Reflections on shabat, May 29, 2026

  Images: On the left, Abraham is going to Mount Moriah with his son Isaac. In the middle, he is about to kill his son, but the angel of Yehowah called to him from heaven and told him not to sacrifice. Abraham saw in the Spirit Yehowah coming to sacrifice His only begotten Son Yeshua*). On the right, the resurrection of Yeshua. *)Yeshua said that Abraham had seen him. John 8:56
>>Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.<< 

Let's reread the Bible verses in the picture:

- Abraham went to the mountain in the land of Moriah at the command of Yehowah to offer up his son Isaac as a burnt offering to Yehowah.

>>10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the Yehowah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do you any thing unto him: for now I know that you fear Elohim, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.<< Genesis 22:10-12

- Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns, and he offered it up as a burnt offering to Yehowah instead of Isaac.

>>For the Yehowah will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Yehowah will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.<< Exodus 12:23

>>For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.<< Leviticus 17:11

>>11 But HaMashiach being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the Holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.<< Hebrews 9:11-12

  These Bible passages show us the kind of sacrifice Yehowah redeemed us by sending his only begotten Son about 2000 years ago! Yeshua was born as a human, although he had existed as a spirit being before the foundation of the world. He lived as a poor, was sinless and despised. At about 30 years of age, he was still 'unschooled, the son of the virgin Mary, the adopted son of Joseph the carpenter.' But he was the Son of Yehowah Elohim by birth. He learned what it was like to live in poverty.

  After that, he went to John the Baptist to the Jordan river and was baptised by immersion in the water. After receiving the Holy Spirit, he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days to fast and at the end to be tempted and tested by Satan. Having overcome all Satan's lies and deceptions he began to fulfill his heavenlycalling; to proclaiming repentance for the forgiveness of sins through faith in his name, for the Kingdom of Heaven had come near.

Our redemption is in the holy blood of Yeshua

  Adonai Yeshua taught before His crucifixion that we should always remember in the Holy Communion how we were redeemed by His innocent and sinless sacrifice. The bread of the communion represents His body and the wine of the communion represents His blood.

  The apostle Paul said that he received the institution of the Eucharist directly from Adonai Yeshua. He taught about it as follows 1 Cor. 11:23-26

>>23 For I have received of the Adonai that which also I delivered unto you, That the Adonai Yeshua the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Covenant in my blood: this do you, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do shew the Adonai’s death till he come.<<

  Yehowah has valued our souls at such an infinitely valuable and precious ransom, so we should honor Him and strive to be worthy of the calling we have received! We should abandon our own plans, even if they seem good to us, and prayerfully seek His plan for our lives.

  We are called to repent whenever the Holy Spirit prompts us to do so and to walk in the sanctification of the Spirit. The path to which we are called is indeed narrow, where sin must be completely put away and all evil desires and temptations must be fought against. Although the path that leads to life is narrow, we can still walk along it.

Walking the narrow way of life

  We receive forgiveness for all our sins through faith in the blood of HaMashiach Yeshua when we confess and forsake them! He also gives us the power to avoid them in the future.

  Regarding finding the right path in our lives, Adonai Yeshua taught his disciples then and us today as follows: John 14:5-6

>>5 Thomas said unto him, Adonai, we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way? 6 Yeshua said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes unto the Father, exept through me.<<

  Adonai Yeshua is an eternally living person and he is the only living way given to us with his teachings that will lead us to knowing the truth and eternal life! He also has a ready plan for each of us, regarding studies, work, housing, future spouse and everything related to our lives. By praying we will find them!

Songs suitable for the topic

Obs. Our Savior's original name in Hebrew is Yeshua HaMashiach HaNotzri

By His Stripes We are Healed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTLZy620mT4

It's Not An Easy Road
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKSwpbsuzP4

Great Is Thy Faithfulness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErwiBz1QA4o

By Your Blood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlIVwDBOmc0

Wonderful Merciful Savior
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdz9Wz3q_IQ

P.S. 1 You can check out the interesting stages of my life from the link below. My life has been a great adventure. There have been successes and setbacks. Adonai Yeshua has always helped me!
https://seventh-river.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-seventh-river.html

P.S. 2 I have also prepared these studies in Finnish. They consist of selected Bible translations and include various hymns:
https://yakov-tutkielmia-sapattina.blogspot.com/2026/05/pohdintaa-sapattina-2952026.html

