Program 146: Radical faith and the gift of giving

Self-sacrifice lays up treasure in Heaven.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Part 1: Radical Faith

Miles Robey: Lao Tzu, the ancient, fifth-century BCE philosopher, once wrote, quote: “The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.”

Hello, I’m Miles Robey and today we’re going to be talking about almsgiving. In his sermon on the mount, Christ spoke about charity and giving and he made a strong distinction between how the sanctimonious of his day gave versus how believers are to give. Matthew 6, verses 1 to 4 says:

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Unquote. Now, speaking for myself, this is kind of what I think of when I think of Biblical almsgiving. However, recently Dave Wright was sharing with me some thoughts on Biblical almsgiving and I have to say, it brought charity—I know that’s a bad word to some—it brought giving generously to help the needy to a whole new level and that’s what I’d like him to talk about today. I’d like all of you to hear this, too.

Dave?

Dave Wright: Thanks, Miles. I think most of us, like you, tend to think of the Saviour’s words in the sermon on the mount when we think of Biblical almsgiving: disinterested benevolence, meaning generosity that is free from self-interest or ulterior motives. You know, we don’t stand around on street corners like the Pharisees and proudly announce, “I gave 50 pounds to charity this week!”

Miles: It’s hard to imagine that people actually did that. It’s just so obviously self-serving.

Dave: Well, it still happens. People still like to pat-themselves-on-the-back for giving. During the recent lockdowns due to the coronavirus, many poor people were unable to work and ran out of food for their families. Now, in some countries, there is a societal safety net to help out in an emergency, but not all countries have that. One of our team members in another country was telling me how, where he lives, various private groups organized food drives to collect and deliver food—on the days they were allowed to drive–to those who had none.

Miles: Well, that’s—that’s nice! People helping people. That’s what we’re supposed to do.

Dave: Sure! Of course. But then what too-often happened was that the people delivering the bags of food would take photos of the “grateful recipients” and then post them on Facebook.

Miles: Ohhhh.

Dave: Now, granted, it was ostensibly to encourage more people to give by showing them what was being done to help the poor, so more people would donate food and money to help out.

But ask yourself: if you were so desperately poor that you couldn’t even feed your own children, would you want your photo plastered on social media as a poster child for desperate want?

Miles: No. That would be very violating of not only my privacy but dignity as well.

Dave: Exactly. When we give, we’re not to let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. We’re certainly not to post about it on social media—our version of a street corner in the marketplace.

But there’s more to Biblical almsgiving than just making sure you don’t brag about it, a lot more, and that’s what we’re going to be focusing on today.

You have your Bible there?

Miles: Yep! Got it.

Dave: All right, I’d like you to turn to the gospel of Luke, chapter 12. Here, someone had just asked Yahushua to arbitrate between himself and his brother. Apparently, someone—probably their father—had just died and left them an inheritance, but the brother wasn’t being fair with the division of assets, so this guy wanted Yahushua to use his authority as a well-respected teacher to pressure the brother to do what he wanted. He says, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Now. Let’s read Yahushua’s response. Start at verse 13 and read through . . . uh, verse 21. What does it say?

Miles:

Yahushua replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’”

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Dave: So, we have here a rich man whom Yah calls a fool. What is the lesson being taught here?

Miles: You would have to ask, wouldn’t you? Honestly, this is one parable I’ve never been able to figure out. Yah isn’t calling him a fool just because he’s rich. Yahuwah Himself blessed Job until he was the richest man in Uz. That he wasn’t supposed to build bigger barns?

Well, what do you think it means, O wise one? Seriously, the rich man is doing nothing but what people today do when they decide to retire.

Dave: To be fair, I was always a bit confused by this parable, too. I finally decided that the rich man was called a fool because he decided to tear down his barns before building larger ones to replace them.

Miles: What?

Dave: Well, that’s the order of action given in the story! He says, “I will tear down my barns”—that’s phase one—and build bigger ones.” That’s phase 2. I thought that in his pursuit to show off his wealth, he decided to tear down his existing barns before building larger ones.

Miles: Do you still believe that?

Dave: No, I don’t. In order to understand the Saviour’s lesson here, we first have to understand the Israelite view of “charity.” Like you said, that’s a word that’s come to be viewed negatively by a lot of people.

