Month: February 2021

Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

If the Pharisees knew who they were talking to, they not only would shut up, but they would have been on their faces, ashamed of their pride and arrogance. But they had no clue as to who it was that they were addressing so rudely and without respect.

And we, who call ourselves after His name, Christian’s, do no better than these Pharisees, who follow traditions but do no recognize the Son of YHWH God even when He stands before you and offers testimony.

How is it that we worship the most-high God, and do not know Him? We call upon His Holy name but turn away from Him when it comes to love and obedience. When will we come to understand what it means to be His bride?

He said, “‘This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Vs 6)

We need to consider what kind of message we are sending to Him who is our Savior and King when we teach others things that are simply not in the Bible.

He says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) and then to that He adds, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21)

But we not only ignore His Words, but we claim that He abolished the very same Commandments He asks that we keep. This tells me that we do not know Him, if we live according to this doctrine.

If He had done away with the ordinances of God, why in our selfish way of thinking would we think such a thing. And why would he have spoken contrary to that.

Did He not say, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)

He came to fulfill the Law, not to abandon it. If we want to know Him, we need to understand what He says, and not impose idiotic doctrine on His own words. And if you want to verify what I am telling you simply look at the word in Greek to see what Fulfill means. The Word in the Greek is “Pleroo” meaning to fully explore or teach.

But how are you to know these things, when those who are instructing you do not value the truth, and you have no inclination to test what they tell you according to the scriptures. If that doesn’t resonate in your heart, I don’t know what will get your attention and cause you to walk as he walked.

Here is the whole reason for His visitation, to call us back to the scriptural Commandments of God and to give us the grace we need to set us on His path.

All we have to do is read a few more verses beyond Matthew 5:17 to understand clearly what He is conveying to us in words.

He goes on to say, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” (Vs 18)

Has heaven or the Earth been done away with? No! Then the Law has not been abolished!

“Whoever therefore, breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Vs 19)

So now, He shames those of us who do not teach or practice the commandments, by saying that we are not seen as great in heaven, but instead we will be found lacking. However, those who keep and preach the Commandments as they were given by God the Father, they will be seen as great by heaven.

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Vs 20)

When we began this Message for today, let me remind you that Yahshua /Jesus told the Pharisees that they had fallen short of the mark, and He was not very nice about it. If they continue to do what they have been doing according to the Messiah, they will not be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Just as He says here!

But if we continue to follow a path that is less than the same path as the Pharisees, we will also be fuel for the furnaces of Hell. Because we are lacking in righteousness.

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. (1^st John 3:7)

Without the commandments how is it that we can claim to be righteous?  And don’t say that Jesus is your righteousness, that’s just another lie! You must have a righteousness of your own. Why else would he ask us to keep His Commandments?

The Apostle John clears it all up, for those of us who are wrestling with the questions that have arisen from this teaching, when He says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 
He who says, “I know Him, “and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

The Commandments we are to keep are the same ones He kept as an example to us, so that we would know how to walk according to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Now is the time to repent and return to the living Word of God. Before He comes, be restored to Him and His ways.

Shalom my friends,

Chuck Greever

2^nd Chronicles 15:1 Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. 
2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. 
3 For a long time Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; 
4 but when in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them. 
5 And in those times, there was no peace to the one who went out, nor to the one who came in, but great turmoil was on all the inhabitants of the lands. 
6 So nation was destroyed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every adversity. 
7 But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!”
8 And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had taken in the mountains of Ephraim; and he restored the altar of the Lord that was before the vestibule of the Lord. 
9 Then he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who dwelt with them from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, for they came over to him in great numbers from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.

This is what the Spirit of God does, He brings people, and nations, back to true worship. He is the Holy Spirit, who teaches, who guides us, the Spirit of truth, and the hand of YHWH God in our lives.

Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. (Vs 1, 2)

How is it possible to live in a world that YHWH God created and not know Him? the Apostle James said, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) And here we are told the same thing, but more, about the relationship we have with our Elohim. For if you depart from Him, He will depart from you. Thus, we live without mercy or grace, and we find that the whole world is being bore up on our shoulders.

For a long time, Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; but when in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them. 
And in those times, there was no peace to the one who went out, nor to the one who came in, but great turmoil was on all the inhabitants of the lands. 
So, nation was destroyed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every adversity. (Vs 3-6)

When YHWH God departs from those who have abandoned Him, He desires to have His children back. So, He let’s them deal with their godless reality. He brings the enemies of YHWH God to steal and destroy the life they once had, and blessings are replaced with hardships.

We are yet again brought to that place, where we will in unison cry out once more for Abba God our Creator to save us.

