Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

Why do we need teachers?

There are those who insist that even though they come directly from Christianity, they do not need anyone to teach them, since as they believe the Set-apart Spirit teach them about what Yahshua did and taught whilst He was on earth. The question is, how will they get to understand the lessons we all have to learn from Torah, to serve as examples to those of us upon whom the ends of the ages have come as Rav Shaul wrote in first Corinthians 10: 1 – 10 and concluding in verse 11, saying: ‘Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.’

Many of those who come out of the churches of the world, who were deeply involved in ‘spreading the gospel’, be it a false gospel,  believe they need not be taught by anybody, since they are used to doing G-d’s work. This despite the fact that when YHVH calls us to come out of the religions of the world, especially Christianity, He wants us to come out completely, as we read from 2 Corinthians 6:  12 – 18, saying: ‘You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. (13) Now in a like exchange – I speak as to children – open wide to us also.(14) Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? (15) Or what harmony has Messiah with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?  (16) Or what agreement has the temple of Elohim with idols? For we are the temple of the living Elohim; just as Elohim said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR ELOHIM, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. (17) Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says YHVH. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. (18) And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says YHVH Almighty.’A more direct witness of this warning  comes from Yahshua in Revelation 17 & 18, whereHe revealed the great false church to Yochanan, who presently controls millions of people in the world; but who will be utterly destroyed prior to His return because of the falsehood they taught  and what they did over the past two thousand years of their existence,repeating Rav Shaul’s warning in Revelation 18: 3 - 5, in this way: ‘“For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.” (4) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “ Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues;(5)for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and Elohim has remembered her iniquities.’Those of us, who were called from the Churches of this world, have to practically forget everything we learnt from them, as it isdirectly opposed to what Yahshua the true Messiah taught whilst He was on earth;a prime example being their belief that ‘good’ people will go to heaven at death, as opposed to Messiah’s own words in John 3: 13, where He said: “And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man.” This is in agreement with what King David has written in Psalm 37: 9, saying: ‘For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for YHVH, they will inherit the land.’

The sad truth is that most of the churches of the world are not fully aware of Messiah’s main purpose for coming to earth. As opposed to what Churchianity teach, Messiah did not come to earth to Christianize non-believers and Jews, but to bring a remnant of the lost ten tribes back to the faith into which He was born – which is the covenant relationship the house of Israel had with the Father, together with the house of Judah before they were scattered into the nations of the world, because of idolatry. Very few people are aware that YHVH allowed the house of Israel and the house of Judah ruled by King David, to split in two, because of Kings Solomon’s sins, when he was led into idol-worship by his many wives.  YHVH scattered the house of Israel into the world after splitting the united kingdom of Israel in two, because they followed their new king Jeroboam,chosen specially by Elohim into gross idolatry.

Without, someone teaching new believers Messiah’s main purpose, they are in much the same position as they were before they came out from the churches of the world, as prophesied by Isaiah in Isaiah 28: 9 – 13, saying: “To whom would He teach knowledge? And to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast? (10) For He says, ‘Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there.’” (The point is that the Scriptures cannot be studied, by reading it through from the beginning to end with understanding, but needs to be explained by using a scripturein one place and let a scripture in another section explain or interpret it.) (11) Indeed, He will speak to this people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue, (12) He who said to them, “Here is rest, give rest to the weary,” and, “Here is repose,"  but they would not listen. (The rest spoken about here is the good news about the coming Kingdom of Elohim on earth, pictured by the weekly Sabbath and the Feast of Tabernacles, when Messiah returns one day to rule the world from Jerusalem. Because the people spoken about here do not keep Elohim’s annual Feast Days any longer, they do not understand Elohim’s plan of salvation for all mankind.) (13) So the word of YHVH to them will be,“Order on order, line on line, a little here, a little there,” that they may stumble backward, be broken, snared, and taken captive.’Some people regard themselves too ‘knowledgeable’ about Scriptural truths, despite the fact that Christianity (where most come from) viewed the so-called ‘Old Testament’ as notbeing applicable to them any longer. In addition they believe they are able to get everything they require from the internet and by visiting various webpages. In some cases the problem such people have with ‘teachers’,come from bad experiences they had withthe teachers in their previous affiliations who were responsible for deceiving them in the past.

