Better Things

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We are Leaving for Better Things

Many of you have recieved our News Letter about Better Things, and I thought, what is better than to talk about what G-d has for you!

Sometimes, I find myself wanting to be in a game show like the price is right. Nothing is better than getting prizes, but always hidden behind each thing is a risk. The risk scares people, especially when they have so much at stake.

Before I go into the message, I wanted to show you something cool in the Torah.

How many of you know the name of G-d?

G-d has many Names, but there are specific ones He uses in the Torah. So we know that there is One G-d who has distinguished Himself as having the ability to appear as He will be.

יהוה - This is the Name of G-d that is unpronounceable. In fact this Name is not even pronounced by Yeshua or by any person in the tanach. Though it is written that they shall call on His Name, His Name was made to mean I will be that I will be. We know this, because He appears as El Shaddai (G-d Almighty), Adonai (Lord), and many more names that are personal to a person.

However, there is a name that many miss, and that name is: אהיה (EH-H-YEH). This name is used in the Bible as “I will be”. This Name is also not used very often, because it is the Name of HaShem. In fact the sounding of the Name (יהוה), though seemed to be lost, is thought to be written in such away, because each letter of His name represents who He is, and the way it is put together allows for the reader to understand that God will be who He will be and/or “I Am that I Am”.

Because of this God’s Name is definitely not “Yawah, or Yaweh, Yahashuah, or Yahuah, Yahovah, Yahoshuah and etc.” God’s Name is as written, “He will be”! This means that G-d’s Name is made known to you in the way that He has revealed Himself through His written Word. In His Word He is: Adonai, El Shaddai, El Gibor, El, Elohim, Melech Yisrael, Abba, and more! Ofcourse, do not be fooled, people will come and say, He is this or that as to change His identity, and/or this is His only Name, because the Word of G-d reveals that He is “HE”, “Father”, “Provider”, and etc.

Now Jewish/Israelites/Hebrews throughout the ages have called Him Adonai and not Yaweh. However, the nations, those outside of the community have called Him “Yaweh” with the earliest record being in 800BC. So the Jews kept respect for His Name, while the non-Jews saw His Name as “Yaweh”. Therefore scholars all throughout history have deduced that Yaweh would have been the closet to how His Name is pronounced, but if Yeshua did not even say Yaweh, what does that say about us calling on the Name? It means that Adonai, G-d, L-rd, Yeshua, El, Elohim, and etc. are all justified ways to call on the Name of the L-rd, becasue as Yeshua hung on that tree, He said, “Eloi! Eloi!” meaning my G-d, my G-d! He was calling on the Name of the L-rd for the sake of His people according to the Psalm of David - Psalm 22.

In all, do not be troubled, because I am telling you what is written. Rather find Shalom that G-d has revealed Himself to you!

A Rabbi in the Messianic Community actually gave 11 reasons why not to say Yaweh, Yawah, Yahashuah, or Yahuah, Yahovah, Yahoshuah and etc.

1 Yeshua never used the Name nor any writer of the whole Mes Scrip/New Testament. If anyone had authority to do so, you would think He would, but He didn't. When He quoted scripture with the Name substituting attributes.

2. The scriptures talk about "glorifying the Name of G-d." That doesn't mean by a certain pronunciation. The Hebraic understanding of Name = character, person. So behave in ways that bring honor to Him.

3. No one knows the right pronunciation of the YHVH, Hebrew yud-heh-vav-heh. Some think Jehovah. Some Yahveh. Some Huway. Or some such. Yeshua certainly knew the correct way, but chose never to say it.

4. Jewish people (including myself) will think you are totally out of touch, gladly I have gotten to know some of you and understand why some of you say His Name in a certain way. I advise that you refer to Him as Adonai, HaShem, God, Lord and if speaking of Yeshua.. say Yeshua.

5. And he had a name written which no one knew but Himself. Rev 19:12

Revelation 19:12 TLV

His eyes are like a flame of fire, and many royal crowns are on His head. He has a name written that no one knows except Himself.

