Blog Scripture Readings for 6/23 through 6/29/13

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Parashat Pinchas — Numbers 25:10 – 30:1 (29:40)*
Haftarah — Jeremiah 1:1 – 2:3** | 1 Kings 18:46 – 19:21
Prophets — Ezekiel 22:1 – 28:26
Writings — Daniel 2:1 – 8:27
Testimony — 2 Corinthians 3:1 – 9:15

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 6/23 through 6/29/13.

*Verse numbers in parenthesis refer to the verse number in Christian Bibles.

** A different Haftarah is read when it is a special sabbath in Jewish tradition. The Haftarah reading for this week is for when Parashat Pinchas falls after the 17th day of the month of “Tamm*z” (4th month) on the traditional calendar. We’ve also included the usual Haftarah for this Parasha in 1 Kings.

 

Paul the Pro-Torah Apostle

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Paul the apostle strongly upheld and defended the validity of the Torah as defining the path of righteous for the redeemed believer in numerous places in his writings (Rom 3:31; 7:7, 12, 14; 13:8–10; 1 Cor 7:19; 9:21; Gal 3:10; 6:2; 2 Tim 6:14; Tit 2:14). What’s more, he even claimed to follow the Torah himself (Acts 21:24; 24:14; 25:8; 28:17; 1 Cor 9:21).

The Torah

The Torah

Not only that, Paul claimed that he himself was NOT without the Torah of Elohim, but that he was actually “under the Torah toward Christ” (1 Cor 9:21). Yes, Paul was “under the Torah.” That’s what the Bible says! He wasn’t under the Torah by trying to earn his salvation through his good works. Neither was he under the penalty of the Torah that occurs when we sin by violating the Torah. Yeshua had washed his sins away and taken that penalty upon himself when he died at the cross. Rather, Paul was following the Torah through faith in Messiah, and through the power of the Holy Spirit living in him. The hard and stony heart of rebellion against the laws of Elohim had been cut away and he had been given a new heart to wholly love and obey YHVH.

To claim that Paul teaches the abrogation of the Torah-law given to Moses and the Israelites by YHVH Elohim is setting the Word of Elohim in opposition to itself and replacing the truth of the Bible with men’s traditions. This is sin, rebellion and secular humanism in its rawest form and is nothing more than a perpetuation of the lie of the serpent (the devil) when he questioned the Word of Elohim at the tree of knowledge in the garden and he asked man the question, “Hath God indeed said…?” (Gen 3:1). Ever since then, rebellious man has  been trying to do an end-run around the Torah-Word of Elohim. Paul describes this mentality to a tee in Romans 8:7–8,

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Anyone who claims that Paul came to unhinge Torah-obedience from the walk of the redeemed believer has sadly bought into the unbiblical and anti-Semetic theological lies and traditions of the church system, which are nothing more than traditions of men by which the word of Elohim has been made of none effect. This seems to be a recurring spiritual disease of religious institutionalism, for Yeshua accused the religious elite of his day of the same thing (Matthew 15:3–9 and Mark 7:7–9).

The religious folks of Yeshua’s day didn’t like his stinging rebukes in this regard any more than they do today. They first murdered him with their mouths, and then they murdered him physically instead of repenting of their sinful (Torahless, 1 John 3:4) ways. To be sure, murder with the mouth goes on today against those who stand for truth (see John 16:2).

At the present time, YHVH is calling his people out of spiritual and religious Babylonism (Rev 18:4), which contains a mixture of sublime Bible truth and toxic demonic doctrines of demons going back to the serpent in the garden. YHVH is preparing for Yeshua his Son a bride whose robes will be without the spot of sin (Torahless, 1 John 3:4), and who will be those who keep the commandments of Elohim and have the faith or testimony of Yeshua (Rev 12:17; 14:12). They are in love with Yeshua and they demonstrate this by keeping his Torah-commandments (John 14:15).

 

Standing Against the Wiles of the Devil

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Finally, church leaders are uniting to stand against wickedness! 