But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!”
And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had taken in the mountains of Ephraim; and he restored the altar of the Lord that was before the vestibule of the Lord. 
Then he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who dwelt with them from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, for they came over to him in great numbers from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him. (Vs 7-9)

Over and over, this theme is repeated throughout the scriptures, and we see the Children of Israel experiencing this seesaw relationship with YHWH God because they are so prone to Idolatry and self-worship. They return to Yah, and then when things are prosperous, they depart, heaping up false teachers who speak sweet lies to their itching ears.

But here we see what Asa does in response. He removes the Idols, and restores the Altar of the Lord. He makes a clear path to the one true Elohim. He knows that there must be a removal of those things that are an offense to YHWH God, the very things that carried them away from Him.

Clearly, we can see in this, the path that my country must take. For we were once that shining city on a hill, but now we have become a dung heap. And if we continue on the path, we’re on now, there will be destruction.

I tell you now in the name of my King and Savior, Yahshua Christ, that unless we free ourselves from this godless rabble that is seated in our capitol city, YHWH God will destroy us, our Families, our economy, and leave us desolate.

We need to 1^st and foremost get rid of false teachers, then get rid of their fruit. Men and women who think they can govern this country and sin. Those whose lies are a way of life. Those who have abused Children and defenseless people, those who have violated innocent lives, and laughed about it.

But most of all we must be rid of those who will not teach or preach God’s Law, because this is how he loves His Children, by their obedience to His Commandments.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1^St John 5:1-5)

We will not be able to overcome the World without the Love of God, and this is what must happen first. We must return to Him, Now!

Shalom my friends,

Chuck Greever

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 
2 This man came to Yahshua / Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Yahshua / Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Yahshua / Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus the Pharisee, came to Yahshua by night. He is a member of the Sanhedrin, a man of great power, for these men ruled over the lives of all Israeli’s. And of course, he comes at night because he doesn’t want to be seen in the company of Yahshua. Which tells us. that Yahshua is already in trouble with the Temple Priests. But Nicodemus will come to believe!

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Yahshua / Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (Vs 1, 2)

We are privileged to be able to eavesdrop by way of the Word of God on this exchange that takes place between Yahshua and Nicodemus.

Nicodemus says, “no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” This is how He knows that there’s something Heavenly going on with Yahshua.

And Yahshua see’s this as an opportunity to expound on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. So, He speaks to Nicodemus about being born again.

Yahshua says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Vs 3) Unless a man becomes a new person, one who is reborn, He cannot see the Kingdom, nor can he possess the gifts of God.

Then come the question, the thing that Nicodemus and all of Israel needs to know. He asks, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (Vs 4)

It’s kind of like that, isn’t it? A new life begins when the old one dies, a new heart is given and the old hard heart is cast aside.

Yahshua / Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (Vs 5-7) 

When we come to Christ with an open heart and mind, He receives us, and Baptism is the water signifying a new birth into the Spirit. Thus, the old life ceases, and the new begins. We stop our sinful ways and walk as if we are a part of the Kingdom of God.

We begin to love others in ways we had not before, because we see their Spirit also. And here is where the commandments come into play. The Love of God drives us to want to live for Him.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. (John 14:15, 16)

And “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21)

When we acquire the Holy Spirit, along with it comes the gifts, and the presence of Yahshua, and the Father. Therefore, we have entered the kingdom, and signs and wonders ensue. We are baptized and everything else that Yahshua says will follow.

“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (VS 7, 8)

This event takes place right before the eyes of men, and they cannot see it any more than we can see the wind. But what we see is the effects of the wind, not the wind itself. And so, we see the effects of the presence of the Holy Spirit. the effects of the gifts, and that’s what drove Nicodemus to come to Yahshua Christ and ask how these things are done.

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” (John 14:10)

The only thing that keeps us from doing the things that the Holy Spirit brings, is our sin. And that sin is caused by our unwillingness to follow God’s instructions, Torah. (The Law)

This is why the Apostle john says, He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1^st John 2:4-6)

Now is the time to Change our ways, and petition YHWH God for the gifts of the Spirit, so that we can glorify both the Father and the Son, Yahshua.

Shalom my friends,

Chuck Greever

John 1:24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 
25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 
27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 
30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 
31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”
32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 
33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 
34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

John the Baptist was being questioned by the Pharisees, probably because so many were coming to Him to be baptized, and he had a huge following. 

The Temple priests didn’t like the competition cutting into their territory. So, they had to question everyone who was functioning as a priest, and that is what John was doing. He was preaching and baptizing according to the Word of God.