6. Most Likely, the actual Name was not to be accessible to the readers, but a bit mysterious, and NOT pronounced. In the Dead Sea Scrolls, where the Name appears, they resort to the Phoenician script, instead of the Babylonian Hebrew characters that we are used to.

7. Sanctifying the Name has nothing to do with pronunciation, but rather He wants us to pray for transformation of people or of life circumstances. In the prototype prayer in Mt 6, Yeshua explains the meaning of "May your Name be kept holy." He uses the common Hebrew poetic device of parallelism, and says the same thing in different words. "May your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven."

8. The B'sorah [Gospel] of Matityahu, Matthew uses the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" as opposed to "Kingdom of G-d." Yeshua was following the common practice of reverence for the Name. Particularly in Matityahu/Matthew’s account, many scholars feel was written for Jewish readers, who had the practice of NOT saying the name, but using circumlocutions.

9. When addressing our earthly fathers, we would never call them by their name if we are being respectful. Rather the title "Dad," "Papa", "Father", etc. would be appropriate. Similarly with G-d the Father.

10. From another Rabbi a. The Tetragrameton is not used in any of the over 500 Greek manuscripts of the N. T. I checked this out with two Professors specializing in N.T. Greek at two Cristian colleges. The words used for YHVH are Abba, Pater and Kurios as in our Adonai (Lord). Surely God could have inspired those greek N.T. writers to attempt A Greek form of YHVH. It isn't there. b. Nowhere in Jewish writings over 5000 years are we instructed to pronounce the name; not even once!

11. The phrase שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם (Shmi L’Olam) can be translated and is translated by traditional Jewish groups as my name (is) to be hidden forever. So the Jewish practice is to say Adoni or Gibor (Power). That's what Yeshua said when quoting Ps 110.

טו וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶל-מֹשֶׁה כֹּה-תֹאמַר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם זֶה-שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם וְזֶה זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר.

So this is huge insight on the Name of G-d, and I thought I had to address it. Now if you strongly believe that G-d has revealed to you as what you call Him to be, like I said the last service. If you speak to me and ask me, I will tell you my conviction based on the Word of G-d and my Jewish history, but I encourage you even more to go before G-d and ask Him, go to His W-rd and see for yourself what G-d is calling you to do.

Micah 6:8 TLV

He has told you, humanity, what is good, and what Adonai is seeking from you: Only to practice justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

In this, I resume the message. G-d has better things for you.

There is an image that you may see online quite often of Yeshua holding a Big bear behind his back awaiting to give it to His little girl. His little girl is holding on to a little small bear, and she doesn't see the bigger and better gift that is awaiting her - a giant bear. In order to grasp the bigger gift, she must let go of the smaller, and Yeshua asks here to trust Him in letting go of the little stuffed animal. The girl on the other hand replies, “I can’t, because I love it”.

We are so excited to see the L-rd move in a marvelous way. We have entered a new season. The winter has past, and the spring time has come! As we have had gone through many struggles, the L-rd keeps reminding me of His W-rd to me before coming into full time ministry. As I was preparing to leave my old job, I asked the L-rd, "what do you want me to write as the reason to leave my work? Is it ministry, is it ‘new job’?", and He said, "Better Things!".

There I am writing on my paper of resignation where it says purpose of resignation: "Better things". As I was letting go of my job, I was letting go of all that I had earned and all that I saw ahead of what I had. It was in this exchange that I had to behold and see the better things in what I did not have and I had to have faith in Yeshua that BETTER THINGS than what I had in mind for the future lie ahead. It was the craziest trade off of all time! But G-d's gifts and promises are always better! In this time, many of us are experiencing that shift this new season, and all I can say is hold on, because... Better Things have yet to come! 'But even though we speak like this, loved ones, concerning you we are convinced of better things—things coming with salvation. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love that you showed for His name, in having served and continuing to serve the kedoshim . But we long for each of you to show the same eagerness for the certainty of hope to the very end— so you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those inheriting the promises through trust and perseverance. ' Hebrews 6:9-12 (TLV)

Let’s go ahead and read from Exodus 6:2-8

Exodus 6:2–8 TLV

God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am Adonai. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, as El Shaddai. Yet by My Name, Adonai, did I not make Myself known to them. I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage where they journeyed. Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of Bnei-Yisrael, whom the Egyptians are keeping in bondage. So I have remembered My covenant. Therefore say to Bnei-Yisrael: I am Adonai, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you to Myself as a people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Adonai your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. So I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, and give it to you as an inheritance. I am Adonai.”

