Tag Archives: Faith
Doomed
Doomed
(#314 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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It ultimately brings the purest of joy when you release it completely. Release what? Everything that supports your belief that there is any good in you whatsoever. And on this narrow road, where you come face-to-face with the truth, you will encounter a sobering paradigm. “If you were left to your own devices, you would be doomed.” The fullest appreciation of what salvation offers (the ongoing process of your mind being saved) is directly related to your acknowledgement of what you are saved from. “I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.” (2 Corinthians 12:5) Boast in Him because weakness is the finest you can boast of.
The best you can come to the table with is this; “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh Almighty.” (Isayah 6:5) And if you are humble you will remember how deeply wicked every aspect of your conscience would be without Yahweh’s Spirit. Any climb from the pit you were in is only because of His grace. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of Yahweh. (Ephesians 2:8)
How many of you have been purchased from the grave by His grace only to start believing the preposterous idea that somehow you became “good” because of it. Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? (Galatians 3:3-4) Have you become judgmental, haughty, self-righteous, self-assured, rather than mournful, desperate, humble, and sober? Come near to the Almighty and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8) Perhaps you would be so bold as to ask Yahweh; “How wicked am I apart from You?”
When you have a revelation of the enormity of the wickedness of your personal “self” desire, you too will be terrified of the alternative of being left to your own devices. The mind of one who knows this is ever mournful, desperate, humble, and sober. And once we bear His mark, we confess that the reverent fear of our destiny without Him will keep our eyes fixed on Yahshua, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
“I know that whatever Yahweh does, it will be forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it. Yahweh acts, and men will revere Him. That which was, now is; and that which is to be has already been, and Yahweh requires an accounting of the past.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14-15)
One Author and Finisher
One Author and Finisher
(#311 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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“Looking unto Yahshua, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)
Every word matters loved one. Be slow to speak and quick to listen (James 1:19). Would He waste His own words who has proclaimed, “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise?” (Proverbs 10:19) And so as directed by His wise words, we are commanded to “look” to Yahshua as “author” and “finisher.”
What does this looking unto Yahshua mean? It means to: fix our eyes; look only; focus on; look steadfastly; to fix one’s gaze upon; to look away from all else. This is a spiritual matter. The intensity of the “looking” is not just about what you look upon, but what you look away from. It is not seeking what is physical. It is tangible, yes, but not what you can touch with your hands. Soul searching might be a more accurate explanation, a deep search within for what is and what isn’t. How can you tell if you are looking unto Yahshua? It’s obvious; take what your mind is producing in the natural and measure it against the life of He who said, “I am the way!” (John 14:6)
The author of your faith; it means: originator, source, founder, prince, and leader; the person who is the originator or founder of a movement and continues as the leader. As we look unto Him, we are commanded to see (spiritually perceive) Him as author. What does this mean to you? Would it be fair to conclude that if you don’t know what it means, or you have failed to seek out its meaning, that He has not been your top priority? Listen closely loved one; those who are His have their names recorded in the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5). If your name is written, it is because you have professed your desire for Him to direct your life (mind activity). His sheep listen to His voice; He knows them, and they follow Him (John 10:27). This is what He is saying; “Look at My life; I’m the way to do it all. I stand ready to take over, but I won’t force Myself on you. And be very careful dear loved one, our Father is long suffering, but He is not timid.” Embrace that your old man has died and that His life in you has replaced him (Galatians 2:20). His life is now writing the book on yours. In other words, He is the author of your life!
The finisher of your faith; it means: perfecter, completer; the consummator who brings a process to its end. His perfection guarantees yours loved one. This crucial function has most to do with personal obedience. You are perfected because there was a death. Yes, His death paved the way. The question remains; must you die also to be perfected? An emphatic “Yes!” but then the critical distinction; die how? Our old self was impaled with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. (Romans 6:6-7) Yes, to attain the promise of perfection the death of your old nature is a requirement; the death of your body—optional.
He was the last sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27; 9:12, 26; 10:10) necessary for you to achieve the promise. He made a way for you to be perfected before physical death, yet so many will deny such is possible. These are the timid ones, never quite dedicated enough to lose their life for Him (Matthew 16:25). Each man’s work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
Who do you identify with, the timid who will only escape through the flames, or the one who is willing to lose his life? What do you say when asked of perfection? “It is not possible, not until we are dead (physically); He was the only one who could be perfect?” The finisher of your faith would tell you otherwise; He would say, “I finished it for you. (John 19:30) It is My life in you now!” (Galatians 2:20) So, if He is saying “yes,” why are you saying “no?” If a house [totality of thoughts] is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. (Mark 3:25) Come to grips with this most important of realties. “It is finished;” now do your part because of it!
The Woman I would Never Date
The Woman I would Never Date
Faith and Hope
Mere Men
(#205 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
What is it with mortals? Yes, I could mean you! This question is not an exercise in futility or for My amusement; I ask questions because I seek answers. Men are but a mere breath, mortals, illusions, that if placed on a scale, all together would weigh less than air. How does this make you feel; how might this fact affect your actions? Ponder this My child; scrutinize those words; “Men are but a mere breath…” Am I not the rewarder of those who diligently seek Me? (Hebrews 11:6) Won’t I “reward” all deeds, both good and bad? I see everything and I reckon all things, beginning with your thoughts. Remember, mindsets precede actions!
