6th of the 11th month 2016/2017   

Shalom all,

Ḥazon/Revelation 3:1And to the messenger of the assembly in Sardis write, ‘He who has the seven Spirits of Elohim and the seven stars, says this, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

The very clear warning that was given to the assembly in Sardis is still a very clear warning that must be heard by many today, especially those who may claim to have belief/faith yet their works are not works that represent the true life of our Master but are simply dead works of lawlessness and sin! The call here is clear: repent of dead works and wake up!

So many today and working lawlessness and think that they are alive, yet they are dead in their sin!

Messiah was telling this assembly, “I know your works… and they have not been found to be complete before Elohim!

Works that are not complete before Elohim is what many will be told when the Master says this to the lawless:

Mattithyahu/Matthew  7:22-23 “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ 23 “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’

There are many who may assume to be doing ‘many mighty works’ in the Name of our Master, yet their disregard for the need to guard the Sabbaths, Feasts and commands of Elohim by walking according to the Torah and stay in Messiah will have their ‘many mighty works’ rebuked as their ‘lawless actions will have them cast away from the Master’s presence as He will declare that they are not known by Him!

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:3-6And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands. 4 The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked.

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:2-3By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and guard His commands. 3 For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 8:3 “But if anyone loves Elohim, this one is known by Him.

As one takes a moment to meditate on these verses that I have just quoted then it becomes very clear that to know Elohim and to be known by Him is seen in our proper love for Him, which is to guard His commands and not disregard them!

While many may be able to speak the right sounding words of belief and boldly claim to love Elohim, their actions or rather ‘works’ will reveal whether the words they speak actually line up with the fruit of their lives!

We are told by our Master to be on guard against false prophets and that we shall know them by their fruits:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:15-21 “But beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are savage wolves. 16 “By their fruits you shall know them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 “So every good tree yields good fruit, but a rotten tree yields wicked fruit. 18 “A good tree is unable to yield wicked fruit, and a rotten tree to yield good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, by their fruits you shall know them21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens.

I have already quoted the words that follows these and so we are able to clearly take note that it is by fruits of righteousness that the true believers will be recognisable and known, while those who cast aside the need to walk in the Torah and guard righteousness shall also be known by their ‘wicked fruit’, or rather, ‘dead works’ and their vain lip service will not be able to defend their lawlessness!

The point I am trying to make clear here is that as set-apart ones of the Master our words and actions must line up with His Truth and not be found to be those who draw near with their lips while their hearts are far from Him! I have discovered that many earnestly believe that they love Elohim with all their heart, soul and strength yet their inability to guard His Word and do what is commanded reveals otherwise. What I have come to realise is that many have a misguided understanding of what love for Elohim is! The false prophets that we are warned against have taught as teachings the commands of men while the Torah of Elohim has been quickly cast aside through vain traditions that has promoted lawlessness and in the process many have fallen into the wicked trap of defending lawlessness and arrogantly defend their claim that the Torah and observance of the Sabbaths, Feasts and commands of Elohim are no longer applicable, yet at the same time they claim to love Elohim!

While we may be able to quickly identify many who render a lip service of a false love by those who reject the validity of the Torah of Elohim, what about those who claim to be walking according to the Torah and even speak the right words yet many of their actions simply reveal that their love is not as fervent or zealous as they claim as compromise is often clearly seen in what they do? We are warned against hypocrisy and the assumption of being alive while dead works will reveal otherwise!

 

How many times have your ‘actions/works/fruit’ not properly measured up to the words or confession of your mouth?

Have you come across people that just seem to talk a good talk and yet never do what they say or never actually live up to what their mouths profess and proclaim?

In a message called ‘WALK THE TALK – WHAT KIND OF BELIEF DO YOU HAVE?’ I want us to look at belief, as expressed through our daily living, and so highlight that there are different kinds of belief and therefore recognise the need for us to be equipped to walk in true saving belief that is partnered correctly with proper works of righteousness.

