A Call To Teshuva (Repentance)

Written by Michael Walker

There are so many things going on right now in the world, it is hard to ignore. Good is being called evil and evil is being called good. The end is nearer than it ever has been. As a body of believers, it is our duty to make sure we are holding ourselves accountable, as well as one another. If we do not do this then we are just as guilty our brother for not addressing. If we truly love one another, Scriptural/Biblical love, this should not be an issue. Unfortunately, especially in the body of Messiah, this is an issue.

That means if we see our brother/sister struggling and/or sinning, we go to them, in love to help them. This follows both Leviticus 6 and Matthew 18 protocol. This action, just as love is a verb (an action), this is exactly how we are to show LOVE to one another. SADLY, many receive this approach as critical, they then postulate in a defensive manner and do not hear/receive the love in action. Something has stuck with me since moving to the Ozarks and it quite possibly could be the reason people react in such a manner; hypocrisy.

We know that love is defined in the Bible as keeping His commands, Yahshua said “If you LOVE ME keep MY commands”. He then goes on to tell us that if we don’t love our brother, we hate them. 1 John 3 tells us that those that are not loving our brother, we stay in death; and those hating (opposite of love) our brother are murderers and everlasting life is not in them. There has always been a fine line between love and hate. There is no gray area in between, we either love or not; you either love or hate. Love inherits everlasting life; hate has not part in everlasting life.

Many people are staking their claim that they are the set-apart ones spoke of in the Scriptures. The question is how are they set apart? Is it because they wear the tzitzit, eating Biblically clean, keeping the remembrance of His Holy days? Possibly this contributes to it, but isn’t there something very particular that identifies us as set-apart?

What makes us set-apart? Keeping His commands is what leads us to being set apart. But there is something very particular that is a sign we are set apart. What truly identifies us as being set-apart is the Sabbath. Ezekiel 20:12 tells us that YHWH/YHUH/YHVH says He gave HIS Sabbath as a sign, between them (the children and Yisrael) and Him, to know that HE (YHWH/YHUH/YHVH) sets them apart.

But are we really keeping His Sabbath, to the absolute best of our ability? If the answer is no, then are we really set-apart? If we are not keeping His commands and still claiming to be set-apart, how much different are we than “the church” that claims and does the same thing? (Replacement theology) There is no difference in that logic.

I want to make this abundantly clear; I am not condemning or convicting anyone on this matter. I am the first to admit; I am and have been guilty of not keeping every aspect of His Sabbath. So this is not someone preaching down from a high place, this is a brother sharing information that has been quickened in his heart to share with everyone, so that we can all be and do better. Again, the end is near as we see good being called evil and evil called good; the last days are not far off.

The Sabbath Day

Leviticus 23: 2-3 states we are to have holy convocations (set-apart gatherings) on the Sabbath day. As was the custom of Yahshua our Messiah, His disciples and the Apostle Paul (Shaul), they were in the Synagogue on the Sabbath day hearing the words of Moshe (Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2-4, Acts 18:4). This is not optional or conditional; meaning that no matter what is going on, this is a requirement every Sabbath. Since moving to the Ozarks, a common thread among the Torah community is that at least one Sabbath a month, families spend it at home, alone, “resting”. Is this not directly breaking the command to have a holy convocation/set-apart gathering here in Leviticus 23? We are all guilty of this from time to time, including me. When I travel to Arizona I do not always attend a set-apart gathering… I am SINNING by doing so. Moving forward, I will no longer allow that to occur unless I am physically unable to attend.

It appears that far too many people willfully, ignorantly and regularly are breaking this command, thus PROFANING (making it common/defiling) the Sabbath. Constantine profaned (defiled/making it common) the Sabbath in the 4th century when he claimed he changed the Sabbath day from the 7th day of the week to the 1st, thus leading to BILLIONS, if not TRILLIONS, of people over the last 1400 years to directly disobeying YHWH/YHVH/YHUH. Exodus 20, REMEMBER THE SABBATH, KEEP IT SET-APART. Those that do not gather, myself included, as commanded are they breaking this explicit command, thus forsaking the fellowship as mentioned in Hebrew 10:25? When reading verses 19-39, we see history repeating itself now, as it was in the 1st century; the same problem going on. So this is nothing new. So the question is, if we are breaking the Sabbath commands, are we really set-apart? How are we different than the rest of the world? When taking an introspective look, there is little to no difference when it comes to profaning the Sabbath; regardless of your affiliation (Christian, Torah Observant, Messianic, Hebrew Roots, Follower of the Way, et. al)

