Table of
Contents.

Contact larryv

The
Letters:

# 1.  Faith,
Discipleship &
Spiritual
Warfare.

# 2.  Prayer,
Judgmentalism
& Forgiveness.

# 3. The
Ekklesia
(Church) -vs-
Religion.

# 4. Elohim,
His Love &
His Discipline.

# 5.  Spiritual
Gifts, Humility
& Elohim's
Power.

# 6.  The
Ruach ha Qodesh
and Elohim's
Word.

# 7.
Reconciliation
& Sin - The
curse and our
need.

# 8.
Reconciliation
& Sin - The
consequence
of the curse.

# 9.
Reconciliation
& Sin - Sin's
cure.

#10.
Reconciliation
& Sin - Our
Choice.

#11.
Discipleship.

#12.
Works of Faith.

#13. The
Gifts of the
Ruach ha Qodesh
- and a Test.

#14.
The Sign Gifts.

#15.  The
Support Gifts.

#16. The
Service Gifts.

#17.  Living
as Disciples.

#18.
The Snatching
(Rapture) &
Tribulation.

#19.
Prophesy & a
Closing.

#20.
Beware the
false prophets
and teachers.

#21.
The Signs
of Messiah's
Return.

#22. Oneness
& The Trinity,
and the Names
of Elohim!

#23.
Understanding
Righteousness,
While
Acknowledging
The enemy.

#24.
The Matter of
the Sabbath.

Simple Poems.

About the
Author.

Support.

Letter 10 - Reconciliation, Our Choice.

Dearest Zeteo;

Greetings of peace and grace. Beloved, it appears by your latest letter that you no longer wrestle with the events in the Garden. I knew that you would recognize the insignificance behind finger pointing eventually. I am delighted though, that it came sooner rather than later. Your grasp of the last three letters is formidable, Zeteo, just as your overall knowledge and understanding of God, Yahshuah, Ruach ha Qodesh and everything else we have discussed is formidable. Although we are not in complete agreement on every issue, I am confident that the foundation has been laid for this final chapter on reconciliation. It would be exceedingly conceited of me to expect you to immediately agree with everything we have discussed, and I will not permit my pride to interfere with the truth you have found thus far. Therefore, I anxiously submit the realities of our CHOICE to you, and pray that Ruach ha Qodesh will guide you through what you are about to read.

Acceptance or rejection of God and His truth, is between God and the individual. For every true Disciple though, God exists, and by His grace we believe. As disciples, we do not need to make excuses for our faith.

In our belief in God though, we also acknowledge the original transcripts of Scripture as His infallible Word. Scripture says that, "God breathed" to the writers, and because of His Divine intervention, we accept the fact that Scripture contains no errors in its original form. Additionally, because God inspired His Word, we believe that we are inspired as we study His Word. We do not need to make excuses for the Word of God.

In light of God's existence, and our belief in His Word, we live our lives in a manner pleasing to Him. As we discover His will for us, and as we find His commands to us, we act. As long as God is our guide, we remain blameless in Yahshuah ha Mashiach. We, therefore, do not need to make excuses for our obedience to God.

"Now faith is [tc] the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.  By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible" (Hebrews 11:1-3). "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Yahshuah [tc], the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2). Please take the time to read all of Hebrews 11 and 12, Zeteo, because the realities and fullness of faith are poured out within those pages.

And through God's Word, we also discover that faith dictates that we become overcomers. Sadly though, many of the institutions within Babylon teach that once we accept Yahshuah as Messiah, we are free to live whatever lifestyle we please. Primarily, they teach an acceptance of Yahshuah as Messiah, while totally ignoring His position as Master. Commonly, this philosophical position is always coupled with the phrase, "Once saved  - always saved" [tc]. The intent of this false teaching is to persuade God's children into believing that obedience and discipleship are no longer a part of God's Word. Others add to this false teaching by openly approving illicit and abominable lifestyles, proclaiming those lifestyles to be acceptable to God today. These institutions teach that, "in His love, all is forgiven", regardless of what His Word says. They teach, "it is impossible to loose salvation", which is true for those who are fully sanctified through Yahshuah as Master and Messiah, but they ignore the fact that we are repeatedly commanded to overcome. They teach, "In His love we are free to act as we choose", while God teaches His children to repent of sinful lifestyles and stand for righteousness. They teach that, "God may have declared something abominable in the past, but He accepts it today", even though God says He cannot change. These teachings that permeate the institutions, are all lies, intended to persuade the undisciplined into partaking of Satan's world!