We see from a prophecy against the shepherds who are presently destroying Elohim’s people in the house of Israel wherever they are to be found throughout especially the western world, YHVH sayingthrough Jeremiah in Jeremiah 23: 1 – 6 that He will again provide them with teachers, who will in agreement with Messiah’s main purpose teach them truth, immediately prior to Messiah’s return, as follows: “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares YHVH. (2)Therefore thus says YHVH Elohim of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares YHVH. (3)Then I Myself shall gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and shall bring them back to their pasture; and they will be fruitful and multiply. (4)I shall also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares YHVH. (5)“Behold, the days are coming,” declares YHVH, “When I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. (6)“In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, YHVH, our righteousness.”As YHVH already promised in Deuteronomy 4: 30 & 31, we will return to Him in the latter days, if we search for Him (as per verse 29), saying: “When you are in distress and all these things have come upon[1] you, in the latter days, you will return to YHVH your Elohim and listen to His voice. (31)For YHVH your Elohim is a compassionate Elohim; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.”

Yahshua our Messiah continued the teacher/discipleship program started by Moses when he taught Joshua in the congregation in the wilderness. The congregation (which has incorrectly been translated as ‘church’ in the Scriptures) of Elohim was not started at Pentecost in 31 CE as some assert, but was purely the renewal of the original discipleship program to ensure the continuation of His congregation of believers called out of the world, by YHVH. The original congregation was started in the wilderness as witnessed in Acts 7: 37 & 38, in this way: “This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘ELOHIM SHALL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.’ (38) This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.” Yahshua talking about this training program in Luke 6: 39 & 40, said: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? (40) A pupil (disciple) is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.” Messiah’s discipleship program lasted from the commencement of His ministry on earth, until His impalement and death on Passover 3½ years later in 31 CE. Rav Shaul also spoke about getting to know YHVH and His ways in Romans 10: 13 & 14, saying: ‘For “WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF YHVH WILL BE SAVED.” (14) How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?’  Messiah clearly said in Matthew 16: 18 that He will build His congregation and that the gates of Hades (the grave or death) shall not prevail against it (meaning that it will still exist) until He returns to earth. He also instructed His disciples (and by implication also us His modern day disciples) in Matthew 28: 18 - 20, saying: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on the earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Set-apart Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” However, this should be understood in the context of what He said to His disciples in Matthew 10: 5 – 8, when He instructed them, saying: “Do not go the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; (6) but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (scattered throughout the world because of their idolatry). (7) And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (8) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give.”

In accordance with Messiah’s main purpose, as He told the Canaanite woman who asked Him to heal her demon-possessed daughter in Matthew 15: 24[2], the congregation of Elohim is presently made up of believers coming from mainly the lost-ten-tribes of Israel, being first fruits  whom YHVH is calling out of the churches of the world, as witnessed in James 1: 18, as follows: ‘In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.’ However, Elohim’s congregation also includes Gentiles from all over the world, who come in  because some of the Israelites whom YHVH calls are often spiritually too blind to see the truth, or too rebellious to change, resulting in them losing their future crowns to Gentiles (as Yahshua warned in Revelation 3: 11[3].) Nevertheless, those called from amongst the Gentiles should be mindful of the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22: 2 – 14;warning that they like any Israelite who answers Elohim’s call, should follow Him in the same way that He specified for Israelites. They need to put on the correct wedding garments  by washing their robes in the word of Elohim, i.e. obey His Torah[4]. It is as Moses wrote in Numbers 15: 15, saying: ‘As for the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the alien who sojourns with you, a perpetual statute throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the alien be before YHVH.’ This as well as the fact that not only the dispersed of Israel will be gathered to YHVH is confirmed by Isaiah in Isaiah 56: 6 – 8, as follows: “Also the foreigners who join themselves to YHVH, to minister to Him, and to love the name of YHVH, to be His servants, everyone who keeps from profaning the Sabbath, and hold fast My covenant; (7) Even those I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”(8) YHVH Elohim, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, “Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered.”’ We all need to make sure that we have our wedding garments on at Messiah’s return, by continually washing our robes in the word.