Now we have to consider something very serious: this is willfully turning our away from hearing (shema (to guard and obey)) the Torah regarding the Sabbath day? If so, are our prayers accepted or an abomination? Proverbs 28 says the prayers of those who turn their ear from shema Torah are an abomination. We wonder why our prayers are not answered and there is little to no healing amongst the body, this very well could be the answer. HEEBS, WE HAVE A PROBLEM, and we need to TESHUVA (REPENT) immediately.

People often use the argument to say they are keeping the Sabbath by resting and not gathering, but isn’t that a direct contradiction of what Scripture says we are to do? Is the command to just rest? Or are there multiple aspects of the Sabbath that we are to keep and guard: do NO work, don’t make OTHERS WORK, rest from your common labors as YHWH/YHUH/YHVH rested from His, have a set-apart gathering. The last one seems to be the most optional one in our lives, it shouldn’t be.

If we forsake gathering together to stay home and rest, is it then OK to go ahead do our normal work on the Sabbath? YHWH/YHUH/YHVH FORBID. Do we then allow ourselves to go to a restaurant on the Sabbath day, making others work (serving us)? YHWH/YHUH/YHVH FORBID. Why on earth do people’s logic says it’s ok to rest and not gather as commanded, but it’s absolutely not ok on the work aspect (ourselves, others)? It sounds asinine, I know, but this is exactly the argument/justification people are using to break this part of the Sabbath command. It is absolute hypocrisy, by all of us who do/have done this. Using this logic is exactly church profanes their own “sabbath” by going out to lunch immediately after service, having others serve them, hypocrisy.

James 2:10 states, if we break one commandment, we are guilty of breaking all of them. sigh

Justification in our own mind does not make something right… Scripture says all men are liars (Psalms 116:11). Yahshua/Yeshua/Yahoshua/Yahushua is the Way, TRUTH and Light and His custom was to gather and heal on and shema (guard/obey) the Sabbath day. The Sabbath is to be set-apart (HOLY), not profane (DEFILED/COMMON). It is the ONLY sign between YHWH/YHVH/YHUH and us that He is our Elohim and we are His people.

Do we think this type of behavior is going to fly in the kingdom? BTW, this is not judging anyone, this is only inspection of the fruits that are being exhibited, holding one another accountable, including my own fruits. We cannot sit in the assembly one week, criticizing the Christians for keeping the Sabbath on the wrong day and the Jews for holding their traditions and customs higher than the Torah; yet we ourselves are not keeping the Sabbath set-apart ourselves and keeping to our own man-made tradition of staying home alone on the Sabbath. This is hypocritical behavior and should be eradicated immediately. WE NEED TO REPENT/TESHUVA. What did Yahshua call the Pharisees in His multiple diatribes against them; HYPOCRITES, broods of vipers, white washed tombs. I think we get the point. Yahshua/Yeshua/Yahoshua/Yahushua called them hypocrites because they did not practice what they preached. He told the people, so as they tell you to do on the seat of Moshe, but do not as they day because they do not practice what they preach. If we are being hypocrites, are we any different than the Pharisees and Scribes of the 1st century?

This stark warning from Messiah Yahshua may be closer to us than we want to believe; Master have we not prophesied and cast our demons in Your Name and done many wondrous works in Your Name, HIS WORDS follow, not mine; depart from Me, I never knew you, workers of iniquity/lawlessness/wickedness/unrighteousness – Matthew 7:21-23. When I say these words are closer to us, are we guilty of what He is saying and one day, if we don’t teshuva/repent, will be saying these our own faces???????

