The Narrow and Wide Gates

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The Narrow and Wide Gates

The Narrow And Wide Gates

 

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Study Notes and Slides

Introduction: 

We have seen through the former teaching on the rebuilding of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) that it was rebuilt through much struggle and that truly is the picture of the life of the believer, so today I hope to reveal how by looking at the Hebrew language within the Scriptural writings whether greater revelation can be gleaned. We previously saw that though YAHWEH always desired that his people live in prosperity in a land that was flowing with milk & honey the reality was that they only returned to him & his Torah when the road became Narrow while they were in captivity stripped of pleasures and deprived of the Temple. Today we will address some rather interesting truths hidden within the Brit Chadashah the Nazarene writings to ascertain how the nature of our faith is revealed within the words of Yahshua our Master and the soon returning King. 

Slide 2

The Wider Gate:

In the Scriptures when YHWH completes the Marriage ceremony on Mount Sinai and gives his people Yisrael the Torah which is his Eternal covenant there is a perceived thought that the way to Salvation & blessing has a wider sense found in obedience to his Covenant.  We know that obedience is the standard that YHWH has and will always use. We read in Debarim (Deuteronomy) 28 how exceedingly blessed the people would be if they did not turn to the left or the right but did all according to his Commandments (Mitsvot). To the people this must have seemed like an easy way to blessing and having the Presence, the Shekinah of YHWH in their midst making them a force to be reckoned with, so they said the following and I am sure they said it with all good intention:

Shemoth (Exodus) 19:7- 9 So Mosheh came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which YHWH (the Lord) commanded him. 8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that YHWH has spoken we will do.” So Mosheh brought back the words of the people to YHWH. 9 And YHWH said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.”

So Mosheh told the words of the people to YHWH (the Lord).

Slide 3

Rather than being an easy & wider road to Salvation & Blessing we find that the people of Yisrael were quick to turn from his ways even before the Ketubah the Marriage contract was given them, this being the words of YAHWEH written for them as the Ten Covenant Words the ten Commandments which Mosheh smashed before their eyes because of their disregard for the oath they had made to YAHWEH only 40 days earlier after which they made a golden Calf to worship in total disregard of his commandment. From this incident we find Yisrael living in constant struggle to uphold the Covenant resulting in many attacks of the enemy through the many years of the Judges & the Kings that finally led to the exile for Yahudah (Judah) as we dealt with in the Rebuilding of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) & the dispersion among the Assyrian Empire for the Northern Ten Tribes. The point of all this struggle and failure however was in fact to help the people see that the Gate for their Salvation & Blessing was not as wide as they thought but very narrow and only found in the “Chesed” (Favour or Grace) of YAHWEH according to his promises that go right back to Bereshith (Genesis) 3:15 where the promise is first given that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the Serpent revealing the promise of the Machiach (Messiah) but also to show all mankind that there is a perpetual struggle between the Kingdom of light & the Kingdom of Darkness.  

Slide 4

Romans 10:4 For Messiah is the goal of the ‘Torah unto righteousness’ to everyone

who believes. 5 For Mosheh writes about the righteousness which is of the Torah,

“The man who does these shall live by them.”

 

What this scripture suggests is that from the very beginning the Torah had the purpose to show the people that they, in their own strength could not attain to the righteousness of YAHWEH and that this knowledge would bring them to the Machiach (Messiah) a road that by all rights is not easy and wide but difficult and narrow.  

 

Yahshua’s Teaching:

Slide 5

 

The particular section we will look at today centres on the beginning of Yahshua’s ministry and is usually referred to as “the Sermon on the Mount.” Yahshua is dealing with many aspects of the life of a faithful believer giving many instructions & directions. The particular verses we will extrapolate are found in the following:

 

MattithYahu (Matthew) 7:13- 14 “Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide – and the way is broad – that leads to destruction and there are many who enter in through it. 14 Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed which leads to life

and there are few who find it.

 

Slide 6

 

To fully appreciate the depth of meaning within these verses we need to investigate various words from the Hebrew meaning & breakdown of individual words something that will bring to light some amazing truths. 

 

 

 

Slide 7

 

  1. Narrow: 

 

The first word to analyse is the Word “Narrow”:  rye Hatsar with the following meaning: 

 

Strong’s Number H6862 – enemy, distress, narrow, small, tribulation etc.

 

Slide 8

 

In the Blue letter Bible we can see it used in Proverbs 23:27 to demonstrate its usage as “Narrow.”

 

Mishle (Proverbs) 23:27 For a whore is a deep pit, And a strange woman is a narrow well.

 

In the Blue letter Bible from 1 Samuel 2:32 it is used as “Enemy.”

 

1 Shemu’EL (Samuel) 2:32 And you shall see an enemy in My Dwelling Place, despite all the good which Elohim does for Yisra’ĕl and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.

 

Since Hebrew is such a deep & intricate language we need to understand how the same word can mean Narrow & enemy in a different context or at the same time.

 

Note: It is also interesting to note that the word Tsar or Tzar was also formerly the Ruler of Russia and gives the sense of a person with “Dictatorial powers” therefore truly an enemy in the sense of the Hebrew Word. 

 

To grasp how the way “the Derek” in Hebrew from which we get direction is linked to an “Enemy” is that the way of Salvation & Blessing is obstructed by an array of Adversaries or Enemies to make the Way extremely difficult & concealed that only a few find it.

 

Slide 9

  

 Note: (Hidden Truths Hebraic Scrolls NT) The Earlier manuscripts have the word “door” instead of “Gate” which was used in later manuscripts. The Aramaic word “Tarea” can be translated as “door” or “gate”. Since the tent had a door this could be appropriate as well, since this ties in with the words of Yahshua in:

Yahuchanan (John) 10:9 “I am the door. Whoever enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and shall go out and find pasture.  

