The Nature and Fruit of the Spirit

The Nature and Fruit of the Spirit

By

Gary Primo

August 31, 2013

To understand the fruit of the set apart spirit of Yahuwah, one must first understand the nature of this spirit.

The primary purpose of the spirit is to unite all of Yahuwah’s creation with the Creator. This spirit is omni-present and exists in all things supported by the physical realm. It is the life force of the entire creation and when it leaves a certain physical “body” that body no longer lives. It is at the exact moment that our spirit leaves our body that we die. We simply cannot live without it.

To understand this topic further, I feel it is necessary to examine all the scriptures pertaining to the workings of this spirit. The following are the more pertinent to this subject.

Gen.2:7 - And Yahuwah Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

The “breath of life” referred to here is the spirit of Yahuwah. Until this spirit was breathed into the man, he was merely a lifeless mass of molded clay. It was the breathing of the spirit into him that gave him life. (Later, Yahushua would breathe the set-apart spirit into the apostles and other disciples on that infamous Day of Pentecost.) This spirit stays with a man/woman until they reach the end of their allotted time and when it leaves the body, the body returns to a lifeless mass of flesh and blood that eventually returns to the dust from which it was created. Life comes around full circle, just like everything else in this physical realm.

Without the spirit of life, there is no life. It’s as simple as that. If and when Yahuwah decides to withdraw His spirit from any object or living thing, that thing ceases to exist. The fact that we will, at some point in time, be resurrected from the dead by the spirit, tells us that all and any recollection of who we were and what we looked like is found in the spirit, not the flesh or the brain. Yahuwah does not need an actual, physical body to resurrect someone. He can take any clump of dirt and recreate our bodies. It doesn’t matter. It is the information stored in our spirit (within the spirit of Yahuwah) that will guide our resurrection from the dead and determine our reconstruction to our former likeness.

This makes the spirit of Yahuwah the most important factor to all life in the universe. Without it there would simply be no life. All of creation, except for man, seems to be acutely aware of this and follow the guidance of the spirit at all times. Man, however, was deceived into believing that he was already Elohim and that he surely would not die if he sinned. In truth, his spirit really does not die. It cannot. It is the life giving spirit of Yahuwah and since it comes from Yahuwah, it is always His and therefore cannot die. However, it can be withdrawn from which ever life form Yahuwah chooses; and whichever physical body that is, will simply cease to exist.

Remember the fig tree that Yahuwah cursed and caused to die? That is what I am talking about. All Yahuwah had to do was withdraw His spirit from that tree to cause it to die. Apart from the Creator and His spirit, there can be no life physically speaking.

The planet Earth was a dead planet before Yahuwah brought life to it. Even with all the physical elements in place to support physical life as we know it, there is no life in the physical universe apart from the spirit of Yahuwah. The planet Earth did not become alive to all manner of physical creatures until one; Yahuwah created them and two; Yahuwah placed his spirit in them. If Yahuwah were to withdraw His spirit from Earth, all life would parish and Earth would return to its former status.

The Set-apart Spirit

The set-apart spirit of Yahuwah is imparted only to Believers. It is added to the life-giving spirit or the spirit of man that inhabits every human from birth, at baptism.

A word to those who have come to the truth of the set-apart names; if you have not been properly baptized in the name of Yahushua, but by the name “Jesus” only, you might want to get re-baptized in the true name. There is only one name under heaven by which we are saved. If we were baptized in any other name, I would question the legitimacy of such a baptism.

This set-apart spirit connects our minds to Yahuwah’s so that we might become one with him. It is a spirit that is only available to Believers for the very special purpose of guiding us along the path of righteousness and salvation.

This spirit grows and matures in us as we learn the nature of Yahuwah through continued obedience to the universal laws of Yahuwah. The law is part of Yahuwah’s nature. The entire creation is founded on the law. He: therefore, obeys His own laws by nature. Any thought of going against His nature never enters His mind. This is the chief goal of all Believers also – to take on the nature of Yahuwah by internalizing His laws until they become part of our nature too. When we do, we will be truly one with the Creator and His thoughts and will becomes our thoughts and will as well.

After we achieve that state, the fruits of the spirit will become evident in our lives. We will receive power to do wondrous works on the earth, just as Yahushua and his apostles did.

Have you ever wondered why this spirit does not seem to have manifested itself in too many Believers since the time of the apostles? If it has it is a well guarded secret. The only answer that I can come up with is that not too many have attained this same connection with Yahuwah that His Son and the apostles had. Why? I have no idea. Is it a lack of faith? Is it a lack of commitment? Is it that we preoccupy ourselves with the outward keeping of the word only and are not working on internalizing it? (Like the Jews?) Are we too occupied in petty conflicts over different doctrines that we ignore our overall main goal of filling our “cups” with the set-apart spirit and allowing it to perfect our natures?

The set-apart spirit of Yahuwah is His spirit of love. Yahuwah’s (agape) love is so great that it is almost incomprehensible to most humans. After all, who really loves their enemy? Yahuwah does – just as a parent loves a rebellious child regardless of what he/she does.

Learning and adopting this spirit of love is paramount to our spiritual conditioning. If we do not love as Yahuwah loves, we will never internalize His nature; for love is at the root of all Yahuwah’s commandments. Yahuwah loves us deeply and desires that we all succeed in gaining entry into the new creation. That will not be possible unless we are doing everything possible to overcome this world and all its lies (Read the Seven Letters to the Seven Churches – Rev. 2-3); and take on the nature of Yahuwah to the degree that even the thought of sinning no longer enters our minds. According to all of the Seven Letters, there is a very real danger of losing out on salvation if we are not found in the process of overcoming. We will never overcome if we do not work on allowing Yahuwah to fully indwell us and lead us in the Way of Yahuwah to our full glory and potential.

Unclean Spirits

Mark 5:1 - . And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

2 - And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

3 - Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

4 - Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

5 - And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

Obviously there is more than one type of spirit. It is the “general” spirit of Yahuwah that gives and supports all life. The set apart spirit is only available to Believers. However, we also have the spirit of demons that apparently have the power to possess our bodies and make us act in peculiar ways.

This man had both the former spirit from birth (the spirit of man), but the others were added later via demon possession. He not only had one demon spirit but many – a legion. A Roman legion is roughly 450 men. If the term “legion” is supposed to represent a certain number, it is different from a Roman legion, as it is claimed here that there were two thousand demons living in this man.

Unclean spirits are always demonic spirits. They take advantage of our weaknesses and inhabit bodies of the spiritually weak and control them. It takes the set apart spirit of Yahuwah, which He gives only to Believers, to chase out these unclean spirits. There is no physical cure for them.

I am sure you all have read stories in the Old Testament of how the set-apart spirit would enter someone and they would perform miraculous feats of bravery. After they had defeated their enemy, that spirit would depart from them. The fruit that the spirit produced in that individual was super-human strength.

The point is that Yahuwah has the power to give and take back his spirit at will. This goes for both the set apart spirit and the live-giving, spirit of man. Remember the follower who lied to Peter about giving all that he had? He and his wife dropped dead on the spot. Yahuwah took back both spirit’s at once and the couple died both deaths at the very same moment – spiritual and physical.

6 - But when he saw Yahushua afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

7 - And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Yahushua, thou Son of the most high Elohim? I adjure thee by Elohim, that thou torment me not.

8 - For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

9 - And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

10 - And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

11 - Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

12 - And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

14 - And forthwith Yahushua gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

15 - And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

16 - And they come to Yahushua, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

17 - And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

18 - And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

Did this man actually possess two thousand unclean spirits? Anything is possible. The point is that there are evil spirits as well as righteous spirits and one needs the truth and guidance of scriptures to identify one from another. Another point is that only the spirit of Yahuwah has the power to dispel such demonic spirits. There is no pill that will do the trick. Demons do not nor cannot cast out other demons. This is purely a spiritual condition – not a physical one. When these spirits were driven out of him, the man returned to normal. Although there is no further mention of this man later in scriptures, it is my hope that he became a dedicated follower of Yahushua.

What happened to those demon spirits? Did they all die when the swine crashed to their deaths? (I can hear the animal rights groups now). No one knows. They either died or exited the pigs and continued on as demon spirits seeking other humans to possess. But since Yahuwah is their Creator also, the spirit in them must return to Yahuwah also.

Perhaps Yahuwah gave us the spirit of man to test how we would handle that spirit before granting us the spirit of eternal life also. We are (or should be) doing our best to perfect the spirit of eternal life within us now, in this life. When resurrected, our spirit will go through a further purification process removing all remaining impurities so that we can be fully incorruptible.

Born Again of the Spirit

The term “born again’ has become one of much debate in religious circles. Nicodemus was a Pharisee of good report who believed and came to Yahushua to inquire further of him.

John 3:1 - There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 - The same came to Yahushua by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from Elohim: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except Elohim be with him.

