Tag Archives: Torah Life Ministries
Mindbreaking
Mindbreaking
(#308 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
Now it is the Mighty One who makes both us and you stand firm in the Messiah. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
He put His Spirit in your heart as His seal of ownership. This says so much more than what twelve words can express. Let’s unpack this limitless promise. Shaul DOES NOT mean that the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in that eleven ounce organ in your chest. Both the Greek and Hebrew language identify the heart as your mind, character, inner life, will, emotions, and intention, or in other words, your center of intellect.
Your “center of intellect” is your heart. This is a heartbreaking (mindbreaking) reality to consider. Even times when speaking of your soul, the word heart is used. “As a man thinks in his heart [soul], so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) Said in another way, as a man feeds his desires, passions, appetites, and emotions, so is he. Yahweh is who He thinks He is; and you are who you think you are. With this important distinction you can see that the Holy Spirit, the very essence of our Creator, is actually transferred to your mind as thoughts, not “put in your heart.” By placing Himself in us; into our center of thought, we then experience His essence as “The Messiah in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)
He has placed His Spirit right into the center of your mind, specifically to replace your old nature. “I will give you a new heart [inner man, mind, will] and put a new Spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone [mind of man] out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh [mind of the Messiah].” (Ezekiel 36:26) Only the transforming of thought processes could produce this renewed man. Your physical world simply serves as a reflection of what has taken place.
And, if you were made new, then how can the old you survive another day to rear its ugly head (Romans 6:2)? It is only possible because you have been endowed with the same resurrection power Yahweh used to raise His Son from the grave (Ephesians 1:18-20), and you can choose to use that power to accomplish things that would actually be separate from His will. Yes, be careful; you can exercise that new-found freedom and mistakenly use that resurrection power to raise the old you from the grave. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5) Unfortunately, it is far too common for Christians to use their freedom and power to set their minds on the things of the flesh; resurrect their old nature; and entertain mindsets which conflict with the mind of the Messiah. DON’T DO THAT!
Set your mind on things of the Spirit! Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be stubborn no longer! (Deuteronomy 10:16) If you embrace the spiritual surgery that took place, your reality becomes, “He who has waged the battle in my mind cannot lose.” And then, what Yahweh has placed in the center of your intellect becomes your chief desire. This is a mindbreaking, and now we know heartbreaking thought indeed!
Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh, and take away the foreskins of your hearts. (Jeremiah 4:3-4)
Things Unsaid (Three)
Things Unsaid (Three)
(#299 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
A simple look at the life, and not just the words, of key figures in Scripture:
Without citing specific Scriptures, for a moment, let’s take a panoramic view at how a few prominent historical figures related to Yahweh and their calling. This is another piece to the pattern which helps unravel and reveal the calling in your life. Instead of recounting a series of scriptural narratives to reveal this pattern, we will pose questions, rather than recite verses.
A big portion of identifying your personal calling is having the ability to remove anything that hinders you from that calling. Most often it is a wrong mindset, which leads to a troubled mind. The ability to hyper focus and to ask Yahweh, and have answered, these broad stroke, yet essential questions is the next step.
• “Who am I to You Father, and what is my personal calling inside the body of the Messiah?”
• “What in my life, first in consciousness, and then in physical manifestation, would bring You the most glory?”
These questions should cause you to wonder just how many current personal priorities get in the way of you hearing the answers. Let’s take a look at just a few specific questions you might consider and how your answers affect the revelation of your calling:
1. Was Adam, before the fall (breach from perfected thinking), ever at risk of not having everything he needed to sustain his life and his personal calling?
2. Did the consequences of having to “toil” and “painful birth” remove the Father’s sovereign hand from our daily lives?
3. Is there any scriptural account that Abraham, Isaac, Israyl, Kepha, Shaul, or the Messiah Himself, were ever concerned that their basic provisions would be provided? And who provided them and why?
