The shepherds are to keep watch over their assemblies of believers or churches just as Adam and Eve were to guard the borders of the Garden of Eden. As the Kingdom of Yahweh God was within the borders of the Garden, the Kingdom of Yahweh God is within the border of each individual believer and each assembly, gathering or church of individual believers. As Adam and Eve were to keep predators away by continually eating from the Tree of Life, which is Yeshua Jesus and the pure Word of God, and by keeping their covenant with God, the shepherds of the churches are to guard against predators by continually eating and feeding their flock the
Tree of Life, Yeshua and the pure Word of God, and by guarding their covenant with God of the atoning sacrifice of Yeshua Jesus on the cross and their testimony of it.
Adam and Eve failed in their mission to guard the borders of the Garden and allowed the serpent Satan in because of their disbelief in the Word of Yahweh God and the covenant they had made with Him. The Apostles continually warn about this happening yet again; they warn about these coming predators, often referred to as vipers, snakes and wolves throughout the New Testament. The Apostle Paul says:
"...keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock." Acts 20: 24-29
Yeshua Jesus warns:
"watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." Matt 7:15
The Apostles describe the strategies that these false shepherds, wolves and snakes will use to cause deception.
The Apostle Paul says:
"...and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them." Acts 20:30
"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause division and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them." Romans 16:17
The Apostle Peter says:
"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them..." 2 Peter 2:1
Timothy says these predators "...having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Tim 3:5
In Yeshua Jesus' letters to the churches in the Book of Revelation, Yeshua speaks of what some of the false shepherds and wolves look like. Yeshua says he hates the Nicolaitans. Nikos in Greek means triumph or dominance (as in the Nike sporting goods line). Laos means people in Greek and laiton means laity. It is speaking of when the overseers or shepherds of the church use their position to oppress other members of the church. The Apostle Peter speaks of this:
"Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." 1 Peter 5:2
Yeshua also talks about the church coming under the influence of the woman Jezebel. Yeshua says:
"Nevertheless, I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols...now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets." Rev 2:20
The Jezebel teaching is the mixing together of the pure Word of God with the teaching of mystery Babylon and the occult: the mixing together of the Tree of Life (the good fig tree) with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (the bad fig tree).
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
PAGE 50 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (FIG TREE)
Even though the majority of the Jewish people were under the influence of the Pharisaical leadership and rejected Yeshua Jesus as their Messiah at his coming over two thousand years ago, there was a remnant of Jewish believers. They busted out from Satan's grip and spread the Kingdom of Yahweh God to the gentiles by the preaching of the gospel (the good news of Yahweh's gift of salvation given to those who believe that Yeshua died on the cross to atone for their sin). All who believe the gospel message are the "good figs" on the good fig tree, the tree of life and they are also called the church. The Greek word for church is "ekklesia" which means a body of people who Yahweh has called out for himself. It is an assembly of two or more people, built upon the common belief that Yeshua is the Messiah or Savior of the world and the son of the living God. Yeshua Jesus is the head of this corporate body of believers and they are his body and his bride.
As the gospel spread in different communities by individuals by 1. hearing the salvation message of Yeshua. Then 2. Repenting. Then 3. Agreeing with or accepting Yahweh's offer of salvation, the different assemblies became organized.
Each believer that is part of the church is considered to be a priest of Yahweh God. Yeshua Jesus is the high priest over them. The Apostle Peter says:
"And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God." 1 Peter 2:5
The word priest in Hebrew means servant or worshipper of God.
The individual believers that made up each assembly all had different spiritual gifts given to them by Yeshua, which equipped them for different works in the church. It is said in Ephesians 4: 11,12
"Now these are the gifts the Messiah gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ..."
The different jobs were not ranked as to importance: a shepherd was as important as a prophet or teacher. The shepherd is someone who Yahweh raises up to care for or oversee the well-being of their particular flock or church. They were to watch over their flock to make sure no false teaching or teaching contrary to the Word of God entered in. The Apostle Paul, who is a shepherd or overseer, speaks to other overseers:
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God which he obtained with his own blood." Acts 20:26-28
The church is the body of believers bought with the blood of Christ and does not refer to the leadership or overseers or to the building that they assemble in. The Apostle Peter was one of many also appointed by the Holy Spirit to be a shepherd, overseer or elder. He says to others that were also given this gift:
"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." 1 Peter 5:1-4
The other most important roles of the shepherd was to present the Word of God to the flock. Yeshua tells the Apostle Peter that that is what he is to do as a shepherd. He says:
"'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' 'yes, Lord,' Peter replied, 'you know I love you.' 'Then feed my lambs,' Jesus told him.'" John 21:15
All through out scripture the Word of Yahweh is described as food: Jeremiah says "your words were found and I ate them. Jeremiah 15:16; Psalm 119 says, "How sweet are your words to my taste...."; the scripture says "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."; Peter says, "...desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2
The most important role of the shepherd is to preserve and present the pure word of Yahweh God to the flock or church.
In the body or flock that the shepherd, overseer or elder is to watch over, are those that were teachers, administrators, prophets, intercessors, and those that have the gift of healing, wisdom and knowledge. The whole church is to be working together as one body and the individuals that make up the body, called priests, obtained these gifts from the Holy Spirit and not by getting a degree.
As the gospel spread in different communities by individuals by 1. hearing the salvation message of Yeshua. Then 2. Repenting. Then 3. Agreeing with or accepting Yahweh's offer of salvation, the different assemblies became organized.
Each believer that is part of the church is considered to be a priest of Yahweh God. Yeshua Jesus is the high priest over them. The Apostle Peter says:
"And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God." 1 Peter 2:5
The word priest in Hebrew means servant or worshipper of God.
The individual believers that made up each assembly all had different spiritual gifts given to them by Yeshua, which equipped them for different works in the church. It is said in Ephesians 4: 11,12
"Now these are the gifts the Messiah gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ..."
The different jobs were not ranked as to importance: a shepherd was as important as a prophet or teacher. The shepherd is someone who Yahweh raises up to care for or oversee the well-being of their particular flock or church. They were to watch over their flock to make sure no false teaching or teaching contrary to the Word of God entered in. The Apostle Paul, who is a shepherd or overseer, speaks to other overseers:
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God which he obtained with his own blood." Acts 20:26-28
The church is the body of believers bought with the blood of Christ and does not refer to the leadership or overseers or to the building that they assemble in. The Apostle Peter was one of many also appointed by the Holy Spirit to be a shepherd, overseer or elder. He says to others that were also given this gift:
"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." 1 Peter 5:1-4
The other most important roles of the shepherd was to present the Word of God to the flock. Yeshua tells the Apostle Peter that that is what he is to do as a shepherd. He says:
"'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' 'yes, Lord,' Peter replied, 'you know I love you.' 'Then feed my lambs,' Jesus told him.'" John 21:15
All through out scripture the Word of Yahweh is described as food: Jeremiah says "your words were found and I ate them. Jeremiah 15:16; Psalm 119 says, "How sweet are your words to my taste...."; the scripture says "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."; Peter says, "...desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2
The most important role of the shepherd is to preserve and present the pure word of Yahweh God to the flock or church.
In the body or flock that the shepherd, overseer or elder is to watch over, are those that were teachers, administrators, prophets, intercessors, and those that have the gift of healing, wisdom and knowledge. The whole church is to be working together as one body and the individuals that make up the body, called priests, obtained these gifts from the Holy Spirit and not by getting a degree.
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