3 - Yahushua answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Elohim.

4 - Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 - Yahushua answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohim.

6 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 - Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 - The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Nicodemus was totally baffled by the words of Yahushua. He had never heard of such a thing in all his years of studying the Scriptures. Why? Because no one before Yahushua came had ever been wholly possessed by the set-apart spirit – except temporarily. This is a concept that the Jews still don’t understand.

Yahushua, of course was talking about baptism and the receiving of the set-apart spirit. When one is baptized, one is born of water. When one receives the set-apart spirit, one is born of the spirit. Baptism represents the death of the “old man” and the resurrection of the “new man”. The new man is born of the set-apart spirit. This spirit helps and guides the person during their spiritual journey. Following the actual resurrection, if we pass the judgment, we will have a new spirit put in us that is all righteous and incorruptible. From that point on we will never again ever think to commit sin. It will no longer be part of our nature.

During the time in between we are to be working at making over our nature on our own – to the best of our ability. We need the set-apart spirit to drive out the other spirits (including the spirit of man) until it completely fills us. We do not want a cup that is ¼, ½, or ¾ full; we want a cup that is 100% filled with the set-apart spirit. We want this special spirit to overwhelm ours and replace it. This will not happen if we continue to allow the spirit of man in us to resist the set-apart spirit that Yahuwah is most generously offering us. This will not happen if our focus of the big picture is clouded with endless, meaningless, doctrinal pursuits.

Because the Jews never internalized the laws of Yahuwah, they placed all their confidence in the outward keeping of the law. Perhaps that is why Nicodemus did not understand what Yahushua was talking about. Yet, he must have been familiar with the following prophesy from the Book of Joel:

Joel 2:28 - And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 - And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30 - And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 - The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of Yahuwah come.

32 - And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahuwah shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as Yahuwah hath said, and in the remnant whom Yahuwah shall call.

This spirit was clearly prophesied to come. Perhaps because it was yet future and the Jews did not fully comprehend it, they chose to ignore it. The point is that this was never taught in rabbinical school. It was a totally new concept that the Jewish elite simply could not fathom or accept, because it did not come out of their Talmud. It was in the Torah but they could not comprehend it.

The Spirit of Truth

John 4:23 - But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.

24 – Elohim is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

17 - Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither know him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.

John 15:26 - But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27 - And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

14 - He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

15 - All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

According to Bullinger, the term “holy spirit”, was never originally preceded by the word “the”, implying that it was a thing, not a person. However, the Greeks had masculine and feminine words and phrases, which the Trinitarian translators took advantage of to promote the “Holy Spirit” (masculine) as the third part of a 3 part being in spite of the claims by Yahuwah, himself, that there was no other Elohim other than He. On top of that the term “only begotten son” infers that Yahushua was an offspring of the Father – a separate created spirit being.

Likewise, the term “the Comforter” also comes into question. Was this merely another description of the spirit of truth; or was it purposely injected by Trinitarian translators to support their bogus theory? I believe it was a description of the same spirit of truth, because of the comfort that knowing the truth brings.

The term “spirit of truth” describes yet another aspect of the nature of the spirit. It guides us in all truth in regard to the Way of Yahuwah. Of course we are still at war with the spirit of man dwelling in us, so this is often an uphill battle. We are then to apply that truth in our daily lives until it become our nature to do so. That brings us one step closer to being fully one with the Creator.

Yahushua has received (upon ascension) the full inheritance of the Father. It is his to do with as he pleases, even though his pleasure is that of the Father’s also. Yahushua is not like greedy men, who would not want to share their inheritance. Yahushua wants to share all that is his with us. Remember, that the Father created the son, and the son created everything else. Therefore, the son is actually our father and the Creator is our Grandfather. The two terms are interchangeable in the Hebrew. Therefore, the son loves his children in the exact same manner as the Creator Elohim loved him. So we must not look on Yahushua only as our eldest brother, but as our father, too. What parent worth their salt would not want to bequeath all that they have acquired to their children?

What is it that we will acquire? The full spirit of Yahuwah – the spirit of eternal life. Along with the power that comes with that spirit, we will want for nothing ever again.

Fruits of the Spirit

Acts 2:3 - And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

What I wouldn’t have given to have witnessed this event. Every time I read this verse I try to imagine (without success) what those cloven tongues might have looked like. This was a literal manifestation of the spirit and only the second one of such throughout the entire Scriptures. The first was of Moshe’s encounter with the burning bush. As you recall, the bush appeared to be ablaze but was not consumed. This was a spiritual flame.

4 - And they were all filled with the set-apart, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 - And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 - Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 - And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?

The travelers knew that the men speaking were native Galileans and could not have possibly known all these different languages. Therefore, they marveled when each man heard them in their own native tongue. This is what speaking in tongues really means – not uttering a bunch of gibberish that no one understands save for one “translator”. If the need ever arises where we need to glorify Yahuwah before a crowd, we may likely witness firsthand this particular fruit of the spirit.

Gifts of the Spirit

1 Cor. 12:1 - Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 - Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3 - Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of Elohim calls Yahushua accursed: and that no man can say that Yahushua is Yahuwah, but by the Holy Spirit.

4 - Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 - And there are differences of administrations, but the same Master.

6 - And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same Elohim which works all in all.

7 - But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 - For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 - To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 - To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 - But all these worked that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Shaul is clearly speaking to a Greek/Gentile audience and accuses them of once being “carried away unto these dumb idols”. He states that any man who calls Yahushua accursed did not possess this coveted spirit. He also states that any who did receive and possess this spirit would rightfully call Yahushua “Elohim”, because it was he who created all things through the Father.

The gifts of the spirit, Shaul declares, are not the result of multiple spirits but of only one. Shaul likely emphasized this point because the Gentiles were used to worshiping a host of different deities for different purposes. Shaul want to make sure they understood that there was only one Creator and that all else that lived were the result of the creation, and therefore, not to be worshipped as gods.

The gifts of the spirit are as follows:

1 – Wisdom – to understand and do the will of Yahuwah.

2 – Knowledge – of the truth.

3 – Faith – complete and total trust in Yahuwah.

4 – Healing – both physical and spiritual.

5 – Miracles – that defy the laws of physics and baffle the worldly-wise.

6 – Prophesy – glimpses into the future.

7 – Discerning of Spirits – telling Yahuwah’s spirit from the demonic spirits.

8 - Diversity of tongues – when you speak, everyone hears you in his/her own language.

9 – Interpretation of tongues – when someone talks to you in a foreign tongue, you hear them in your own language.

I am sure that there are more “gifts” of the spirit than these. The point is that these can only result from having the spirit of Yahuwah dwelling in us. Without it, we would be ordinary, worldly men/women. These are some of the gifts that identify us as belonging to Yahuwah.

In the tradition Christian churches and even some non-traditional churches, these gifts are stifled and discouraged. They are reserved; it seems, only for the ministry. I knew one woman in my former church that possessed the gift of healing and was disfellowshipped when she refused to “leave her gift at the door”.

Do not stifle your gifts, folks. They are freely given and Yahuwah wants you to use them. By using our gifts, we glorify Yahuwah’s name before the rest of the unbelieving world. Do not be embarrassed nor ashamed. Be proud to glorify Yahuwah by the use of these precious gifts.

Step out of your shell (in faith) with confidence that this is what Yahuwah is requiring of you. We are all part of a team. Each member of a team has a special skill (or gift) that is essential to the whole body working as one. Yahuwah is depending on us.

1 Cor:15:35 - But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

2 - Thou fool, that which thou sows is not quickened, except it die:

3 - And that which thou sows, thou sows not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

4 - But Elohim gives it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

5 - All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

6 - There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

7 - There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another star in glory.

8 - So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

9 - It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

10 - It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

If we all had all the gifts, we would not need one another. Yahuwah wants us to be interdependent, counting on each other to unite into one body – the body of Yahuwah. We do not need to belong to any man-made church to be part of the body of Yahuwah. I am sure that he is looking for those who will stand before him on their own and open their hearts and minds to Him alone. We will not be able to stand behind or point the finger at any church or man as an excuse for our failure to measure up to the stature of Yahushua. There will always be three fingers pointing back at us.

Those of us that have received the set-apart spirit of Yahuwah have so received because we pleased Yahuwah. In other words, Yahuwah chose us, we did not choose him. I am sure there are many out there like myself who can attest to this.

I began reading the Scriptures as an atheist looking for evidence that the Scriptures were nonsense that I could use in my atheistic arguments. In the process I “heard” the voice of Yahuwah speaking to my conscience and he made me over into a Believer. The point is that most of us did not come to Yahuwah under our own initiative but rather, it was He who did something extraordinary to wake us up and open our eyes to His truth.

