Birds of a feather

This is pretty amazing.  We have a least 6 hummingbirds that attend our feeder.  I have seen pictures of people hand feeding them.  So I decided to give it a try.  Here are a couple videos.  The one was shot through the screen so it is hard to see.  But there are two or three dancing and chittering around me and between me and the feeder.  There is also one where I am buzzed by one as I shoot video.

Sweeter than Honey

Grace is God demonstrating His love for us. Our obedience is us demonstrating our love in return. That is the relationship of love Scripture declares we have with God Himself.



Here is how Scripture defines God’s law:

1. The Law blesses (obey) and curses (disobey). It blesses us when we obey, and we are cursed when we disobey.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28


26See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse - 27the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; 28the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God.


(See also Psalm 112:1, 119:1-2; 128:1; Proverbs 8:32; Isaiah 56:2; Matthew 5:6, 10; Luke 11:28; James 1:25; 1 Peter 3:14; and Revelation 22:14)



2. The Law defines sin. If we break the law of God, that is sin. If we observe the law of God, we stay out of sin.
1 John 3:4


"Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness."

(See also, Jeremiah 44:23; Ezekiel 18:21; Daniel 9:11; Romans 3:20, 7:7; and 1 John 3:4)



3. The Law is perfect.
Perfect means that it cannot be made better. Perfect means that if you take any of it away, it is no longer perfect.
Psalm 19:7


The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

(See James 1:25)



4. The Law is liberty/freedom.
Psalm 119:44-45


44So I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever. 45And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.


That means if you walk in the law of God, you are free; but free from what? Free from sin. Remember how Yeshua walked? He walked the law of God. Remember how Christ said to walk, how John said we should walk (1 John 2:6)? Walk like he walked...that is why Christ is freedom. Remember, it is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32). What is Truth?

(See also Psalm 119:45; James 1:25, and 2:12)



5. The Law is the truth. Psalm 119:142 says it best:
Psalm 119:142


"Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is truth."

(See also Malachi 2:6; Romans 2:20; Galatians 5:7; Psalm 43:2-4; and John 8:31-32)



6. The Law is the way.
Exodus 18:20


"Teach them His decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave."

(See also Deuteronomy 10:12; Joshua 22:5; 1 Kings 2:3; Psalm 119:1; Proverbs 6:23; Isaiah 2:3; Malachi 2:8; Mark 12:14; and Acts 24:14)



7. The Law is life
Proverbs 6:23


"For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life."

(See also Job 33:30; Psalm 36:9; and Revelation 22:14)



8. The Law is light.
Proverbs 6:23


"For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life."

(See also Job 24:13, 29:3; Psalm 36:9, 43:2-4, 119:105; Isaiah 2:5, 8:20, 51:4; 2 Corinthians 6:14; and 1 John 1:7)



9. The Law is Yeshua (Jesus), the Word made flesh. (He is PERFECT + He is FREEDOM + He is the WAY + the TRUTH + He is the LIFE + and He is the LIGHT. The Law = Jesus).
Revelation 19:13


He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

(See Psalm 27:1; John 1:1-14, 14:5-11; 1 John 1:7)



10. The Law is also for those who were once Gentiles (the foreigner or alien) but are now grafted into Israel.
Numbers 15:15-16


15One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger (alien/foreigner/Gentile) who dwells with you, an ordinance forever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. 16One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who dwells with you.


(See also Exodus 12:19, 38, 49; Leviticus 19:34, 24:22; Numbers 9:14, 15:29; the book of Ruth; Isaiah 42:6, 60:3; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 37; Matthew 5:14; Ephesians 2:10-13; Acts 13:47; Romans 11:16-27; 1 John 1:7, and 2:10)



11. The Law is God’s instructions on how to love God, and how to love others, and how to not love yourself.
1 John 5:2-3


2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.