Miles: Yeah—a freebie given to the needy that somehow ends up damaging their pride.

Dave: By definition, though, it’s nothing bad. “Charity” is defined simply as “Provision of help or relief to the poor; almsgiving. Something given to help the needy; alms.” So, again. Nothing bad. It’s just a word referring to help given to those in need.

Miles: So are you saying the Israelites were really charitable? ‘Cause I just don’t see that. I mean, to this day, the Jews are known for their sharp business dealings. They have a reputation for being pecunious, wealthy from cheating others. They’re Europe’s bankers!

Dave: I’m aware of that. First of all, not all Jews are like that. Secondly, remember that the philosophies and traditions that have created a mindset in some Jews to cheat gentiles comes—by their own admission—from the teachings of the Pharisees. Modern Judaism is the descendant of Pharisaism. The Jews themselves admit this. So. Cheating a goy? Perfectly acceptable according to the Talmud.

Ancient Israel, however, was extremely liberal. Yahuwah worked it into their laws that they were to provide for the widow, the orphan, and even strangers: foreigners.

Miles: Where does it say that?

Dave: Well, let’s take a look. Grab your Bible there and turn to, uh … Leviticus 19. Leviticus, chapter 19 and read verses 9 and 10. Go ahead and read that for us as soon as you’ve got it.

Miles: Okay, uh … Leviticus 16 … 17. Nineteen. It says: “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am Yahuwah your God.” [Leviticus 19:9-10]

Dave: This is how ancient Israel provided for the needy. Sure, there were poor people, but with these laws in place, no one needed to starve.

Miles: Right! Uh, uh, what’s her name? Ruth! The Moabitess. When she moved to Israel with her mother-in-law, Naomi, she gleaned in the fields of Boaz.

Dave: Yes. That’s what she was doing. Ruth and Naomi were both poor widows. Let’s take a look at that really quick. Turn to Ruth chapter two. It’s interesting what Boaz told his reapers.

First of all, he tells Ruth she is welcome to continue to glean in his fields through the end of the harvest. Then, while she’s busy doing that, he gives some instructions to his reapers. Read it. It’s verses 15 to 17.

Miles: Uh …

And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barely.”

Dave: This is how the poor were provided for in ancient Israel. And the story of Ruth is really ancient. Remember: Boaz’s mother was Rahab who hid the two spies Joshua sent to spy out the land

Miles: I like how, doing it this way, preserved their dignity intact as well.

Dave: Right. Benevolence to the poor and needy was woven throughout all of Yah’s commands to ancient Israel. What’s more, every seven years, the land itself was to have a rest. No new crops were to be planted and recurrent crops, such as grapes, figs, whatever, that came up by themselves, all of that harvest was to go to the poor.

Let’s read it! Go to Exodus 23 and read verses 10 and 11.

Miles: Okay, uh … got it: “Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove.”

Dave: Anyone who was hungry could take what they needed to assuage their hunger and this was not considered stealing.

In fact, do you remember that time Yahushua and the disciples walked through some grain fields on the Sabbath and the disciples were hungry and started eating some of the grain? That’s what they were doing.

Now, what’s interesting to note is that the Pharisees weren’t accusing the disciples of stealing but of working on the Sabbath.

Miles: I thought it was because they were eating with unwashed hands.

Dave: No, that was another time. Why don’t you read it? I think it’s in Matthew 13.

Miles: All right … uh, no. It’s actually Matthew 12. It says:

At that time Yahushua went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

Dave: Basically, according to the Pharisees, the disciples were working. Not stealing, because that was unlawful regardless of whether or not it was the Sabbath. But work was unlawful to do specifically on the Sabbath.

Miles: How could what they were doing be considered working?

Dave: Well, plucking the heads from the stalks, that could be considered harvesting. Rubbing it between their hands to remove the husk, that could be considered threshing or winnowing. So, working on the Sabbath. But again: not stealing!

Miles: Clearly, the Israelites had a different view of giving.

Dave: Sadly, it’s a view that has been lost by most Christians today. Now that we understand just what the Israelite view of giving actually was, when we return, we’re going to take a look at why they believed that way and what rewards they expected to receive for being liberal in their giving.

Miles: Sounds good. We’ll be right back!

* * *

Advertisement

Prayer is a privilege! It brings the individual into the very presence of the Most High and the Father hears every prayer that is ever uttered, even the unspoken yearnings of the hidden heart.

