The Character of Sovereignty

Chapter 10 of “The Book of The Covenant, A Witness Against America”

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” Exodus 20:17

At the heart of the command not to covet is the true test of character. In chapter 2, we learned that a synonym of idolatry is covetousness. That is to say, the action of coveting is just one step away from idolatry. In this chapter, you’re going to learn why this is the case.

Material possessions and the want thereof are a clear and present danger to freedom and sovereignty. Better said, materialism is a trap or a well-placed snare that so easily besets us, bringing mankind into bondage.

That said, because we are fleshly beings, a certain level of materialism is a must for a healthy, happy, prosperous life, even in righteousness. There is nothing wrong with having material possessions or wealth. It has been said of some:

“Money does not bring happiness, but the lack of money sure brings sadness.”

That statement is so very true. Yet, there are those who actually believe, being poor is a sign of righteousness, never realizing poverty can ensnare a person into bondage just as much or more than riches.

A very wise man once wrote:

“Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is YoHeWaH?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of YoHeWaH.” Proverbs 30:7–9

We have already stated the following passage, but it bears repeating at this time:

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” 1Timothy 6:9–10

Money itself is not the root of all kinds of evil, but “the love of” money causes some to wander away from the faith, trapping them in many kinds of pain.

In chapter 8 we tried to show how Christianity has fallen into this trap, via its desire to build bigger buildings, obtain more and more parishioners, basically raping them financially for their own benefit. With religion, it becomes the love of power via the avenue of money that ensnares the church. With money comes power. With power, void of morality, which only comes via Covenant Law, comes corruption. If we wrote it mathematically, it would look like this:

The desire for power = The pursuit of money

The love of money obtained = Power

Power, void of Covenant Law = Corruption

Corruption = Idolatry

Thus, the desire for power (Covetousness) leads to Idolatry.

Idolatry is bondage, the very opposite of The Law of Liberty. It is bondage for the ones idolatrizing themselves under the authority of a man-made god, and it is bondage for the one playing the role of god. A 100% adverse position to be in, apart from the one true Almighty YoHeWaH. At the core of idolatry is an improper type of fear. We will address this unrighteous fear before closing this chapter, for it opposes a proper, righteous fear of YoHeWaH as the lines drawn in the sand become more clearly understood.

Once again, the key is a formula void of the precepts written in the Book of the Covenant, which cannot work.

The intent of the heart, of which only YoHeWaH can truly know, works to forge the path forward, either ending in idolatry or righteousness, the dividing line in the sand, identifying who the Believer truly fears. If a person’s desire is to live under Covenant Law, even if that person doesn’t fully understand the ins and outs of YoHeWaH’s Law, then the intent of the heart will lead a person toward righteousness, overcoming an improper desire for materialism, which leads to idolatry.

The flip side of this equation says this. If a person desires to live apart from Covenant Law, no matter how religious they might seem, then that person's intent most certainly leads to idolatry because YoHeWaH’s Spirit is not working with such a person at all. YoHeWaH’s Spirit will not work with anyone who does not first look to His Law as their lamp to light their way.

We have already quoted this in this work. YoHeWaH’s Covenant Law is called “The Law of Liberty,” and once again, it applies perfectly.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22–25

And

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:8–13

In the two above passages, James tells us that the measuring stick of judgment is YoHeWaH’s Covenant Law, which is based upon liberty, true freedom, and sovereignty, totally void of bondage.

The scripture is full of opposites. The goal of scripture is the coming government of YoHeWaH here on this earth. The Enemy of that coming government is Babylon. As we have already learned, Babylon is confusion and mixing, as in the mixing of truth and error or some form of partial truth or as James puts it, “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” for he goes on to explain this partiality of picking and choosing which laws of The Covenant one might desire to keep and observe, as opposed to which laws to abolish is what leads to sin and judgment.

This can not be the path to obtaining the goal of the Kingdom or Government of YoHeWaH here on this earth, and yet, it is exactly what Christianity has done. It chooses to teach some forms of the “thou shalt nots” of Covenant Law but fails to honor YoHeWaH by abolishing His Sabbaths and Appointed Times as well as His written name, etc. Again, this defines Babylon, which is mixing and matching….confusion.

