ASHORTWORK
Biblical Understanding based on the Record of Scripture
The video content found on this page are the video studies presented each Sabbath. Some studies contain additional printable material found under the PDF or HANDOUT buttons. The studies are listed in most recent first order.
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View Video Studies from other years. Click the year from the following list: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021
Many times the subject of "grace" is boiled down to "unmerited favor" or "undeserved favor". There is plenty of scriptural evidence that these are true, but not to the full extent of YHVH's grace or the full definition of the word. Consider Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord (YHVH) is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And Luke 1:30; And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God (YHVH). The word favor in these verses is translated as "grace" in the very first translation of the Greek scriptures into English in 1526 by William Tydale. These verses infer that YHVH was looking for some quality and that His grace or favor in this instance had some merit involved. So is there more to it than unmerited favor or undeserved favor?
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Jesus Christ has made us free" (Paul in Galatians). What are we liberated from? What are we obligated to? To whom do we give account? Or is it all up for grabs and we can do whatever we want?
We see "the name of the LORD" referenced over 100 times in the OT. We also see these phrases: "the LORD my God", "the LORD our God", "the LORD his God" and "the LORD your God" used over 600 times in the OT, where "the LORD" is referring to YHWH. Who is your God? What is His name?
There are multiple ways we refer to God, from YHWH (typically translated as the LORD), El Shaddai (God Almighty), Elohim (God), Adonai (Lord), and more. Over 200 times we see God identify Himself as YHWH, including a few times where He says, "My name is YHWH." Should we be using His name in worship, in praise, and in calling to Him?
Appointed Times: 8th Day MP3 VIDEO YouTube
A major part of our historical understanding was an interpretation of Revelation 20 that described a peaceful Millennium, followed by Satan's rebellion, and then what we referred to as the 2nd and 3rd resurrections. Our understanding placed a harvest where there was none and failed to recognize the harvest that was actually portrayed. There is a way to read Revelation 20, considering YHVH's plan of salvation and the harvest of the nations, and YHVH's promise to the saints.
Appointed Times: Tabernacles Day 7 MP3 VIDEO YouTube HANDOUT
You might think that the calendar is an odd topic for the FOT. But what makes it important is that it is an appointed time of YHVH and we should understand why there are those that are our friends are keeping different days for the Appointed Times. This year there are at least 3 different dates for the Feast of Tabernacles from the different calendars in use.
If you are keeping the FOT with us this year you are probably on the same calendar that we are, where the year starts the first visible crescent after the equinox. However there are some folks that keep a barley calendar that is the same as we are this year but they have no association with us.
There are also some brethren that keep a barley calendar that kept their feast a month earlier than us, whom we would consider our friends and brethren. There are also some that keep the Jewish calendar who are our friends and brethren that started their feast on Oct 3, two days before we did.
This study will examine each of these calendars from our perspective, those of us who are attending this Feast.
Appointed Times: Tabernacles Day 6 MP3 VIDEO YouTube
In the past I was taught that the Kingdom of God (The Reign of Elohim) is limited to the 1000 year rule of Jesus. Now that I know better how to identify The Father and The Son in scripture I see that they both have different roles in The Reign of Elohim. In this Bible Study you will read verses that you have read many times and because of our understanding that Yehovah is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we can know that the Reign of Elohim exists today, as He is now ruling over those whom He has called and who are allowing Him to rule over their lives.
Appointed Times: Tabernacles Day 5 MP3 VIDEO YouTube
Built within our calling is the capability of becoming a teacher of good things. Given a chance and cultivating the desire to share and teach seems residual in our DNA. Most have shied away from public teaching and yet we do it every day. How do you visualize your contribution in the great ingathering that's coming?
Appointed Times: Tabernacles Day 4 MP3 VIDEO YouTube
The first half of the book of Isaiah focuses on YHVH coming to put down all rebellion and to establish His reign. The terminology is heavily...the day of YHVH, in that day. The second half of the book changes the focus and includes prophesies of Jesus Christ and of salvation being offered to the Gentiles/nations. The harvest of the nations is pictured by the Feast of Booths and is the third and final harvest celebration of the year.
