Congregation of the Dead

February 13, 2017

Congregation of the Dead

 "The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead." Proverbs 21:16 KJV,

When I found this scripture a couple of years ago, in September 2015, I was inspired to write a blog. This is a rewrite of that blog.

Wow! The revelation that there are congregations of the dead, affected me so profoundly. I knew there were dead congregations (i.e. congregations that no longer existed), but then there are those who think they are alive, but their lack of understanding and refusal to get understanding puts them in fellowship with the dead.

If you are reading this, then you are a beloved of the Most High, so let me encourage you. If you are on the path of being a truth seeker, then remain on that path, no matter where it leads you. Your journey will be rewarded with truth and you will find that the more you seek, the more narrow that path of understanding will become, but it's worth it!

A couple of years ago, I was on a path with a group of believers and most readily and humbly admitted their lack of understanding. We, as a group prayed for the scales to fall from our eyes, for our false paradigms to be broken and that we might know the truth about the One True God. We insatiably searched Torah so that we may gather an understanding that, heretofore, had been denied us, and other fellow believers, for literally decades of doctrine; even centuries.

There wasn't much special about our little group of believers. In fact, our common bond was that we were quite the band of misfits (if I can say that with all the love I have in my heart). We didn't seem to quite fit anywhere, yet YHVH saw fit to call us into deeper relationship with Him.

That path has led all of us, who have kept to the path, to a deeper relationship with our Abba Father. That path has led me to where I am now, serving with a man that I will be forever grateful to, as I have learned much about keeping and teaching Torah from him, despite personal costs.

You too, my brothers and sisters, will know the TRUTH (Psalm 119) if you care to take the time to find it. If not, you will wander off the path that you were once on. You thought you knew it all, but when you get to the point that all you do is rehash what you have learned and taught over and over again, just in different packages, then you are on another path. That path is the path of the blind; the willfully blind.

I don't say these things in condemnation. I say these things in love and in the hope that, like our little band of misfits, your eyes, will be open and that you will realize, as we have, that no one really cared enough to tell us the truth no matter what the cost to them was or will be personally. You can't know ones motives completely, but if the message seems to be counterproductive, by this worlds standards, and that person continues to preach that truth regardless of consequences, that is a person that has grabbed on to something and no amount of fortune, fame or power will deter them from that truth. I can learn from such a one...I have found such a one...I hope to be such a one.

This path, early on, cost me my career, my wife, and many of my family and friends. But it was worth it to get the understanding that I have now. I have walked through the fire and with each bend in this road I have found myself sacrificing relationships, possessions and ideals- for truth- for an understanding that makes more sense to me than ANY doctrine, ideal or creed that I have ever experienced in my ENTIRE walk with the Lord.

For whatever reason, YHVH saw fit to call me to seek and to understand this truth. He prepared me to endure the persecution that I have and possibly will face, even from those whom were entrusted to me as friends and spiritual family. It had been heartbreaking at times, especially when I think about the fact that all I have been trying to do is find the truth - I was condemned for that - So be it...but I refuse to be in the congregation of the dead.

AND now, I am alive in Yeshua. I have found PEACE and finally an understanding of true SHALOM. Gratefully, I find myself in a season of blessings, experiencing breakthroughs that I have struggled my entire walk with the Lord to achieve on my own. Now, I know that He is the word of truth. He is Torah, the word of truth! He is the word made flesh! I will follow the way of Torah, for how can I deny the very word that he not only taught and lived, but died for. He LIVED it and was condemned for the way that he LIVED Torah. This is my heart's desire...that I may be as He and walk in the grace to fulfill Torah, just as he fulfilled Torah. He said I could and I AM walking it right now...

(Matthew 5:19) Therefore whoever shall break/relax one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.

I refuse to be known as one of "the least" in heaven any longer. I shall live and teach the commandments that YHVH gave us just as Yeshua did. Do you not know that Yeshua is called great in Heaven? By his own standards in that verse, one must do and teach the commandments in order to be called great. He is because he lived and taught the commandments. These are words of Messiah, not my own. He told us to do and teach the commandments of YHVH and, by the way, they are not hard or burdensome.

1 John 5:3 KJV says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

1 John 2:3 KJV, [3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 3:23-24 KJV, [23] And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. [24] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

In conclusion, let me encourage you. If you are reading this then you are one of Messiah's beloved. So Beloved of the Most High, seek Truth and boldly receive the fullness of all that YHVH has for you! ~ Shalom!

 

Bio: David Salinas is worship director for House of Israel in Charlotte, NC. He has been an international evangelist/worship leader for over 25 years and has ministered with many giants in the faith, such as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Chuck Pierce, Kevin Basconi, Jonathan Cahn and currently with Arthur Bailey. He has also appeared on Michael Rood's Shabbat Night Live.

Currently, Pastor David can be seen leading worship LIVE on Thursday nights at 7:00 PM ET and Shabbat mornings (Saturdays) at 11:00 AM ET. To tune in go to www.arthurbaileyministries.com.

Photo by Niki Feijen




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