Posts Tagged With: flesh

The Teaching of Balaam

Posted on July 12, 2014 by K. Gallagher

This article was originally a Torah commentary. Because of the flow of the story, it actually involves three portions, Balak, Pinchas, and Mattot. You can see all the scripture references in this footnote.[1] The entire focus of this study is on the Teaching of Balaam. Thus, I felt it was better suited as topical article. I fully believe that the teachings of Balaam are alive and well in our assemblies and we are unaware. My desire here is to look at what the Word has to say on this subject so that we are empowered to remove this wickedness from our own hearts and assemblies. Those of you familiar with Dr. Alewine’s Creation Gospel model will also find this article helpful as it is the foundation behind my thinking.

The Story

Near the holy place, where the Ark dwelt, an Israelite sees a beautiful woman. Her eyes tell him everything he wants to know. He approached her; and as they say,

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“the rest is history.” Out of nowhere, a holy man named Pinchas bounds toward the couple with a spear raised high in the air. The couple, already in the throes of passion, doesn’t even see him coming. Pinchas releases the spear with great force and it skewers the couple like a human kabob; first the Israelite and then the woman beneath his naked body. The deadly plague grinds to a halt and the masses are spared.

Torah portion Balak ends like the scene out of a graphic action/drama movie. It’s pretty explicit, but that’s exactly how the drama is presented to us in the Hebrew text. This Bible story is definitely for mature audiences only!

Yet this brazen act by Pinchas not only stayed the plague that had broken out on the people, but earned him a permanent covenant of peace and a covenant of perpetual priesthood before YHWH. Wow. The seriousness of the peoples’ sin is illustrated by the harsh and detailed judgment mete out by Pinchas. Thankfully, we know who and what placed Israel in this position. Balaam could not curse what YHWH had blessed, but he sure knew how to work around the system or find the loopholes.

If you only read parsha Balak, it may not be very clear exactly what the prophet Balaam did that was horrible enough to earn him a name that is forever associated with wickedness. (Micah 6:5, 2 Peter 2:1-22, Jude 11, Revelation 2:14-15) After all, YHWH did let Balaam go to Balak and he only blessed the Children of Israel. Surely, there is more to this prophet than hearing a talking ass. So, what happened? We learn the rest of the story two portions later in Mattot.

Num. 31:15-16  And Moses said to them, “Have you spared all the women?  (16)  “Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD.

At some point in his dealings with Balak, Balaam gave him some wicked advise. The fees for divination and recognition are indeed a mighty snare. Balaam found a way (so he thought) to have his cake and eat it too. Balaam could truly hear the voice of YHWH, but he did not fear or reverence the Holy One. He obviously told the Midianite king how to get around the Word of YHWH. What do you do when you want to curse what God has blessed? You put a stumbling block before the other person’s feet; a temptation that is almost irresistible. And there has never been a greater temptation for a man than a scintillating woman.

Causing a brother or sister to stumble, especially on purpose, is equivalent to high treason in YHWH”s economy. Balaam may have earned the respect and the wealth of a pagan king, but YHWH brought judgment to his door rather swiftly. Again from Torah portion Mattot:

Num. 31:8  They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of their slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

Jos 13:22  The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the diviner, with the sword among the rest of their slain.

The Israelites ended up killing Balaam with the sword. Now, let’s fast forward all the way to Book of Revelation. Yeshua has some interesting things to say to the assembly at Pergamum.[2] This is a little lengthy, but I urge you to read each verse and notice the parallels of word usage.

Rev 2:12-17  “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:  (13)  ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.  (14)  ‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.  (15)  ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  (16)  ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.  (17)  ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

What sort of judgment comes to our door when we go the way of Balaam? A quick and piercing double edged sword. The sword of Truth is in Yeshua’s mouth; it is the Holy Word of God.

Heb. 4:11-12  Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.  (12)  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The corrupt couple was pierced by the Word of YHWH (sword) by the hand of Pinchas. Balaam received the same judgment as those he placed a stumbling block before and it came swiftly. There was no mercy for either party. Wow, that all sounds so harsh. I’m not writing to put an unholy fear in your bones, but to point out the actual sin and penalty that occurred in these portions. The Holy One included quite few verses warning us about the teaching of Balaam; therefore, His desire is that we learn from these examples in order to avoid this type of judgment.

