One of the leaders asked him, “Good rabbi, what should I do to
obtain eternal life?” Yahusha said to him,
“Why are you calling me good? No one is good but Yahuah! [YHVH for future
reference-my emphasis] You know the mitzvot[commands] —
‘Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony,
honor your father and mother, . . .’” He
replied, “I have kept all these since I was a boy.” On hearing this Yahusha
said to him, “There is one thing you still lack. Sell whatever you have,
distribute the proceeds to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then
come, follow me!” But when the man heard this, he became very
sad, because he was very rich.
Yahusha
looked at him and said, “How hard it is for people with wealth to enter the
Kingdom of YHVH! It’s easier for a camel to pass through a
needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of YHVH!”
Luke 18:18-25
(Also see Mattith-Yahu[Matthew]
19:16-24 & Mark 10:17-23)
Stuff. We all have it. Some more than others,
but none the less we all have possessions of one form or fashion. Many of us
are rather attached to our materials. What if Yahusha HaMashyach (the
Son of YHVH, Yah’s Salvation; Messiah) asked you to sell or give away ALL that
you had and follow Him wherever He went? Could you do it? How many of us would
make excuses as to why we could not do it, as we tried to justify in our own
minds that it is fine to keep it all? Lazarus was not the only one that Yahusha
HaMashyach asked to abandon everything. I have found throughout my
walk with Yahusha that if we want an example of great discipleship then we
should look to the Apostles.
As Yahusha walked by Lake Kinneret, he saw two
brothers who were fishermen — Shim‘on, known as Kefa, and his brother Andrew —
throwing their net into the lake. Yahusha said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men!” At
once they left their nets and went with him.
Mattith-Yahu 4:18-20
This is amazing! Kefa and Andrew did not even
hesitate in obedience to Yahusha HaMashyach’s call. Yahusha
HaMashyach saw them at their trade, or career, and called to them to make them
fishers of men. The Word does not say that they first went to their families
and said good bye, it does not say they went and gathered a few possessions
before leaving, but instead it says that they LEFT EVERYTHING. They
left their nets, families and everything they owned to follow Yahusha
HaMashyach. They did this in blind faith and obedience, because Yahusha
HaMashyach did not say, “I am the Mashyach/Messiah, the Lord of lords, come and
follow me,” He simply said, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
Going on from there,
he saw two other brothers — Ya’akov[James] Ben-Zavdai and Yahuchanan[John] his
brother — in the boat with their father Zavdai, repairing their nets; and he
called them. At once they left the boat and their father
and went with Yahusha.
Mattith-Yahu 4:21-22
(see also Luke
5:10-11)
Then soon after we see Ya’akov and Yahuchanan
do exactly the same thing! They were even with their father, yet without a
second thought they left him, their career, and all they owned and knew to
follow Yahusha HaMashyach. They did not hesitate or question the call. All four
of these men left what was comfortable and safe for them in trade for the
unknown and dangerous. They showed the perfect example of what it is to die to
oneself and live for Yahusha HaMashyach. They followed the teacher that would
tell them to crucify themselves. History, from many sources, tells us that each
of His disciples lost their lives in horrific ways because of their testimony
for Yahusha HaMashyach. They lost their own lives because they answered the
call from Yahusha that very instant and never turned back.
So here is the question. Can we put ourselves
into the very sandals of these Apostles? The fact of the matter is
we do have to give up everything to follow Yahusha HaMashyach.
As they were traveling on the road, a man said
to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Yahusha
answered him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds flying about have nests, but
the Son of Man has no home of his own.” To
another he said, “Follow me!” but the man replied, “Sir, first let me go away
and bury my father.” Yahusha said, “Let the dead bury
their own dead; you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God!” Yet
another said, “I will follow you, sir, but first let me say good-by to the
people at home.” To him Yahusha said, “No one who puts
his hand to the plow and keeps looking back is fit to serve in the Kingdom of YHVH.”
Luke 9:57-62
Yahusha HaMashyach warns the first of the men
to approach him that he would be giving up everything. They would be
homeless in the physical sense but to follow Yahusha HaMashyach we MUST be
willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING, no matter what it is. Yahusha HaMashyach says
to the second that if we are to follow Him, to let the dead bury the dead. To
many this would not make sense, BUT in fact it makes perfect sense. The “dead”
that bury the dead are spiritually dead and dwell on the earth (in the world).
