruel world, often keeps us busy for our jobs, families, and careers, so that we neglect reading YHVH’s Words, cannot quiet our hearts before YHVH, and grow further and further away from YHVH. So, if we want to get closer to YHVH and build a normal relationship with YHVH, we must read and ponder YHVH’s Words every day. The more we treasure and read YHVH’s Words and ponder His will and requirements in them, the more Ruach HaKodesh will touch our hearts and enlighten and illuminate us to understand the truth and YHVH’s will. This way, our hearts will often be occupied by YHVH’s Words and we will gain the work of Ruach HaKodesh and gain the life sustenance from YHVH. Just like Adonai Yeshua said, “It is the Spirit that vivifies; the flesh profits nothing: the Words that I speak to you, they are Spirit, and they are Life” (John 6:63). Take when we read Adonai Yeshua’ Words: “Truly I say to you, except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3), for example. We know from these Words that YHVH has the essence of credibility and so likes honest people and requires us to be simple, honest people, and that only honest people can be saved by YHVH and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. So then, what does it actually mean to be an honest person? What are the standards for an honest person? Could it be that they merely refer to not lying? If we continue seeking YHVH with these questions, YHVH will lead us to understand that not only do the honest no longer tell a lie, but most importantly, they harbour no deceit or cheating in their hearts, can give their hearts to YHVH, can believe in and love YHVH with their hearts, and can be pure and open with YHVH. In addition, honest people deceive neither YHVH nor man, and don’t make deals, harbour motives or seek demands when they expend for YHVH. After understanding YHVH’s requirements, we reflect on our actions and behaviour, and we then see that we are still capable of involuntarily lying and deceiving to protect our own interests, and that our expending for YHVH is not out of love for YHVH or to satisfy YHVH, but to gain blessings and crowns. Once our desires are unfulfilled, we misunderstand and blame YHVH and even betray YHVH, etc. We are far from YHVH’s requirements for honest people. After we see our defects, we will have a direction and a purpose for our practice of the truth in our daily lives and will consciously forsake the flesh, practice YHVH’s Words and be honest people when things happen to us. This way, we will feel peace and assurance in our hearts and get ever closer to YHVH. So, reading and pondering YHVH’s Words often is a necessary practice for us to get closer to YHVH and have a normal relationship with YHVH.
3. SEEK THE TRUTH IN ALL THINGS.
After we were corrupted by satan, we all began to worship money, power, status, and enjoyment, and are often attracted and tempted by these things. When we see someone get a promotion or a raise, drive an expensive car or live in a luxury house, or see their children test into college, our hearts will be disturbed. We will even think that we are losing out by giving up worldly pleasures for our belief in YHVH and so will want to chase worldly trends as well. Our hearts will thus stray further and further from YHVH. So, this requires us to be quiet before YHVH and seek the truth to find a path of practice in all things. “If, ordinarily, you do not let anything slide in matters great or small, if your every thought and idea is purified, and if you are quiet in your spirit, then whenever you encounter some issue, My Words will immediately be inspired within you, like a bright mirror for you to check yourself against, and you will then have a way forward. This is called suiting the medicine to the illness! And the condition will surely be cured -- such is the Omnipotence of YHVH. I will surely illuminate and enlighten all those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and who search with sincerity. I will show to all of you the mysteries of the spiritual world and the way forward, cause you to cast off your old corrupt dispositions as soon as possible, so that you may achieve life maturity and be fit for My use.” YHVH’s Words show us that no matter whether we encounter big or small things, we should be always quiet before YHVH, seek the truth, discern right and wrong and find a path of practice. This way, we won’t be disturbed and constrained by various people, events and things or distance ourselves from YHVH. For example, when we see someone get a promotion or get rich, we’ll inevitably be tempted and disturbed by these things. However, if we draw near to YHVH and seek the Truth, we will realize that we believe in YHVH to pursue the Truth and gain Life, while pursuing wealth is for the sake of