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 Mr Dennis Whited of the ‘Lewiston Berean Fellowship’ has kindly given permission to
post his Articles and Scripture Studies on our site, along with Poems by Rebbeca Whited.
 We greatly appreciate the Whiteds dedication to the edifying of the Body of Messiah.

                                                     “The Little Things”

 When  you hear these  words,  what  comes to your mind?  Little  people…little towns…it could  be  referring
 to  many  different little things! 

 I would  like  to  focus this study  paper on the  ‘little things’  that  a husband  may do for  his wife…or  the
 little  things  that  a wife may  do  for her  husband…the small, little things that family members  may do for
 each  other…or  the small, insignificant  things  that  we  do  for each other  in  our spiritual  families…the  little
 things  that  we  may do in our  neighborhoods…or  in  our communities!

 A lot  of  little  things  will  add up over time…and maybe, just maybe, they will add  up  to  make  something
 big.  Does  that  make  sense to you? In marriage,  what  positive  ‘little things’  can we do to make it grow
 healthier every  single  day? 

  1 Pet 3:7-8
 7 Likewise,  you husbands,  dwell with them according  to  knowledge,  giving  honor
 (dignity, respect) unto the  wife, as unto the  weaker  vessel, and  as  being heirs  together  of 
 the grace  of  life; that your prayers  be  not hindered. (KJV)
 8 Finally,  all of you, live in harmony  with  one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers,
 be  compassionate and  humble. (NIV)

 8 Finally, all  of  you be of one  mind, having compassion for  one another; love as brothers,
 be  tenderhearted,  be  courteous; (NKJ)

 From  the above  scriptures, some of the  small things that we need to be doing  are; (1) showing respect
 (2) being  of  one mind (3) having compassion and  love  for each other (4) being  courteous (5) and
  having humility.

 I heard  an  interesting sermon concerning marriage years  ago,  the individual I  can’t name,  but a  certain
 part  of  what  he  said  is  still in my memory banks. This is proof  that  what  we  say does leave  a lasting
 impression! Anyway,  this  person  stated  that  our marriage covenant is like a  bank  account…it  has
 deposits…and  it  has withdrawals.

 Let me ask  you a  simple  question…which  would you  prefer  to  have  more  of? Deposits?  Withdrawals?
 Deposits  of  course, and  with  interest! Agreed!

 Everything  that  we  do  or  say within a  marriage, is either a  deposit or withdrawal! 

 Our marriage accounts need to be ever growing, never  diminishing in any  way! 

 The following  is  not a  book  in  the Scriptures…but if I  had written  one,  what  the following  states  would
 have  been  a major  theme I’m  quite sure of!

  Should-do  4:3-4
 3 Husbands  and wives, please don’t  criticize one  another,  but instead  tell  each  other
 every day, more than once if possible,  but at least  once, that you  LOVE  each  other. 
 4   Do  kind  things  for each other, you  husbands, open doors  for your weaker vessel,  and you  wives, 
 make  good  things  for our  stomach’s sake,  and we need help with our  appearance, our  wardrobe  is  in
 your  hands!

 The same goes for  our physical and  spiritual families.  We  need  to  be  doing a  lot of small  things  for each
 other,  and again, hopefully, they will all  add up to much larger things! 

 In  our society  today,  ‘self- esteem’  is  emphasized  in  just  about everything,  and I  agree that we must ‘like
 ourselves,  and feel good about  ourselves’…to some degree…but I  feel  that  this  attitude  has gone off  the
 deep  end!  In  Greek,  the word “I”  is  ego,  isn’t that interesting? The  word  “esteem”  can mean glory. Let
 me  ask you…Do we want self-glory?  Do  we  want  or  need  the “I,  ME, MY”  attitude? Is it scriptural? 

 Phil 2:3-4
 3 Let nothing  be  done  through strife or vain glory; but  in  lowliness of mind let  each
 esteem (i.e. consider,  think of) others  better  than  themselves. (KJV)
 4 Each  of  you should look not  only  to  your  own interests, but  also  to  the interests  of
 others. (NIV)

  “vainglory” ~ 2754 ~ kenodoxia-  (Thayer’s)

 1) vain glory, groundless self,  empty pride, esteem.
 2) a  vain  opinion,  error.

 “I”~ 1473 ~ ego- (Thayer’s)
   I,  me, my!!!

  We should not  want  to  be  ‘worshipped’, nor  should  we  want  to  be  ‘esteemed’  (glorified) for  our
  ‘appearance’,  our ‘intelligence’,  nor for  how much we may  ‘help others’! It’s perfectly  alright to look
  good in our  appearance…but  not for  the purpose  of  getting others to look at us!  And it is perfectly
  alright  to  increase  our intelligence,  it’s  a very good thing, but  again not  for the  purpose of getting
  others to look our  way!  The same can  be  said  about helping  others! Let’s  investigate the  Scriptures!

