Close to GOD - May 9, 2014

Scripture: Psalm 15-172 

1 Adonai, who can rest in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?
2 Those who live a blameless life, who behave uprightly,
who speak truth from their hearts
3 and keep their tongues from slander; who never do harm to others

or seek to discredit neighbors;
4 who look with scorn on the vile, but honor those who fear Adonai;
who hold to an oath, no matter the cost;
5 who refuse usury when they lend money and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent.
Those who do these things never will be moved.

Message:

The Secret to being close to GOD.

Observation/Promise:
Humans are not perfect. In fact we fail more than we succeed, we are evil more than we are good. But who can rest in the mountain of GOD or who can enter His most Holy presence? Who is worthy? Is anyone ever worthy? There is no one, no one is worthy but those who trust in His Son Yeshua who is worthy can enter the rest of GOD. For when we trust in His Son Yeshua, we begin to be transformed by His grace. We do not act as we used to, His grace and amazing power changes us into the likeness of Him.

Command/Application:

We are not perfect, but with everyday we live, we have to strive to be holy not by being perfect because we can never achieve holiness or perfection on our own. But by being dependent on GOD's grace and humble to accept and receive His mercy and forgiveness when we diligently ask for it each day. For every breath we breathe and the thoughts that my come in and out of our minds may not be pleasing to the LORD. How easy is it for us to judge others when the weakness that they have is our strength but when we remember to be merciful to others because GOD has shown us the same mercy, we ask forgiveness because we understand just how frail and sinful we are. It is not by being righteous that brings us close to GOD, it is by humility and trust in His Son Yeshua. The One who saves.

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. 

Love is Living by His Word - March 9, 2014

Scripture: 2 John


6 Moreover, love is this: that we should live according to his commands. This is the command, as you people have heard from the beginning; live by it!
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not acknowledge Yeshua the Messiah’s coming as a human being. Such a person is a deceiver and an anti-Messiah. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you won’t lose what you have worked for, but will receive your full reward.9 Everyone who goes ahead and does not remain true to what the Messiah has taught does not have God. Those who remain true to his teaching have both the Father and the Son. 10 If someone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, don’t welcome him into your home. Don’t even say, “Shalom!” to him; 11 for the person who says, “Shalom!” to him shares in his evil deeds.

Message:

Love is living by His commands. For GOD is love and if we love GOD we should obey Him and everything He says should be our most prioritized goal.

Observation/Promise:

We have to work hard for our faith. We cannot be relaxed about it because the devil is always prowling waiting for us to be weak and to find open doors in our lives that he may gain a foothold and try to defeat us. As long as we are on earth, we are called to be faithful , we are in battle, we need to focus and be vigilant with our prayers and our faith in GOD. Let there be nothing in this world that competes with your heart except GOD. Because everything starts from the heart. Let GOD be your heart.

Command/Application:
Love by living by His commands.
Stand strong in the truth, do not let deceivers mislead you from the truth.
Watch yourselves, hold on to the truth. Be on guard. Be faithful.
Keep on working hard for the faith until you receive the full reward which awaits you in Heaven.
Do not go ahead of GOD, wait for His command, His instructions in your life.
Do not even say shalom to those who have rejected Yeshua for friendship with such people will bring you down in your faith. 

Yeshua - the Only One

17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

- Galatians 2:17-21

The Laws of GOD are meant to be obeyed, and obeying GOD's laws is the only way for us to be made right with GOD or to be at peace with GOD. How can any human being completely follow GOD's laws? Are we truly capable and able to do what GOD has instructed us to do and not do what HE told us to not do? How many of us has never coveted in their entire life? To Covet is to want something that is not meant to be ours. Covet can mean to be jealous about your friends about something for which they have that you don't have. Even if we have not sinned against GOD in which we never killed anyone because GOD said "Thou shall not murder", when we have coveted, it means we have sinned against GOD in all of His laws, thus we are guilty even in the sin of murder. Have you never been angry with someone in all your life? If you have, then you are already guilty of murder for Jesus has said this is where murder begins, it begins with your thoughts.

But Yeshua, Christ the Messiah is the only perfect being that became GOD and has never sinned against GOD. Yeshua, Jesus is above the law and so when we have faith in Yeshua, who has died for our sins and never sinned against GOD, we receive salvation from every sin and we gain perfection through the righteousness of Yeshua. When we believe in Yeshua, we are pardoned from every other sin we may have committed, because Yeshua is above the law and the very word of GOD. Trying to keep the laws of GOD out of our own efforts is useless because when we break one commandment, it is equal to breaking all commandments. That is the very reason why GOD our faithful Father sent His son, so that through faith in His Son, we have died to sin and raised again to life in Yeshua. Through His Spirit, we are able to live not breaking any law because we could never attain Heaven on our own will and strength. For if we were able to keep GOD's laws on our own, then there won't be any need for a Savior. Therefore, it is impossible to please GOD without faith in Christ -for Yeshua is the only One that pleased GOD.