Have you ever noticed, though, that some people seem to receive answers to their prayers all the time while with others, answers seem rather hit-or-miss? Maybe it seems that your own prayers often go unanswered. The truth is, while Yahuwah does hear every prayer, some prayers are simply more effective.

Yahuwah is not playing favorites. There is a science to effectual prayer. Once you learn how to pray and get clear and obvious answers, your life, and the lives of those for whom you pray, will never be the same again.

To learn how you can pray for others and see your prayers answered, look for the radio episode entitled “The Secrets of Intercessory Prayer.” You can find it on YouTube or go to our website, WorldsLastChance.com, and click on the WLC Radio icon. Once again, that’s “The Secrets of Intercessory Prayer.” Listen today and start getting answers to your prayers.

* * *Part 2: Radical Faith

Miles: So, how would you encapsulate the Israelite perspective on charity or almsgiving?

Dave: Well, I think Christ said it best. In fact, he just spelled it right out. We’ve just never taken the time to let the full impact of his words sink in. I’d like you to read it for us. It’s also from his sermon on the mount. Matthew chapter 6, verses 19 to 21. What does that say?

Miles: Okay, give me just a second to find it … let’s see … it says: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Dave: This is why we are to give to the poor and help those in need: because by doing so, we are, in a very real sense, laying up treasure in Heaven. When we give to others, a record is kept in Heaven and when Yahushua returns, those who have revealed the love of the Father through their loving actions to those in need will receive a reward commensurate with the good they did in His name while on earth.

Miles: So, what you’re saying is, helping those in need in a very real sense lays up treasure in Heaven for you.

Dave: Exactly! And this wasn’t a new concept. It might be for us, but it wasn’t for the Israelites. Turn to Deuteronomy chapter 14. This was clear back when they were still in the wilderness with Moses and Yah was laying down the legal framework for their nation. Read verses 27 to 29 of Deuteronomy 14 and as you read this, remember that all the tribes were given a portion of land—all the tribes except the Levites. They were the priests so instead of land for their tribe, they were given a number of cities scattered throughout the territory.

Go ahead. This is discussing tithe here.

Miles: Okay, it says:

You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part or inheritance with you. At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that Yahuwah your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. [Deuteronomy 14:27-29]

Dave: This! Right here! This is why Scripture says we are to give: so that Yahuwah may bless you in everything you do.

Now, in our last segment, you read from Leviticus 19 where the Israelites were told to leave the gleanings of any harvest for the poor to take. In other words, they weren’t supposed to make a clean sweep of the field. Any grain that fell down as they were binding it, anything that the reapers missed, was to be left for those in need. They weren’t to go over it a second time.

But I want you to read it in context with what else is being said in that chapter. Uh … we don’t have to read the whole thing. Let’s see. Just a few verses … Okay. Read verses 1 and 2 of Leviticus 19. This sets the tone for the whole chapter. This is why the Israelites were to have a care for the needy. Go ahead.

Miles: “And Yahuwah spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: “You shall be holy, for I Yahuwah your God am holy.”

Dave: The Israelites, in their daily lives, in their treatment of the needy, the helpless, and the stranger, were to reveal Yahuwah. Now read verses 9 and 10 again.

Miles: “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner.”

Dave: And just why were they to do all of that? Next phrase?

Miles: “I am Yahuwah your God.”

Dave: “I am Yahuwah your God.” They were to reveal Yah to the world by their compassionate treatment of those in need.

Miles: That’s really beautiful. I think, over all, people today want to help others but we’re often afraid to give. We’re afraid to be taken advantage of; we’re afraid that we’ll be making the problem worse, rather than better.

For example, one of our team members is an American who is living abroad with his family. He’s told me there really aren’t that many beggars where he and his family are living. In a city of 200,000, the half-dozen he sees on a routine basis are either very elderly, or are missing a leg, or even two. But what really made an impact on him was seeing the difference between how the locals treated beggars versus how tourists treated beggars.

Dave: The locals ignored them and the tourists give them money?

Miles: No! In fact, just the opposite. The locals routinely give the beggars a few coins. Tourists? Never.

Dave: Huh! Did he say why?

