Friday, April 29, 2011
TM
April 30. 2011 (If necessary, download attached study due to word document not justifying)
Shabbat Shalom Loved One! WE ARE BECOMING A LIGHT!
www.shabbatshalomlovedone.blogspot.com Torah Studies with language translations, please also see www.seedtime2harvest.com for “about us” information and offerings
Today Loved One, I was praying about what to teach; that is what Father wanted to reiterate or make plain to His Loved Ones. I was expecting something radically different as this is really the 4th week of the year since we start over when He says it is the beginning of months. This is why we have started our Torah Cycle over. Loved One, should we not at least earnestly seek and ask the Father to change those things about us that are unacceptable to Him BEFORE we must stand in front of Him and be judged? This may be an appropriate time to seek Him with prayer and fasting as the enemy is in full attack and much destruction and death is in the balance- earth changes, demonic attacks on loved ones, wickedness as the planet gets darker and darker. It must get darker before the Day Star arises. Remember you are a light to this world- “This little light of mine- I’m gonna let it shine!” remember also that even a small light is great in greater darkness! It is time for the bride to make herself ready- that means we must make some changes or only wish we had. We must be changing to more fully represent our coming King! That will only occur when we decide and take action of our own will- we must ask for a hunger and thirst for His righteousness- then we will be filled- at least to the extent we are hungry and thirsty. Fast and pray loved ones, the darkness is getting darker.
(Isa 60:1) “Arise; shine, for your light has come! And the esteem (glory) of יהוה has risen upon you. (Isa 60:2) “For look, darkness covers the earth and thick (gross) darkness the peoples. But יהוה rises over you, and His esteem is seen upon you. (Isa 60:3) “And the gentiles (pagans) shall come to your light1 and sovereigns to the brightness of your rising. Footnote: 1Isa. 60:19, 20, Rev. 21:23, 24.
Here are Yahshua’s nearly identical words- about being a light is DOING the Word- not hearing only and deceiving ourselves
(Mat 5:14) “You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city to be hidden on a mountain. (Mat 5:15) “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines to all those in the house. (Mat 5:16) “Let your light so shine before men, so that they see your good works (Comment: Not our good thoughts or intentions) and praise your Father who is in the heavens. (Mat 5:17) “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets.1 I did not come to destroy but to complete. Footnote: 1The Law and the Prophets is a term used for the pre-Messianic Scriptures. (Mat 5:18) “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.1 Footnote: 1Lk. 16:17. (Mat 5:19) “Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens. (Mat 5:20) “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees,1 you shall by no means enter into the reign of the heavens. Footnote: 1Mt. 15:3-9, Mk. 7:7-13, John 7:19, Acts 7:53, Rom. 2:23-27, Gal. 6:13.
(Starting over at the beginning of months- this is why we have started our Torah Cycle over)
(Exodus 12:2) “This month is the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of the year for you. (Exodus 12:3) “Speak to all the congregation of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month each one of them is to take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. (Exodus 12:4) ‘And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the beings, according to each man’s need you make your count for the lamb. (Exodus 12:5) ‘Let the lamb be a perfect one, a year old male. Take it from the sheep or from the goats.
We are finished with Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread and well into our New Year.
Perhaps since there are still rainbows (Promise to mankind not to destroy the earth again with floods) and there is Still a HEAVEN AND EARTH- perhaps it is in the realm of possibilities- the Old Testament (Moses and the Prophets) is not done away with as many have erroneously claimed.
Perhaps many of us have learned about “another Jesus” who is vastly different from the one represented in the Scriptures. Is it even possible that Sha’ul’s words were twisted and now represent some new religion that makes Yahshua lawless and different from His Father? Let’s look at Kefa’s (Peter) words about how we may have been misled and Sha’ul’s words may (most likely) be twisted and we were forewarned! Do we also find ourselves mockers of Yah by saying about the present birth pains in the earth and the earth changes so visible- “these things have happened always..”
