Messianic Truth
I’ve spoken numerous times over the years regarding the three foundational principles associated with revival, awakenings, outpourings!
As a Messianic Congregation, as Messianic Believers in the Kingdom of God it is our divine destiny to rise up and lead, not just our community, but to restore true messianic, biblical leadership back to the Gentile church! We are moving into our prophetic destiny to lead the body of Messiah into the Messianic Age as Isaiah prophesied almost 3,000 years ago! Today is the day! We’ve valiantly and I believe successfully striven to: 1.Return to the Word. 2. To unify. 3. And to move in the Dunamis power of the Ruach HaKodesh, to move in Supernatural signs and wonders! As we continue to press into the presence of Adonai and mature in these three areas, we must now begin the fourth and final phase. Through Biblical history we witness a powerful, profound predecessor to every radical move and out pouring of God upon Humanity. Let’s look at a few examples:
Exodus 2:23-25. Sometime during those many years the king of Egypt died, but the people of Isra'el still groaned under the yoke of slavery, and they cried out and their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov. 25 God saw the people of Isra'el, and God acknowledged them.
This is a profound, significant kingdom principle. We’d been cruelly and oppressively enslaved in Egypt for over 200 years. Adonai didn’t recognize, acknowledge, or regard us until we began to collectively, as the Kehillah, communally, cry out to Him in intercession, in pleading, in brokenness too Adonai for help, for redemption, For His will to come to pass! He did make Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a promise, but it wouldn’t come about until we earnestly, in unity began to seek Him in prayer and call out to Him for Help! And when we did He acknowledged us, He recognized, regarded, and perceived us and the situation we were in where upon He raised up Moshe and the Pesach Story is History! We are freed, redeemed, and given Torah at Mt Sinai 50 days after Pesach but only after intense, prayer, groaning, and crying out to him! Yet today it’s almost impossible to do this, to be of one voice, in one accord! Dogma, man made religion, and doctrine separates us from the absolute truth of Adonai and His Kingdom.
Here’s the major issue! This goes all the way back to Eve’s sin in Genesis 3 which is very tantalizing, there are many possibilities regarding why she sinned!! Eve’s version or description of Gods command is more stringent than the original command from God who said in Genesis 2: “You may freely eat from every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You are not to eat from it”. But Eve said to HaSatan in:
Genesis 3:3. but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, 'You are neither to eat from it nor touch it, or you will die.'"
Did Adam exaggerate the original command or was Eve playing it safe by adding more restrictions? Either way here’s the real issue at hand that’s still affecting Gods children 6,000 years later! Eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represents a seeking, a desire of knowledge apart from Adonai! Adam and Eve had direct access to the all-knowing Living God who would teach them the difference between good and evil as they walked with Him in the Garden. He would teach them everything they ever needed to know! The desire of HaSatan for them to eat from the forbidden tree was to get them to obtain knowledge outside of their relationship with God which allowed them to become their own judge of truth vice Adonai! Let that sink in for a moment! Knowledge outside the kingdom of Adonai is the source of demonic doctrines and lying spirits! This is the main foundational issue that’s been attacking the greater body of Messiah and continues to do so today! Where do we lose a majority of our believing children? College and University! People then become their own arbiter of truth which is dictated by manmade doctrines and religion not found in scripture, their own personal experiences, or worse yet their feelings.
I challenge everyone who hears this to look at and judge your own expression of worship, your beliefs, and your values and reconcile them to the word of God! How do they compare to the Kingdom of Adonai and His word. Is your life true to the word or is outside knowledge and practices part of your practices, rituals, and behaviors. If so then you are a captive. A familiar captivity is more comfortable than an unfamiliar truth and freedom! Let me say it again: A familiar captivity is more comfortable than an unfamiliar truth and freedom! This is why we, Israel experienced such great difficulty upon our release from slavery in Egypt which caused an entire generation to perish in the wilderness. The truth sets the captives free as Yeshua said. But if, as individuals, we are the arbiter of our own truth, when we hear or are exposed to the actual, absolute truth it’s rejected. Yeshua experienced it and we in the Messianic community experience this on a daily basis. Yeshua was teaching about His crucifixion as the living sacrifice and communion, of how we are partake of His sacrifice:
John 6:51-52. I am the living bread that has come down from heaven; if anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. Furthermore, the bread that I will give is my own flesh; and I will give it for the life of the world." 52 At this, the Judeans disputed with one another, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Yeshua is referencing fellowship/relationship offerings between you and Adonai found in Leviticus 7. The sacrifice had to be eaten! Yeshua is our sacrifice, we have to partake of it! Not actually eating His flesh as Yeshua explained in the Seder and is recorded in:
Luke 22:19-20. Also, taking a piece of matzah, he made the b'rakhah, broke it, gave it to them and said, "This is my body, which is being given for you; do this in memory of me." 20 He did the same with the cup after the meal, saying, "This cup is the New Covenant, ratified by my blood, which is being poured out for you.