Sadly, anyone teaching against these lies is ostracized, because Satan has infiltrated the religious institutions, so that the controversy swells from what is perceived to be the very pulpit of righteousness. The "learned" theologians of our day are distorting the Word of God to please their audiences, and the liberalism relating to sin, freedom of choice [election], and eternal salvation, has all been whitewashed to please the growing masses. God says if we have erred, we need to repent of the error, and cease compounding it with pride and arrogance. We are told to overcome, and to not live by worldly standards, but God's statements are being condemned throughout the institutions, because overcoming means obedience, and that is too much to ask.

As we read the daily paper and watch the evening news, we should be appalled by the immorality, hatred, bigotry, idolatry, envy, murder and strife that exists - and is increasing. Appalled, but not surprised. Society closely resembles what is supposed to exist in the last days, and events prophesied long ago are taking place before our very eyes. As the period of tribulation and the return of the Messiah draws near, we will witness an even greater increase in Satan's influence and activities, and our natural desire will be to partake of worldly offerings. It is precisely in these times, however, that our worldly entanglements must decrease. This truth is a stumbling block for many would-be disciples, because ministry is often confused with endorsement. We must learn to minister without partaking. In learning the will of God, and in discovering our gifts and life purpose, our responsibility to the EKKLESIA, and our ministry to the world, will escalate, but we cannot be identified with the world's ills.

Genesis 1:26-27 says that man is created, "in the image of God". Through our earlier study on God's character, we learned that God has a free will. We learned that God could choose. This aspect of our being created in God's image has never changed, and Scripture teaches that we retain our freedom to choose (Job 24:13-17; Psalms 62:12; Proverbs 24:12; John 3:36, 5:24; Romans 2:6-8; Acts 7:51). Like God then, we have a free will. Within society, however, there is a growing belief that man is either genetically trapped into sinful lifestyles, or is totally incapable of self-control. God says that man has an independent will (Proverbs 2; John 7:17-18, 9:31-33; Luke 6:46, 12:47; Matthew 24:48-51) but by declaring their independence from the Word of God, the false teachers of society offer evidence that man can in fact defy God; man can choose. We had the ability to choose from the beginning, and we did! Human personalities have not changed since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and just as they had a choice, so do we.

Yahshuah came to reconcile the world to His Father. Acceptance of that fact leads the believer to accept other facts about God, as well as about the creation and humanity, which otherwise could not be explained or understood. For example, we speak of creationism, and accept the Scriptural account of the six-day miracle. We do not know how God did what He did, but we accept that God "thought" - that He "willed" - and it happened according to His will. I have no problem believing that God can do these things. I also believe that I am not an animal or a machine, and that I did not evolve from slime, ooze or a primate. God says humanity is made in His image and likeness, and I believe that. Do I fully comprehend it? Not yet! As I read the Word of God though, and as I walk with my Master, I witness His truth daily. I am reconciled to God and His Word through Yahshuah, and in that reconciliation I believe what He says, and I choose to obey.

When God tells me through His Word, that I can do something, and I ask; and then successfully do what He said, and it is an unnatural thing for humans to do, I am again convinced that He is who He says He is. I am convinced of His power and authority. I know that I am reconciled to Him through Yahshuah's blood, and in that knowledge I apply His teaching to my life. He said it - I believe it. God cannot lie!  Sadly, too many today are either afraid of asking "Big" things of God, fearful that He is incapable of providing those things, or they are asking for things that are self-serving and humanistic at best, and because of both of these situations God appears puny in the eyes of the world.

Smoking cigarettes was popular in the 50's, and I was eight years old when I picked up the habit. My parents owned a little delicatessen then, and we lived behind the store, so it was never a problem to sneak a pack of my favorite brand. By the time I was twenty-five, I smoked two packs of cigarettes every day, and a box of cigars every a month. I did not know the Master then. I tried to quit occasionally, to the dismay of family and friends, but was never successful. Then I met Yahshuah.

I continued to smoke after I accepted Yahshuah as my Master and Messiah, but after awhile I was confronted with the truth, through the Word of God, that I was not to be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12). Additionally, I began to see the spiritual significance of 1 Corinthians 8 and Luke 17:1-2; that my actions were not to be a cause for others to stumble. I prayed sincerely about my habit, and as I prayed, and as I continued to read His Word, I realized I had to quit smoking. I asked Yahshuah for His help.

As I went to the Master in prayer, I literally set my cigars and cigarettes before Him, surrendering them to Him. I confessed that they ruled a part of my life, and I only wanted Him to rule. I asked Him to help me quit in a way that I could maintain my witness and testimony as I went through withdrawal. As I spoke with Him about my smoking, I confessed how much I enjoyed the cigars. Oh, I used to take tremendous pleasure in sitting around a table in hearty conversation, following an especially savory meal; sipping hot coffee and an after dinner drink - smoking a cigar. Great stuff! Incredibly addictive!