They do not know or follow or refuse to follow Yahusha HaMashyach. The “living”
are spiritually alive and abiding in the spiritual Kingdom of Heaven. They
follow Yahusha HaMashyach, spreading His Good News all over the place, no
matter the cost. The last man asks Yahusha HaMashyach if he may first go and
bid farewell to his family. A question that would not bother any of us to grant,
however, Yahusha HaMashyach warns against this when He says that no one who has
started a walk with Yahusha HaMashyach and looks back to the “old way” is fit
for the Kingdom of YHVH. LEAVE BEHIND EVERYTHING to follow the Lord.
We even have to love Him in such a way that
the closest and strongest love we have here with a person should seem like
hatred for that person in comparison.
Whoever loves his
father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves
his son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me.
Mattith-Yahu 10:37
“If anyone comes to me
and does not hate his father, his mother, his wife, his children, his brothers
and his sisters, yes, and his own life besides, he cannot be my talmid[disciple/follower]. Whoever
does not carry his own execution-stake and come after me cannot be my talmid…So
every one of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has cannot be my talmid.
Luke 14:26-27; 33
Remember, YHVH will not contradict Himself.
Therefore, when Yahusha HaMashyach is telling us to “hate” our family, He is
not literally telling us to be hateful to them and have no love at all.
Instead, He is telling us that in comparison, our love for Him and Father should
totally tip the balances and out way our earthly love for our loved ones,
making it seem like utter hatred. He wants to see us make the
sacrifice. He wants to be able to give us a command and we will follow it no
matter how much our loved ones want to oppose it. Remember, we are
to follow the proper order of things. The “rank ladder” is as
follows:
YHVH the Father, Yahusha YHVH’s Only Begotten
Son
Husband
Wife
Children (unmarried children)
This means that the husband must submit to the
Father, the wife to the husband, and the children to the husband and
wife. However, if a child receives a direct command from YHVH, then
they are to obey it because it exceeds the authority their parents have over
them. Same goes for the wife. If she receives a direct command from YHVH to do
something, she is to do it no matter what opposition she
meets. Bottom line, YHVH is the Commander in Chief. What He says
goes. Period. Now, wives and children please do not go off and tell
your parents or husbands you are going to do such and such because YHVH told
you to if indeed He said nothing. If you are living in a YHVH fearing and
obeying house, then what YHVH commands to one will be blessed by the others.
The only ones who would oppose YHVH’s commands are those who are not fellow talmidim[disciples/follower].
Now I said “unmarried children” for a reason. After they marry, they have left
their parents’ house and authority and become one person with their spouse. The
proper order starts all over again with a new unity between man and wife.
For this cause a man
shall leave his
father and mother and
cleave to his wife
and they shall become
one flesh.
Bereshith[Genesis]
2:24
and said, ‘For this
cause a man shall
leave his father and
mother and cleave to
his wife and the two
shall become one
flesh’?
Mattith-Yahu 19:5
‘For this cause a man shall leave his
father and mother and
cleave to his wife,
and the two shall
become one flesh,’
so that they are no
longer two, but one
flesh.
Mark 10:7-8
Believing men and women please do not go
and marry an unbeliever. This is rebellion to the Father[Abba]. In Old
Testament, He commanded the Hebrews not to marry outside of their tribes. This
was in a physical nature, but today since we as the Ekklesia are Spiritual
Israel, we are not to marry outside of the “tribe” or Ekklesia. This is not
said to be mean or bossy. But instead, YHVH tells us this so that we do not
stumble in our walk and fall away all together because of the others unbelief
and worldly actions. Instead of just the one being unsaved, there is
possibly now two lost souls instead of the one. Though Yahusha HaMashyach would
have none parish, He says that many will.
This is the word which
YHVH has commanded, … saying, ‘Let them marry who is good in their eyes, but let
them marry only within the clan of their father’s tribe.’
Bemidbar[Numbers] 36:6
This passage, like much of the Word of YHVH,
has both physical and spiritual meaning. The physical meaning of this scripture
is that the Hebrews were not to marry outside of their tribe (i.e. the 12
tribes). Today, with spiritual Israel (the Ekklesia) we are not to marry
outside of THE FATHER’s family.
Now there is a difference if the two are
married both unbelievers and one comes to be a follower of Yahusha HaMashyach
and the other does not, then they are to remain together if the unbeliever
desires it, as said in 1 Corinthians 7, because they could help lead them to
sanctification. However, the believer must keep a strong guard up and have
their spiritual armor of YHVH on at all times so that they do not get pulled
back down.
Anyways, back to my main point. When Yahusha
HaMashyach tells us not to love anyone more than Him, this also can apply to
our materials. If we are making excuses as to why we cannot leave it
ALL, then it is showing that we love that thing more than Yahusha HaMashyach.
