Declared right

 

Righteousness means to do what is right in the eyes of the Father.

Righteousness is mentioned in many scripture chapters.

“Righteousness is conformity to law, especially to the law, mind and will of Heavenly Father Almighty, which is the norm of righteousness.

 

Righteousness requires of us - Deuteronomy 6: 25 ‘and it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before Yahuah our Elohim, as He has commanded us.’

In Psalm 119:172 it says, “For all Your commands are righteousness.”

In Isaiah 51:7 we read, “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My Torah (law).”

Before we can ever start doing righteousness (the commands) we first need to be “declared right,” by belief.

Our sins must first be forgiven, we first need to belief, to come into a covenant relationship with the Most High through His Son Yahusha (Jesus).

In Paul’s day many Jews thought that because they were the descendants of Abraham, and were trying to keep the law their way, that they were right or righteous. No! They were putting the cart before the horse.

We first need to believe and accept Yahusha and His forgiveness, and then only does it become our privilege, and duty, to obey Yahusha, as He commands us: Go and sin no more.

If you know that He (Messiah) is righteous, you know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him (Messiah) - 1 John 2:29.

It is possible to be declared right!

Does it mean we cannot make mistakes? No! We all make mistakes! But the differences to these mistakes (sin); are they done intentionally or unintentionally.

 

The steps to righteousness are;

1) Belief,

2) accept Messiah,

3) ask forgiveness,

4) Obey Yahuah (do His commands),

5) Commands are written on your heart by His Spirit (Holy Spirit),

6) You sin no more,

7) You are righteous.

The true believing people of the Creator

 

John 4:22, “You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because the deliverance is of the Yehudim (Jew or Judah).

Yahusha (Jesus) said this to the woman at the well. They were worshipping Yahuah at Mt Gerizim and Messiah said to her, He and the Jews (Yahudah) worship at the correct place (Jerusalem) but this would change soon.

Psalm 147:19-20, declaring His Word to Jacob, His laws and His right-rulings to Israel. He has not done so with any nation; and they have not known His rightrulings! Praise Yah!

Isaiah 2:3, and many peoples shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahuah, to the House of the Elohim of Jacob, and let Him teach us His ways, and let us walk in His paths, for out of Tsiyon comes forth the Torah, and the Word of Yahuah from Jerusalem.”

All Israel including strangers will be taught by His ways and walk in His paths.

Isaiah 14:1, because Yahuah has compassion on Jacob, and shall again choose Israel, and give them rest in their own land. And the strangers shall join them, and they shall cling to the house of Jacob.

If we repent (turn back to Yah) then He will have compassion (forgive and grace). Again, this is for all who want to obey and do Yahuah’s will not only the Jews. The whole house of Israel including the strangers will receive compassion from the Almighty.

 

Isaiah 45:17-18, Israel shall be saved by Yahuah with an everlasting deliverance. You are not to be ashamed nor hurt, forever and ever. For thus said Yahuah, Creator of the heavens, He is Elohim, Former of earth and its Maker, He established it, He did not create it to be empty, He formed it to be inhabited: “I am Yahuah, and there is none else.

This will end one day and then Israel will be back with Yahuah. Yahuah is love and He wants people who truly love Him to be with Him. This is why He created the world so that He can dwell with people and share a relationship with those who want to be with Him.

Jeremiah 30:11-12, ‘For I am with you,’ declares Yahuah, ‘to save you. Though I make a complete end of all gentiles where I have scattered you, yet I do not make a complete end of you. But I shall reprove you in judgment, and by no means leave you unpunished.’ “For thus said Yahuah, ‘Your breach is incurable, your wound is grievous.

Here Heavenly Father is saying Israel will be once again saved from all the nations where He scattered them too. They are scattered in South Africa as well. Remember the verse in Matthew which states only a few will find that narrow path. Well here Father says He will not make an end to all Israel meaning only a few will go through that narrow gate. Father says that His people will not be unpunished because of their sins.

Jeremiah 46:28, “Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,” declares Yahuah, “for I am with you. Though I make a complete end of all the gentiles to which I have driven you, yet I do not make a complete end of you. But I shall reprove you in right-ruling, and by no means leave you unpunished.”

Here, Father confirms it again that His people must not fear because He will be with them wherever He has scattered them.

