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Concordance.
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.
Simple Poems.
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Author.
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My Dear Zeteo;
It seems as if a long time has passed since we've exchanged letters, my
friend, yet I know that only a short period has gone by since I last
heard from you. Such is my anticipation! I was delighted to receive your
latest note, however, and was encouraged once again by your response. It
appears that your search for the truth is progressing in our Father's grace, and I notice
a new peacefulness in the presentation of your
arguments. I think I like it.
Your questions are as insightful as usual, Zeteo, and the Ruach ha Qodesh
is
indeed a worthy topic - I only hope I can do Him justice. As always
though, I insist that you compare everything I present to you with
Elohim's
Word... My thoughts are irrelevant.
So then, about the Ruach ha Qodesh, let me begin by
saying that many religious institutions deny the existence, relevance or
even Deity of this Third Person of the Trinity. His being, importance
and position within the Trinity is enormous, however, and every seeker
of the truth needs to know about the Helper sent to, "guide...in
all truth" (John 16:13). This is important, because knowledge of
Him is not only for the defense of our faith and continued victory in
the spiritual battle, but for our daily communion with Elohim as well.
Although books have been written about the Ruach ha Qodesh, I want to offer
a Scriptural introduction to Him that is brief, yet relevant to everyday
life. Through this introduction, I hope you will see that from the first
chapter of the Book of Genesis, to the last chapter of the Book of
Revelation, the Ruach ha Qodesh is presented in an indelible portrait of
unity with the Father and Son. And in all love, revelation and
regeneration, His existence, relevance and Deity is proven.
Every adjective used to describe Elohim the Father and Elohim the Son, must
also be used to describe Elohim the Ruach ha Qodesh, because Their
essence is identical. The personalities, duties and responsibilities
within the Trinity may be different, but the essence that makes them Elohim,
and is only of Elohim, belongs to the Father, the Son and the Ruach ha Qodesh
-
individually and collectively. Adjectives like loving, joyful, peaceful,
patient, compassionate, truthful, merciful, gracious and powerful,
describe the very essence of Elohim, and this makes Them One.
SPECIAL NOTE:
For a quick explanation of the NAMES used
throughout The Letters, please click here...
For an in depth accounting of these matters though, please go to Letter
#22.
Letter #6 continues here:
In an earlier letter I said that even though Elohim desires for us to grow,
"in all aspects unto Him" (Ephesians 4:15), we each possess
and retain our own personality. In order to grow "unto Him" we
surrender our will to Him, and take on His essence, but we are not meant
to be clones. Just as the personalities of our children are different
from us, our personalities differ from our Heavenly Father. Amazingly
however, it is in surrendering our will to Elohim now, that our individual
personalities will find eternal life (Matthew 10:39).
We must never loose sight of the fact that we are here to glorify Elohim
though.
In surrendering ourselves to Him in this life, He is able to live
through us. As we take up our cross daily, He is able to take up
residency within our hearts. And just as the essence of Elohim is
collective, we too, as Elohim's children, will ultimately possess that
collective essence. The leading of the Ruach ha Qodesh in our life will
reflect the totality of Elohim the Father and Elohim the Son, because just as
They are love, so is He. Just as They are truth, so is He, and so shall
we be, if we remain faithful and obedient to our call.
Unity with Elohim, and among ourselves, as Yahshuah prayed for us in John 17,
comes when we submit our lives to Him. And the Word found in Galatians
5:16-26 points toward the Ruach filled life, and shows a portion of
what is attainable by us. While there is much to learn about living
as disciples, it is natural that once we find Yahshuah in our hearts,
that we would begin to put the
worldly aside, and put on that which is of Yahshuah. The power, majesty and
dominion of Elohim are ours, not only in the future kingdom, but now,
because eternal life really does begin the moment we accept Yahshuah as Master
and Messiah! The Ruach ha Qodesh is our instructor and guide in the
comprehension of these things though, and if we
faithfully submit and earnestly desire to grow "unto Him", He
will insure that we
will attain the unity, power and authority that Yahshuah prayed would be
ours.
Upon a confession of faith in Yahshuah
as personal Messiah and Master, or at the
time of ones immersion baptism, or
upon a laying on of hands by disciples already filled with the Ruach, a
promise made by Yahshuah is fulfilled, and the Ruach ha Qodesh is given to the
newly born child of Elohim. The ability to comprehend Scripture is greatly
increased once He is received (John 16:1-15), adding significantly to
the Ruach's importance in our life. Without the Helper however, we are
incapable of knowing the mysteries of Elohim, and without this knowledge we
are helpless in the war against the enemies of Elohim. With Him, though, we
can know all mysteries, as He reveals them to us, and we will have His
power and authority for use in the glorification of His name. As you
read your Bible, Zeteo, and come to an area that you do not understand,
ask Elohim for guidance. The Ruach ha Qodesh will instruct you as you continue
your studies. He will provide the understanding [tc]
you faithfully seek. Although Elohim can grant an outpouring of wisdom,
knowledge or understanding, it is our responsibility to pray for these
attributes, and to study His Word. He will impart the abilities as
required, and as we are able to receive them.
The presence of the Ruach is evidenced in the lives of Elohim's children
in numerous ways, my friend, but the most recognizable confirmation of
His presence should be through His fruit, especially His love. Other
evidences include the acquisition of discipline,
which we have already discussed, and the spiritual
gifts, which He immediately imparts. All these, working within us,
grow in ever increasing abundance, thereby making the disciples of Yahshuah
distinguishable in the world.
