Speak Life and Love to all

Acts 7:39-42a

“But our fathers did not want to obey him. On the contrary, they rejected him and in their hearts turned to Egypt, saying to Aharon, ‘Make us some gods to lead us; because this Moshe, who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has become of him.’ That was when they made an idol in the shape of a calf and offered a sacrifice to it and held a celebration in honor of what they had made with their own hands. So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the stars—as has been written in the book of the prophets,

Two things, first, as sinners we try to make sense of the supernatural by creating in the natural. The golden calf was nothing more than a hunk of metal. It had no power of deliverance no matter how many sacrifices where offered, yet to please their own selfishness the rebellious Israelites had to have something to make themselves feel better. Second ADONAI will remove Himself from sin and abandon people living in such selfishness to their own stupidity, accepting man-made importance placed on stars that take no notice to our lives. Yet we as believers are not to live like this, we are to be like Stephen declaring what is sin as sin and speaking life and love to all through the blood of the sacrifice of Yeshua. Lord let me be as boldly honest as Stephen and speak to the powers that binds men’s heart so there can be no doubt You are the God I serve. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Let God’s spirit shine forth

Acts 6:15

Everyone sitting in the Sanhedrin stared at Stephen and saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.

Stephen was being set upon by everyone in power in the city. All were threatened by the power of ADONIA that he exhibited in his character in showing God’s love for people. Yet for all their lies and jealousies even Stephen’s enemies had to admit that the Ruach HaKodesh, the Spirit of God, was so embedded in his spirit that his face shone like that of an angel. Lord I am a hot head and quick to battle when I am wronged. Grant me the peace that You gave Stephen in the throng of his accusers so there is no doubt who is the God of my life. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Don’t fold in adversity but rejoice

Acts 5:40-42

After summoning the emissaries and flogging them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Yeshua, and let them go. The emissaries left the Sanhedrin overjoyed at having been considered worthy of suffering disgrace on account of him. And not for a single day, either in the Temple court or in private homes, did they stop teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Yeshua is the Messiah.

What strength of character these men must have, to face the ultimate authority of the Temple, who they were commanded by Yeshua to show respect just for the fact of their office, to be beaten on what could have easily turned into a death sentence, and still hold true to their trust in God. How can I even say I have the same trust when I fail to show the love of God when I am angry or fall into the anonymity of the crowd rather than stand out for God. Oh God give me the strength of character that I too can rejoice when set upon by those who seek to deny Your kingdom. Let me find encouragement from the adversity that I face serving You and have the fire of Your Word stir in me too so I do not stray from You one single day like Kefa and Yochanan. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

The power of the testimony

Acts 4:8-10

Then Kefa, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being examined today about a good deed done for a disabled person, if you want to know how he was restored to health, then let it be known to you and to all the people of Isra’el that it is in the name of the Messiah, Yeshua from Natzeret, whom you had executed on a stake as a criminal but whom God has raised from the dead, that this man stands before you perfectly healed.

Kefa didn’t worry about any degrees he might need to present the Word. He didn’t worry about how he might sound to others. He just accepted the infilling of the Ruach and spoke truth to the Sanhedrin and the people on the healing ADONAI wants all to have through Yeshua. As believers we must trust that the Spirit will guide our words as we give our testimony to bring others to know God. Lord let all my testimony rest on You and don’t let me interfere with showing the world Your Living Word Yeshua. I ask this as commanded in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Can’t get to God by force

Sh’mot (Exodus) 19:21-22

ADONAI said to Moshe, “Go down and warn the people not to force their way through to ADONAI to see him; if they do, many of them will perish. Even the cohanim, who are allowed to approach ADONAI, must keep themselves holy; otherwise, ADONAI may break out against them.”

There is no way for us to force our way into the presence of ADONAI. We can’t get there by just being a “good” person or complete some pilgrimage to some remote place. The only way to God is to obey His mitzvahs and accept the sacrifice that He gave to reconcile us back to him through Yeshua. Lord let never mistake the holy salvation You have given us as something common and base. Let me always honor You in all things. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Repent

Sh’mot (Exodus) 15:26

He said, “If you will listen intently to the voice of ADONAI your God, do what he considers right, pay attention to his mitzvot and observe his laws, I will not afflict you with any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians; because I am ADONAI your healer.”

We have this promise from ADONAI just as the Israelites received all those years ago. If we keep God’s rules and observe His laws we will not be afflicted with the diseases brought on Egypt. Today in this epidemic there is so much talk about a vaccine that may or may not work against all the variants of this virus but yet if we all just fell to our knees and repented of our personal and national sins it could be gone in a day just as when Nineveh repented at the proclamation from ADONAI by Yonah. Lord forgive me for failing to hold to Your Word, forgive me for letting fear and grief drive my actions, Lord forgive this nation for allowing the unholy to be called holy. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Passed over into salvation

Sh’mot (Exodus) 12:22-23

Take a bunch of hyssop leaves and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and smear it on the two sides and top of the door-frame. Then, none of you is to go out the door of his house until morning. For ADONAI will pass through to kill the Egyptians; but when he sees the blood on the top and on the two sides, ADONAI will pass over the door and will not allow the Slaughterer to enter your houses and kill you.