Everything in creation has its own glory. The Creator has the glory of being the ever-living Creator. The Son has the glory of being the Only Begotten Son and the first to complete the plan of Yahuwah and receive eternal life. Each of us has a separate glory for which our names may be one day immortalized. We were not made to all be the same. We were meant to be many units working together to satisfy one cause. Therefore, do not be jealous of someone else’s gift, but glorify Yahuwah for your own gift. It is every bit as essential to the body as the other person’s. The body is only complete when all of its various parts are working in harmony – just like the sun and the moon work in harmony to illuminate the earth, one by night and the other by day.

In death, our bodies are sown (buried) in corruption, but they are raised in incorruption (spirit). But not all are going to be raised incorruptible. There are surely some that will be raised who did nothing with their spiritual gift and therefore were of no use to the body. There will also be some who crack under the Tribulation and forsake the name of Yahuwah. Such will be raised yet corruptible, put on trial and sentenced to eternal death.

Our job is to overcome the world and glorify Yahuwah’s name before kings and rulers who want nothing more than to kill us. Some of are going to be martyred; but even in that we have an opportunity to glorify Yahuwah’s name in a very special and undeniable way. Be not afraid of martyrdom. Yahuwah will be right beside us holding our hand through the Tribulation, no matter what fate awaits us. We will be raised incorruptible. It is all for the glory of Yahuwah.

The Second Adam

1 Cor. 15:45 - And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

46 - Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 - The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Master from heaven.

48 - As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 - And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 - Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Elohim; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 - Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 - For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 - So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 - O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 - The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 - But thanks be to Elohim, which gives us the victory through our Master Yahushua HaMashiyack.

Adam was first created as a type of Yahushua. When he failed in his office, there arose a need for Yahushua to come as the “Second Adam” and give mankind the opportunity to get back on the path originally shown to (but rejected by) Adam. Adam’s body was sown in corruption and with be raised corruptible still – to be judged and punished with eternal death. The Second Adam was sown in incorruption and was raised in incorruption. He ascended up to the Father on the first day of His resurrection to be judged and rewarded with His new body. He now stands as the Firstborn of the new (spiritual) creation – the first to complete the plan of Yahuwah. This could have been Adam’s glory if he had not given into the serpent.

The point here that we have to remember is that nothing that remains corruptible is going to be allowed into the Kingdom of Yahuwah. We may not perfect our nature during our earthly presence, but our efforts to become perfect are qualified through Yahushua’s sacrifice and attributed to us as incorruption. Is it impossible to attain full spiritual perfection while in the flesh? No, but it is difficult.

There will be some who are alive at the end time (the 144,000) that will not be required to taste death. What do you suppose it will be that qualifies them for this distinction? Will it be because they belonged to the “right” church? Will it be because they paid tithes to and prayed for a certain charismatic leader to do all the work for them? Will it be because they hid their gift of the spirit under a bushel and did nothing to advance the glory of Yahuwah before the world?

No! It will be those who took the gift they were given and used it to glorify Yahuwah’s name before as many witnesses that they could. If you have the gift of healing, go to the nearest hospital and use it. Who needs to witness the glory of Yahuwah more than those poor souls?

We are not called to a life of idleness. We are called to do a work. If we profess belief and faith in Yahushua, and yet, are not willing to do what He requires of us, such a profession is worthless. It is like arriving at your place of employment and sitting in the break room all day. How long will you have that job – a day, if that?

All of our gifts are given for a purpose – to declare the gospel and glorify the name of Yahuwah before an unbelieving world. These gifts help us to qualify our words. They make our words believable. Do not be afraid to use these gifts. Have confidence in Yahuwah that He has given us these gifts for a purpose and he will not let us down or make us look foolish. He wants His name glorified. He wants you and I to participate in glorifying His name. This is what will qualify us to be part of the elite group that will not see (physical) death (if indeed we are alive at the time of the end). This will qualify us to be raised from the dead, incorruptible and fit for the Kingdom.

Yahuwah has purposed that we all be a part of the victory over death. The sting of death is sin, or it is sin that leads us to death. The strength of sin, or the power to overcome sin, is the law. Therefore, we cannot overcome sin apart from the law. And yet, it is not merely the outward keeping of the law that qualifies us, but the fact that we have written the laws on our minds and in our hearts, changing our nature, so that we no longer even harbour any thought of sinning. Righteousness is our banner, and we must project that image before the world, giving glory at all times to Yahuwah – for we can do nothing of ourselves without Him. In the same manner, a nail is useless without a hammer (or nail gun) to drive it into the wood. We, ourselves, have nothing to boast of.

Other Spirits

2 Cor. 11:3 - But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to HaMashiyack.

4 - For if someone comes to you and preaches a Yahushua other than the Yahushua we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

What does it mean to preach a “different Yahushua”? Well, according to one author, there were 16 crucified “saviours” throughout all of history including the man from Galilee. These included such mystical figures as Dionysus, Apollo, Krishna and Mithras. However, I would maintain that the Greek “Jesus” could also be added to the list of “other Yahushua’s”. Since it is a name that honours a false deity, the “person of “Jesus” must also be false. Using this name in reference to the Jewish Messiah dishonours his true name.

The different spirit here is the spirit of lawlessness. This is the spirit that permeated the human race following Adam’s sin and afterward the Christian Church. They attempted to separate the physical keeping of the law from the spiritual and ended up doing neither. Look at where the Christian Church is today. Divorces have become common place. Their children are growing up disobedient and disorderly. Some are allowing practicing homosexuals into their assemblies and even into the ministry, accepting their behavior as “normal” and spiritually acceptable. They sacrifice their unborn through abortions. Even adultery is winked at.

The thing that many are not getting is that you cannot separate the physical keeping of the law from the spiritual. We only have the law written on our mind and heart when the thought to sin no longer even enters our mind. To achieve that state, we must practice the physical keeping of the law until it becomes our nature to obey. I am talking about all sin here – from gossip to murder. Homosexuality is simply one of many sins, and if we sin in one, we sin in all. And I think all will agree that the tongue is the most difficult thing to control other than our thoughts. However, if a homosexual refuses to stop his sinful behavior he/she should not be allowed in the assembly; just as a chronic gossiper should not be tolerated.

Practice makes perfect. Therefore, by practicing the law repeatedly on the physical level we perfect the nature of the Creator in us. Folks, the Creator built these laws into the original creation. They are part of His nature. We are to be found in the process of becoming like Him. We do that by taking on His nature, which we can only know from learning and living lives of obedience to the Supreme Lawmaker.

People will more readily obey an earthly ruler than the Creator of all live. They would rather worship a long dead, pagan deity than the One and Only True Elohim. It is in our nature to do so. By obeying the edicts of a long dead Roman Emperor, the Christian faith worships Constantine rather than Yahuwah. Therefore, being aware of this negative aspect in our nature is the first step in educating ourselves concerning recognizing the difference between the real Messiah and all the false ones as well as all the other false spirits out there.

What about the gospel, itself? Is the gospel the Christians preach different from the one the Apostles taught? It certainly is. They may not have changed (all) the words but they certainly have changed their meanings. Take the time to compare the ancient Mithraic doctrines with the Christian. It will be very plain to see where they got their doctrines from.

Most “put up with it easily enough” because it is their nature to do so. We must put away this nature of lawlessness and put on Yahuwah’s nature of perfect righteousness. We may not perfect it in our life time, but our efforts will be accounted to us as righteousness and our nature will be fully perfected for us when we are changed from mortal to immortal.

It takes much effort and hard work to change one’s nature. Think about a case of adopting a child who is about 12 years old and has been traumatized from child abuse and is acting out severely. How much work and effort will it take to turn that child around and “change his nature”? It is not that the child wants to be bad; or even realizes that he is being bad. He is simply acting out on impulse. And so we sin by impulse. Sometimes we don’t even realize we did it until afterwards (if at all).

We have the uniquely difficult job of changing our own nature. Of course, we are not doing that all on our own. We are getting volumes of help for Yahuwah. This is what overcoming is all about. The path is easy if you allow it to be and stop resisting the spirit.

2 Cor. 12:17 - Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

18 - I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

19 - Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before Elohim in HaMashiyack: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

20 - For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

21 - And lest, when I come again, my Elohim will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

Neither Shaul nor the emissaries he sent took anything away from the Corinthians; but rather, they gave to them. Everything they did and taught was for the Corinthian’s edification. They were gaining nothing personally save the joy of serving Yahushua. This is the way it should be with all who are seeking to serve Yahuwah. Yet, there are some to be found who seem to be more interested in stroking their own ego and increasing their bank accounts, than imparting any real edification to others.

The negative behaviors addressed in verse 20 are attributes of the spirit of man. These people were resisting the Spirit of Yahuwah because their arrogance would not “allow” them to change, or desire to change. They did not want to change a thing about themselves. They felt they had the right to enter the Kingdom as they were. Shaul was telling them that this was not the case. These undesirable attributes are often seen in churches and on the internet. Beware of such.

