Inviting the Name In with Keith Johnson (Open Door Series Part 6)

You are listening to the Open Door Series with Nehemia Gordon. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon's Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.

Keith: Now I’m supposed to speak. And so what I’m going to need to happen is for the Creator of the universe to speak through me. I’m going to need the one who introduced Himself on the mountain at the time of Shavuot to once again introduce Himself personally to His people. It has been very difficult for me to see the response amongst those who call themselves the people of God, one of God’s special ones. It’s been hard for me to be associated with an entire religious movement that will not welcome one of God’s special possessions into their buildings to teach the Bible that they don’t even know about. It’s been hard for me to then be amongst those who call themselves Messianics, who at many times only want the fruit but not the labor.

So for me, after ten years - nine years with my friend, Nehemia, and my 10th Shavuot - I am tired. And that’s probably a good time for the Holy Spirit.

It says “They rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; therefore, He turned Himself to become their enemy. He fought against them.” History is being repeated. The Holy Spirit is being grieved again. Oh, I like that it’s so quiet in here, because I know you all understand that right now, after hearing what I heard with Nehemia, I was a wreck. Michael Rood was holding me up, I didn’t think I was going to be able to stand. But you can just say- Keith, say, “Keith”.

Audience: Keith.

Keith: Have a seat.

Audience: Have a seat.

Keith: Yes, Keith, have a seat. Spirit of the Living God [applause] - stand up and tell somebody the truth. The Scripture goes on in verse 11 to say this, “Then His people remembered the days of old.” And then it uses this wonderful word, Moshe. I love Moses. I love Moshe. I love his very life. I love his very walk. I love that Moshe found himself just being born in the world and found himself amongst the Egyptians. I love that Moshe grew up in the house of Pharaoh. And some of you, if you saw Moshe, you would say, “We can’t listen to him, because he’s in the house of Pharaoh.” But you don’t realize that the Creator of the universe has a plan for the Moses’s of the world that are still in the house of Pharaoh. [applause]

The reason He’s got them there is He’s preparing them, He’s molding them, He’s shaping them, He’s using them, so that one day, maybe nine or ten Shavuots later they’re willing to stand up and tell Pharaoh, “No more.”

And I have to say something. Pharaoh - no more. [applause] The people remember the days of old, of Moshe, and they ask this question, “Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He?” And here it comes, you all. Out of the book that Nehemia reads it says this, “Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them?” Ten Shavuots later in Dallas, Texas, I am telling you right now - the ruakh, the Spirit of God, is checking again. And I hate to say it... Nehemia is up here going through his slides. I don’t know if you noticed, he had about 50 more slides he thought he was going to go through, and then all of a sudden, I looked at Michael and I said, “Here it comes. And Nehemia said, “No more slides.” And I could sense, Nehemia, at that very moment, the Ruakh HaKodesh who was in the midst of our people, your people, because not only do I count, but my friend Nehemia counts. [applause]

The same Ruakh HaKodesh that was hovering over the face of the deep. You know it in the Bible. “Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et ha’aretz, hayeta tohu vavohu vakhoshekh al peney tehom.” And the ruakh was doing what? Merakhefet - hovering over the face of the deep. And in this room, the same ruakh that has been hovering over the darkness, that has been hovering over my friend Nehemia, that is hovering over Yisrael, that has been hovering over places, asking, “Are you going to stop grieving me?” That Holy Spirit is now hovering. Michael, you will hear testimony of people that are listening to this particular time the entire weekend, and they will say to you, “It was as if the spirit of God came into my house.” And I’m going to tell you why they’re going to say it, because the ruakh is looking again.

Oh, I was so excited when Nehemia told me that he saw Elijah. You know, some of you say, “Theologically, can that happen?” Bump theology for a minute. [laughter] And I love the fact that Nehemia said he slammed the door. But what he really didn’t tell you, since he wants to get personal, is what happened in Smithfield, North Carolina was this - he preached, I got up, tried to do what I was supposed to do. The similar thing happened to me. We got through the message, and what moved me more than anything else was I was standing before a group of people with my Tanakh, this right here. Oh, you might want to get controversial now. In this Tanakh there is no New Testament. Did you know that Yeshua didn’t have the New Testament? [applause]

Now, I know you all are getting nervous and you’re probably going to get texting, calling people, “Oh, here it comes.” No, listen to me now. I was in a church with a non-Messianic, non-Christian Jewish man who was preaching the word of God. And when I stood with the very Bible that I have been trying to learn for the last 10 years, and my teacher has been the Hebrew scholar who helped me understand to read it in its language and its history and in its context, just like Yeshua read it… And I’m in this church and the Ruakh HaKodesh comes into the church, and the first person that the ruakh touched was me. I have to say it that way, because if I tell you what I really think, the first person that was touched... somebody say, “The Jew first.” [laughter and applause]

And Nehemia told me something that I will tell you. You see, we both have a history. We know about manipulation. We know about the game; you all know about the game. Many of you came here and said, “Boy, if they would just have Michael and Nehemia and Arthur, and maybe Dr. Taylor, but the Methodist? Are you kidding me? He’s a Sunday morning preacher.” You all still don’t understand. Just call me Moses. I have been brought up in the house of Pharaoh, and the Creator of the universe, for some reason - and I don’t know why - has decided to ignite me from the inside out. Now, let me tell you a secret. You know who my heart is for? And you might as well look at your neighbor and say, “uh-oh”, right now.

Audience: Uh-oh.

