Sugar-coated rebellion or promise of life?

 

This time is like the time of Noah.

Many people who study the Bible from a modern perspective, come to the conclusion that God is not just. The Israelites (all twelve tribes of them) conquered many cities. Many of those cities were completely wiped out, as in every single person destroyed. Some of us stop, and ponder on the terrifying images of bloodshed. I know, because I have struggled immensely with conflicting thoughts concerning the justice in those scenarios. I could not understand why God would instruct His people not to kill, and tell them to shed innocent blood. Obviously, children were also killed. Can any of you relate?

Countless people can. Richard Dawkins, one of the most famous current atheists, uses exactly this point to disqualify biblical moral standards.

The supposed argument may seem valid, but is it accurate? The Canaanites were among the heathen tribes who practised human sacrifice. They literally burned their first born children for their false man-made idol, named molech. I can’t even spell the name with a capital letter, it’s just wrong. They did it to be blessed or whatever. This is cruel! Is it worse to kill all of them so that the wicked practises can stop?

Some of those mothers probably hated that idol. Some people, who were forced to practice pagan human butchery, who could not stand the injustice of the clay gods, probably wanted out. Were they doomed? I think not. Some Egyptians merged with Israel. Rahab merged with Israel. In order for her to become part of Israel, she obviously had to quit her prostitute profession. Whoring is not tolerated in the Word the Israelites were instructed to obey. There is so much grace. Did you know that Yeshua’s (Jesus) bloodline can be traced back to Rahab, the former prostitute of Jericho? Yeshua also had compassion. He instructed the almost convicted harlot to go and sin no more. He did not stone her.

Ruth was a Moabite. The Moabites also committed vicious crimes, in the name of idolatry. She could have stayed in Moab, but she chose to submit under the authority of the Israelite God, YHVH. Yeshua can also be traced back to her bloodline.

These are only some of the many examples of how people who did not have Israeli blood flowing through their veins, are counted among God’s people. Therefore, it is safe to say that God is looking at obedience, not physical blood. Yeshua even said that God is able to turn stones into children of Abraham. Abraham, himself, distanced himself from his cultural believes, and chose to follow YHVH.

There is one more issue left, do we know more about righteousness than God? God is Righteousness. He invented right-ruling in order for people to live in harmony. Those laws were also intended to be practised fairly. There was a juridical system. There had to be more than one witness. In tough cases, Moses, who had access to God, were asked to judge. Those were the Supreme Court cases. Love was always supposed to be evident in the ways the laws of that society were to be practised. He even told His people to love Him and to love one another. When you study the law in context, you will see the love and justice in it.

The fragmented pieces of righteousness we possess, are from Him. I, as a created being refuse to question my God, YHVH any longer, for He is good, He is righteous, He is LOVE. He is slow to anger, and rich in love. He gets angry, but He does not just act out of sudden wild wrath.

For the parents out there, do your children sometimes think you’re unfair when you lay down a righteous rule? God is risen far above us, His thoughts are deeper and His ways are higher. He knows best.

If you rebel because you think you know what is fair or better, you are choosing the god of lies, the god of injustice and cruelty. This is true for those who distance themselves from any form of religion as well. If we are not all for Him, we are against him. You seriously do not want to belong to the dark kingdom of chaos and injustice!

We don’t even like to live in countries where corruption rules. Why would we not love God’s just love laws? We are not saved through laws, but when Yeshua saved us, we can choose if we want to be obedient or disobedient children. For the past few years, I would rather want to do what my Heavenly Daddy ask of me. I am not saying I am perfect, not even close. But boy, I love His ways! King David also came to love His ways, and he turned away from his own ways. Psalms is full praises for God’s righteousness.

This fallen world was never the purpose of YHVH. Adam and Eve chose to rebel. Will you choose rebellion or obedience? Will you choose the Word of God above tradition? Will you choose life over death, will you choose Yeshua? The truth is in His name, Yeshua, meaning YHVH is salvation. Allow Him to save you, then allow Him to transform you.

It will soon be too late, so I urge you to grab Life with both hands!

If there are questions, feel free to comment.

 

A Real Father’s Love

Not all of us have the perfect father. I have absolutely been blessed with an amazing dad and I’m thankful for that!

However, most people do not see the perfect example of what a father’s love actually looks like.

God is the PERFECT father. He is patient…

You do NOT have to impress Him to earn His love…

For too long, I have done everything to impress my earthly dad. What I did not understand, is that he loves me because I am his child, not because I am smart or talented or whatever.

In the same manner, we do not have to impress our Heavenly Father. This does not mean that we are disobedient. It simply means we live in love, NOT fear.