Reflections on shabat, May 22, 2026

  Picture: When I was 16, I saw a prophecy in a dream of baptism by immersion and the Holy Spirit descending on me. The rest of the dream came true 7 years later in the Jesus House in Vartiokylä, Helsinki, on August 31, 1972 at 9 pm.
  Read more in the link below and scroll down to "The Holy Spirit, baptism by immersion in water and the baptism in the Holy Spirit"
https://seventh-river.blogspot.com/2020/02/chapter-11-years-1964-68-part-13.html

  Happy Shavuot May 21-23 and Christian Pentecost May 24 ! The theme is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Let's reread the Bible verses in the picture:

>>28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Adonai come.<< Joel 2:28-31

>>1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.<< Acts 2:1-4

We also read Ezekiel 36:27 and Luke 24:44-49

Ezekiel 36:27
>>And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.<<

Luke 24:44-49
>>44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved HaMashiach to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.<<

  From those Bible passages it becomes clear what kind of Spirit Yehowah will give into our hearts, who accept that Great Good News about Adonai Yeshua, the atoning sacrifice for our sins! Very much has been taught a different kind of message during the course of almost 1900 years, which is contrary to the original apostolic teaching.

  Of course, I do not claim that I myself still fully understand how far we New Covenant saints have been led astray from everything that our Savior and his first chosen apostles taught. We can notice some of the false teachings when we carefully read the New Covenant Scriptures and compare their content with current teachings.

  But we have an incomparable private teacher as our guide: the Holy Spirit! He helps us step by step to know the content of our Savior’s teachings, gives us the strength to walk the narrow path of life and leads us to living deeds that are pleasing to Yehowah Elohim: deeds of neighborly love and proclaiming the good news!

We are witnesses of Adonai Yeshua

  Just as Adonai Yeshua taught his chosen disciples in the beginning, so too his Holy Spirit teaches us to follow the teachings of our Savior and walk in accordance with them. We are not called to repeat a creed made by men once a week and then live freely as we please the rest of the time.

  We are called to repent whenever the Holy Spirit demands it of us and to walk in the sanctification of the Spirit. The path to which we are called is indeed narrow, where sin must be completely put away and all evil desires and temptations must be fought against. Although the path that leads to life is narrow, we can still walk along it.

  This is what Adonai Yeshua taught: John 20:21-23

>>21 Then said Yeshua to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father has sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive you the Holy Spirit: 23 Whose soever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins you retain, they are retained.<<


Obedience to the Son leads to eternal life

  Adonai Yeshua is our Good Shepherd and we should listen to his voice and learn from his words. The Holy Spirit opens the words of Adonai Yeshua to us even though the Bible translation we read is partly incomplete, partly even incorrect. Those who claim that the Bible is entirely the word of Elohim are teaching wrongly!

  In all Bible translations, the translators have left their own interpretations and views, which are incomplete and partly even incorrect. Therefore, I urge readers to be very careful about which translations they read! So read the best and most accurate Bible translation you have available and read it critically.

John the Baptist taught about obedience to Adonai Yeshua this way: John 3:33-36

>>33 He that has received his (Yeshua's) testimony has set to his seal that Elohim is true. 34 For he whom Elohim has sent speaks the words of Elohim: for Elohim gives not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of Elohim abides on him."<< 

Adonai Yeshua taught his disciples and teaches us as follows: John 14:5-6

>>5 Thomas said unto him, Adonai, we know not whither you go; and how can we know the way? 6 Yeshua said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.<<

  Adonai Yeshua is an eternally living person and he and his teachings are the only living way given to us that leads us to the knowledge of the truth and eternal life!


Songs suitable for the topic

Please, note: Our Savior's original name in Hebrew is Yeshua HaMashiach HaNotzri

Bo Ruach Elohim (Come Spirit of God)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk2xYOV4rnU

Come Holy Spirit I need You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s3ffDMgaKA

Blessed Assurance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1VMHEMOMZY

YESHUA, The Most Powerful Name
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77wy56K3MNo

The Comforter Has Come
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O862Iienbw

P.S. 1 You can check out the interesting stages of my life from the link below. My life has been a great adventure. There have been successes and setbacks. Adonai Yeshua has always helped me!
https://seventh-river.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-seventh-river.html

P.S. 2 I have also prepared these studies in Finnish. They consist of selected Bible translations and include various hymns:
https://yakov-tutkielmia-sapattina.blogspot.com/2026/05/pohdintaa-sapattina-2252026.html

Reflections on shabat, May 15, 2026

 

Image: Yeshua told the Jews the parable of the prodigal son and his humiliation while in the swineherd, and his return to his father. It also applies to the prodigal daughter.

