The true test of Faith and commitment to YHWH and His Torah begins when an individual volunteers to serve Mashiyach within a local community.  Yeshua raised up 12 and then 70 men, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Master, even the devils are subject unto us through your name!" (Luke 10:17)  Active and progressive leadership refines our understanding of the Malchut (Kingdom) of Elohim by putting us in real-life situations that require leading of the Ruach HaKodesh to guide us and give us discernment and wisdom.  Leading those who belong to Mashiyach is the highest calling we could ever embrace in our lives, along with great joys and victory come battles against the wiles of the enemy.  Each soul in the Malchut Elohim is endowed with individuality, liberty and personal property according to the Will of YHWH.  We have a glorious opportunity to know Mashiyach and walk in Torah in this life.  Every soul who enters into the Malchut Elohim is called to live and demonstrate YHWH's Covenant within the community and world.  We are called to live according to the purpose which we have been created, YHWH establishes His Word and authority in us for our benefit and all others.  Authority comes from YHWH through His Mashiyach and through each soul protecting their unique individual soul, their freedom and all that belongs to them.  Authority is established by YHWH and belongs to every human being on earth, we are all required to uphold Torah for ourselves and for the benefit of others, Torah is the Word of YHWH, but false authority upholds religion and man's ideas and reduces the authority of the individual to place higher authority upon religious hierarchies and the wealthy and persons in position of government.  In his day Abimelech appointed hirelings and claques for his selfish purposes, similarly today religions appoint and anoint their own leaders to advance their own value systems, the Malchut Elohim in many cases is the furthest thing from their minds and goals.

 A few days before His suffering Yeshua made his way up to Jerusalem, he cursed a fig tree saying, "Let no fruit come forth from you forever", in so doing he showed that the Sanhedrin (house of judges) had become utterly corrupted.  Corruption begins when men in leadership operate as hirelings, following agendas based on private, religious or institutional mandates, these are "light and vain souls" with self interests which degenerate life, liberty and property of each soul in their community and everywhere else.  Yeshua gave distinct instructions to establish reconciliation within the Household of Faith and protect each soul.  In Matthew 18 Yeshua says, "where two or three are gathered" the Ruach (Spirit of YHWH) would be present in their midst to establish righteous judgments.  "Two or three are gathered", refers specifically to a Beit Din that is required to establish halakha.  Halakha is specific directions about how we are to observe and guard Torah, it is often referred to as a point of law.  Men gather together in the authority of YHWH and His Mashiyach to apply Torah principles and establish YHWH's righteous directives for their lives and congregation.  Two or three gathered means they are equal, each one is equally vested and valued by their one vote, they are not a hierarchy where one man has veto authority.

In Hellenistic or pagan society the liberty, life and property of the individual is the property of the state, during the height of the Roman empire over 70% of men were slaves whose shaved heads showed their status.  Today men go to churches, synagogues, mosques and all form of religious institutions and give their life, liberty and property over to the authority of a "religious" state, they surrender their authority to come under mans authority, the authority of the hierarchy and this is pagan and anti-Torah.  Torah requires that each man take an active role in their family and the greater community and walk in the authority of YHWH and His Word, but religious institutions castrate men so they cannot express their own authority in freedom.  If someone chooses to express a contrarian viewpoint that is according to Torah, their sovereignty must not be diminished for doing so, the majority can never make up moral codes or halakha that overrule YHWH and His Mashiyach and then still expect His Hand of Blessing.  But the fact of the matter is that there are many men in authority who would rather see their families and communities suffer under their leadership than to surrender their place of authority to YHWH and serve the needs of their community rather than "lord it over" others.

When Yeshua cursed the fig tree this demonstrated that the Sanhedrin had brought a curse upon themselves by becoming men pleasers, rather than pleasers of YHWH.  The Sanhedrin stood between Heaven and Earth and dictated the judgments of their own selfish man-made religion over the souls of others, entrapping all who came under their authority and were cursed for doing so.

