Stone your rebellious sons?

This post, is in answer to a blog posted by a Congregational leader earlier this year (2013) claiming the TORAH to be a curse which even Messiah Yeshua on occasions ignored and broke, and calling the Hebraic Roots Movement (HRM) a work from Hell and to basically be avoided like the plague.

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Dear *XXX,

Salutations and greetings in the Name of Our Saviour Yeshua the Messiah.  

I hope that you and your house are well in both body and spirit as is mine.



I read your last blog "STENIG JULLE ONGEHOORSAME SEUNS?" (STONE YOUR REBELLIOUS SONS?) with interest.  It is an understatement to say that it has caused me to spend the last 3 days in prayer and deliberation.  



An initial responce that I penned in answer to your blog was far to lengthy to be admitted into the answer section, which I believe is a good thing.  This administrative/systems rejection has given me cause to seek another method of approach in an attempt to get my answer to you in a more private and personal manner; I have however taken the liberty to attach the original mail anyway with this particular communication as I stand by what I have written; I hope you have the time and inclination to prayerfully read it to the end.



It is obvious that we have very little common ground between our opposing beliefs and interpretation of the Inspired Word, however I still feel the need to address certain personal issues with a man who agreed that we can call each other "Brother" because of our common love and re-birth in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ):  Therefore it is on this Foundation, and on this Foundation only, that I make what may be perceived on your behalf as a presumptuous and rude request leading later in this communique to very strong statements, but please believe me when I say that what I wish to portray in this mail is anything but rude or presumptuous.  It, in my opinion, is of cardinal importance.



Having said what I have, I shall begin with a hopefully not too "rude" request. I, in an attempt to try establish a point of departure for this message, need to impose on your good character and ask that you please consider joining me in a critical and brutally honest examination of our hearts and there-after to ask ourselves this question:  



"In the saga of the HRM (Hebrew Roots Movement -- your acronym I believe),  who or what am I trying to defend or protect here and what is my motivation for such an attempt?"  



If we break this question down into two parts, the first part would be:

Defence: We may wish to ask ourselves are we trying to defend a specific theology? Or could it be a denomination/group identity? What about a lifestyles that such a doctrine supports?  Is it fear? Is it fear of rejection?  And so the list endlessly goes on.
     

The next part of the question may be more revealing:  

What are our motivations?   

Well, that is the $64000.00 question is it not?  What motivates us XXX?  What is it that causes us to lay awake at night pondering, wrestling with our thoughts and often with Elohim Himself? What is it that excites our hearts and gives us the desire and will to do HIS Will in our lives; inspires us to take that leap of faith and deny public opinion and accepted social and religious norms?  


Motivation, albeit intertwined and often indistinguishable from the root feelings for our actions, is in my considered opinion, the most important answer we may need to arrive at. What or Who we defend, or the way we act is often the vehicle or means to what our hopes, aspirations and goals may be, and it is these goals, aspirations and hopes that motivate us. Or could I be wrong?  Please tell me. 



In the perfect scenario hopefully our answers will be the same for both aspects of this question: OUR UNDYING LOVE AND DEVOTION TO THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, YESHUA HAMESSIACH REDEEMER OF OUR SOULS, AND ACCEPTANCE INTO HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM HOPEFULLY AS HIS BRIDE!  



Yes, XXX (excuse the shorter use of your name please I hope it is acceptable), I use the Name Yeshua and HaMessiach and YHWH and Elohim and Torah for the law plus other Hebrew words as we have already settled the last time that we spoke. I have my reasons for doing so; reason that I have struggled, pondered and wrestled with and which have caused me to reject the accepted "norms" as being possibly, please note "possibly," erroneous. You are right we cannot say with absolute clarity if His Glorious Name is Yeshua, Yehoshua or any other combination:  BUT one thing we do know for sure was that HIS Birth Name WAS NOT JESUS!



We say YHWH because again we know that the Name of The GOD of ISRAEL was never LORD or HERE or whatever. The Tetragrammaton of YHWH (or as close as we are able to decipher the original writings today) was used in the Inspired Texts; we, humans, placed LORD and HERE etc in the Word NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT!  WE HAVE WRITTEN HIS GLORIOUS NAME OUT OF HIS OWN WORD XXX!  Even when He has instructed us in HIS Word to make His Name Known to the Nations and all of creation (Ex 20:2,7; Ps 79:6; Isa 64:2, Eze 39:7).  

YHWH PLEASE FORGIVE US!



Please be very careful when you judge those trying to discover and use HIS Proper Name as instructed and recorded in the Inspired writings and not some generic name which is also used for Allah, Buddha, Har Krishna, who themselves also have Proper names, we even name our cars sometimes (mine is named "Landy")!  

