Thank you, my friend, for your sincere and objective response to my last letter. I delight in knowing that your questions and doubts are being addressed. The fact that we have yet to see the Ekklesia function as a group (in our lifetime), the way it was described, should never deter us from noticing that many individuals are independently working according to everything prescribed. Eventually, these individual pieces will connect, and the Body will be whole. Be encouraged by this truth, therefore, because I believe we are standing at the precipice of the most exciting time in history, and as children of Yahshuah, in whatever capacity, our labors shall contribute significantly to the work that must be done.

Your remarks about the spiritual gifts are insightful, Zeteo, and your questions about Elohim, and your search to understand the pain and suffering of life are appropriate too. There is much pain and suffering today, and God has given us the answers you seek. We shall delve into these things today - for your peace of mind and for your continued growth. Furthermore, your thoughts clearly indicate that it is time for you to know more about the nature of the Elohim (God) whom I serve, and about His manner and purpose for administering discipline in our lives. Be objective in your reaction and response to these things as well, my friend, because an understanding of these matters is fundamental to anyone seeking to know about Him; basic to anyone seeking to know the Truth.

Today, when the world speaks of God (Elohim) [tc], countless images, names and phrases are used to imagine or describe whom or what people think God is. One of humanities primary failures in the past one hundred years, however, has been the increasing denial that God ever communicated with His created beings; denying even that He exists. We must accept the truth though, that God does exist and that He has communicated with us... The entire creation has a purpose, Zeteo, and to create something this magnificent - with beings created in His image and likeness - would be senseless, mindless and wasteful without some sort of communication with that creation; some sort of communiqué with those created beings. Well, God is neither senseless, mindless or wasteful. God has a plan, my friend, and He revealed the fullness of that plan thru His inspired Word - found in the Holy Scriptures!

Please understand that I am not saying that God has revealed everything we need to know about every topic, because He has not done that... He has revealed everything that we need to know though! In His revelation to us, He has provided everything we need to know in order for us to fulfill our purpose, and He has provided everything we need to be solidly grounded - in Him - as we search, research, study, learn and grow. In denying His existence though, and in denying the fullness of His Word to us, humanity is ignoring, disregarding and denying Him and His instructions, and the result of those denials is evident in a collapsing society.

As we investigate His Word, therefore, and as we accept the truth that Elohim has revealed Himself to us, we must understand and accept the fact that Elohim cannot lie! Lying is against His nature; against His very essence. Therefore, when we turn to the Holy Scriptures, and see what He might say about Himself, we can know with certainty that He is telling us the truth in that revelation. He has no need to lie! We may not see the Person of Elohim yet, but thru His Word we can certainly see the fullness of His nature (or essence), because He has revealed those things to us. As seekers of the Truth, therefore, and specifically in this search for knowledge about the very God of creation, our path of discovery must yield for us knowledge of His exact essence. Our search of Him must leave us with enough understanding about Him that we can know with certainty whether any image, name or phrase, is in fact Elohim, or merely a deviate pretender striving for our attention; a false god intent on distracting us from the purpose of our life. This grounding knowledge is essential, Zeteo, because the words, actions and deeds of a spirit will ultimately reveal the true nature of that spirit, and Elohim has provided ample knowledge of His essence and nature, so that we should never be confused in our dealings with Him!

Facts of Elohim's nature permeate His Word, but a few particular passages reveal monumental clues into His very essence. 1 John 4:8, for instance, says that, "God is love," 1 John 1:5 teaches that, "God is light," and John 3:33 reveals that, "God is true." The wisdom, insight and knowledge attainable from just these three passages (and the supporting verses found throughout His Word), provide almost everything we need to know of the true nature of the God who is there. And, as you will come to see, they also reveal everything we need to know to expose every false god.

We begin then with the fact that, "God is love", and in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Ruach ha Qodesh (the Holy Spirit) tells us that, "Love [tc] is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

Sixteen attributes define who God is, or is not, in relationship to the fact that, "God is love". The definitions of love's attributes, therefore, will certainly provide any seeker with insight into the very essence of the God whom I serve. I am going to describe these attributes for you, Zeteo, and include a definition of the primary Greek word for each phrase. As these words are outlined, however, consider what the opposite affect would be for each attribute, because every pretender, every false god, will evidence some act that stands in opposition to that which only the true God can possess:

1. Love is patient. The Greek word used for patient, MAKROTHUMEO, means, long suffering. Here, we are simply being told that Elohim is not hasty in dispensing wrath or punishment. Of His patience, Peter wrote, "The Master is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Elohim's wrath, issued against Sodom and Gomorrah for example, was not done hastily. His actions were intended to cleanse the land from the blight of sin. His deeds were also issued as an example. Even so, Elohim's patience is being displayed once again in these days, for us, because the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah pale in comparison to what this generation is doing. Elohim truly does not wish "for any to perish".

