06/01/2007 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Blessed be the great and mighty name of Yahweh !

What an age we live in today!

They say that today we live in the "information age"

Never in the history of mankind has information and knowledge been so readily available by so many people

And there is today.. much knowledge of our world, knowledge of the sciences that seek to understand it, and knowledge of languages and cultures of the past.

Man is accumulating knowledge at a very rapid and perhaps dangerous rate

The language barrier which Yahweh set up at Babel has largely been broken and now man is busy collecting knowledge and making a name for himself.

The very thing which Yahweh did not want is happening today

Genesis 11:6 - And YAHWEH said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

We know that the days are coming when there will be a "one world" everything, run by the beast and his minions

It's something we're going to need to be prepared for...but what should we be doing to prepare?

What is the alternative to all of this "knowledge?"

In the midst of all this "information" and "knowledge" which is so readily available, an important question arises...

"Who will seek wisdom?"

I speak not of the wisdom of this world

...but the wisdom of Yahweh!

1Samuel 2:2 - There is none holy as YAHWEH: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our Elohim.

1Samuel 2:3 - Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for YAHWEH is an El of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

There is no lack of knowledge in Him:

Job 36:4 - For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

Job 37:16 - Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

Psalms 147:5 - Great is our YAHWEH, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

Think about that for a moment. INFINITE understanding

Wow!

Isaiah 40:28 - Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting Elohim, YAHWEH, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Romans 11:33 - O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of YAHWEH! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Psalms 139:1 - O YAHWEH, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Psalms 139:2 - Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Psalms 139:3 - Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

Psalms 139:4 - For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O YAHWEH, thou knowest it altogether.

Psalms 139:5 - Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Psalms 139:6 - Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Yahweh is willing to reveal things to us:

Daniel 2:20 - Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of Elohim for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

Daniel 2:21 - And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

Daniel 2:22 - He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

How about us, do we seek His wisdom?

Proverbs 3:13 - Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Proverbs 3:14 - For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

Proverbs 3:15 - She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Proverbs 3:16 - Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Proverbs 3:17 - Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Proverbs 3:18 - She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Indeed!

Proverbs 4:5 - Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 4:6 - Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Proverbs 4:7 - Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

If we really consider that our days are numbered, it might cause us to seek wisdom:

Psalms 90:12 - So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

If we do not seek wisdom, we walk on dangerous ground:

Proverbs 1:20 - Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

Proverbs 1:21 - She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

Proverbs 1:22 - How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:23 - Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Proverbs 1:24 - Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

Proverbs 1:25 - But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

Proverbs 1:26 - I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

Proverbs 1:27 - When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Proverbs 1:28 - Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

Proverbs 1:29 - For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of YAHWEH:

Dangerous ground indeed!

Some wondered where the Messiah got all His wisdom:

Matthew 13:54 - And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

We don't need seminaries.

Seminaries are often nothing more than cemetaries

We only need to ask the source!

Matthew 13:54 - And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Proverbs 2:6 - For YAHWEH giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of YAHWEH, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

If we have wisdom, others can know from whom we learned it:

Luke 21:15 - For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Acts 4:13 - Now when they saw the boldness of Kepha and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Yahushua.

For in Him is all Wisdom:

Colossians 2:1 - For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

Colossians 2:2 - That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of YAHWEH, the Father, and of the Messiah;

Colossians 2:3 - In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

And again:

Ecclesiastes 12:11 - The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

For Yahushua is the Word and the Word of Yahweh IS wisdom.

But how do we begin to gain wisdom? Where must we begin? Remember the study last week.

We need to have a high regard for Yahweh's words

We need to fear Yahweh and walk in the light He gives, that we might receive more light.

Job 28:28 - And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of YAHWEH, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of YAHWEH is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of YAHWEH is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbs 111:10 -

Psalms 111:10 - The fear of YAHWEH is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

All they that do...

We ask Yahweh for wisdom, yet we will only receive it if we ask in faith:

James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of YAHWEH, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:6 - But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:7 - For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from YAHWEH;

To those who ask without doubting: "it WILL be given to him."

The Psalmist cried out to Yahweh for wisdom:

Psalms 119:169 - Let my cry come near before thee, O YAHWEH: give me understanding according to thy word.

And wisdom cries out unto all:

Proverbs 8:1 - Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

Proverbs 8:2 - She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

Proverbs 8:3 - She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

Proverbs 8:4 - Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

Proverbs 8:5 - O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Proverbs 8:6 - Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

Proverbs 8:7 - For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Proverbs 8:8 - All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

But we must seek wisdom diligently:

Proverbs 2:3 - Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

Proverbs 2:4 - If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Proverbs 2:5 - Then shalt thou understand the fear of YAHWEH, and find the knowledge of Elohim.

