Category Archives: Spirit-led Life, The

O the Mercy of YHVH—His Good, Better & Perfect Will For Our Lives Explained

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In Romans 12:2 we find a curious statement:

“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.

 

Staying In the River of Life—The Answer to All Life’s Problems

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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.

 

The Good, Better and Perfect Will of Elohim—The Grace of Elohim

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Genesis 12:1, Get thee out of thy country. 

The story of Abraham leaving Babylon reveals an important biblical truth: the great mercy that YHVH Elohim—our Father in heaven—has for his children despite their weaknesses and failures. Although YHVH has a perfect will or plan for the life of each individual, even when a person strays from it, he still continues working with his child leading her or him forward in spite of their missteps and failures. This was the case with Abraham. Although he was a man of faith, he still took some wrong turns along the way, yet his heart was right and YHVH continued to lead him forward despite his missteps. We can learn much from Abraham and be encouraged by his example and YHVH’s mercy.

In studying the life of Abraham,  there is an important principle from Romans 12:2 concerning finding the good, better and perfect will of Elohim for our lives. 

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. (KJV)

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Christian Standard Bible)

And be not conformed to this age, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your soul that ye may experience what is that good and well pleasing and perfect will of God. (Jubilee Bible 2000)

As much the Bible respect and even venerate Abraham as the father of the faithful (read Romans chapter four), it appears that he did not follow Elohim’s instructions perfectly at first. It wasn’t that Abraham was out of the will of Elohim, rather that he may not always have been in the absolute perfect will of Elohim, although in the overall sense he was headed in the right direction. What can we learn from this? Despite human weakness and reluctance to follow the Creator’s instructions immediately and perfectly, YHVH was still merciful and gracious with the spiritual father of our faith because the intent of his heart was inclined on obeying his Creator. Thus, there is still hope for each of us when we stray briefly from YHVH’s perfect will for our lives. 

Although Abraham was obedient to YHVH to leave Babylonia, he did not immediately leave his father’s house and go directly to the country that YHVH would show him, but did so in incremental steps. (Compare Gen 11:31 with 12:1.) Moreover, Abraham did not leave his father’s family completely, but he took part of his father’s house with him including his father and nephew. What’s more, he first went to Haran which is located in northern Mesopotamia and is nowhere near Canaan. When Abraham finally made his way to Canaan minus his father, he still had some members of his larger family with him, something YHVH instructed him to leave behind (Gen 12:1). As we discover later, his nephew Lot proved to be a continuous thorn in Abraham’s side in fulfilling YHVH’s mission for his life in a new land (Gen 113:5-13; 14:1ff; 19:1ff).

What lessons can we learn from this account? First, YHVH is gracious to his children even when they do not obey him completely and immediately. Scripture still refers to Abraham as the father of the faithful or faithfulness (Rom 4:12, 16). Second, Abraham was a man of prominence in Babylon (or Chaldea), who was recognized as a mighty prince (Gen 23:6), yet when he was 75 years old, YHVH asked him to leave the comforts of life and his prestigious social position in Babylon—the New York City of its day, and trek some 600 miles by foot across the desert to the backwoods region of Canaan. No doubt, this was not an easy move for Abraham at his age.

Similarly, Yeshua tells his disciples that they may have to make similar sacrifices if they want to follow him including leaving family and loved ones (Matt 10:35–39). Despite the difficult choices that Yeshua’s followers have to make, he promises that their eternal rewards will be greater than anything the had to leave behind (Matt 19:29). What physical obstacles stand in your way of fulfilling YHVH’s spiritual calling, and his mission and destiny for your life?

Presently, YHVH is calling his people out of the spiritual Babylon (Rev 18:4) of man-made religious systems that, to one degree or another, have supplanted or even made of none effect the simple truths of YHVH’s word by doctrines and traditions of men (Mark 7:9, 13). Anything that takes precedence in the hearts and minds of men that is contrary to the Bible is, by biblical definition, an idol. End times spiritual Babylon is full of idolatry. It is a confused mixture of truth and lies. YHVH called Abraham out of the Babylon of his day, and he is now calling his people out of the Babylon of our day to worship and obey him in Spirit and truth (John 4:23–24). YHVH’s end time saints will be those who follow Yeshua the Messiah unconditionally wherever he goes and whatever he asks of them (Rev 14:4–6; Mark 8:34). Their chief identification mark is that they follow the  Torah-commandments of Elohim and have the faith of Yeshua, that is, their lives have been transformed by the message of the gospel (Rev 14:17; 12:14).