(2Pe 3:1) This is now, beloved ones, the second letter I write to you, in which I stir up your sincere mind, to remember (2Pe 3:2) the words previously spoken by the set-apart prophets, and of the command of the Master and Savior, spoken by your emissaries, (2Pe 3:3) knowing this first: that mockers shall come in the last days with mocking, walking according to their own lusts, (2Pe 3:4) and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Since the fathers fell asleep, all continues as from the beginning of creation.” (2Pe 3:5) For they choose to have this hidden from them: that the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by the Word of Elohim, 1Footnote: 1Heb. 11:3. (2Pe 3:6) through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. (2Pe 3:7) And the present heavens and the earth are treasured up by the same Word, being kept for fire, to a Day of Judgment and destruction of wicked men. (2Pe 3:8) But, beloved ones let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with יהוה one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2Pe 3:9) יהוה is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.1 Footnote: 11 Tim. 2:4. (2Pe 3:10) But the day of יהוה shall come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up. (2Pe 3:11) Seeing all these are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be in set-apart behavior and reverence, (2Pe 3:12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of Elohim, through which the heavens shall be destroyed, being set on fire, and the elements melt with intense heat! (2Pe 3:13) But according to His promise we wait for a renewed heavens and a renewed earth in which righteousness dwells. (2Pe 3:14) So then, beloved ones, looking forward to this, do your utmost to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, (2Pe 3:15) and reckon the patience of our Master as deliverance, as also our beloved brother Sha’ul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, (2Pe 3:16) as also in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these matters, in which some are hard to understand,1 which those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the other Scriptures. Footnote: 1See 1 Cor. 11:6. (2Pe 3:17) You, then, beloved ones, being forewarned, watch, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the delusion of the lawless, (2Pe 3:18) but grow in the favor and knowledge of our Master and Savior יהושע Messiah. To Him be the esteem both now and to a day that abides. Amĕn.
Perhaps we have learned He is lawless and that the Father was mean and angry but Yahshua (Jesus) was merciful. NO! Let’s look again what Yahshua said. Loved One, should we not at least earnestly seek and ask the Father to change those things about us that are unacceptable to Him BEFORE we must stand in front of Him and be judged?
(Mat 7:21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Master, Master, (Lord Lord)’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. (Mat 7:22) “Many shall say to me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ (Mat 7:23) “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from me, you who work lawlessness! (This is not mans laws they are breaking necessarily but YHWH’s commands or Torahlessness as in the law is done away with or in Greek- anomia) ’1 Footnote: 1 See v. 15.
Man made religion (Deuteronomy 4:2) “Do not add to the Word which I command you, and do not take away from it1, so as to guard the commands of יהוה your Elohim which I am commanding you. Footnote: 1See also 12:32, Prov. 30:6, Rev. 22:18-19. Perhaps we have possibly learned of “another Jesus”? A lawless (Torahless) Messiah? (2Co 11:4) For, indeed, if he who is coming proclaims another יהושע, 1 whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different Good News which you have not accepted, you put up with it well enough! Footnote: 1Mt. 24:5 & 23-24, John 5:43.
Do we really think it is up to us to “take over” pagan satanic holidays for Yah? We are not to learn the ways of the heathen!
Okay what exactly is so important that we may need to repent of; the very same worship traditions that we were scattered for all over the earth? Because many of the body of believers have been blinded by the enemy of our souls and still follow these vain traditions which are mostly manmade additions and traditions of “Churchianity” handed down from the anything but a “Holy” Roman Empire ruler Constantine; who was a sun god worshipper and enforced these “man made doctrines” with the penalty of death for rejection. Since we biblically understand when the year starts we can observe and do His commanded Holy Days (Holidays) and not do vain observations that He considers abominations. Many Christians honor all the TRADITIONAL holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Lent and never consider their pagan roots which were orchestrated by Rome. Some know that the day of the sun (Sun-day) was rooted from sun god worship and Easter was the pagan fertility goddess, where the Easter Priests (Not Christians or in any form followers of Messiah) - would impregnate the virgins on the sunrise service and sacrifice the 3 month old babies from the prior years' sunrise service, dipping the eggs of Easter into the freshly sacrificed babies blood and declare- HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! Have a prosperous and fertile year! This was their form of Happy New Year! Lent was the 40 days of fasting and weeping for Tamuz- goodness- Loved Ones- think maybe these traditions are possibly an abomination to our Creator? He taught us to NOT LEARN the ways of the heathen and say we are worshipping Him! (Jeremiah 10:2) Thus said יהוה, “Do not learn the way of the gentiles, 1 and do not be awed by the signs of the heavens, for the gentiles are awed by them.2 Footnotes: 1Lev. 18:3, Dt. 12:30 & 18:9, Ezekiel. 11:12 & 20:32, Eph. 4:17, 1 Peter 4:3. 2Dt. 4:19 & 17:3. He also COMMANDED US: (Deuteronomy 4:2) “Do not add to the Word which I command you, and do not subtract from it1, so as to guard the commands of יהוה your Elohim which I am commanding you. Footnote: 1See also 12:32, Prov. 30:6, Rev. 22:18-19. Do you and I suppose he has changed His mind about that; so we think it okay to ADD these manmade traditions as holy days and festivals (holidays)? And SUBTRACT His Feasts and festivals?
Should we not call on our Heavenly Father and not follow vain teachings of our earthly fathers?