Proverbs 2:6 - For YAHWEH giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:7 - He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

Proverbs 2:8 - He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

Proverbs 2:9 - Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

Proverbs 2:10 - When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

Proverbs 2:11 - Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Proverbs 2:12 - To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

Proverbs 2:13 - Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

Proverbs 2:14 - Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

Perverse men are common today. Yahweh's wisdom can deliver us if we cry out and lift up our voice after it.

Suppose that Yahweh looked upon us with favor and imparted some wisdom to us...what should be our attitude?

Some assume that once they receive some wisdom, that they have done what is needed

Placing confidence in their wisdom, they set up denominations...crying out to the world, "We've found it!""Come to us!"

In such a state they assume they have found all that was needed

But we are warned:

1Corinthians 8:2 - And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

1Corinthians 8:3 - But if any man love YAHWEH, the same is known of him.

For it is written:

Proverbs 3:7 - Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear YAHWEH, and depart from evil.

Isaiah 5:21 - Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

And as we noted in last week's study, he who is wise in his own eyes is in a worse condition than a fool!

Proverbs 26:12 - Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Who are the ones who are wise in their own conceits?

Are we among them?

Romans 11:3 - YAHWEH, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

Romans 11:13 - For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

Note who he is speaking to

Romans 11:14 - If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

Romans 11:15 - For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

The casting away of physical Israel resulted in the reconciling of the world, for their rejection of Yahushua became the salvation of every man.

The day will come, and it is happening even today, that they will receive Yahushua

How glorious to live in this age!

Romans 11:16 - For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

Romans 11:17 - And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Romans 11:18 - Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

The boasting against the branches has resulted in a rejection of Yahweh's wisdom, His Torah

Romans 11:19 - Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

Romans 11:20 - Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Romans 11:21 - For if YAHWEH spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Romans 11:22 - Behold therefore the goodness and severity of YAHWEH: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

We must continue in His goodness, and not be highminded/conceited

Romans 11:23 - And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for YAHWEH is able to graff them in again.

Indeed He is able, and now... willing!

Romans 11:24 - For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

Romans 11:25 - For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

"lest ye should be wise in your own conceits"

This is exactly what happened to the "Church"

They boasted against the branches, rejecting the Torah because it's "Jewish"

The condition of such?

Proverbs 26:12 - Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Let's not become conceited, but fear Yahweh and depart from evil.

For the truth is that the Torah is our wisdom

Yahweh is the source of wisdom, thus we find a good, solid source of wisdom in the Scriptures:

2Timothy 3:15 - And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Yahushua ha Mashiach.

2Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of YAHWEH, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The holy scriptures that Timothy was raised on was not the "New Testament," though it equally contains wisdom

The scriptures which gave wisdom to Timothy as a child was the Torah and Prophets

2Timothy 3:17 - That the man of YAHWEH may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Let's humbly furnish ourselves with such wisdom

For the Torah is our wisdom:

Deuteronomy 4:5 - Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as YAHWEH my Elohim commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

Deuteronomy 4:6 - Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

"This is your wisdom!"

"This is your understanding!"

And so tonight I ask all...

"Is the Torah your wisdom?"

Some of those who are wise in their own conceit think that the Wisdom of Yahweh has been abolished

Imagine such a thing!

The word for "Law" in the Hebrew is "Torah", which means "Instruction, teaching"

Surely we should never say that Yahweh's instruction, teaching and wisdom have been done away with!

Rather, we should say that Yahweh's instruction, teaching and wisdom are sweet unto the taste and more to be desired than gold!

Psalms 119:103 - How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalms 119:104 - Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Now I know that some are simply ignorant, may Yahweh have mercy on all of us.

For I know that we also lack wisdom...knowing that His ways are unsearchable and His knowledge is infinite!

But in spite of this we are told today that only part of Yahweh's words are wisdom. We are told to avoid reading too much of the "old testament"

And focus on Paul instead

But in truth, if we choose not to become "learned" in the rest of Yahweh's word, we will likely find ourselves twisting his words:

2Peter 3:16 - as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

Thus we, like Timothy, must be taught in the rest of Yahweh's word rather than "untaught" and therefore... unstable!

The truth be told, if the people today were to be taught the Torah (our wisdom) it would expose the lie that the wisdom of Yahweh is abolished

Psalms 19:7 - The law of YAHWEH is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YAHWEH is sure, making wise the simple.

Some suggest that Yahweh's law wasn't perfect, so He had to come along and fix it with the "New Testament"

This is not the words of wisdom, brethren.