And yet this revelation of Truth that Yeshua was giving isn’t received. This crowd of people in John 6 are following Yeshua the day after Yeshua took five loaves of barely bread, two fish, said the b'rakhah then fed 5,000 people with 12 baskets of collected leftovers! They were seeking more miraculous bread! Instead Yeshua tells them He is the living bread that has come down from heaven and anyone who partakes will live forever! Their response unfortunately was predictable:
John 6:60-66. On hearing it, many of his talmidim said, "This is a hard word—who can bear to listen to it?" 61 But Yeshua, aware that his talmidim were grumbling about this, said to them, "This is a trap for you? 62 Suppose you were to see the Son of Man going back up to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life, 64 yet some among you do not trust." (For Yeshua knew from the outset which ones would not trust him, also which one would betray him.) 65 "This," he said, "is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has made it possible for him." 66 From this time on, many of his talmidim turned back and no longer traveled around with him.
When Yeshua was on trial, Pilate, as was his custom, gave Judah a good gesture for Pesach! He gave the gathered crowd the names of two prisoners, one of which, according to their choice, would receive Pilates clemency. The two names he gave were Yeshua and Bar-Abba! Persuaded by the head cohanim, the crowd asked for Bar-Abba to be spared and for Yeshua to be crucified! They asked for Bar-Abba not because they loved him, they asked for Bar-Abba instead of Yeshua because they hated the truth! This passage in John chapter 6 is the perfect example of this! Yeshua is speaking to the religious Judeans who don’t comprehend the truth He is saying. Rather than seeking or asking for discernment and understanding of what Yeshua was saying, they reject Him saying it’s too hard of a word! A familiar captivity is more comfortable than an unfamiliar truth and freedom!
They were unable to receive the Truth! Many of His Talmidim turned away and no longer travelled with or followed Him! They’d seen and experienced the miraculous with Yeshua firsthand! They’d seen him bless 12 loaves of bread and two fish then feed 5,000 with 12 baskets of leftovers. In John 6:22 they knew there was only one boat and Yeshua didn’t get on it! Yet there he was in K'far-Nachum, (Capernaum) when they went in search of Him. Many of them had witnessed Yeshua heal the lame man at the pools of Bethsaida! Knowing He was the Messiah by His demonstration of the Power, yet they still turned away from Him! Yeshua said in
John 10:37-38. "If I am not doing deeds that reflect my Father's power, don't trust me.38 But if I am, then, even if you don't trust me, trust the deeds; so that you may understand once and for all that the Father is united with me, and I am united with the Father."
This is the same exact behavior we experience today in the Messianic Movement! Like Yeshua we are rejected for telling the truth! The religious of our day say Messianic Teachings are too hard of a word (I’ve actually been told this). Many reject the movement or won’t stay with us because it’s too hard a word and they turn away! Because they can’t or won’t receive the truth!!
Truth is defined as the body of real things, events, and facts, spiritual reality. The Living God of Israel is truth! By blood, mercy, and truth your sins are expiated. The Seal of God is truth. God acts truthfully in that He keeps His word. Truth in Hebrew is 'emet {eh'-meth} which means firmness, faithfulness, sureness, reliability, stability, continuance, and trustworthiness. It is truth as spoken, testimony and judgment, divine instruction, truth is a body of ethical, divine knowledge. The root word of Emet is 'aman {aw-man'} to support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, nourish, pillars, to be established, be faithful, make firm, sure, lasting, established, reliable, to be certain, to believe in. Amen is the root word of Amyn. So be it!
Truth is an unalterable, steadfast trust in the foundations of heaven. Yeshua’s coming was foretold through biblical truth which are known as Messianic Prophecies. That He would be of the Tribe of Judah, Born of a Virgin, come 483 years after the restoration of the Temple, be born in Bet Lechem, have a ministry of healing. Etc…. These scriptures and others are signs, indicators contained throughout scripture of God’s plan, what He is going to perform and carry out on earth. The supernatural truth of Prophecies is what separates us from all other religions- the oracles of God! The Bible of the God of Israel contain the prophetic truth of God’s kingdom that have been fulfilled, are being fulfilled, and will be fulfilled!
Without spiritual truth people succumb to knowledge outside the confines of God’s kingdom, Like Adam and Eve, the foundation of false doctrines and teachings. Without absolute truth people arbitrate their own personal truth so they remain unchanged, battling the same issues, are weak, are vulnerable to temptations and demonic influences day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year!
Living a Messianic lifestyle, an expression of trust and worship is never static or boring! We are constantly bombarded with contempt, derision, scorn, mocked, disdained, disrespected, rejected, even antagonized at times. I’ve shared this many times before, one isn’t on the cutting edge of what Adonai is doing if some Pharisees aren’t upset or offended. Second, when you confront idols, people become enraged, even violent when their idols are destroyed! I came across a quote recently that captured my eye and got my attention.
“To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus (Yeshua).” ― Charles H. Spurgeon
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been approached, and confronted over the years (sometimes with great rage) as to why we don’t convert and call ourselves Christians? Why don’t we conform to Church doctrine and theology! I’ve dialogued with many enraged, furious individuals and clergy who can’t comprehend why we won’t acquiesce, comply, conform to what everyone else is doing and be unified! Spurgeon’s quote directly speaks to this! I wish I’d known of this quote years ago!
