To the Word: The Bible

Greetings, brothers and sisters:

I pray that the glorious light of our God by Christ shines in your hearts today and every day.

The world is becoming more chaotic and uncertain as world events begin to unfold before our eyes. In unstable times as these, we who trust in God would be wise to draw closer to him by his word: the Holy Bible.

It is critical, however, that we understand without any doubt that the Bible, this book of prophecy, is not the work of men or a fictional masterpiece. The Bible was composed and compiled from ancient times by holy men, who spake as they were directed by the Holy Spirit of God(2 Pet. 1:20-21). The words written did not come out from their own minds (1 Cor.14:36-38); God inspired them to write it ( 2 Tim. 3:16). God's words came to man, it did not come out of man. This understanding of how God's word comes to us also enlighten us to the errors of the modern-day prophets, who claim to tell new prophecies outside of God's written words found in the holy scriptures. First we must understand that the Bible is complete. There are no new prophecies today. The will and purpose of God for all mankind and his whole creation is found written in the books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Furthermore, God strictly warns us in his word not to add or subtract anything from the text of the Bible, lest one loses his reward in the kingdom of Christ and receives the curses and the plagues written in it for doing this ( Revelation 22:19-20). The fact that God warns against altering his words by adding and subtracting from it implies it is complete. Also, we must realize that the prophets or holy men of old-Joshua, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zephaniah and so on, did not add or subtract from the words and commandments God gave to Moses, they only expounded on it. Moses, from the book of Genesis through Deuteronomy wrote not only the commandments of God, but he wrote about the prophecies God revealed to him also. Why, even Christ did not add unto Moses or what Moses wrote, but only expounded on it and fulfilled the prophecies written in it (John 5:45-47, Matt 5:17-18, Luke 24: 25-27, 36-48).

Drawing closer to God by faith in his word as truth and our guiding light in the darkness of these times will protect us from the many false prophets that are here now and shall arise as we go on(Matt. 24:11). It will also guide us away from the deception of false Christians and false Christ( Matt. 24:5, 1John 2:18-19). And, this we will be able to do because we know that if they don't speak and do according to His Word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:20).

We hold a gem in our hands, a most precious pearl: the word of God. Open the Bible today, brethren, and read it and do what is written in it, for no prophecy of God will fail( Isaiah 34:16). Remember, the Word has always been with God from the beginning, and the Word was God. And it is this Word that was made flesh(a human-being-Yahawahshi, Christ) and dwelt among us-in the first century A.D.,(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.( John 1:1, 14)

We do well, Brethren, if we continue with him by God's word, the Holy Scriptures, unto the end ( Matt.24:13).

Shalam,

May God Bless and keep you always, till we meet again,

Zarach

April to March

 

Days, weeks, months, go by

The years come and go, adding up to this time and that future time ( Ecc. 1:4-5)

Yet, you, Lord, are always the same ( Heb. 13:8)

I change, I go thru changes

Yet, you are always the same (Mal. 3:6)

Today, I'm up as if all were possible

Tomorrow, I feel so low, as though there is no hope (Lam. 4:1-2)

Yet, you are always the same

I play the clown and laugh, but my heart within is so sad ( Prov. 14:10)

When will I get to that Place where you are? ( Rev. 3:21)

That where you be, I may be also (John 14:2-3)

Always the same

How many changes must we go thru? ( Dan. 9:7)

With you, without you, in our own land, out of our land

 

Scattered in all directions,

wandering among the Nations

bondmen, Freedmen, Black men, Indians, Afro-American, Hispanic,

Christians, Muslims, academician, integrationist, separatist,

Nationalist, stargazers, seekers of the gods of this world

When will you make it plain and bring it to an end? (Hos. 5:15)

When will we be the same again? ( Heb. 2:11)

Dwelling in the light and before the light that transcends

even the rays of the sun ( Rev. 21:23)

If you will, I know, I can be changed for eternity ( I Cor. 15:51)

Yet, says the prophet

“ there is time, and times, and dividing of times (Dan. 12:7)”