Sadly, I have taught classes where people have walked out of the room at
the mere mention of the Ruach ha Qodesh. And I have seen some literally run
at any hint of the gifts being discussed! Many professing 'Christians' are
sincerely petrified about receiving Him into their lives, because of the
false teachings, practices and dogma that have permeated the religious
institutions. Unwilling to know the Ruach ha Qodesh though, and therefore
unwilling to be known by Him, many of these souls are lost in a maze.
Although they may sincerely desire to please Elohim, they are blind, and
unable to comprehend why Elohim is not working in or through their lives.
My prayer, therefore, is that you will know Him, and be at peace with
Him.
Additionally, many 'Christians' are frustrated because
our natural man and our spiritual man are in constant opposition. While
our spirit desires to glorify Elohim, we are incapable of accomplishing
this without the Ruach ha Qodesh. Denying the Ruach access to our life,
denies Elohim His glory. And denying Elohim His glory, denies our own life
purpose, which produces our frustration. There is hope, however,
and tremendous gratification, because Elohim's love prevails when we submit
to Him.
 Genesis 1:2 tells us that the
Ruach ha Qodesh was involved in the creation, and from Numbers 11:16-17
we know He was the indwelling power and authority given to Moses
and the elders assisting him - in judging the tribes of Israel. This same
power and authority is ours today, because the same Ruach ha Qodesh
is
our gift from Elohim today, given as a deposit/pledge (Ephesians 1:14), for fellowship (2 Corinthians 13:14). He is to be prayerfully
sought for and openly received (Acts 2:38, 8:14-17), but also know,
we can resist Him, not allowing Him to function through us
(Acts 7:51).
Psalms 51:10-13, teaches that
the Old Testament Prophets were aware of their need for the Ruach ha Qodesh
in their lives, in order to effectively fulfill their
duties. We need to acknowledge this same truth, because He is our indwelling
helper (1 Corinthians 3:16; John 14:26), comforter (Acts 9:21), director (Acts
16:6), teacher (1 Corinthians 2:13), intercessor (Romans 8:26), witness
(Acts 5: 32), provider of power (Romans 15:13), revealer of knowledge, understanding
and wisdom (Acts 4:8; 1 Corinthians 2:6-12), Ruach of prophecy (Acts
1:16-18), bearer of love (Romans 5:5), giver of life (Romans 8:11), distributor
of gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) and producer of fruit (Galatians 5:
22-23). But we must also know that we can grieve Him (Ephesians
4:30), lie to Him, and improperly test Him (Acts 5:3-9).
His presence and identification
with the children of Elohim is foretold and verified (Joel 2:28-29;
Revelation 1:10-20; Zechariah 4:1-6). And just as He is acknowledged
as the One who inspired the prophets (Zechariah 7:12; 2 Peter 1:21),
He is our Bible teacher and inspiration today (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). It is He, the
indwelling representative of the Father and Son, who leads the children of
Elohim on level ground (Psalms 143:10), calling and sending them
out for work (Acts 13:4). And it is He who speaks to the prophets
and teachers today (Acts 13:2). But we are commanded not to quench
Him (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
He is the washer, regenerator
and renewer (Titus 3:5), as well as the ever present,
"Convictor of the world concerning sin, righteousness and
judgment" (John 16:7-11). But He can be sinned against and spoken
against in such a
way that is unpardonable (Matthew 12:31-32).
These verses are being provided so you can study the Ruach's all
encompassing mission, my friend, but in understanding His mission, be
certain of Him with regard to one thing: He works in and through the
lives of the believer, to the glory of Yahshuah Mashiach. He will never do
anything to detract from Elohim's majesty, dominion or glory, and He will
never endorse an act that violates the Law of Elohim. He will not act
on your behalf for the purpose of your personal gain or glorification,
but He will establish, comfort, teach, enable and abide within you, and
bless you and bear fruit in and through you, for the glory of our Master
and Messiah. He will work miracles in
your life, but you must also know that you have a free
will, with regard to your work with Him, and whether He can work
with you.
We must never forget though, that our enemy has the
capacity to appear as a Ruach of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). We are
responsible to test the spirits for
authenticity, and have been provided the means to do so (1 John 4:1-6;
1 Corinthians 12:3). The effectiveness of these tests is proven, Zeteo,
and the Ruach ha Qodesh will always pass. Conversely, the demons of
destruction always fail. Understand, however, that confessing Yahshuah, as
Messiah, is more than merely wording a phrase - it is a lifestyle
confession of faith. Is Yahshuah Mashiach confessed as having come in the
flesh or not? Is Yahshuah Mashiach reverently confessed as Master, or is He
cursed?
Every spiritually relevant thought must be brought captive to the Word
of Elohim. If a revelation defies Scripture, then it defies Yahshuah. If it
magnifies the Word of Elohim though, then it magnifies and glorifies Him.
If Yahshuah is confessed and glorified, the revelation is worthy of note,
and can be shared. If not, the thought must be rebuked as false. The Ruach ha Qodesh
is given to assist us in this process.
The Ruach ha Qodesh will reveal the will of our Father to us in such a way that
confirmation is obtainable (primarily through the Word of Elohim), and this
confirmation is essential to the law of
testimony and witness (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16). The
assembly of the Ekklesia is important to this matter also, because we
frequently receive confirmation through other believers. It is also
acceptable to verify a direct revelation from Elohim, as Gideon did, by
placing a fleece before the Master. Elohim was not angry with Gideon when he
lay down the fleece - twice - and He will not be angry with us if our
search is sincere. We have been commanded to test the spirits, Zeteo,
and because Elohim commands this testing, He will not be angered
when we obediently seek His confirmation.
