Improve your Spiritual Eyesight in order to bring “Sight to the Blind” and “Liberty to the Captives”

Prov 3:7  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear YHVH and depart from evil.

We have previously looked at the “Fear of YHVH” when we studied Prov 1:7 in the context of reverence and respect. This time we will look at the Fear of YHVH in relation to human wisdom and how that will influence our fear of YHVH. What does it mean to be wise in your own eyes?

Eye is the word "ayin" that means; eye,  countenance, face, sight..

"Ayin" is first used in Scripture in Gen 3:5 where the serpent told Eve that her eyes (ayin) would be opened when she eats from the forbidden fruit and that she will be like a god, knowing good and evil.

What made this fruit so attractive and what caused her to eat from the forbidden tree? Her eyes caused her to stumble; she saw that the tree was good for food and pleasant to the eye Gen 3:6. It is the eye that caused her to be tempted and we fall into the same trap today when we "see" things we want, then we covet what se see (first sin), and then we get what we covet (second sin). The Word teaches us not to covet because it will lead to the second more serious sin, with dire consequences. After you see something you want, stop and ask yourself the question: "...is this in the will of YHVH, is this a need or a want...?" This will help you to think and measure your actions against YHVH's Word before you act, helping you not to sin against YHVH. If you really want something, do not be impulsive and jump at the opportunity, stop and pray about it, consult YHVH first and He will lead you through His inner peace.

The eye is the pathway to the soul and the eye can make the soul turn towards good or turn towards evil. The first thing that tempted Eve was what she saw and the second thing that tempted her was what she heard. Satan told he she will not die (first lie) and will become like gods (second lie). Your senses are the "gates" into your soul and if you do not place "guards" at these gates, then Satan, through his lies and temptations, will come in to deceive you and keep you "bound up" in sin. This will make you as a Believer in Messiah powerless and useless in the Kingdom of YHVH and he knows it. We are the Body of Messiah and we need to keep our selves clear from sin so that we will be "free" to do the work that YHVH planned for us. The consequences of sin are bondage and death and the consequences of righteousness are liberty and life. Many people think that Liberty in Messiah is to be free form the Law of YHVH but it is actually the opposite; it is to walk within the protective guidelines of the Law (Torah) of YHVH so that you will be free and liberated from the bondage and consequences of sin. This is just another lie of Satan that will bind us Believers in Messiah and keep them in "bondage" of sin while they think they are "free" in Messiah.

Have you ever heard of the expression: "..to cast an evil eye..."? It sounds like when it is someone giving you a bad look or a evil stare. It is actually an expression describing someone that is stingy, someone who is always on the look out to see where he can gain from someone else. When you have "an evil eye" it means that your "eyes are corrupt" and you see things from a selfish point of view which results in evil plans.  YHVH's eyes are not corrupt and He sees things the way they are, knowing consequence of every decision He makes and man makes. Man's "eyesight" is corrupted through sin and we "see" things the way we want them to be and we tend to believe the lies that favour us, just like Eve. This "corrupt eyesight" is due to our selfishness and covetous hearts that drives us to gain from the loss of others. This "corrupt eyesight" causes us to make decisions that have a bad or evil outcome at the end of the day that will bind you in the consequences of sin. YHVH needs to restore our "eyesight" so that we can see the things He sees them, making righteous decisions that will have an outcome that will be in favour of YHVH's Kingdom and that will set you free.

Adam and Eve saw the things with corrupt eyesight (distorted by Satan's lies) and wanted the outcome he suggested, not what YHVH said. Satan is described as a serpent and a serpent do not have arms and legs; he only has a mouth that can speak lies and corruption. His power lies in his tongue and you can defeat him by not listening to him but obey YHVH's Word. We tend to follow our physical senses instead of YHVH's Words, causing us to follow our distorted eyesight and corrupted hearts and desires.

Your "eyesight" and your "hearts desires" will be restored and be in line with YHVH's Kingdom Plan if you allow the Truth of the Word to set you free form the lies of Satan.