Appointed Times: Tabernacles Day 3 MP3 VIDEO YouTube
As we learn more about scripture and Yehovah's will, you end up going back and revisiting teachings that you were given in the past. This Bible Study is a result of learning that Yehovah is the Father's Name only and how that has changed my understanding of how the Feasts and Harvests of Yehovah are fulfilled and what His role is in them.
Appointed Times: Tabernacles Day 2 MP3 VIDEO YouTube
Not a lot of action in this dusty, outback corner of the Empire. But then there are reports of angels visiting; vivid dreams; angelic choir singing the praises of God to shepherds in the hills above Bethlehem. A conference of local scholars and visiting Magi to discuss things messianic. All because of an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Appointed Times: Tabernacles Day 1 MP3 VIDEO YouTube
For the feasts of YHWH, we can spend money on whatever our heart desires. At the Feast of Booths, Jesus taught that if we have the correct desires, then we will be able to identify if a teaching is from YHWH or not. What do you desire? In this study we will look at our desires and how they relate to the Feast of Booths. An example we will use is: what was it that Paul desired?
Appointed Times: Coverings MP3 VIDEO YouTube
The day of YHVH includes a number of events that are not generally attributed to it. That is evident in the book of Isaiah when the terminology is understood. 40% of the references in the Old Testament to "The day of the LORD" and "in that day" are in Isaiah and used to describe that time. Knowing what events are included in the day of YHVH helps us to better understand God's prophetic plan.
I am trying to sort out the culmination of the age. Daniel 12 speaks of knowledge increasing and people running to and fro. We understand the annual progression of the appointed times; where are we in the actual fulfillment of prophetic events? Matthew 24, that corner stone of prophecy, needs a closer look.
Appointed Times: Trumpets MP3 VIDEO YouTube HANDOUT
Yom Teruah a memorial of shouting. Over the past few years we have had studies that show us that the day that we previously called the Day of Trumpets had more to do with shouting than trumpets. The fact is that there are multiple trumpets blown on Yom Teruah in Old Testament times and they are not of the ram's horn variety that the Jews use. In this study we will explore the usages of the words translated as trumpets and try to unravel some of the confusion about them.
"Love your neighbor as yourself" shows up 9 times in the Bible. Once in Lev 19 in the OT, and it is quoted 8 times in the NT. When we think of loving our neighbor, we don't usually think about correcting them, yet the context of "Love your neighbor as yourself" is in the context of correcting your neighbor when he sins.
Correcting someone is an act of love - at least it is when done correctly - and not doing so when you should, is an act of hate. In this study we will explore how these concepts are intertwined.
Paul, in the book of Romans, refers to the gospel as a mystery that has been revealed. Why then does the body of the Church of God believe the saints will be resurrected on Trumpets and everyone else will have their opportunity for salvation on the 8th Day; neither of which is a harvest? There are three harvests in YHVH's plan and each pictures a resurrection. It is important to understand the mystery of the harvest.
Jesus states that from the hearts of believers shall flow rivers of living water. What exactly does this mean? Is this a description of your experience as a believer? Do you know of any believer that even remotely resembles this picture? Let's take a closer look.
One of the most fundamental goals in raising a child is for them to become personally responsible in a godly way. They start out with their parents being responsible for them and they need to successfully transition to being responsible for themselves. Taking personal responsibility is what we must also be doing in a spiritual way. There are seasons in our lives, and we need to use them well. Without seedtime there is no harvest. We need to be faithful in little in order to be trusted with true riches.
Jer 8:8 How can you say, 'We are wise, And the Law of the YHWH is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.
We do not have a perfect copy of the scripture in English, neither do we have one in Greek, nor do we have one in Hebrew. By the time of Jeremiah, corruptions had already been introduced into the Law of YHWH. Since then, more corruptions have happened, and then even more as it is translated, like into English.
I don't like that we have a corrupted copy of the scripture - but that is what we have. What are we supposed to do, how can we, how should we deal with this?
Thankfully, YHWH has provided a path forward. In this study, we will explore that path.