Healing on the Sabbath Day

Healing is supposed to be a big thing in the body of Messiah, yet we don’t witness, let alone not even asking for it. We will ask people to pray for us, but how many will come to the gathering and ASK for a laying on of hands, anointing with oil and immediate prayers for healing? There are many verses in the Brit Hadasha in which Yahshua was healing on the Sabbath day. (Matt 2:10, 12:2, 11; Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:7, 13: 10-17, 14:5; John 9:16) Aren’t we supposed to be like Him, do the things like He did, carry ourselves as He did; be followers of HIM? How exactly are we following HIM?

We want all the blessings that come with keeping the faith and we cry out to have the gifts of anointing and healing among us but we refuse to follow the examples we are given in Scripture. How many times do we read of someone suffering from an infirmity (the woman with the issue of blood for years, the blind that were so from birth, the lame (paralyzed) from their youth, the lepers, et. al) and their faith is strong to be healed; SO STRONG many believed that just being in the shadow of Messiah or His Disciples would heal them. They did everything in their power just to be in the presence of someone who could heal them.

As a body of set-apart believers, this is something so simple we should be doing, but we’re not. Where is our weakness? Is our faith not as strong as those in the 1st century? Is our belief not as strong? If we are turning our ears from guarding and keeping the commands and our prayers are not being heard, what should our course of action be? Repentance/Teshuva – turning back to YHWH/YHVH/YHUH and HIS ways, not our own; that is the true answer. We talk about this a lot, but are the actions matching up with the words? Maybe it’s time that our actions and words start to match up. The message has always been REPENTANCE/TESHUVA; all the prophets, Messiah Himself, the disciples and Shaul all spoke on this. Our message today is the SAME.

May YHWH/YHUH/YHVH forgive us our trespasses as we are guilty and have profaned His Holy (Set-Apart) Day. From this day forward, may we walk in righteousness and do all that is in our power to keep His Sabbath sacred, set-apart, holy, undefiled and unadulterated? May He hear our prayers again as we cry out in repentance, may He lead us and guide us, may our hearts be open to keeping every aspect of His Torah. He is our Elohim and we are part of His people, it’s high time we start looking like it.

Breaking of Fellowship

Over the course of the last couple years there has been a disturbing trend in the Torah Observant / Hebrew community, the breaking of fellowship. Almost always, it occurs without warning, just as a lighting strike, it appears and disappears in an instant. It is very sad and heart breaking, especially when bonds and relationships are built over time then broken in an instant. Some people are willing to simply walk away without explanation or a simple goodbye.

Have you noticed this? People are a part of a fellowship or group and seem to be thriving, interactive and involved. One Sabbath or feast they are here, the next they are gone without explanation. This leaves the entire fellowship or group questioning what happened with few people knowing what happened.

As brothers and sisters, there are bound to be differences in understanding and reckoning of the Scriptures and how we are applying them to our own lives. We will never agree 100% on any Scriptural matter, our levels of understanding simply are not the same. We are not all in the same place at the same time in our journey, so that should be expected, unfortunately it’s not. That simple fact, many can’t or don’t understand. We should consider looking at our journey/walk as a staircase. Few of us are on the same steps of the stair case, some are ahead and the path while others are just starting to walk the path. Some are still drinking milk and coming out of the worldly system while others are feasting on the main course of keeping all of the appointed times. This trend I’ve been witness to reminds me of something, and it’s something that many of us claim to have come out of, but we are bringing that baggage with us… the church, in particular churchianity.

In churchianity, if we were offended by the message being presented, the pastor or certain people within the congregation, it was really simple, just walk out and change churches, without a trace, warning or notice; just leave and don’t say a word. One week we were there and the next week we were gone and had moved on to another church where our ears were being tickled and our ego’s fed and nurtured. Unfortunately, that is what I feel is going on right now in the Torah community. Like a thief in the night and without a word being said, people just up and leave. Maybe people have grown so accustomed to this they don’t even realize what they are doing, they have brought this baggage, along with a lot of other church baggage (Trinitarian, pre-tribulation rapture, dispensationalism, etc.) into the Torah Observant/Hebrew community, and it’s not necessarily a good thing, nor is it Scriptural, per se.

