Saturday, November 28, 2009

The Best Gift of All


The sweetness of God's voice! He calls to us in so many ways. In the good things we often take for granted in life such as a beautiful sunset, a loving pet, good food and music. These are just a few of the millions of good things Yah our Father provides for our enjoyment. The Bible says that He is gracious to give such things to all kinds of people, even those who do not serve Him! Matthew 5:45, That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

God our Father does this because HE is inherently good. Mark 10:18 Jesus said, "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. Yeshua, (Jesus), refused to be called good because he knows that such moral excellence is a part of God's divine nature. That's why he said no one is good except God alone. In this respect, Yahweh stands apart from His creation even though through Yeshua we can now become partakers of that divine nature.

So in extending His goodness to people of all sorts, it shows that He is calling men, women and children from every tribe and nation on earth. In fact, Peter began to see this more clearly when he saw Yah's set-apart spirit fall on gentiles such as those of Cornelius house: "but in every nation he who is fearing Him, and is working righteousness, is acceptable to Him;" Acts 10:35

Cornelius made a point to pray to God daily and gave generously to the poor. So he and his whole household came in line for these special spiritual blessings of receiving this set apart spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues. While Yah may send daily provisions of food and sustenance to the righteous and the unrighteous alike, these wonderful spiritual gifts are only for those whose hearts are complete towards Him. It is that spiritual blessing that allows us to hear His voice and enjoy a special intimacy with Him in prayer. Yeshua is the only mediator between God and man so through faith in his words, we can have access to that same holy spirit. Ask him for it now!

PRAYER: Oh Yah, God Almighty. I confess with my mouth that Yeshua is Lord and that You raised him from the dead. I believe his words that you are the ONLY one who is good. Please now let your set-apart spirit fall from Messiah so that I may boldly speak of your glory in praise! Amen.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Are You Self-Righteous?


Trust God in all things! I often have to tell myself this many times before it sinks in. There are so many distractions in life both good and bad. Things did not pan out as we had planned so there is an adjustment to be made. Here's where being flexible and trusting comes in. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purposes. So even during a perceived setback, trust!

At times, my best laid plans have fallen through. It's disappointing but the sooner I give it over to God, believing in His power and not my own, the better things go. That is why it is so important to have an ongoing dialog with our Heavenly Father. Day by day, hour by hour because things can change even faster than that. In giving thanks for what Yah has already done, it ignites that sure faith that He will again care for our concerns no matter how big or small.

When reading the Bible it clearly says, "The Lord hears the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29) King Solomon is saying that God hears him or her who has walked in righteousness. I thought, "Oh no, this can't possibly apply to me. I'm not righteous at all!" Then I began to understand that God already knows this but by grace, has made Yeshua to be my righteousness. Romans 3:21 says, "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify."

I can testify too! My faith in Jesus words and finished work credits his right standing before God, to me! So through him, I can boldly approach the throne of the Almighty, confident that as the Proverb says, my prayer will be heard. That should remove all doubt and tendency not to call on God because of how we feel about ourselves on any given day. Notice the righteousness from God is apart from the law. This means that "following the rules" is not what saves. The Pharisees did that and in their self-righteousness, failed to recognize and obey the true Messiah. They already had all the answers, (or so they thought), professing they were good enough. We need to trust God for what He says and whom He has supplied for us to be right before Him.

PRAYER: Loving, merciful Father. You are so worthy of my praise and trust! Help me to see that there is nothing I can do to make myself righteous before You. In Your grace, You have already taken care of that for me in Yeshua, Ha Messiah. Amen

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Yahweh Yirah My Provider!


Yahweh Yirah my provider! Yah will provide for all of my needs. I can look back on my life and see all the good things God has placed in my path. How He has kept me down until today. This gives me faith for the future. More than anything else, I believe it honors our Heavenly Father when we trust Him wholeheartedly. Yeshua, encourages us to have the same confidence he has in God. That's why Yeshua said not to store up treasure on earth where moth, rust and thieves can get at it.

I am oftentimes very turned off by "ministries" and individuals who constantly ask for money. If they are true ministers, (servants), why are they not trusting God to provide for their work? How can they tell others to have faith but resort to "self help" for themselves? Paul and the early apostles really only gathered collections to support the widows and poor within their communities. In fact Paul & Barnabas worked for a living even though it was fine for them to expect support from the flock whom they served. They did not take advantage of their positions as ministers. 1 Corinthians 9:6 "Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?"

