Community Encouragement

Romans 1:11-13

For I long to see you, so that I might share with you some spiritual gift that can make you stronger— or, to put it another way, so that by my being with you, we might, through the faith we share, encourage one another.  Brothers, I want you to know that although I have been prevented from visiting you until now, I have often planned to do so, in order that I might have some fruit among you, just as I have among the other Gentiles.

 

Community gives encouragement and support in the world we must witness to.  While it is our trust alone in the sacrifice of Yeshua that establishes our salvation, it is sharing this trust with like minded believers in a congregation that gives us the support and encouragement to face the world we live in day after day.  We should be like Sha’ul and have a desire to share and uplift one another so that everyone can stand strong in their trust in ADONAI.  Lord let be supportive of all believers in my life.  Let me witness truly to those that don’t know You, so they too might share in Your righteousness.  I ask this all in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Traditions

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

Therefore, brothers, stand firm; and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, whether we spoke them or wrote them in a letter.  And may our Lord Yeshua the Messiah himself and God our Father, who has loved us and by his grace given us eternal comfort and a good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.

Traditions hold families, communities and even nations together.  They give something to have in common with one another so that there is a glue to hold the group together.  As believers Sha’ul tells us to hold on to the traditions that he taught so that we as the body of believers may stand firm.  What are those traditions?  To love one another just as Yeshua showed us to love one another, to include giving our life if called for.  To care for one another, see to each other’s needs, to make sure the widow, orphan or foreigner in our congregations does not go without.  To obey the Word of ADONAI and that only, not any man-made rules that people tend to add on later.  Finally, to accept the sacrifice that Yeshua made and submit to the rule of ADONAI in our lives, and to follow Him with all our strength, mind and soul.  These are the traditions that we are to follow as believers.  In the days ahead, there are other man-made traditions that many will participate in let’s not let them overshadow what we who are believers are commanded to do.  Lord let the whole world know that You are the king in their lives.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Lack of the Word

Matthew 28:11-15

As they were going, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the head cohanim everything that had happened.  Then they met with the elders; and after discussing the matter, they gave the soldiers a sizeable sum of money and said to them, “Tell people, ‘His talmidim came during the night and stole his body while we were sleeping.’  If the governor hears of it, we will put things right with him and keep you from getting in trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were told, and this story has been spread about by Judeans till this very day.

 

This is the problem with religions today and pretty much all are guilty, if something in their doctrine doesn’t fit with the Word of God, then they make up a story to fit to their doctrine and continue on.  It is for the lack of knowledge of the Word that people let congregational leaders get away with this and soon the whole community is fallen from the Word and not realizing it.  As believers we must all be like the good people of Berea and search the Word of God to see that our leaders are keeping to the teachings of ADONAI.  Lord you have given me a desire to read Your Word.  Let this grow in me so that I write each letter on my heart and know Your commands for my life, so I might stand rightly before You.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Confession

Matthew 26:69-74

Kefa was sitting outside in the courtyard when a servant girl came up to him.” You too were with Yeshua from the Galil,” she said.  But he denied it in front of everyone—”I don’t know what you’re talking about!” He went out onto the porch, and another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Yeshua of Natzeret.” Again he denied it, swearing, “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, the bystanders approached Kefa and said, “You must be one of them—your accent gives you away.” This time he began to invoke a curse on himself as he swore, “I do not know the man!”—and immediately a rooster crowed.

 

Oh God forgive me for how many times I have acted like Kefa.  The gospels say he denied You three times and I know I have done so much worse and not out of fear for my life like Kefa but simply trying to fit into worldly situations.  ADONAI TZA’VAOT, The Lord of Host, forgive my lack of disciple and seeking solace in earthly comfort which is fleeting instead of standing firmly on Your Word.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Our lamp

Matthew 25:1-4

​ “The Kingdom of Heaven at that time will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.  Five of them were foolish and five were sensible.  The foolish ones took lamps with them but no oil, whereas the others took flasks of oil with their lamps.