Let’s examine why this type of behavior is not Scriptural. For context, please read Leviticus 6, Numbers 5, Matthew 5, and Matthew 18. If we have an offense against a brother or sister, we are supposed to leave our offerings at the altar of Yah, go and reconcile with our brother or sister, then come back and complete our offerings. This is a Torah based principle that Yahshua fully supported and even expounded upon in the Matthew 18 protocol. He gave us step by step instructions for us to just this. Yet, so many people in this walk are refusing to apply this simple and effective principle. They would rather walk away from fellowship rather than deal with “conflict” and do as we are commanded to do.

Now, you may be thinking, we did not sin against anyone when we left without explanation. You may or may not be correct. The thing about Leviticus 6 and Numbers 5, it was those who committed the sin who were convicted by the Ruach, not by another man, of their guilt. They were not caught by man in the act of the sin (such as one could catch others in the act of adultery) and they likely could have gotten away with it, without anyone ever knowing, had it not been for the Ruach. When the Ruach convicts us within our beings, there is no denying it. The part that people do have, at least somewhat correct, is the confessing of the offense/sin/trespass. What do I mean by that?

What I have found is that people are people and they like to talk. And as people, we also like to listen, especially intently if we think something is rather juicy. Then, without even thinking about it, it will get brought up in another conversation with another person. Eventually, the information get’s back around to the offended party. Rarely is it the person that was offended coming to the offender. This is so backwards of what we are instructed to do. 

How many of us have entertained conversation with others that has been gossip/lashon hara? How long did the conversation go before it was shut down, if at all? Did we correct the person gossiping or did we just entertain and feed into the conversation, possibly unknowingly justifying the other person’s feelings. The question that should be asked is this, is lashon hara (gossip/evil speaking) a sin?  

If someone has offended you, what are you supposed to do? Hint, its located in the Matthew 18…within this section of Scripture I do not find the part where it says to go to another brother and sister and discuss the matter with them and that be the end of it. Who is the person that you are supposed to go to? That would be the person who offended/trespassed/sinned against you, NOT somebody else, regardless if they are your best friend and you tell them everything. It is your obligation (you are commanded to do so, it’s not a suggestion nor is it optional) to go and rectify the matter (if possible) with the offensive person. I REPEAT – You are NOT to go to your neighbor(s) and share this offense with them. By doing so, it becomes lashon hara, regardless if any of information shared is factual or not. This could also fall into the category of bearing false witness against someone, which is yet another sin, because you have not been called as a witness to a matter. Slander, bearing false witness, tale bearing; however it’s phrased within your translation of Scripture, it is a sin, PERIOD! Now we have a second or third trespass/sin/offense to deal with, instead of just the original. In actuality, what is being done can be looked at as hate, which is the opposite of love, which is an even deeper problem and an even greater sin. Yahshua put it on the level of murdering your brother when you hate them.

Please see the presentation titled Lashon Hara, located here at the Natzarim Yahshua website; https://natzarimyahshua.org/lashon-hara/  for a more complete understanding of the premise of this writing.

Sadly, far too many members of the body are doing just this; speaking to their neighbors while being offended instead of directly to the person who offended them. This usually results in the manifestation of an unclean spirit and this type of spirit causes division in the body of Messiah, it fractures relationships and destroys our trust in one another, especially people we called “brother and/or sister”. Over, and over and over and again, this vicious cycle keeps on repeating itself.

What’s even more disturbing and sad, the “offender” is probably COMPLETELY unaware that they even offended you. More often than not, when we are offended, the offending party does not have malice in their heart or ill will intended toward anyone. YET, this is EXACTLY how we take it personally, telling ourselves it was malicious and intentional, so we pick up our toys and go home, without solving the problem. We then willfully turn our backs to one another, and for what reason? Let me ask you this, is this how we are raising our children and teaching them how to be? Do we not correct them when they exhibit this type of behavior, especially when they don’t get their way?

