Tithes, what are they?

The idea of tithes was and is to ensure that no one goes without what they need. Under the law of tithing no human being was left without food, shelter or clothing. Today many think of tithes as 10% of their income that they give to their Pastor, Minister, Rabbi etc. But none bother to ask is this the will of The creator of heaven and earth? Again what was the tithe created for? Was it so that the High Priest could live better than the rest of the people or was is so that the tabernacle was taken care of? Lets examine the most used scripture for tithes in churches today.


The word for tithe in these verses is H4643 mah-as-ayr meaning tenth 
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob YAH? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Lets continue reading...
3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith YHWH of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.


What is the reason the creator commands tithes here?


Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house

3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith YHWH of hosts.

3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith YHWH of hosts.

The creator set up the system of tithes so that Israel would be looked at as a blessed and fruitful Nation. Others would look at them and see how blessed their fields were and how no one who served the creator of heaven and earth went without what they needed. Every one was taken care of.

The Most High is not a respector of persons, he does not approve of some people having what they need and others not. He said all are to open their hand WIDE to the widow, the fatherless, and the poor. This too is a commandment that was to be fulfilled with the tithes.

Lev 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Deu 16:19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

Prov 24:23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

Prov 28:21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with YAH.

James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

The word for tithe in this verse is H4643 mah-as-ayr meaning tenth 
Deu 26:12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; 

26:13 Then thou shalt say before the YHWH thy mighty one, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:

Deu 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.


The creators problem with Israel is that they had become morally corrupt. They were keeping his feast days and Sabbaths out of tradition the same way almost every one in the United States observes the holidays of the land. They had forgotten the morality of the law which is what Messiah Yahushua taught when he walked the earth.

Isa 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their creator: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to Yah.

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to YHWH?

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

Matt 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, Yah: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He saith unto him, Which? Yahushua said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21 Yahushua said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23 Then said Yahushua unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Yah.

Notice, Messiah said nothing to the man about the appointed feast days or Sabbaths because these were the commandments of the land that were already being kept. Israel was and til this day are continually a morally corrupt people.

Matt 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe(G586 to tithe as a debtor or creditor) mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of Yah: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.



Money H3701 keseph- silver, money,price

There is an argument that people tithed crops in Moses' times because the currency of coins did not exist, but is this true according to the Torah?.

Gen 23:16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

Gen 31:15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

Gen 33:19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.

Gen 42:25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.

Gen 42:35 And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid
Ex 22:7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.

Ex 22:17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.


When was the tithe turned into money according to the scriptures?



Deu 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
14:23 And thou shalt eat before YHWH thy mighty one, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

14:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which YHWH thy mighty one shall choose to set his name there, when YHWH thy mighty one hath blessed thee:

14:25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which YHWH thy mighty one shall choose:

14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before YHWH thy mighty one, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,


We no longer have a Levitical priesthood, none of us know what tribe we come from. However this is not a reason not to tithe as commanded by The Most High. We have the widow, the fatherless and the poor with us today. So I ask again is it the will of The Almighty, who is loving, merciful and righteous in judgment that tithes be funneled into the pocket or household of one man or woman?(Or is there a tradition being held onto when paying tithes?). Let us be reminded of the leaven of the Pharisees and traditions of men.
While the people live paycheck to paycheck and there are brothers and sisters, children digging in the trash looking for food, sleeping outdoors in the freezing cold, going to school without proper clothing, supplies and to bed at night with an empty stomach? Whether your congregation be 20, 60, 200 or 1000 I ask you to consider what should truly be done with the tithe commanded by The Most High.
Imagine the difference that could be made in the lives of the people if believers came together in unity to truly build a Nation.The Most high is about NATION building not congregation building.
I do not profess to have the "truth" nor am I trying to convince anyone of anything. I am only doing my job as a believer in the Messiah. If I am wrong in anything I have said please send me the scriptures so that I may be corrected.
littlewomanbigfaith@gmail.com


Deu 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Luke 11:35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 8:12 Then spake Yahushua again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Acts 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Acts 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

1 Cor 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Yahushua.

Matt 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

John 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Yahushua saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Are you a Pharisee?

Messiah Yahushua came against the teaching of the Pharisees. Lets look at exactly what it was he was coming against when it came to the Pharisees and Sadducees. We know he didn't teach against the Sabbaths, the feast days or the dietary law (Matt 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.) so just what it is that he came against?

Mark 7:5-13 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of YAH, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of YAH, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;making the word of YAH of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

What was happening here that Yahushua was speaking against? What commandment were they breaking and teaching others to break?