 Romans 12:3
 For  I say, through  the grace  that  was given  me, to every  man (or  woman)  who  is  among
 you, not  to  think of himself (or  herself)  more highly than he (or she) ought to think; but  to
 think reasonably, as Elohim (God)  has  apportioned to each person a  measure of faith. (WEB)
  

 The Pharisees  and the  Scribes made a  show  at  ‘looking  to  be  righteous’…their  appearance, their  prestige,
 their prayers, their  tithing.  We  are to do some of these, yes, we are  to  pray  and tithe, but  not to be
 seen  by  others  when  we  do  them!

Matthew 23:5-7
5 And all  their works (the scribes  and Pharisees) they do to be seen of men: for  they make
 broad their  phylacteries  and enlarge  the borders  of  their garments, (DBY)   
6 And the  things  desired by them are  the first  places  at  feasts, and  the chief  seats in the
 Synagogues, (BBE)
7 and  the salutations  in  the marketplaces,  and to be called of men, Rabbi. (ASV)

 You can  read  and see  for yourself how  they  prayed  long  prayers and  tithed  to  be  seen  by  others, they
 wanted  to  look  good  on  the outside  but were lacking  inwardly!

 Matthew 23:27
 Woe unto you, Scribes  and Pharisees, hypocrites!  You are  like  white-washed  sepulchers.
 They  look  beautiful without, but  within  they  are filled with dead men's  bones and  all
 rottenness. (MNT)

 Matthew 5:20
 For I  say to you, that unless your righteousness  exceeds the  righteousness of the  scribes
 and Pharisees,     you will by no means  enter the  kingdom of heaven. (NKJV)

  The  religious approach of these  individuals,  we  should  avoid like the  plague, for  obvious reasons! They
  apparently were seeking  salvation through  and by their  works…a wrong  thing to do!  We  do  need  good
  works, but  they  will  not save us!  Salvation is a  gift!

 Besides the  little  and the  good  things  that  we  have  discussed so far, what else can  we  do, what else
  should we do? 

  James 1:27
 The  religious service  which is pure and  stainless in the  sight of our  Elohim (God)  and
 Father  is  to  visit fatherless children and  widowed women  in  their time of trouble, and  to
 keep  one's own  self  unspotted from the  world. (WNT)

 Our little fellowship saw  the Pharisaical  attitudes within our  previous  organization, they were not  doing
 these little things.  We  would read scriptures like the  one above, but  we  did not  see it practiced. We
 would listen to a  video on being  friendly, but  friendliness  wasn’t  practiced!  We  aren’t  judging them,
 scriptures  tell  us  to  judge the  fruits…and  that’s  exactly what we did!

 Judgement will come from above, we definitely don’t  judge our  brothers  and sisters  in  any other
 organization! We do try  and walk a  better  walk  today.  Like  I mentioned  about our  previous  organization,
 I know of widows,  yes,  more  than  one,  who were not  taken care of before they breathed their  last, and
 there are  widows  today who  are not  being taken  care  of  as  they  should, LIKE THE  SCRIPTURE IN
 JAMES TELLS  US  ABOVE! 

 Each  assembly  should  be  taking  care  of  their widows and  needy!  Our little group  does  help  a widow 
 who attends  our former organization…she lives  on  less  than  700 dollars  a month…and  yes,  everything
 comes out  of  that  700 dollars, rent,  food, utilities, prescriptions and  whatever  else  is  needed! The  least
 we  could do is provide  some  relief! We don’t  visit orphans…but  we  do  have  a prison ministry…sending
 free  books…and study  papers  to  help  them  through their  trials! In a  sense,  they  have  been  orphaned!

 We  don’t do these  little  things  to  be  seen  of  men…we  do  them  because we see  the need…and we
 interpret the  Scriptures  as  saying; “This  do!”  In  our community, once a  month we will give can  goods
 to  the YWCA in our  area, they cater  to  those in need…and we will give to the  Food  Bank  as  well…and
 we  will  do  other small, little things along  the pathway  to  the Kingdom! We don’t  seek  to  be  esteemed,
 no, we do them because  it  shows love for  others!

 Matthew 6:1
 Take  care  not to do your good works  before  men,  to  be  seen  by  them; or you  will  have
 no  reward  from  your  Father  in  heaven. (BBE)

 This  is  pretty  plain and  simple…we do little things because  we  are told to do them and  not for
  recognition, or for  prestige  either! If we are  faithful  in  doing them,  and don’t  tire  or  grow  weary,  our
  reward will come when our  Savior  returns!

