Before closing this section, let us make some important comments regarding true faith and how it is essential in order to be Yahshua's disciple. We read the words of Yahshua - "Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and does them, I will show you whom he is like" (Luke 6:47). Of course, this is the one who builds his house on the rock. As you will see, in this statement we find a key testimony and revealing truth regarding faith. The next two paragraphs are truly important.

What is faith? Some would turn to Hebrews 11:1 to answer this question and say that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidencing of things not seen." But this does not describe what is faith; but rather, it describes the benefit or outcome or even purpose of faith. Faith assures one of things hoped for; its presence in one's heart evidences things not yet seen. This is the testimony of the remainder of Hebrews 11.

Romans 4:21 provides the closest thing to a definition of faith, where we read concerning the father of faith - Abraham was "fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform." Faith is hearing the word of God and acting in harmony with it. But even then, there is one other description of faith that is most helpful and essential in understanding true faith. This is found here in Luke 6:47 - "Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and does them, I will show you whom he is like." Faith is a trinity, even as God is a trinity and man is a trinity, and the trinity of faith is - hearing, believing, and acting.

True faith cannot exist unless all three of these parts are in action. One must hear from Yahweh, either by hearing His word, reading His word, or by hearing directly from Him. But hearing is only the beginning. Many have heard or read God's word, or even heard from God, but that hearing never went any further. Thus, faith requires the next step of believing. Once one hears and believes, then faith is progressing. But then again, hearing and believing is still not enough for true faith, for true faith MUST have one more step, and that is - action! Only when faith is all three - hearing, believing, and acting - is faith effectual.

This is why Yahshua said that if you hear His words and do them, then you will be like the man who built his house on the rock. But it is this third part of doing that is so essential!

What is faith that does not have this third part of actions? James calls this kind of faith - "useless," even " dead." "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself," wrote James (2:17 and 26). And, "But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless" (2:20).

If one hears and believes, but fails to add actions to their faith, it is both useless and dead. This is why Yahshua said that one must hear His words and do them in order to build his life on the rock.

Let me tell you what I believe Yahweh is doing in these days before His return. Yahweh is very simple in everything He does. In His vast complexity and awesome wonder, He expresses Himself in the simplest of ways. I believe that Yahweh is placing the simplest of tests before man today. He has spoken through His Son in the most simple and direct way possible as to what it will take for one to be His disciple and enter into the kingdom of God. One cannot get much simpler and direct than statements such as - "But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give mercifully; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Or - "So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his possessions."

It is the simplicity of this call that will judge men in these last days before the return of Yahshua. Yahweh is providing a test on one vital and telling point - Will you hear the word of My Son and do what He said? Will you be His disciple and do what He said and give up all your possessions? Before the return of His Son, Yahweh is making obedience to Him and entrance into His kingdom very simple, very basic, and really very easy; yet, it is on a point that tests man to the very root of his being - all his possessions.

In truth, this is the test of true faith. Will you hear, will you believe, and most importantly, will you act on this one point? There is no question that selling all requires overt and telling action. It was this act that revealed the heart of Ananias and Sapphira, and it will reveal your heart today as well before Yahshua returns. He is testing your obedience on one critical and essential point.

"But Gary," you ask, "what makes this moment so different from all the other times when people have given up their possessions to follow Yahshua?" In The Love of Money, we mention three things that make this time different - truth, timing, and birthright. Truth: never before has there been the truth that the second Remnant is receiving. It is truly the opening of the seals spoken of in Daniel 12:9. Timing: today is the time for the cut short return of Yahshua, moving the mount of transfiguration with mustard seed faith; but equally important, it is the time of the test of Carmel between the Remnant and Christianity. And birthright: the second Remnant is the completion of the work that was begun under the first Remnant.

In regard to this important third point, let us add here that not since the time before the stoning of Stephen has it been legally possible for anyone to lay their possessions at the apostle's feet! I do not add this here in order to be self-serving, but to set forth the legal uniqueness of the day in which we now live. This is a critical point that makes this time so effectual and important! How can we have the legal right to the labors of the first Remnant if we do not have a legal tie to them? Many others have given their possessions mercifully, but never before have they had the legal opportunity to lay them at the feet, the kingdom rights, of the original apostles!

With Yahweh adding this man as one of the original twelve, He Himself has repaired the breach between the two Remnant and can complete that which He began nearly 2,000 years ago! Thus the "apostle's feet" kingdom rights are legally restored for today, and effecting those rights for yourself is possible through your obedience, even as it was for those of the first Remnant.

Laying all at the apostle's feet today is the sole link to the kingdom rights imparted to those men in John 13:8 where Yahshua washed specifically their feet and told them to go and do likewise (vs. 15), as well as when He first came into their midst and breathed upon them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit," adding - "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained" (John 20:20-23). It is a most important point to realize that even as the Nazirite vow and the cup was Yahshua's sole legal link to restore man and the kingdom, so your laying everything at the apostle's feet is your sole legal link to the rights to reign with Yahshua in the kingdom He gave to the original twelve.

So you see then that giving to the second Remnant all of one's possessions, is a critical point of obedience that is entirely unique to this time just before the return of Yahshua. It is a simple test on one point that has an essential intercessoral and legal link that has not existed since the first Remnant. This is critically unique and vitally important!

In Hebrews 3:7-11 we read:

Hebrews is rich in Remnant truths, and this passage is no exception. Once again we find a passage that has laid dormant for 2,000 years as the church has passed through the very time period spoken of here - the forty Jubilee period of wilderness Christianity. That period is now complete, the test of Carmel is taking place, and the question arises as to whether you will go astray in your heart from the words of Yahshua, or do them and enter His rest spoken of here. This is the rest promised at the end of the wilderness period of Christianity, and that rest is entered by obedience to His word.

After the above words of caution, the writer of Hebrews then says:

Will you truly believe today, possessing a belief that will lead to obedience to Yahshua regarding what He has spoken about being His disciple - giving up all your possessions? Will hearing and believing be consummated by required actions? It is your choice; it is your faith.