Paleo Times October 2000 Newsletter

Greetings Brethren,

I pray that this last year has been encouraging and that scripturally you have grown to new heights. Yahweh's people are set apart and great to spend time with because they follow Yahshua's path closely having similar goals. The sad thing is that almost as quick as we reach our destination for the Feast of Tabernacles the feast is over. Every feast I wish that I was able to talk to everyone and yet every year it just isn't possible. I pray that we are found worthy to enter the millennium under Messiah as Family. Maybe with an eternity we would all have time to know one another.

This year has been very successful for this Ministry. Yahweh has blessed Paleo Times with too many emails and letters to answer. It is another prayer that over the next year more brethren will come forward and volunteer their talents. Talent is one of the things that are so important and at times so valuable.

The Feast of Tabernacles is only seven days with the eighth day as a solemn assembly yet this year we are given a little more time. The eighth day falls on a Friday giving us a final double Sabbath. Yahweh has blessed us with a double Sabbath giving us more time to spend discussing the scriptures and really getting to know one another. As one man put it making contacts with delegates to the coming Kingdom of Yahweh. I pray that together we are nourished not just by the tremendous feast but also by the spiritual food that will be given freely from our brethren. Have a great Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day.

Your Brother in Messiah,

James Meyer

Please keep the following brethren and sisters in your prayers: Deacon Joseph Butcher, Thomas James Hurley, Floriano Abenojar, Patrick May, Lesley Brom, Tyrone Baker, Bob Bryant, Veronica Corlew, Celestino Villalta, David Higgins, Robert D. Klagues, Andrew Pailate, Kara Newberg, Sarah Nevils, David Cannon, Elna Madge (Bassette) Newberg, Christopher Cannon, Barbara Boss, Rosy Maria Henness, Mike Perry, Steve Young, Violeta Madrid, Gregory S. McCray, Pol Andre Andersen, Voy Wilkes, Mike Gainne, Mary Thurman, Jonathan Bullock, Maryanne Golub, Isaac Hnamte, Lorie Parks, Angela Rehmel, Carlo Tognoni, Delia Anne McLaren, Yochann Andersen, Raymond Gaskell, Rudy Garcia, Marylyn Patterson, Freda and Mitch Petersen, Faye and Jacob Ferguson, Rayshawn Wilson, Earl and Lisa Friberg, Chantale Gaillard, Billy Bob and Twila Brown, Gui William Verrees Jr., Elder Pete and Mary Jean Vacca, and the many others striving to be better servants of Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah.

The next New Moon will most likely be seen October 28th in most points of the globe. Please look for this up coming New Moon and send us your reports. We will share them with brethren around the world through the Paleo Times weekly email update. You can email your report to New Moon or call 573-896-8090.

The following compositions are articles and short stories submitted by brethren and sisters to edify the Assembly. If you have written a composition that you would like included please submit it through email or postal mail.

T rust in Yahweh's power to provide

I ncline your heart to Heavenly Treasures as taught by Yahshua Messiah

T hink of how Yahweh's Ministry, His Feasts, and the poor and needy reminds us of His great love and mercy

H ope for Yahweh's abundant blessings surely given to those who Obey Him

I mprove your Faith and Spiritual Learning for growth

N ever withhold, delay or keep the Sacred tenth part of all your increase which rightfully belongs to Yahweh

G ive cheerfully and from the heart

TITHING is one way of putting Yahweh first, then our neighbors as ourselves, by sharing His blessings. It is a Law of Giving and a Test of Heart.

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show her off to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart.

The sad merchant asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go."

The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!" Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives.

The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll never leave with us when we die.

Our 3rd wife? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.

The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

The 1st wife is in fact our spirit, often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure. Guess what, It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go.

Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament.

"Yahweh gives to us the gift of time To use as best we can To live each moment in His will According to His plan He has made everything beautiful in its time" - Ecclesiastes 3:11

Did you know there are several principles for judging prophecy in Scripture. Obviously, all prophecy is not from Yahweh, or Paul would not have written I Corinthians 14:29, saying, "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge." First John 4:1 states, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of Yahweh; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

We are commanded to "test the spirits," because every prophetic utterance comes either from Yahweh, the flesh, or from Satan through an evil spirit.

When truth is denied, deception is released. False prophets and false prophecy abound in the world today. False prophecy leads to deception and makes the believer the object of manipulation or domination by false prophets who have unrighteous motives and a hidden agenda.

