Well, we are glad to be with you and we are ready to get started on a new study once again. And it’s in the Kingdom arena. And we talked the last couple weeks about the Kingdom message and the Kingdom Yahweh wants to establish through us — through Messiah and we are the body of the Messiah.

And so, He’s going to establish that through us. And we talked about taking ground from the enemy. We talked last week the importance of seeking a vision for our walk. And then, we’re going to talk this week about our spiritual gifts.

And so, our study title is “Discovering our Spiritual Gifts for the Kingdom.” For the “Kingdom,” that’s the key word. There are people who have gifts, but they’re not from Yahweh necessarily or maybe they are but they are being misused to establish the kingdom of Yahweh’s enemy; the kingdom of this world.

We want to use Yahweh’s gifts He provides for us through Messiah to establish His Kingdom and to subdue the land we live in for Him.

So, how do we find our gifts? How do we understand? How can we find what our gifts are? Well first, we need to talk about a few other things first. We’ll get to that.

But I want to do just a real brief, once over, on our previous two studies which, you know, cover the purposes for why we’re created. Why we’re here; what’s our purpose. Yahweh doesn’t make junk. He doesn’t make things for no reason. He did not set us in a glass case and say “ahh, look at the beautiful thing I made.” He has us doing things.

We are called to be busy for Him. And making disciples of all nations and teaching them to observe all things Yahweh commands us.

So, we need a vision to motivate us, to accomplish His purposes for our creation. Laying up spiritual treasures in Heaven that we might have in store for us an awesome spiritual retirement program. It’s out of this world, and it’s gonna be really awesome.

Anyway, so when Yahweh created Adam and Eve, He said “do something,” “tend the garden, keep it, be fruitful, multiply.” We are a new creation in Messiah. He’s calling us to also take dominion over the earth, to subdue the earth. To bring it into subjection to the Father of Lights. To tend the spiritual harvest; the garden of Yahweh. To keep it.

And to be fruitful in our activities and to multiply. Do we see a connection between Genesis and our Kingdom mandate given to us by Messiah? He said He is all power in Heaven and earth is given to Him. He is the One who’s in authority.

And so now that we understand the vision we are to engage in accomplishing a goal; there are individual callings, individual things that He’s calling each person to do. What are some of the gifts He has given us to make it possible for us to accomplish the vision He places in our Hearts? Now Yahweh has given each of us talents, gifts, abilities.

We don’t all have the same functions. But we’re all trying to walk out Yahweh’s specific intended purposes for our lives individually. And then collectively, together as a body, we end up accomplishing great exploits for our King. The Commander in Chief, right? Ultimately, we are all happiest doing what we’re created to do.

You pull a duck out of the water, he’s just not going to be happy. You pull a fish out of the water, he’s really going to be unhappy. We’re created to do certain things and we’re not really gonna be happy unless we’re doing what we’re created to do.

So, what role do you have in taking dominion? What specific thing has he called you to do individually? We know Paul was called to go to the gentiles. And Yahweh directed the lives of Yahushua’s disciples to go different places proclaiming Yahweh’s word wherever they went.

Every single one of us though have a calling to love Yahweh and to love our fellow man. And the gifts that Yahweh gives us are important mechanisms through which Yahweh loves the world by His Spirit. If we use these talents, these gifts that Yahweh gives us for His glory, we will lay up treasures for us in Heaven and Yahweh will be with us.

But, if we just ignore the needs of the people around us and go on about our business, doing our own thing, burying our talent in the sand; He calls us wicked and lazy servants. Cut and dry, can’t get around it.

And so, we need to be using our spiritual gifts. It has every bit as much to do with obeying Torah — with fulfilling Torah — with obeying His word as keeping Sabbath or feast days. You never want to be out of balance or too overly focused on one thing and all you ever want to talk about is the feast. All you want to talk about is the name.

All you want to talk about is the Sabbath. You never want to get in that one spot and just kind of stick in that one thing and ignore the rest of the word. We want the fullness of Messiah to flow through us . . . not just little parts of Him. We want all His goodness; we want a part of that.

Now, even in what’s called “Old Testament Times,” Israel, who was commanded to keep the feasts, there was at least one time, maybe two, where He said “I cannot stand your festivals.” “I hate ’em, I hate your feasts.” And He was talking about the feasts He commanded them to keep.

In Isaiah chapter 1 in verse 13 He says:

Isaiah 1:13 – Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies — I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.

14 – Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing [them].

15 – When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.

What did He say, two things together in the same spot, “iniquity and the sacred meeting.” He cannot stand when both are going on at the same time. So, what was their iniquity? Now some have said these are the pagan days;

but there are other places where Yahweh refers to His festivals, He says, In the Torah, he says “these are your feasts, I’m giving them to you.” “They’re my feasts, but I’m giving them to you.”

So it is talking about the “new moons, the “appointed feasts,” and He doesn’t like the “Sabbath’s” either. He says, “my soul hates them, they are a trouble to me, I’m weary of bearing them.” Is it wrong to spread out our hands? No. Is it right for us to pray? Of course we should pray.

Of course we should keep new moons and feasts and the Sabbaths. He says “your hands ARE FULL OF BLOOD.” Your hands are full of blood. Doesn’t want anything to do with their hands being spread out to Him. What does He say?

Isaiah 1:16 – Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,

17 – Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

18 – Come now, and let us reason together, Says YAHWEH, Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:19 – If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;

Seek justice, learn to do good, rebuke the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. Notice here, all you have to do in order to be in this category is to do nothing . . . all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing; as they say.

They weren’t defending the fatherless, they weren’t pleading for the cause of the widow, and rebuking the ones who were oppressing. They were just sitting back, watching all the evil go on and doing nothing.