Keith: You see, the Messianic movement says to me, “Hey, we don’t need you. We’ve been there, done that. We’ve been there, we’ve done that. We got this thing. We understand Judaism. We understand Christianity. We’ve got this figured out, we’ll take a little bit from Nehemia, and we like Michael, but we don’t need you.” And you know what, can I tell you something, Messianic movement? I don’t need you. [applause] But I love you. And I am concerned for you, and I want you to experience the Ruakh HaKodesh in your life. [applause]

But let me tell you where my heart is. And I love the fact that the Messianics have invited my friend Nehemia and myself, I appreciate it. Let me say it again, I appreciate it. But let me tell you who my heart is broken for. Those people that are still sitting in those pews, in those churches. And many of you all say, “I don’t want nothing to do with them.” And God is saying, “Why? Are you not concerned for my creation? Do you not remember where you came from?”

How many in the room were born Messianic? Can I not find three? I can’t find three. And the ones that I see that have their hands up are children. Am I right? [laughter] You mean to tell me there are no birthright Messianics in the room? Where did you all come from? Look at your neighbor and say “Pharaoh”.

Audience: Pharaoh.

Keith: And you should be excited that the Creator of the universe has ignited you. But don’t you think for a moment that He doesn’t love them as much as He loves you. [applause]

I am going to try now, and I thank you Father so much that you rescued me, I know my wife must be praying for me. Because I promise you, I wasn’t going to make it two minutes. But now you all get to listen to the message from Smithfield, North Carolina. And I will tell you in advance, so that there are no surprises, we’re not going to do anything to manipulate you. We’re not going to do anything to try to get you to some sort of emotional response. I’m going to tell you right now ahead of time, just so we will know that it is not Nehemia, it is not Michael, it is not Dr. Taylor, it is not Arthur, and it is not me. I’m going to tell you in advance that my Creator of the universe has already told me He is coming. [applause] And let me tell you why. Because since He has it on His calendar, He’s always wondering if His people will put it on theirs.

Look at your neighbor and say, “I got it on my calendar.”

Audience: I got it on my calendar.

Keith: Oh, even those that are listening right now on the internet, you’ve got it on your calendar. You could be out walking, you could be out shopping, you could be out doing anything, but because you heard years and years and years ago that the Creator of the universe called a mixed, say “mixed”.

Audience: Mixed.

Keith: A mixed multitude of people to His mountain, when He called the mixed multitude to His mountain, there was thunder and there were shofars and there was fire, and then the first three words He said were, “Anokhi Yehovah Elohekha.” “I am Yehovah, your God.” Now are you ready to hear what started a worldwide movement?

First Samuel chapter 3, verse 1 says this, “And the word of the Lord was rare in those days and visions were infrequent.” Now, I have done something as a result of my studies with Nehemia. I have decided that if I can read the original language, then why can’t I also make some, what I call, translation decisions? So I have what I call the KJV. Can I get an amen?

Audience: Amen.

Keith: It’s called the Keith Johnson Version. [laughter] Now, the conservative evangelicals get very nervous. They say, “You can’t mess with translations. We’ve got the NIV.” Let me tell you something - my translation is better than the NIV. Okay, that’s a few claps, thank you over there. That’s my amen corner over there in the corner. Here’s what the Keith Johnson Version would say. If you would open up the Bible that Yeshua read it would say this, “The word of Yehovah was yakar, say “yakar”.

Audience: Yakar.

Keith: That means it was rare, precious. And there were no nifratz, say “nifratz”.

Audience: Nifratz.

Keith: That means the word breakthrough. And it says “khazon”, say “khazon”,

Audience: Khazon.

Keith: Visions or prophecies. Literally what this verse says is the word of Yehovah was precious, it was rare, and there were no breakthrough prophecies at that time. Does that not sound like 2011 in our country? Where are the breakthrough prophecies? Where are the breakthrough visions? Where are the people who understand who He is, and who we are, according to His will? Good news; His word is breaking through again.

So we have Samuel, who is sleeping there next to the Ark of Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey. And as he’s sleeping there, all of a sudden, he gets a word that says, “Samuel,” and Samuel does what we normally do. Samuel went to his religious leader and asked his religious leader, “Yes, Lord?” Oh, I wish I had more than the amen corner. I’m hoping that when the ruakh comes it’ll move from just this corner to over here, to way back there, and we might even get the left-handed folks over here. [laughter]

Samuel heard the word, “Samuel,” and he got up even though it was the word of the Creator of the universe, and he ran to the religious authority and he said, “Yes, sir?” And the religious authority was so drunk with sleep and food, he did not realize until the third time that possibly God was calling outside of Him. Oh my gosh. [applause]

And so the third time it happens, Eli says this, “Hey, it’s a possibility that God might be calling you outside of our movement. There are not many breakthrough visions, and the word of Yehovah is rare, and I am the leader. I am the priest. I am in charge of the movement. I am the big dog, I get the big salary, I’ve got the house. I’ve got the car. I’ve got the authority. I’ve got the power. But it’s possible that the Creator of the universe didn’t tell me what He wants to do with you.”

Oh, I feel this now. Oh, I feel this thing now. And so Samuel says, “Okay, so Eli, what should I do?” He says, “The next time when you’re laying down, if He calls you again, say, ‘Here I am.’ Call Him by His name. ‘I’m listening.’” And sure enough, Samuel was laying down at night next to the Ark. Oh, I love the fact that sometimes our Father waits until the night to call us. Oh, I’m so glad that sometimes He waits until your phone is not ringing. He waits until your television is not on. He waits until you’re not checking your email and He waits until you sleep and then He calls you. Oh, and I’m not just talking about the night when we sleep, I’m also talking about the night in our lives. Because there are some of us here that are in night. And He’s saying, “Samuel, Samuel.” And you know what Samuel finally realized? He heard the call again, and he said, “Here I am. Speak, for thy servant is listening.” Can I stop?

