from the desk of

The Bread of Haste Ministry  (BHM)

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July 13, 2026

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Journey Members,

The Bread of Haste Ministry (BHM) 

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Dear Journey Members,

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In the biblical narrative, identity is rarely about self-made individuality; it is communal, defined by who you belong to (GOD’S chosen people) and your covenantal relationship with the Creator.  

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NOTE:  We will address “Covenant” in greater detail in another Journey Message.

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The modern Hebrew word for identity is zehut (זהות), which is derived from the ancient root meaning "this".  However, in biblical Hebrew, there is no single abstract word for "identity." Instead, the Bible expresses/defines it through several vivid, relational terms.

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AI Overview:

 

Key Biblical Concepts of Identity:

• Shem (שֵׁם) - "Name": In the Bible, a person's name is the ultimate expression of their identity, character, and destiny.  It reflects their reputation and how God or the community views them, rather than just a verbal label.. []

• Panim (פָּנִים) - "Face": Often translated as "presence," this reflects a person's individual essence and their relational connection to others.

• Lev (לֵב) - "Heart": The inner life, where one's true thoughts, desires, and moral character reside.. [

• Tselem (צֶלֶם) and Demuth (דְּמוּת) - "Image and Likeness": Used in Genesis 1:26, these words define the foundational human identity: being created to reflect the character and authority of God.

• Nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) - "Soul/Being": The physical and spiritual breath of life that makes a person a unique, living being. Who we are. 

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Dictionary.com:  Identity (Noun)

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• The state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, as under various facts or conditions. 

• The condition of being oneself or itself, and not another.

• Condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is; the qualities, beliefs that distinguish or identify a person or thing.

• The state or fact of being the same one as described.

• The sense of self providing sadness and continuity in personality over time and sometimes disturbed in mental illness, as schizophrenia.

• Exact likeness in nature or qualities

• An instance or point of sameness or likeness

 

Synonyms Include:  Uniqueness, distinctiveness, personality, individuality.

According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, there are an estimated 45,000 and 50,000 Christian denominations globally.  Christianity is fundamentally organized into six major taxonomic branches: Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, The Church of the East and Restorationism.

 

What Scripture Calls GOD’S People

From the beginning, GOD names HIS people by covenant: “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (EXO 19:5-6).  Israel is called  “a people “chosen,” holy to GOD” (DEU 7:6).  The Prophets speak of a “remnant” who returns to covenant faithfulness (ISA 10:20-22).  In the Apostolic writings, believers are called “Saints” (set-apart ones), “disciples,” “brothers and sisters,” and the kahal (assembly).  Early believers (1st century), were also known as “The Way” (ACTS 9:2 and 19:9, and their opponents (religious order of the day) called them “Nazarenes” (ACTS 24:5).  Israel is affectionately referred to as “YESHURUN,” a term of endearment referenced only four times in the Holy Scriptures (ISA 44:2-5, DEU 32:15, 33:5 and 33:26.) 

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The names focus on relationship and obedience, not a denominational tag.  They emphasize and embrace belonging to GOD, being set-apart (sanctified), following The Master (YESHUA Messiah), and walking a distinct path, a set-apart path.  This helps us to realize that the most biblical “identity” is covenantal: whom we serve, whom we trust, whom we belong to and how we live.

 

One Continuous People

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Scripture presents one continuous people of GOD (Israel), rather than multiple disconnected groups.  Stephen calls Israel in the wilderness the “ekklesia” (assembly) in ACTS 7:38, and Paul teaches that Gentiles in Messiah YESHUA are no longer “strangers to the covenant promises, but bought near and made fellow citizens/heirs with the commonwealth of Israel” (EPH 2:11-22).  Not replacing Israel but joined to/with the natural olive tree. Romans 11 pictures “one" cultivated olive tree; some native branches were broken off for unbelief; however, wild branches (Gentiles) were grafted in by faith, and any branch stands only by faith (ROM 11:17-24).

 

The Master (Rabbi YESHUA Messiah) secures this unity.  HE did not abolish it (TORAH),  HE affirmed it…fulfilled it and taught HIS disciples to do and teach the Kingdom of GOD and the Commandments of GOD (MAT 5:17-19).  The New Covenant writes TORAH on our hearts (JER 31:31-33; HEB 10:16) and gives the Holy Spirit of GOD to “obedient” believers  to empower faithful living (EZE 36:26-27);  thus, identity is not “OLD vs NEW,” but on people, a GOD fearing people, renewed by The Master (YESHUA Messiah) to walk in GOD’S instruction (TORAH).  