An attempt to find the Truth, no matter how futile my brother, is in my considered opinion of far greater valour, value and benefit than accepting an obvious wrong for the sake of conformity.



I agree that many people within the so called HRM have made the pursuit of HIS Name ridiculous and I, when given the opportunity to speak to them of that particular "The Name" persuasion, attempt to counsel them to prayerfully and Scripturally seek and adopt a more loving, balanced and conciliatory approach to those who have still not felt the urging of the Spirit to use His Biblically more proper Names:  I MAY NEED TO JUDGE THEIR ACTIONS BUT I WILL NOT RIDICULE THEM!  (Love the sinner but hate the sin!)



XXX, the vast majority, if not all partakers of this movement, which has unfortunately been lumped under one label --The Hebrew Roots Movement -- have come out of the main-line churches. I personally was from the AGS, I have brethren with whom I fellowship from the NG Kerk, Full Gospel, Baptists and others, but believe it or not the fact is that we do not even really talk about the days when we were in the churches, it is no longer of any importance to us at all.  We all left by en large because we were no longer being fed in these denominations and we began to cry out in prayer.  

We saw Scripture being broken and were told to ignore it, things had changed. We had no voice because we were over ridden by denominationally derived doctrine and so on and so forth, and as you are aware of I am sure, it was not only us "uneducated people" you refer to in your writings, it was also men of learning -- ordained pastors and religious leaders.  

XXX, we too have access to some of the most brilliant minds in terms of Hebrew, Greek, Theology -- you name it, we have access to it; BUT do you know what is more important? We have men and women searching the Scriptures for themselves: Being led by the Spirit themselves: Taking decisions for themselves regarding their walk with the Messiah and not having to be taught every man by his neighbour and every man his brother, XXX they all know Who their Elohim YHWH is (Jer 31:34).  Please do not try to make light of these fellow believers who are now standing up and teaching their own homes; they are no longer relying on the systems and their appointed ministers to spoon feed them as he see's fit.  

XXX I hope you realise that a persons education (or lack of) has never ever qualified them for use by YHWH. One's education cannot determine the character or strength of a one’s heart. Look at the Prophets and Apostles, overwhelmingly uneducated shepherds and fisherman were used to confuse the wise. Do not cause these children of YHWH to stumble -- they have YHWH, they do not need men qualified according to mans' standards to tell them how to read a Bible and have a RELATIONSHIP with YHWH THEIR ELOHIM! That is the Work of The Spirit -- NOT SOME CLONE OF A SYSTEM whether it be HRM, Christian or Rabbinical! XXX in my own walk I have on every occasion, when required, received the necessary help from My Shepherd, and yes sometimes it is in the guise of a man giving a teaching or a Word, but HE guides and feeds me now not any man!



The HRM, I personally believe, is an end of days movement of the Holy Spirit in accordance with Joel 2:28ff and Malachi 4:1-6, but as with all the works of the Spirit, the enemy has caused confusion and sown his tares there and thus there has been a mophing into a monster in certain assemblies through the addition of man made traditions and doctrines and I will be the first to acknowledge that. I believe I can safely say the same about the Church as though as well.  

So I agree with most of the doctrines of the Church? 

Absolutely not, but does that mean I am entitled to ridicule and judge those truly seeking the Truth, no matter how far in the left field they may be? NO, IT DOES NOT! I can try and advise, counsel, build bridges, make relationships BUT NOT BREAK DOWN!



I am massively concerned about Judaic Cultism within the so called HRM which is enabling these heresies which Elim Ministries and others seems to propagate which deny or decrease the Divinity of Messiah Yeshua or impose the need for something more than Messiah.  We coming back to TORAH were ripe for much of this deception.  

We who have departed the church for His full Word had, in most cases, been hurt, abandoned and abused by the church systems, and had we not we would never have left would we? However though sadly we were not yet free from the need to have a system to rely on, something unfortunately the church insists on, and so we coming out of their systems could not see this as a lethal trap because there was the enemy waiting for us with a ready made plan: JUDAIC PRACTICES!

The whole enchilada was there and it fed our needs -- head coverings, prayer shawls, candles, Menorahs, Tzit Tizts, Mazuzahs. Not all were unscriptural, but why they were applied were sometimes very dubious; thus many of us to a greater or lesser degree were drawn into this "Judaic System," a system in which man also altered Scripture or invented some "important" Jewish Tradition which we MUST keep to be identified as part of the herd.  