Miles: Well, according to him, the country where he’s now living has a really strong work ethic. Begging typically just isn’t a thing. Even if all they can do is sell gum or candy on the streets, almost all of them will work hard to support themselves so if someone is begging, the locals know there is a genuine need. So, they’ll give a little bit.

Dave: I suppose tourists might assume they’re being targeted just because they are tourists.

Miles: Oh, sure. And he admits he’s been taken advantage of a number of times and cheated by being charged a higher price than the locals just because they assume he’s rich. He says it gets old real fast and probably contributes to why tourists are suspicious of the locals: they don’t want to be cheated or taken advantage of yet again.

Dave: I know I’ve wondered before if I give a homeless person some money, if he’s going to just go buy alcohol with it.

Miles: Or if they’re going to go for my wallet and try to rob me.

Dave: I suppose feeling targeted because of your nationality would be just one more added element to why someone today might hesitate to give. But the thing we need to learn and emulate is that, to the Israelites, it didn’t matter!

They gave liberally and freely and left the results with Yah.

Now we come to the main point I want to make in today’s presentation. The Israelites didn’t worry about how the gift they gave might be used or abused, they didn’t worry about being targeted or taken advantage of, because they saw the very act of giving as being a gift to Yahuwah Himself.

Miles: That’s beautiful!

Dave: Isn’t it? And, in fact, they took it still further. They believed that helping those in need actually provided escape from damnation since giving to the poor was giving to Yah.

So, giving to the needy became, in a very real sense, an act of highest worship because by giving to the poor, they were showing adoration for the Creator Himself: giving to Him.

Miles: I really like that.

Dave: This is what has been lost in our modern understanding of charity. You don’t have to worry about whether or not that homeless bloke is going to go blow what you’ve just given him on a pint or two (or three) down at the pub. In helping relieve the distress of the poor, you are giving to the heavenly Father. You leave the results with Him because, whether you’re being targeted or not, whether you’re being taken advantage of or not, whether the best use will be made of your gift or not, it will be credited to your account in Heaven as being done to Yahuwah Himself.

Turn to Proverbs 10, would you please? There is a verse here that, due to the way it’s been translated, we’ve missed the deeper, hidden meaning. Proverbs 10 and, once you’re there, read verse 2.

Miles: All right, it says, quote: “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.”

Unquote. Yeah. I’m not seeing any hidden meaning here.

Dave: That’s because it’s hidden!

All right. Modern dictionaries define “righteousness” as “a righteous act” and even Scripture contains this meaning of the word. The word “righteousness” comes from the Hebrew word, ts^edâqâh. It means morally upright, just, virtuous and includes the definition of … virtuous acts.

So, now, listen. I’m going to read Proverbs 10, verse 2 again, only this time I’m going to insert “virtuous acts” instead of just “righteousness.” Ready?

Miles: Read on, Macduff!

Dave: “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteous acts delivereth from death.”

Miles: Interesting.

Dave: As we’ve learned in previous programs, Yah’s promises are powerful! In fact, according to Isaiah 55:11, the word of Yah itself contains the power to fulfill what that word is! So, the way righteous acts deliver from death is due to the fact that the power to deliver from death is contained within that promise itself.

Miles: Are we talking literally here?

Dave: Well, certainly in some circumstances, a virtuous act can save the physical life. I remember a story of Corrie ten Boom. During the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands, they were hiding Jews in their home. One day at dinner, soldiers barged into their home. The Jews sitting at the dining room table didn’t have time to return to their hiding place. All they could do was plunge under the tablecloth and hide there.

Now, Corrie had decided she would lie, cheat, steal, do whatever was necessary to preserve life. Her sister, on the other hand, while just as determined to risk all to save the lives of innocents, refused to do anything wrong to do so. Consequently, when a soldier demanded where the Jews were hiding, Corrie’s sister promptly responded, “They’re under the table.”

Miles: What? Are you serious? You can’t be serious.

Dave: No, I am.

Miles: Is that how they were finally caught?

Dave: No. It was such an audacious answer, the soldier didn’t believe her. So, after searching everywhere and not finding anyone, the soldiers left.

Miles: Wow!

Dave: So, yes. In some circumstances, a virtuous act may certainly save a physical life. However, such acts have an even greater impact on the spiritual life because of the price of giving, even when you can’t afford to give, can make the act of giving very difficult.

Miles: What do you mean?

