Men: What is Lust ?

Adultery of The Heart

Matthew 5:27-28 (NKJV)

You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Shalom To All My Friends and Family,

I wanted to share some things I have learned is aimed more towards men however does not exclude the women. This letter is not going to be very long but more just some bits and pieces put together.

This is something that I have wondered in my heart and mind over time. However, I returned to obedience in Yeshua Ha-Mashiach (Jesus Christ) and have been asked about by other friends who were men and coworkers about this issue and scripture.

One thing that the world is pushing towards us, in our hearts and minds, is to want more and more stuff that leads to immoral lifestyles. Everywhere you turn, we are being bombarded with magazines, movies, television, theaters, newspapers, and radio with every form of communication of what our lifestyle should look like to be happy. A major portion of this is also sexually driven: to be that guy or stud that is muscular, popular, or rich to attract and conquer whatever it is that drives that sexual desire.

So the question I have asked myself and have asked by others is; what is Lust and how do I not fall into sin of it?

So here is a standard definition of lust

lust noun \ˈləst\

: a strong feeling of sexual desire

: a strong desire for something

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lust

I read a commentary about what lust is and it is outside of this standard definition but I use it for my own definition:

Lust is wanting and yearning for something that is not allowed by the Father YHVH. 
Off limits of a sort or not appreciating the things you do have.

What I've learned about lust in my spiritual walk in Christ is this; when we allow our eyes and then our hearts  to yearn for desires of this world, that only lead to temporary satisfaction of pleasure, it becomes a way of life to us, to adapt and change our character so that we become that which it is. Meaning, we become what it is and it becomes us.

In  the past, I have allowed myself to become a person of lust by sexual pleasures with women. It controlled my innermost being and thoughts. In the end it did nothing but destroy me and cause damage to the women I was involved with. It was selfish and harsh. It ate away at my thoughts and my body; I was always seeking someone else and something more. This in turn is Idolatry! Jesus tells us to beware of these things. Job gave us a good view into his mind and heart in the scripture below, which I use as a definition of sorts as to what Jesus was stating.

Iyov - Job 31:1

I made a covenant with my eyes, and why should I gaze upon a virgin?

א. בְּרִית כָּרַתִּי לְעֵינָי וּמָה אֶתְבּוֹנֵן עַל בְּתוּלָה:

Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) commentary on this passage:(1040-1105 C.E.)

"I made a covenant with my eyes; not to gaze upon a married woman. Andwhy should I gaze upon a virgin? Why should I gaze upon her? Such was Job's piety, not to lay an eye or even on an unmarried woman. He would say; "Perhaps after a time, she will be married, and I will find myself attracted to her."

http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16433#showrashi=true&v=1

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/rashi.html

So, you see in the passage of Job with Rashi’s commentary, it is believed and understood that Job was clear in heart and mind not to sin, and that only YHVH would be able to examine. This is the same expectation for us. However, much more sin abounds today (even more so then during the time of the oldest book in the bible), but this is how it has been defeated by YHVH’s divine grace: Yeshua Ha-Mashiach (Jesus Christ) defeated sin on the cross at Calvary. So therefore, we don’t have to do it alone. And we no longer have to bring our sorrows to the alter only once a year (as in the old testament). The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that we don’t wrestle against  flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness, and against wicked things in high places.

http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-12.htm

These scriptures are a understanding of what is going on and how we are able to fight against these issues. I always tell people that the bible is a manual to life if used properly. So we can live properly before our father in heaven, and so we can also pray properly and cut through the wicked things in high places! This is very important!

I hope this letter to you is helpful and may the Shalom of the Father YHVH and His Son Yeshua Ha-Mashiach be upon you!

Please see the link to obtain salvation if you are wanting to know how to obtain salvation, it will be the best decision of your life. Time is short and now is the time to make that decision. We are also charged to pray for each other and to encourage one another as iron sharpens iron. If you would like to talk or would are in need of prayer, please feel free to call or email me at the contact information provided below.

Also, if you are in need of a bible, please let me know and I send one to you free of charge!

Ministry Update: I will be starting a men’s bible study group that is due to take place on Shabbat (Saturday mornings). Please stay tuned for more details on this.