Luk 4:18  "The Spirit of YHVH is on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to the blind, to set at liberty those having been crushed,

Psa 37:4  Delight yourself also in YHVH, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Joh 8:32  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

When we are born into this sinful world, we are all born "blind" and do not "see" the bigger picture and Plan of YHVH until we receive the Truth that will restore our sight and will liberate us from the bondage of sin. YHVH's Word is like glasses that help you to see things in the right perspective, the way YHVH sees them, so that you will know "good" and "evil" and be like Him. In a sense Satan's second lie has a bit of truth in it; we will not become like YHVH regarding His authority and status as King, we will become like Him in our actions and will live our righteousness just like Y'shua did when He walked the earth. We are still servants of the Most High God Who is the King of kings and the ultimate Authority of all the He created. 

The worst form of corrupt eyesight is when you are spiritually blind. This is when you do not see the truth at all and the Truth of YHVH cannot enter into that person to restore and liberate him/her. This is the worst state to be in and it is only Y'shua that can "touch" these people's eyes to make them see again. We see this miracle recorded in Matthew:

Mat 9:27-30  And when Y’shua passed on from there, two blind ones followed Him, crying and saying, Son of David, have mercy on us.  (28)  And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Y'shua said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, Yes, Lord.  (29)  Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith let it be to you.  (30)  And their eyes were opened. And Y'shua strictly charged them, saying, See, let no one know.

This is a good example how Y'shua, through His Spirit, open blind eyes today; the people hear the truth and respond with faith after they realised their blindness, then Y'shua will "touch" them and open their blind eyes. The first thing that must happen is that the people need to hear the truth, the Truth of YHVH's Word and Restoration Plan (Gospel). Then they must respond with faith and this faith will activate the "miracle" to open their spiritual blind eyes so that they can see the things YHVH see it. If there is no truth proclaimed and no response through faith, then no miracle will take place and the people will stay in their blind spiritual dead state. The only thing we can do to save them from this state of death, is to continually pray for them that YHVH will work in their hears and through situations so that He might break the stone layer on their hearts in order to be receptive of the "seeds of truth" spread by the followers of Y'shua. Never stop spreading the Word and the Truth, even if people differ from you and they oppose you, they will receive these seeds as soon as YHVH cracked the surface of their stony hearts. Never stop praying for those who persecute you and be persistent in spreading the Gospel Truth. Keep your life clear from sin and strive towards Holiness so that you can be effective in the Kingdom of YHVH. Do not be wise in your own eyes or perceptions, keep yourself from sin and corruption and strive towards Holiness. Fear YHVH by knowing and respecting His Restoration Plan and choose to be part of it. Holiness is not a prerequisite for salvation, it is a requirement to be effective in the Plan and work YHVH prepared for us, so that we can help other to be restored back into His Kingdom.

Mat 7:5  Hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the splinter out of your brother's eye.

The Restoration Plan of YHVH will first give you sight so that you will be able to see and help your brother to restore his sight. Be humble and receive His Word with meekness, follow His Instructions and be on the safe side of sin so that you will be effective in the Kingdom of YHVH and bring many to sight and liberty.

Make an Appointment with YHVH every day.

 

Prov 3:6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Acknowledge is the word "yada"  that means TO KNOW as through seeing it with your eyes, observation, care, recognition, instruction, advise, answer, skill .

How do I acknowledge YHVH in everything? Acknowledge (Yadah) is used in Scripture in Gen 3:22 where Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. This caused them to KNOW (acknowledge) Good and Evil. This word is also used in Gen 3:7 where YHVH opened their eyes and they KNEW (saw/acknowledge) they were naked. Nakedness always refers to someone's weaknesses, shortcomings or sin. They saw their shortcomings and sin by being able to distinguish between good & evil. YHVH made them aware of what sin is and what righteousness is and that made them responsible and accountable to apply it to their lives. It is similar to when you loose your innocence as you grow up and that in it self load you up with more responsibilities.

