How Much Will You Pay?

       Did you know you have a shopping cart and a back pack? When we come into an understanding of the truth we are in a condition of carrying a back pack and we are given a cart to carry other things. So imagine this. You have started your walk and you're going along talking to the Most High and as he hands you a package He says  "Put that in the cart, it's yours." So you say, "Really? Well if that's what you want I will gladly take that on."
       Just a little way down the road Yah says "How about reaching back there in that pack and throw out that little blue box." So you say"Ok, if you don't like that I don't either." So you throw it out.
       So you go on with your walk like this taking and putting off. Then one day He says "Reach back there and get that pretty blue box and throw it away." But you say "Master, surely this is not displeasing to you." And He says "Oh, but it is!" So with a little hesitation you throw it away.
       This goes on and on till one day He says "Reach back and get that nice looking colorful box and get rid of it."
       You say "Hold on now! I've had this all my life and I like it! Surely you don't mean this!"  And He says "Yes, to walk any further with me you need to drop that now."
       Let me tell you something. All of us will come to this point and have this decision to make. It's a thing that you hold dear but is not pleasing to Him. It is the point when you can take a side road and pretend you are still on the path, you can turn back into darkness completely (a very scary thought), or you can move forward into freedom and joy unspeakable.
       Have you counted the cost? It will cost you your life. Not necessarily your physical life but it will cost you the worldly things in your life. The things that are an abomination to Him. We are to be in the world but not touch it. Give that some thought and listen closely to His voice and when He speaks step forward into freedom and joy unspeakable.

More Infections You May Have

On yom rishon August 6, I posted an article dealing with infection from the world. That article focused on TV. Today’s article will focus on another infection related to entertainment which is music. Let’s take a look at what one very famous christian says about entertainment in the church.

An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it during the past few years. It has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them.

From speaking out as the Puritans did, the church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses.

My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church. If it is a Christian work, why did not Christ speak of it? "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). That is clear enough. So it would have been if He had added, "and provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel." No such words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to him.

Then again, "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers .., for the work of the ministry" (Eph. 4:11-12). Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because they amused the people or because they refused? The concert has no martyr roll.

Again, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all his apostles. What was the attitude of the church to the world? Ye are the salt" (Matt. 5:13), not the sugar candy---something the world will spit out not swallow. Short and sharp was the utterance, "Let the dead bury their dead" (Matt. 8:22) He was in awful earnestness.

Had Christ introduced more of the bright and pleasant elements into his mission, he would have been more popular when they went back, because of the searching nature of His teaching. I do not hear him say, "Run after these people Peter and tell them we will have a different style of service tomorrow, something short and attractive with little preaching. We will have a pleasant evening for the people. Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it. Be quick Peter, we must get the people somehow." Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them.

In vain will the Epistles be searched to find any trace of this gospel of amusement! Their message is, "Come out, keep out, keep clean out!" Anything approaching fooling is conspicuous by its absence. They had boundless confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon.

After Peter and John were locked up for preaching, the church had a prayer meeting but they did not pray, "Lord grant unto thy servants that by a wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation we may show these people how happy we are." If they ceased not from preaching Christ, they had not time for arranging entertainments. Scattered by persecution, they went everywhere preaching the gospel. They turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). That is the only difference! Lord, clear the church of all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her, and bring us back to apostolic methods.

Lastly, the mission of amusement fails to effect the end desired. It works havoc among young converts. Let the careless and scoffers, who thank God because the church met them halfway, speak and testify. Let the heavy laden who found peace through the concert not keep silent! Let the drunkard to whom the dramatic entertainment has been God's link in the chain of the conversion, stand up! There are none to answer. The mission of amusement produces no converts. The need of the hour for today's ministry is believing scholarship joined with earnest spirituality, the one springing from the other as fruit from the root. The need is biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that it sets men on fire.

This is by Charles Spurgeon 1834-1892

What is striking is the fact that this was written around the 1850s! What would this man think of today’s churches?

There is little doubt that today’s religion is big business and the music is big business too.