Give me neither poverty nor riches. Really? The problem with being broke is pretty obvious, but isn't prosperity a blessing? Most of us would rather risk having too much than having too little. What is the problem with prosperity?
The question was prompted by Ex 6:3 "I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty but by my name LORD (YHVH) I was not known to them." As with similar questions, the consistency and continuity of scripture is brought into focus as well as the questionable scholarship that formed the theological foundation of the WCG.
Matt 17:20 if you have faith as a mustard seed you will say to this mountain 'Move from here to there' and it will move. How many examples do you know of where a mountain was moved? If no mountains have been moved recently, does that mean no one has faith as a mustard seed? What does this verse mean? How are faith, unbelief and doubt related? In this study we'll examine this and how we can grow in faith.
This study explores the use of the transliterated word that has become the Ordinance of Baptism. We'll see that the Greek word that this comes from was in use before the NT and can be found in the OT. It has a broader meaning than what it is represented today and is better represented by a translation of the word rather than its transliteration.
The OT is the story of YHVH (the Father) with some references to Jesus Christ, rather than the story of the preincarnate Jesus Christ with some references to the Father. The argument that no one has ever heard the Father's voice is based on a distortion of a single verse, the result being to deny who YHVH is.
Jesus said "He who has seen Me has seen the Father". Really? What about "No one has seen God at any time"? If someone saw YHVH in the old testament, does that mean it was actually Jesus Christ. Was Jesus Christ the God of the old testament? Does Atonement (Coverings) portray Jesus entering the Holy of Holies with His own blood and placing it at His own feet? How can these things be? The answer is not in "here a little, there a little". It is in the continuity of the record of scripture.
The oneness of a physical relationship in marriage is supposed to portray the oneness of Jesus Christ and the Church. And since Jesus is one with the Father, then that relationship is part of the portrayal as well. What we do in the flesh is directly connected to what we do in the Body.
In the English language and culture, our names are often an identity rather than a representation of our mindset and character. The use of "name" though, in Hebrew and Greek, is often different. In scripture, doing something in someone's name means doing it by their authority or in the same way they would have done it themselves. What's in a name?
From scripture, we know the just shall live by faith and faith is a weightier matter of the law. It is important that we have faith. But what exactly is faith, do you have it, and are you practicing it? In this study, we examine what faith is and how it is described in the Bible.
Do you believe in Jesus? How is that related to proper Biblical faith?
We all look to Mat 22:37-39 and believe that we understand what Yeshua is saying, "you shall love the Lord (YHVH) your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." But then adds to that by saying "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." In this study we will attempt to understand how our humanity makes this a difficult proposition by reviewing Corinthians 13 and the list of what love is not.
Appointed Times: Pentecost MP3 VIDEO YouTube
We are introduced to three festivals as the nascent nation of Israel is entering into covenant relationship with YHVH. What exactly is to be harvested? Harvest implies planting, growth to maturity and timely reaping.
We see unleavened bread at the Passover meal and in the offerings during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Yet at Pentecost we see 2 leavened loaves as the wave loaves. Leaven is often equated with sin, and I've heard that these loaves are leavened to symbolize that those in the first fruits are sinners. The more I understand about how leaven works the less it makes sense to always equate it with sin - particularly for the wave loaves. In this study we look at how bread is used in the Bible and how that changes from Passover to Pentecost.
The Bible text includes the record of God's words (inspiration), and also man's words (interpretation), some of which are by good intentions and some of which are simply fraud. How do we know the difference and what difference does it make? To know or not to know, that is the question.
We are not saved by knowledge, but neither are we saved apart from knowledge. What we do with what we know is an important factor in our salvation and is something we must always carefully and faithfully consider.
Today is the 28th day on the count to Feast of Weeks, it is the 4th Sabbath since the counting of weeks began to the 2nd of the harvest Festivals/Pentecost. The Gospel of John chapter 20 verses 30-31 the Apostle writes that during this time Yeshua did many signs in the presence of his disciples so that we might believe that Yeshua is the Anointed One, the Son of God. In this study we'll explore those things that were recorded for us from the time that Yeshua was put into the grave to the Feast of Weeks known as Pentecost in the New Testament.