Audience: No.

Keith: Oh, I’ve got to stop for a minute, because I’ve got to ask a question, left side. Are you in a position over here that if He calls you by name in the midst of your night, are you willing to say, “Speak, Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey, for I am listening?”

Audience: Yeah! [applause]

Keith: Can I ask you all in the back? These are the real smart people back here. Nehemia said, “Come forward.” They said, “I’m not going close there, I’m sitting right here. Tell me to move - I’m not moving nowhere.” Can I ask you in the back if it’s night for you? Maybe you had a good meal and you’re sleeping. You’ve watched the NBA Finals or something like that, and you’re sleeping and He comes to you and He says your name twice. Are you willing to say, “Speak, Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey, for I am listening”? I’m so glad I’ve got the amen corner, because I’ve got to turn this way and I’ve got to say something really radical to three people. I’ve got to say something to Nehemia and Judith and Michael. In the midst of your night, if the Creator of the universe says, “Nehemia, Judith and Michael, are you willing to say ‘Speak, speak, Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey, for we are listening’”? Why do amen corner get so quiet now? [laughter] “Oh, amen Keith, Oh, get up Keith!” Now it got personal, you see what I’m saying? If He speaks, will you say you’re listening?

Audience: Yes.

Keith: Well, I’m here to tell you all something. Nehemia, He’s coming again. [applause] Michael and Judith, the latter shall be greater than the former. Ready? Are you ready? This one little word that people hate. I-F. If. You all hate that “if” word, don’t you? We want the blessings. Why does He have to put that “if” in there? The latter shall be greater than the former if you keep your ear listening to Him.

When Samuel responded, the Creator of the universe told him what to do. We are here as a result of putting ourselves in a position to realize that we don’t know it all. We don’t know half of it, but we’ve learned to say, “Speak, for we are listening.” What would happen if the people of God were like Samuel? I am convinced that the rare - the yakar - visions would begin to break through across this world.

What’s happening right now? Too many religious games. Too many manmade agendas, too many people that are focusing more on their place of power rather than getting in the power of the One that called them in the first place. [applause] This is where Samuel was sitting, where he was laying… I found a picture. I love this picture. I’m not saying that it’s exactly according to the actual description of the Ark of the Covenant. But I’m going to tell you why this caught my attention. Samuel was laying next to something that had two things at least, and I really believe three. One, the Ark of the Covenant represented the word of God inside the Ark. The second thing it represented was the word of God outside the Ark. For the Bible teaches us that parts of the Torah were inside the Ark, the stones, right? With the 10 words - you guys know about that. But did you know that also they would meet at the Ark, and the Creator of the universe would speak verbally to them? So it represented the word on the inside, somebody say, “word of God”.

Audience: Word of God.

Keith: And the word on the outside, say, “word of God”.

Audience: Word of God.

Keith: Now, let me get controversial. The problem I have with my rabbinate brothers who have decided that they can interpret the written word and put it at the same place as what’s called the oral word. They take the oral word and say when the oral word does not match with the written word, we go with the authority of the rabbi. So here you’ve got Nehemia Gordon at a young age, probably not long after he saw Elijah, who realizes, “Wait, something ain’t right here. Here’s what it says in the oral, here’s what it says in the written. If the oral says the rabbi says, and the written says that Yehovah says; if Yehovah says something that doesn’t match what the rabbi says, why are we going with the rabbi?” And they’re saying, “Hey, don’t mess with the power.” So we sit back and say, “Those terrible rabbis, can you believe what they do? They interpret the word of God, and it’s not clear with the word of God...” Let me tell you who else does that - the Methodists, [applause] the Baptists, the Pentecostals, the Catholics, and I won’t say anything else, but look at your neighbor and say, “It might be us, too.” Shhh. But what the Ark represented was the word of God.

Now, let me give you one little thing before we move on. If you hear something that you say is from Yehovah, and it is contrary to that which He gave unto Moses, you better realize it’s another spirit. Can I say that again?

Audience: Yes.

Keith: No, I need to say that again. If you say, “I heard from Yehovah,” and you open the book and it does not match – “If it does not fit, you must acquit.” [laughter] Here’s the problem that I have. And I’m going to tell you, I’m so glad that this is the last thing that I have on my schedule for right now. I’m going to pour myself out to Him today. I’m waiting to find more people like my Jewish friend Nehemia who says this, “Is that in the word?” And this is why some people hate him. Because he doesn’t go with what is spoken that is contrary to what is written. God is not a man that He should lie, nor son of man that he should change His mind. Does he speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? If He wrote it and He said it, they will match. Can I get an amen?

Audience: Amen.

Keith: Let me go now to the issue. We’ve got the Ark. Now, I don’t know if you guys know it or not, but if we take a picture of that Ark again, one of the things that’s most amazing about this Ark - there was actually a third thing. Not only the word that was on the inside, not only the way it was spoken on the outside, but what they called the Ark.

Go, if you would, to Second Samuel 6:2, it says this, “Then David arose with the people to Ba’ale-Judah.” Now, that is interesting, Nehemia. Is that possible? That these two words would be connected? I mean, that’s interesting to me. David arose with the people to Ba’ale-Judah to bring up from there the Ark of God,” and here it comes, “which is called by the name.” Did you all hear that? They brought up the Ark of God, which has the written word and the spoken word, which is called by the name. And in case you don’t realize, as my friend says, that they’re talking about the explicit name, it says this, “the very name Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey.”

