Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

Elohim will provide.

After having studied Elohim’s word for more than two decades and proven the validity of following a Torah way of life, the leader of our previous affiliation, who was appointed by the man who started publishing the ‘Plain Truth’ during the early 1930, died and appointed his son as the new leader. The son, under influence of a Christian group, immediately started changing most of the major doctrines of the group; such as Sabbath to Sunday, doing away with the necessity of keeping Elohim’s Feast Days, Kosher laws and most of what we came to believe.

However, because we have proven our beliefs from the very Word of Elohim, my wife and I, together with many other former believers left the group, with a decision to continue in the faith in which we were called to more than two decades before. But, we felt very despondent at the time; almost like Elijah must have felt before YHVH showed him that there were at that time, seven thousand believers like him in Israel, who have not bowed the knee to Baal as may be read from 1 Kings 19: 18. Even though we thought that we were alone, we soon discovered that there were others throughout the world, who also believed in the way of Elohim.  Looking back at the sixteen years that followed, I came to realize that it was only because we have taken the time to study Elohim’s word for ourselves that we developed the necessary faithfulness to continue as an ecclesia of called out believers. This was essentially the same ecclesia which Moses started in the wilderness after leading Israel out of Egypt, as witnessed in Acts 7: 35 – 38, in this way: “This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?’ is the one whom Elohim sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. (36) This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. (37) This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘ELOHIM SHALL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.’ (38)This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.” In fact our Master (Rabbi) and Savior continued with the exact same teacher/discipleship program after He was immersed.

During the next few years until our Messiah returns to start ruling His people and the world from Jerusalem, there will be many similar attacks on our faith. Satan and his many agents are continually looking for new ways in which to get Elohim’s people to follow another counterfeit of the faith once delivered to the saints. It is going to take a lot of faith for the ecclesia of Elohim to remain faithful to Him to the end. It is time to get our noses into the Scriptures and like the believers in Berea mentioned in Acts 17: 10 & 11, examine the Scriptures daily, to confirm what we are taught and read, as follows: ‘And the brethren immediately sent Shaul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. (11) Now these (Jews) were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.’  It is only once we have proven our faith from the Scriptures, that it becomes difficult for others to deceive us. But, because of the continual attacks on our faith, it is an ongoing exercise. We need to get into the habit of making time to study Elohim’s word and what better way is there to study the annual Torah portions year after year. In the beginning it is best to follow the guidance of a teacher who had been trained, in the discipleship program started by Moses, when he trained Joshua to take over from him when he died.  Once we become more familiar with Torah, or Elohim’s truth, we will be able to find examples, where the Prophets and writings in the Tanach as well as the Renewed Covenant, supports the lessons recorded for us in Torah, thereby growing in our knowledge of the Scriptures.

Nonetheless, there are some with very little training today, who want to take over during worship services run by teachers who have been trained in the way of Elohim for many years, forgetting the qualifications that a teacher should have, mentioned in 1 Timothy 3: 1 – 7, in this way: ‘It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer (teacher), it is a fine work he desires to do. (2) An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach , (3) not addicted to wine or pugnacious (argumentative), but gentle, uncontentious (easygoing), free from the love of money. (4) He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (5) (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the ecclesia of Elohim?) (6) and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. (7) And he must have a good reputation with those outside the ecclesia, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.’ In fact deacons are required to also be of sober habits, not double-tongued, or fond of sordid gain. In addition they should believe the mystery of our faith, without any doubt as confirmed in verses 8 & 9 of First Timothy 3, ‘Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, (9) but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.’ Rav Shaul informs us what the mystery of our faith is in verse 16, and warned about those who teach differently in verse I of First Timothy 4 (KJV), as follows: ‘And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness (faith): Elohim was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.’  Yes, those who deny that Yahshua is YHVH in the flesh should not teach at all. Rav Shaul warned that deceitful spirits will attack our belief in the manifestation of YHVH in the flesh. Why will they attack this belief? The main reason being, that it strikes directly at the foundation of our redemption.

