The Narrow Gate by PJ
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "dedication" as: "an act or rite of dedicating to a divine being or to a sacred use; a devoting or setting aside for a particular purpose." This is what Chanukkah is about. It is a time of remembering the miracles of G-d and dedicating ourselves to serve Him.
It was at Chanukkah that Messiah Yeshua spoke of being the Light of the World. And Messiah Himself is the great Light that came into the darkness to bring us to salvation. He indeed is our Yeshua'ti.
Unfortunately not many today are dedicated to much. Many are walking in great deception. They have formed religious divisions, denominations, religions based on the doctrines of men. They have taken the Word of G-d and twisted it to conform to their philosophies, opinions and traditions. Sadly they've taken the Word of G-d and made it into false doctrine wrapped in religious terminology.
Colossians 2:8 warns us, "See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding (the teachings of) Christ (the Messiah)." This happens today in great numbers. ha'satan has moved in to sweep people into deception.
You can have all the head knowledge about the Bible there is but if you do not perceive and recognize and study lead by the Ruach Ha'Kodesh, the very Spirit of ADONAI, you will walk into deception. In that deception you will lose your ability to believe G-d's Word because you will have walked away from truth. You will suddenly begin to believe lies and then wind up lost, deceived and in great peril. Remember, the enemy's objective is to steal, kill, and destroy. When he has you isolated from the truth, you are without protection and you are surrounded by lies. The Word of G-d is truly the only Light that can expose the lies of the adversary. It is our defense.
Yeshua is recorded saying in Yochanan/John 14:6 "...I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me." Yeshua was revealing His embodiment of the entrances to the Kodesh Hakodashim / Holy of Holies. There is only ONE way to enter the Kodesh Hakodashim and that is by the entrance to the outer court of the Temple of YHVH called, "The Way"; the entrance to the inner court of the Temple of YHVH called, "The Truth"; and the entrance to the Kodesh Hakodashim of the Temple of YHVH called, "The Life."
It is recorded is Matit'yahu / Matthew 7:13-15, 21-23, "Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straightened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.
Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly (disregarding My commands)."
So what is the narrow gate? What is the straight way that leads to life? What makes it so difficult that few can find it?
It's walking in the Word of G-d. It's staying in the purity of the Word. It's believing the Word as it written. It's not questioning the integrity of G-d's Word.
It's difficult to stand on G-d's Word and believe Him when you are in the midst of sickness, crisis and spiritual warfare. Today, many people will criticize and mock when you do believe G-d's Word and stand on it.
You've heard these false prophets. They're the ones who say: "If it be G-d's will, I am sure you'll recover." "Well I don't believe G-d means that we are really healed by His stripes, I think He means that mankind or Judaism is healed." "G-d's Word does say "Thou shalt not lie." but...it's okay to lie to gentiles." But is this what the Word of G-d says?
Where do people get the idea that G-d was totally unable to say precisely and exactly what He meant in His Word? Is G-d so helpless to convey what He means to mankind that He needs men to interpret for Him? Where in that Word does He give us permission to just change it as we see fit to try to make it correspond with what is occurring in our lives? Where does He give us permission to re-define His Word as we want?
Religious observers can study their vain philosophies trying to figure out how to apply the Word of G-d. In fact, I've known some that have spent their entire lives trying to figure out how to apply G-d's Word and never did.
A person of faith will apply the Word realizing human knowledge will never be enough to bring G-d's Word to pass but also knowing faith in G-d to perform His Word is going to bring manifestation. The faith person doesn't require to know how G-d will do something. The faith person just believes G-d.
Do you realize you cannot keep the 10 commandments of the Torah nor the 2 commandments of the Brit Chadesh (New Covenant) without faith? How can you have faith if you don't believe G-d's Word which is the basic element of faith? It isn't by works that our salvation comes but by faith in G-d's Word.
This is the time to dedicate ourselves to G-d's Word, Messiah Yeshua. Let us immerse in the Word of G-d, speaking it, believing it and watching it manifest in ways that astonish the world so they can finally see Yeshua, the LIGHT of the World!
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