Testing the spirits must also be applied when dealing with people, but
with people it is possible to witness the fruit of the Ruach, or see
the discipline of Elohim in the life of the person. Together, these tests
unite into a fortified barrier, providing every disciple a method of
discernment - both spiritual and personal. While we discern in love,
however, we must, nevertheless, discern at every level.
As we consider these things, Zeteo,
it is relevant to note that communication [tc]
with Elohim occurs through His Word, by dreams / visions [tc],
by angelic visitation or through direct communication. The method of
revelation, as you can see, is significantly diverse. Our method of
testing though, remains gloriously constant. I think we are to have
peace in this knowledge, because if we remain alert, we will not be
deceived.
I had occasion recently to debate a pastor over his denomination's stand
on the use of the gift of tongues.
It is their belief that speaking in tongues is the proof
of the baptism of the Ruach ha Qodesh. They contend that without this
ability, the Ruach is not present in the life of the believer. Although
I occasionally pray in tongues, which supposedly verifies my spiritual
baptism in their sight, I refute the teaching that this gift must be
evidenced in every Disciple.
1 Corinthians 12:27-30 clearly teaches that we are individually members
of the body of Messiah, and each is gifted differently. This is
strenuously upheld in Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and Ephesians
4. I contend that any teaching which demands we all speak in
tongues is an unscriptural and satanically inspired approach to the Word
of Elohim, because it attempts to:
Dictate to the
Ruach ha Qodesh which of the gifts He must give to Elohim's children.
Magnify in importance
one gift over another.
Destroy the faith of any who
have not received this particular ability.
Force those who are not gifted
with tongues to fake their experience, thereby cheapening whatever
relationship they may have with Elohim, in order for them to
fellowship within an institution.
As I prayed in preparation of the debate, to insure that my
understanding was accurate and my approach was in the love of our
Messiah, I
heard an extremely soothing voice pray deep within my soul. Beginning in
a chorus of praise to Yahshuah, the words turned to an emotional prayer in
tongues that I was unable to interpret. The prayer concluded in
English, as I heard, "do not fret, I am here. Do not be swayed, you
know what I have given you. Have peace in your heart and be certain of
your gifts. More is coming. Use what you have to glorify Yahshuah. Praise
Elohim!" In the quiet of His presence, I had peace.
That is one
way Elohim speaks to His children.
About fifteen years ago I was in a
restaurant in a Denver suburb, when a young lady, perhaps in her early
twenties, burst into the building proclaiming, "Repent for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand." She got very specific about the date
and time when a flood was supposed to engulf Denver, and upon completion
of her message she ran from the building and down the street. The event
never occurred.
Due to the crush of the restaurant, I was unable to catch
her. My spirit cried out to her, however, because she needed to be
discipled. She needed to know Satan was attacking her, to discourage her
and turn her love cold. The deceiver was causing her to prophesy falsely
in his attempt to make her doubt even the salvation provided for her by
our Messiah. Her zeal [tc]
for Yahshuah was obvious, as was her courage and love, but her
mannerisms defied the peace of Elohim, which would accompany such a
prophetic message. My heart ached for her, because this child of Elohim was going
to approach the time of her prophecy with much prayer and fasting, but
she was headed for a spiritual calamity. When nothing happened that day,
she would become disillusioned, and perhaps even turn from following her
Master. I prayed for an outpouring of the grace of Elohim upon her, knowing
only He could save her from Satan's grasp. Her message was false; even
though she believed in her heart she was right. She sincerely wanted to
proclaim Elohim's word, but her frantic actions defied everything that Scripture has told us about the
Ruach ha Qodesh - Who would have inspired
such a prophecy. She did not have the peace of Elohim, because she did not
test the spirits; Satan had a foothold in her life.
Another example of the Ruach's
communication happened as I began preparing for these letters. Although
I have compiled extensive notes during my years of teaching about Yahshuah,
I wanted to construct a topical concordance to furnish with each letter.
My desire was to impart an understanding for the Word of Elohim in such a
way that you could quickly substantiate the data being presented,
thereby expediting the results of your search. My goal was simple: Help
you find the truth quickly, so you could become a teacher of the truth
as well. After praying, I began a study of the New Testament, often
looking at the original Greek, in order to gain the knowledge [tc]
I desired. While it was labor intensive, it was also an amazingly
fruitful endeavor. Nevertheless, it was in the Old Testament that the Ruach ha Qodesh
really spoke to me.
Prior to this trip through the Old Testament, certain areas of the Word
of Elohim held little meaning to me. For example, to this day, I have no
comprehension for the revelation of the Temple given in Ezekiel 40-48. I
have prayed to understand this part of Elohim's Word, but I have no idea
what the Author is talking about, cannot for the life of me envision
what the Temple looks like and am genuinely confused by the dimensions
and placement of gates, walls and rooms. I do not know why this vision
is given, but I trust Elohim to enlighten me when it is important for me to
know. (What
I do know though, is that the Temple in heaven is an inverted pyramid
– which just goes to show the lengths that Satan will go to, to
distort the truth).
Likewise, portions of Isaiah, Jeremiah
and Ezekiel are exceptionally interesting and loaded with quotable
passages, but some of their work has eluded me as well. I have a grasp
for much of the end time prophetic writings, as the Master has allowed,
but this particular reading was different. As I read through Isaiah, I
was impressed by the way the prophet used the names of Jacob and
Israel [tc].
