Our state of trust

Galatians 4:13-14

…you know that it was because I was ill that I proclaimed the Good News to you at first; and even though my physical condition must have tempted you to treat me with scorn, you did not display any sign of disdain or disgust. No, you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God, as if I had been the Messiah Yeshua himself!

Just like Sha’ul it is not the state of our being that determines the power of our witness to others but our trust in the Lord and the acceptance of the sacrifice of Yeshua. Sha’ul admits multiple times that he by himself was not a powerful speaker but filled with the Ruach he could preach all night long. The people of Galatia came to salvation in spite of Sha’ul’s physical limitations because his trust in God allowed the supernatural power of ADONAI through the Ruach HaKodesh flow through him. It is the same for us, I have seen powerful men of God speak salvation to the staff around them at their deathbeds and save those souls even while giving over in this life to see God in His glory. Lord let me never let Your Word fall to the ground but proclaim Your kingship in my life daily so that I can be a witness in all things for You. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Fast Righteously

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 58:6-10

“Here is the sort of fast I want—

releasing those unjustly bound,

untying the thongs of the yoke,

letting the oppressed go free,

breaking every yoke,

sharing your food with the hungry,

taking the homeless poor into your house,

clothing the naked when you see them,

fulfilling your duty to your kinsmen!” 

Then your light will burst forth like the morning,

your new skin will quickly grow over your wound;

your righteousness will precede you,

and ADONAI’s glory will follow you.

Then you will call, and ADONAI will answer;

you will cry, and he will say, “Here I am.”

If you will remove the yoke from among you,

stop false accusation and slander,

generously offer food to the hungry and meet the needs of the person in trouble;

then your light will rise in the darkness, and your gloom become like noon.

We who trust in ADONA are to be the social net to the world, not governments created by men.  If we truly want to get back to the congregation reported in Acts where everything was shared and needs were met then we must take care of the widow, the orphan and the foreigner so they too can trust God.  Then and only then will ADONAI will answer us.  Lord give me the patience and the discipline to serve You for many times I have dismissed the needs of others because I was selfish.  Let me see with Your eyes and show others Your love.  I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Kingdom Searching

Matthew 13:44-46

44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, hid it again, then in great joy went and sold everything he owned, and bought that field.

45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for fine pearls. 46 On finding one very valuable pearl he went away, sold everything he owned and bought it.

Until I have given up on every worldly possession and rely fully on Adonai, I cannot be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is only in complete trust, ridding myself of all doubt as the parable says that I can posses such a treasure.

Seek Him

Matthew 7:7-8

7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps asking receives; he who keeps seeking finds; and to him who keeps knocking, the door will be opened.

We are to pursue Adonai continually. For myself I have been journaling from the Word for almost five years and still every day I find something new to improve my life. In seeking Him, I have been able to deal with the pains of this life without didpair, find pleasure in the good that God grants me, and look forward to a life of eternal communion with Him.

Praise Him

Psalm 66:16-20

16 Come and listen, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth,
his praise was on my tongue.
18 Had I cherished evil thoughts,
Adonai would not have listened.
19 But in fact, God did listen;
he paid attention to my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, who did not reject my prayer
or turn his grace away from me.

How many of us have testimonies like the psalmist? For me it has taken almost five years to learn to praise and worship God during the storm instead of focusing on my needs. He knows even before we ask what we need so let us praise Him for His redeeming goodness.

Combat

Judges 7:19-22

19 Gid‘on and the hundred men with him arrived at the edge of the camp a little before midnight, just after they had changed the guard. They blew the shofars and broke in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 All three companies blew the shofars, broke the pitchers and held the torches in their left hands, keeping their right hands free for the shofars they were blowing; and they shouted, “The sword for Adonai and for Gid‘on!” 21 Then, as every man stood still in place around the camp, the whole camp was thrown into panic, with everyone screaming and trying to escape. 22 Gid‘on’s men blew their 300 shofars, and Adonai caused everyone in the camp to attack his comrades; and the enemy fled beyond Beit-Sheetah near Tz’rerah, as far as the border of Avel-M’cholah, by Tabat.

God fights our battles for us. Not Gid’on or one of his men raised a sword that night until it was time to mop up the remainer. They blew their shofars (trumpets from animal horns) in their right hands and held torches in their left. Adonai Tzva’ot the Lord of Host was in amongst the enemy causing confusion and destruction. This is the God we serve who fights our righteous battles for us. Praise God for our defense.

Decisions

Joshua 9:14-16

14 The men sampled some of their food but didn’t seek the advice of Adonai, 15 so Y’hoshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to spare their lives, and the leading officials of the community swore to them. 16 But three days later, after they had made the covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, that they lived there with them.

This is what happens when we make decisions without God’s direction. The leaders of Israel tried to fix it by making them slave labor, but this people would be the ones to lead Israel away from Adonai and into idol worship. As a believer I must lay everything before God so as not to defile myself or corrupt others.

Correction

Galatians 6:1-2

6 Brothers, suppose someone is caught doing something wrong. You who have the Spirit should set him right, but in a spirit of humility, keeping an eye on yourselves so that you won’t be tempted too. 2 Bear one another’s burdens — in this way you will be fulfilling the Torah’s true meaning, which the Messiah upholds.

Correction is never easy, and when I have had to receive it the shame of knowing others know of my sin made it difficult to receive. Yet my parents, leaders and brothers who have corrected me, praise God, did so as Sha’ul describes, not gloating or with superiority to crush me but with care and humility to lift me up to be a better person. Thank you Abba for all the living ox goads You have put in my life. Amen.

Social Services

Deuteronomy 24:17-21

17 “You are not to deprive the foreigner or the orphan of the justice which is his due, and you are not to take a widow’s clothing as collateral for a loan. 18 Rather, remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and Adonai your God redeemed you from there. That is why I am ordering you to do this.

19 “When harvesting the grain in your field, if you forgot a sheaf of grain there, you are not to go back and get it; it will remain there for the foreigner, the orphan and the widow, so that Adonai your God will bless you in all the work you do. 20 When you beat your olive tree, you are not to go back over the branches again; the olives that are left will be for the foreigner, the orphan and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes from your vineyard, you are not to return and pick grapes a second time; what is left will be for the foreigner, the orphan and the widow.

We as believers and followers of Yeshua are to be the social services to the world not goverments. Goverments are established to control people, to govern the way they act, we as believers though are to establish Adonai’s love in the hearts of the people. How can we do that if we only take care of our own?  Adonai Tzva’ot, Lord of Host, strengthen me to stand in the gap for the poor and cast off in this world. Soften my heart to hear in those times I think I am too tired, too busy, too anything to help. I ask this in Yeshua’s name Amen.

Action

Galatians 1:15-17

15 But when God, who picked me out before I was born and called me by his grace, chose 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might announce him to the Gentiles, I did not consult anyone; 17 and I did not go up to Yerushalayim to see those who were emissaries before me. Instead, I immediately went off to Arabia and afterwards returned to Dammesek.

When God calls us we as believers need to move immediately just as Sha’ul (Paul) did. I know I have failed to answer the call many times because of weak conviction and poor judgement. Lord forgive me for my slothfullness and keep me focused on your Word so I may more clearly hear You.