True authority comes about by observing Torah and receiving and experiencing discernment and wisdom from the Ruach HaKodesh, neither age or intellectual ability alone provides man with wisdom and authority from YHWH.  Our Father YHWH Himself provides us with His authority by giving us mitzvoth (Commandments) that require us to act according to His authority.  A well-aged man or a group of aged men may have manifold life experience, they must be honored for their grey heads.  But age itself is not a prerequisite for receiving YHWH's authority, young men, even children carry YHWH's authority when they hear from YHWH, but every father and mother has a responsibility to YHWH to exercise His authority and teach their children His Way.  True authority comes from YHWH, false authority is invented by men.

Authority from YHWH is not necessarily going to make anyone overly popular, having a large vibrant congregation is no guarantee that YHWH has chosen the leader, "although multitudes of wicked may join hand in hand, they shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered" (Proverbs 16:5). There is a great danger in following a multitude, it is much wiser to seek approval from YHWH.  There is also a great danger to be an island unto oneself, many men desire to be active in leadership but are proud, arrogant and refuse to be accountable to others so they stay at home and don't participate in their own personal development and the cultivation of righteousness within others.  Many men have learned to keep their word only when it suits them and their "ministry" is centered on their own "teaching" rather than on cultivating all the fruits that bless the wider needs of the body of Mashiyach.  A mature leader understands that people are not coming to listen to him, we congregate in YHWH's Name to connect with Him and attend meetings to increase our experience and personal "anointing" from the Ruach HaKodesh, but man's carnal ideas, religions and hierarchies are in opposition the authority and the Way of YHWH.

At least three times a year every man is required to bring "sacrifice" to YHWH, this means to draw near to YHWH and bring forth our hearts through giving, sharing and acknowledging His blessings.  Each one of us is to consider the goodness of YHWH to our souls and respond to Him from thankful open hearts.  The greatest worship we can give our Father YHWH is to delight so much in doing His Will that we desire all men worship Him and have the blessings and delight of serving in His Kingdom.  Each man is qualified and capable of service regardless of who they are or how much experience they may have.  However, Babylon has usurped men's authority given by YHWH, by qualifying their own leaders on the basis of their money, power, intellect, looks or popularity.  Carnal leaders have credentials through an institution (seminary etc), they take on roles as pastors, speakers, teachers, visionaries or entertainers who are trained by their institutions, they conspire ideas that are acceptable to their mentors.  Carnal leaders are highly esteemed as "men of G-d" based on their "teaching" or delivery, however, Torah qualifies men based on righteous character and accountability to YHWH and one another.  YHWH qualifies men on their ability to draw close to Him and to practice His Word and be conformed to His Word rather than be accepted by the religious social clubs.

Greedy dogs of course refers to teachers who stand before the people of Israel and "dogmatically" teach paganism or Hellenism, they are shepherds who cannot understand, they posture an identity that knows everything there is to know about G-d, therefore people flock to them for answers.  An authentic shepherd points souls to Mashiyach and helps others develop a relationship with YHWH rather than making people dependant on themselves.  False authority wants men to acknowledge and respect their authority first, in other words, if you don't agree with their authority or doctrines you are not "called" to their cause and their cause is really to have you comply with their religion.  The sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer, refers to false shepherds who take authority from Babylon.  Babylon is the whore who hires herself out to all who will come into her, she is the Jezebel spirit who hates Torah, Yeshua, and the people of YHWH, her victory is when men become pleasers of men rather than pleasers of YHWH.

 John identifies the anointing that each of the Talmidim of Yeshua received as they walked with Yeshua, verse 26 says "These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you", because the enemy seduces souls into succumbing to the authority of men that teach against Torah.  Authority must always come from and belong to YHWH, not from men, we must never ascribe authority by our own person, but that we are called by YHWH to do His will.  The enemy tries to make men believe they are not smart enough, good enough or disciplined enough to receive an anointing from the Ruach HaKodesh.  However, regardless of the Gift of the Ruach HaKodesh within, the seducer wants you to be dependent upon another man rather that on YHWH, this is how haSatan has controlled the hearts and minds of those within the fallen Church system. 