When you are exposed to sin, then you need instructions that will guide and protect you, enabling you to live safely, sharing the same "environment", without you getting hurt or killed. I am going to explain the concept with the help of an example. It is similar to working in an Industrial environment where you are exposed to hazards. You need the "instructions" or safety rules to make aware of the hazards as well as guiding you while you are in that unsafe environment. Sin is similar to unsafe conditions and hazards that can hurt you and even cause your death. We need "Instructions" to make us aware of what sin is and how to avoid it, sharing the same environment. 

YHVH gave us His Instructions or Commandments to help us get around sin safely, not exposing ourselves to its hazards and ultimately help us to avoid eternal death. YHVH's Instructions will help you to "know", to "see" and "acknowledge" sin, so that you can avoid its traps, bondage and pain. To acknowledge YHVH in your Ways is to acknowledge His Word that contains the wisdom and knowledge of sin and it's consequences; then you paths will be directed by Him through His Word and your obedience. 

Another way to look at the meaning of acknowledges is from a communication point of view; we need to acknowledge YHVH through communication, consulting Him in order to get wisdom and advice on what to do in a certain situation. This is done through prayer and meditation in His Word so that you will find the answers that will give you peace. We all know the term "I'll pray about it..." but it is not just one prayer you "shoot" at YHVH expecting a clear answer; no, it is through constant prayer, seeking YHVH's Face daily until you know which direction to take.

YHVH has all the answers and He set the perfect example through Y'shua when He walked the earth. We should "look up to Him" and follow His example and by this we will know the difference between "good" and "evil" and what to allow and what to avoid. Y'shua said that He only does what He "sees" the Father do. What did He saw?

Joh 5:19  Then Y'shua answered and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do. For whatever things He does, these also the Son does likewise.

       

He "saw" or "acknowledged" what the Father's will is through daily prayer and communication with Him and that is how He "saw" what the Father's will is sin every situation. (Acknowledge means to know as in seeing) We live in a physical world and a lot of information comes in through our eyes, and we act on what we see. What we see influences how we act or react in different situations. YHVH is teaching us here that we should acknowledge or "see" Him first, to find out what He would do in every situation, rather than following our own "sight" and how we "see" things. Make a point of "seeing" YHVH every day through prayer and through studying His Word, so that He may direct your paths and lead you to prosperity, blessings and life. 

Acknowledge YHVH through Repentance

Prov 3:6   In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Direct is the word "yasar" that means; to be straight or even; figuratively to be (causatively to make) right, pleasant, prosperous: - direct, fit, seem good (meet), + please (well), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright (-ly).

It is first used in Num 23:27 where we read about Balak and Balaam where Balak went to the prophet Balaam, in order to curse Israel. He had numerous unsuccessful attempts because Israel obeyed YHVH and he could not speak a curse over them, only a blessing. Balak asked Balaam to change his location from where he could curse Israel, thinking that it would "please" YHVH if he would curse Israel from there. At the end of unsuccessful attempts, Balaam suggested that Balak needs to send his women among Israel and when Israel mingle with the pagan women, then YHVH will curse Israel. He did this and it worked, Israel mingled with the pagan woman, learned their ways and YHVH lifted His blessing and protection over Israel and cursed them and that pleased Balak. The morel of this story is that if you do the things of the world and learn their pagan traditions, then YHVH will remove His blessing from your life and you will be cursed, just like Israel.

We glean from the meanings of the word (yasar) or "direct", that it supports the idea of blessings and prosperity and when your paths are directed by YHVH, He will bless and protect you. On the other hand, if you do not follow His Word and His Instructions, then you are directed by your flesh or by worldly influences, then you will bring curses into your life.

Deut 28:15-16  And it shall be, if you will not listen to the voice of YHVH your Elohim, to observe and to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, all these curses shall come on you and overtake you.  (16)  You shall be cursed in the city, and cursed in the field.

Deut 28:1-4  And it will be, if you shall listen carefully to the voice of YHVH your Elohim, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command you today, YHVH your Elohim will set you on high above all nations of the earth.  (2)  And all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you, if you will listen to the voice of YHVH your Elohim.  (3)  You shall be blessed in the city, and be blessed in the field.  (4)  The fruit of your body shall be blessed, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your cows, and the flocks of your sheep.