I see people who are addicted to music. It is an extremely powerful influence on the mind. I see some people’s music “likes” on face book and I am shocked that they claim to have the ruach kodesh living in them.

Country, rock, alternative, and even heavy metal are on people’s lists. Can anyone tell me what any of this has to do with glorifying the father? We do all know that is our purpose here, right?

Music that talks about cheating on your spouse, getting drunk, being depressed to the point of suicide, and some that is nothing more than demonic growling.

Here are the lyrics to one song by a popular “christian rock” band called Skillet. The name of the song is Monster. Figure that out.



The secret side of me I never let you see
I keep it caged, but I can't control it
So stay away from me, the beast is ugly
I feel the rage and I just can't hold it

It's scratching on the walls, in the closet, in the halls
It comes awake, and I can't control it
Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head
Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster

My secret side I keep hid under lock and key
I keep it caged, but I can't control it
'Cause if I let him out he'll tear me up, break me down
Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster

It's hiding in the dark, it's teeth are razor sharp
There's no escape for me, it wants my soul, it wants my heart
No one can hear me scream, maybe it's just a dream
Maybe it's inside of me, stop this monster

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I've gotta lose control, he something radical
I must confess that I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster


I ask a young person one time what this had to do with holy living and the only answer I could get was ‘You just don’t understand.” That’s right, I don’t.

If you are listening to music that you would not play if Yeshua came to your house maybe you should think about it. Maybe it’s time to let that part of the world go and separate yourself.

EASY HOMEMADE RADIO

Here is a very good and cheap way to build an effective radio. If you build one of these let us know by responding to this post.

Journey to Sermon on the Mount Pt. 2

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

First let’s look at some definitions for the words used in scripture.

Mourn – to grieve (the feeling or the act), to mourn – (be) wail

Blessed are those who mourn, grieve, wail…what? Before we go there let’s look at shall be comforted.

Most of the definition for shall be comforted is not comforted as we would think.

Shall be comforted – to call near ie: invite; invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation), beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray

So those that mourn will be called near, called for, invited, beseeched (had to look this up – ask urgently and fervently to do something), desired, exhorted (again defined as strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.

WOW – I want to be called near, called out, and invited! I want to be asked to do something! Do you? But by mourning and grieving?

This scripture has a reference to Psalms 126:5-6 so let’s look at it. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. So we have a pattern of tears bringing (coming with) joy, and weeping coming with rejoicing. We will come with happiness after the tears and mourning.

So fortunate and happy are those who mourn and grieve for they will be called, desired to be near and asked to do something.

But here we go again mourn what? What if it is grieving for that huge hole in our heart that we have never been able to fill? What if it is mourning the sin, the lawlessness, we see all around us? Just a thought, was Lot called out of Sodom and Gomorrah because he was grieved by everything happening around him? Do we wail with desire to please our Creator and see others doing the same? Do we grieve for a land with order under the authority of our King? Do we wail over the lack of respect for our Creator? Do we mourn for the day when we will be with Him or are we thinking of all the earthly things we may miss? Are we grieving lost time with Him so much that we are setting aside our desires to spend time with Him, learning who He is? Learning from time in His word and presence?

What if this mourning is a deep desire for more than ourselves, more than being with other humans, more than money can buy, more than entertainment brings, more than anything of this earth? What if all that it takes to be called near, invited, or urgently asked to do something is having the desire for MORE? We should all be looking at our lives and checking for this! Do we have a grievous desire for MORE? If you are content in this world there is a problem. Let’s search ourselves and our desires and make sure they line up with His.

Sukkot, The Reality

        Sukkot is fast approaching. Are you observing this very important event? If you are then HOW are you observing it? I want to talk about this eight day time and maybe shed a little light on it for some who seem to be confused about it.

        This is one of those things that we (Israelites) do that outsiders look at and think how confused we are. We appear divided because we go around preaching how everyone should be torah observant then we all interpret torah to suit ourselves.

        Let’s start with the living quarters for Sukkot first. Since coming into this way I have seen people who gather at motels, people who live in motor homes, tents of varying kinds and those who build what they think is the biblical structure commanded for Sukkot.