(See also Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 5:10, 6:5, 7:10, 11:13, 22, 30:16; Leviticus 19:18; Nehemiah 1:5; Daniel 9:4; Matthew 10:39, 16:25, 22:35-37; John 14:15, 21; Romans 13:9; and 2 John 1:6)


In following the guidelines of scripture interpretation something in today's theology does not line up with what the Scriptures tell us concerning the instructions of the Father for His set apart children.

Pro 4:1 Children, listen to the discipline of a father, And give attention to know understanding;

Pro 4:2 For I gave you good instruction: Do not forsake my Torah.

Pro 4:3 For I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the eyes of my mother,

Pro 4:4 Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Guard my commands, and live.

I remember singing this as a youth at church.  Little did I really think about the words I was singing.  Elohim's Law or as it should be interpreted "instructions"  are not just for Jews.  They are for those who are set-apart by the Father to be His children.  These instructions are sweeter than Honey.  They are to be desired, not abandoned or set aside.  Whoever believes they are set aside misinterprets Paul and disbelieves Peter when he tells us to be careful how we interpret Paul concerning the law.

Psa 19:7 The Torah of יהוה is perfect, bringing back the being; The witness of יהוה is trustworthy, making wise the simple;

Psa 19:8 The orders of יהוה are straight, rejoicing the heart; The command of יהוה is clear, enlightening the eyes;

Psa 19:9 The fear of יהוה is clean, standing forever; The right-rulings of יהוה are true, They are righteous altogether,

Psa 19:10 More desirable than gold, Than much fine gold; And sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.

Psa 19:11 Also, Your servant is warned by them, In guarding them there is great reward.

What is New

What's new in the Race household.
 My beautiful and gifted wife posted this and she did such a great job I had to share it too. She did forget to mention the owl that occasionally perches on the telephone pole just across the road.  The Blue Herons at the ponds and the hawks soaring in the air.  There are also the Turkey vultures, cows and llamas.  We live on a ranch with over 3,000 acres and 27 ponds where I manage 12 turkey barns.

Our 6 year old discovered what she thought was a fossil but which actually turned out to be a native American spearpoint.  Also some crayfish skeletons.  We hope you enjoy the pictures and what we have been up to.

 Then there are the turtles we find crossing the roads. We bring them home so the girls can learn about them and then take them back and drop them off where we found them.

Here is what Laurie has to say:

What's new in the Race household since we moved to MO? An Abyssinian kitten - Pharaoh, a rescue puppy - Trixie (who is a he and not a she), a rescue dog - Daisy Mae (who was 3 wks pregnant when we got her), and Daisy's 5 day old puppy. Do you know I got more sleep when I was pregnant than I did with a pregnant dog in the house? I also got more sleep with a newborn than I do with a puppy in the house.

Mike's job is going well; hopefully the ranch will hire someone to work with him as the person who was going to changed his mind. There is way too much work for one person. He put in over 66 hrs a couple weeks ago, and hoped to have a shorter week after, but when things break down...the animals still have to be fed.
The girls are excited as almost daily we have pkgs of homeschool curriculum and books coming to the house. After testing a few weeks ago, I was thrilled to see the steady learning that has taken place in the last year with more relaxed schooling. Several tested ahead in math, and all tested ahead in reading.
Oh yes, I must not forget the skunk family! In the barn nearest the house there is a mama skunk and her 4 babies. They can't get in the barn, but just between the outside and inside walls. Every night as the sun is going down, mama skunk heads down the drive and the road. During the day we have seen mama and babies walking along the outside of the barn. We tried to take pictures, but didn't want to get too close.

Today, Esther, Jennella, and Kaytelyn saw their first live police chase and arrest in a small town not far from here. They heard the police officer shout, "Stop her, stop her!". I think I prefer farm-life excitement to police chases.

 And so our lives continue at a fast pace amidst the beauty which Yahweh our Elohim has created.