Mount Sinai, where God met us (Israel) after the exodus from Egypt, was a portal between heaven and earth where heavenly truth was revealed through the Ten Commandments (not ten recommendations). These commands are the first fruits of God’s Torah, which defines His kingdom truth. Every person must live their life for God, letting the Ruach HaKodesh work and minister throughout every aspect of your life, circumcising your heart with the Truth of God’s word, which is universally the ultimate Truth! So many believers neglect to strengthen their spirit and soul through spiritual exercise thus becoming week, erratic, and not founded upon biblical truth. They are then unable to discern spiritual truth. Without spiritual truth people succumb to false doctrines, teachings, and do not have a biblical world view. Without absolute truth People remain unchanged and weak, battling the same temptations, weakness, demons, and shortcomings day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year!
II Peter 2:1. But among the people there were also false prophets, just as there will be false teachers among you. Under false pretenses they will introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and thus bring on themselves swift destruction.
Unfortunately, Truth tends to be a minority! There exists a multitude of false teachers, under false pretenses who have been introducing false heresies into the greater body for millennia and it’s getting worse. False Teachings and destructive heresies are so ingrained into our religion and American culture today that I hardly know where to begin. We are infected with false teachings in our society, culture, education system both public school and collegiate curriculum, in religion, in our government, in our justice system, it’s prevalent in our media, widespread, intertwined throughout our social media! Yeshua tells us in John 8:44 that HaSatan is the author and inventor of all lies, all falsehoods. False Teaching is any idea that adds to, takes away from, contradicts, or nullifies the truth of God’s Word. HaSatan works overtime to destroy the truth that sets captives free and unifies the body! Adonai has given to us His Word, His Son Yeshua, and the Ruach HaKodesh the Holy Spirit so that we may be ground in truth and be as one, echad with those that do so. The destructive and deceitful nature of false teaching is devastating upon our nation.
We are told, even commanded to not acclimate to the ways of the world! To separate ourselves from what is unclean and not of God! Yeshua warned us to be careful of the hypocritical teachers, pastors, reverends, clergy, those who appear to speak and teach the Word of God, who look great on the outside but:
Matthew 23:27-28. "Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P'rushim! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look fine on the outside but inside are full of dead people's bones and all kinds of rottenness. 28 Likewise, you appear to people from the outside to be good and honest, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and far from Torah (anomia {an-om-ee'-ah}: Without Torah, violate Torah, transgress Torah, unrighteousness).
This Greek word, Anomia surfaces throughout scripture, without Torah! We must humbles ourselves, submit to the authority and word of God, and stand upon absolute truth in order to be unified with those who do the same! Unity at the expense of truth is treason to Yeshua! How can we say this? Yeshua’s own words from the sermon on the mount in:
Matthew 5:17-19. "Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete (pleroo {play-ro'-o}: to make full, to complete, to carry into effect, bring to realization, to perform, to execute). 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah -- not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
By using the phrase “least in the kingdom of heaven” Yeshua is revealing that there are different levels of honor, levels, or positions in the kingdom of heaven. The criteria used for assigning levels or positions is based on the teaching and handling of God’s Word. Those who receive God’s Word, submitted to it, obey it, observe it, and teach others to do so will be called “great in the Kingdom of Heaven”. But those who rejected parts of God’s Word, those who cherry pick the word, those who proclaim half the bible is done away with and teach others the same shall be called “least in the Kingdom of Heaven”. In Ezekiel 44 Adonai states that the Levites who went astray, apostatized, assimilated away from Him and led Israel astray will still minister in His sanctuary but can’t minister before Him in His presence, they are least in the Kingdom of Heaven!!
Unity doesn’t mean following and submitting to practices, rituals, celebrations, and traditions that are not from God, not commanded by God, not blessed by God, and not found in God’s word. This is extremely difficult for people to wrap their minds around because they’re not in the word!
Deuteronomy 12:32. "Everything I am commanding you, you are to take care to do. Do not add to it or subtract from it.
Unity means abiding with people who honor and minister to God according to His instructions, His commands! Who live God’s ordained lifestyle as recorded in His word. God commands us to not align ourselves with anything outside of scripture or that are practiced by the nations! Our foundation must be one of scriptural truth! What is truth? Truth is defined as the body of real things, events, and facts, spiritual reality. The Living God of Israel is truth! By the blood of Yeshua sins are expiated, washed away to be known no more-that’s absolute truth! The Seal of God is truth. God acts truthfully in that He keeps His word.
HaSatan works overtime to destroy the truth that sets captives free and unifies the body! Adonai has given to us His Word, His Son Yeshua, and the Ruach HaKodesh the Holy Spirit so that we may be grounded in truth and be as one, echad with those that do so. The destructive and deceitful nature of false teaching is devastating upon the greater body of Messiah and our nation. This is why we must have great discernment and not be in unity with untruths!
I John 5:20-21. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment, so that we may know who is genuine; moreover, we are united with the One who is genuine, united with his Son Yeshua the Messiah. He is the genuine God and eternal life. 21 Children, guard yourselves against false gods!