How are the terms unclean, fornication and lasciviousness defined outside of the law? They simply do not exist outside the law, for everything that is outside the law is natural to the spirit of man. Therefore, we must put off the “old man” and put on the new by putting off what is natural and put on what is unnatural – the Spirit of Yahuwah.

Gal.3:1 - You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Yahushua HaMashiyack was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 - I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 - Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing? 5 - Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

These Galatians were repeating the error of the Jews – patting themselves on the backs for keeping the law outwardly, while making no effort to internalize it. They thought that their salvation was guaranteed by this outward keeping of the law only, meanwhile it was only a breeding ground for self-righteousness.

The Galatians were Gentiles, and therefore were not fully familiar with the laws of Yahuwah before they heard the gospel preached to them. Still they believed, and so, Yahuwah gave them of His spirit because of their belief, not because they were keeping the law. Therefore, belief outweighs obedience in regards to qualifying to receive the spirit of Yahuwah. Obedience does not come into play until after one receives the spirit through belief in Yahuwah. He gives us His spirit to help us learn the rest of what is required for salvation through obedience, practicing keeping the law and internalizing it, to perfect our nature and become one with Yahuwah. It helps us to overcome our naturally lawless nature to become righteous servants of Yahuwah.

Clearly the theme of these verses is the receiving of the spirit, not salvation. One first receives the spirit, and then the spirit guides them to all righteousness and the writing of the law on our minds and hearts. Once we have truly internalized the law, any more thought to sin should no longer exist.

Numerous other statements made by Shaul make it clear that the law is not “done away with”. Clearly that was not his intent here either. He was merely stating the fact that the receiving of the spirit of Yahuwah was not contingent upon obedience to the law, but rather, by belief in the gospel message. If one believes in one of the counterfeit gospels (like the Christian one) it is not Yahuwah’s spirit that they are receiving but one of the “other” spirits. They mimic the words but misconstrue (or purposely corrupt) the meanings. Shaul was a true apostle and truly believed the Messiah, therefore, he would have understood and believed Yahushuas words starting in Matt. 5:17.

Matt. 5: 17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Our righteousness only surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law when we internalize the laws and write them on our hearts and in our minds, obeying by nature, not the out keeping of the law only.

Heaven and earth have not yet disappeared; therefore, the law still stands as it always has.

Gal. 5:1 - It is for freedom that HaMashiyack has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Is Shaul referring to freedom from the law and sin or freedom from the penalty of sin? If the law is done away, so is sin and the penalty of sin. If sin is now lawful, what need do we have for salvation? There would simply be nothing to be saved from. The freedom that Shaul is talking about is freedom from the penalty of eternal death which we were all under before we “believed” the gospel of Yahushua. Our belief earned us the spirit of Yahuwah to guide through all the other aspects of salvation. 2 - Mark my words! I, Shaul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, HaMashiyack will be of no value to you at all. 3 - Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 - You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Hamashiyack; you have fallen away from grace. 5 - But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 - For in HaMashiyack Yahushua neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Shaul is clearly talking about attitude here. There were still those who thought that “justification” came from adherence to the law; however, Paul was telling them that justification came by faith, not the law. The idea of justification by the law comes naturally to man. It is something his human nature can more easily understand and because of man’s slothfulness, he desires to remain inside his comfort zone. The things of the spirit are foreign to man and we naturally are inclined to resist expending the effort to understand it. It is like moving to a foreign country and refusing to learn the language.

It was the attitude of the Galatians that was troubling Shaul. They had no problem following the law physically but could not wrap their minds around the concept of internalizing the law. Therefore, they felt they were justified by the physical keeping of the law only. This was merely repeating the error of the Jews. If they were getting circumcised merely to comply with the physical keeping of the law and thinking that this act would justify them, then their attitude was wrong. They were developing the attitude that it was by their own actions that they were justified. It is not possible for physical man to attain justification by his own works. That is where self-righteousness comes from.

We were under the penalty of death, just the same as someone sitting on death row. Then we heard the word of Yahuwah and believed Him. That is when Yahuwah granted us a complete pardon for our crimes. Does that mean we are free to go out and commit another crime? No, of course not! If we do we place ourselves right under the death penalty again. When we realize our crimes and repent of them, we must never commit them again. The way to ensure that we do not commit them again is to write the law on our mind and in our heart, so that the mere thought of recommitting never again enters the mind.

7 - You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 - That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 - "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 - I am confident in Yahuwah that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11 - Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 - As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves 13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

When we successfully write the laws of Yahuwah on our minds and hearts we will no longer possess the thought to sin. That is the freedom that Shaul is talking about. We are free from sin and the penalty for sin because it is no longer in our nature to commit it or even think it.

These Galatians started off on the right track, but then someone came along and persuaded them that it was by the physical keeping of the law only that they were justified. That is simply not possible. If the inner man is incorruptible, so will the outer man be. It is only by the spirit of Yahuwah living in us and guiding us that any one of us is able to internalize the law and change our nature. We obey merely to please Yahuwah, not justify ourselves.

We are not to “use this freedom to indulge the sinful nature”. In other words this freedom does not give us license to sin freely. Rather it grants us freedom from sin; for once we internalize the law, the will to sin no longer exists.

The laws of Yahuwah reveal His nature to us, so that we may know Him better and better be able to assimilate that nature in ourselves. That was the whole purpose of the law from the beginning. Adam couldn’t fathom it. The Israelites couldn’t fathom it. The Christians did not even try to fathom it; they merely cast the law out of the equation altogether.

Yahuwah’s nature is pure living love. His laws were built into the creation to reveal the nature of Yahuwah to all of mankind (and the angels also). HaSatan was the picture of perfection outwardly. However, inwardly he was a stinking cesspool of self-righteousness and sin. We want to be clean inside and out. To accomplish this we must first clean the inner man and the outer man will become clean by nature. It is by faith and belief that we gain the will to clean up that inner man and to grow into the full stature of Yahushua. Our faith is not in the physical keeping of the law to save us, but in the man who brought the law; who by nature “was” the law.

Yahushua is living proof that it is possible for the creation to become like the Creator – living love. We must look upon the creation as the Creator does and love the creation like the Creator does. We must love all the creation like we love ourselves.

16 - So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 - For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

When we live by the spirit it is our greatest desire to allow Yahuwah to transform our nature from sinful to sinless. We work on the “will” to sin that is buried deep in our nature. If we eliminate the will to sin, we eliminate sin from our lives altogether because it will never again enter our minds to do so. Once our nature is sinless, the law no longer applies to us for it is impossible for us to break the law. We become living love and living law.

Love conquers sin in two ways – love towards the Creator and love towards the creation. We end up loving both Yahuwah and our fellow man with equal and unwavering affection. 18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 - The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 - idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 - and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of Elohim.

Keep in mind that the Corinthians began the same way we did. They are no different than us. They, at one time, knew and understood the truth. But then, along came the tares and sowed themselves amongst the wheat, attempting to overwhelm and destroy the wheat. How many of such have we encountered along our spiritual journey?

The “fruits” of our present sinful nature are listed above and even they are not all. I am sure (or, at least I hope) that none of the first five apply to any of us. However, I have witnessed the next eight (hatred to envy) in pretty much every church or group I have been with. Therefore, I must conclude that many do not possess a nature that is free from sin and are not even working on it. Instead they only work on appearing perfect on the outside only and are not even addressing the inner cleansing. This is exactly what the Corinthians were doing also.

“If” we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the law because the law is no longer necessary. We obey by nature. If we are not led by the spirit, we still are still under the old sinful nature, and thereby still under the law. Changing our nature is a humungous undertaking and if we don’t even try, we will never attain it. We will always look to the outward keeping of the law to justify ourselves.

New Gentile converts to the faith had to learn this concept; however, they were not familiar with all of the law and therefore had to learn it and understand it before they could internalize it and make it part of their nature. That is why the apostles agreed (in Acts 15) that they should only be made to observe 4 primary laws before accepting them into the assembly. And afterword it says: Acts 15:21 - For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."

Obviously it was intended that they go to the synagogues every Sabbath from then on in to learn the rest of the law that was delivered to Israel by Moses. They were then to practice the law until it became totally ingrained in their nature making them free from the law. That is our goal as well. As long as we are led by our old sinful nature, we will always be under the law and part of the group who “will not inherit the kingdom of Elohim”.

22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 - gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 - Those who belong to Yahushua HaMashiyack have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 - Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 - Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

As can plainly be seen, the fruits of the spirit of Yahuwah are all about attitudes. Once we have these attitudes in place the law falls naturally in behind. The law was only established because these attitudes were absent from our human nature to varying degrees. This is because when Adam sinned, he took on the nature of the god of this world, HaSatan. He then passed on that nature on to all of mankind. We also have HaSatan working feverishly to maintain that nature of lawlessness in us by casting stumbling blocks in our way.

