Just a thought: Are we ready for His Passion and Love?

As you all know my spirit is being stirred up in this time, especially during this count-down to Shavuot (Pentecost) which shall begin at sundown on the evening of 11 June, so although I shall entitle this "Just a thought" I believe this subject matter to be of vital importance especially in this time and during this move of The Ruach of YHWH.

This matter and the solution required to bring it into line with YHWH's move and will for this crucial time can only be achieved with the Wisdom of YHWH through The Ruach's direction and courage from us to do the necessary.

Because this is a very emotive as well as sensitive issue I begin this "thought" with this caveat:  

This is not intended to target anybody specifically but because it is so prevalent in our midst, I was even this morning confronted with this matter, one can be forgiven for thinking that they are indeed the target of this "thought", but as said that is not so, however I do believe that each and everyone of us must take this "thought" under prayerful consideration and see where YHWH knows and shows us to be in this matter at hand regarding HIS Kingdom and HIS Righteousness right now in our walk with Him and thus obviously our relationship to His Body, His Kingdom. Luke 12:22-34

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember YHWH thy ELOHIM: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. Deut. 8:17-18

In our modern age of Western materialism and capitalism we have all laboured under the false impression that it is we who have worked very hard, made many sacrifices and therefore own and deserve what riches we have!

We are all to one or other degree impressed with the idea that we are to only give a "lawful" 10% if absolutely necessary, and when giving this we are usually only to give to those WE THINK ARE DESERVING OF OUR PIOUS CHARITY!

Here are a few thoughts for consideration:

Firstly we are to give to those within the Body of Messiah first and according to Rom. 12:13 it would seem unconditionally unless otherwise instructed. Praise YHWH that when I was saved it was unconditionally and had nothing to do with how I looked, acted or was seen; so what about those who need His help which I now can supply for them BY WHAT HE HAS GIVEN TO ME - do I apply conditions? ONLY IF YHWH TELLS ME SO. Mat. 18:21-35; Luke 7:36-50

Secondly the tithe (10%) is a Levitical tithe, we no longer have a Temple or Levitical system to support in this time.

We moan about the "Law" and its precepts - in this regard possibly the 10% would be a much better deal that what Yeshua shows us through His very Life in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) and as seen in 2 Cor. 8:8-15; and what Yeshua Himself said in regards to the Widow spoken of in Mark 12:41-44 - SHE GAVE EVERYTHING SHE HAD AND BY HER EXAMPLE LIVED BY FAITH IN THE GOODNESS OF MESSIAH YESHUA - BECAUSE HIS GRACE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR US ALL. Phil. 4:10-13, 19-20.  

Is. 58 is all about Yom Kippur and the right kind of fasting that YHWH requires. Is. 58: 6-7 gives us a pretty good indication of how to use what we have been given for His Kingdom. We should consider that this chapter talks of "the fast" and that is idiomatic for the Yom Kippur fast (Lev. 23.26-32 - the Most Holy day of the year according to the Sages).

Is. 58:8-12 & 14 gives incredible promises to us should we apply Is. 58:6-7 & 13. 

We also see in Deut. 10:17-21 that regarding widows, orphans and strangers YHWH Elohim is not a respecter of persons and requires of us to care and assist people in these conditions EVEN AS THE EGYPTIANS, WHO WERE NOT COVENANT (READ REBORN PEOPLE), DID FOR OUR FOREFATHERS WHEN THEY WERE FORCED THROUGH HUNGER AND NEED TO EGYPT!

Do we not know that YHWH Elohim is blessing us when HE sends those across our paths who are in need? Mat. 25:31-46 

We, I am afraid, often like to pick and choose whom we will help and allow into our lives and homes and will often reject those that we feel do not conform to how we judge them and believe they should behave or look like or smell like!

I am not saying that we should just allow any Tom, Dick or Harry into our lives and home BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT WE SHOULD, WHEN PRESENTED WITH THESE PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS, PRAYFULLY SEEK THE COUNSEL AND WILL OF YHWH BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE BELONGS TO HIM AND HE KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS TO HAVE DONE WITH HIS POSSESSIONS FOR THE BUILDING UP OF HIS KINGDOM - AND HOW AND TO WHOM HE WANTS US TO MINISTER TO IN EVERY SITUATION TO HIS HONOUR AND GLORY! We are not to judge by sight but by spirit! John 7:15-24.

Remember there is no favouritism with YHWH Elohim - ALL WE HAVE IS FROM HIM, HE RAISES UP, HE BRINGS DOWN - SO WHO ARE WE TO DECIDE WHAT THE SITUATION AT HAND REALLY IS ABOUT?

I am sorry, but here I may very well tramp on many toes, and if that is the case, then so be it:

WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GIVE TITHES TO THE LOCAL CHURCHES UNLESS YHWH SO SAYS!  WE ARE TO GIVE FIRST TO THE WIDOW, THE ORPHAN AND THE STRANGER - THEN, IF WE HAVE LEFT OVER AND ARE SO INSTRUCTED, WE CAN GIVE TO THE LOCAL CHURCHES, IN FACT I WOULD EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO SAY I BELIEVE THAT BEFORE EVEN GIVING TO THE LOCAL CHURCH WE MAY CONSIDER, AFTER GIVING TO THE WIDOW, ORPHAN AND STRANGER, ASSISTING THE MISSIONARIES IN THEIR WORK!

I had this laid on my heart this morning and I draw the attention of each of us to the message recorded in 1 Samuel 25: 1-42. Also please read Luke 12:13-21, and the comments of Yeshua following in verse 22-34 of the same chapter! 

And dear brethren this goes so much further than just money - IT INCLUDES OUR TIME, HOMES, TALENTS FOR WHATEVER HE HAS GIVEN US TO BE ABLE TO DO! See this link for a few Scriptures on Favouritism http://biblereasons.com/favoritism/

I am becoming more and more convinced that this period of time we are now entering is of critical importance, SO I NEED TO ASK: DO WE WANT TO SEIZE THE MOMENT, ARE WE HUNGRY FOR HIS PRESENCE AND HIS WILL IN OUR LIFE - ARE WE PREPARED TO RISE UP WITH HIM AND GO WHERE EVER HE LEADS NO MATTER WHAT?  SOS 2:8-13

If so TELL HIM SO, BECAUSE OUR NEXT STAGE OF OUR JOURNEY WITH HIM WILL TAKE US INTO A COMMUNION WITH OUR BRETHREN AT A LEVEL WE MAY NEVER HAVE EXPERIENCED WHEN HE GIVES TO US HIS RE-NEWED COMMANDMENT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS HE HAS LOVED US AND BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT WE ARE HIS DISCIPLES IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER! John 13:34-35.

We have no idea whom ELOHIM is bringing into His Kingdom - who knows it may be that filthy beggar sitting on the corner drunk and lost who will be the one that YHWH uses you and the resources HE has made available to you to bring in - so let him who is without sin cast the first stone of judgement! 

There is much more we could say here, but this is a thought for each of us to consider and to work out for ourselves. We need all to work out our own salivation with fear and trembling!

And finally I believe that YHWH would much rather forgive us for giving to generously than for giving to sparingly! 2 Cor. 9:6-11

Shalom in Messiah Yeshua

Bo'az