From World Net Daily: SUPREME COURT’S AUTHORITY FACES STUNNING CHALLENGE
‘This is the line we must draw and one we cannot and will not cross’

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A coalition of Christian organizations is warning that the U.S. Supreme Court does not have the power to redefine the institution of marriage, which predates government, churches and even religion. (Click on the link below to read more.)

http://www.wnd.com/2013/06/supreme-courts-authority-faces-stunning-challenge/

 

 

New Video: How to Be an Effective Gospel Presenter

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Watch this video and learn the tools of lifestyle evangelism to be able to share the gospel message with those around you to help fulfill Yeshua’s command to take the gospel to the world.

 

Have You Come Out and Crossed Over?

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Numbers 22:5, Pethor … by the river. Balaam was from the land of Pethor, which is “by the River.” This is a reference to the Euphrates River, the great river of Babylon (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, p. 857). Thus Balaam was a Babylonian, although he may have been a transplanted Edomite according to some Jewish scholars (see The ArtScroll Bereishis/Genesis Commentary on Gen 36:32).

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One of the aspects of Babylon of the last days is her religious system (Rev 13:11ff), the head of which is the false prophet (Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). The Babylonish religious system of the end days is a blend of both good and evil (reminiscent of the tree by that name in Eden from which the serpent beguiled Adam and Eve away from YHVH’s path of truth and righteousness into a false religious system).

In the last days, YHVH is calling his people out of that false religious system (Rev 18:4) with its false prophets who prophesy a mixture of good and evil. What religious system is this scripture referring to that YHVH’s people are caught up in? Reflect on the implications of this. To what degree have you heeded YHVH’s call to “come out of her”—namely, any man-made religious or church system that is contrary to the Word of Elohim?

The Scriptures seems to indicate that Balaam had some knowledge of the truth of YHVH but refused to wholeheartedly submit to YHVH (2 Pet 2:15). If this is the case, who or what system today could fit this same pattern? Let us not forget Yeshua’s warning about false prophets arising in the last days who might deceive the very elect (Matt 24:24).

Numbers 22:10ff, Carnal men want to be like YHVH’s saints, to be recipients of the blessings of Israel, and to be numbered among YHVH’s chosen, but few want to walk the walk required to receive these blessings and privileges.

Many will “court YHVH” by getting as close to him as possible without actually crossing over (becoming an Ivrit/Hebrew) and surrendering their all to him. The sacrifice of doing so is too great for most. To cross over to YHVH’s side means that fame and fortune must be laid aside and one must become a servant-slave of YHVH. Balaam couldn’t cross over.

How serious are you about serving YHVH?

It is said of the end-times saints that they loved not their lives unto death (Rev 12:11). Paul declares that followers of Yeshua must become “living sacrifices” in service of YHVH (Rom 12:1). Yeshua gave his very life for you. Are you holding back some of your life for him? Do the cares of this world, the desire for pleasures, material goods, entertainments or acclaim still have a grip on your heart? Are they preventing you from moving into your spiritual calling and destiny—to truly walk by faith?

 

New Video: Are You a Light on a Hill?

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Yeshua  commanded  his disciples (that’s you and me) to take the gospel message to the world and to make disciples. This is called the Great Commission. Sadly, many view it as the Great Suggestion, and as such, for most believers, spreading the gospel has become the Great Omission. In this video, Natan will challenge you to help spread the good news of Yeshua (Jesus) by being like a light on a hill to those around you.

 

Blog Scripture Readings For 6/16 Through 6/22/13

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Parashat Balak — Numbers 22:2 – 25:9
Haftarah — Micah 5:6 – 6:8
Prophets — Ezekiel 15:1 – 21:32
Writings — Esther 5:1 – 10:3; Daniel 1:1 – 1:21
Testimony — 1 Corinthians 14:1 – 16:24;  2 Corinthians 1:1 – 2:17

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 6/16 through 6/22/13.