Fear & Mercy

If we truly study the Word and know the attributes and character of the Most High, it should not surprise us to see lines such as these penned in the Psalms. Walking in obedience to His commandments and rightly receiving His great mercy always go hand in hand. Despite the biblical mandate to walk pursuing a holy and set apart life, there’s simply no room to embark into such an endeavor without welcoming and receiving Father’s great mercy.

The Hebrew understanding of mercy (chesed) appears 250 times in the Old Testament. It is most commonly used to describe YHWH’s great desire and zealous love for His People. A love that is often revealed most simply as His kindness. If one properly understands the biblical motivation for walking in His commandments, it is rightly recognizing this - His great “chesed” (mercy.)

This is why fear, reverence and obedience, in response to His mercy is seen all throughout the Scriptures. This is why the wise writer of Ecclesiastes stated, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear YHWH and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” When a man acknowledges and receives the Father’s wonderful “chesed”, He wants to obey His commands. It is the biblical evidence of a yielded life of one that loves YHWH.

This is a simple, yet profound way, to rightly explain why Father’s great love and mercy, and then our obedience to His Instructions, are always inseparable.

Judging: Biblically, Can A Man Ever Judge Another?

 

In John 7:24 the words of the Messiah are recorded as the following: “Do not judge by the outward appearance.” Sadly, many people simply stop here and erect an unstable and incomplete doctrine. “Don’t judge… see, it says it right here. We cannot judge. That’s ‘God’s job’” they say.

But let us keep reading as this short line continues, “but judge with righteous judgment.” In our latest 2-part video series we look at answering the question, “Can a mere man ever rightly judge another man, biblically?” One of the keys to the answer is found in the second line of Messiah’s words. “Judge with righteous judgments.”

Do you know what these are? How is a man to even begin rightly removing the speck out of a brother’s eye? Do we just merely shrug everything off and disregard the biblical mandate to discern and bring humble correction to the Body as She suffers and fails?

There are answers to these questions, for those who truly want to know how to biblically edify, correct and discipline the Body, when necessary. To be clear, it starts with first rightly applying, and submitting to, Father’s righteous judgments ourselves – first. Consider watching the new series, won’t you? The Body could sure use a strong dose of rightly applying Father’s righteous judgements right now. Do you agree? 

The video series link to this series is HERE.

Two Types of Wisdom: Do You Know The Difference?

 

James 3:13-18   

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Did you know that, biblically, there are two types of wisdom? One "comes down from above" and the other is "earthly, natural, demonic."

Allow me to ask, how have you trained yourself and your family to discern between the two? What process do you have in place to patiently determine which one is which? Many people flippantly assume that Holy Spirit will; just magically lead them to perfect truth. While I'm sure not discounting Holy Spirit's ability, it's you and I that I'm concerned about.

We must slow down and filter all matters of life through the wisdom criteria of the Word. The words of the Most High are our best counsel. This is why Messiah quoted the Torah and the Prophets when He was tempted by haSatan. This is why the righteous men of old live set apart, holy lives. The Torah of YHWH is perfect, friends. perfect. (Some of you may need to let that really sink in.)

And I'd caution us to not get lost in minute details either. I don't believe that this is about a lifestyle of "Father, should I choose 'Door A' or 'Door B' issue."

How do we govern our lives according to the overreaching counsel of heavenly wisdom? Let us not think too highly of ourselves and presume that we always know the difference. Choose well today!

* For more on this topic, tune into the new video series, "Prayers & Petitions: When YHWH Grants A Request, but Brings Leanness of Soul."

Walking Our Own Way, and Then Blaming The Most High

 

Proverbs 19:2&3 Zeal without knowledge is not good, or to act hastily and miss the way. One who hurries his footsteps errs.  The foolishness of a man ruins his way, and his heart rages against YHWH.

In our upcoming video series, one thing we'll discuss is how to properly apply wisdom to our prayer lives. One key facet, if we truly want to find Father's will, is that we slow down.

In today's text, we see useful counsel towards this principle. When we move too quickly and act in haste, we risk missing the way that we should go. As I present in the upcoming videos, I found it interesting that when a fool acts in such a way, his response is that "his heart rages against YHWH."

Properly understood, the impatient fool moves on his own accord and then becomes angry with YHWH when the results of *his own actions* cause a bad outcome. We've all, of course, been guilty of this at some point in our lives.

Be sure to tune into the upcoming 2-part video series as we look to biblical records to help us reverse the pattern of foolish behavior and grumbling impatience.

HalleluYah!: The Praise of a Set Apart People

 HalleluYah!
How good it is to sing praises to our Elohim.
How pleasant and fitting is praise.   YHWH builds up Jerusalem.
He gathers together the exiles of Israel He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:1-3

Verses such as these surely come alive in a new way, when you understand identity and covenant. A covenant people sing praises to the One Name above all names - Yahweh. This is why we proclaim "HalleluYah!" "Praise be to Yahweh!" and to no other.

And what does He do? He builds up a city. He gathers who? The exiles of Israel! The scattered, covenantal People who walk in His wonderful ways. The sojourning ones, in the likeness of Abraham and Master Yeshua.

And there, He heals our hearts and bandages our wounds. Friend, be sure today that you understand the biblical account of joining yourself with Father's covenantal and familial work. I want us all to be able to declare, "HalleluYah!" Do you know of these promises?