And that’s all we need to do is nothing; for our feasts, for our Sabbaths and our prayers and everything to be too difficult for Yahweh to bear.

The sins He’s talking about are the “do-nothing” believers; the “sit back and watch the world go by” believers. Not defending the fatherless, not pleading for widows, not rebuking oppressors, not seeking justice in the land.

So, wow. He’s not against festivals. He’s just against festivals when there’s all this neglect going on. The body of Messiah and the world we live in is full of needs. Just look around you, pay attention.

And maybe you think “well, you know, the fatherless and the widow . . . check that concern off because we’ve got social security, we got welfare.”

They kind of take care of the fatherless through our tax dollars. Ummm, okay. The truth is . . . sometimes they don’t take care of them. The truth is government’s are only going to hand them cash; a little bit at that. And what they really need, what they really need is love . . . spiritual guidance.

Yeah, they need physical needs but the governments not going to give them that. The body of Messiah is to be the one that this world looks to. Because the truth is, Yahushua is the only one who can solve their problems.

Yahushua lamented that the goats did not care for their neighbor in providing for others because they’re too self-centered. They saw Yahushua was hungry, they saw He was . . . but they didn’t care. Because they did not do it to the least of them.

And so, it’s important that we understand that every single one of us are called to ministry in some fashion. You may not speak behind a microphone, you may not run an assembly, you may not be an elder; but nobody is a pew warmer. . . just a warm body that happens to be traveling in a congregation — getting fed and walking away.

That is a Catholic model. That is the false model in Catholicism. Yahweh’s model is that we are all important parts of the body of Messiah. Important part of ministry to the world. Anyone who has a ministry in building up the body of Messiah, I commend you. You are taking ground for Yahweh.

But I want to show you something very interesting here from the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 23, verse 5, it says:

Jeremiah 23:5 – Behold, [the] days are coming, says YAHWEH, That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

6 – In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this [is] His name by which He will be called: YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

So Messiah will be called “Yahweh our Righteousness.” Now look at Jeremiah 33, verse 15:

Jeremiah 33:15 – `In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

16 – In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this [is the name] by which she will be called: YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’

And so both the Messiah and the city will be called in Hebrew, “Yahweh Tsedechenu.”

Then He says, Revelation 21, verse 9 . . . fast forward a few hundred years:

Revelation 21:9 – Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

10 – And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from Elohim,

11 – having the glory of Elohim. Her light [was] like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

Here’s the bride, okay, here’s the body of Messiah that’s what you’re expecting. The city is the bride? Yes, the city is the bride. “She” is called “Yahweh Tsedechenu.” But who are we?

Revelation 21:12 – Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

13 – three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 – Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

And so, the twelve apostles are the foundations and we are building upon their foundation as we minister to the world. And we are “Yahweh Tsedechenu” because Messiah dwells in us and we are one spirit with Him.

1Corinthians 6:16 – Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body [with her]? For the two, He says, shall become one flesh.

17 – But he who is joined to the Master is one spirit [with Him].

So we are one spirit with Messiah, 1 Corinthians 6, 16 and 17.

Now seeing that connection, look at Ephesians 2:19-22

Ephesians 2:19 – Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of Elohim,

20 – having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yahushua Messiah Himself being the chief [cornerstone],

21 – in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in Yahweh,

Ephesians 2:22 – in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of Elohim in the Spirit.

That’s the twelve foundations.

We are the Holy temple in the city of Yerushalayim. Now therefore, when we read these things . . . WE are the city, WE are Yerushalayim because Messiah is married to the land. He’s married to the land . . . and we are that land He’s married to because we are created from the dust of the earth.

And so, in light of that, where we have, within the body of Messiah, different areas of the body of Messiah that have not yet been perfected to the measure of Messiah; that is a piece of ground, that is a piece of Yerushalayim that needs to be subdued and have dominion given over to Yahweh.

Now we already know that those who are outside of Yerushalayim are the dogs, the sorcerers, the wicked . . . you know in the age to come. And that’s a little picture of what’s going on now. There are those in the body of Messiah who are lacking.

They’re a part of the body of Messiah, but there’s parts of Yerushalayim right now that because we’re not yet glorified beings, we’re waiting for perfection to come. And we want to take ground within Yerushalayim, within the city and make sure that ground is yielded to the Father.

We see a connection between these three things because we are created from the dust of the earth. We require a continuous supply of vitamins and nutrients out of the earth in order for us to survive physically.

And so, when we offer up our members, when we say “I’m giving this part of my heart to Him, totally, completely . . . I’m yielding to Him,” what we’re doing is we’re taking ground for Yahweh within our own hearts and for the city of Yerushalayim. For the body of Messiah. And for Messiah to be glorified. He’s not glorified in our sin.

But if there are parts of our members that were formerly yielded to the enemy, we’ve made a decision now to give them to Yahweh. We’re going to use our members as instruments of righteousness. Then we are taking ground from the enemy.

It says:

Romans 6:12 – Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

13 – And do not present your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to Elohim as being alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to Elohim.

So as we grow in our walk with Yahweh, and we become more like Messiah every single day. By doing that we’re taking dominion over the earth. Just as Adam was called to do, to subdue and take dominion. You’ve got to subdue and take dominion over the earthly, carnal nature that we have and cause it to be yielded to the King of Kings.

And by doing that, build up a spiritual dwelling place for the presence of Yahweh so that we might be Yahweh Tsedechenu. A representation of Yahweh’s righteousness; the Holy dwelling place of the King.

Now there are mysteries here concerning the Messiah and the Assembly. But what I want to relay here is a concept and how this concept of the Messiah and the Assembly translates to the Kingdom mandate. We’re taking ground.