The Word and Spirit of YHWH is our only True Authority, if we rely on others to teach us, we are trusting in man rather than YHWH.  We must NEVER live by another man's anointing, we are each called to seek YHWH according to our own personal calling and anointing that He provides for us.  Many are seduced by those who appear wise and capable, by the Rabbis  (teachers), or Cohanim (Priests), or self-appointed "Levites" who market themselves as wise and capable men who are learned in theology, but many are Hellenized and speak evil things against YHWH, Mashiyach and His Torah which is why we are expressly warned; "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of Elohim: because many false prophets are gone out into the world"  (1 John 4:1).

Each of us must carefully choose who we give our authority to, each of us has the power to vote and decide for ourselves, by attending meetings we are giving authority over to the leaders, so we better be very sure we have YHWH's approval before we sit under the authority of other men and surrender the authority that YHWH has given each of us.  By studying, learning and applying the Word of YHWH we are welcoming YHWH's authority to bring the Ruach HaKodesh into our lives.  The Word of YHWH is Eternal Truth and must always be the connection we have to YHWH who is our ultimate Authority.

Speak the Truth in Love

For several years in the early to mid 90's I attended a Messianic Congregation in Vancouver B.C. Canada where I saw first hand the lesson of false religious authority being played out before myself and the congregation.  The congregation was led by a Mr. Eli Nessim, a classic one-man-show with "side kick" Lionel Leslie the informant.  Anyone caught voicing ideas not authorized by the grand-poohbah was considered a threat to "the authority of the leadership".  This Abimelech style leadership makes itself the center of power by positioning light and vain men to uphold their authority before the claque.  For decades Mr. Eli Nessim and his claque were able to quench all startup Messianic groups in the Vancouver area by mounting gossip and character assassination campaigns against all who would not come under his "authority".  Those who attended "unauthorized meetings" were suspected of being dissidents.  This hierarchical authority of groups, as operates within the Kehillath Tsiyon, is easily traced to the harlot church system of Nimrod.  The hierarchy of Hellenism is threatened by those who teach Freedom in Torah and Mashiyach.  Leaders of the religious sects embark on all form of defamation against those who "sprout" up to speak about deliverance from Hellenism.  This attitude of denial reflects the modern day cry of "Israelites in Egypt", these would rather enjoy the cucumbers and leeks of Egypt and follow dead religion than seek the Malchut Elohim and be free in YHWH and His Mashiyach.

It is not wise to attend a congregation as though it's a religious social club and then depart without ever actively participating in the progression of the Malchut Elohim within that community.  We are required to "speak the truth in love" and establish a witness according to the Word of YHWH.  False religion protects itself from truth and insulates itself from allowing individual freedom of expression and relationship with YHWH and His Mashiyach.  False religion demands conformity and as in the Kehillath Tsyion in Vancouver there is a core group that will gossip and defame anyone who would bring a challenge against a loveless and pathetic social club that churns through people who don't bow before "the authority of the leadership."

No man can be an island unto himself in the Kingdom of Heaven, no man has all truth though he may think and posture himself as such.  Regardless of how someone is know to receives criticism or reproof we are required to honor and respect the souls of our fellow man, this means to speak openly, honestly and with love, about how we are each being led in YHWH, Torah and His Mashiyach.  We do not know if YHWH has sent us to speak the truth to someone for the salvation of their own souls or to prove us to see if we prefer Him over the comforts of religion or both.

Hirelings have no authority from YHWH, they only have authority by man because they are being endorsed by man, not by YHWH.  It is common among hirelings to say great swelling words of puffed up recognition about their upline so as to swell each others egos before their congregations, the people have been sold out to the membership of man rather than the power of the Ruach haKodesh dwelling within the midst of the congregation. "The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and cares not for the sheep."  Religion pits people against each other, it is full of esoteric ideas not easily judged by concrete facts, it is replete with ideas easily to manipulate for gain.  Religion has shown itself unclean and ruthless against the sheep, but Yeshua said, those who deny Him before men, He will also deny them before His Father who is in Heaven, each of us has a responsibility to uphold the values and teachings of Yeshua in the Malchut Elohim.  Truth arrays the battle against unrighteousness, against acts of disobedience and rebellion against YHWH, rather than the individual.  In the religious worlds there is always a loophole where someone can hate another person and be justified, or slander and gossip their enemies who don't bow to their authority.