The complication, My child, is that you simply don’t believe My words; this is the crux of your pain. Your discomfort and your dis-ease are fruits of unbelief, your choice of unbelief. The irony is that so many of your choices require effort to not trust Me. They encompass decisions, yes decisions which are riddled with fear and pride, all because you choose not to trust Me. You expend more effort to not believe, when all I require is faith. The battle in your mind: To be or not to be, and this about Me! Simple faith–this will answer every question, solve every mystery, conquer every fear, and open new revelation.
Repent! Without faith it is impossible to please Me (Hebrews 11:6). Has not My Son set the stage for a direct line of communication between us? Listen to Me; My longsuffering allows you to continue in unbelief, yet My love empowers change. Repent of your unbelief and step over. What other creation of Mine has the opportunity to change their existence? Mortal, only you can become immortal. I give you the chance to be eternal. Repent of your unbelief; take Me at My word. It is not simply that you can bet your life (consciousness) on it; it’s that you must!
Meet James and Lea from Phila Ministries
Here is an interview with James and Lea from Philia Ministries.
I really enjoy their videos and think everyone should see them.
Their Website is
www.philiaministries.org
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Love’s Attributes (5) Love is not puffed up!
Love’s Attributes (5)
(#159 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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“Love is not puffed up!” (1 Corinthians 13:4)
Love is not puffed up, and therefore, Yahweh is not puffed upped!
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles! (Proverbs 24:17) This holy instruction summarizes well this fifth attribute of love. As the redeemed of Yahweh, we must always remember from where we came. “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18) It is only due to His love being shed abroad into our hearts (minds) and souls, as a gift from the Spirit (Romans 5:5), that we ourselves can stumble and NOT fall (Romans 11:11).
At love’s final attribute, all of the previous attributes are summed up as a whole. The continuing pattern that must be practiced with every thought is that one cannot fail at any of the sixteen attributes of love, and yet claim to love. You have been told to “Take every thought into captivity to the obedience of the Messiah” (2 Corinthians 10:5). And in this, every thought is accountable to love’s true standards. “Self” reliance, self-satisfaction, and self-aggrandizement all scream out, “Look what I did!” and all of these are puffed up failures.
Would it be too profound for you to acknowledge what He has told you throughout His written word; you are your own greatest idol and that the very thing you are being “saved” from is yourself, your pride?
Open your spiritual eyes loved one. See what is really going on.
I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]. (John 13:34-35)
Consider others with Love
Do you really understand what tenderhearted really means? Please see this video…
The Way of Man II
(#147 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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A man and his wife enter the church. After the worship, the pastor begins to preach. The wife is fully engaged while the husband dozes off. He tries his best to stay awake. She nudges him when the service is over. They rise up and leave. For many weeks, this same pattern continues. The pastor notices the husband’s tendency and labels the man as disinterested in spiritual matters. He wonders why the man even comes. Others in the congregation have noticed and wonder the same.
Several weeks pass since the last time the man and his wife attend when she appears alone at a service. Afterwards, she finds the pastor and asks him if she could speak with him. The pastor willingly agrees and quickly discerns the meeting will be about her “disinterested” husband. He is ready to minister to her heart as needed.
As the meeting begins the pastor says, “I have not seen you in church for quite some time. How have you been?”
The lady, with tears streaming down her eyes says, “It’s my husband.”
“Yes, I figured that,” the pastor replies.
She continues, “You see. He has cancer. He is dying. He takes his medication and it makes him very tired and sleepy. He was embarrassed about coming and falling asleep so we’ve just stopped coming. He does not seem to have much time left and he wanted me to tell you something. He said that it made him so happy to be able to come and see you, to listen to you preach. You are his favorite teacher. He asked me to thank you.”
Never judge loved one. Never think you know what’s going on within someone, just by the external appearance of things. Caring takes time, and if you are willing to ask yourself the tough question, do you struggle with caring for others? Healing comes from a mind, spiritually redeemed, that can admit, “I don’t really care about other people as much as I should; help me Yahshua. Give me a heart (mind) that cares for others more than it cares for myself.”
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13)
Trust and Faith
Not “Over” but “Through”
(#107 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Do you really want victory, true victory, the kind of victory that not only affects your entire being, but nations as well? Are you sure? Listen to Me closely then. If you really want true victory, never again ask Me to remove you from the sorrow and conflict that comes with valley experiences. You may hope for a better day but not at the cost of devaluing the purpose of today (Matthew 6:34).
Give Me your eyes (perceptive abilities) My child; give Me your soul. I speak to the Spirit that I placed within you (Romans 8:11). It is in the desperate moments, the valleys, that our best work is done. I require praise and gratitude, not prayers of the destitute. This is one of My dearest patterns: Do not ask Me to remove you from the valley; instead obey Me and rejoice while you are in it (Psalm 107:21-22)! Has My Son not overcome the world (John 16:33)? Have I not, through Him, given you the same authority (Titus 2:15)?