If we’re doing something to edify the body of the Messiah; whether it’s our husband — our wife — our children — our friends — or our family members who may be believers. We are bringing the body of Messiah and we are taking ground away from the enemy and we’re causing this part of the body of Messiah to now be yielded and under Yahweh’s dominion.

But we don’t learn it all in one day. You know, when we first come into the body of Messiah you might think “well a brand new believer, he has so much to learn.” When does he become accepted? He becomes accepted right away.

He becomes accepted immediately even though He’s not perfected because the blood of Yahushua Messiah cleanses us from all sin. Still, there may be areas of his life, there is areas of his life that he’s not yet yielded to the Father; either through ignorance or just the process.

And so, we need to look at each other and say “let’s edify each other.” Our ministry is not just about bringing people in to be converts. It’s about discipling those we bring in. So many times, somebody will give their lives to Yahushua and because there’s a lack of support from the body of Messiah, they get weak and they fall away.

Sometimes, people who are in the body of Messiah will cause a little one to stumble. But anyway, we need to find ways to edify each other. To care about each other with shoe leather . . . not just words. Serve each other, edify each other so that we’re able to better reach those within the body of Messiah.

And the more purified the body of Messiah is, the more attractive that is to the unbeliever; and the less they’re going to point the finger and say “hypocrite, hypocrite, hypocrite.”

See, if the body of Messiah was more of a place where someone was always available to help one who was in need; if it was always a place of healing; a place to serve and be served; to love and be loved . . . who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Who wouldn’t want that? It’s what the world needs.

And so I wanted to lay this foundation of how important it is that we as believers serve one another. Take ground, not only the outsiders, but we take ground within our own hearts. We take ground in the body of Messiah. And yes, we take ground in our ministry toward unbelievers. And that’s where the gifts come in and the callings that we have.

We need to understand what a gift is. What is a spiritual gift? The word in the Greek for “gift” is “charisma.” You’ve heard of the “charismatic;” it’s from “charisma.” But the word “charisma” is rooted in this Greek word “charis” from which we get “grace.”

So the word “grace” and the word “gift” are sister words. And then the word “grace” actually is rooted in the word “chairo” which means “to rejoice.” And so, gifts and grace and rejoicing are all interconnected.

Now all of us have been given gifts . . . every single one of us. In fact, there’s at least several gifts that everybody’s got whose a part of the body of Messiah. And that is this:

Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of Elohim,

9 – not of works, lest anyone should boast.

So the very first gift that we get from Yahweh is freely given. Not of our own selves, that we can brag about it and say “look what I’ve earned,” it’s not of our own works — not because we did this, we did that, therefore we deserve — not because we obeyed this.

It’s because He, in response to our repentance and our faith in Messiah, is willing to grant us a free gift of grace and that is a gift. And the two words are related: grace and gift.

In Acts 2:38:

Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Yahushua Messiah for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What will happen? You’re gonna receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

So grace is a gift and Yahweh’s spirit is a gift given to the repentant believers in Messiah Yahushua. I could tell you, when you go to a Baptism, are part of the Baptism I know there’s always joy because Luke 15:10:

Luke 15:10 – Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of Elohim over one sinner who repents.

I know when I got baptized it was like the windows of Heaven opened up. My prayers suddenly came easy. I had never, as an unbeliever, felt so clean and so new and so loved by our Father.

And I knew at that time, I mean, I got baptized and went back to the house where we were at; I knew at that time He had a plan . . . He had a vision for me — something He wanted me to do. I didn’t even know what it was. I just knew He had something for me to do. He had called me into His service.

And I say this because everyone who comes to faith in Messiah; He has a plan and a vision for your life. You may not understand everything it entails, that’s alright; but He does have something for you. And some of you might not even know what you feel like He’s called you to do.

I mean, maybe you don’t feel like even doing what you think He may call you to do. I know when I first read that James passage about those who were teachers are stricter judgment; I’ll pass on the teacher part of it, I’m sure. He convinced me to do it.

And Moshe, Moses kept telling Yahweh “I’m slow of speech, I’m not eloquent and maybe you should send somebody else by the hand of whom you send” Yahweh. Even Yahushua himself:

Matthew 26:37 – And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

38 – Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.

39 – He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You [will].

He was a prophet like unto Moshe. He didn’t want to have to go through this. So ultimately His will was to not have the cup pass from Him if the Father had willed that it would not pass from Him. So there was no rebellion in His heart.

But there was an expression here of His own will which was He did not want to have to go through this. He wanted to see if there is some other way Yahweh could allow it to happen. But, He was willing to do it because He loves His Father and because He loves us.

Now, our calling . . . there may be things in it you may not feel like doing in whatever Yahweh’s called you to do. Just because you don’t feel like it doesn’t mean He hasn’t called you to it. If He gives you clear direction this is what He wants from you and you feel like Jonah; you can’t run away from it.

You’d better heed His call. He’ll chase you down till you do. Or until you fall away from Him; one or the other. But our calling individually is part of a grand vision Yahweh has for everyone. But the gifts of Yahweh that He gives us are what enables us to walk out the vision . . . the plan He has for us.

So we have the “calling” and then we have the “gifts.” And if we have a vision or a calling and we know what that is, we seek that gift that would better able or cause us to carry out that vision or that calling. You know, if we don’t think we have a particular gift, we can actually ask Yahweh for it.

We can ask Yahweh “give me this gift of . . .” Moshe did not have the gift of speaking; but by the end, He was doing a pretty good job of it. So, not only that, we can ask someone who has that gift even and ask them to lay hands on us and impart that gift to us. We saw that going on in the 1st century here. In Romans 1:9:

Romans 1:9 – For Elohim is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,

10 – making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of Elohim to come to you.

