Tag Archives: blood covenant
One This I Do
One Thing I Do
(#097 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it [the mind of Messiah]. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which the Mighty One has called me heavenward in Yahshua the Messiah. (Philippians 3:13-14)
Yes, Paul understood, and his journey to Damascus was his place of revelation (Acts 9). It is the same “light from heaven” that is available to knock you off your “donkey” (stubborn religious pride). All of your energies should strain towards this one goal. This one goal, if achieved, fulfills all other goals. This is Matthew 6:33 (Seek first…) obeyed in all of its fullness. This is the race towards perfection: perfect oneness, perfect speech, perfect unity, and perfect peace. It is a violent “rooting out” of all that does not conform to this one goal. The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12) The process is a precision analysis and dissection of all that is not of Yahweh, which then moves us toward maturity (the unoffendable mind).
Yes, Paul understood this revealed gift, this unchanging pattern. This is the superior pattern that girds up all other patterns. It is the quest for Messiah-likeness, or in other words, the mind of Messiah (1 Corinthians 2:16). For righteousness is nothing other than right thinking. It is a call that requires all your attention; your face set like a flint (Isaiah 50:7-9). This should be your one overarching purpose for living after you have come to “know Him” (Philippians 3:8, 10).
The goal is to gain understanding, but not just any understanding. The goal is understanding with wisdom; wisdom to navigate on the way to the finish line; wisdom to know that if anything gets in the way, it is not your problem. You just simply hand it over to Yahweh! Understanding and wisdom together, intimate knowledge which comes with a guide. Oh, that it would manifest in even greater measure. Keep your mind stayed on Yahshua, set like a flint. You are almost there; the finish line is in sight. Victory!
Confidence in Yahweh
Cut to the Chase – Like a Flint
(#095 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)www.sufferwell.org
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not turn aside to the right or the left; keep your feet from evil. (Proverbs 4:25-27)
A flint is a hard gray mineral quartz that produces a spark when struck by steel. When you set your face like a flint, you should expect “sparks to fly!” Sparks produce heat; without the heat, the flint is not displaying the depth of its full potential.
There is no turning back Father. Although both the road and the gate that lead to Your presence are narrow, and move in one direction, my face (conscious countenance) prays this: “I will not turn back! I will not stop seeking the One way, nor slow down on the road to it! Victory is my finish line and I will run this race for the ultimate prize. I will be conformed to Your likeness! It is right and it is true; my face is set like a flint, and the sparks and the heat are signs that I am close. Set me ablaze Abba!”
For the Master Yahweh will help me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50:7)
Bearing His Yoke
Bearing His Yoke
(#094 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for Yahweh has laid it on him… Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. (Lamentations 3:27-28, 32)
I wake up alone, no wife by my side. I hear the voice of my children, but only in my mind. Yes my Father, this yoke is different. This one is not easy. This yoke brings me so far from light, locked in with no direct sunlight, no direct SON light. I must work my way back. “Let him be filled with disgrace,” (v. 30) You said. Certainly, all Your words come to pass. All of what I thought represented freedom is gone. “Lock down,” my captors cry out. The doors shut. I am confined. My dwelling is no larger than a pantry closet. I am alone, in silence.
Your word says, “Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked shall be brought down by calamity.” (Proverbs 24:16) Slowly, I rise. The enemy tries ever-harder to keep me down. Does he know You will not let me fall Father? Have You revealed to him that I shall not be put to shame, or condemned? Does he know that his minions will soon be at peace with me? Does he know I am one of Yours?
All of this pain, betrayal, and loss; “It is good,” You say. [I] know that in all things [You] work for the good of those who love [You], who have been called according to [Your] purpose. (Romans 8:28) Therefore Father, I will trust in You, for where else can I go? May I rise Father? Have I learned my lesson; this life lesson? Shall I bear more? I will do as You say. “Rejoice in Me alone, in Me alone.” These are Your words.
Being Set-apart
So few Words Needed
(#086 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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One Mind! And if One mind, then of course, One speech!
And how can an individual achieve this? “Yes Father,” and “May I Father?” no less, and no more.
We have talked about the ego and the “self” desire. Carnality, materiality, and sensuality, are all wrapped up in the mind of man. It will never make sense to that fallen mind that the patterns could be so “easy” and the yoke of Yahweh so “light,” but they are! It will take some of you forty years; others of you will go more quickly into the promise land and walk through your fears and find the gift of humility waiting for you. “Yes Father and this after, “May I Father?”
Could it really be so simple? What did He mean when He said His Son was “The final sacrifice?” (Hebrews 10:12) If we do some basic math, we would be correct in asserting the validity of an equation as such: “The amount of resistance from my own carnal self is directly related to my perception of how easy it is to be One with Yahweh.” If you believe Oneness with Yahweh is difficult, then you are fertilizing your carnality.