Now I’ve got to stop you all, and I’ve got to tell you something. I feel the tension. You all are probably sitting and saying, “Now, look, Keith, you’re up here talking about Yehovah, Michael is talking about Yahweh. And let me say it again - Nehemia has already said it - let’s put aside pronunciation for a moment. But if Michael will let me get him in a room for about a day, if he just reads the book His Hollowed Name Revealed Again. [laughter] (In Michael’s voice:) “I received a revelation at the Smithfield revival. This is now the pronunciation of the name.” Can I get an amen?

Audience: Amen.

Keith: The very name Yehovah Tzeva’ot who is enthroned between the cherubim. Now, you guys, here’s where I get really excited. The Ark is called by the name. Did you all hear me? The Ark is called by the name. Did you all hear me? And I can’t get no amens in Dallas?

Audience: Amen!

Keith: Something happened. David, the Jew, wanted to bring the Ark called by the name to the Old City of David. And so as he grabbed the Ark, and he had the priests and he had the procession, and all the people were together, he was walking and praising and singing and dancing. He’s bringing the Ark called by the name to the Old City of David, and something happened. There was a man, though there was clear instruction what not to do, this man named Uzzah decided to reach out and steady the name. Oh, you all didn’t hear me. They were doing everything right. They were praising, and they were worshiping, and they had the Ark called by the name, and Uzzah, as he was walking, decided, “God needs my help.” And he reached out his hand and he tried to steady the oxen that were taking the Ark, and the Creator of the universe looked down and said, “Did I not say?” And struck him dead. And this is where those in my tradition get very nervous, and they don’t like this part of the Bible.

This is why Marcion was so effective. You see, Marcion said, “In the Old Testament it’s a bad God. He’s a mean God, He kills people. But the New Testament is a loving God and He loves to hold sheep.” [laughter] So what happened was this - when Uzzah was struck down by the Creator of the universe, something happened in David’s heart. David - and I have it here for you on the screen - became angry because of Yehovah’s outburst against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez Uzzah to this day. Stay there with me. The next thing that happened is David became afraid of Yehovah that very day, and said, “How can the Ark,” somebody say, “called by the name”.

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: ...come to me? Oh, I hope that some of my Jewish brothers and sisters, some of my Karaite brothers and sisters, some of my Orthodox brothers and sisters, some of my Messianic brothers and sisters who have gone with the tradition that says, “do not deal with the name” will read this verse. Because David became afraid, and David was angry. And as a result, he did something that is radical. Here’s what he did. David was unwilling to move the Ark of Yehovah, somebody say, “called by the name”.

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: You all ain’t got this yet. I’m down here in Dallas, I’ve been waiting for this. You all still ain’t got this. You got this, Karen? Your sister got this? David was unwilling to move the Ark of Yehovah called by the...

Audience: Name.

Keith: You all still ain’t got this. When I say “Yehovah”, you all say, “called by the name”. You all with me now? Left side - you with me?

Audience: Yes.

Keith: The amen corner has been quiet since I bothered em, they didn’t say an amen since. David was unwilling to move the Ark of Yehovah...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: Into the city of David, but David... [laughing] I’m laughing to myself. Me and God, we’re having a party right now. David did something that I’m so glad that he did. David took the Ark...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: One more time, now. Do we have time for this, Michael? David was unwilling to move the Ark of Yehovah...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: Into the city of David, but David took the Ark...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: Aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. You all don’t got it yet. That’s okay. Let me tell you what he did. David said this, “I’m angry, I’m upset, I’m impatient with the holiness of His name. I don’t like this right now, so what I’m going to do is I’m going to take the Ark...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: And drop it off at Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house”. Now, when David stopped at Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house, I can see the procession. Obed minding his own business doing his own thing, and all of a sudden, they hear this (horn sound) and they hear the prayers and the people... Can I just show you what I think they heard?

Audience: Yes.

Keith: I think that Obed was minding his own business, probably sitting back watching television or something like that. Maybe the football game, I don’t know. But then all of a sudden there was a rumbling, and he heard the feet of the Levites walking, and he heard the people singing, and he probably heard something like... I’m not going to do it. You all ain’t ready for that. [audience protesting] Listen to me now. You’re Obed-Edom. You’re in Dallas, you’re minding your own business. All of a sudden, the Jew, David decides he is angry and afraid of the ark.

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: So he says, “I’m going to drop it off at your house.” No, I’m telling you all, you ain’t ready for this. No, you ain’t ready for that. It ain’t time for that yet. No, you’re not ready for that, because if you were ready for that, we would have a second revival in Dallas. If you were ready for that, I’m telling you right now people would stand up and they would say, “I got to have it!” But I know you’re not ready for that. No, you’re not ready for that. You’ve got to sit back down. No, sit back down, church. No, no, no. I’m sorry, you all. I didn’t tell you the whole story. [applause]

He’s minding his own business, and Obed the Gittite who’s minding his own business... all of a sudden Obed hears them probably singing and walking, and he probably hears the shouts and the screams and the yells and he maybe hears the sounds. And maybe, I’m not sure, there was probably a procession. David was leaving, and he was angry. He was afraid, he was upset but he said, “The Ark which is...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: ...ain’t coming to my house.” David the king said, “I am afraid and I am angry. And the Ark which is...”

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: ...ain’t coming to my house.” Somebody say, “There might be Obed-Edom.”