Although both names refer to the same historical person, the spiritual
implication of their use appeared different, and not meant to be
interchangeable. Unless the historical person was being discussed, it
appeared that Elohim desired for us to understand a difference in the use
of the names Jacob and Israel. I prayed, and I continued reading!
When I began reading Chapter 48 of Isaiah, the Ruach ha Qodesh opened my
eyes to His Word in ways that I had never before seen. What I finally saw was that Jacob was the patriarchs
name before he wrestled with Elohim - before he repented. If you study the
person, Jacob was, among other things, a thief (he stole his brother's
birth-right), a deceiver (he cheated his father-in-law in the way he
handled the flocks), and a liar (he constantly told people that his wife
was his sister to protect himself). In the original language, the name
Jacob means SUPPLANTER, and a supplanter is one who takes the place of
another through scheming and treachery. Prophetically, Jacob is the spiritual
equivalent and symbol of the false and deceptive religious institutions;
the unrepentant supplanter.
Israel, on the other hand, is the name given to Jacob after his
repentance, and this name - in many Prophetically spiritual
applications - Scripture speaks of the repentant EKKLESIA, the body of
our Messiah.
The significance of this revelation is immense (At least to me). The
Old Testament has taken on a new dimension, because a spiritual passage
was opened to me. While not every use of the names Jacob or Israel can
be interpreted as false religion - vs - true discipleship or true faith, because each
passage of Scripture must be read and understood in context, the
primary key is in the historical application; in its relationship to the
actual person.
Judah, I also learned, spiritually refers to the Jewish
Nation.
Now, in a very interesting book entitled, "The
United States and Britain in Prophecy", a much maligned (and
occasionally erroneous) author, Herbert W. Armstrong, unravels a
tremendous mystery of the Prophetic Word, and shows quite clearly that
Britain and the United States are not only discussed in Prophecy, but
that much of the end time Prophetic Word evolves around these two
nations: Britain being spoken of as the Tribe of Ephraim and the United
States spoken of as the Tribe of Manasseh, and together these two
nations represent the lost tribes of Israel. (See Genesis 48 and
49).
Regardless of what we may think of Armstrong's dictatorial approach to
'Christianity', and his erroneous position on salvation, we must
nevertheless respect the fact that the Ruach ha Qodesh moves mysteriously in
this world, and that this writing by Armstrong may very well be an
inspired interpretation of a "Mystery" of the Prophetic Word.
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet because of the nature of his
prophecy, the faithlessness of the people he prophesied to, and because
of the times in which he lived. Yet, Jeremiah's prophecy evoked little emotion
from me personally in the past. As I studied Jeremiah this time though,
I was unable to complete a chapter without falling on my face before Elohim
in tears, for the faithlessness of ISRAEL. Jeremiah knew the condition
of the people of Elohim during his day, and the destruction that was to
befall them because they had turned from Elohim. What the Ruach ha Qodesh
was
showing me in my reading, however, was the condition and faithlessness
of Israel, the EKKLESIA, TODAY, and the suffering that is going to befall
it because of its faithlessness.
Elohim speaks to His children today, Zeteo. It is our responsibility to
test the spirits though, and rebuke the evil. Revelation is pouring
forth and we must listen.
Another point to remember,
my friend, is that the Ruach ha Qodesh is not going to stray from the Word
of Elohim in any new revelation, ever! New revelation will enlighten
and enhance what is written, but He will never distort, deny or defy
what has already been given. Elohim does not change, and neither does His
Word. Throughout Scripture, we are commanded to remember what has
already been done, so we can compare it to what we see today (Psalms
105). And
those who KNOW the truth must recognize and deal with every deviation
from His Word. We are
commanded to abide in His Word [tc],
so we will not be deceived, and so we can rebuke the false teachers,
based on that Word (John 8:31). His Word is tested, and is a shield,
"to those who take refuge in Him" (Proverbs 30:5), and these
warnings are not new revelations, but old truths which have long been
ignored. The Ruach ha Qodesh is our Teacher, and we must turn to Him in
trust, faith and obedience.
I realize how difficult it is to submit to Someone you don't really know
or trust yet. So I wanted to remind you that your submission is a free-will
choice, to be made by you alone. The Ruach ha Qodesh is a Gentleman. He will
never intrude, and He will never force Himself upon us. The Ruach ha Qodesh
is also organized and orderly. It is important, therefore, that as we
walk with Him, and as we approach Elohim in prayer, that we maintain an
organized and orderly manner. He is not interested in needless
repetition, but He does desire the fullness of our hearts. If we seek
His guidance before we pray, He will assist us and intercede with our
Father on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27). If we submit, He will come.
Assemblies led by the Ruach ha Qodesh will also be organized in a purposeful
manner. This does not eliminate gala celebrations, but ensures that Elohim
is the focus of those celebrations. I have been in gatherings where
someone is asked to pray, and during the prayer, everybody else talks in
tongues or simply injects "amen's" or
"hallelujah's", throughout the prayer. Spiritually, it was
impossible to add an "amen" at the end of the prayer, because
I was unable to hear what was prayed for or said, "in the name of Yahshuah". If you do not understand what is being prayed for or sought
from Elohim, DO NOT add an amen. Satan will use our prayers against us
whenever an opportunity is presented, and we must guard against these
attacks. Ruach led assemblies are purposeful.
As for the unpardonable sin [tc],
Scripture clearly tells us what it is, even though many have difficulty
acknowledging Elohim's truth today. In Matthew 12:22-32, a situation and
subsequent teaching reveal the offense that is unpardonable:
Yahshuah, in the power of the Ruach ha Qodesh, healed a demon-possessed man who
was blind and dumb. The Pharisees, not wanting to acknowledge the
presence of Elohim, credited Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, with the
healing. That is the unpardonable sin! To blaspheme means to: 1. Harm
the reputation of. 2. Speak of irreverently. 3. Make inferior. 4.
