ARE YOU SERVING THE WRONG SAVIOR?

Forsaking your desire for fame and fortune is required by all who follow Yeshua. This is not to say that some Believers will not be rich.

1. With YAHWEH it is possible: 1Timothy 6:17; “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living GOD, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”

The issue was the ruler’s love for his riches and reputation. He wanted fame more than he wanted Yeshua.

1. This leads to a perpetual cycle of disobedience in order to maintain wealth gained through compromise: Matthew 6:24; “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve GOD and mammon.”

Yeshua states that it’s easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of YAHWEH.

1. When people trust in riches and seek fame, it is impossible for them to follow Yeshua: Proverbs 11:28; “He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.”

The rich ruler had Yeshua all wrong!

He tried to use his reputation and prestige as a means to be counted worthy of Yeshua's eternal life. He felt that because he was lifted up from the earth, he was qualified to be lifted up in the afterlife. This is a common misconception in our world today. People believe that their fame and fortune are Kingdom transferable. If they are famous in the world, they feel they should be recognized by YAHWEH and YAHWEH's people. On the contrary, Yeshua told the story of a rich man that was lifted up while on earth but went to hell when he died.

The Bible says he received good things when he was living but now, he is in torment. What we do on earth only matters when it’s the Will of YAHWEH!

The Will of YAHWEH is for us to obey His Son Yeshua and live according to His rules and regulations. The things He taught are not optional, but they are necessary for eternal life.

1. However, when people desire fame and fortune more than they desire Yeshua, they will continue to compromise and will abandon Yeshua’s way for their own way:

• Matthew 7:21-23; “Not everyone that saith unto me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Many erroneous doctrines today fail to recognize the deity of Yeshua Hamshiach (Messiah/Christ) because of their flawed understanding of Him.

1. He was much more than a prophet: 1 John 5:12; “He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of GOD hath not life.”

Unfortunately, many are present victims of spiritual abuse and hypocrisy perpetrated by the hands of a Christian.

1. This offense has turned their hearts cold toward the true Christ and His teachings: Hebrews 12:15; “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of GOD; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”

• Some even desire to live under the Law of YAHWEH to escape the personal responsibility of living according to Yeshua’s teachings: Romans 8:3; “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, GOD sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”

1. When Yeshua’s enemies questioned Him about the law to make Him validate its prevalence, Christ turned the tables on them and put the focus on their behavior: Matthew 23:3; “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”

• To love the LORD with all thy heart, soul, and mind means that knowing the entire law is not important, but love covers a multitude of sins: Proverbs 10:12; “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”

If you truly love Him, even when you err you will be sorrowful and desire to do better because of your love for Him.

1. This action replaces the punishment with grace because of love:

• 2 Corinthians 7:10; “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

1. Loving your neighbor as yourself is such a powerful statement. It makes sin impossible without consequences: 1 John 4:20; “If a man says, I love GOD and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love GOD whom he hath not seen?”

• Even if the Israelite priests atoned for your transgressions with the blood of an animal, the consequences of sin would always remain because someone was hurt by your actions: Hebrews 10:4; “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

Yeshua died to pay for our sins, but the anger and hurt from being sinned against is still an issue for the victims of it.

1. The long-term effects of sinning against others are why Yeshua said that the whole law can be hung on these two: Galatians 5:14; “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

The Sadducees and Pharisees in Yeshua’s day were very similar to our modern-day “law keeper” doctrines. They make the law of more importance than the salvation of the soul, but law keepers spend all of their time finding fault and defending their stance. They are more focused on punishment for not following the law than their love for others!

Law-keeping doctrines are prevalent today because people do not want to follow an authority, but they would rather follow the law, so they won’t be responsible for righteous living. This practice precipitates hypocrisy!

They quote the law but treat others badly. They can recite the law and still abuse, fornicate, curse people, and be racist toward other people groups!

They appear righteous by reciting the law and wearing Old Testament garb but inwardly they are filled with hatred and unforgiveness. They want the law but shun Yeshua because His grace would force them to extend grace to those that hurt them!

They claim to be following YAHWEH’s way by adhering to the law, but they are really denying GOD’s way!

YAHWEH’s way is in Yeshua Hamshiach (Messiah/Christ).

He is the manifestation of grace for the law and because He is the fulfillment of the law, He can sum the law up in His own actions that He exemplified. He told us to follow His example.

Love YAHWEH with everything and love your neighbor the same as yourself. Though the law taught us YAHWEH’s position on things, Yeshuast taught us how to please YAHWEH in spite of our flaws and errors.

1. As long as we follow Yeshua, we can please YAHWEH: John 1:6-12; “There was a man sent from GOD, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness to that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on his name.”

Many times, when people are newly Born-Again, they fall victim to living out the extreme language of Yeshua’s hyperbole.

1. Yeshua used parables, metaphors, and hyperbole to drive home points with extreme emphasis! John 6:63; “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

Yeshua used extreme language because He was dealing with sin issues that could lead to death!

1. Death is always extreme so Yeshua used hyperbole to express how severe sin can be: John 14:6; “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The law expressed YAHWEH’s position on our behavior on Earth.

