The Lean Years

How's your retirement plan looking? Have you stored up "treasure in heaven" for the lean years ahead?

Joseph explained to Pharaoh that his dreams were actually warnings from God. Seven years of abundance and plenty were about to begin in Egypt, but they were to be followed by seven years of desperate famine. The solution was to lay up stores during the seven years of plenty so that there would be sufficient food in the coming years of famine.

Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph's wisdom that he made him a minister over Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Joseph oversaw the building of storehouses in which the abundant grain of Egypt's seven years of plenty was stored.

Life is uncertain, and it is only prudent to lay up savings and provisions. The Proverbs say, "Proverbs 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. ". Contrary to the advice of Joseph, modern society promotes a lifestyle of squandering all available wealth, overspending and relying on credit. Though we live in the most affluent times that the human race has ever enjoyed, few people have the wisdom to lay up savings for leaner times ahead.

Yeshua told his disciples to lay up treasures in heaven instead of on earth:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Our lives on earth can be compared to the seven years of plenty. We have an abundance of opportunities to do good to others, to repent and practice righteousness and to give charity to the needy. However, these golden years of opportunity are limited. Whether in seven days, seven years or seventy years, the opportunity to lay up treasure in heaven will vanish. After we die, our opportunities to do good deeds are gone.

In Judaism, a good deed like giving charity to the needy is called a mitzvah (מצוה). The plural form is mitzvot (מצות) The word mitzvah literally means "commandment." Every time we keep one of God's commandments, it is a "good deed." Therefore the word mitzvah has come to be associated with any act of goodness.

Our opportunities to do mitzvot are limited to our lifetime here on earth. Yeshua teaches that our mitzvot are like money placed into a savings account in heaven. When we pass on into the next life, we will be able to cash in on the mitzvot we have stored up in heaven.

The world says, "You can't take it with you." The Messiah says that you can. Yeshua teaches that "you can take it with you" by giving your money to charity and investing your time and resources into the things of the kingdom of heaven. You are storing it up in heaven. When you arrive in the next life, you will be rewarded for your acts of kindness and piety.

Joseph encouraged all of Egypt to diligently lay-up stores and provisions for the lean years to come. So too, we should be storing up our resources in heaven for the years to come.

The little engine Believer that could

“I think I can” is the attitude of some believers. This should not be! The proper attitude of a believer should be “through Yahwah Messiah – I Can”

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Yahwah Messiah which strengtheneth me.

Supporting Scriptures
Matthew 17:20 And Messiah said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Luke 1:37 For with Yahwah nothing shall be impossible.

Too many times, we put limits on ourselves and ultimately on Yahwah! With Yahwah we have no limits! I’m not talking about jump out a 10th floor window and expecting Yahwah to make you fly! I’m talking about if Yahwah lays something in your heart to do.

Proverbs 23:11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

We have a few examples of men who put limits on Yahwah themselves.

Exodus 4:1-17 (1) And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, Yahwah hath not appeared unto thee. (2) And Yahwah said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. (3) And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. (4) And Yahwah said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: (5) That they may believe that Yahwah Elohim of their fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. (6) And Yahwah said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. (7) And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. (8) And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. (9) And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. (10) And Moses said unto Yahwah, O my Adoni, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. (11) And Yahwah said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I Yahwah? (12) Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. (13) And he said, O my Adoni, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. (14) And the anger of Yahwah was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. (15) And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. (16) And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of Elohim. (17) And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Jethro (David’s father)

1 Samuel 9:21And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as Yahwah hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

In conclusion I just want to stress not to put limits on ourselves or on YHWH. YHWH wants to work in us or through us but he cannot work in us or through us if we put limits on us and him.

YHWH Bless!

The Excuses That Just Wouldn’t Work

We’ve all been there. We have a child that says “why should I make my bed when I’m going to mess it up tonight anyway?” or “why should I need to clean my room since I’m the one who lives in it.”

We ourselves have probably made these excuses and more… “I’m not going to be in work today because I’m not feeling well.” Or “I’m not going to be able to go to our in-laws house because I have to clean the yard.”

Let’s look at a story about Moses who tried 6 different excuses to get out of going to the Pharoah that did not work and YHWH's responses for each.

Exodus 3:1-12

Exodus 3:1-12 (1) Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of YHWH, even to Horeb. (2) And the angel of YHWH appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. (3) And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. (4) And when YHWH saw that he turned aside to see, YHWH called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. (5) And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (6) Moreover he said, I am the Elohim of thy father, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon YHWH. (7) And YHWH said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; (8) And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. (9) Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. (10) Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. (11) And Moses said unto YHWH, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? (12) And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve YHWH upon this mountain.