Look, I get there are some issues that we would be justified in breaking fellowship with certain groups or people. People actively living in the following lifestyles: adulterous, drunkards, thieves, extortionist and fornicators; those we break fellowship with for because they will not be inheriting the kingdom of Yahweh. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Ultimately, do you even realize what this is leading to? I bet you don’t even think about it but here it is – this is causing the love of many to wax cold. Does that sound familiar? It should, read Matthew 24 and it what happens in the last days. People often think and point to the church and the world looking for this to happen, without even realizing; its occurring within those who once stated they loved us in this walk, but have turned their backs toward us. To me, it brings another level of understanding when Yahshua stated in Matthew 10 that brother will rise up against brother when He was speaking in regards to the persecution.  

Responsibility – it is up to you to rectify the situation, at the very least make your brother or sister whole again, restore them as the Scripture commands us to. If you don’t want to fellowship with them anymore that is ok. YOU, at the very least, have an obligation to let them know how you were offended so that they at least have an opportunity to correct themselves, if necessary, and grow. This keeps you from sinning, and in an even greater that what you even realize as described above. Without it, you are robbing (stealing) them of the ability to grow, which is yet another sin. Do you see how the list of sins/trespasses/offenses is continually growing.

People often forget the Egypt and exile they once were in, coming into this walk. When we first started our journey on the staircase, most of us felt lost and alone, often for an extended period of time. Once we found others who were living out their faith as we were, the excitement of having brothers and sisters was palpable. We had so longed for fellowship with others, we felt more complete. We started to see glimpses of the Kingdom. To have that ripped away, without warning, none of us seen that coming. With Pesach (Passover) rapidly approaching, maybe it’s time we be reminded of our Egypt, our own exile. Maybe it’s time to remove that leaven that’s been puffing us up.

If this writing has found you and stirred up something within you, possibly even the Ruach to speak to your heart, and you are feeling guilty of this; I highly encourage you to go to your brother and/or sister and rectify the situation, get rid of that leaven and guilt.

That brother that offended you during a midrash/Sabbath/feast and you didn’t go to him because you were on his land/in his house, you are obligated (commanded by Yahshua) to resolve that matter. That brother that has a different view point than you on  the “new moon” whether it’s sliver/conjunction/dark and stated his opinion; he did not directly attack you personally or in a personal way yet you were offended by his understanding. You, as the offended party, are obligated (commanded by Yahshua) to resolve that matter. That person that has zeal and excitement for the Word of Yah and can get noticeably more excitable as they converse (their voice gets louder and starts to crackle and appears to some as yelling) are not meaning to be offensive toward you. If you are offended by that, you are obligated (commanded by Yahshua) to resolve that matter.

As Pesach approaches, we need to prepare our hearts, inward beings, our mind and our spirit for it. It is Yahweh’s Pesach, not ours, and His guidelines for keeping it are not optional. We need to remove the leaven (representation of sin) from our homes (from within our gates/borders/dwellings (inward beings)). As described above, there is some leaven hiding in the crevices of our inward being and its been there, puffing up as leaven does, and it needs to be removed before we partake of the Pesach. If you have an offense against a brother or sister, I encourage you to get this matter rectified before Pesach. 

May Yahweh bless you and keep you as you mediate on this and prepare for His Pesach. Shalom and ahava b’shem Yahshua Messiah.

Parasha 12/31/2022

Missouri Assembly

Vayechi | ויחי | “He Lived”
Torah:
Genesis 47:28 – 50:26
Prophets: 1 Kings 2:1-12; Psalms 37:12 -38; Proverbs 31
Brit Hadasha: Luke 4:31 – 5:11; Acts 7:15-16; Hebrews 11:21-22; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 1 Peter 2:11-17

Marketplace

Shalom Mishpacha, I wanted to share some good news with you. The Marketplace will be making a come back. It will be available after the Sabbath. Apparel such as T-Shirts and hoodies will be available. We still have some Sukkot 2020 shirts and hoodies available. Also being made available are the Sukkot 2021 shirts. There are some pre-printed brick color ones. What is really exciting is that now we can offer custom t-shirt designs. The Twenty Three Acre Woods family is happy to provide a variety of custom prints, colors and sizes. Be sure to check them out, we will be trying to get the marketplace back up on running in the morning on August 29th. May Yahweh bless you and keep you on this preparation day as we approach the Sabbath. May the Sabbath be restful and rejuvenating for you all. Love and blessings in Messiah Yahshua

It’s time we started acting more like Messiah Yahshua – by Michael Walker (05/14/2021)

Recently some information was shared amongst a group of leaders at a southcentral Missouri conference that I want to point out and share with all of you.