2. Love is kind. CHRESTEUOMAI, the Greek word we interpret as kind, means obliging or assisting. Elohim is assisting in that He will always help those who truly seek to find Him (See Matthew 7:7). Elohim's kindness is forever being displayed in His effort to reconcile the world to Himself. His kindness though, cannot be confused with the spirit of accommodation or relativism that now permeates the false church and society, because situational ethics are compromising... God is not compromising - on anything. Elohim is very constant and consistent, and He will always be Who and What He is. Elohim cannot act unbecomingly, or in opposition to Himself.

3. Love is not jealous. It seems that a contradiction exists between James 4:5, which says that Elohim jealously desires the spirit dwelling in us, and 1 Corinthians 13, which tells us that love is not jealous, but this is not a contradiction. Where 1 Corinthians 13, ZELOO, talks of envy, lusting and forcefulness, the jealousy of James 4:5, speaks of desire. While Elohim desires us, 1 Corinthians 13 tells us He will not force Himself upon us. Elohim will not rape. His desire for us is never laden with lust or envy.

Today, the Humanists teach that humanity is genetically bent toward certain tendencies, and insist that we are without the will or the way to overcome sin. 1 Corinthians 13 partly exposes this lie, however, because here we learn that Elohim will not force His will upon us. Although He desires us, He will not impose Himself upon us. Elohim has given us a free will, and moment-by-moment we choose how we are going to react toward Him. And while Elohim is not forceful or lusting, neither is He negligent. We can choose to ignore Him, but He still provides the air we breathe, as well as the other basic necessities of life. He does this in the desire that we will return to Him of our own free will. While He desires the spirit abiding within us, He remains patient in His provision for us, in the hope that we will voluntarily repent and return to Him. We are NOT 'bent' in any way, except for the fact that we humans are sinful, as Adam and Eve were sinful. We can choose to repent, however, and it is the denial of self that the humanists cannot tolerate!

4. Love does not brag. Humanity's difficulty in comprehending this statement is found in our natural tendency to bolster our image. PERPEREUOMAI, Greek for brag, speaks of puffing up, and here we are told that Elohim does not do this. The revelations to be found throughout Scripture about the God who is there are astounding, my friend. I am further amazed, however, by the fact that everything He says in His Word about Himself is true. Humility, by the way, simply means that one has a true estimate of oneself. That said, we must realize that if Elohim cannot lie, then everything He says about Himself is true. Therefore, in all that Elohim says of Himself, He remains humble, because His estimate of Himself is absolutely true. We should find ourselves in awe!

The next step in this truth that "Love does not brag" is equally important though, because in this world - arrogance always seems to accompany power. With Elohim, however, this is not so. Elohim's humility is perfect, just as He is perfect, and His power and authority are perfectly balanced in the fullness of His essence...

5. Love is not arrogant. This statement is clearly in step with the fact that love does not brag, but PHUSIOO, Greek for arrogant, is more concerned with conceit. Even if I have the capacity to accomplish a task, the manner in which I reveal that capacity speaks directly toward humility or conceit. When Elohim speaks of Himself, He does not do so in a prideful manner. His revelations to us of Himself are done for our enlightenment and faith, so that we can know Him and confidently believe in and upon Him. Arrogance and pride stand in direct opposition to the essence of God though, and with these facts, identifying that which is false becomes an increasingly easier task, because Satan (and his minions) simply cannot comprehend God's lack of arrogance!

6. Love does not act unbecomingly. ASCHEMONEO, the Greek word we interpret as unbecomingly, teaches that Elohim does not act in an ugly, indecent manner. Nothing about Elohim is evil, ugly or indecent. Elohim is holy, and in His holiness, He desires that we, as His children, become holy too. Elohim's actions always lead toward right living, toward reconciliation and toward holiness. And the rudeness and crudeness we witness in the world today, decry an absolute lack of reverence toward the God who is there - and an obedience to the one who always stands in opposition to God; Satan....