 

Also often Yisrael is used for a title of the Machiach (Messiah) therefore the way to enter is through Yisrael the door since we know the Covenant was made with the House of Ya’acov (Jacob) & the House of Yisrael. 

This also takes us back to Ya’acov in Bereshith (Genesis) 28:17 which is hinting at Yahshua being the narrow door:

 

Bereshith (Genesis) 28:17 And Ya’acov was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of EL, and this is the gate of heaven!”

 

It also gives us a Remez level (hint) in the following where we see Balaam’s donkey which stood in the narrow path and saw the Malak of YHWH who is Yahshua giving also the Sod level (the hidden) meaning. We walk through the “door” being Yahshua Ha Machiach (the Messiah). 

Yahshua’s ways however are the ways of the Mosaic Torah which are hard for many who recoil at keeping the Biblical feasts calling them legalistic. Also Sabbath keeping makes the path even more “Narrow” but according to his Word we read in:

 

Slide 10

 

Chazon (Revelation) 14:12 Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones; here are those who keep the commandments of Elohim and the faith of Yahshua.

 

Chazon (Revelation) 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.  

 

Each Shabbat we read the importance of Shabbat found in:

 

Shemoth (Exodus) 31 in which we read that the Shabbat will be “the sign between YAHWEH and Yisrael (His people) for the generations to come.” 

 

We see from all this just how “Narrow” the way is with Yahshua being the “Door” or gate and the path being the Torah of truth bringing us to completeness in Yahshua. No-one gains entry without Yahshua but the way is the Torah also and not living a lawless life since Yahshua said:

 

Yahuchanan (John) 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.

 

Slide 11

 

In the time of Yahshua there were the Pharisees some of which believed that by following their weighty commandments which were derived from the Written Torah as well as the Oral Torah that were passed down and eventually written in the Talmud which we read as the traditions of the elders they could be totally righteous. However Yahshua spoke the following to demonstrate just how “Narrow” was the way of Salvation that could only be received by the “Chesed” favour of YAHWEH and not by their works:

 

MattithYahu (Matthew) 5: 27-28 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

 

Yahshua in revealing the difficulty of being without sin which makes the path of redemption come down to the favour of YAHWEH which we know is in him so as to direct all those who desire righteousness to find it in him without neglecting the Torah which is still the way of righteous living.  

 

Slide 12

 

  1. The Wide or Broad:

 

This Word is the Word “M’ruachot- thfrmwith some interesting truths: 

 

H7305 from the Blue letter Bible: Means space, respite, and enlargement. 

 

What is most amazing is that the root word is “Ruach” which means Spirit (H7305- H7308). 

 

With this understanding we can say that Yahshua is saying that the way of Destruction has been widened by these evil Spirits (Ruachot). By the work of Ha Satan the way of Destruction is broader since Scripture says:

 

Slide 13

 

Romans 9:27 Yeshiyahu (Isaiah) also cries out concerning Yisrael: “Though the number of the children of Yisrael be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved.

 

Though in the Natural Yeshiyahu (Isaiah) was speaking in the P’shat or direct about the returning Yisraelites from the exile when only 43,360 people returned from Babylon while many were enticed to remain within the prosperity of Babylon as it is today, on the other hand Sha’ul is writing in the “Darash” or comparison of those that are truly saved since Yisrael is notably a reference to those in Covenant whether in a physical or Spiritual sense. This reminds us of the Words of Yahshua:

 

Slide 14

 

MattithYahu (Matthew) 7:21- 23 “Not everyone who says to Me, Adoni, Adoni(Lord, Lord), shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, Adoni, Adoni (Lord, Lord), have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

 

The practising of Lawlessness is equivalent to being without Torah. To do the will of the Father is to be obedient to his Word the Torah but not to do as these were doing though the works appear honourable as representing him but these people still had no love for him in their heart because they did not know his heart which is his Torah. We must consider carefully to whom Yahshua is referring in these verses. We must ask ourselves who in the World is doing the Works of healing and casting out of Demons but not doing the will of the Father which is clearly revealed in his Torah since Yahshua did not come to abolish Torah.

Sadly the modern Church has tried to broaden the way of Salvation by simply focussing on Yahshua (Jesus) but has neglected the path to him which has always been the Torah as he is its goal. The verses in Chazon (Revelation) 14 & 22 previously Quoted in slide 10 however challenge that thought and should be seriously considered.

 

 

Slide 15

 

  1. H’abdun or Abadon

 

Strong’s Number H12 – meaning Destruction or known in Hebrew as “Abadon” (Nfdba) or in Greek as “Apollyon”. 

 

Referenced in the following: 

 

Esther 9:5Thus the JewsH3064 smoteH5221 allH3605 their enemiesH341 with the strokeH4347 of the sword,H2719 and slaughter,H2027 and destruction,H12 and didH6213 what they wouldH7522 unto those that hatedH8130 them. 

 

Chazon (Revelation) 9:11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.  

 

What we see is the hidden teaching in the Hebrew language that is never revealed in the English since Yahshua is teaching that there are Spirits (Ruachot) working to widen and to bring many to destruction and through the above verse we know that this is a Malakim (Angel) who is also known as the Angel of death:

 

1 Corinthians 15:25-26 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

 

We are talking about a being that was cast out of Heaven with Heylel or Ha Satan: 

 

Chazon (Revelation) 20:14 Then Death and Hades (Sheol) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

 

Slide 16

 

  1. Ashar or Asher

This word is the name of one of the Tribes of Yisrael and can mean to walk straight, upright & knowing you are on the right path or Derek (the way). Alternately it can mean to be happy. 