Slander.
By crediting Beelzebul with the healing, the Pharisees violated
everything we know blasphemy to be. And blasphemy is not restricted to
miracles, either. The Word of Elohim says, "whoever shall speak
against the Ruach ha Qodesh, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this
age, or in the age to come" (Matthew 12:32). See also Luke 12:8-10.
I have a friend who is an unbeliever. Upon learning of my being 'born-again' - of my acceptance of
Yahshuah into my life, this friend went
into a tirade against Yahshuah that was so uncharacteristic of his
personality that I was left speechless. He called Yahshuah names that even
in my faithless years, I would never have uttered. I know his outburst
is pardonable though; Yahshuah said so! If his rage had been directed at
the Person of the Ruach ha Qodesh, however, I believe that his sin would be
unforgivable. He would be eternally dead. The Word of Elohim tells us,
"Any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against
the Ruach ha Qodesh shall not be forgiven" (Matthew 12:31-32). The fact
that this sin against the Ruach ha Qodesh is unpardonable, however, should
tell us something about His existence, relevance and Deity, because the Ruach ha Qodesh
is Elohim.
In addition to understanding the Ruach ha Qodesh
of
Elohim, Zeteo, I am compelled to discuss what I believe is true about the
Word of Elohim [tc],
because we are told that it is the Ruach ha Qodesh Who inspired the authors
of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16), and it is He who leads us today in
comprehending His Word.
In contrast to the new theological teachings of our day, which promote
relativism in relation to life and the Bible, Elohim says that society
finds favor or disfavor with Him, by adherence to His standards; by
upholding His truth (Genesis 19; Isaiah 58-59 and Jeremiah 11:1-17).
While adherence to Elohim's truth is important to humanity in general, it
is monumental for the Disciple who desires to live a life pleasing to Elohim. This applies particularly to end time
disciples, because only a
faithful walk with Elohim will sustain us throughout the tribulations of
life.
Before attempting to discuss spiritual disciplines,
therefore, it is important that we first agree that Elohim has communicated
His truth [tc]
to mankind. And along with His truth, we need to agree that He has also
revealed His will.
Before anything else, we must KNOW that objective and absolute truths
exists, and acknowledge that contained within His truth
comes the very purpose and method for life.
As we enter a bookstore, the overhead signs direct us to various
sections: fiction, western, cooking, religion, etc. When we arrive at
those sections though, we find a variety of topics available from which
to choose. The cooking section is replete with culinary styles from
around the world, and differences can be found within like ethnic
styles, based upon region and methodology. Fortunately, our individual
tastes are such that we can always find something we like.
Unfortunately, the religion section is no different.
Unlike cookbooks though, the religion section has a standard - a ruler to
which every offering must be upheld. This standard places a burden on
the writer and the reader, which all too often is ignored, because it
deals with accountability. And because we have ignored the standard,
writers take liberty with Elohim's recipe, and readers, hearing a
misconception frequently enough, accept the error as truth. Yahshuah prayed
that His disciples would be sanctified in the truth, and then said of Elohim's
Word, "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17). This statement
about the Word of Elohim, made by Elohim, cannot be found in any other writing
in the world, and should have tremendous significance for us.
Elsewhere, Scripture says, "The words of YAHUAH
are pure words;
as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times"
(Psalms 12:6). New Age Relativism speaks toward situational ethics,
cultural diversity and humanism; toward the belief that man is capable
of good, in and of himself, and that there is no absolute moral truth.
The Word of Elohim, on the other hand, speaks of man's natural tendency
toward evil; speaks of objective and absolute moral and ethical truth;
and speaks of societal and cultural restraint and conformity - within
the freedom of faith in Yahshuah Mashiach. If the words of YAHUAH
are pure,
as silver tried in a furnace, then this must have significance for us as
well, and those
who seek Him must uphold everything to His standard.
In Proverbs 2, Elohim expresses His desire that we receive His sayings,
treasure His commandments, attend to wisdom, cry for discernment and
lift our heart to understanding, seeking her as silver... "Then you
will discern the fear of YAHUAH, and discover the knowledge of
Elohim" (Proverbs 2:5). In Isaiah 40:6-8, Elohim adds that mankind is
like the grass which withers and burns when His breath blows upon it,
but that His Word "Stands forever." True to form, however,
mankind, including the religious institutions, is placing humanity over
the Word of Elohim, and our current societal morass is the result. Compared
to Elohim, humanity is absolutely insignificant, yet the theological
teachings of our age have placed mankind over Elohim and His Word. We
manipulate His teachings to suit our purposes, misapplying or ignoring
His standards, because the "times have changed", and we wonder
why we do not really know Elohim today.
As we read the daily paper and watch the evening news, it must be
obvious that evil exists in the world. Yet as we examine ourselves,
whether we acknowledge sin or not, most of us sincerely believe we are
"good". Evil exists, but we are all
good! Bells should be ringing. Humanism [tc]
teaches that mankind is capable of good, while conversely teaching that
the evil in humanity is a product of upbringing, genetic error or
circumstance. This not only contradicts the Word of Elohim, it stands in
open rebellion against His Word. Elohim says, "There is not a righteous man on earth who continually
does good and who never sins" (Ecclesiastes 7:20). In acknowledging
the existence of good and evil, we must also acknowledge that they stand
in opposition to one another (antithesis). Good and evil cannot co-exist
peacefully. If we accept these facts, we can then turn back to the Word
of Elohim and realize that evil wishes to discredit good. If seeking an understanding
of Elohim produces a discernment of the fear of YAHUAH
(reverence)
[tc]
and discovery of the knowledge of Elohim, then evil will do whatever it
must to distort the gaining of that understanding - prohibiting us from finding any
revelation of good.