7. Love does not seek its own. Simply, this verse speaks against anything that is self-serving. The word, ZETEO, as you know, means to seek, or a seeker, and the Greek word HEAUTON means "own". Together, in this passage, they mean that Elohim never asks, "What's in it for me?" This is a far cry from what we hear today, especially when so many religious institutions are presenting a, "Name it and claim it" theology, which is wholly self-serving. The fact that love does not seek its own, however, also makes the identification of Elohim easier.

8. Love is not provoked. PARAXUNO, Greek for provoked, is directed toward impulsive indignation, or rousing to anger. Too many people get confused over Elohim's seemingly amiable nature, versus His contrasting wrath. The wrath of Elohim is as much a part of His essence as these other things, but PARAXUNO tells us that Elohim does not simply lose His temper. When the wrath of God is poured out, it is a calculated, intentionally timed and intentionally directed assault. His actions are not random or irrationally motivated. Elohim is not whimsical in dispensing wrath or discipline. He is thorough, however. Let's not forget that...

9. Love does not take into account a wrong suffered. Elohim is not motivated by the wrongs, KAKOS, He endures, because His motivation stems solely out of His love for His children. (That would be us, in case you've forgotten). Judgment is not determined by our evil deeds, but on how we judge others in relationship to our deeds. KAKOS speaks of evil and wickedness, and although Elohim's wrath will come because of these things, His long suffering is evidenced by the patience He displays today.

10. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. ADIKIA speaks clearly of injustice and unrightness. The false teachers of our age are promoting a theology of tolerance, accommodation and compromise; teaching forgiveness without repentance. Additionally, the world's legal system is breaking down, because today - there is a total disregard for justice, and in the eyes of the humanists, there is no such thing as absolute truth. Without the foundation of God's Word, and without the absolute reality of right and wrong, legal decisions are based upon the whims of society; whims that are ever changing, accommodating and compromising. While it is imperative that we accept every sinner in the love of Elohim, our acceptance must bespeak repentance and obedience to the truthfulness and fullness of God's Word. Elohim does not rejoice in the unrighteousness that has permeated society, and neither can we. Justice and rightness must resurface, at least in the hearts of those who would confess Yahshuah as Master and Messiah, and the word "REPENT" must echo throughout the land - not judgmentally - but in love, peace, compassion and kindness.

11. Love rejoices with the truth. The Greek word for truth, ALETHEIA, speaks of verity, reality; truth as evidenced in relation to the facts. Sin is sin. Righteousness is not unrighteous. Love and hate oppose each other; they stand in antithesis to one another. The truth revealed in the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, is not meant to harm, but to enlighten and save. Elohim rejoices when truth is dispensed, and He rejoices with the truth. In contradiction to this fact, the world now holds sway to the notion that there is no absolute truth; that truth somehow is manipulative and situational. Clearly, in this fact alone, we see a difference between the God who is there and the teachings of this world.

12. Love bears all things. The Greek word for bears, STEGO, speaks of a covering. STEGO covers the faults of others, and does not seek to expose them for harm. In subjecting His Son to the cross, God covered the sins of humanity (for those who will accept His act) with His blood. Although God exposes the sin of mankind, He does so only for good - for salvation and sanctification. Remember, Elohim allowed His Son to die on the cross, knowing the extent of our sin beforehand, and the God whom I serve bears all things, in that, "We have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (Ephesians 1:7).

13. Love believes all things. PISTEUO, Greek for believes, means 'firmly persuaded', as opposed to perplexed or doubting. Our confusion or perplexity over any situation surrounding us does not impact or affect Elohim, and our faith in Elohim must be grounded on the fact that He is never perplexed. God never doubts! Believing Elohim to be true, therefore, provides us with the grounding that we too can exercise faith, and not be moved or swayed by situations.

Humanity is about to witness tremendous tribulation. The Prophetic Word of God is very clear on this. Our faith can remain firmly rooted and intact, however, and we can have peace in all things, regardless of the situation, because our God is never perplexed or doubting. In other words, because God believes, we can believe with Him!

14. Love hopes all things. The Greek word for hope (s), ELPIZO, means to expect with desire, to trust or confide. If Elohim hopes all things, then He never despairs; He is never dismayed. Elohim's desire for His children to come to repentance is clear (James 4:5; Acts 17:30), but while He will not force Himself upon anyone, He still hopes. In abandoning God, and in disregarding His Word, His Truth and His way, humanity is rapidly losing all hope - in all things. You know this is true! We, on the other hand, can confidently cling to the fact that Elohim never looses hope. Never! And in that truth we can have peace, because we can trust Him!