Dave: Giving a few coins to a beggar is easy, but it cuts closer to home when you could really use the money yourself, or when you also have needs.

When you help those in need—even when you could use that money yourself—you are exercising faith that Yahuwah will provide for you. He’s not going to let you suffer just because you chose to be His hands to bring help to those in need. In this way, helping others becomes a public statement of your faith that Yah will repay what you have given.

Miles: This is very true. When you give out of an abundance, you’re really not missing anything. But when you give what you could use yourself, that cuts closer to home. And, with the financial hit so many have taken due to lost work during lockdowns, this hits home for many. It reminds me of something Khalil Gibran wrote. Gibran was an early 20^th century writer, thinker … philosopher. Anyway, he said, quote: “Generosity is not giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than I do.” Unquote.

So, defined that way, what are you supposed to do?

Dave: Well, certainly if we have family—a wife, children—depending on us, we do have a responsibility to provide for them. Scripture is clear on that. However, we also have a responsibility to help those in need and this is where the true significance of Biblical almsgiving is seen. If you believe that, when you give to the poor, you’re giving to Yahuwah Himself, do you have the faith to believe that Yahuwah will, in turn, provide for you? Do you believe that He’ll meet your needs?

Miles: Hmmm. So you’re saying it becomes a statement of faith.

Dave: Exactly! Giving to others, helping the needy—even when you could use the help yourself—requires that you exercise faith that Yahuwah will meet your needs. Turn to Proverbs 19 and read verse 17. Proverbs 19:17. This is a promise that addresses this very point.

Miles: All right, it says: “He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahuwah, and He [Yahuwah] will pay back what he has given.”

Dave: Have you ever lent something to someone and not got it back?

Miles: Yeah. Books. A few tools. It’s really frustrating when that happens.

Dave: Can you ever, in your wildest imaginings, picture a situation in which you lend something to Yahuwah and He doesn’t pay it back?

Miles: No! Of course not.

Dave: Of course not. So, helping those in need is not only an act of high worship because it gives to Yahuwah Himself, but it reveals something crucial about the nature of Yah. He’s generous. You can’t out-give Him. So charity, helping the needy, becomes a statement, a declaration of belief on the part of the giver that Yahuwah will, in turn, provide for the giver.

Miles: That’s really profound! Basically, you are publicly declaring your faith in the existence of an all-loving, all-powerful God who will take care of you, making sure that you don’t lack even when you give generously to others.

Dave: Right! Now. Let me ask you this: If our generosity towards the poor is a statement about Yahuwah and who He is, precisely what is your generosity (or lack thereof) displaying about Yah?

Miles: Hmmm. I never thought of it that way before. But that’s a really cutting truth. To phrase it another way, is my lack of generosity saying to the world that the God I claim to believe in is the type that won’t take care of His children? Am I saying to the world that I don’t truly believe in the existence of a loving God who will reward my generosity? That’s really something to think about!

Dave: Cuts close to home, doesn’t it? And we find this theme developed throughout Scripture, we’ve just never picked up on it before. For example, in his letter to the Philippians, Paul praised them for their generosity in providing for him. But he wasn’t just saying thank you. He was explaining that their generosity was to their own spiritual benefit. Let’s read it. Philippians 4, verses 15 to 19.

This is a really fascinating passage. I want you to notice in verse 19 how, after saying their generosity was to their spiritual benefit, he adds his assurance that Yah, in turn, will provide for them.

Miles: All right, it says:

Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Yahushua.

Dave: Paul was grateful, of course, for the help the Philippians had generously and repeatedly given him, but he was also confident that Yahuwah would, in turn, take care of them so that their generosity to him would not leave them in want.

Even the early Christians saw giving to the needy as an act of worship. They believed that when you gave to the poor, you were encountering Yahuwah Himself.

Miles: Wow. That’s really different from our modern, suspicious—uh, dare I say “selfish”?—view towards charity.

Dave: It is! It requires a vibrant, living, radical faith to take Yah at His word and trust that He will, indeed, provide for all your needs because He has promised to. But really, is there any risk in giving to the Creator? He upholds and supplies everything! We can trust that He will provide for us, too, when we generously give to Him in the person of those around us who need help.