However on the other hand this foray into the Synagogues and their systems was in my opinion a very good learning school as it taught us who wanted to learn of the Truth that there was basically no difference between the church systems and the rabbinical systems. I also realise now how Gracious our Heavenly Shepherd was to me particularly in that He had personally promised me many years ago, when this whole shift in my theology started to take place, that HE "WOULD LEAD ME STEP BY STEP THROUGH THE MINE FIELD"! And that He did and still does almost daily as the need arises. Ezekiel 34 in large parts has become so real to me!   Hallelujah, Praise His Glorious and Eternal Name!  He is indeed a Keeper of His Word!



XXX I deplore the fact that people within the so called HRM have taken "things" as listed above and still others and made them signs to signify identity and association with a particular teacher or persuasion or assembly or group.  The only thing we are called to wear is the Tzit Tzit (Num 15:27-31) and that I wear. Do I use a prayer shawl?  On occasions yes I do when so led. Do I adopt other "Jewish" things? Yes, some but it is as a result of my conviction through my walk with Messiah through His Holy Spirit and study of His Scriptures -- NOT BECAUSE SOMEBODY TELLS ME TO! And people whom we fellowship with who may or may not use or adopt any of these "Jewish" things are not shunned in our community. Let YHWH through His Spirit convict them.  It is not my job!  

Just as an aside here I want to put on record that my wife, fellow brethren and I prefer to just say that we have been called and are being led back to the full Word and that NONE of this Word has been annulled, abridged or done away with -- we do not wish to be labelled anymore  -- We are Bond-servants of the Messiah Yeshua and Elohim His Father -- end of story.



As a point of interest here I wish to insert an event which occurred in my life two or so weeks ago: I was advised that there was a group of people who had adopted the teaching of John Wahl and Elim Ministry. I caused an inquiry to be carried out and found this allegation to be true, I was further informed by certain members having contact with this particular group that I should study Wahl's literature on the "Non-Divinity" of the Messiah. I informed this person that I would not and that as of that moment I shall have no more contact or fellowship with the group involved until I hear of full repentance and see fruit of their repentance. I further stated that the Scriptures were very clear about His Divinity and that to deny it was to trample on His Blood and fro be like a dog going back to its vomit.  

This obviously is an ongoing matter of prayer right now. The Divinity of Messiah Yeshua is of absolute paramount importance I trust you will agree. Therefore I now need to speak more directly to you as well:  

XXX, just as the Judaic influences have infiltrated the HRM with non-Biblical traditions; so have the Church Fathers and their fledglings brought non-Biblical traditions into the Church. We can twist Scripture as much as we like; Sabbath IS NOT SUNDAY! Easter IS NOT AND WILL NEVER BE Passover!  Baptism has NEVER AND NEVER WILL be an acceptable substitute for circumcision! Yet these traditions of man and many, many others have usurped the Law of YHWH and made HIS Law to no effect as Yeshua accused the Pharisees and Scribes in His time of doing! Beware please. Your theology has called the Law of YHWH a curse -- that is tantamount to calling the Word, Yeshua  HIMSELF a curse!



You, XXX, in this very blog to which you adhere your name and which I address this mail to state : 

en op 'n ander keer direk teen die Ou Verbond se bepalings aan ‘n melaatse geraak (Markus 1:41) en hom genees

(and on another occasion directly in conflict with the Old Testament instructions He touched a leper and healed him – Mark 1:41). Do you realise what you are saying?  YOU ARE SAYING THAT MESSIAH YESHUA BROKE TORAH: BROKE HIS OWN MARRIAGE COVENANT: YOU HAVE DECLARED THE KINGS OF KINGS A COMMON SINNER!  HEAVEN FORBID!   IS THAT ANY BETTER THAN WHAT JOHAN WAHL HAS BEEN PURPORTED TO HAVE SAID: THAT STATEMENT AS IT STANDS MY BROTHER DENIES THE VERY DIVINITY OF THE MESSIAH, OUR KING YESHUA!

The SIN Offering, which Yeshua HaMessiach was and shall forever be, was made of a perfect lamb without spot or wrinkle; The pick of the flock, totally innocent and divorced from any of the sin for which it (as a fore-shadowing of Messiah's Sacrifice) was going to pay!  It was to be with absolutely no blemishes:  You may want to take the time to read Leviticus 4:1-6:7, it is all about the sin/trespass offerings.  You may also want to look for a key phrase "without blemish" (means perfect without sin) there are at least 7 repetitions of this phrase.

Lets think this through for a moment; to bring anything other than the very best from ones flock WAS A SIN, AN AFRONT TO YHWH -- that is what HE expected of HIS people for their sin offering! 

