As a man thinketh in his Heart

The time has come to bring clarity and differentiation between "messianic" forms of religion and the Malchut (Kingdom) of Elohim* (God).  It's not just a matter of knowing the difference because many idealists have knowledge that is theoretically correct, but putting into practice the unique directives contained in the Malchut Elohim (Kingdom of Elohim) is what really matters. 

    The calling of souls into the Malchut Elohim by Mashiyach Yeshua is the eternal calling of the Kedoshim (Set Apart people).  Building the Malchut Elohim is something which requires a body, rather than a hierarchical structure where leaders are glorified as "great men of god" and the rest of the community looks up to their leaders as though only they have access to the discernment of the Holy Spirit.

     The objective is to pursue and apply Truth as a lifestyle so that the carnal weak flesh doesn't continue to control thoughts and actions that cause us to be separated from our Father in Heaven.  The Truth of course is the Word of YHWH, "Thy Word is Truth", "Thy Torah is Truth", "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of YHWH", this Truth.  There is only One Truth.  Yahweh is One and His Name is One.  

     Many who claim to be Torah Observant observe Torah as a theology, in other words, they think they were once Christians who didn't do Shabbat, now they have the correct theology and they observe Shabbat.  While this is a great start, the point is that Shabbat isn't a theology per se, but a weekly experience in Yahweh and His Mashiyach.  Observing Shabbat is not like going to Church on Saturday rather than Sunday, that's not entering into Shabbat.  Shabbat is Mashiyach and Mashiyach is Shabbat.  We have a relationship with YHWH Who calls us into worship on Shabbat and to do so we have to prepare our hearts to receive from His Set Apart Spirit.

    All people are Yahweh's people, the righteous and rebellious belong to Yahweh.  Yahweh gives all of us life, regardless whether we choose to life for Him or not.  Shabbat belongs to everyone, not just Jews and not just you or I.  Certainly many religious people will fight against entering into Shabbat but this is simply because thy judge Shabbat according to their religion.  They have religious sun glasses and see the world through the tint of a theology about Shabbat, but once we take off the religious glasses we see that the dichotomy between Judaism and Christianity was invented by the traditions of men.  Shabbat is no more Jewish that Y'shua is.  Y'shua is no more Jewish than Shabbat.

     Being Jewish or not is irrelevant when Scripture clearly tells us that everyone who enters into the Kingdom of Heaven is being grafted into the commonwealth of Israel.  You are either being grafted in or not, but it's religion that tells you that you don't have to be grafted into Israel and become One with Yahweh and His Mashiyach.

     Truth divides sheep from goats, in the days of Yeshua, Ya'akov haTsaddiq (Yeshua's brother) was cast off the wall around the Temple because he refused to recant that Yeshua came from Yahweh.  The charges levied against Yeshua were predicated upon him making himself "equal" with YHWH, that of course was a religious fabrication by false witnesses that was not of the Truth.  Religion has a way of making wars against opponents where there is no need for a conflict at all.  Religion authenticates itself by creating unsanctified divisions between people that YHWH does not make.

    For example, I observe the Seventh Day Shabbat and have done so all my life and I teach others about Shabbat as a way of drawing close to Yahweh and being obedient to His Word.  But I also know that many people struggle to enter into Shabbat.  Many people have such deep seated interests in their weekend hobbies and their financial dreams and in being with their friends and families an in their religious choices that they simply refuse to experience Shabbat and convince themselves that Shabbat isn't relevant for their lives.  People judge Shabbat according to their world view and how they were taught by their forefathers and mentors who also didn't respect Shabbat.

    So then why would I try to convince someone to experience Shabbat when they've already decided that it's not for them?  How could I?  Why would I want to try?  And the fact of the matter is that I don't because I have tried that and what it amounts to is a complete waste of their time and mine.  It is Yahweh who draws His people into loving His Shabbat and understanding the importance of entering into His prophetic time each week.  If I then make a religion about Shabbat and put expectations on others to observe Shabbat when they are fighting against YHWH's Commandment, then I also have turned that which is Holy and Just into a religion about YHWH's Word.

     Every community has similar basic needs to ensure the maxims of law protects liberty, property and each person.  However the community of YHWH is called to model the Kedoshim (set apart people) before the world.  This means we are not to adopt status quo religion or government and concede the Torah of YHWH to be dictated to us according to a Pharaoh or any pagan traditions, but, this is what the bulk of Believers are happy to concede. 

The Torah is about a people being set apart and distinct because of the authority of YHWH's Word, what we eat, wear, talk about, when and how we worship and the fulfillment of every part of Torah is given by YHWH as a specific directive to make us a peculiar people.  Torah cannot not bring a person into bondage, it brings freedom from the tyranny of man's governments and religions.  However many Believers make Torah a bondage by trying to convince others to observe Torah as a religious obligation.