 2 Thessalonians 3:13
  But  you,  brothers (and sisters), do  not be weary (do  not tire and  lose  heart)  in well doing.
(MKJV)

 Brothers  and sisters, may  all of our  little  things  add up to much bigger things.  Our nation and  our
 world are  hurting,  there are  a lot  in  need! Hopefully  our small, minute,  little  things, will help make
 this  world a  better  place for  someone,  and we just may  get to meet that ‘someone’  in  the Kingdom!
 Wouldn’t  that  be  great? 

 Proverbs 8:17-21
 17 I  love  them  that  love  me; And  those that seek me diligently shall  find  me. (ASV)
 18 Riches  and honor  are with me;  durable wealth and  righteousness. (DBY)
 19 My fruit  is  better  than  gold, even than the  best  gold; and  my  increase  is  more  to  be desired  than    silver. (BBE)    
 20 I lead in the  way of righteousness, in the  midst of the  paths of judgment; (MKJV)
 21 That I  may give wealth to those  who love me.  I fill their  treasuries. (WEB)

 Revelation 22:12
 Behold,  I come quickly; and  my  reward  is  with  me, To give to each man  what  his actions
 (their  little  things!) merit. (MNT)

  I  would now  like  to  end with another  ‘little’  poem  by  my  ‘little’  soul  mate…may  it  uplift  you,  and
 brighten  your  day! 

“The  Little  Things”

How  happy are  you?  I know how  happy I  am,
Because  I know where  my  real  treasure  lies!
I  try not  to  cloud my mind with too  many  things,
I  look  for rainbows of promise  and the  blue  skies.

I’m  so  blessed to have a  husband,
Who  loves me with all  his heart.
We spend  quality time together as we can,
It’s not  too often  we  are apart.

I  love  to  hear  my  husband pray,
He truly  says  what’s  on  his mind!
It’s wonderful  when  two minds  can join as one,
A  special joy  I feel inside,  true  peace I  find.

We love our  children  and grandchildren,
And  all of our  very  dear  friends.
The  little  things  in  life  truly make us happy!
And  with  this  poem  our love we send. 
(RIW ~ 12/18/04)

May  Yahweh  Bless ~ our little things in life!    DLW

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                                             “If  We  Only  Had Faith!”

 Exactly what is faith? Why  is  it  important for  us  to  have? How  do  we  get it?

 These are  questions that need to be addressed  by  all believers  today! 

 Also, why  is  there so much sickness and  disease within the  body  of  believers?  Should  there be more
 healing taking place?

 We’ll look into both the  Old and  New Covenant Scriptures to try  and answer these  questions!  Let’s begin
 our Berean investigation!

 Deuteronomy 32:17, 20
 17 They sacrificed to devils,  not to Eloah (God);  to  gods  whom  they  knew  not,  to  new ones
 newly come up,  whom  your  fathers did  not fear. (MKJV)

 20 And He said:  'I  will  hide  My  face  from  them, I  will  see what their  end will be,  For they
 are a  perverse  generation,  children  in  whom  is  no  faith. (NKJV)

 Hab 2:4
Behold,  his soul which  is  lifted  up  is  not upright  in  him:  but the  just  shall live by his faith. (KJV)

 Isa 26:2
 Open the  gates,  that  the righteous  nation  may enter, the  one that remains  faithful. (NAS)

 Lamentations 3:22-23
 22 The  steadfast love of Yahweh never  ceases, His  mercies never  come  to  an end;
 23 they are  new every  morning;  great is your faithfulness. (RSV)

  529 'emuwn-(Brown-Driver-Briggs)
  faithfulness,  trusting; faithful,  trusty (as  adjective)

  530 'emuwnah or (shortened)  'emunah-(Brown-Driver-Briggs)
  firmness,  fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness

 To  be  faithful, trusting,  firm, and  steadfast…is  to  be  loyal,  confident,  solid,  unalterable,  resolute,
 steady…how  many  believers today  have  this  kind  of  faith?  We  can’t tell of ourselves, for  only  One knows
 the heart!

 Jeremiah 17:10
 I, Yahweh,  search  the mind,  I try  the heart, even to give every  man according  to  his ways,
 according to the  fruit of his  doings. (WEB)

 But I  must  say,  in  my  heart,  I believe  that  there is a  lukewarm  attitude  within  the Body of Believers…a
 lack  of  faith, otherwise  why would  there be so much sickness and  disease? 

 1 Cor 13:2
 If  I have the  gift  of  prophecy  and can  fathom  all mysteries  and all  knowledge,  and if I have
  a  faith that can  move  mountains,  but have not  love, I  am  nothing. (NIV)

 In  the above  Scripture,  it  mentions  a faith  that  can move a  mountain! That literally  blows my mind!
 Personally, I’m  lacking…but I  do  see Light  at  the end  of  the tunnel!   

