The Outsiders

"John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name; and we forbade him, because he follows not with us." Luke 9:49

Reading on after this, you'll see that Yahshua was not pleased with his disciples' actions:

"But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." Luke 9:50

There are so many denominations, doctrines, sects and factions in the Body of Christ. Each of them is puffed up in believing that only they have the truth! They have all taken their eyes off the truth who is Yahshua himself! They want to supplant him as God's agent of salvation by saying you can only be saved by joining their "club". Not true! That is SO not what Jesus taught! Just as the man who the disciples hindered had faith in the authority of Yahshua's name & teachings, anyone today who believes in him has that same access. You will note that this rebuke came at a time when the disciples themselves could not cast out a demon who was tormenting an epileptic boy. They had just botched an exorcism but thought it proper to forbid someone else who was being successful!

"Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not." Mark 9:18

So it goes on today. We need to stop criticizing and demonizing each other. Yahshua knows who are his own and he says bless, do not curse. There is no reason to try thwart someone's ministry when it follows the Word of God because the Bible tells us if it is of men, it will fail. However if it is from Yah, you may find yourself fighting against God.

Who is Like Our God?

Who then is like our El, (God), Yahweh of Hosts? There are so many wonderful attributes of the One True El that we can praise and acknowledge. Did you know that the Muslim god, Allah is given many wonderful features but is never, ever called "Love"? Allah is the Moon god of Saudi Arabia and his worshipers believe in the Koran as their holy book. The Bible speaks of trading the image or glory of the One True God for the abasement that can only come from the worship of false gods.

"and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles". Romans 1:23

This includes the worship of created things such as the sun and moon:

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen." Romans 1:25

This means that the glory that we could have has been bartered for something much less luminous. This will effect not only our world view but how we treat others. Yahshua said that his followers would be characterized by love. Since Yahshua reflects his Heavenly Father so perfectly, we would recognize and respond to love immediately.

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8

So who is like our God? Well, first Yahshua because he gave his life so that we might live in a renewed relationship with the Father and then those who truly love God and others. If we submit to Yahshua, we will find ourselves being changed into the image of Yahweh just as he is.

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." Colossians 1:15

So we are given this wonderful promise if we are in Messiah, (Christ):

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Potter's Hand

"I am the potter, you are the clay." Many of us have read this but do we know the original context and scripture this thought is found in? Here is where it comes from:

“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." Jeremiah 18:6

Those of us who belong to Yah through His Son, Yahshua have the prospect of being molded to God's purposes. The house of Israel was in a covenant relationship which they freely entered into at Mt. Sinai. Those of us who have been purchased under the better covenant through Yahshua's blood have the same prospect although now God's Son is the agent through whom the molding takes place. This is why Paul stresses the importance of the building up and uniting of Christ's Body which is his assembly or church.

"from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." Ephesians 4:16

Like a body builder, Yahshua builds his body up! He is the head of the body and hence still part of it but he molds and sculpts each part, each individual so that we grow in faith and support each other in love. Yah is still the originator of this power to transform but He has given it to His Son to mold us to be co-heirs in God's Kingdom. Once set by the potter's hand we can say:

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7

Who Am I?

Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah." Yahshua asked this question of his disciples because he wanted to gauge their faith in God's promise to Moses which was this:

"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him." Deuteronomy 18:18

Didn't Yahshua fit that description? Look at his genealogy as cited in the Book of Luke. He is a Jew! "A prophet like you from your brothers", means he would be a Hebrew man like Moses. Regarding having the Father's words put into his mouth, Yahshua said:

"I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me." John 12:50

Yahshua is citing the source of eternal life which included his own because he was not immortal. He could not truly die for us if he wasn't but immortality has been given to him as a reward by the Father. Secondly he confirms who he is by saying that he speaks just as the Father has told him. So I believe Yahshua asks us the same question today. When Peter said, "The Messiah!" Mark 8:29, we should realize that Yahshua said Peter was correct! Attempting to add to or alter that answer based on later traditions and surmised doctrines will always be a mistake.
The Messiah=Son of God=King of Israel who will rule the earth from that Kingdom.

Better is One Day

Psalm 84:10-12 says:

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Now the position of doorkeeper is a lowly one. Not much prestige but it is in fact the role of a servant. Still the psalmist prefers this subservient role for ONE DAY over thousands elsewhere in lofty circumstance.

Sometimes we can get off track thinking that our Heavenly Father owes us material blessings. The first century followers of Yeshua found out very quickly that they were to pick up their torture stake and walk after him. Paul even wrote of those who had their material goods taken away for the cause of the Good News. Hebrews 10:34 Paul so states...

34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

That doesn't quite sound like the name it - claim it doctrine being preached today! The focus should not be on the temporal pleasures and "toys" of this world but in the vigorous proclaiming of God's plan of salvation and coming earthly rule by Yeshua. In this way we show that we prefer one day in God's courts within a servant's role over the glitz and passing affections of this world.

Summertime

Summertime is perhaps my favorite season! I enjoy the beach, especially swimming in the ocean. I've even had the opportunity to sail to Nantucket Island off the coast of Cape Cod and take a whale watching cruise off the coast of Maine. The New England states are oppressively hot in the summer though. When we are refreshed by the living water Yeshua promised, we won't mind the seasons when it comes to the ministry.

It reminds me of Psalm 1:3 when King David said:

"And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whosoever he shall do shall prosper."

I look for Yah to prosper me in my spiritual walk, in my music ministry and in my life. In fact He has told me, "I will prosper you." Now I may not be able to see how or even when God will do this for me but with eyes of faith, I am standing on His promises. I know that whatever I need will be supplied including the strength to keep faithful during the summer months and beyond.

Got Joy?

With all of the things we have to accomplish in our busy lives, one thing we should never forget to do is rejoice! I mean what is the point of having a relationship with such a loving, compassionate Heavenly Father if we can't stop and smell the roses of His blessings?

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Just knowing that Yah will rejoice over us with singing should encourage to rejoice over HIS salvation with the same degree of enthusiasm. I can't believe He gave us all of these diverse emotions simply to suppress or ignore. People have no problem expressing themselves at a soccer game or rock concert. Why is it we suddenly get so self conscious during worship?

Really, if someone has tasted and seen how good God really is, rejoicing isn't an option.... it's mandatory!

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so". We are the redeemed and our "say so" is our testimony of thankfulness to Almighty God through His Son, Yeshua. We can thank them both but all praise and honor eventually go to the Father because He set Yeshua in that high position. Now Yeshua Ha Messiah in turn sets us in our positions of service in his kingdom to come. This is truly something to jump up and shout about so be filled with joy and get your praise going!