But you, Lord, are always the same ( Heb. 1:12)

All the days of my life will I Wait and Hope ( Lam. 3:21-23)

Because you are always the same,

You change not

You are the Everlasting God ( Num. 23:19, Gen. 21:33)

Your promises are sure

To those that endure to the end in Faith ( Isaiah 40: 28-31)

To them that wait upon you

Even so, Return, Emmanuel ( Matt. 1:23, Rev. 22:20)

Amen

Fear Not Little Flock:

Luke 12:32

Shalam,

Zarach

Message to the Israelite Grass Roots

Greetings, brothers and sisters:

The new year is upon us once again as Passover approaches. It is a time of reflection on where we have come from and what we have to look forward to. The Passover season is a time to consider the hope we have in the Most High and His faithfulness in keeping His word. It is also a time for us to examine ourselves and see what we truly are about in our walk with the Lord: Yahawah; are we continuing in His word? Are we abiding with his Son, Yashwah-the Christ? Are we walking in love to our fellow Israelites? Are we patient with those that don't see the light? Are we living in such a way that those who don't know God may come to know him by our moderation and self-discipline in his wisdom? Are we sharing his word as it is written in the Holy Scriptures? Are we hoping for the world of Israel to come by Christ, our Prince and Savior? Are we more attached to this world and the things in it, or do we separate ourselves from it's evils? Are we living like the chosen generation, that royal priesthood, the holy nation, that peculiar people who shine in the midst of darkness? Or are we like that people who don't know their God, that people who don't consider the works of their God? I pray that none of you fall short of the hope we have in Christ, by our Father: the Great I AM.
And for those of you who have the high office of teaching God's word to the people, I pray you will remember your duty to God and the people as stated in Isaiah 62: 6-7. The Lord has set you as watchmen on the Walls of Jerusalem to warn the people and herald the Gospel. The Lord has instructed you to never hold your peace, even in the midst of confusion and despair. The prophets of the Lord are to Never Keep Silent, no matter the situation inside the temple or out in the streets: Preach, give God's message no rest, till He establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the Earth. Remember, brethren, God is not a man that he should lie; what he said he will do, he will do. For Jacob, says the Lord, is the world that shall follow after this world is long gone from the scene.

Have a Blessed Passover in your congregations and in your homes, and Rejoice in the Hope we have in the Lord.

Shalam,

Zarach

How the Mind Works

Greeting, brothers and sisters:
I pray that God is perfecting your faith in Him by Christ our King.

I would like to share with you a pearl of wisdom revealed to me as I studied the holy scriptures. It is in regard to how the human mind operates and interprets the world around it and how this compares to the mind of God. In I Samuel 16:7, we read of the process of selecting a new king over Israel by God from among the sons of Jesse-the father of David. This verse is key in gaining an insight into the human mind. It reveals what we focus on; and therefore direct our motivations and actions towards. According to this verse man looks at the outward appearances first in making decisions. He considers the physical dimension of a thing or person in this matter first. He first looks at the massiveness of the armies in battle to consider engaging the enemy, the grandeur of the Mansion or house to determine its wealth, the sleekness and style of the new car before purchasing it, or the beauty of the woman to select her for his wife. All these things are perceived by the eyes first, which informs the mind on what to focus on.   The mind then moves our emotions, thoughts, and lips to speak certain words, and our hands and feet to take specific actions towards our focus. The prophet Samuel-who was a man like you and I, saw the height, built, and nobleness of Jesse's sons and was convince that each of them could have been the Lord's anointed. He saw the outward appearance first and drew his conclusion. This happens to us daily also in our technological mass media society, with it's internet, T.V., satellite radio, and movies. They have keyed in on how our minds work and bombard us with images constantly knowing that they will send a certain message to us to act in the way they want us to. Why do you think, they couple a pretty girl and a luxury car together in commercials? Because they know a man will be attracted to both and if they show this image to him often and long enough he will equate having a nice care with getting the pretty girl. But usually what happens is that he ends up in debt because he brought a car he couldn't really afford. We shouldn't let this happen to us. We should follow God's example and go deeper than the surface level appearances. In the verse above, God use Samuels experience to teach him and us a critical lesson in how we should control our own minds by following Him. For he said to Samuel, "the Lord sees not as man sees..." God goes beyond mere physical appearance. He looks at the heart of man; he considers what the thoughts, intentions, feeling, and what the motivation of a man is first, not what he looks like or portrays himself to be. God's mind functions on a higher plane than man. But we are able, according to Christ, to judge righteous judgment and not by appearances only( John7:24). This righteous judgment, which is based on the laws and commandments of God, is able to supersede our initial reaction to the outward world and allow us to examine people and things on a deeper level. Understanding how the mind works is key in helping us avoid errors and temptations that would take us off our course to a holy life in Christ.