But what do the instructions tell us? Nehemiah 8:14-15 clarifies the instructions.

14. They found written in the law how Yahweh had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month.
15. So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written."

Leviticus 23:43 tells us why.
43. so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your elohim.

        So how do so many equate this to motor homes and motels? I have no idea unless it is because they have no view of the big picture. While this week is supposed to be a week of joy as commanded in Lev. 23:40, it is also a reminder of how we came out of Egypt and many say it is a rehearsal for the second exodus.

        If this is the case, should we bring the whole house with us and run to the nearest store everyday for what we forgot to bring?

       I think it is for our benefit to prepare us for the future AND remind us of the past that we live as closely to the emergency conditions as possible. Plus we are commanded to rejoice through all this so it will help us grow spiritually.

       Try to think about what it means to truly leave Egypt and trust the Most High. No contact with the gentiles at all. Can you handle it? Are you prepared and ready for this? If you aren’t, when will you be? Are you taking steps to be ready or are you just doing a lot of talking and thinking you will learn how to swim after the water gets deep?

        I can tell you from first hand experience that you will learn some hard lessons the first few times you truly step out on your own or in a group.

        I know of a man who calls himself a prepper and a believer and has many followers and makes videos supposedly showing people about camping. This man makes some of the most serious mistakes I have seen. He doesn’t even know how to properly start a fire in the dry let alone in the wet.

All I’m saying is that sukkot is there for several reasons. One is to rehearse and practice. If you are going to truly learn to swim you need to get in the water not just play at the waters edge. Even if you are in the back yard, can you keep from going in the house? Can you make it under emergency conditions for one week. Take the challenge and observe sukkot properly and with joy.

Are You Locked in a Cell?

Do you have a cell phone? Sure you do. Very few people don't have now days. Some live by them. They do business, keep in touch with their friends, do research on the net, just all sorts of things. You might even be reading this post on your phone.
But let me give you something to think about. If you look around the world you will see that in almost every place where civil unrest breaks out, one of the things governments do is disable cell phones and internet because it slows down communications among the so called "troublemakers".
Be honest with yourself and try to imagine what you would do if there was no cell phone service and no internet and it was emergency conditions. Take your time.
Now pair that up with possibly limited travel and the beauty of life starts fading very fast.
I want to urge each one of you to practice doing without. Every day that goes by is one day closer to the end. Can you spend one day with your phone turned off right now? How about three days? How about a week? Do you think you might be too dependant?
I see the actions of many brothers and sisters is one of "I'll learn to swim when the time comes." They talk about how the second exodus is near or that marshall law is just around the corner or whatever they think is coming but their actions show a lack of believing their own warnings. This is a part of what sukkot is about but we will discuss that maybe next time. The fact is that if we don't rehearse we will most likely blow the main event and cause ourselves and others needless pain and suffering. Practice, practice, practice.

Yom slishi Are you locked in a cell?

       Do you have a cell phone? Sure you do. Very few people don't have now days. Some live by them. They do business, keep in touch with their friends, do research on the net, just all sorts of things. You might even be reading this post on your phone.
       But let me give you something to think about. If you look around the world you will see that in almost every place where civil unrest breaks out, one of the things governments do is disable cell phones and internet because it slows down communications among the so called "troublemakers".
       Be honest with yourself and try to imagine what you would do if there was no cell phone service and no internet and it was emergency conditions. Take your time.
       Now pair that up with possibly limited travel and the beauty of life starts fading very fast.
       I want to urge each one of you to practice doing without. Every day that goes by is one day closer to the end. Can you spend one day with your phone turned off right now? How about three days? How about a week? Do you think you might be too dependant?
       I see the actions of many brothers and sisters is one of "I'll learn to swim when the time comes." They talk about how the second exodus is near or that marshall law is just around the corner or whatever they think is coming but their actions show a lack of  believing their own warnings. This is a part of what sukkot is about but we will discuss that maybe next time. The fact is that if we don't rehearse we will most likely blow the main event and cause ourselves and others needless pain and suffering. Practice, practice, practice.