“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
What does this mean? In this teaching, from the life of Abraham, Nathan explains how YHVH’s people may not always be walking in his perfect will, but he is merciful despite this, even though finding his perfect will for our lives should be our aim and goal.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If you are interested in participating in Hoshana Rabbah’s weekly Shabbat online fellowship (Oasis Elim Online), send an email to hoshanarabbah@earthlink.net for more information.
The Bible reveals that there is a metaphorical river of life that flows from the throne of YHVH Elohim in heaven. Yeshua/Jesus tells us that this supernatural, spiritual river can flow through us out onto others. As it does, it brings a blessing to those around us, but to us as well. How can we receive heaven’s blessing that will help us to navigate through all of life’s problems and give us victory in every situation? Watch this video to find out.
Comments are welcomed on Nathan’s Bible study blog at https://hoshanarabbah.org/blog/.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If you are interested in participating in Hoshana Rabbah’s weekly Shabbat online fellowship (Oasis Elim Online), send an email to hoshanarabbah@earthlink.net for more information.
everything in your physical life will take care of itself including all your trials and difficulties. This is because YHVH’s grace is sufficient to carry you through the flood and fires of life (2 Cor 12:9; Isa 43:2), and through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps 23:4). Also all things work together for good to them that love Elohim, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28). Why? Because YHVH Elohim is love (1 John 4:8–16), and he loves his children and wants to save them (John 3:16).
There Is a River of Life That Flows From Heaven’s Throne
Imagine this: for days you have been trekking through a vast, sun-baked desert devoid even of cactuses. Sand and rocks are everywhere. Even the snakes and scorpions have fled this wasteland. Your skin is dry and cracked, your tongue cleaves to the roof of your mouth. Will this hellscape ever end? You drag your beleaguered over another sand dune, and…! Below you is a tree-lined river with crystal clear waters. Have you died and gone to heaven? Is this a cruel joke or a desert mirage? You wipe the dust from your eyes and blink. Yes, it is real. With the last atom of energy left in your sagging body, you pull yourself up the river’s edge. What next? Are you just going to stand there starring in disbelief at this heavenly sight? But you’re no fool. So you jump in and imbibe in the life-giving waters that are before you! Thankfully, you realized that your mortal life has miraculously been spared at the last moment. However…
There is another river—a spiritual one—that flows from heaven, which offers much more than any physical river. It promises both physical and spiritual blessings.
What is this spiritual river of life that flows from heavenly high places bringing with it all manner of blessings in its life–giving waters? In a couple of places, the Bible pulls back the curtains of heaven and gives us some glimpses of this river of life.
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Rev 22:1–2)
Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.…And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (Ezek 47:1, 12)
Rivers are often a biblical metaphor that speak of how to maintain one’s spiritual relationship with one’s Creator and the blessings that come therefrom.
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of YHVH; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For YHVH knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Ps 1:1–6)
Thus saith YHVH; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from YHVH. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in YHVH, and whose hope YHVH is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jer 17:5–8)
Yeshua the Messiah spoke of this river of life that flows from heaven and revealed that this same river can flow through a person and out again as a spiritual, life-giving blessing to others.
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Yeshua stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Yeshua was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37–39)
Heaven’s river of life flows from YHVH through his Holy Spirit into man’s spirit, then into man’s soul (ones mind will and emotions) and then into his physical body. For this to occur, one has to be in a right relationship with one’s Creator. Sin, bad lifestyles and destructive habits, like kinks in a garden hose, will prevent this river from flowing into one’s life. To the degree that one loves YHVH and walks in accordance with his Word (his commandments) is the degree to which this river will flow and vice versa. Too many times people want heaven’s blessings without following heaven’s rules. There are no shortcuts or end runs around this process. To defy heaven’s ways is like defying the law of gravity. The results can be disastrous! Heaven dispenses its blessings only to those who follow thee rules. Therefore, the wise person will remove everything from one’s own personal river that is blocking YHVH’s river of life. We must get our lives in synch with the YHVH Elohim, Yeshua, the Word of Elohim and the Holy Spirit to receive heaven’s favor. There is no other way. Man has been trying other ways for thousands of years but every other way leads to misery and eventually to death. It is ludicrous, foolish and illogical to expect good results when we are not following heaven’s rules.