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Covenant  Identity

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Scripture repeatedly sums up GOD’S faithful people in two ways:  loyalty to GOD and allegiance to HIS SON (YESHUA Messiah) and the obedience that flows from both.  The Master (Rabbi YESHUA) said, “if you love me, you “WILL" keep MY commandments” (JHN 14:15).  John adds, “by this we know that if we keep HIS commandments” (1 JHN 2:3-6).  Revelation describes the persevering saints as those “who keep the commandments of GOD and hold to faith in YESHUA” (REV 12:17 and 14:12). 

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These are not labels but lived realities: trusting GOD, obeying GOD, confessing YESHUA as SON, Master and Messiah, repenting and walking in TORAH (TORAH observant lifestyle) as a unified standard (ROM 3:31; JAS 2:10; 1 JHN 3:4).  Identity is verified by the characteristics found in the fruit of the Spirit (GAL 5:22-23) as shaped by GOD’S instruction (TORAH) and example of our Rabbi YESHUA.

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What to call ourselves

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Because Scripture focuses on covenant, multiple honest labels “can”apply.  Options that keep the emphasis where Scripture puts it:

• TORAH observant followers of The Master (Rabbi YESHUA) who keep GOD’S Commandments (Israel).

• The Kahal (Assembly) of Israel grafted-in citizens of GOD’S people (EPH 2:12-19; ROM 11:17-24).

• Saint (set-apart ones) in YESHUA Messiah.

• Messianic.

• Hebrew roots.

• Sec of Nazarenes.

• The Way.

 

Please note however, these descriptions are choices and not required by Scripture.     

 

Avoiding identity “pitfalls”

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• Labels can become banners of superiority.  Scripture calls us to obedience, humility, mutual honor, and unity in “truth” (PHI 2:1-4).  

• Reducing TORAH to a slogan: TORAH is a whole-of-life standard-love for GOD and neighbor lived out in concrete ways (DEU 6:15; LEV19:18; MAT 22:36-40).  

• We do not divide the word of GOD into categories to cancel parts; we “live” and treat TORAH as GOD’S unified instruction applied with wisdom. 

• Confusing means and ends: Obedience is the fruit of faith and love, not a ladder to earn salvation (EPH 2:8-10).  

• YESHUA saves: HIS Holy Spirit enables us to walk as HE walked.

 

Identity  -  Our Journey Message

 

We began our religious journey like most people.  Our parents “made" us go to church, most often times local community churches.  Our parents or parent, inspired us to attend not only church services but Sunday school and even Vacation Bible School, as well.  Our parents or parent, participated in church services as members of the choir, Sunday school teachers, ushers or deacons.  We were and are faithful tithers.  We “generally” maintained that  posture for the majority of our lives until…about ten years ago then…everything changed!!! It wasn’t sudden…it was gradual.

 

Here’s a bit more context.  My Wife “my Zipporah” (Intentional reference and likeness to Moses wife),  and I participated in “multiple” denominational constructs.  When we say “multiple” we mean “multiple”.   We even served as official members of church leadership.  Not only did we adhere to denominational rules, standards of conduct and cannons, we practiced them daily and helped to enforce them as well.  We began to realize that we “weren’t” growing in our walk.  We weren’t learning or retaining “anything.”  As a matter of fact, it seems as if we were drifting away from GOD!  Consumed by the “drama” of a denominational theology (religion) and what was “supposed” to be fellowship.  We began to “test” each other after Sunday services to see if we could remember what the teaching was about and, to our embarrassment…and in most cases, we couldn’t remember message.  The alarms began to sound…LOUDLY!   Like the SHOFAR (Rams Horn), GOD’S voice(s) sounding on The Mountain of GOD.  The sound kept getting louder, “exceedingly” louder, calling us to dig deeper into the Holy Scriptures.  We could know longer resist the prompting…we had to obey!!!

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That experience lead to intense prayer, research, observing other ministries, testing teachings against the Word of GOD (TORAH).  Yes, the TORAH and TANAKH (Old Testament or Hebrew Bible) came alive and took its rightful place in our home and in our hearts just like GOD Commanded and The Master (Rabbi YESHUA Messiah) and the Apostles taught:  

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Scriptural Origins

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The specific idea that God's laws are placed directly into our minds and written on our hearts originates in the Old Testament (TANAKH or Hebrew Bible) and is reaffirmed in the New Testament: 

• Jeremiah 31:33: God promises a new covenant with his people, declaring: "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts".