1. The purpose of New Testament prophecy is to edify, exhort, and comfort -1 Cor. 14.3. The word edify means to build up or strengthen; the word exhort means to encourage; and the word comfort means exactly that. When anyone speaks a message into your life under the auspices of prophecy that leaves you filled with condemnation or fear, that message would not be from Yahweh.

2. Prophecy agrees with the Word of Yahweh! All true prophecy comes from the Holy Spirit, who is the author of the Word of Yahweh. Therefore, all prophecy will agree in fact and in spirit with the Word. Any utterance that does not agree with the Word of Yahweh is a false prophecy.

3. Prophecy must bear fruit and agree with the Holy Spirit in conduct and character. Paul wrote in Ro. 14:17, "for the kingdom of Yahweh is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Prophecy must agree with the fruit of the Spirit, which in Gal. 5:22, 23 is stated as being "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." False prophets do not come down Main Street screaming obscene slogans. Matt. 7:15, 16 states that false prophets come as wolves in sheep clothing. They look fine. They talk fine. They even act like sheep; but their purpose is to devour and deceive the body of Yahshua. One of the first thing a false prophet or any person in deception will tell you is, "Don't judge me!" You are not judging; you are simply inspecting the fruits of one's lifestyle.

4. If prophecy contains predictions that do not come true, the prophecy was false. Deut. 18:22 says, "when a prophet speaks in the name of Yahweh, if the prophecy does not happen or come to pass, that is the prophecy which Yahweh has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously." Now if a prophecy comes true and promotes disobedience against Yahweh or Scripture, it is not a true prophecy. If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, "Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer of dreams" Deut. 13:1-3. Moses clearly states that just because the prophecy comes true does not mean the person who gave the prophecy is from Yahweh. If that prophecy cause one to look to another source for spiritual guidance, such as horoscopes, psychic hotline, and palm reader, etc, you are living in spiritual adultery.

5. True prophecy injects fresh life into the meeting of believers. The scriptures says that "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" 2Cor. 3:6. True prophecy inspired of the Holy Spirit brings spiritual life to a meeting of believers. If a prophecy comes that destroys the worship service, that prophecy is not from Yahweh. True prophecy given by the Holy Spirit will bear witness with your spirit. "And it is the Spirit who bears witness because the Spirit is truth" I Jn. 5:6.

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 1 Corinthians 14:3

Yahweh says that three times a year all the males of Israel are to appear before Yahweh. We find that Yahshua the Messiah kept the Feast of Tabernacles and that on the last day of the Feast he even stood up and taught. Sukkoth is an important time for Yahweh's people because it is a time when we are separate from the world dwelling together in temporary dwellings. Many consider Sukkoth, pronounced sook-kaw, a mirror of the coming millennium under the rule of Yahshua the Messiah. The eighth day of the feast is to be kept as a solemn assembly. The eighth day may represent the time when New Jerusalem will come out of the heavens setting up the Kingdom of Yahweh on earth.

The most convincing example that the feast is to be kept today is that Yahweh's Messiah Yahshua kept the feast through out his life. Yahshua even tells his disciples to be open and show their works openly so that the Brethren at the feast would not think that they were being deceptive. In John 7:2 we find that it was the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. In verse 8 of John 7 we find that Yahshua sent the disciples and that he would follow later. He knew that the Jews would be looking for him. In verse 10 of John 7 we find that Yahshua went to the feast secretly. The Jews of his day searched at the feast and didn't find him.

In the middle of the feast Yahshua began to teach and the people were amazed that he knew the scriptures so well and yet had no formal background in the Biblical Law. (John 7:14-15) Yahshua explained that what he taught was not his own word but the word of Yahweh. (John 7:16-36) Yahshua must have healed some of those at the Feast of Tabernacles on a Sabbath day because he defends the healing as doing good on the Sabbath to his Brethren. The Pharisees say that it is all right for a man to be circumcised on the Sabbath. Yahshua said that healing is doing good and that it is also acceptable on the Sabbath. This amazed the many that watched because even the Pharisees wouldn't lay hands on Yahshua to take him off to trial. On the eighth day of the feast, the last great day, Yahshua asked everyone that believed him to follow him. (John 7:37-38) He blessed them saying, "out of His belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38, John 6:35)

Since they knew that Yahshua lived and came from Galilee they had division among themselves even though Yahshua was born in Bethlehem and is a descendent of David. (Micah 5:2, John 7:42) Nicodemus was put down and called Galilean because he said that it is unlawful to judge a man with out first hearing him. John wrote it was not yet Yahshua's time to be impaled. Yahshua was not impaled until the evening of Passover. Yahshua's sacrifice has given us the opportunity for salvation.