NOW WOULD HE IN RETURN GIVE ANY LESS THAN HIS VERY BEST FOR HIS BRIDE?  

Please consider this: Only a very sick and demented man would utilise or require "unbalanced scales" when applying the Truth to himself, but an even more sick person would apply such scales when dealing with his wife and children (Lev 19:36; Deut 25:13; Prov 16:11; 20:10; 20:23; Mic 6:11).

Going back to Leviticus 4 we ask: "What was a sin offering required for?"

Well, right off the bat we are told in Lev 4:1-2:  "And YHWH spake unto Moshe, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, "If a soul shall sin through IGNORANCE against ANY OF THE COMMANDMENTS of YHWH concerning things which aught not to be done, and shall do against any of them:"

Your teaching, XXX, says that we (us Christians) can have a less than perfect Lamb as our sin offering and that now we (us "Christians") are able now to break all HIS commandments DELIBERATELY, whilst the Hebrews of Old were sinning if they broke the Commandments in IGNORANCE. Come on XXX, where is the logic in that? I am sorry I am either definitely too stupid and uneducated as you say to see the logic: OR HE will be able to use the SIMPLE to confound the wise!

XXX, as stated earlier in this mail, I truly with my whole heart, and supported by Scripture and revelation, believe this which you refer to as HRM was originated and put into process by the Holy Spirit. I would please with all seriousness and urgency ask you to consider the consequences of the possibility of GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT. BE VERY SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BEFORE YOU JUDGE THE HRM AS A FALSE TEACHING FROM HELL!  I DO AGREE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER YET, BUT THEN WHO HAS? (1 Corth 13: 9-13; Eph 4:11-16)   

We, in the HRM, have not as yet killed each other, and hopefully never will, but unfortunately that act can be laid at the door of the church whilst birthing the theologies you adhere to and teach today. My brother let us look at the log in our own eye first before we crush and try to remove the splinter out of our brothers eye. Please I implore you to read Matthew 12:22-37 with particular attention paid to verses 31 and 32. Both of us cannot possibly be right, the best we can hope and pray for is that one of us may be!

This letter has not been a pleasure for me, I have deliberated another full day since beginning it, but I cannot get it over my heart to just let this matter, and your obvious hatred for this Movement of the Holy Spirit pass. I send this covered in prayer filled with supplication and confession that I, like all men, am but created of dust, and if it was not for the amazing Grace of the Father, through the perfect Sacrifice of the Unblemished Lamb of YHWH, The Son, as led by the perfect Holy Spirit and Whose leading is measured against His Holy Word, to ensure that I am hearing correctly, I would have no hope of a future or of eternal salvation at all. I have made a deliberate choice to follow the Instructions of TORAH as far as I can in this day and age NOT TO SAVE ME, BUT BECAUSE I AM SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND NOTHING ELSE!

A final thought, maybe the "moedswilliges" (trouble makers) have a point! BEWARE THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE STANDING LEST THEY FALL.

Now I can answer the question I have posed in the beginning of this mail:  I wish to Defend (Love) the Truth with all my heart, soul and might in the expressed hope that I shall one day hear the Truth say to me "WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, ENTER THOU INTO THE KINGDOM OF MY FATHER".  

This XXX is my motivation.  

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14:

And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Shalom, blessing and peace in Messiah Yeshua.

Steve Swanepoel

*XXX replaces name of person written to.

Does the Word support Racism?

I have pondered this topic and the need to address it from as best a Biblical stand-point that I am able to for a long, long while now.

The reason I feel the urge to get this out now is that with growing concern I see the rise of Racism & Semitism throughout, USA, UK, Europe, Russia, Africa to mention a few.  I believe that if we try to fight this in the flesh we shall be destroyed, I am not saying we do not elicit self defence and such like, but I am concerned that people are wanting to take this issue into their own hands and it will lead to Marshall Law (playing right into the hands of the NWO). 

This is a card I believe the enemy  will use mightily in these times and we too may become blinded to the working of The Spirit in certain people just because they are of a different colour or creed!

I have obviously discussed this topic with both friend and foe and it has led, especially in our part of the world with its’ traumatic war torn past, to heated discussions and, on occasions, parting of ways.  There is just no way that one can live, evangelise and even fellowship in our very polar society in Africa if there is not some form of census reached on this emotive and divisive topic.

Racism is woven into the very foundation of our society and, I dare say, into most societies on planet earth today.  We must faces this issue head on now and see it for what it is:  Not by might, power and prejudice, and definitely not through the blinkers of the blinded and bigoted liberal and politically correct do-gooders.  It is an issue, it is real and it is extremely dangerous. 