The ONLY fear we are allowed to have is fear of God.

May He fill you with His love.

Jelly or Steak?

Jelly is so nice. It feels squishy and it can fit into all kinds of molds. It can transform into every kind of shape and if you want it to be blue, it will be blue!

Steak on the other hand is tough. It is not as easily manipulated and does not bend to your will when you try to make it into a nice little heart shape.

Jelly people don’t offend people that easily, but they get offended very quickly. To avoid that they will bend to your will, go with the flow, and they will keep on changing. It is an impossible task for jelly people to really please everyone, because people sometimes don’t even like their own moulds that they use on you.

It is exhausting!

Steak don’t care. If they offend you, so be it. Steak have back bone and they’re not double-minded. What you see is what you get and they tend to be happier people too. You would think pink squishy jelly people are happier people, but steak don’t have to adapt so extensively every time they’re in a different environment.

Be like steak. Don’t get so offended, don’t worry so much about offending people. This doesn’t mean you can let go of all the good manners and tact you have. It simply means you have to know what you believe, know why you believe it, and if you don’t believe that monkeys can fly or anything crazy like that –stick to it.

Grow a back bone, get a foundation. The Bible is a good solid rock that will keep you from being a slob of wobbly jelly.

Have a splendid week!

The Hungry Generation

 

When you look around in a supermarket, you will see how people are walking around with big trolleys, filling them up on all kinds of food. They would stack them with a variety of delicious foods that would keep them coming back for more week after week. They work hard to continue filling up their trolleys and their bellies with countless delicacies. There is nothing wrong with providing for your families, and putting food on your tables. However, an obsession has been created. It is an obsession that drives us to keep working in order to maintain our convenient comfort zones.
This rat race of working and spending gives us some sort of purpose. People need purpose. It is because each one of us has a vacancy inside of us. People unconsciously believe that it is their purpose to fill up the gap. This blank space within our souls needs to be filled, or rather fulfilled. Many literally try to fill up on food. They keep stuffing their bellies in order to fill the endless vacancy inside of them. These desperate attempts to curb cravings are just temporary, leaving them empty once again, going off to another hunt for satisfaction.

This physical feeling of emptiness is expressed in the Bible where Yeshua tells us not to chase only after bread for our bellies, but to eat of the Living Bread. John 6:35 Then Yeshua declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. This Scripture acknowledges the fact that people do have a spiritual need for nutrition, and that Yeshua is the only One who can truly satisfy. We are made to take part of Him.
This also creates a purpose and a destiny for us. Yeshua set the example for us. John 4:34 “My food,” said Yeshua, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. It is also our purpose to do the will of our Father. When we obey Him and do with our lives what we are created to do, we will be fulfilled, we will live with His purpose, and we will no longer need to fill the void with vanity, food, and selfish ambition.
Now that we know we need to do what we are designed to do, we need to find out what exactly it is. How do we know what we are created for? We simply need to fill up with the Bread of Life. Yeshua is the Bread of Life, because He became the Living Word. We need to fill up on the His Word in order to grow into what He created us to be. His Word will guide us towards our destiny. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
His Word and His Holy Spirit of Truth will lead us into a place where we can serve in His Kingdom, and live life in abundance, as we find our joy in His purpose for our lives, instead of in the enemy’s counterfeit plan. As we read the Word, and spend time with the Spirit of YHVH, He will renew our minds so that His desires will become ours. As we nurture a relationship with Him, we will become one with Him, and also we will share His thoughts.

No longer will we long for the pleasures of this life, but we will desire Him. We were created to be a delight unto the King, and we are delighted to do just that. Let us put down the distractions of this world that will never nourish us anyway, and let us get on our knees and have a taste of the Living Bread. Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Janika Martinson

This “Festive” Season

Imagine sitting with your thick snow coat, your snuggly mittens, and your woollen scarf in the middle of a summer day, in a hot public bus, with all the windows concealed… Or imagine you pitch up with your bathing suit and boogie board at a below Celsius winter evening soup occasion at your grandmother’s house. Imagine you enter her home, welcomed by an icy slush puppy, instead of by the appropriate hot chocolate beverage.

That is not at all appropriate for the current season! Does the Convener not say: Ecclesiastes 3:1 For every matter there is an appointed time, even a time for every pursuit under the heavens.”?

Who created these appointed times? Genesis 1:14 And God said, ‘Let lights come to be in the expanse of the heavens to separate day from night, and let them be for signs and appointed times, and for days and years.

It is clearly God who created them. He did not only create the physical seasons, but also the spiritual ones. We believers have special holidays that are significant in some or other way, and that is great, we should have special holy days. But are they His holy days? Did He set up the appointments on our calendars, or did we create our own dates, expecting Him to pitch up for our own set dates?

