Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Are You Ashamed?

"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26

This may sound harsh but one of the ways that we show that we love the Son of Man, Yahshua, is to obey his words and tell others about him. If we are not willing to do that because of being afraid of what others may say or do, can we say we really love him? Love is based on action. Many saints in the First Century chose to be thrown to wild animals or burned rather than deny their Lord Messiah. Today in many Islamic, Hindu and atheist countries, Christians who profess Yahshua are often persecuted, have their goods taken away and are imprisioned. Do we have the same "stuff" and determination to preach the Messiah's message no matter what the cost?

For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Hebrews 10:34

The silver lining in this cloud is the hope of a better possession and an abiding one. All the glory, riches and social advantages we enjoy now are soon to pass away. They are not enduring and will do us no good when we come face to face with the Master. So we may have to ditch being "politically correct" in favor of telling the Gospel of Yahshua which contends that there is only ONE way to the Father.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

If we are ashamed to proclaim this simple truth, then we have denied who Jesus truly is and his agency as Savior. There are times that we have to part company with the crowd and speak what is right, no matter how unpopular the message may be.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

The Cost


"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." Acts 16:25

When you think about it, Paul & Silas' faith is what helped land them in jail in the first place! Still we don't blame our Heavenly Father when we suffer for standing up for the Good News. After all every Christian is called to preach and Yahshua said we would be persecuted for it:

Remember the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me." John 15:21

So it is a lack of knowledge of the One True God that fuels this opposition as well as Ha Satan desire that people will continue to be ignorant of the Father's plan for salvation. Even so, Yah takes no pleasure in the death of wicked people even when they oppress His servants:

"Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his way and live? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore, turn yourselves, and live ye."--Ezek. 18:23, 32.

Really how can people turn if they have not heard and how can they hear if no one goes out and speaks? I mean, somebody's got to do it!

"
How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without one who preaches?" Romans 10:14


So sometimes that's just the way it rolls. God is not going to shield us from everything unpleasant. It's the price of doing business for God's Kingdom but whatever the outcome, we should be rejoice in being counted worthy to suffer for our faith while asking for even more courage to KEEP on preaching. After all, lives are at stake.

"And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word." Acts 4:29

PHOTO: Christian recording artist Natalie Grant performing at RevGen 2010.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Treasure in Clay Pots


It is so wonderful to know that even when we are unfaithful, Yah is not. Just because we are having a bad day or a lapse of faith does not change His promises to us.

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:13

This is in part because He knows we are a work in progress. More importantly, since He is our Creator, He is intimately aware of how we are made.

"for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:14

This is why Yahshua Ha Messiah is perfect for the office of King, High Priest and Mediator. He suffered through all the temptations that are common to fallen flesh:

Hebrews 4:15—'For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

Yahshua pleads for us at his Father's throne, knowing just how difficult it is to remain faithful through every type of temptation. Doubt, fear, forebodings from without and within all can undermine our faith...for a season. All the same, we can overcome because HE overcame. The point is to trust Yahshua to prepare us for God's Kingdom. If we do that, Jesus will give us his righteous spirit received from the Father which will begin to transform us into vessels holding great treasure.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves." 2 Corinthians 4:7

Remember that an earthen vessel starts out as dust or clay. If we yield to the Potter's hand, we can find ourselves transformed into reflections of his glory!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Intercession


"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven." James 5:15

I think about how gracious our Heavenly Father is. How rich in mercy and love to allow us to interact and be part of another believer's restoration, forgiveness and healing. There are points here to show that these would only be accessible to true worshipers. Note that it is a prayer offered in faith that will make a sick person well. We know that this isn't an absolute promise because Paul speaks of a fellow believer by the name of Epaphroditus being extremely sick almost to the point of dying:

"For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow." Philippians 2:27

He wasn't instantly or miraculously healed but his recovery took time. Still Paul gave thanks as we should also. I'm sure Epaphroditus was surrounded and known by other Christians who were praying for him. We shouldn't lose heart just because we are not suddenly well or cured of a disease or illness for even in 1st Century times, that didn't always happen.

Notice too the opening verse from James says, "IF he has sinned it will be forgiven him". Some may think that sinning will cause God to curse you with sickness. This verse shows that this is not true although illness may be the natural outcome of reckless living and unclean sexual practices.

We can also see the interlacing of each other's lives within the Body of Christ. Paul thanked Yah for being merciful to his friend AND himself. Due to his deep brotherly love, the possible loss of Epaphroditus would have been sorrow upon sorrow for Paul. Do we have that kind of "agape" or selfless love for others in the assembly of Yahweh? If we do, we will find it easy to pray and intercede for those whom we haven't even met who are suffering from sickness, mistreatment and persecution. This is the compassionate love the Father has for us through Yahshua Messiah. This is the same kind of love we must exhibit to those within the Body of Christ.