Audience: There might be Obed-Edom.

Keith: There might be Obed-Edom, who’s minding his own business, and then maybe as they’re walking, they hear the singing, and they hear the shouting and the sound of the shofar and maybe Obed-Edom’s wife said, “Hey baby.” “Yeah, what’s up?” “Something’s rumbling in the city.” Maybe she says, “Get up, Obed-Edom!” “What’s wrong?” And maybe Obed-Edom got up and peeked and opened the door to his house, and then maybe Obed-Edom opened the door and looked and saw what was coming, and slammed the door.

Until the king knocked on his door. David the king. And, you know, the reason I’m not going to blow this... [audience protesting] the reason I can’t blow this is then I will be charged with being an old-fashioned revival preacher that is going to use emotion to get you to move. So would you do me a favor? We’re on television right now, and there are people that are judging me and Nehemia, and they’re saying it’s all about emotion, and “all you guys did was use manipulation”. Would you do me a favor and let the people that are in their houses keep standing. But would you all do me a favor? Would you be willing to sit down?

Audience: No!

Keith: Wait a minute, hold on. Okay. Can we do a deal? Can we do a deal in Dallas? Here’s the deal in Dallas. Listen to me. You’ve got to understand something. Listen, this will get your attention. I’m a black preacher [applause] with a tradition of calling people to the altar. And many of my Messianic brothers and sisters who have seen this in churches, in their heart they’re saying “that can’t be God”. Because I still have more of the message, I don’t want you all to end up responding to the call of the shofar, and I can’t get it on tape. So if you just do me a favor... I promise, if you’ll just hold on for a little bit, I’m going to get to the shofar. Would you all be willing to sit down?

Audience: No!

Keith: I’m the religious authority. I just don’t think that this fits within the schedule that we have. I’m convinced that Obed-Edom heard something like this. Are you sure? [applause] I’m not trying to be manipulative. I want to say something, Nehemia. You all, we are not playing. Jew and Methodist have experienced revival and conversion in our hearts. [applause] The conversion that we have experienced is from the father, Avinu, the Creator, the one who made Nehemia and made me. He has decided to send His ruakh, His holy spirit. He has touched the Jew first, and then the Gentile. [applause] [Shofar sounds] [applause]

Now, that was for the people in Dallas that are waiting for the introduction of the ruakh in Dallas on Shavuot. So those of you that just heard it, would you now sit down? Those that are listening online today, tomorrow and until the end of time, you might want to ask yourself this question. Do you want to keep listening? Because my brothers and sisters here really don’t have a choice. We’ve got guards that will not let them leave this room, [laughter] but you can shut the television off. You can shut off the internet and you can say, “I’m not listening to no Methodist and I’m not listening to no Jew. I’m sticking with Eli, my religious authority. David was unwilling to move the Ark of Yehovah...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: Into the city of David, but David took the Ark...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: Inside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite, somebody say “uh-oh”.

Audience: Uh-oh.

Keith: ...the Gittite is not an Israelite! Hold it. Wait a minute. David must be confused. He bought the Ark...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: ...to a Gittite who was not an Israelite. Now I have to testify. I was minding my own business. I asked Nehemia Gordon, and I’m going to tell you guys something - you don’t know the half of who Nehemia Gordon was ten Shavuots ago. Judith knows, Michael knows, and I know. There’s even a story that they used to call Nehemia “the Iceman”. They said that Nehemia’s heart was so cold and so hard, there was some in his own movement that would write letters and said, “The Iceman said...” and this offended Nehemia, and it should have offended him. But I think 10 years ago, they weren’t that wrong. Nehemia had the Litvak in him down to a science. He knew about intellect. He knew about Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Ugaritic and he taught me all of it.

But there was something that Nehemia was running from, and it was not Jesus. There’s something Nehemia was running from, and it is not Yeshua. Nehemia was running from the fact that his daddy taught him, and his daddy’s daddy taught him, and his daddy’s daddy’s daddy taught him that we are the intellectual elite, we have the information. But do you know what Nehemia was running from? He was running from the inspiration, so it knocked at his door. And he shut the door. But for ten Shavuots this man has left his place of comfort. This man has stepped out. Oh, you don’t understand, this man has stepped out in a way that you don’t understand.

Let me tell you what he did, and this is why I have to testify. He gave me access to information that there’s not another United Methodist pastor in the world that has gotten that same information. There’s not another United Methodist pastor in the world that has gotten the information and the access to information. And let me tell you why Nehemia did it. He did it because he said this, “I don’t want the information to be my information that you’ve got to come to Nehemia, the great... you know, whoever.” He says, “I want this information to be spread to the world.” So let’s get a Methodist, he’ll do it. [laughter]

He almost told you the real story about The Hebrew Yeshua Versus the Greek Jesus, but I’ll let him tell it at another time. This guy gives me this information, and he says, “I want you to use the information and add some inspiration so that the name can be spread around the world.” [applause]

Now, can I take one little section from this that you guys are going to understand, because I sense the ruakh... What’s my friend’s name over there? You might want to shut that door. Can you shut that door there? Shut the door when you go out, you all. I’m a little bit nervous here. Let’s see if we can keep Him out. Let’s keep the Holy Spirit out. Shut the door please.

Audience: No!

Keith: No, you all don’t want that, because if the Holy Spirit comes in here, some of you might realize that the Holy Spirit is bigger than your movement. [applause] Thank you for shutting the door. Second Samuel 6:11, “And the Ark...”

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: “...remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months,” say “three months”.

Audience: Three months.