I believe the Creator of the universe has the right to choose His own appointed times. Why do we have the arrogance to regard them as insignificant? Psalm 74:4-5 Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your appointed times. They have set up their own signs as signs. It seems as if one has lifted up axes among the thick trees.

God created seven feast days that are mentioned in several places in the Bible. Do not think for a second that they are Old Testament feasts. The New Testament is loaded with references to His Holy days. An example is that on the feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out.

Acts 2:1–6: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance

God loves patterns; His Word is a Masterpiece of perfect patterns and perfect order. All His feasts are part of His prophetic order. No other author has ever accomplished such marvellous finery in the art of literature

If you love Him, He has an appointment with you. Be sure not to miss it!

Here is a short list of His feast days and their prophetic significance:

Passover: The Israelites were redeemed out of their Egyptian slavery. A lamb was slayed and its blood was used as a symbol of redemption, so that the angel of death would pass them by. Is it not just perfect that Yeshua, the Perfect Lamb, was crucified on this exact feast? When we celebrate this feast, we have communion, and rejoice in our redemption, by the blood of our Saviour, Yeshua.

Unleavened Bread: The Israelites were instructed to get rid of all their leaven, and to eat flat bread for a week. In the New Testament, Mathew 16:6, Yeshua warns against the leaven of the Pharisees. They are puffed up with pride and hypocrisy. When celebrate this feast, we ask the Holy Spirit to help us to get all the “leaven” or pride and filth out of our hearts. Now that we are redeemed, should we not be purified and get all the traces of Egypt out of us?

First Fruits: On this feast the first of the harvest was to be brought before the Lord. This is still done in the form of tithes or anything else you have to offer. The first fruits of everything belong to the Lord YHVH. This applies to our lives today if offer the first fruits of our time for our First Love, Yeshua. If we give Him everything we have first, before we invest in ourselves, we give Him our first fruits.

Pentecost: Two loaves of bread was offered before YHVH on this day. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit happened on this feast, and we celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives during this festive time. Yeshua said that that He is the living bread. Our spirits stay alive by receiving His Word. On this feast we celebrate His Word and His Spirit. First, He gave His Word, which represents the first bread. Then, He poured out His Spirit, which also testifies about Him, and speaks His Words into our spirits. This represents the second bread. Therefore, it is so appropriate for Him to have chosen this appointed time for His Spirit.

Trumpets: The shofar is blown on this feast to declare the victory of our God. We need to live in victory. We should not be defeated by the enemy, because we are able to overcome through His Spirit, which is stronger than the enemy. This feast a joyful declaration our victorious God. Death is defeated. Numbers 10: And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. This is also prophetic foreshadowing of the great and glorious day, when our King will return, rescue His bride, and demolish His enemy.

Atonement: On the first occurrence of this feast, the high priest was to perform a sacrifice for the atonement of Israel’s sin. Now, we have a new High Priest. Yeshua is our High Priest, who brings atonement for our sin, so that we may be purified, before entering into the presence of YHVH. His presence is also related to His tabernacle. Therefore, we atone before the feast of tabernacles. We need His atonement. We repent whole heartedly, and we are washed by His blood. This is a continuous process. When we sin, and we repent, our High Priest reconciles us towards our Father. The book of Hebrew explains this concept. Do we really want filthy garments and muddy hands when we enter into the presence of our Holy King? In this appointed time, His Spirit will convict us of our sins, more than ever before, because it is on His calendar.

Tabernacles: Then finally we anticipate the most exciting one of all, the feast of Tabernacles! The prophetic event this feast represents, also have not fully manifested, it is still to happen. When our King returned, He will tabernacle, or dwell with us. His Spirit dwells in us, but we will one day physically, dwell with Him, where He will be King. He will enforce His instructions on us, which will enable harmony among us. During this feast, we set up tents, to represent our temporary dwelling places here on earth. Our final settlement will be in His Kingdom, under His authority.  Revelation 2:27 and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken in pieces–just as I also have received from My Father.

As you can see, there are more than enough feasts for believers. It is not Jewish feasts alone, for they are only one of the twelve tribes of Israel. I want to encourage you to make your own study of the biblical feasts. May the Holy Spirit lead you into the truth. Yeshua did not celebrate or encourage Christmas, so why should we if we are to follow in His footsteps?
If you want to walk according to His true rhythm, you have to get on the narrow road. Everybody celebrates Christmas, it one of the counter feasts that are celebrated on the wide road. Get on His schedule, get on His calendar.

Janika Martinson