Remember, easy and light, not hard and heavy! This is how you succeed. Do you understand? If it is still not clear, let us remind you of the words of the prophet Jeremiah that we read yesterday in “Relinquish All.” They should help.
“O Yahweh, I know that the way of man is not his own; it is not man who walks, directing his own steps. O Yahweh, correct me, but with justice; not in Your anger, or You would bring me to nothing.” (Jeremiah 10:23-24)
This is the only answer for a Coronavirus Cure.
This is the only answer for a Coronavirus Cure.
If it is not faith it is sin
Yahshua, You, Action!
(#078 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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“For whatever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) The word “of” used to describe what happens because of faith is a gross under-translation of the preposition here. It is not wrong; it just does not do justice to the power of faith. Something more tangible, even more primitive, needs to be elaborated. Whatever is not born from faith; proceed from faith; come out from faith within; is not the outcome of faith; from faith in the interior outward, or originate from faith, is sin! Faith must be the origin. Can you feel that now? What is being said is that whatever does not root itself in the depths of its source, in this case faith, and then extend out to create its impact, is sin. Now, doesn’t that have more of a bite then “of”?
What are you saying to us Father? Anything that is not produced through the life of Yahshua working in me is sinful? Under this mandate, I can see why You would say to men who claim to know You, “Depart from Me!” (Matthew 7:22-23) Every thought, and every act proceeding from that thought, must originate from faith. Father, this means that every single thing someone thinks, and then acts upon, must be according to this pattern: it originates in our minds; then we must measure it against Yahshua’s words and life; then it lands at our feet (mental stability in the law) for final approval, allowing us to take action. That is what a life would look like if every action came from its intended source. Faith is demonstrated as we emulate the repeated patterns of the life of Yahshua; we will be accountable for every word we speak (Matthew 12:36). It affirms why every thought must conform to this revelation. “From the abundance of the heart (mind), the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34-35)
Won’t you join each of us in this prayer? “Oh Father, would You, through Your Son, implant this in my heart and soul as a perpetual pattern? This is truly the transforming of the mind. Holy Spirit, I know You dwell with both Father and Son, and it is with Your guidance I will achieve this pattern of thought and action. This truth must invade my mind in order for my actions to be appropriate. Only by the Spirit in man can this be done. I submit to the pattern Father. Sear it in me. If I rebel, sear anyway. My life is Yours Father; take it! Yes, I will have this mind in me. I will follow the pattern, for it is the faith that You gave me that accomplishes this anyway. Magnanimous You are indeed.”
The Purpose of God For Us
The Key
(#064 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Yahweh is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of Yahweh is the key to this treasure. (Isaiah 33:5-6) Fear of Yahweh makes Him your solid foundation! When you reverence Him, He becomes a vast storehouse of wellbeing for your soul. And He lavishes you with insight and understanding of His deep mysteries.
“If I called it treasure, then you would do well to pay attention,” says Yahweh. “Has there ever been a greater treasure than what is found in Me? Treasures are, of course, hidden and valuable mysteries. Yes, they take time and effort to find, but what is revealed will be well worth your search. Yes, it is deep revelation. As you sketch the map that leads to My treasure, “X” marks the spot. And the X is fear, holy reverence of Me My child. Where proper fear exists, there is a multitude of treasures. The bounty is yours for the taking.
What am I asking of you? What is a fuller understanding of proper fear of Me? It is many things My loved one, as every area of your life needs a specific application of fear. May I give you a few definitions?
Awe and wonder: a state of amazement.
Reverence: recognizing My holiness and Supreme authority.
To be afraid: dread of standing on My holy ground in an unclean state.
Yes My child, all of these apply, and all of these must be applied to every area of your thought life. What you think, and therefore, what you do, incorporates all of these applications of fear. It’s time to remind you that this is the path to the treasure you desire. It is the sure foundation for your salvation (soul wellbeing), wisdom (deep insight), and knowledge (spiritual understanding), and all of these you can have in abundance when you fear Me.
Be practical about this. Have this mind in you. ‘I have to make a decision Father. You are the magnanimous One, and I will not consider anything man has to say, nor will I be influenced by man, until I hear from You first. Though I may get counsel from many, I will wait upon You for the final answer. If I don’t directly hear from You and my peace remains, I will move forward in faith of good counsel. If I need to change course, please allow me to hear Your voice. It is You alone I follow Father.’
Yes My child. This incorporates all aspects of properly fearing Me. I can work mightily in you when you have this mindset. I desire to hand you the key to My treasures. Please allow Me the joy of doing so. It is what I Am due.”
