Understanding and Finding the Narrow Gate
10/08/16 (8/6) Video Broadcast
Many, after hearing what we have learned regarding the Hebraic roots of our faith may wonder, “How can it be that so many people are deceived?” The real question is, “How can it be that so many people are NOT deceived?
At this time, we're ready
to begin our study portion
for today's broadcast.
The question of our age -
the question down through
the ages is, 'How may I inherit eternal life?' and 'What is the process by which we become saved?' and 'What does Yahweh expect of us?' We know what he's done for us. Now, what does he expect from us?' A lot of this is related to this very thing which is, understanding and finding the narrow gate. Yahshua talked about a narrow gate that we would have to enter. And a broad gate that many would enter and a narrow gate that very few would enter. What is this narrow gate that's spoken of in the scriptures? What is involved in this narrow gate? Because, whenever we share some of the things that we've come to understand, as far as the blessing of Sabbath observance or calling upon in the name Yahweh or any other unique matter of our walk with Messiah, that is little different than what the majority of people do or understand. And the question they often ask is "How can it be that you're right and so many other millions of people are wrong?" "How can you claim and have the audacity to think all these people in the eras gone by and centuries gone by, you seem to have a close relationship with the Father.?" They didn't do these things. What about my Aunts and Uncles and Grandpa and Grandma, they were righteous people and yet, they weren't.. How can it be that those so many millions of people would be deceived? How can it be, that Yahweh would even allow such people of great faith to have been deceived? How can he allow so many people to be blinded? It's awful prideful they surmise. That we, are right and millions of other Bible believers in the world are wrong.
How could you possibly believe that? And that's a major major area where, when you start sharing something that's really off-kilter, off the main stream, a lot of people they go "That can't be." "Can it be really that many people are really deceived?" How could that possibly be? They don't receive what you're saying, because of the heard mentality that we have. Follow the crowd. Safety in numbers. Sheep don't like being by themselves, they want to be with others. Did you know that Yahshua was actually... he was asked a very similar question when he was on the earth. He was asked this very question, as he was
discussing matters with the people of his generation. In Luke 13:22-24 says, "He went to the cities and villages, teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem. Then one said to him, 'Master, are there few who are saved?'
And he said to them, 'Strive to enter to the narrow gate. For many I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.' " When once the master of the house is risen up and shut the door and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door saying, 'Master, master, open for us.' And he will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you. Where you are from?' And you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know you. Where you are from? Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.' 'All you workers of iniquity, depart from me' he says. Last thing you want to be, is a worker of iniquity. If you're a worker of iniquity, he says, he does not know you. Does not know who you are. Does not know where you are from. So, what is a worker of iniquity? Let us continue to read.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of Elohim and you and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the East and the West, from the North and the South, and sit down in the kingdom of Elohim. Indeed, there are last who will be first. And there are first who will be last.
Interesting. Many last will be first and many first will be last. One of the questions that I often get, people that are new to the walk or kind of scoff on what we say, "How can it be that all these people are deceived?" And Yahshua's saying "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many I say to you, will seek to enter and they will not be able."
Now, according to the latest data I have, Encyclopedia Britannica, approximately one out of three human beings in the world profess to be Christian.
And so in light of scripture, which declares that the way is very narrow if you find it, I think the appropriate question is "How can it be that all these people are not deceived?" Or at least a large number of them. Because, the way is supposed to be narrow and many seek to enter and are not able.
So he says, "Make sure that you enter. Make sure that you enter in." So deception, I think, is at work here. Serious deception is at work. In Genesis chapter three, deception makes its debut. "The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Yahweh Elohim had made and he said to the woman, "Has Elohim indeed said you should not eat of every tree of the garden?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden. But of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden, Elohim has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'
" So the first thing that the enemy is trying to do, is cause Eve to doubt, "Oh, did Elohim really say this?
Did he really say it?"
Moving on, "Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die.' There's a lie. "For Elohim knows that in the day that you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil. So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and it was pleasant to the eyes, and the tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, he was right there with her, and he ate."
And then later, Yahweh Elohim said to the woman,
"What is this that you have done?' The woman said, "The serpent deceived me and I ate." So through a deception, there was a departure from
life. Now, in light of these things, we know the deceiver is out there and he is very present and he is active out there. And the fact that we are told in this scripture: 1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober. Be vigilant. Because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
In light of these things, and the light of the fact that, we see in the book of Genesis that there were only eight souls who were saved, and that Yahshua said in Matthew 24:37-39 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving to marriage, until the day that Noah entered the Ark, and did not know until the flood came, and took them all away. So also will the coming of the Son of Man be." Like the days of Noah. How many were saved in the days of Noah? Eight. Eight souls were saved. So, Yahshua's coming will be a shock to the world, because the world will be deceived. But, what is the grand deception all about? What is it that people are deceived into doing? Before I go in to what the deception is all about, I want to share something very important that Yahshua said. "For judgment, I have come into this world. That those who do not see, may see. And that those who see, may be made blind." Then some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these words and said to him, "Are we blind also?" Yahshuah said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, 'We see', therefore your sin remains." This is a very important statement here by Yahshua Hamashiach. And then he said after this, he said in the book of John 15:22, "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin." They have no way to get around it. So, it is possible for someone to be committing a sin but they're blind. They don't realize it and they would have an excuse. But, once Yahshua spoke to them, the things he spoke to them, they no longer had the excuse for their sin. Otherwise, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin.
They are deceived.
Now, Luke 12:47-48 says, "The servant who knew his master's will and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given from him, much will be required. And to whom much is being committed of him, they will ask the more."
The bottom line is this, we need to prepare ourselves. We need to make ourselves ready to meet the King. We may have areas of blindness. But sometimes, we're blind because we want to be blind. Or sometimes we think we're blind, but we're not blind. I dare say, every human being on the face of the earth does have areas of blindness. Whether it's a misunderstanding of the Father's will or some area of disobedience that's unknown. But, what is the key? The key is that we are seeking to prepare ourselves and be ready for that last trumpet sound. And if that's our mindset, then we can be among the few who find it.
In Luke chapter 12:32, Yahshua says, "Do not fear
little flock, it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Sell what you have and give alms. Provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old. A treasure in the heavens that does not fail. Where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.
And you yourselves be like men who wait for their master. When he will return from the wedding that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master when he comes, will find watching. As surely I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat and will come and serve them. Interesting. He will come and serve us, because love is serving, and serving is love.
If he should come in the second watch or come in the third watch and find them, so blessed are those servants. But know this, if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. So what is this scripture tell us regarding the deceptions? Where is it and what are the characteristics of it? How can we seek to avoid it? We know that there is deceitfulness in riches. Deceitfulness in riches and there's plenty of riches going around in our culture right now. In Mark 4:18-19 says "Now these are the ones sown among thorns. They are the ones who hear the word and cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering, choke the word and it becomes unfruitful." t's not that there's no plant, it's just that there's no fruit on the plant.
And that's the problem with the deceitfulness of riches. With the cares of this world and desires for other things. Other things that are not spiritual things. As they choke the word, as they grow up, there's no light that the word, the plant that's sown in the soil, can get any light and the other plant is coming around, it's sucking up all the nutrients, because of the competing plant there, next to the seed. If we have competing forces in our life that are trying to get our attention, we're going to have to pull them, the thorns up by the roots. It's not worth it. If something is taking your attention off of Messiah, pull it out. It's not worth it. Your soul is at stake. It's not worth it. So Yahshua says, "Little flock, don't fear. It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms. Provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old. A treasure in the heavens that does not fail. Where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be." We have to be aware of that, because we live in this very wealthy nation. Maybe the most wealthy nation that's ever graced the face of the earth. We have nearly every imaginable convenience at our disposal. And the deceitfulness of riches is at the heart of what Yahshua's saying.
It's at the heart of what Yahshua's saying. In the book of Luke in chapter 13 he says, 24, "Strive to enter to the narrow gate, for many I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Once the master of the house is risen up and shut the door, you begin to stand outside and knock at the door saying 'Master, master, open for us.' He will answer and say to you, "I do not know you. Where you are from?" And you will begin to say, "We ate and drank in your presence and you taught in our streets." But he will say, "I tell you, I do not know you."
"I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from me all you workers of iniquity." Now, the word translated iniquity here, comes from
the Greek word 93, injustice; unrighteousness of heart and life; a deed violating law injustice; an act of unrighteousness. Now examining the uses of this word. Looking for examples of scripture, where men were specifically guilty of adikia. We can find at least two instances of adikia, where the love of riches were involved in both places.
Here's the other word. The other Lexicon like the Strong's, injustice, legal injustice; morally wrongfulness of character life or act. In Acts 1:16, "Men and brother in the scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Yahshua. For he was numbered with us and maintained a part in this ministry." Now, as man purchased a field with the wages of adikia. In falling had long, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out." o he hanged himself and then he fell on the ground and that's what came out. Judas had a real problem with the love of money.
John 12:4-6, "One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who will betray him said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 dinari and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but to take what was put in it. He was caught up. Betrayers of Messiah who claimed to be believers as because he was a thief and had the money box, he used
Judas. But then given the choice to be a believer or embrace the World's riches, come to a place where they ultimately deny him and that's unjust. Because loyalty and reverence belongs to the King. Not to coins and money and Mammon. To betray him that way, is to reject him and choose another King. In this case, Mammon, filthy lucre. Very similar situation takes place in the book of Acts 8:9, "There was a certain man named Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the City and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming he was someone great." To whom they all gave heed of the least to the greatest saying, 'This man is the great power of Elohim.' They heeded him because he has astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard a Samarian received the word of Elohim, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet, he had fallen upon none of them and only been baptized in the name of the master Yahshua. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "Your money perished with you, because you thought the gift of Elohim can be purchased with money. You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right. In the sight of Elohim, repent therefore, of this, your wickedness. Pray perhaps, the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."