We need to “crucify the sinful nature” by replacing it with the nature of Yahuwah, which is basically uncompromising love. When successful we will no longer exhibit the fruits of our old sinful nature. The desire to sin will be non-existent; and the thought to sin will never again enter our mind.

Yahushua came to be the example we are to follow. He was a product of the creation as we all are. He came to prove that it is possible to achieve victory over the death penalty we are currently under and to graduate to the new creation, of which he is the Firstborn.

When Yahushua was born of flesh and blood, the spirit of man was added to Yahushua’s, so that he could feel our infirmities. Yet, he never succumbed to his human spirit because the spirit of Yahuwah was simply too strong in him. It overwhelmed his human spirit and any desire to sin. He would not have set this example for us if it were not possible to achieve. Therefore, I maintain that it is possible and this is what we all should be working on.

Verse 26 I have seen far too often. When my former church, the Worldwide Church of God, split up, a great number of people started up their own ministries claiming that they had all the truth and that we were to pay our tithes to and follow them.

There is only one that we need to follow and that is Yahushua. He works with each of us personally according to our needs. We do not have need of any man to stand on our behalf before Yahuwah. We should trust no man with our salvation. We must be able to stand on our own two feet in the judgment. We won’t be able to do that I we are unable to stand on our feet even in this physical life.

Eph. 4:1 - As a prisoner for Yahuwah, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 - Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 - Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 - There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called 5 - one Master, one faith, one baptism; 6 - one Elohim and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 - But to each one of us grace has been given as HaMashiyack apportioned it. 8 - This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." 9 - (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ? 10 - He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 - It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 - to prepare Elohim's people for works of service, so that the body of HaMashiyack may be built up 13 - until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of Elohim and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of HaMashiyack. 14 - Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 - Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, HaMashiyack. 16 - From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

We live a life worthy of our calling when we do the work we are intended to do. If we receive the spirit and do nothing with it, we are unworthy of our calling. There is only one calling and one hope. If we casually dismiss that for which we were called, we will lose that hope that comes with it. Like the old saying goes, if you don’t use it, you will lose it.

We are called as babes in the assembly. Many simply want to remain babes, being spoon fed all the time. With maturity comes more responsibility and expectations. As long as one resists maturing, they will not attain the full stature of HaMashiyack.

We are all called for different purposes, each as essential to the body as the next. Therefore do not be jealous of another’s gift. Instead, give glory to Yahuwah for the gift you did receive and be assured that you (and your gift) are every bit as important to the grand plan as the other guy.

Eph. 5:8 - For you were once darkness, but now you are light in Yahuwah. Live as children of light 9 - (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 - and find out what pleases Yahuwah. 11- Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

What are we? We are children of light. When Moses was filled with the spirit, his face shone like the sun. According to the Book of Jasher, when Noah was born a bright light shone from his eyes that illuminated the entire room. When Yahushua was transformed before the disciples on top of the mountain, His face shone like the sun. This is what a child of the light is supposed to look like when the spirit of Yahuwah fully indwells them and they are totally one with the Creator. They can do all the things Yahushua did when He manifested Himself before us. What could possibly be more important in a person’s spiritual life than taking on this nature?

The fruit of the light consists in ALL goodness, ALL righteousness, and ALL truth. There must be no darkness left in us. We must take advantage of the spirit to push the darkness out of us.

The ONLY way to measure righteousness is by the law. When we fully possess the spirit of righteousness, we will be righteous by nature and never have to concern ourselves with breaking the law. It will be impossible. It will be like forgetting to breathe.

All the truth that we need to know right now is in the pages of the Scriptures, in plain black and white for us all to read and learn. We must study them, test our understanding of what we think is the truth and see if it holds water. There must be harmony throughout the entire Scriptures on any given topic for it to be true. Believe no man (especially me) but search and prove all things for yourself.

1 Thes. 5:16 - Be joyful always; 17 - pray continually; 18 - give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Elohim’s will for you in HaMashiyack Yahushua. 19 - Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 - do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21- Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 - Avoid every kind of evil.

The above are the attitudes we are to have when pursuing the word and things of Yahuwah. We have everything to be joyous about. We were chosen (personally) by Yahuwah to be part of the first wave of humans to be changed to spirit beings and enter into the Eternal Kingdom of Yahuwah. What greater privilege is there? We need no other reason to be “joyous always”.

Praying continuously means that we are in constant communication with Yahuwah. He knows our every thought and we can know His by allowing His spirit to fully indwell us and guide us in all that we do.

I know it is difficult to give thanks in all circumstances and often we cannot fathom why Yahuwah is allowing diverse afflictions to plague us. All I can tell you is that there are lessons to be learned from every experience that comes our way – good and bad. We should be looking at even the most unwelcomed situations to see what lessons we should be learning and what positive things we can take away from the experience. Even in death, we must trust in Yahuwah that He really does have power over death and is fully capable of resurrecting us to eternal life. We can look to the spiritual to overcome the physical in every situation – even as the great martyrs of the past did when facing their trial.

There is only one way to put out the Spirit’s fire; and that is to completely turn ones back on Yahuwah and return to the world. If you are still hanging in there and giving it your all, you are safe.

Treating Yahuwah’s prophesies with contempt is the way of mankind. Man has done so since he was first created. I would like to think that there are none amongst us Believers who do so.

“Test everything” is the best advice Yahuwah can give us. HaSatan’s lies have permeated every aspect of our society and our daily lives. They are multi-layered in that one lie covers another. They are like a Pandora’s Box.

“Holding on to what is good” is not as easy as many may assume. I have witnessed many who have left off following this principle.

Avoiding evil is the toughest one. We are surrounded by it. It assaults us continuously 24/7.

2 Thes. 2:13 - But we ought always to thank Elohim for you, brothers loved by Yahuwah, because from the beginning Elohim chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 - He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Master Yahushua HaMashiyack. 15 - So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

There you have it, folks. Yahuwah chose us, not the other way around. It is such a unique experience – to be chosen out of 7 billion people to share in the glory that presently belongs to Yahushua alone; to be the firstborn of mortal men and women to enter into the new, eternal, spiritual creation.

Many do not have the slightest clue why we were called out of this world. We see nothing special about ourselves – and, really, there is nothing special about us. It is the spirit dwelling in us that makes us special. If you wish for Yahuwah to reveal to you why - “ask and you shall receive”. However, I might caution you that the answer may not be what you expect or are willing to pursue; such as taking the gospel message to some pagan, earthly king, knowing that you are likely going to suffer death for doing so. That is the trial the apostles faced.

We sanctify the “work of the spirit” by “belief in the truth”. We don’t have to have it all right, but our efforts to learn and treasure all truth, is accounted to us for righteousness. Yahuwah looks on the heart and attitude.

To share in the glory of our Master, Yahushua HaMashiyack is the greatest reward that anyone could ask for. Yet, we didn’t even ask for it. Yahuwah chose us. How much more should we rejoice, knowing this truth? We did not nor could not do anything to “earn” this distinction.

The future that we look forward to is one of eternal life in a glorious new spiritual creation; in which we will be Kings and Priests, as well as teachers to those living during the millennial rule of Yahushua. And, that is not the end of the glory that awaits us, but the beginning. The rewards will be endless.

We must hold firm to the teachings that Yahushua and His apostles handed down to us. The evidence supports the fact that some did not follow this simple instruction; but, rather, pursued every whim of pagan doctrine imaginable. The result – the Christian religion – the pinnacle of the wisdom and cunning of Rome.

2 Tim. 1: 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of Elohim, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 - For Elohim did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 8 - So do not be ashamed to testify about our Master, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of Elohim, 9 - who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in HaMashiyack Yahushua before the beginning of time, 10 - but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, HaMashiyack Yahushua, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 - And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 - That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 13 - What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in HaMashiyack Yahushua. 14 - Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the set-apart spirit that lives in us.

If Yahuwah has revealed to you what your gift is, relish it, pursue the power of that gift and give glory to Yahuwah for giving it to you. We must use this gift for the glorification of Yahuwah, not ourselves. We have been given the spirit of power, love and self-discipline. Believe it. Seek it out. Cherish it. Use it to glorify the name of our Creator, our Elohim.

The power of Yahuwah will support us through our suffering for the spreading of the gospel. In doing so, we are standing up to the evil forces that have a firm grip on this global population. What is the worst thing that can happen? The worst thing that can happen is that we suffer imprisonment, torture and death. However, Yahuwah has the power over death, and he promises to resurrect us to glory. If we fully believe him, His spirit will comfort us through our sufferings and will reward us following the resurrection.

We were called for Yahuwah’s purpose and grace, not our own. This “grace” was appointed to Yahushua before the beginning of time. Because of our belief, this grace is transferred upon us. Just as we receive it from Yahushua, Yahushua received it from the Father. By it, Yahushua destroyed death and revealed the path to eternal life through the gospel.