So, what did Balaam teach?

Yeshua says he taught the people to “eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.” Fortunately, we have more clues given to us in 2 Peter and Jude.

2Pe 2:15-17  forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;  (16)  but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.  (17)  These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.

Balaam wanted a REWARD. He had a problem with a lust for recognition and wealth. This lust caused the prophet to try and profit off the people of YHWH. Let’s look at the metaphors that Peter uses to describe the followers of Balaam. What is a spring without water? It is a natural well that fails to give forth the waters of Life. Wells, springs, and water are all idioms for the Holy Spirit, Wisdom, and the righteous woman (Bride). In other words, there is indeed a spirit at play here; it’s just not the Holy Spirit. It brings death rather than life. Mists driven by a storm gives us a similar picture. Jude uses equivalent expressions in his warning; thus, the action/spirit we are to avoid is definitely cohesive in the minds of the writers of the Holy Bible.

Jude 1:11-13  Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.  (12)  These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;  (13)  wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

Again, we see that reward or pay is what drives the spirit of Balaam. But what is scary is that these followers of Balaam are not outside the assembly; they are in the midst of even our feast celebrations! These people lack sacrificial love and only really care for themselves. Like Peter, Jude compares them to something that should bring life and water, but they do not. They are “clouds without water”. Instead of being driven by the wind of the Ruach HaKodesh, they are powered by another wind/spirit. Thus, they are incapable of producing holy fruit. They are not the “stars” of Abraham’s seed; in fact, they are the tares among the wheat — ready to be burned and reserved for black darkness.

So, if all this is true, we should be able to pick a follower of Balaam out in heartbeat, right? Wrong. If it were that easy, there would be no need for all the warnings given to us in Scripture. I believe there is a very specific reason why it is so difficult. And, most of you won’t like my answer. The difficulty we have, or you might say our lack of discernment in this area, is because we each struggle with the same temptations that are encompassed in Balaam. I will let Jude explain:

Jude 1:14- 19 (14)  It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,  (15)  to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”  (16)  These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.  (17)  But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,  (18)  that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.”  (19)  These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve ran into many grumblers, fault finders, and divisions in those groups returning to YHWH’s Torah. As a matter of fact, I have to admit that in my earlier years of this walk, I even participated in such things all in the name of holiness. I know it’s terrible, but it’s the sad truth. At the time, I would have thought I was anything but a follower of Balaam!

What I have learned (and often write about) is this very dichotomy between the Truth and a Lie. Between a man and the beast. Between the harlot and the righteous woman. Between the Spirit and the flesh/evil inclination or a wicked spirit. Between a Prophet and a Diviner. Between a Sheep and Goat. Between the Wheat and Tare. You get the point. As it turns out, the difference is often “subtle” and the battle ground is most often within — not outside of a person.

Close, But No Cigar

There are seven wicked spirits that counterfeit the seven holy spirits of YHWH (Pr. 6:16-19, Is. 11:2). In Holy Writ, we are constantly forced to deal with two brothers, two women, two houses, two “ways”. One is always righteous and one is always wicked. Nevertheless, they often can be found in the same places, doing similar things, wearing similar clothes, and calling to the same people. King Solomon the Wise, tried in earnest to teach his son and us this very simple truth. The enemy truly masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14)

But what is not always immediately apparent is that this duplicity is within us! Overt wickedness is easy to detect if you know the Word. But, a heart set on self-righteousness, pride, and grandeur is not always so obvious. This is because we cannot escape our flesh or nephesh — the part of us that is shared with the beasts of field. Like them, we have instincts and a desire to survive at all costs. We get hungry, thirsty, tired, and sexually aroused and seek to gratify these appetites. At our core, the flesh seeks to preserve self.

Contrary to the old Greek philosophers, this does not mean that the nephesh is evil. It serves a godly purpose even in the lives of a holy people. Without it, we’d be no earthly good. We must eat, drink, sleep, and procreate or our species would die off. But, these passions are not to be what rules a child of the Most High; the Holy Spirit must sit at the helm of our ships.