    The propensity for "Believers" to be worldly, materialistic, carnal TV-aholics while upholding their "theology" about Torah is just another form of man's religious ways of coping with the weak flesh.  The truth is that Shabbat is the Government of Mashiyach that brings our minds and thoughts out of the world for over 24 hours each week, and because we do this the choices we make on the other 6 days are shaped by decisions that will effect our Shabbat rest.

    For example Yahweh commands that we work 6 days and rest on the Seventh, therefore if someone refused to work and serve and be productive for 6 days they are not truly entering into Shabbat rest on the Seventh.  There is a perfection in Yahweh that is understood within observance of Shabbat that goes far beyond Shabbat as being a theology (more about this can be found at: http://www.mashiyach.com/trustntoil.htm)

     Our Father in Heaven has instituted Torah not only to protect a persons freedoms and rights but that He would receive the Kavod (Glory) due unto His Name.  This He could accomplish if a group of people were to be obedient to His Word and be different from the rest of the world that rejects Him as Yahweh.  The distinction between Yahweh's people and those who are disobedient to Him is not according to religion or doctrine or theology but the difference is within Justice, Peace, Love and Unity.  There is no substitute for righteousness of character, a maturity of love for Yahweh and one another.  These are things that religion cannot supply anyone, religion can only counterfeit the ideas about the Kingdom and put on a show for others to see and be attracted to.

Faith on the other hand is what changes our inner carnal thoughts and actions into spiritual fruits of obedience, love, reconciliation and victory over the flesh.  Faith is the willingness to surrender to the Word of YHWH and be conformed to His Image. 

Faith is a changed life,

not a changed religion.

     Man's greatest Freedom occurred when Yeshua laid bare the false religions of his day and extended an invitation to enter into the Malchut Elohim.  His Kingdom is characterized by freedom from the carnal flesh, from sickness, from religious oppression, freedom from tyrannical religion and governments.  Freedom from yourself!!!

     "Good religious" Jewish and Christian people are headed towards very difficult times ahead as evil governments continue making laws against the Bible and making observance of YHWH's Word more and more illegal.  This is how Yahweh is testing and proving the religious worlds.  Religion has not represented the Purposes and Will of Yahweh, so now we're seeing good religious people everywhere asking big questions about their religion.  Now there is an opportunity to open up dialogue between what are the religious traditions of men and what is Faith.

Truth is not a religious idea,

it's a way of Life.

     Each and every day you and I make choices that tell Yahweh who we are, many of us don't even realize that by not making certain decisions, by waiting, by procrastinating, we have already made some of the most profound decisions that are likely the most greatly affecting our lives each day.  Think about it.  Are there any thoughts coming to your mind where the Spirit of Yahweh is reminding you about vows you once made to Him?  Is there a desire in your heart to draw closer to the Father?  Do you want to hear His voice more clearly?  Are you making important decisions that you don't want to mess up?  Do you really want to know the Truth of what Yahweh spoke our day, this modern world we live in right now would be like from His perspective?

     "The hasid (set apart or righteous) man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.  That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a bribe; and the great man, he utters his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. 

The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation comes; now shall be their perplexity.

Trust not in a friend, don't put your confidence in a guide: keep the doors of your mouth from her that lies by your side.  For the son dishonors his father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. 

Therefore I will look unto YHWH; I will wait for the Elohim of my salvation: my Elohim will hear me.  Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, YHWH shall be a light unto me. 

I will bear the indignation of YHWH, because I have sinned against Him, until He plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His Righteousness. 

Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is YHWH your Elohim? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. 

In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed."  (Micah 7:2-11)

The Temple walls are to be built inside of each one of us, we are the Temple of YHWH, His Spirit dwells within earthen vessels.  Our physical bodies are made from the material elements of this world, we walk around as spirit beings in a physical body.

The Harlot Church System is the woman of Babylon who seduces YHWH's people into following a religion about YHWH rather than entering into His Kingdom by having our carnal natures transformed into spiritual Messianic realities.

There is a big difference between being a "Sacred Namer" with a theology that supports the restoration of the Name of Yahweh versus having the Name of Yahweh live inside of us.

There is a big difference between knowing the Name of YHWH as a religion or a theology and having the Name of YHWH "written upon our foreheads."

I pray that you will take time to consider the difference between Faith and religion in your own life by the choices you are making each day.  I pray that you will hear from the Spirit of Yahweh and be able to choose obedience that will bring newness of life to your soul.

YHWH be with you,

Shalom U'Vrachot!

Baruch Ben Daniel

*Elohim means mighty, it was translated into God (Gawd), but God means troop or fortune.  The name of one of Ya'akov's twelve sons is pronounced in Hebrew Gawd (not Gad) and bears no direct relationship with the term Elohim.