Christianity, which is the Mystery Babylon spoken of by Christ to John The Revelator, offers the people the trinkets of materialism, in various forms of a prosperity gospel of personal salvation, but in fact, traps them into many different forms of bondage. Note the text:

“And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ALL THE EARTH’S ABOMINATIONS.” And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Yeshua.” Revelation 17:3–6

As we have already witnessed from The Prophets of The Bible, wine is a typology of doctrine; in fact, it is false doctrine, as in the abolishment of Covenant Law. This church (The Woman), which is actually the mother church, as in The Roman Catholic Church, is the mother or originator of her harlot daughters of Protestant Christianity, which have, like mother, like daughter, deceived the would-be saints shedding the blood of The Word (Yeshua), which is Covenant Law.

Notice who the saints are in this equation. Not the Saints named and titled only via a Roman Catholic Papal edict, but the true actual saints.

“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of YoHeWaH and their faith in Yeshua.” Revelation 14:12

The Bible will define itself if you know where to look. Here, we see a straightforward definition of what constitutes a Saint of The Most High. One who keeps the commandments of YoHeWaH (That’s Covenant Law) and holds to the faith of Yeshua (Covenant Law in the flesh).

So this woman's goal in Revelation 17:3–6 is to do what? Destroy the salvational process of the Saints, which is based upon Covenant Law. And what does she offer the “would-be” saints instead?

The short answer to this question is materialism and a false promise of heavenly salvation, which is totally unscriptural. The long answer leads to this…

Teachable Moment: There are two spirits any one person will live under. Two ways of living that govern a person’s character growth or the lack thereof.

1. The Spirit of Cooperation
2. The Spirit of Competition

Defining these two words, Cooperation and Competition, with critical thought will go a long way to understanding what it means to covet.

Cooperation is defined as the process of working together to a common end. However, this is a general characterization. It does not consider what it takes to cooperate or be in a spirit of cooperation. In all instances in life, if a Believer is to be in a spirit of cooperation, that Believer has to lower himself or herself into some type of servitude, literally denying a portion of one’s self, in philanthropic actions. Thus, to be in a spirit of cooperation is to be selfless.

Competition is defined as an activity or condition of competing for a prize or gain. It is tested when something or someone stands in the way of obtaining a prize. Selfishness is the first cousin of spiritual competition.

Thus, life is defined at every turn by the way of “get” versus the way of “give.” The following life struggles exist at every turn.

Competition or Cooperation

Selfishness or Selflessness.

Get or Give

Faithlessness or True Faith

Bondage (Slavery) or Liberty (Sovereignty)

Lawlessness or Covenant Law

Fear of Death or The Fear of YHWH

The left side of this list has covetousness written all over it. The right side is all about Covenant Law. Is it any wonder why YoHeWaH placed the tenth commandment where He did? It basically sums up the dividing line between bondage and sovereignty.

It is human nature to ask the following question about any venture untaken:

“What do I get out of the equation?”

So, what does Christianity dangle in front of potential “would-be” Believers? Some form of personal salvation in a fictitious heaven that scripture says does not exist. Notice the words of Our Savior to Nicodemus:

“Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? NO ONE HAS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:10–15.

And the words of The Apostle Peter:

“For David did not ascend into the heavens” Acts 2:34

The ancient patriarch Job knew this fact:

“But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up, so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep. Oh that you would hide me in the grave, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my change should come.” Job 14:10–14

The plain truth about the pagan, false doctrine of fear called Heaven or Hell is just that. No one goes to heaven or hell when they die. They will, as Job puts it, wait in their grave until their change would come. In chapter 25 of this work called “Regeneration, The Process Of Perfection,” you will learn the deeper truth in this matter, but the point here is that Christianity has used the carrot of “getting into Heaven” and the fear-mongering of “avoiding the pit of hell” as a trap of covetousness and once again their doctrine is void of Covenant Law.

Earlier, we stated that there is nothing wrong with wealth or power if Covenant Law is in the equation. The fact is that it is YoHeWaH’s goal to bring each Believer to this place of empowerment, and there is an equation or a step-by-step process for this empowered success laid out directly from scripture itself.

Thus far, in this chapter, we have shown you a side of “You shall not covet”, you probably never thought of before. Now, we would like to show you how to obtain success, power, and even wealth without walking an idolatrous, covetous road.

Remember, the measuring stick or line drawn in the sand was “get” versus “give.”

The Apostle Peter has learned this lesson more than any of the other 12 disciples, except maybe Judas Iscariot. Peter opens His second epistle with the following words…..See if you can pick up on the covetous theme:

“Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Yeshua the Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our Father and Savior Yeshua, the Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of YoHeWaH and of Yeshua our Master, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through its lust.” 2-Peter 1:1–4

Peter addressed those Believers who were already walking a path of Covenant Law observance, who had obtained a good foundation of faith by righteousness, which, as we have already witnessed, is defined as an observance of Covenant Law (Psalms 119:172). Did you catch the reference to a mindset of covetousness? “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through its lust.”