I started to work for an in home care organization a couple of weeks ago.  Things are going well.  The girls have all been sick this last week and are beginning to recover.  We love being in the south as we are avoiding most of the cold and wet white stuff.  We did have some a couple of weeks ago but that is long gone.  I still have things that need to be repaired on the van and am asking for Yah's provision in that area.  Abigail has gone back to help Sarah and John with Manasseh until Hanukkah when she will be back to join us for the celebration. 
   We praise our Father for his provision for a reasonable place to camp while we rejuvenate and get our resources replenished.  We are also renting a 15x10 foot storage unit which is on the same place as the campground.  This gives us a little more room to spread out. 
   Please pray for us in the area of finding friends and fellowship as well as the rest of our needs which I have made known to our Father.  We try to patiently wait for His provision. 
I think we have had our next place verified to us but we will wait until Father gives us the green light through His provision to head in that direction.   

The proving of belief

Praising Elohim.  I had an interview this morning for a part time job with housekeeping.  It is for 20 hours and the pay is pretty low.  It would pay for a camping site plus my gas for work.  I also have an interview on Monday for in home help for the elderly.  The hospital this morning was excited to have received my application.  They are having a hard time keeping their housekeeping staff.  (can't help to wonder why that may be...perhaps it has something to do with the pay).  One drawback on the part time job is they require a flu shot.  Due to my religious convictions about what I put into my body, that won't happen.  They had a couple of more people to interview yet and will get back to me on Monday or Tuesday. 
   The interview I have on Monday...When I filled out the application they said they didn't have anything at the time but that could change.  When I talked with them yesterday they went so far as to say they had someone in mind for me even before my interview. 
   I will continue to look for work and look forward to seeing how Elohim works these things out as we continue to serve Him.
    I talked with a gentleman named Terry in the parking lot of Walmart today.  He too was from Minnesota.  He saw the front license plate on the van and started talking with me.  I mentioned we were Torah Observant believers, he asked me where we were fellowshipping as Baptists are extremely dominant in this area.  I told him we don't have a fellowship persay but there are others of like mind in the area.  He then invited us to his church on Sunday.  So, I think we were both trying to evangelize and talk of Elohim to each other.


This sums up where we are at today.

Jas 1:2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

Jas 1:3 knowing that the proving of your belief works endurance.

Jas 1:4 And let endurance have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in naught.

Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it shall be given to him.

Jas 1:6 But he should ask in belief, not doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Jas 1:7 For that man should not think that he shall receive whatever from the Master –

Jas 1:8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The testing of Faith

  At this time in our travels we find our faith is being sorely tried.  We have some repairs that need to be made before we journey onward and without the finances to make those repairs.  We are needing to move to another location as the water where we are will need to be shut off for the winter.  Our finances are dwindling and I have not yet been able to find work to bring in a steady income.  We look forward to how Abba El will be meeting our needs with anticipation.  For some there are doubts, some of us are hanging on by a shoestring as we bring our needs to our Father who knows all things before we ask.  I have lived for Elohim too long to actually give up my faith in His Word but there still remains that struggle.  I know all the scriptures that tell of His love for us and how He will meet those needs.  It is one thing to know in my head but another all together for those head messages to reach the heart.  I hesitate to share here what the needs are as I desire to leave things in the hands of Father and to watch as He meets those needs.  One need we had that has been met is a hot water heater.  Ours rusted out and until I can replace it at the cost of 500.00 we have no running water again in the camper.  My daughter who is with us has offered her savings to have it replaced so we are able to move forward.  I am praising Elohim for this answer to my prayers and ask that He will continue to guide and direct us.  I trust that all is well for those who are following us.  I am sorry I am not able to update the blog very much as we have to travel to use the internet.

Where Have We Been?