The Feast of Tabernacles as Yahshua spent it is a time of learning and edification of the body of Messiah. Yahshua kept the feast perfectly quoting the scriptures as a professor of the law. The scholars marveled at this and the people had never heard a common man teach from the law the way Yahshua did. Yahshua wasn't a common man and as the people listened many started to believe that he was truly the Messiah. We are also to learn at the feast following Yahshua's footsteps. Ezra and Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem after spending generations in Babylon were finally given the opportunity worship Yahweh.

Ezra and Nehemiah returned to rebuild Jerusalem but they had to start by rebuilding the people's faith to Yahweh. Ezra was a great scribe of Yahweh and returned to Israel to teach the people of Yahweh's laws. Ezra 3 verses 1 through 5 we find that the priesthood began offering burnt sacrifices and the people started to keep Yahweh's laws once again just as Moses wrote. The construction of the temple was delayed because the adversary was strong and the nations around Israel plotted to cause all kinds of confusion. When Darius became king he looked at the historical record and found that Cyrus made a decree that Israel was to be left alone so that they could build the Temple of Yahweh. (Ezra 6:3) Darius also ordered that the gold and treasures taken from Solomon's temple were to be returned. (Ezra 6:5)

In the sixth year of Darius the House of Yahweh was finished. (Ezra 6:15) Israel dedicated the temple to Yahweh with much excitement and joy.

When the wall was complete we find that Ezra stood up with chief men of the families before the people to read the law. (Nehemiah 8:1-8) On the first day of the seventh month, Feast of Trumpets, the people heard the law and it was interpreted for them and they wept. (Nehemiah 8:9) The people were told not to weep because it was a Holy Day of Yahweh. Since it was the Feast of Trumpets the people were told to go eat the fat and drink the sweet and send portions to those that didn't have anything prepared. (Nehemiah 8:10) The congregation was told not to be sorrowful because the joy of Yahweh is their strength.

The next day after Trumpets the people returned for more scripture and understanding. Once again the chief fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites returned and taught more from the law of Yahweh which was commanded to Moses. (Nehemiah 8:13) They also understood that they should keep the feast of Sukkoth. So they built booths to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. They made the booths out of olive branches, pine branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees as it is written in Leviticus 23:40. This was an exciting time for Israel. Nehemiah wrote that the feast had not been kept this way since the time of Joshua the son of Nun. (Nehemiah 8:17) There was great gladness because of this return to Yahweh.

The fathers of Israel read the law to the people. It had been so long since they were able to listen freely to Yahweh's law and the beauty of the scriptures. Every seven years, the sabbatical year, at the Feast of Tabernacles we are to read the law among the congregation just as Israel did after their return from Babylon.

This may take quiet a few days but when you listen to the law being read it leads to further understanding. Moses wrote in Leviticus the command to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

Moses writes that Yahweh spoke to him saying that in the fifteenth day of the seventh month shall a Feast of Tabernacles be kept. (Leviticus 23:33-34) This pilgrim-feast is to be kept for seven days. Verse 35 says that the first day is to be a holy convocation on which we will do no servile work. The eighth day is to be a holy convocation also but it is also to be a solemn assembly on which not servile work is to be done. (Leviticus 23:36) A solemn assembly is a sacred or festive meeting. The eighth day is set apart from the rest of the feast as the last holy day of the Biblical year and the seventh holy day of the year.

We find that feast is to be a joyous time. This would be a time when the honey and the fruit of the trees would be brought together for a sweet harvest. Also wine and fruits of the vine would be fermented. As we read in Nehemiah the fat could be eaten during this time. This is truly a feast both for the spiritual body as well as the physical body. Tabernacles is called the Feast of Yahweh in Judges 21:19 and a feast unto Yahweh in Leviticus 23:39.