4. What are the common worries of mainstream American Christians today?
5. What are your greatest concerns?
These are just a few of many sample questions to help expose crucial mindsets, which will either hinder or lead to revelation about the calling in your life. If you are honest, many of the questions could be answered in a single statement. “American Christians spend most of their lives simply trying to “provide” for their families and, therefore, assume this is their calling in life.” Oh, how paradoxical this thinking is to creation. We pray instead that, at this very moment, His Holy Spirit would pierce your heart with this thought. “The revelation of your personal calling is already in you. The Messiah in you guarantees it.” If you have the courage and faith to accept that answer, it will expose all the deceptions in your own heart (mind). Then you are free to step into your destiny!
The Truth About Your Walk with Yahweh
It is so
(#216 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases suffering. (Ecclesiastes 1:18)
When a man begins to see things as they are, pain (thought turmoil) is increased. When the truth is illuminated, the number of lies one perceives is magnified as well, including blatant deception. Deception is food to the intellectually dishonest person, who would prefer to be told what truth is, rather than to gain spiritual discernment for himself. Sloth and laziness, first mental, and then physical, become apparent to those who gain understanding (“Binah” of the Tree of Life within you). The enlightened one begins to decree what the Father has already made known; “You are inexcusable, O man!” (Romans 2:1) Everything becomes clear, every excuse becomes easy to detect.
Once the deceptive ways (mind paths) of man (carnal thinking) become so easily detectable, love seems impossible. Seeing behind the veil actually makes it more difficult to increase love for mankind. It becomes obvious that the only way to have an authentic sentiment such as, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do,” is by supernatural intervention. It is only Him in you that makes you capable of love, and this comes only with daily supplication and practice. For he who practices righteousness is righteous.
Then self-loathing may come as you realize that you too are guilty of the same hypocrisy. You realize you are exactly what you despise in the blatantly sinful. The pain in your heart (mind) is compounded, as even the “perfect days” you have lose their glory because of one “bad day.” The battle inside, the one between flesh (carnal nature) and spirit (mind of the Messiah) consumes you. You detect the inconsistency, yet you have no ability to correct it on your own. This inner battle can lead to many sleepless nights as you recognize the disdain you have for the “you” in you. This is necessary as you must lose your life to find it (Matthew 10:39). But, “There is a life to live, mouths to feed, and debts to pay.” Which life is real; which life do you lose? The answer is simple, yet not easy; “Seek first…!” (Matthew 6:33)
And so we see why wisdom increases grief and sorrow, and by seeing only the surface of it all, we acknowledge there is so much more to learn. When you come to this beautiful place, “Be still and know that He is Yahweh.” (Psalm 46:10) And then, be wise enough to do this for just a moment; thank Him for the chance to figure it all out.
It’s all a Test
It’s all a Test
(#215 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
He turned their heart to hate His people, to conspire against His servants. (Psalm 105:25)
“This is just a test! This is just a test!” Should I make this announcement to you every day? Need I constantly remind you that it is a test; or rather, would it be more effective if I simply reminded you to believe Me? You do realize that I give liberally to all who ask, but not to those who ask with doubt in their hearts (minds). “Hmmm?” trials, testing, asking for wisdom, doubting, or better yet, “NOT DOUBTING!” Sounds just like James 1:2-8. What is it all for? It is so you will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Would you prefer a different type of Father other than Me? Is there one whom would serve you better? Not just for protection child, but for growth as well? What exactly is the race Shaul reminded you to run? What is My kingdom? It is perfection in consciousness I tell you! The race is for perfection, a race into My kingdom of perfection. Therefore we also, having so great a cloud of witnesses all around us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)
Stop proclaiming your deep love for Us, while you continue to cower at the first signs of affliction. How can you be perfect and yet fear man, or fear anything for that matter? Here is something deep to contemplate; how can you be perfect and doubt My provision and protection? Every time you doubt, you are telling Me, “I don’t trust You!” Every time you carry guilt and shame you tell My Son, “Your shed blood could not have possibly covered this!”