He reminded me of His vow [tc] that: "I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it with you in My Father's kingdom" (Matthew 26:29), and my thoughts turned to the wedding feast. My prayer was simple, and I laughed as I submitted my pleasures to Him. I prayed that on the day we sit around the table with Him at the wedding feast, drinking hot coffee and sipping wine after dinner, that if He had a nice mild cigar lying around somewhere, if I might be able to enjoy it with Him then? My spirit sensed an overwhelming nod of approval, and I have not smoked since. I will confess, occasions arise where my taste buds are enticed by the aroma of a good cigar, even after all of these years. With a smile in my heart though, my thoughts turn to the day I will sit with my Master in heaven, and I rebuke the temptation. I can say no because God helped me overcome my weakness.

I was able to quit smoking not only on the hope of a future promise, because that might have been too vague. An interesting thing happened as I stopped smoking though, because God reduced my urge to smoke, to a taste in my mouth. The light-headedness I had experienced in past attempts to quit was not evident. The anxiety and hypersensitivity I had experienced my past attempts was not evident either. I simply had an incredible taste in my mouth to smoke, and I merely denied myself the gratification of satisfying the taste. Whenever the urge to smoke hit me, I called to Him for help, and with all my heart I attempted to deny myself for His glory. Together, in Him, I overcame...  I truly believe it is so with sin.

We labored as kitchen volunteers every week with another couple from church, and our time was always enjoyable and uplifting. Suddenly, however, the husband stopped coming. Over a three-week period, we learned that this man had abandoned his family for a "younger" woman. The wife was devastated. Her faith was greatly tested, and her grief and pain were obvious. Years have passed since this man abandoned his family, and recently we heard the husband's position on the situation: He says, "I know this is wrong. I know this is a sin. Right now, I do not care. When I am ready to confess my sin, God will forgive me. Until then, this is the way it is." I have news for this man: God will not be mocked! Hear the Word of God:
"If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace" (Hebrews 10:26-29)?
"For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Master and Messiah, Yahshuah ha Mashiach, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first" (2 Peter 2:20).

Believe me, Zeteo, you will not hear these matters discussed with in the religious institutions of Babylon.

A great price was paid for our salvation! The Son of God came in the flesh and walked among us. His name is Yahshuah. The Man, Yahshuah, lived a sinless life during His walk, yet He died on a cross for our sins, taking our sins upon Himself. Spiritually, He bore our punishment! Through His "sacrifice," all who believe on Him as Master and Messiah, are free from the punishment of eternal death, which otherwise is certainly due. But by His death, and evidenced through His resurrection [tc] from the grave, we who believe on Him not only have forgiveness from our sins, we are also promised eternal life [tc]. As we partake of the Blood of Mashiach, we have victory over every encumbrance, and we have the power and authority through Him, and in His name, to abide moment by moment in the divine nature. In Him we can be sanctified!  This is the Gospel!

Based on the Word of God, believing upon Yahshuah ha Mashiach includes faith, repentance and obedience. Open denial or refusal of any of these criteria is equal to denial of His Mastership. Denial of His Mastership is rejection of His redemption as our Messiah, and rejection of Him as Messiah means death for sins committed. We must remember, God will not be mocked! Hear what He says, "For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Mashiach Yahshuah. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as an instrument of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace" (Romans 6:10-14).

We are reconciled to God in Mashiach, and in Him we are to remain holy and blameless (Colossians 1:21-22). Even though we are released from the law, we are to serve God (Romans 7:5-6), presenting ourselves to Him as a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, and in them you also once walked when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him" (Colossians 3:5-10).

If we are incapable of putting aside immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech, which is what the false teachers say, why would God tell His children to do the impossible? Grace dictates that we deny irreverence and worldly desires, and empowers us to live rightly (Titus 2:11-12). As grace appeals to us to abstain from wickedness, it also empowers us to flee from all unrighteous lusts (2 Timothy 2:19-22). Where we once were enslaved to the forces of evil, the grace of God cleanses us through the Blood of the Lamb, so we might richly dwell for Him - now (Titus 3:3-6).

If we are incapable of attaining goodness, why would God say, "Your goodness should not be as it were by compulsion, but of your own free will" (Philemon 1:14)? The world, along with many of the religious institutions, teaches that we are incapable of overcoming, but God speaks of our free will and our capacity to overcome! Yahshuah was tempted just like us, and He overcame. As obedient children, we are to be like Him (1 Peter 1:14-16). In His understanding of our situation, Yahshuah can help us, if we seek His help (Hebrews 2:18)

Throughout God's Word we are told that homosexuality is an abomination, yet many "liberal" theologians teach that the homosexual lifestyle is acceptable today in the sight of God. Every man and woman enticed by this spirit wants desperately to believe this deception. Nonetheless, this teaching is a lie! While Yahshuah died for all sins, and loves every sinner, there is a matter of repentance [tc] (which means turning away from sinful ways) that must be addressed. God loves those trapped in the sin of homosexuality. He died for them. But He wants them to repent of their sin. God will not be mocked. The curse that has been levied against teachers (James 3:1) will be especially difficult for those false teachers who proclaim a change in the Person of God. If something was an abomination to Him yesterday, it is an abomination to Him today, and it will remain an abomination to Him throughout eternity. God does not change. His desire for those enticed by the homosexual lifestyle is the same as His desire for anyone caught-up in any sin: ABSTAIN!!!

