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"Father all Glorious, Come and Reign Over Us"
We sing this song and many others that indicate our devotion to Yahweh; our willingness to
obey Him; our desire that He truly "reign and rule" in our lives. But do we really mean it? Are we
really aware of the words we utter?
Often, by other words and actions, we deny Him. Some want to set their own standards, and refuse to accept the
authority that is inherent in the Scriptures.
But we have to look into the "mirror" of Yah's Word to see how we are doing. That is His sole communication
with us. If we ignore His Words, we ignore Him! If we try to weasel our way around Scriptures we don't want to
obey, by wresting or twisting, or by quoting obscure verses that may or may not have anything to do with the subject,
then we are rejecting Him, and are going about to establish our own righteousness.
Let's examine some pertinent Scriptures that will show what can occur if we don't yield to Him.
James 1:23-24 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural
face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he
was.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
If we don't worship Yahweh according to the knowledge He has left us in His Word, then we do it in vain.
Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
What are the "Commandments of men?" It is what we devise in our own minds that we want to do, without
regard to what the Creator has to say about it.
Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of Yah, that ye may keep your own tradition.
For example, is there something you would rather do on His Holy Sabbath, other than devote the day to paying honor
to Him? Do you use His day (in whole or in part) to pursue your own interests, that have nothing to do with Him?
Isa 58:13-14 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the
sabbath a delight, the holy of Yahweh, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding
thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words Then shalt thou delight thyself in Yahweh; and I will cause thee
to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of
Yahweh hath spoken it.
We can see that Yahweh does not allow us to decide for ourselves what we can and can't do on His day. Oh, of course,
He does not force us, and we can disobey, as millions do. But when we do, we take ourselves out from under His
divine protection. We are no longer His. He will not save anyone who will not obey.
Acts 5:32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom Yahweh has given to those who obey
him."
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Yahweh dwell in you. Now if
any man have not the Spirit of Messiah, he is none of his.
What about accepting part of the Bible and rejecting other parts? Maybe the parts you don't agree with? Maybe
some of Paul's writings?
Yahshua said the Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), and the Apostle Peter called Paul's writings "Scripture."
2 Pet 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also
according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2 Pet 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be
understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their
own destruction.
We see here that Peter certainly recognized Paul's writings as Scripture, and acknowledged that, even back then,
there were those who tried to twist and pervert the meaning of Paul's writings, as well as the other Scriptures.
We must recognize that the Apostles were called and commissioned for a unique job - to establish First-Century
True Religion. And to accomplish that job, they were given unique powers. All the New Testament writers, Matthew,
Mark and Luke, Peter, James, John, Jude and later, Paul, plus whoever wrote the letter to the Hebrews, were inspired
by Yahshua to write down the truths that the Spirit revealed to them.
This was in addition to the witnessing and preaching that all of the Apostles and many of the Disciples (followers
converted other than the Twelve) did after the resurrection. They had an unenviable job. The Jews for the most
part opposed them at every step. Many were killed.
To do this job, they were given special powers. They received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They were immersed
in the Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). They had already received the Holy Spirit probably like we receive
it in John 20:22. When we receive the Holy Spirit at baptism, it is only a small portion, called "the earnest
of the Spirit," and guides us if we will let it.
But the Apostles had a full measure. They were able to perform miracles and effect healings that we cannot do
today. Some fret over that as if we are not somehow "righteous" enough. But they had a special job
to do, and they were given special tools to do the job with.
When Yahshua told them that "greater works than these shall ye do," in John 14:12, it is likely that
He was referring to those Apostles who were to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost
and shortly after, such as Paul. They did many of the same miracles that He did, and more, because there were
more of them.
Why would Yahweh allow them to do things we cannot? Why would they have gifts that we do not have today?
It was to get the attention of the people, so that the Assembly could be established. Without this "publicity,"
the disciples would have likely gone unnoticed.
But they did not go unnoticed. And as time went on, and the Assemblies were established, fewer and fewer miracles
were done. Their purpose had been achieved.
Another reason for the miracles and inspired preaching and writing (by "inspired," I mean direct inspiration
from Yahweh and/or Yahshua through the Holy Spirit), was because the New Testament had not yet been written. Therefore,
even though the Old Testament had enough for salvation (2 Tim. 3:15), Yahweh wanted His people to understand the
New Covenant. So He called out men who would faithfully report His instructions. Paul, for example, was personally
taught by Yahshua (see Galatians 1:11-12)
So let's be very careful in respecting what these men wrote. By so doing, we respect Yahshua and His Father Yahweh.
But if we rebel, He will reject us at His coming. >FB<
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