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| HYPOTHESIS: What does Faith mean? Q: (6) emunah
PICTURE: This study looks at OT and NT occurances of "emunah" the Hebrew word translated as "faith".
DISCUSSION: Some contexts:-
Context 1: Consider the first verse that uses this "faith" word, not even translated properly by the KJV:-
Ex 17:12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady (emunah) "firmly supported" until the going down of the sun.
So if Aaron and Hur are holding up Moses' hands, what picture does this show us about "faith"? It shows us they were " firmly supporting" Moses' arms. That is what "faith" means. Support.
Context 2: The KJV, has words added "are done in" because they cannot translate "emunah" correctly:-
Ps 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.(KJV)
Ps 33:4 For the word of the LORD is straight; and all his works (emunah) "firmly support".(Ancient Hebrew)
How much easier to understand, God's creative work supports that God is good, logical and powerful.
Context 3: The KJV, has words added "reacheth unto" because they cannot translate "emunah" correctly:-
Ps 36:5 � Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. (KJV)
Ps 36:5 � Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; thy (emunah) "firmly support" the clouds. (Ancient Hebrew)
See how easier the Ancient Hebrew is in English, when we have the right consistent meaning for "emunah".
Ps 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily (emunah) thou shalt be fed. (KJV)
And yet again the KJV has another different meaning for "emunah".
Ps 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, "firmly supported" (emunah), thou shalt be fed. (Ancient Hebrew)
How does God support Israel here? If the nation was Agriculturally based on the land, the land supports you, and thou shalt be fed... so much for the King James meaning.
And yet again the KJV has another different meaning for "emunah" with more added words not in the Hebrew, such as "endureth".
Ps 100:5 For the LORD is good ; his mercy is everlasting ; and his truth (emunah) endureth to all generations . (KJV)
Ps 100:5 For the LORD is good ; his mercy is everlasting ; and He "firmly supports" (emunah) all generations . (Ancient Hebrew)
How does the Lord firmly support all generations?
Verse 3 of this prayer tells us that the Lord does things for us, like a shepherd does for his sheep in the pasture..that's how the Lord supports us.
Context 4: Finally one of the few verses in the OT that speaks of those in the salvation of GOD, do so by their "faith"..
Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith (emunah). (KJV)
Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the "straight" shall live by his "firm support" (emunah). (Ancient Hebrew)
There seems to be a lack of "support" in the OT for "YHWH" ?
Now let's look at New Testament contexts for this same Hebrew word:-
Context 5: First mention of "faith" in the NT, is a centurian who explains how his men support his words and does what he says. So the centurian asks Jesus to speak the words only.
Mt 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (KJV)
Mt 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, (amen) supporting what I say unto you, I have not found so great (emunah) "firm support", no, not in Israel. (Ancient Hebrew)
What support was the centurian showing about Jesus?
Ps 33:9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.(KJV)
The centurian knew these words, or heard about them, and claimed speaking the word was enough for power to flow, the direct presence of Jesus was not required.
Context 6: Here is a story of healing because Jesus sees "human support" for a sick man.
Mt 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith (emunah) "firm support" said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
What firm support did Jesus see, to heal the sick man?
Lu 5:19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Jesus saw the determined effort of the friends who loved this sick man, and healed him because of their support for him. The sick man also may have supported the Lord, by claiming this prayer:-
Ps 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
This whole prayer is about those who are sick, a simile of the sick man, and a simile of Jesus dying on the Cross.
Isa 33:24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
When Jesus said thy sin-offerings be forgiven thee, He was lifted the guilt from this man: the cause of his sickness.
Context 7: Here is a story of healing because a woman physically "firmly supports" Jesus by touching his blue fringes of His garment.
What "firm support" to Jesus, did the woman show?
The Author is indebited to Jeff Benner for his insight into the Hebrew, he writes in Living Words volume 1, and I quote:"
In the passage from Matthew above, the Greek word for
�hem� is the same word, kraspedon, and literally means �fringe.�
The final evidence showing that Yeshua did in fact wear tsiytsiyt
is found in the Shem Tov Hebrew text where we find the Hebrew
word tsiytsiyt in Matthew 9:20.
The woman knew if she just touched his fringe she would be
healed. Why? Because she knew of the prophecy in Malachi 4:2:" (end quote)
Jeff shows the Greek Matthew is really a translation of a Hebrew Matthew, for the Hebrew word "tsiytsiyt" was a blue tassel sewed to the corners of one's garment, which Jesus wore.
Jeff does not understand the meaning of "Faith" as "firm support", and poses the woman was seeking Jesus prophetic words...(this is also a good and true saying too):-
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (KJV)
Jeff explains this text, so a better translation is:-
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Servant of righteousness arise with healing in his corners of His garment; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Ancient Hebrew)
So the woman was supporting Jesus and his words of prophecy, and thus Jesus turned around to thank her for supporting Him. Jesus also supported her, by granting his power for healing.