Over the course of the last few months we were in Missouri helping our oldest daughter and her husband with our first grandchild.  In Sept. Mike headed to Minnesota to claim a few things we had left there and to touch base with another of our daughters who is still there.  From there Mike traveled to Michigan to help work on a camper to restore it to a useable condition.  Mike spent a couple of nights with his parents and then down to visit with Laurie's for their 50th anniversary.  Mike gave them the picture he painted titled "A Glad Song"

Mike had also done their portraits from their wedding photo (black and white) redone in color and then a picture of them now.  From their Mike headed back home to Laurie and the girls.  We have now left Missouri.  Mike is currently looking for work to get us through the winter that is approaching.  We look forward to what Yahweh our Elohim has in store for us as we are now celebrating the feast of Tabernacles this next week.  If you are unfamiliar with the blood moons I would encourage you to find out about them.  Two are now finished and there will be two more in the next year.  John Hagee has a book about them.  I have also read a book by Jonathan Cahn concerning the Mystery of the Shemitah. 
   For those who are wanting to know more about churchianity and where all the customs have come from and how to get back to what followers of the Way used to do in the first century I would highly recommend reading the book Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices.  by Frank Viola and George Barna.

I will post more as I am able.  Right now it is hard to get internet. 

Prayer requests
Work for Mike and also reasonably priced internet service.

Projects

It has been awhile since I have updated everyone.  We are still in S. W. Missouri.  Elohim continues to bring people our way to talk with and witness to.  Also we are making repairs as needed to our camper.  The screens are needing to be replaced yet.  We now have running water inside the camper as the water leaks have been taken care of.  We have found when it rains things in the living part of the camper tend to get a little crowded.  That being said, none of us are ready to go back to living in a house.
  Mike is working on a portrait for a 50th anniversary and that is due next month.  He also continues to work 2 days for the camp ground.  One of the problems we are finding is that of computer time.  We have one lap top.  Laurie has been working on finishing finding what is needed for school this year. 
Another project Mike is working on is the starting of writing a book.  This will be about the Set-Apart family and the areas in which we have worked with our family to be set-apart from the world.  If anyone is interested in donating a lap-top or tablet for this use please let us know.  The rest of this post is part of the introduction to the book.

The Set Apart Family

Is there a difference?

     “So, where are all your girls?”  “You didn’t bring anyone with you today?”  “Your girls are so sweet.”  “My, you girls look beautiful today.”  “Are you Amish or Mennonite?”  “Your family is what families used to be like.”   These are just some of the comments we hear as we journey from place to place.  People can not only see a difference but they also feel or sense a difference in our family.  Most people like what they see and wonder what makes the difference.  When they hear how we have achieved those results they don’t like the hard work it takes to be set apart.  Sometimes as a family counselor people have come and asked what they can do to make a difference in their own family and when they come they want easy solutions.  We don’t have an easy fix.  To achieve the results you want in your family takes having a changed mind about the world you live in.  It takes believing the Word of Elohim (God) and a willingness to apply it to the life of your family in all you do.  The end result is a set-apart lifestyle.  There are seven areas in which we have undertaken to become set apart in.  We don’t always do it well but these are the areas we strive to be set apart in:

1. Discipleship
2. Education
3. Media
4. Associations
5. Special Days
6. Modesty and
7. Respect

     In our quest for becoming a set-apart family it doesn’t boil down to the luck of the draw or that some children are just better than others.  It boils down to parenting on purpose.  After Laurie and I were married I began praying for the children Yahweh Elohim (Lord, God) would bless us with.  The prayer was they would desire to serve Him with their whole hearts.  The million dollar question is “How do we get there?” and “what is this supposed to look like?”  As the leader of my family the quest naturally should begin with me.  I shouldn’t expect my family to be something I am not willing to be.  Not only do I desire my children to be set apart, I too need to have that deep burning desire within my own heart.

     I need to say, it seems my wife and children at times were more willing to make the hard choices for change than I was.  It was difficult to weed out those things I was so accustomed to doing.  So, change or obedience isn’t always easy.  It takes sacrifice and the desire to live a life that is in obedience to the Father’s instructions for His set apart people.  As parents we ought to be leading our children by our own example.  Children are quick to detect duplicity in our lives.  Also both parents need to be on the same page.  I was recently reminded in a most dramatic way the inside of our home or the atmosphere inside should match the outside.  Yes, we want people to notice how nice and sweet our children are but if they are not treating each other with the same respect they show to others then something isn’t quite right.  It is the same thing Yahshua (Jesus) said about the Pharisees.