What comes next in Peter’s second epistle is nothing short of maybe the richest teaching in all of scripture. There is a foundation of faith. Peter then says this:

“But also for this very reason (for the reason of escaping corruption and lust), giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control patients, to patients godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” 2-Peter 1:5–7

Listed here in the opening of Peter’s second epistle is the road map of spiritual success, as new Believers are guided to the promises listed in the next section of chapter one:

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua The Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom (government) of our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Christ.” 2Peter 1:8–11

So, the opening of 2Peter has three parts. They are:

1. An announcement of the promises to those who have obtained faith.
2. The way to obtaining these said promises.
3. The fulfillment of those promises.

Make no mistake. Remember what the goal is. The Kingdom or Government of YoHeWaH will be headquartered here on this earth and, in fact, here in the land of America, the intended promised land. “…those who have obtained like precious faith…” are being trained and developed to be office holders in that coming government of YoHeWaH, all of which will be based upon righteousness, measured by Covenant Law… And what is the pinnacle or mountain height of such righteousness?

A visual aid might go well here. Notice on the next page how, as you go upward from a foundational faith, which a lot of people have, the words are written in smaller and smaller formats, denoting that as you climb the mountain of spiritual success, which is character growth, the less and less people there are at said level. The text's size lends the number of people at that particular level.

There are lots of Believers who have a foundational faith, who believe in God and His Son, but as we will show, very few are willing to take the steps to work their way up the mountain of character growth and true spiritual development to come to the pentacle of the mountain, which is Agape Love.

Also, note the size of the text concerning “Justice” and “Mercy”. This denotes the level of capability of judging properly, balancing justice and mercy to perfection at the level of agape love. At this point, faith is no longer a belief without seeing. It is a level of knowing, beyond any shadow of a doubt, the surety of YoHeWaH’s promises.

The picture Christianity lends to the world of Believers is that faith is the end all and be all of everything that is Christ. This is simply not so, and it paints a sugar-coated picture of “The Way.”

So, allow us to go through these levels of character development, properly defining each one so you, as the reader, can begin to measure your development accordingly. In studying these characteristics of spiritual growth, note how much YoHeWaH’s Covenant Law plays a role. Also, be aware how covetousness becomes a hindrance to righteous character in anyone’s climb toward spiritual success.

Faith — The author of the New Testament book of Hebrews defines faith as:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of YoHeWaH, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Hebrews 11:1–3

Chapter 11 of Hebrews goes on to give example after example of faith-filled patriarchs who never witnessed, in their lifetime, the reward for such ‘belief'- based action. All of them died in the faith, still waiting on their transformation. Men and women, like Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, all died, not receiving the promise.

Why? Why didn’t these great men and women of the Bible not receive the promise? And what was that promise?

This may be hard for most people to understand, but all these great men and women of the Bible were simply not complete in their character growth and development, even at the end of their lives—not by a long shot. These Patriarchs had conquered the basics of faith, but refer back to the above chart. The level of faith is the starting point—the base of the mountain, not the top of the pinnacle.

This, in no way, diminishes the construct of these listed Patriarchs, especially when you factor in the subject of regeneration, which we have not yet addressed fully in this work. Once you come to understand what Our Creator is doing with all mankind to its fullness, then you can have a better understanding of our statement above about the great persons of the Bible not being complete, just as the author of Hebrews clearly states here in the above text concerning faith.

Virtue—In the above-quoted chapter of Hebrews 11, we read of men and women who were good examples of faith, but the truth is that these persons acted on their faith as well. The author of Hebrews makes this point, exclaiming this fact. What made each one’s faith strong was their action or virtue.

Virtue is action, and in fact, it is actions of righteousness or actions fulfilling Covenant Law. The word at its root meaning is literally “manliness,” as in a man has to do what a man has to do. To take the bull by the horns type of mentality.

Acts of virtue might include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. To begin to keep The Sabbath and Holy Days listed in scripture.
2. To begin to tithe correctly
3. To observe the dietary laws concerning clean and unclean meats
4. To become baptized properly

In short, these actions are not easy. They go against the societal grain, causing The True Believer to be seen as weird or peculiar—set apart, different—just as scripture says each believer would become, not fitting in the ways of the world. Notice how Peter puts it in his first epistle.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of YoHeWaH: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1Peter 2:9–10

Basically, when you show forth actions of virtue, YoHeWaH acknowledges your desire to grow, building up your foundational faith, and He lends the reward of furthered, increased knowledge accordingly, as Peter goes on to insinuate, for we are to add to our virtue, knowledge. The more the Believer acts on their increased knowledge, the more knowledge is given.