Let's reread the Bible verses in the picture:

>>I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.<< Isaiah 44:22

>>Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am EL *), and there is no other.<<  Isaiah 45:22 *) Singular form of the name Elohim. Source: http://www.bayithamashiyach.com/Scriptures.html

The prodigal son returns to his father:

>>18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, 19 And am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.<< Luke 15:18-20

We also read verses Isaiah 57:15 and John 6:35-38

Isaiah 57:15
>>For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.<<

John 6:35-38
>>35 And Yeshua said unto them, I am the bread of life. He that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That you also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.<<

  From those Bible passages it is clear what kind of heart those have are pleasing to the Father Yehowah. It is also clear that Yehowah sent His only begotten Son to be born as a man and to be the bread of life and the source of living water for us humans, so that He would satisfy our spiritual hunger and spiritual thirst. Yehowah created everything, including our ancestors, through and in connection with His Son Yeshua. Therefore, we can only become pleasing to Yehowah after we have accepted salvation through faith in HaMashiach Yeshua. There is no other way to the salvation of our souls!

Original Sin Separates Us From the Creator

  When we understand that it is a great grace to receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation with faith in our hearts, we gladly confess our faith to other people and urge them to accept the Eternal and great Good News of Adonai Yeshua's victory on the cross of Golgotha ​​for the redemption of our souls, so that we, who put all our hope for salvation in his substitutionary sacrifice for us, will not be thrown into the last judgment into that lake that burns with brimstone and fire, it is Hell!

As sinners we are not worthy of heaven

  It is a great grace to come to our Savior as great sinners and receive grace and forgiveness, but we must first repent in our lives. Only after that should we go to believers' baptism by immersion in water in the name of Yeshua HaMashiach for the forgiveness of our sins, as the Apostles Peter and Paul taught in the Acts of the Apostles. The infant baptism "in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" thas been widely adopted worldwide by Christian revival movements. It has been fake from the teachings of the apostles since early times and is not apostolic, but is a heresy! We do not find a single passage in the Acts of the Apostles that those who came to faith were baptized with that formula, although there are many places of baptism and how it was performed then.

  After receiving the original apostolic baptism by immersion, we are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit. As we truly strive to be sanctified in our inner and outer lives, the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and takes up residence in the temple of our hearts. Without His help, we would not be able to resist the temptations of sin and walk free from them, as the NT teaches us: Romans 6:20-23

>>20 For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become slaves to Elohim, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of Elohim is eternal life through Yeshua HaMashiach our Adonai.<< (Partial translation from the English CJB, by David H. Stern)

  As I taught in my previous Shabat study, the right way to grow for heaven is to allow the grace of Elohim to grow us day by day. He works in us through the word of the Bible and the teaching of His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our only and reliable private teacher, for only He opens to us the Bible correctly, wether version were incompletely, or even erroneously translated! Let us beware of the dozens of so-called 'church fathers' who are misleading us into the depths of the doctrine of the Trinity, (trinitarian dogma), which is foreign to the original writings!

Songs suitable for the topic

Please, note: Our Savior's original name in Hebrew is Yeshua HaMashiach HaNotzri

Seek You First
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsBpM9IcBts

I Return to You | Repentance Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTaHNpxuEx4

Down on my knees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Rl7Cn0WpM

Come Holy Spirit I need You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvNhhHRiIaw

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNN1Z342Iao

P.S. 1 You can check out the interesting stages of my life from the link below. My life has been a great adventure. There have been successes and setbacks. Adonai Yeshua has always helped me!
https://seventh-river.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-seventh-river.html

P.S. 2 I have also prepared these studies in Finnish. They consist of selected Bible translations and include various hymns:
https://yakov-tutkielmia-sapattina.blogspot.com/2026/05/pohdintaa-sapattina-1552026.html

Reflections on shabat, May 8, 2026

 

Picture: Yeshua and his disciples were watching the offerings the Jews were putting into the offering box in the temple of Yehowah. Yeshua honored the poor widow.