The third chapter of the Book of Proverbs lays out the process for man to follow if he wants heaven’s blessings. There YHVH’s Torah-law or instructions in righteousness is referred to as wisdom and is likened to the metaphorical tree of life as well as to a woman. The author talks about the blessings, riches, long life, happiness and honor that accrue to those who her (i.e., Torah-wisdom; vv. 13–18). This chapter shows that the result of Torah-obedience (v. 1) is long life and peace (v. 2), favor and high esteem among men and Elohim (v. 4) and divine guidance in life (v. 6). The author then goes on to show that such a man tithes to YHVH (i.e., he honors YHVH with the first fruits of all his possessions, v. 9) resulting in material blessing (v. 10). Such a person also accepts YHVH’s chastisements (vv. 11–12), is happy (v. 13), experiences long life (v. 16), has pleasantness and peace (v. 17), receives life to one’s soul (v. 22), is the beneficiary of safety and protection in life (v. 23), has no fear when one is asleep, so one’s sleep will be peaceful and sweet (v. 24), experiences no fear of terror from the wicked (v. 25), and has confidence in dangerous situations (v. 26). Such a man does good to others when he is able (v. 27), treats his neighbor charitably (vv. 28–29), is not pugnacious and a causer of strife (v. 30), and is not envious of others (v. 31), and is not perverse (devious or crooked, v. 32). These are the expected traits and qualities of every Christian disciple of Yeshua the Messiah.
How to Get Into and Stay In YHVH’s River of Life
Natan Lawrence
As a redeemed disciple and follower Yeshua the Messiah, how can you immerse yourself and then stay in heaven’s river of life, so that you may be the happy beneficiary of all that heaven has to offer you in this life…and in the next? Here are some suggestions:
By J. Nathan Lawrence Hoshana Rabbah Biblical Resources (HoshanaRabbah.org)
Humility. This is a beautiful treasure box with a label on it, but what is inside? We all have a sense of what humility is and know it when we see it, but can we define it? Are we humble? Perhaps. Maybe, oxymoronically we are even proud of our humility. For sure, true humility is a noble virtue albeit a rare one. The Bible gives this character trait high praises, for it is a spiritual currency that if one possesses has extreme value with YHVH Elohim. Perhaps it is even a key that unlocks the door to the kingdom of heaven. As confirmation of its high value in the eyes of our Creator, we read in his Word,
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 18:4)
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, Elohim resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.…Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (Jas 4:6, 10)
Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for Elohim resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of Elohim, that he may exalt you in due time. (1 Pet 5:5–6)
Again, what does the Bible mean when it speaks of being humble or humility?
The Bible teaches us that humility is more than a mere theological abstraction, or simply an individualistic and introspective reality. It is an aspect of the social order and requirement of the kingdom of Elohim (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia or ISBE, vol. 2, p. 776). Humility is something that has to be learned, so that it becomes a state of one’s heart and mind and that will then radiate out into a lifestyle which determines what a person says, as well as how one thinks and acts.
The biblical truth of justification by grace through faith speaks to the central importance and reality of humility as evidenced in Yeshua’s Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee in Luke 18:9–14. The Pharisee’s lack of humility before Elohim manifested itself as arrogance toward others, resulting in rejection by Elohim. On the other hand, the publican who humbled himself before the Almighty by admitting his sinful condition was justified in the courts of heaven. The people who know that their salvation is a result of Elohim’s grace do not act presumptuously toward others (ibid. pp. 776–777). The well-known saying, “There for the grace of God, go I,” should be front and center in every Christian’s consciousness. The ISBE goes on to say, “The reign of God constitutes a realm in which all previous ideas of prestige, privilege, and protocols are transformed. To submit to God’s kingship is to participate in a new social reality. ‘Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ (Matt 18:1). The one who submits to the rule of God” (ibid.)