Balaam was ruled by an unholy spirit fueled by his flesh/nehpesh. Though there was a part of him that could hear YHWH’s voice, the desire to please his own desires was much stronger. Have you ever “given in” to the desires of your flesh? I know I have and sadly sometimes still do. No one is exempt from this dilemma. It is a daily battle.

Let’s take the story of Balaam for example. How many of you read this story, realized the utter wickedness of his actions, and associated YOURSELF with Balaam? I would gander that very few, if any, of you did. Our nephesh always makes excuses or justifies its actions. It’s never wrong in its own eyes. This is why it’s so hard to come to a place of repentance or even “hear” the gospel unto salvation. The flesh is always concerned that it will be uncomfortable, restricted, or robbed of pleasure and fun.

The real lesson we are to learn from Balaam is to recognize these “negative” attributes in ourselves, correct them, and help others to do the same. The Bible brings correction, but it is mostly to us as individuals. Rarely is our job to point the finger at another. There is a time for this (which we see in Pinchas), but having a burning desire to do so more often exposes a nephesh ruled person. The nephesh always wants negative attention to be on someone else, because self-preservation is all it really cares about.

Thus, I put together the following chart for your personal introspection. If all you can “see” when perusing it is someone else’s sin, then you’ve just revealed the one seated on the throne of your heart. Here’s a clue, it’s not the Holy Spirit; it is the beast (nephesh). But fret not, you are not alone. Kick the beast down and bring it into obedience to the Ruach HaKodesh!

Balaam/Beast                                                                   vs.                             Holy Spirit/Man

Lusts for profit

Seeks to produce godly fruit

Desires recognition from others

Seeks to please YHWH

Looks for loopholes to obedience

Hears and obeys because of love
Urges others to compromise or conversely to be rigid and merciless (in the name of holiness) Strong sensations of either greasy grace, or a controlling Torah Terrorist. Extremist on either side of the scale.
Urges others to obey, but is tempered with compassion, mercy, and patience. Constantly seeking balance in all things. Allows freedom within the boundaries of Torah.

Killed by the Sword

Lays flesh on the altar by allowing the Sword of the Word to purify the heart.

Tries to get YHWH do go along with his desires/will.

Accepts the will of the Sovereign of the Universe and knows it is best even if it hurts.

Appears righteous (clouds without rain)

Does righteousness (joins the great cloud of witnesses)

Speaks blessings to others, but counsels curses in the dark.

Speaks blessings to others and means it.

Hears and turns into the way of the harlot.

Hears and turns into the way of wisdom (righteous woman).

Takes pleasure in immorality. May even participate behind closed doors. (hidden/dark)

Runs from immorality. (Like Joseph)

Uses flattery for personal gain/promotion.

Speaks truth, allows YHWH to promote them.

Grumbles and Complains (gossip/slander) which drags others into their derision against people, leadership, and assemblies. This happens under the banner of no compromise, holiness, and righteousness.

Turns from gossip/slander/lashon Hara. Knows that complaining about the way things are done, the leadership, other people, or families is only following the way of Cain, Korah, and Balaam.

Brings strife and division as a result of the above. Seeks to attract others unto themselves. Desires cookie cutter versions of belief and thought with Self as the head. They split and divide families, friends, and assemblies in the name of holiness. No unity. The house is continually being torn down. New group often latter splits again as a result of the same spirit at work. Strong sensation of feeling unwelcome, unholy, and condemnation. Run!

Seeks mercy, compassion, loving-kindness, and patience with family, friends, leadership, and assembly. Manages to disciple and mature new comers rather than condemn them for ignorance in matters of obedience. Seeks to build others up. (A wise woman builds her house) There is an overt sense of love, belonging, and warmness in these groups. Critical and judgmental spirits are not welcome.

Loves the wages of unrighteousness. Loves being right. Loves putting others in “their place”. Looks for ways to profit from the sheep.