Some people think that this is no longer applicable because Jesus came and took all curses upon Himself when He died on the stake (cross). In a sense it is true but only when there is repentance and forgiveness. Y'shua became a curse for us and died in our place because end result of sin is death. The Instructions of YHVH explains what sin is and if you do not obey His Word, then you sin and fall short of the mark and have to die. When you realise what you have done and repent from that sin (only if you know the Word and know what sin is), then He will forgive you and that sin is "paid for" and that "curse" will be on Y'shua. The opposite is also true; when you sin and do not repent, then that sin and it's curse will be upon you and you will bear the consequences thereof in the form of curses. When you die and you have "unrepented sin", then you will ultimately pay for your own sin and Y'shua's blood will gain you nothing. The key to a blessed life is to know the Word, to avoid sin and when you sin, to repent and try to steer away from it in order to be Holy and blameless before Him. We will never stop sinning and that is why Y'shua had to die but you must live a life of humility and repentance to gain the advantage of His blood and forgiveness.

Heb 10:26-29  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  but a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  (28)  He who despised Moses' Law died without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses.  (29)  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

There is no forgiveness for wilful, deliberate sin where there is no repentance. In context with Prov 3:6 we can make the statement that repentance is basically acknowledging YHVH in your ways. It is not only to ask His opinion and direction prior to an event, it is definitely to consult with Him after the event as well, after you have sinned and fallen because of your imperfection. This is when you truly repent and ask Him to help you not to do this sin again. Then you will value the Blood of our Messiah and will not trample upon it through rebellion and lack of repentance.  

Shine His Light through your Life

Prov 3:5-6  Trust in YHVH with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding.  (6)  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Trust is the word "batach" that means; trust, to be confident in, careless, hope. It is related to the word "chasah" that means; to flee, protection, to find refuge in, to hide.

This trust is associated with looming terror as we see in Deut 28:52 where it is first used. We read here about high and fortified walls that will come down, walls that have protected you. These walls represent the things we "build" around us that we trust in, rather than trusting in YHVH. They are the walls of our own understanding that we normally trust in stead of YHVH. We trust in our own abilities, our intellect, our reason and knowledge. Is it wrong to trust in your God-given "gifts" so to speak?  We tend to think so but YHVH sees things a bit different than us. Yes, He gave us gifts and abilities you use in your normal life situations but when it comes to more serious issues, then we should rater trust in Him. Situations like choosing a career, finding a life mate, conflicts and issues with people, dangerous situations, etc. We need to learn to trust Him with the things that will influence your life severely but you can rely on your own abilities when it comes to finding a parking spot, choosing clothes to wear etc. "Batach" means to know and understand that YHVH is powerful, capable and willing to rescue you or direct you in a serious situation or crossroad decision you have to make in your life. This will influence your actions so that you will be in line with YHVH's Will and His Word.

If you constantly trust and rely on your own fortified walls than YHVH will sent the enemy to come against you so that you will be humbled and those walls can be broken down so that you will only have YHVH to trust in. YHVH do not allow this because He is mean, He does this because He wants you to make Him your number one option every time. 

Understanding is the word "biynah" hnyb that means; knowledge, understanding and wisdom.   

This word is first used in Scripture in Deut 4:6 where YHVH gave His Commandments which are their wisdom and their understanding that will make them different to any other nation. The nations will look upon Israel and note how great a Nation they are because of their wisdom and understanding. Do people today see us as being different, as being wise? Are we as believers people of great understanding and do we stand out because of our wisdom? I think not, we are not the envy of the nations and we do not stand out because we want to look like the world and blend in rather than stand out.

Why is this? It is because of the fear of man and the lack of knowledge of the Word of YHVH. We do not take His Word as serious as we should and think we are ok because we measure ourselves with worldly standards. You should always measure yourself against the Word of YHVH and not against your pagan neighbor and thinking you are godly and holy.