So where do we start:

Racism comes, I believe, from the very same root as any form of discrimination or prejudice.  Whether we call it Tribalism (again very prevalent here in Africa), Sectarianism or Aryanism:  Whether it be labelled Semitism or Islamaphobic; The Montague’s or the Capulet’s – the root stays the same: PRIDE AND JUDGEMENT BASED ON FEAR!

Yes, yes many of these other religions and cultures are abhorrent and cannot be accepted just for what they are:  But then again so is Homosexuality and Abortion equally abhorrent, but they are here so what do we do?

Yes, I also hear the whole saga of Noah and Cham (Gen 9:25-27) being brought forward as a defence for the status quo in the racial debate:  But unfortunately there has been so much speculation and distortion on these few verses that their intended meaning within their historical context has been severely distorted and nobody can say with any certainty exactly what they originally and culturally meant (almost the same as the church fathers have done with the writings of Paul).

**However, in order to put my point across very briefly, and hopefully to generate a good and meaningful debate, let us try and let the Bible declare the Bible and NOT LET THE FINITE MIND OF CORUPTABLE MAN set the pace:

1.    Noah, according to the Scriptures, had only one wife.

2.    Scripture would seem to imply that all three of Noah’s sons were from one wife – is it possible that from one husband and one wife different races were born?  Hmmm.. me thinks not!

3.    Cham (Ham) caused a massive family scandal through a perverted act with a lewd and sexual overtone.

4.    Noah curses Cham through his son Canaan: Now you may ask how could this possibly be fair:  What had Canaan done to deserve this curse?  Well it seems, when studying the Word that if a son is cursed, this is a curse on the Father (See the judgement passed on Solomon in 1 Kings 11:12-13; 12:1-24) and in both these episodes, Solomon and Cham’s sons upon whom the curse or judgement fell had the opportunity to make right, BUT THEY CHOSE TO GO IN A WAY WHICH BROUGHT ABOUT THE CURSE thus justifying the action ordained by the curse.  In other words, what I am trying to say here is had Noah cursed Cham he, Noah, would have placed a curse upon himself.  It is also obvious that this curse spoken by Noah came through a Divine revelation, as it was known that Canaan would default!

5.    Cham had four sons; why then Canaan and not all four sons?  See 4 above.

6.    However embodied in the Noahic curse we find another interesting point:  Gen 9:25: CURSED BE CANAAN; A SERVANT OF SERVANTS SHALL HE BE UNTO HIS BRETHREN. We see in the Word that YHWH is God of gods; Lord of lords (Deut 10:17): Again Lord of lords (Ps 136:3): YESHUA is called King of kings, and Lord of lords (1 Tim 6:15; Rev 17:14; Rev 19:16).  So obviously we see that YHWH is the top King of all kings, The Top Lord of all lords, The Supreme GOD of all gods:  IS IT THEREFORE POSSIBLE THAT CANAAN WAS TO BE THE TOP SERVANT TO HIS OTHER TWO BROTHERS. Remember please that these 3 sons were the fathers of the entire world population going forward.

7.    Modern day anthropology seems to indicate that whenever the “colonialisers” arrived anywhere in the world there were already local/native/aboriginal population groups who had tamed the lands being colonised.   It is also said that these native populations were reputedly from the lineage of Cham.  Is it possible that Cham, being cursed through Canaan was in fact used to the Honour of YHWH and his two brothers when they started to move out to the outer reaches of the earth by having already partially tamed the areas being colonised?

8.    There is also a school of thought which cannot be thrown out, and that is YHWH had already blessed Cham and his brothers in Gen 9:1: and was thus unable to now curse him.  I personally don’t go with that theory bright now, but I also do not discard it.

9.    Finally with regards to this matter:  In Deut 10:16-22 our fore-fathers were told to circumcise their hearts (New Covenant talk in Torah) and love the strangers as they were all strangers in Egypt (purported to be children of Cham) and that YHWH IS NOT THE RESPECTER OF PERSONS; Again we read in Deut 24:16 that fathers will not suffer for their children’s sin, neither children for their parents sins – every person will suffer for his/her own sins:  Ezekiel 18:2-20 is a excellent exposé on each paying for his/her own sins.

