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The Kingdom
 
of Yahweh
 
               
                   
 
[Editor’s Note: keeping in line with the author’s spirit of thought, the phrase “Kingdom of Yahweh” is retained, even though the Scriptures quoted from the King James Version reads “Kingdom of Heaven.”]
   
   Daily I read the publications from various Sacred Name groups and seldom do I read full articles on “The Kingdom of Yahweh” topic. I’m guessing the reason why is because the topic is rather easy to learn. But, how many people can actually say what it takes to gain entrance into that coming Kingdom? One may say, “Keep the commandments.” Another may say, “Believe in Yahshua.” Still another will say, “Faith in Yahshua accompanied with keeping the commandments.” I do agree with the third statement. But, is that all? I am going to take you on a journey into the teachings of Yahshua the Messiah and the apostles to show you that the above is just the surface, because entrance into the Kingdom of Yahweh is so much deeper than you may think or have been taught. I must warn you, once you read this article, there are no more excuses.
   In Matthew 24:14, Yahshua said,
   And this message of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
   I am going to do my absolute best to explain the Kingdom of Yahweh. In return I ask that you take this message to the world. We have been given a commission by Yahweh to take what He teaches us and to teach others “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,” Matt 28:20.
 
The Treasure
   Again, the Kingdom of Yahweh is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field, Matthew 13:44.
   The above parable teaches: 1) the treasure is the Kingdom of Yahweh, and 2) what it takes to obtain that Kingdom. This treasure, the Kingdom of Yahweh, is hid in the field. Matthew 13:38 teaches us the field is the world:
   The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.
   The treasure, Kingdom of Yahweh doctrine, is hidden in the world. Then we are told that this man had found this treasure and he was so joyful of this great find, he went and sold all he owned and bought that field.
   What are you willing to do to obtain the Kingdom of Yahweh? Are you willing to surrender all you have and all you are to obtain the Kingdom of Yahweh? What are you holding on to? John the Baptist and Yahshua both said, “Repent: for the Kingdom of Yahweh is at hand,” Matt. 4:17. What does repentance mean to you? Without truly repenting, the Kingdom of Yahweh will never be a reality. The man in Matthew 13:44 sold all he had. He gave it all up. There was nothing worth holding on to which would’ve kept him out of the Kingdom of Yahweh. He did it joyfully. No reservations. NO hesitations. Are you willing to give up everything for that treasure? The choice is yours.
   Matthew 13:45-46 says,
   Again, the Kingdom of Yahweh is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
   Again we see a comparison. The Kingdom of Yahweh is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls. The merchant man is a true believer who is honestly seeking the Kingdom of Yahweh, represented by the goodly pearls. As soon as this merchant man found one pearl of great price he went and sold all he had and bought it. Notice he was seeking goodly pearls (plural). What are you seeking? Is it the Kingdom of Yahweh? Also notice that when the merchant man found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all he had and bought it. I want you to know that there is no treasure or pearl of greater value than the Kingdom of Yahweh. By the end of this study, you will have found that treasure/pearl of great price. Are you willing to do all it takes to possess the treasure/pearl of great price, the Kingdom of Yahweh?
     
The Sower
   The same day went Yahshua out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto Him, so that He went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up. Some fell on stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But others fell on good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold, who has ears to hear, let him hear, Matthew 13:1-9.
   The explanation of this Scripture is found in Matthew 13:18-23:
   Here ye therefore the parable of the sower. When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. But he that receiveth the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and with joy receiveth it; yet he hath not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
   Verse 19 teaches us that the seed sown is the word of the Kingdom. The word of the Kingdom is sown on four different types of ground (hearts): 1) the wayside, 2) stony places, 3) among thorns, and 4) good ground. Read this parable again. Does 1-3 apply to you? Are you really preparing for the Kingdom of Yahweh, or are you just telling yourself that you believe in the Sacred Names and the commandments of Yahweh? Have you totally given up the world? Have you left all to follow Yahshua? Read Luke 5: 1-11, 27-28 and Matt. 4:18-22; 9:9. If you read those passages you will see that when Yahshua called the disciples they “left all” and followed Him. Now let us look at Mark 1: 16-20:
   Now as He walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Yahshua said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed Him. And when He had gone a little further thence, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway He called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after Him.
   Are you beginning to see what it takes to follow Yahshua?
   