 

We could say that people are happily walking into destruction thinking they are upright like those who think they are righteous as in MattithYahu 7:22. Yahshua also said that these will deliver you up thinking they are doing the right thing therefore the broad road is full of people who think they are doing righteousness and this is not about just unbelievers. Sha’ul (Paul) understood that he was one of these before the favour of YAHWEH found him.

 

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Yahshua the Messiah came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 

 

 

Slide 17

 

  1. M’tsuq or Mutsaq

 

Strong’s Number H6693 – meaning to oppress or distress.

 

The reason the way is hard pressed is that the enemy is oppressing & obstructing the way to the gate because Yahshua said that those that endure to the end will be saved. 

 

  1. Mathy’m or M’atiym

 

Strong’s Number H4962- The root word is Math and means few as in Mankind therefore a few of Mankind in a limited time frame. 

 

 

Conclusion

From this one verse by using the understanding of the Hebrew & its root words imbedded within we come to some interesting conclusions:

 

Slide 18



  1. This teaching reveals to us that the Gate to life is Narrow but also that we are hard pressed on every side but we also know that the Favour of YAHWEH is with us through his RUACH (Spirit) and by his strength we will endure. 


  1. Though the path & the Gate is Narrow we have been given the revelation of the path being the Torah that has narrowed the way to the Gate but we have the Key to the Gate being Yahshua the joy of our life for through him & his Torah has the way been cleared of all obstacles since he promises blessing and Salvation in this life and the World to come if we are faithful. 

Amein. 



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Who Is the Messiah? - The Miracles Begin - Part 4

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Who Is the Messiah? - The Miracles Begin - Part 4

Who Is the Messiah? – The Miracles Begin - Part 4

Video Teaching

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Study Notes and Slides

(Slide) Yahshua HaNotzri came in the wake of the bulldozer of sinners with penitent hearts, Yochannan HaMatbil (John the Immerser). Yochannan levelled the ground for a smooth landing and a handing over of the baton of Yahweh’s will to the next accelerant – King Messiah Yahshua. 

Yochannan was the rightful High Priest of the A’aronic priesthood, exiled to the wilderness and crying out for man to grasp the reality of truth. This is why Yahshua went to him. According to Jewish law, he should have gone up to Jerusalem and presented himself to the High Priest and before the Sanhedrin. But the High Priest in Jerusalem in Yahshua’s day was illegally appointed by the Judea’s current occupiers – Rome. Added to this, many of the Sadducees and Pharisees were impostors. They were either wrongfully appointed or on King Herod’s take. 

Yahshua’s mikvah was an anointing, but it was also an act of consecration by him to his new ministry as High Priest. It was by no coincidence that Yochannan soon fell to Herod’s sword, for while there is an A’aronic Priest, the High Priest of the Order of Melchizedek cannot resume his office.  Remember, the A’aronic Priesthood is an interim Priesthood. 

(Slide) Later, when Caiaphas rent his garment (Matthew 26:65), even though his appointment was suspect, this act openly displayed his inadequacy, disqualifying the whole framework of the current priestly service. “And he that is the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes. (Leviticus 21:10)” This is why the Temple had to be destroyed. If the Temple stands, it has to be adequately manned. Tearing the High Priest robes was akin to profaning Elohim’s character. It’s ironic that Caiaphas made himself guilty of the very law he was appearing to defend. In fact, the penalty for tearing priestly garments was death.

From this point, Yahshua became our High Priest, having being publically consecrated to assume office. When the Ruach fell, much later, this symbolised the Father’s acceptance of his office through the shedding of his blood. 

(Slide) Now when Yahshua underwent Mikvah, the Ruach HaKodesh came upon him. Now though t’shuvah (repentance) was central to Yochannan’s ministry and immersion, t’shuvah is not the only reason one immerses. One who sins infrequently still requires regular immersion for matters of bodily uncleanness. The human body by definition is subject to impurities that have nothing to do with sin. Messiah was without sin, but he himself was not above his own Father’s instruction, which required one to be born of water and of spirit. “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new Ruach HaChadash (renewed spirit) in you; (Ezekiel 36:25-26a)” 

(Slide) This means that this two-fold process is a requirement for eligibility into the Kingdom of Elohim, that of a water and spiritual birth. Water and air are among the most abundant things on earth. Yahweh is not stingy with such a critical requirement. Nor is one denied salvation if they don’t receive Mikvah. Rather it’s a natural course of action in the process of one’s walk after receiving salvation.  

Water into Wine

(Slide) The concept of water and spirit is linked to Yahshua’s very first miracle. Note what Messiah Yahshua said to Rav Nichdimon (Nicodemus) during their secret meeting: “Yahshua answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of Elohim unless they are born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5)’” What was Yahshua’s first miracle? It was turning water into wine! These waters at the wedding feast weren’t just any waters. They were waters of ritual purification. The water Yahshua transformed to wine, was the same waters the Jews used to purify themselves.  

(Slide) “On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Yahshua’s mother was there, and Yahshua and his talmidim had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Yahshua’s mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’ ‘Woman, why do you involve me?’ Yahshua replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you. (John 2:1-5)”

“On the third day…” The third day of the week, Tuesday is the preferred day for weddings in Israel because on the third day of the creation week, Elohim pronounced things “good” twice (Genesis 1:10,12); the only time He did so in the seven days of Creation. Therefore the third day is known as a day of double blessing, the best day of the week to begin a new life.