If we truly love Yahusha HaMashyach in a way that makes our love for all others
seem like hate, then why would it be so hard for us to sell or give away or
destroy all we own to follow Him in all His Glory?
Again I will ask, can we do what these others
have done? Can we give up everything if he asked us to do so?
This is where we come face to face with a
dangerous reality because the answer is, YES! We do have to give up everything
we have to follow Yahusha. We do have to love him in a way that makes
our closest relationships in this world look like hate. And it is entirely
possible that he will tell us to sell everything we have and give it to the
poor.
But we don't want to believe it. We are afraid
of what it might mean for our lives. So we rationalize these passages away.
"Yahusha wouldn't really tell us not to bury
our father or say good-bye to our family. Yahusha did not literally mean to sell all we have and give it to
the poor. What Yahusha really meant was…"
And this is where we need to pause, because we
are starting to redefine Biblical discipleship (Talmidim of Yahusha) We are
giving in to the dangerous temptation to take the Yahusha of the Bible and twist him into a version of Yahusha we are more comfortable with.
A nice, middle-class, American Yahusha. A Yahusha who does not mind materialism and who
would never call us to give away everything we have. A Yahusha who would not expect us to forsake our closest
relationships so that he receives all our affection. A Yahusha who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe
on our comforts, because, after all, he loves us just the way we are. A Yahusha who wants us to be balanced, who wants us to avoid
dangerous extremes, and who, for that matter, wants us to avoid danger
altogether. A Yahusha who brings us comfort and
prosperity as we live out our Yahusha HaMashyachian spin on the American dream.
But do you and I realize what we are doing at
this point? We are molding Yahusha into our image.
He is beginning to look a lot like us because, after all, that is whom we are
most comfortable with. And the danger now is that when we gather in our church
buildings to sing and lift up our hands in worship, we may not actually be
worshiping the Yahusha of the Bible. Instead we may be
worshiping ourselves. The apostate church today is worshiping a false Yahusha. They have omitted parts of the Word that are not comfortable
to them. They will manipulate scriptures to mean what they are comfortable
with, using only the parts that fit the “point” they have to make and leave out
the entirety of the context from which it is taken in Scripture. Today, Satan
is in nearly every church, no matter the denomination, smiling because they are
all fooled.
Instead of molding Yahusha HaMashyach into our
own image, conforming Him to fit our lives and comforts, we need to put our own
lives and comforts on the Cross and crucify them. Bind them to the flogging
post and thrash them raw. We must die to our own lives, desires, and comforts.
We must step out of our comfort zones and leave behind all we know. Pick up our
cross, as we are going to be throwing our flesh on it constantly and follow Yahusha
HaMashyach. A great mentor of mine once told me, Yahusha HaMashyach is the
strongest man that ever-walked earth. He was able to walk through His entire
life resisting sin, dying to self, and living for the Father. He NEVER sinned.
He died a blameless death on our behalf. Never once did He defend Himself. That
is true strength in my eyes. How many times in our lives have we been in
situations where we snap or feel the need to retaliate? How many times do we
feel humiliated if we say nothing? Well that is exactly what Yahusha HaMashyach
did. He was needlessly slapped, beaten, spit on, had horrible things said to
Him, yet He said nothing unless it was of the Father. He HUMBLED himself to the
ridicule and abuse. He KNEW as we should KNOW that the Father is His defense.
See, sacrifice is not only giving up all we
own to follow Yahusha. It is also giving up our own Will and
desires for those of the Father. It is dying to our own flesh and living in His
spirit. It is storing up our treasures in Heaven and not on this earth. When
you know the Treasures of Heaven, nothing on this earth is worth giving up Yahusha
HaMashyach. With that said, if you truly know who Yahusha HaMashyach, our
Savior, is then nothing can sway you from your walk with Him.
Yes, we have in a sense signed our death notes
as soon as we answer the call of Yahusha HaMashyach. Every day we are dying to
ourselves, and if it be the will of YHVH, some of us will be martyred for Yahusha
HaMashyach’s Name. We may be homeless and give up all we own. But do not fear.
Whatever YHVH asks us to do, HE WILL PROVIDE A WAY. Just have strong Faith, and
don’t let anyone put doubt in your heart.
“And do not seek what you shall eat
or what you shall
drink and do not keep
worrying.
“For the gentiles of the world seek all
these and your Father
knows
that you need
these.
“But seek the reign of Elohim and
all these shall be
added to you.