(1Pe 1:17) And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear, (1Pe 1:18) knowing that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers, not with what is corruptible, silver or gold, (1Pe 1:19) but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, (1Pe 1:20) foreknown, indeed, before the foundation of the world, but manifested in these last times for your sakes, (1Pe 1:21) who through Him believe in Elohim who raised Him from the dead and gave Him esteem, so that your belief and expectation are in Elohim. (1Pe 1:22) Now that you have cleansed your lives in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned brotherly love, love one another fervently with a clean heart, (1Pe 1:23) having been born again – not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible – through the living Word of Elohim, which remains forever... (We follow and obey the word not traditions and by His blood OVERCOME hasatan)
(Rev 7:14) And I said to him, “Master, you know.” And he said to me, “These are those coming out of the great distress, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Can we even imagine thinking we were worshipping Him and doing as our Christian tradition allows and believing we were pleasing Him, to find out when we stand at His feet that all our worship was IN VAIN? The horror and terror we would sense as we are banished from His presence? Loved One, should we not at least earnestly seek and ask the Father to change those things about us that are unacceptable to Him BEFORE we must stand in front of Him and be judged?
Do "we" worship in VAIN? (Maybe we should consider doing only what He says and not what tradition allows because it seems likely from Scripture that many “believers” are following these traditions and worshipping in VAIN!)
Really- Worship in VAIN? Goodness – maybe we should really reconsider Loved Ones- another Scripture comes to mind- “Come out of her my people or partake in her plagues!” Loved Ones, should we worship Him the way He says or obey men and our traditions? Is obedience to the Word made flesh that dwelled among us really important? Is our own judgment really only a heartbeat away? Do we really want to nullify all the promises received from obedience- given in the Word?
Read and know Yahshua (Jesus) warns us living today!
Mat 15:3 He answering, said to them, “Why do you also transgress the command of Elohim1 because of your tradition? Footnote: 1See Mat. 5:20. Mat 15:4 “For Elohim has commanded, saying, ‘Respect your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ Mat 15:5 “But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me has been dedicated,” Mat 15:6 is certainly released from respecting his father or mother.’ So you have nullified the command of Elohim by your tradition. Mat 15:7 “Hypocrites! Yeshayahu rightly prophesied about you, saying, Mat 15:8 ‘This people draw near to Me with their mouth, and respect Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Mat 15:9 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as my doctrines- the commands of men.’ ”1 Footnote: 1Isa. 29:13, Mk. 7:7, 2 Kings 17:19.
Obedience really comes from LOVE of Yahshua: (John 14:10) “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak from myself. But the Father who stays in me does His works. (John 14:11) “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in me, otherwise believe me because of the works themselves. (John 14:12) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he shall do also. And greater works than these he shall do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:13) “Whatever you ask in my name, that I shall do, in order that the Father might be esteemed in the Son. (John 14:14) “If you ask whatever in my Name, I shall do it. (John 14:15) “If you love me, you shall guard (keep) my commands.1 Footnote: 1See Ex. 20:6, vv. 21&23, 1 John 5:2-3, 2 John v. 6. (John 14:16) “And I shall ask the Father, and He shall give you another Helper, to stay with you forever – (John 14:17) the Spirit of the Truth, whom the world is unable to receive, because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him, for He stays with you and shall be in you. (John 14:18) “I shall not leave you orphans – I am coming to you. (John 14:19) “Yet a little while, and the world no longer sees me, but you shall see me, because I live, and you shall live. (John 14:20) “In that day you shall know that I am in my Father and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:21) “He who possesses my commands and guards (keeps) them; it is he who loves me. And he who loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and manifest myself to him.”
Still a Heaven and Earth so Instructions (Law- Torah) Remain!