11 – For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established —

Romans 1:12 – that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

And so, he wanted to see them because he wanted to impart to them the spiritual gifts that he had. I’m not just talking tongues. Whenever someone thinks spiritual gifts, they always think about tongues because that’s the charismatic movement; kinda puts that in their frame of mind. That’s not the only gift; there’s a lot of other gifts.

And maybe one of the least of all is tongues; but we’ll get to that in a minute. So we can, actually come to one another and receive spiritual gifts from one another as a body of Messiah. Look what happen with Timothy here.

In 1st Timothy 4:12 it says:

1Timothy 4:12 – Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

13 – Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14 – Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

He had a gift . . . he said don’t neglect it. So the elders here had imparted to Timothy some spiritual gifts. And he was told not to neglect those gifts.

Now every one of us have been given gifts . . . everybody. You, me, all of us in the body of Messiah; besides the basics, have been given gifts.

Because,

Ephesians 4:9 – (Now this, He ascended — what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

10 – He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

11 – And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

Ephesians 4:9 – (Now this, He ascended — what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

10 – He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

11 – And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

Everybody. If you don’t know whether or not you have Yahweh’s spirit dwelling in you. If you want Yahweh’s spirit dwelling in you, all you got to do is ask.

In Luke 11, verse 11, Yahushua said:

Luke 11:11 – If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if [he asks] for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?

12 – Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 – If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!

You ever ask Him for it? Not saying you don’t unless you’ve asked. But, you ever asked Yahweh for the Holy Spirit? If you haven’t . . . do it, ask Him. He says, He will do it.

And so, Yahweh’s spirit doesn’t necessarily have to be imparted in such a way through the laying on of hands. In fact, in Acts 10, verse 44, it says:

Acts 10:44 – While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

45 – And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

46 – For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify Elohim. Then Peter answered,

Acts 10:47 – Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we [have]?

It’s talking about Gentiles here. So all they were doing was believing what Peter was saying. And while Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard this word . . . this faith. In that case, didn’t even ask for it.

So there are instances where the spirit will come upon us and we don’t even ask for it, We just believe. And there are instances where it will come upon us when we do ask for it. And then there are instances when the spirit will come upon us when someone lay’s hands on us. And there are examples of all 3 methods all throughout scripture.

Even in what’s called “the Old Testament.”

For instance, the gift of artistic abilities is found in Exodus chapter 28, verse 1:

Exodus 28:1 – Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron [and] Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

2 – And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.

3 – So you shall speak to all [who are] gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.

Okay, so here’s the spirit of wisdom that He imparted to them. Did they have someone lay hands on them? Did they ask? They just got it? Maybe they asked, I don’t know.

We see another example in Exodus 31.

Exodus 31:2 – See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

3 – And I have filled him with the Spirit of Elohim, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all [manner of] workmanship,

4 – to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze,

Exodus 31:5 – in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all [manner of] workmanship.

And so these artistic abilities were evidence of Yahweh’s spirit being placed in Bezaleel. And back here (referring back in Exodus 28) in others as well.

And so, Yahweh’s spirit was placed in, believe it or not, the “Old Testament” believers. It wasn’t a new thing. It’s a unique manifestation in what’s called “New Testament” times. But we see here, the artistic abilities were evidence of the spirit of wisdom and understanding.

Wisdom and understanding were gifts of the spirit that Yahweh placed in the minds of these men to accomplish something in a time period. A purpose for which Yahweh had established them. Now the same can be true of us. Yahweh can fill us with a natural born, natural born in the spirit . . . or even just overall the way He’s made our minds.

An artistic ability that can be used to accomplish something for Him in our time period. Painting, graphic design or music. Music is a type of art as well. And we know the temple of Yahweh had singers. They had people who were there for that purpose. 1 Chronicles 15:27:

1Chronicles 15:27 – David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master [with] the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.

He’s called the “music master,” this fellow here, Chenaniah. Now why was he the music master? Because it was evident he had the gift of music because he was skilled.

In 1 Chronicles, 15:22:

1Chronicles 15:22 – Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor [in charge of] the music, because he [was] skillful;

Evidence that Yahweh had placed in him this gift. And actually, these gifts can run in families. Like the sons of Asaph. The list of those coming back from Babylon, it says:

Ezra 2:41 – The singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred and twenty-eight.

So, as believers in Yahushua, Yahweh has given each of us spiritual gifts. Some gifts are plain, evident to see . . . we don’t have to wonder what they are. Others are more hidden. Others, we have to pursue. But we have to, in order to attain greater and greater gifts in the spirit, we have to lay aside conformity to the world,

and be willing to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. And be willing to present our members, as the bodies of Messiah, as instruments through which He can accomplish dominion over the earth.

In Romans Chapter 12, verse 1, it says:

Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Elohim, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Elohim, [which is] your reasonable service.

2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of Elohim.

It’s only by the renewing of our mind. Whether that will of Elohim is how we understand His word, or how we understand His specific will of Elohim for our specific life. Because our obedience is not just consisting of walking out commandments, but there are certain callings He places upon us by His spirit.

Certain leading He has for each one of us that we need to obey as well. Something the spirit would open our minds to in terms of serving that we need to be willing to obey every bit as much as any commandment that happened to be found in the word of Yahweh. And he goes on to say:

Romans 12:3 – For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as Elohim has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

4 – For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,

5 – so we, [being] many, are one body in Messiah, and individually members of one another.

So everyone, don’t think too highly of yourself because you happen to have either more knowledge about the will of Elohim, or more knowledge concerning what He’s called you to do and what you’re able to walk out.