Lean on our own understanding of regarding holiness, but gain understanding and wisdom from YHVH's Word so that you will stand out in the nations and shine the light in this dark world. If you really follow YHVH's Commandments and apply His wisdom on a daily basis, then people will notice it in your life and wonder where you get the wisdom from. YHVH's Commandments are gifts to serve His people, to make them superior to the rest of the world, to make us leaders and not followers.

Deut 28:13  And YHVH shall make you the head, and not the tail. And you shall be always above, and you shall not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of YHVH your Elohim, which I command you today, to observe and to do them.

1Pet 2:9-12  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  (10)  you who then were not a people, but now the people of God, those not pitied then, but now pitied.  (11)  Dearly beloved, I exhort you as temporary residents and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,  (12)  having your conduct honest among the nations, in that which they speak against you as evildoers, they may glorify YHVH in a day of His visitation, seeing your good works.

Live right, seek holiness and do good works, not for you salvation, but that others may be saved when they see the light you carry and become attracted to it. We are YHVH's priesthood in the nations that exist to serve the people, to bring them into the Kingdom through our service unto YHVH. You have to look different in order to shine and stand out in this world and that will happen when you gain understanding and wisdom from applying YHVH's Commandments.

  

Changing your Stony Heart

Prov 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; tie them around your neck; write them upon the tablet of your heart;

Now that we have seen what it means to tie His Commandments around your neck, we will look into what it means to write His Commandments on the tablets of your heart?

Write is the word "katab" that means; to grave / engrave, to write, inscribe, record, describe.

It is first used in Scripture in Exo 17:14 where Moses had to write all the words YHVH spoke to him so that he will be able to teach the people. This word is also used later in Exo 31:18 to explain how YHVH engraved the Ten Commandments into stone tablets on Mount Sinai.

Two things stand out; the heart is compared to stone tablets and the Words of YHVH are written in stone, making it permanent and unchangeable. We as sinful humans have stone cold stubborn hearts that makes us un-teachable and our hearts, hard to change. One thing that we as humans don't like is change because it makes us walk in the unknown. None of us like constant change and we rater stay in our comfort zones, knowing what to expect next. YHVH on the other hand wants us to constantly change so that we can grow spiritually and change into His likeness. If you don't change constantly, then you are dead spiritually.

Have you ever written down the Ten Commandments, imagine writing it with a chisel on stone that will keep you busy for a while? In the same way we can compare the effort it is to write the Commandments on our stony hearts; it takes time and effort. This is what YHVH is doing with us; He is busy writing His Commandments on our hearts through His Spirit, allowing constant change and challenges in our lives to make us humble and receptive, in order to "engrave" a certain Commandment on your heart, within a certain situation. Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians that YHVH will not only allow the temptation in your life, but will also give the outcome.

1Cor 10:13  No temptation has taken you but what is common to man; but YHVH is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it.  

Have you ever thought of why YHVH allows temptation in your life? Is He mean and want to see you suffer? No, He is wise and wants to see you change. YHVH changes you from the inside out; He will allow situations in your life to get to your heart so that He can change it by writing or imbedding that Commandment that is applicable in that situation in your heart. Once that is done your character will change and you have build character and grown spiritually. It is like writing a practical test after you have received the theory to see if you fully understand the work. Every test and trail you go through will chisel out another letter of the Commandments in your stony heart.

Jacob wrestled with YHVH through the night, thinking it was his enemy (Esau). In the same way we see that YHVH is in every situation and at first, He looks like the enemy, but when day breaks (revelation comes), we see that it was YHVH that were wrestling with us in order to touch our lives (thigh) and change our walk. Gen 32:24-30. YHVH has to sometimes wrestle with us in order to change us and to permanently engrave the Commandments on our hearts.

Jer 31:33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says YHVH, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people.