 For many,  many  years,  believers have put  their trust, their  faith,  their hope in a  man,  or  in  a group  of
 men,  or  in  an  organization…but  this  is  the wrong  thing to do… this is why, I  believe,  there isn’t  the
 healing today  that  there should be! 

 It’s  much  harder  to  unlearn,  than  it  is  to  learn!  You have most likely heard  the phrase,  “It’s hard to
 teach an old  dog new  tricks!”… as  ‘old  believers’, we must put  off the  old and  put on the  new!

 Ephesians 4:23-24
 23 and to be made new  in  the spirit of your mind,
 24 and  to  put on the  new self,  created after  Elohim’s (God's) likeness,  in  the uprightness and
 set-apartness (holiness) of the  truth. (MNT)

 In  the New  Covenant, we do have a  definition  of  faith,  let’s investigate:

 Hebrews 11:1
 Now  faith is a  well-grounded assurance  of  that  for which  we  hope, and  a conviction of the
 reality of things   which we do not  see. (WNT)

 A healing  occurred  in  the New  Covenant  Scriptures  that  I would  like  to  focus on now, this healing  was
 not due  to  the laying on of any  hands,  but instead  happened  because of a  strong  faith! 

 Matthew 8:5-8,10,13
 5 And  when  Yahshua (Jesus)  was  come  into  Capernaum,  a certain  captain came to him with
  a  request, (BBE)
 6 and  saying, ‘Master  (Lord), my servant  lies  at  home  sick  of  the palsy, grievously
 tormented.’ (KJV)
 7 And  He  said  unto  him, ‘I  will  come  and heal him.’ (ASV)
 8 And  the centurion  answered  and said, ‘Master (Lord), I  am  not fit  that  you should enter
  under  my  roof; but  only  speak a  word, and  my  servant shall  be  healed.’ (DBY)

10 When Yahshua (Jesus) heard,  He  marveled  and said to those  who followed, ‘Truly I say  to  you,  I  have  not found  such  great faith,  no, not  in  Israel.’ (MKJV)

13 Then Yahshua (Jesus) said to the  captain: "Go!  As you  have  believed,  so  be  it  unto you."
  And  his slave  was healed in that very hour. (MNT)

  The  Most  High  Heavenly  Father  has all  power,  a million  billion universes  is  nothing compared to His
  strength.  If  it  is  His will for  someone to be healed,  all it takes  is  faith!  He  is  the best physician, surgeon,
  doctor…whatever  your  need…all  it  takes is a  strong  faith,  belief, and  conviction!
 

 I would  like  to  share with you  a miracle  that  happened  at  the Feast  (Sukkot)  of  2002, at Sunriver Or.  I
 think you  will  see the  miracle when I  explain. 

 The father of a  fellow  Berean, fell and  broke a  hip shortly  before  the Feast. I  guess a  heart attack
 occurred  as  well! This father was  about 95+  at  the time…do  you see  the miracle  in  the making?  Also, a
 colon operation  was needed!!!  Problems  they  say do come in threes!  Either  one of these  would have put
 me  down  for the  count!

 The father wanted to go home after  all this,  I guess  to  live  out his  last  days  with  his wife at home.  I
 don’t blame  him,  I would  also!

 Anyway, at the  Feast,  we  anointed  the father through  his son, and  you know something, the  father  went
 home  shortly after  this  anointing!  We all laid hands  on  the son  and prayed for  the father…a practice
 that  was not  done  in  our previous organizations. WHAT A  SHAME! 

 Now in our  Berean  Fellowship  meetings, we ‘all’  lay our  hands on anyone needing  an  anointing,  and we
 all say  a prayer for  that  person. And  no…it  doesn’t take a  college educated person,  or  credentials
 from  ‘an organization’  to  anoint! Having this mindset  is a  total lack of the  living  faith that
 we  all need to revive within the  Body!

 James 5:14
 Is  any one  of  you sick?  He  should  call  the elders of the  assembly (church) to pray over him
 and anoint him  with  oil in the  name  of  the Master (Lord). (NIV)

 In  your  assembly  are the  fruits, the  talents,  and the  gifts of the  flock really being  watered?  Are you
 being fed  a nutritious spiritual  diet? Or are  you spiritually  anemic?

 These are  hard  questions that you  must  ask yourself…if  your  gifts,  talents,  and abilities  are to be
  exercised! Like a  muscle, if the  gifts of the  Spirit  aren’t  exercised,  how can  they  grow? They won’t!

 Our faith  needs to be living and  active, where  healing takes  place!. Our  Messiah healed on the  Sabbath
 many  times.  It’s  never too  late…we all  need  to  ask our  Heavenly Father for  this  kind  of  healing faith!