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Ex 21:15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.

Prov 28:24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

Ex 21:17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

Reading this at first glance we see words like honor, smite, rob and think immediately "I don't or have not done any of these things to my mother or father". But a closer look at these words and what Messiah was saying may prove you wrong. Often times its not what we are not or did not do its what we are supposed to do that we do not. This was the problem here. The Pharisees were causing the people to pay them tithes and offerings that they could have been using to help their parents.



Honor thy father and mother is a commandment just as keeping the Sabbaths is a commandment. But what did Yahushua say about the commandments?

Matt 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

This is how the Pharisees and Sadducees were teaching the people to break the law. They came up with their own traditions and laws and taught people to follow them, and many of the laws they came up with were contrary to the Law The creator gave to Moses. The laws they created caused stife and hate among the people over things that The Most High never told them to do. The entire basis of the Torah law is LOVE.

Do you operate in love? Not according to your own understanding but according to the scriptures? When your brother or sister needs something from you do you give it to them? Do you help them or do you suggest others who can help even if its in your power to do it? This is a commandment of The Most High. What about marriage? If someone is having trouble in their marriage for whatever reason do you encourage them to fast and pray with faith that the creator will hear their cries? Or do you encourage seperation and divorce by suggesting things that you know may lead to it. Did not The Most high YHWH say from the beginning;

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Mal 2:14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

If you are not keeping these commandments you cannot say you are a commandment keeper nor can you say you are a disciple of Yahushua Ha Mashiach

Deu 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:15:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth..

Notice these verses do not specify money. One can be poor in many ways money is only one of them. Someone can be "poor" in family support, "poor" in transportation, "poor" in health. Think about it.

The Pharisees did not keep this law. They did not deal righteously with their neighbor. They condemned themselves by adding to the perfect law that was given to Moses. They were able to do this beause the people did not have the scriptures to read like we do today. They trusted what they were being taught and followed the teachings of the elders. The Most High said;

Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of YHWH your mighty one which I command you.

.

If you are a believer in the Gospel of Messiah the letters written by the Disciples carried on his teachings and should be read and studied along with the Torah and the Gospel(good news). Lets look at some verses on this issue.

Matt 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of YAH, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of YAH, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know YAH; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Fast forward to modern day. Now we must ask ourselves what "traditions" are being held by believers that are not commandments that cause strife and hatred? Anything that is not a commandment is a tradition, and while traditions may seem innocent they should be examined to see if they profit the message of Messiah. He warned his followers;

Matt 16:6 Then Yahushua said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

So now reading this we should ask what exactly is the will of the father? Think on it for a minute.
The Phariees and Sadducees kept all the feast days, Sabbaths, observed the dietary law but did they do the will of the father?

What else did Messiah say about this?

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Matt 16:24 Then said Yahushua unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matt 5:43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

And most important...

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of YAH, and the faith of Yahushua.
2 Thess 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
Matt 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

So ask yourself, are you a Pharisee?

Take these off put these on... Part 2

Now lets look at what the Bible considers "bad" and "good"

Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Lets see what these words mean.

Take these off...
 Fornication (G4202) idolatry also G4203 Harlotry, unlawful sex,
Uncleanness (G167) Lewdness
Lasciviousness (G766) Filthy, wantonness, brutal, excess, immoderation, intemperance
Idolatry (G1495) Idol worship also G1497 and 2999 image worship
Witchcraft (G5331) magic, sorcery
Hatred (G2189) Hostility 
Variance (G 2054) Wrangling-contention, debate, strife.
Emulations (G2205) Envy, indignation, jealousy
Wrath (G2372) Fierceness, indignation.
Strife (G2052) Contention
Seditions (G1370) Division
Heresies (G139) Sects
Envyings (G5355) Jealousy, spite
Murders (G5408) Slaughter
Drunkenness (G3178) Intoxication see also 4224 banqueting or a drinking party
Revellings (G2970) Rioting

Put these on...
Love (G26) Charity, good will
Joy (G5479) Cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness
Peace (G1515) Quietness, rest
Longsuffering (G3115) Forbearance, patience 
Gentleness (G5544) Goodness, kindness
Goodness (G19, 18) Active goodness, benevolent G18 profitable, useful
Faith (G4102) Assurance, belief, fidelity
Meekness (G4236) Gentleness, humility
Temperance (G1466) Self Control

Take these off, put these on....