Let the beauty of this wisdom reign in your mind (heart). A child that can praise and worship in the most painful moments of life, is a child who has overcome the world. Will you believe Me if I tell you that most of your inner turmoil is caused by exterior things? I teach you to win by the Spirit; victory is in the Spirit. Of course it seems difficult if you are carnally minded. My plan leaves room to rejoice in the Spirit and the flesh, but you cannot change the protocol. I will not change My pattern. It is already perfect! I do not lift you over the situation; I guide you through it, and I give you the power to do so with praise, awe, and wonder. Does it seem impossible? Good! May I now take over and do it for you? You praise, I conquer! You give sacrifices of thankfulness; I make straight paths for your feet. It is all for your good. Thank you for understanding My loved one; I will always offer you more faith if you ask (Mark 9:24).
This is the day Yahweh has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
What Our Father Would Say
What Our Father Would Say
(#030 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Without faith it is impossible to please [Me]. (Hebrews 11:6)
Your only true concern in life should be whether or not you are pleasing to Me. And to do so you must live by faith. However, you consistently demonstrate a lack of faith by letting other concerns dominate your priorities. You do this in few key areas.
The first would be your concern for maintaining your rigid schedule, in other words, YOUR plan for your life. You fix your schedule in advance as if I am not interested in guiding the details of your day. In this, you leave no room for Me to lead you to My highest and best. Are you more beholden to your schedule than the prompting of My Spirit? Are you willing to be flexible, open to shifting what you thought were the day’s priorities? Will you interrupt your plans, both short and long term, at a moment’s notice from Me, even if it’s inconvenient, even if it’s hard?
The second would be your consideration for others. And by this I’m not referring to “Christian charity.” I’m speaking about your concerns regarding My plan for those you care about. In other words, your fear that I will disappoint them or not provide for them, as if your worries can supersede My providence. It masquerades as genuine concern, but is really anxiety fostered by a lack of faith that My plan is for their best. Do you trust Me to provide for you? Are My ways higher than your ways? Is My plan better than yours for your life? If I won’t fail you, will I fail them? Can you then trust Me for others? Won’t I protect and provide for those you commit into My hands, even if you cannot?
Once you value instruction over comfort, you will be better able to see all circumstances through spiritual eyes. With this type of vision, you can then experience instruction and still remain comfortable (resting all in My hands), regardless of the challenges you face, or see others facing. Self-preservation and striving to protect others always rejects suffering. Yet, suffering is an instrument of grace, allowing My Spirit to minister in painful situations. It is all to bring to fruition My Sovereign plan for you and those you care about.
So, let go of your frozen schedule and trust Me; and while you are at it, take down your mask. Once you faithfully hand over your life to Me, it will become much easier to trust that I have your and your loved ones best interests in mind.
“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)
True Love Is Choice Not An Emotion
I’ve done thousands of videos. Many lessons learned. Figuring out what love is, makes this message one that I would put at the top of my list as one of my most important videos ever made. The understanding in this video will truly set you free.
Heel Marks in the Sand
(#027 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.Sufferwell.org
“It was then that I dragged you My child!”
Stop trying to see or feel your way into My Kingdom, for it is not a Kingdom that comes by way of sight or sensations, but rather, a Kingdom of knowing, knowing the My mind deep within. The Kingdom of the Mighty One does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the Kingdom of the Mighty One is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21) My Kingdom is Hebraic, not Greek. It is truth, not philosophical theory. And it is of the mind (the Hebraic heart), not the emotional heart (the Greek heart).
When your faith is built on emotions, you set yourself up for failure loved one. Emotional faith is built on a shaky foundation; sinking sand if you need a more picturesque description (Matthew 7:26). It wavers depending on what you feel in your “heart,” as if your heart remains uncircumcised (Greek). The uncircumcised heart is “wicked above all things!” (Jeremiah 17:9) It is subjected to human thoughts and emotions, as opposed to the circumcised heart, which loves and obeys Me no matter what it feels like (Deuteronomy 30:1-6).
In the original Garden I gave only commands, yet you, as they did, continue to live as if My intention was to give you “free will.” When did I give you a choice about which trees were “yes” and which tree was specifically “no”? Where did I imply that they, and now you, should choose “what you think is best?”
Your redemption, that which sealed your place in eternity, was My Sovereign decision. It was not a walk along the beach during which I carried you when things were rough and you walked on your own when all was good. Before your redemption, NOTHING was good. But, once that was finished, you were required to learn how to pick up your own torture stake and prove that you love Me (Luke 9:23). How? Those who love Me “Keep My commands?” (John 14:15) It is not a choice to do so, however; that is where the deception remains. You cannot declare that you love Me and disobey My commands? Tell Me if you think otherwise.
Listen to Me loved one; if all of your choices apart from My supernatural intervention brought death prior to your redemption, then how can you believe My purpose was to give you “freedom” to choose now? Are you starting to see it? If you choose anything apart from My will, you are not free; that is bondage. True freedom is having no choices. When My way is the only way, then you are truly free.
If you attempt to “choose” otherwise, then I must drag you.