May 16, 2023

The raging battle in our lives today is between what Yahweh says is truth [what is written in His Torah] and what most other voices and talking heads are proclaiming as self-appointed experts [educational institutions and main stream media types, and many religious voices, etc.]

Often the Bible’s message is referred to as “light” in darkness; darkness being, the worldliness and general anti-Christ attitude and pursuits of men… Yeshua referred to these last days as a time of coming darkness:

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” jn 9:4-5 nkjv

Yeshua is the example of the Torah’s light, since He is the “Word/Torah” that came in the flesh. jn 1:14 nkjv

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” jn 1:1-5 nkjv

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” 1Jn 4:4-6 nkjv

In the time of the Tabernacle and the Holy Temple, there was a command to keep the Menorah [lamp stand] lighted continuously; basically, it was the duty of the Priest to trim the lamp wicks and make sure sufficient oil was in the lamp reservoir… this was a “man duty,” requiring daily faithfulness and duty to fulfill the commandment of Yahweh. Lev 24:1-4 nkjv

So it is in our lives [and times], it is our “man duty” to keep the oil in our reservoirs and our “lamps” trimmed… that being having Yahweh’s Word in our hearts and minds [daily] and being yielded to the instruction of truth, which the Spirit of Truth always provides if we are faithful and obedient… after all, we are part of a holy priesthood, “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1pet 2:5 nkjv

Yeshua warned us in the parable of the ten virgins that running out of oil was a disaster… not only would darkness overcome us, but we would miss the coming of the bridegroom… Without the Spirit of Truth having “oil” to work with, we are in peril of the deceptions of the wicked one… the one who works in darkness to cause the spirit of error to ravage the ignorant and careless [Satan goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour]. 1Pet 5:8 nkjv

In second Thessalonians chapter 2, we are warned concerning not having a love of the truth [Yahweh’s Truth/Word], It is the same Truth Yeshua prayed Yahweh to sanctify us with [jn 17:17], It is the oil of our deliverance, it is the light that destroys darkness, it is the food our soul’s are refreshed and strengthened with… it will be the shelter of our lives in the days to come.

The important message is: just as Yahweh commanded the Priest to keep the Menorah light burning continuously, it is also Yahweh’s command that we are to obey in our lives today… The Tabernacle and Holy Temple lamp-stand [Menorah] was a “physical” object… As a, “ye are the light of the world,” born again believer, we have a Spiritual Menorah in our hearts. I would also add, as Yahweh created the relationship between light and darkness… light overcomes darkness, not the other way around. We live in terribly dark days that are getting more evil and treacherous daily… let us walk in the light of Yeshua, joyfully receiving the faithful truth He is always oiling our inner being with.

Shalom, John