This is yet another example of how "faith", a nebulus English term, really means in Hebrew to give "firm support", and especially how to go about "supporting Jesus".
Context 8: Here is a story of healing for a woman who is a stranger or foreigner. She lived near Sidon or Tyre and came looking for Jesus to remove a devil from her daughter.
Mt 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Abraham's descendents were given first opportunity for salvation. But all the earth was included with God's call to be saved.
Mt 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Calling a Jew "a dog" was considered the lowest thing one could do, but this woman was a stranger, not even of Jewish origin. The Jews despised strangers, but the torah-teachings had blessings for even strangers.
Le 19:33 And if a stranger (ger) sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
The woman called Jesus the "Son of God" and was familar with many torah-teaching verses such as these.... strangers were to follow the teachings, and were allowed to glean the left over food from a Jewish field.
This is why she agreed with the Lord's statement, and was not bothered with prejudice towards her.
Mt 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
The woman was familar with Ruth a Moabitess, or stranger to Jewish land gleaning the edges of Boaz, the kindred of Elimelech. (Ruth 2: 2,3) So the reply that she was entitled to the crumbs that fall from the Jewish tables of blessings, was all she was entitled to, shows her support for the Teachings of salvation.
Context 9: Consider now how "faith" is done by followers of Jesus: Notice the disciples witnessing experience:-
Mt 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
In order to support Jesus properly, with humility and meekness, a deep relationship must be developed. This is what a mustard seed of support does. It grows and gets bigger over time, because the support gains more support by prayer and fasting.
So as a babe claiming seed promises to support Jesus, and thanking Him for this power flow in your life, is a good milky start for beginners in Jesus. But simply saying seed promises of Jesus, does not automatically cause Jesus to support you because you speak His words with hope.
Your relationship with Jesus must grow deeper, stronger and clearer over quality time with Him.
This is the message from this context, a plant takes time to make fruit, and fruit production is all about relationship, abiding with the Divine. Silly biological scientists think life is just an ongoing process of chemical reactions fighting an uphill battle against entrophy and disorder, but all living things receive the powers for living from GOD.
If you want salvation offered by Jesus, you have to spend relationship time with Divinity. Fasting and prayer opens the will to think more clearly and ask more meekly for supporting words Jesus will respond gladly to.
Mt 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Here is Satan supporting the Father by quoting words that would allow Jesus, His Son to be supported... is this OK in a relationship, the Devil asked?
The question was asked to prove you're in a relationship, is really a mock to the Father...Jesus replied, to the "false presumptious support" by saying:
Mt 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
So we need to be careful in our supporting Jesus with His words, and our way we conduct ourselves before Him. Presumption is really false support, or the opposite of support; you're speaking Jesus' words in order to magnify "Self".
If you pray more, you will listen more, and hear Jesus speaking to you, and your support for Jesus, is the kind of support He wants. Thus a relationship with Jesus is a double process, you and the Lord working together, like two cattle in a yoke, the older more experienced Saviour taking the biggest support of the load, and you the trained one learning to support Jesus with the words of His experience.
That is how torah-teachings are, you are trained by the trainer until you grow up into Jesus, mature and complete, able to be a Servant for Him, to do His will according to the Father's good pleasure. Shalom
Pr 16:9 � A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Your support to Jesus, must be the kind of support Jesus wants, because He directs your daily steps, while you plan your course. There are over 3,500 Seed Promises one can choose to support Jesus with every day, and if you spend more time in prayer, Jesus will daily tell you which seeds to sow of His power through you daily.
Ga 3:23 But before "firm support" came, we were kept under the "teachings", shut up unto the "firm support" which should afterwards be revealed.
Hope this helps the reader to understand the Holy Writings. Before Jesus came and died, our support to Him was limited in Abraham's day, because Jesus promise for ongoing salvation was not fully complete.
Now after the Cross, the salvation offered by Jesus, is fully complete, if we support Him. The teachings do NOT offer salvation, if you do them using Baal master powers of self. But if you use the teachings as a resource of Jesus' words (both former {OT} and latter {NT} rain), and Jesus' prayers (as written in the Psalms); than the teachings becomes a tutor to help you support Jesus correctly, so His power flows through you, not your own power.
Does this make sense? Do you see the teachings are still required, still just, good and holy. The teachings is the tool we humans use to support Jesus, but it is Jesus who flows in us, via our human deeds of support.
When you sow seeds in God's Garden, you have to do deeds, but do you make the plants grow? No. So do not boast how well your crop has grown, for God can give and take away. Be thankful for His blessings with a humble heart.