You might ask, "What kind of question is that. Everyone knows God so loved the world that he sacrificed his son Jesus so we might obtain eternal life." OK, is that the end of the story? No further obligations for God or man? Let's take a closer look.
Whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven! Whatever you loose on earth is loosed in Heaven! These statements are found in Matthew 16:19 and 18:18. Many explain these as granting extra authority to Peter and/or the rest of the apostles, and thus also to them. These statements do not grant Peter or anyone the right or ability to bind anything on earth that they could not already bind, not loose anything that they could not already loose. These verses do have meaning - one that fits with the continuity of scripture. In this study we delve into what it means to bind or loose, as well as what you can bind and what you can loose. Along with this, there is a concept of a mediator that is tucked in there that we will also look at.
The bad news is the heart of man is deceitful and wicked, but the good news is that YHVH loves mercy. YHVH is longsuffering toward us that we should not perish, and His mercy is not just in being patient in judgment, but in being generous with gifts to allow us to fulfill His will. Whatever we lack in the flesh can be overcome by what He gives us in the spirit. The fulfillment of our lives is not physical, but spiritual, and that can only be by the gifts of God.
Appointed Times: Unleavened Bread Day 7 MP3 VIDEO YouTube
We are to keep the Feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. The word "sincerity" has a deeper meaning in Greek than it does in English. The original Greek literally means "judged in the light of the sun". Recognizing that deepens our understanding of the purpose for which the festival is to be kept.
YHVH performed great works through the patriarchs and prophets. Jesus did great works and proclaimed, "greater works than these will you do, because I go to my Father." What/where is the evidence of these great works?
Appointed Times: Unleavened Bread Day 1 MP3 VIDEO YouTube
We are told to remember that we were slaves and that God by a strong arm freed us from slavery. Is this just about remembering that the Israelites were slaves and then rescued thousands of years ago? There is a spiritual parallelism to physical slavery and freedom that we should remember and that should be deeply personal to each one of us. We are told on the first day of Unleavened Bread to remember that God freed us from slavery. What is it that leaven represents that we are to be putting out for Unleavened Bread? What is this new lump that we should become? How is this related to slavery - or to being freed from slavery?
During The Feast of Unleavened Bread, God instructs us to abstain from eating leavened bread and to eat unleavened bread for seven days. Many sources that describe the meaning of these days will state that they picture removing sin from our lives. Leaven represents sin, and therefore must be removed from our homes... down to the smallest crumb. Though this understanding is prominent, it comes with many questions and inconsistencies when compared to scripture.
The COGs (Churches Of God) have observed Passover a night before the NTBMO (Night To Be Much Observed). In this study we will show how they are one in the same. We will also look at the argument of "ben ha arbayim" that is used to justify an early 14th Passover and separate them into 2 separate events.
Teach a person to obey, and they will appear to be in agreement with you. Teach them to think though, and they will likely make some choices that are different from your own. Salvation is based on being in unity with the Father and His Christ rather than on being in unity with men. What do we do when we don't all agree?
I Think we all understand that forgiveness is an integral part of our Christian experience. What is it that enables forgiveness? Is it because God is love therefore he forgives? Is it because we are sorry for bad behavior? Yes, yes, and more.
Job 41:6 Repent in dust and ashes! Amos 7:3 The YHWH repented for this. Jonah 3:10 And God repented of the evil. Num 23:19 God is not a man ... that He should repent. Luke 13:5 Unless you repent you too will all perish. Acts 2:38 Repent and be baptized. Repent! Clearly repenting is important,but what is it? There are 2 unrelated groups of Greek words translated as repent and 2 unrelated groups of Hebrew words translated as repent. In the NASB only about 1% of these Hebrew words are translated as repent or repentance. To add to the confusion, the English word repent has changed meaning over the last few centuries. Most of us understand repent to be turning from evil, but that is incomplete in what the words mean. In this study we will look at what repentance means in both the OT and the NT.