 

Zechariah 2:10-12, “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Tsiyon! For look, I am coming, and shall dwell in your midst,” declares Yahuah. “And many gentiles shall be joined to Yahuah in that day, and they shall become My people. And I shall dwell in your midst. And you shall know that Yahuah of hosts has sent Me to you. “And Yahuah shall inherit Yahudah, His portion in the Set-apart Land. And He shall again choose Jerusalem.

Just like Father dwelled with Adam and Eve in the beginning, at the end He will be dwelling again with those who are saved. Father also says those gentiles that have confessed that He is the Creator and obeys His commandments will also be called His people and dwell with Him.

Zechariah 1:16-17, ‘Therefore thus said Yahuah, “I shall return to Jerusalem with compassion. My house shall be built in it,” declares Yahuah of hosts, “and a surveyor’s line be stretched out over Jerusalem.” ’ “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus said Yahuah of hosts, “Again My cities shall overflow with goodness. And Yahuah shall again comfort Tsiyon, and shall again choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”

This prophesy must still be fulfilled! The New Jerusalem will be established by Messiah and He will dwell in this city again. The Jerusalem we know now in the state of Israel will be replaced with the real one.

Joel 3:16, and Yahuah shall roar from Tsiyon, and give forth His voice from Jerusalem. And the heavens and earth shall shake, but Yahuah shall be a refuge for His people, and a stronghold for the children of Israel.

Future prophesies!

Isaiah 56:6-8, “Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to Yahuah, to serve Him, and to love the Name of Yahuah, to be His servants, all who guard the Sabbath, and not profane it, and hold fast to My covenant –  them I shall bring to My set-apart mountain, and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their slaughterings are accepted on My altar, for My house is called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” The Master Yahuah, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I gather still others to him besides those who are gathered to him.”

These verses are very clear that anyone from any place on this earth who accepts and proclaim Yahuah as the Creator and believes in His son Yahusha that He came to earth in the flesh to teach the Israelites the truth and then shed His blood so that His blood covers our sins will be part of the covenant.

Zechariah 8:23, “Thus said Yahuah of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all languages of the nations take hold, yea, they shall take hold of the edge of the garment of a man, a Yehudite (Jew), saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you .” ’ ”

 

Jew is short for Judah (Yahudah – Hebrew) and they are the tribe that preached and kept the Torah (Commands). But not all Jews are true Jews; even the ones living in the state of Israel today are not what they say they are. John said in Revelation 2:9 “I know your works, and the affliction, and the poverty; but you are rich. And I know the evil speaking of those saying themselves to be Jews, and they are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan. Not everyone who call themselves a Jew is a true Jew but are of the wicked one!

Romans 11:17-24, and if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, have been grafted in among them, and came to share the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. And if you boast, remember: you do not bear the root, but the root bears you! You shall say then, “The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Good! By unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by belief. Do not be arrogant, but fear. For if Elohim did not spare the natural branches, He might not spare you either. See then the kindness and sharpness of Elohim: on those who fell sharpness, but toward you kindness, if you continue in His kindness, otherwise you also shall be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for Elohim is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Anybody that accepts Yahusha as the Messiah and abides to the commands of Yahuah can be crafted into Israel. The works of belief is when you are accepted into Israel. Remember not to be prideful but fear the Almighty because He still has compassion on Israel to take them back if and when they repent of their sins. So is it with the stranger/gentile: By Elohim’s kindness and mercy does He accept them into His kingdom. But they can and will be cut-off just like He did to Israel when they turned away from the Almighty.

Revelation 21:24, and the gentiles, of those who are saved, shall walk in its light, and the sovereigns of the earth bring their esteem into it.

Gentiles (other nations) are saved and will worship Yahusha and do His will.

 

Romans 2:17-20, See, you are called a Yehudite (Jew), and rest on the Torah (commands), and make your boast in Elohim, and know the desire of Elohim, and approve what is superior, being instructed out of the Torah, and are trusting that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of foolish ones, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Torah.

This is what we must do once we accept Yahusha as our Messiah and the Torah (commands) are written on our hearts. We become the light (bear fruit as Messiah did) and guide those who have not found Messiah yet! Bear fruit (light) to those who are walking in the dark (sin) so they turn to the light of Yahusha Messiah and find the truth of the Torah (commands).

Revelation 21:12, and having a great and high wall, having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve messengers, and names written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Only the 12 tribes of Israel including strangers will be in the Kingdom.

