Passover - April 14, 2014

Scripture: Matthew 3-4

7 But when Yochanan saw many of the P’rushimand Tz’dukim coming to be immersed by him, he said to them, “You snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming punishment? 8 If you have really turned from your sins to God, produce fruit that will prove it! 9 And don’t suppose you can comfort yourselves by saying, ‘Avraham is our father’! For I tell you that God can raise up for Avraham sons from these stones! 10 Already the axe is at the root of the trees, ready to strike; every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown in the fire! - Matthew 3 CJB

Message:

A good tree is known by it's fruits.

Observation/Promise:

During Passover, GOD comes upon the earth to judge the living both the righteous and wicked. The wicked are confident in themselves, but the righteous are humble before HIM.

We can all be judged by the fruits we produce. As followers of GOD we ought to be producing fruits of discipleship, love, of kindness, generosity and all that the Spirit of GOD manifests within a human being. When our words proclaim that Jesus is Lord, but our actions do otherwise from the things He has commanded us to do, then we bear fruits of hypocrisy and pretension. 

Application/Command:

We ought to judge ourselves and seek GOD's heart to correct whatever we may be doing that is not pleasing to Him. Just as David prayed in Psalms 139
23 Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way.

We ought to be humble before the Lord not putting any confidence in our efforts, good works or charity and alms to the poor for this will not save us from the debt and penalty of our sins. Only the Son of GOD can Save us from the debt of our sins, for He has paid the wages for us, and was chastised for the penalty of our wrongdoings, if we receive GOD's gift of salvation which is Yeshua to be our Lord and Savior. Let Passover be remembered that GOD has given His Son Yeshua unto us so that we are protected from the judgement and GOD's judegment passes over us. 

Upright Walk - April 4, 2014

Scripture: Isaiah 1-6
15 15 When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.
16 Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways.
17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.
19 19 If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat.
20 But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Message:
The LORD He is just, He will only listen to those who walk by His truth and Word.

Observation/Promise:
We have all fallen short of the grace of GOD and now matter how good we try to be, how religious we try to act, how generous we are to give to charity, our sins will not be forgotten unless we ask GOD to cleanse us of our sins by the blood of His Son Yeshua who died to pay for our sins so that when we put our trust and hope in HIM, we become righteous because we have made Him our GOD, our Savior, our Defender. The only way to wash ourselves of our wrongdoings is through the blood of Christ, the Messiah. We cannot do it any other way, we cannot pay for our own debt, only Jesus can pay for our debt because GOD has given Him the authority and power to do so. So no matter how good you feel or righteous you try to be, none of your good works are enough unless you put your trust in the Messiah first.

Application/Command:
Ask for the forgiveness of your sins before doing any good thing, lest it be not accounted for and worthless in GOD's sight. Trust in Yeshua to be your Savior, cleansing you of every sin and He will become your righteousness, because of Jesus we are made righteous. After all this, then we can be able to truly start doing good and our works are recorded in Heaven not as penance but as works of faith. Our good works will not be wasted when we have Yeshua, it will be fruitful and valuable in the eyes of GOD. Our good works will not be in worthless vain, but it will be one that seeks justice, helping the oppressed be free, defending the helpless and needy. We will harvest a great fruits in GOD's eyes when our works are done according to His will not when we try to please other people or try to feel GOD. Pleasing GOD is the only way to earn rewards in Heaven. This is how we live the upright walk.