As the L-rd is speaking to Moses, what does Moses do?

Sometimes people get this wrong, but we read in this passage that Moses does tell Israel what G-d said, and they did not listen because.... They couldn’t let go!

They couldn't let go of:

Bondage &

Broken spirit

They were so broken that as Moses was speaking of the freedom in HaShem, they brought him low so that he thought he couldn't speak to Pharaoh.

Exodus 6:12 TLV

But Moses said to Adonai, “Bnei-Yisrael have not listened to me. So how would Pharaoh listen to me—I, who have uncircumcised lips?”

Where did Moses get this idea that he had uncircumcised lips?

Some might say that Moses knew already, and, while that might be so, we know that he was raised in an Egyptian home. To his own people he was rejected, and he was called uncircumcised. If you look into scripture while there is no passage that says he was not circumcised, there is no passage that says he was. While there are hints that he may have been circumcised before doing the L-rd’s work, we know for sure that his character was not like the Israelite community. He was free from slavery just as he was free from Egypts brokenness. Moses spoke a different language, and it was one of Salvation!

This morning G-d took me to a passage in Genesis 31. Turn to Gen. 31:3

Genesis 31:3 TLV

Then Adonai said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

When we read this in Hebrew it says:

Lexham Hebrew Bible Chapter 31

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֔ב שׁ֛וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ אֲבוֹתֶ֖יךָ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאֶֽהְיֶ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ

“And said Adonai to Yaakov, “Return to the land of your Fathers, and to your relatives and “I will Be” (is) with you.”

Now in Hebrew, the word “is” is not usually in there, but I have placed that to emphasis something G-d showed me. I was asking Him to show me Yeshua in the Torah, and as I was rolling through my little practice Torah, I couldnt but stop at this passage. And as I was reading in Hebrew, I saw Jacob who was living under oppression. He had to work for his wives, but to him, it was only a moment, because of his love for his wife. And because G-d promised Jacob something, God was blessing him more and more! So much that Laban’s sons starting talking smack about Jacob. But G-d saw what was happening!

We read:

Lexham Hebrew Bible Chapter 31

וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֤י בְנֵֽי־לָבָן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לָקַ֣ח יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֑ינוּ וּמֵאֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔ינוּ עָשָׂ֕ה אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַכָּבֹ֖ד הַזֶּֽה׃

“And He heard” some passages refer to Jacob hearing, but I strongly believe that HaShem heard, because the second part of the word ו -י-שמע refers to “he” which leaves this verse for us to see that it could have been “Jacob” and it could have been the L-rd.

Genesis 31:1 (TLV)

And he heard the words Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything that belongs to our father, and from what belongs to our father he has made all these riches.”

The reason for this is the next two verses.

Genesis 31:2–3 TLV

Then Jacob saw Laban’s face, and he noticed that his expression wasn’t the same as it was just a day or two before. Then Adonai said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

Putting the verses together we can read:

1. Jacob heard what Laban’s sons were saying, and Jacob saw that Laban was not looking at him in the same way when Jacob was making Laban rich.

2. God heard what Laban’s sons were saying about Jacob, so G-d spoke to Jacob and said, Go back home, and “I will be” (is) with you.

So Jacob was facing oppression and backlash, but God was telling Jacob, I hear you! and I have Better things for you! He says to Jacob, “I will be” (is) with you. G-d was sending with Jacob “His Spirit”! This was the part of G-d that is. Jacob gets to be with “I will be”.

As a result, Jacob tells his wives and says, hey ladies, it’s time to pack up and go, because God is with me and your father is a cheater… look and see how he wants to leave you. Jacob is wearing his Salvation! He is saying, there is nothing to worry about, because Eh-H-Yeh is with me!