Throughout God's Word we are told that idolatry, witchcraft, abortion, sexual immorality, apostasy, corruption, humanism, rape and murder are wrong, that they offend God and that they are sin. We either believe Him, foregoing these things, or we defy Him and sin. The choice is entirely ours. The false notion that God will allow mankind to flaunt their sin though, in spite of the knowledge that a matter is sin, and then declare some fake repentance in the future, is Satanic. It is a deception! It is a lie! God wants us to repent, and live our lives, "as unto Him" - NOW! He calls us to abstain from sin and live for Him! Therefore, contrary to the currently accepted theology, it must be possible for us to do so.

The call from heaven to the EKKLESIA of Yahshuah, which says, "Come out of her, My people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4), must echo in the sanctuaries of every religious institution in the world. The Word of God must be proclaimed. Morality and truth must be taught. The liberal theologians who announce an open, reckless, ungodly lifestyle must be silenced or abandoned. Light cannot worship with darkness, and we cannot spiritually or financially support those who abide in darkness. While we extend the hand of God, in loving reconciliation to all of humanity, repentance must be proclaimed.

Satanic deceit is no different today than it was in the Garden of Eden, Zeteo. "And the serpent said to the woman, `You surely shall not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5).  God has commanded, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). Among other things, God has commanded, "You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet" (Exodus 20:13-17).

The teachers in Satan's Babylonian religious institutions are proclaiming these things are no longer true. In their words, the following is heard:
"It surely is not sin. You shall not die! For God loves your immorality, your abortions and murders, your homosexuality and lusts, your unrighteousness, your adulteries, your divorces, your idolatry and your lies.' O people, don't worry, God loves you.'"

Partly true, inasmuch as God loves us. Otherwise, the statement is entirely deceitful. We cannot believe these lies any longer. Beware the wolves that have crept in unnoticed, and keep yourself pure. God loves His lost children; God desires for all to be saved, but God will not force anyone to repent. Repentance is our own free choice.

In his second Epistle, Peter said that through the true knowledge of Yahshuah, His divine power, "has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). He adds that by these things we "might become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). As we partake, we escape the corruption of the world, and for this reason we are to apply all diligence. "In your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, reverence; and in your reverence, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love" (2 Peter 1:5-7). These matters come in progression. Faith must be in place before moral excellence, which must be in place before knowledge, which comes before self-control, etc. First, however, we must have faith, because, "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). Without faith one cannot believe in Yahshuah Mashiach. Without Yahshuah the soul is dead!

Just as discipleship is a process, so are these matters, Zeteo, and as discipleship requires a conscious decision, so do these.

With faith, moral excellence is attainable. With moral excellence, knowledge will be gained. With knowledge, self-control is achievable, and then perseverance, reverence, brotherly kindness and love. We are not required to master one attribute before we begin to acquire the next, and it does not matter where we are in the procession of acquiring these things either, because, "If these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Master Yahshuah ha Mashiach" (2 Peter 1:8). With faith we please God. With faith we believe in Yahshuah. With faith in Yahshuah, the soul lives and bears fruit. Praise God!

While mankind is free to choose between good and evil, the prophet is charged with exhorting men to do good and to avoid evil (Matthew 24: 48-51; Luke 12:45-47, 6:46;). It has been pointed out by many theologians, that the Book of Jude deals with Gnosticism, a philosophy that teaches matter as evil and spirit as good. I believe, however, that the Book of Jude is a prophetic statement dealing primarily with illicit behavior, and specifically with homosexuality. The references to licentiousness, and Sodom and Gomorrah, in v 4, 6 and 7, all lead toward this conclusion. And, in 2 Peter 2:6 we are reminded that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were made an example to those who do not live reverently. It is abundantly clear, therefore, through all of these Scriptural references, that mankind has the freedom to choose. Man has a free will. And in the exercise of that free will, God desires all who are caught within the homosexual lifestyle - to repent!