“…a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.” The mention of this wedding symbolised the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, when Messiah Yahshua marries his bride (Israel), reminding us that the beginning of a matter is wedge in the end and the end of a matter is wedged in the beginning. The town Cana (Chanah) represents creation. The root-verb קנה (qana) means to acquire or create. The name Channah means “gift from Elohim” and Chanukah means “to dedication.” 

“Woman, why do you involve me?’ Yahshua replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’”  The request from Yahshua’s mother represents an acknowledgment of a waning joy and hope and the crying out for Moshiach to be hastened. So from this we know that Messiah can come before a predesignated time if we continue to tarry with him. 

(Slide) Furthermore, the phrase, “why do you involve me” is actually a Hebrew Idiom used five times throughout the TaNaK, which actually should read, “What to me and to you?” which means, "What has it to do with you and me?" In other words, ‘You have perceived that something is wrong, so you want me to intervene now?’ This eludes to the remedy (Messiah) that has been prepared before the sickness (sin). The use of the title “’woman’ over ‘mother’ denotes the seed of a woman who will overcome the serpent. What will it be overcome by? The blood, represented by the wine, which the guests comment is better than this first wine (the first blood, that of animals), which is not as good as the latter blood – the shedding of Messiah’s blood.  Miriam asks for new wine. Why? “How wonderful and beautiful they will be! The young men will thrive on abundant grain, and the young women will flourish on new wine. (Zechariah 9:17)”

 

(Slide) “But there were there six water casks of stone, set for the purifying of the Judeans, which held two or three nine-gallon-measures each (twenty or thirty gallons). (John 2:6)” Also note the six stone casks. These correspond to the six tasks that Moshiach has to accomplish. 

These are called the six Messianic Expectations:

  1. The correct genealogy.
  2. Be anointed King of Israel.
  3. Return Israel back to the promised land
  4. Restore the Temple in Jerusalem.
  5. Bring peace to the world and end all war.
  6. Bring knowledge of Elohim to the world.

These six tasks are derived from the six things that Adam lost after the fall!

Yahshua is six things: He is the Word (dvar or memra) (John 1:1), the Light (John 1:4), the Son Elohim (John 1:14), Lamb of Elohim (John 1:29), Messiah (John 1:41), and being the Sovereign (John 1:49).

Each water cask contained 30 gallons of water. There were 6 casks totalling 180 gallons of water corresponding to the 180 years of Yitzhak’s (Isaac’s) life. The Binding Yitzhak, known as the Akedah in Genesis 22 was a type of Moshiach.   

(Slide) Here we get to the true spiritual significance of these large water casks for purification. Messiah is making a statement about purification. Water purifies, but so too does the spirit, represented by transforming the water into alcohol, a product that is symbolic of the Spirit. In this case it is wine. Fermented grapes also represents Messiah’s blood. 

Messiah symbolically drew blood from within stones. Remember the idiom, “It’s like drawing blood from a stone,” which denotes trying to do the impossible. Well, Messiah’s first miracle was on this extreme level. 

(Slide) Just as in an actual birth of a child there is water and blood, so the new birth, must also be by water and blood. 

“This is the one who came by water and blood—Yahshua HaMoshiach. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Ruach who testifies, because the Ruach is emet (the truth). (1 John 5:6)”

The guests consume the wine, symbolically partaking of Messiah’s blood, which would be shed for the remission of sin.   "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the Rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the Rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink... (Exodus 17:6)" Yahshua is our rock of salvation according to Psalm 62:2 and he was smitten and out poured his blood. So it is confirmed that the beginning of a matter is wedge in its end and the end of a matter is wedged in its beginning, because when Yahshua was pierced out came water and blood.  “…one of the soldiers pierced Yahshua’s side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. (John 19:34)” 

(Slide) This incident also connects Messiah to the water libation ceremony that is carried out at the conclusion of Sukkot, where water and wine is poured out togther. 

“And on the great day, which is the last of the feast, Yahshua stood and cried out and said, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scriptures have said, rivers of water of life will flow from his belly. (John 7:37-38)’” The occasion of this event is the last great day of Sukkot (John 7:2) and the setting is the water libation ceremony at the Temple. A priest had a flask of gold filled with water and another has a flask of gold filled with wine. There were two silver bowls perforated with holes like a narrow snout. One was wide for the water the other is narrow for the wine. The priests poured the wine and water into each of their bowls. The wine and water mixed together. The wine flowing slowly through the narrow snout and the water flowing quickly through the wider snout.

 

(Slide) Who is the Messiah? He is Yahshua, the Rock. The rock that contains the water of rebirth and spirit of redemption that comes in fire. “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my Elohim is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalms 18:2)” 

(Slide) Now, it’s not a popular message, but here goes. You can either take Yahshua up as your shield (Psalm 18:35) by taking up two inverted daletot, two corner stones, rejected by the builders of the Torah, or you can walk away. But in time Yahshua, the rock which was supposed to be your help, will become your end. That’s why capital punishment usually comes in the form of stoning. It represents Yahshua, who should be a person’s magen, his shield of salvation, but instead to a disobedient person who refuses to repent, he becomes a stone that causes injury and even death.

 

(Slide) “Then (David) took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his elohim. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh unto the birds of the heavens, and to the beasts of the field. David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of Yahweh Almighty, the Elohim of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day Yahweh will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is an Elohim in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that Yahweh saves; for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. (1 Samuel 17:40-49)”

David gathered up five smooth stones. Why? Each stone represented five of the Messianic Expectations, with he, himself, be the fulfilment of the sixth (the genealogy). 

  1. The correct genealogy.
  2. Be anointed King of Israel.
  3. Return Israel back to the Promised Land
  4. Restore the Temple in Jerusalem.
  5. Bring peace to the world and end all war.
  6. Bring knowledge of Elohim to the world.