Shalam,

May God bless you and Keep you till we meet again

Zarach

Grow Your Faith

Shalam,

Brothers and Sisters

I Pray that the light of God shines on you continually as we move forward.

 

At this stage of the battle, it is most pertinent that you and I increase our faith in God (Jude 1:20). Those of us who are sensitive to the Spirit of God can see the signs of the times, by world events and the growth of wickedness in the hearts of men. We recognize that we are moving closer to the end (Matt. 16:2-3, 2 Tim 3:13, Dan. 12:1). Therefore, we urge all men, especially the believers, to draw closer to God by faith (Acts 17:30-31, Mark 1:15).

 Faith  that comes by constant prayer to God and study of the Holy Scriptures is what we should seek after ( 2 Tim. 3:14-17, Rom. 12:11-12).  It is your and my responsibility, brothers and sisters, to build this type of faith in God by practicing these two spiritual acts daily. Prayer reminds us that our help comes from the Lord and not ourselves ( Psalm 27:7-8, Phil. 4:6-7, 1 Thes. 5:17). It reaffirms the presence of God in our lives. The study of the Holy Scriptures teaches us the will of God and enables us to live in a righteous manner (Psalm 119:101-104, Titus 2: 11-14).

Another way that we can grow our faith is by listening ( Rom. 10:17, Prov. 8:1-8). The Bible teaches us to be quick to hear those that are wise in the scriptures( Jam. 3:13-18). However, don't be like little children or a simple person who follows anyone who sounds wise quoting scriptures ( Eph. 4:14).

To avoid this error, we must judge everyone who shares God's word, by the word of God (I John 4:1). This includes all preachers, pastors, priest, biblical teachers, prophets, spiritual leaders, Bishops, elders, holy men, religious writers and Bloggers, so we may know if what they say is true ( Matt. 24:4). The scriptures state, "if they speak (to live and teach the Gospel) not according to the Law and the testimonies, there is no light in them and these are not sent by God"( Isaiah 8:20, Rom. 10:14-15). The Bible counsels us not to listen or follow these men and women, less we be toss to and fro with every new doctrine and the trends of men, who lie in wait to deceive (Jer. 23:25, 21-22, Deut. 13:1-4).

We are to listen to those that fear God-by keeping His commandments in their daily lives and out of a sincere heart share the word of God ( John 8:17-18, John 5:30-32, Acts 20:25-35).

The above growth is incomplete in us, however, without faithful action (James 1:22-25, Rom. 2:13). What this means is that you purposefully apply the teachings and commandments of God in your daily life. This is how we will know that we are in the faith and growing in it, when we acted upon what we have learned (1 John 1:6-7).

Brothers and sisters, we must recognize the urgent need of increasing our faith in these last days. The apostle Paul said in Romans 13:12, “the night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ” What Paul is saying, is that the world has been involved in wickedness for a long time now and as the day removes the darkness of the night, so the judgment day of the Lord will remove all wickedness from off the earth. He urges us, who can see this, to cast off the works of darkness or to stop living in sin, and put on the armor of light, which is the righteousness of God. To do this, one must have Faith that is mature and unwavering in God by believing His word ( James 1:6-8). For with the heart or mind man believes unto righteousness ( Rom. 10:10).