15. Love endures all things. HUPOMENO, Greek for endures, teaches that Elohim is persevering; He can bear-up under anything. The intent of HUPOMENO is that Elohim is not abandoning or forsaking. Unlike humanity, once Elohim sets His sight on something, or makes a promise, He will never abandon or forsake that promise or thing. For example, He has promised that He will never forsake or abandon those who put their trust in Him (Hebrews 13:5), and considering that Elohim cannot lie, His endurance is not only eternal, but also fundamental to our salvation.

16. Finally, we are told that, love never fails. As we consider the realities of what love is, we must comprehend that Elohim never stops acting in accordance with His essence. His patience, kindness, hopefulness and endurance for example, never cease, and His hatred for unrighteousness will never diminish. In knowing that Elohim cannot change, therefore, we can know without a doubt that love never fails! The love displayed and practiced in our society, has nothing in common with what Elohim tells us about love - about Himself. But because we no longer comprehend the meaning of love, we are willing to accept cheap imitations of the real thing. We must understand and apply Elohim's Word to our lives, therefore, and use His definition as the plumb line. Once we apply His standard in discerning love, our eyes will be opened to that which is false, and we will once again recognize everything that stands in opposition to Him. In that knowledge, we will realize that true love never fails.

Of His essence, we are also told that, "God is light" (1 John 1:5). The entire passage says, "And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahshuah His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1 John 1:5-10).

Sin is darkness, but Elohim is light. Unrighteousness abides in the darkness, but "In Him there is no darkness at all". Our heavenly Father wants us to know that His essence is pure of all unrighteousness, evil and sin. He also wants us to know that we too can walk this same path, because, "The blood of Yahshuah His Son cleanses us from all sin". This passage is also significant, in that it offers us an insightful look into Elohim's love. He says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Seeing as God is light, we must realize that as His children, the light must abide in us as well. Elohim has provided the light for us.

Another thing that makes every passage we read significant, is the fact that, "God is true" (John 3:33). Where love rejoices with the truth (ALETHEIA), the word we interpret as true in John 3:33 is ALETHES, and ALETHES speaks solely of one who cannot lie. Rejoicing with the truth is not the same as being the truth, but because Elohim is true, we can understand why He rejoices when He hears the truth spoken.

The fact that Elohim is love, light and truth, should paint a very clear picture for us of His true nature, and in this knowledge, we should also be able to understand what He desires for us, because He has openly stated that we, "Are to grow up in all aspects into Him" (Ephesians 4:15). Believing on Yahshuah ha Mashiach, and accepting Him as Master and Messiah, means that we are His children. Even though each person possesses a unique personality, and we each appear somewhat different, the basic nature remains the same between parent and child. So it is meant to be with the children of God.

As I consider what I have written so far, dear friend, I see that I have given you some very basic facts about Elohim. But the Elohim I know and serve is much more than just these basic truth's. While it is true that Elohim is love, love must occasionally turn a cold shoulder in order to accomplish an essential task. And yet, Elohim is also warm, kind and merciful. Although His discipline is firm, I always know that He loves me. No, I do not receive everything I seek. Frankly, the past twenty years have been void of affirmative answers to many prayers - on a personal level. Yet even in these lean times, I know that He amply provides, day-to-day, and in His provision I am thankful... Although I cannot explain why things are as they are, I know that the God whom I serve cares for me (every moment of every day), and every day I am reminded of the fact that He loves me.

And it is He who loves you!

Has God not displayed every attribute of love toward you? Has He not amply provided for your needs? The Elohim of all creation is love, truth and light, but because we have chosen to live in the darkness for so long, we find it almost easier to close our eyes to the brilliance of His presence. In the darkness of our ignorance of Him, many recognize Him as cold, hard, unloving and uncaring, but in the full light of what is really true, Elohim is wonderful, and His love is never ending.