Do we realize that IN THE BEGINNING Yahshua (Jesus) was the word and is the word even at Mt Sinai? Malachi 4 and Hebrews 13:8 testifies that He changes not and is the same yesterday, today and forever- what part of “forever” is so difficult for us to understand? The enemy has planted many tares and blinded many of us into thinking our religious traditions are acceptable to our King! However; He claims we are worshipping Him in VAIN! Please let us not use the excuse that those words have passed away because Yahshua addressed that thought beforehand and leaves us no excuse when we stand in His presence; (Mat 5:17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, (Torah- Instructions) or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. (Mat 5:18) For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Mat 5:19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. So; is it ALL fulfilled? What is fulfilled were the Spring Feasts of YHWH; He was and is the Passover Lamb, He is the High Priest who had to be in seclusion until the First Fruits Offering and could not be touched (“Don’t touch me Mary- I have not yet ascended to the Father”) then the graves opened and many were seen around Jeremiah risen from the dead as He was the first of many of the First Fruits Offering; then on Shavuot (we now call Pentecost) He poured out His Spirit that His commands would no longer be impossible (burdensome) to keep. These were and are the Spring Feasts he and we start our year with- they are the shadow picture of things to come. The Fall Feasts have not yet been fulfilled- we are finally; during our generation, approaching the Feast of Trumpets and at the LAST TRUMPET, the dead in Messiah rise first; then 10 days later we have the DAY OF ATONEMENT or some of us call Judgment Day; then 5 days later we have The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkoth when we tabernacle or dwell with Him forever; then on the eighth day of this Feast we have the LAST GREAT DAY or the WEDDING FEAST OF THE LAMB. Once again; these Fall Feasts are not yet fulfilled. So what does Yahshua say about this; are there still a heaven and an earth? If there is a heaven and earth still we are commanded to: ONCE AGAIN SO THAT THERE IS NO MISTAKE- (Mat 5:17) think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. (Mat 5:18) For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Mat 5:19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Way too many Pastor Least’s earnestly teaching but like the blind man who is not trying to lead another into a ditch- he still does! (Luke 6:39) And he spoke a parable unto them; Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Here are our Torah Scriptures this week: Vayera “And He appeared”
Genesis 18:1- 22:24; 2 Kings 4:1-37; 2 Peter 2:4-11; 2 Peter, Chapter 3
Our study today is about how darkness creeps in until it is gross darkness- consider our ensample SODOM and Lot and his family as in our world today- sin is more and more acceptable- no wonder Yaakov (James) warned us- (Jas 1:23) Because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, (Jas 1:24) for he looks at himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what he was like. (Jas 1:25) But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, 1 and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah. Footnote: 1See 2:12. (Jas 1:26) If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is worthless. (Jas 1:27) Clean and undefiled religion before the Elohim and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep yourself unstained (unpolluted) from the world.
Separating ourselves to Righteousness and becoming believers (not hopers nor wonderers may take us prayer and fasting)
(Gen 18:1) And יהוה appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamrĕ, while he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.(Gen 18:2) So he lifted his eyes and looked, and saw three men standing opposite him. And when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, (Gen 18:3) and said, “יהוה, if I have now found favor in your eyes, please do not pass Your servant by. (Gen 18:4) “Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. (Gen 18:5) “And let me bring a piece of bread and refresh your hearts, and then go on, for this is why you have come to your servant.” And they said, “Do as you have said.” (Gen 18:6) So Aḇraham ran into the tent to Sarah and said, “Hurry, make ready three measures of fine flour, knead it and make cakes.” (Gen 18:7) And Aḇraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hurried to prepare it. (Gen 18:8) And he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. (Gen 18:9) And they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “See, in the tent.” (Gen 18:10) And He said, “I shall certainly return to you according to the time of life, and see, Sarah your wife is to have a son!” And Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him. (Gen 18:11) Now Aḇraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age, and Sarah was past the way of women. (Gen 18:12) And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my master being old too?” (Gen 18:13) And יהוה said to Aḇraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I truly have a child, since I am old?’ (Gen 18:14) “Is any matter too hard for יהוה? At the appointed time I am going to return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah is to have a son.” (Gen 18:15) But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!” (Gen 18:16) And the men rose up from there and looked toward Seḏom, and Aḇraham went with them to send them away. (Gen 18:17) And יהוה said, “Shall I hide from Aḇraham what I am doing, (Gen 18:18) since Aḇraham is certainly going to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (Gen 18:19) “For I have known him, so that he commands his children and his household after him, to guard the way of יהוה, to do righteousness and right-ruling, so that יהוה brings to Aḇraham what He has spoken to him.” (Gen 18:20) And יהוה said, “Because the outcry against Seḏom and Amorah is great, and because their sin is very heavy, (Gen 18:21) “I am going down now to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to me, and if not, I know.” (Gen 18:22) So the men turned away from there and went toward Seḏom, but יהוה still stood before Aḇraham. (Gen 18:23) And Aḇraham drew near and said, “Would you also destroy the righteous with the wrong? (Gen 18:24) “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city, would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? (Gen 18:25) “Far be it from You to act in this way, to slay the righteous with the wrong, so that the righteous should be as the wrong. Far be it from You! Does the Judge of all the earth not do right?” (Gen 18:26) And יהוה said, “If I find in Seḏom fifty righteous within the city, then I shall spare the entire place for their sakes.” (Gen 18:27) And Aḇraham answered and said, “Look, please, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to יהוה, (Gen 18:28) “Suppose there are five less than the fifty righteous, would you destroy the entire city for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find there forty-five, I do not destroy it.” (Gen 18:29) And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there are found forty?” And He said, “I would not do it for the sake of forty.” (Gen 18:30) And he said, “Let not יהוה be displeased, and let me speak: Suppose there are found thirty?” And He said, “I would not do it if I find thirty there.” (Gen 18:31) And he said, “Look, please, I have taken it upon myself to speak to יהוה: Suppose there are found twenty?” And He said, “I would not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” (Gen 18:32) And he said, “Let not יהוה be displeased, and let me speak only this time: Suppose there are found ten?” And He said, “I would not destroy it for the sake of ten.” (Gen 18:33) Then יהוה went away as soon as He had ended speaking to Aḇraham. And Aḇraham returned to his place.