• Hebrews 8:10 & 10:16: The New Testament writer quotes this exact prophecy, assuring believers that God will put His laws into their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. 

• 2 Corinthians 3:3: Believers are described as a letter from Messiah, "written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

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The “Gospel of the Kingdom of GOD” was revealed to us.  The very Gospel The Master (Rabbi YESHUA Messiah) came “first” to “return” HIS people (Jews) and the world “back” too!  Yes, the Gospel of the Kingdom of GOD!   This is not the same gospel we were taught during our journey in denominational theology (religion).  No, the Gospel of the Kingdom of GOD does not teach that the Commandments of GOD are done away with or that we can “cherry-pick” the ones we want to obey.  As The Master is the “living” WORD of GOD (TORAH), denying TORAH is denying the Master!   Selective disobedience…is “disobedience.”  The Commandments (All of them), are not a “political football”, they are “The Commandments of GOD,” to be obeyed…not minimized, not marginalized, not politicized… ”OBEYED!”  There is “NO” higher authority! “I AM GOD” and there is “NO” other (ISA 45: 5-6).”

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The Apostle Paul warned followers of The Master (Rabbi YESHUA Messiah) about “a different gospel/a different YESHUA, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Messiah” (GAL 1: 6-7)…and here we are!!!  We prayed, fasted and asked GOD to reveal “HIS” perfect will to us, to move us to ministries that “STUDY and TEACH” the Word of GOD, the Gospel of the Kingdom of GOD without fear, without restraint but with faith, obedience and love as “GOD Commanded us to love HIM “If you love ME keep MY Commandments “ALL OF THEM.” (JHN 14:15).

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GOD Heard Our Cry 

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Indeed, GOD, heard our cry.  Things suddenly began to change, rapidly.  Suddenly, the Scriptures became alive to us, more importantly, we could now hear GOD’S voice “clearly”, speaking to us through the pages (TORAH, Prophets and the Writings) of HIS Holy Scriptures as if HE were in the room with us. Our behavior(s) changed, our prayer posture changed, the understanding of “OBEDIENCE, LIBERTY, PRAISE, WORSHIP and SHALOM (versus peace) became real to us, we now understand repentance, forgiveness and the blessings GOD promised became reality.  We found ourselves immersed In GOD’S instruction (HIS TORAH) on how to live, how to conduct ourselves, our behavior, “not our lives,” but the lives HE gave us, how to live a “set-apart life” always in HIS presence.   

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Identity - What we choose to call ourselves

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“Israel”.   Messianic Followers of The Master (Rabbi and Messiah, YESHUA).  We go back to the “Hebrew roots” of the Gospel of the Kingdom of GOD where the first followers of YESHUA Messiah were known by many names to include “The first century church (kahal/ekklesia (assembly)”. 

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We diligently study the New/Renewed Testament/Covenant with the same intensity and attention to detail as we study the TANAKH (Hebrew Bible), as the Renewed Covenant reflects the TANAKH (TORAH, Prophets and Writings or in Hebrew (TORAH, Nevi’im and Ketuv’im).  We removed the single page of separation/division between the Hebrew Bible (TANAKH) and the New Testament  just as GOD tore the veil of separation in the temple!   We read/study the Scriptures “together,” as one continuous book (Genesis to the Revelation “given” to John by an angel of YESHUA), as it is meant to be read/studied with no separation between the two. 

 

In Hebrew, the concept is known as “ECHAD” (The oneness of GOD).  Generally speaking, there was no “official” version of the New Testament until “roughly” about fourth to early 5th century.  The Master (YESHUA) and the Disciples/Apostles taught from the TORAH/TANAKH (The Hebrew Bible).  There was  “NO” New Testament in the first century.  We now live an OBSERVANT/OBEDIENT lifestyle to the “whole WORD of GOD”.  

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• We obey the commandments of GOD as did YESHUA and HIS “Jewish” Disciples/Apostles.

• We keep GOD’S Commanded appointed/anointed Holy days “only,” including SHABBAT (Sunset Friday-Sunset Saturday)…As Commanded by GOD (EXO 20:8)!

• We observe/obey the dietary commandments. 