10. The final point I would like to make on this Noahic topic is that we ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF ELOHIM (Rom 3:23) & since the fall in the Garden we have all, YES ALL been cursed to hell and damnation and that MESSIAH YESHUA BECAME THE CURSE FOR ALL OF US BY HIS PERFECT SACRIFICE ON THE STAKE (Deut 21:23; Gal 3:13) MESSIAH PAID THE PERFECT PRICE FOR ALL CURSES – ACCEPTING HIM IN RE-BIRTH WILL ATONE FOR THE CURSE/S IN OUR LIVES; ALL OF THEM.  Colour, creed, language does not and will not ever place one person above another.  Before I was reborn in and through and to Messiah I was a white male, I spoke English and I had a colonial culture.  After my rebirth and to this day I am still a white male, I still speak English as my mother tongue and ask all my friends and acquaintances they will affirm, I am still hopelessly colonial in culture.

This colour thing has been ridden to death under so many supposedly “Christian” and Patriotic banners on both sides of the fence, from the blacks towards the whites, from the whites towards the blacks and so on including every other nation on earth.

Brethren, this issue is not an issue of race, it is a matter of heart.  Do we have a re-born Heart through Messiah Yeshua or not. 

Our Messiah even said to the “Jews” of His day that to be a true Citizen of His Kingdom you needed to be re-born in the Spirit (John 3:2-15 – see reference made to Himself in the Torah as well). 

He, Yeshua, also said that He was sent by the Father for the world – no exceptions – just believe (Pisteuo – from G4100  - pistis trust and do) and the curses of the Law (death sentence and confinement to hell as prescribed by Torah Gal 3:13) would be atoned for, forgiven and lifted and LIFE everlasting would ensue!  Hallelujah Yeshua our Lamb of Elohim!

To cement this point a little more solidly the Word tells us that all who are Israel are not necessarily Israel, nor are all biological seed of Abraham necessarily Children of Israel, but in Isaac shall the seed be called – the Child/child of the P/promise (Roms 9 &10).

We see in the TORAH that only those who had been reborn in Messiah (Blood over the Lintel and partakers of the Passover –Ex 12) would be spared the death of their First Born.

We then read that a MIXED MULTITUDE went into the Wilderness as a part of the Exodus, under the protection of YHWH’s promise – Ex 12:38.

We see that only those who agreed to and kept the Sinai Law (Marriage Covenant/Torah) were allowed to remain in the Camp of The Righteous – Ex 19:5; 19:8 (Marriage vows?)  If the Torah was deliberately broken the responsible parties, albeit having come out of Egypt under the Blood of the Lamb, were put to death, thus being put out of the camp – Sabbath Breaking (Num 15:32-36): Golden Calf (Deut 9:6-29) : Rebellion of Korah (Num 16). 

The most dramatic example of being put out of the “Camp or City” of the Righteous for breaking the Covenant (Torah) was when our MESSIAH YESHUA was taken outside the city to die as HE carried the SIN of the World (all the deliberate contraventions of Torah demanding the penalty of death – the curse of the Law) because HE WAS UNCLEAN FOR THE REASON OF OUR SIN ATTRIBUTED TO HIM AND UPON EXCUTION WAS PUT OUT OF THE CAMP OF THE RIGHTEOUS (Mark 15:20 ..led HIM out to crucify HIM. Heb 13:12).

We read throughout the Word that those who had leprosy, blood issues, defiled by the dead etc were to be placed outside the camp SO AS NOT TO DEFILE THE CAMP WHEREIN YHWH LIVES (Num 5:1-4) as these diseases, afflictions were an indication of Spiritual Defilement (Lev 13 & 14) obviously also for health & quarantine reasons.   This again in and of itself is a massive study which will not be covered here, suffice to say we see throughout the Word, including the Brit Chadasah (New Testament) where we read that those involved in deliberate sin are to be warned and if they do not repent (Ask forgiveness and turn from their sin) they are to be removed from the assembly (2 Thes 3:14-15; 1 Cor 5:1-5).

So what about these eternal curse YHWH spoke against Canaanites; the Moabites; Edomites and so on?

Well I believe when one studies each of these Nations and their religions one finds specific demonic traits which are inherent to these nations and those who will not repent and return to Messiah (as Ruth the Moabitess did in the Book of Ruth) cannot be saved and must be killed to prevent the leading astray of Redeemed Israel. Once again we see through these examples that those guilty of deliberate and continual sins are to be kept away from YHWH’s redeemed people, who are Holy and Set Apart.  Again these are specific demonic traits which are out to cause the People of YHWH to err and leave their Elohim and commit spiritual adultery i.e. idolatry (Num 22 - 25; 31:16).

This is a study that leads into predestination and the immutable character of YHWH and HIS Jealousy for His Bride, His Omniscience, His Sovereignty and so forth.  Above all His Love and His Equity (fairness) abound Divinely balanced with His Wrath!

I hope this is not an intrusion into your bust schedules and that it sparks some pondering and debate, because as said before this issue is here and is becoming more dangerous every day.