Simon was bitter because he lost his prestige among the people, when it was revealed that the power of Yahshua is the true power. He, still being after the glory of man rather than seeking all that comes from Elohim, took the path of injustice. It was revealed, Simon's heart was not loyal to Messiah, it was loyal to himself. Receiving the praise of men and the money that comes with it. So, what is this grand deception all about? What are people deceived into doing?
I'll give you a case example. There are many pastors today and I don't know if I'm going to name any names. But if you were to approach them with the truth, that the Sabbath day is on not the first day of the week, the seventh day of the week. And they might even know that what you're saying is true. But then what it comes down to acknowledging it and doing it, in their hearts they see it. But on the outside, they think to themselves, 'You know, I went to College for this. I invested my life into this career of being a minister and therefore, I don't want to have to give all that up.
All the time I spent, all the money. I have got my expenses covered here. I got my pension tied up with my denomination. Whatever.' If that is something in their hearts, and I don't claim to know what's in their hearts, they're departing from the narrow way and choosing, like Judas, riches instead of Elohim. They're now on the wrong way. The broad way, that leads to destruction. Or if I was to share with someone about the Sabbath and they think, 'You know what, I don't want to lose my job. I know he's right about this. But, I don't want to lose my job and then what will I do? I'll lose my house. I'll lose this, I'll lose that.' And they count the cost of really being Yahshua's disciple and decide they're not going to give up those things. Now to you, they maybe saying to you and to me, 'Well I'm not so sure about that. It doesn't really matter or whatever.' They got some reason that they've said to you to get you off their back. But inside, that is where those little heart motives, where's our heart really loyal to? Is it to ourselves or is it to Yahweh?
It's those little heart issues that determine who are the few that find it. And who are on the broad path. Doesn't mean everyone who doesn't receive what you say is all of a sudden on the broad path. It just means that, maybe they don't see it yet. They don't realize you haven't been persuasive enough. Yahweh hasn't revealed that to them yet, because he's got other things he's dealing with them on. So, I'm not judging anybody specifically in trying to paint everybody with a broad brush. I'm sharing with you a scenario, where someone can be every bit as much a Judas, as Judas was.
And all it took was, if you had not come and said something to them, then they would be without sin. But just like Yahshua said, "After I told them, they have no excuse for their sin."
They knew it was true. So, there is this deception out there and there are people who are deceived. They're blind. They don't realize they're doing something wrong. But then there are people who know. One time I shared this with a co-worker, I said about the Sabbath day for instance. We're supposed to keep it holy, says "Remember it and keep it holy." It was important enough to be in the 10 commandments. Why are people not doing it? It's in the scriptures. It's in the 10 commandments. It's written in stone. After having some good conversations with a co-worker, he said, "Tom, you know the Sabbath thing, you're probably right about that. But, I'm not going to change my life over it."
He counted the cost and decided he was not going to follow Yahshua in that particular area.
It wasn't long after that that his wife ran off with another man in the church and his whole family fell apart. So, I'm just sharing some scenarios where people have, they receive what you say and in their heart they're like, this guy was actually honest enough to tell me, 'You're right, but I'm not going to change my life over it.' Some people won't be that honest. They'll come up with some excuse and I'm not just talking about the Sabbath. There could be things that have been shared with you that you know are right, but you realized the cost involved and you're saying 'Uh-uh, can't do it.' So we have to have a love for the truth. We have to have a willingness to put Yahweh first in every decision that we make. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9 "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains will do so, until he's taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the master will come with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming. The coming of the lawless was according to the working of Satan with all power signs and line wonders." The scripture talks about this. What is lawless? Lawless means the condition of without law, because ignorant of it, because of violating it. Contempt in the violation of the law; iniquity; wickedness. Looking at the roots of this word in the Hebrew or Aramaic, it's clear he's not just talking about lawless in the sense of, you break one command and you're in trouble. But a sense of rebellion about it. A sense of knowing full well that this is the right thing to do and then refusing to do it. The Strong's Lexicon has a negative particle one and then thirty five fifty one, which is the Greek word translated law, says not subject to the Jewish law. Very interesting. By implication in Gentile, are positively wicked. Now, I wonder if the translators had taken cues from Lexicon. Every time you saw this word 'Lawless', it said, not subject to the Jewish law. The mystery of not being subject to the Jewish law is at work. What if by have happened? But no, that's what it means. But they didn't translate it that way, they said lawless. But even with that, if you have a lawless problem going on, wouldn't the solution be to bring a law? [Laughter] I mean, yes and to obey it, right? If you have a lawless problem, then obey the law. And it won't be a problem. It won't be a problem at all. So, the coming of the lawless one is at work and all unrighteous that's adikia, deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth. There is a motive somewhere that's causing the lawlessness. The unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. If we do not have this, love of the truth, we will
not be saved. It's one reason why the way is so narrow and so few. Because, some people, they think they love Messiah, but they don't really love the truth. They kind of buck at it. They kind of fight against it.
And for this reason, Elohim will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie. The Lie, not just A lie, The lie. That they all might be condemned to did not believe in the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, again, adikia.
Very interesting scripture, all deceivableness of unrighteousness.
We should not have any pleasure at all unrighteousness. We should have a sincere love for the truth. We see that unrighteousness itself as the core deception. And so is truth versus lies. There's unrighteousness, there's deception and there's a lack of truth and there's a belief of the lie and then there's truth.
So there's the lawless side, the Torahless side. The sides not amenable to Jewish law side and there's the truth side. The strong delusion side and then there's the revelation side. In order to not be deceived, we have to desire to know what righteousness is. We have to know what truth is. Our repentance will produce a pursuit and a zeal for the truth. It will not focus on what men may say. Our focus will be on Yahweh and what Yahweh says. To focus on what man says is the injustice toward Yahweh and disloyalty to him. Our loyalty must be to the King. What he says matters. The form of government that we are partakers in, is not the democracies and republics of this world. Our government is a monarchy. Yahshua has absolute power in mind, in our minds. To set man or money or even ourselves in that place, is to betray him like Judas did. Or to seek the praises of men as Simon the sorcerer did, is to betray him. As Simon the sorcerer was betraying him, because Yahweh was not in first place. And so, if we are in pursuit of truth, we must choose to not be among those who refuse to be amenable to the Jewish law. Instead, we will seek to be sanctified. A process of sanctification by the word of Yahweh. So with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because he did not receive the love of the truth and be saved and therefore, Elohim sends them a strong delusion. They think they're saved. They think they're his and they're not.
They should believe the lie. The lies in the garden of Eden. Hath Elohim really said, 'Oh you will not surely die if you disobey.' It's the same old trick he's been playing from generation to generation. That they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in the unrighteousness. So we want to be sanctified by truth. Yahshua prayed, 'Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word, your word, is truth.'
Isaiah 55:10 "As the rain comes down, the snow from heaven does not return there, but waters the earth and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth, it shall not return to me void. It shall accomplish what I please. It shall prosper anything for which I sent it." When Yahweh gives a command, does it prosper in us? Or does it, do we regard his words as being void - his laws null and void? Important question.
So with this unrighteous deception, do we have a love of the truth or do we have a love for the word? If you love the word, then you can love Yahshua. If you don't love the word, if you don't love to be corrected by the word, then you don't love to be corrected by Messiah. You don't want to be corrected by him. You want to continue in your unrighteous ways. And that's a dangerous place to be, very dangerous place. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and he will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There's a sin leading to death, I did not say you should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin. And there is sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death that add out all out rebellion just saying, "I'm not going to do it. I know the scripture say it, I'm just not going to do it. I just refuse to do it." That's a sin leading to death. That is departure from the narrow way. That is a venture into the broad gate. That is a refusal to walk in repentance. That's a rebellious spirit. 1 John 3:4 says "Whoever commits sin, also
transgresses the law. For sin is a transgression of the law." How can any believer say that Yahweh's law should not be obeyed? It's from his law we determine what sin is. As such a one teaching that it doesn't matter, say what it doesn't matter if you sin or not. You can just live like you want.
Romans 7:7 "What shall we say then, is the law sin? Certainly not. On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law." The law teaches you what sin is.
By putting other Elohim before Yahweh is also sin. But somehow, the teaching that transgression of the law is no longer sin, has deceived millions of people.
Because sin is very deceitful.
Hebrews 3:13 "Exhort one another daily while it is called "Today" lest you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." It's deceitful. From the beginning, the adversary is sought to trick man into being disobedient and there's nothing new under the sun. It's a simple plan he has. He can try to undermine Yahweh's word say 'Does it matter now? It's null and void.' Every false doctrine has one thing in common. It's the setting aside of Yahweh's word. I had people come to me and tell me all the scriptures are not reliable. And so they try to persuade me and convince me. Now, if they were successful on persuading and convincing me of such a thing, what do you think the next step would be? It's inevitable. They want me to listen to their words instead.
They want me to believe their words over Yahweh's words. Because when you don't have Yahweh's words, your foundation, something's going to take its place. It's your own thoughts or somebody else's opinions. That's the design of a deceiver. One who's under the influence of demonic power. No matter how nice and gentle he happens to be. If he's steering you away from the holy scriptures, the inspired words of Yahweh, and wants you to get, basically wants you to get them to follow their words, don't listen to them. We have to have a love for the truth. Yahshua says 'Your word is truth.' If you love
Yahshua, we're going to love the word. And Yahshua is the word made flesh and dwell among us. And we be held as glory. The glory of the only begotten, the Father, full of grace and truth. Is he only the word in new testament? He's the word of the old testament as well. And so, in truth, we must love and seek to heed the whole council of Yahweh's word. Not just the old testament. Not just the new testament. The whole council of Yahweh's word. Matthew 13:52, "Yahshua said, 'It goes every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom, is like a household who brings out of his treasures things new and old.' " Both. Are we as scribe, instructed unto the kingdom of heaven?
Indeed if the scripture then it is Yahweh's word that is to be heeded. 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scriptures given by inspiration of Elohim, is profitable for doctrine for reproof or correction, for instruction and righteousness. That the man of Elohim may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work." All scripture. There was no new testament in those days.