Shalom

Isaac Grebin

Email Me: kakdad1@gmail.com
(305) 525-1928

The Catching Away; "Harpazo"

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

New International Version (NIV)

Believers Who Have Died

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The scripture above is one of the most important scriptures about the calling away of the saints commonly termed "Rapture."

Its obvious that calling up of those who believe in Jesus Christ and are ready in faith, use this as one of those particular scriptures to describe this future event. The word "Rapture" is an English word translated from the Greek that is used for this definition. See the link below

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G726&t=KJV

I've talked to many people about the Rapture and being ready for it. First of all, many people who are Christians or at least say that they are, have told me anything from yes I believe in the rapture but the scripture states" no man knows the day or the hour" to " we won't see that for years beyond our generations to come".

After talking with many other people of different faiths to no faiths about this, many believe that it could be a real event to other possible understandings of that scripture of an actual spiritual and bodily event. A true disappearing of sorts. Some people have relayed to me that it’s only a spiritual thing, not a bodily event. The important thing is to understand scripture as we can best we are able to, and let it do the explaining for the understanding.

Genesis 5:24

New King James Version (NKJV)

And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Bereshit 5:24  וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ חֲנֹוךְ אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִים וְאֵינֶנּוּ כִּֽי־לָקַח אֹתֹו אֱלֹהִֽים׃ פ

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=5&v=24&t=KJV#s=t_conc_5024

You see the scripture here indicates a faithful servant to God and abiding in him so God YHVH our Abba Father removed him from the earth as it was prior to the times of Noah which was to forth-coming.It was also understood as wicked people and a soon flood to canvas the earth. 

The reason I use this particular scripture is how much relation to our opening study of scripture . The only way you can truly understand the Harpazo, from the Greek root word for rapture and its definition is to understand how YHVH has done things in our past, to understand our future. 

The scripture in Genesis 5:24 was written in Hebrew and the word that was used here in Hebrew is the word "Laqach" or in the English it means "took". However I attached the Strong’s link to this word in the Hebrew and the intensity comes to life. It means " married to take a wife!"

לָקַח   

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3947&t=KJV

We are the Bride to Yeshua and our faith of scripture’s state in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 that we are to be taken up with him as our bride forever. The loud trumpet of the Father YHVH is the announcement of the marriage. Who would get married without an announcement ? Is God YHVH our Abba  father an exception?

Please also  know that I have read commentaries on the Genesis 5:24 from very well learned Rabbi scholars and they stated that Enoch Died. So who am I to say any different? I am boldly able to say different because of the fact that the Hebrew Scriptures prior to Enoch being with God YHVH all state a lineage of family lines including Enoch. All of those people who are named prior to Enoch states they died. It is very clear they made sure the reader knew they died. Enoch  is not the case. The writer being Moses, doesn't clearly state this and he wants us to know that Enoch was no more in a way that is very different then all others before and after him, in its true definition that of a marriage . 

Enoch and the Book of Enoch is also mention in Hebrews and Jude of the new testaments. These early believers in Yeshua were Jews , were well versed in the traditions and the writings of the Oral and written Laws of the Jews that make up Christianity today. The fact of Enoch and the Book of Enoch have verses that are used in other scriptures of the old testament which one of the reasons the Book was never cannoned for the Tanakh. The other reasons has to do with Enoch's prophecies that are very much in line with the New Testament. The mainstream Jews discards much of its writings, however , because its facts of Enoch cannot be discarded in the Old Testament. As a Jewish believer in Yeshua Ha-Mashiach it allows you the reader to do your own study into the truth. 

They shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free!  Amen!

It is important to draw close to God just as Enoch did so that you are ready for your eternal marriage that soon is to come, in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Time is at hand and we need to be clean and ready for the marriage.

I pray that this letter is a blessing to you in your Journey on the path with YHVH. Time grows near when these things that are written will come to pass. I pray that all of you grow closer to Yeshua and know him as your Lord and savoir. Those that do not know him and would like to be able to know him please see the link that guide you to a path of salvation. I’m also here to listen to you and pray with you on anything. we are charged to pray for each other  and encourage each other as iron sharpens iron  . please let me know if you need a bible.

May the peace of YHVH be with you 
Shalom and Marantha!