52 Commitment | nazareneisrael2house

Commitment

The Oxford dictionary defines commitment as an engagement or involvement that restricts freedom of action. It means to be committed or to adhere to a doctrine or a course of action until a specified goal is reached. Commitment is an attribute not easily found in modern day society. There are many couples today who live together without being married, because they are afraid to make a lasting commitment. When you are committed to someone, it means that you share your life with that person alone. It requires a great deal of effort and dedication to remain committed to a single person for the rest of your life. This is essentially the promise we make when we get married, but also the promise we make when we are immersed into Yahshua’s saving name, when we accept Him as our personal Passover and redeemer. This is when we from the lost ten tribes return to the covenant relationship we made with Elohim at Mount Sinai, together with the house of Judah. This is also when YHVH renews the original covenant with us when He starts writing His laws on our hearts and minds – a process that will only be completed after Messiah returned to remarry His bride consisting of a remnant of the commonwealth of Israel from both houses of Israel.

Marriage requires that a man leaves his parents and cleave to his wife, but also that husbands and wives remain loyal to one another until death do them part, or when Messiah returns one day. The whole purpose for believers called out of the world is to develop characters that will ultimately become like that of YHVH our Elohim, as Yahshua also taught in Matthew 5: 48, saying: “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” We already look like the visible image of the invisible Elohim, Yahshua[1] physically, but the purpose of life is to ultimately also become like Him spiritually, as Rav Shaul confirmed in Romans 8: 28 & 29, saying: ‘And we know that Elohim causes all things to work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to His purpose. (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.’ When Elohim created mankind, He created them in His image, male and female. When later Elohim saw that it is not good for man to be alone, He took the woman from the side of man to be a helper suitable for him. Eve was made from her husband’s rib, not his foot, showing that she is an equal partner and not a carpet to walk over. (YHVH)’s purpose for marriage is two-fold: firstly to recreate Himself through us and our children; and secondly to develop a character, like His. The point of marriage is that it is not only a two way street; it is not only between a husband and his wife, it is much, much more - It is a relationship in which we learn to live according to (YHVH)’s rules – or put differently, according to the Torah teachings of Elohim.

In marriage we show love to our wives and husbands, but also to our Creator. We must never forget that in whatever we do – we must do it as if we are doing it for Elohim. It must not only be to please men, but with sincerity of heart fearing YHVH always, as Rav Shaul informs us in Colossians 3: 23 – 25, saying: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Master rather than for men; (24) knowing that from the Master you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Master Yahshua whom you serve. (25) For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” By staying with our married partners, we are showing YHVH our Father that once we agreed to follow Him (after He has called us); we will remain loyal to Him, forever. Therefore, if and when someone like our husband or wife offends us, we must think twice, before making them jealous with someone else, or before we spite him or her by not talking to him or her for a day or longer. Think about your own character development, before you make these childish decisions to spite your partner. Do not be easily offended – be more forgiving – more lenient to your partner and others in the assembly. Remember in the model prayer where Yahshua taught His disciples (but also us His modern day disciples) how to pray in Matthew 6: 12, saying: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Continuing in verses 14 & 15, saying: “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (15) But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” YHVH forgives past sins – divorce and sins before your calling and conversion are forgiven. But realize from that point on, that your relationship is not only with your partner, but also YHVH. Nevertheless, commitment involves more than staying married; it also includes providing and protecting our partners and to do so we are required to work to earn a living. Commitment therefore includes how we earn our living. In the workplace it means that you and I do the best of our ability at all times and that we don’t share company information with outsiders. However, today there is a lack of commitment in almost every area of human life. There is a lack of commitment in schools, the workplace, in government as well as in religion. I am sure you have all heard people saying about their employer and yes even about their partners: ‘If he wants loyalty, he should get a dog.’ This means that they are in the relationship only to see what they can get out of it. In the work situation, it means that they are prepared to do only the minimum required of them, and only when they are being watched. It also means that they are prepared to share the trade secrets of their employer with others, if they stand to benefit from it financially. What it boils down to is that they cannot be trusted. It immediately calls to mind the saying: Who needs enemies if you have friends like that?

However, the area that we are talking about in this lesson has mainly to do with our faith. Because of the importance that our belief system plays in our lives, it will also affect all of the other areas in our lives. When we were first called into the Nazarene Israelite faith, we were like young people in love. We studied as if there was not enough time in the day. We wanted to know everything there is to know about our newly found faith. But, with the passing of time the excitement wore off and we became less zealous. We started studying less and had more time to do other things again. It is almost like a young man when he meets a new girlfriend. Initially he spends many hours trying to please her, but with time he gets used to her and spends less time with her. This is when he loses his ‘first love’ or the initial enthusiasm that he had for his girlfriend. We see from the message to the congregation in Ephesus in Revelation 2: 1 – 5 that this has happened to this group, as follows: “To the angel of the congregation in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: (2) ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; (3) and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. (4) But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (5) Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place – unless you repent.” We need to understand that this is a warning to us and we need to repent and return to YHVH and serve Him the way we used to do when we were first called. Even if we have the ability to test apostles to see if they are false, at this time, we need to repent and return to YHVH like a young man in love with his bride – zealous to find out more about YHVH and His plan of salvation for us and all mankind. My fellow believers we are living during the end times and we need to spend much more time studying and praying, if we want to retain our position as first fruits unto YHVH our Elohim.