Such is the overwhelming case that is being made today
against the Names by which we have been misled in addressing our Elohim... Satan never wanted us to know
these truth's!
And this also speaks toward the problem we see today in
the various "translations" of the very Word of Elohim that we are
discussing. No one translation is pure, Zeteo! Some, like the (NIV - the New International
Version) are not worth the paper they are printed
on. (Please do not write to tell me how much you disagree with this
statement). Instead, open a concordance, a Bible Word Study
Dictionary and the NASB version of the Bible (for instance), and do some
comparing. Compare words, sentences, paragraph's and complete
passages, and see how the NIV has eliminated or completely changed the
"Word of Elohim". Furthermore, as you compare these different
"translations", investigate further by delving into the
concordances and Word Study Dictionaries, and as you investigate these
matters, ask yourself why so much has been eliminated from the NIV... Simply, Good and evil cannot co-exist. Evil will do everything
possible to discredit Good, and inasmuch as only Good (Truth) is found in the Word
of Elohim, evil has done everything possible to discredit that very
Word. The NIV is one of his primary tools today!
As I said though, no one translation is pure! The NASB has problems
too, which is why we need every available tool
to search out and discern the Truth to be found in Scripture. The
original inspired writings of the Word of Elohim are inerrant. Sadly,
those manuscripts are not available to the public today, and we must rely
on the translation work of those who have come before us.
Elohim says, "The Word of Elohim is
living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as
far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow...able
to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
The reality and application of this passage is in the fact that as we dwell
in Elohim's Word [tc],
pouring over and studying every verse and word, His Word permeates and
percolates throughout our thoughts and heart. The intensity of His Word
living within us increases as the duration of our study increases.
Minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day, the intensity of our
study proportionately increases the livelihood of His Word within us.
It is understandable, therefore, why evil wishes to distract us
from studying the Word of Elohim. It is also understandable why evil would
go to such great lengths to implant thoughts of Elohim's Word being
difficult to grasp, being insignificant in today's culture and being
irrelevant in light of its historical or cosmic errancy (whether those
errors actually exist or not). These are all significant issues that must affect our thinking. These are also significant matters when we
discuss the Ruach ha Qodesh, because in denying Him, it becomes impossible
to grasp Elohim's Word.
[The "Available tool" link will take you to
the bottom of this page, where a free downloadable program is available
online, to assist in your in-depth study of Scripture...]
Humanity is clambering to hear the diviners of our age, without
regard for the message, the source or the accuracy of the word being
proclaimed. At the same time though, the warnings issued by Elohim through
His prophets are being ignored. The ancient cry, "Thus says YAHUAH", has little meaning today, in spite of the fact that whenever
His prophets uttered those words, truth followed.
What is so important about the Old Testament prophets
though, is that they were given short-term, mid-term and long-range
prophesies. The accuracy of their short and mid-term messages should
significantly affect our thinking with regard to their long-range
predictions, because those long-range predictions speak of today.
Ironically, those prophesies include numerous references toward the
attitude of humanity for the Word of Elohim in the end time period;
predictions that are being wholeheartedly upheld by every false
practitioner of our day.
Our dilemma stems from the
fact that false ministers have proclaimed a message of accommodation,
while ignoring the warning to keep the sheep and the goats separate. Relativism
and accommodation teach that sinful lifestyles are not too sinful, error
is always forgivable and Elohim loves the sinner. But they ignore Elohim's
commands that sinful lifestyles are to be confessed, error is to be
shunned, and repentance and obedience
are essential
to maintaining His love. Evidence of this dilemma lies in the anarchy now
confronting society. Elohim declared His truth, warning humanity what would
happen if His commands were not upheld, and fulfillment of His prophetic
message abounds today. As disciples of Yahshuah, we stand at the precipice of the
return of our Messiah, knowing that the Ekklesia is totally unprepared for the realities of the spiritual
warfare to come, because in our infidelity, many within the Ekklesia no longer accept
the Word of Elohim as truth.
Believing the inerrancy [tc]
of the Word of Elohim, historically, cosmically and
spiritually, however, is fundamental to understanding Elohim's purpose and
plan. Every deviation from His absolute truth diverts humanity from the
salvation offered through Yahshuah Mashiach. This is true, because evil
cannot tolerate or accommodate the inerrancy of the Word of Elohim, and
attempts to defile it whenever possible. Many disciples readily tolerate
Scripturally deviant teachings, and the unbelief and apostasy witnessed
today is its product. As seekers, however, we must remember that,
"every word of Elohim is tested" (Proverbs 30:5). Sadly though,
humanity, including many within the Ekklesia, has failed Elohim in not testing every word
of man against His standard. Justice is no longer administered, because
we do not comprehend Elohim's justice. Morality is no longer taught,
because we deny Elohim's morals. Love is thought to mean sex, when in
reality, "Elohim is love" (1
John 4:16). And the list goes on.