But it wasn’t like that at first, as you saw, Jacob struggled, and his workload was changed many times. So it was with the Israelites in the times of Moses. Moses is declaring to them what G-d had spoken, but they couldn’t listen and their workload was changed multiple times. However, G-d told Moses that “I Am” is with you.

Lexham Hebrew Bible Chapter 3

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כִּֽי־אֶֽהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֔ךְ וְזֶה־לְּךָ֣ הָא֔וֹת כִּ֥י אָנֹכִ֖י שְׁלַחְתִּ֑יךָ בְּהוֹצִֽיאֲךָ֤ אֶת־הָעָם֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם תַּֽעַבְדוּן֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַ֖ל הָהָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version (Chapter 3)

So He said, “I will be” (is) with you. So that will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt: you will worship God on this mountain.”

Lexham Hebrew Bible Chapter 3

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כֹּ֤ה תֹאמַר֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֲלֵיכֶֽם

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 3

14God answered Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Then He said, “You are to say to Bnei-Yisrael, ‘I AM’ has sent me to you.”

But listen to this, because after G-d says this to Moses, then He says:

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 3

15God also said to Moses: “You are to say to Bnei-Yisrael, ADONAI, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and the Name by which I should be remembered from generation to generation.

So the name by which HaShem wants us to call Him by is 1. יהוה God our your fathers, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob… He has sent me to you. This is how I know G-d loves his latino population, because if you are a real latino, you carry the names of your fathers and mothers. Like my mom in Mexico had to write out all her 50 names!

No, but seriously, G-d is letting us know His full Name, but it is not because He wants us to say His 50+ Names, but because He is telling us to remember to remind Him that He’s got a promise to fulfill! We are asking Him to reveal who He is to us, and He is showing you! He is showing you that everything is to bring about His Salvation!

G-d’s Word through Moses was always and is about Salvation!

Pharaoh couldn’t see it, and the Hebrews couldn’t see it, but guess what....

G-d wants you to see it! He wants you to see Him! He wants you to see His Salvation!

The question I have to ask you is if you are willing to see His promise to you? Are you willing to behold Better things?

There was a moment not to long ago that I had this old object, and I love this object, because I use it all the time. However, a person came and made an exchange with my parents without me knowing. A little while later, my parents told me… Jacob, this object is being given away.

How many of your if this took place would feel aggravated? I know there are times where I would be upset, but this time I was not. As I looked at my family, I knew that we had recieved something more valuable, but not just more valuable… something more useful for the whole family. Following my reply, my mom spoke to me and said, I am glad that you know that you have recieved something more.

We are going to make sacrifices, but I count it all joy to give what I have for the benefit of my family and community. What else am I going to give, well G-d only knows. But at least He knows that He has my all.

However, I will stress out… when you give, do not let your left hand know what you right hand is doing.

Matthew 6:3 TLV

But when you do tzedakah, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

As you see I am not just talking about money, but be aware to the voice of G-d tugging on your heart to do something. Have you heard the miracle of the empty pantry?

Well it goes like this:

There was a lady who was always faithful to G-d and her community giving from what she had. One day, a mix up happened that caused her to be in financial hardship, but she had always come up with just enough to keep her home. With this, the day came when her pantry became empty. She then would pray: L-rd please fill this pantry… L-rd please fill this pantry. Send a person to fill this Pantry.

One day she heard someone drop a couple hundred dollars of food at her door, rang the bell and ran away. As soon as she opened the door she started to Praise the L-rd! She said, God did it! God did it! God did it!

As she was yelling this, her neighbor comes out of the bushes and says, “Ha, I was walking by and heard you praying to your God, because you had no food, and so I bought the food to show you that your God doesn't exist, because I did it!” She then began to praise the Lord again exclaiming “God did it! God did it! God did it”! troubled by her response, he said… . no, no, no you don’t understand, G-d isn't real, because he didn't bring you food, I did! And she continue to speak… God did it, God did it, and he made the devil pay for it!

As the lady gave to her community, God returned the favor with His righteous compassion at His perfect timing.

G-d is asking for a humble heart that is quick to realize His awesome power! As I was listening to this, I couldn’t but be amazed at what G-d has done. The more we realize who He is and what He can do instead of what we can do by ourselves, the easier it is to let go.