Romans 12:6 – Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, [let us use them]: if prophecy, [let us prophesy] in proportion to our faith;

7 – or ministry, [let us use it] in [our] ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;

8 – he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

And so He’s calling these things “gifts.” And He’s named several of these; in fact there’s seven of them mentioned here:

Prophecy;

Ministry;

Exhortation;

Giving;

Leading / Administration;

Mercy;

He who shows mercy with cheerfulness. Here are, in our scriptures, seven spiritual gifts that we can receive as believers in Messiah by His spirit. Alright, so the seven spiritual gifts.

Now, we don’t all have the same gifts; but most of us will have more than one gift. But we don’t all have the same gifts.

So what are some other spiritual gifts? We can see some more of those in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, it says:

1Corinthians 12:1 – Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

2 – You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

3 – Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of Elohim calls Yahushua accursed, and no one can say that Yahushua is Master except by the Holy Spirit.

1Corinthians 12:4 – There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 – There are differences of ministries, but the same Master.

6 – And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same Elohim who works all in all.

And so there are different ministries in the body of Messiah, different activities; but it’s all from Yahweh’s spirit. And we can rejoice in all of them.

1Corinthians 12:7 – But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit [of all]:

8 – for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 – to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

1Corinthians 12:10 – to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another [different] kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

We talked about this earlier. Yahweh had imparted to the artisans, this wisdom, this knowledge with the same spirit. Alright, so we can add these gifts here to the list.

We’ve got:

The Word of Wisdom;

The Word of knowledge;

Faith . . . that one’s interesting to me, that faith would actually be a gift. We’ve got some people that just have an inordinate unusual amount of faith. They seem like they can move mountains with the gifts that Yahweh gives them with faith.

Gifts of healings;

Miracle working;

Discerning spirits;

Varieties of tongues;

Interpretation of tongues;

So, then we have some more here, later on in 1 Corinthians 12 which we’re going to cover that chapter here in a minute.

1Corinthians 12:28 – And Elohim has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

29 – [Are] all apostles? [Are] all prophets? [Are] all teachers? [Are] all workers of miracles?

30 – Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

1Corinthians 12:31 – But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

We’ve already mentioned gifts of healing, and teachers and prophets and miracles; but, we haven’t mentioned helps. We have mentioned leading / administrations.

So, we go back to our list here, there was the Apostles which we didn’t mention before. The one’s who were sent out, the word “Apostle” means one sent. And then there’s helps.

Apostles (sent ones);

Helps;

So there are the gifts that Yahweh gives us. What do each of these gifts mean? How do we apply them?

For instance “helps.” I’ve seen this a lot in my ministry. Someone for just some reason, everywhere you go, they’re sitting there offering to help you. I see that in some people. Other people . . . not so much.

Other people, they’re really focused on caring for the lives of others. They hear of somebody who is hurting, mercy just flows out of them. There are other people who have this premonition, they can discern spirits; they understand what’s going on in the spiritual realm. They can relate to you what’s happening. That’s a gift from Yahweh.

Other people are focused on giving. They’re always ready, if somebody is in financial trouble or Yahweh’s blessed them with finances; they’re out there willing to give. And usually that giving, also it translates not just monetarily, but in other areas. You know, if you need a hand with something.

Other people are good leaders; they’re fit for the position. So there are different unique characteristics in the body of Messiah that Yahweh wants to use among us.

So what we need to do, is we need to find out, where is our gift? And what is our gift? How do we find that gift? First of all, we’ve already talked about being willing to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, submitting ourselves . . . our members as offering a living sacrifice to Yahweh. But the very purpose of our gifts is very important.

Why do we have them? What’s the purpose of them? You know, so many of us . . . we fail to understand that our gifts are not for glorifying a ministry. They’re not for patting each other on the back. The purpose of our gifts is to express love . . . that’s the purpose of it. So, we have to have that as our foundation . . . we have to express love.

Now, how do we know which gift we’ve been given? How can we tell whether we’re given one gift or another gift? When we are, first of all, motivated by love and we cry out to Yahweh in prayer “Yahweh what is my gift?” “How do you want to use me?” “I’m opening myself to you.”

“I’m willing to yield my members as instruments of righteousness to do exploits for you.” Then take a step forward to minister and serve. When the opportunity presents itself . . . I’m telling you, Yahweh will reveal to you what your gift is. I can’t tell you what it is. But Yahweh will reveal your gift to you.

Sometimes Yahweh will use other people to speak to you and say “you know, you have a real gift in this;” and by that, you’ll realize, “you’re right, I do have that, I guess I do have that.”

And so, what we need to do, first of all, we need to look around and say okay, there are areas in the body of Messiah other people are seeming to overlook. We’re seeing this go on in the body and it’s prompting something in our hearts. In fact, maybe some of us are looking at the body of Messiah and we’re saying “wow, there’s this going on,

I really hate to see this going on. It just gnaws at me, I just don’t understand why people don’t see this as being important.” It’s easy to sit back and be the armchair believer. The guy to sit back and criticize, point fingers. “Ah that person over there, you know.” “That person this is that, they don’t understand,” and get all puffed up.

Stick your chest out and act like you’re superior. But rather than criticizing the way things are, whether it’s in the world or in the body of Messiah; why don’t you get up off your hind end and go do something about it? Why don’t you just go and do what you can to resolve the problem, whatever it might be?

Now you got to be careful because we can’t be motivated by bitterness and anger. I’ve no doubt, I’ve seen . . . and I’m not going to say who they are. I’ve seen whole ministries that are completely devoted to one topic and it’s out of balance and very judgmental about certain belief and practice.

It was very evident based on the tone of everything that was being taught, there was bitterness there. I don’t know if it was an attempt to get back at Christians who have hurt them in the past. They’re gonna try to condemn and shame them. But, if our motivation is that we’re angry, and we’re upset and we’re bitter; that’s not from Yahweh’s spirit.