The spiritual battle is raging, Zeteo, and every deception that is accepted by mankind requires prayerful intercession from the EKKLESIA, and an outpouring of wisdom from God, so that the EKKLESIA can knowledgeably dispel the deceptions. Unfortunately, professing 'Christians' are allowing others to interpret the Word of God for them, and deceptions abound. We must reenter the battlefield with knowledge, understanding, wisdom and insight, accompanied by compassion and love. We must learn Scripture well enough to instruct without confrontation, and as we approach mankind with the Word of God, we must never forget our lessons against being judgmental. God loves the sinner, but God hates the sin. We need to pray again for revival, and as we reenter the battlefield, we cannot forget that our battle is not with "flesh and blood." Nor can we forget that we fight spiritually with spiritual weapons. The world needs to hear the words of reconciliation, Zeteo, because in the acceptance of these things, the harvest will finally come.

To each of us, the Word of God says, "You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Mashiach (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Mashiach Yahshuah" (Ephesians 2:1-6).

Within Psalms 82:3-4; Proverbs 24:11-12, 31:8-9; Acts 17:16-17; Ephesians 4:14-16 and Colossians 1:28-19, every Disciple can find purpose, motivation and support for being spiritually and politically involved in curing the ills of society. Personally, the anti-abortion/pro life movement is certainly one issue that requires our attention. Additionally, these motivating passages, coupled with faith, and the remainder of God's Word, perhaps even as displayed in these studies, will give the world some insight, if they care to know, why we become involved at all. As disciples of Yahshuah, once we acknowledge God's truth about an issue, we must become involved. And yet, even our involvement is voluntary.

When the truth of God's Word about abortion is known to professing 'Christians', with regards to the life being in the blood, none can remain on the fence. God does not sanction abortion.  Abortion is murder!

I realize this statement draws a line in the sand, because it clearly says, YOU CANNOT BE PRO CHOICE AND STILL BELIEVE YOU ARE A DISCIPLE OF YAHSHUAH MASHIACH. You cannot be pro choice and still believe you are a Christian!  It is time for these things to be said though, because while God said, "Thou shalt not kill", He also said, "The life is in the blood." If blood is shed and a life ends, it is murder. Therefore, abortion is murder. The disciples of Yahshuah must be reconciled to the truth, once and for all.

Lines must also be drawn in the sand over the issues of:
Idolatry, including the feminist movement within the Ekklesia.
Adultery/divorce - including the violation of the oneness of God, and our portrayal of Him to the world.
Immorality, including its relationship to the current "safe sex" campaigns coming out of Washington, D.C.
And homosexuality, as it relates to acceptance of this behavior by humanity in general, and the religious institutions specifically.

We do not judge the individual trapped in sin, yet we must draw lines as Yahshuah's ambassadors, declaring the uprightness and holiness of God to the world. To do this though, we must live His holiness as well. We must let the world know that while God loves them, He expects His commands to be followed.  But to do this, we must also follow His commands ourselves. We must teach reconciliation through Yahshuah ha Mashiach, otherwise the Gospel is not being heard, but we must first be reconciled to God through His Blood. We must walk the walk before we talk the talk!

God drew the original line in the sand in the Garden of Eden, when He commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from one of the trees. Even though they defied Him, introducing sin, and bringing forth a curse on humanity, God had a predetermined plan for mankind. Knowing beforehand that they would sin, God reconciled the world to Himself through His Son. We must be certain that the world knows that the line has never been erased, but we are also responsible for telling the world the truth about the Messiah, because only through Yahshuah are we released from our lust for sin, and only in Him are we free to abide within the confines of the curse of Genesis 3.

In our study on prayer I said that I pray daily for the destruction of those fortresses that stand against the righteousness of God. While I pray for the souls of our political and judicial leaders, and for just decisions, I pray for the elimination of any administration that openly defies God. (During the Clinton administration, I prayed against the spirit of Jezebel and Ahab living in the White House; seeking their repentance). Today, during the Obama administration, I simply pray for God's forgiveness and for revival.  Our sin is beyond my comprehension at this point, and I am incapable of praying for anything other than forgiveness and revival.

I pray for the destruction of a legal system that releases murderers and rapists, but imprisons God's children for attempting to prevent the murder of innocent lives. I pray for the destruction of a system that mocks justice, being more concerned with money and prestige, than with upholding righteous laws; that protects the criminal, instead of the victim. I pray for the destruction of a corrupt and amoral political system that is completely out of touch with the sovereign God who established it, and the people it is meant to serve. I pray against unjust governments worldwide. I pray for the destruction of organizations like the ACLU, NOW, NEA and PLANNED PARENTHOOD, that openly defy the laws of God. And above all, I pray for the revival of every soul ensnared within these organizations.

God says, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (James 5:16), and, "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit" (James 5:17-18). I pray that a spirit of repentance and revival would rain around the world, and that God would truly be glorified. While I openly stand against any who defy God's will, and pray against their intentions, I also stand with my arms open to them, and seek for their repentance and salvation.

