Category Archives: Quick Thought
Five Stages of Grief and Leaving the World
As we look around the landscape of this growing movement that is the “Hebrew Roots” or “Messianic Judaism” awakening, I started to see a pattern. Most people, when coming out of the mainstream church went through period of being “alone” (however you define that). My family was “alone” yet we had our parents who were also on this journey. Alone in the sense that we didn’t have a community to fellowship with.
I equate that to the pattern Paul went through. He KNEW the law (as Christians profess to KNOW Jesus). He had to be alone for three years to RELEARN / UNLEARN everything he thought he knew. I see this as the cleansing period. After that period, for some, the Father starts to bring people of like mind together and building communities. In between all that time I see another pattern emerged.
I liken coming out of the religious institutions to the five stages of loss / grieving. The five stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance are the framework for many people’s walk:
Denial
How could I possibly believe all these lies from my church and family?!
Anger
All you pagan idolatry in Christianity have no idea! Stop posting on my wall, I have no business being your friend, you’re all lost!! That’s pagan! You’re pagan! Pagan!!!
Bargaining
Ok, we can be friends, just dont do your pagan stuff around me or ask me to do them with you. I’ve settled down now, sorry.
Depression
No one wants to be my friend. I’ve burned too many bridges with family too. I’m alone and I’m the only one doing what I do. Was this a mistake? Was I lied to again?
Acceptance
I am Israel. I’ve come out of Egypt and my Father will gather me to my people in His time, not mine. I have accepted Yeshua as my Messiah and follow Torah, that is my purpose in life.
Keep moving forward
After dealing with the stages of loss/grieving, it’s time to get down to Business!
Business – Now that I know who I am and I know my purpose (Ecclesiastes 12:13), I can be about my Father’s business of taking the true Gospel of the Kingdom to the whole world while He gathers the two sticks of Judah (Jews who have the Torah) and Joseph (Christians who have the Messiah) together as one bride (Israel) who prepares for the coming bridegroom (Yeshua, The Messiah).
Releasing the Rope: Be in the world but not of the world
Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to fellowship with fellow Hebrews and learn from fellow Torah researchers, Zack Bauer & Rob Skiba, at the Declaring the End from the Beginning Conference in Beaumont, Texas. It was a nice visit and Zach premiered the third installment of the Greater Exodus series. (Part 1, Part 2).
While there were many key takeaways from the conference, I’d like to share an insight that Zach shared while we had lunch. He shared a dream that another gentleman had, a vision, if you will. His vision was of him holding onto a rope, much like you would for a tug-of-war game. The harder this man held on to the rope the more it burned his hands, the more pain he felt. Of course, as soon as he let go, the pain, while not immediately gone, stopped. He released his grasp on the rope and it no longer burned him.
The Rope & The World
If you haven’t guessed, the rope was a picture of the world or the current state of his world. The Father was leading him, like many of us, to let go of what holds us to this world: material possessions, jobs, city-life convenience, and even family and friends.
The harder we hold on to those things, the more resistance and pain can be felt.
In my personal experience, I’ve had many encounters with holding onto ropes that I should have let get much earlier. Whether it was working at a sports bar as a DJ or even an unhealthy relationship – holding on those things often leads to more pain than was ever needed. If you simply let go, the pain felt would stop much sooner.
“It’s easier said than done”, some might say. Part of me even agrees with that sentiment. Yet, when we make the effort and choice to let go, while not always immediate, the blessings come. I know a lot of Hebrews who struggle with their professional careers that force them to work on the Sabbath. Leaving that job would or could bring a lot of burden on their families. That’s understandable. But where is our faith in this situation? Does is it lie in our secular paychecks or in the rewards / blessing our Creator provides for us.
We need only look at how the Ancient Hebrews were provided for in the Exodus account – Exodus 16:14-27
When the dew had evaporated, there on the surface of the desert was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Isra’el saw it, they asked each other, “Man hu? [What is it?]” because they didn’t know what it was. Moshe answered them, “It is the bread which Adonai has given you to eat. Here is what Adonai has ordered: each man is to gather according to his appetite — each is to take an ‘omer [two quarts] per person for everyone in his tent.” The people of Isra’el did this. Some gathered more, some less; but when they put it in an ‘omer-measure, whoever had gathered much had no excess; and whoever had gathered little had no shortage; nevertheless each person had gathered according to his appetite.
Moshe told them, “No one is to leave any of it till morning.” But they didn’t pay attention to Moshe, and some kept the leftovers until morning. It bred worms and rotted, which made Moshe angry at them. So they gathered it morning after morning, each person according to his appetite; but as the sun grew hot, it melted.
On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two ‘omers per person; and all the community leaders came and reported to Moshe. He told them, “This is what Adonai has said: ‘Tomorrow is a holy Shabbat for Adonai. Bake what you want to bake; boil what you want to boil; and whatever is left over, set aside and keep for the morning.’” They set it aside till morning, as Moshe had ordered; and it didn’t rot or have worms. Moshe said, “Today, eat that; because today is a Shabbat for Adonai — today you won’t find it in the field. Gather it six days, but the seventh day is the Shabbat — on that day there won’t be any.” However, on the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather and found none.
Releasing the rope helps heal the pain. We pray this will bless you in your walk.
Guard My Word
Yeshua answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he shall guard My Word. And My Father shall love him, and We shall come to him and make Our stay with him.
“He who does not love Me does not guard My Words. And the Word which you hear is not Mine but of the Father Who sent Me.
(John 14:23-24)
Solve the riddle… What Words did the Father give us to guard? Jesus didn’t teach a different or new doctrine, He said so right here quite plainly.
The Bride of Messiah
If you’re living with someone without making the covenant vows, how do you think God sees that in relation to our Messiah and His supposed bride? I don’t think God approves of the common law marriage process for His son.
Ever wonder why it’s called the Ark of the Covenant? It’s because it contains a copy of the marriage vows in it.
We are the Bride and we are to be submissive to our Husband. In exchange, He has made a covenant of promise to provide for us.This is the Bible in it’s most simplistic form. It’s all about COVENANT.
Spiritual Warfare
As I look at my surroundings, I hear many things that people are saying that does not seem right with what I read in the Bible. This world is in the times that Yeshua told us about in the 24th chapter of Matthew. People are stockpiling foods, collecting weapons (not that I am against weapons), and doing many other things as though they are preparing for war within this land and this world. This all brings these scripture verses to mind:
No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Yahweh, and their righteousness which is of me, says Yahweh. (Isaiah 54:17)
The Purpose & Meaning of Life
“What is the purpose or meaning of life?” This question has been asked countless times by many people throughout time. Books have written on the subject, many sermons have been given on it and yet, people are still looking for the answer. Men have searched the corners of the world to find the answer, yet come up empty-handed or with worldly perceptions of what our purpose is. What if the answer is sitting on your nightstand, or buried on a bookshelf. What if we can the answer using YHVH’s Word.