And so, don’t do anything out of that. But I am saying, when you see a need in the body of Messiah, when you see a need in this world today, let your motivation be to bring love into that. Then out of love reach out to that other person, to another individual, to a congregation, to the world . . . reach out.

And by the things you share, let that be an inspiration to others to take what you’re saying or what you’re doing into practice. Let it be born out of Yahweh’s leading and not out of anger and bitterness; that’s a dangerous thing. This is all part, brothers of fulfilling Yahweh’s law is to love.

Romans 13:8 – Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

And so love is the motive here.

Romans 12:6 – Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, [let us use them]: if prophecy, [let us prophesy] in proportion to our faith;

7 – or ministry, [let us use it] in [our] ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;

8 – he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:9 – [Let] love [be] without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

If you’re gonna point out some areas in the body of Messiah that need fixing, fix it in yourself.

Romans 12:10 – [Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

11 – not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving YAHWEH;

12 – rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Romans 12:13 – distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

14 – Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:15 – Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

16 – Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 – Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

Romans 12:18 – If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

This is a hard one for me here “associate with the humble.”

Romans 12:19 – Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance [is] Mine, I will repay, says YAHWEH.

20 – Therefore If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.

21 – Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

That’s a lovely, lovely chapter, Romans 12.

And so with the gifts that we are given, these things that are supposed to bring about rejoicing, we realize that we can actually rejoice in our differences. Now I’m not talking about tolerating wrong in each other; but we can rejoice in our diversity. And that this brother over here is doing that, this brother over here is doing this,

this brother over here is doing the other. We can rejoice in those things, because there is:

1Corinthians 12:11 – But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

12 – For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also [is] Messiah.

13 – For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

1Corinthians 12:14 – For in fact the body is not one member but many.

So rejoice in our diversity.

1Corinthians 12:15 – If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?

16 – And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?

17 – If the whole body [were] an eye, where [would be] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [would be] the smelling?

1Corinthians 12:18 – But now Elohim has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

Just because you’re not a teacher doesn’t mean you have no gifts. Just because you’re not a minister doing baptisms and doing different things doesn’t mean you have no gifts. Verse 16 is a rhetorical question.

1Corinthians 12:19 – And if they were all one member, where [would] the body [be]?

20 – But now indeed [there are] many members, yet one body.

21 – And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

1Corinthians 12:22 – No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

23 – And those [members] of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable [parts] have greater modesty,

24 – but our presentable [parts] have no need. But Elohim composed the body, having given greater honor to that [part] which lacks it,

1Corinthians 12:25 – that there should be no schism in the body, but [that] the members should have the same care for one another.

26 – And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with [it]; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with [it].

You know, at our festival every year that we host, there are some who are teaching and there are some who are wiping the tables. And to those who are wiping the tables I say “Yahweh bless you,” and we should bestow greater honor. And those who are cleaning the bathrooms,

those who are sweeping the floor or those who are doing the tasks that may seem to be more mundane we should bestow a greater honor because we are all one body. It doesn’t matter the task. The important thing is not so much what task are you doing; the important thing is you are doing it.

You’re part of the body; you’re functioning as part of the body. I’m not just saying the only time you can function as part of the body is at a festival. I am saying together we can look at each other and we’re all equals. We’re just all equals. There’s one Master, Yahushua Messiah and He’s the head . . . He’s the one we’re all looking to.

We’re just exercising, each of us . . . our gifts. And we can rejoice in that.

1Corinthians 12:27 – Now you are the body of Messiah, and members individually.

28 – And Elohim has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

29 – [Are] all apostles? [Are] all prophets? [Are] all teachers? [Are] all workers of miracles?

1Corinthians 12:30 – Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

31 – But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

He goes on to list these, and we read this earlier. It’s okay, seek after the best gifts.

Now I want to tell you a story. There’s a man, he was undeniably a prophet. I mean, he understood amazing things, amazing mysteries that he could explain and expound on that would blow you away. His knowledge of Scripture was tremendous. When he prayed, I tell you what . . . you knew you were gonna get an answer when he prayed.

It seemed like he could just move mountains. And yet, in all of this he never took a single dime from anybody. In fact, he was poor and didn’t hardly own anything because everything he had he would give away. He would just live on the bare necessities. Well the time came when this guy became more and more and more hated.

They took him to the top of a mountain, his enemies, and they burned him a alive. Now, do you think that man I described to you will be in the kingdom? What if I told you “no?” No, he won’t be. He will not be among the saved. What if I told you that? Would you look at me and say “ah, that’s impossible?”

It’s impossible, what are you talking about? Well the man I’m describing to you is described in the next words just after the end of 1 Corinthians 12. We read about one who:

1Corinthians 13:1 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 – And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 – And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

You can speak with the tongues of men and angels and not have a bit of love in your heart. Powerful word here! We have to be motivated by love. What is love? In all of our gifts and the exercise of our gifts:

1Corinthians 13:4 – Love suffers long [and] is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 – does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6 – does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

1Corinthians 13:7 – bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

How could a believer rejoice in iniquity? Well, there are some people that when they hear of somebody who may have had some kind of error they’re like “yeah, that can make me feel make me look above them. As I sit next to them, I would seem to be superior to them.

And in their heart, they’re rejoicing in the iniquity of others so that they can give themselves a boost in their own lives. This is all heart issues brothers and sisters. These are heart issues. So don’t rejoice when you see a brother fall. Don’t rejoice when you hear of iniquity going on, in your heart.

There are some wicked things that can be hidden in the hearts of men. We’re called to long suffering, not parading ourselves, not being rude, not self-seeking; but, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. It goes on to talk about the gifts.

1Corinthians 13:8 – Love never fails. But whether [there are] prophecies, they will fail; whether [there are] tongues, they will cease; whether [there is] knowledge, it will vanish away.