“Mat 23:25  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are filled with plunder and unrighteousness.

Mat 23:26  “Blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside of them becomes clean too.

Mat 23:27  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly indeed look well, but inside are filled with dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

Mat 23:28  “So you too outwardly indeed appear righteous to men, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.¹ Footnote:¹See 5:20.

What people see on the outside should match up with what is taking place on the inside.

    Another question to ask would be “do we want our children to be regulated by rules or do we want them to be regulated by what they read in the Scriptures?”  For our family it boils down to internalizing the Scriptures and then being obedient to them.  That being said, some rules are necessary for safety and the running of a well-organized household.  We will talk more about that in our chapter on discipleship.

Paul tells us in 2Ti 3:14 

But you, stay in what you have learned and trusted, having known from whom you have learned,

2Ti 3:15  and that from a babe you have known the Set-apart Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for deliverance through belief in Messiah יהושע.

2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness,

2Ti 3:17  that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.   

 

     It is important to understand, when Paul wrote this letter to Timothy there was no New Testament.  Paul was speaking concerning the Old Testament Scriptures.  The Word “Torah” which people use in talking about the five books of the law of Moses, actually means “instructions”.

 

Torah

H8451

Strongs #8451: AHLB#: 1227-H (i1)

i^f1) Erft% (Erft% TW-RH) - Teaching: The direction one is to take in life.  [freq. 219] |kjv: law| {str: 8451}

Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible

 

We are able to see from the Hebrew word picture Torah actually has the meaning attached to it of being the direction one should take in life.  It should not be something negative but positive.  Yahweh Elohim gave special directions for His people to live a life which is set apart.  These instructions do not give salvation, which is where many Jews fail to understand Torah, but we live them as a demonstration of our love for Him.  Let’s take a quick look at Yahshua and what He says concerning the Torah.

 

Joh 14:23  יהושע 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.

Joh 14:24  “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.

 

Joh 15:9  “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Stay in My love.

Joh 15:10  “If you guard My commands, you shall stay in My love,¹ even as I have guarded My Father’s commands and stay in His love. Footnote: ¹See 14:15.

Joh 15:11  “These words I have spoken to you, so that My joy might be in you, and that your joy might be complete.

Joh 15:12  “This is My command, that you love one another, as I have loved you.¹ Footnote: ¹See 13:34, 15:17.

Joh 15:13  “No one has greater love than this: that one should lay down his life for his friends.

Joh 15:14  “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

 

I ask you this, whose commands are we to follow?  Are they Yahshua’s or Elohim’s? 

 

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.

Joh 1:2  He was in the beginning with Elohim.

 

Joh 5:19  Therefore יהושע responded and said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is able to do none at all by Himself, but only that which He sees the Father doing, because whatever He does, the Son also likewise does.

Joh 5:20  “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all that He Himself does. And greater works than these He is going to show Him, in order that you marvel.

Joh 5:21  “For as the Father raises the dead and makes alive, even so the Son makes alive whom He wishes.

Joh 5:22  “For the Father judges no one, but has given all the judgment to the Son,

Joh 5:23  that all should value the Son even as they value the Father. He who does not value the Son does not value the Father who sent Him.

Joh 5:24  “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me possesses everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Joh 5:25  “Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of Elohim. And those having heard shall live.

Joh 5:26  “For as the Father possesses life in Himself, so He gave also to the Son to possess life in Himself,

Joh 5:27  and He has given Him authority also to do judgment, because He is the Son of Aḏam.

Joh 5:28  “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the tombs shall hear His voice,

Joh 5:29  and shall come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have practised evil matters, to a resurrection of judgment.

Joh 5:30  “Of Myself I am unable to do any matter. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own desire, but the desire of the Father who sent Me.