Yeshua said, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it be of Elohim, or whether I speak of myself." John 7:17.  Truth the opposite of the intellectual white-noise that is common in anti-Torah fellowships.  To be understood Truth must be lived, observed and rehearsed on a daily basis and this requires an element of dying to self and producing sustained Love and Unity within the body of Mashiyach.  By taking an active role in a Beit Din a man is able to access insights and discernment from YHWH through the Ruach haKodesh to effectively serve the Body of Mashiyach.  There is no greater satisfaction than to join our efforts together to bring forth Justice and Righteousness for ourselves and others who have been made sick by the unregenerate dying world.  Many souls who are seeking the Kingdom of Elohim are being beaten back for exercising their Faith, Yeshua said of those who follow him that they "shall be hated of all men for my name's sake", the gossip and hatred against the people of YHWH isn't likely to stop, but more and more souls are joining together in the high calling if Yeshua Mashiyach.  YHWH is providing His authority to walk in Mashiyach and not be threatened by Babylon or Hellenism or by the many religious institutions that go against His Mashiyach.  "And the times of this ignorance Elohim winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent: Because He has appointed a day, when He will judge the world in righteousness by He whom He has ordained; YHWH has given assurance unto all men, in that He has raised Him from the dead."

We are each called to exercise YHWH's authority which is our individual sovereign authority to walk as Mashiyach walked and speak the Name of YHWH and command demons to flee, rather than be an island and make a retreat from the battle.  As we seek two or more men to pray with and establish YHWH's authority in our communities we see the Arm of YHWH revealed and the victories coming to us on every side.  Let us each exercise our YHWH given authority in Mashiyach Yeshua, encourage each man to bring forth YHWH's teaching, and the testimony of His Word and each Wonderful insight the Ruach HaKodesh has put upon our hearts.  Reject one-man-show leaders who glorify their own flesh, they are carnal, proud and a disgrace to the Name of YHWH and His Mashiyach, they have no shame, no accountability and no humility but seek their own gain that is veiled by a religion.  It doesn't matter what religion a carnal man chooses to emulate, the carnal nature of man cannot be converted to a spiritually renewed man by a religion.  When we remove the idols of religion and raise our eyes and our heads up towards our Father YHWH and keep His Torah with delight only then can we understand the difference between man's false religious authority and YHWH's Perfect authority over our lives and over the lives of others.

By observing Torah we elevate the value of all souls whether Jews or Gentiles and we do not make up false religious tiered systems that discriminate and prejudice people against each other.

*Chemarim are "black robed priests", men wore black robes as a way of showing their authority and instilling "fear" (respect) of their authority from others.  This tradition is being practiced in Rabbinical Orthodox Judaism, Christianity and many other religions, the basis of it is evil and pagan.  YHWH created Set Apart garments for Aaron haGadol

**wine symbolizes teaching, "Neither do men put new wine into old wineskins: else they break, and the wine runs out, and the wineskins perish: but they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."  Matthew 9:17  Yeshua compared His teaching to "old wine"  Yeshua quotes Jeremiah 6:16 when he says "Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:28-29.  Jeremiah 6:16 "Thus says YHWH, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the Ancient Paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls."  Yeshua was stating that He was bringing the old wine, the ancient paths.  "Yeshua answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me.  If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of Elohim, or whether I speak of myself."  John 7:16,17.  Yeshua's teachings are from everlasting, they are the Ancient Paths, not the new wine of any contemporary teaching.

new cloth = new wine = fasting

old garment = old wineskin = ancient paths or ancient teachings of Mashiyach

     Yeshua was teaching that His doctrine is from everlasting, the old wineskin represents an teacher who is full of ancient wisdom.  There is a saying in Mishna Avoth 4:20 "he who learns from the young, unto what is he to be compared?  Unto one who eats unripe grapes and drinks wine from his vat, and he who learns from the old, unto what is he to be compared?  Unto one who eats ripe grapes, and drinks old wine...regard not the container but that which is therein, there is a new container full of old wine and an old container in which there is not even new wine."  Even a child who knows of the ancient paths (has the old wine) is considered wise, one does not look at the age of the person teaching, but what he is teaching.  An elderly man doesn't automatically have the old wine, he may not even have the new.