"The Bible is not a weapon to be wielded for personal gain or prejudice. To twist its words is to silence its truth." — Anonymous

​I am constantly amazed—though sadly, no longer surprised—by what is either missing or misrepresented in much of today’s church doctrine. One such example surfaced again today, and I feel compelled to put these thoughts in writing, as many of you may have witnessed the same issue. 

What brings this to mind especially is that today is a Sabbath—a day sanctified by the Father from the very beginning—and we have only recently completed the Feast of Shavuot. The appointed times—both Sabbath Days and Feast Days—are far more than historical observances. They are prophetic signposts, intricately woven into the fabric of the Father’s spiritual plan of salvation for His people. These moedim (appointed times) declare His timing, unveil His purposes, and illuminate the redemptive work of the Messiah in real, observable ways.

Yet, far too often, these sacred times are either diminished or dismissed altogether in mainstream church doctrine. This is not a small or innocent oversight. It represents a profound and deliberate loss of spiritual understanding—one that obscures how the Father has chosen to reveal His covenant, His Son, and His Kingdom. When these appointed times and the commandments are neglected or replaced, it deprecates the authority of Scripture, disrespects the will of the Father, misrepresents the Messiah, and stifles the voice of the Set-Apart Spirit.

What remains is a version of truth that is dangerously close—but not the truth. It creates a veil over people’s spiritual understanding, leading them to walk in shadows rather than in the full light of revelation. And it is this veil that the Messiah came to remove—not by abolishing the Torah or the Feasts, but by fulfilling them and calling His followers into deeper obedience and alignment with the Father’s eternal ways.

It is truly astonishing that anyone who has read the New Testament could set the Ten Commandments in opposition to the words of the Messiah or to the teachings of the Apostles or Paul.

In Matthew 5:17-19, the Messiah Himself said “17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. 18 “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one yod or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. 19 “Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.”

In Romans 7:12, Paul reaffirms “12 So that the Torah truly is set-apart, and the command set-apart, and righteous, and good.”

In 1 Corinthians 7:19 Paul writes “The circumcision is naught, and the uncircumcision is naught, but the guarding of the commands of Elohim does matter!”

These verses are not vague. They clearly affirm the enduring value of the Fathers commandments and the Torah as a whole.

The Ten Commandments are not merely a list of rules. They are foundational principles—divinely given—that reveal how the Father expects us to live, how we are to treat others, and how we are to walk in covenant. They don’t aim to cover every detail of life’s situations, but instead serve as moral and spiritual cornerstones that guide us into a life of righteousness, justice, humility, and holiness.

The Commandments and the Messiah do not hand us a rigid checklist to follow—they extend an invitation to embody the values they represent. At the heart of this call is a life marked by love, honour, and service—toward both the Father and one another. As we internalise these principles and walk them out in daily life, our hearts and actions begin to reflect the transforming power of obedience, submission to the Father's will, and the leading of the Set-Apart Spirit.

These core values are not separate from the fruit of the Spirit described by the Messiah and the Apostles. Rather, they are deeply intertwined. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not merely attributes—they are the visible outworking of a heart aligned with the Father and walking in covenant through the Spirit.

It is in these defining moments—our struggles, our responses, our convictions—that we reveal who we are as Natsarim. Life often presents questions that test our alignment, but it is our steadfast commitment to the principles of Scripture, as revealed in the renewed covenant, that ultimately shapes our identity and witness.

In this light, the Ten Commandments and the fruits of the Spirit are not separate paths—they work together in harmony. They form a unified picture of a sanctified life: Spirit-led, rooted in obedience, and cultivated in righteousness. This is the essence of walking in covenant with Yahuah.

What brings this matter especially to mind is that today is a Sabbath day—a day set apart and sanctified by the Father from creation and specified in Exodus 20:8 to 11 as the 4th Commandment in the Ten Commandments —and we have only just completed the appointed time of one of the annual feasts, Shavuot. These are not empty rituals or merely historical commemorations; they are living expressions of the Father’s covenant and the framework of His Salvation Plan. The Feasts of Yahuah are deeply prophetic and spiritually significant, each one revealing a step in His salvation journey with His people. I am always reminded of Zechariah 14:16, which prophesies:

Zechariah 14:16 “And it shall be that all who are left from all the nations which came up against Jerusalem, shall go up from year to year to bow themselves to the Sovereign, Yahuah of hosts, and to celebrate the Festival of Sukkot”

This verse speaks clearly of a time yet to come—after the judgment—when even the nations will honour Yahuah by observing His Feast. It affirms that the Sabbath and the appointed times are not relics of the past, nor merely "Jewish customs," but enduring elements of the Father’s eternal Kingdom. They reflect His character, His timing, and His desire for His people to walk in rhythm with Him. 

The importance of the Sabbath and the Feasts of Yahuah does not fade with time, nor is it nullified by the traditions or doctrines of men—they are everlasting. These appointed times are not bound to a past covenant alone; they extend forward into eternity, remaining central to the rhythm of the Father’s Kingdom. As we move deeper into the current season, we should now be preparing our hearts and lives for the upcoming Autumn Feasts—appointed times that prophetically point to the great ingathering of souls at the end of the age. These are not merely dates on a calendar, but rehearsals for what is to come.

A schedule of the Autumn Feasts, along with their prophetic significance, is available at Keeping the Feasts  for those desiring to walk in step with the Father’s calendar.
The Messiah Himself kept the Feast Days—not as burdens, but as part of His walk in obedience and unity with the Father. The Apostle Paul did likewise, continuing to observe the Feasts even after the resurrection, and encouraging others to do the same. If we claim to follow in their footsteps, then we too should honour these appointed times—not as legalistic obligations, but as joyful, prophetic celebrations of our covenant with Yahuah and of the redemption we have in Messiah. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 5:8 “So then let us celebrate the festival, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of evil and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

We should not be content with fragments of truth or traditions that dilute the full counsel and principles of Scripture. The Father is restoring understanding in these final days—calling His people back to His appointed times, His commandments, and the covenant walk modeled by the Messiah and upheld by the Apostles.

This is not about legalism, upholding church doctrine, or false words; it is about respect—respect for the Father, respect for His Word, and respect for the path of righteousness He has clearly marked out for us. As the days grow darker and spiritual deception deepens, may we be those who walk in the light of His Word, keeping His Sabbaths, honouring His Feasts, and guarding His commandments with joy and reverence.

In doing so, we do not return to bondage—we return to alignment. We return to covenant. We return to truth.

Web page last updated 28 June 2025