Teachers need a period of time to get to know the material that they will eventually be required to teach, as Yahshua explained in Luke 6: 39 & 40 in this way: ‘And He also spoke a parable to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? (40) A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”’ After we have been trained for a period of time, we do not need a special ordination by men to start teaching new believers, as Yahshua commissioned all who are able to teach in Matthew 28: 18 – 20, saying: “All authority (the KJV reads: ‘power’) has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Set-apart Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The purpose of a teacher is given in Ephesians 4: 11 – 15, in this way: ‘And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, (12) for the equipping of the saints (believers) for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Messiah (meaning the ecclesia of called out ones.); (13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Messiah. (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; (15) but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head even Messiah.’  Disciples, who will eventually become teachers, need to get to know what we as Nazarene Jews/Israelites believe, with the necessary Scriptural witnesses in support of the same.  After all, Sabbath services should be conducted decently and in order, as Messiah is not the author of confusion, as we read from 1 Corinthians 14: 33, as follows: ‘For Elohim is not an Elohim of confusion but of peace, as in all the ecclesia (or congregations) of the saints.’ Whereas teaching brings unity of the faith, discussions where many different opinions are expressed, only lead to confusion. The difference between those of us coming from Christianity and other religions, and the Jews attending Yeshiva, where men discuss the Torah, is that those who attend Yeshiva are men who have been studying Torah from childhood.  Most congregants attending worship services are new to the faith and should be allowed to ask questions and give witnesses and input in support of the message, but the service should remain controlled and not deteriorate into a shouting match.

Even so, to prepare us for the task at hand helping us to remain faithful to the end, we need to develop the tenacity and faith of our fathers in the faith. It is perhaps for this reason that Yahshua said in Luke 18: 7 & 8, ‘now shall not Elohim bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? (8) I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?’  YHVH through Jeremiah promised that He will always provide us with suitable teachers, in Jeremiah 33: 19 – 22, as follows: “Thus says YHVH, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day, and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at the appointed time, (21) then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers. (22) As the host of heaven cannot be counted, and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.’” Each one of us needs to answer this question for ourselves.   Do we believe that Elohim will provide? Considering our father in the faith, Abraham, we see that he definitely believed that Elohim will provide. We pick up the account of Abraham, after YHVH told him to take his only son Isaac and go and offer him as a sacrifice to Him. Even though Abraham believed that Isaac would be the sacrifice, Isaac assumed that they would find a lamb to sacrifice. So Isaac walked hand in hand with his father Abraham up the mountain, to go and offer a lamb as sacrifice to their Elohim.  Imagine how sad Abraham must have felt slowly climbing to the top of the mountain with his only son whom YHVH gave him and Sarah in their old age, to now have to sacrifice him to YHVH his Elohim.  It took three days for Abraham’s party to arrive at the top of the mountain.  We read the account from Genesis 22: 5 – 8, in this way: ‘And Abraham said to his young men (the servants who came with them), “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship and return to you.” (6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked together. (7) And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (8) And Abraham said, “Elohim will provide for Himself the Lamb for a burnt offering, my son. (The Revised Standard Version more correctly reads: “Elohim will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”) So the two of them walked on together.’  This is the first clue of how the rest of the account will play out, but it also tells us about the great faith that father Abraham had in Elohim. Abraham absolutely believed; that whatever happens, Elohim will provide.

Upon reaching the required location, Abraham laid down his gear and started building the altar for the sacrifice. Next he laid out wood and then took hold of Isaac and began binding him on the altar. After binding his son, Abraham in obedience to YHVH raised the knife to kill his only son Isaac. However, as he was about to slay his son an angel of YHVH called to him from heaven, as we read from Genesis 22: 11 & 12, saying: “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” (12) And he said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear Elohim, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me.” At that point Abraham passed his greatest test of faith in YHVH, as Rav Shaul aptly explains in Romans 4: 16 & 17, as follows: ‘For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law (meaning our Jewish Brothers), but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (17) (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU’) in the sight of Him whom he believed, even Elohim, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.’ It is faith of this magnitude that inspired Rav Shaul to write that Abraham is the father of the faithful, as witnessed in verses 12 and 16 (already quoted).