We are to be people that live by belief and do so properly by guarding the commands of Elohim and letting our works of righteousness be evident in our daily lives. With that in mind I would like to take a closer look at what Ya’aqoḇ wrote in regards to the proper relationship of belief and works! Turn with me to Ya’aqoḇ/James 2:14-26 (read)

 

I love this passage from this very powerful letter of Ya’aqoḇ, as he does not hold back the punches in challenging his hearers to show him their belief without works, while he would simply show them his belief by his works of righteousness!

In verse 14 Ya’aqoḇ asks a very simply question that highlights how useless belief without works actually is!

The Greek word that is translated as ‘use’ is ὄφελος ophelos – Strong’s G3786 which means, profit, help, advantage, good, benefit and what he is basically asking is ‘what benefit or advantage is there in anyone having belief without works?’ The answer is obvious – there is NO benefit or advantage or use for anyone to have belief without works!

The Greek word for ‘belief’ is πίστις pistis – Strong’s G4102 which means, faith, faithfulness, pledge, conviction of the Truth which comes from the primary root verb πείθω peithō – Strong’s G3982 which means, to persuade, to put confidence in, to follow, have confidence and rely upon.

He is clearly teaching us is that any works that are done outside of the proper confidence and reliance that we are to have on the Torah of Elohim that teaches, leads, reproves, disciplines and directs us, are simply nothing more than lawless and dead works.

The Greek word that is used here for ‘works’ is ἔργον ergon – Strong’s G2041 which means, works, labour, business, employment, behaviour, deeds. In Mattithyahu/Matthew 5 our Master יהושע Messiah tells us that we are the light of the world and that we must not hide the light, but that we should shine the light of His Truth in everything we do, and that our light should shine before all men, so that they see our good works and praise our Father who is in the heavens! Guess what the very next words of the Master are, after telling us to let our ‘good works’ be seen by all….:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete.

The clarity of His words are made plain in telling us that we shall be unable to let our good works be seen by all if we destroy the Torah and the Prophets! In other words, works done without the perfection of the Torah are not deemed ‘good works’ by our Elohim, no matter how good they may seem in the eyes of the flesh!

Ya’aqoḇ makes it very clear that belief that has no proper works is not a belief that can save a man!

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 11:6But without belief it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Elohim has to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him.

The Greek word here for ‘believes/believed’ is πιστεύω pisteuō – Strong’s G4100 which is a verb that means, to trust, to be committed to, be entrusted with, be persuaded and placed confidence in to do, and comes from the root noun πίστις pistis – Strong’s G4102 which means, faith, faithfulness, pledge, conviction of the Truth which in turn comes from the primary root verb πείθω peithō – Strong’s G3982 which means, to persuade, to put confidence in, to follow, have confidence and rely upon. When looking at these root terms it is very clear, even in the Greek mind-set, that ‘to believe’ involves action and a confident response to the one you put your trust in and follow.

Titos/Titus 3:8 “Trustworthy is the word, and in this regard I wish you to strongly affirm, that those who have believed in Elohim should keep their minds on maintaining good works. This is good and profitable to men.

A belief without obedient action is a useless belief and one that will get many cast away and told that they are not known by Elohim as their dead works of lawlessness is unable to save them!

 

True belief in Elohim involves the action of earnestly seeking Elohim and the Greek word that is translated as ‘earnestly seek’ in Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 11:6 is ἐκζητέω ekzēteō – Strong’s G1567 which means, to seek out, demand, enquire, make careful search, and comes from two root words: 1) ἐκ ek Strong’s G1537 which meansfrom, from out of, belongingand 2) ζητέω zēteō – Strong’s G2212 and means,to seek, inquire, try to obtain, strive after, to aim at, crave for, and to seek in order to find out by thinking, meditating and reasoning’. Pretty straight forward I would say! To earnestly seek takes diligent effort; and to seek His kingdom speaks of diligently seeking and meditating on Him and His instructions (Torah) – something we see lacking in a great way today!