 Romans 1:17
 For in the  Good  News  a righteousness  which comes  from  Elohim (God)  is being  revealed,
 depending on faith and  tending to produce  faith;  as  the Scripture  has it,  The righteous  man
 shall live by faith. (WNT)

 Luke 18:8
 "I  tell  you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the  Son of Man  comes,
 will He really find faith  on  the earth?" (NKJ)

 That  is  a scary  thought…will  the Messiah  find  faith on earth  when  He  returns?  We  can make a  difference
  ‘one believer at a  time  now’, and  by  doing so we can  answer, ‘Yes…the Messiah  will  find  faith when He
  returns!’  HalleluYah!

 May Yahweh Bless ~  our faith  abundantly! DLW

 I would  like  to  share with you  now,  two poems  penned  by  my  wife  concerning  faith. 
They are  very  special and  add to this study  paper!  ENJOY!

“True  Faith”

Faith  is  believing what the  Father  can do…All of His  words are  just  and true.

If one  is  lacking in faith, they can  pray  for more…our Messiah  stands  waiting at the  opened  door!

Yahweh’s Word tells  us  plainly the  task  at  hand…He gives  us  willing hearts to understand.

Luke 18:8 is a  good  place to turn…how much faith  will  there be when our  Savior  returns?

We,  Yah’s people,  hope  to  be  one of the  few…a living testimony  to  all that is true!

(RIW ~ Nov. 12, 1997)

                                                         “Living  Faith”

I’ve learned  more  than  ever, the  importance  of  putting Yahweh first,
I  love  the Scripture  that  says, ‘If  we  come  to  Him,  We  will  never thirst!’

Daily  I pray His  Spirit  will  filter  through my very soul,
For  my  mind  and body to be completely made whole.

My prayer time is the  highlight of each passing  day,
I  don’t have trouble  talking to our  Father, there’s  so  much  I want to say.

He speaks to me through  His precious Word,  refreshed I  am  ready to learn,
I  pray  for understanding  each  page  that  I turn.

A  day of fasting  means so much,  He  reaches out  to  me  with  His healing  touch,
These  few thoughts in my journal  I write, reaching out  to  my  Father, the  source  of  True Light!
(RIW ~ 1/10/98)

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                                                           “Do  Unto  Others”

 In  our world, this is definitely being  done  today…but I  must  say,  that  what is being done is not  the
 good that should be done.  Like  in  the days before the  flood,  and in the  days  before  Sodom and  Gomorrah
 were  destroyed,  our world, our  society is filled with ‘only  evil  continually’.

 Our way  of  life  is  like  swimming  up  stream, when everyone else is swimming downstream.  Overcoming  in
 this  world,  overcoming  its ways are  difficult,  but the  outcome is much better. 

 We  do  have  instructions  within  the Scriptures that tell us how  we  are to treat  others. It is easier said
 than  done, I  must  say,  but we must never  give  up  trying! Let’s  look  at  these Scriptures!

 Luke 6:27 “But I  say unto you  which hear,  Love  your  enemies,  do  good  to  them  which
 hate  you, (KJV)

 28 bless  those who  curse you,  and pray for  those who  spitefully  use you. (NKJ)

31   And  just  as  you want men  to  do  to  you,  you also do to them likewise. (NKJ)

31 Do to others as you  would have them do to you. (NIV)

31 And  just  as  you want people to treat  you,  treat them in the  same  way.(NAS)

 This isn’t  being done today…even in the  religious community! From reading  in  the Journal, Servant’s
  News,  and other  sources,  we  have  seen  articles  and letters  that  indicate  that  this  isn’t being  practiced!
  Those  who should know better,  are not  adhering  to  this  not  so  simple instruction! Remember it is
 like  swimming  up  stream!

  What about  a brother, a  friend, a  fellow  employee, or a  relative  who don’t  seem  to  understand  this
  principle? Or what about  those who  seemingly know but  don’t practice what they preach?  We  should 
  apply  the above  Scriptures, there  are also other  instructions  that  we  need  to  practice  as  well:

 Matt 18:21 Then came Peter  to  Him,  and said,  “Master (Lord),  how oft  shall my brother
 sin against me,  and I  forgive him? till seven  times?” (KJV)

 22 Yahshua (Jesus) said to him, “I do not  say to you, up to seven  times,  but up to
 seventy times  seven.” (NKJ)

       This morning, I’m  having  to  wrestle with this!  I will explain…my  wife  and I  manage  a facility that
 caters  to  the public.  Last  night a  function  (B-day  party)  was planned, and  I must say  was paid for  well 
 in  advance.  What  we  were  told  initially and  the reality  of  what  actually  happened  were  apples  and
 oranges.  We  were  told  that  the music  would be Big  Band  era (Tommy Dorsey), what we experienced  was
 very loud and  anything  but what was  expressed to us!  We  were  also  up  late  cleaning,
 preparing for  another early  morning group. Irritated  as  I am (was), basically  because my
 sweet wife was  taken advantage  of, I  must  pray  that  any anger  be  purged  from  my  heart!
 I’m swimming up stream now!