Excuse 1: Who Am I?

Exodus 3:11 And Moses said unto YHWH, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Answer:

Exodus 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve YHWH upon this mountain.

We see his first attempt is a display of his own feelings of a lack of insufficiently. He saw himself as unable to do what YHWH wanted him to do. I thank YHWH that He does not see me the way I see me. He sees me the way He sees me.

Excuse 2: What is his name?

Exodus 3:13 And Moses said unto YHWH, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The Elohim of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

Answer:

Exodus 3:14 And YHWH said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

This scripture here has been debated by theologians and scholars for decades about whether the children of Israel knew His name. Now I'm not going to get into the theological debate of whether Moses and the children of Israel knew His name but you can see in these scriptures that YHWH gave Him a simple answer. He said, tell the children of Israel I AM has sent you.

Excuse 3: They will not believe me?

Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, YHWH hath not appeared unto thee.

Answer:

Exodus 4:2-9 (2) And YHWH said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. (3) And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. (4) And YHWH said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: (5) That they may believe that YHWH Elohim of their fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. (6) And YHWH said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. (7) And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. (8) And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. (9) And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

As we see the third excuse didn’t work either. Moses thought he could use the excuse of “they will not believe me”. But YHWH showed three things He wanted him to do to indeed show that YHWH appeared to him. Even though they were physical signs that YHWH wanted Moses to do He wanted to show His hand in them.

Excuse 4: I am not an eloquent man and am slow of speech and of a slow tongue

Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto YHWH, O my Adoni, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Answer:

Exodus 4:11-12 (11) And YHWH said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I YHWH? (12) Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Here’s one that really didn’t work. Moses tried to explain to YHWH, like he really needed to explain it to Him, that he had a speech impediment. YHWH rebuked him harshly and told him that he would be with him and to go to Pharoh.

Excuse 5: By the hand of him who will thou send?

Exodus 4:13 And he said, O my Adoni, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

Answer:

Exodus 4:14-17 And the anger of YHWH was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of YHWH. And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

This is the second excuse Moses tried to use that YHWH was angry with him about. YHWH tells Moses to bring Aaron, his brother, and YHWH would use Aaron's voice and his to speak to the people and the Pharoah.

Excuse 6: The children of Israel did not hear me how will Pharaoh hear me?

Exodus 6:12 And Moses spake before YHWH, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?

Answer:

Exodus 6:10-11 (10) And YHWH spake unto Moses, saying, (11) Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

And his sixth and final excuse that Moses tries to use: He tells YHWH that the people are not going to listen to Him. So how would Pharaoh listen to him? We see that YHWH doesn't even answer Moses' question here. He just tells him to go into the Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and to speak to him, never addressing the question Moses asked him.

In verse 13 we see YHWH's final command to Moses and Aaron to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

(13) And YHWH spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

In conclusion I want to ask: what does YHWH want you to do that you're making excuses not to do? It could be He wants you to go speak to someone: a relative, a co-worker, a boss. You don't want to do it because you fear the repercussions of what you might say and that they might not accept your words. We see what happened with Moses and his excuses as to what YHWH wanted him to do and the results of that.

Today ask YHWH what you want me to do and be obedient without hesitation and without questioning YHWH.

YHWH bless.

What is Your Nineveh?

The Story of Jonah

PURSUIT OF DESTINY

YHWH told Jonah to preach to Nineveh that they would be destroyed for their wickedness. Jonah runs away…far, far away…

After all the deviations, detours and failures he faces when trying to run away, he finally gets there and begins to preach of the city’s doom. The people believe and repent, the King believed and declared a fast, the whole city cried out to YHWH for mercy. YHWH relents and does not destroy them.

YHWH relentlessly pursues us when we run from him. The purpose for which he called us WILL come to pass. What is your Nineveh, what have you been running from?

REWARDS OF DESTINY

Jonah is angry! He’s been sitting around, waiting to see the fulfilment of the punishment he spoke over the city. In his eyes, he has lost his credibility now that what he spoke would not come to pass. He is too angry to even appreciate YHWH’s kindness and provision.

What is the value of our credibility (as we see it) against an entire city’s salvation? Angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner that’s saved. How much more important is our obedience over our ego, reputation or anything we hold dear?