The Church of God in our day has experienced both the best of times and the worst of times. The best of times was when the focus was on worshipping YHVH and the worst of times was when the focus was on following a man. Being a minister means being a servant. It is not a reference to an ordained man who has been given spiritual power and authority. Dividing the church up into ministers and members creates a separation that neither YHVH nor Jesus Christ ever intended.
Mar 7:7-8 says "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do. And he said unto them, Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition." Verse 7 of this passage come from Isa 29:13. We can understand this to be speaking of the Jewish traditional laws prophesied by Isaiah that we would understand today as being from the Mishna and Talmud. But how about how Christianity has developed over the years splitting into many denominations and sects. Many have their doctrines codified in papers and booklets that explain how they arrived to these understanding. How much of these writings and understandings can be classified as traditions of men, teaching them as doctrine? Just what is the difference between a tradition and a doctrine? It seems as though every "church" believes their doctrines to be truth and all the other churches have false doctrines and traditions. In this study we are going to attempt to shed some light on this subject.
The Church of God and The Body of Christ are in some ways the same, and in some ways different. Understanding that helps us to understand where godly authority exists and where it does not. The organizational structure of the churches of God has been based primarily on lordship and dominion, an approach that is condemned in scripture and which brings a curse on those who submit themselves to it. True godly authority is given as spiritual gifts rather than by physical ordination and submission to men.
This message was prompted by the ongoing controversy surrounding the place of Jesus in worship. Also, is worship only a "church" thing, or is there more to it? A closer look.
YHVH (OT) and Jesus Christ (NT) chose individuals to be servants and gave them responsibility and authority and made their choices to be known. Other individuals took responsibility and authority to themselves, and proclaimed themselves, but were never chosen at all. The members of the Church of God, the Body of Christ, have been chosen to be servants and those who exercise lordship and dominion are choosing for themselves.
What does the Bible say about evidence? Ex 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. This is a prohibition against presenting false evidence. Sometimes bearing false witness is equated with lying. While there is some relation, lying and bearing false witness are not the same thing. Is there a requirement for us to present true evidence? If so, when and what evidence are we required to present? In this study we will examine what bearing false witness is, as well as what bearing true witness is, and we'll look at a few examples which will hopefully make this clear. Is your evidence true and faithful or is it false? What evidence does your life present in words and actions?
The words ordain/ordained/ordination are used four times in the NKJ translation of the New Testament and none of them have anything to do with bestowing rank or offices on the members of the Church. In fact, in the NKJ, the term "ordination" is never used at all. What "ordained" is used for though is to describe the choice God made for the judgement of the world. Different translations often use different words, but the answer lies in the continuity of the record of scripture rather than in this word or that.
The statements in the gospels that Jesus was the Anointed One, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, were dramatic in that time but the statement that He was the Son of God was even more so. Each reference was based on prophesies that were fulfilled but the Jews weren't looking for a suffering Servant. They were looking for a conquering King. Still, in the flesh, Jesus had an anointing and we do as well. These things are important for us to consider.
A life worth living might be portrayed by the items listed on an impressive resume. Important skills and accomplishments. Successful endeavors and relationships. But that is not how YHVH portrays what He wants us to be. He wants us to be His servants, and by doing so, to live a life of service to each other as well. When we consider our lives according to YHVH's will, being servants is more important than having servants.
Many different Greek words are translated as good in the New Testament. In Part 1, we looked at the Greek word Agathos, and looked at how this is used in the New Testament. Today, I plan to go over the Greek word Kalos, which is the word most translated as good, and compare this to places where Agathos is translated as good. We'll be looking at the phrases good tree, good fruit, good seed, good soil and good works. James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Jesus spoke of the "mystery of the Kingdom of God." Paul to the Ephesians noted the "mystery of His will" and "the mystery of Christ" and the "fellowship of the mystery." That was roughly 2,000 years ago. Yet the gospel was to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Surely the Good News must be understandable and not shrouded in mystery if it is to bring many sons to glory. Let's take a closer look.
Total Videos: 56
Proverbs 16:7-9 NKJV
When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.
A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.