In Exodus 23:13 we find that we are not to mention the names of other deities during the feasts. Yahweh says three times a year all males to appear before Yahweh El. (Exodus 23:14, 17, Deuteronomy 16:16) Solomon kept the Feast of Tabernacles and offered offerings three times a year. (II Chronicles 8:12-16, I Kings 9:25)

There is a small controversy over whether the children of Israel stayed in booths or tents while they were in the wilderness. This is an interesting study because the current sukkah according to Judaism is built by specific dimensions and is covered with branches. The following is taken from the Encyclopedia Judaica under the topic Sukkah:

This is interesting because the Feast of Tabernacles is to remind us of the forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness and that it was Yahweh who brought His people out. (Leviticus 23:42-43)

The word for tent in both of these verses is Strong's number 2583 for the Hebrew word chanah which means to set up a camp. This is not the same Hebrew word 'ohel used in the following verses and means tabernacle, tent, and dwelling. (Strong's number 168)

One school of thought is that the branches mentioned in Leviticus 23:40 are actually used as a structure to form the cloth or fabric into a tent while others believe that the branches constructed the whole booth. Most sources including the Encyclopedia Judaica teach that the Children of Israel went through the wilderness in tents. When we look at the word sukkah used in Leviticus 23 that was translated booth (Strong's number 5521) we find that it is a thicket or booth defined by OBH Lexicon as a rude or temporary shelter.

The temporary shelter definition seems to be what was used in Nehemiah 8:15 but the scripture doesn't give specifics on exactly what was built. In Isaiah 1:8 the translators translated sukkah as a cottage. A sukkah is defined to have been made from branches whether fabric was used or not. We know that a sukkah is a temporary dwelling. Keeping the feast in a temporary dwelling harmonizes the points that are discussed here.

Yahweh's feasts are wonderful. We must separate ourselves from this world and come together as a family under Messiah. The Feast of Tabernacles is a time when those who as Yahshua said thirst for the word come to be fed. The Feast of Tabernacles is a time when we are to be thankful and enjoy the feast that Yahweh has given us to keep. This is a feast where we are all together mindful of each other working together for Yahweh. Yahweh's blessings and protection are upon you when you are at the feast.

Unity and true peace is impossible in this world with out the return of Yahshua. Sukkoth is a feast where we can learn to live in harmony practicing for the coming Kingdom of Yahweh. Every feast is different because the new brethren and sisters that come in add to the body. The Body of Messiah is made up of many different parts. Each part being equal except the head which is Messiah.

I pray that each Feast of Tabernacles is better for both your spiritual and physical body. We are getting closer each day to the return of Yahshua the Messiah and we must always be striving to become better servants of Yahweh. The feast represents a continued growth in knowledge, love, and truth. The knowledge, love, and truth will be needed if we are to live harmoniously in the Kingdom of Yahweh.

Thanks so much for your prayers on all accounts. It's feels so good to know there are other believers out there that are thinking of you.

Shalom,

MC

Hi Jim,

I'm on your mailing list and I enjoy reading the letters you send. I, also, visit your web sight occasionally. I really am not very computer literate. I don't know how to download your newsletter. I went to the web sight and found in order to read it there, too, I would need to download it. Can't you just send an ordinary letter that I can read, or post it on your web sight. I use to receive your newsletters in the regular way, without having to download them. Please Help. You are so cool. I know you can think of a way to get me your Sept. Newsletter. Thank you very much.

MW

(Editor: We are trying many new things and would like hear your comments. The current format is Adobe PDF and html. We are offering both formats because of compatibility issues.)

Wow! nice reports and the sound file worked great! Thanks. I am very new to all of this and the sound of the horn sent chills up and down my spine. I was very happy to hear the sound. This was my first time.

WC

Shalom Mr. Meyer:

A blessed and happy Feast of Trumpets to you and your family and to the Assemblies of YHWH.

JT

Dear Brother James,

Hi and Hello to you and to brothers and sisters in faith of Yahshua. I am MYD from the Philippines, a Sacred Name believer and have been in the assembly since birth. Please include me in your listing of interested brethren who desires to receive good news about the brethren around the world. Thank you for doing so. May He guide and bless you

Respectfully yours,

MYD

Dear Brother James,

My ever warmest greetings to you and to all household of Yahweh through Yahshua our Healer.

I wish to thank you for your continued sending me newsletter of the paleotimes, and the continued prayers for the sick brethren. I always include them in my daily prayers so with the Assembly here every Sabbath. We have a very pleasant Sabbath today and very indepth Bible Studies of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

Thank you once again for your concern to the people of Yahweh, I know he will pay you back for your great efforts.

Yours in His City of peace,

AY

Shalom In the name of Yahshua our messiah,

Here is the address to our WebPage come visit it sometime? May Yahweh Bless you and keep you.

http://www.songsforyahweh.com

TA

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