Sabbath Study Notes 02/13/10
Title of this Study: “Wishy Washy” / “Lukewarm” Servants
INTRODUCTION SECTION:
This study covers The Most High’s view on those servants who are “Wishy Washy/Lukewarm” and have not made a solid decision to commit his/her self to being The Most High’s servant.
NOTE: During this study it was mentioned that the so called “Christian” church is not effective in today’s society as a whole. They have the right characters (Messiah & The Most High) and tools (The Bible), but have injected the wrong doctrine or lies (man’s doctrine vs. the Truth of The Most High’s Word). It is easy to see that there is a church on every corner and many attend it, but the teachings are not effective for people as a whole. The world is still in much chaos and disarray. Why is this? Well, if we were all following Christ, (because that is what defines a ‘Christian’), then why are we not following the Most High’s laws? The Messiah followed the His laws…so why aren’t we? And, if the set apart spirit was in fact involved with the church system as we know it today, then why doesn’t the world show it in their actions? The scriptures teach that we know the TREE by the FRUIT that it bears. Evidently, the Truth is not being taught in these churches. If we are believers in Christ, then we shouldn’t have a problem following the Word of The Most High, as it is written, and just as the Messiah walked.
The false doctrine that Christianity teaches has caused the people to believe that we are no longer bound by The Most High’s laws. [The deception and lies being told by Satan through the so called Christian church is that “We are saved by grace and not by the law”, “We are no longer bound by the law”, “That the law has been nailed to the cross, as long as we believe we are saved”….these are all deceptive lies being told to the people]. In following this false doctrine, the world now shows no true love to one another nor do we show true love back to the Most High.
That is why the world is in the state that it is in today. People really have been led astray and don’t know the truth. The scripture says that His people shall perish for the lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). It is in fact true that we are still bound to obeying the Heavenly Father’s laws. Yes, we are saved by His grace; the Messiah being sent down here to teach us and die for us was an act of His grace, but His death never nullified our commandments to obeying The Most High’s laws set forth by our Heavenly Father (Matt 5:17-18). These laws are righteous and it teaches us how to live together in harmony and in peace with all of The Most High’s creation (Earth, Mankind, Animals, etc.)
Today’s study will support this understanding and truth, as noted. We will skip around a bit in this study.
Study Notes:
Hebrews 6:1-6 – Someone who has been enlightened with truth and even follows righteousness, but falls away and then repents again, only puts the Messiah to open shame! There is a worse punishment for those who were enlightened with the truth, but makes a conscious choice to disobey or sin against The Most High.
1 John 3:4 – Sin is transgression of the law. What law? The commandments (10 commandments and all the commandments given thereafter)
Hebrews 6:1 – Let us go on to perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and belief toward The Most High. We can go on to perfection as referenced in Matt 5:48, Genesis 17:1, Psalms 119:1, 1 John 2:5.
Matt 5:48 – Therefore, be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect. Put off the old and become renewed in the Messiah.
1 John 3:6 – Everyone staying in the Messiah DOES NOT SIN; so it is possible not to sin. Everyone sinning has neither seen the Messiah nor known Him.
1 John 2:3-4 – And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands. The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a LIAR and the truth is not in him (or her).
1 John 2:5-6 – But whoever guards His word, truly the love of The Most High has been perfected. So we can walk in perfection, we CAN walk sinless. It is not too hard for us to do, if we do this in Spirit and walk as the Messiah walked. (See Deut 30:11)
1 John 2:7 – This verse says that there is no new command, but the old command that was given to us from the very beginning. Let no man lead you astray to tell you that the commands are done away with and that they are of the OLD covenant. The old and the renewed covenants speak of the same things. The Most High is consistent throughout His whole word and HE DOES NOT CHANGE! (See Malachai 3:6) His laws are still in effect today as they were from the beginning. The only law that was done away with was the animal sacrificial system, because the Messiah became that perfect sacrifice in place of our sins.
Note: So there are no excuses, either we are going do this thing or not; give in to this world or not; serve our Creator in righteousness or not! We cannot be “wishy washy” or “Lukewarm”. If you are in, you can’t get back out. If we sin, it has to be unintentional, but once you learn the truth, repent and don’t do it anymore. The church will tell us that we cannot earn or lose our salvation, but that all we have to do is believe, this is also a lie. We will cover this more later on in the study. The scripture also clearly states that if we sin knowingly, there is no salvation for you. Hebrews Ch. 6 tells us that you cannot learn the truth, know the truth and then go back to doing your sinful acts that you were doing before. (See also, Hebrews 10:26).
Hebrews 10:26 – For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins. The Messiah was the ultimate sacrifice offered for our sins, so ultimately, he will no longer cover your sins. So this is a serious matter. It is a matter of life or death. WE must choose to serve and remain committed to serving him. Do not sin knowingly. There is a worse punishment for you. (See Hebrews 10:29).