  Live and  learn…we  don’t get  even, no,  instead we’ll  try not  to  get into this situation  again!  But
 you know something…we probably will!!!  Let’s look at some Scriptures:

 1Thes 5:15 See  that  no  one repays another  with  evil  for evil,  but always seek after  that
 which is good for  one another  and for  all men. (NAS)

 1Thes 5:15   Make sure that nobody pays back wrong  for wrong, but  always  try to be
 kind to each other  and to everyone else. (NIV)

 Just  imagine if these  principles  were  applied today;

 1) Marriages would  last, divorce  would be a  thing of the  past.
 2) Family  violence  would end, as well as all  violence.
 3) Young people would  respect and  honor their  parents.
 4) The  elderly would  be  taken care of in a  better  way.
 5) Neighborhoods  would be safe,  minus gangs  and drugs.
 6) All nations  would be friendly,  not hostile  and aggressive

 You know something, an environment  as  mentioned above, will be a  reality in the  near  future. It is a 
 sad state, when mankind  will  have  to  be  forced  to  get along, and  to  love  one another!!! Let’s  investigate
 this  coming  society.

 Zech 8:3   Thus says Yahweh (the  LORD),  'I will return to Zion and  will  dwell in the midst
 of  Jerusalem.  Then  Jerusalem will be called the  City  of  Truth,  and the  mountain  of
 Yahweh (the  LORD) of  hosts will be called the  Set-apart (Holy) Mountain.(NAS)
 4 Thus says Yahweh (the  LORD) of hosts; There  shall yet  old men  and old  women dwell
 in  the streets  of  Jerusalem,  and every  man with his  staff in his  hand  for very age. (KJV)
5   The  streets of the  city  shall be full of boys and  girls playing  in  its streets. (NKJ)

 Isa 35:4 Say  to  them  that  are of a  fearful heart, Be strong,  fear  not:  behold, your Elohim
 (God)  will come with vengeance, even Elohim (God) with  a recompense;  He  will come and
 save  you. (KJV)
 5 Then the  eyes  of  the blind  shall be opened,  and the  ears  of  the deaf shall  be
 unstopped. (NKJ)
 6  Then will the  lame  leap  like  a deer,  and the  mute  tongue  shout for  joy.  Water will
 gush  forth in the  wilderness  and streams  in  the desert. (NIV)
 7 And  the scorched land will become a  pool, and  the thirsty  ground  springs of water; in
 the haunt  of  jackals,  its resting  place,  grass becomes  reeds and  rushes. (NAS)

  Does this sound  like  our society  today?  Not  by  a long shot! We have sickness,  disease,  drought,
 famine, wars,  hatred…etc. etc. (the list goes on!)…but some day  soon, the  whole world  will
 be  liberated from all  of  this  pain  and suffering! I  want  so  much  to  be  a part of this
 healing process, and  to  help  bring about  this  liberation!

 Rev 21:4 And  Elohim (God) will  wipe  away  every tear from their  eyes; there  shall be no
 more  death,  nor sorrow,  nor crying.  There shall  be  no  more  pain, for  the former things
 have  passed  away. (NKJ)

 Isn’t that wonderful? Like a  person  who has  an  addiction,  humanity  will  hit their  bottom  and will begin
 their healing  process.  No  more  ‘addiction  to  sin’  and its  snare!  Praise  Yah!!!

 I would  like  to  end with a  beautiful poem that my wife penned.  Let’s really take to heart  what  is  within
 this  study paper, and  of  course  this  poem.

“Tender  Mercies”

Wholeheartedly seeking  to  do  the Father’s will,
Showing  mercy unto all  men.
Thinking of others more than self,
Willing  to  forgive time and  again.

A  kind  word  today…wait  not ‘til tomorrow,
Take time to spread a  little  cheer.
Seize  the moment…do  it  now,
With hearts that are  sincere.

Rejoicing  together  in  His truth,
The  ways  of  this  world…we’ve left behind.
Goodness and  mercy shall  follow  us  always,
These  beautiful words  in  Psalms  we  find.

We’ve  read  many  times the  words of Messiah,
In the  sermon  on  the Mount.
We must give mercy  before  we  obtain,
That is when it really counts.