“Do not fear, little flock, because
your Father did
delight to give you the
reign.
“Sell your possessions
and give in
kindness. Make
yourselves purses
which do not grow old,
a treasure in the
heavens that does not
fail, where no thief
does come near nor
moth destroys.
“For where your
treasure is, there
your heart shall be
also.
Luke 12:29-34
YHVH will give us all we need. Just keep in
mind, needs and wants are two totally different things. Yes, sometimes as a
reward our Father YHVH will give us a want as a reward for our obedience. But
in these times, we should have no other want than the want of MORE Yahusha. We need not worry about our needs, for the Father
knows them and will meet them. Just keep faith and a strong prayer life with YHVH.
Each of our walks is a ONE on ONE relationship. Do not rely on the words of Man
solely as your source of truth. Dive deep into the Word of YHVH, and
keep a profoundly strong prayer life. A real prayer life is always born out of
anguish. Not the “woe is me” anguish, but the kind that comes from seeing what
the world has become, what the church has become and what is taking over it,
what is now acceptable as the norm in society that is abominable to YHVH. When
you can feel the anguish of the Father, you can better understand His burning
anger at the world and with the Church. In contrast, you also see His
overwhelming love and compassion as He has held back His hand for so long. He
is a patient YHVH, but the times we are in, the signs that He is giving all
around us that Yahusha HaMashyach warned to look for, tell us that His patience
has run out. He is giving His people a time frame to hear and obey His call. Go
to where He will call you. Leave just as the disciples did with no regrets. If
you are disobedient, then the time frame will pass and you will have missed
your chance. I will end this study with this passage:
And He, lifting up His eyes toward
His taught ones, said, “Blessed are
the poor, because yours is the reign of
Elohim.
“Blessed are you who hunger now, because you shall be satisfied. Blessed
are you who weep now, because you
shall laugh.
“Blessed are you when men
shall
hate you and when they shall cut you off
and shall reproach you and cast out your
name as wicked, for the sake of the Son
of Aḏam.
“Rejoice in that day and
leap for
joy, for look, your reward is great in
the heaven, for that is how their fathers
treated the prophets.
“But woe to you who are
rich
because you are receiving your comfort.
“Woe to you who have been
filled
because you shall hunger.
Woe to you
who are laughing now, because you
shall mourn and weep.
“Woe to you when all men
speak well
of you, for thus their fathers did to the
false prophets.
“But I say to you who are
hearing:
Love your enemies, do good to those
hating you.
“Bless those cursing you
and pray for
those insulting you.
“And to him who hits you
on the one
cheek, offer the other also.
And from
him who takes away your outer garment,
do not withhold the inner garment either.
“And give to everyone who
asks of
you. And from him who takes away
what is yours do not ask it back.
“As you wish men should
do to you,
you also do to them in the same way.
“And if you love those
loving you,
what favour have you? For
sinners, too,
love those loving them.
“And if you do good to
those doing
good to you, what favour have you?
For even sinners do the same.
“And if you lend to those
from whom
you expect to receive back, what favour
have you? For even
sinners lend to
sinners to receive as much back.
“Rather, love your
enemies and do
good and lend, expecting none in return.
And your reward shall be great and
you shall be sons of the Most High.
Because He is kind to the thankless and
wicked ones.
“Therefore be compassionate as your
Father also is compassionate.
“And do not judge and you
shall not
be judged at all. Condemn not and you
shall not be condemned at all.
Forgive and you shall be forgiven.
“Give and it shall be
given to you. A
good measure, pressed down and shaken
together and running over shall be put
into your lap. For with the same measure
with which you measure, it shall be
measured back to you.”
Luke 6:20-38
You will reap whatever you sew…
Go in peace my dearly beloved brothers and
sisters in Yahusha.
YHVH bless you and make His face to shine upon
you. May He always be gracious to you and look upon you with favor. Pray
diligently, and rest in Yahusha at peace waiting patiently and intently for His
voice. It may come to you in any form or fashion:
Dream
Thought
Song
News headline
Something someone says that makes sense only
to you
etc……
Remember, as you heed and obey His voice, it
will grow stronger and louder inside of you. But as you disobey and ignore His
voice, it will fade and He will stop speaking to you all together and abandon
you to your own sin, to be delusioned like the rest of those who dwell on the
earth and not in the Spiritual Kingdom of YHVH. If the world hates you for your
testimony of Yahusha HaMashyach, then rejoice loudly! For the King of kings
LOVES YOU!
In the Love, Light, and Truth of Yahshua,
Sister Aviela Levia
Romans 1_16
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