Angels sent to destroy Sodom (Wherever wickedness reigns expect destruction) USA? See www.wyattmuseum.com for pictures of the ashen city, due to 5000 degrees F the molecular density was greater after the fire of the ash- so it did not blow away- and as YHWH’s word declares in Kefa- left as a sample for the ungodly. I’ve walked there- it smells like a fireplace--
(Gen 19:1) And the two messengers came to Seḏom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Seḏom. And when Lot saw them, he rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground, (Gen 19:2) and he said, “Look, please my masters, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet, and rise early and go your way.” And they said, “No, but let us spend the night in the open square.” (Gen 19:3) But he urged them strongly, and they turned in to him and came into his house. And he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. (Gen 19:4) Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Seḏom, both old and young, all the people from every part surrounded the house. (Gen 19:5) And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, and let us ‘know’ them.” (Gen 19:6) So Lot went out to them through the doorway, and shut the door behind him, (Gen 19:7) and said, “Please, my brothers, do not do evil! (Gen 19:8) “Look, please, I have two daughters who have not known a man. Please, let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you wish, only do no deed to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.” (Gen 19:9) But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This one came in to sojourn, and should he always judge? Now we are going to treat you worse than them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. (Gen 19:10) But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. (Gen 19:11) Then they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, and they wearied themselves to find the door. (Gen 19:12) And the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? A son-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whomever you have in the city – bring them out of this place! (Gen 19:13) “We are going to destroy this place, because the cry against them has grown great before the face of יהוה, and יהוה has sent us to destroy it.” (Gen 19:14) And Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place, for יהוה is going to destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be as one joking. (Gen 19:15) And when morning dawned, the messengers urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Get up, and take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” (Gen 19:16) And while he loitered, the men took hold of his hand, and his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, יהוה having compassion on him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. (Gen 19:17) And it came to be, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed.” (Gen 19:18) And Lot said to them, “Oh no, יהוה! (Gen 19:19) “Look, please, your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have increased your kindness which you have shown me by saving my life, but I am unable to escape to the mountains, lest calamity overtakes me and I die. (Gen 19:20) “Look, please, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please let me escape there – is it not a small matter – and let my life be saved?” (Gen 19:21) And He said to him, “Look, I have favored you concerning this matter also, without overthrowing this city for which you have spoken. (Gen 19:22) “Hurry, escape there, I am not able to do any deed until you arrive there.” So the name of the city was called Tsoʽar. (Gen 19:23) the sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Tsoʽar. (Gen 19:24) and יהוה rained sulphur and fire on Seḏom and Amorah, from יהוה out of the heavens. (Gen 19:25) So He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. (Gen 19:26) But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a post of salt. (Gen 19:27) And Aḇraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before יהוה, (Gen 19:28) and he looked toward Seḏom and Amorah, and toward all the land of the plain. And he looked and saw the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. (Gen 19:29) Thus it came to be, when Elohim destroyed the cities of the plain, that Elohim remembered Aḇraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt. (Gen 19:30) And Lot went up out of Tsoʽar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him, for he was afraid to dwell in Tsoʽar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave.