* * *

You are listening to World's Last Chance Radio.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Advertisement

Satan’s most effective deceptions are those in which he entwines truth and error together. He has done this on:

• The nature of Christ,
• What happens to the soul at death,
• The divine law,
• The Sabbath, and a whole host of other topics.

But the problem is that when truth is entwined with error, you don’t get diluted truth. Instead, all you get is error.

On World’s Last Chance website, we have dozens of articles and videos focusing on popular beliefs in Christianity which, when studied in the light of Scripture, are shown to be in error.

But don’t take our word for it. Come! Consider the evidence, then study it out for yourself. Heaven is pouring out spiritual truths for these last days. It’s important to know the truth and be able to share that truth with others.

James 1, verse 5 says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Yah, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

You don’t need a pastor, priest, rabbi, or imam to tell you the truth. Study for yourself and let Yahuwah be your teacher. He knows your beliefs, He knows your past, and He will lead you into all truth.

Visit us at WorldsLastChance.com and start studying today!

* * *Daily Mailbag

Dave: So what question do we have from our Daily Mailbag today?

Miles: Well, it’s one that’s a bit emotionally—or maybe I should say politically—charged for some people. However, I’m interested in hearing how you’re going to answer the question because I think we can all benefit from learning it.

Jennifer from Elizabeth, New Jersey in the United States wants to know your opinion on whether or not Islam is truly a religion of peace as Muslims claim. She writes: “I was a kid when the Twin Towers were attacked in New York just across the river and I remember the fear that followed that day. While I, personally, didn’t know anyone who was killed, I remember hearing the adults talk about it and family friends did lose loved ones that day. Recently at work, a Muslim woman was hired. She’s nice and I like her. We’ve had a chance to visit during lunch breaks and yesterday she insisted that Islam is a religion of peace. I didn’t want to argue with her, but I’m not sure what to think of that or how to react. I’ve never interacted closely with a Muslim before. Any thoughts or guidance you can give me would be very appreciated.”

Dave: The principle for interacting with Muslims is the same as with any other religion. Ask yourself, “What would Yahushua do?”

Miles: That really simplifies it, doesn’t it? He’d be kind, loving, and accepting. He would not be denunciatory or accusatory.

Dave: And that’s how we need to be if we want to be like Yahushua. Yahushua was loving and accepting of all, not just fellow Jews, but Samaritans, Romans, the Syro-Phoenician woman. He treated them all with kindness and respect.

Did you know that the word “Islam” means “to surrender” and that “Muslim” means “one who peacefully surrenders to God”?

Miles: No! Really?? No. I didn’t know that.

Dave: Well, like Judaism and Christianity, it is one of the Abrahamic religions. They do worship the God of Abraham, they just call Him by a different name. The word “Allah” is believed to be a contraction of al-ilah which has etymological roots to el, eloah, elohim. You recognize those words.

Miles: Sure. Hebrew titles for Yah. But I’ve heard people say that Muslims don’t worship the same God as you or I do.

Dave: Well, that’s like a . . . Jehovah’s Witness, for example, saying Catholics don’t worship the same God Jehovah’s Witnesses do. There is only one Creator, only one divine being and that’s Yahuwah, but our limited human understanding, combined with the differing theologies we’ve all been brought up in, have shaped our view of Him.

Miles: So you’re saying Muslims worship Yahuwah.

Dave: Of course. They worship the God of Abraham. The thing to remember, though, is that their understanding of Him is shaped by their theology just like Jews view Yahuwah differently than Christians and within Christianity, you have Catholics viewing Him differently than Protestants.

Miles: Yeah, I can see that. Someone who believes the lost will eventually be completely destroyed in the Lake of Fire are going to view Yah differently than someone who believes Yah is going to burn the lost for eternity in the fires of hell.

Dave: Right. So, the answer to the question of “Is Islam a religion of peace?” is that it depends on the individual. Realize that there is a lot of political upheaval in the world right now and the opposing sides have changed. During the cold war, it was communists against democracy. Now, it’s Islam against Christians, but it ultimately boils down to the individual. There are Muslims that are terrorists just as there are Muslims that are truly peace-loving individuals. Yah doesn’t accept or reject people in groups, and neither should we.

I’m going to say that again: Yahuwah never accepts or rejects people in groups. It is always on an individual basis. No Christian is saved by being a member of a particular organization. In fact, all Christian denominations, just like all world religions, contain some error.