Dear merciful Father…we  cry out  to  You,
Fill us with Your tender mercies.
Grant  that  we  may be more loving and  kind,
Reaping  the fruits of true lasting  peace. 

(RIW ~ 2/24/96)

May  Yahweh  Bless ~ Our  Doing Unto Others!

DLW

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                                         “Are You  Double ~ Minded?”

 We live in a  time  when  we  as  individuals can  make  our own  decisions,  our own  choices of what is right
 and what is wrong, what is true and  what  is  false.  That  is  the democratic way! This  of  course did  not
 begin in our  day and  time, no,  it  began a  very  long  time  ago.  We  are just a  by-product of this long ago
 democratic  system  of  choosing!

 Let’s look back at the  very  first time this freedom  of  choice occurred…we’ll see  that  it  was long before
 our time!

 Ezek 28:12  Son  of  man,  take  up  a lamentation  upon  the king of Tyrus (Tyre),  and say  unto
 him,  Thus  says  the Master (Lord) Elohim (GOD); You  seal  up the  sum,  full  of wisdom,  and
 perfect in beauty. (KJV)

 13 You  were  in  Eden, the  garden  of  Elohim (God);  every  precious  stone was  your covering:
  the  sardius,  topaz,  and diamond, beryl, onyx,  and jasper,  sapphire, turquoise, and  emerald
 with  gold. The  workmanship of your timbrels and  pipes was  prepared  for you on the  day
  you  were  created. (NKJ)

 14 You  were  anointed  as  a guardian cherub,  for so I  set you. You  were  on  the set-apart
  (holy) mount  of  Elohim (God);  you walked among  the fiery  stones. (NIV)

 15   You  were  blameless in your ways from the  day you  were  created, until unrighteousness
  was  found in you. (NAS)

  Here we see  a king,  filled  to  the full with wisdom and  beauty, a  covering  cherub, perfect  in every
  way…until  this  created being  made  some  wrong choices!.

 Ezekiel 28:16 Through  all your trading  you have become full of violent  ways, and have
 done  evil: so I  sent  you out  shamed  from  the mountain of Elohim (God);  the winged  one
 put an end  to  you from among  the stones of fire. (BBE)

 DEFINITELY  A WRONG  CHOICE!!! We can  see that this Being  was in the  Garden  of  Eden. We  can also
 read  in  the book of Genesis  (chapter  3)  and see  that  he  was instrumental in tempting  the first  humans 
 into  making  wrong choices  as  well.      

 I would  now like to turn the  focus of this study  to  the Israelites.  When  the Israelites were liberated from
 Egyptian  slavery,  they  were  I’m sure joyous and  happy! Their  burden  was heavy, they  were  forced  to 
 work  very  hard, and  unlike  you and  I,  were  most  likely  not allowed  to  rest on the  Sabbath. 

 Exod 1:8   Now  there arose  up  a new  king  over  Egypt,  which knew not  Joseph. (KJV)

 9 And he said to his  people, "Look, the  people  of  the children of Israel are  more  and
 mightier  than  we; (NKJ)                                                                                                              (NIV)

 10   Come,  we  must  deal  shrewdly  with  them  or  they  will  become  even  more  numerous
 and,  if  war breaks out, will join our  enemies,  fight against  us  and leave  the country."

 11 So  they  appointed taskmasters  over  them  to  afflict them with hard labor. And  they
 built for  Pharaoh storage  cities, Pithom and  Raamses. (NAS)

 Other burdens  than  these were put  upon  them  as  well, inhumane to say  the least, let’s  investigate:

 Exod 1:22  And  Pharaoh charged  all his  people, saying,  Every son  that  is  born  you shall cast
  into the  river,  and every  daughter  you shall  save  alive. (KJV)

 ‘The Israelites oppressed in Egypt’

 The Egyptians' indignation  at  Israel's  increase, notwithstanding  the many hardships they put  upon  them,
 drove them at length to the  most  barbarous and  inhuman methods of suppressing  them, by the  murder 
 of  their children:  to  be  thus  bloody  towards the infants, whom all  must  own to be innocents, was  a sin
 which they had  to  cloak for. Note, 1.  There is more cruelty  in  the corrupt  heart of man  than  one would
 imagine, <Rom. 3:15-16>. The  enmity  that  is  in  the seed of the  serpent against  the seed of the woman
 divests men  of  humanity  itself, and  makes them forget all  pity. One  would not think  it  possible  that  ever
 men should be so barbarous  and blood-thirsty  as  the persecutors of Elohim’s (God's)  people  have  been,
 <Rev. 17:6>.