Another reality that we must face about Elohim though (and this one causes many people to become disillusioned with Him), is that His caring for us includes discipline [tc]. Who of us does not want everything to be easy? Who of us would not like for everything to be given to us - without any strings attached whatsoever? Who of us truly enjoys being disciplined? Not many, to be sure! Nevertheless, the fact remains that every walk with God will require discipline, and we cannot shy away from this integral part of our relationship with Him. Why? Because His discipline of us is one of the basic proofs of our salvation! This fact must really be understood - and accepted. Just as we must discipline our own children, Elohim disciplines His children. Where we may administer discipline whimsically though, Elohim always administers discipline fairly and individually. His discipline always has a purpose, and if we permit it, accept it and remain faithful to Him throughout His discipline, it is through this discipline that we become like our Messiah in this life. It is through His discipline that we become useful to Him.

You must know these things, dear friend, because if you accept Yahshuah as your Master, Messiah and King, and you ingest and treasure His teachings into your heart, you will surely experience His hand of instruction in your life. I did not want you to become disillusioned with the God who cares so deeply for you, when His hand presses hard against you, and you did not know why. He always disciplines those whom He loves. And, just so you know, Scripturally speaking, discipline is either physical or spiritual, and physical discipline falls into two categories as well: The first type of physical discipline deals with punishment, as in spanking, and the second involves training, as like for athletes. Whether physical or spiritual though, Elohim's Word offers clear instructions in both areas, and Satan has twisted their importance in our society. We place physical beauty well above spiritual maturity (Distortion), and wonder why Elohim does not work through our lives as He did two, three our four thousand years ago.

Regarding the spanking aspect of physical discipline, Elohim says, "Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you beat him with the rod, he will not die, you shall beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from Sheol" (Proverbs 23:13-14). In contrast to this teaching from God, Satan has manipulated society so thoroughly, and distorted our thinking so completely, that life itself holds little value today. Physical abuse: child, spousal and parental, is rampant throughout the world. Pain is routinely administered without thought or regard, while at the same time, parents refuse to spank an errant child. Pain is generally administered without purpose or goal, while the instructional discipline prescribed by God is withheld.

Newspaper headlines around the world decry the outright evil permeating the ranks of our youth. Sadly, the distortions we witness today are grounded in the psychological teachings that have influenced our society within the last three generations. Children killing children! Children killing adults! Children committing suicide at alarming rates! Children completely void of conscience or discipline! Children; five, seven, nine years old, involved in sex, drugs, gangs and guns. Why? Why has this happened in such a short period of time?

The lack of proper discipline in a child's life has distorted the thinking of three generations of society. So thoroughly have parents been confused (and the truth distorted), about physical discipline, that parents out rightly (and even proudly) refuse to administer a physical spanking - against God's advise and instruction - and society is now paying the price. Although the affects are numerous, the cause of our societal dilemma is easily identified. The primary failure of humanity today is a disdain for God's Word, rejection of God's love and outright contempt for God's discipline. Elohim says, "spank the errant child", the psychologists say, "don't spank", and we fail by choosing man over Elohim. The children of this age are troubled because loving discipline, administered firmly, consistently and faithfully, is essential to a child's development, but Elohim has been abandoned for self. Humanism has ascended humility, and mankind is lost in pride.

If a child cannot depend upon their parents for instruction in the matters of faith, morality, purity, honesty and love, where can they go? The instructional and political institutions of our age are morally bankrupt and monetarily corrupt, and are not trustworthy to teach the basics of education, let alone the realities of life. Sadly too is the fact that our spiritual senses are so dulled, we cannot discern between those spiritual leaders who are walking in faith, or those whose interests lie only in tickling our ears while they line their pockets. Without proper discipline in the home, our children have been left to seek guidance on the street corners, and we now see where that has taken us.

Spiritually, Yahshuah covers the husband, who covers the wife, and together they cover the child. The breakup of the family, another of Satan's areas of intense labor, has shattered that covering. Many children are left without the protection, teaching and discipline in the home necessary for proper growth. And without these essential requirements being met, society is left with the murder and mayhem being witnessed throughout the world. There is no place for civil authority either, because loving authority is no longer being witnessed or taught in the home. Elohim knows how to raise children, how did we ever think we could know better?

It is also true that we look at things differently than does God regarding physical training. God says, "Discipline yourselves for the purpose of reverence; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but reverence is profitable for all things, since it holds the promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Where bodily discipline (physical training) has some value, the true emphasis of our lives must be on our spiritual discipline and training, because time spent studying the Holy Scriptures, spent in prayer and knowing the power of His Ruach ha Qodesh in our daily walk, far exceeds the strength gained in any gym.