Writing the Commandments on our hearts is part of YHVH's Covenant agreement with His people and those who follow Him will go through the process of preparation (humiliation / to make humble) in order to receive His Word through is Spirit within situations. You cannot write His Commandments on your heart, the only thing you can do is to be humble, teachable and to recognize Him in every situation. We do this through initially allowing His Spirit to indwell us through the process of Rebirth, Baptism and lying up of hands. Then we allow Him to change us by acknowledging Him in every situation and trial, so that He can make a permanent change to our hearts and our character. Your job is to be sensitive for that still small voice inside of you during the day and to read and study His Word so that His Spirit can explain and reveal it to you in a practical way. You cannot do it yourself, it is only through the power of His Holy Spirit that He can teach and change within life's wrestling matches, so that His Word and Spirit can make permanent changes to your heart and in your life.  

Carrying the Yoke of Yeshua

 Prov 3:1-3  My son, forget not my law (Torah); but let your heart keep my commandments;  (2)  for they shall add length of days, and long life, and peace to you.  (3)  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; tie them around your neck; write them upon the tablet of your heart;

We have learned what the Torah and YHVH's Commandments mean and that it will ensure a long and prosperous life. We continue with Prov 3:3 and will look at what it means to tie the Commandments around your neck and writing it on your heart. What does it mean to tie YHVH's Commandments around your neck?

Neck is the word " gargeroth" that means; thought, neck. It comes from the word "garar"  that means; to drag off roughly, to bring up the cud, to catch, to chew, catch, to destroy. 

This word is first used in Scripture in Lev 11:7 where it explains the difference between a clean and unclean animal, particularly the pig, having the external attributes of a clean animal but not chewing the cud. This implies that a "clean animal" or believer will have physical attributes (Commandments around their neck) as will as inner spiritual attributes (chew the cud) that show that they are true believers. They are not like the "unclean animals" or false believers that only look spiritual on the outside, but are spiritually dead on the inside.

Why does the Word say you should hang the Commandments round your neck? Your neck is where your voice is located and hanging the Commandments around your neck implies that you will use your voice to teach people His Instructions. We need to use every opportunity possible to talk about YHVH and spread the Word about His Kingdom so that people might repent and return back to Him.

Act 5:42  And every day in the temple, and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching about  Y'shua the Messiah.

The neck is also the place on the animal where you put a yoke with the intention to do work, specifically to plough the land before sowing seed.

Mat 11:28-30  Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls.  (30)  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

Y'shua call his followers to come and put on His yoke so that they might prepare the ground for the sower (Holy Spirit) Who will sow His seed (the Word) in the people's hearts (ground). When we interact with people, we need to do it in such a way that we prepare their hearts to be receptive of His Word. All you have to do is to plant a little seed, food for thought, whenever you have the opportunity with someone in relation with their situation.

Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.

You must be willing and available to carry the "Yoke of Y'shua" so that you can bring the Good News of Salvation as well as the Instructions that lead to Holiness to the people. People are lost and need to hear the Gospel of Salvation. The Bride of Messiah is not ready and need to hear about Holiness so that She can be ready and spotless for His Coming.

Eph 5:26-27  that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,  (27)  that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

In order to carry the "Yoke of Y’shua” requires you to be sorted out spiritually so that you be effective and portray the right image of a true disciple of Y'shua. Your words and your actions must be in line with the words and actions of our Master. You should speak and teach YHVH's Word in season and out of season, living a Holy life, living a good example, so that people will read the Word on your life.  

Staying Spiritually Alive

Prov 3:1-3  My son, forget not my law (Torah); but let your heart keep my commandments;  (2)  for they shall add length of days, and long life, and peace to you.  (3)  Let not mercy and truth forsake you;Continuing from the previous section where we discussed the "Requirements" for a long and prosperous life which were:

·         Torah

·         Commandments

·         Truth

We have looked at the Torah or Instructions and will now will look at the "Commandments" and the "Truth", what it really means to us.

Commandments is the word "mitsvah" that means; a command, ordinance, precept, collectively the Law. It comes from the root word "tsavah" that means; to constitute, enjoin, appoint, to give charge, to send a messenger, to put in order.