Scripture for everyday that say Fear Not
The Watchtower
(#061 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Yet I will rejoice in Yahweh, I will joy in the Mighty One of my salvation. Yahweh Almighty is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. (Habakkuk 3:18-19)
Oh Father, bring us to the watchtower as You did Habakkuk. Allow us to see Your purpose for us from a perspective higher than ours. Would Your grace grant us the privilege of seeing the way which has been planned for us. Oh, how we long to dance on the heights with You. Show us the way my King. Why must the unknown still seem so—fearful?
You speak to us of the “sacrifice of praise” Abba (Psalm 50:5, Psalm 107:22). The reality is that You have ordained that we must worship while in pain, and more so, that it is by this process that all pain is removed. Give us a supernatural zeal for this process Father; make it so sweet to us, even as You form our minds (hearts) with Your chisel. You have thus spoken that You are our answer to everything, the fulfillment of “exceedingly great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:3-4), and yet, we still have questions. This too is part of Your process.
We must rejoice and praise in obedience to Your commands regardless of how we “feel.” It is in this that we cry out for Your strength Mighty Father. Even the zeal to praise You through our suffering comes from You. Where else can we go Father? Only You can increase our love for You, and we confess how much more of it we need. This is the mind You gave us and only You can define love. Where else can we go Father? Teach us to love You effortlessly and, in this, let us experience pieces of the joy of Your salvation until we are whole, complete, lacking no good thing (James 1:4). From the watchtower in our conscience we look for You every moment of every day. Be our beacon Abba. Show us the way.
Putting Yeshua First In Your Life
How many of you are ready to put Yeshua first in your life?
These Sounds of a Captive
(#059 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Listen for the cries all you people of the earth. Listen for the sounds; can you hear them? A bitter day is coming for those who cannot hear. His call is a trumpet, but these are war drums, a battle cry for the masses. Pick whose side you are on. Man’s final battle is approaching, a battle that will not be won with guns and ammunition. Can you hear the sounds of the earth? Woe to those who do not listen.
For me personally, I hear my daughter cry to her mommy, yet I can only hear through the phone. In my mind I pick her up and I’m swinging her. She can’t help but laugh now that I have her. I hear my son’s laugh in the background. His voice is deeper than before, more baritone than flute; he’s my first born son, my little man. I grab him real tight; my mind holds him. My heart looks at them all; the words just come out. “Please don’t grow up without me.” Her voice gets softer, I know what that means. She wants to be strong, yet she needs me. No, I’m not there, but I’m kneeling beside her, wiping her tears with my fingers.
The sounds of my family are so sweet to me; it’s been so long since I heard them. All in one accord, each one of them is making their own noises. They are the most beautiful sounds anyone could hear. I could go on forever about the sounds that I hear, for even their whining is sweet music. A flame in me is burning to hear them, the sounds of my heart. Can you hear them?
All this is happening while there’s another voice calling. It’s the one that is saying, “Can I have them?” Like the whispering wind on a cool summer night, the voice of the Spirit continues. “Unless I come first, the desire to know Me, the desire that makes your bones ache; it will never be fulfilled. I must be your everything. Nothing can replace Me.” This voice brings new sounds. It brings sounds of my soul as it screams, “Abba, I don’t know how to do it.”
Will you lift up a sound with me, as I beg for His mercy? Say, “Yours is the way; lead us to it. For how could we not give You what has always been Yours. Forgive us Yahweh, yet hold us to it. The fact that we are here, cuddled in your arms, gives You permission to move forward. We are Your children; we know we must do this. Sing to us while Your work is being done. Sing to us, Your sweet, sweet sound. Sing Abba, sing.”
“He who loves his own father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and he who loves son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37)
Take Your Faith To The Next Level
The Purge!
(#058 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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You were manifest before eternity,
A sparkling pattern revealed to see.
Your light lit infinitely beyond the universe,
My point of reference, “all me,” how perverse!
A gift from heaven, far beyond mine,
Our two worlds collided at a moment in time;
The nations waged war for my soul, a vain past,
Then my children were born, was this new life at last?
But I tripped and I stumbled, and I asked when, what, why?
Something painful was birthing, and I still chose the lie.
But all in an instant my eyes made to see,
The veil torn apart, happened there on a tree.
Fighting so long to finally be free,
Each punch caused the shackles to tighten ‘round me.
It seemed many times I’d finally been won,
But this time, at last, a new heart has begun.
Dry bones once so brittle now taking on flesh,
Just talk to the potter, my lump was a mess.
My vessel reshaping, final form yet undone,
It’s taking some time, He’s making a son!
My heart is about to truly transform,
So, I SUBMIT to my Father; I reject what was norm.
As He changes, and mends, and molds, I pray please…
My appeal to Yahweh, “Connect my heart to my knees.”
“How will you make him?” heavenly hosts inquire,
“This one is so special; I’ll make him by fire.”
For it is here I will serve You the rest of my days,
If it’s fire You’ll use, please set me ablaze!
“How much more shall the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to the Almighty, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living Mighty One?” (Hebrews 9:14)