Stop and listen; think! Your enemies are merely tools to train you. Your suffering and chastening. . .tools to train you. Perfection is the pattern, and the testing assures its completion; perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4). You will not change My patterns, for how can one further perfect perfection itself? Yes loved one, My patterns are perfect already. There can be no variation to what is already pure in every way. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
I do tempt I tell you, but I Am not tempted by evil nor do I tempt with evil. I use set-apart (holy) tempting, which is nothing else than spiritual testing, so you can build your spiritual muscles (spiritual equity). My tools of temptation often come in the shape of humans, disguised as enemies. Why do I say disguised? Because I have already commanded that you leave your “enemies” to Me, while you pray for their blessing. Therefore, if in Me there is “no shadow of turning,” then how can you really have enemies?
Do you not know that those who run in a race indeed all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24) “This is a test! This is a test from your emergency, save your soul, Spirit broadcasting system!” Perceive! Adapt! Grasp! Move forward, and win the race!
Love’s Attributes (5) Love is not puffed up!
Love’s Attributes (5)
(#159 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
“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©)
www.sufferwell.org
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)
Conform, Unify and Act!
One of the greatest wickedness of man is their denial to unify with other brothers and sisters of Yeshua.
Won’t You?
(#142 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
But Yahweh said, “You have had pity on the vine for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?” (Jonah 4:10-11)
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” (Philippians 2:3) My people must focus on others more than self! Consider My Son; His entire existence was for others. He poured Himself out so that you might live. To do the same, My people must develop a steadfast spirit and become unified. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Master, one faith, one baptism; one Mighty One and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)
Here is how to develop a steadfast spirit and become unified:
Step one, conform! “Direct your steps by My word, and let no iniquity have dominion over you!” (Psalm 119:133) As an individual, stand before Me on the narrow path. Decipher My ways and know My will. Have your home in order.
Step two, unify! “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.” (1 Peter 3:8) Have one mind and one speech. Be one people and become a unified force against the many principalities you will face.
Step three, act! “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Yahshua is the Son of the Mighty One?” (1 John 5:5) That’s you! Move out and take dominion. Have I not told you that you are greater than he who dominates the world?
Conform, unify, and act; My plan is global. Won’t you consider what I Am doing for the entire world, and not just your world? I Am looking for watchmen (Ezekiel 3:17), watchmen who will change the world. I have many children who would rather choose to die under the vine. Who will rise up for Me and go to the lost? Who will honor Me and thereby receive honor from Me?
Test Everything and Everyone
Fallen Leaders
(#141 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
This is what Sovereign Yahweh says: “Behold, I Am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue My flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.” (Ezekiel 34:10) And this wake up call for the American “Christian church” needs to be understood. It was commanded to each individual to guard his own “life and doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:16), and yet, too many pastors have assumed the role of doing this for the people, believing that their shepherding means that everyone was intended to “see it their way,” or else be deemed “spiritually lacking,” or even “contentious.” The pastor himself is merely a part of the body; Yahshua Messiah being the head (chief) part (Ephesians 1:22).
Because their lives and doctrine are in error, many sheep are led astray in error. The key now is to teach the sheep how to stand firm, after having had their “man” headship removed and their “Messiah” headship restored.
These crucial elements will aid in this most precious of endeavors:
1. Everyone must die to “self” in order to fully understand and obey Yahweh, His son, and His Spirit; even the pastors.
2. When a pastor falls, he shall be redeemed as Yahweh will never forsake the one who truly served, and yet still had “ego” that needed to be revealed, and therefore, eventually removed.
3. If you judge the fallen one, Yahweh will be quick and faithful to remind you that “there be I but by His grace.” And how very close you are to falling in the very same areas of sin in which you judge.
4. A fallen pastor is not to be viewed as one whose former messages, and yes, that means all of them, cannot be taken seriously. If the messages had scriptural truth, truth that should have been affirmed by each individual who received the word anyhow (Acts 17:11), then the messages stand as anointed by the Spirit. Truth was always Yahweh’s, and if it meant that only the sinless could teach His word, we would have no teachers whatsoever.