fleshly enjoyment. This involves the matter of choosing the path in life. Adonai Yeshua said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Pursuing the truth and gaining life is so precious and no amount of money is worth trading for our life. No matter what physical enjoyments we have, they are all temporary and not real happiness, much less can they enable us to gain YHVH’s approval. If we lose the opportunity to pursue the truth and be saved by YHVH in order to earn money, then we will lose the meaning of believing in YHVH. When we seek the truth through drawing near to YHVH, we will have a direction and a purpose for our practice -- we will be able to reject the temptations of money, fame and fortune, and obey YHVH’s Sovereignty and arrangements. Then we will feel a sense of release and freedom in our hearts. Clearly, it is very important to seek the Truth when things befall us. Through seeking the truth, we will understand YHVH’s will and have correct practices. Our heart will no longer be disturbed by these things, and we will gain confidence in believing in YHVH and pursuing the Truth. If we don’t draw near to YHVH and seek the Truth, we will be disturbed by all kinds of people, matters and things, and will even feel that faith in YHVH is too hard and be even in danger of shunning and betraying YHVH. As long as we practice and enter according to the above three paths of how to get closer to YHVH, our hearts will often live before YHVH, and we will build a normal relationship with YHVH and grow in life more quickly.
I have been thinking on how the concept of life after death evolved during Old Testament time.
We find that the Sadducees had a very specific view that there is no resurrection [of the dead]. (Bearing in mind that the Sadducees and Pharisees had their origins in Babylon and evolved over the 2nd Temple period.) They even tried to catch Yeshua on this point in Matt 22:23.
(My question is not focussed on how Yeshua replied to this, but on how the concept evolved as that is the starting point.)
I understand the Sadducees' belief originated from Scripture written before the Exile. Up to that point the belief was that the soul of the dead went to a place called Sheol.
Psalm 6:5 and Psalm 115:7 confirms that the dead knows nothing. There was no concept of punishment for the wicked or a paradise. It was a place of nothingness.
Abraham wasn't promised an afterlife, but a long life and many descendants. Father could have so easily promised Paradise after death as part of the blessing, but it didn't happen.
Then after the Exile and Persian influence the belief changed to one of a moralized afterlife with heaven as reward for a good life and hell as punishment for evil.
Daniel 12:2 is the first introduction of this moralized afterlife concept. This is a very interesting book with the middle part being Aramaic, what is considered newer Hebrew parts being added to the start and end of the book and then the Septuagint adding three Greek sections (which are rejected in the Protestant Bibles).
The writing of Daniel is generally dated to around 165 BC as it contains several Persian and Greek loanwords that evolved later than the church's accepted dates for Daniel of between 605 and 530 BC. These look more to have been from toward a late-Persian or even early-Hellenistic period—around the 4th century BC. So, it would be like an author living 200 years ago using the words "internet" or "mobile phone" in a descriptive sentence. It just can't happen.
So even Daniel then is placed after the exile and therefore influenced by the Persians when writing down Daniel 12:2.
So my wondering then is, is the exile period the cause of this change of belief or did the change of belief simply coincide with the exile period? If it is the cause then we need to look at the Persian and Greek influences to understand why the writings have changed.
What are your thoughts on this and have you done any studies on life after death before that can answer this question for me?
#lifeafterdeath #hell #gehenna #sheol #hades
Thought for Today: Tuesday May 13
Ever thought why can we not be sinless in this life? Why can we not become perfect? One reason is because sin has weakened us so much that we do not have the strength to overcome its power. Sin is like a deadly disease that infects every part of us: our bodies, our minds, our emotions, our relationships, our motives – everything! BUT, when we submit to Moshiach, another Spiritual Power takes up residence within us – Ruach HaKodesh. We must learn to take sin seriously, to be on guard against its tug, fight its power. But most of all, learn to take Ruach HaKodesh seriously, calling on Him to help you overcome sin’s power and live a holy and godly live, following the example of our King Yeshua Moshiach.