Spiritual discipline, therefore, has one purpose: To be like our God (Ephesians 4:15). We exist to glorify Him, and He is glorified when we magnify Him, and we magnify Him by being like Him.

Hebrews, chapter twelve, is an outpouring of Elohim's Word on the topic of discipline, and all who would seek Him must study this passage carefully, because when we voluntarily accept Him into our lives, we do so in the knowledge that we are surrendering our lives to Him. That surrendering includes obedience! When we accept Him as our Messiah, we also must accept Him as our Master, and in so doing we place ourselves in His hands. Hands, which will in fact discipline us for our own good. We must know these things!

While many false teachers want you to believe that the child of God must speak in tongues in order to prove the baptism and indwelling of Ruach ha Qodesh (the Holy Spirit), that teaching directly contradicts the Word of God (1 Corinthians 12:28-30). Discipline, God's truth, the fruit of Ruach ha Qodesh and works, are the four primary areas that prove His presence in our lives. And discipline, administered from the hand of God, is essential (Hebrews 12:7-8), because without it, there is no legitimacy to our claim as His children. Through His discipline, however, we are blessed (Psalms 94:12-13), and the discipline administered by our Father will be directed to the areas of our lives that are lacking or weak, or to those areas which we refuse to surrender to Him. In His love, compassion and mercy, Elohim instructs and corrects us, but we are not to reject His lessons (Proverbs 3:11-12), because the results will be poverty and shame (Proverbs 13:18). Strangely, and remarkably, therefore, there is happiness in being reproved by Elohim, because His reproof confirms our legitimacy as His children (Hebrews 12:8-11), and assures us, in a constant stream of intercourse with Him, that He loves us.

The most gratifying moments of my life have been those times of intimate communion with Him where, after being reproved, He has touched, healed and restored me, and expressed His love of me. Scripture tells us that Elohim's thoughts of us (individually) are more numerous than the sand (Psalms 139:17-18), and that His desire is for us (Song of Solomon 7:10). Without spiritual discipline, however, we would end up in ruin, like Satan, instead of sitting at the right hand of Yahshuah.

Elohim's children must constantly strive for enabling and instruction, with the goal being love, purity, a good conscience and sincerity of faith (1 Timothy 1:5). We must also remember though, that Satan desires our destruction, and would have us believe that Elohim can or will abandon us in our times of trouble. As long as we remain faithful though, Elohim will never abandon us (Hebrews 13:5), nor will He allow any temptation to overtake us without providing an avenue of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Every child of God must know how much they are loved by their Messiah, must abide in an unshakable faith, and must believe at all times that Elohim is working to perform a purpose for their good (Romans 8:28). And this discipline comes not in anger, but in love.

I believe there is a basic spiritual law of increasing discipline, that applies toward our relationship with our Father, in regard to sin and repentance. This law of increasing discipline teaches that Elohim's administration of discipline to His children is directly related to our humility before Him, or the hardness of our heart in His sight regarding our personal sin.

The first situation in the law of increasing discipline is when a disciple discovers a sin in their life, sincerely and humbly confesses that sin in a spirit of true repentance (Repentance, meaning to have a change of heart), desires to never commit the sin again and seeks Elohim's aid in overcoming whatever it may be - and forgiveness for the offense. Without any discernible intercession on Elohim's part, the disciple acknowledges a sin, confesses it and seeks to change. The Master, in this instance, forgives and enables very gently.

Elohim says, "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion" (Proverbs 28:13). Elohim's compassion for us is clearly displayed in the Gospel of Luke where, while He was hanging on the cross, we are told the following occurred: "And one of the criminals who were there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, `Are You not the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!' But the other answered, and rebuking him said, `Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' And he was saying, `Yahshuah, remember me when you come in Your kingdom!' And He said to him, `Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise'" (Luke 23:39-43). Confession and forgiveness... Acknowledging that he was dead in his sin, the second criminal sought - and received immediate forgiveness. It really does not get much better than that!

The second situation in the law of increasing discipline involves sinning and, failing to acknowledge the act as sin, choosing to deny it and hide it instead. Under this circumstance, Elohim will thrust His child down a trail meant to enlighten them to their error and bring them to repentance. The severity of discipline naturally increases in these instances though, and the trail that He chooses for us is, more often than not, unpleasant.

A perfect example of denial and hiding is found in 2 Samuel 11 and 12, and it involves King David.