Let's reread the Bible verses in the picture

>>8 And the word of Yehowah came unto Elijah, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10a So he arose and went to Zarephath... (He talked with that widow woman)

  13b ... Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou has said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14 For thus says Yehowah Elohim of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that Yehowah sends rain upon the earth.<< 1 Kings 17:8-10a, 13b-14

>>42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And Yeshua called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.<< Mark 12:42-44

We also read the verses Luke 16:10 and Matthew 25:24-27

Luke 16:10
>>He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.<<

Matthew 25:24-27
>>24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful servant, thou knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.<<

  In those NT passages, we are encouraged to use even all our smallest gifts diligently. It is often the case that when we are faithful in trivial tasks, Adonai Yeshua gradually gives us more demanding tasks and through them more joy. After all, no one is born a blacksmith and only practice makes perfect! Good luck!

The grace of Elohim grows us

  When we understand that it is a great grace to be a co-worker with our Creator, gratitude to Him fills our hearts. Then the Holy Spirit, as the spirit of grace and prayer, begins to work in us day by day. He also works through us good and living works by His own power, because our own powers are not enough. Only those living works are pleasing to Elohim. About this, the beloved apostle Paul wrote as follows: Titus 2:11-14

>>11 For the grace of Elohim that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great Elohim and our Saviour Yeshua HaMashiach; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.<<

A sacrifice acceptable to Yehowah?

  The offering given by that widow was insignificant compared to the offerings of the rich offerers. However, it was greater in the eyes of Adonai Yeshua than the others. So the size of the offering does not make the offering great or small, but the circumstances of the offerer matter most. A sacrifice is only then a true offering if its giving is felt and hurts! Moreover, offerings should always be given with a cheerful heart! This is also the situation between a servant and the one served.

  In this world, rulers are considered greater than their servants, and slaves are the least valuable people in the minds of the most people. This is not the case in the Kingdom of Elohim, but there the greatest is the one who serves. Therefore, Adonai Yeshua said to his disciples: Luke 22:24-26

>>24 And there was also a strife among disciples, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that does serve.<<

  Adonai Yeshua justified his teaching by saying that he himself came to serve us and suffer as a substitute for our sins through the terrible suffering on the cross of Golgotha! Furthermore, he said that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends! Through this, he left us an example of how we are obligated to love one another if we want to follow Him!


A cautionary memory from years ago

  This happened around 1975 in a congregation in Helsinki. The theology of success had taken root there with its delusions. I happened to be there one evening when the congregation was having a special meeting to encourage sacrifice. The pastor asked everyone present to take out their wallets and take out the largest banknotes.

  Then he told them to wave their hands in the air, holding the banknotes in front of everyone. Many did so. He called it a modern 'wave offering'. After that, he told them to bring those banknotes in a line, row by row, and put them in the offering bucket in front of him. Many went, obediently obeying the pastor, but I did not go.

  Of course, the commotion did not please Adonai Yeshua, and soon after that, the owner of the rented apartment where all the meetings were held decided to double the rent! The congregation had to move to a cheaper apartment. Many of the congregation members resigned and immediately moved to another Christian congregation.

  The shepherd had forgotten a clear teaching from Adonai Yeshua's Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 6:1-4

>>1 Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 

2 Therefore when you do thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does: 4 That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward thee openly.<<

  We note from the teaching of Adonai Yeshua: It is right and acceptable to give alms. Without them, the fixed expenses of any congregation cannot be covered, its workers cannot be paid, and the preachers of the message of salvation cannot be sent to neighboring areas or abroad to proclaim this one and only eternal Good News, by believing in which a person is saved from being lost and enters heaven.

  According to the NT, the payment of tithes to the local congregation as in the OT is still necessary today, and even more should be given if the Holy Spirit so leads. But Adonay Yeshua will never accept the way in which the sacrificers with banknotes in their hands are ordered to stand up for all to see! That would be an insult to the poor!

Songs suitable for the topic

Please, note: Our Savior's original name in Hebrew is Yeshua HaMashiach HaNotzri

Sing Hallelujah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKB8ZuN07z8

Unto Thee O Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjqlkWhz-aA

You Know Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APzgx4hqCI4

With my life in Your hands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN7hzcQblXI

Majesty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNnTFDNPT3U

P.S. 1 You can check out the interesting stages of my life from the link below. My life has been a great adventure. There have been successes and setbacks. Adonai Yeshua has always helped me!

https://seventh-river.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-seventh-river.html

P.S. 2 I have also prepared these studies in Finnish. They consist of selected Bible translations and include various hymns:
https://yakov-tutkielmia-sapattina.blogspot.com/2026/05/pohdintaa-sapattina-852026.html