The obverse of humility is pride, which like a leaky, wooden ship, seeps in and out of our every pore and is so endemic to us as to be virtually unrecognizable and undetectable as it defiles us from within. As Yeshua said,
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man. (Matt 15:19–20)
Jeremiah did not speak kindly about the natural condition of man either when he declared by the Spirit of Elohim,
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9)
Though, unlike pride, humility is a rare asset in man’s spiritual bank account, yet is a vital asset in YHVH’s spiritual economy and is an essential attribute if one is to have any kind of relationship with their Creator, But again, what is humility?
Biblical Humility Succinctly Defined
Let’s now define the word humility from a biblical Hebraic perspective. Humility or humbleness is a modest or low view of one’s own importance. It is “a freedom from arrogance that grows out of the recognition that all we have and are comes from God” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary it its article entitled Humility). To the heathen Greek philosophers of the biblical era, “humility implied inadequacy, lack of dignity, and worthlessness….This is not the meaning of humility as defined by the Bible” (ibid.). In the secular world, pride in oneself not only is an accepted trait, but is expected of leaders and people of renown. As is the case here and in other areas of human understanding, the ways of Elohim are not only not men’s ways, but often the complete opposite.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith YHVH. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:8–9)
YHVH Set the Example
Have you ever heard a sermon or Bible teaching on the humility of YHVH Elohim? Probably not. Neither have I. The thought of it never occurred to me until one day I heard a praise song in French the lyrics of which mentioned “the humility of God.” Initially I chaffed at this concept, but the more I meditated on it, the more it became obvious that YHVH set us the ultimate example of what it is to be humble.
For the disciples of Messiah, Yeshua is the central focal point of all biblical truth including the living example of how humility is to be walked out. Think of it. Yeshua, came from heaven, and then humbled himself and became a human, and was then murdered by the very humans he had created.
Who, being in the form of Elohim, thought it not robbery to be equal with Elohim: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:5–8)
Moreover, Yeshua taught about and lived a humble lifestyle as a homeless itinerant preacher serving others. He then died a humble death as mankind’s Savior.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matt 11:29)
[Yeshua] riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. … if I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (John 13:4–5, 14–15)
Let this mind be in you, which was also in the Messiah Yeshua. (Phil 2:5)
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)
When it comes to humility, Yeshua blazed a new path for the world to follow, which his true disciples have been endeavoring to emulate ever since. He set aside his divine glory and power and became a lowly human. While on this earth, he came to serve, not to be served. He hung out with the lowliest echelon of people and those the powerful, rich and elite of his day disdained such as publicans, sinners, tax collectors, common working people, Roman soldiers and even demonized prostitutes. He then suffered a brutal and demeaning death, was crucified naked on a cross by the very people that in his preincarnate state had created. Yeshua was merely mirroring and in complete accord with the humility of his Father in heaven, who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes on him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Moreover, the all powerful YHVH Elohim still humbles himself in love to forgive the sinners for whom his Son died, and in the mean time demonstrates never-ending compassion, longsuffering patience with wicked and rebellious humanity, when it is in his power, and is his divine right to punish, if not obliterate defiant and hateful humans. To endure the calumny, blasphemy, rebellion and hateful vitriol of lowly humans without retaliating instantly is the expression of humility in the extreme!
The better we know the heart of YHVH Elohim as revealed in his word, the Bible, the better we we will hear his voice. There are no shortcuts. That is the bottom line and it works in areas of life whether on the spiritual or physical levels. You get out of something what you put into it. There is no return on an investment unless you put your money into something that promises a return. A farmer cannot expect to reap a harvest unless he first sows the seed.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
If this message has been a blessing to you, please consider showing your appreciation by making a donation to Hoshana Rabbah at http://hoshanarabbah.org/blog/. Thank you!
After 35 years, this is Nathan’s first ever teaching on marriage and how it is YHVH’s classroom and cauldron of refinement to prepare us to be the bride of Yeshua the Messiah. This message will take you to the next and higher level of how to view your marriage and to rise above the difficulties and challenges that it inevitably presents.
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
Contrary to popular belief, obedience to YHVH’s Torah—his instructions in righteousness—will bless and improve your life in countless ways. Both the Written and Living Torah Word of Elohim will also keep you on the straight and narrow path that leads to our Father in heaven. Moreover, it will guard and protect your life from evil and sin and the consequences thereof as this teaching reveals.