Yeshua gave us discernment, to know what is genuine as we are united with the One Who Is genuine. Therefore, we are to GUARD ourselves against false gods, falsehoods, and deceptions! We must walk in the Messianic Truth of Yeshua! As I’ve previously shared, we’ve been given a special, divine anointing to do this! The Messianic Anointing, a special, unique, anointing that’s necessary for the indwelling of His presence that keeps us rooted in truth.
I John 2:27. As for you, the Messianic anointing you received from the Father remains in you, so that you have no need for anyone to teach you. On the contrary, as his Messianic anointing continues to teach you about all things, and is true, not a counterfeit, so, just as he taught you, remain united with him.
I was intrigued by Dr. David Stern’s Complete Jewish Bible Translations use of the term “Messianic Anointing”. I looked this passage up in other translations. An overwhelming majority of translations used anointing; a very few translations used Holy Spirit. I looked up the Greek term translated “Messianic Anointing” and here it is:
Chrisma: That believers have “an anointing from the Holy One” indicates that this anointing renders them holy, separating them to God. A special endowment! A manifestation of Yeshua, Mashiach within you! This passage teaches that the gift of the Holy Spirit is the all efficient means of enabling believers to possess a knowledge of the truth, the Messianic Truth. It’s the root word for Charisma which is a compelling attractiveness that can inspire devotion in others, a divinely conferred power or talent.
Rabbi Dr. David Stern accurately captured the intent of the writer, John who also authored the Gospel of John. Yochanan, John who is Jewish was writing to the young Messianic communities and Messianic Jews almost 2,000 years ago!! The book of I John was written in Ephesus around 95-110 A.D. by an aged, wise, and mature John urging Messianic Followers to guard against and reject false teachings and theologies while encouraging them in their trust, their faith! The letters of Yochanan, John reveal how Gods word must always be the litmus test of all teaching and all behavior, emphasizing love, trust, and obedience in our daily lives and in our expression of worship. This special anointing, the Chrisma draws people to us, like a moth to the light! To the Messianic Truth!
The biblical month of Elul begins at sunset, Thursday, August 13th, 2026. The 1st of Elul begins a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holy Days! It marks 30 days until Yom Teruah and 40 days till Yom Kippur. Elul is seen as a time to search one's heart and draw close to God in preparation for the coming Day of Judgement when the Sefer HaChaim, the Book of Life is opened on Yom Kippur, The Day of purging. The month of Elul is likened to a king visiting his subjects in the field before returning to his palace.
The prophet Jeremiah is a holy Set Up for this time of Elul prayer and repentance! Things were as bleak in Jeremiah’s’ time as they are for us today! What we learn from Jeremiah is that it didn’t have to be the way it ended! This profoundly parallels the messianic Truth!:
Jeremiah 23:1-4. “Oh no! The shepherds are destroying and scattering the sheep in my pasture!" says ADONAI. 2 Therefore this is what ADONAI, the God of Isra'el, says against the shepherds who shepherd my people: "You have scattered my flock, driven them away and not taken care of them. So I will 'take care of' you because of your evil deeds," says ADONAI. 3 "I myself will gather what remains of my flock from all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their homes, and they will be fruitful and increase their numbers. 4 I will appoint shepherds over them who will shepherd them; then they will no longer be afraid or disgraced; and none will be missing," says ADONAI.
We are in the great apostasy-much of the greater body looks like the world! Then he states:
Jeremiah 23:16-18. ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: "Don't listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are making you act foolishly, telling you visions from their own minds and not from the mouth of ADONAI. 17 They keep reassuring those who despise me, ‘ADONAI says you will be safe and secure,' and saying to all living by their own stubborn hearts, 'Nothing bad will happen to you.' 18 But which of them has been present at the council of ADONAI to see and hear his word? Who has paid attention to his word enough to hear it?"
These verses accurately reveal our own situation today!! Our own shepherds have scattered the sheep with lying spirits and doctrines of demons! Manmade religion that espouses and even accepts the immoral culture they live in! Almost every denomination has split over the LGBQT false narrative, same sex marriage, BLM, and wokeism. The greater body is overwhelmed with false prophets who are not hearing or speaking the voice of Adonai! They speak their own words and proclaim dreams that aren’t from Adonai and don’t come to pass! Again, the have become the arbiter of their own truth. The greater body is in apostasy like Judah was back in Jeremiah’s day.
It’s such a sad story that didn’t have to be!! Judah was given a choice to serve and obey Adonai and His Torah or not! Their negative answer of course resulted in their demise and destruction! They tried to kill Jeremiah for speaking truth and just as they tried to kill Yeshua for speaking truth! The cancel culture today is doing everything in its power to silence the voice of truth, the word of Adonai! An evil and wicked generation hates the light and rejects all truth! We are at a similar crossroads! We too have a choice! Will we intercede, repent, and pray for this nation to turn back to Adonai? Or remain apathetic and complacent until our nation is judged and destroyed! Don’t take someone else’s word about it, read the bible for yourself!
Blessings and Shalom, Rabbi Eric S Carlson
- Return to the Word.