No wonder we are warned to not get drunk on wine but be filled with the Ruach
(Gen 19:31) And the first-born said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us, as is the way of all the earth. (Gen 19:32) “Come, let us make our father drink wine and lie with him, so that we preserve the seed of our father.” (Gen 19:33) So they made their father drink wine that night. And the first-born went in and lay with her father, and he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she arose. (Gen 19:34) And it came to be on the next day that the first-born said to the younger, “See, I lay with my father last night. Let us make him drink wine tonight as well, and you go in and lie with him, so that we keep the seed of our father.” (Gen 19:35) So they made their father drink wine that night as well. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she arose. (Gen 19:36) Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. (Gen 19:37) And the first-born bore a son and called his name Mo’aḇ, he is the father of the Mo’aḇites to this day. (Gen 19:38) And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi, he is the father of the children of Ammon to this day. (Gen 20:1) And Aḇraham set out from there to the land of the South, and dwelt between Qaḏĕsh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. (Gen 20:2) And Aḇraham said concerning Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Aḇimeleḵ sovereign of Gerar sent and took Sarah. (Gen 20:3) But Elohim came to Aḇimeleḵ in a dream by night, and said to him, “See, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” (Gen 20:4) However, Aḇimeleḵ had not come near her, and he said, “יהוה, would you slay a righteous nation also? (Gen 20:5) “Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and in the innocence of my hands I have done this.” (Gen 20:6) And Elohim said to him in a dream, “Yea, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart, and so I kept you from sinning against me. For this reason I did not let you touch her. (Gen 20:7) “And now, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and let him pray for you and you live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall certainly die, you and all that are yours.” (Gen 20:8) So Aḇimeleḵ rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and spoke all these words in their hearing. And the men were greatly frightened. (Gen 20:9) And Aḇimeleḵ called Aḇraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? In what have I sinned against you that you have brought on me and on my reign a great sin? You have done matters to me that should not be done.” (Gen 20:10) And Aḇimeleḵ said to Aḇraham, “What did you have in view, that you have done this matter?” (Gen 20:11) And Aḇraham said, “Only because I said to myself, the fear of Elohim is not in this place, and they shall kill me for the sake of my wife. (Gen 20:12) “And yet, she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. (Gen 20:13) “And it came to be, when Elohim caused me to wander from my father’s house that I said to her ‘this is your kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ” (Gen 20:14) Then Aḇimeleḵ took sheep, and cattle, and male and female servants, and gave them to Aḇraham. And he returned Sarah his wife to him. (Gen 20:15) And Aḇimeleḵ said, “See, my land is before you, dwell wherever it is good in your eyes.” (Gen 20:16) And to Sarah he said, “See, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. See, it is to you a covering of eyes before all who are with you and before all others, and you are cleared before everyone.” (Gen 20:17) And Aḇraham prayed to Elohim, and Elohim healed Aḇimeleḵ, and his wife, and his female servants, so they bore children, (Gen 20:18) for יהוה had closed up all the wombs of the house of Aḇimeleḵ because of Sarah, Aḇraham’s wife.
If we get rid of our unbelief (We may take prayer and fasting) all things are possible!
(Gen 21:1) And יהוה visited Sarah as He had said, and יהוה did for Sarah as He had spoken. (Gen 21:2) So Sarah conceived and bore Aḇraham a son in his old age, at the appointed time of which Elohim had spoken to him. (Gen 21:3) And Aḇraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Yitsḥaq. (Gen 21:4) and Aḇraham circumcised his son Yitsḥaq when he was eight days old, as Elohim had commanded him. (Gen 21:5) And Aḇraham was one hundred years old when his son Yitsḥaq was born to him. (Gen 21:6) And Sarah said, “Elohim has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of it laughs with me.” (Gen 21:7) And she said, “Who would have said to Aḇraham that Sarah would nurse children? I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Gen 21:8) And the child grew and was weaned, and Aḇraham made a great feast on the day that Yitsḥaq was weaned. (Gen 21:9) And Sarah saw the son of Haḡar the Mitsrite, whom she had borne to Aḇraham, mocking. (Gen 21:10) So she said to Aḇraham, “Drive out this female servant and her son, for the son of this female servant shall not inherit with my son, with Yitsḥaq.” (Gen 21:11) And the matter was very evil in the eyes of Aḇraham because of his son. (Gen 21:12) But Elohim said to Aḇraham, “Let it not be evil in your eyes because of the boy and because of your female servant. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice, for in Yitsḥaq your seed is called. (Gen 21:13) “And of the son of the female servant I also make a nation, because he is your seed.” (Gen 21:14) And Aḇraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, which he gave to Haḡar, putting it on her shoulder, also the boy, and sent her away. And she left and wandered in the Wilderness of Be’ĕrsheḇa. (Gen 21:15) and the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. (Gen 21:16) And she went and sat down about a bowshot away, for she said, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” And she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. (Gen 21:17) And Elohim heard the voice of the boy, and the messenger of Elohim called to Haḡar from the heavens, and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Haḡar? Do not fear, for Elohim has heard the voice of the boy where he is. (Gen 21:18) “Arise, lift up the boy and hold him with your hand, for I make a great nation of him.” (Gen 21:19) And Elohim opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink. (Gen 21:20) And Elohim was with the boy, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. (Gen 21:21) And he dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Mitsrayim. (Gen 21:22) And it came to be at that time that Aḇimeleḵ and Piḵol, the commander of his army, spoke to Aḇraham, saying, “Elohim is with you in all that you do. (Gen 21:23) “And now, swear to me by Elohim, not to be untrue to me, to my offspring, or to my descendants. Do to me according to the kindness that I have done to you and to the land in which you have dwelt.” (Gen 21:24) And Aḇraham said, “I swear.” (Gen 21:25) And Aḇraham reproved Aḇimeleḵ because of a well of water which Aḇimeleḵ’s servants had seized. (Gen 21:26) And Aḇimeleḵ said, “I do not know who has done this deed. Neither did you inform me, nor did I hear until today.” (Gen 21:27) So Aḇraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Aḇimeleḵ, and the two of them made a covenant. (Gen 21:28) And Aḇraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. (Gen 21:29) And Aḇimeleḵ asked Aḇraham, “What are these seven ewe lambs which you have set by them?” (Gen 21:30) And he said, “Take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, to be my witness that I have dug this well.” (Gen 21:31) So he called that place Be’ĕrsheḇa, because the two of them swore an oath there. (Gen 21:32) Thus they made a covenant at Be’ĕrsheḇa. And Aḇimeleḵ raised with Piḵol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. (Gen 21:33) And he planted a tamarisk tree in Be’ĕrsheḇa, and there called on the Name of יהוה, the Everlasting Ěl. (Gen 21:34) And Aḇraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days.