Loves YHWH and the Body. Seeks to produce the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

In a nutshell, Balaam teaches you to turn in to the house of the harlot[3] by appeasing the appetites of the flesh. What feels good and right is truth to a Balaam. Going the way of Balaam is serving or demanding to have your own preferences, desires, wants, and gain. It is the opposite of a humble, caring, patient, and loving servant of the Most High.

If we recognize the teaching of Balaam in our own lives (no matter how miniscule), we need to repent and put YHWH back on the throne of our hearts. I have found a great tool that helps me to keep the “beast” or nephesh/flesh in its proper place. That tool is the Jewish practice of Mussar. If you’ve ever used a Chesbon Nephesh (accounting of the Soul) chart to help you find hidden or forgotten sin in your life before Yom Kippur, then you have had a tiny taste of Mussar.

Mussar means correction and is a simple daily practice that guides you to develop or strengthen godly traits such as gratitude, compassion, honor, simplicity, generosity, loving-kindness, responsibility, trust, faith, etc. It only takes a few minutes a day, but the payoff is immense! Hopefully by now, you have a much better understanding of what the teaching of Balaam actually was/is. In closing, I will link to some Mussar resources that are sure to keep Balaam at bay! Don’t wait until you have to hear it from an ass…

Websites:

Riverton Mussar

Aish.org 

Books:

Everyday Holiness by Dr. Alan Morinis

Mussar with the Messiah by Vickie Howard

Expect to see more articles from me on the teachings of mussar in the future. (:

[1] Balak: Num. 22:2- 25:9; Micah 5:6- 6:8; 2Pet. 2:1-22; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14-15

Pinchas: Num. 25:10- 29:40; 1 Kings 18:46-19:21; Ps. 106; John 2:13-22

Mattot: Num. 30:1 -32:42, Jer. 1:1- 2:3, Mt. 5:33-37

[2] Note to Creation Gospel students: Notice that Pergamum is the 2nd assembly. It is on the stem of “separation”. The question becomes, separated unto what? Balaam causes separation unto division — leading to death. We know that separation is only good if it leads to gathering like the third day of creation and the spirit of resurrection.  We see this same picture with the sharp double edged sword. The Word separates the righteous unto life and the wicked, like Balaam, unto death.

[3] Proverbs 7

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Torah Portion: Emor

Posted on May 3, 2014 by K. Gallagher

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“Speak”

Lev. 21:1- 24:23; Rom. 7-8

Holiness Laws

This portion continues from last week with the instructions in holiness (or set apartness) to YHWH. There is a definite escalation that takes place as YHWH gives these commands to Moses. Last week in Kedoshim,[1] the laws of holiness began with the people in general. The entire camp of Israel is to be holy to YHWH.

Lev. 19:2  “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.”

But as the text moves forward, the sphere and requirements for holiness becomes more exacting and severe. In Emor, we learn that the Levite line is expected to live a stricter lifestyle than the other tribes. But within this restricted circle, we find that the kohanim (priesthood) must lead and live by the most stringent manner of all Israel. In other words, there are levels to holiness. It’s not that one is better than the other; it’s that YHWH has different expectations for those that serve His people and His House. Those expectations (instructions, commandments) are more stern than those He gives for the average Joe (Israelite). This reminds me of James (Ya’akov’s) warning to those that teach the Word.

Jam. 3:1  Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

The accountability and expectations are higher for one that ministers to the body in matters of worship, teaching, and counsel. It seems as though those that are a “mouth” or mediator (priest) in the body are meant to live by a stricter standard. On the one hand, we are all called to be holy and servants of YHWH. On the other hand, those that have more influence on the masses, no matter the role, will be judged more stringently. This is because their actions directly affect multiple people (as did the Levites and the priests). People look up to, watch and mimic their leaders. This makes even me, a blog poster, shutter with awe and renewed vision to be diligent and cautious with my words.