Maybe in some inspired text, but we see all scriptures profitable. So, when a person says 'The laws done away with or you don't have to heed that anymore.' You say, 'Wait a minute. All scripture is given for reproof. If I'm not doing it, I need to be corrected by it. I need to be instructed by it. That I might be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.' It's when a deceived person says, 'Well, that part of the Bible is not profitable for correction. For reproof, construction, righteousness.' That we find ourselves in deception. Now there was another time Yahshua talked about the narrow gate. And he warned everybody about the narrow gate. It wasn't in the book of Luke, it was in the book of Matthew.
Yahshua says "Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way, which leads to life and there are few, few who find it." Wow! Few that find it.
Matthew 9:37, "He said to his disciples 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers is few.'" Because there are few that find it. So the last would be first, the first last. Many are called, few are chosen.
Scary stuff. We need to do a heart check. I cannot stress this enough. I talk about it several times a year. We have to do a heart check here. Is there something you know? You know the scriptures. You know Yahweh wants you to do it. But out of putting yourself first, you're like 'I'm just not gonna do it right now. Just not gonna do it.' We have to be on the narrow
path if we want eternal life.
Romans 9:27, "Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved." The remnant is the few. For he will finish the work and cut short in righteousness, because Yahweh will make sure it work upon the earth as Isaiah said before, 'Unless Yahweh of Sabaoth, has left us a seed, we've become like Sodom, we've made like Gomorrah.' There was always a remnant. It's a quotation from Isaiah 1 "Unless Yahweh had left to us a very small remnant."
Don't take confidence in numbers.
Also, don't take confidence that you're in a small group, because it doesn't say a small people are Yahweh's people. It says Yahweh's people are small. It's not a huge number comparatively to the population that we live in. How can we be sure we're among the few? How can we be sure that we are the remnant? How can we be sure? How do we know whether we are his? How do we know whether the person that we fellowship with is really his?
Scripture says in 2 Timothy 2:19 "Nevertheless, if it's hollow foundation of Elohim stands having this seal, Yahweh knows them who are his. Let everyone who names the name of Messiah depart from adikia, iniquity." Now, remember he said 'Few find it.' If you have to find it, that means you must have to be looking for it. You can't just think that you just, pops in your head and you're just, it pops right here in front of you 'Oh okay' and you go on about your business. You have to seek him diligently, in order to be on a path a few find. If you're on a path that everybody else is on, how can you be on the path a few find? I mean, it doesn't make any sense. That's why we should not be surprised that the whole world is deceived. In fact, scripture says that would be the case. Don't take confidence in man, when you see what scripture is saying. Revelation 12:9 "The great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan who deceives the whole world.
He was cast to the earth, his angels were cast out with him." He deceives the whole world. What tools will the enemy use to deceive, is the same old trick at one generation to the next. And man will fall for it every time. And he's got plenty of agents too. One of his greatest advantages is that, he knows that those who already are deceived are willing participants to engage in deceiving others. Yahshua said about the narrow gate, "Enter by the narrow gate, wide is the gate. Broad is the way. Few that find it. It's a difficult way. He says right after that, right off the bat "Beware of false prophets. Look out!" They're not on the narrow way, they're on the broad way and they want to take you to the path that they are on. They come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. The may not even realize they're a wolf. They may think they're a sheep and they're leading you in the wrong direction. So how do you tell the difference? Just keep reading.
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? But a bad tree, bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown to the fire. Therefore, by their fruits, you shall know them.
You know them by their fruits, but what does that mean? How can we tell the difference between a good fruit and a bad fruit? What's a good fruit? What is it that even defines good? What is it even defines bad and good and evil and righteousness? Can we find a clear definition in scripture as to what's good and what's bad?
Yes, we can.
Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law, for sin is a transgression of the law. If they come to you and they are sinning, and they're trying to lead you into sin, then you know they're not bearing good fruit.
Or if they are in transgression of the law themselves and they seek to lead you to a condition, to where you are also transgressing what Yahweh's word says, what the Torah, the law says, then you know they're not bearing good fruit and they're trying to take you to where they are. They might not even know they're bearing bad fruit. They might not even know that they're a wolf, taking you away from, they may think they're a sheep taking you away from wolves. Doesn't matter. You look at the fruit. You judge what's good and evil according to what's written in the Torah, in the law and you go accordingly. Now, there's one man you can be sure you can trust that was a bearer of good fruit.
Who was that? Yahshua Hamashiach. John 15:4 "Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit. For without me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned.
So, abide in Messiah. How do you know whether you're abiding in him? How can you tell? 1 John 2:3 says, "By this we know that we know him if we keep his commandments." He who says I know him, does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, truly the love of Elohim is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him. By this we know we abide in him. He who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked.
If you claim to abide in him then just live like he did, by this we know. By this we know.
So those claiming to be abiding in Yahshua, they'll be doing the things Yahshua did. By this we know we are abiding in him. What was Yahshua like? He was a Torah keeper. He kept Yahweh's commandments to perfection. He did not regard Yahweh's law as void or done away with. He pursued righteousness and he was filled. Did Yahshua ever transgress the law of Yawheh even one time? If he ever did, he could not be our savior, he would need a savior too. 1 Peter 2:21-22 "To this you were called, because Messiah also suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow his steps. He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth."
So, he was completely with, he never transgress the law even once. If you are abiding in him, you will seek to avoid the
transgression of Yahweh's law.
Let's continue reading Matthew 7. He said in Matthew 7:18-19 says, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown to the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them." Not everyone who says to me, "Master, master" shall enter the kingdom of heaven. But he who does the will. He who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Just because someone's calling Yahshua "Master, master."
doesn't mean they're going to enter in. In fact, they might say "Master, master." Many he said, many will say, "Have we not prophesied your name?" "Cast out demons in your name?" "Done many wonders in your name?" Then I would declare to them, "I never knew you. Depart from me you who practice lawlessness." That word lawless again. I guess law is going to really matter in the day of judgment.
Sounds like it's going to matter if we're doing the will of our Father in heaven. So, if the bad fruit is sin, but those who bear bad fruit are transgressing the law stands to reason. Many of those, many on the broad road, many calling the Master yet they're on the broad road. Yet, they don't do what he says. Yet,they don't walk as he walked. Yet, they're not willing to live as he lived. They're not willing to suffer as he suffered. They're not willing to give up what he was willing to give up, even his own life.
And they're saying "Hey, we did all his great works. That proved it. We were yours."
They could not have fathomed that Yahshua was not with them, because they did all his miracles. And Yahshua just says, "I don't even know who you are. Who are you?" "You worker of iniquity." "You practicing iniquity." This practice of iniquity could be anything. It doesn't have to be practicing lawlessness. Doesn't have to be violating Sabbath. It could be just failing the love in any regard. You know you need to love and yet, you don't love.
Because every commandment in the Torah has to do with love. And he says, "I don't even know you.
You... the miracles you what? I don't know who you are." You are, after the working of Satan with all power signs and line wonders. Same crowd here. He who says I know him and does not keep his commandments is a liar. The truth is not in him. He can't claim to know him and say he knows you, unless you keep in the commandments. Not everyone that says it "Master, master' is going to make it. Those who practice lawlessness will not. The condition without law content in violation of the law is from four fifty nine, not subject to the
Jewish law. They call it Jewish, Yahweh's law.
The same word is translated. Transgression of the law here or lawlessness here. Mystery of transgression of the law. The lawless one, the one who is not amenable to Jewish law will be revealed. It's so clear. It's all connected together. It's all part of this deception that Satan was trying to, he started in the garden of Eden and then he kind of just worked his way down from one generation to the next, to take people away from the true way of love. That is outlined in Yahweh's law. Because through Yahweh's precepts we get understanding and we hate every false way. If you don't love the truth that you might be saved, you're going to start loving the false ways. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, but good understanding of all those who do his commandments, his praise endures forever.
And so this mystery of Torahlessnes - this mystery of lawlessness is now being revealed. Do not be among those. You are Torahless. You do not want to walk as Yahshua walked. If there's ever any question, that is the
question "What would he do?" "What would Yahshua do?" Some people say, you need to vote.
Maybe, but, I'm trying to picture Yahshua entering a voting booth. Just try to picture it and somehow this doesn't.. doesn't line up to me. I just... I can't do it. Some think I'm guilty because I don't vote, but... I'm trying to picture what would Yahshua do, I just can't see him doing it. Maybe I'm missing something. Just one example. It could be anything. If you know you're supposed to love your wife and you just like "I'm not going to love her. I can't love her. I'm not wanting to love her. She is this or she is that. I'm not going to be like Yahshua who loved those who didn't love him. I'm going to hate those who don't love me. And I'm going to refuse to love those who don't love me back."
Do you see why the way is so narrow and so few find it? Who is really willing to be completely sold out for Yahweh? And really put him first, to really make him their mighty one, their Elohim, their Deity, the one they worship, the one.. You could say you're following Messiah. But, are you? I'm sure we all lack something. But it's all these inner workings of the heart.
The inner workings of the heart is what's really going to matter on that final day.
In Jeremiah 6:18, we're happy you want to go back, if we have to. If you want to go back and see where that narrow way
will lead us.
Jeremiah 6:16 "Thus as Yahweh stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths. Where the good way is and walk in it. Walk as Yahshua walked. Then you will find rest for your souls and they said 'We will not walk in it.'" They weren't willing to choose the narrow way. Also I set watchmen over you saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet but they said, 'We will not listen.' Therefore, hear you Gentiles, nations and
know all congregation what is among them. Hear, O earth behold, I will bring calamity on this people, the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not heeded my words nor my law, but have rejected it.
They're lawless.
Mystery of lawlessness. Let's not be among those who do not listen to the sound of the trumpet. Let's not be among those who say, 'I will not walk in it.' Let's be among those who say, 'You know what, I'm going to do it. Yahweh, help me. I want to do my best to walk in it.
I want the narrow way.' Even if you may find, even if I'm the last person standing says I obey Yahweh. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. Psalm 14:2 "Yahweh looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand who seek Elohim."
