| Dear fellow believers:
Who does Yah consider His family according to the scriptures which should be our ultimate authority?
"Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it." (Luke 8:19-21 KJV)
"While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Matthew 12:46-50 KJV)
The Word of Yah revealed in the above scriptures that His family is those who hear the Word of Yah and do it. This is the definition of God's family.
Please understand just listening or understanding the words of Yah is not good enough. You have to obey the words of Yah.
"He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (John 8:47 KJV)
Hearing or understanding God's words involves obedience to them.
The Word of God prophesied many believers would be "cut off" from their physical family because of the desire to obey the words of Yah:
"Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." (Mark 10:28-30 KJV)
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:34-38 KJV)
The word "household" according to Strong's Concordance of the Bible G3615:
oikiakos
oy-kee-ak-os'
From G3614; familiar, that is, (as noun) relatives: - they (them) of (his own) household.
So, from the verses above we understand most TRUE believers of Yah have conflict with their relatives but will have them replaced by other human beings who understand and believe the words of Yah; do them. These other human beings become the believer's NEW family and TRUE family.
And, in any family there should be structure with rules and regulations to follow. Of course, families have leaders who guide, rule, correct and protect family members. It is no different with the family of Yah.
"Therefore, I urge the congregation leaders among you, as a fellow-leader and witness to the Messiah's sufferings, as well as a sharer in the glory to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is in your care, exercising oversight not out of constraint, but willingly, as God wants; and not out of a desire for dishonest gain, but with enthusiasm; also not as machers domineering over those in your care, but as people who become examples to the flock. Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive glory as your unfading crown. Likewise, you who are less experienced, submit to leaders. Further, all of you should clothe yourselves in humility toward one another, because God opposes the arrogant, but to the humble he gives grace. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the right time he may lift you up." (1 Peter 5:1-6 Complete Jewish Bible - CJB)
"Watch out for yourselves, and for all the flock in which the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit - emphasis mine) has placed you as leaders, to shepherd God's Messianic community, which he won for himself at the cost of his own Son's blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you; and they won't spare the flock." (Acts 20:28-29 CJB)
- Notice the Holy Spirit NOT a man places leaders in the Messianic community-God's Family.
"Furthermore, he gave some people as emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers. Their task is to equip God's people for the work of service that builds the body of the Messiah, until we all arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of God, at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah's perfection. We will then no longer be infants tossed about by the waves and blown along by every wind of teaching, at the mercy of people clever in devising ways to deceive. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in every respect grow up into him who is the head, the Messiah." (Ephesians 4:11-15 CJB)
- Notice that some are leaders. Not all of Yah's people are qualified to teach the family of Yah and lead assemblies or congregations (1 Corinthians 12:29-30; James 3:1).
"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17 KJV)."
- Elders (pastors, bishops, teachers, overseers) rule in the assembly of Yah. Their rule should be gentle and with love NOT like a Hitler-a dictator.
"We ask you, brothers, to respect those who are working hard among you, those who are guiding you in the Lord and confronting you in order to help you change. Treat them with the highest regard and love because of the work they are doing. Live at peace among yourselves." (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 CJB)
"Remember your leaders, those who spoke God's message to you. Reflect on the results of their way of life, and imitate their trust." (Hebrews 13:7 CJB)
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your lives, as people who will have to render an account. So make it a task of joy for them, not one of groaning; for that is of no advantage to you." (Hebrews 13:17 CJB)
- If you call yourself a believer and don't respect the person (elder, bishop, pastor, teacher) the Holy Spirit chose to guide you to the TRUTH by detailed Biblical instruction, then you are not obeying the scriptures and you are not obeying Yah.
- It is not arrogant for a manager to state to his employees that he is their boss. Likewise, it is not arrogant of me to say I am one of Yah's shepards He uses to spiritually guide, protect and teach His flock. If you have learned some TRUTH from me, then I am one of your shepards. Paul magnified his office so it is nothing wrong with magnifying mine (Romans 11:13).
There is leadership even in a TRUE assembly of Yah which is the TRUE family of Yah. If there is no leadership in any meeting or gathering, then there will be confusion and the people will do what is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). Biblical and secular history prove there must be kind, gentle and loving leadership in any organization, gathering or meeting for it to be a positive and successful environment for everybody.
- Believers can't use the excuse they came out of the false churches of this world to say there is no government in the assembly of Yah. The scriptures clearly reveal there is organization in the assembly or congregation of Yah.