Attain Love

8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil[d]? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

- 2 Corinthians 6

Our service to GOD should not depend on the approval of others. For what is the motivation of our hearts when we serve GOD is it to please others? Is it to receive praise and honor from man? We ought to check our hearts every time we decide to do something for GOD and even with everything that we do, is weighted by our hearts. In the end when GOD judges our works, he doesn't judge the results of how we achieved such things but HE judges by the motivations of our hearts. So that when we are tested through the fire and go through difficult times and hardships, we do not give up doing what GOD has called us to do because our reason is to please GOD and bring glory to HIM alone.

We will be tested by our works and the testings will go through shakings and fire. Some of us will have to undergo such trials that will risk our lives and will even cost us of it. We will have to give up the love for money and security of wealth. Following Yeshua and obeying Him will sometimes have to require us to own nothing because HE is our everything. We don't connect with people just because we feel like it, GOD will direct the specific steps of our life and the relationships we ought to keep will be initiated and chosen by GOD. Are you willing to give up such free will? Only if you have attained the kind of love that GOD has for you will you be able to serve HIM with all your life and to attain that love is to receive that deep love from HIM.

For Him Alone

51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,[j] this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
- 1 Corinthians 15


This wonderful secret is the hope that so many of Yeshua's followers await in every year of their lives walking in faith. That great day when death will not be able to exalt it's power over any of those who belong to GOD but in one second, the living will suddenly be taken up to the Heavens and be transformed after the dead has been raised first. This is the most awaited day of every believer and lover of the Messiah. If we know that this day is coming, what should we do now in order to align ourselves with this great day? How should we live? 

As the scriptures have said, let us be strong and immovable. Let us stand firm in our faith. For many things will happen to our lives in order to test us. Many will try to deceive us and bring us out of our faith, but blessed are those who stand firm till the very end because the LORD has promised to reward the faithful. We should not give up believing, should not waver in the promise of GOD when He has promised us great things too wonderful for our minds to grasps. We should continue to fight for what He has called us to do, we should not let anything or anyone fool us into thinking that GOD has changed His plans or His ways because GOD remains the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Do not let anyone dictate how you ought to live for GOD, not religion, not any form of sect or organization. Hear from the LORD yourself and press on towards what HE is telling you. Work for Him and Him alone, not for the honor or pleasure of men but for His pleasure and glory alone.

HIS Gentleness

27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
- Matthew 11:27-30


It is difficult to understand the 3 persons of GOD when we the Old Testament stated that GOD is one and that there is only one GOD. How can GOD be 3 persons? The Bible never mentions trinity, but it does mention in the New Testament to baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). In this verse, we see the oneness of GOD. He is not 3 people, He is One GOD. For no one knows the Father and the Son except themselves and to those to whom the Son choses to reveal Himself. The Son choses to reveal Himself to people, and these chosen people could understand right away that GOD is One even though He functions as three.

Yeshua speaks directly to humanity to come to Him. Why Yeshua? Why not the Father? Why not the Holy Spirit? Yeshua because He is the physical form of GOD who experienced what it's like to be human and bore the sins of many. When Yeshua invites us to come to Him, it is because He knows everything we are going through and understands the heavey burdens that we carry each day. He went through the hardest ordeal any human could ever undergo and so therefore when we come to Yeshua we know that whatever burdens we lay down at His feet is easy for Him because He has gone through far more any human could have gone... Are you tired? Take your rest in Yeshua and let HIS gentleness be your guiding light.

Yeshua the Righteousness of GOD

1 I come to you for protection, O Lord my God.
Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!
2 If you don’t, they will maul me like a lion,
tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
6 Arise, O Lord, in anger! Stand up against the fury of my enemies!
Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
7 Gather the nations before you. Rule over them from on high.
8 The Lord judges the nations.
Declare me righteous, O Lord, for I am innocent, O Most High!
9 End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous.
For you look deep within the mind and heart,O righteous God.
10 God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.

- Psalm 7: 1-2,6-10

In this world the righteous and those who belong to the LORD most high are attacked by the enemies of GOD. David the King, often spoke about his enemies, be it the enemies of their nation, or enemies within his palace wall but in this specific verse David talks about a great and common enemy. He is talking about an invisible enemy which are the powers of darkness that use human enemies to be scare and stress David. The common enemy are the kind of enemies that will maul you like a lion and tear you to pieces without any compassion or mercy, this invisible enemy is the devil, the very enemies of GOD. 