- A desire to unify occurs.
- 3. The return of Supernatural signs and wonders, dunamis power!
As a Messianic Congregation, as Messianic Believers in the Kingdom of God it is our divine destiny to rise up and lead, not just our community, but to restore true messianic, biblical leadership back to the Gentile church! We are moving into our prophetic destiny to lead the body of Messiah into the Messianic Age as Isaiah prophesied almost 3,000 years ago! Today is the day! We’ve valiantly and I believe successfully striven to: 1.Return to the Word. 2. To unify. 3. And to move in the Dunamis power of the Ruach HaKodesh, to move in Supernatural signs and wonders! As we continue to press into the presence of Adonai and mature in these three areas, we must now begin the fourth and final phase. Through Biblical history we witness a powerful, profound predecessor to every radical move and out pouring of God upon Humanity. Let’s look at a few examples:
Exodus 2:23-25. Sometime during those many years the king of Egypt died, but the people of Isra'el still groaned under the yoke of slavery, and they cried out and their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov. 25 God saw the people of Isra'el, and God acknowledged them.
This is a profound, significant kingdom principle. We’d been cruelly and oppressively enslaved in Egypt for over 200 years. Adonai didn’t recognize, acknowledge, or regard us until we began to collectively, as the Kehillah, communally, cry out to Him in intercession, in pleading, in brokenness too Adonai for help, for redemption, For His will to come to pass! He did make Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a promise, but it wouldn’t come about until we earnestly, in unity began to seek Him in prayer and call out to Him for Help! And when we did He acknowledged us, He recognized, regarded, and perceived us and the situation we were in where upon He raised up Moshe and the Pesach Story is History! We are freed, redeemed, and given Torah at Mt Sinai 50 days after Pesach but only after intense, prayer, groaning, and crying out to him! Yet today it’s almost impossible to do this, to be of one voice, in one accord! Dogma, man made religion, and doctrine separates us from the absolute truth of Adonai and His Kingdom.
Here’s the major issue! This goes all the way back to Eve’s sin in Genesis 3 which is very tantalizing, there are many possibilities regarding why she sinned!! Eve’s version or description of Gods command is more stringent than the original command from God who said in Genesis 2: “You may freely eat from every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You are not to eat from it”. But Eve said to HaSatan in:
Genesis 3:3. but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, 'You are neither to eat from it nor touch it, or you will die.'"
Did Adam exaggerate the original command or was Eve playing it safe by adding more restrictions? Either way here’s the real issue at hand that’s still affecting Gods children 6,000 years later! Eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represents a seeking, a desire of knowledge apart from Adonai! Adam and Eve had direct access to the all-knowing Living God who would teach them the difference between good and evil as they walked with Him in the Garden. He would teach them everything they ever needed to know! The desire of HaSatan for them to eat from the forbidden tree was to get them to obtain knowledge outside of their relationship with God which allowed them to become their own judge of truth vice Adonai! Let that sink in for a moment! Knowledge outside the kingdom of Adonai is the source of demonic doctrines and lying spirits! This is the main foundational issue that’s been attacking the greater body of Messiah and continues to do so today! Where do we lose a majority of our believing children? College and University! People then become their own arbiter of truth which is dictated by manmade doctrines and religion not found in scripture, their own personal experiences, or worse yet their feelings.
I challenge everyone who hears this to look at and judge your own expression of worship, your beliefs, and your values and reconcile them to the word of God! How do they compare to the Kingdom of Adonai and His word. Is your life true to the word or is outside knowledge and practices part of your practices, rituals, and behaviors. If so then you are a captive. A familiar captivity is more comfortable than an unfamiliar truth and freedom! Let me say it again: A familiar captivity is more comfortable than an unfamiliar truth and freedom! This is why we, Israel experienced such great difficulty upon our release from slavery in Egypt which caused an entire generation to perish in the wilderness. The truth sets the captives free as Yeshua said. But if, as individuals, we are the arbiter of our own truth, when we hear or are exposed to the actual, absolute truth it’s rejected. Yeshua experienced it and we in the Messianic community experience this on a daily basis. Yeshua was teaching about His crucifixion as the living sacrifice and communion, of how we are partake of His sacrifice:
John 6:51-52. I am the living bread that has come down from heaven; if anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. Furthermore, the bread that I will give is my own flesh; and I will give it for the life of the world." 52 At this, the Judeans disputed with one another, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Yeshua is referencing fellowship/relationship offerings between you and Adonai found in Leviticus 7. The sacrifice had to be eaten! Yeshua is our sacrifice, we have to partake of it! Not actually eating His flesh as Yeshua explained in the Seder and is recorded in:
Luke 22:19-20. Also, taking a piece of matzah, he made the b'rakhah, broke it, gave it to them and said, "This is my body, which is being given for you; do this in memory of me." 20 He did the same with the cup after the meal, saying, "This cup is the New Covenant, ratified by my blood, which is being poured out for you.