Keith: “And Yehovah blessed Obed-Edom and all of his household.” [applause] Whoo! Listen to me. This man’s minding his own business. He’s not even an Israelite. He’s a Gittite, somebody say “Gittite”.

Audience: Gittite.

Keith: There’s another famous Gittite, his name was Goliath of Gat. Goliath was, somebody say “Gittite”.

Audience: Gittite.

Keith: And there’s Obed-Edom the Gittite. Goliath the Gittite decided to fight the name. Can I get an amen?

Audience: Amen.

Keith: Goliath the Gittite decided to curse the God of David. Can I get an amen?

Audience: Amen.

Keith: But Obed-Edom the Gittite said, “Name? Come on in.” [applause] You all don’t get this. I’m going to try to end this quick. “And the ark remained in the house...” Woah. And the Ark...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: “...remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months and Yehovah blessed Obed-Edom and all of his household.” Now, what Obed-Edom could have said was this, “I had a vision, I had a dream, I had an experience.” But you know what we find if we read the Tanakh, the Bible that Yeshua read? We find out why the house of Obed-Edom was blessed. Can I slow down?

Audience: Yes.

Keith: Can I back up?

Audience: Yes.

Keith: Can I wipe the sweat off my head?

Audience: Yes.

Keith: Can I take my jacket off?

Audience: Yes.

Keith: Oh, somebody’s got to listen to the next part. If we open the Bible back to the Torah, we find this verse. Do you see what it says?

Audience: Yes.

Keith: Then why ain’t there revival in this house? You all ain’t reading what it says. Here’s what it says. In some places in Israel...

Audience: No! Everywhere!

Keith: Only with King David in his house.

Audience: No!

Keith: If you’re riding the right denomination...

Audience: No.

Keith: It says, “In every place that I cause My name to be mentioned.” Every English Bible will say, “To be remembered, to be thought of,” but the Jewish Publication Society got it right, according to the Bible that Yeshua read. For the Hebrew word that is used for mention means not only mentioning or remembering with your mind, but mentioning with your mouth. “In every place I cause My name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you.” Can you imagine? [applause]

You guys are with me, right there. You all understand what I’m going through. You understand what I’m saying. The Bible says this: “In every place I cause My name to be mentioned I Myself will come to your house. [applause] And I Myself will bless you.” Now, I could get so controversial. I don’t want to get controversial. Let me be nice. Obed-Edom was probably sitting in his house, minding his own business. David and the group had gone. He had the Ark which was...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: ...in his house. And being a good Gittite, maybe a little boastful, like Goliath. Somebody came to him and said, “Obed-Edom.” “Yes?” “What was all that ruckus over by your house last week?” Maybe some of the neighbors said, “Did you hear about Obed-Edom?” “No.” “He brought this object into his house.” And then can you hear Obed-Edom? “What do they call it, Obed-Edom?” “Yehovah.” [laughter]

Alright, you all didn’t like that. “What do they call it, Obed-Edom?” “Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey.” Now, I’m going to tell you a secret. Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey is not mentioning His name. Saying the four consonants is not mentioning His name. That is the politically correct thing to do when you have different people with different ideas. You just give them the four consonants. But, you see, Obed-Edom knew that the Ark, which was...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: ...he knew how to call it. So guess what Obed-Edom did? What do they name it? And he called out the name.

Audience: Yehovah!

Keith: Now, have a seat, because I’m almost done. You all, here’s what happened to me and Nehemia in Smithfield, North Carolina. As I’m talking about this, we both realized something. The Gittite got it right. Oh, you didn’t hear me now. The Gittite got it right. When the name showed up, the Gittite opened the door and said, “Come on in.” The Israelite in that situation got it wrong, until someone told David the king, “Have you heard about Obed-Edom the Gittite?” David, being a good Jew, heard about the blessing that fell upon Obed-Edom the Gittite, and David said, “Oh no, the Gittite got it right and I’m going to get it right.” [applause] The Bible says that David decided, “Hey you all, get the shofar, get the dancers, get the singers, get the cart. We’re going to…” somebody say “Obed-Edom’s house”.

Audience: Obed-Edom’s house.

Keith: The Bible says that Obed-Edom was minding his own business for three months. Everything he had was blessed. His coming was blessed, his going was blessed. His wife was blessed, his children were blessed. His money was blessed, his house was blessed. Somebody say “everything”.

Audience: Everything. [applause]

Keith: And then David heard about it, and said, “You know what? I’m not that angry. [laughter] I’m not that afraid.” And what Nehemia Gordon the Israelite has done, he has given the information to the Gittite, and now we both got it right. [applause]

And you know what he’s going to do now? My Jewish brother caused me to get the information and the inspiration, and he probably will never confess this, but as he saw me go forward even without his help, he got a little bit where he thought, “Wait a minute, is it right for the Gittite to have all the fun? I’m an Israelite!” [laughter]

And why am I excited about this? Let me tell you why I’m excited about this. Oh my goodness, I messed up the slide, Nehemia. No, that’s okay. You guys, everything I have is gone. It’s gone. Somebody say “amen”.

Audience: Amen.

Keith: I’m telling you, I’m looking at it - it ain’t there. The rest of my slides are done. The same thing that happened to Nehemia just happened to me! I need a witness. I need one witness. Nehemia, come and look and see if the slides are gone. Are the slides gone? No, I’m telling you. Are my slides gone? No, you want to fix it. No, you can’t fix this, Nehemia. Go sit down. Go sit down! [laughter] I don’t need the slides right now, because I can tell this story.