Shaul was called to be a herald, an apostle and a teacher. As we will soon see in the book of James, being a teacher carries with it some dangerous risks. Yet Shaul was willing to suffer anything in the service of Yahuwah; and so should we.

The “good deposit” is the knowledge of the good news of the gospel. It is the revelation of Yahuwah’s intent for mankind and how we can achieve it. We have been truly blessed in having heard, understood and believed this knowledge. The majority of the population did not believe Yahushua; neither will they believe us. They will ridicule us; call us crazy and try to kill us. That certainly does not paint a very rosy picture, does it? No one said it was going to be easy; and no one is going to get a “free ride”.

This is what the parable of the talents is all about – what you do with what you are given. He who hides his gift lightly and does nothing with it will be called “least” in the Kingdom. Those who take their gift and maximize the return on it will be called the greatest in the Kingdom. This is the title we seek. This is the reward we hope for.

(Note: I highly recommend reading the entire Book of James. I have only highlighted a few verses below but it is filled with good advice.)

James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask Elohim, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 - But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Ask Elohim! It really is that simple! The mistake that most make is in seeking out some man who has all the answers. There is no such thing. Not even Dr. Phil has all the answers. Anyone who promotes the concept that they do have all the answer is someone to avoid at all costs. Only Yahuwah has all the answers and we must seek those answers from Him alone. We must treat all men as liars until we test their words. The only source of truth is Yahushua. If anyone’s words do not match those of HaMashiyack, we are to turn away from that person.

Some who take up the challenge of asking Yahuwah do not like His answer and resist it. Once we receive knowledge and wisdom from Yahuwah, we become responsible for that it and must act on it; else we risk losing the talent (gift) that Yahuwah has given us and it will be given to another.

Doubt is the greatest deterrent to seeking the will of Yahuwah in our lives. We have been trained to doubt since birth. It comes to us as natural as breathing. We must resist all doubt. We must believe and step out in faith to do the work of the spirit (the spreading of the gospel). Those that have gone before us and have suffered physical death are guaranteed a top position in the Kingdom. Would you not like that to be said of you as well?

James 1:19 - My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 - for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that Elohim desires.

I cannot count how many angry responses I have received during my spiritual journey in regards to the conclusions I derive from my studies. Yet all they ever do is regurgitate the words of some other man – someone they have a higher regard for than even Yahushua, himself. Initially, I feel anger too. However, I always take several days to answer such responses. Usually by that time I have formulated a dialogue that I feel promotes the love of Yahuwah, not my anger. This is not easy, especially for someone who has been a hothead all their life (like me). Yet it is possible with the help of the spirit.

26 - If anyone considers himself religious (spiritual) and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 - Religion that Elohim our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

I do not like the word “religious” (origin – “legions of Raw” {the Egyptian sun deity}) because it implies that one is following one of the religions of men and not the faith of Yahuwah. However, I attribute its use here to the translators (of whom we must be vigilantly watchful) not James. For the sake of argument, let’s replace it with the word “faith” or “faithful’.

The tongue is most definitely the most deceitful of all things. It is imperative that we learn to tame it. If not our faith is worthless.

Our faith is revealed through our good deeds. Being generous to those in need is a very good deed, but be aware of fraudsters. Being faithful does not mean that you have to be a fool. Personally I would prefer giving directly to a person or family; rather than through some charitable (non-profit) organization where more than 60% goes to pay employees and very generous 6 figure salaries to the heads of such organizations.

Keeping oneself unpolluted by the world is also a difficult task. Yet we were kept in the world for a purpose to be a light or beacon to draw others into the faith. This is an unfortunate (because of the risk) but necessary aspect of our spiritual conditioning.

James 2:14 - What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 - Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 - If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 - In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 - But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

One might call this, “faith in action”. Action might also be called the natural consequence of genuine faith. Since the law is based on love, and love is the greatest gift of all, we, by nature, desire to express that love to the rest of the world. However, it is like trying to “pick up” a woman in a bar. You strike out more than you succeed, but you must not quit because you never know when you are going to score.

When one falls in love with another human, we want to shout it from the roof tops. Our love affair with the Creator should excite us more than a love affair with another human. We should feel unable to contain ourselves. We should live, eat and breathe the gospel of Yahushua and back up our proclamations of faith by our actions..

19 - You believe that there is one Elohim. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. 20 - You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? 21 - Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 - You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 - And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed Elohim, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called Elohim's friend. 24 - You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25 - In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 - As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

If we fail to confirm our faith with action, our faith is “useless”. These are not my words, but the words of James, who was the chief apostle of all. If we do not listen to him, our faith comes into serious question. Our belief is accredited to us as righteousness. However, we are justified by our actions and faith Combined. Our actions verify our faith. Our faith justifies our actions. For any who are not already active in the faith, you really need to be doing more.

Have you ever wondered why we do not see all the wondrous works of the spirit that were witnessed in the 1^st century? This is a question that has always puzzled me. A Christian minister will tell you that “God” doesn’t work that way anymore. Or he might tell you that the Creator only worked that way through the apostles because they were eye witnesses to the Messiah’s ministry, death and resurrection. I cannot accept any of these reasons.

My contention is that it is lack of faith that prevents us from connecting with Yahuwah and stifles our gifts. When we step out in faith asking for what is normally considered physically impossible (e.g. super natural healing) and believe enough that Yahuwah will grant your request, He often will.

Yahushua was so connected to the Father through the spirit that he was 100% confident that Yahuwah would honour his requests. We are to be following in Yahushua’s footsteps. We are to be working on becoming one with our creator. We to be working on producing the same faith in ourselves that the Messiah possessed. When achieved, we will be able to do what the Messiah did with total confidence.

James 3:1 - Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (one of the reasons I do not claim to be a teacher). 2 - We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3 - When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.

Being a teacher is not a very enviable job. Because of the culpability of what we say, we must be certain that what we teach is true and irrefutable when compared to the Word. Any discrepancy will do much harm to our credibility.

13 - Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 - But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 - Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 - For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 - But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 - Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

It is pretty hard to argue with a humble man because he will not argue back. His only emotion is love. Therefore, he responds out of love only. He does not raise his voice. He does not level railing accusations at you. He does not call you names. He does not beat you up (physically or emotionally) because you disagree with him. Love conquers all and the humble man will win any argument because he is speaking and acting out of love.

It is our basic human emotions (love of self) that often defeat us. Pride is likely the most damaging of all. When all pride is buried, it is easier for love to take its place.

The fruit of the spirit of wisdom is that we become peace-loving, considerate of others and their feelings; we eagerly submit to the authority of Yahuwah because such submission demonstrates our love towards the Creator. We are full of mercy and forgiveness. We are constantly doing good works (what is lawful and loving). We are impartial and sincere in our judgments of others. What we sow in peace we will reap in righteousness – for this is what true righteousness is.

James 4: 11 - Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 - There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?

If we are continuously sitting in judgment of others, while having “a log in our own eye” we are hypocrites. This is not an act of love; therefore, it violates the law of love. Since no one is perfect, no one has the right or authority to judge others. We are all at different levels of spiritual perfection. If we judge someone who is new or weak in the faith, we may cause that person to turn away from Yahuwah altogether. We do not want to do that because his blood will be on our hands from that point on.

There has been and there still is a lot of slandering happening on the Internet. Slandering is not an act of love. We must avoid it. Since slander is contrary to the law of love, when we do so, we speak against and judge the law because all of the law is based on one single law of love. When we judge the law, we judge the Lawmaker. Who are we to judge the Lawmaker or our neighbour? We are nothing apart from the spirit of Yahuwah living it us. That is the only thing that makes us special. In and of ourselves there is nothing special about us at all. Until we graduate into the new creation we have no authority to judge anyone else; and, we will never have authority to judge Yahuwah, His laws or His judgments.

Heb. 4:9 - There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of Elohim; 10 - for anyone who enters Elohim 's rest also rests from his own work, just as Elohim did from hi 11 - Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. 12 - For the word of Elohim is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 - Nothing in all creation is hidden from Elohim's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

We enter the Sabbath rest when we die. This is not the end, but the beginning. Even as the Sabbath ends at sundown (as the sun disappears like in death) we will rise from death (as the sun rising in the morning) and be reborn of the new creation. We are to make every effort to enter that rest – that is doing the will of Elohim. The only thing that will stop us is following our natural example of disobedience towards Yahuwah’s word.

Yahuwah’s word is “living and active”. Faith is essential to gaining eternal life; but there is also action required. That action involves believing, learning the law, internalizing the law and growing as best as we can into the full stature of Yahushua and becoming one with the Creator. Our faith and actions combined divides the soul (living creature) from the spirit. The soul (body) dies but the spirit is eternal. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of our heart. It is the source of communication between our heart and Yahuwah. He knows our every thought and sees our every action. We must be able to open our hearts to it and allow it to clean all impurity out of our being.