The same faith that we recommend to others, we ourselves should have. I might have to pass on a few luxuries because I need a new guitar for my music ministry. So be it! Yah is my ultimate provider and all that I have belongs to Him. More often than not, I have been blessed literally from out of the blue. Our Heavenly Father knows what we need and wants us to come to Him for good things. All the same He does not want us to be overly occupied concerning them. We can make idols of our gifts, possessions, putting our trust in material things instead of God Himself.

PRAYER: Yahweh Yirah, I know that You delight in giving me good things each day. Still, let not my heart be fixed on them but on You and the teachings of Your Son, Yeshua. Help me to remember all of the blessings you have bestowed upon me but most of all the gift of everlasting life in the coming age with Yeshua. Amen.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Something to be Thankful For


Leading up to Thanksgiving, this is a sermonette I preached in my music ministry today. Thinking of Yeshua's (Jesus') words about the ten lepers he healed, it made me consider our attitude today. Luke 17:12 begins the account:

12. "And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

It was astonishing to him that only ONE out of the ten returned after being cleansed! This Samaritan wasn't even a member of the nation of Israel, hence Yeshua refers to him as a stranger. Other translations say "foreigner". The point is after seeing they were healed, only one acknowledged this miracle. Notice he came praising God with a loud voice. If you are going to whole-heartedly do so, that's the way! The Samaritan gave thanks to God and Yeshua.

How about us? We pray for something and then when we get it are we enthusiastically praising God in thanks? Think about the wonderful riches we already have in Christ. A real future for instance. Everlasting life on a paradise earth with Yeshua! Plenty to eat, no wars and friendly animals. That's just the start. We should praise Yah for these treasures every day and not worry about quickly fading material things. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says....
16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Our Heavenly Father is worthy of our praise. He has also done something about death for us by sending His Son. We should rejoice always and give thanks for what God has already done. We can have faith that He will do all that He has promised in His Word! Here are a few words in closing from Brother John..."Jesus came to save the lost, heal the sick, and He is our intercessor. Those who walk in His way have a light before them and bless others. Sometimes I get turned sideways in the road and He never fails me even though I am unworthy of His love, He gives it freely. " Yes, we have much to be thankful for.

PRAYER: Gracious Father of all Creation. How blessed I am to know You and Your Son Yeshua! Each day I have reason to thank and praise You for my life and times are in Your hands. Make me grateful for the life now and that which is to come. Blessed be your Name forever!

Friday, November 6, 2009

At All Times...


King David said, "I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1 (World English Bible)
Our Heavenly Father is worthy of our praise at ALL times. David knew this and despite being hotly pursued by Saul he continued to praise Yah. In fact the word Halleluyah means precisely that. Translated it says, "Praise Yah you people". I especially like to think of the women prophets of old who took up timbrels and harps, playing upon them while singing songs of praise and worship to Yah for all His mighty works. The first praise band!

We have so much to praise God for. Our life now and the real life which is to come in His Kingdom on earth. Daily provisions, loving fellowship with one another and an earth full of natural beauty. His protection and guidance. If we do nothing else at the end of the day, we should thank and praise Yah for His many blessings, especially those so richly supplied in Christ. Indeed the richest of all blessings is that Yeshua came to give us fullness of life now and that which is to come. That would be life in the coming age under his rule and authority as God's agent for salvation and grace.

So remember that our gracious Father is due honor and praise at all times. It doesn't matter how our day went or what is going on in our lives. These are temporal things, quickly passing away. Set your heart on the things above and give Yah the glory no matter what!

PRAYER: Merciful Heavenly Father, I know that I do not praise and honor you nearly enough. Give me a complete heart to do this even while being faced with difficult circumstances. You are deserving of all of my praise and worship so let me bless Your name at all times. In Yeshua's way, Amen.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

We Gather Together


I can remember singing this old Pilgrim hymn in school as a child. "We gather together to ask the Lord's Blessing" is how it begins. Just think of how many blessings we have in Christ!
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Now how wonderful is that? We know that we can always find something to be thankful for even in the darkest of times. This year, many families may not have a table to gather around, let alone something to put on it. Still, no matter how much or how little we may have materially, we can do all things through him who gives us strength. That would be our elder brother, Yeshua! He said that we can overcome even as he overcame. He was filled with God's holy spirit and now offers to fill us with that same set-apart spirit.

That same spirit allows us to join with him in giving ultimate praise and thanks to the Father! So that is God's will for us. When our hearts are filled with gratitude for the things that really matter, we will be living the Heavenly Father's will.

Thanksgiving Prayer: Gracious and Most Holy God, how many our Your blessings over us! We do not even deserve all the good things You do. Help us to remember that when things do not go our way. Give us renewed, thankful hearts to Your praise and glory! In Yeshua's teaching we pray, Amen.