Knowledge — It doesn’t take a spiritual genius to recognize how The Enemy has an agenda to “Dumb down” all people, especially Christians. Everything from basic science to high moral principles, our society has become a class of walking zombies. Our phones and technologies have gotten smarter while our minds have been pressed into mush.

Knowledge is broken up into three definable characteristics. They are:

1. Information — Puzzle pieces of facts or data
2. Understanding — The ability to combine those puzzle pieces to form the big picture.
3. Wisdom — The ability to use that information wisely to the edification of everyone possible.

Once given increased amounts of knowledge, more is expected of a believer by YoHeWaH, which leads to the next level…

Self Control — Just look around. Everything seems to be totally out of control. Our government, our churches, our family structure, our medical industry… All out of control, littered with problems to no end. Why?

As we have already witnessed from this work:

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shalt be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of YoHeWaH, I will also forget your children.” Hosea 4:6

If a Believer stops learning, seeking truth, and growing in grace and knowledge, what is affected is his or her character development and self-control. When such knowledge is given, much is expected. When little knowledge is given via a lack of virtuous actions taken, then little is expected of YoHeWaH, and growth ceases. This is the state of the so-called backsliding Believer.

This process of self-control takes time. Perfected self control doesn’t come instantly, it is a very long drawn out process that takes a lifetime and in fact many lifetimes to perfect. If you are thinking critically, you already know this is a fact of regeneration which we have not fully addressed. However, within a single lifetime, patients work hand in hand with self control and right on cue, Peter lists this quality as the next level that has to be added to the equation.

Patients—The process of trying and testing a Believer over time is YoHeWaH’s way of test-driving the Believers. This type of evaluation is measured yearly, at the time of Passover each Spring. The Apostle Paul recognized this in his word to The Believers in Corinth.

“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Yeshua on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup (once a year, each Abib 14, on the evening of Passover), you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 1Corinthians 11:23–32

Later in his second epistle, Paul adds to his commentary on this subject:

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Yeshua the Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.” 2Corinthians 13:5–6

Each year, at the time of Passover, in preparation for Passover, believers are to conduct a self-examination, looking inwardly at their own character growth over the past year and over the years even before that. Then, coming to the Passover service, believers confirm a renewal of the covenant made between YoHeWaH and His people accordingly.

Christianity fails in this endeavor because all of Christendom throws out the memorial of Passover, embracing the man-made event of taking the sacraments of bread and wine anytime throughout the year, either daily or weekly, monthly or bi-monthly, or any number of ways they determine right… But we digress, sort of.

The point is that there is an examination or testing taking place within a Believer’s life, over time, as to the self-control each one has in their walk to be reconciled back to YoHeWaH. Eventually, the fruit born of set apart character is godliness, the next level, as Peter writes: “…Add to your patients, godliness.”

Godliness — There is a synonym of the word godliness that most people never consider. Actually, there are two synonyms that hold the same significance. Those words are “character” and “experience”.

Character is best defined as Doing the right thing, even when no one is looking.

Experience is best defined as The events of a person’s life-defining character.

Consider the following passage quoted from the KJV and then from the NKJV.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with YoHeWaH through our Lord Yeshua the Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of YoHeWaH. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of YoHeWaH is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:1–4 King James Version

Now consider this passage from the NKJV.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with YoHeWaH through our Lord Yeshua the Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of YoHeWaH. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of YoHeWaH has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:1–4 New King James Version

The translators recognize the tie between the words “character” and “experience”, as “godliness” is defined. Here in Romans, Paul puts forth a list similar to what Peter listed in 2 Peter chapter one concerning the pathway toward salvation. Character or experience follows perseverance, which is the same thing as patience. Compare the list from 2Peter chapter 1. Godliness follows patients. Critical thought will cause the Believer to see that an exegesis synonym of godliness is experience and/or character.

If we had to choose between the two words used in Romans 5, it would be experienced over character, and here is why…

Up until this moment in the list from 2 Peter 1:5–7, the testing has started, but as we shall see, it is in no way complete. What a person has experienced defines his or her character. If a person has experienced years of Sabbath and Feast observance, prayer, bible study, meditation, and fasting, has made changes in their lives, and has overcome various shortcomings in their experience, then their character is worthy of the next test, which we will explain shortly. But if their experiences have shown years of covenant-breaking action, filled with fear of what people would think or with a covetous spirit, would you think YoHeWaH would test them further? Godliness is a good level to obtain, for it is definitely worthy of YoHeWaH’s further development.