It is clearly stated here that disobedience will cause us to fall (from grace). Disobedience to what? The law, of course! Therefore, all who claim that the law is done away with are disobedient and will likely never see salvation unless they repent.

James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Without the spirit there is no hope for eternal life. The body will merely die, decay and return to the dust from which it came. Carnally speaking, there is no way we can save ourselves. However, simply believing is not enough. We must perform the works of the law of love, which is obedience to Yahuwah’s every word (demonstrating love towards and faith in Yahuwah) and teaching others to be obedient as well. We prove our faith by our works and visa versa. The two are inseparable.

1 Peter 3: 8 - Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 - Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 - For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

There is not a lot of harmony these days. There are many that have their own interpretations of the Scriptures and agendas; and in their hearts war with other members of the body. This is not the fruit of Yahuwah’s spirit. This is a fruit of human nature. We must kill this nature and take on the nature of Yahuwah. We must remember which spirit we serve in our everyday conversation and behavior. We must act with humility and love at all time, in every situation, both inside and outside the body.

11 - He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 - For the eyes of Yahuwah are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of Yahuwah is against those who do evil."

Just for the record, I don’t believe that self defence is evil. Of course we should always pray for deliverance, if there is time. If you are capable of defending yourself, do so. If not, run!

13 - Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 - But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."

No matter what the situation, we are to allow the spirit to reveal the nature of Yahuwah that indwells us. That is what it means to put Yahuwah’s words into action. This is how we glorify Yahuwah, by revealing him to the world through our actions and words. There is no glory in following after our own carnal nature. Even if we are persecuted for doing good, we are blessed of Yahuwah.

15 - But in your hearts set apart HaMashiyack as Master. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 - keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in HaMashiyack may be ashamed of their slander.

We have only one Master, one Teacher and one Saviour. We must look to him alone for all truth and understanding. Scriptures do interpret scriptures if you allow them to, apart from any preconceived understandings. We may not always like to hear the truth about ourselves and often try to deny the truth. However, Yahuwah knows the truth and we cannot hide it from him.

It is sometime difficult to convey our reason for the hope that we have without challenging the beliefs of that other person. We must always remember to be gentile and respectful when dialoging with others so that we do not offend them. It is better simply to lead them to Yahuwah and allow Him to open their eyes and hearts to the truth. Attacking someone only causes them to become offended and shut out anything else we say.

Malicious slander seems to be common place today, as we all have witnessed one self-proclaimed minister of “truth” attacking others on the web. Such do not possess the heart or the mind of Yahuwah, but are nothing but self-righteous hypocrites seeking to stroke their own ego. Slandering others (akin to gossip) is a sin; and since if we are guilty of one sin, we are guilty of all, we must be careful of this common problem.

17 - It is better, if it is Elohim 's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 - For HaMashiyack died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to Elohim. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 - through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 - who disobeyed long ago when Elohim waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 - and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward Elohim. It saves you by the resurrection of Yahushua HaMashiyack, 22 - who has gone into heaven and is at Elohim's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

We are not to be afraid to do good at any time. Even if we suffer for doing good, we are that much more blessed by Yahuwah. It is better to suffer for doing good than to suffer for doing evil.

For us, death is nothing more than a transition from mortal to immortal. If they kill us for our beliefs, they actually make us alive in the spirit. We will be resurrected to true eternal life while our tormentors will be resurrected to judgment. Justice will be served. The righteous will see the glory of Yahuwah. The unrighteous will never know what they could have had.

We were saved through the water of baptism and no one can cause us to lose out on salvation but we, ourselves, if we allow it. It may be very difficult to wash all of the dirt from our bodies; however, if we continue to seek the mind and heart of Yahuwah, our attitude will be counted as righteousness and we will be washed completely clean when resurrected.

Why did Yahushua, following his resurrection, go to preach to the imprisoned spirits (fallen angels)? He would have only done so (in my opinion) if there was a chance that they would repent and follow Yahushua. Angles, like humans, were given free will. Where HaSatan may be incorrigible, some of the angels who followed him may not be. Angels are awaiting salvation just like humans. They will be judged the same as humans. Their requirements for salvation are the same as ours. Those who graduate into the new creation will be the ones judging the angels.

1 Peter 4:4 - They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5 - But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 - For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to Elohim in regard to the spirit.

These verses are speaking to both angels and man. We all face a judgment – both the living (faithful) and the dead (faithless). The living are those who have received the spirit of Yahuwah and followed in the footsteps of Yahushua; and the dead are those who have not received the spirit– or have resisted or all together rejected it. However, some of the living act like they have already been judged and have passed on to a higher order than the rest. These are the self righteous who expect everyone else to measure up to their stature, instead of the stature of HaMashiyack.

Let no one judge you in this. Yahushua alone knows the mind and heart of the individual and He alone has the ability to judge in all righteousness and understanding. He is the only model we are to measure up to.

Shaul was perhaps the most judged of any of the Apostles of HaMashiyack. Yet he lived a life of righteousness in accordance with the judgments of Yahuwah and was/is alive in the spirit. It is totally possible to have the outside appearance of righteousness, but be dead inside because of our attitude in judging others while not seeing our own faults.

Yahuwah is the only righteous judge. If our conscience is clear in regards to Yahuwah, no man has the right to judge us.

1 John 4:1 - Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from Elohim, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 - This is how you can recognize the Spirit of Elohim: Every spirit that acknowledges that Yahushua HaMashiyack has come in the flesh is from Elohim, 3 - but every spirit that does not acknowledge Yahushua is not from Elohim. This is the spirit of the anti-messiah, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 - You, dear children, are from Elohim and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 - They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 - We are from Elohim, and whoever knows Elohim listens to us; but whoever is not from Elohim does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 7 - Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from Elohim. Everyone who loves has been born of Elohim and knows Elohim. 8 - Whoever does not love does not know Elohim, because Elohim is love. 9 - This is how Elohim showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 - This is love: not that we loved Elohim, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 - Dear friends, since Elohim so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 - No one has ever seen Elohim; but if we love one another, Elohim lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 - We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 - And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 - If anyone acknowledges that Yahushua is the Son of Elohim, Elohim lives in him and he in Elohim. 16 - And so we know and rely on the love Elohim has for us. Elohim is love. Whoever lives in love lives in Elohim, and Elohim in him. 17 - In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 - We love because he first loved us. 20 - If anyone says, "I love Elohim," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love Elohim, whom he has not seen. 21 - And he has given us this command: Whoever loves Elohim must also love his brother.

Love covers everything, including the perfect keeping of the law. Yahuwah loved us first and demonstrated His love by calling us out of the world that were in no way any different, any better, or more deserving than anyone else. This is the free gift of Yahuwah. He did not hold back anything from us. He gave us all of His love right from the beginning of our calling.

To attain the same degree of love that Yahuwah possesses, we must also become living love. We demonstrate our love towards Yahuwah through obedience and loyalty to His every word. In return we are expected to love the rest of the creation in the same way Yahuwah does. If we do not, then the love of Yahuwah is not truly in us.

It is by this love living in us that anyone recognizes that we are of Yahuwah. Who more should we show love towards than a fellow Believer in the faith. Judging and condemning one another is not an act of love, and that person demonstrates that he/she is under the control of another spirit – not of Elohim.

Any who out and out hates their brother is certainly not of Elohim. If that person claims to love Yahuwah but hates his brother, he is a liar and subject to a spirit that is not of Yahuwah; but of HaSatan. He is an anti-Messiah. The action that Yahuwah expects from us is to approach the individual that has offended us, make him/her aware of their offence and convince him/her to repent.

We cannot know Yahuwah if His spirit of love does not dwell in us. If we do not know Yahuwah, we cannot understand and take on His spirit of love. Since hatred is the polar opposite of love, the spirit of hatred is about the only thing that can drive the spirit of love out of us. Just as the world has rejected the love of Yahuwah and hated Him in return for His love, so will they do to us.

This should not cause us to abandon Yahuwah and return to the world or to love those who hate us any less. In this we become like Yahuwah and demonstrate that His spirit is living in us and that we are different from the rest of the world. .

1 John 5:6 - This is the one who came by water and blood--Yahushua HaMashiyack. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 - For there are three that testify: 8 - the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 - We accept man's testimony, but Elohim's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of Elohim, which he has given about his Son. 10 - Anyone who believes in the Son of Elohim has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe Elohim has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony Elohim has given about his Son. 11 - And this is the testimony: Elohim has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 - He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of Elohim does not have life.

Some of the versions of the Scriptures may read different than this one to accommodate a belief in the Trinity. They translate the three witnesses as being the Father, the Son and a person of their imagination known as “the Holy Ghost”. Since no such person really exists we can reject that theory. No mention of a trinity existed before the 3^rd century and was first brought forth by Tertullian. Since then belief in the trinity has taken precedence over belief in the Messiah in Christian circles.