They have all turned aside. They have all, together become corrupt. There is none who does good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity have no knowledge? Workers of iniquity. Who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call on Yahweh. Who?
will surely going to be persecuted by workers of iniquity. There are people that when they hear about you wanting to stop transgressing Yahweh's law, they're gonna go "Wha...We got to do something about this person. We're going to have to cast them out. We're going to have to.." And they might even quote verse 3 here. They might even say 'Why? No one's good.
Why even try?'
And Yahshua's saying all the workers of iniquity will not enter in the narrow gate.
They don't have knowledge. The workers of iniquity have no knowledge. Why? Why don't they have any knowledge? They've rejected knowledge. They've rejected the old paths. Hosea 4:6 "As my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. They don't want the knowledge. And because you've rejected Yahweh he says, 'I will reject you from being priest for me. You will not be a Melchizedek. Because you have forgotten the law of your Elohim." Forgotten the laws. That's the key everyone likes to quote this scripture. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Well, knowledge of what? Is it because they don't know that some conspiracies behind the scenes? No. knowledge. It's because they have forgotten the law of Therefore, we cannot reject the law of Yahweh. Elohim. They did not remember Yahweh's law and Psalm 14:2-4 "Yahweh looks down from heaven upon the therefore, they lack knowledge and wisdom, in order to change their life. They have, like Eve in the garden, rejected Yahweh's law which was, you shall not surely eat that. You will die if you do. And they have said "Well, I will not die. I'll be like.. I'll be all right. I will not surely die." If we want to be kings and priests, we cannot reject
children of men, to see if there are any who understand who seek Elohim. They have all turned aside. They together become corrupt. There's none that does good. No. Not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call on Yahweh?" Oh! But we do need to call on Yahweh.
We don't just need to accept correction in our walk. We also need to call upon Yahweh. Joel 2:31-32 says, "The sun shall returned to darkness. And the moon, the blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh. It shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of Yahweh shall be saved for in mount Zion and Jerusalem there should be deliverance as Yahweh has said among the remnant." Those who are on the narrow path whom Yahweh calls. We got to seek to be the remnant. Brothers, sisters, men, women, children, fathers,
mothers, pastors, teachers, elders and lovers of truth, it is time to seek Yahweh.
It is time to seek Yahweh while he may be found and call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to Yahweh and he will have mercy on him. And to our Elohim, he will abundantly pardon. You are not without hope. There is a path to redemption. There is a way to be saved. He says, 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Nor your ways my ways,' says Yahweh. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' We need to let
Yahweh's thoughts be our thoughts. What does he want from us?
Unrighteous man forsake your own thoughts. Submit to Yahweh's thoughts and his ways. For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and did not return there but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void. It shall accomplish what I please. It shall prosper anything for which I sent it. ahweh wants his word to bear fruit in our lives.
He doesn't want it to return void. And if you think his law is null and void, you're in a dangerous place. If you're rebellious about it. If you don't know any better, all the mercy in the world is available to you. But now, it's time to seek Yahweh. And not be among those who are deceived, thinking the
law is void and null as not for today. Romans 3:31 says, "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not. On the contrary, we establish the law." We must choose to let his word accomplish something in our hearts. Do not let Satan steal it out of you by tricking you into thinking the law is null and void, and
abolished, and canceled or disposed of or set aside or changed or whatever.
Isaiah 56:1-2 says "Keep justice and do righteousness, for my salvation is about to come
of my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the Son of Man, who keeps from defiling the Sabbath and keeps his hand from doing any evil." It's time to sow to ourselves righteousness if we repent and turn away from sin and transgression of the law, we will receive mercy for those times that we've sinned. And Yahweh will reign righteousness on us, where we lack it. Sow for yourselves righteousness. Hosea 10:12, "Reap in mercy. Break up your fallow ground. For it is time to seek Yahweh 'til he comes and reigns righteousness on you." You plowed wickedness, you've reaped iniquity. You've eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, and the multitude of your mighty men. The multitude of your mighty men. Don't trust in the multitudes. Don't trust in the fact that there are many others on the path there with you. That's not a sign that you're on the right path at all. You got to forsake the herd mentality and follow Yahshua and walk as he walked. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Yes, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of Elohim. But through Messiah, we're justified freely by his grace and the redemption is in him. Hallelujah for that. Blessed be Yahweh for that. So Peter, as he called to the multitudes in the book of Acts 2, "I call to everyone this day. Accept humbly the fact that we all have sinned. We need the mercy of Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah. That our righteousness does not come by commandment keeping. It does come through faith in Yahshua the Messiah. And even though we understand the source of our righteousness is not ourselves, we do need to walk this out. Repent.
Repent. And let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Yahshua Messiah for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
And that repentance does not mean, you today or instantly perfect after you repent, you never make another mistake the rest of your life. It's just that when you realize you've made a mistake, you realize you've been deceived, you realize that you've been doing something you shouldn't be doing. You get on your face in confession in repentance and you say, 'Yahweh, I did not realize I was doing this. Please forgive me. I want to keep your law now. I want to do what your word has said. I want to pursue righteousness. I want to live like Yahshua did. I want to let my repentance bear fruit and my works be works that demonstrate repentance. Help me to overcome, in Yahshua's name.' If that's your attitude, you're on the narrow way. Hallelujah, you're there!
It's when we got these excuses "Oh well, it's no big deal. It's all right. He'll forgive me." No. Or you say, "I'm a Gentile. I don't have to do all these. I'm a Gentile. Only Jews have to repent." I've heard people say that, believe it or not. What did Paul do? He says, "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. I declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem and through all the region of Judea and then the Gentiles, that they should repent. Turn to Elohim and do works be fitting repentance. That's what I'm calling people to."
For while it's true that repentance apart from Messiah will get you nowhere.
It's also true, you can call on master all you want, but you must do the will of our Father in the heaven.
Because not every one calling him Master really believes he is. Instead they want their own flesh to be their master. Their own selves to be their master or some pastor to be their master. Because we're walking out repentance. We're seeking his ways. We love the truth. We love the word. Because we're walking out of repentance, we want to walk in righteousness, by seeking to apply his law to our hearts as a new covenant promises. After all, how can you say the law's in your heart when you don't want to do it? If the law's in your heart, the obedience to the law reflect on the outer layer. Because we're walking out repentance, we long to be over comers. Because we're walking out repentance, we're watching and listening and waiting earnestly for the sound of the trumpet and we're doing our Father's will. We're not putting Mammon in first place and Yahweh in second place. We're not putting our job in first place and Yahweh in second place. We're not putting anything ahead of Yahweh. Yahweh is first in every decision, every act, every word, every deed. And having prepared ourselves as the wise versions with lands filled with oil and eyes focused upward. We're pursuing the example of Yahshua Hamashiach and as we do that, we can hear these words one day, "Fear not little flock. For it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." May it be so with us. May it be that we are his repentant little flock that accepts the entire word of Yahweh. That little flock that's seeking to walk out repentance in placing the hope of salvation in the blood of the land Yahshua Hamashiach. The little flock, the few that find it. Those who are willing to do the will of our Father in heaven no matter what the cost is. Those who are abiding in him and walking as Yahshua walked that we might be where he is.
Are you the little flock? Am I the little flock? Only we can answer that for ourselves. Are we doing the things that we are supposed to be doing? Putting our trust in Yahshua for righteousness. And seeking to walk as he walk as he now abides in us.
And I'm not one that says, 'Because you're not keeping the Sabbath or doing something that I do, that you're on the broad path that leads to destruction.' It's always always always a heart issue. Yahshua did say, 'If I have not come and spoken, they have no excuse for their sin.' If you are blind you have no sin.' So people are blind. They don't know any better. I don't condemn them. I don't know whether they know. I don't know what their heart's motive is when I do share with them the things that I come to understand. I don't know. I just know this. I want to be on the narrow way. I want to be on the path a few find. I'm not looking for a crowd. I'm not looking for a big group. Even there are 480 people that came to the feast this year, for all I know, only one half of them are really his people. They're putting their confidence in their Sabbath keeping and Feast keeping and yet, they go home and they beat their wife. Or they do some other thing they know is wrong and they just refuse to repent.
I don't know. Or a wife just says, 'I'm going to rebel against my husband. I don't care what the word says. I'm going to do what I want to do.' I don't know.
Only Yahweh knows them that are his. I just know this. For me, and I hope you see this for yourself, we need to be on the narrow path a few find. We have to pursue it. It needs to be something we're willing to give up everything to gain.
An old saying goes, "He is no fool, who gives up what
he cannot keep.
To obtain what he cannot lose."
As we are willing to give up what we cannot keep anyway. As we are willing to obtain that thing which we can never lose.
May Yahweh bless you, as you seek to be that little flock.
And may Yahweh have mercy on us all. Oh, Yahweh in Yahshua's name, you are the awesome holy one.
Father Yahweh, open up our eyes to see any areas of compromise in our hearts. We want every thought, word and deed to be like Yahshua Hamashiach. We know it at all order. But that is our desire, our heart, to see your kingdom established in our hearts and on this earth as it is in heaven.
Give us more of your hidden manna. Open our eyes to see wondrous things out of your love.
And forgive us Father Yahweh, for we have failed.
For you've been deceived and we didn't know. We ask for your compassion and your grace. We confess our sins before you. And Father Yahweh, if there are anybody and those sound of my voice praying with me right now, and there's something you're dealing with them on and they're just not repenting. They're not willing to put you first. They want to be on the throne part time and you on the throne part time, teach them Father Yahweh. You're a full time Elohim. You're not a part time Elohim, you're always on the throne. And we know that you're enthroned in our praises and we praise you for the revelation of your word, for the truths that you've shown us. For we are not worthy of the least of the mercies and truth that you revealed to us, your servants. But even so, Abba Yahweh, deliver us from every plan and power and desire of the enemy. We do not want to be deceived. We want to glorify you and spend eternity, basking in the glory of your presence.