 

Yahshua could not do anything apart from the Father.  The words He spoke, the commands He followed were those of the Father.  How can we do any less than follow the instructions of the Father as we are to be set apart through the following of His instructions.

 

Deu 7:6  “For you are a set-apart people to יהוה your Elohim. יהוה your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a treasured possession above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

 

1Pe 1:13  Therefore, having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, set your expectation perfectly upon the favour that is to be brought to you at the revelation of יהושע Messiah,

1Pe 1:14  as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance,

1Pe 1:15  instead, as the One who called you is set-apart, so you also should become set-apart in all behaviour,

1Pe 1:16  because it has been written, “Be set-apart, for I am set-apart.”

1Pe 1:17  And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear,

1Pe 1:18  knowing that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers, not with what is corruptible, silver or gold,

1Pe 1:19  but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless,

 

1Pe 2:9  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a set-apart nation, a people for a possession, that you should proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light,

1Pe 2:10  who once were not a people, but now the people of Elohim; who had not obtained compassion, but now obtained compassion.

 

When we consider our Father’s instructions for His set apart people, Christianity observes ninety percent of them.  The other ten percent is left out and considered unimportant.  Most of the ten percent left out are the dietary instructions, the Sabbath and the set-apart appointment times.  Many of the instructions in the Scriptures regarding the temple don’t apply today as there is no temple for observing them.  Many instructions are for the priests.  Some are for men and some are for women.  It is our belief the ten percent left out by modern day Christianity also apply to us today as Yahweh Elohim does not change.

 

Heb 13:8  יהושע Messiah is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

 

Mal 3:6  “For I am יהוה, I shall not change¹

 

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of turning

 

Immutability

The divine attribute of unchangeableness. God said in Exodus 3:14, "I AM that I AM," signifying His eternal sameness and His sovereignty. He cannot change His moral character, His love, His omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, etc.  God is "From everlasting to everlasting," (Psalm 90:2) CARM Theological Dictionary.

 

If all of Scripture is profitable why should we pick and choose which laws or instructions to follow and which not to?  Now let’s examine...

THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION!!!

Abba El's Moedim (appointed times)

It has been a while since I posted anything from Kyle.  I believe this is very important for all believers to understand.  Where Bible prophecy in the West fails, is in the understanding of Yahweh's Moedim (appointed times or feast days).  I think Kyle really nails this one.

I friend of mine and I were having a conversation ... it went like this:

I was told by a friend, “We must be ready, Jesus may return any day”

I told my friend, “Impossible … it is not His appointed time yet”

He then asked, “Kyle, how can you be so sure”

(In order to know the Son, we MUST know the Father’s way and understand)

06 / 28 / 14

(Comments in parentheses and emphasis within Scriptures are mine.)

Feast of Trumpets

Many feel that the Feast of Trumpets is the day that our Messiah returns to reign for a thousand years.  I am one of those who believe that our Holy and perfect Father is just that … perfect and He works on His appointed days (Remember, even Yeshua (Jesus) said, “It is NOT my appointed time yet” … hmmm … “appointments” … so He DOES work on the timetable set forth by His Father. 

When we study the actual command, we will find that there is not much to do on this feast but blow our shofar (trumpets / horns) and celebrate (this day is a special Sabbath and is also to be treated as one is commanded on the seventh day Sabbath):

Leviticus 23:24-25 … “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.  Do no regular work, but present an offering made to YHVH by fire.'”

Number 29:1 … “On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets.”

That’s it?  Yes, that is it!  We are simply commanded to blow the trumpets this day as we rest, have a sacred assembly, and do no work.  Why?  Well, let us look into the past and what the sound of the trumpets meant:

 (Ushering in a King) … 1 Kings 1:39 … “Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, ‘Long live King Solomon!’” and 2 Kings 9:13 … “They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, ‘Jehu is king!’”

(Sounding the alarm) … Ezekiel 33:2-5 … “Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head.  Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself.”