Do we also trust Him with His promise to us? (Even unto death?)
(Gen 22:1) And it came to be after these events that Elohim tried Aḇraham, and said to him, “Aḇraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” (Gen 22:2) And He said, “Take your son, now, your only son Yitsḥaq, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriyah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I command you.” (Gen 22:3) And Aḇraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Yitsḥaq his son. And he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place which Elohim had commanded him. (Gen 22:4) And on the third day Aḇraham lifted his eyes and saw the place from a distance. (Gen 22:5) So Aḇraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey while the boy and I go over there and worship, and come back to you.” (Gen 22:6) And Aḇraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Yitsḥaq his son. And he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. (Gen 22:7) And Yitsḥaq spoke to Aḇraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “See, the fire and the wood! But where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Gen 22:8) And Aḇraham said, “My son, Elohim does provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” And the two of them went together. (Gen 22:9) And they came to the place which Elohim had commanded him, and Aḇraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order. And he bound Yitsḥaq his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. (Gen 22:10) And Aḇraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son, (Gen 22:11) but the Messenger of יהוה called to him from the heavens and said, “Aḇraham, Aḇraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” (Gen 22:12) And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy, nor touch him. For now I know that you fear Elohim, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (Gen 22:13) And Aḇraham lifted his eyes and looked and saw behind him a ram caught in a bush by its horns, and Aḇraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. (Gen 22:14) And Aḇraham called the name of the place, ‘יהוה Yireh,’ as it is said to this day, “On the mountain יהוה provides.” (Gen 22:15) And the Messenger of יהוה called to Aḇraham a second time from the heavens, (Gen 22:16) and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares יהוה, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, (Gen 22:17) that I shall certainly bless you, and I shall certainly increase your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore, and let your seed possess the gate of their enemies. (Gen 22:18) “And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Gen 22:19) Then Aḇraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Be’ĕrsheḇa. And Aḇraham dwelt at Be’ĕrsheḇa. (Gen 22:20) and it came to be after these events that it was reported to Aḇraham, saying, “See, Milkah too has borne children to your brother Naḥor: (Gen 22:21) “Uts his first-born, and Buz his brother, and Qemu’ĕl the father of Aram, (Gen 22:22) and Keseḏ, and Ḥazo, and Pildash, and Yiḏlaph, and Bethu’ĕl.” (Gen 22:23) And Bethu’ĕl brought forth Riḇqah. These eight Milkah bore to Naḥor, Aḇraham’s brother. (Gen 22:24) His concubine’s name was Re’uwmah; also bore Teḇaḥ, Gaḥam, Taḥash, and Maʽaḵah.
Miraculous will be necessary for us also in the fiery trials of greater darkness!