Grant that to us in Yahshua's name. For truly yours is the kingdom and power and glory, that all majesty honor and worship belongs to you. Yahweh Elohim, Yahweh our mighty one, forever and ever. In Yahshua's great name we pray, Amen.
the ages is, 'How may I inherit eternal life?' and 'What is the process by which we become saved?' and 'What does Yahweh expect of us?' We know what he's done for us. Now, what does he expect from us?' A lot of this is related to this very thing which is, understanding and finding the narrow gate. Yahshua talked about a narrow gate that we would have to enter. And a broad gate that many would enter and a narrow gate that very few would enter. What is this narrow gate that's spoken of in the scriptures? What is involved in this narrow gate? Because, whenever we share some of the things that we've come to understand, as far as the blessing of Sabbath observance or calling upon in the name Yahweh or any other unique matter of our walk with Messiah, that is little different than what the majority of people do or understand. And the question they often ask is "How can it be that you're right and so many other millions of people are wrong?" "How can you claim and have the audacity to think all these people in the eras gone by and centuries gone by, you seem to have a close relationship with the Father.?" They didn't do these things. What about my Aunts and Uncles and Grandpa and Grandma, they were righteous people and yet, they weren't.. How can it be that those so many millions of people would be deceived? How can it be, that Yahweh would even allow such people of great faith to have been deceived? How can he allow so many people to be blinded? It's awful prideful they surmise. That we, are right and millions of other Bible believers in the world are wrong.
How could you possibly believe that? And that's a major major area where, when you start sharing something that's really off-kilter, off the main stream, a lot of people they go "That can't be." "Can it be really that many people are really deceived?" How could that possibly be? They don't receive what you're saying, because of the heard mentality that we have. Follow the crowd. Safety in numbers. Sheep don't like being by themselves, they want to be with others. Did you know that Yahshua was actually... he was asked a very similar question when he was on the earth. He was asked this very question, as he was
discussing matters with the people of his generation. In Luke 13:22-24 says, "He went to the cities and villages, teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem. Then one said to him, 'Master, are there few who are saved?'
And he said to them, 'Strive to enter to the narrow gate. For many I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.' " When once the master of the house is risen up and shut the door and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door saying, 'Master, master, open for us.' And he will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you. Where you are from?' And you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know you. Where you are from? Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.' 'All you workers of iniquity, depart from me' he says. Last thing you want to be, is a worker of iniquity. If you're a worker of iniquity, he says, he does not know you. Does not know who you are. Does not know where you are from. So, what is a worker of iniquity? Let us continue to read.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of Elohim and you and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the East and the West, from the North and the South, and sit down in the kingdom of Elohim. Indeed, there are last who will be first. And there are first who will be last.
Interesting. Many last will be first and many first will be last. One of the questions that I often get, people that are new to the walk or kind of scoff on what we say, "How can it be that all these people are deceived?" And Yahshua's saying "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many I say to you, will seek to enter and they will not be able."
Now, according to the latest data I have, Encyclopedia Britannica, approximately one out of three human beings in the world profess to be Christian.
And so in light of scripture, which declares that the way is very narrow if you find it, I think the appropriate question is "How can it be that all these people are not deceived?" Or at least a large number of them. Because, the way is supposed to be narrow and many seek to enter and are not able.
So he says, "Make sure that you enter. Make sure that you enter in." So deception, I think, is at work here. Serious deception is at work. In Genesis chapter three, deception makes its debut. "The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Yahweh Elohim had made and he said to the woman, "Has Elohim indeed said you should not eat of every tree of the garden?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden. But of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden, Elohim has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'
" So the first thing that the enemy is trying to do, is cause Eve to doubt, "Oh, did Elohim really say this?
Did he really say it?"
Moving on, "Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die.' There's a lie. "For Elohim knows that in the day that you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil. So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and it was pleasant to the eyes, and the tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, he was right there with her, and he ate."
And then later, Yahweh Elohim said to the woman,
"What is this that you have done?' The woman said, "The serpent deceived me and I ate." So through a deception, there was a departure from
life. Now, in light of these things, we know the deceiver is out there and he is very present and he is active out there. And the fact that we are told in this scripture: 1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober. Be vigilant. Because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
In light of these things, and the light of the fact that, we see in the book of Genesis that there were only eight souls who were saved, and that Yahshua said in Matthew 24:37-39 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving to marriage, until the day that Noah entered the Ark, and did not know until the flood came, and took them all away. So also will the coming of the Son of Man be." Like the days of Noah. How many were saved in the days of Noah? Eight. Eight souls were saved. So, Yahshua's coming will be a shock to the world, because the world will be deceived. But, what is the grand deception all about? What is it that people are deceived into doing? Before I go in to what the deception is all about, I want to share something very important that Yahshua said. "For judgment, I have come into this world. That those who do not see, may see. And that those who see, may be made blind." Then some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these words and said to him, "Are we blind also?" Yahshuah said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, 'We see', therefore your sin remains." This is a very important statement here by Yahshua Hamashiach. And then he said after this, he said in the book of John 15:22, "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin." They have no way to get around it. So, it is possible for someone to be committing a sin but they're blind. They don't realize it and they would have an excuse. But, once Yahshua spoke to them, the things he spoke to them, they no longer had the excuse for their sin. Otherwise, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin.
They are deceived.
Now, Luke 12:47-48 says, "The servant who knew his master's will and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given from him, much will be required. And to whom much is being committed of him, they will ask the more."
The bottom line is this, we need to prepare ourselves. We need to make ourselves ready to meet the King. We may have areas of blindness. But sometimes, we're blind because we want to be blind. Or sometimes we think we're blind, but we're not blind. I dare say, every human being on the face of the earth does have areas of blindness. Whether it's a misunderstanding of the Father's will or some area of disobedience that's unknown. But, what is the key? The key is that we are seeking to prepare ourselves and be ready for that last trumpet sound. And if that's our mindset, then we can be among the few who find it.
In Luke chapter 12:32, Yahshua says, "Do not fear
little flock, it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Sell what you have and give alms. Provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old. A treasure in the heavens that does not fail. Where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.
And you yourselves be like men who wait for their master. When he will return from the wedding that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master when he comes, will find watching. As surely I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat and will come and serve them. Interesting. He will come and serve us, because love is serving, and serving is love.
If he should come in the second watch or come in the third watch and find them, so blessed are those servants. But know this, if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. So what is this scripture tell us regarding the deceptions? Where is it and what are the characteristics of it? How can we seek to avoid it? We know that there is deceitfulness in riches. Deceitfulness in riches and there's plenty of riches going around in our culture right now. In Mark 4:18-19 says "Now these are the ones sown among thorns. They are the ones who hear the word and cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering, choke the word and it becomes unfruitful." t's not that there's no plant, it's just that there's no fruit on the plant.
And that's the problem with the deceitfulness of riches. With the cares of this world and desires for other things. Other things that are not spiritual things. As they choke the word, as they grow up, there's no light that the word, the plant that's sown in the soil, can get any light and the other plant is coming around, it's sucking up all the nutrients, because of the competing plant there, next to the seed. If we have competing forces in our life that are trying to get our attention, we're going to have to pull them, the thorns up by the roots. It's not worth it. If something is taking your attention off of Messiah, pull it out. It's not worth it. Your soul is at stake. It's not worth it. So Yahshua says, "Little flock, don't fear. It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms. Provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old. A treasure in the heavens that does not fail. Where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be." We have to be aware of that, because we live in this very wealthy nation. Maybe the most wealthy nation that's ever graced the face of the earth. We have nearly every imaginable convenience at our disposal. And the deceitfulness of riches is at the heart of what Yahshua's saying.
It's at the heart of what Yahshua's saying. In the book of Luke in chapter 13 he says, 24, "Strive to enter to the narrow gate, for many I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Once the master of the house is risen up and shut the door, you begin to stand outside and knock at the door saying 'Master, master, open for us.' He will answer and say to you, "I do not know you. Where you are from?" And you will begin to say, "We ate and drank in your presence and you taught in our streets." But he will say, "I tell you, I do not know you."
"I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from me all you workers of iniquity." Now, the word translated iniquity here, comes from
the Greek word 93, injustice; unrighteousness of heart and life; a deed violating law injustice; an act of unrighteousness. Now examining the uses of this word. Looking for examples of scripture, where men were specifically guilty of adikia. We can find at least two instances of adikia, where the love of riches were involved in both places.
Here's the other word. The other Lexicon like the Strong's, injustice, legal injustice; morally wrongfulness of character life or act. In Acts 1:16, "Men and brother in the scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Yahshua. For he was numbered with us and maintained a part in this ministry." Now, as man purchased a field with the wages of adikia. In falling had long, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out." o he hanged himself and then he fell on the ground and that's what came out. Judas had a real problem with the love of money.
John 12:4-6, "One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who will betray him said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 dinari and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but to take what was put in it. He was caught up. Betrayers of Messiah who claimed to be believers as because he was a thief and had the money box, he used
Judas. But then given the choice to be a believer or embrace the World's riches, come to a place where they ultimately deny him and that's unjust. Because loyalty and reverence belongs to the King. Not to coins and money and Mammon. To betray him that way, is to reject him and choose another King. In this case, Mammon, filthy lucre. Very similar situation takes place in the book of Acts 8:9, "There was a certain man named Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the City and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming he was someone great." To whom they all gave heed of the least to the greatest saying, 'This man is the great power of Elohim.' They heeded him because he has astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard a Samarian received the word of Elohim, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet, he had fallen upon none of them and only been baptized in the name of the master Yahshua. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "Your money perished with you, because you thought the gift of Elohim can be purchased with money. You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right. In the sight of Elohim, repent therefore, of this, your wickedness. Pray perhaps, the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."
Simon was bitter because he lost his prestige among the people, when it was revealed that the power of Yahshua is the true power. He, still being after the glory of man rather than seeking all that comes from Elohim, took the path of injustice. It was revealed, Simon's heart was not loyal to Messiah, it was loyal to himself. Receiving the praise of men and the money that comes with it. So, what is this grand deception all about? What are people deceived into doing?