Miles: Yeah, like we’ve talked about before: Heaven’s command in Revelation 18 is “Go out of her My people.” No one church or one religion has a monopoly on truth.

Dave: Which brings us around full circle to Jennifer’s question on how to interact with a Muslim. The answer is simple: treat the person with the same kindness, acceptance, and compassion Yahushua treated everyone. It doesn’t matter if they’re Muslim, Catholic, Hindu, gay, bi-sexual, or any other thing that is different from you. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict of sin or error, not ours. Our job is to reveal the love of Yah for sinners just like Yahushua did. Not by telling them how wrong or sinful they are but by treating them with kindness, by showing Yah’s love through how we live our lives.

Miles: That reminds me of one of my favorite Bible texts. It’s Jeremiah 31 verse 3. I’ve memorized it. It says: “Yahuwah hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Dave: Yes! That’s perfect! Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Only love will draw unbelievers to Yahuwah, so that should always be the basis that influences how we act toward others.

Miles: That’s good. That’s good. I know, speaking for myself, I tend to avoid people who constantly criticize me. I’m far more drawn to people who are warm, kind and friendly than to those who set themselves up as judge over me.

Okay, we’ve time for another question. This one’s coming from Samesh Ravi in Kochi, India. Samesh writes: “Christianity has changed a lot over the years. What are some aspects of living the Christian life that you would emphasize for modern believers?”

Dave: Hmmm. What an interesting question. Samesh is right. Christianity has changed a lot over the years, and not just since the first century. It’s changed in even the last 50 years.

Miles: And not always for the better.

Dave: No. Definitely not.

Well, there are some basics that have never changed between the first century and the twenty-first century. Take the time to pray, of course, and spend time in Yah’s word. We commune with Yah in prayer; He communes with us in a number of ways, but the clearest is through His word.

Miles: One thing I’ve found really helpful for digging deeply into the word of Yah is to use various Bible study tools, such as a concordance or Bible dictionary. Of course, reading is important, but if you can look up words, it can really help. One of the most convincing studies I’ve ever done was to look up every single use of the word that is translated into English as Holy Spirit. Every time the word “spirit” or “holy spirit” appears in Scripture, I looked it up and read it in context. That was probably the biggest thing that convinced me there is no such thing as a triune godhead with a disembodied “third person” called “God the Holy Spirit.” That just doesn’t appear in the original Hebrew and Greek and when I looked it up for myself, it was very clear. Very convincing.

Dave: Yes, and if you don’t have those books at home, look online. There are tremendous resources to help deepen your Bible study online.

It goes without saying that believers are to commit to believing and obeying Yah with faithfulness and consistency. But part of that belief and obedience is to make a conscious choice to exercise faith.

Miles: And it is a conscious choice to exercise faith. Faith isn’t emotion. It’s not feelings.

Dave: No! In fact, faith is what you exercise when you choose to believe regardless of how you’re feeling. That’s faith: taking Yah at His word because you trust Him to be the kind, loving Father He is presented as in His word.

And the beautiful thing is, the more we choose to believe, the more we exercise faith, the stronger our faith becomes. If you feel your faith isn’t very strong, start choosing to take Yah at His word in small steps and your faith will grow.

Miles: Is there anything in particular for contemporary Christians?

Dave: Yes, as a matter of fact. And that is: question everything. See, when I was being raised in a Protestant denomination, we were taught not to question. We were told it opened the door to doubt to question. But truth can bear the weight of investigation! And now, as Heaven is restoring old truths that have been lost, as Yah is gifting us with still greater revelations, we need to be open, questioning, studying to know more truth, not just reaffirm what we already believe.

Miles: I think for a lot of people, there is fear with studying new ideas. They’re afraid to open the door to doubt or to be deceived. No one wants to be deceived!

Dave: Of course not, but that unreasoning fear is from the devil. What did Paul say in 2 Timothy 1:7? “For Yah has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” You can trust Yahuwah to protect your mind from Satan’s delusions, but we do need to study.

In closing, turn to John 16 and read verse 13. This is an important reassurance for anyone who is afraid of considering new concepts for fear of being deceived. You have it? Go ahead.