Ezekiel 47:22-23, “And it shall be that you divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and for the strangers who sojourn in your midst and who bear children among you. And they shall be to you as native-born among the children of Israel – with you they have an inheritance in the midst of the tribes of Israel. “And it shall be that in whatever tribe the stranger sojourns, there you give him his inheritance,” declares the Master Yahuah.

 

The prophet Ezekiel says exactly what is mentioned in Revelation 21:21, that all in the new Kingdom of Yahuah will be known as Israel. The true believer from other nations will join (inherit) one of the 12 tribes and be known as a native-born Israelite.

No gentle/stranger can be in the Kingdom of Yahuah only Israel. 

The Good Shepherd – John 10

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Sheep cannot survive on their own and are completely scared to the point of panic if they realize they are not with the shepherd, they will freeze and literally starve to death unless the shepherd finds them.

We too will die if we do not have a Shepherd!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter through the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up by another way, that one is a thief and a robber. “But he who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep – John 10:1-2.

An ancient sheepfold was enclosed with one opening were the shepherd would sleep in the doorway to protect the sheep. The top was opened to the sky but usually had thorns on the top of the wall so that foxes and other animals could not jump on the wall to come and attack the sheep. The shepherd at the end of each day would have each sheep pass under his staff and count and make sure all were there.

The only way to get to Yahuah is through Yahusha (Jesus) – John 14:6. There is no other way! Anyone trying to enter the Kingdom without going by Messiah is called a thief!

“The doorkeeper opens for him, and the sheep hear his voice. And he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. “And when he has brought out his own sheep, he goes before them. And the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. “And they shall by no means follow a stranger, but shall flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers” – John 10:3-5.

The sheep did not need to see the shepherd to be comforted but merely to hear his voice. We should know Yahusha’s voice so that we follow the correct Shepherd. Those who are set-apart (out of the world system) will hear the true Shepherd and not be misled by other strange doctrines.

Then Messiah said this again as many did not understand what He meant – verse 6-7. “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. “I am the door. Whoever enters through Me, he shall be saved (everlasting life), and shall go in and shall go out and find pasture – John 10: 7-9.

Messiah was referring to the post-exilic religious leaders who had supplanted and ousted the Levitical priesthood, and who were lawless, and lovers of money (Matthew 23:25-28, Mark 7:11, Luke 16:14). 

That is why He spoke of thieves, robbers, hirelings in this passage.

All will receive everlasting life that knows, accepts Messiah and loves Him by doing His commands.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to slaughter, and to destroy. I have come that they might possess life, and that they might possess it beyond measure (abundantly) - John 10:10.

The thief is satan (devil) who only deceives the people.

The Messiah gives life and He is true to His words. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep – John 10:11.

Yahuah/Yahusha will be with us through whatever we go through.

Yahuah is my shepherd; I do not lack (anything) – Psalms 23:1.

“But the hireling, and not being a shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. “Now the hireling flees because he is a hireling and is not concerned about the sheep – John 10: 12-13.

A hireling is someone that works purely for material reward (money), the sheep is not his problem if something happens to them as he does not own them.

The Shepherd owns the sheep. “I am the good shepherd. And I know Mine, and Mine know Me, even as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep – John 10:14-15.

A true follower of Yahusha will never follow anyone but Yahusha.

And the Elohim of peace who brought up our Master Yahusha from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, - Hebrews 13:20.

For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your lives - 1 Peter 2:25. 

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you shall receive the never-fading crown of esteem – 1 Peter 5:4. 

Messiah knows the ones He has called and the called-out ones hears His voice, just like Messiah hears His Father’s voice. “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold – I have to bring them as well, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one shepherd – John 10:16.

“And I shall raise up over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he shall feed them. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. “And I, Yahuah, shall be their Elohim, and My servant David a prince in their midst. I, Yahuah, have spoken – Ezekiel 34:23-24.

While David My servant is sovereign over them. And they shall all have one shepherd and walk in My right-rulings and guard My laws, and shall do them. “And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob (Israel) My servant, where your fathers dwelt. And they shall dwell in it, they and their children and their children’s children, forever, and My servant David be their prince forever – Ezekiel 37:24-25.

This is a clear reference to the Messiah in collecting the two houses of Israel (including the strangers that have joined Israel) upon His return and making them into one-fold.

There was a split between the people when they heard these words from Messiah, part of them said Messiah had a demon and He is mad and others said He cannot be possessed or mad as He healed the blind – John 10:19-21.