Brotherly Kindness — Now, if you are paying attention, you’re already way ahead of what we are going to address next. However, there’s even more to what you think might be coming.

Brotherly kindness is based upon the well known form of love called “Phileo”.

Phileo love is a second-class kind of love compared to its higher cousin, “agape” love. Phileo is defined as friendly, affectionate, and compassionate, but it falls far short of agape, as we shall soon see.

That said, allow us to introduce something you may not have considered when considering phileo love: spiritual gifts.

Each Believer and, in fact, each person drawing the breath of life has dealt to them at least one and many times more than one spiritual gift. These gifts are listed in Romans 12 and 1Corintithians 12 for your own study. Much has been made and thousands of sermons taught concerning these spiritual gifts; however, something we have never heard before, and I’m quite sure you as the reader have never heard before, is the fact these gifts are locked until a person reaches a level of character (godliness) to where their gift can bear fruit and be edifying to the assembly of YoHeWaH, the called out ones.

It is only here in the area of Brotherly Kindness that the final test occurs, and covetousness or the lack thereof is confirmed.

The test comes when a person’s spiritual gifts are unlocked, having obtained a level of character (Godliness), via their level of Covenant Law observance, through much prayer, bible study, fasting and meditation. It is only at this time a Believer’s motives and character are truly tested as to whether or not, they will serve the brethren selflessly or selfishly, for their own gain or no gain at all, in support of their own lives or not loving their lives to the death, willing to lay down their physical life for others.

Agape Love—Referring back to the chart a few pages back, the smallest characteristic denotes the fewest people who have obtained it. If the path leads to an actual peak of a mountain, it would be a lonely arrival, for few have obtained such heights spiritually. Loads of people believe and have faith, but few follow the narrow path to find true Agape love, literally fulfilling the words John put down in the following text.

“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our Father and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our Father. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, FOR THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO DEATH.” Revelation 12:10–11

This step by step by step process of salvation, Peter lends to us from his second epistle, leading to the greatest test in scripture between where a person’s love truly lies is never illustrated better than in a fascinating exchange between our resurrected Lord and the author of this step by step by step process, none other than a young Peter Himself. This exchange is witnessed and penned by The Apostle John. Notice the keywords underlined and then consider the implications thereof.

“When they had finished breakfast, Yeshua said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (Agape) me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (Phileo) you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (Agape) me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (Phileo) you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (Phileo) me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love (Phileo) me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (Phileo) you.” Yeshua said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21:15–19

In a brief time of testing, after Peter had denied Christ, not once, not twice, but three times in the space of a few short hours on the night Yeshua was betrayed, Peter could not bring himself to state he was willing to die for His savior. He was only willing to go so far in his phileo love for Christ. Notice the results that lead to… A state of captivity, bondage, and fear, which, if you are following along closely, is not sovereignty and not filled with character.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”

The fact is, Christ's statement back to Peter was to do what? Feed my sheep. Feed my Lambs, which is the very place Peter stated the final act of testing would occur between Godliness and Agape Love, which is Brotherly Kindness or Phileo Love, when spiritual gifts are unlocked.

At the time Peter and Christ had their above conversation, recorded by John, Peter was no doubt void of any unlocked spiritual gifts, for he had not, as of yet, built enough character through righteous experience to have his gifts unlocked. Thus, he could not honestly state an Agape Love for Yeshua, in loyalty and faith. However, decades later, at the time of the authorship of his two epistles, Peter had a full understanding of this process of salvation, lending to us, the reader, exactly what it takes to obtain the Agape Love YoHeWaH demands of His coming Governmental Office Holders.

Again, the goal is training for the express purpose of governing YoHeWaH’s people, to be developed further in the coming Kingdom or Government of YoHeWaH here on this earth during the 1,000-year reign of YoHeWaH. Three characteristics are a requirement for such an office within that coming government. Yeshua made this clear in another exchange between Himself and the religious leaders of His day, the Jews who controlled the people falsely.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Matthew 23:23

If a Believer is going to judge properly with an abundance of mercy, tempered with true justice, and be faith-filled to the very end, that Believer will have climbed the mountain and reached the pinnacle of Agape love, where there simply is no covetousness, nor idolatry, but rather a pure unadulterated desire for all of YoHeWaH’s creation to come to the knowledge of the truth of Covenant Law.

Next up are the judgments, which, interestingly enough, are the main point of covenant restoration: how to properly worship YoHeWaH and how to live righteously with your fellow man.