And yet this revelation of Truth that Yeshua was giving isn’t received. This crowd of people in John 6 are following Yeshua the day after Yeshua took five loaves of barely bread, two fish, said the b'rakhah then fed 5,000 people with 12 baskets of collected leftovers! They were seeking more miraculous bread! Instead Yeshua tells them He is the living bread that has come down from heaven and anyone who partakes will live forever! Their response unfortunately was predictable:
John 6:60-66. On hearing it, many of his talmidim said, "This is a hard word—who can bear to listen to it?" 61 But Yeshua, aware that his talmidim were grumbling about this, said to them, "This is a trap for you? 62 Suppose you were to see the Son of Man going back up to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life, 64 yet some among you do not trust." (For Yeshua knew from the outset which ones would not trust him, also which one would betray him.) 65 "This," he said, "is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has made it possible for him." 66 From this time on, many of his talmidim turned back and no longer traveled around with him.
When Yeshua was on trial, Pilate, as was his custom, gave Judah a good gesture for Pesach! He gave the gathered crowd the names of two prisoners, one of which, according to their choice, would receive Pilates clemency. The two names he gave were Yeshua and Bar-Abba! Persuaded by the head cohanim, the crowd asked for Bar-Abba to be spared and for Yeshua to be crucified! They asked for Bar-Abba not because they loved him, they asked for Bar-Abba instead of Yeshua because they hated the truth! This passage in John chapter 6 is the perfect example of this! Yeshua is speaking to the religious Judeans who don’t comprehend the truth He is saying. Rather than seeking or asking for discernment and understanding of what Yeshua was saying, they reject Him saying it’s too hard of a word! A familiar captivity is more comfortable than an unfamiliar truth and freedom!
They were unable to receive the Truth! Many of His Talmidim turned away and no longer travelled with or followed Him! They’d seen and experienced the miraculous with Yeshua firsthand! They’d seen him bless 12 loaves of bread and two fish then feed 5,000 with 12 baskets of leftovers. In John 6:22 they knew there was only one boat and Yeshua didn’t get on it! Yet there he was in K'far-Nachum, (Capernaum) when they went in search of Him. Many of them had witnessed Yeshua heal the lame man at the pools of Bethsaida! Knowing He was the Messiah by His demonstration of the Power, yet they still turned away from Him! Yeshua said in
John 10:37-38. "If I am not doing deeds that reflect my Father's power, don't trust me.38 But if I am, then, even if you don't trust me, trust the deeds; so that you may understand once and for all that the Father is united with me, and I am united with the Father."
This is the same exact behavior we experience today in the Messianic Movement! Like Yeshua we are rejected for telling the truth! The religious of our day say Messianic Teachings are too hard of a word (I’ve actually been told this). Many reject the movement or won’t stay with us because it’s too hard a word and they turn away! Because they can’t or won’t receive the truth!!
Truth is defined as the body of real things, events, and facts, spiritual reality. The Living God of Israel is truth! By blood, mercy, and truth your sins are expiated. The Seal of God is truth. God acts truthfully in that He keeps His word. Truth in Hebrew is 'emet {eh'-meth} which means firmness, faithfulness, sureness, reliability, stability, continuance, and trustworthiness. It is truth as spoken, testimony and judgment, divine instruction, truth is a body of ethical, divine knowledge. The root word of Emet is 'aman {aw-man'} to support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, nourish, pillars, to be established, be faithful, make firm, sure, lasting, established, reliable, to be certain, to believe in. Amen is the root word of Amyn. So be it!
Truth is an unalterable, steadfast trust in the foundations of heaven. Yeshua’s coming was foretold through biblical truth which are known as Messianic Prophecies. That He would be of the Tribe of Judah, Born of a Virgin, come 483 years after the restoration of the Temple, be born in Bet Lechem, have a ministry of healing. Etc…. These scriptures and others are signs, indicators contained throughout scripture of God’s plan, what He is going to perform and carry out on earth. The supernatural truth of Prophecies is what separates us from all other religions- the oracles of God! The Bible of the God of Israel contain the prophetic truth of God’s kingdom that have been fulfilled, are being fulfilled, and will be fulfilled!
Without spiritual truth people succumb to knowledge outside the confines of God’s kingdom, Like Adam and Eve, the foundation of false doctrines and teachings. Without absolute truth people arbitrate their own personal truth so they remain unchanged, battling the same issues, are weak, are vulnerable to temptations and demonic influences day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year!
Living a Messianic lifestyle, an expression of trust and worship is never static or boring! We are constantly bombarded with contempt, derision, scorn, mocked, disdained, disrespected, rejected, even antagonized at times. I’ve shared this many times before, one isn’t on the cutting edge of what Adonai is doing if some Pharisees aren’t upset or offended. Second, when you confront idols, people become enraged, even violent when their idols are destroyed! I came across a quote recently that captured my eye and got my attention.
“To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus (Yeshua).” ― Charles H. Spurgeon
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been approached, and confronted over the years (sometimes with great rage) as to why we don’t convert and call ourselves Christians? Why don’t we conform to Church doctrine and theology! I’ve dialogued with many enraged, furious individuals and clergy who can’t comprehend why we won’t acquiesce, comply, conform to what everyone else is doing and be unified! Spurgeon’s quote directly speaks to this! I wish I’d known of this quote years ago!