 

From this passage in Ya’aqoḇ/James 2:14-26 we can identify three different kinds of belief that Ya’aqoḇ so wonderfully describes:

1) DEAD BELIEF (2:14-17)

Even in the early assembly we are able to see evidence of those who had claimed to have belief yet did not possess salvation as their ‘dead works’ would lead to ‘death’! We must always be aware of the fact that wherever we find a truth, we will most likely find a counterfeit. As already mentioned, we take note of the words that יהושע tells us in:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens.

Our Master and Elohim was speaking here of a ‘dead belief/faith’! People with dead belief substitute their vain words for deeds or their words are followed by dead works of lawlessness! They might know all the correct words for prayer and testimony and may even be able to quote scripture; yet sadly their walk doesn’t measure up to their talk! They think that their words are as good as works and they are wrong. They are people who are not living up to what they speak or proclaim in Messiah. Ya’aqoḇ gives us a simple illustration of dead works as he gives us a picture of a brother or sister that is poor and naked. The one who has dead belief and in a position to physically help the brother or sister in need would not meet the need with action but would just use vain words of encouragement and wish them well… which does nothing to meet the need that they could certainly do! He uses this picture as an illustration of what belief without works looks like.

As believers we have an obligation to help those in need – as we are able, no matter who they are:

Galatiyim/Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have occasion, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of the belief.

To help a person in need is truly an expression of love! John emphasised this:

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 3:17-18But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his tender affections from him, how does the love of Elohim stay in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

 

The imagery of helping one’s brother in need and showing love in both deed and truth is the very image that Sha’ul, Ya’aqoḇ and Yoḥanan uses to highlight the kind of belief we are to have in Elohim; and to say one has belief without guarding the commands is likened to one who shows no proper action of love toward another in need, especially when it is the power of their hands to do it!

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 3:27Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.

 

Ya’aqoḇ asks the question of whether this kind of belief that has no works could save a man. The kind of belief that has no practical works is dead! Dead belief cannot save! Any declaration of belief that does not result in a changed life and is accompanied by dead works is a false declaration. Those who claim to have repented from ‘dead works’ in order to serve the living Elohim while still refusing to submit to Elohim, by guarding His commands and walking in the Torah, are not on the path of life but on a broad path of death that the dead works of lawlessness leads to!

 

Belief in Messiah brings life as we walk in His Torah, which is not a worthless word as it is our life (Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 32:47)!  And where there is life there must be growth and fruit! Here Ya’aqoḇ warns us 3 times that belief without works is dead. Dead belief is not saving belief; it is a counterfeit and can often give a person the false sense and confidence of eternal life, yet those who continue to walk lawless and cast away the need to guard the Torah while claiming to have belief in Elohim have a dead belief that cannot save!

 

2) DEMONIC BELIEF (2:18-19)

I think that Ya’aqoḇ wanted to shock his readers a little in order to emphasise his point here and so he uses demons as an illustration. This kind of illustration often gets most people’s attention, for when you start speaking of demons and evil forces many suddenly want to hear! As Messiah walked out His earthly ministry He often cast out demons; and He gave this power and authority to His taught ones! We as children of Elohim have the authority and power to drive out demons! Sha’ul often confronted demonic forces and in his instructions in Eph’siyim/Ephesians 6:10-20 we take note of the armour of Elohim that he tells us to put on in order to stand against all the spiritual forces of darkness.

It often comes as a shock to people to hear that demons have belief too! Well what do they believe? They believe that Elohim is One and shudder! This is a very important statement that Ya’aqoḇ was making as he was highlighting a major problem that existed in his day and still does today – and that is in terms of acknowledging who Elohim is! The demons believe that Elohim is One and not two or three – He is One! They knew that יהושע Messiah is יהוה our Elohim! There are so many today who do not believe this and have no true fear of Elohim! The demons believe this and shudder! The Greek word that is translated as ‘shudder’ is φρίσσω phrissō – Strong’s G5425 which means, to be rough, shiver, shudder. In other words, they tremble before Elohim as they know who He is!!! It is possibly due to this lack of acknowledging that יהושע Messiah is יהוה our Elohim that many can so easily scoff at the need to submit and obey Elohim, for a proper fear of Elohim is lacking in those who do not believe that He is One!