Just as we have no right to judge, neither do we have any right to withhold or refuse to share YHWH’s love and grace with another, regardless of how it makes us appear. Nineveh awaits you!

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of YHWH, not of works lest anyone should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in YHWH Messiah for good works, which YHWH prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

You’re Always on His Mind

Psalms 115:12 YHWH hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

No one cares about your life more than YHWH does. In fact, he cares about your life more than you do.

There’s an old Willie Nelson song, “You Were Always on My Mind.” But the idea behind that song just isn’t true. No matter how much you love someone, they can’t be on your mind all the time.

But I want to tell you this: You are always on YHWH’s mind. He is never not thinking about you. He’s thinking about you right now.

The Scriptures teach this over and over.

Psalms 115:12 YHWH hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. And 1 Peter 5:7 says…

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Whatever concerns you concerns YHWH - all the things you’re worried about or afraid about. There is nothing in your life you’re concerned about that YHWH isn’t concerned about, because you are always on his mind.

Because you’re always on YHWH’s mind, he’s always looking out for you. And that means you can always trust his plan for your life.

Before Messiah was born, Mary accepted YHWH’s destiny for her life because she knew YHWH was always looking out for her. After the angel told her that YHWH had chosen her as the mother of his Son, she said the following…

Luke 1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

What does “mindful” mean? That means YHWH is alert. He’s attentive. He’s aware. He’s focused. He’s paying attention. When nobody else is paying attention to you, YHWH’s paying attention to you. He notices everything. In fact, Messiah said this about your life…

Matthew 10:29-30 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

I like the cross reference for that scripture…

Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before YHWH? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

You don’t know the number of hairs on your head—but YHWH does. That’s how much attention he pays to your life!

YHWH’s mindfulness—his attention, his concern—made Mary trust YHWH with her destiny. Will you trust him with your destiny too?

He cared for the disciples when the where in the boat and it was about to sink…

Mark 4:38-39 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Rabbi, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Job 7:17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

Psalms 144:3 YHWH, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

Psalms 115:12 YHWH hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

Psalms 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet YHWH thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my Elohim.

Psalms 31:7-8 (7) I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; (8) And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

Think about this…

Psalms 139:7-16 (7) Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (8) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (9) If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; (10) Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (11) If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. (12) Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (13) For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. (14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (15) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (16) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

The Importance of NOT Knowing Yahwah

Exodus 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

• One of the greatest hinderances of knowing Yahwah is knowing Yahwah!
• Most believers will tell you that they know Yahwah
o Job 36:26 Behold, YHWH is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
• Most religious people will tell you the same thing. Why? Because they think they know Yahwah and so they think they don’t have to know him anymore! (They already know all there is to know)
o Ps 145:3 Great is YHWH, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
o Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of YHWH! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
• The first title used for Yahwah in the Scriptures is Elohim (God in the KJV version)
• This is a mystery word be because it is both singular and plural
• Singular because Yahwah is one Elohim
• Plural because there is always more to Yahwah
o Always more to Him
o Always more of Him to know
• Do you want to know why we will be in Heaven for eternity? Because that’s how long it will take for us to know Yahwah!
• Make your aim to Know Yahwah more then you ever have before!
o Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
o Ps 42:1-2 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O YHWH.My soul thirsteth for YHWH, for the living Elohim: when shall I come and appear before YHWH?
o Mark 10:14-15 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of YHWH. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of YHWH as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
• Seek Him, learn of Him
o Isa 55:6 Seek ye YHWH while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
• Go deeper and farther for the one who truly knows Yahwah is the one who knows they don’t even know the half of Him!
o Job 5:8-11 I would seek unto YHWH, and unto YHWH would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
• Press on today into the joy and wonder of those who can say “That I might know Him”, that is Yahwah!
o Eph 3:8-9 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Messiah; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in YHWH, who created all things by YHWHMessiah:

The Key to Breakthrough

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16

Did you know over 70% of Messiah’ ministry focused on healing the sick, casting out demons, and performing miracles? In Acts 10:38, Luke beautifully summarizes His work, “Yahwah anointed Messiah of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for Yahwah was with Him.”

Messiah went around healing how many? All who were oppressed! The wonderful news is He continues to heal today. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, “Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

You may be wondering—why don’t we witness more miracles in our lives? why don’t we witness more miracles and healings in our lives? The answer could be simple—we often don’t ask. James 4:2 states, “...Ye have not because you ask not.” In Matthew 7:7, Messiah encourages us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

You might say I’ve asked and asked and still have not received my miracle or healing!” Please remember Yahwah is not on our time clock. If I had my way when found out I had hepatitis C I would have been healed immediately. But my eventual healing was not on my time but Yahwah’s!