All five stones and David himself represented Messiah. Notice, he kept them in a shepherd’s pouch. For years we’ve looked at the law of stoning as if it was a rabbinic observance, seeing it mishandled with the incident with the adulterous woman and the stoning of Stephen.  But, if it is executed correctly, the cast stone represents Messiah who vanquishes our enemies. 

(Slide) The Hebrew word for “stone” is even, spelled alef, beit, nun.  This is an acronym for av ben, which means, “father son.” Every stone is the union of father and son. 

(Slide) David slew Goliath with a sling and stone. A sling is made out of natural materials that are readily available in the wilderness and the stone is as plentiful as the dust under one’s feet. 

We’ll take a moment to watch this short video to see the lethality of the simple stone and sling. Watch carefully at the speed and accuracy of the stone as it is launched from the sling. 

(Slide) Where did David hit Goliath? The forehead, the Gulgoleth (Golgotha), the skull! With what? A stone! This alludes to Messiah’s victory at the place of the first skull – Adam’s skull. 

Every attack of the enemy is directed at the mind. It is the enemy’s goal to cause us to make a decision against what we know is right, and to make repeated wrong decisions, become comfortable with these wrong decisions and have us repeat them so often that it feels impossible to take another course of action. 

We see that Yahweh, with great effect, uses the stone to damage and to preserve.  

We must remember that a stone can be used to help or hurt us, wine can be used to relax or inebriate us and water can drown or renew us. It’s all in how we use them. 

These are just some of the gleanings found in Yahshua’s miracle of changing water into wine.

Defining Miracles

Before we go any further, let’s look at the concept of miracles. What are miracles? 

(Slide) “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant…There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Sovereign. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same Elohim who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given…the working of miracles…But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:1,4-8, 10, 11)”

Miracles are a gift! Working miracles within the body are often like the big gun that everyone in a survival video game wants to carry and use. No one usually fights over who is doing first aid or carrying the radio. Many want to do miracles, healings, deliver prophecy or teach!

The Gift of the Working of Miracles is a manifestation of the Spirit of Yahweh that comes in the form of a supernatural act. In other words, every occurrence which contrasts with the ordinary happenings of life is counted a miracle or wonder. Miracles are not meant to just comfort or convenience humankind. Miracles show Israel how deeply Yahweh cares.“…that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,  which He worked in Messiah when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places…(Ephesians 1:18-20)”

(Slide) The greatest miracle of all is that Yahweh is working His mighty power in King Messiah YahShua through us as an expression of manifesting His will in Heaven to earth.

The word miracles comes from the Greek word dunamis which means "power and might that multiplies itself." The Gift of the Working of Miracles operates closely with the power gifts of faith and healings to bring authority over the Sitre Ahura (Dark Forces), sickness, sin, and the binding forces of this age.

Miracles come in the wake of ministry not in the front of it. Miracles confirm ministry. “…these signs will follow those who believe: ‘In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’ So then, after the King had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of Yahweh. And they went out and preached everywhere, the King working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amien. (Mark 16:17-20)”

(Slide) The Torah lays down the principle that miracles are no test of the truth of the thing for which their testimony is invoked. “If a prophet arise among you who giveth a sign or wonder, and the sign or wonder comes to pass, but he desires to lead you into idolatry, you shall not hearken to that prophet, for Yahweh your Elohim is trying you to see whether you truly love Yahweh your Elohim (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)” Miracles alone do not prove a religious truth, as they are performed also in the cause of untruth. But truth accompanied by miracles prove truth. We are expected to not put or faith in a truth based on a miracle alone, but put our faith in a truth because it is truth alone and let a miracle confirm it.  

(Slide) The Hebrew word for miracle is nes. It is the same Hebrew word for flag pole. A miracle is an elevated event. Something extraordinary that happens, allowing us to see Elohim’s hand clearly.

(Slide) Turning the water into wine is not the miracle. Anyone of us can turn water into wine, it takes a little time. You have a grape vine, you pour water at the base, you tend it, grow grapes, pick them off, crush them and you make wine. Water turns into wine. But it doesn't happen instantly. The miracle in the water and the wine is the time. King Messiah YahShua transcended the time. Here we have this wedding in Canaan of Galilee and you have six full water pots for the water of purification. That's the first miracle in the story, He was proclaiming himself the Messiah. I have the authority to take charge over the water that makes clean, that is the most holy . I, and I alone, can command you to fill those jars. That's the miracle.



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Who is the Messiah? - Solitary Refinement - Part 3

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Who is the Messiah? - Solitary Refinement - Part 3

Who is the Messiah? - Part 3

Solitary Refinement


Video Teaching



Study Notes and Slides

(Slide) In part 1 we looked at how Messiah fulfilled the prophecy of the shoot that would rise from the stump of Jessy fulfilling the prophecy in Jeremiah 23. “Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will raise up from David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (Jeremiah 23:5)” 

We looked at the prophetic meaning of his name, being Yah’s salvation that we have cried out for. In Hebrew thought, the name of something always embodies its character and mission and the Son’s name shouldn’t be that greater mystery, but it is. We saw that his name matters. Even in the Tanach, Solomon (Shlomo HaMelech) challenges us to know the Son’s name. “He said to me: ‘Who went up to Heaven and came down, and who is holding the wind in his palms? Who has bound the waters in a napkin and who has established all the ends of the Earth? What is his Name, and what is his Son's Name, if you know? (Proverbs 30:4)’” 

We looked at how Yahshua is the embodiment of the Torah. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)” We looked at how Yahshua is also the testimony, in that his life and mission are a testimony that we cleave to. “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring--those who keep Elohim's commands and hold fast their testimony about Yahshua. (Revelations 12:17)” The difference between the Torah and the Testimony is that the Torah is instruction and the Testimony is the experience of that instruction. 