Ya’aqoḇ was addressing believers – those who believed that Elohim is One, yet despite their belief and confession of this truth they lacked a proper fear and therefore he highlighted the dead state of their belief!

Today there are many who will confess that Elohim is One yet still lack a fear of Elohim that properly guards righteousness and they think that their belief alone is sufficient for them and that no works of belief are required! Ya’aqoḇ says that demons have more fear of Elohim than the arrogant lawless ones! What we could also take note of is that while demons believe and shudder they do not obey!

Those who ‘believe’ and do not obey and have no fear of Elohim as they continue in their lawlessness are no better than demons that are headed for destruction and death! With demons there is no action of obedience! To believe and tremble alone is not saving belief!

Ya’aqoḇ identifies for us two kinds of belief or rather two aspects of belief that are not complete in saving the sinner; dead belief (involves intellect only); and demonic belief (intellect and emotions). He then closes this section of his letter by describing the kind of belief that saves and the kind of belief that we should live in; and that is:

 

III DYNAMIC BELIEF (2:20-26) – (Powerful – explosive!!!!)

This is real, complete belief! It has power and results in a changed life! Dynamic belief is based on the Word of Elohim. We receive our rebirth through belief in the Word of truth (יהושע).

Romiyim/Romans 10:17 “So then belief comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Elohim.

While many may know this verse the question we should ask is whether they are actually hearing what this is saying! Our belief comes through the hearing of the Word of Elohim that teaches and instructs us in righteousness so that we can have the necessary works that shows our belief, or rather shows who it is that we believe in!!!

It is at this point that Ya’aqoḇ now uses two powerful illustrations for us to understand this dynamic belief: The examples of Aḇraham and Raḥaḇ; for they both received and heard the message of Elohim through His Word and acted upon it.

Belief is only as good as its object and if it is not in the right object it will accomplish absolutely nothing. Many people say, ‘I believe’, ok, but in what, in whom? We are not saved by belief in belief, but belief in Messiah, as revealed in His Word, as we respond to His Word through a proper observance and obedience prescribed in His Word!

 

Dynamic belief is based on the Word of Elohim and involves the whole man. Dead belief touches only the intellect or mind and demonic belief touches only the intellect and emotions; but, dynamic belief involves not only the intellect and emotions but the will as well! The whole person is involved in true saving belief!

The mind understands and the heart desires and the will acts upon the truth! Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 11 mentions men and women who were people with dynamic belief – they were people of action. Elohim spoke – they heard – they were stirred – they obeyed! True saving belief leads to action and obedience on the part of the will and this true obedience is not just an isolated event or events but a continued obedience throughout our lives and this leads to good works that have been so wonderfully prepared in advance for us to do. That means that the Word of Elohim has been given to us in order to know how to work out our deliverance with fear and trembling!

 

Where there is true dynamic saving belief you will find “good works” and Ya’aqoḇ illustrates this through the lives of Aḇraham and Raḥaḇ – two totally different people! Aḇraham – a Hebrew, Raḥaḇ – a gentile! Aḇraham – a righteous man, Raḥaḇ – a sinful woman/ a harlot! Aḇraham – a friend of Elohim, Raḥaḇ – belonged to the enemies of Elohim! They did however have something in common – The both exercised saving belief in Elohim – by obeying His Word!

You can read about Aḇraham in Berěshith/Genesis 15 and 22 and Raḥaḇ in Yehoshua/Joshua 2 and 6.

 

Aḇraham – was called by Elohim and told to leave home and go to Kena’an where Elohim would declare that He would make a nation out of him! How did he respond? He believed Elohim! And it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

Berěshith/Genesis 15:6And he believed in יהוה, and He reckoned it to him for righteousness.