He preached that men must repent, and return to the Commandments of YHWH God, Because He, the Son of the most-high God, was coming.

They had asked Him if he was the Messiah, saying, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ (quoting Isaiah 40:3) (John 1:22, 23)

The Pharisees asked Him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” (Vs 25)

They were doing everything they could to get him to say something that they could use to discredit Him. Just as they would do Yahshua / Jesus. Because John had a following and people were coming from all over to see and hear Him prophesy of the coming Messiah.

John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” (Vs 26, 27)

He tells them that Messiah is here already, and he is in the midst of us. He knows that Yahshua / Jesus is close by. And He says, that He is not Worthy to even remove His sandals to wash His feet.

So, the Pharisees, if they believed John, they knew that the Son of God was about to make His appearance among the Children of Israel. But knowing them, they had no inclination to believe, even what this Prophet said.

These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 
This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’  (Vs 28-30)

The next day Yahshua comes and John witnessed for Himself the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. As He Baptized Yahshua, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove on Him. John is vindicated in His own mind, now that He has seen it.

John says, “I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”
And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 
I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 
And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” (Vs 31-34)

What I am driven to do in my ministry is much the same as what John was doing prior to the appearance of Messiah, it is the purpose of this ministry to inform as many people as possible that Christ Yahshua is coming, and that certain preparations should be made before His arrival.

Who does not know that when He comes this time it is not to administer grace, but to judge! And He will Judge us on the basis of the same Commandments He taught, according to the Word of YHWH God.

So many of us are in no way prepared to receive our King, because we are still violating His Word. The Fact that so many of us are treading on His Sabbath every week and unrepentant about it, will have grave consequences, that coupled with the fact that we are liars, thieves, adulterers, and love ourselves more than Abba God. Our collective goose will be cooked in Hell. Therefore we must change, and change now!

His judgment is always and forever correct. Do not forget that He is a righteous judge, and because He is, He will not excuse our deliberate sin.

Now is the time to come clean, and change our ways. Now is the time to repent and return to the Way of Christ. For if we delay until He comes it will not go well for us.

“Make straight the way of the Lord,” Time is short!

Shalom my friends,

Chuck Greever

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 
19‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 
24And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Here is a well-dressed young man, seeking eternal life who says to Yahshua, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” (Vs 16)

The response is not exactly what he is expecting, as Yahshua says, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Vs 17)

Yahshua is taking the focus off of Himself and placing it on the Father as He explains that in comparison to His Father in Heaven, He himself is not good. The goodness He speaks of is without any darkness at all.

Just as the apostle John tells us, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1^st John 1:5)

And Yahshua says, “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” But what Commandments? And why would He be bringing the Commandments into this conversation, if He was going to abolish them?

He says to the young man, as he asked, He said to Him, “Which ones?” Yahshua / Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 
‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Vs 18, 19)

It sounds like to me that the very one who is said to be abolishing the Commandments at the cross, is teaching them without regard to anyone’s false doctrine regarding the Commandments. Could it be that Yahshua is after all a teacher of the Torah / God’s instructions? Clearly, this appears to be what He is doing, not only here but everywhere He goes.

This young man replies, “The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” (Vs 20)

I hear a little bit of pride in the reply from this young man, but little does he know that Yahshua is reading His thoughts, just as He does with everyone, including the Pharisees and scribes. So Yahshua addresses this young man’s short comings.

He says, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Vs 21)

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Vs 22)

This young man was stingy, he was afraid of being without funds, afraid to depend on God’s provision, as many of us are. It is not an easy thing to turn away from our wealth, in order to follow Yahshua, and His disciples.

We need to consider why that is, especially now that He is coming back to judge, and rule over us. We need to understand that He and His disciples led a life of poverty, and lived off of the bounty of God’s provision, whatever was needed was provided.

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:57, 58)

Not just anyone can do this! But this young man had a lesson to learn, He could not count on God’s blessing and be stingy with it. What God gives us, is not for our own use, but is to prime the pump so to speak. We are to be unlimited in our giving for the purposed of bringing forward the Word of God. Help other who struggle, when the Holy Spirit moves us to help then we must, without reservation.

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6: 38)

Yahshua turns to His disciple after this man has walked away, Then Yahshua / Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 
And again, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Vs 23-26)

Being well to do, is a blessing, but also a handicap, perhaps it’s best to say it’s a calling that not many can rise to. Wealth and possessions and the responsibility that goes with it, can be a burden, especially if we begin to believe that our acquisitions are our own doing, and not God’s.

Also we should consider how we balance our wealth with loving our neighbor as ourselves?

I pray that this teaching has blessed you.

Shalom my friends,

Chuck Greever