You know something that is interesting is that G-d has declared to us when we have nothing the ability to give something.

As I stand back, I realize that I truly began with nothing. Have you ever thought about the moments where G-d is asking you to do something, and you replied back… But G-d, I do not have what you are asking of me....

ha… ha

During the Rabbi’s conference there was a leader in the community who had nothing and was in school debt, but G-d told him: You are going to Israel! But how Lord, i don’t have money, and i’m in debt. How am i going to Israel. Sure enough, he said to himself, okay, I am going to Israel. The moment he confirmed G-d’s Word over His life and acted on looking forward to going to Israel, a leader came to him and told him that he is going to Israel and not worry about the payment. So he went to Israel, and as he was in Israel, he was doing exactly what G-d called him to do. One day he was standing by the Galilee, and the L-rd told this stranger to give him a gift. Sure enough that gift was to pay of his school debt. All the rabbi’s and leaders were so much in awe and in joy of what G-d did, and they asked him, “hey, what was the spot by the Galilee that God told you to go too! We need that blessing!”

When you give what G-d is asking for, He will make sure to satisfy you according to the riches of His glory!

What is stopping you from answering in obedience the voice of HaShem! Are your eyes focused on the world, are you focused on your own capabilities? Are you focused on finding the Name of G-d? Or are you focused on the Promise that He will be with us! If you see the whole passage of Exodus, you see the whole purpose of the convo with Moses was so that you would know that G-d is taking you our of oppression and into His promise, because you have been crying out to Him even before you knew His full Name!

Let me tell you, resist the devil, and G-d will place the enemy as a footstool.

Psalm 110:1 TLV

A psalm of David. Adonai declares to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Your greatest enemy is yourself, but your biggest support is the L-rd.

G-d is telling Moses to go! but he is stopping himself. God is telling you to go, but you are looking at that old truck, holding on to that old teddy bear, you are holding on to the past hurt, you are holding on to what people said about you, you have been holding on to the words that you are not this and/or you are that; you are holding on to the regret of what you could’ve been, or you are not moving from where you are now. G-d is telling you that He is G-d and has set you before Pharaoh as God! God is telling you about His promise to you and your family and your people, but you are focused on how you are not worthy. Some of you feel depressed, broken, and are in need of healing, but instead of looking forward to the healing and remaining in the hope that Better things will come, you are focus on the brokenness and the bondage. We look up to God and say, “But I love this God!” meanwhile God is looking deep into your eyes exclaiming, “BUT I LOVE YOU! AND I WOULD GIVE MYSELF FOR YOU!”

How can you not fall in love with the one who gives to you the best of of all things! How can you refuse, BETTER THINGS!

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen people look back, and the moment they did, I can see them just turn into a pillar of salt. People become frozen and stuck, because they couldn’t see past what they had even when they have recieved a better gift. Well let me tell you, G-d is not gonna let you in if you keep looking back. G-d tells us that he lets the minds of the people consume themselves.

Psalm 81:12–13 TLV

But My people did not listen to My voice. Israel was not willing to be Mine. So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own counsels.

Listen to what He is trying to say.... Better things - things coming with salvation!

Those things are coming!

Lot’s son in-laws were so consumed by foolishness that they couldn't focus on the impending judgment, because they couldn't focus on the judgment they were wiped out.

Some recognize the judgment, and though you see the judgment, your hearts are focused on what you are losing instead of what you are gaining, and because Lot’s wife couldn't focus on what she was gaining, she was judged as she was fixed on what she had lost.

Lot’s wife was saved until she affirmed that she was not - the moment she looked back.

Yeshua has saved you, do not look back!

Yeshua has saved you, He gave his life for you, receive His perfect gift!

Yeshua has saved you, He is raised from the dead causing Salvation to sprout! Behold you who have recieved Him have the resurrection and the life! Better Things have yet to come!

Some of us here have some things that we need to let go of, because G-d is showing you BETTER THINGS, if you want to pursue Better things; if you want to Pursue “I am” the one who is with you Stand up an come up to the front.