Yahweh didn't make a mistake!

Psalms 19:8 - The statutes of YAHWEH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of YAHWEH is pure, enlightening the eyes.

If the Torah is something that "rejoices the heart" rather than something that we view as "bringing us into bondage," we will gain the wisdom it bodly proclaims

Psalms 19:9 - The fear of YAHWEH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YAHWEH are true and righteous altogether.

Psalms 19:10 - More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psalms 19:11 - Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Let no man lie to you, there is a great reward awaiting those who keep them

Psalms 119:98 - Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

Psalms 119:99 - I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

Psalms 119:100 - I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

The psalmist understood more because he walked it out.

The full wisdom of Yahweh can only be gained when we put His wisdom into practice

Many times it isn't until you practice His commandments that you learn the full wisdom behind them.

Who will heed the wisdom?

Who will seek the understanding given?

We must seek the wisdom, brethren

But not just from the old...

...and not just from the new

Matthew 13:52 - Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Scribes are teachers of the law. Let's bring forth things old and new.

Whether old or new, all of Yahweh's word is true and all of Yahweh's word is wisdom forever and ever!

Too many have forgotten the ancient paths:

Jeremiah 6:16 - Thus saith YAHWEH, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Jeremiah 6:17 - Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

Men and women around the world, hearken to the sound of the trumpet!

You seek knowledge in many things, but fail to seek wisdom!!

Yahweh knows most of you will not walk therein, and you will reject His law

Jeremiah 6:18 - Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

Jeremiah 6:19 - Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

Beware of any who profess wisdom, but reject the Torah/law... "our wisdom"

Such ones mold Yahweh into an image that they desire

So cast away the images and let Yahweh teach us the truth about Himself. He knows better than any man

Isaiah 8:20 - To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

A truly wise man (Solomon) wrote:

Ecclesiastes 3:14 - I know that, whatsoever Elohim doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and Elohim doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Indeed, His law was given so that we would fear Him. The kings of Israel were commanded to write a copy of the torah to keep with them:

Deuteronomy 17:18 - And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:

Deuteronomy 17:19 - And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear YAHWEH his Elohim, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:

But as we see in Solomon's example, there is more needed than just having wisdom.

Once we find wisdom, we must hear and do it.

James 1:22 - But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:23 - For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

James 1:24 - for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

James 1:25 - But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

John 8:31 - Then said Yahushua to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Verse 32 is often quoted, but without heeding the principle in verse 31, verse 32 will not come.

We must continue in His word so that we will know the truth, and then grow in wisdom. For that is the path of the just

Proverbs 4:18 - But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

If we do not obey the wisdom and truth given to us, of what use is more wisdom to us? It would only burden us greater. Many are weighted down for this reason

Psalms 50:16 - But unto the wicked Elohim saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

Psalms 50:17 - Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

Let's be the wise man! Who wants to be the wise man??!

Matthew 7:24 - Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Do you want to be the wise man? Then hear and heed the word of Yahweh!

So that when the rain comes...

Matthew 7:25 - And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Matthew 7:26 - And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Matthew 7:27 - And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The rain is coming soon brethren.

It may be that the same rain which drowns the world will fill the disciples with His Spirit

May Yahweh help us to be wise men and women that are built upon the ROCK

A war is on the horizon

We need to prepare for the days ahead, filling our minds with His wisdom, that we might have His word in our hearts even as they seek to take it from our hands

The Spiritual preparation is what we need to most focus on

As we gain wisdom, we will know how to wage the spiritual war

Let's take counsel together in His word

Let's reject the influences of this age

Proverbs 24:1 - Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

Proverbs 24:2 - For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Proverbs 24:3 - Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

Proverbs 24:4 - And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24:5 - A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

Proverbs 24:6 - For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.

Let's wage the war, let's overcome! Let not the ways of this world seduce us, nor let us envy the wicked.

Let's walk in the wisdom of Yahweh and seek the things which are eternal.

But wisdom is not the end-all

Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear Elohim, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

May we be found so doing.. all the days of our lives.

For again, it is written:

Ecclesiastes 12:12 - And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

and

Ecclesiastes 12:14 - For Elohim shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. .

May Yahweh fill us with His wisdom, the humility to know our limitations, and the strength to walk in what we have learned in Him

And may it be...

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of the Messiah dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with favor in your hearts to the Master.

Colossians 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Master Yahushua, giving thanks to YAHWEH the Father by him.

The riches of Yahweh await us, let's seek to be filled.

And may Yahweh bless you, and have mercy on us all!