But since farmers no longer seek God or support Him anymore, they produce produce using man-made industrial models of madness. Our world groans under the Satanic streams that spoil our special supply. What is healthy about Genetically Modified Organisms?
Soaked in Satanic solutions that guarentee cancer and early death, and dysfunctional living, the world is doomed daily to die.
But from God's Goodness Garden comes the Grace of His beauty, foods grown under His design, genes that grow properly in you for ongoing life. Great is the gospel news if we go back to the Designed manner of growing goodness from His gardens. Shalom
Context 10: Paul perceives a man has "support for Jesus", as Paul preaches the gospel in the city:
Ac 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith (emunah) "firm support" to be healed,
The gospel words flow into many receiving the word, that some listening sow these seeds of support in their minds, hope for Jesus to flow in their lives.
Paul seeing this hope, asks Jesus to demonstrate His salvation in person.
Context 11: Paul writes in Romans that sraightness of GOD comes only when we support GOD.
Ro 1:17 For therein is the righteousness "sraightness" of God revealed from faith "firm support" to faith "firm support": as it is written, The just shall live by faith (emunah) "firm support".
Paul goes on that if we do not support GOD, we become over to a dysfunctional mind, to do all kinds of sinning, and immorality.
Ro 3:22 Even the righteousness "straightness" of God which is by faith "firm support" in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe "support": for there is no difference:
We all have a missing relationship with the Family of GOD, and thus need to "firmly support" Jesus, in order to become "Straight before Elohiym". Paul explains this process, below (written more clearly for the reader):
Ro 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through "firm support" in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Context 12: Paul writes in Romans about some aspects of the teachings. The Jews followed the teachings very strictly using human traditions and added human rules.
Ro 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall "straighted" the circumcision by "firm support", and uncircumcision through "firm support".
Circumcision was a symbol of Jesus removing the propensities from around the heart.
De 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Why did Jesus introduce literal circumcision in the former teachings? Because the followers of Jesus were stiff necked, stubborn and hard.
Too many Churches today say all the teachings they don't like to follow are abolished, and we just follow Jesus.... how can you follow Jesus, if you do not support His words?
And if the words no longer apply, you cannot support Him, can you? Could we look for a spiritual renewed way of doing circumcision today? so we continue to support Jesus?
How? Pray to Jesus to circumcise your heart daily, to remove painfully with tears of agony the propensities that cause dysfunction in your living in Jesus.
In a similar way the Feasts were symbols of Jesus, we're supporting Jesus, and Jesus' is supporting us. Do we make void the teachings because we do not like some of their ways?
Or should we look for renewed spiritual ways to guard the feasts of Jesus, the love feasts that the SOP calls them?
The feast of unleavened bread is about doing with less, so fasting and prayer is a good practice with this feast. The Author practices this feast every Monday, so I can clear my mind, pray more clearly and live a more functional life in Jesus. Shalom
Context 13: Notice the difference between legalism and correctly supporting Jesus:-
Ro 9:30 � What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of "firm support".
Legalism is a false kind of salvation, where the follower practices and follows the teachings hoping they are saved.
Both of these groups of followers of the teachings are doing legalism, hoping they are saved by following the teachings. Many churches today pick and choose which teachings to follow and which teachings to ignore, saying such teachings was nailed to the Cross.
But the true follower of Jesus, supports Jesus from the teachings, and hopes the flow of Jesus, flows through their lives unto salvation. Such a follower chooses teachings from the OT and NT in order to support Jesus with.
Notice the two rocks mentioned here, the "Jesus rock and Father rock", and how the SOP declares Jesus to be both the foundation and a stone of offence. In Desire of Ages, the SOP declares Jesus as our salvation, even through the community effort of Elohiym.
Context 14: Here Paul writes again in different words how to be saved, and why legalism does not save you:-
Ro 10:1 � Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Some knowledge is important, for we need to know knowledge to be saved. But the Jews knew Hebrew surely, and yet they established their own support by doing human works, rather than supporting GOD. They got it wrong..
Paul is trying to say, we must support Jesus' words, and let His words work in us. This is our salvation, if we support Jesus' words, Jesus will support us back.
Simple really, once you understand the support you do, that supports you back.
Context 15: Different gifts in us all:
1Co 12:9 To another firm-support by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
This passage lists different followers of Jesus, with different levels of support and gifts, resulting in different power flows from Jesus. We are not all expected to have wonders of Jesus flowing for the service of others.
Many of us have different gifts of the Spirit.
Context: 16: Balance the harmony:
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith (Emanuh) "firm support", so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (Greek: agape) (Hebrew: ahab) "maleness-love", I am nothing
Geting excited with this new method of getting Jesus into our lives, is exciting, for it is hidden from us in the Hebrew. Sure many with child like faith were saved by Jesus, but some of us want a deeper flow of Jesus in the end of time. But we need to balance the harmony.