Abraham’s bond with YHVH our Elohim was so close that YHVH referred to him as His friend, as witnessed in Isaiah 41: 8, in this way: “But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend.” The reason why YHVH called Abraham His friend is because of the personal relationship which Abraham had with Him; the fact that Abraham never argued, but immediately did as he was told by YHVH. Yahshua similarly view those of us who obey His commands, as His friends, as He said in John 15: 14 &15, as follows: “You are My friends, if you do what I command you. (15) No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”  Faith is a prerequisite to pleasing Elohim as witnessed in Hebrews 11: 6, in this way: ‘And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Elohim must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.’ We read further from Hebrews 11:  8 – 10 and 17 – 19, ‘By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. (9) By faith he lived as an alien in  the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; (10) for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is Elohim. (17) 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 (of Yahshua).’  

Let’s therefore continue by considering Abraham’s faith from these three perspectives:

• Abraham’s calling: In Genesis 12: 1 – 4, we read: ‘Now YHVH said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; (2) And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; (3) And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (4) So Abram went forth as YHVH had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.’ Abram did not argue with YHVH or try to find an excuse to stay with his family, but obeyed YHVH and left immediately. Abram’s faith is to be understood in relation to his obedience. His immediate obedience proved his faith and as a result it justified him, as Rav Yaa’cov (James) wrote in James 2: 22 – 23, in this way: ‘You see that faith was working with his (Abram before his name was changed to Abraham) works , and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; (23) and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED ELOHIM, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of Elohim.’  Hebrews 11: 8 informs us that Abraham went out to obey Elohim, without knowing where he was going. It is important for us whom YHVH has called at this time, to be first fruits among His creatures as witnessed in James 1: 18[1], to understand that if Abraham lived by sight and not by faith, he would never have obeyed Elohim’s call to go into a foreign land. Similarly after our calling we have to rely totally on YHVH and His word, since at that time we are also not 100% sure of our destination.

• Another component of Abraham’s obedience is obvious in his sojourning; he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob (Hebrews 11: 9). Most of us prefer to have a permanent stable home to live in, but like Abraham we should be aware that our citizenship is reserved in a city not build by human hands and that this life is only temporary.

• Finally Elohim tested Abraham’s unconditional faith by requiring him to offer up his only son as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed YHVH without any reservation, and as a result Elohim blessed his descendants both spiritually and physically, as we read from Genesis 22: 15 - 18 , as follows: ‘Then the angel of YHVH called to Abraham a second time from heaven, (16) and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares YHVH, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, (17) indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. (18) And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” It is important for us to realize that Abraham and Sarah had Isaac at a very old age and it was a tremendous blessing for them to have a child beyond childbearing age.  When YHVH commanded Abraham to offer up Isaac he must have realized that this could be his last opportunity to ever have children. However, he remembered that YHVH promised him that he would multiply him exceedingly, so Abraham believed that Elohim is able to raise Isaac up again, even if he should kill him. We see that Abraham called the name of that place, YHVH WILL PROVIDE (YHVH Yirah).

YHVH requires those whom He calls during this lifetime, to like Abraham believe in both the resurrection of the dead and the coming Kingdom of Elohim. We need to recall Rav Yaa’cov’s teaching in James 2: 17, in this way: ‘Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.’  Works that result from obedience, prove our faith.  If we like Abraham believe that Elohim exists and that He rewards those who seek Him, we will be rewarded for translating our faith into works of righteousness; i.e. doing Torah.  Do we like Abraham believe that YHVH will provide?  Soon our Master and Savior will return to establish the kingdom of Elohim in Jerusalem. If we remain faithful He will reward us, as He promised in Matthew 24: 44 - 47, as follows: ‘For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. (45) Who then is the faithful sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? (46) Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. (47) Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.’  Amein!

 

[1] James 1: 18, ‘In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.’