We wait for GOD to someday be the greatest and only King this world will ever know and bow to. Someday the LORD will judge every living thing, punishing the wicked and defending the righteous. Righteousness is not just being right all the time but it is standing under GOD's grace because of our faith in Yeshua the Messiah whom HE sent to die for our sins. For we cannot attain righteousness on our own, therefore if we are standing under His grace we can never be the judge of others if they are indeed righteous or not. For the LORD alone knows those who are HIS, those whose hearts are true and right with Him. We have to focus our energies on pleasing GOD and not have to worry or give thought about what others think of us or even attempt to judge others because someday HE will judge us all, will He find you under His grace of faith, declaring you righteous?

The Essense of Trust

3 For what does the Tanakh say? “Avraham put his trust in God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness.” 4 Now the account of someone who is working is credited not on the ground of grace but on the ground of what is owed him. 5 However, in the case of one who is not working but rather is trusting in him who makes ungodly people righteous, his trust is credited to him as righteousness.
- Romans 4:3-5

Abraham, the father of many nations, a great man of GOD, what made him to become the father of many nations? Why was he special? What set him apart from all the men of his generation living on earth at that time? Simply this, because of his child like faith and trust in GOD. It wasn't because he had talent, he had a bright future, in fact he was very old and too old in fact to bear a son. But this was his dream, and the vision that GOD gave him. It was impossible to happen, a son at his age? He was 90 when the LORD promised to give him a son and 10 years after, the promise came to be. Abraham became righteous in GOD's eyes not because he was a good man. He wasn't a man good enough to deserve such blessings. He had another son with another woman. It wasn't right. But it was because Abraham believed GOD, he had faith, no matter how impossible the vision. 

Abraham's faith started with a big step, it started with GOD calling him to come out from his comfort zone, from his family, from everything he had ever known and journey with GOD not even knowing where they were going. Do we have this kind of faith? Or do we just limit GOD to what we can afford to give, and do things that will not hurt us. It actually takes a lot of sacrifice for us to follow GOD, it will cost us our very lives, our dreams, our security, our hopes, but if we trust GOD, then we can let go of anything that we hold in our hearts that is making us secure and let GOD be our security, be our refuge, be our hope, be our life! When we don't trust GOD we strive hard to do whatever we think is right, we chase our dreams, we work hard, and it's not a bad thing to do so, but not every dream is from GOD. Not every hard work can earn us wealth or the approval of GOD. It is by our faith in Yeshua, the son of GOD, in trusting Him with our lives that allows us not only to enter GODs Kingdom in Heaven but to enjoy a life so abundant here on earth!

Blessed

How blessed are those...
Their delight is in Adonai’s Torah;
on his Torah they meditate
day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams —
they bear their fruit in season,
their leaves never wither,
everything they do succeeds.
- Psalm 1:1-3

People are happy achieving success in life and they are called blessed. The rich are blessed, the famous are glorious with all their fame. But are they truly blessed? Blessed is not just having one aspect, having wealth but not health, having fame but not peace nor satisfaction. The blessing of GOD comes not in one form but in a complete form. It also doesn't mean that if you are not overflowing in riches that you are not blessed. The Word of GOD says that GOD's blessings are on those who delights in HIS word - the Torah as the Jews call it. Those that keep HIS word in their hearts, making it the guiding path of their life, abiding to it, making it their source of direction for whatever decision they have to make are the one's that are blessed by GOD because GOD will never fail to guide and direct those that are seeking HIS ways. There are many things a man can do, everything is permissable but not everything is beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23), and there are many that is beneficial but only one that is the best from GOD. In order for us to know the best path which is HIS specific will for us, we have to be looking to HIS word day after day.

David goes on to say in Psalm 1 that the truly blessed are like trees that are planted by the streams, those whose supply of water never run dry. Yeshua says in John 4:14 but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty again! On the contrary, the water I give him will become a spring of water inside him, welling up into eternal life!” Yeshua is the stream and we are like trees planted beside Yeshua are always bearing fruit in their season. They never miss bearing fruit because they are connected to the stream. No wonder why their leaves never wither and everything they do always succeed. If you truly believe in GOD's word, then you would will understand that the way to success is to delight in GOD, and GOD Himself is HIS word. It is not about a daily routine of reading the Bible, it is about your heart loving and delighting in Yeshua who is the word of GOD (John 1:1,14) and doing what HE says.