David lusted for Bathsheba, and had intercourse with her - knowing that she was married. Upon learning that she had conceived, David then had her husband killed to further hide his sin. After sufficient time had passed without a confession by David, Elohim sent the prophet Nathan to confront David. The confrontation is classic. Nathan presented a parable of David's own sin to the King, and David was so enraged against the supposed perpetrator of the deed, that he declared the man deserving of death. (By his judgment, David sealed his own punishment, but Elohim had other plans for him.) It was not until Nathan declared, "You are the man!" that David finally confessed, "I have sinned against YAHUAH." This method of exposure is extremely painful, and the punishment David received was severe - including the death of the child born in the illicit affair.

While you should take the time to read these two chapters of 2 Samuel, I want to point out 2 Samuel 12:14, because of the light directed here on the affect of sin in the spiritual battle. Here we are clearly shown that sin gives occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme Him. Our actions have spiritual ramifications that not only impact our relationship with our God, but also cause Him grief and pain as well (Ephesians 4:30).

The last situation in the law of increasing discipline occurs when Elohim's child repeatedly strays down a known path of error, even after having been enlightened by the Word of God, by the Spirit of God, or by other disciples (Galatians 6:1-5). Refusal to repent of a known sin, by a child of Elohim, invites a truly harsh response from the Father.

In the Book of Daniel, Elohim gives us an example of this truth in His handling of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Daniel 4). Nebuchadnezzar was told through a dream, and the proper interpretation, that his pride was going to cause him trouble. He ignored the warning, and the punishment was severe. In His handling of Nebuchadnezzar though, Elohim brought the king to repentance and faith, which are exactly His motives in dealing with us.

On another note, we must never confuse punishment with tribulation, because tribulation and suffering are interwoven throughout the fabric of life, and nobody is immune. Tribulations and sufferings are a part of life because of sin in general. All too often, those in the 'church' will judge and accuse a suffering brother or sister, when some sort of tribulation or suffering enters their lives, while what we really need to do is offer our love and compassion instead. People often ask, "Why did this happen", or "why did that occur?" And as Elohim's children we must be prepared with answers of real life faith. Unlike Job's comforters though, words like, "You must have sin in your life", or "Elohim is angry with you", or any other such judgment, must not cross our lips. We can never presume to know why Elohim permits things to happen in one person's life, while others people appear to walk through life totally unscathed. Unless we know with certainty that sin exists, we can never presume that someone's tribulation is caused by sin. Judgmentalism must cease for us! Our God is extremely faithful, Zeteo, and His love is proven through His sacrifice for us on Calvary's cross! Furthermore, where we are blind to the future, His wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment are infinite. We cannot see beyond a given moment, but His knowledge is infinite. We must, therefore, learn to trust Him explicitly, whatever our situation, and confidently approach our times of discipline and tribulation with a heart prepared to glorify Him; "Thankful in all things".... Is this easy? No, I know it is not! In Him, however, we can endure all things.

If we are being disciplined, Elohim will insure that we know why. Otherwise, we can stand firm against the attacks of Satan, as did Job, and in standing firm we will be assured that our eternal reward will be great. If we are proud, and knowingly confess a failing to Elohim in truth and sincerity, He will acknowledge the meekness of our confession and gently guide us to greater levels of humility. If we display an arrogant attitude about any area of our life, however, and ignore Him as His spirit speaks to us about that arrogance, His dealings with us will be swift and harsh - in a love that is tough and enduring.

Finally, I believe it significant for you to know that Spiritual discipline, like the education learned throughout a lifetime, is a process. Elohim does not expect immediate perfection from us. He expects faithful obedience and growth. As we maintain our faithfulness, abiding in His Word, Elohim will show us those areas in our lives that need correction. If we receive His reproach and repent, He will compassionately forgive us, encourage us and provide ample opportunities for additional growth and service. If we deny our sin and attempt to hide our misgivings from Him, however, He will handle us sternly and powerfully. He is our Master and our Messiah. We cannot enjoy the salvation of Yahshuah ha Mashiach, without also enjoying the training and discipline of His Mastership; training and discipline that are necessary to inherit His kingdom. Without His discipline we are illegitimate, but with it we can grow to become like our Master; we can attain a likeness with Him, which truly glorifies Him!