We have been fighting a great many battles on the streets, Zeteo, but God wants us to fight with an even greater zeal from the privacy of our inner rooms. The EKKLESIA must fight spiritually - in prayer.
Disciples of Yahshuah need not, and cannot burn down abortion clinics.

Disciples of Yahshuah do not need to block access to abortion clinics.

Disciples of Yahshuah can never kill anyone involved in providing abortions.

Disciples of Yahshuah need to be seen and heard. We need to be politically active. But we cannot violate the laws of God.

If we are truly His disciples, and if we unite, and if we ask in that unity, then God MUST answer our requests. Simply, God cannot lie. Therefore, when God's Word says that if His true follower's unite, and if they ask for something in that unity, WITHOUT ANY DOUBT, then they will have whatever it is they seek. And this truth must be upheld regardless of the issue, and regardless of the battle. We either believe God is everything He says, or not, and God says He will respond to our united requests.

Scripture says the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much, but have you ever wondered what God considers to be much? The Word also says, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, `Move from here to there' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you'" (Matthew 17:20). Furthermore, in speaking to His disciples, Yahshuah said, "If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 18:19). Why don't we get it? Why don't we understand these things? Have we grown so cold in our love, or so sophisticated in this world, that the Word of God does not matter any more? Does God lie? No, He cannot lie! The failure, therefore, must be ours.

"Nothing shall be impossible to you"...
"Anything they ask - shall be done for them..."

Father in heaven, please forgive us!

The battle is not against flesh and blood, my friend. Whether we are talking about the hatred evidenced across the picket lines outside abortion clinics, or the school board meetings in which "safe sex" policies are discussed, or where the indoctrination of our children, instead of the true education of our children is discussed, or any other situation where people's emotions are evident, current 'Christian' practices are not convicting souls for Yahshuah, and they are not winning the battles. This is so, because we have abandoned and ignored the power of God available to us through prayer. And in our ignorance, God is not being glorified. We must fight the good fight; we must voice our disapproval with the political, judicial and educational leaders, but we must also unite as disciples of God and fight the battle squarely on the battlefield, in prayer. The battle is not against flesh and blood!

As we pray, we must act according to God's leading. We must, at the very least, vote. We must attempt to recall and impeach those who openly defy the Word of God. We must strenuously and vigorously boycott companies and products that support, endorse, uphold or promote individuals, shows, events or situations that defy the righteousness of God. These are all legal and available avenues to us, but we have been negligent and lazy. (And I am just as guilty). While the reconciliation offered to humanity through Yahshuah must be made evident to the world through the EKKLESIA, our forum, as His ambassadors, must also evidence His love.

For many people, idolatry is the greatest sin. For others, being lied to is the worst crime. For some, homosexuality is the most heinous offense to God. Still, others cannot abide by abortion or murder. Sin, by any name though, offends God. None really rank as less or more offensive to Him, except the unpardonable sin, which we have already discussed. Remember, a sin against any part of the law, violates the entire Law; God is not partial in any area. It does not matter what deed is sinful, what matters is what we do about that sin. If we know something is wrong, and we keep doing it, we place ourselves in the unenviable position of being judged by Him. If we know we are doing something wrong and confess the sin - and repent from the deed (stop doing it), God will forgive us.

Do not be deceived, Zeteo, the law has not changed. While the sacrificial law is no longer necessary, because of Yahshuah's sacrifice, the nature of His sacrifice obliges us to abide by the laws of morality, decency and ethics. To live a life in contrast to Yahshuah's teachings would be living a lie; it would be a life that desecrates His Blood. We have the capacity to choose which lifestyle we will live, and through our Messiah we have the power and authority to order our lives aright. Through Yahshuah, we can choose to once again be fully re-born in the image of God.

So then, Zeteo, have you found any truth? Has your search opened your heart at all? Has God's Word brought about any enlightenment? And what about Yahshuah? What are you going to do with Him? Throughout these letters, and throughout our personal conversations, I have reiterated the fact that God loves you. Have you found His love in your life? Believe me, my friend, we have not exhausted our discovery of God's Word; there is much more to know and apply. Nevertheless, is it necessary to comprehend all things before confessing our sins and proclaiming our faith? Oh, I pray not! Otherwise, I would never have been able to accept Yahshuah as my personal Messiah, Master and King! And how about you?

There is no prescribed pattern for confessing one's faith in our Messiah, Zeteo. Accepting the Word of God as truth, and then applying that truth, is simply a matter of turning to God (KNOWING  THAT HE IS LISTENING), and saying something like:

"Father, I acknowledge your existence, and the existence of your Son, Yahshuah, and Your Ruach ha Qodesh. I confess to You that I am a sinner, and openly accept the sacrifice of Your Son for my sins. Master Yahshuah, I accept You as my Messiah, Master and King, and I invite You into my heart and life right now. I also accept Your Ruach ha Qodesh - and invite Him to abide within me, and request His instruction and guidance for my life. Additionally, I acknowledge that gifts are going to be given me by Ruach ha Qodesh, for Your glory, and ask that they would be revealed to me, as well as request that I be instructed in their proper use. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your love and forgiveness. In the name of Yahshuah ha Mashiach I pray. Amen."