The flow of Jesus that flows in us, is a flowing of maleness-love, that seeks a response of femaleness-love to nurture those in fellowship. Its all about relationship. God is a family. Humans are a family. Love is a family of two personalities of loving. Shalom
Context: 17: We cannot see GOD:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by "firm support", not by sight:)
When you pray to support GOD who you cannot directly see, you support GOD with words of hope that promise a flowing in you.
We use electricity easily and daily, supporting a power we cannot see, and hope a flow, flows safely for us to use. Yet if we were allowed to see the Father's Zero Point Energy that causes this flow of flowing,
we would be fried by the enourmous energetic agony of power, an electrical density so scientists say is a trillion trillion times more dense than our entire universe! Awesome!
Context: 18: Whose supporting you?
Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not straightened by the works of the teachings, but by the "firm-support" of Jesus Christ, even we have "supported" Jesus Christ, that we might be straightened by the "firm-suport" of Christ, and not by the works of the teachings: for by the works of the teachings shall no flesh be straightened. (Ancient Hebrew)
When you take words of Jesus, and support Him, whose supporting you? Your own human power, or Jesus flowing through you? You cannot take the teachings and follow Jesus using your own human power. This cannot make you straight. Why? Because there is no relationship in it.
You need two points to make a straight line. Not one point. And three points make a crooked line. Two points makes a relationship get started. You and Jesus. Not self on it's own.
Sure you take the teachings of Jesus, and support Jesus with those teachings, but you must hope for the promised power flow to flow from those teachings.
Ga 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Holy Spirit by the works of the teachings, or by the hearing of "firm support"?
The teachings cannot save you if you follow them. You take the teachings, and sow them in your mind, to support Jesus, who flows in you, to support you back.
Can the reader see the difference here? What Paul is trying to say?
Ga 3:11 But that no man is straightened by the Teachings in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by firm-support.
Ga 3:12 And the Teachings is not of firm-support: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Most of the children of Israel got the teachings purpose wrong. They thought by doing the teachings, they would be made straight by the Teachings.
If anybody knows a Jew, and their added human traditions to the Teachings, the increase in Baal masters powers of self, is so strict and exact that only more crooked is their walking before GOD.
Only relationship (two points of contact) make humans straight. You get relationship, by supporting Jesus with His teachings, and waiting in hope for the promised power flow of Jesus to flow in your life.
When you make a relationship in marriage on earth, you support each other. Another term for this is to serve each other. Love and being loved. Give and receive.
The Divine Relationship works the same way. The purpose of teachings is to bring you Jesus in person, and He comes personally to you, when you support Him.
Ga 3:23 But before Support came, we were kept under the Teachings, shut up unto the Support which should afterwards be revealed.
Only after when Jesus came from the grave, was sin-offering completed by Jesus. Now He can fully support you. The Teachings train us to support Jesus. Once you are trained by the Teachings, Jesus flow in you as you support His Support.
Ga 3:25 But after that Support is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
When Jesus flows in you, the Teachings have served their purpose for that hour, and you walk in His Hand with His burning.
Context: 19: Defining support:-
Heb 11:1 � Now support is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This writing is an excellent definition of what is support, but it does not say how to get support.
when we "take words" or "pray in hope", we are "supporting Jesus", and this unseen power promises to flow in us.
Heb 11:6 But without support it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must support that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
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The pictograph reads "The strong flow, fixed over the nations. Behold the Person!". Strong's 530
Mt 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith (emunah" "firm support" hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
The teachings contain seeds of Jesus. But you cannot have a relationship with Jesus, unless you know you have missed in having a relationship with Jesus. (Scroll of Jesus 14:1)
You take the word, and sow it in your heart.(Scroll of Jesus 14:2)
Once you support Jesus with his words in prayer, Jesus will support you. (Scroll of Jesus 14:3)
The power flow in you from Jesus, grows up to bear fruit. Such growth can take years or seconds, it depends upon which Seed Promises you sow. (Scroll of Jesus 14:3)
The fruits will flow in praise from you, so that others will want to seek this seed for themselves. Or others will take offence because you have Divinity in you, and they don't. ( Jesus 14:3)
A person on their own, temporarily alive with a broken relationship to GOD, your current living is pointless before GOD. You cannot make yourself straight by human deeds in the teachings.
A torah teaching follower does not make you straight.
When you support Jesus, the relationship with Him, makes you straight, and it is through His support only, that we are Straight before GOD.
Hopping over daily to do our own thing with our own Baal master power of human powers causes us to become crooked. We need to daily support Jesus, so that His power flows through us, not our own Baal master powers of self.
Allowing our old nature to die and our new nature in Jesus to live, is a daily battle of support, we must fight the good fight of support. When you support Jesus, there is a human work you do. But it is not your power walking in His teachings, but His power flowing through you.