I'll give you a case example. There are many pastors today and I don't know if I'm going to name any names. But if you were to approach them with the truth, that the Sabbath day is on not the first day of the week, the seventh day of the week. And they might even know that what you're saying is true. But then what it comes down to acknowledging it and doing it, in their hearts they see it. But on the outside, they think to themselves, 'You know, I went to College for this. I invested my life into this career of being a minister and therefore, I don't want to have to give all that up.
All the time I spent, all the money. I have got my expenses covered here. I got my pension tied up with my denomination. Whatever.' If that is something in their hearts, and I don't claim to know what's in their hearts, they're departing from the narrow way and choosing, like Judas, riches instead of Elohim. They're now on the wrong way. The broad way, that leads to destruction. Or if I was to share with someone about the Sabbath and they think, 'You know what, I don't want to lose my job. I know he's right about this. But, I don't want to lose my job and then what will I do? I'll lose my house. I'll lose this, I'll lose that.' And they count the cost of really being Yahshua's disciple and decide they're not going to give up those things. Now to you, they maybe saying to you and to me, 'Well I'm not so sure about that. It doesn't really matter or whatever.' They got some reason that they've said to you to get you off their back. But inside, that is where those little heart motives, where's our heart really loyal to? Is it to ourselves or is it to Yahweh?
It's those little heart issues that determine who are the few that find it. And who are on the broad path. Doesn't mean everyone who doesn't receive what you say is all of a sudden on the broad path. It just means that, maybe they don't see it yet. They don't realize you haven't been persuasive enough. Yahweh hasn't revealed that to them yet, because he's got other things he's dealing with them on. So, I'm not judging anybody specifically in trying to paint everybody with a broad brush. I'm sharing with you a scenario, where someone can be every bit as much a Judas, as Judas was.
And all it took was, if you had not come and said something to them, then they would be without sin. But just like Yahshua said, "After I told them, they have no excuse for their sin."
They knew it was true. So, there is this deception out there and there are people who are deceived. They're blind. They don't realize they're doing something wrong. But then there are people who know. One time I shared this with a co-worker, I said about the Sabbath day for instance. We're supposed to keep it holy, says "Remember it and keep it holy." It was important enough to be in the 10 commandments. Why are people not doing it? It's in the scriptures. It's in the 10 commandments. It's written in stone. After having some good conversations with a co-worker, he said, "Tom, you know the Sabbath thing, you're probably right about that. But, I'm not going to change my life over it."
He counted the cost and decided he was not going to follow Yahshua in that particular area.
It wasn't long after that that his wife ran off with another man in the church and his whole family fell apart. So, I'm just sharing some scenarios where people have, they receive what you say and in their heart they're like, this guy was actually honest enough to tell me, 'You're right, but I'm not going to change my life over it.' Some people won't be that honest. They'll come up with some excuse and I'm not just talking about the Sabbath. There could be things that have been shared with you that you know are right, but you realized the cost involved and you're saying 'Uh-uh, can't do it.' So we have to have a love for the truth. We have to have a willingness to put Yahweh first in every decision that we make. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9 "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains will do so, until he's taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the master will come with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming. The coming of the lawless was according to the working of Satan with all power signs and line wonders." The scripture talks about this. What is lawless? Lawless means the condition of without law, because ignorant of it, because of violating it. Contempt in the violation of the law; iniquity; wickedness. Looking at the roots of this word in the Hebrew or Aramaic, it's clear he's not just talking about lawless in the sense of, you break one command and you're in trouble. But a sense of rebellion about it. A sense of knowing full well that this is the right thing to do and then refusing to do it. The Strong's Lexicon has a negative particle one and then thirty five fifty one, which is the Greek word translated law, says not subject to the Jewish law. Very interesting. By implication in Gentile, are positively wicked. Now, I wonder if the translators had taken cues from Lexicon. Every time you saw this word 'Lawless', it said, not subject to the Jewish law. The mystery of not being subject to the Jewish law is at work. What if by have happened? But no, that's what it means. But they didn't translate it that way, they said lawless. But even with that, if you have a lawless problem going on, wouldn't the solution be to bring a law? [Laughter] I mean, yes and to obey it, right? If you have a lawless problem, then obey the law. And it won't be a problem. It won't be a problem at all. So, the coming of the lawless one is at work and all unrighteous that's adikia, deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth. There is a motive somewhere that's causing the lawlessness. The unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. If we do not have this, love of the truth, we will
not be saved. It's one reason why the way is so narrow and so few. Because, some people, they think they love Messiah, but they don't really love the truth. They kind of buck at it. They kind of fight against it.
And for this reason, Elohim will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie. The Lie, not just A lie, The lie. That they all might be condemned to did not believe in the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, again, adikia.
Very interesting scripture, all deceivableness of unrighteousness.
We should not have any pleasure at all unrighteousness. We should have a sincere love for the truth. We see that unrighteousness itself as the core deception. And so is truth versus lies. There's unrighteousness, there's deception and there's a lack of truth and there's a belief of the lie and then there's truth.
So there's the lawless side, the Torahless side. The sides not amenable to Jewish law side and there's the truth side. The strong delusion side and then there's the revelation side. In order to not be deceived, we have to desire to know what righteousness is. We have to know what truth is. Our repentance will produce a pursuit and a zeal for the truth. It will not focus on what men may say. Our focus will be on Yahweh and what Yahweh says. To focus on what man says is the injustice toward Yahweh and disloyalty to him. Our loyalty must be to the King. What he says matters. The form of government that we are partakers in, is not the democracies and republics of this world. Our government is a monarchy. Yahshua has absolute power in mind, in our minds. To set man or money or even ourselves in that place, is to betray him like Judas did. Or to seek the praises of men as Simon the sorcerer did, is to betray him. As Simon the sorcerer was betraying him, because Yahweh was not in first place. And so, if we are in pursuit of truth, we must choose to not be among those who refuse to be amenable to the Jewish law. Instead, we will seek to be sanctified. A process of sanctification by the word of Yahweh. So with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because he did not receive the love of the truth and be saved and therefore, Elohim sends them a strong delusion. They think they're saved. They think they're his and they're not.
They should believe the lie. The lies in the garden of Eden. Hath Elohim really said, 'Oh you will not surely die if you disobey.' It's the same old trick he's been playing from generation to generation. That they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in the unrighteousness. So we want to be sanctified by truth. Yahshua prayed, 'Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word, your word, is truth.'
Isaiah 55:10 "As the rain comes down, the snow from heaven does not return there, but waters the earth and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth, it shall not return to me void. It shall accomplish what I please. It shall prosper anything for which I sent it." When Yahweh gives a command, does it prosper in us? Or does it, do we regard his words as being void - his laws null and void? Important question.
So with this unrighteous deception, do we have a love of the truth or do we have a love for the word? If you love the word, then you can love Yahshua. If you don't love the word, if you don't love to be corrected by the word, then you don't love to be corrected by Messiah. You don't want to be corrected by him. You want to continue in your unrighteous ways. And that's a dangerous place to be, very dangerous place. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and he will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There's a sin leading to death, I did not say you should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin. And there is sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death that add out all out rebellion just saying, "I'm not going to do it. I know the scripture say it, I'm just not going to do it. I just refuse to do it." That's a sin leading to death. That is departure from the narrow way. That is a venture into the broad gate. That is a refusal to walk in repentance. That's a rebellious spirit. 1 John 3:4 says "Whoever commits sin, also
transgresses the law. For sin is a transgression of the law." How can any believer say that Yahweh's law should not be obeyed? It's from his law we determine what sin is. As such a one teaching that it doesn't matter, say what it doesn't matter if you sin or not. You can just live like you want.
Romans 7:7 "What shall we say then, is the law sin? Certainly not. On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law." The law teaches you what sin is.
By putting other Elohim before Yahweh is also sin. But somehow, the teaching that transgression of the law is no longer sin, has deceived millions of people.
Because sin is very deceitful.
Hebrews 3:13 "Exhort one another daily while it is called "Today" lest you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." It's deceitful. From the beginning, the adversary is sought to trick man into being disobedient and there's nothing new under the sun. It's a simple plan he has. He can try to undermine Yahweh's word say 'Does it matter now? It's null and void.' Every false doctrine has one thing in common. It's the setting aside of Yahweh's word. I had people come to me and tell me all the scriptures are not reliable. And so they try to persuade me and convince me. Now, if they were successful on persuading and convincing me of such a thing, what do you think the next step would be? It's inevitable. They want me to listen to their words instead.
They want me to believe their words over Yahweh's words. Because when you don't have Yahweh's words, your foundation, something's going to take its place. It's your own thoughts or somebody else's opinions. That's the design of a deceiver. One who's under the influence of demonic power. No matter how nice and gentle he happens to be. If he's steering you away from the holy scriptures, the inspired words of Yahweh, and wants you to get, basically wants you to get them to follow their words, don't listen to them. We have to have a love for the truth. Yahshua says 'Your word is truth.' If you love
Yahshua, we're going to love the word. And Yahshua is the word made flesh and dwell among us. And we be held as glory. The glory of the only begotten, the Father, full of grace and truth. Is he only the word in new testament? He's the word of the old testament as well. And so, in truth, we must love and seek to heed the whole council of Yahweh's word. Not just the old testament. Not just the new testament. The whole council of Yahweh's word. Matthew 13:52, "Yahshua said, 'It goes every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom, is like a household who brings out of his treasures things new and old.' " Both. Are we as scribe, instructed unto the kingdom of heaven?
Indeed if the scripture then it is Yahweh's word that is to be heeded. 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scriptures given by inspiration of Elohim, is profitable for doctrine for reproof or correction, for instruction and righteousness. That the man of Elohim may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work." All scripture. There was no new testament in those days.