We looked at how he is the embodiment of Israel and how Israel is the embodiment of him with regard to both Israel and Messiah both being referred to as Yah’s first born son. “(Yahshua and his parents) stayed (in Egypt) until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Adonai had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’ (Matthew 2:15)” “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. (Hosea 11:1)” Together with Yahweh we are all echad with Yahshua in that compound unity, that complete inseparable wholeness. Echad, which we translate as “one” means a two or more individuals acting as if they are one individual in every conceivable way. Does this mean that attaining this state forfeits our personality? No more than a big toe can become a right eye and vice-versa. In other words, just as there is a diversity in the human anatomy, so to there is a diversity in the body of Moshiach, but all work in complete harmony. 

In Part 2 we saw how Yahshua’s parents took great pains to keep him concealed before his ministry, and how even after his ministry commenced that there were things he didn’t do. Thus teaching us that there is a level of covertness and discernment that we should maintain in our ministry, moving in accordance with the Ruach, which sometimes reveals us and sometimes conceals us. This is why Yahshua says, “Behold, I’m sending you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: therefore be as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16)” 

We looked at how he is Moshiach, the anointed one, who is capable of such a great and thorough rescue from sin and death. The concept of an “anointed” or “consecrated one” signifies Yahweh’s special seal of authorisation, separating one from his own desires to do His will. An anointed one carries Yahweh’s Divine emblem. 

We learnt how the term Moshiach carries the root word Moshe, meaning “to be drawn from,” specifically from the Father’s bosom. Messiah was in the bosom of the Father as it says, “No man has seen Elohim at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. (John 1:18)” This use of a specific part of the anatomy denotes that Yahshua came from the heart and was extended out from the Father as His right arm. “Elohim exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. (Acts 5:31)” In other words, Yahweh has His whole heart are set on us and is using His best means, his own right arm to save us. 
We looked at how Yahweh used John (Yochannan) to cultivate the hearts of the masses, preparing souls for the coming of the Deliverer. We looked at Yahshua’s first act of ministry, immersing himself in a gathering of living waters (a mikvah). We learnt quite a bit about a mikvah’s significance and its various applications. Both teachings are available on our website, including video, PowerPoints shows and text format.

The Ruach HaKodesh

(Slide) Once immersed, Yahshua receives the anointing of the Ruach HaKodesh and following this an audible testimony to Yahshua’s identity emanates from the sky. “…and the Ruach HaKodesh descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. (Luke 3:22)” 

What’s interesting is the apparent lack of astonishment by any onlookers at the incident. Two anomalies took place. One is the physical manifestation of the Ruach HaKodesh and the other was an audible voice from heaven. We know that Yochannan was present and that the two manifestations were to confirm to him that Yahshua was the Messiah. “I didn't recognise him, but I came immersing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel. And Yochannan gave this testimony, saying, ‘I saw the Ruach descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (John 1:31-32)’”

(Slide) Yochannan’s water ministry was designed to identify the Messiah. In other words, he knew that eventually someone was going to be immersed by him who would receive a visible manifestation of the Ruach and an audible confirmation from heaven. 

(Slide) Considering the lack of awe from any onlookers, it is reasonable to assume that the audible voice from heaven could have been a “bat kol.” A bat kol is a low level form of Divine Inspiration. It literally means the "daughter of a voice" [or understood as an "echo"]. Normally, a bat kol was only heard by tzaddikim, who were otherwise worthy of prophecy. Nevertheless, when the situation demanded it, it could even be heard by gentiles. In many cases, it was heard by everyone worthy, but in others, it was only heard by a single individual. The bat kol was heard until the Sanhedrin ceased to function (around 361 CE). In Jewish literature the bat kol is often referred to as having “the the voice of a dove.” So the manifestation of a dove descending is possibly visible speech. In other words, fiery Hebrew letters clustered together and fluttering down like a dove emanating with a bat kol. 

The Children of Israel often saw the sound of Elohim’s voice. "And all the nation saw the voices and the torches and the voice of the horn. (Exodus 20:14)” In The Book of Revelation, we also find John seeing the sound of a voice. “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden menorot. (Revelations 1:12)”

(Slide) A bat kol is like a voice heard in the mind. Although it sometimes sounds like a voice from heaven, it is a prophetic, rather than a physical voice, and it is only heard by those for whom it is intended. Regarding the bat kol it is written, "Your ears shall hear a voice behind you. (Isaiah 30:21)” In the Talmud a bat kol is mentioned as complaining like a dove in the ears of a rabbi walking through the ruins of Jerusalem saying: “Wo to the children, because of whose sins I have destroyed my house” – Tractate Berakoth. 3a

The voice of Elohim without the filter of the echo causes trauma and death to a hearer. “ And all the people saw the thunder and the lightning and the noise of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moshe, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have Elohim speak to us or we will die." (Exodus 20:18)” In order that people not be killed, the bat kol was required. Whenever the voice of Yahweh is heard and there is no physical harm, it’s reasonable to assume it is a bath ḳōl. In the era of the prophets the bat kol was almost non-existent, becaue the Na’avi was Yah’s mouth-piece, but as prophecy departed the Ruach HaKodesh manifest with the bat kol became widespread. 