YAHWEH’s perfection is very extreme when compared to our imperfections.

1. Because Yeshua came to fulfill the law, it was His job to express in His teachings, just how far from perfection we really are: John 14:10; “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

Political correctness is a term used to describe being careful not to offend a person so that you can get their vote.

1. In our society, we are taught that this is considerate behavior that shows love:

• John 14:17; “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

But the Bible teaches us that genuine love tells the truth.

1. If we truly love our neighbor, we must prevent their demise by telling them the true way to live according to YAHWEH’s commands: Galatians 4:16; “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”

• Yeshua was hated by the world because He shunned political correctness and was extreme in His teachings, which left no room for compromise: John 7:7; “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”

1. People try to soften Yeshua’s teachings but the very reason He used hyperbole was to show how the severity of our situation indicates our desperate need for the Savior: John 15:5; “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Yeshua was using extreme speech to illustrate the need for His own death. He gave His life so that we would not have to take our own lives!

1. In other words, if we destroy the works of the flesh, we do not have to end our flesh: Romans 8:13; “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

• Rightly dividing the Words of Yeshua and understanding His emphasis on living right is the key to truly receiving what He taught and correctly applying it to our daily lives: Mark 7:16; “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”

In His teachings, Yeshua expressed that all sin issues are heart issues. The actions of a person are based on their motives, which would warrant Yeshua's usage of hyperbole in the Scriptures. To take these teachings literally would cause us to mutilate ourselves, leave families to go back to previous families, hate our parents, jump in the way of face slaps to get a second one, and look for a closet to pray in whenever we needed to talk to YAHWEH.

The ability to easily misinterpret Scripture highlights the importance for teachers of the Gospel to not be novices and have a true understanding of the Bible. When we submit ourselves under good teaching these hyperbolical expressions are understood and correctly taught in its proper context so that people do not do things out of order. When Yeshua’s teachings are rightly divided, we understand how much He truly loves us and how He is warning us that we should stop at nothing to gain eternal life. But when they are not properly applied, they cause more grief and harm than our former state.

1. Serving the right Yeshua, the right way will lead to a better life on Earth as well as eternal life after death: Luke 14:25-27; “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them; if any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

• Yeshua came to fulfill the law meaning He paid the penalty for its requirement; because the penalty of disobedience to the law was death, so Jesus died and paid it for us: Romans 4:25; “Who was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.”

1. If we believe in Him and follow His way of self-denial and loving our neighbor as ourselves, then we can enter into heaven when we die and live with Him forever:

• Romans 13:10; “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Powerful law enforcers were in fear of losing their clout and purpose because of Yeshua's teachings.

1. They refused to accept His claims because they would lose their identity as being better than others since they were Abraham's seed: Romans 9:6; “Not as though the word of GOD hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”

The Pharisees knew that the conversion of women was pivotal in forwarding their agenda.

1. This is why they took advantage of widows and uncovered women by instilling their doctrine in them: 2 Timothy 3:6; “For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.”

• Uncovered women are always subject to familiar spirits and are victims of deception because of their nurturing disposition: 1 Corinthians 11:10; “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”

1. Yeshua states that the Pharisees and blind guides will pay a more severe penalty for taking advantage of the weaker vessels instead of covering them: Jude 10; “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.”

The Pharisees were a prideful bunch.

1. They were more concerned about looking grand and feeling special than actually living right and helping others: Matthew 23:28; “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

• They used teaching the law as an opportunity to show themselves wise and they dressed to show themselves better than others: Matthew 23:5; “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.”

Yeshua stated that when they convert others, they make them children of hell like themselves.

1. Because they reject the Savior, they cannot be saved: Matthew 23:33; “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

Yeshua came teaching and preaching the kingdom of heaven to all men that would believe in Him. There are those that claim to be Abraham’s seed naturally and consider themselves a more superior people group than others; however, Yeshua took the seed of Abraham and made it spiritual so that all men can become true Jews. Yeshua became Israel and His blood makes us all Israelites when we believe in Him. This process gives us no right to boast or claim a superior lineage to others. In Yeshua, we are all the same and we will all reign with Him after He returns. The Pharisees didn’t want this because it took away their exclusiveness, and the only reason a person needs exclusivity is to make up for low self-worth or a traumatic past. Entitlement is birthed when a person is making up for what they feel they lacked or were cheated out of. Feelings of entitlement and retribution pull African Americans towards Hebrew doctrines. They want restitution for their suffering. They believe they are suffering because of the white man’s transgressions, but in actuality, the cause of their suffering is much closer to them than that. They are suffering because of divorce, neglect, abandonment, and immorality committed by their loved ones. The feeling of being a “chosen people” or “lost tribe” makes up for the suffering in their minds. Unfortunately, their beliefs will only be another channel for their anger and wrath until they resolve the true issue. Their belief becomes their father or “identity” as it was with the Pharisees. They will kill to protect it because it gives them identity and purpose that their traumatic past erased, but those of us that have been delivered from our past and have forgiven those that hurt us have accepted Yeshua and are all true Jews in His kingdom. When you carry truth, you become a target for those that hate truth.