Very soon now we will enter a time when the word of YHVH will not be readily available to us any longer. And even if we travel the world looking for it, it will not be found, as prophesied by Amos in Amos 8: 11 – 12, where we are forewarned of such a time, as follows: “Behold days are coming,” declares YHVH Elohim, “When I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of YHVH. (12) And people will stagger from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will go to and fro to seek the word of YHVH, but they will not find it.” My fellow believers there is no time like the present to seek YHVH our Elohim, as also witnessed by Isaiah in Isaiah 55: 6, in this way: ‘Seek YHVH while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.’ The only way that we may find YHVH is by attending Sabbath services, by studying the Scriptures and through regular prayer. We also find Him through meditation and fellowshipping with likeminded believers. As children we showed our parents that we loved them by being obedient to their teachings and instructions. We similarly show our Father YHVH that we love Him, by obeying His teachings (Torah). But, we will only be able to do this if we are deeply committed to Him, and put Him first in our lives, as Rav Yochanan also wrote in first John 5: 2 & 3, saying: ‘By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and observe His commandments. (3) For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.’ If we keep very close to YHVH, He will give us understanding to discern between the righteous and the wicked, as Malachi prophesied in Malachi 3: 16 – 18 saying: ‘Then those who feared YHVH spoke to one another, and YHVH gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear YHVH and who esteem His name. (17) And they will be Mine, “says YHVH of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him” (18) ‘So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves Elohim and one who does not serve Him.’ We will be able to tell the difference between the righteous and the unrighteous - those who claim to use Elohim’s name whilst holding to diverse beliefs and doctrines (such as the belief in two (YHVH)’s and keeping Elohim’s ordained Feast Days on different dates to what the house of Judah, Elohim’s Lawgiver proclaim it annually), which are causing a great deal of confusion today.

If we are deeply committed to YHVH and His word, we will not be part of the confusion, as may be understood when reading the prophecy by Nahum in Nahum 1: 15, in this way: ‘Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news (about Messiah’s coming to establish the kingdom of Elohim), who announces peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; pay your vows. For never again will the wicked one pass through you; He is cut off completely.’ The gospel or good news about the coming kingdom of Elohim when Messiah returns to rule the commonwealth of Israel is directly linked to the Feasts Days proclaimed by Judah, as those who keep Feast Days of their own design will soon discover. A second more detailed witness comes from Isaiah 52: 1 – 7, as follows: ‘Awake, awake, clothe yourself in your strength, O Zion; clothe yourself in your beautiful (festive) garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city. For the uncircumcised and the unclean will no more come into you. (This clearly shows that circumcision as well as keeping a kosher lifestyle, will be requirements for those entering Elohim’s kingdom administered from Jerusalem) (2) Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O captive Jerusalem; loose yourself from the chains around your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. (3) For thus says YHVH, “You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed without money.” (4) For thus says YHVH Elohim, “My people went down at the first into Egypt to reside there, then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. (5) Now therefore, what do I have here,” declares YHVH, “seeing that My people have been taken away without cause?” Again YHVH declares, “Those who rule over them howl, and My name is continually blasphemed all day long. (6) Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, ‘Here I am.’” (7) How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your Elohim reigns!”’ We honor Elohim’s name by keeping the Feast Days ordained by those who are seated in Moses’ seat.

Fellow believers, if we make the word of Elohim, the Scriptures, our foundation, then we need not be part of the confusion that is happening in our Nazarene Israelite community. In our Master’s prayer recorded for us in John 17, Yahshua said that the word of YHVH is truth in verse 17, as follows: “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.” The word of YHVH is found in the pages of the Scriptures. We need to develop a deep commitment and to see YHVH and His Messiah as the final authority in everything that we do and say. If we are fully committed to YHVH and His word, we will stand when others fall. If we make our foundation the word of YHVH, we will not be shaken: We will not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, as we read in Ephesians 4: 14: ‘As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.’ Let’s at this point consider examples of believers who had a deep commitment for their faith in Elohim: Turning to the book of Daniel, we read in Chapter 3 the account of Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were thrown into a fiery furnace because they refused to fall down and worship a false image. They were deeply committed to Elohim and were not prepared to compromise in any way. Elohim came first in their lives and His word (or Torah) was their foundation. They knew that YHVH our Elohim specifically forbids us to bow down to idols in Exodus 20: 4 & 5[2]. In addition to their commitment to YHVH Elohim, they had faith that He could save them from any situation, if He chooses to do so. They knew that even if they died in the fire, they will one day be resurrected, as King David revealed in Psalm 17: 15, saying: ‘As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake.’ Rav Shaul also confirmed this in first Corinthians 15: 20 – 24, saying: ‘But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the first fruit(s) of those who are asleep. (21) For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all shall be made alive. (23) But each in his own order: Messiah the first fruit(s), after that those who are Messiah’s at His coming, (24) then comes the end (ones), when He delivers up the kingdom to the Elohim and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.”