Hebrews 10:29 – “How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of The Most High underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favour?”
Hebrews 6:11 – Expectation until the end; The Messiah also tells us to endure until the end. He was persecuted because He was teaching the Truth and exposing all the lies that were being taught by the Pharisees and the Sadducees. We must walk as He walked. He was persecuted, we will be persecuted in His name, but we must know what our Expectation will be in the end. He will return to His people and he will rule His Kingdom here on earth. (More on this study to come – next week’s study). True followers shouldn’t have a problem with this. But, many will have problems because of the flesh!! The enemy knows how to attack our flesh. We must learn to armor up against him (Ephesians 6:11).
Hebrews 6:12-20– Stay firm and imitate those who through belief and patience inherit the promises. It is impossible for The Most High to lie. We have Him to fee to for refuge, as an anchor of life both safe and firm.
NOTE: We are Ambassadors for The Most High. We represent Him by our actions. Our belief leads us to our actions. If we do not truly believe, then our actions will show it. If you say you are a believer and your actions speak otherwise, then you can cause others to stumble who are watching you and your actions. You will be held accountable for that and their blood will be on your hands. Woe to the one who is the stumbling block to others! (See Matt 18:1-9). Sometimes it’s not what we say, but what you do. How we live our life, others will see it. When we keep on the righteous path, you give others the permission to do the same. You will then become a light to others as the Messiah was a light to us. It is imperative that we realize that this is not a game. Either we serve Him with all of our hearts or we don’t. And, there is a greater punishment for those who know the truth and choose not to follow.
Matt 25:1-13 – This is the parable of the 10 maidens. 5 were wise and 5 were foolish. This parable talks about us in the last days. The 5 wise maidens were sober minded, they were watchful for their Master and they prepared for His coming. The 5 foolish waited until the last minute and then tried to ask for the 5 wise maidens for the oil in their lamps. The foolish represent those who are consumed with the things of this world and are too busy with the things in this life to prepare for the coming Master for their own selves. The oil represents The Word of Truth. The foolish must seek The Word for themselves to be filled with the light that will guide us through this darkness. Everyone is responsible for establishing their own relationship with The Messiah and each of us must work to receive His Word for ourselves so that we have the understanding in our own hearts. It should become a part of us and a part of who we are. We need to be spiritually prepared because no one knows the hour in which He will return, but he does send us signs to alert us of His coming. We are definitely living in the last days and His return is coming very soon. Make sure you are steadfast in your walk so you are found worthy to reign into His Kingdom. Do not let others steal your joy or take oil from your lamps!
Hebrews 10:30- Those who do not follow Him will receive The Most High’s wrath. “Vengeance is mine, I shall repay…He shall judge His people”
Hebrews 10:31 – It is fearsome to fall in the hands of the Most High. If we are not following His ways, we become His enemy and who can stand against Him? Get on His side and He will protect us.
Note: We have to be willing to sacrifice in this world now, which really isn’t given up much, in order to obtain everlasting Life here on earth. What is so great in this world that we can’t give up for our Messiah? Money isn’t anything. In fact, it says money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). This worldly system is temporary. We put too much stock in this world instead of preparing for the Messiah’s return. The church system does not teach the people of this truth. Without the things of this world, what else do we have to lean on? This is not a game; we will have to answer for our sins. It doesn’t mean we won’t be forgiven, but we better not do it again.
Revelation 3:15-16 – Do not be Lukewarm. The Messiah will spew (spit) you out of His mouth.
Jeremiah 10 - Do not follow the ways of the Heathen. That is a commandment. All of their ways is wicked and against The Living Creator. This scripture even describes some of their pagan practices, which occurred well before the Messiah was born (Description of the Christmas practice). Interestingly enough, the Christian church still practices these things even though we are commanded not to!
Heathen = One who belongs to a tribe or nation that does not acknowledge the Creator (The Most High)
James 2:14 – What is it for anyone to say he has belief, but does not have works. This belief is unable to save him. (The demons believe too and even shudder, but they still live evil). If you say that you believe but your life doesn’t show it then you are a hypocrite. Belief is an Action! It will show in the way that we live. Our lives should conform to the ways of our Messiah, the ways of our Heavenly Father, as we grow in His Truth.
Many try to use Paul’s writings to do away with the law. He never does away with the laws. Messiah never did away with it either. If anything, he makes it clearer for us that we are to walk in Spirit and let it be from our hearts. That sin shouldn’t even enter into our minds.
LEARN FROM OUR PAST:
Same thing is happening today that happened back then. We must learn from our history. Anyone who forgets history is bound to repeat it.
Deut 11:1 – Guard His commands always!