9 – For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

10 – But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

1Corinthians 13:11 – When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 – For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 – And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these [is] love.

So your gifts are irrelevant and useless unless we love. Because the gifts are our expression of love to others.

Alright, so how do you know what gifts you have? Ask yourself: what do believers do or not do that concerns you . . . that disappoints you? Or you see may be causing others to fail. Or, what are the glaring needs in the body of Messiah? What are the glaring needs in the world today?

Now, what I’m going to say to you right now is not this end-all test; but it may help you get thinking in the right direction and maybe praying toward understanding what gifts Yahweh has called you to do.

If you’re concerned about the way the body of Messiah compromises with the world and commits sin, and you feel like you need to go and correct it, maybe you have the gift of prophecy. Maybe Yahweh has a word for you to share with others and you can share it. If the lack of completely sound doctrine concerns you a lot, maybe teachings your gift.

Or if you are concerned with a true lack of active serving in the body of Messiah, maybe your ministry is to minister and to serve. If you’re concerned about believers not growing to full maturity and being neglected, maybe you have the gift of exhortation.

If you’re concerned about the overall direction of the body of Messiah, and not having really any goals or leadership, maybe you have the gift of leading and organizing. Maybe what concerns you is a lack of understanding and mercy toward others and compassion.

Maybe you are the recipient of the gift of mercy through which that compassion could be expressed. If you see a lack of people giving as the scripture instructs us to give, and you tend to be the first one to offer financial help when others are in need, maybe you have the gift of giving. So, it’s not the only way to find out gift.

But, it is one way we can start looking toward that that end. We can use our callings to express our gifts.

To illustrate how these gifts are used and can compliment the body of Messiah, I want to share with you an example I learned from Bill Gothard. I went to a seminar he had and he shared something like this (this isn’t exact, I kind of modified it):

Suppose there is somebody in your local group or someone in the body of Messiah that you knew and they had gotten injured. Car accident injury of some kind. And there was a healthy body of Messiah, vibrant congregation in the local area.

I could picture or see where someone with the gift of serving and ministering would be like coming along and saying “well here’s a little gift, I brought your mail for you, I fed your dog, I watered your plants now I washed your dishes.”

Somebody with the gift of mercy might come along and say “I can’t begin to tell you how I felt when I learned you were injured. How are you feeling right now? Are you in pain? Are you hurting? That would be the gift of mercy.

Someone with this gift of organizing come along with leadership: don’t worry about a thing, I told your employer that you’re gonna be out; I scheduled a group of people to come take care of your home; and your garden . . . you’ll be fine.

Somebody with the gift of teaching might say “you know, I’ve done some research on your injury and I think I can explain exactly what’s happening, and the best way we can go about getting you healed as fast as possible.

Somebody with the gift of giving might say “do you have any insurance to cover your expenses, or any way I can help?”

Somebody with the gift of exhortation might say “Brother, how can we use what you’re learning through this trial to exhort others and help others in the future?” And sometimes prophecy and exhortation are mixed in.

And someone with the gift of prophecy might say “alright, what’s Yahweh trying to tell you through this . . . this injury here? Could be any areas maybe you need to kind of get right with Yahweh?” They may be real forward about it.

Brothers who are very forward about, you know, “hey you need to straighten up”; don’t discount them completely because they have a roll.

Now some of us may have portions of each one of those gifts. But imagine, one guy gets injured and all this service is just being poured out onto him. Isn’t that what we all need? Isn’t that what this world needs? Do we see how beautiful it can be when we all function as a healthy body of Messiah? I think it’s awesome!

But we all may have little parts of this gift here and there. In fact, in some capacities use all of these in some ways sometimes. It’s because Messiah is the one flowing through us. If someone’s not getting what they need, He may use us even if we don’t necessarily have that particular gift. To speak a word. To do something.

But we all typically have certain areas that we’re concentrated in. There could be other gifts. Not just the ones listed here in scripture. Paul thought it was a gift here in 1 Corinthians 7:7:

1Corinthians 7:7 – For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from Elohim, one in this manner and another in that.

What he was talking about was being single and not having a problem being single. He didn’t feel like he needed to get married. It’s not that we have to be narrow minded and everything has to fit these categories. We all may have certain gifts here and there. Don’t hold Yahweh back. I mean He has all kinds of things He can do through us.

So, but we recognize we have the differences there. Our differences don’t have to be points of contention or division. Yahushua’s in heaven and He wants to live out His glorified life through us. None of us are the whole man. But Yahushua in all his glory . . . we can not be as omnipresent; we can’t be Him.

But, we can all be a part of Him as the body. The main thing is that whatever gifts we have, we use them responsibly. I may talk next week about the intricacies of each gift and how to use those in a responsible manner. But, I’m praying about that.

We see here an exhortation from our brother Peter in 1 Peter 4:10, he says:

1Peter 4:10 – As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of Elohim.

11 – If anyone speaks, [let him speak] as the oracles of Elohim. If anyone ministers, [let him do it] as with the ability which Elohim supplies, that in all things Elohim may be glorified through Yahushua Messiah, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

So if you’ve got a gift be a good steward of it, use it. Okay, so I think Yahweh’s given me a teaching gift so I’m gonna make sure that I’m sharing the oracles here. That’s why I share a lot of scripture. There’s the gift of ministering and serving.

See if you speak, and don’t speak according to the oracles of Elohim, then it’s your own words that get glorified. If you minister and you’re not really doing it through the gifts that Yahweh gives, you’re just doing it out of your own volition or just whatever.

Then it’s just oh look how great you are doing something rather than “in all things, Elohim being glorified.”

If I started with only one or two scriptures in my scripture study and then never shared a single one the rest of the time, it’s all man’s words. I would feel like I’m not doing what He’s called me to do, which is to glorify Him and His word. So, if you are ministering do it with the ability with which He supplies you.