 

Holiness Defined

Exactly what is it that makes us holy (kadosh)? Unlike the English word holy, being kadosh is simply the state of being set apart (from all the rest) for a special function. Thus, you can be set apart for something good or something wicked. This is why the same Hebrew word can be used for a harlot and holy ones. (qof, dalet, shin) You see, a harlot is set apart to fulfill their special function. What we are called to be is set apart unto YHWH. This requires us to walk as He instructs; not as we feel, not as we deem appropriate, and not as someone else suggests. And the requirements aren’t too difficult for us. They are near to us; and if we’ve been born from above, they are in our hearts and in our mouths.

Dt. 30:11-16  “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.  (12)  “It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’  (13)  “Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’  (14)  “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.  (15)  “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;  (16)  in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.

Since the last two week’s portions give us specific instructions in holiness, you may come away from reading them thinking, “Without the Levitical Priesthood and the Temple, how is it possible to follow these commandments?” While it is true that these sections often speak directly to the Temple and Priesthood, there are plenty of instructions that we can observe physically and others we can seek to uphold spiritually. Without a Temple or functioning Levitical Priesthood however, there are numerous commandments that we simply cannot keep. (This eliminates quite a chunk from the 613 if you’re keeping count.)

For example, reverencing your mother and father and keeping YHWH’s Sabbath’s (Lev. 19:3) do not require a Temple. But, offering an animal sacrifice in any way other than the manner described would be a sin itself. These types of physical sacrifices require a Priesthood and Temple.

However, we CAN look at the sacrifices of our lips and deeds. Are they being offered without blemish or defect? In this way, we can still hold to the “heart” of these instructions and see that they are in fact applicable to us in a different way. The point is not to “skim over” these issues because they appear to be foreign or outdated. I assure you that the Word of YHWH is never invalid or archaic! Our peon brains and lustful flesh may desire to sweep all these particulars under the rug, but be careful where you stand, lest you fall!

Our loving Elohim (God) is Good. His Word, Commandments, and Statutes are also Good. And they are, if anything, spiritual!

Rom. 7:14  For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.

The real scary truth about holiness is that you can be holy and just not be set apart unto YHWH. If you are ruled by your flesh, you will disregard the Creator’s Commandments. Flesh prefers the bondage of sin. And we ALL have flesh! So, in this state, we are set-apart (made holy) unto sin, death, and destruction. While it seems crazy to think that anyone would choose this type of holiness (which is harlotry), multitudes do it every day. I still have many areas that need improvement and if you are honest, you do too! This is why we need the Torah so badly! How can we change or improve if we won’t read and heed the instructions? How do we know the depth of our depravity unless we are shown with the Light of the Word? As Paul says in the same passage as above, “Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:24)

Paul clearly illustrates the quandary common to all of mankind. The Law of YHWH is holy and good and teaches us how to bear proper fruit. (Rom. 7:4-5, 7:12-13) But it becomes evident that there is more than one law at work in our members. On the one hand there is the Law of God showing us what sin is. On the other hand, there is the Law of Sin that wages war against the good we know to do.

Rom. 7:21-23  I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.  (22)  For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,  (23)  but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

Praise Yah for the blood of Messiah Yeshua! He has made the way for us to be set free from the Law of Sin. (Rom. 8:1-4) Are you free from sin? Or is there still a war waging in your members? I freely admit that the war wages on in my life. I must battle my flesh (nephesh) every single day. However, I’ve actually met “believers” that claim that they no longer sin. Not surprisingly, it was obvious just in conversation that the war wages on in their lives as well —- though they deny it.

Denying the battle would certainly strip you of your armor and weaken your faith. You would have to be wondering what the hell was going on in your life all the time. Because it would indeed be “hell”, and you’d be losing! You might even accuse Yeshua of not holding up His end of the deal (Yah Forbid!) This was the evidence I saw in the couple that claimed to be “free from sin”. A devastating circumstance had happened in their lives. The woman was so overcome with grief that she sat in the kitchen of a stranger (me) and cried —- searching for an answer. She was vulnerable and under great condemnation. Which ironically, is spoken about in the verse preceding their “pet” proof text.