So, the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, say to us plainly.” Yahusha answered them, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s Name, they bear witness concerning Me – John 10:24-25.

“But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. “And I give them everlasting life, and they shall by no means ever perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. And no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand – John 10:26-29.

These words from Yahusha are very important, so read these verses again and take it in as to what Messiah is saying!

 Firstly, Father Yahuah calls a believer and the believer has a choice to accept or reject that calling. Messiah explains that Father has given those people (sheep) to Him and now those sheep (true believers) hear His voice (obey Him).

You must understand that these people that were questioning Him were people that knew the scripture and Yahuah but they did not believe!

That is the difference between someone that knows Father and someone that believes Father!

These three steps of verse 27 explains the Way and also in Revelation 14:4-5, they are those who were not defiled with women, for they are maidens. They are those following the Lamb wherever He leads them on. They were redeemed from among men, being first-fruits to Elohim and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no falsehood, for they are blameless before the throne of Elohim.

Do we want to be His sheep, then we need to be serious because Revelation 14:4-5 is the criteria for the called sheep that hears (obeys) His voice?

Revelation 7:16-17, “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun strike them, nor any heat, because the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall shepherd them and lead them to fountains of waters of life. And Elohim shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.” O’ how I long for this day to come quickly! The Lamb (The Rock) will shepherd (lead) us out of this wickedness. This time we will thirst no more!

“I and My Father are one” – John 10:30. This has the meaning of “unity,” Father and Son thinking the same.

Set-apart Father, guard them in Your Name which You have given Me, so that they might be one, as We are – John 17:11.

So that they all might be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, so that they too might be one in Us, so that the world might believe that You have sent Me. “And the esteem which You gave Me I have given them, so that they might be one as We are one, “I in them, and You in Me, so that they might be perfected into one, so that the world knows that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me – John 17:21-23.

It is very clear that Father and Son is not the same person but they are united and He also pleads for unity among His taught ones, His sheep.

At this present moment Messiah is sitting on the right side of Father (two different beings).

Messiah said in John 14:28, He is going to the Father, for My Father is greater than I.

Where is your treasure?

Many people are more concerned with filling their stomach with all kinds of food and drinks (worldly) to sustain their physical life.

We certainly do need worldly things. But it does not last long, then the energy drains up from this food and the body needs more.

Remember the woman at the well when Yahusha (Jesus) said to her she will thirst again when she drinks the water from the well but the water, He gives is living water and she will never thirst again.

If we feel that we should fill ourselves with something that is more profitable to us in the long run, then we should fill up on things that endure. We should fill ourselves with praise and thankfulness to Yahuah for what He has done for us in the past and for what He has promised to do for us in the future.

For such sacrifices He is well pleased, as Hebrews 13:15 -16 says, through Him then, let us continually offer up a slaughter offering (sacrifices) of praise to Elohim, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name. And do not forget to do good and to share, for with such slaughter offerings (sacrifices) Elohim is well pleased.

The prophet Habakkuk offered such praise in chapter 3. He praised Yahuah for the events in the history of His people (verses 3 - 15) and he praised Yahuah for his confidence for the future of His People (verse 18).

The underlying theme of Habakkuk’s book is faith: Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith - Habakkuk 2:4.

In chapter 3 we find Habakkuk’s faith glorying is assurance and also a prophetic account showing the return of the Messiah.

Habakkuk 1:5 telling Habakkuk that “He will work a work in this end time that would be so great he almost could not believe it”, and here He is giving the fruition of that work with the return of Messiah to the earth.

Even as Habakkuk’s days seemed dark, so do ours; and as he resolved himself to wait patiently, so should we.

By doing so, we shall have the dark clouds removed to let the bright sunshine come through. Then we shall surely have good reason to cry aloud with joy as Habakkuk did in chapter 3, where, in verse 1, Shigionath means to cry aloud, either in pain (concerning erring ones), as he did in verse 16, or in joy, as he did in verses 18 and 19.

If we remain true to His word, then Yahuah has promised us that we will not grow hungry, as we read in Proverbs 10:3, first part: Yahuah does not let the being of the righteous go hungry, but He thrusts away the desire of the wrong.

But in the same verse Yahuah makes another promise — if we seek worldly pleasures in this life, as did the rich fool in Luke 12:16 -21, then we shall be cast aside.

Don’t let this happen to you.

Place your trust and faith in those things which can be neither corrupted by moths and rust nor stolen, for as Matthew 6:21 says: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.