The Scriptures describe the congregation of Elohim as a remnant group of people whom He is calling out of the religions of the world, to follow His way of life. By fellowshipping with these people, we can learn these spiritual truths spoken about in the Scriptures. We read a further prophecy in this regard from Jeremiah 3, after we are told that YHVH divorced the house of Israel (in verses 8) and then scattered our forebears into the nations of the world. But continuing in verses 12 – 15 we read the good news as follows:“Go, and proclaim these words toward the north and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares YHVH; ‘I will not look upon you in anger, for I am gracious,’ declares YHVH;  ‘I will not be angry forever. (13) ‘Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against YHVH your Elohim and have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ declares YHVH. (14) ‘Return, O faithless sons,’ declares YHVH; ‘For I am master to you, and I will take you one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.’ (15) ‘Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.’”Here again, YHVH tells us that He will give us teachers after His own heart, who will teach the truth, so neglected by those who used to teach His people in the Israelite nations.

Rav Shaul tells us the reason why we need teachers, now that we have come out of the churches of the world in Ephesians 4: 10 – 16, saying: ‘He who descended is Himself also He who ascended  far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. (11) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, (12) for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Messiah (the congregation of called out believers); (13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Messiah (in accordance with Romans 8: 28 & 29[5]). (14) As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; (15) but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Messiah, (16) from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.’ Other than in Christianity, we like all Jews, are interested in the national salvation of the commonwealth of Israel and not in salvation of individuals only. This is why Rav Shaul also wrote about Yahshua’s main purpose in Ephesians 2: 11 – 16, saying: ‘Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Un-circumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,”which is performed in the flesh by human hands—(12) remember that you were at that time separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel(meaning both houses), and strangers to the covenants of promise (the covenant that Abraham and his descendants through Isaac, will inherit the Promised Land for ever, meaning as Spirit beings, when they will be able to continue living eternally; that King David will be their King when Messiah returns, when all true believers including Abraham and King David will be resurrected), having no hope and without Elohim in the world.  (13) But now in Messiah Yahshua you who formerly were far off (scattered into the world by YHVH) have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. (14) For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, (15) by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances[6](or punishment we earned by breaking Elohim’s commandments), that in  Himself He might  make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace (between the two houses of Israel), (16) and might reconcile them both in one body to Elohim through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.’ This is essentially what Yahshua meant when He said to the Pharisees in John 10: 16, “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold (they do not attend the Jewish synagogues); I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock, with one shepherd.” However, this will only happen once Messiah returns to us, and the first time for our Jewish Brothers.

Those who refuse to be part of any group being taught by a teacher at this time, cannot expect to be part of the kings and priests in the coming kingdom of Elohim, since we need to become part of the body of Messiah if we want to be part of His bride of called out, immersed and faithful believers when He returns. We need to make sure we attend Sabbath services where we are regularly fed by Elohim’s teachers, since our lamps need to be full of knowledge of the truth, else we will not be ready when Messiah returns, as He explained in the Parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25, concluding in verse 11 - 13, with the very sad words: “And later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Master, master, open up for us.’ (12) But he answered and said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’  (13) Be on alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour (when he comes).” The internet is indeed a very good tool to gather additional information regarding the Gospel that Messiah preached, and to prepare ourselves for His return, but we need to be part of the body of Messiah, since the united nation of Israel will be saved at Messiah’s return, as witnessed in Ezekiel 37: 21 – 25, in this way: “And say to them, ‘Thus says YHVH Elohim, “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; (22) and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. (23) And they will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestablethings, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned[7],and will cleanse them. And they will be My people and I will be their Elohim. (24)And My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have on shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances, and keep My statutes, and observe them. (25)And they shall live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons, and their sons’ sons, forever; and David My servant shall be their prince forever.”