It is first used in Scripture in Gen 2:16 where YHVH commanded man to eat from every tree in the Garden except from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil for they shall surely die. So the word "mitsvah" or 'commandment' is connected to life and death; life because YHVH commanded them to eat and if they did not eat from every tree, they could not sustain their lives, and death; where YHVH gave the consequences for disobedience to His Commandment.

In this first Commandment in Gen 2 we see a positive and a negative side and this teaches us that the Torah consists of positive and negative Commandments. Negative Commandments are commandments where you avoid something. Positive Commandments on the other hand are active Commandments where you have to do something. Both positive and negative Commandments are connected to Life and Death. Life; when you do the positive and avoid the negative and Death, when you are passive and not doing the positive Commandments but break the negative Commandments.

In order to do the positive Commandments you need to be around people to express your faith. If you do not have fellowship with fellow believers or reach out to the community, then you will die spiritually, similar to not eating and dying from starvation. Do not starve yourself, eat from all the trees, do good to others and let other people reach out to you as well, then you will be spiritually healthy and experience spiritual Life. 

To bring this in context with the Torah, we can say that the Torah is a collection of YHVH's positive and negative Commandments that defines sin (missing the mark) which is disobeying the Commandment. Another point to note is that YHVH's first Commandment was given before sin came into the world, it was given when Man was still in the Garden of Eden, the perfect state of YHVH's Creation. This leads us to believe that there will still be Commandments after YHVH has judged the world and restored everything back to the "Garden of Eden" state. This implies that YHVH's Commandments are not only to restore things but to sustain things as well, as seen in the meaning of "tsavah" (to put in order).

Truth is the word "emeth" that means; stability, to be certain, truth, trustworthiness, assured, faithful, sure, true. It comes from the root word "aman" that means; to build up, to bring up, to establish, to support, to nurse (as parent), to father, to ne firm. faithful, trust, believe, to turn to the right.

"Emeth" or Truth is first found in Scripture in Gen_15:6 where it is connected to Righteousness; "Abraham believed (emeth) YHVH and it was counted to him as righteousness". What is interesting is that the word "emeth" (truth) is connected to death ("muth") and the Messiah.

Die or death is the word "muth" that means; death, state of death,  place of death, to die,  kill,  have one executed, male,  man.

Death also means separation. Since sin came into the world, all of humanity live in a "state of death", separated from YHVH, living in a lower state of life. YHVH's plan is to restore us back to the "Higher state of Life" that existed in the Garden of Eden. The way He accomplished His Restoration Plan, was to come to the earth in the flesh and "connect" Himself with Death, so that He could overcome and conquer death and restore man back to live. This is seen by the work of the Messiah, Y'shua, where He came to die for us so that we could have New Life through His Spirit.

If you add an "Aleph" (YHVH) to "muth", it gives the word "emeth" that means - firmness, faithfulness,  truth, true doctrine.

Y'shua is also known as the Truth and the result of His work dying on the Stake. We can receive His New Life through Faith in the Truth and be set free from the bondage of death, receiving His Spirit of Truth and Life.

As we have learned with YHVH's Commandments that it is connected to Life and Death, so is Truth connected to Life and Death. Y'shua is the "Messenger that was sent" (tsavah) to bring the Truth that leads to Life and Righteousness. This connects YHVH's Commandments directly to Truth and Faith which leads to Faithfulness and Obedience, Life and Righteousness. The One Who made all of this possible is YHVH sending His Son to bring Truth to this world and to rectify His broken and perverted Commandments so that it can bring Life and Righteousness again. YHVH's Truth will not only restore His (perverted) Commandments, but will ultimately restore His Creation including humanity.

Rom 8:19-23  For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of YHVH.  (20)  For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but because of Him who subjected it on hope  (21)  that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of YHVH.  (22)  And we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.  (23)  And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, awaiting adoption, the redemption of our body.

This is a crucial part of the Restoration process where YHVH had to restore His Torah and His Commandments first before He can restore man and His Creation because it is His Commandments (mitsvah) and Truth (emeth) that sustains, put things in order, establish and nurse His Creation and make it exist the way it was planned.