(Slide) In the account of the fulfilment of the latter rain prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 in chapter 2 of Book of Acts we see the Ruach being poured out, resembling tongues of fire. “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (Acts 2:2-3)” The “tongues of fire” is a direct reference to Hebrew letters. At this time the talmidim of Yahshua begun to speak of the testimony of Yahshua in languages they did not know. Again, the audible nature of what occurs has a visible manifestation. More than likely, the dove, was “black fire on white fire,” yet another expression of the Hebrew language fluttering in a cluster of Hebrew letters resembling the movement of a dove. 

(Slide) So what is the Ruach HaKodesh? Is it a person, one of a triune G-dhead, or is it the Holy Ghost?

(Slide) Ruach simply means “breath.” Dishonest scribes have mystified it by applying ecclesiastical terminology to it with the word “spirit.” They did the same with the term “angel” instead of messenger, “apostle” instead of sent-one, “holy” instead of set-apart and “church” instead of gathering and they did it to many more terms to wrestle meanings away from original context. 
The Ruach is literally Yahweh Elohim’s breath that is a Divine force that gives life to all things. The ant crawls and the earth rotates by every life-giving exhale of Yahweh’s breath. The Encyclopaedia of Judaica says that “the most noticeable difference between sentient beings and dead things, between the living and the dead, is in the breath. Whatever lives breathes; whatever is dead does not breathe.”

Although Elohim created man to live on a physical plane, He did not close off the spiritual completely. Yahweh arranged creation so that even while in the physical world, man would be able to open a door to the spiritual and experience the Divine. This would constitute the highest perfection that a mortal human can attain. “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18). “…in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:4)” 

(Slide) The Ruach HaKodesh is the actuator that triggers or “quickens” Divine prophecy and wisdom. It is that Divine force that causes Yahweh to directly influence everything in the universe. By the Ruach, an attribute of Yahweh, maintains creation from moment to moment. The Father is constantly breathing life into existence. “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and life. (John 6:63)” The Ruach HaKodesh is a higher form of this breath, an overriding power that contains a more concentrated awareness of the Father. The Hebrew word Ruach is used 389 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. What do the Nazarene Writings and the Talmud have in common? They both use the expression “Ruach HaKodesh.” The Ruach HaKodesh is never mentioned by name in the Torah. In fact, it’s not until half-way through the Scriptures until it is mentioned. It is first mentioned in Psalm 51:11 and then only used twice in the Book Of Isaiah (Isaiah 63:10,11). The more usual expression for Holy Spirit in the Tanach is “Spirit of Elohim” or “Spirit of Yahweh.” 

(Slide) Though the Ruach is sometimes assigned a male gender it is not considered a person. The Shekinah is sometimes assigned a female gender, but it is not considered to be a female person. The Shekinah is a comforting manifestation of the Ruach. It is that part of the Ruach that has gone into exile with Israel and gives us hope during hardships. 

How does one obtain the Ruach HaKodesh? There are ten steps a person must go through before attainment of the Ruach HaKodesh. (Click through) They are:

1. Constant study and observance of the teachings of the Torah (Torah)
2. Scrupulous care not to violate a single law (care; zehirut)
3. Constant diligence to fulfill every commandment (diligence; zerizut)
4. Living completely free of sin, in thought and in deed (cleanliness; nekiut)
5. Avoiding even the permissible when it may lead to wrong (abstinence; perishut)
6. Purifying oneself of all sin, both past and present (purification; tahora)
7. Dedication to Elohim, far beyond the call of the Law (piety; chasidut)
8. Absolute negation of the self (humility; anava)
9. Loving Elohim so much as to dread all sin and evil (fear of sin; yirat chet)
10. Total negation of the worldly (holiness; kedushah)

(Slide) On occasion, the Ruach can come upon a person on occasion without all of the afore mentioned steps or without the act of deep spiritual meditation. Incessant and fervent study of the Torah alone can induce this state. It can also be attained through deep meditation in fixed prayer. It can also come automatically through a great act of faith, or from the observance of a commandment executed through pure joy.

King David was able to rouse the Ruach through music.


(Slide) Once a person had completed all these steps, he was then ready to engage in the exercises of meditation (hit'bod'edut) that were used to attain the Divine inspiration of the Ruach HaKodesh. These exercises would consist of the contemplation of Divine names, as well as the chanting of psalms and prayers. The purpose of these exercises was to totally isolate the mind, both from external stimuli and internal thought, leaving it perfectly clear to receive the divine influx.

This is why immediately following his immersion and confirmation, Yahshua is taken by the Ruach into isolation for a period of time. Yahshua, full of the Ruach HaKodesh, left the Yarden and was led by the Ruach into a solitary place. (Luke 4:1)” 

(Slide) Some Gospel accounts say that he was taken away to be tempted by HaSatan. Others say he was ministered to by angels and that his temptations came at the close of his 40 day fasting and seclusion when he became very hungry. Rather, his 40 day isolation was filled with deep meditation to prepare him for his time of tempting at the conclusion of this time. 

“Then Yahshua was led by the Ruach into the wilderness to be tempted by the HaSatan. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of Elohim, tell these stones to become bread. (Matthew 4:1-3)”
After refusing HaSatan at all the chief points of entry that are exploited by the enemy, temptations and cravings of the flesh (in the form of sating hunger) wealth, and power, the Accuser departs until another opportune time. After his departure, Yahshua is then ministered to by messengers from Heaven. “Then the devil left him, and messengers (angels) came and attended him. (Matthew 4:11)” 

(Slide) But what happened during these forty days? 