Rom. 8:1-2  Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  (2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Are you living in condemnation? If you are in Messiah and feel overwhelmed, overcome, defeated, or condemned, your flesh (nephesh) is at the helm of your ship! Choose Life! You have every tool you need to fight this battle. Quit letting your mind, feelings, and flesh dictate your emotional state and daily life. We are NOT called to be ruled by the beast (our flesh), but by the Spirit of the Living Elohim (God)! This is what being holy is all about. CHOOSE, on purpose, to get back on the path whether you lost your way, took a wrong turn, or someone kicked you to the curb. Persevere!

 

Slaying the Beast

Slaying the beast (the flesh) is easier said than done, especially if it has had uncontested reign for a long time. Sadly, most believers are not ruled by the Spirit. This is why we have so many problems such as strife, envy, backbiting, jealousy, lust, divisions, slander, and gossip within the body and in our assemblies. This is also why there is a lack of love, mercy, kindness, humility, patience, gratitude, order, honor, and responsibility. We are like the beasts of the field doing what comes natural to our flesh and demanding that everyone around us accept that this is just the way we are. Or equally as repulsive, we may expect those around us to cater to our poor, pitiful, and pathetic life —- yet we wouldn’t dare to lift a finger to change our mindset, emotions, or estate. Flesh likes attention any way it can get it. CHOOSE differently!

I apologize if my words are harsh, but this message is “a burning in my bones!”[2] We ARE supposed to be overcomers! We are to walk in the Light and not in the darkness. We need to learn how to truly walk in the Spirit. We need to learn how to think like the Spirit. We need to act like the Spirit! Believe it or not, the choice is ours to make every single day.

One sure fire way to determine whether the beast (your flesh) or the Spirit is sitting on the throne is to evaluate your thought and conversational life.

Rom. 8:5-8 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  (6)  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,  (7)  because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,  (8)  and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Where is your mind? What things do you think on? What sort of things do you talk about or “dwell” on? Are you victorious or are you defeated? The flesh is HOSTILE to the Law of God. The flesh is focused on SELF. Me, myself, and I. (My, my, my.) What is one of the first words of child? “MINE!”

Dear one, the biggest battle you will ever fight is with YOURSELF. (And it’s a daily war!) Outside circumstances and people are just that. They are “outside.” You have no control over them. And you never have. And you never will. There is only ONE thing you are supposed to take control of: YOUR NEPHESH (flesh).

Can you imagine how different our homes, families, and assemblies would be if we stopped trying to control other people and our circumstances? What if instead of complaining about so-in-so or our lot in life we CHOSE to do something about our own outlook, disposition, and actions. What if we chose to actually REJOICE in all things?[3] If we did this, do you think we would have all the hurt, strife, and division that we currently see?

 

Burning Flesh on the Altar

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Have you ever noticed that most of the sacrifices were flesh and blood beasts (clean animals)? I’m sure you have. Mankind and beasts were both created on day 6 of creation.[4] Therefore, the number of man and the number of the beast are both 6. Have you ever considered that we share a lot of commonalties with these beasts of the field? After all, within the sacrificial system they are dying in the place of us! What can we learn from this? We have some flesh that NEEDS to be placed on the altar. And this process needs to take place on a DAILY basis.

But the flesh doesn’t want to die. It rebels. It rebukes. It makes excuses. It justifies. It throws tantrums. It runs. It hides. Your flesh will do just about anything to keep itself on the throne. One of its preferred tactics is to blame anyone, but itself. It’s all somebody else’s fault that I’m this way or that I did this or that. “If only” is also a favored phrase. “If only I had this or if s/he would do that, then… then I’ll be happy. Then, I’ll be satisfied.” Beloved, the flesh is NEVER satisfied. It cannot be satiated. There is always another dangling carrot for it to aimlessly chase.

I want to slay this beast and lay it on the altar. Though I know it will hurt and it won’t “feel” good, I want the fat to burn up in smoke as a sweet smelling aroma before my Adonai and King. I know that you do too! Let’s do it together!

So in light of all this, what do you think the tests, trials, and tribulations in life are all about? What about all those hard-to-deal-with people? They each are an opportunity for YOU to offer your beast (your flesh) upon the Holy Altar. By choosing to slay the beast, you are gaining LIFE!

