Put Your Hope in God

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2

We should be so ready to to share the gospel with those who do not know it.  Still Paul here is not just speaking of those ignorant of the Good News.  He is reminding Timothy to keep those in the Body of Christ on alert as well.  How do we know that Paul is including those who have already been exposed to the Gospel Message?  We can look at the next verse which says:

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3

No longer means that they did listen to sound teaching at one point.  We can see this now with "prosperity preachers" or the "name it claim it crowd".  Paul said he knew how to be content no matter what his circumstances because he could do all things through Him who gave him strength.  Why wasn't he preaching that God wants you to prosper and have material wealth?  Well, probably because it wasn't part of the Good News!  Instead Paul warned:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17 

Uncertain is right!  Here today, gone today.  If that is the sum and total of our lives then when we loose our possessions we may feel we have nothing to live for.  Now tornadoes, floods and other disasters have taken more than people's property.  It has cost hundreds of Americans their lives too.  Yahshua said seek first the Kingdom of God all these other things will be added to you as well.  Since he also said we can not serve both God and mammon or money at the same time, we have to make a choice as to what or who will have first place in our affections.  The greatest command is to love Yahweh our Elohim with all our heart, mind and strength and our neighbors as ourselves.   

Whom God Raised from the Dead

Paul said, "For if the dead are not raised, then the Messiah has not been raised," 1 Corinthians 15:16 

Just reading this verse will give us a lot of understanding.  Some people believe in myths such as the immortality of the human soul when the Bible flat out says "None can keep alive his own soul" (Psalm 22:29).  These stories were introduced by Greek philosophers who believed in other things the Jews did not such as multiple gods and their gods coming down in the form men.  Paul saw all of this for what it was, pagan belief.
So if inside we believe that the Messiah Yahshua raised himself up because he was really "God in human flesh", the above verse from Paul makes no sense.  The Bible clearly says over and over again that GOD raised Jesus from the dead.

"but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses." Acts 3:15

The apostles were witnesses to the fact that GOD raised Jesus from the dead, not that Jesus raised himself!  If we believe that Jesus is God and as such was able to raise himself from the dead by his own power, where does that leave us?  We are not God!  Paul was facing the same sort of pagan philosophies in his time hence his letter to the Corinthians.  Gnostics and other 1st century groups were saying that Jesus was really only a spirit (God) and not a flesh & blood man or human.  To these heretics, he only appeared to be human but did not sweat, urinate or perform any other normal bodily functions.  Some cults to this day believe that Jesus was originally an angel despite the first chapter of Hebrew's clear testimony to the contrary.  Paul stated:

"By this ye know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ hath come in the flesh, is from God:"  1 John 4:2

In the Hebrew mind and religion, these is no such thing as pre-exisitance so when they speak of "come in the flesh" they are simply saying that Jesus was a flesh and blood man and not a spirit.  Remember that only God Almighty Yahweh is immortal meaning not subject to death.  If Yahshua was equally immortal, he could not have really died and been raised from the dead.  It follows that if this is the case, Paul says:


"And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless." 1 Corinthians 15:14

So it is very important to 1.) Test the spirits.  2.) Believe that Jesus was 100% human and truly died.  3.) Believe that God raised him from the dead as a reward for his faithfulness.  If we overlook these key points, our faith and preaching will likewise be in vain.

Then We Will Know

Corinthians 13:12 says, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

The Apostle Paul was describing how difficult it is right now to fully see or understand who Yahshua is as Messiah.  It is like looking through dark glass.  The features may be there but the clear perception of Christ is not yet in focus.

However Paul speaks of the time when we will see and know him face to face.  Yahshua already knows us!  We are precious to him because he declared:

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--" John 10:14 

He is well acquainted with those of us who will stray, end up in trouble and need rescuing.  All the same he was willing to lay down his life for the sheep which is the most selfless act the world has ever known. So as much as we would like to say that we know Jesus, truth is, he knows us even better.  We will have to be patient until the day he returns for his bride.  We will be caught up to meet him in the air along with all of the other faithful saints being resurrected from times past.

"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first," 1 Thessalonians 4:16  

Make no mistake.  Then we shall see and know him as he truly is.  What a joyful day!  

Like a Tree

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:3

Now that spring is coming around, I see the trees starting to bud and the earth coming back to life.  It makes me think of my Christian walk in that I can be encouraged by this short Psalm.  It mentions yielding it's fruit in season.  Well, the Bible says that we need to be ready in season and OUT of season to preach the Word of God.

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 2:4

Doing God's will might be likened to bearing fruit.  Now that can look like a lot of different things according to each person's ability but it always includes preaching the same Gospel that Yahshua taught.  If we do otherwise or preach another gospel or even another Christ, then that is like preaching no Gospel at all!

"another Jesus whom we have not preached… or a different gospel" (2 Corinthians 11:1–4).

So the Psalm mentions producing fruit in season but the leaves do not wither.  That makes me think of the life water within us, that would be likened to Yah's set apart spirit.  He gave this same spirit without measure to Yahshua who began pouring it out on fellow believers at Pentecost, (read the book of Acts).  This is what keeps us alive spiritually and empowered to continue doing what our Heavenly Father desires.  He wants no one to be lost so our bearing fruit and having leaves that do not wither means being very active in preaching the Gospel to all who will hear.

Pure as Fresh Snow

22“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
         Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

23Which I have reserved for the time of distress,
         For the day of war and battle?"  Job 38:22-23

Yahweh rightfully asked these questions of Job who for a moment lost perspective of his relationship to the Almighty.
It is easy to do in the midst of adversity and trial.  We may even begin to think that God owes us answers for why things are not going as we'd like.  Guess what?  Sometimes that's they way things turn out!  Our Heavenly Father is not a puppet master, controlling every move and decision we or our fellow humans make.  We were given free will and the choice to either obey or not.  More times than not, our own poor choices cause problems and other times the careless decisions of someone else is to blame.  This is why true religion is based on how we treat others in relationship to ourselves.

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."  James 1:27

I like to think of how clean and fresh, un-driven snow is!  It is so pure and without any spots or contamination.  This is how we should keep ourselves in this world.  All the same look what is listed first: "to visit orphans and widows in their distress."  A lot of  religious emphasis today is on looking good rather than actually doing good!  We can't afford to let that be the case especially if we call ourselves servants of the Most High God and His Son Yahshua.  We may not understand why things turn out the way they do but faith in a God who is able to save to uttermost will keep us grounded in an active faith:

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Job didn't have all the facts before trying to justify his righteousness before God which is why he was given some pertinent things to think about.  No we haven't seen nor do we know of all of God's wonders but we certainly can trust Him to work towards the achievement of His perfect will in our lives.

Follow Me

Luke 9:23, Yahshua says to those who would truly belong to him: "²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

What does that mean? Well, first it tells us that we have a personal responsibility to be faithful in our walk with the Savior. He will help us but notice he is saying that we have to take up OUR cross and follow him daily. Sometimes we are erroneously told that becoming a Christian means all of our problems will be solved. Yes, at one time we all enemies of Yah. "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." Colossians 1:21

Turning from our former evil deeds and thoughts is part of denying ourselves. Now while leaving things like smoking, drinking and illicit sexual practices can often make life better, it will not absolve all of one's problems. However, no matter what the issue, we can make our Heavenly Father rejoice each day by obeying His Son especially when under trial and temptation. The cross is just that, a torture stake that we gladly bear each day because we are on our way to a sublime destination. The place? God's Kingdom here on earth as co-heirs with Yahshua!

Christmas Blessings from Shekinah Path