God has decided to reveal His name in this hour. [applause] God has decided to use Obed-Edom the Gittite if He has to, to get it right. Goliath the Gittite got it wrong, and he ended up face on the floor with the rock, the Migdal Oz in his forehead. But then there was a second chance for another Gittite, and he got it right. [applause]

You all, I’ve taken enough of your time, but I need to do something. I need to read something. I don’t have the slide. If I get it wrong... Nehemia, please. Oh, great gadol moreh... Do me a favor, I don’t need it. You all know what gadol moreh means? Moreh gadol, I’m sorry. He’ll correct me on this. He’s a great teacher, you all. Do you know, this guy was probably one of the toughest teachers I’ve ever had? For a period of years he made me sit down - Alef, Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Hey. Learn the consonants, learn the vowels, learn the accents, learn the Masoretic notes. And then the guy puts me in a situation - brings me to a synagogue and they say, “Oh great, moreh gadol, Nehemia Gordon, will you read the Torah scroll?” And he says, “I’d like my student to do it.” Somebody say “holy ghost”.

Audience: Holy ghost.

Keith: They opened up the scroll and let Obed-Edom the Gittite [applause] get it right, and Nehemia said, “I’ll take it from there.” I was doing such a great job, and Nehemia said, “I’ll step in now.” [laughter] And guess what? That is exactly what I want to happen. The revival that will take place will start with the Jew. [applause] Hey, listen to me. I don’t get invited to my own Methodist churches, and I don’t care. I don’t ever need to speak again after today. Because if my friend Nehemia Gordon stays in the spirit, the Ruakh HaKodesh, the spirit that I see that is indwelling in him, revival will break out. [applause] I’m so appreciative to Michael, I’m so appreciative to Judith, I’m so appreciative to this ministry. And I’m especially appreciative to my friend, Nehemia Gordon, that when I said to him, “Nehemia, you and I will be friends,” and he said, “No, we will not.” [laughter] “Nehemia, you will teach me to read my Torah in its original language, history and context.” And the great teacher said, “No, I will not.” You see, Nehemia is used to shutting doors. [applause] And you can “ooh” all you want, but there’s a whole lot of you that can shut them better than him.

The great thing about Nehemia is that he opened the door for me. I don’t care that his father says I do not count. I don’t care if those in the Karaite movement say I do not count. I don’t care if the Methodists, Messianics and everybody else that’s messed up says I don’t count. [laughter] He knows I count. [applause]

I’m not going to try to impress you by reading it from the Hebrew. I’m not going to give you the Hebrew words, unless I get caught up in the Holy Ghost. Zechariah chapter 8 in closing, verse 23. “Thus sayeth Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey - Yahweh, that have not yet read the book, “Yehovah” - according to my Jewish Hebrew scholar – “Tzeva’ot. In those days, ten men from all of the nations will khazak- in strength. They will grab ahold of the garment, of the ish Yehudi - the Jewish man.” And this is what they will say, according to the prophet Zechariah: “We shall go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.” Nehemia, if you are willing to hang out with some of us who maybe don’t count according to the tradition of your father, if you’re willing to keep the door open beyond just the information, but the inspiration. We heard that the Creator of the universe picked you, and what the Hebrew Bible says, it doesn’t say you singular, it says you plural.

Let me say something. I heard, according to the Bible that I read, that God is still with His people. [applause] And so when I’m in the Old City of Jerusalem, sometimes they won’t talk to me in Hebrew. “Shalom, ma shlomkha?” They’re like, “Speak English, we know you’re an American.” Sometimes they won’t let me in their circle. Sometimes they do things and say things that hurt my feelings. But I heard that the Creator of the universe is with you. And I want to know, as I’m looking in the camera, as I’m looking at you, and as I’m looking at you, can I go with you? Now, here we go, you all. Nehemia said this: “If I ever get another chance, I’m going to keep the door open.” [applause] And people around the world are just hoping that Nehemia Gordon will one day stand up and proclaim - before the Messiah comes - that Yeshua is Messiah. I simply want Nehemia to do what I believe the Creator of the universe is calling him to do - keep the door open. [applause] Lest you confuse my words - not keep the door open so that Yeshua can come in. Keep the door open so that the name of the One who is the Creator of the universe can take over His people’s house. [applause]

I’m going to tell you a secret. If you ask the rabbis, they know the Gittite’s proclaiming the name right. They’re just hoping that the Israelites don’t hear about it, because Eli and his religious group have already determined that they’re going to do something that is opposite the word of God. Because of fear, because of anger, because of circumstance, they have taken the name that can bring blessing to the entire household away from His people, so He said, “I need to knock on the Israelite’s door again. I know a man, I come to him about eight or nine. I’m wondering, if that man, if I knock again, will he open the door and take his information, take the inspiration and tell My people it’s time to get it right?”

Now, Smithfield, North Carolina. Oh! Somebody say “lightning strikes twice”.

Audience: Lightning strikes twice.

Keith: Oh, I feel the Holy Spirit. The spirit of God just touched me. So what we’re going to do is we’re going to make this easy. You all, do me a favor, stand up and turn toward the wall. I want you to imagine that the Creator of the universe is knocking on the door to your house. And He’s saying, “Hey Gittite, you want to get it right?” I wonder. While we’re looking away from me... It’s not me. In fact, I’ll run off the stage. I’m wondering if the Ruakh HaKodesh hasn’t been preparing some people all weekend long for the Smithfield revival revisited. That there are people that are here that are ready to be ambassadors of His name. There are people in this room that are ready to tell the world, against tradition, against the spirit of Eli, the religious authority and the spiritual border patrol, “I am going to get it right because the name has knocked on my door at Shavuot in Dallas, where He said, ‘Anokhi Yehovah Elohekha,’ ‘I am Yehovah your God, and you shall have no other god in my face!’”