 

In this parable we are the bridesmaids.  Each of standing waiting on the arrival of Yeshua to take us to his kingdom in heaven.  The lamps represent how we associate with the world, they are either full with the oil of forgiveness and kindness and submission to ADONAI or they are empty and useless in as those owners selfishly only bring out the facade of trust in ADONAI.  It is how we relate to God and translate that to our fellow man that determines the oil that we have in our lamps.  Lord let my lamp be overflowing with the oil of Your love as David says in the psalms.  Let me be a light that brings others to You.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Failure to serve

Matthew 21:18-19 The next morning, on his way back to the city, he felt hungry.  Spotting a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. So he said to it, “May you never again bear fruit!” and immediately the fig tree dried up.

For years that fig tree stood in all its glory with it’s bright green leaves but never gave fruit when it was required.  It was in that moment when it was required to give fruit for Yeshua and failed that lost everything.  How much more will it be for us if we fail to execute what we are called for by ADONAI when our time comes.  Lord please find me a willing and able servant.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

The source of our actions

Matthew 19:23-26

Then Yeshua said to his talmidim, “Yes. I tell you that it will be very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Furthermore, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the talmidim heard this they were utterly amazed.” Then who,” they asked, “can be saved?” Yeshua looked at them and said, “Humanly, this is impossible; but with God everything is possible.”

 

It doesn’t’ matter how many good things we do.  It doesn’t matter how we spend our riches.  If we only do these things out of selfishness, to make ourselves feel good about our selves we have failed to understand the teachings of Yeshua.  The only way to the ADONAI is through accepting the sacrifice of Yeshua, only then when we stop serving our self-interest and start serving God’s can we be truly saved.  Lord never let me slip back into selfishness and self-aggrandizement but always serve You.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Calling

Matthew 15:21-28

Yeshua left that place and went off to the region of Tzor and Tzidon.  A woman from Kena’an who was living there came to him, pleading, “Sir, have pity on me. Son of David! My daughter is cruelly held under the power of demons!” But Yeshua did not say a word to her. Then his talmidim came to him and urged him, “Send her away, because she is following us and keeps pestering us with her crying.” He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Isra’el.” But she came, fell at his feet and said, “Sir, help me!” He answered, “It is not right to take the children’s food and toss it to their pet dogs.” She said, “That is true, sir, but even the dogs eat the leftovers that fall from their master’s table.” Then Yeshua answered her, “Lady, you are a person of great trust. Let your desire be granted.” And her daughter was healed at that very moment.

 

This woman is the example for all of us Goy, and our commission in the One New Man Sha’ul writes about in Ephesians 2.  We have one purpose, to make the Jews so jealous they return to ADONAI.  How do we do that?  By having the trust like this woman or the Roman centurion.   A trust so strong it crosses all ethnic paradigms to show the world who is our God.  Lord let me be as trusting as this woman, beseeching and returning to You moment after moment so the whole world can know You are Lord.  Abba especially let Your people hear Your voice once again, so they may call out to You in these times.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Loose Lips

Matthew 12:36-37

Moreover, I tell you this: on the Day of Judgment people will have to give account for every careless word they have spoken; for by your own words you will be acquitted, and by your own words you will be condemned.”

How many of us speak carelessly?  I caught myself several times just yesterday as I joined with extended family to celebrate Thanksgiving today.  It wasn’t cursing or in anger that I spoke, but I carelessly joined in the speculation of what was going on with people who were not here, I was joining in on the family gossip.  And I am convicted today because Yeshua says just prior to this whatever the condition of our heart is what we speak.  Maybe this is also why Yeshua was not able to heal many people in his hometown because too many were gossiping about His ministry.  But I believe it is these words, not intended for harm, not always based in truth but rather unfounded speculation, that are the careless words we will be judged on.  Lord thank You for allowing me to join my family and enjoy the bonds that we have, but forgive me the loose talk that I engaged in.  Keep me in Your will and hold me to Your standard.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Intersession

Matthew 9:2

Some people brought him a paralyzed man lying on a mattress. When Yeshua saw their trust, he said to the paralyzed man, “Courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.”

 

Intersession works! While I know Yeshua could have healed the paralyzed man on his own accord, He did it when He saw the trust not only in the patient but in the friends who brought him.  Everyone came expecting a miracle because of their trust in Yeshua as the Son of God.  Yeshua saw all of their trust and healed the man, and not only healed him but released him from the sin that was binding his limbs.  Lord let my trust be like these men so that I may stand before You worthy in the days ahead.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.