We also have to remember what it says in the end of Matthew 5:45 “…for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Friend, in walking with Messiah for 36 years, I’ve learned Yahwah delights in answering our prayers! Is there something you’re believing Yahwah for right now? Does it feel like it’s taking a long time to come to pass? Be encouraged - Yahwah’s Word assures us that through faith and patience, we will inherit His promises.

If you stay in faith and keep seeking, your breakthrough is on the horizon!

Doing the Proverbs 4 Walk

We make multiple decisions each day, and that's why we need to learn to do the Proverbs 4 Walk.

"We're always making a decision to give up something that we value less for something we value more." Paul Richard, President, Consumer Financial Education Institute

Have you noticed grocery stores put staples like milk and eggs at the back so we have to go through the store to get them?

To avoid temptation, we can go prepared with a list and keep our eyes straight ahead instead of glancing at the aisles of temptation along the way.

Satan employs this tactic too. He lines our life path with costly choices and distractions: immoral sex, selfishness, fear, anger, resentment, envy, etc.

He'd like to divert, delay, or derail us, making us spend all we have before we reach YHWH's goals for our lives.

To avoid temptation, we can do the Proverbs 4 walk: "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet.…" Proverbs 4:25-26

What are some practical ways you walk in the Proverbs 4 path?

Some helpful truths about temptation:

YHWH always provides a way out. Let’s take it!

1 Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And YHWH is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

It’s all a matter of whom we submit to, YHWH or Satan.

James 4:7: "Submit yourselves, then, to YHWH. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

When we give in to temptation, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

James 1:14: "Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away."

The Name of YHWH — Truth Hidden in Plain Sight

Introduction

Throughout Scripture, the Creator reveals His personal Name. Many people read over it without realizing it because most English Bibles replace it with titles like “LORD” in all capital letters. Yet the Name appears nearly 7,000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures.

This study explores:

What the Name is
Why it was hidden in translations
Why the Name matters
How believers honored the Name in Scripture

1. The Creator Revealed His Name

Exodus 3:13–15

When Moses asked what Name he should give to Israel, Elohim answered:

“Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, YHWH Elohim of your fathers... this is my name forever.”

The Hebrew letters are: יהוה

Often represented in English as: YHWH

This is called the Tetragrammaton (“four letters”).

2. The Name Was Not Originally “LORD”

In many English Bibles:

“LORD” (all caps) replaces YHWH
“God” sometimes replaces Elohim

But in the original Hebrew text, the Name was written plainly thousands of times.

Example:

Psalm 83:18 “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is YHWH, art the most high over all the earth.”

Many translations replace the Name with “LORD,” hiding what the verse actually says.

3. The Third Commandment Is About the Name

Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy Elohim in vain…”

The commandment does not say:

“Do not know My Name”
“Do not say My Name”

Instead, it warns against misusing or emptying the Name of meaning.

4. YHWH Wants His Name Remembered

Exodus 3:15 “This is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”

The word “memorial” means something remembered and proclaimed.

Psalm 68:4 “Sing unto Elohim… extol him by his name YAH…”

“Yah” is the shortened poetic form found throughout Scripture.

5. The Prophets Declared the Name

Isaiah 42:8 “I am YHWH: that is my name…”

Jeremiah 16:21 “They shall know that my name is YHWH.”

The prophets repeatedly emphasized the Name instead of hiding it.

6. The Messiah Came in His Father’s Name

John 5:43 “I am come in my Father’s name…”

John 17:6 “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me…”

The Messiah did not hide the Father’s Name; He revealed it.

7. Why Was the Name Hidden?

Historically, some Jewish traditions avoided pronouncing the Name out of fear of misuse. Later translators followed this tradition and substituted:

LORD
GOD

This tradition became so common that many readers never realized a personal Name was there.

8. Evidence Hidden in Plain Sight

Even modern words preserve parts of the Name:

HalleluYah

Means: “Praise Yah”

Names in Scripture also contain the Name:

Isaiah (YashaYahu)
Jeremiah (YirmeYahu)
Elijah (EliYah)

The Name was woven throughout biblical language and culture.

9. Calling Upon the Name

Joel 2:32 “Whosoever shall call on the name of YHWH shall be delivered.”

