Truth Brings Peace

When I say that truth brings peace, I do not mean the dove with the olive branch. Truth is a sword, and it brings destruction to the enemy of our souls. Paul spoke of this in his letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 6:And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Interestingly most people believe that the word “word” here means the bible. That is incorrect. The word here in the Greek for “word” is the word “rhema” and it means “utterance” or something we speak with our mouth. We fight with what we say.

We can either slay the enemy or accidentally cut ourselves with our our own mouth.

Choose.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King. We praise the name Yahuah! Let all see Your kingdom in the earth. send us Your overwhelming provision today. Forgive us our sins. Heal us. We bless the name Yahuah (Lord). Deliver us from those that would steal from us what You have provided. In Yeshua’s (Jesus) name we ask these things. Amen.

Our Fight Made Easier

Today I had completely written out my thoughts for the day on our battle against our enemy. In an attempt to copy them to place elsewhere, I deleted them by accident. It must be that our Father Yahuah (Lord) was trying to teach something to just me about the battle that rages. For now, I will summarize those thoughts. If we try to fight the battles of life on our own, it will seem overwhelming. If we fight these battles by crying out to God, it becomes easier and He will rise to help us.

Psalms 144:1 Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

Here we see that we can prevail against those that would come against us. We can be the winner in this regard. We can overcome the enemy. When those voices come to tell us how we will fail, we can listen, or fight back. We fight back with the words of our mouth. We fight back and tell our enemy that we refuse to believe the lies. We choose to believe the truth that our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) has already defeated him at the cross. We are the winners already!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King. We need Your kingdom here. Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. Heal us and deliver us. Come quickly. We ask these things in the name of Yeshua (Jesus). Amen.

Face To The Wind

It is easier to travel down the open road with the wind at our backs. Sometimes as children of the King we have the opportunity to take a stand. That can mean we have to face into the winds of life. That takes the willingness to resist going with the flow, the willingness to stand up for what we say we believe. There was one person in scripture that spoke to this directly.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve Yahuah (Lord), choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land he dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahuah (Lord).

Often I have heard the latter part of this verse. But it is connected to the first part. It is important that we stop and think about the fact that Joshua was speaking to the religious learns and the religious people of the day. That is worth thinking about, right?

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King. Your kingdom is our true home. Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us for our sin. Heal us. Deliver us. We need You now. We ask all these things in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Overcoming Self

Of the many challenges that face believers today, there is one that is perhaps the greatest to overcome. Likely it has always been so. It is the struggle to overcome one’s self. In a world seemingly gone mad with terrorists and those that hate everyone for no reason, with money with little value, and with the general decay of moral values, it may seem odd for me to select this point. But it is this “self” in each individual that collectively becomes the issues we see on a global scale. If each of us can commit to changing that within us, or at least trying, then there is hope for us all. This struggle is well documented in scripture.

Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

But this started almost at the beginning. If we look at Adam and Eve we will see that even at the beginning we looked to ourselves, our surroundings, basically everything but God to get inputs on what to do or not do. The pattern of the church doing its own thing can be seen in Eve, the wife of Adam. The pattern of men being complacent (which is not loving) towards there wives is seen in Adam. This war has raged since before the fall. And the fall itself is evidence that man alone cannot win this battle. But there is hope.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

We are mere mortals when we are alone. But with God, we can become better. If we are willing to commit, husbands to wives, wives to husbands, children to parents, and neighbor to neighbor, there is hope. Alone we cannot change. With our Father Yahuah (Lord) we can change through the power given to us through our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Let us today add to the “all things” a genuine commitment to cry out to the Father to overcome self.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King. We need You and Your kingdom here. We praise and thank the name Yahuah. Send us today Your overwhelming blessing, manifested in its fullness today, that today we might overflow into the lives of others. Forgive us our sins, and heal our hearts from the sadness they cause. Deliver us from the temptation to be caught up in self and in evil. Deliver us with a mighty hand from those that would take from us what You alone have provided. Release to us the wealth of the wicked that is stored up for the righteous today, that all men might know that Yo ualone are King. We ask these things in (Yeshua’s) Jesus’) name. Amen.

Being Watchful

Our Father has provided a way to Him and in His mercy given that to sinners like us all. There was a time when we knew not what God had for us, but in His mercy He revealed that to us. If we therefore will walk in the direction He has provided, we obtain His mercy. It is true we will not be perfect, but we must humble our hearts and ask forgiveness through the work of the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). This get us to to path from which we should not swerve, even when some might try to persuade us to swerve.

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

Yashuah’s (Lord’s) commands and His ways have always been meant for good. The end of them is charity from a pure heart. We must strive to be this person, everyone of us. This is perhaps where the greatest battle lies and where we must not be faint of heart and grow weary. We must press toward the mark.