Take a look at this powerful message entitled, “Follow Me” by G. Steven Simons over on our YouTube channel now! Be sure to subscribe to our channel, if you enjoy the video, to stay connected with Triumph In Truth family! Click the link-
READINGS FOR OMER COUNT – DAY 24
Behold, I am about to fulfill the affirmative precept of the counting of the Omer, as it is written in the Torah:
“And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Shabbath, from the day that ye brought the Omer of the wave-offering, seven complete weeks they shall be; until the morrow of the seventh Shabbath shall ye number fifty days.”
Blessed art Thou YHWH, our Elohym, King of the universe, who hast set us apart by Thy commandments and hast given us command concerning the counting of the Omer.
This is the twenty-fourth day, making three weeks and three days of the Omer.
May the All Merciful restore the service of the Temple to its place. May it be Thy will, YHWH our Elohym and Elohym of our fathers, that the Temple be speedily rebuilt in our days, and grant our portion in Thy Torah. And there we will serve Thee with awe, as in the days of old and as in ancient years.
May Elohym be favorable unto us and bless us. That Thy way may be known upon the earth, Thy salvation among all nations. Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, Elohym; let all the peoples give thanks unto Thee. Let the nations rejoice and exult: for Thou wilt judge the peoples with equity and lead the nations upon the earth. Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, Elohym; let all the peoples give thanks unto Thee. The earth hath yielded her increase: Elohym, even our Elohym, shall bless us. Elohym shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
READINGS: TEHILLAH 67
Elohim does favor us and bless us, Cause His face to shine upon us. Selah.
For Your way to be known on earth, Your deliverance among all nations.
Let the peoples praise You, O Elohim, Let all the peoples praise You.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You judge the peoples uprightly, And lead the nations on earth. Selah.
Let the peoples praise You, O Elohim; Let all the peoples praise You.
The earth shall give her increase; Elohim, our own Elohim, blesses us!
Elohim blesses us! And all the ends of the earth fear Him!
READINGS: TEHILLAH 68
Elohim arises, His enemies are scattered. And those who hate Him flee before Him!
As smoke is driven away, You drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, The wrong perish before Elohim.
But the righteous are glad, They exult before Elohim. And they rejoice with gladness.
Sing to Elohim, sing praises to His Name. Raise up a highway for Him Who rides through the deserts, By His Name Yah, And exult before Him.
Father of the fatherless, And Right-ruler of widows, Is Elohim in His set-apart dwelling.
Elohim makes a home for the lonely; He brings out into prosperity Those who are bound with chains; Only the rebellious shall dwell in a dry land.
O Elohim, when You went out before Your people, When You stepped through the wilderness, Selah.
The earth shook and the heavens dropped before Elohim, This Sinai, shook before Elohim, the Elohim of Yisra’ěl.
You, O Elohim, sent a shower of plenty, You confirmed Your inheritance, When it was weary.
Your flock dwelt in it; You provided from Your excellence for the poor, O Elohim.
YHWH gave the word; The women who proclaimed it was a great company: “Kings of armies flee in haste! And she who remains at home divides the spoil.”
If you lie down among the sheepfolds, The wings of a dove are covered with silver, And her feathers with yellow gold.
When the Almighty scattered kings in it, It did snow in Tsalmon.
A mountain of Elohim is the mountain of Bashan; A mountain of peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
O mountain of peaks, why do you gaze in envy At the mountain which Elohim desired to dwell in; YHWH even dwells there forever.
The chariots of Elohim are twenty thousand, Thousands of thousands; YHWH came from Sinai Into the Set-apart Place.
You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive, You have received gifts among men, And even the rebellious, That Yah Elohim might dwell there.
Blessed be YHWH, Day by day He bears our burden, The Ěl of our deliverance! Selah.
Our Ěl is the Ěl of deliverance; And to YHWH, the Master, belong escapes from death.