If you have declared your faith in Yahshuah, my friend, your name must change from Zeteo (seeker), to Mathetes (disciple), because from this point on you will be following the lead of Ruach ha Qodesh in our Messiah, and will have Ruach ha Qodesh to help in your search. And, if you have declared your faith in Yahshuah, you should know that the angels in heaven are rejoicing with you, because you are now born-again [tc]. All things past are no more. The slate is perfectly clean. The Blood of The Lamb covers and protects you. Praise God!

If you have not yet decided about Yahshuah, or about this matter of faith, DO NOT DESPAIR! Continue to ask questions and continue your search. I will not abandon you. That which we have exchanged is a solid foundation, and I am not tired of building. Your decision to do nothing at this time is courageous, as long as your doubts are sincere. I told you, Zeteo, I would not force you into doing anything that is against your will. Neither will God.

So, if you now have Yahshuah in your heart, I rejoice with the angels, and praise God for His indescribable gift. And if you do not yet have Yahshuah in your heart, I rejoice in the sincerity of your search, and praise God for your tenacity and desire to know about Him. In either case, I anxiously await your reply.

I remain faithfully yours in Yahshuah our Messiah,



larry vosen

Born again: (Apply along with: Dead to self, alive to Mashiach).
Old Testament: 1 Samuel 10:6; Psalms 143(all); Ezekiel 18:31-32(A).

New Testament: Matthew 12:43-45, 16:24-27, 18:3-4; Mark 2:20-21, 10:15; John 3:1-8, 8:31- 32, 12:24-26, 15:1-2; Romans 6:17-18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20, 5:24-25; Ephesians 4:15,20-32, 5:7-10; Colossians 2:13-14, 3:3-11; 2 Timothy 1:7; Philemon 1:10-11; Hebrews 12:7-13; 1 Peter 1:3,23, 2:24; 1 John 3:9-10,14, 4:4.

Election (Freedom of choice):
Old Testament: Genesis 1:26-27, 4:7; Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Job 24:13-17, 28:28; Psalms 37:27, 50:16-23, 62:12, 81:6-16, 119:25-32; Proverbs (all), 1:10-19; 2(all), 24:12; Isaiah 53:6, 55(all); Ezekiel 18:23,30-32, 33:11.

New Testament: Matthew 13:24-30, 18:8-9; John 3:16-17, 4:42, 5:21,24, 6:35-40,44, 7:17-18, 9:31-33, 10:14-15, 15:13,16, 17:6-10; Acts 2:38-40, 3:26, 7:51, 13:48, 28:42; Romans 6:10-20, 7:5-6, 8:1,28-32; 9:10-24, 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 1: 4-11, 5:13; Philippians 3:21; Colossians 1:15,21-22, 3:5-8; 1 Timothy 1:12-16, 2:4, 4:6-10; 2 Timothy 1:7, 2:6-7,19-26; Titus 2:11-13, 3:3-8; Philemon 1:14; Hebrews 2:9,18, 12:1-13; James 1:21-27, 4:1-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16, 2:1-3,11-12; 2 Peter 1:4-7, 3-9; 1 John 2:2.

Eternity:
Old Testament: Genesis 3:22-24; Job 14:14, 19:25-27; Psalms 17:15, 18:24, 27:4-6, 84(all), 92:10-15; Ecclesiastes (all); Isaiah 60(all).

New Testament: Matthew 7:40-42, 20:1-16; John. 4:34-38, 17:3; Romans 10:11-12; Ephesians 2:4-7; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:9, 2:16; 1 Timothy 6:12-19; 2 Timothy 1:8-9, 4:8; Titus 3:7; Hebrews 8:12, 9:15, 10:35-36, 11:16; 1 Peter 1:23, 2:4-10; 1 John 3:2; Revelation (all), but see 2-3 & 21-22.

Faith/Faithfulness:
Old Testament: Exodus 14:14; Numbers 14:8-9; Psalms 37(all), 101(all), 107(all); Isaiah 58(all); Jeremiah (all).

New Testament: Mark 9:23, 11:22-26; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 2:16-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Philemon 1:6; Hebrews 11(all); James 1:27.

Faith/Righteousness:
Old Testament: Genesis 13(all), 15:6, 22(all), 24(all); 1 Samuel 2:30, 14:6-15, 17:20-58, 26:23; Job 16:18-22, 19:25-27; Psalms 25:1-3, 73:1, 89:14, 107(all), 115(all), 119(all), 125(all); Proverbs 10&11, 21:21; Isaiah 3:10-11, 55(all); Jeremiah 22:15-16; Ezekiel 18:4-9; Daniel 3(all); Amos 5:21-24; Habakkuk 3:17-19.