Miles: All right. It says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

Dave: Don’t listen to fears implanted by Satan to keep you from studying for more light. We’ve all inherited error and it’s going to take diligent study to find the truth. But Yah has promised to give His Spirit to lead us into truth. However, if we’re not even willing to look, if all we want to do is listen to sermons that repeat what we already believe, how do we expect to be led?

Miles: Hmmm. Good point. “Leading” is an action verb. If we want to be led, we need to be willing to move forward.

Please continue sending us your comments and questions. Go to WorldsLastChance.com and click on contact us. We always enjoy reading your messages.

* * *Daily Promise

Hello! This is Elise O’Brien with your Daily Promise from Yah’s word.

In 2015, doctors in Brazil diagnosed Maria da Costa with a brain tumor. Tests revealed that the tumor was benign, which was wonderful news, but the location of the tumor was the problem. The tumor had to be removed, but doing so without irreparably damaging her ability to speak and reason was going to be extremely difficult.

Her neurosurgeon, Carlos Rocha, explained that there was a serious risk of Maria losing her ability to speak so she would need to be awake and able to speak to the medical team during the surgery. This is actually standard operating procedure for this type of risky surgery.

Dr. Rocha recalls, quote, “We had pre-arranged to do speech mapping with electrical stimuli to the brain and tests during surgery asking her to name objects and colors, read and talk.” Unquote.

Maria, however, had a better idea. She shocked the entire medical team when she began to sing! Remembering that frightening time, she says, quote: “I wanted to feel confident during surgery and have some sort of control in my own way. My song thanked God for my life and for giving me the strength to fight and win through this difficult health battle that has been hanging over me since 2015.” Unquote.

Maria’s strong faith in singing through her ordeal deeply moved her doctors. Her anesthesiologist, Dr. Paula Fialho, said later, quote, “There were a number of professionals involved in this procedure and it was an emotional experience. Everyone couldn’t stop talking about her courage.” Unquote.

The complicated surgery took eight hours but just four days later, Maria was headed home: walking, talking, and praising Yah for His loving watch-care over her.

Isaiah 26, verse 3 says, quote, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Unquote.

In a time of extreme stress with the potential for devastating failure, Maria trusted in her heavenly Father and He carried her through. He’ll do the same for you, too.

First Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 23 and 24 says, quote: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Yahushua Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

We have been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

* * *Part 3: Radical Faith

Miles: This whole idea that when we give to the needy, we’re giving to Yah Himself is really beautiful. It inspires me to want to go and give more. But we truly are giving to Him! Hebrews 4:15: “For we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are.”

Now, obviously, in this context, it’s referring to Yahushua, but he got that sensitivity to our feelings—feeling what we feel—from the Father!

Dave: Well, Zechariah 2 verse 8: “He who touches you, touches the apple of His eye!”

John Chrysostom was a fourth-century archbishop of Constantinople. He taught that the poor could, in a real sense, be viewed as an altar for worshipping Yah. He wrote, quote, “Whenever . . . you see a poor believer, imagine that you behold an altar. Whenever you meet a beggar, don’t insult him, but reverence him.”

This may strike modern believers as a bit radical—

Miles: Yeah, just a bit!

Dave: But Christ himself taught this very thing!

Miles: Really? Where?

Dave: Matthew 25, verses 31 to 46. Why don’t you read that for us? As soon as you start reading, you’ll recognize it.

Miles: Matthew … Matthew … ah!

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Dave: You see, when we relieve the suffering of others in any way we can, we are in a very real way, relieving the suffering of the Father who feels everything they are feeling. Likewise, when we withhold help from those in need, we are withholding that from the Father Himself.

Okay. So maybe you are being targeted because to someone in desperate need you look rich. But are a few coins really going to bankrupt you? Are you going to go to bed hungry that night because you gave to someone in need? And if you have “given until it hurts,” do you have the faith to claim the promise that Yah views what you gave as a loan—a loan which He will repay!

Miles: Viewed in that light, giving to others really is a privilege and an act of worship.

Dave: The rich man in Yahushua’s parable was a fool, not because he was rich, or because he wanted to build bigger barns. He was a fool because his focus was on hoarding treasure on earth rather than using it to help others. This would have given him treasure in the record books of heaven, treasure that Yah Himself would make sure got rewarded.

Miles: I guess the question we each need to ask ourselves is, what does my pattern of giving reveal about my faith in Yah?

Join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

* * *

You have been listening to WLC Radio.

This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.