So I want to go to the toughest situation in the room. Everybody’s looking towards the wall. I want to ask my friend Nehemia Gordon, if there’s anything I have said today that is outside of Tanakh. Nehemia, anything outside of Tanakh?

Nehemia: No.

Keith: Is there anything that I’ve said that offends you as a Jew?

Nehemia: No.

Keith: Are you ready, Nehemia, again, to open the door to the One who has a plan for your life that is going to change the world? Not Christianity, not the Messianic movement. You can just stay right where you are as a Karaite. You just stay right where you are. Are you ready to be like David? Oh, you said that you come from a place where there’s David in your line. Most of David’s relatives have said, “Stay away from the Ark, which is...”

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: Nehemia, will you take the Ark home with you?

Nehemia: Yes.

Keith: Come here. Now I’m going to ask a more difficult question. Forget about pronunciation for a moment. Other people that are here that would say this, “I don’t have all the answers, but I’m willing to be in the process of getting them. I am willing to cry out to my heavenly Father, and I am willing to stand alongside an Israelite that’s got it right.”

Don’t move. Don’t do anything. Because, you all, what I need you to do right now is pray. I need you to pray right now. The spirit of God is calling some new Michaels and some new Keiths and some new Judiths and some new Nehemias right here at Shavuot. There are people that are listening to this right now that are being arrested, they can’t move. The Ruakh HaKodesh is doing it again, and he’s starting with my Jewish brother and saying, “Yes, I will not shut the door again.”

Karen, I want you to come. No manipulation, you all. Just stay praying, and as you pray, I want you to imagine that the Ruakh HaKodesh, the spirit of God, the very breath of God, is ready to blow on you. Let it blow now.

Karen: We love you. [Singing].

Keith: My goodness, here comes the spirit. Does anybody’s head feel hot right now, like the tongue of fire? I’m here, but I know something’s happening to me right now. Is there anybody that says, “My head is even feeling hot like a tongue of fire”? Don’t stay in your place of comfort. Turn away from the wall. Come on down here, quickly now. Hurry up. Don’t worry about nobody. Hurry up! Nobody’s looking at you. The Holy Spirit is touching someone back there, I see it. Stay there if you want, but if your feet can’t help it, move from your place of comfort. He’s here. Living. Is there anybody that says, “I’m desperate for Him”? Hallelujah! Those of you that are standing, looking toward the wall, do me a favor. Get on your knees. Just get on your knees out there. Everybody else stay standing. Oh, I’m lost without you. Hallelujah. If you’re desperate, say it.

Those that are out there that are kneeling, you all here that are standing with my brother, get closer, now. My goodness, get closer. We in Dallas, get closer. You all, I just want to do one last thing. Those that are kneeling, stay kneeling, you keep praying. But there’s a verse... and help me with this. In Numbers chapter 10 it says that when the Ark which was...

Audience: Called by the name.

Keith: ...was ready to set forth, Moses would stand up and he would call the name and he would say, “Arise Yehovah, and let your enemies be scattered.” Sister Karen, I know you’re here. Where are you, Karen? Come here, real quickly. You all, I promise you, just stay kneeling. Michael, do I have a few more moments? Come here, Karen. You all, if we could just do something. Those that are kneeling and those that are standing. I’m going to do something after we do this. Karen, We Exalt You. Can you sing We Exalt You?

Karen: [singing] We exalt you.

Keith: Open your voice, open your mouth.

Karen: We exalt you.

Keith: Oh, hallelujah. Come here, Judith. Hallelujah. Come on, now. Come on, you all, let’s exalt Him. Come on, for the world, now.

Now, you all, we have come to the end of our time at Shavuot. But we now have ambassadors of His name that have come and said, “We will be like Obed-Edom. We will receive His name into our houses with its holiness, with its accountability, and we will also be people that will proclaim His name to the world.”

Audience: Yes!

Keith: Now, I want to say in closing. Yehovah, arise, and let Your enemies be scattered. [Shofar]. Oh, somebody felt something deep in their gut. Just tell them, “Okay, I’m opening the door, too.” [Shofar]. The last days are here. There are more than ten that have grabbed a hold of the skirt, the suit jacket, the tzitzit of the Jew. Now He is getting ready to do something that the nations will begin to proclaim His name.

Audience: Yes! Hallelujah! [applause]

Keith: And now a closing prayer. And I need my Jewish brother Nehemia to come and set God’s name on you.

Nehemia: This is the priestly blessing, Numbers chapter 6. Yevarekhekha Yehovah veyishmerekha. Ya’er Yehovah panav elekha viykhuneka. Yisa Yehovah panav elekha veyasem lekha shalom. Yehovah bless you and keep you. Yehovah shine His face towards you and be gracious towards you. Yehovah lift His face towards you and give you peace. And they shall place My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.

Keith: …are blessed.

Audience: Amen!

You have been listening to the Open Door Series with Nehemia Gordon. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon’s Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.

We hope the above transcript has proven to be a helpful resource in your study. While much effort has been taken to provide you with this transcript, it should be noted that the text has not been reviewed by the speakers and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. If you would like to support our efforts to transcribe the teachings on NehemiasWall.com, please visit our support page. All donations are tax-deductible (501c3) and help us empower people around the world with the Hebrew sources of their faith!