But, who shall be our teachers? Rav Kepha gives us the answer in first Peter 5: 1 – 3, saying: ‘Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Messiah, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, (2) shepherd the flock of Elohim among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of Elohim; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; (3) nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.’ Rav Shaul gives us more details, including the qualifications of a teacher in first Timothy 3: 2 – 7, saying: ‘An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (3) not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money[8]. (4) He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (5) (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the congregation of Elohim?); (6)and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. (7)And he must have a good reputation with those outside the congregation, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.’The reason why a novice should not teach is that there are people who try to trick us, by arguing about single verses or words in the Scriptures, without knowing the context. But after a period under the guidance of a good teacher a disciple becomes more conversant with the word of Elohim, and will be able to answer most questions, as Rav Shaul explained in 2 Timothy 2: 14 & 15, saying: ‘Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of Elohim not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to ruin of the hearers, (15) Be diligent to present yourself approved to Elohim as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.’

Over a period of time in dealing with people, YHVH helps us understand why people who come to uswant to know more about us.  Some truly approach us to get to know the hope that is within us, whilst others do so to ridicule or persecute us.  Rav Kepha tells us how to respond in all such situations in first Peter 3: 13 – 16, saying: ‘And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? (14) But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, (15) But sanctify Messiah as Master in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (16)and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Messiah may be put to shame.’ Rav Shaul also gives us advice on how to behave toward outsiders in Colossians 4: 5 & 6, saying: ‘Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. (6) Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.’ The point is that you should not  give good teachings to those known to hate or are against us, as Yahshua warned in Matthew 7: 6, saying: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”The prophet Malachi tells that we learn from and develop a special relationship with fellow believers and YHVH whilst meeting together for Sabbath servicesin Malachi 3: 16 - 18, in this way: ‘Then those who feared YHVH spoke to one another, and YHVH gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear YHVH and who esteem His name. (17) “And they will be Mine,” says YHVH of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” (18) So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves Elohim and one who does not serve Him.’

To conclude, If we refuse to accept the knowledge that Elohim reveals to us through His teachers, He will stop giving us more understanding of His word, as He explained through Hosea in Hosea 4: 6, saying: ‘My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge(available through amongst other, Messiah’s discipleship program), I also will reject you from being My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your Elohim, I also will forget your children.’  Note this is not saying that the knowledge is not available; no it is saying that because some reject the available knowledge, YHVH will also reject them! Think about it!

 

 

 

[1] The things to befall us in the latter days, as per Deuteronomy 4: 27 – 29, as follows: “And YHVH will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where YHVH will drive you. And there you will serve gods, the work of man’s hands, wood and stone (such as the image of a man on a cross, or even an empty cross), which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek YHVH your Elohim, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.”

 

[2] Matthew 15: 24, ‘But He (Yahshua) answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

 

[3] Revelation 3: 11, ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown.’ This is the crown we as true believers in Messiah will receive when He returns, as Rav Shaul testified in 2Timothy 4: 8.

 

[4] We wash our robes by keeping Elohim’s commandments as may be seen by comparing Revelation 22: 14 of the New American Standard Bible to the translation of the King James version, in this way: The  NASB reads: ‘Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city’ Where as the KJV reads: ‘Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.’

 

[5] Romans 8: 28 & 29: ‘And we know that Elohim causes all things to work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.’

 

[6] Elohim’s commandments consist of three parts, namely commandments, statutes and ordinances. The statutes goes into more detail about the Ten Commandments, specifying for example that adultery includes fornication, adultery as well as sexual sins such as incest, and buggering(sex with animals). The ordinances specifies the punishment due for transgressing Elohim’s commandments, such as stoning to death, of anyone who blasphemes Elohim’s Set-apart Name. 

 

[7] According to first John 3: 4, sin is lawlessness – those who continually break Elohim’s Sabbath commands sin. Those who keep Sunday, sins; those who eat food forbidden by YHVH in Leviticus 11, sins, those who eat meat with blood in sins (as per Leviticus 17: 10), and the list goes on. 

 

[8]Even though we are to teach those who come to us freely, Rav Shaul nevertheless wrote in first Timothy 5: 17, saying: ‘Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.’