About me, when I came into this walk and answered the call of the Father, I said then that I would be whatever type of vessel He needed me to be to live according to His Word, instruction, Torah, statute and commands. He has shown me great mercy in providing His Son, Yahshua, as the atonement for my sin. For I was of one of the most filthy rags around, that had broken darn near every one of His commands that applied to me. Yahshua has made atonement for me for that. I have seen the Father do very great and powerful things for and to His servants that our obedient, as a matter of fact I just recieved a testimony from a new brother yesterday that sent goose bumps up my skin and a couple others I shared the testimony with. The Almighty is working on gathering His people at this time and we can all agree the end is near. 


From the beginning of my walk, I have earnestly and humbly tried my best to do everything that has been asked and expected of me. Have I been flawless? Absolutely not. I have made my share of mistakes and have humbled myself in front of an assembly to admit my mistakes. The only agenda I am interested in pushing and promoting, in all honesty, is the Father’s who sent His Son Yahshua to lead us to the way.


If I have ever offended any of you, I come before the assembly and seek your forgiveness. My heart and intent is always on that of the Father and Yahshua. I am of the flesh, and like Paul stated, I contend with the flesh every day. Please forgive me if I have cast an offense at you, spoke illy of you and/or your assembly. A message I try and reiterate regularly is that if we cannot say anything nice about anyone, maybe we should say nothing at all. And I have openly stated that bashing on other brothers and sisters within Christianity needed to cease during meetings.

(This is the main point I took from the conference:) People in the walk (Torah Observant, Messianic, Hebrew Roots, Sacred Name, et. al) should not be falling into the trap of speaking ill and/or lashon horrah (gossiping) about other organizations and/or people within the same walk/faith. Yet, it continues even through today as an issue that is very divisive in a time when we need unity most, division is prevalent. (Unity and preparation for what is spiritually and physically headed for us was the reason for the conference.)

THIS NEEDS TO STOP IMMEDIETLY…FOR THE LOVE OF MESSIAH YAHSHUA, WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN MESSIAH. 

Do we agree on every doctrinal point? NO – we are each at a different point in our walk, some further ahead and some just starting out. Does that make us not brothers and sister with these differences? NO. What we should be doing is furthering the Kingdom as Yahshua has commanded us, going forth and preaching the gospel and making disciples as we were made disciples. 


Do we agree on traditions and customs in the scriptures? NO – again, we are all at different points in our walk and these types of differences do not make null and void the brother and sisterhood we share in Messiah. What we should be doing is furthering the Kingdom as Yahshua has commanded us, going forth and preaching the gospel and making disciples as we were made disciples. 


Should we let non salvational issues (the nephelim, flat earth, Paul as an Apostle, et. al)  be a divisive matter among us? HEAVEN FORBID, MAY IT NOT BE SO. we need to drop these non salvational issues and focus on what we are tasked by Messiah to do, we should be furthering the Kingdom as Yahshua has commanded us, going forth and preaching the gospel and making disciples as we were made disciples. 


Are we not all contending of the same faith? Are we all not worshipping the same Almighty Creator (YAH), even if we differ on pronunciation of HaShem? It’s not about whose right and whose wrong, maybe our ego and pride are getting in the way of furthering the Kingdom. Maybe we have become what Yahshua warned us about, stumbling blocks.  


We need to humbly take this to the throne in prayer and fasting. We need to let our pride go and not be so attached to things in this world. This world is temporary, the world we seek is eternal.  If you cannot say anything nice, then say nothing at all. Let your actions speak louder than your words. Turn your cheek and offer the other one, just as Yahshua has commanded us. Walk 2 miles with people that require you to walk one with them. 


We are to pray for our enemies. What more should we be doing as brothers and sisters?  Please let the love of Yah and Yahshua shine through, as we are to be a light to the nations. Please take this into consideration in moving forward in your walk. Shalom and blessings in Messiah Yahshua.