 

Questions/Concerns

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• My mother who turned 95 years old this year (a Southern Baptist), refers to our “TORAH” lifestyle as that “Jewish” stuff.  However, the word/term Jew makes its first appearance in 2 Kings 16:6.  Israel (The mixed-multitude) is the operative word.

• The Hebrew word is “Yehudi (meaning a descendant of the tribe of Judah or reference to Judea (the Southern Kingdom of Israel).  Early on, the descendants of Jacob (before he became Israel), were called Hebrews and later “Israel” during the period of the twelve united tribes.  GOD gave the TORAH to Israel (The mixed-multitude).

• We had to ensure our senior leaders at work were fully aware of our TORAH observant lifestyle.  This turned into opportunities to teach the word of GOD…how cool is that!! Senior leadership supported us 100%…GOD is good indeed!

• We were and are often asked “are you Christians?”  Before we respond(ed), we quickly learned that this is a “loaded” question:  Do you celebrate Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, are you baptized, do you believe in “Jesus” as the Messiah, do you pray to Saints, what day do you observe the Sabbath, do you go to “Sunday Church?…the list of queries goes on “exhaustively.” 

• We are often asked if we have converted to Judaism?  NO.

• Are you a 7th Day Adventist?  NO.

• Are a Jehovah’s Witnesses?  NO.

• What Church or Synagogue do you attend?  We participate in/with ministries focused on in-depth study, teaching the “entirety” of the Holy Scriptures, applying each lesson directly to our walk with GOD!  We now have a “relationship” with The FATHER as HE defines/commands it!

• Well…aren’t you a part of the “the great apostasy/heresy,” the great falling-away?  Yes!!!  Falling away from the traditions (religions) of men and falling in “Love” with The GOD of Heaven, through the truth of Gospel of the Kingdom GOD!  The same Gospel taught and “lived” by The Master (our RABBI YESHUA Messiah) and HIS Apostles.  GOD did not create religion, man created religion.

• Isn’t what you do called…legalism?  Only if you consider following/imitating the “example” of the “Son of GOD (YESHUA Messiah), legalism.  HE was OBEDIENT to death…even death on the cross!! 

 

The answer to the third question however,  is usually the toughest as there is an expectation to follow the religious traditions of men (denominational and personal theology dependent of course), understanding that the followers of The Master (YESHUA Messiah) as we call Him, were not “labeled” as Christians until the book of Acts (according to Scripture).  However, history reveals that it may have been sooner.  However, again, we struggle to find evidence where YESHUA Messiah or HIS Disciples turned Apostles, ever referred to themselves as Christians.  YESHUA did not create a “new religion.”

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They were Jewish men, TORAH obedient Jewish men who "loved and feared GOD," understood the prophets and taught the Gospel of the Kingdom of GOD…not the traditions of men…as a matter of “fact,” they railed against religion (the traditions of men), pagan practices amongst their own people, the well established religious order of the day risking persecution and death.  The fulfillment of GOD’S plan for “our” salvation, came at the “highest” cost ever recorded in human history…the ultimate sacrifice of the “Perfect, Obedient, Unblemished, Lamb of GOD!

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Setting:

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For us, biblical setting is critical to our study of scripture.  Our Rabbi YESHUA and the Holy Spirit of GOD, the Prophets, historians, eyewitnesses (Disciples/Apostles), timelines, temple periods, geography, language (Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic), knowing the difference between translation and transliteration, understanding the timeline of the prophets, major and minor“, as “we have been socialized to call them” however, the Holy Scriptures do not refer to them as “Major/Minor Prophets”, kings and caesars of the era, understanding people groups and genealogies.  

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Some may find this “boring” or “way too much work” but, for us, understanding the setting helps us understand GOD’S plan for our salvation!  Going this deep into scripture helps us to see and understand prophesy (Past, Present and our Future), the promises and prophesies that “GOD" gave the prophets “HIS" chosen servants, as a reminder of HIS blessings for our obedience, a warning for disobedience, and a roadmap for our salvation.  “Exciting stuff…for exciting times” as prophesy continues to be fulfilled right before our very eyes. “Don’t blink…or you’ll miss it”…your salvation depends on it!

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There is  a lot to unpack here; but, this is our story, “our” journey, “our” Journey Message” to share with you as “our” journey will not end until The Master (RABBI YESHUA Messiah) returns.  As always, we invite you to join us on our journey.  SHALOM!

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“STUDY”