Make time everyday, Brethren, to read the Bible and pray to our God. And once you gain understanding act on the word. And for your discipline God will grant you a Faith that is strong and able to endure to the end ( Eph. 3:4).

I pray that God would keep you and bless you till we meet again,

Zarach

Honoring the Sabbath

Greetings, Brothers and Sisters

May the glorious light of Yahawah, our Father shine in your hearts today through the grace of our Lord Yashawah, the Christ.

It is a great delight to write unto you today on the Sabbath of the Lord as an act of worship. The Sabbath is a gift from God to us. It should be kept with great joy and in holiness. A day dedicated to the worship of God; by prayer, reading and meditation in the holy scriptures, reflection with gladness of heart on all that God has done for us this week and throughout our lives. A day of praise and exaltation of His holy name. A day of rest and refreshing from all our labors. The Sabbath is blessed for all generations that mankind may learn to call on the name of Lord.

The Sabbath is an ancient institution. The word Sabbath means to rest. It was started at the creation of the universe. We read in Genesis 1:31, and Genesis 3:1-3 that God completed all His works on the sixth day. Then He rested from all his works on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath of the Lord. Therefore, He blessed and sanctified the seventh day, setting it apart from all other days. The Sabbath was thus instituted from the beginning of creation.

Let us, who trust in God, look to His Word and the tradition of the Apostles, who followed God in Christ, and lift up true worship in observance of the Holy Sabbath of the Lord. This was reaffirmed as a national command as part of God's covenant with Israel. In Exodus 20: 1-11 the Israelites were commanded to keep the Sabbath holy and free from pursuing their own desires for pleasure or gain. The prophet Isaiah reinforced the law and praised those who strive to keep God's Sabbath holy and free from human rebellion through the pursuit of carnal pleasures and greed (Isaiah 58:13). He also mentions the blessing God will give His faithful followers who boldly continue in the observance of His Sabbath, which He sees not only as an act of obedience but of love towards Him. Isaiah states, they will be blessed with the heritage of Jacob their father( Isaiah 58:14). According to the scriptures, they will inherit the Kingdom of God, which is the heritage of Jacob or Israel by Christ ( Gen. 28:10-15, Hebrews 11:8-10, 16, Psalm 46, Rev. 3:11-13).

Christ warns us, however, to avoid becoming over-righteous in our zeal to observe the Sabbath to the point of becoming ignorant of the essence of the law; where we would rather sacrifice than show mercy verses showing mercy rather than sacrifice-which is what God loves best ( Matt. 12:1-8). This understanding will allow us to avoid abusing the Sabbath. The misuse of the Sabbath would hold ourselves or others to such a strict code that we would rather refuse to do a good work if it resembled labor in order to keep the Sabbath. This type of orientation, as Christ explained to the Pharisees, overlooks the acts of the priest in the temple who work on the Sabbath day, yet were guiltless of breaking the Sabbath. Why? Because it was an act of worship to God, a good work, done out of love and a desire to do that which was holy before God. We must remember, God looks at the heart of man and not the outward appearances ( 1Sam. 16:7, John 7:21-24). One can keep the Sabbath outwardly, yet be of an evil heart. And another can perform acts or works of mercy on the Sabbath day and be guiltless before God because his heart was right before God.

Every act we do should be holy and to honor God on the Sabbath. This is how we keep the Sabbath; in praise, worship, prayer, reading the Word of God, coming together to celebrate Him, doing good works or acts of mercy and love towards our fellow man all to the Glory of God.

Remember, we were not made for the Sabbath; to be a slave to the Sabbath, where it becomes ideal worship turned into traditions and routines full of meaningless ceremonies. But, the Sabbath was made for us, so we may use it to reflect on, and if need be, act on the goodness of God our Father and love of our Savior Jesus Christ (Luke 3:15-17).

May God bless and keep you until we meet again,

Shalam

Zarach.

Heaven on my Mind

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

May the glorious light of our God in the knowledge of our Lord shine in your hearts today.