We are training to become King-Priests in the Kingdom of God (Revelation 1:6; Revelation 20:4-5). The Kingdom of God is a government.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV)
"Yes! I tell you that unless you change and become like little children, you won't even enter the Kingdom of Heaven! So the greatest in the Kingdom is whoever makes himself as humble as this child." (Matthew 18:3-4 CJB)
- To become a ruler in God's Kingdom we must all learn how to be ruled and to respect authority. If we don't learn how to do this, then none of us will enter the Kingdom of Yah.
Learning about various Biblical topics, Biblical Hebrew and prophecy is good. However, we must all learn how to change our behavior. This is why the Word of Yah commands us all to REPENT and CHANGE to enter the Kingdom of Yah.
- Our priority first is to change our behavior and learn how to be a better person. The entire Bible (The Tanakh and the Renewed Covenant or Apostolic Scriptures) and qualified elders, pastors, bishops or teachers are our tools (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Ephesians 4:11-15; Acts 8:30-31; Nehemiah 8:7-9).
If we don't learn how to change, then we will PERISH:
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?" I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3-5 KJV)
Living the TRUE way of life is serious business.
We don't want to learn and never come to knowledge of the TRUTH (which is the Instructions of Yah - Psalm 119:142) that will help us CHANGE.
"Who are always learning but never able to come to full knowledge of the truth. In the same way as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moshe, so also these people oppose the truth. They are people with corrupted minds, whose trust cannot pass the test. However, they won't get very far; because everyone will see how stupid they are, just as happened with those two." (2 Timothy 3:7-9 CJB)
The TRUE way of life involves correctional instruction:
"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." (Proverbs 6:23 KJV)
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105 KJV)
To simplify, the Bible shows us HOW to live the right way.
Elders, pastors, bishops and teachers must correct the flock (his disciples, students) when necessary according to the scriptures:
"Proclaim the Word! Be urgent in season, out of season. Reprove,1 warn, appeal, with all patience and teaching. Footnote: 1Or: confute, or prove them wrong. For there shall be a time when they shall not bear sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they shall heap up for themselves teachers tickling the ear,1 Footnote: 1Isa. 30:10, Jer. 5:31, Rom. 16:18. and they shall indeed turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:2-4 The Scriptures)
We should have the attitude of loving correction NOT hating or avoiding it:
"Let the righteous strike me, let him correct me; it will be an act of love. Let my head not refuse such choice oil, for I will keep on praying about their wickedness." (Psalm 141:5 KJV)
Yes, correcting someone is an act of love.
"Also you have forgotten the counsel which speaks with you as sons: "My son, don't despise the discipline of Adonai or become despondent when he corrects you. For Adonai disciplines those he loves and whips everyone he accepts as a son. Regard your endurance as discipline; God is dealing with you as sons. For what son goes undisciplined by his father? All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so if you don't, you're a mamzer and not a son! Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them; how much more should we submit to our spiritual Father and live! For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness. Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness." (Hebrews 12:5-11 CJB)
If we have an attitude of avoiding and resisting correction, God will not continue to give us His Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32; Acts 7:51; 1 Thessalonians 5:19) and we will lose the ability to change for only through the Holy Spirit can any human being TRULY change and understand the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:9-16).
"Repent when I reprove — I will pour out my spirit to you, I will make my words known to you. Because you refused when I called, and no one paid attention when I put out my hand, but instead you neglected my counsel and would not accept my reproof; I, in turn, will laugh at your distress, and mock when terror comes over you — yes, when terror overtakes you like a storm and your disaster approaches like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble assail you. Then they will call me, but I won't answer; they will seek me earnestly, but they won't find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Adonai, they refused my counsel and despised my reproof. So they will bear the consequences of their own way and be overfilled with their own schemes. For the aimless wandering of the thoughtless will kill them, and the smug overconfidence of fools will destroy them; but those who pay attention to me will live securely, untroubled by fear of misfortune." (Proverbs 1:23-33 CJB)
- We can have all Biblical knowledge and give all our goods to the poor but if we don't keep the commandments (love is keeping the commandments; not neglecting any of them toward our fellow human being - 2 John 1:6; 1 John 5:3; - emphasis mine), then our knowledge and giving is nothing.
"I may have the gift of prophecy, I may fathom all mysteries, know all things, have all faith — enough to move mountains; but if I lack love, I am nothing. I may give away everything that I own, I may even hand over my body to be burned; but if I lack love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not gloat over other people's sins but takes its delight in the truth. Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, always endures." (1 Corinthians 13:2-7 CJB)
If we want to be honest with ourselves, we all need to improve in our abilities to love Yah and human beings.
Let's all learn how to LOVE correction and learn how to TRULY LOVE each other and our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
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| Warmest regards,
Kennard, Servant of Elohim (God) |
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