(Slide) Answer: Everything that happened to the Children of Israel in the desert for 40 years, happened to Yahshua in 40 days. He was in a human body, an organic tomb, a weak flesh-bag. As we read through the Torah and we see hardships buffet the nation and how Yahweh literally trims back those parts of the multitude that are weak, lazy, stubborn, arrogant, fool hardy, half-cocked, ignorant, impatient, selfish, frightened, frustrated, haughty, headstrong, lust filled, forgetful, disrespectful, unappreciative, angry and obstinate, Yahshua is trimming away those parts of himself that that are prone to the same sin of the first humans. To avoid food for forty days, brings a person very near to death. You can’t go much longer than forty days without food before it begins to cause irreparable damage to the body. Yahshua took his mind and made it superior to all his other organs. The brain should say to the tongue, “I’m in charge” and the heart “I’m in charge” and all his members, “I’m in charge!” 

A mind of one entirely resolved to serve Messiah with his entire being, needs to be removed from everything for a time. Whether it’s for 40 seconds, 40 minutes or 40 years. What’s the significance of 40?

(Slide) The number 40 represents transition or change; the concept of renewal; a new beginning. The number 40 has the power to lift a spiritual state. Consider: When a person becomes ritually impure, he must immerse in a ritual bath, a mikveh. The Talmud tells us that a mikveh must be filled with 40 se'ahs (a measure of water). Immersion in a mikveh is the consummate Jewish symbol of spiritual renewal. It is no accident that in the story of Noah, the rain poured for 40 days, and submerged the world in water. Just as a person leaves a mikveh pure, so too when the waters of the flood subsided, the world was purified from the licentiousness which had corrupted it in the days of Noah. Moshe was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days and came down with the stone tablets. The Jews arrived at Mt. Sinai as a nation of Egyptian slaves, but after 40 days they were transformed into Elohim's nation.

It takes 40 days for an embryo to be formed in its mother's womb. 40 represents the four sides of the world, each side containing the ten Sefirot (esoteric powers).

(Slide) Many times in Rebbe Yahshua’s ministry we find him removed from people, in a quiet solitary place, alone with Yahweh, deeply immersed in concentrated prayer. “But Yahshua often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:16)” 

The act of hit'bod'edut was a constant feature of Yahshua’s life and ministry. The portion of time he spent in isolation far outweighed the time he spent in anyone’s company. “It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He (Yahshua) spent the whole night in prayer to Elohim. (Luke 6:12)”

“After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. (Matthew 14:23)”

Think about it, for 29 years Yahshua grew up in virtual obscurity, preparing for what was all of 1 to 2 ½ or 3 ½ years of ministry - depending on your view. The ratio of prep far exceeds the ratio of actual execution of a task. 

(Slide) Even before his crucifixion we find him in isolation, praying for so long that his own talmidim fall asleep. “Then Yahshua came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His talmidim, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray. (Matthew 26:36)’” He prays for 1 hour, takes a break, prays again and takes another break and prays for a third time before alerting his talmidim of his betrayal and capture. It’s reasonable to assume that during this time Yahshua prays for approximately three hours on his own. 


(Slide) Much of what we know of the concept of hitbodedút “self-seclusion,” comes to us from Rabbi Nachman of Breslov from around the time of the 1700s. But hitbodedút goes all the way back to the time of Avraham, who stood by night gazing at the stars in complete isolation, tending his sheep. This is why the profession of shepherd was so prized by Torah Scholars, because it provided an income and also required them to spend many, many hours, days and weeks away from any type of human contact. 

Hitbodedút refers to an unstructured, spontaneous and individualised form of prayer and meditation that is not meant to replaced fixed prayer, but supplement it. It was said by Rabbi Nachman that it is best observed in one’s mother’s own tongue, meaning that is to be engaged in one’s native language rather than strictly Hebrew. Rebbe Nachman's religious philosophy revolved around closeness to Elohim and speaking to Elohim in normal conversation “as you would with a best friend.” We see Yahshua very much engaged in this type of no ritual prayer before his crucifixion, travailing in the Spirit. 

(Slide) The best place to do hitbodedut was in a field or forest, among the natural works of Elohim's creation. But failing this, one can use an empty room to perform self-seclusion. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)”

Why is hitbodedut so important? Yahweh seeks open and honest communication and the best way for this to occur is when one is alone, unhindered by the temptation to posture prayer for anyone nearby. If one is engaged in public prayer, such as in a large gathering at the Western Wall, it is traditional to speak no more than above a whisper, so the words spoken are only heard by the one who is praying. "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. (Matthew 6:5)” 

Encouragement and compliments on the elegance of another’s prayer endangers the recipient by inhibiting his reward to be confined to the earthly realm rather than allowing his Heavenly treasury to be added to. 

(Slide) Yahshua spent time surrendering his own will. He had a body at this time like we do now and it takes time to unload our own will and clear our minds. But when we do we can more understand Yahshua’s mindset when he spoke the words, “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 5:30)” 

A believer should find time each day to hide himself away from the distractions of the world and commune with the Father in deep reflective prayer. Yahshua did this and we should certainly considering doing so ourselves. 

(Slide) Yahshua became a human being. He was fully man, known in Hebrew as the בן–אדם, ben-'adam. So if he was human, he was comprised of a form that contains the knowledge to do good and evil, a yetza hara and a yetza hatov, a form of evil and a form of good. He needed to bring his body into full submission, depriving it of food and all human contact. His time out in the wilderness was more of an ordeal than his crucifixion, how many of you know it! His actions out there were more critical, because it cemented his resolve out there. HaSatan gave him everything a man can be offered in this world. In comparison, a beating and a hanging from a tree was a walk in the park. The shame he stood to bear if he failed over the physical agony of the execution tree doesn’t compare. You now shame is the most painful thing a human being can bear. Yes he experience shame on the tree, but it wasn’t his own shame. It was ours. 

Messiah is the son of man.

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