Maybe in some inspired text, but we see all scriptures profitable. So, when a person says 'The laws done away with or you don't have to heed that anymore.' You say, 'Wait a minute. All scripture is given for reproof. If I'm not doing it, I need to be corrected by it. I need to be instructed by it. That I might be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.' It's when a deceived person says, 'Well, that part of the Bible is not profitable for correction. For reproof, construction, righteousness.' That we find ourselves in deception. Now there was another time Yahshua talked about the narrow gate. And he warned everybody about the narrow gate. It wasn't in the book of Luke, it was in the book of Matthew.
Yahshua says "Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way, which leads to life and there are few, few who find it." Wow! Few that find it.
Matthew 9:37, "He said to his disciples 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers is few.'" Because there are few that find it. So the last would be first, the first last. Many are called, few are chosen.
Scary stuff. We need to do a heart check. I cannot stress this enough. I talk about it several times a year. We have to do a heart check here. Is there something you know? You know the scriptures. You know Yahweh wants you to do it. But out of putting yourself first, you're like 'I'm just not gonna do it right now. Just not gonna do it.' We have to be on the narrow
path if we want eternal life.
Romans 9:27, "Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved." The remnant is the few. For he will finish the work and cut short in righteousness, because Yahweh will make sure it work upon the earth as Isaiah said before, 'Unless Yahweh of Sabaoth, has left us a seed, we've become like Sodom, we've made like Gomorrah.' There was always a remnant. It's a quotation from Isaiah 1 "Unless Yahweh had left to us a very small remnant."
Don't take confidence in numbers.
Also, don't take confidence that you're in a small group, because it doesn't say a small people are Yahweh's people. It says Yahweh's people are small. It's not a huge number comparatively to the population that we live in. How can we be sure we're among the few? How can we be sure that we are the remnant? How can we be sure? How do we know whether we are his? How do we know whether the person that we fellowship with is really his?
Scripture says in 2 Timothy 2:19 "Nevertheless, if it's hollow foundation of Elohim stands having this seal, Yahweh knows them who are his. Let everyone who names the name of Messiah depart from adikia, iniquity." Now, remember he said 'Few find it.' If you have to find it, that means you must have to be looking for it. You can't just think that you just, pops in your head and you're just, it pops right here in front of you 'Oh okay' and you go on about your business. You have to seek him diligently, in order to be on a path a few find. If you're on a path that everybody else is on, how can you be on the path a few find? I mean, it doesn't make any sense. That's why we should not be surprised that the whole world is deceived. In fact, scripture says that would be the case. Don't take confidence in man, when you see what scripture is saying. Revelation 12:9 "The great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan who deceives the whole world.
He was cast to the earth, his angels were cast out with him." He deceives the whole world. What tools will the enemy use to deceive, is the same old trick at one generation to the next. And man will fall for it every time. And he's got plenty of agents too. One of his greatest advantages is that, he knows that those who already are deceived are willing participants to engage in deceiving others. Yahshua said about the narrow gate, "Enter by the narrow gate, wide is the gate. Broad is the way. Few that find it. It's a difficult way. He says right after that, right off the bat "Beware of false prophets. Look out!" They're not on the narrow way, they're on the broad way and they want to take you to the path that they are on. They come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. The may not even realize they're a wolf. They may think they're a sheep and they're leading you in the wrong direction. So how do you tell the difference? Just keep reading.
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? But a bad tree, bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown to the fire. Therefore, by their fruits, you shall know them.
You know them by their fruits, but what does that mean? How can we tell the difference between a good fruit and a bad fruit? What's a good fruit? What is it that even defines good? What is it even defines bad and good and evil and righteousness? Can we find a clear definition in scripture as to what's good and what's bad?
Yes, we can.
Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law, for sin is a transgression of the law. If they come to you and they are sinning, and they're trying to lead you into sin, then you know they're not bearing good fruit.
Or if they are in transgression of the law themselves and they seek to lead you to a condition, to where you are also transgressing what Yahweh's word says, what the Torah, the law says, then you know they're not bearing good fruit and they're trying to take you to where they are. They might not even know they're bearing bad fruit. They might not even know that they're a wolf, taking you away from, they may think they're a sheep taking you away from wolves. Doesn't matter. You look at the fruit. You judge what's good and evil according to what's written in the Torah, in the law and you go accordingly. Now, there's one man you can be sure you can trust that was a bearer of good fruit.
Who was that? Yahshua Hamashiach. John 15:4 "Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit. For without me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned.
So, abide in Messiah. How do you know whether you're abiding in him? How can you tell? 1 John 2:3 says, "By this we know that we know him if we keep his commandments." He who says I know him, does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, truly the love of Elohim is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him. By this we know we abide in him. He who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked.
If you claim to abide in him then just live like he did, by this we know. By this we know.
So those claiming to be abiding in Yahshua, they'll be doing the things Yahshua did. By this we know we are abiding in him. What was Yahshua like? He was a Torah keeper. He kept Yahweh's commandments to perfection. He did not regard Yahweh's law as void or done away with. He pursued righteousness and he was filled. Did Yahshua ever transgress the law of Yawheh even one time? If he ever did, he could not be our savior, he would need a savior too. 1 Peter 2:21-22 "To this you were called, because Messiah also suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow his steps. He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth."
So, he was completely with, he never transgress the law even once. If you are abiding in him, you will seek to avoid the
transgression of Yahweh's law.
Let's continue reading Matthew 7. He said in Matthew 7:18-19 says, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown to the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them." Not everyone who says to me, "Master, master" shall enter the kingdom of heaven. But he who does the will. He who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Just because someone's calling Yahshua "Master, master."
doesn't mean they're going to enter in. In fact, they might say "Master, master." Many he said, many will say, "Have we not prophesied your name?" "Cast out demons in your name?" "Done many wonders in your name?" Then I would declare to them, "I never knew you. Depart from me you who practice lawlessness." That word lawless again. I guess law is going to really matter in the day of judgment.
Sounds like it's going to matter if we're doing the will of our Father in heaven. So, if the bad fruit is sin, but those who bear bad fruit are transgressing the law stands to reason. Many of those, many on the broad road, many calling the Master yet they're on the broad road. Yet, they don't do what he says. Yet,they don't walk as he walked. Yet, they're not willing to live as he lived. They're not willing to suffer as he suffered. They're not willing to give up what he was willing to give up, even his own life.
And they're saying "Hey, we did all his great works. That proved it. We were yours."
They could not have fathomed that Yahshua was not with them, because they did all his miracles. And Yahshua just says, "I don't even know who you are. Who are you?" "You worker of iniquity." "You practicing iniquity." This practice of iniquity could be anything. It doesn't have to be practicing lawlessness. Doesn't have to be violating Sabbath. It could be just failing the love in any regard. You know you need to love and yet, you don't love.
Because every commandment in the Torah has to do with love. And he says, "I don't even know you.
You... the miracles you what? I don't know who you are." You are, after the working of Satan with all power signs and line wonders. Same crowd here. He who says I know him and does not keep his commandments is a liar. The truth is not in him. He can't claim to know him and say he knows you, unless you keep in the commandments. Not everyone that says it "Master, master' is going to make it. Those who practice lawlessness will not. The condition without law content in violation of the law is from four fifty nine, not subject to the
Jewish law. They call it Jewish, Yahweh's law.
The same word is translated. Transgression of the law here or lawlessness here. Mystery of transgression of the law. The lawless one, the one who is not amenable to Jewish law will be revealed. It's so clear. It's all connected together. It's all part of this deception that Satan was trying to, he started in the garden of Eden and then he kind of just worked his way down from one generation to the next, to take people away from the true way of love. That is outlined in Yahweh's law. Because through Yahweh's precepts we get understanding and we hate every false way. If you don't love the truth that you might be saved, you're going to start loving the false ways. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, but good understanding of all those who do his commandments, his praise endures forever.
And so this mystery of Torahlessnes - this mystery of lawlessness is now being revealed. Do not be among those. You are Torahless. You do not want to walk as Yahshua walked. If there's ever any question, that is the
question "What would he do?" "What would Yahshua do?" Some people say, you need to vote.
Maybe, but, I'm trying to picture Yahshua entering a voting booth. Just try to picture it and somehow this doesn't.. doesn't line up to me. I just... I can't do it. Some think I'm guilty because I don't vote, but... I'm trying to picture what would Yahshua do, I just can't see him doing it. Maybe I'm missing something. Just one example. It could be anything. If you know you're supposed to love your wife and you just like "I'm not going to love her. I can't love her. I'm not wanting to love her. She is this or she is that. I'm not going to be like Yahshua who loved those who didn't love him. I'm going to hate those who don't love me. And I'm going to refuse to love those who don't love me back."
Do you see why the way is so narrow and so few find it? Who is really willing to be completely sold out for Yahweh? And really put him first, to really make him their mighty one, their Elohim, their Deity, the one they worship, the one.. You could say you're following Messiah. But, are you? I'm sure we all lack something. But it's all these inner workings of the heart.
The inner workings of the heart is what's really going to matter on that final day.
In Jeremiah 6:18, we're happy you want to go back, if we have to. If you want to go back and see where that narrow way
will lead us.
Jeremiah 6:16 "Thus as Yahweh stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths. Where the good way is and walk in it. Walk as Yahshua walked. Then you will find rest for your souls and they said 'We will not walk in it.'" They weren't willing to choose the narrow way. Also I set watchmen over you saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet but they said, 'We will not listen.' Therefore, hear you Gentiles, nations and
know all congregation what is among them. Hear, O earth behold, I will bring calamity on this people, the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not heeded my words nor my law, but have rejected it.
They're lawless.
Mystery of lawlessness. Let's not be among those who do not listen to the sound of the trumpet. Let's not be among those who say, 'I will not walk in it.' Let's be among those who say, 'You know what, I'm going to do it. Yahweh, help me. I want to do my best to walk in it.
I want the narrow way.' Even if you may find, even if I'm the last person standing says I obey Yahweh. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. Psalm 14:2 "Yahweh looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand who seek Elohim."