Following Yahshua
   Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed Thee. And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the Kingdom of Yahweh’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting, Luke 18:28-30.
   Do you now see what it takes to follow Yahshua? I hope you do. But, if not, we’ll go deeper into Scripture to gain more understanding.
   And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? There is none good but one, Yahweh: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto Him, which? Yahshua said, thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honour thy father and thy mother; and, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto Him, All these things I have kept from my youth up, what lack I yet? Yahshua said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had many possessions, Matthew 19:16-22.
   Luke 12:34 points out that “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
   Remember the parables in Matthew 13: 44-46? The men sold all they owned to buy that field which contained that treasure and to buy that one pearl of great price. They did this without hesitation, without reservation, with joy. The young man in Matthew 19:16-22 went away sorrowful. Why? Because he had many possessions. He wanted to follow Yahshua and have eternal life all the while holding on to the world.
   Yahshua purposely mentioned only the fifth through the ninth commandments. Why did He do this? He never mentioned the first four commandments nor the tenth commandment. Why? Let’s allow the Apostle Paul to answer this: Colossians 3:5 says, “Covetousness is idolatry.” The tenth commandment says,
   Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.
   In actuality, not only did this man violate the tenth commandment with his many possessions, but covetousness is idolatry and this means by his love for his possessions, he was violating the first four commandments. Remember Luke 12:34?
   Yahshua said, “If thou wilt be perfect...”
   This young man was not willing to surrender his whole life to Yahshua. He chose his earthly treasure (temporal) over treasure in heaven (eternal).
   Are you holding on to anything keeping you out of the Kingdom of Yahweh? What do you watch on TV? Let me ask you this: Is Ya shua sitting there with you while you are watching all that violence, sex, murder, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, etc. on television? No, He is not. He is not there watching it with you. What are you listening to on the radio or CD player? Today’s music promotes murder, hate, sex, adultery, theft, racism, lies, rape, rebellion towards authority, etc. Is Yahshua listening to all that music with you? No, He is not. If Yahshua will not participate in that behavior, why do you? There are no free rides into the Kingdom of Yahweh. There is a price to pay. There is a major sacrifice.
     
What Is the Price to Receive the Priceless?
   Then said Yahshua unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake, and follow Me. For whosover will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He shall reward every man according to his works, Matthew 16: 24-27.
   Again, the Kingdom of Yahweh is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the age: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth, Matthew 13: 47-50.
   Listen, when Yahshua returns only the just will be caught up with Him to enter the Kingdom of Yahweh. We’ve already learned that the just will be those who wholly surrender their lives to Him. Are you still holding on to the world?
   Love not the world, if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of Yahweh abideth for ever, I John 2: 15-17.
   Not everyone that sayeth unto me, Master, Master shall enter into the Kingdom of Yahweh; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (What is the will of Yahweh? Read again 1 John 2:15-17) Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? And in Thy Name have cast out devils? And in Thy Name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity, Matthew 7:21-23.
   If you pay close attention to the above statement, these people standing before Yahshua knew His Name and have performed many wonderful works in His Name, but they lived in sin. They did not do the will of Yahweh in heaven. 1 John 3:4 teaches us that sin is the transgression of the law. Romans 6:23 teaches the reward we earn for transgression of Yahweh’s law is death.
   There is more to Yahweh’s will than keeping the commandments. In 1 John 2: 15-17 we are told that we have to give up the world and follow Yahshua.
   By now you should know what it takes to follow Yahshua completely and to enter into the Kingdom of Yahweh. There is nothing to stop you, but you, yourself. If we hold on to the world, if we do not forsake all, then we cannot be Yahshua’s disciples.
   If any come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his stake, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is a great way off, he sendeth an ambassador, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple, Luke 14: 26-33.
    
Time to Surrender All
   By now you should see what it takes to be a disciple of Yahshua and to enter into the Kingdom of Yahweh. It takes absolute surrender of everything. We cannot allow anyone or anything else to keep us from total surrender. Have you counted the cost? It’s a huge sacrifice and well worth it.
   And He said to them all, If any will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake daily and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels, Luke 9:23-26.
   Have you fully denied yourself? Who and what is first in your life? We can all say “Yahweh Elohim is first in my life,” but our actions prove who and what is first in our lives.
   And Yahshua said unto him, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of Yahweh,” Luke 9:62.
   1 Timothy 6:1-21 is a must read, but I will quote verse 10,
   For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
   And one of the company said unto Him, “Master, speak to my brother, that he divide his inheritance with me.” And He said unto him, “Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?” And He said unto them, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” And He spake a parable unto them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But Elohim said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward Yahweh,” Luke 12:13-21.
   We’ve already covered Luke 12:34, but I’ll quote it again:
   For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.
   Where is your treasure? What is your treasure? Is it riches? Or is it the Kingdom of Yahweh? Your choice is yours alone to make. No one will make it for you.
   Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
   When that final trumpet is blown, what will you be doing? I don’t know how quick “in the twinkling of an eye” is, but I assume it is very quick. When the final trumpet blows, if you are not doing the will of Yahweh you will be separated from the just and eventually cast away into the lake of fire. Do we know when the final trumpet will be blown? No! Do we know the day and hour of Yahshua’s second coming? No! Do we know when we will breathe our final breath of air? No! Do we know when our heart will beat its final heartbeat? No! That being said, we must be doing the will of Yahweh in complete, absolute, and total surrender.
   In conclusion, I give Yahweh thanks through Yahshua the Messi-ah for every brother and every sister doing the will of Yahweh. I give Yahweh thanks for everyone who is seeking the Kingdom of Yahweh and teaching others to follow their example. Someday you will hear these beautiful words: “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,’” Matthew 25: 34.
   May Yahweh Elohim bless you.
                       
               
-Michael Baker
                   
                   

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