(2Ki 4:1) And a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared יהוה. And the lender has come to take my two sons to be his slaves.” (2Ki 4:2) And Elisha said to her, “What should I do for you? Inform me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your female servant has none at all in the house except a pot of oil.” (2Ki 4:3) And he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors, empty vessels, do not get a few. (2Ki 4:4) “And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons. Then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the filled ones.” (2Ki 4:5) So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her, and she poured it out. (2Ki 4:6) And it came to be, when the vessels were filled, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” But he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” And the oil ceased. (2Ki 4:7) So she went and informed the man of Elohim, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt. And you and your sons live on the rest.” (2Ki 4:8) And it came to be on a day that Elisha went to Shunĕm, where there was a prominent woman, and she urged him to eat some food. And it came to be, as often as he passed by, that he turned in there to eat some food. (2Ki 4:9) And she said to her husband, “Look, I know that this is a set-apart man of Elohim, who passes by us continually. (2Ki 4:10) “Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall, and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand. And it shall be, whenever he comes to us, let him turn in there.” (2Ki 4:11) And it came to be on a day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. (2Ki 4:12) And he said to Gĕḥazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her, and she stood before him. (2Ki 4:13) And he said to him, “Please say to her, ‘Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What is there to be done for you? Should I speak on your behalf to the sovereign or to the commander of the army?’ ” And she answered, “I am dwelling among my own people.” (2Ki 4:14) And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gĕḥazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” (2Ki 4:15) And he said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. (2Ki 4:16) And he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my master, man of Elohim, do not lie to your female servant!” (2Ki 4:17) And the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had spoken to her. (2Ki 4:18) And the child grew. And it came to be on a day that he went out to his father, to the reapers, (2Ki 4:19) and he said to his father, “My head, my head!” And he said to a servant, “Take him to his mother.” (2Ki 4:20) So he took him and brought him to his mother, and he sat on her knees till noon, and died. (2Ki 4:21) And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of Elohim, and shut the door on him, and went out. (2Ki 4:22) And she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, so that I hurry to the man of Elohim and return.” (2Ki 4:23) And he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well!” (2Ki 4:24) And she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Drive and go, do not slow down, except I speak to you.” (2Ki 4:25) And she went, and came to the man of Elohim at Mount Karmel. And it came to be, when the man of Elohim saw her at a distance that he said to his servant Gĕḥazi, “See, the Shunammite woman. (2Ki 4:26) “Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ ” And she answered, “It is well.” (2Ki 4:27) And she came to the man of Elohim at the hill, and she caught him by the feet, but Gĕḥazi came near to push her away. But the man of Elohim said, “Leave her alone, for her being is bitter in her, and יהוה has hidden it from me, and has not revealed it to me.” (2Ki 4:28) And she said, “Did I ask a son of my master? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?” (2Ki 4:29) And he said to Gĕḥazi, “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. When you meet anyone, do not greet him, and when anyone greets you, do not answer him. And you shall lay my staff on the face of the child.” (2Ki 4:30) And the mother of the child said, “As יהוה lives, and as your being lives, I do not leave you.” And he rose and followed her. (2Ki 4:31) And Gĕḥazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child. But there was no voice and there was no hearing, so he went back to meet him, and reported to him, saying, “The child has not awakened.” (2Ki 4:32) And Elisha came into the house and saw the child was dead, lying on his bed, (2Ki 4:33) and he went in, and shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to יהוה. (2Ki 4:34) And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands, and stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. (2Ki 4:35) And he returned and walked back and forth in the house, then went up and stretched himself out on him. And the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. (2Ki 4:36) And he called Gĕḥazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And she came in to him, and he said, “Pick up your son.” (2Ki 4:37) Then she went in and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and picked up her son and went out.
Let us flee darkness- remove our stubbornness and change our speaking!
(2Pe 2:4) For if Elohim did not spare the messengers (Angels) who sinned, but sent them to Tartaros, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be kept for judgment, (2Pe 2:5) and did not spare the world of old, but preserved Noaḥ, a proclaimer of righteousness, and seven others, bringing in the flood on the world of the wicked, (2Pe 2:6) and having reduced to ashes the cities of Seḏom and Amorah condemned them to destruction – having made them an example to those who afterward would live wickedly, (2Pe 2:7) and rescued righteous Lot, who was oppressed with the indecent behavior of the lawless1 Footnote: 1The Greek word here, and in 3:17, is athesmos (not the usual one, anomos) but it also means “lawless.” (2Pe 2:8) (for day after day that righteous man, dwelling among them, tortured his righteous being by seeing and hearing their lawless works), (2Pe 2:9) then יהוה knows how to rescue the reverent ones from trial and to keep the unrighteous unto the Day of Judgment, to be punished, (2Pe 2:10) and most of all those walking after the flesh in filthy lust and despising authority – bold, headstrong, speaking evil of esteemed ones, (2Pe 2:11) whereas messengers (Angels) who are greater in strength and power do not bring a slanderous accusation against them before the Master.
Loved One- here is my prayer for you and your loved ones as darkness overcomes this world in which we were born for such a battle as this; (Isa 60:1) “Arise; shine, for your light has come! And the esteem (glory) of יהוה has risen upon you. (Isa 60:2) “For look, darkness covers the earth and thick (gross) darkness the peoples. But יהוה rises over you, and His esteem is seen upon you. (Isa 60:3) “And the gentiles (pagans) shall come to your light1 and sovereigns to the brightness of your rising. You will be helped and sustained as you keep the testimony of Yahshua and keep His commands (those are the only ones hasatan makes war against as the rest of earth’s population are already in his camp) As my friend Michael Rood says often- “you will be here until your testimony is finished- so my advice is get a testimony and stretch it out!” I pray you produce much fruit that remains! Thanks for your mighty prayers for us- they are life sustaining!
Shalom to your home Loved One,
Thurston