In the past twenty four years, the Ruach ha Qodesh has shown me Elohim's truth
through His Word, and has allowed me to compare His reality against the
backdrop of our declining 'Christian' nation. And as we consider the last
fifty years of American history, we can see morality being discarded, as
humanism came to the forefront. We have witnessed the disintegration of
the family and the slaughter of nearly fifty million unborn babies in
our abortion mills. We have observed
the decline in understanding and rejection of the Word of Elohim, and are
watching anarchy and financial collapse dawn. The spirit of the
Antichrist rules the land, yet we remain entrenched in a mind-set of
acquiring worldly goods. Additionally, the martyrdom of the disciples of
Yahshuah is rampant
throughout the world. Prophecy becomes a reality every day. In light of
these revelations, the Word of Elohim is found to be inerrant, and
everything Elohim has said to us in His Word has either come true, or is
about to come true - literally, objectively and absolutely.
As I consider my walk with Yahshuah, I can also attest to His
truthfulness on a personal basis. I have experienced tribulation and
persecution because of my faith, but He has never abandoned me or tested
me beyond what I was able to endure. I have sought guidance, direction,
wisdom, understanding, insight and knowledge from Him in many areas, and
although His response may be slow in coming (by my estimation), He has
never failed to enlighten me when my search was sincere. I have poked
and prodded, challenged and rebelled, searched, and at times even
ignored the Word that I so dearly love, and His Ruach has graciously
instructed and revitalized me at every step. I have sinned and been
forgiven, prayed and been answered, sought and found, and Elohim has never
lied to me. His Word says He cannot lie, and every seeker must know this
fact.
I have also been disciplined.
The reality for anyone seeking to know Elohim,
or know about Elohim, therefore, lies in accepting His truthfulness [tc].
Sincere seekers of Elohim need only ask Him to reveal Himself, and then
study His Word, the Bible, to find that revelation. In accepting that it
is impossible for Him to lie, we can read His Word in the assurance that
truth can be found (Hebrews 6:18; 1 John 2:21). And, it is a simple
matter to test His Word for accuracy. Where humanism is self-serving,
man magnifying and inward looking, the Word of Elohim always glorifies and
magnifies Elohim. He speaks of repentance from sin, while promoting hope,
love, peace and salvation. He speaks of reconciliation through, and
obedience to Yahshuah Mashiach, or eternal destruction for those who deny
Him. Every deviation from His Word, every false teaching that is allowed to
permeate the ranks of the EKKLESIA, or civilization, causes doubt to
surface, thereby blurring our ability to see Elohim's truthfulness.
Somehow, we must return to the fullness of His Word though, and we must shun the
deviates. Somehow, we must learn to obey!
The Word of Elohim says, "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and
you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who
asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall
be opened" (Luke 11:9-10). Believing Elohim to be true, therefore, is
fundamental to living and abiding in His Word, and in this most base of
all commands, Elohim desires that we ask and seek for His truth - for His
revelation. If we can only believe that Elohim cannot lie, His Word remains
an open door to reverence, salvation and personal fulfillment. I know
that you are discovering the truth of these matters, Zeteo, but I am
compelled to offer this reminder for your benefit.
As we acknowledge the existence of good, therefore, we must also
acknowledge the existence of evil. If evil can be heard on every street
corner, down every alley, and through every form of entertainment, a
place must also be found where good can be heard. The only certain place
is in the inerrant Word of Elohim. And, as I have already stated, it is from
this belief in His Word that I offer the topical
concordance with my letters, and urge that comparison be made with
these teachings, and Scripture, for accuracy and correctness. Without
the standard of Elohim's Word, our faith remains diluted, and we will not
be prepared for the harvest to come.
Forgive me for repeating some of what we have already discussed, Zeteo.
I wholeheartedly believe that the Ruach ha Qodesh is directing your search
for the Truth, and I wanted to make certain that you knew not only where
that Truth was to be found, but to also feel at peace with the Comforter
Who was guiding you.
May the peace and knowledge of Elohim be yours abundantly through Messiah
Yahshuah, and may your search result in your finding the perfect truth.
I remain faithfully yours in Yahshuah our Messiah.
larry vosen
For an absolutely wonderful - and
FREE - Bible Study Tool,
get online and visit
e-Sword.
With over sixteen downloadable Bible Versions,
plus concordances,
commentaries,
dictionaries, graphic programs
and much, much more, E-Sword is a
goldmine.
E-SWORD.NET
I receive absolutely NOTHING if you
visit this site or use this tool. I am recommending it simply
because I BELIEVE what I am telling you in this
writing. I believe that we must search the Word of Elohim as if we were
searching for Gold, Silver, precious stones or something of greater value,
because we are - Your Eternal Life!!!
Topical concordance:
Communication,
as found in the New Testament:
New Testament:
Matthew 1:20-23, 2:12-13,19-22, 10:27*, 28:2-7; Luke 11:23; Acts
5:17-20, (B) 8:26, 29, 9:3-6,10-16, 10:1-23, 13:2, 16:7,9-10,
18:9-10, 23:11, 27:24; Revelation (all) see 1:9 ff.
Dreams:
Old Testament: Genesis 40:8, 41:16, 41:32; Daniel 2:17-30.
Humanism; revealed
and contrasted against the Word of Elohim:
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Psalms 12, 66:5-7, 74; Proverbs
30:12; Ecclesiastes (all); Jeremiah 36; Hosea 4; Malachi 3:6.
New Testament: John 1:1,14, 3:16, 6:28-29, 15:6, 15-16(all); Acts
4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:18-21; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4,13; Ephesians 2:8-9, 6:16;
1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 Timothy 4:1,
6:3-13; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Hebrews 4:12, 6:17-18; James 1:9-11, 2:1-7, 3:14-18,
4:1-5,5(all); 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2:1-19; 1 John 4:1-3, 5:11-13; Jude 1:3; Revelation
12:9.