Mount Sinai, where God met us (Israel) after the exodus from Egypt, was a portal between heaven and earth where heavenly truth was revealed through the Ten Commandments (not ten recommendations). These commands are the first fruits of God’s Torah, which defines His kingdom truth. Every person must live their life for God, letting the Ruach HaKodesh work and minister throughout every aspect of your life, circumcising your heart with the Truth of God’s word, which is universally the ultimate Truth! So many believers neglect to strengthen their spirit and soul through spiritual exercise thus becoming week, erratic, and not founded upon biblical truth. They are then unable to discern spiritual truth. Without spiritual truth people succumb to false doctrines, teachings, and do not have a biblical world view. Without absolute truth People remain unchanged and weak, battling the same temptations, weakness, demons, and shortcomings day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year!
II Peter 2:1. But among the people there were also false prophets, just as there will be false teachers among you. Under false pretenses they will introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and thus bring on themselves swift destruction.
Unfortunately, Truth tends to be a minority! There exists a multitude of false teachers, under false pretenses who have been introducing false heresies into the greater body for millennia and it’s getting worse. False Teachings and destructive heresies are so ingrained into our religion and American culture today that I hardly know where to begin. We are infected with false teachings in our society, culture, education system both public school and collegiate curriculum, in religion, in our government, in our justice system, it’s prevalent in our media, widespread, intertwined throughout our social media! Yeshua tells us in John 8:44 that HaSatan is the author and inventor of all lies, all falsehoods. False Teaching is any idea that adds to, takes away from, contradicts, or nullifies the truth of God’s Word. HaSatan works overtime to destroy the truth that sets captives free and unifies the body! Adonai has given to us His Word, His Son Yeshua, and the Ruach HaKodesh the Holy Spirit so that we may be ground in truth and be as one, echad with those that do so. The destructive and deceitful nature of false teaching is devastating upon our nation.
We are told, even commanded to not acclimate to the ways of the world! To separate ourselves from what is unclean and not of God! Yeshua warned us to be careful of the hypocritical teachers, pastors, reverends, clergy, those who appear to speak and teach the Word of God, who look great on the outside but:
Matthew 23:27-28. "Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P'rushim! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look fine on the outside but inside are full of dead people's bones and all kinds of rottenness. 28 Likewise, you appear to people from the outside to be good and honest, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and far from Torah (anomia {an-om-ee'-ah}: Without Torah, violate Torah, transgress Torah, unrighteousness).
This Greek word, Anomia surfaces throughout scripture, without Torah! We must humbles ourselves, submit to the authority and word of God, and stand upon absolute truth in order to be unified with those who do the same! Unity at the expense of truth is treason to Yeshua! How can we say this? Yeshua’s own words from the sermon on the mount in:
Matthew 5:17-19. "Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete (pleroo {play-ro'-o}: to make full, to complete, to carry into effect, bring to realization, to perform, to execute). 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah -- not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
By using the phrase “least in the kingdom of heaven” Yeshua is revealing that there are different levels of honor, levels, or positions in the kingdom of heaven. The criteria used for assigning levels or positions is based on the teaching and handling of God’s Word. Those who receive God’s Word, submitted to it, obey it, observe it, and teach others to do so will be called “great in the Kingdom of Heaven”. But those who rejected parts of God’s Word, those who cherry pick the word, those who proclaim half the bible is done away with and teach others the same shall be called “least in the Kingdom of Heaven”. In Ezekiel 44 Adonai states that the Levites who went astray, apostatized, assimilated away from Him and led Israel astray will still minister in His sanctuary but can’t minister before Him in His presence, they are least in the Kingdom of Heaven!!
Unity doesn’t mean following and submitting to practices, rituals, celebrations, and traditions that are not from God, not commanded by God, not blessed by God, and not found in God’s word. This is extremely difficult for people to wrap their minds around because they’re not in the word!
Deuteronomy 12:32. "Everything I am commanding you, you are to take care to do. Do not add to it or subtract from it.
Unity means abiding with people who honor and minister to God according to His instructions, His commands! Who live God’s ordained lifestyle as recorded in His word. God commands us to not align ourselves with anything outside of scripture or that are practiced by the nations! Our foundation must be one of scriptural truth! What is truth? Truth is defined as the body of real things, events, and facts, spiritual reality. The Living God of Israel is truth! By the blood of Yeshua sins are expiated, washed away to be known no more-that’s absolute truth! The Seal of God is truth. God acts truthfully in that He keeps His word.
HaSatan works overtime to destroy the truth that sets captives free and unifies the body! Adonai has given to us His Word, His Son Yeshua, and the Ruach HaKodesh the Holy Spirit so that we may be grounded in truth and be as one, echad with those that do so. The destructive and deceitful nature of false teaching is devastating upon the greater body of Messiah and our nation. This is why we must have great discernment and not be in unity with untruths!
I John 5:20-21. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment, so that we may know who is genuine; moreover, we are united with the One who is genuine, united with his Son Yeshua the Messiah. He is the genuine God and eternal life. 21 Children, guard yourselves against false gods!