It is only when we accept the sacrifice of Yeshua and paint the doorpost of our souls with His blood that ADONAI in all His glory and honor passes over into us through the Ruach HaKodesh. Then, when we are filled with His Spirit, will the slaughterer not be allowed to enter and bring death to our lives. This is the message of the “Passover” story. Praise God in the highest for His mighty arm saves us from ourselves. Amen and amen.

No Compromise

Sh’mot (Exodus) 10:10-11, 24

Pharaoh said to them, “ADONAI certainly will be with you if I ever let you go with your children! It’s clear that you are up to no good. Nothing doing! Just the men among you may go and worship ADONAI. That’s what you want, isn’t it?” And they were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence.
Pharaoh summoned Moshe and said, “Go, worship ADONAI; only leave your flocks and herds behind—your children may go with you.”

Sin in our lives seeks only one thing, to compromise us before ADONAI. As Moshe confronted Pharaoh to let the nation of Isra’el to go worship ADONAI, Pharaoh repeatedly sought compromises that would force the children of Isra’el to continue to be enslaved to him. So, it is the same with us, we can confess and proclaim the Word of God but if we harbor one compromised portion of our life to the selfishness of sin we are still in bondage. As believers we must have no toleration for compromise but submit our whole being body, mind and soul, just as the whole nation of Isra’el was called, to worship and follow ADONAI. Lord continue to refine me as You refined the people in Egypt so that they finally followed You to a new life in the land. Lord let Your Ruach remove anything that keeps me from You, so I have no idols I have created in me but only a willingness to serve You without compromise. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

We can’t outdo God

Sh’mot (Exodus) 7:8-13

ADONAI said to Moshe and Aharon, “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ tell Aharon to take his staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, so that it can become a snake.” Moshe and Aharon went in to Pharaoh and did this, as ADONAI had ordered—Aharon threw down his staff in front of Pharaoh and his servants, and it turned into a snake. But Pharaoh in turn called for the sages and sorcerers; and they too, the magicians of Egypt, did the same thing, making use of their secret arts. Each one threw his staff down, and they turned into snakes. But Aharon’s staff swallowed up theirs. Nevertheless, Pharaoh was made hardhearted; and he didn’t listen to them, as ADONAI had said would happen.

Three times the sages and sorcerers matched the miracles of ADONAI though with mixed results. First losing their staves to Aharon’s, then increasing the amount of water turning to blood, and finally adding to the frogs overrunning the land. Each time they recreated the miracle but not with the same effects of God and in the end added to their own pain. Today we are suffering under an epidemic created by man trying to be God just as the sages of Egypt, somewhat matching what they desire but in truth only adding pain and suffering to the world. Humanity can no longer afford to be like Pharaoh and depend on these foolish men but must turn back to God and submit to Him for only His leadership in our lives will lead us to the promised land. Lord let Your guidance shape every moment of my life. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Don’t Panic, but look for Opportunity

Luke 21:7-15

They asked him, “Rabbi, if this is so, when will these events take place? And what sign will show that they are about to happen?” He answered, “Watch out! Don’t be fooled! For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time has come!’ Don’t go after them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, don’t panic. For these things must happen first, but the end will not follow immediately.”
Then he told them, “Peoples will fight each other, nations will fight each other, there will be great earthquakes, there will be epidemics and famines in various places, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from Heaven. But before all this, they will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons; and you will be brought before kings and governors. This will all be on account of me, but it will prove an opportunity for you to bear witness. So make up your minds not to worry, rehearsing your defense beforehand; for I myself will give you an eloquence and a wisdom that no adversary will be able to resist or refute.

These may be the last of days, certainly there are wars and revolutions, the world suffering under multiple natural disasters not to mention disasters we create ourselves by messing with Adonai’s creation and trust in God is more scorned than praised. Yet Yeshua tells us as the body of believers what we are to do in such times. First don’t panic, it is when we are in a panic, we can be led into anything because everything we do is led by fear. As a people who trust in ADONAI, we are to have no fear because we know the rock of ages that we stand on as a firm foundation for all time. Secondly, we are to be ready for there will be opportunities to bear witness and serve God and our fellow man so that everyone in creation will not have an excuse that did not hear the Word of God. We must be ready at any moment to testify to the salvation that has been given unto us through the sacrifice of Yeshua and the restitution that has made in our lives back to God. Lord strengthen me in these days that You have given me to live in. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.