Hope to hear from you all.

Shalom in Messiah Yeshua

Steve (Bo’az)

** Discussions for another date perhaps.

I shall give you a New Name.

To re-introduce this blog and in an attempt to get it up and running as I believe now is the time for it, I would like to kick-off with the subject - I shall give you a New name:

For any of you who may be wondering who Bo'az is, I should like to explain.

I am Bo'az.

Yes, that is right, Steve Swanepoel is Bo'az and has been for 18 months now.

This entire situation can best be described as unnerving, strange and very, very personal.  In fact it is a matter I have been trying to avoid as I am not entirely sure how to deal with it, but once again I have seen the Hand of Graciousness of our Heavenly Father working out His will and purposes in my life as He promises.

Before I try and dive into the name issue, I would like to take this opportunity to first give a small testimony if I may.  Repeatedly, as any good parent does, our Father builds up through communication in varies ways foundations and a relationship in our lives, and then once those foundations are established He (or any parent for that matter) builds on top of said foundations according to His Will for each life.

What I have seen being built into my life through this particular episode is a better understanding and grasp of faith.

Faith is a massively intimate, delicate and personal issue.  It is established through an understood & imparted instruction or communication from a trusted source.  I have found in my life, and the life of others, that faith is often based on what I think or hope is going to happen, not necessarily what YHWH intends to do or what He actually means for us.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as : .... faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith:          Greek: Pistis - Believe & DO (Fidelity)          
Substance: Greek: Hupostasis - Translated as - Assurance, things, substantiating, substance, essence, well-grounded assurance.
Evidence:   Greek: Elengkhos - Proof, evidence
Things:       Greek: Pragma - Translated as - Thing/s, matter,  business, work.

Please remember the Messiah was Jewish and the Word was written by Jews with a Jewish (Hebrew) mindset, and thus the Jewish concept of Faith, is: 

1. confirmation of a fact: substance and evidence convey that fact:  
2. THUS - fact, substance & evidence = FAITH.  
3. These three elements are all aspects of LAW and are a LEGAL PROCESS.
4. Therefore FAITH is a legal, discernible  & verifiable maxim.

Faith has three noticeable aspects which are evidenced in a maturing believer:

1. Saving faith - this is the central aspect of Faith - the deposit/gift of the Seed of Faith - Messiah Yeshua.
2. Serving faith - works done by faith as directed and empowered by the Ruach HaKodesh which touch your immediate world.
3. Sifting faith - faith as a gift which keeps on giving - enduring faith.

We are also called to a corporate faith - general obedience to the Torah as a person or community: and an individual faith in Messiah Yeshua.

Here is where we more often than not become confused in our application of faith. 

Corporate faith I believe, we can refer to as obedience to general house rules such as keeping Shabbat and YHWH's festivals; marriage laws, eating Kosher and so forth.

Individual Faith I believe, is when we begin to carry out serving faith which touches those around us.  This is the Faith which HE will impart to you in a personal and intimate relationship and not necessarily to the rest of the group.  This is where we may be called to a certain ministry, or instructed to give a certain message, or to lay on hands and such like; or be given revelations not always given to other believers.  This is the faith that defines who we are in Messiah Yeshua.  It points us towards our calling and it sets us upon the path which shall ultimately determine and establish our responsibilities in the Body of Messiah Yeshua.

NB: Your life of individual faith (revealed Will and Instruction for you as an individual in Messiah and His Body) will never contradict the Corporate faith (house rules) found in Torah!

On many occasions in years past I have seen in my life, and the lives of all my brethren, this grasping at straws when the going begins to get tough.  Naming, framing and claiming Biblical promises for ourselves BECAUSE IT IS WHAT WE TRULEY BELIEVE WE NEED AND ON THOSE OCCASIONS SORELY WANT IN OUR LIVES!    BUT IT IS NOT WHAT THE MASTER WANTS FOR US AT THAT JUNCTURE AND HE HAS NOT REVEALED TO US THAT, THAT PARTICULAR SCRIPTURE, WORD, WHAT-EVER IS EVEN INTENDED FOR US!!!

This is why I stated initially that Faith is a massively delicate, personal and intimate matter for each believer.  I CANNOT PROVE TO YOU THAT YHWH DID WHAT I AM ABOUT TO RELATE TO YOU, BUT USING THE DEFINITION OUTLINED ABOVE I NEED TO MAKE SURE TO THE VERY BEST OF MY ABILITIES, THAT WHAT I AM SAYING YHWH SAID TO ME IS IN FACT A LEGAL, DISCERNIBLE AND VERIFIABLE MAXIM. AND IF I AM ABLE TO DO THAT TO MY OWN SATISFACTION AND CONVICTION THEN, AND THEN ONLY, MAY I SAY I BELIEVE THIS IS OF YHWH!