Another example of a believer who had a deep commitment for Elohim, is that of our Father Abraham. We read the account where YHVH gave him a son by his wife Sarah. Next we read that YHVH tells him to go and offer Isaac his son, as a burnt offering. Abraham did not argue, but saddled his donkey and took Isaac his son with him. He then proceeded to chop wood and laid hold of Isaac, and bound him and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. It was when Abraham took a knife and was about to kill his son, that the angel of YHVH stopped him. Abraham did not withhold this ‘only’ son of his from Elohim, as we read from Hebrews 11: 17 – 19, in this way: ‘By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; (18) it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.” (19) He considered that Elohim is able to raise men even from the dead; from which he also received him back as a type.” Abraham knew that even if Isaac died, YHVH will resurrect him, as He promised Abraham that through Isaac his descendants will be named. Abraham was totally committed to Elohim and obeyed Him fully, as we read about YHVH telling Isaac in Genesis 26: 4 & 5, saying: “And I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; (5) because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.” These believers trusted Elohim with their lives and were deeply committed to Him as their Creator and Savior. The question to each one of us: Are we similarly committed to YHVH our Elohim?

In the book of Acts in chapter 14 verses 19 – 23 we read where Rav Shaul was stoned, thrown out of the city and left for dead. How will we respond to a similar situation? After Shaul recovered, he went back to the city and preached the good news again. He remembered Yahshua’s commission to him in Acts 26: 14 - 18, to open the eyes of those Israelites who came to believe that they are Gentiles (including some real Gentiles), as follows: ‘And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, “Shaul, Shaul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (15) And I said, “Who art Thou Master?” And the Master said, “I am Yahshua whom you are persecuting. (16) But arise, and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; (17) delivering you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, (18) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to Elohim, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance (in the Promised Land) among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”’ Rav Shaul knew that this will result in a lot of suffering for him, but he was totally committed to Yahshua’s commission to him. He knew that even if people took his life away, Yahshua could restore it to him again. Nothing could deter Rav Shaul from following his Master. He also knew that the salvation of people depended on his commitment, as recorded 1 Corinthians 9: 15 – 19 & 23, in this way: ‘But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things that it may be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. (16) For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. (17) For if I do this voluntary, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.(18) What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. (19) For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. (23) And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.’

Do we have the kind of commitment and faith that these believers displayed? If we face beatings and threats on our lives, will we continue doing the work that YHVH has given us to do? We read in Revelation 3 that the congregation in Laodicea was not totally committed any more. They became spiritually lazy and were self-assured of their righteousness, as recorded in verses 14 – 18, as follows: “And to the angel of the congregation in Laodicea write: The Amein, the faithful and true Witness, The Beginning (beginner) of the creation of Elohim, says this: (15) I know your deeds, that you are neither cold or hot; I would that you were cold or hot. (16) So because you are luke-warm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (17) Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. (18) I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eyesalve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.” To have a Laodicean attitude means that even if you were once zealous to do the work of Elohim, you have grown weary of well doing. You have become luke-warm in the way in which you pray and study. You are not as committed as you used to be and even though you know what is the right thing to do, you invariably compromise your high moral standards. You have become comfortable with the little that we know and believe that you are OK. It is at this point, where we need to realize that we are on shaky ground and pay attention to the warning given in 1 Corinthians 10: 12, as follows: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” We saw in Revelation 3 that our Father YHVH is not interested in halfhearted attempts to please Him. Let us therefore make sure that we do not lose the crown of righteousness which Rav Shaul tells us about in 2 Timothy 4: 8, as follows: ‘in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Master, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.’ Ask yourself: Am I prepared to lose my place in the kingdom of Elohim, because of an indiscretion or a lack of commitment? If we fail to heed the call, YHVH warned that He will spit us out. It is vital for our salvation, that we repent and return to YHVH, as it is impossible to renew again to repentance, those who fallen away, as is recorded in Hebrews 6: 4 – 12: ‘For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Set-apart Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of Elohim and the powers of the age to come, (6) and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of Elohim, and put Him to open shame. (7) For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from Elohim; (8) but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. (9) But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. (10) For Elohim is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. (11) And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, (12) that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.’

Let us resolve to return to YHVH and His Torah and never be found lacking in commitment to Him and our neighbor again. Let us pay attention to the words recorded in Revelation 3: 19 - 21, saying: “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent. (20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. (21) He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down My Father on His throne. (22) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregation.” Think carefully about it!

[1] Colossians 1: 15, ‘And He (Yahshua) is the image of the invisible Elohim, the first-born (from the dead –as per Colossians 1: 18) of all creation.’

[2] Exodus 20: 4 & 5: “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, YHVH your Elohim, am a jealous Elohim, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me.”