New Testament: Matthew 17:14-21, 21:21-22; Mark 4:39-40, 5:25-43, 9:23, 10:52; 11:22-26; Luke 7:50, 17:6-10, 18:7-8; John 11:21-41; Acts 3:16, 18:27, 26:18; Romans 1:5, 1:17, 3:22-28, 4:4-5, 4:21, 8:10, 8:15, 8:24-25, 9:30-32, 10:9-10, 10:17, 12:3-6; 1 Corinthians 2:5, 13:1-3, 13:13; 2 Corinthians 8:12, 13:5; Galatians 2:16-21, 3:7-14, 5:6; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 3:9; Colossians 2:5-7, 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 2:13; 1 Timothy 1:5, 5:12; 2 Timothy 1:12, 3:15-16, 4:8; Philemon 1:6; Hebrews 2:16, 3:19-4:11, 6:12, 10:19-25, 10:39, 11(all), 12:2; James 1:2-8, 1:27, 2:14-26, 5:13-16; 1Peter 1:5-9; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 5:4-5; Jude 1:20, Revelation (all) see 2-3.

Once Saved Always Saved:
Old Testament: Exodus (all); Isaiah (all), 1:28, 65:1-16; Jeremiah (all); Ezekiel 18:24, 33:12-13; Zephaniah 1:4-6.

New Testament: Matthew 3:8-10, 5:13-20, 7:15-23, 10:17-28, 13:3-9, 17:20,25-26, 25:14-30; Luke 3:7-9, 8:15, 9:23-27,62, 13:6-9,24 ff; John 3:15,16,36, 5:24,6:40,47, 54,58, 7:16, 8:31-32, 10:27-30, 11:25-26, 12:47, 15:1-6,10; Romans 8:13-14, 17,35-39, 11:17-22,29; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 15:1-2; 2 Corinthians 11:3, 13:2-8; Galatians 2:16, 3:4, 4:11, 5:4,16-26; Ephesians 2:4-6; Colossians 1:19-23; Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13, 3:8-21; 1 Thessalonians 3:5-8; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; 1 Timothy 1:18-20,2:15, 4:1-4, 5:6,12-15; 2 Timothy 2:10-13; Hebrews 2:1-4, 3:6,12-19, 4:1-11,5:9, 6:4-9, 10:14,26-31, 12:25; 1 Peter 1:17-19, 4:17-19; 2 Peter 1:1-11,2:1-4,9-17,20-22; 1 John 1:6-2:6,19, 5:11-13; 2 John 1:8-11; Revelation 2:1-3:22.

Repentance:
Old Testament: 2 Samuel 12:12; Psalms 7:12-16, 107(all); Isaiah 1:16-20, 30:15, 55(all); Jeremiah 3:11-18, 7:8-11; Ezekiel 18(all); Hosea (all) see 12:6; Joel (all); Jonah (all); Zechariah 1:1-6, 3(all).

New Testament: Matthew 3:17, 10:7; Mark 10:15; Luke 13:1-5, 13:24-30, 15:4-32; Acts 3:19, 11:17-18, 17:30-31, 26:20; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11; Colossians 3:5-11; 2 Peter 3(all); Revelation 2:4-7, 14-17, 2:20-23, 3:1-3, 3:15-18.

Resurrection:
Old Testament: Job 19:25-17, 30:23; Psalms 118:15-21; Isaiah 26:19, 30:20-22; Ezekiel 37:1-14.

New Testament: Matthew 22:29-32; Mark 9:30-32, 12:18-27, 16:1-14; Luke 20:34-38, 24(all); John 20(all); Acts 1:1-11, 2:24, 24:15, 26:8; 1 Corinthians 15:12, 15:23-25, 15:35-44; 2 Corinthians 5:1-3; Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Peter 1:3-5.

Vows:
Old Testament: Numbers 30(all); Psalms 50:14-15, 56:12, 61(all), 76:11, 119(all); Ecclesiastes 5:4-5.

New Testament: Matthew 5:33-37, Acts 18:18; 1 Timothy 5:9-12; Hebrews 6:13-18; James 5:12.

Yahshuah, Currently:
Old Testament: Psalms 110:5; Habakkuk 26:62.

New Testament: Matthew 26:64; Mark 16:20; Acts 2:32-33, 5:31, 7:56; Ephesians 1:18-21; Colossians 2:9-10, 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 2:9-11, 2:18, 3:1, 4:12-16, 6:17-21, 7:3, 8:1-2, 9:11-12, 10:11-13, 12:2; 1 Peter 3:21-22; Revelation (all).