Yeshua gave us discernment, to know what is genuine as we are united with the One Who Is genuine. Therefore, we are to GUARD ourselves against false gods, falsehoods, and deceptions! We must walk in the Messianic Truth of Yeshua! As I’ve previously shared, we’ve been given a special, divine anointing to do this! The Messianic Anointing, a special, unique, anointing that’s necessary for the indwelling of His presence that keeps us rooted in truth.
I John 2:27. As for you, the Messianic anointing you received from the Father remains in you, so that you have no need for anyone to teach you. On the contrary, as his Messianic anointing continues to teach you about all things, and is true, not a counterfeit, so, just as he taught you, remain united with him.
I was intrigued by Dr. David Stern’s Complete Jewish Bible Translations use of the term “Messianic Anointing”. I looked this passage up in other translations. An overwhelming majority of translations used anointing; a very few translations used Holy Spirit. I looked up the Greek term translated “Messianic Anointing” and here it is:
Chrisma: That believers have “an anointing from the Holy One” indicates that this anointing renders them holy, separating them to God. A special endowment! A manifestation of Yeshua, Mashiach within you! This passage teaches that the gift of the Holy Spirit is the all efficient means of enabling believers to possess a knowledge of the truth, the Messianic Truth. It’s the root word for Charisma which is a compelling attractiveness that can inspire devotion in others, a divinely conferred power or talent.
Rabbi Dr. David Stern accurately captured the intent of the writer, John who also authored the Gospel of John. Yochanan, John who is Jewish was writing to the young Messianic communities and Messianic Jews almost 2,000 years ago!! The book of I John was written in Ephesus around 95-110 A.D. by an aged, wise, and mature John urging Messianic Followers to guard against and reject false teachings and theologies while encouraging them in their trust, their faith! The letters of Yochanan, John reveal how Gods word must always be the litmus test of all teaching and all behavior, emphasizing love, trust, and obedience in our daily lives and in our expression of worship. This special anointing, the Chrisma draws people to us, like a moth to the light! To the Messianic Truth!
The biblical month of Elul begins at sunset, Thursday, August 13th, 2026. The 1st of Elul begins a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holy Days! It marks 30 days until Yom Teruah and 40 days till Yom Kippur. Elul is seen as a time to search one's heart and draw close to God in preparation for the coming Day of Judgement when the Sefer HaChaim, the Book of Life is opened on Yom Kippur, The Day of purging. The month of Elul is likened to a king visiting his subjects in the field before returning to his palace.
The prophet Jeremiah is a holy Set Up for this time of Elul prayer and repentance! Things were as bleak in Jeremiah’s’ time as they are for us today! What we learn from Jeremiah is that it didn’t have to be the way it ended! This profoundly parallels the messianic Truth!:
Jeremiah 23:1-4. “Oh no! The shepherds are destroying and scattering the sheep in my pasture!" says ADONAI. 2 Therefore this is what ADONAI, the God of Isra'el, says against the shepherds who shepherd my people: "You have scattered my flock, driven them away and not taken care of them. So I will 'take care of' you because of your evil deeds," says ADONAI. 3 "I myself will gather what remains of my flock from all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their homes, and they will be fruitful and increase their numbers. 4 I will appoint shepherds over them who will shepherd them; then they will no longer be afraid or disgraced; and none will be missing," says ADONAI.
We are in the great apostasy-much of the greater body looks like the world! Then he states:
Jeremiah 23:16-18. ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: "Don't listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are making you act foolishly, telling you visions from their own minds and not from the mouth of ADONAI. 17 They keep reassuring those who despise me, ‘ADONAI says you will be safe and secure,' and saying to all living by their own stubborn hearts, 'Nothing bad will happen to you.' 18 But which of them has been present at the council of ADONAI to see and hear his word? Who has paid attention to his word enough to hear it?"
These verses accurately reveal our own situation today!! Our own shepherds have scattered the sheep with lying spirits and doctrines of demons! Manmade religion that espouses and even accepts the immoral culture they live in! Almost every denomination has split over the LGBQT false narrative, same sex marriage, BLM, and wokeism. The greater body is overwhelmed with false prophets who are not hearing or speaking the voice of Adonai! They speak their own words and proclaim dreams that aren’t from Adonai and don’t come to pass! Again, the have become the arbiter of their own truth. The greater body is in apostasy like Judah was back in Jeremiah’s day.
It’s such a sad story that didn’t have to be!! Judah was given a choice to serve and obey Adonai and His Torah or not! Their negative answer of course resulted in their demise and destruction! They tried to kill Jeremiah for speaking truth and just as they tried to kill Yeshua for speaking truth! The cancel culture today is doing everything in its power to silence the voice of truth, the word of Adonai! An evil and wicked generation hates the light and rejects all truth! We are at a similar crossroads! We too have a choice! Will we intercede, repent, and pray for this nation to turn back to Adonai? Or remain apathetic and complacent until our nation is judged and destroyed! Don’t take someone else’s word about it, read the bible for yourself!
Blessings and Shalom, Rabbi Eric S Carlson
Posted in August 2026
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