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

That is how we strike out at the enemy. That is who our God is and He fights for us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are the King. We need Your kingdom here. We praise the name of Yahuah. You alone are worthy of praise. Send us Your overwhelming abundant provision. Heal us and deliver us from all evil that would steal from us what You have provided. Crush it to the earth. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name we ask all these things. Amen.

While We Are Here

Some friends of mine have experienced two deaths in their extended families in the last few days. It has been a challenging time for them, to say the least. For me, as I thought about their sorrow in losing friends and family, it caused me to reflect on life and its purpose. Early in life I was more of a person that was living for unrealistic dreams. They were actually not real dreams because I never did anything to actually pursue them. They were more just “wishes.” As I look at life it seems to me we have two missions while we are here. They are to live a good and full life, and to do the Father’s will.

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Yeshua (Jesus) did what He saw the Father doing. And He came for a purpose.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This is a reflection of what Moses said when He pronounced a blessing on the children of Israel.

Dueteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.
10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.
11 And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

This is the same message our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) was saying. Leave off the traditions of men and follow Him, just as He followed after what the Father was doing. Yahuah (Lord) has never changed. His ways and His commandments remain. What has changed is that we have a sacrifice in the death of our Messiah that covers for us when we stray from His ways and commandments. That is not a license to transgress the law (sin). It is just a way of escape when we do.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy of our praise. We praise the name Yahuah. Send us today Your overwhelming provision and drive the evil from our dwellings. Forgive us our sin. Help us, Father. Yahuah, we are but men. You alone are our hope for healing and for deliverance. Deliver us with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. Make all men to know through Your deliverance of us that You alone Yahuah have done this. In Yeshua’s (Jesus) name. Amen.

The Yoke That Wins

Yeshua (Jesus) said that would should take His yoke upon us. This had a particular meaning.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What was His yoke? He was a teacher, a rabbi, and His yoke was His teachings. What did He teach. He revealed the Father to people. He taught the Torah, not the traditions of me. He lived out the Torah before them. When we do this, we actually are in spiritual warfare, and our Father Yahuah (Lord) is fighting on our behalf. For this we can praise Him!

Psalms 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are the only King. We exalt the name Yahuah (Lord). Send us today Your abundant provision. Forgive us our sins, for they are many when we transgress Your commands. Heal up our hearts. Deliver us from those that would steal what You have given. Come with a strong hand and outstretched arm. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Weary Warriors

We fight the good fight everyday as believers. Like all warriors, we can grow tired. But our fight can be less challenging if we cling to our Messiah. He told us His burden was light.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

His yoke is what He taught. He taught the scriptures as they were simply written. IF we take on His yoke the burden is lighter. This includes our fight to do good. With our Messiah Yeshua’s (Jesus’) help.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. We give praise to You our King. We praise the name Yahuah (Lord). Send us Your provision. We long to be yoked with You. Forgive us when we throw off Your yoke. Heal our hearts, and cleanse us. Deliver us from evil that would steal from us what You have given. We ask this in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Battle Weary

“Fighting the good fight” as the saying goes can cause us to grow tired. But in this tired state it is important not to give up or surrender to our enemy. Paul wrote about this to the Galatians.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

In the midst of these times of being weary, it can help to think of those that went before us. There was the deliverance from Egypt. The building of an ark. And most notably our Messiah who suffered all unto death.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This one thing we know, our enemy is already defeated, no matter how challenging the battle may seem. Our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) defeated Him on the cross. SO, no matter how tired we get, or how impossible the situation may seem, we can know and trust that our Father, Yahuah (Lord), is watching over us and we will see victory if we will stand fast.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are King. We thank and praise the name of Yahuah (Lord). Send us Your overwhelming provision now. Heal us, guide us, forgive us, and deliver us. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Fear As A Weapon

Many that have experienced conflict know that to make one’s enemy afraid of them is to begin to win the battle. this type of fear is a dread, also translated terror in scripture.

Psalms 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Notice here that there is an escape from that type of fear. We will come back to that in a minute. There is another type of fear that is good for believers, and that is the fear of Yahuah (Lord).

Psalms 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Here we see that we begin to have wisdom when we fear Yahuah (Lord), and that we get understanding when we do His commandments. This fear is like a stunning fear, like being awestruck to the point of reverence – but it is not terror. We can also know that it is not terror from the previously referenced verse because it is God that delivers us from terror.

Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

These two fears cannot be the same. God is not out to deliver us from himself. He delivers us from evil. But if we stop for a moment to remember the great wonders He has performed, the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, pillars of fire and pillars of smoke. If something like that were to appear in front of us today, we would likely be stunned. We would give appropriate reverence to such a power.

With the fear of Yahuah (Lord), we need not fear anything else. He is our strong tower and our Defender.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy to King, for You alone have created all things. We praise and thank the name of Yahuah (Lord). Send us today Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our sins. We cry out to You for Your mercy and truth. Come heal us. Deliver us from those that would take from us what You alone have provided. Come to our aid with a strong hand and outstretched arm. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.