Rom. 8:10-11  If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  (11)  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Too many of us only really look inward occasionally. Maybe at one of the appointed times. Maybe after a test has knocked us off our high horse. But, the flesh was offered on the altar EVERYDAY. I think the biggest stumbling block we have is that we look “outside” of ourselves all the time. Yes, our eyes are like marbles rolling here and there. We look at people and circumstances. We may even look at our “outward” obedience and check it often. But, we fail where it matters most. We fail to discern the difference between the man and the beast, which is the Spirit of the Living God.

 

Back to Emor

This was supposed to be a Torah commentary on Emor. Holiness in the Priesthood. The Holy Moedim (Feast Days). The Holy Menorah. But none of this matters if we have no self-control. Holiness requires reverence. A selfish (flesh ruled) person only reverences himself.

2Cor. 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

We can either have it our way or His Way. To fear the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. If we want to be a holy vessel, we must empty ourselves and be filled with the Spirit of God. Both the outside AND the inside must be clean. And our “flesh” (inside) can NEVER please Him.[5] I think the reason I’ve been “stuck” in Romans 7-8 while trying to study and write on Emor is no accident.

Emor shows us what holiness looks like on the outside. If we look closely, we will also see that it shows us the inside as well. The calendar you keep will inevitably govern your day to day life. Leviticus 23 clearly outlines the appointed times and Sabbaths of the Creator. Most people would prefer the world’s calendar —- it “appears” easier because everyone is doing it. Others go to the other extreme and set out to “find” the perfected calendar of YHWH. (Can you just hear their pompous flesh demanding to be elevated for such a lofty discovery? Can you also hear their flesh condemning everyone else who isn’t as right as they are? You will know them by their fruit.) Thus, even Torah keepers can become “good” at keeping the outside of the cup clean while the inside is full of filth and abominations.

We are to be salt and light. The holy menorah should be burning within us! If so, the trials and tribulations of life will press and crush us like an olive and give way to pure oil that will keep the heavenly lamp aish tamid (burning eternally). And like the daily sacrifice, it must be tended to every morning and every evening. If we neglect this duty, the holy lamp will burn low and the fiery heat of our (unslain) nephesh will grow stronger instead.

Perhaps this is why Emor ends on a rather tragic note. An Israelite’s son blasphemed the Name of Adonai. At first glance, it seems as though this story is misplaced. But alas, it is a prime example of what happens when we fail to reverence God. When we fail to offer our flesh on the altar. When we fail to be governed by the Creator’s calendar. When we fail to tend the holy menorah.

Lev. 24:22-23  ‘There shall be one standard for you; it shall be for the stranger as well as the native, for I am the LORD your God.‘”  (23)  Then Moses spoke to the sons of Israel, and they brought the one who had cursed outside the camp and stoned him with stones. Thus the sons of Israel did, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

There is one standard, one mishpat. In Hebrew, this word is “judgment”. There is one judgment for blasphemers. One verdict. Only someone acting out in the flesh could commit such a crime. In fact, verses 15-21 give us some examples of what type of behavior is being dealt with in this passage. Most of these deal with mistreating your fellowman and his property. So even here, we can see the underlining heart of the matter: to love Adonai and love our neighbor. The Torah teaches us how to do both. The flesh desires to do neither; instead it wants only to pleasure itself.

So, how does one become holy? It’s more than “Jesus makes me holy.” Yeshua certainly sets us apart when we accept Him as Lord and Savior. But if we CHOOSE to remain in the flesh, well then that’s our choice. Freewill doesn’t disappear when you make a confession of faith. Real holiness is separating your flesh from the throne and laying it on the altar of our holy Elohim! It is a choice.

  “You shall be holy, for I, Adonai your God, am holy.”

 

[1] Lev. 19:1- 20:27

[2] Jer. 20:9  But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.

[3] Philippians 4:4

[4] For a detailed look at the flesh, nephesh, and the beast, please see Dr. Hollisa Alewine’s complete works in the Creation Gospel series of workbooks. Much of my insight into these analogies have been gleaned by her anointed work and ministry to YHWH’s people.

[5] Rom. 8:8  and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

 

 

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