Malachai 3:6 – I am Eyeh Asher Eyeh (I am that which I am) and I shall not change! (But the church says that his commandments are no longer in effect? (lies) He talks a lot about us obeying His commands in the Old and the New covenant.
Ephesians 2:8-10 – We are saved by the Messiah through BELIEF, unto good works (See Hebrews Ch. 11 to learn more on Belief)
Matt 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men so that they see your GOOD WORKS (Ephesians 2:8-10) and praise the Father in the Heavens. So what works is He referring to? Our works is judged against His laws, statutes and right rulings that he laid down for us to follow. The Messiah himself talks about our works.
Matt 5:17 – Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah (Law) or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy but to complete. The Messiah Himself said that he did not come to do away with the Father’s laws.
Matt 5:18 – For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah (Law) till ALL be done. So is the earth passed away? Is the Heaven passed away? I think not and since it is still here, we are still bound to obey The Most High’s laws. The Messiah himself spoke these words. So question those men who try to lead people astray in saying that we are not bound to follow the commandments any more. And, if we are to be like the Messiah (Christ) then we should walk as He walked. He honored all of the commandments (EX: Sabbath keeping, loving His father and loving his fellow man, etc).
So do we have a new set of commands? NO!
Matt 22:34-40 – Many preachers try to use this as a new set of commandments given to the people, thus calling this the new covenant. So let’s explore this for a moment, are they new or is it really just a summary of the original commandments? He stated that the first of the two greatest commands are to Love The Most High with all of our heart and with all our being and with all our minds. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets. Now go to Luke 10:26. For the same question, He answered, “What has been written in the Torah? How do you read it?” (Food for thought: Now if the law has been done away with, why would our teacher speak of the Torah? And if His death does away with the law, then why would one define oneself as a Christian who walks as Christ walked?) Ok so His reply was, “You shall love The Most High with all your heart and with all your being and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself”. The Messiah said to his disciple that he answered rightly and that if he do those commands that he shall live. So following the Most High’s commands brings life, not death. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
OK so now let’s go to Exodus 20 and review the basic 10 commandments:
1. Exodus 20:3 – You have no other might ones against My face (Love the Most High)
2. Exodus 20:4 – You do not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above or which is in the earth beneath or which is in the waters under the earth. (Love the Most High. No crosses, fishes, pictures of Jesus, Angels, etc.) You do not bow down and serve them. He will send His wrath on our children for doing such things. Verse 6 – He shows kindness to those who Love Him and guard His commands.
3. Exodus 20:7 – You do not bring His name to nothing (naught). He has a name and His real name was replaced with the title GOD. (Love the Most High)
4. Exodus 20:8– Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart. The Sabbath day starts from Friday sun down to Saturday sun down; Not Sunday. Sunday is the 1st day of the week; see calendar. (Love the Most High)
5. Exodus 20:12 – Honor your father and your mother (Love your neighbor)
6. Exodus 20:13 – You do not murder (Love your neighbor)
7. Exodus 20:14– You do not commit adultery (Love your neighbor)
8. Exodus 20:15 – You do not steal (Love your neighbor)
9. Exodus 20:16 – You do not bear false witness against your neighbor (Love your neighbor)
10.Exodus 20:17 – You do not covet your neighbors things. (Love your neighbor)
All of the 10 commandments are summed up into the 2 great commands that the Messiah speaks of. Love The Most High with all your heart and all your mind and all your being and Love your neighbor. Definitely the Messiah was not here to do away with the commands; he came to complete them. He also confirms what was written in the Old covenant -> (See also Deut 6:5, Deut 10:12, 13, and Deut 30:6) Love the Father from our hearts.
CONCLUSION:
We as believers must examine ourselves to make sure we are not the “Wish Washy” or “Lukewarm” servants. That we are committed to serving our Heavenly Father with all of our hearts, our minds and our beings; this is how we truly show our Love to Him. We must walk in belief through our Messiah. Our belief is displayed in our actions and to obey The Most High’s commands. His laws are righteous and for our own good to live in harmony with one another and with His creation.
We must make a solid decision on who we serve, because the time of trial is near. We will have to make the choice eventually before the Messiah returns. Our love for the Torah should come from the heart and it should be a life changing experience, when we serve Him in Spirit and in Truth. If we do not obey His commands, then chaos and disarray is a result of it and He has to make the decision to destroy it from our midst (Just like with Sodom and Gomorrah and all of the other wicked nations. America is the common day Babylon and she will perish as well – Jeremiah 51). Let’s make sure we armor up to be fully committed soldiers, ambassadors for The Most High. It is not too hard to keep the commands (Deut 30:11)
Next week we will talk about what is to happen in the last days upon the Messiah’s return and talk about the promise and the expectation of the believers.
Shalom