The spirit is the spirit of Yahuwah. The water is the water of baptism and the blood is the atoning blood of Yahushua’s sacrifice. These three in combination witnessed that Yahushua was the Son of Elohim. It is only through belief in the Son that any will see salvation and eternal life.

Rev.11:11 - But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.

Like I have mentioned in this and in other articles, life is in the spirit, not the human body. The body dies, but the spirit never dies, because it belongs to Yahuwah. Therefore, our focus should be in nurturing the love that is in the spirit rather than the spirit of self-love that is the product of another spirit – not of Yahuwah.

When the spirit leaves these two witnesses, their bodies will fall dead on the street. When the spirit re-enters their bodies, they are made alive again; only this time they are alive in the spirit only and not the physical realm at all.

Rev. 19:10 - And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Yahushua: worship Elohim: for the testimony of Yahushua is the spirit of prophecy.

I included this verse for two reasons. One, it describes the nature of angels perfectly and two, it introduces the gift or the spirit of prophesy.

Angels are both “fellow servants” and “brethren” (products of the creation bearing the image of Yahuwah) to mankind. Many believe and teach that we merely become angels in the “afterlife”. This is pure fallacy. The thing that we have the most in common with angels is that we were all created in the image of Yahuwah and are all awaiting a judgment and a promotion to eternal life. In both cases we had to wait on the Messiah to complete His mission. Yahushua’s victory over death is a beacon for both creations. His is an example for us all to model ourselves after.

Yes, the angels are created spiritual beings, yet the notion that they already have an eternal existence is false. The overwhelming factor that qualifies one for eternal life is that one must be incorruptible. Both Mankind and angels were given the right of free choice. We already know that 1/3 of the angels rebelled against the authority of Yahushua. Since all was created by Yahuwah through Yahushua, rebellion against the Son constitutes rebellion against the Father as well. HaSatan did not seem to understand that concept; or He was too vain to care. HaSatan’s rebellion was primarily aimed at the Son, not the Father. He merely wanted to replace the current “Great Prince” with himself, thinking himself to be equally or more qualified for the job and desiring the inheritance that came with the post. How many times have we witnessed siblings squabbling over an inheritance? This was exactly the same thing.

Another factor in the acquisition of eternal life is that one can never again die. Yet in Ezekiel 28 it plainly states that HaSatan will be destroyed and remain dead for all of eternity.

Ezek. 28:15 - You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 - Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of Elohim, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 - Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. 18 - By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. 19 - All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.' "

Clearly HaSatan can and will be destroyed. This would not be possible for any who gain eternal life. They can never again die. Eternal death is the wage of sin for both man and angels. To gain eternal life one (whether angel or human) has to have freely chosen the path to righteousness to the point where it is ingrained in their nature and any thought to sin no longer exists. Even if man does not completely eliminate all sin, his efforts to do so, combined with the attitude of the heart toward sin, count as righteousness and he will be completely healed (spiritually) upon resurrection and be rewarded with eternal life.

The spirit of prophesy is another attribute of Yahuwah’s spirit. Those who are selected to receive this gift are especially helpful to all Believers. However, there are many imposters also.

A true prophet receives his insight directly from Elohim. It is infallible and sure to pass. The prophesies of false prophets will always come to naught. Just this week, in the news, there was a story in the news of thousands of Christians flocking to Jerusalem on the word of one such false prophet who claimed that their “Jesus” was supposed to return this week (the week of this writing, Oct 5-11, 2013) which, of course, he did not. If he did not receive this prophesy from Elohim, where did he get it from? I would guess either from HaSatan or his own fertile imagination. We are to be aware of lying spirits and compare their words to those of Yahuwah as preserved for us in the Scriptures.

One does not become a prophet merely because that is a position their desire. One has to be chosen by Yahuwah for such a special distinction. I would have to say from my experience that most acclaimed prophets are false.

Rev. 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The term “the Spirit” can apply equally to both the Father and the Son since they both share the same spirit. The bride is the body of Believers. Once wed, they too share this same spirit with the Father and speak as one, summoning those remaining to come and drink freely of the waters of life, or the spirit of Yahuwah. We have already determined that we receive life through the spirit of Yahuwah. Therefore, it is this spirit that is the water of life.

Conclusion

Those who are of the “pay and pray” philosophy, thinking all they have to do is financially support their ministry and pray for them to gain salvation, are going to be in for a huge disappointment when they stand in the judgment. We each have a special job to perform within the body of Yahushua. We cannot simply place all of our responsibility upon a minister or a church and think that we will be saved because the minister of that church did all the work for us. We cannot trust our salvation to any man.

We must be able to stand on our own two feet when we appear in the judgment. There will be no finger pointing. We are going to be judged on the attitude of our heart alone. If that attitude is one of slothfulness and deferment our responsibilities before Elohim onto another human being, we will likely be rejected from entering the Kingdom.

Attitude is everything when it comes to the acquisition of eternal life. Mankind is guilty of always looking for the easiest route to any preferred goal. When it comes to the spirit of Yahuwah, there are no shortcuts: and there is definitely no option of paying and praying for someone else to do the job for you.

In the judgment we are all going to be asked (individually) what we did with our free gift (talent). Our salvation will depend on our answer.

Most do not even seek out their gift, thinking that all they have to do is believe in Yahushua and they will have it “made in the shade”. However, belief alone does not constitute following in the footsteps of the Messiah and making our image over into His. When we stand in the judgment and offer up this answer alone, the Father is going to ask, “So, what did you do with that information”? We will not be able to say that we joined the “right” church and followed the “right” minister, because there is no such thing. The only “right” minister is Yahushua. If we do not model our lives after His and are not found in the process of making over own image into His, we are guilty of being slothful servants.

We must “seek” out our gifts by asking Yahuwah to reveal to us what gift He wants us to utilize. Yahuwah revealed to me that my gift was my passion for research and documenting the results of my studies. When the implementation of the 7 Noahide Laws come into full force globally, I will be hunted down and imprisoned or killed for my efforts. The receipt of spiritual gifts does not come without certain pitfalls. If we fear these pitfalls (criticism and persecution unto death) we will also fear pursuing and utilizing our gifts. Yahuwah is the master of life and death. Physical death is an unavoidable certainty anyway. Therefore, we should not fear death or allow the fear of death to inhibit our desire to serve Yahuwah in the manner He desires for us.

The basis of all that Yahuwah is doing for us is love. Love is so much a part of the nature of Yahuwah that He is actually living love. He knows no other way and all His love is directed toward His creation. Love is at the root of all His commandments and they are meant to guide us ever closer to the acquisition of eternal life. It is not much different than instructing our children not to play on the railroad tracks. We do so out of love.

The spirit of Yahuwah which we received is to teach us to love one another in the very same manner that Yahushua loves us. 1 John 4 (which we have already read) makes this very clear. Also, Romans 13 declares love to be the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:9 - For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 - Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

I Corinthians 13 defines the love of Yahuwah and how we should be seeking this love amongst ourselves.

1 Cor. 13: 1 - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 - And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 - And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 - Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 - does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 - does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 - bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 - Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 - For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 - But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 - When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 - For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 - And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

That’s right, folks; the greatest gift of all is love. This is the gift we all need to desire first. All the law is based on love and when we love fully as the Father does, obedience to the law will naturally follow.

Some may think it is easy to love the way Yahuwah loves. Yet the fact remains that true love cannot exist side by side with any degree of hatred. Therefore, until we can eradicate all forms of hatred from our nature, we do not possess the love of Yahuwah completely. Hate is the opposite of love. If love is good, then hatred is evil (sin).

Loving Yahuwah means that we desire to do all of His works and seek out His nature and incorporate His love into our nature. We do that with the help of the spirit of Yahuwah. This is the gift that we must all seek first and foremost, followed by love.

Once we have this all important gift in place, others will naturally follow.

In closing I would like to offer up the following prayer:

Dear Father

Please hear our prayer today, through your Son, Yahushua; that we may learn and take on the nature of love that you have shown us, that we might show that same degree of love to all the rest of your creation. Please help us to put to death all hateful thoughts and know the continuous joy that true love brings. Show us, through your love, to understand and love even our enemies who continually seek to do us harm and judge us.

You alone are the only righteous judge and the only one with the right to judge us. Help us, Father, to remain humble and continually seek your will and approval in all that we do and say. Help us to stop and think what Yahushua would do or say in the same situation we find ourselves in. Let our words and actions match his.

Most of all, Father, help us to love you in the same way that you love us and demonstrate that love before all of creation.

This thing we ask, Father, in Yahushua’s name; and that you cause us to be continually mindful of this all encompassing factor in our quest to seek after the hope of salvation.

May Yahuwah bless us all and cause His never ending light to shine upon us and guide us in all that we do.

Amen.