What were the consequences of Abraham not following YHVH’s will perfectly when commanded to leave Ur? First, YHVH did, in a sense, chastise Abraham in that he suffered the consequences of not heeding Elohim’s instructions to leave Ur immediately by leaving everything including his family behind. Had he left Lot behind, his headaches in Canaan would have been fewer. Lot proved to be a thorn in Abraham’s side. First, Lot greedily took the best pastures for his flocks away from Abraham, even though YHVH had promised the whole land of Canaan to Abraham. Second, Abraham had to imperil himself and his men in rescuing Lot from the Babylonians. Third, Lot’s offspring, Moab and Ammon, would prove to be continual enemies of the Israelites for hundreds of years afterwards—another consequence of Abraham not following Elohim’s instructions perfectly. In this case, the sins of the fathers had generational consequences for hundreds of years.

Romans 12:2 teaches us that each saint has to prove what is the good, better and best will of Elohim for their lives. When Abraham left Ur and only partially followed Elohim’s instructions, he was in the good or better will of Elohim, but not his perfect will. Nevertheless, Abraham’s heart was still in the right place and he was headed in the right direction. Elohim still counted that act of faith toward Abraham’s righteousness (Gen 15:6; Rom 4:22). Nevertheless Abraham still suffered the consequences of his not walking in Elohim’s perfect will, and this also happens to us sometimes as well.

Nonetheless, YHVH is gracious to those who have a heart to follow him, though we may only be walking is his good and better will, not his perfect will for our lives. The point is this: to the degree that we obey Elohim, we will be blessed, and to the degree that we do not obey him we will not be blessed. There are degrees and stages to obedience and divine judgment. When we do not fully obey YHVH, the consequences of our actions that we suffer may, in fact, help to bring us back into Elohim’s perfect will. This is because as a loving Father, YHVH sometimes has to discipline us as a form of guidance to bring us to his perfect will for our lives. The writer of Hebrews discusses this: 

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom YHVH loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, Elohim dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see YHVH. (Heb 12:6–14)

 

Abide in YHVH’s River of Life and…

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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:

Continue reading →
 

Biblical Humility—A Major Key to Entering the Kingdom of Heaven

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The subject of humility is not a popular one but one that it’s imperative for every serious Christian to learn about and practice. But conquering pride—the opposite of humility—and learning humility is a major pathway to being in the kingdom of heaven/Elohim. My words? No! Yeshua’s words in Matthew chapter five:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.…Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matt 5:3, 5).

This teaching will challenge you in an area in which everyone struggles and show you practical steps to becoming more humble in the sight of YHVH Elohim.

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.

 

Following the Glory Cloud Into Glory

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In many Christian church circles, you hear the word glory bandied about. We hear things like “the glory cloud”, “glory to God”, “to God be the glory”, “glory hallelujah”, and “when you die you will end up in glory”. But what is behind the somewhat nebulous concept of glory? The crazy thing is that most Christians would have a hard time defining glory. They just know that is something beyond that is divine and unearthly and out of this world good. But what is glory and how does it related to you personally now and in the future? It has to do with a piece of God that is within the follower of Yeshua the Messiah. This is not some pagan, new age or eastern mystical religious counterfeit and demonic concept. Not at all! This truth is straight from the Bible, that is what we will now explore.

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.

 

 

Re. Torah Obedience, R U a Torah Minimalist or Maximalist?

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A lot of people talk about being Torah-obedient, but up close, their talk and walk don’t match each other too well. Others claim to follow YHVH’s Torah, but then find a rationale for not doing so when it inconveniences their lives, hinders their money making capabilities, or means becoming unpopular with their friends and loved ones. Still others, in reality, are only playing spiritual games while claiming to be Torah obedient, but live up only to the bare minimal requirements of the Torah while ignoring the rest. Do you fall into any of these categories? When it comes to Torah obedience, are you a minimalist or a maximalist? Yeshua talked about those who draw near to him with their mouths, but their hearts are from him. Hmm… Selah!

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.