Galatiyim/Galatians 3:6-9 “Even so Aḇraham “did believe Elohim, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.” 7 Know, then, that those who are of belief are sons of Aḇraham. 8 And the Scripture, having foreseen that Elohim would declare right the nations by belief, announced the Good News to Aḇraham beforehand, saying, “All the nations shall be blessed in you,” 9 so that those who are of belief are blessed with Aḇraham, the believer.

The Greek word used here in verse 6 for ‘believed’ is πιστεύω pisteuō – Strong’s G4100 as already discussed and so reiterate that that ‘to believe’ involves action and a confident response to the one you put your trust in and follow. Aḇraham did exactly that – he trusted in and had total confidence in the Word of Elohim and obeyed it, even while it cost him his land, relatives and close family!

Aḇraham believed – and his belief had works of righteousness!!! The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘believed’ in Berěshith/Genesis 15:6 comes from the primitive root verb – אָמַן aman – Strong’s H539 which means, confirm, support, establish, faithful, believe’; and so we clearly see that by Aḇraham’s obedience in guarding the commands of יהוה and trusting in His Word, he was established or ‘trustworthy’; and by his actions of obedience he showed his confident trust in יהוה! This was reckoned to him for righteousness!

What is worth taking note of is that a word that is derived from the root אָמַן aman – Strong’s H539, is the Hebrew word for ‘truth’, which is אֱמוּנָה emunah – Strong’s H530 which means, firmness, steadfastness, faithfulness, stability, trust, truthful’. We serve a faithful and trustworthy Elohim – and in Him we find true stability, as we stand upon the Rock of Truth! His belief was reckoned to him as righteousness! Abram was a trustworthy and faithful man who guarded the commands of elohim and walked in righteousness, remaining steadfast and firm in the Truth!

When looking at אֱמוּנָה emunah – Strong’s H530 in the ancient pictographic script we are able to learn the clear characteristic of trustworthiness, as it looks like this:

 heynunwawmemaleph

Aleph – אֱ:

The ancient script has this letter as aleph and is pictured as the head of an ox, and represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals. This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that יהושע Messiah fulfilled!

 

Mem – מֶ

The ancient script has this letter as mem and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture. This also carries for us the picture of washing, as we understand the function of water being that which cleanses us and sustains us, showing us how we are washed and sustained by the Living Waters of the Word!

 

Waw/Vav – וּ:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as  waw, which is a ‘peg or tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’.

 

Nun – נָ:

The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as nun, which pictures asprouting seedand gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which sprouts forth to be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy.

 

Hey – ה:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as hey, which is a ‘man standing with his arms raised out’. This word can mean “ behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation; from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender, as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!

In the understanding of this word אֱמוּנָה emunah – Strong’s H530 representing for us ‘trustworthiness’, we can clearly see from these pictures the following:

THE COMPLETE AND SURE STRENGTH OF OUR MASTER WHO WASHES US AND SECURES FOR US THE PROMISE OF EVERLASTING LIFE, AS WE SUBMIT TO HIM AND PRAISE HIM WITH OUR ALL.

Our ability and strength to remain trustworthy servants comes as we allow The Word of our Master to wash us and secure us in Him, as we walk in total submission to Him, with hands lifted high in continual praise of our Master and Elohim.

Our belief in our Master and Elohim must be seen in our works of righteousness as we guard to do all He has commanded us to! The word for ‘righteousness’ is צְדָקָה tseḏaqah – Strong’s H6666 meaning, righteousness, righteous acts, merits, righteous deeds and one of my favourite verses says it so plainly:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25 “And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 12:28 “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.

 

 

Dynamic belief always obeys Elohim and proves itself true in the daily walk of life through confident works of righteousness. Today we find many people who fit Sha’ul’s descriptions, in his letter to Titos:

Titos/Titus 1:16 They profess to know Elohim, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

Titos/Titus 3:8 Trustworthy is the word, and in this regard I wish you to strongly affirm, that those who have believed in Elohim should keep their minds on maintaining good works. This is good and profitable to men.