Let me ask you, do you think that the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) could have been crucified in June?  In the Fall?  Impossible!!  If He is the Passover Lamb and if it was any other day, then He would not have been the Passover Lamb … just some prophet who was crucified!  You see, YHVH works according to His schedule:

In order …

Passover (not a special Sabbath, but a moment of the Passover sacrifice): 

Yeshua is that Lamb

Unleavened bread (has two special Sabbaths): 

Yeshua was buried for 3 days / 3 nights

Firstfruits (not a special Sabbath):

Yeshua is the first born in the Spirit among many

Pentecost (special Sabbath and starts with firstfruits):

The giving of the Spirit to teach us the Laws

Trumpets (special Sabbath):

The return of the Messiah to gather His elect / Priests / clay of noble purposes

Day of Atonement (special Sabbath / fast day):

We are judged righteous in His blood (This is for those in the FIRST resurrection)

Tabernacles (special Sabbath):

Those “in Messiah” spend 1,000 years with Him

8^th Day Assembly (special Sabbath):

The whole family of Israel is assembled (those who were not part of the first resurrection and have not heard of the Messiah, and choose Him, come into the family).

Are we not waiting for His return?  Didn’t He die (Passover) Was He buried (Unleavened Bread)) Did He rise (First Fruits) Did the day of Pentecost come and Spirit given to all men (Pentecost) … so what is next?  Are we not waiting for His return (Hint:  look above and the order of HIS appointed days … then continue reading what is going to happen at His return)?

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.  And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”  (Matthew 24:30-31)  (Who will stop mourning?  Those who recognize the “Law of Moses” … “The Word” … “The Messiah” – see Nehemiah 8:2-12)

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

“According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.   For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.   After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.   Therefore encourage each other with these words.”  (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

Conclusion:

A fun fact regarding this day.  ALL the other feasts are known ahead of time.  You see the sliver of the moon (we go by Israel’s sighting) and then a certain amount of days after is the certain feast we going to celebrate.  ALL but this feast … the feast of Trumpets.  It is the first day of the month and we will never know the actual day or hour until it is already upon us (since it is based upon the new moon sighting and when you see the sliver, it is too late, the day is here … kind of cool, eh?)  Knowing that brings new meaning to Matthew 25:13 … “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”  Therefore, keep watch because we do not know until it comes.

Remember that the Messiah could NOT have been crucified any other day than on Passover if He was going to be the Passover Lamb.  Same with His coming.  Only the Father knows all things and He knows when that new moon ushering in the seventh month of the year He is sending His Son will be!! 

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”  (Matthew 24:36)

It is clear that we will NOT know the day or the hour (or even the year it will be), but we DO know the season and it will not surprise us (1 Thessalonians 5:4 … “But you, brothers, are NOT in darkness that this day should surprise you like a thief.”)

When the feast of Trumpets is approaching, we are looking for the sliver and we wait. 

Hebrews 9:27-28 … “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”  (Hebrews 9:27-28)

I will not be buying, selling, planting and so forth on this day.  It is a Sabbath and I will be resting in Him as He gathers His elect.  What about those who do NOT celebrate His Feasts?  What will THEY be doing on this day?

“And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: ²⁷ they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; ²⁹ but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.”  (Luke 17:26-29)

This year, when the seventh month of HIS timetable is approaching, I will be waiting for Him.  Although I am busy doing His work now (practicing the Laws and teaching others how to obey them … Matthew 5:19), I am confident it is not today or tomorrow (This is not a prediction, but it certainly will not take me by surprise because I will be waiting as the day approaches and will be watching for the New Moon.  That is why it is going to take so many by surprise.  It is because they will not be anticipating Him to return on that day as they are not practicing the Feasts.  Be assured that it is NOT a sin to buy and sell, plant and harvest, or even to build (except on the Sabbath … smile … and the feast of Trumpets is a special Sabbath!), but it makes sense that those who are not waiting on that day, will be living their lives in ignorance and will not be obeying Him … just makes sense.

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