How would I go about proving this?  Well firstly and fore-mostly:  Does a legal precedent exist in the Word (Torah) to measure "my revelation against?"  If yes, well we go onto Step 2.  If no - back to the drawing board - get down on your knees and seek clarity on your revelation or expected outcome.

Step two:  Ask YHWH to please confirm through His Ruach HaKodesh via independent witnesses that what you believe HE has said to you, is in fact of HIM!  This may take the form of Him talking to you through the Scriptures which HE will lead you to.  On another occasion somebody unrelated to the entire incident, and possibly entirely ignorant of the situation at hand may come and speak to you about that exact thing.  In fact there are so many ways (dreams, visions, Scriptures, Words of Prophecy, signs - see Gideon and the fleeces) that YHWH can and will communicate with you until eventually you are absolutely certain it is HE that has spoken to you.

That however is not where it ends:  You may feel led to go to other believers whom you have a relationship with and whom you trust and you may want to tell them what you believe YHWH has imparted to you.  Then ask them to seek His Face and intercede before YHWH on your behalf and please to show them if you may be mistaken.

Wait on Him, trust Him to show you, look for His leading, be aware of His presence.  Ask Him for guidance and help.  Then when you are sure, do what you have been instructed to do.

Please, please always remember that YHWH wants a relationship with each and every one of us - NOT A DEAD RELIGIOUS EXERCISE - which is what the Scribes, Pharisees and majority of the clergy of today want to push you towards.

The above now stands as my witness to you all that I have perused these paths and am convinced that what I am about to share has indeed come from YHWH.  However this is not the end of the matter yet.  Each one of you who reads this blog too need to approached the Throne of Grace and ask if what I have said is correct:  NEVER, NEVER TRUST ANY PERSON.  ALWAYS GO TO THE FATHER AND SEEK HIS COUNSEL.  SEE IF HE IN FACT DID SAY SUCH A THING AS IS BEING PURPORTED.

Before I now return to the subject of this blog - my new name - I shall need to unequivocally clarify the following:

I personally have a problem with people just changing their names to give themselves a sort of Hebrew flavour and it does seem some-what prevalent in the Messianic Movement.

My personal given name at birth was Stephan (derived from Stefanos or Stephanos); I believe I am to respect my parents (Torah instructions) and Stephan is the name they thought good to give me as a individual and in honour of my Biological Father.  Therefore I do not believe such changes of our birth names for the sake of sounding more Biblical or Hebraic is correct, and the matter, in my opinion, is even more compounded should such a name change be made without the parents consent, that is should they still be alive to consult with.  My parents have passed on many years ago.

Now, I can return to the subject of this blog:

Whilst praying early last year (2012) I was crying out to YHWH on behalf of Yisrael.  During my intercession I asked HIM to please be their Bo'az.  Having cried this out I immediately heard in my Spirit "BUT THAT IS YOUR NAME!"

I stopped dead in my tracks, suddenly the world started to spin:  It seemed I had never heard such a wonderful name.  I felt a joy and excitement in my spirit that was altogether intoxicating.  I was babbling my thanks to My Heavenly Father and at the same asking how could this be possible.

With the strong opinion I have stated above regarding name changes, I trust you can understand that upon hearing this revelation I was thrown into a complete and utter quandary.

However now over the last 18 months, and having shared this testimony with my wife and believers close to me, I am feeling less uncertain about the whole process.  Not uncertain about my name given to me by YHWH, but how to approach the whole situation.  I have not been told by YHWH to drop my birth name; neither have I been told when and where to use my new name Bo'az, thus I have taken a lead from Yakov (Jacob) whose name was changed to Yisrael.  It seems he fluctuated between Yakov and Yisrael depending on his spiritual condition.

I am making the transformation of using Bo'az when writing or doing expressed duties for my Master Yeshua and His Father and on other occasions I am Steve or Stephan.  

There is a brother who has opted to call me Bo'az on all occasions.  

Again a sister contacted me a while ago and said that she had prayed about my new name and that she had been led to believe that she was to refer to me as Bo'az in every instance and at all times and thus the full implication of my YHWH given name will become manifest.

I would respectfully ask the same of each of you who may read this blog.  Should you feel it necessary, please lay this matter of my names before the Father and ask Him what He would have you personally do.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and may you all come to the fullness of the understanding of His Will in and through your lives.

Please, pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for our Brother Judah.

Shalom

Bo'az.