1. People will hate you because your truth illuminates their bad choices and decisions: John 7:7; “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”

People were mad at Yeshua because His truth set others free but they themselves refused it.

1. So, they desired to make the truth look bad and make Yeshua look like the devil:

• Mark 3:22; “And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.”

The Bible said that Pilate marveled because Jesus did not defend Himself.

1. But when you know the truth, you must always let the law of reciprocity handle liars: Galatians 6:7 (AMP); “Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; GOD will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside). (He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude GOD). For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.”

The Pharisees made up false accusations against Yeshua, but the crowd was motivated by hearsay.

1. People that didn’t know the truth were calling for His death because of the lies that were being spread: Proverbs 6:17-19; “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Only those that were close to Yeshua knew the truth about Him and did not fall for these lies.

1. This is why it’s important to have close family and good relationships so that you can find comfort in them when you are falsely accused: Romans 15:1; “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

Pilate gave the approval to crucify Christ just because He had to please the people to be re-elected.

1. When people desire the applause of others or an audience’s approval, they will side with lies and shun truth: 1 Timothy 5:13; “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”

With the advent of social media, it’s very easy to attack others and spread lies for attention, but people can literally start a rumor, slander a person, and have it reach thousands with the push of a button. People that are envious will do all that they can to harm you and make you look bad in order to make themselves feel better. The Bible says when this happens, we should never take revenge or try to vindicate ourselves to prove innocence. We should always let our Father GOD handle it!

There is no way YAHWEH will ever sit back and allow people to be wronged without repaying those that are harming you unjustly. When you know you have done the right thing and handled the situation biblically and that is still not enough, then the Bible tells you to let YAHWEH handle it!

The law of reciprocity always takes care of those that intentionally harm people. You will reap what you sow and when it comes to fighting against YAHWEH’s people, you will pay severely, and most people do not even understand why they are depressed, anxious, insomniacs, or just physically sick!

Their families are torn apart, their children hate them, and they struggle financially and can’t make ends meet consistently. So many people are suffering from the law of reciprocity and don’t even know it!

Their lives are totally destroyed because of the lies or deceit they have promoted against one of YAHWEH’s children. For falsely accusing Yeshua, the Jews and the Roman empire went through catastrophic climate changes, persecution, and eventually total destruction.

When you try to tear down others, you will pay for it. As Believers, when people try to tear you down, do not say a word, just allow YAHWEH to handle it. Yeshua was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, not the Works of YAHWEH!

1. He was GOD in the flesh and did not come to contradict anything that was written:

• 1 John 3:8; “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of GOD was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

To fulfill the law simply means Yeshua provided grace by paying what the law required of us.

1. The manifestation of righteousness is in Him so that if we are in Him, we are counted righteous: Galatians 3:13; “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”

This scripture means that we live according to His commandment and it will cover the law and the teachings of the Old Testament prophets.

1. Love your neighbor as yourself! James 2:8; “If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.”

The law of YAHWEH is unchanging because He is His law.

1. The law is His commandment to teach us His ways and thoughts:

• Galatians 3:24; “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

We are still required to keep the commandments of YAHWEH and teach men to do so.

1. When we obey His commands, we will be counted as great in the Kingdom of Heaven: Romans 8:4; “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

• This is not to say that we can be perfect and never break the law. It’s saying that through Yeshua, we can be counted worthy of obeying the law by accepting His blood as a payment for our sin: Hebrews 12:24; “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

1. The scribes and Pharisees believed they were good enough to enter the Kingdom because they obeyed the law and appeared righteous: John 8:33; “They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?”

But Christ came to teach that appearing good enough is not good enough.

1. The law keepers’ hostile disposition towards Yeshua proved that they were not perfect as they appeared: John 8:37; “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed, but ye seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you.”

To exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, one must accept the very Messiah they rejected.

1. Being in Yeshua makes our righteousness perfect because He paid the price of the law with His life and death: Hebrews 8:6; “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

Our righteousness is filthy rags according to the scripture. Anyone that is claiming their righteousness based solely on their behavior is deceiving themselves because our flesh cannot satisfy the law!

It is impossible to live by the standard of YAHWEH’s law daily without error. Only Yeshua was able to do it. He lived His life to do it and His sin-free life fulfilled the law. His death satisfied YAHWEH and allows us grace for our error and salvation to enter the Kingdom of Heaven when we die. Yeshua’s grace does not negate the law or the prophets.

YAHWEH’s laws, precepts, and the teachings of the prophets of old, provide us insight on His point of view and how the culture of YAHWEH functioned. But YAHWEH sent His Son to live and die as penance for us, to save the Gentile nations and those that were reared under

a different culture. This makes us all Israelites in a sense because Yeshua is the GOD of Israel.

1. If we are in Yeshua and we live according to His commandments, then we will be counted great in the Kingdom of Heaven: Galatians 3:25-29; “But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of GOD by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

I WOULD RATHER BE UNCOMFORTABLE IN YESHUA...THEN COMFORTABLE WITH SATAN!!

"IF YOU'RE NOT WINNING SOULS FOR YESHUA...YOU DON'T WORK FOR YAHWEH...YOU'RE SELF-EMPLOYED!!"