(from  Matthew Henry's  Commentary)

 Exod 2:23 Now it happened in the  process of time that the  king  of  Egypt died.  Then  the
 children  of  Israel  groaned because  of  the bondage, and  they  cried out; and  their cry  came
 up  to  Elohim  (God)  because  of  the bondage. (NKJ)

 Exod 3:6  Then he said,  "I  am  the Elohim (God)  of your father,  the Elohim (God)  of Abraham,
 the  Elohim (God)  of Isaac and  the Elohim (God) of Jacob."  At  this, Moses  hid his  face,
 because he was  afraid  to  look  at  Elohim (God). (NIV)
 7 And  Yahweh (the LORD)  said,  "I  have  surely  seen  the affliction of My people who  are in
 Egypt,  and have given  heed  to  their cry  because of their  taskmasters,  for I  am  aware of
 their sufferings. (NAS)
 8   And  I am come down to deliver  them  out of the  hand  of  the Egyptians, and  to  bring
 them  up  out of that land unto a  good  land  and a  large,  unto  a land flowing  with  milk and
 honey; (KJV)

 Did their  joy last?  Once  liberated,  once  freed from bondage, did  they  keep  their eyes looking  forward?  It 
 is  shocking, to say  the least, how  their attitudes  changed,  how their  hearts  turned  hard towards  the
 Mighty  One who  brought them out!

 Num 14:27 How  long  shall I  bear  with  this  evil  congregation  who murmur against  Me? I
 have  heard the  complaints  which the  children  of  Israel  murmur  against Me. (NKJ)

 They  were  given everything,  liberation  from  slavery,  food, water, protection,  and another  thing,  their
 clothing  did not  wear  out in the  wilderness! AND THEY STILL  MURMURED!

 Deut 29:5   During the  forty years  that  I led  you through  the desert,  your  clothes did  not
 wear  out,  nor did  the sandals  on  your  feet. (NIV)

 What  about you  and I, in this modern age, can  we  apply these  examples  into  our lives  today?  Yes,  I
 think we can, remember these  examples  are written  down  for us as well!

 2 Tim 3:16   All  Scripture is given  by  inspiration of Elohim (God), and  is  profitable  for
 doctrine, for  reproof,  for correction,  for instruction in righteousness, (NKJ)

 We  still live in a  world that is under  the sway of ha Shatan (Satan)…but  this  world (age)  will  be  liberated
 in  the near future…thankfully!

 2 Cor 4:4   The  mighty  one (god) of this age  has blinded  the minds  of  unbelievers,  so  that
 they  cannot see  the light  of  the gospel of the  esteem  (glory)  of Messiah (Christ),  who  is  the
 image of Elohim (God). (NIV)

 This  evil  being: (1) convinced  the first  created humans to go contrary to Yahweh’s instructions (2) was
 the major  cause for  the children of Israel’s rebellion  against Yahweh (3) is still  in  command today, doing
 his dirty  work!

 You can  also  read  the Old  Covenant  examples  of  King  David and  his son  Solomon falling  to  temptation 
 and lust,  making wrong  choices!  (2  Sam 11:3-17 ,  1  Kings 11:3-8)

 Let’s look into the  New Covenant and  see what it has  to  say about  double-mindedness.

 James 4:8 Draw near to Elohim (God) and  He  will  draw  near  to  you.  Cleanse your hands,
  you  sinners;  and purify your hearts,  you double-minded. (NKJ)

 James 1:8 A  double  minded  man is unstable in all  his ways. (KJV)

 1374   dipsuchos-  (Thayer’s)
 double-minded
 a) wavering,  uncertain,  doubting
 b) divided  in  interest

 1374 dipsuchos (dip'-soo-khos); (Strong’s)
 from 1364 and  5590;  two-spirited,  i.e.  vacillating (in  opinion or purpose):

KJV-- double minded.

 182 akatastatos- (Thayer’s)
 unstable- inconstant,  restless

 We  can see  in  the Scriptures that we need to have complete faith  and trust  in  the Father and  the Son.
 (Heb. 11:6)  We  can’t have one  foot  in  the world, and  the other  on  the religious  side. I  have  been  there,
  done that,  and it doesn’t  produce good fruit  (doesn’t  work)! 

 2 Tim 1:7 For  Elohim (God)  has  not given  us  a spirit of fear,  but of power  and of love and
 of  a sound  mind. (NKJ)

 4995 sophronismos- (Thayer’s)
 1) an admonishing  or  calling to soundness  of  mind, to moderation and  self-control
 2) self-control,  moderation

 4995   sophronismos  (so-fron-is-mos'); (Strong’s)
 from  4994;  discipline, i.e. selfcontrol: KJV-- sound mind.

 Being double minded,  as  seen  in  the definition,  is  not what we want our  character to be!  When  we  make 
 a mistake, when we make a  wrong decision,  a wrong  choice,