Sometimes what He supplies you with is not even our own natural abilities. I know . . . because I’m not much of a talker. Believe it or not, I’m a quiet person.

Alright, anyway, right along the same thread here, what is he saying:

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

17 – Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

18 – For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Matthew 5:19 – Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches [them], he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

If you were to think He destroyed the Law, you wouldn’t have any light at all. You’re saying well the law’s been extinguished, the light is now extinguished. Because His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Has all been fulfilled? Has Yahushua returned yet? Has He set up His kingdom yet? Are there sinners in the land still?

Yes, there is. What are these commandments? The commandments found right here in the law (pointing to verse 18). I’m goin’ for the great. I don’t know about you guys . . . I’m going for the great.

But brothers, there’s no coincidence here Yahushua spoke of the dangers of losing our flavor, of failing to be the light to the world and putting our lamp under a bowl. But right after that, He talks about “Don’t even think that I came to destroy the Torah.”

And so brothers and sisters, when we chose to walk as Yahushua walked, to keep Torah as He kept Torah, to live like He did; we chose to be that light of the world. But what good is that light of the world unless it shines in the dark place? It’s gotta shine in the dark place. We’re all in a very dark place.

We’re all in a dark place no matter where we live, we’re in a dark place. Don’t hide it out wherever you’re at, don’t hide it. I’m not saying it’s wrong to live in the country. But try to be prepared for the worst. It’s a good idea to know how to live without having to rely on Wal-Mart everyday.

But you know, if everybody leaves the cities, and no one returns again to minister to the lost, the hungry, the dying, the sick, the deceived, the prisoners, and we all sit in this lighted room together and do nothing but build up our own little utopias . . . we’re not being obedient. We’re not shining a light in the dark place.

We can’t expect the world to come running to us. Yahushua said “go, go therefore.” And He also said:

Luke 17:26 – And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:

27 – They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

28 – Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

Luke 17:29 – but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed [them] all.

30 – Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

31 – In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods [are] in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.

Luke 17:32 – Remember Lot’s wife.

33 – Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

For in that day He’s finally being revealed brothers, in all His Torah-keeping glory. Forget about your possessions brothers . . . forget about ’em. So if all we’re thinking about is saving our lives, and we don’t “go therefore,” we’re gonna lose it. We’re gonna lose it.

But if we’re willing to walk without fear, go out and love, use our gifts, pursue, understand and know what our gifts are, our callings are, and walkout whatever they might be. If you want to minister to the poor, want to minister to the fatherless, want to minister to those in nursing homes, to widows.

You want to minister to Christians who need to hear about Torah; you want to minister to believers in Messiah who have problematic marriages. Wherever you want to minister. There are so many needs. So, so many needs. So we need to walk without fear. One reason Yahushua hasn’t come back yet is because there’s still more souls to be won.

He waited for you, He waited for me . . . I’m glad He did. He’s waiting for someone else too. And we want Yahushua to come back to get your next door neighbor, maybe it’s somebody you meet at Wal-Mart. Maybe it’s one of your family members; but He’s waiting. We think we’re the one’s waiting on Him?

Maybe in reality, He’s the one waiting on us to “go therefore.” Either way, we have no excuse. We have a light within us; we have Yahushua within us . . . let’s shine that light. Because the purpose is for Yahweh to be glorified. The Father of Lights wants to shine His light to all.

So let’s do it!! What do you say? Whose with me? Let’s serve each other in love, with the gifts Yahweh gives. Pray diligently to ask Him what are the gifts Yahweh, show me what they are if He hasn’t already. Out of love you use them. So that when He returns, we can say:

Revelation 19:7 – Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

8 – And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Are we ready to be that Yerushalayim? Brothers and sisters, let’s seek to be that purified, prepared bride full of righteous acts of love toward our fellow man. That we might be clothed in fine linen. That we might be the one who made herself ready. It’s a righteous act to care for one that’s sick, one who’s lonely, one who’s in need of a visit.

To refresh the weary soul. It’s a righteous act of loving the unloved and loving the unloving. Our love needs to have action to it. Who wants to make this a reality in your life? Are you among them? Yes, I’m talking about you. Are you among them? I’m not actually mentioning any individuals here. I’m not thinking of anybody in particular.

I’m just saying. But listen, I want to help you. I want to help you do it. If you feel called, I don’t have to be a part of it. But if you feel like you’re convicted in this, I have a potential avenue. You can pray about it. I shared it last week. But we have a website where you can discover what your spiritual gifts are.

Where you can offer your gifts and your ministry to others. If you are in need of ministry, you can use this site as a way to get in touch with those who are offering that ministry to others.

And that website is:

http://www.ServeYHWH.org/

Again, this is not the only way you can exercise your gifts, it’s not no the only way to do it. But, if you have no other way, this is available to you. We have conference calls. We’re gonna have one here tomorrow where we will offer our gifts. We’ll discover our gifts and we’ll get on this list where we can be accessed by other believers.

Because one of reasons why we don’t serve is because we don’t think there’s anybody around to serve. But concerning the body of Messiah, there are things that we can be doing. Either to connect with others who have a similar calling on their life. Or, we can find out what our calling really is . . . what our gifts really are.

Or, we can offer what we understand to be our gifts, goals and our role and our ministry to others. That’s what this website is all about. Also, I have on my “discussion” forum, I have something called “Kingdom Building.” And if you have a ministry already or want to offer a ministry to others; that is a place where you can do so.

Just list your ministry there. Let it be for the edification of Messiah. It’s at EliYah.com and go to the discussion forum linked at the top of the page, www.EliYah.com/forum. Let’s pray.