5. Rejoice that Yahweh is always faithful to His word. The fallen one will rise again (Proverbs 24:16) and he will return with praise on his lips that Yahweh does not and will not let any man get away with anything that rejects Yahshua Messiah and His sinless sacrifice.
Everything will be shaken beloved, and those who are “exposed” and convicted of sin will learn to appreciate and be grateful for their humbling experience. These things the sheep must know when a mighty one falls. All is well. They need to know that all is well! For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity. (Proverbs 24:16)
Who is Double Minded
Who is Double Minded?
(#124 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Do you recognize this verse as it is commonly translated? John 3:16 might be the most misused verse in the entire Bible. To clarify, let’s read John 17:14-17.
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Now tell us who is double minded, the Creator or man? John 17:14 states that “they [believers] are not of the world.” Is this not the same world that so many of you say John 3:16 describes, the world Yahweh so loves? Let’s highlight John 17:16 for the moment. “They [believers] are not of the world, even as I [Messiah] am not of the world.”
We ask again, who is double minded? The common mistake when interpreting the scriptures is trying to understand Hebrew thought forms with a Greek mindset. The Hebrew, a language of adjectives and verbs, promotes action. It is a “hear and do” language. The Greek, on the other hand, is a noun based language, a “sit and contemplate” language.
Let’s look again at John 3:16 and John 17:14-17. What’s the deal? How can Yahweh so “love” a world that Yahshua clearly states we are not of? They are two different worlds, correct? Right!!!!!! Yet, the Greek interpretation makes no distinct difference. It uses the same word, Kosmos (Cosmos) in both verses. This creates double mindedness!
Satan (ego, self) rules this world (carnal desire) we live in, the world we are NOT of. Yahweh does not love this world of Satan’s; as a matter of fact, it is set to be destroyed. The “John 3:16 world” that He so loves, is His world, the world we are headed back to. The Hebrew language describes it as a place of absolute purity: socially, morally, governmentally and spiritually. It is a perfect place, His Garden of love. He sent His Son to take us back to that place.
If you are still struggling with this paradigm shift, these verses should help you. Oh, and pray for truth (John 17:17). Know the truth! It will set you free (John 8:32).
* John 15:19—If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
* 1 John 2:15-16—Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
* 1 John 5:19—We know that we are of the Mighty One, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
The world that is coming is the world He loves, not the one that we are leaving. Be of good cheer, He has overcome the [this] world. (John 16:33).
They That Wait
They That Wait
(#120 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
But those who wait on Yahweh
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not grow weary,They shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:31)
Not one more step! Not one more thought of action! I know; I know. This is the place in between life and death. This is the place in which you must trust Me with everything you have. I put enough faith in you to do this. This faith must be put into action in order to please Me (Hebrews 11:6). However, in some instances doing absolutely nothing takes far more faith than doing something. It is in this hold pattern that you will grow far beyond what you imagine. Doing nothing can be a powerful way of doing so much.
When I breathed life into you, I knew. Men explain it this way; “it is utilizing both your left brain and right brain.” I call it My brain. Your zeal to solve what burdens you is My design. It is a trigger I put in place. I also designed the choice you have. It is the choice which allows you to transform the brain to a higher calling, a better purpose. Yes, proactive people are who I desire, but always in accordance with My will. For instance, how many problems have you attempted to solve on your own, only to find the problems increase? You see, I have designed it so that many times, in the waiting, the answer is revealed. The proper choice, when you know not what to do, is to submit and wait. I will solve it for you. I love doing so for My children. Glory is what I desire; glory I will have.
For your comfort My child, let’s do it this way, so as to not cause more anxiety. The next time you have a problem that is affecting your life beyond your ability to solve, make the choice to give it to Me—completely. I will then guide you into the solution, while drawing you closer to a mature relationship with Me. Your part? Praise Me during the process. Confess if you don’t know how, and I will teach you. Your most paramount problems are solved by Praise!
Trust me My child. Test Me; know Me. In the midst of waiting is where some of My best work is done. Remember who designed you. Remember who loves you. And remember it is with a love that never fails.
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:15)