Indeed, Elohim smites the head of His enemies, The hairy scalp of him who walks about in His guilt.
YHWH said, “I bring back from Bashan, I bring back from the depths of the sea, “So that you plunge your foot in blood; That the tongues of your dogs Have their portion from the enemies.”
They have seen Your goings, O Elohim, The goings of my Ěl, my King, Into the set-apart place.
The singers went in front, The players on instruments after them; Among them were the young women playing tambourines.
Bless Elohim in the assemblies, YHWH, from the fountain of Yisra’ěl.
There is Binyamin, the smallest, their ruler, The leaders of Yehuḏah, their company, The leader of Zeḇulun, the leader of Naphtali.
Your Elohim has commanded your strength, be strong! O Elohim, this You have worked out for us!
Because of Your Hěḵal at Yerushalayim, Kings bring presents to You.
Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds, The herd of bulls, with the calves of the peoples, Each one humbling himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the peoples who delight in conflicts!
Ambassadors come out of Mitsrayim; Kush stretches out her hands to Elohim.
Sing to Elohim, you kingdoms of the earth, Praises to YHWH, Selah.
To Him who rides on the ancient highest heavens! See, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice.
Ascribe strength to Elohim; His excellence is over Yisra’ěl, And His strength is in the clouds.
O Elohim, awesome from Your set-apart places, The Ěl of Yisra’ěl is He Who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be Elohim!
READINGS: MISHLE 16:17-33
The highway of the straight Is to turn away from evil; He who guards his life watches over His way.
Before destruction comes pride, And before a fall a haughty spirit!
Better to be lowly in spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
He who acts wisely concerning the Word finds excellence, And blessed is he who trusts in YHWH.
The wise-hearted is called discerning, And sweetness of lips increases learning.
Understanding is a fountain of life to him who has it, But the disciplining of fools is folly.
The heart of the wise gives discretion to his mouth, And he increases learning to his lips.
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweet to the being, and healing to the bones.
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
He who labors, labors for himself, For his mouth drives him on.
A man of Beliya‛al plots evil, And on his lips it is like a burning fire.
A perverse man sends forth strife, And a whisperer separates intimate friends.
A ruthless man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not excellent, Winking with his eye to plot perversity, Moving his lips he shall bring about evil.
Grey hair is a crown of adorning, It is found in the way of righteousness.
He who is patient is better than the mighty, And he who rules over his spirit than he who takes a city.
The lot is cast into the lap, But every decision by it is from YHWH.
READINGS: AVOTH 3:17-20
Rabbi Aqiva said, jesting and levity lead a man on to lewdness; the Massorah is a fence to the Torah; tithes are a fence to riches; vows are a fence to abstinence; a fence to wisdom is silence.
He used to say, beloved is man, for he was created in the image of Adam; but it was by a special love that it was made known to him that he was created in the image of Elohym; as it is said, for in the image of Elohym made He man. Beloved are Yisrael, for they were called children of the Temple; but it was by a special love that it was made known to them that they were called children of The Temple; as it is said, ye are children unto YHWH your Elohym. Beloved are Yisrael, for unto them was given the desirable instrument; but it was by a special love that it was made known to them that the desirable instrument was theirs, through which the world was created; as it is said, for I give you excellent doctrine; forsake ye not My Torah.
Everything is foreseen, yet freedom of choice is given; and the world is judged by grace, yet all is according to the amount of work.
He used to say, everything is given on pledge, and a net is spread for all living; the shop is open, and the dealer gives credit, and the ledger lies open, and the hand writes, and whosoever wishes to borrow may come and borrow; but the collectors regularly make their daily round and exact payment from man, whether he be content or not, and they have that whereon they can rely in their demand; and the judgment is a judgment of truth; and everything is prepared for the feast.
Book Review: Provision: A Messianic Jewish Journey: https://thekingdomnetwork.us/2....025/05/08/book-revie
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