It has been said many times, heaven is the crowning achievement of the followers of Jesus Christ-who we call Yashawah in the Hebrew tongue. This crowning is supposedly accomplished at the time of our death. Some denominations believe and commonly teach that to live a good life, one in obedience to Christ, assures an entrance into heaven upon death. Others acknowledge that to accept Jesus as Savior is necessary to enter heaven. The believer then will supposedly live with God, Christ and the angels in heaven for eternity. Therefore, the hope of living in heaven may dull their sensitivity to what they should be doing here on earth. The Bible, however, speaks a different message of Heaven and death. To walk or live according to the Gospel is not just to yearn for death to enter heaven, but to live in such a way that you will earn a better resurrection on the day that Jesus Christ stands upon this Earth once again in judgment ( Romans 2:5-11 )

This idea of the only goal in life being to get to heaven is based on scriptures that have been misinterpreted. To illustrate, the Zondervan Compact Bible Dictionary, when explaining heaven, states: it is the abode of God, the good angels; where the redeemed shall some day be. It quotes Matthew 5:12 and Matthew 6:20 as evidence of the last statement regarding the believers or redeemed of God. Matthew 5:12 speaks of a great reward in heaven for the faithful in Christ. This passage, taken out of context and hastily summarized, is taken to mean the believer will receive a reward in heaven some day. Therefore, the believer supposedly must be in heaven to get the reward according to this logic. However, this is incorrect upon further examining the Holy scriptures regarding heaven, death and the reward of the saints. This passage does not mean that believers will one day inhabit the place where God abides. It means their perseverance in Christ will be rewarded. Their reward will be received at the last judgment, when the kingdom of Jesus Christ will be established on earth; according to the will of God. The judgment is reserved with God, who is in Heaven. This is why the scripture states our reward is in heaven. It does not mean we will enter heaven to receive it, but rather it will come from heaven on the day that Jesus Christ enters through the atmosphere with his mighty angels to reward his faithful followers and to take vengeance on all his enemies, who know not God. ( Rev 19:11-14 )

Furthermore, The Bible states that the believer that endures to the end, though he may die before the coming of Christ, has his reward sealed with God in heaven. For it is God who promised this reward, therefore it is with Him and comes from Him. The scriptures states that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor.15:58). He will reward all our works and faithful obedience to Him. God does not call us to worship Him as an empty act or meaningless endeavor. Moreover, Rev 14:13 states, “blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:...and their works do follow them.” Death can not separate us from the hope we have in Christ through the promise of God, who is a faithful and true rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6).

At the second coming of Jesus Christ the living will stand before Him and the dead will be resurrected. All will be judged according to their faith and their works. This event has never been mentioned in the scriptures to occur in the realm where God dwells, “heaven”. However, it has been described, both in the New and Old Testaments, as occurring here on earth. Jesus stated that at the final hour, all that are dead shall hear his voice and be resurrected and come forth: the believers to the resurrection of life (Holiness, immortality, and the Kingdom of God) and the evil to the resurrection of damnation (death, captivity, disease, distress, and never ending torture) John 5:28-29.

Thus, this is why the prophets and apostles speak of our reward coming from heaven, in the person of Jesus Christ, and is in heaven kept as a promise to us from God for our labors. The statement 'reward in heavens' in Matthew 5:12 should not be assumed to mean we will one day dwell in heaven. We must understand that the scriptures are at times written in symbols, allegories, and metaphors to describe events and explain subjects. To gain understanding you must search the scriptures, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things by the Word of God. It is by searching the entire Bible you will gain understanding on this subject. We can not base our faith on one verse or the teachings of theologians. We must seek Him, by going to the primary source: the Holy Bible. Jesus said He is found in the volume of the book. (Hebrews 10:7)

Those of you who wish to receive the reward from Jesus Christ, hold fast to the Word of God! Our faith should be active. (Hebrews 10:24-25, James 2:17) My hope is that we may all do this so you may boldly say, like Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Shalam,

May God Bless you and keep you till we meet again,

Zarach

Hear the word's of Christ:

Rev 22:12-13