Whether we speak about the training we receive from Elohim, or the disciplines we use in our daily worship, prayer, study or works, the effectiveness we enjoy in our every endeavor is derived almost solely through our openness to the guidance and leadership of His Ruach ha Qodesh. The fact that He abides within us though, or the fact that we are forgiven by Him, can never foster a spirit of superiority within us. If we consider the nature and essence of God once again, we will see the exact essence that Ruach ha Qodesh is going to represent to us, represent within us and represent to the world through us - if we permit.

Strengthen your faith, my friend, and prepare your heart, because your search for God and His Truth is about to yield a tremendous harvest in the knowledge and understanding of the God who is there. Be forewarned as well, however, "Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain" (Ecclesiastes 1:18).

I pray for the next period in which we can sit face-to-face and discuss the glory of God. Until then, however, I remain faithfully your servant in Yahshuah our Messiah.

larry vosen

Topical Concordance:

Discipleship:
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 31:6; 2 Chronicles 15:2, 16:9; Ezra 7:10; Job 8:5-7, 11:13-19, 22:21-30; Psalms 119; Proverbs (all); Ecclesiastes 1:18; Isaiah 14:12-17; 50-51, 55:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 17:5-8; Ezra 28:11-19; Zephaniah 2:3.

New Testament: Matthew 5:11-12; 8:18-27, 10:24-42, 13:52, 16:24-26, 28:18-20; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 6:40, 10:1-20, 12:33, 14:26-35, 18:18-30; John 3:3,5,30, 8:31-32, 13:5-17, 13:31-35, 14:12-27, 15, 16, 17; Acts 7:2-53; 8:5-40, 11:26, 13:52, 14:9-19, 18:9-10, 28:22; Romans 8:31-32; 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, 10:3-4; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:10, 4:15, 6:12; Philippians 3:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21; Timothy 2:24-26, 3:16-17; Hebrews 12:8, 13:5-6; James 4:3-4; 1 John 2:27, 3:9-11, 4:1; Revelation 2:7,11,17,26-28, 3:3,12,21, 5:14, 12:11, 14:9-16, 18:4.

Discipline:
Old Testament: 2 Samuel 11 & 12(12:14); Job 2:10, 5:17; Psalms 50:16-17, 66:8-12, 94:12-13, 119, 139:17-18; Proverbs (all) - But see: 3:11-12, 13:18, 19:27, 22:6,15, 23:13-14, 28:13; SS7:10; Isaiah 55:8; Jeremiah 10:24; Daniel 4.

New Testament: Matthew 9:10-17, 18:8-9; Mark 2:21-22; Luke 23:39-43; John 15:1-6; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 10:13, 12:28-30; Galatians 6:1-5; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Timothy 1:5, 4:7-11; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 12:7-13; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 2 John 1:9; Revelation 3:11,19.

Elohim:
Old Testament: Genesis 1:1, 4:1-15, 16:16, 17:1, 21:22, 24:3, 31:5, 38:9-10; Exodus 20:5, 34:14; Numbers 16:22, 23:19; Deuteronomy 3:20-22, 4:24-39, 6:4, 6:15-16, 7:9, 7:21, 13:3, 33:2-3; 2 Chronicles 6:18, 6:30, 16:11; Ezra 1:1; Job 38(all); Psalms 1:6, 5:4, 6:2-9, 7:1, 8(all), 10:16, 11:7, 18:30, 23:1, 24:7-10, 29:4-9, 31:5, 33:5, 33:13-14, 44:20-21, 46:10-11, 63(all), 75:7, 89(all), 94:8-11, 99(all), 103:8, 145:8, 147:8; Isaiah 30:18, 42:5, 43:8-13, 44:6, 44:24; Ezekiel 18:4; Hosea 7(all), Amos 4:13; Jonah 4:5-11; Nahum 1:2-7; Habakkuk 3(all).

New Testament: John 3:16 ff, 3:33; Acts 10:34, 17:24-29; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Colossians 1:6, 1 Timothy 6:13-16; Hebrews 6:10-18, 12:29; 1John 1:5, 3:20, 4:8, 5:7.

Love:
Old Testament: Leviticus 19:34; Deuteronomy 10:19; Psalms (all); Proverbs (all).

New Testament: Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:30-33; Luke 6:31-35; John 13:34, 15:12; Romans 12:9-21; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 16:13-14; Galatians 5:13-14; Ephesians 5:2,25-27; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 John 4:7-8; 1 Peter 4:8.