Romans 10:13 Paul quotes Joel, showing the importance of the Name continued into the New Testament.

10. Conclusion

The Name of YHWH was never removed from Scripture originally. It was hidden in many translations through substitution traditions.

The Bible teaches:

His Name is eternal
His Name is to be remembered
His people proclaimed His Name
The Messiah revealed His Father’s Name

Truth about the Name has been in plain sight all along.

Key Scriptures for Further Study

Exodus 3:13–15
Exodus 20:7
Deuteronomy 6:4
Psalm 68:4
Psalm 83:18
Isaiah 42:8
Jeremiah 16:21
Joel 2:32
John 5:43
John 17:6
Romans 10:13

The Attraction Of Distraction

• Adam and Eve were distracted by satan in the garden of Eden.
o Genesis 2:15-17
 And YHWH Elohim took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And YHWH Elohim commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
o Genesis 3:1-5 Eve is deceived by satan.
o Genesis 3:6-7 Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.
 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
• Satan puts distractions in front of us whenever he can.
• You see, satan is a master of distraction
o Example: My wife and I went out to eat at a restaurant recently a TV was on behind both of us and could easily distract us.
• We’ve been in restaurants have TV’s all over the place.
• You can’t go anywhere without seeing a TV. (Dr.’s office, auto shop, bank, etc.)
• This isn’t the only way that satan has to distract us.
• This is BIG distraction (Pull out cell phone).
o You might say “Isn’t having a cell phone a good thing?”
 “We can keep in touch with our children and spouse when we’re not together.”
 “We can get ahold of our family in an emergency!”
 “We can keep in contact with friends.”
o I’m not saying that all these are not a good reason to have a cell phone.
o I’m saying satan can use your cell phone as a distraction.
 You get a notification and you become distracted
• During prayer. You look to see what it is.
• During service.
• In the middle of family time.
• Satan uses distractions to get our minds off our main goal (This happened while I was typing this line for my teaching! My phone buzzed as I was typing this line and I was about to stop and check my phone).
• Distracts us from what?
o A total dedication of ourselves to Yahwah
 Praying
 Reading the word
 Witnessing to the lost
 Spending time with family and friends
 Taking care of the sick and needy in our neighborhoods
• Matthew 13:18-23 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
• Psalms 88:15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted (H6323 A primitive root meaning to turn, that is, be perplexed.)
• 1 Corinthians 7:35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Here is a breakdown of what Paul says about the law of YHWH in Romans. I hope this is helpful to those leaving churchianity in search of the truth.

https://youtu.be/mhPVlQsd_gw

Keeping the Sabbath — A Gift from YHWH

The Sabbath is more than a day of rest—it is a holy appointment established by YHWH at creation and reaffirmed throughout Scripture. The seventh day was set apart as a blessing for His people and serves as a reminder that He is our Creator and Redeemer.

1. The Sabbath Began at Creation

Before there was a nation of Israel, YHWH sanctified the seventh day.

"And on the seventh day Elohim ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it..." (Genesis 2:2–3)

The Sabbath was established at the beginning for mankind as a special day of rest and worship.

2. The Fourth Commandment

The Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments and was given as a perpetual reminder to honor YHWH.

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." (Exodus 20:8)

YHWH instructs His people to cease from their regular work and dedicate the day to Him.

3. A Sign Between YHWH and His People

The Sabbath identifies those who belong to Him.

"Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations." (Exodus 31:13)

It reminds us that YHWH is the One who sanctifies His people.

4. Messiah Kept the Sabbath

YHWH Messiah faithfully observed the Sabbath and taught on it regularly.

"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day..." (Luke 4:16)

The Messiah never taught that the Sabbath was abolished; instead, He demonstrated its true purpose.

5. The Sabbath Was Made for Humanity

The Sabbath is a blessing, not a burden.

"The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27)

It provides physical rest, spiritual renewal, and time to draw closer to YHWH.

Conclusion

Keeping the Sabbath is an act of obedience, worship, and trust. Each week it reminds us that YHWH is our Creator, Sustainer, and King. As we set apart the seventh day, we honor His command and enjoy the blessing He intended from the beginning.

"If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath... and shalt honor Him... then shalt thou delight thyself in YHWH." (Isaiah 58:13–14)

Key Scriptures: Genesis 2:2–3, Exodus 20:8–11, Exodus 31:13–17, Isaiah 58:13–14, Luke 4:16, Mark 2:27–28, Hebrews 4:9–11.