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Walking by Faith

Zecharyah (Zechariah) 4:6 
Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of YHWH to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says YHWH Tzava’ot.”

This word that came through the prophet Zecharyah was for Zerubbabel, who was then governor of Judea and Jerusalem.  He was in charge of the rebuilding of the temple at that time, as we see alluded to in this chapter.  YHWH specifies that this work that Zerubbabel had set his hand to do for YHWH, would be accomplished, but it would not be accomplished by mere human effort and wisdom.  Rather, the completion of this task would be brought about by, and through, the Spirit of YHWH.  No other agency would suffice to bring this marvelous work to its completion.

This same message still resounds to us in our day as we face something so devastating that many look on with the greatest of fear.  As previous generations have experienced pogroms and various holocausts, so we also, are on the threshold of facing another holocaust.  If we are to make it through this time in prophetic history alive, then we need something only YHWH can give to us.  Each person needs to be filled with His Spirit.  Then each individual needs to learn how to walk in that Spirit in love and obedience, and not in fear of what is coming upon the whole world.

One reaction that should be avoided is fear.  Fear will paralyze and rob one of the joy of YHWH.  The love of Yeshua in one’s life should keep one from being fearful of any situation that might come into his life.

Yochanan Aleph (1st John) 4:17, 18
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear; because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.                                                
                                                                                                                                                 
A child of the eternal King is not reserved for judgment; therefore, one should not fear.  Any suffering that will come in this life is only temporary, no matter how severe or intense it may be.

There are some practical responses one can, and should, take.  The first of these is that one should be alert to what is taking place in the world, in the Community of Disciples, and in his own community.

Marqos (Mark) 13:37
“And what I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert.’”

And again;

Tessaloniqim Aleph (1st Thessalonians) 5:4-6
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.   
                                 
These passages teach that, as a child of the light, one has a duty and responsibility to know, and be aware of, what is taking place.  True disciples are not to be surprised by what YHWH does, and is doing.  While they do not know, and will not know, the exact timing of Messiah’s coming, but are children of the light, they will not be surprised when He returns.  Let that truth soak into your being.  The truth of this promise is so great that its meaning will bring joy and victory to those who will hear the Spirit in the days ahead.  True disciples will not, and cannot, be surprised by the coming of Messiah because He has given His own spirit to them.  The Spirit of Messiah (the Holy Spirit) dwells in them.  In other words, Yeshua cannot surprise Himself!  Can He?  His desire is not to sneak up on them, but rather to love, protect, and preserve them until He returns.

Along with being alert and sober, is the importance of prayer.

Tessaloniqim Aleph (1st Thessalonians) 5:16-18; 21 22
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is YHWH’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua.  But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.               
                                                               
This passage presents an intriguing parallel.  The words “always,” “without ceasing,” and “everything,” tell something about the completeness of what one’s life in Messiah should be like.  “Rejoicing always” represents a life of worship.  “Praying without ceasing” represents one’s constant companionship and communication with YHWH.   “In everything give thanks” represents an attitude and acknowledgment that one receives everything he has, and has nothing he has not received from YHWH.  A person doing these things, will be joyful in spite of any adverse circumstances, appear to have just talked with YHWH, and act as though he were taking care of YHWH’s business.

This brings to light the need to exhibit another fruit of His Spirit – self-control.

Kepha Aleph (1st Peter 4:7)
Everything will come to an end soon, so, to pray better, keep a calm and sober mind.   
                                               
Unless a person is willing to control his desires, or perhaps more accurately, allow YHWH to control them, since one does not have the strength to resist temptation, he will not be alert.  Notice how prayer ties in with being alert, sober, and self-controlled.  If one is going to be calm and sober minded, he cannot allow fear to have control of his mind and thus control his actions.  It is His Spirit that must control one’s every action.  Only in this way, will one be able to go through the coming days and still have life, both physical and eternal.

One more item needs to be looked into here:  that of worldliness, materialism, or worldly concerns.  If a person’s drives and ambitions are directed towards the things of this world, then he will not be as alert as YHWH desires for him to be.  Remember, no man can serve two masters.

Luqa (Luke) 21:34-36
“Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of the earth.  But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that          you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”     
                               
Yeshua taught His disciples that they should be alert.  They should not let the things of this life take their attention away from the things that really matter; Kingdom things (eternal things).  Yeshua promised that if a person puts the things of YHWH first in his life, then He will provide all the necessities of life (Matthew 6:33).  This can be especially applicable to the time when a follower of Yeshua will not be able to provide for himself.  Dependence upon YHWH must be complete.  Just as YHWH provided for all of His people in the wilderness, so too will He provide for His people once again when they are called upon to flee the coming persecution.

One’s reaction, then, should be one of action, not in fear, but in the power of the Spirit, in prayer, in watchfulness (alert), in self-control, and in not being weighted down by the worries of this life.

But why flee?  This question is one which rarely seems to be addressed.  Just before Yeshua ascended into heaven, He commissioned His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations.  This task seems to be nearing its completion.  Those final days during the reign of the Anti-Messiah, will see the fulfillment of the body’s task as given by Mashiach Yeshua.  This is the very reason for the flight.

Please look at what happened to the early disciples to help understand what will be happening during the reign of the Anti-Messiah.

Ma’aseh (Acts) 8:1b, 4
And at that time there was a great persecution against the assembly of disciples which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.
                                                                                                                                                 
A great persecution had broken out against the disciples, and as a result of this, the disciples were scattered throughout the region.  As these disciples went, they told everyone with whom they came in contact, the good news of Yeshua.  They preached Yeshua!

When that final and great persecution begins, disciples will have to flee in order to stay one jump ahead of the Anti-Messiah.  And as they go, they will preach Yeshua.  Some will be arrested.  Some will be killed.  But many will come to know Yeshua in a personal and saving way.  The disciples will fulfill their commission during the reign of the Anti-Messiah.  The commission that Yeshua gave to His disciples will be fulfilled by His disciples in the last days!

More than anything else in these coming days of difficulty, one must be able to hear and obey His Voice through the Spirit of Mashiach.  Only in this way will one be able to do those things necessary to preserve his own life and the lives of those in his family.  Only YHWH knows the path of safety and well-being.  Let us begin now in our everyday lives to hear and obey His Voice, so that when the time comes when it is literally a matter of life or death, then we will not have hearing problems and miss His instructions for life!

Please know that YHWH loves each one of you dearly.  Please know that He has already provided the way of escape for you, if you will but walk in it.  He will surely ask you to do things in the coming days that will not make any sense to you, but you must do them anyway.  Yes, test the spirits to make sure that what you are hearing is from Him.  But once you know and understand what His instructions are, step out in faith, knowing that whatever it is that you need to complete them, He will provide.

Remember it is –

‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says YHWH Tzava’ot.

We must do what we must do to prepare for what is coming.  Brothers and sisters, it is coming quickly – get ready now.  The most important preparation we can do, is to be solid in our faith in Mashiach Yeshua.  For any other preparations without this will be useless and futile. 

Stop listening to men and learn to hear His Voice in all things great and small.  The rewards are eternal.

ABBA YHWH, Your sheep desire to hear and obey Your Voice.  Make it plain and clear to us, that we may obey You in all things, great and small; in the name of Yeshua our Mashiach.  Amein.

Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunah
www.onetorahforall.com
zerubbabel@onetorahforall.com

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