Israel and
Jacob:
Old Testament: Isaiah (all); Ezekiel (all); Jeremiah (all). + Throughout the
prophets
Knowledge;
(Especially as entrusted to His believers, the Church):
Old Testament: Exodus 4:15; 1 Kings 3:10-14; Job 28:12-28; Psalms
8:1-2, 16:5-7,
25:4-15, 27:11, 32:8-9, 71:17, 90:11-12, 111:10, 119, 143:10,
147; Proverbs (all), 1:1-7, 1:22-23, 3:1-26, 6:23-24, 8:12-21; Ecclesiastes
1:18, 7(all), 10:4; Isaiah 8:16-18, 30:20; Jeremiah 22:15-16, 30:24; Daniel
1:17-20, 2:21; Hosea 4(all), 6:6, 14:9; Amos 3:7; Malachi 2:7.
New Testament: Matthew 13:11-12; Luke 7:35, 8:18; John 3:11-12, 8:31-32,
16:13-15, 7:17-18; Acts 2:14-40, 3:12-26, 4:8-13; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians
1:18-31, 2:12-16; Galatians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:8-11, 3:19; Philippians
3:15; Colossians 1:9-12, 1:25-27, 2:2-3; 2 Timothy 1:13-14, 2:7, 3:14-15;
James 1:5-6; 1 Peter 2:16; 2 Peter 1:2, 3:14-18; 1 John (all), 2:27, 5:20; Revelation (all),
17:8.
Reverence:
Old Testament: Psalms (all); Proverbs (all); Isaiah 45:9.
New Testament: 1Peter 1:17-19.
Ruach ha Qodesh:
Old Testament: Genesis 1:2; Exodus 20:1-7; Numbers 11:16-17; Deuteronomy
6:4-5, 19:15; 2 Chronicles 15:1-2; Psalms 51:10-13, 105, 143:10; Proverbs
30:5; Isaiah 63; Joel 2:28-29; Jonah 3; Zechariah 4:1-6, 7:12.
New Testament: Matthew 3:16-17, 12:22-32,43-45, 18:16, 28:18-20; Luke
11:13, 12:8-10, 24:49; John 14:16-18,26, 15:26-17, 16:1-17,
17(all), 20:22; Acts 1:4-8,16-18, 2:2-13,38, 4:8, 5:3-9,32, 6:1-6,
7:51, 8:14-17,21, 9:31, 10:44-47, 13:2,52, 15:8, 16:6, 19:1-7; Romans 5:5, 8:11,26-27, 10:9-10, 12(all), 15:13;
1 Corinthians 2:6-13, 3:16,
6:19, 12:1-11,27-30; 2 Corinthians 1:22, 11:13-15, 13:14; Galatians 3:2, 5:16-26;
Ephesians 1:13-14, 4(all), 6:17; Philippians 1:19, 2:12; 1 Thessalonians
5:19; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 2:4, 6:4-6, 9:8,14, 10:15-17,26-31, 11:1; 1
Peter
1:10-12; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 3:24, 4:1-3,7; Revelation 1:10-20.
Scripture - the Word
of Elohim:
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalms 12:6, 105, 119; Proverbs (all), 2:1-5, 4, 8:17, 30:5.
New Testament: John 8:31, 14:23-24, 15:11, 17:17, 20:31; Acts
18:28; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:14-16; Hebrews 4:12; James
1:21; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:12-21; 1 John 1:4, 2:26,
5:13.
Scripture - the importance of Memorization:
Old Testament: Job 22:21-30; Psalms 119; Proverbs (all), 2:1-5, 22:17-21;
Jeremiah 15:16, 36(all).
New Testament: Matthew 4:4-10; John 15:7-11; Acts 8:35; Colossians
3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15.
Scripture - the
importance of Reading:
Old Testament: Psalms 19:7-14, 77, 78, 106, 119; Proverbs (all), 2:1-5;
Isaiah 45:19, 55; Jeremiah 7:23.
New Testament: Mark 13:29, 13:33-35; John 5:39-47, 8:31-32; Acts
17:11; Romans 15:4; Philippians 3:1,
3:15; Colossians 1:5, 1:25-26; 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 5:21; 1 Timothy 4:6, 4:13;
2 Timothy
3:14-16; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 1:12-21, 3:1-2; Revelation
1:3.
Sin, Unpardonable:
New Testament: Matthew 12:22-32; Luke 12:8-10.
Truth:
Old Testament: 1 Kings 8:56; Psalms 31:5, 86:11-13, 89:14, 111, 117, 119, 145:17-21;
Isaiah 45:19; Jeremiah 23:28.
New Testament: Luke 1:4, John 3:2, 3:21, 3:33, 4:22-24, 8:31-32, 8:44, 14:16-17,
16:13-14, 17:17, 18:37-38; 2 Corinthians 13:8; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:8-9; Hebrews
6:17-20; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John (all); 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:3-6; Revelation
3:7.
Understanding:
Old Testament: Job 12:12, 28:28; Psalms 119(all); Proverbs (all) see, 1:1-7, 2(all).
New Testament: Colossians 2:2; 1 Timothy 6:3-12; 2 Timothy 2:7; Hebrews
11:3; James 1:5-6, 3:13-18.
Zeal:
Old Testament: 2 Samuel 21:2; Psalms 119(all); Ecclesiastes 9:6; Isaiah
26:10-11, 59:17.
New Testament: John 2:17; Romans 10:2; 2 Corinthians 7:7-11.
.
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