All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
I have often been led to describe my walk with The Messiah as reminiscent to the act of peeling an onion: With the shedding of tears you peel your onion one layer at a time, and when you finish that layer you begin on the next one repeating the same process over and over, but with each cycle you go to a deeper level, until eventually you reach the very core of the onion with no more layers left to peel, now finally you have reached a realisation of who you are, you are now naked for yourself and all the world to see!
This "peeling process" is all the Work of the Ruach HaKodesh, this process is painful, it is deliberate, IT IS PLANNED BY YHWH HIMSELF, IT CANNOT BE ESCAPED BY ANY OF US WHO ARE SEEKERS OF THE TRUTH! The only one who can stop this necessary and life giving process is us ourselves - WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE TO STOP THIS PROCESS ANYTIME WE WANT!
On reflecting on my own "onion" experience up to and including this stage in my life (we all only get one onion and it takes a lifetime to peel), I would consider one of the most traumatic moves was the step out of the structured safety net of the organised denominational system into an entirely new realm of worship based on The Word of YHWH in it's entirety: It was a massive "peeling process" which meant that I had to begin my journey out of Egypt into the Wilderness and towards Mt. Sinai, until then I had the Blood over my lintel but was still milling around in Egypt with all its systems.
As with most of us and as fore-shadowed by the life of Abba Abraham, the choice to leave "UR of the Chaldees" (another name for Babylon) was mine to make but it also forced my wife and family to make choices - they could come along, or stay behind - I COULD NOT FORCE THEM TO COME OR MAKE THAT CHOICE FOR THEM, I could only be obedient and pray that they would accompany me - and praise YHWH my wife did (the children, all mature adults, are still making choices, but Abba is watching them like an Eagle).
As I said above, this was only the beginning of my journey but it was a journey in which I now was to lead my wife and our family and from day one this journey took us into an entirely uncharged area of life devoid of any of the old landmarks: We had started a journey which would over time lead us into a brand new Biblical calendar which was then closely followed by a new diet - however possibly much more terrifying, daunting and lonely was that this "peeling process" led to a separation from our entire extended family both biological and in the Church. We had no intention of leaving them behind, we tried to share our incredible news and journey with anyone who would listen, but as much as we tried to share this incredible journey with them, the more they began to isolate themselves from us, eventually resulting in many of them telling us to leave them alone: Our journey, you see dear reader, was far to "strange" and possibly even frightening to have been from GOD according to our extended families denominational views and precepts, so therefore our loved ones, who stayed in the "denominational system", where by necessity of process separated from us as we walked towards our destiny. Later, unfortunately, we lost all contact with most of them and retained at best just the most superficial of cordial relationships. But we still pray for all our "family" and wait for them to one day come and join us. Strangely enough the members of our biological families who were not religious think we are a bit different, but they today are the closest to us, never judging us just accepting us and our "Ways".
I have on many occasions been unsure, even petrified because I have heard The Voice of The Shepherd, but I had absolutely nobody to turn to for advice, no more pastors or "spiritual leaders" (spiritual fathers and so forth), no more brothers and sisters in Jesus who would even listen to us. I spent days like the woman with the blood issue crying before HIM just trying to touch HIS tzit-tzit (hem of HIS Garment - Num. 15:37-41; Matt. 9:20) - but here is a thing; up to the stage that I began to be called out of the "System" back to HIM and HIS SYSTEM (COVENANT) was a period of 12 years from my rebirth in Messiah Yeshua! Hmmmm...!
Religion we all know demands that we place ourselves under a "leader" and bow and scrape to his/her opinions and teachings and if we do not agree with "the leader and the organisation he/she represents" we are out (denominationalism).
There is other style of leadership instituted which has no organisation except the leader him/herself, this is even more dangerous than denominationalism because it can unknowingly make us so dependent on the leader that we are eventually enclosed and imprisoned in a cult believing that only our "esteemed leader" can hear from Elohim. In both respects there is no real Freedom, we are all required to have a herd mentality.
A relationship on the other hand requires an intimate knowledge and dependence on A/another having the right to ask questions, to be corrected (and to have to correct where necessary). A relationship never ever lauds anything over the other and all parties are considered equal. There is no system of to speak, just an agreed upon boundary which distinguishes what is acceptable and what is not acceptable to the relationship: A relationship should give us absolute freedom within the agreed upon boundaries, but it will never force a herd mentality upon us! There is room to grow naturally into who you are created to be, and YHWH, in HIS relationship with us, will direct our footsteps and establish the works of our hands so that we build on HIS Kingdom according to His Will and His Word and not some humanly perceived concept of HIS Kingdom (Is. 55:9-11 arw Deut. 32:2).
I wish to say one more thing before I conclude this short missive; one point that is repeatedly being taught to me with each "peel of the onion" is the fact that we are never ever to trust in the arm of flesh, and if we do we will be cursed because our hearts will depart from YHWH- THEREFORE WE MUST TRUST ONLY IN YHWH, HIS WORD & THE LEADING OF HIS RUACH HAKODESH! (Jer. 17:5-10).
We have only One Rabbi, Messiah Yeshua, and One Father YHWH Elohim, and we are betrothed to Yeshua, NOT TO ANY LEADER OR GROUP and the Great Shepherd will counsel and lead HIS own flock using various means and ways, and sometimes HE will send Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers over our paths to confirm things to us, and possibly even give us guidance for a while - BUT HE WILL ALLOW THIS ONLY FOR A SEASON! (Matt. 23:8-11).
A quick test may be in order here and I would ask each of you to please participate if you so wish by asking yourselves this question right now:
Could you voluntarily give up your pastor, your congregation and your fellowship with those you are with right now to walk with Yeshua as He leads through His Ruach?
If you can truthfully answer YES to that question - great, tell that to YHWH and await HIS next move!
However if you truthfully cannot answer YES to the above - I would really suggest you go before YHWH and discuss the matter with HIM and find out what is preventing you from answering YES to the question! HE is a jealous Elohim!
Brethren it is very simple, we will all be held accountable for our own walk with YHWH, and that includes the leadership who have a heavier burden than most as they have their houses and a portion of Yeshua's flock to shepherd to lead according to The Leading of The Ruach of YHWH (Matt. 20:26; James 3:1).
I was reading a portion of the Torah Study for this week (see Rabbi's Son) it explains much more eloquently what I want to say here, the study is rather long, but an incredible Sabbath read worth pondering and chewing over.
Yeshua and HIS Father love each and every one of us and want to bring us into a Covenant relationship with Yeshua so that we can begin to prepare for our Marriage to Yeshua. It would seem that the "Denominational System" have played a role in bringing us to repentance in Messiah, BUT THE SYSTEM NEVER PREPARES US TO ONE DAY ENTER HIS INNER BRIDAL CHAMBERS!
Dear Brother and Sister in Messiah Yeshua, please understand today HE is forever waiting to begin to "peel the onions" of our lives, the only one preventing HIM from doing it is US! (Is. 55:6-9).
I do not have the time to proof read this missive, so please excuse any typos and mistakes I am sure to have made, but I feel an urgency to get this out before our Shabbat begins here in Tsumeb in about 30 minutes. Check out all I have said and examine it please with pray and The Word and tell me where I have erred.
Thank you.
Shabbat Shalom
Bo'az