One of the main jobs of a Bible Believer is to strive to remove old deeds and bad behavior and practice good deeds and good behavior. This is what Messiah meant when he said in Matt 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
And Luke 11:39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Lets take a look at the true meaning of some of these words, to gain an understanding of what Messiah is saying. 

In Matt 23:25 The words make clean (Greek concordance# 2511) means cleanse, purge, purify. 
The word extortion (G# 724) means ravening, and spoiling. 

Luke 11:39  The words make clean are the same (G#2511). Here we see ravening and wickedness at the end of this verse. Ravening (G#724) which means extortion and wickedness (G#4189) malice, plots, sins-iniquity, wickedness.

So we can see that Messiah wants those who believe in him to repent and purge malice and all sorts of other wickedness from themselves. 

See the next Blog post for what the Bible considers "good" and "bad".

The Behavior of A Believer

Much of what we say as Bible Believers matters... but what we do matters more. The way we behave shows those around us what is truly in our hearts. I have decided for this blog to list scriptures that I have compiled from my study notebooks that I hope will help believers in Messiah to be mindful of their behavior, always remembering who it is we represent.

Behavior  Strongs/Greek 2887- kosimos- orderly of good behavior modest (ref 1 Tit 3:2, Tit 2:3)

 

1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Luke 5:36-38 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was [taken] out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Eph 2:2-3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Phil 2:3 [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

1 Cor 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

1 Cor 10:5-6 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1 Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

1 Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord , [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;

John 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Prov 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Wisdom 11:7 Blame not before thou has examined the truth, understand first and then rebuke.

Wisdom 18:20 Before judgment examine thyself and in the day of visitation thou shalt

find mercy.

Psalms 139 *whole chp

James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works (G#2041 deeds, performance)a man is justified, and not by faith (G#4102 assurance,belief,fidelity) only.

*reading the entire chapter of the scriptures listed is recommended.

Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Pressing On Together

Psalm 4:4  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. 

Selah.

   I remember when I first began to study the Torah I began to worry. I had no idea how to keep the law, I had so many questions and no one to answer any of them. As I began to pray and seek The Most High daily and earnestly I remember one Sabbath he led me to the above scripture and after reading the scripture Psalm 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah..  I was at peace. He was showing me that the keeping of his law begins in ones heart through truly loving him and wanting to please him only.  

   Later in my studies this was confirmed with Romans 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

   Avoiding sin and how we treat one another will reveal if we have been circumcised in heart and are truly disciples of Yahoshua and walking in the spirit and not the flesh. 1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.. John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. This is also the new commandment given to us by our Messiah to keep John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Let us encourage and strengthen one another in this walk, those of us who bring forth the fruit of the spirit Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, show that they are indeed walking with Messiah  Eph 5:9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.  

   We should continually encourage one another and pull each other up Phil 3:14 pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Yahoshua.

Shalom!

Friends

   Sirach 12:8 A friend cannot be known in prosperity and an enemy cannot be hid in adversity.

   Over the years I've had several women approach and befriend me claiming to "love" me and be my "best" friend. I was always hesistant to accept these new titles and words that were thrown at me by these women because its not wise to trust what a stanger says, looking at deeds over time is what will show if someone is true or not. 

   When I experience people who are not in my life for positive reasons I slowly fade into the background. Now that I am trying to walk in the ways of The Most High I choose who I fellowship with even more carefully. There are many who will come in the name of Messiah but are not truely walking with him. Lets look at what scripture has to say about them. Phil 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.17:Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.18:For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:19:Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) Looking here we see Paul warning us with weeping that there were many who walked the walk not showing a good example of Messiah even back in ancient times. He even tells us that the carnal believers are an enemy of the stake of Messiah! They care more about earthy things than they do about spreading the good news of Messiah, they try to hide it but they cannot as YHWH knows the hearts of all men. Jer 17:10 I The Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Psalm 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. We must certainly be careful who we befriend as there are many with the spirit of Judas walking amongst us! Judas played both sides, he was walking with Messiah but also walking with "the world". He was double minded! James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 

   The walk of a called out one can be lonely but we have to remember that we cannot fellowship with everyone. One must choose who they will serve either it be God or man. Exodus 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And once one makes a decision they must keep their lamp burning with oil and watch for the return of Messiah remaining unspoiled from this wicked world, this is what our walk is all about. Matt 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. We do not know when Yahoshua Messiah will return, we are to continue to walk in his ways and be obedient to his teachings. Not becoming wrapped up in the things of this world.To fall into the hands of The living God is a fearful thing.

Shalom.