They have all turned aside. They have all, together become corrupt. There is none who does good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity have no knowledge? Workers of iniquity. Who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call on Yahweh. Who?
will surely going to be persecuted by workers of iniquity. There are people that when they hear about you wanting to stop transgressing Yahweh's law, they're gonna go "Wha...We got to do something about this person. We're going to have to cast them out. We're going to have to.." And they might even quote verse 3 here. They might even say 'Why? No one's good.
Why even try?'
And Yahshua's saying all the workers of iniquity will not enter in the narrow gate.
They don't have knowledge. The workers of iniquity have no knowledge. Why? Why don't they have any knowledge? They've rejected knowledge. They've rejected the old paths. Hosea 4:6 "As my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. They don't want the knowledge. And because you've rejected Yahweh he says, 'I will reject you from being priest for me. You will not be a Melchizedek. Because you have forgotten the law of your Elohim." Forgotten the laws. That's the key everyone likes to quote this scripture. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Well, knowledge of what? Is it because they don't know that some conspiracies behind the scenes? No. knowledge. It's because they have forgotten the law of Therefore, we cannot reject the law of Yahweh. Elohim. They did not remember Yahweh's law and Psalm 14:2-4 "Yahweh looks down from heaven upon the therefore, they lack knowledge and wisdom, in order to change their life. They have, like Eve in the garden, rejected Yahweh's law which was, you shall not surely eat that. You will die if you do. And they have said "Well, I will not die. I'll be like.. I'll be all right. I will not surely die." If we want to be kings and priests, we cannot reject
children of men, to see if there are any who understand who seek Elohim. They have all turned aside. They together become corrupt. There's none that does good. No. Not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call on Yahweh?" Oh! But we do need to call on Yahweh.
We don't just need to accept correction in our walk. We also need to call upon Yahweh. Joel 2:31-32 says, "The sun shall returned to darkness. And the moon, the blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh. It shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of Yahweh shall be saved for in mount Zion and Jerusalem there should be deliverance as Yahweh has said among the remnant." Those who are on the narrow path whom Yahweh calls. We got to seek to be the remnant. Brothers, sisters, men, women, children, fathers,
mothers, pastors, teachers, elders and lovers of truth, it is time to seek Yahweh.
It is time to seek Yahweh while he may be found and call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to Yahweh and he will have mercy on him. And to our Elohim, he will abundantly pardon. You are not without hope. There is a path to redemption. There is a way to be saved. He says, 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Nor your ways my ways,' says Yahweh. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' We need to let
Yahweh's thoughts be our thoughts. What does he want from us?
Unrighteous man forsake your own thoughts. Submit to Yahweh's thoughts and his ways. For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and did not return there but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void. It shall accomplish what I please. It shall prosper anything for which I sent it. ahweh wants his word to bear fruit in our lives.
He doesn't want it to return void. And if you think his law is null and void, you're in a dangerous place. If you're rebellious about it. If you don't know any better, all the mercy in the world is available to you. But now, it's time to seek Yahweh. And not be among those who are deceived, thinking the
law is void and null as not for today. Romans 3:31 says, "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not. On the contrary, we establish the law." We must choose to let his word accomplish something in our hearts. Do not let Satan steal it out of you by tricking you into thinking the law is null and void, and
abolished, and canceled or disposed of or set aside or changed or whatever.
Isaiah 56:1-2 says "Keep justice and do righteousness, for my salvation is about to come
of my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the Son of Man, who keeps from defiling the Sabbath and keeps his hand from doing any evil." It's time to sow to ourselves righteousness if we repent and turn away from sin and transgression of the law, we will receive mercy for those times that we've sinned. And Yahweh will reign righteousness on us, where we lack it. Sow for yourselves righteousness. Hosea 10:12, "Reap in mercy. Break up your fallow ground. For it is time to seek Yahweh 'til he comes and reigns righteousness on you." You plowed wickedness, you've reaped iniquity. You've eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, and the multitude of your mighty men. The multitude of your mighty men. Don't trust in the multitudes. Don't trust in the fact that there are many others on the path there with you. That's not a sign that you're on the right path at all. You got to forsake the herd mentality and follow Yahshua and walk as he walked. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Yes, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of Elohim. But through Messiah, we're justified freely by his grace and the redemption is in him. Hallelujah for that. Blessed be Yahweh for that. So Peter, as he called to the multitudes in the book of Acts 2, "I call to everyone this day. Accept humbly the fact that we all have sinned. We need the mercy of Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah. That our righteousness does not come by commandment keeping. It does come through faith in Yahshua the Messiah. And even though we understand the source of our righteousness is not ourselves, we do need to walk this out. Repent.
Repent. And let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Yahshua Messiah for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
And that repentance does not mean, you today or instantly perfect after you repent, you never make another mistake the rest of your life. It's just that when you realize you've made a mistake, you realize you've been deceived, you realize that you've been doing something you shouldn't be doing. You get on your face in confession in repentance and you say, 'Yahweh, I did not realize I was doing this. Please forgive me. I want to keep your law now. I want to do what your word has said. I want to pursue righteousness. I want to live like Yahshua did. I want to let my repentance bear fruit and my works be works that demonstrate repentance. Help me to overcome, in Yahshua's name.' If that's your attitude, you're on the narrow way. Hallelujah, you're there!
It's when we got these excuses "Oh well, it's no big deal. It's all right. He'll forgive me." No. Or you say, "I'm a Gentile. I don't have to do all these. I'm a Gentile. Only Jews have to repent." I've heard people say that, believe it or not. What did Paul do? He says, "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. I declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem and through all the region of Judea and then the Gentiles, that they should repent. Turn to Elohim and do works be fitting repentance. That's what I'm calling people to."
For while it's true that repentance apart from Messiah will get you nowhere.
It's also true, you can call on master all you want, but you must do the will of our Father in the heaven.
Because not every one calling him Master really believes he is. Instead they want their own flesh to be their master. Their own selves to be their master or some pastor to be their master. Because we're walking out repentance. We're seeking his ways. We love the truth. We love the word. Because we're walking out of repentance, we want to walk in righteousness, by seeking to apply his law to our hearts as a new covenant promises. After all, how can you say the law's in your heart when you don't want to do it? If the law's in your heart, the obedience to the law reflect on the outer layer. Because we're walking out repentance, we long to be over comers. Because we're walking out repentance, we're watching and listening and waiting earnestly for the sound of the trumpet and we're doing our Father's will. We're not putting Mammon in first place and Yahweh in second place. We're not putting our job in first place and Yahweh in second place. We're not putting anything ahead of Yahweh. Yahweh is first in every decision, every act, every word, every deed. And having prepared ourselves as the wise versions with lands filled with oil and eyes focused upward. We're pursuing the example of Yahshua Hamashiach and as we do that, we can hear these words one day, "Fear not little flock. For it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." May it be so with us. May it be that we are his repentant little flock that accepts the entire word of Yahweh. That little flock that's seeking to walk out repentance in placing the hope of salvation in the blood of the land Yahshua Hamashiach. The little flock, the few that find it. Those who are willing to do the will of our Father in heaven no matter what the cost is. Those who are abiding in him and walking as Yahshua walked that we might be where he is.
Are you the little flock? Am I the little flock? Only we can answer that for ourselves. Are we doing the things that we are supposed to be doing? Putting our trust in Yahshua for righteousness. And seeking to walk as he walk as he now abides in us.
And I'm not one that says, 'Because you're not keeping the Sabbath or doing something that I do, that you're on the broad path that leads to destruction.' It's always always always a heart issue. Yahshua did say, 'If I have not come and spoken, they have no excuse for their sin.' If you are blind you have no sin.' So people are blind. They don't know any better. I don't condemn them. I don't know whether they know. I don't know what their heart's motive is when I do share with them the things that I come to understand. I don't know. I just know this. I want to be on the narrow way. I want to be on the path a few find. I'm not looking for a crowd. I'm not looking for a big group. Even there are 480 people that came to the feast this year, for all I know, only one half of them are really his people. They're putting their confidence in their Sabbath keeping and Feast keeping and yet, they go home and they beat their wife. Or they do some other thing they know is wrong and they just refuse to repent.
I don't know. Or a wife just says, 'I'm going to rebel against my husband. I don't care what the word says. I'm going to do what I want to do.' I don't know.
Only Yahweh knows them that are his. I just know this. For me, and I hope you see this for yourself, we need to be on the narrow path a few find. We have to pursue it. It needs to be something we're willing to give up everything to gain.
An old saying goes, "He is no fool, who gives up what
he cannot keep.
To obtain what he cannot lose."
As we are willing to give up what we cannot keep anyway. As we are willing to obtain that thing which we can never lose.
May Yahweh bless you, as you seek to be that little flock.
And may Yahweh have mercy on us all. Oh, Yahweh in Yahshua's name, you are the awesome holy one.
Father Yahweh, open up our eyes to see any areas of compromise in our hearts. We want every thought, word and deed to be like Yahshua Hamashiach. We know it at all order. But that is our desire, our heart, to see your kingdom established in our hearts and on this earth as it is in heaven.
Give us more of your hidden manna. Open our eyes to see wondrous things out of your love.
And forgive us Father Yahweh, for we have failed.
For you've been deceived and we didn't know. We ask for your compassion and your grace. We confess our sins before you. And Father Yahweh, if there are anybody and those sound of my voice praying with me right now, and there's something you're dealing with them on and they're just not repenting. They're not willing to put you first. They want to be on the throne part time and you on the throne part time, teach them Father Yahweh. You're a full time Elohim. You're not a part time Elohim, you're always on the throne. And we know that you're enthroned in our praises and we praise you for the revelation of your word, for the truths that you've shown us. For we are not worthy of the least of the mercies and truth that you revealed to us, your servants. But even so, Abba Yahweh, deliver us from every plan and power and desire of the enemy. We do not want to be deceived. We want to glorify you and spend eternity, basking in the glory of your presence.
Grant that to us in Yahshua's name. For truly yours is the kingdom and power and glory, that all majesty honor and worship belongs to you. Yahweh Elohim, Yahweh our mighty one, forever and ever. In Yahshua's great name we pray, Amen.