Do your works deny Elohim or do they confirm your belief in Him?

 

RaḥaḇYisra’ĕl was about to invade their Promised Land and take the city of Yeriḥo. Yehoshua had sent spies ahead to go and check out the lay of the land and they end up meeting Raḥaḇ, a harlot, who protected them and she affirmed to them that she believed what Elohim had said and what Elohim was going to do. When the spies left they promised to save her and her family, and they did. This is one of the greatest examples we find in the Scriptures of true saving dynamic belief. She not only responded with her mind and emotions; but also with her will – she did something about what she believed. She risked her own life to protect the Hebrew spies and also risked her life by sharing the good news of deliverance with her family.

Raḥaḇ was a harlot; and the Hebrew word for harlot could also be used as ‘inn-keeper’ – since she possibly ran a guest house and so it would have been normal for the spies to have gone to her ‘inn’. The Greek word used in Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 11 for harlot definitely means immoral person. In the genealogy of Messiah we see that Mattithyahu/Matthew 1:5 indicates that Raḥaḇ married into Yisra’ĕl and so became an ancestress to our Master and Elohim.

She could have had dead belief – an intellectual experience only, or a demonic belief – with her mind enlightened and her heart stirred. But no, she exercised dynamic belief; her mind knew the truth; her heart was stirred by the truth, and her will acted on the truth. She proved her belief by her works of obedience to what she had been instructed. When you realise and consider the small amount of information she had, you can certainly see how marvellous her belief really was.

 

Today we have the full revelation of the truth of Elohim through His Word.

Ya’aqoḇ emphasises that the mature believer practices the truth in his everyday life – his belief is not dead belief of intellectuals or demonic belief of the fallen spirits; but rather it is a dynamic belief like that of Aḇraham and Raḥaḇ; a belief that responds correctly to the Word of Elohim by having ears that hear and then executes diligent obedience without compromise! This is true belief with works – a belief that does not waver in compromise!

How is your walk? Are you walking the talk or have you found your belief wavering at times through subtle compromises that hinder your walk and thus hinder your talk?

 

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves whether you are in the belief – prove yourselves. Or do you not know yourselves, that יהושע Messiah is in you, unless you are disapproved.

Examine yourself and prove yourself! Are you in the belief or not? How do we examine ourselves? By looking intently into the mirror of the Word and allowing the Word of Elohim to examine and try us!

Tehillah/Psalm 26:2 “Examine me, O יהוה, and prove me; try my kidneys and my heart.

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 17:10 “I, יהוה, search the heart, I try the kidneys, and give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.

Our obedience to His commands is tried and tested as we sojourn here, and walk as true ambassadors of His coming kingdom.

Most people today do not want to be examined as they certainly have a lot of junk to hide. The Word ‘proves’ us and we need it to so that we can get all the ‘dross’ out of us and be brought forth and refined silver.

It is so important to examine our hearts and lives to make sure that we possess true saving belief, dynamic belief. We must never allow the deception of Satan to accepting a counterfeit belief. What kind of belief do you have – do you walk the talk?

Tehillah/Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O Ěl, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; 24 and see if an idolatrous way is in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

Let us be children who exercise our belief and be children that do the good works that Elohim has prepared in advance for us to do. Our belief in Elohim is expressed through love and love for Elohim is expressed through our obedience in guarding His commands, thus showing our belief with works. Let us not exercise a worthless belief that has talk without walk; not a dead or demonic belief but a dynamic belief that walks the talk as we serve in love.

What kind of belief do you have? There is only one kind that will assure your deliverance and that is a belief that is shown through proper works of righteousness!!! While many may claim a belief yet lack the necessary works to show their belief, let us, as true called out set-apart ones of Messiah, show our belief by our works and WALK THE TALK with great boldness!

 

יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show favour to you; יהוה lift up His face to and give you shalom!