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Conviction of the Holy Spirit
Soothed
(#283 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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It’s never “just semantics.” Every word that proceeds from your mouth reveals your state of mind, and your state of mind is either completely holy or it isn’t. He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I Am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Can you have wrong thinking and still be holy? Can a house (mindset) be divided and still be whole? Yes, your house is your mindset, the thoughts that permeate your being! But Yahshua knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:25) How better can we demonstrate the undivided mind than by the words of Yahshua Himself? “I can of Myself [ego] do nothing. As I hear [the Father], I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” (John 5:30) Unless His will is your will, you are a house divided.
And now you are responsible for this reality. You can make no excuses, allow no room for compromise. As you embrace this truth, your mind will become soothed, calmness will overtake you, and your faith will be reassured. But, let’s go deeper and add an extraordinary nuance to your understanding.
This soothing experience is not taking place in your own mind. It is actually His Spirit in you, His mind in you that you are sensing. It is no longer you, but the Messiah who lives in you! (Galatians 2:20) For “who has known the mind of the Master that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of the Messiah. (1 Corinthians 2:16) He speaks in the Holy of Holies within His temple. You are that temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). And remember, flesh and blood (self) cannot enter this most holy place. Praise Yahweh that “you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of the Almighty dwells in you.” (Romans 8:9)
If you are lazy, you may claim semantics are at work here; but the cost of doing so will be high. Rather than dismiss it, let this prayer marinate in your bones. “Father I know Your Spirit within me is always in a perfect state, complete in every way, lacking nothing. I deeply sense the effects of Your Spirit and how soothing You are. Thank you, and may I always proclaim that it is not I who lives, but You who lives in me. Let my life song sing…’I do not seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.’”
Good News
Good News
(#282 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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When you think of ministry from a Hebraic perspective, think of power, resources and direction. From Noah to Abraham; from Jacob (Israyl) to Moses; from David to Yahshua; to all the early disciples; and then to us, the objective of ministry for Yahweh’s children has never changed. Ultimately, it has a singular purpose with a focused message. For all those who are ruled by and will rule for Yahweh, for all “overcomers” (Israyl), ministry is to preach “The Good News.” For indeed the Good News was preached to us as well as to them [those in the wilderness] … (Hebrews 4:2)
Yahshua and the prophet of old would agree. He [Yahshua] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isayah [Isaiah]. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of Yahweh is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Good News to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of Yahweh. Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21 from Isayah 61:1-2)
In Yahshua’s day there was no Renewed Covenant (commonly known as “New Testament”) to read from. He taught in the Synagogues from the scrolls of the Torah and Prophets, as was the custom. Yaaqob (James), the early leader of the assembly, as directed by the Holy Spirit at the Jerusalem Council, clearly perpetuated this tradition in his ruling. “For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” (Acts 15:21) Shaul also abided in this! At Iconium Shaul and Barnabas went as usual into the synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. (Acts 14:1) There were Greeks in the Synagogues? Why? Think about it!
And with this fresh understanding you can now appreciate that all of the Good News came from the Law (Torah) and the prophets of the Old Covenant (commonly known as the “Old Testament”). Yes, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of the Almighty and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of Yahweh may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) And by “all Scripture,” Shaul was not referring to the Renewed Covenant (New Testament), as it was not yet written. Nevertheless, “The people of Berea were [considered] more fair-minded than the people of Thessalonica. [Because] They were very willing to receive the Almighty’s message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures [the Old Covenant] to see if what Shaul said was true.” (Acts 17:11) This is deep; the Bereans used the Old Covenant to confirm if what Shaul was saying about Yahshua was true!
You shouldn’t be surprised; Yahshua Himself even proclaimed that, “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.” (John 5:46) So now you must ask yourself, “As a child of the Most High, what is the ministry I am committed to?” In other words, “What is the Good News you are anointed to preach?” To help you discover the richness of the answer, we’ll offer you this as a seed to plant in the, hopefully, fertile soil of your heart. What did you actually confess when you called on the name of the “Lord” in Romans 10:9-13? Hint: study Romans 10:1-8 in detail and reference from where the Good News Shaul was preaching came. “That is the word of faith which we preach.” (Romans 10:8) He was preaching Moses’ words from Deuteronomy 30:11-14 and Leviticus 18:4-5! (Read it!) True ministry has Yahweh’s fingerprint from His Word all over it. If you believe Moses, you can believe Shaul and Yahshua.
Is Yahweh’s fingerprint evident in your ministry? It was in Shaul’s; “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Master Yahshua, to testify to the Good News of the Mighty One’s grace.” (Acts 20:24) This is the Good News derived from the Torah and the prophets. Yahshua answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.” (John 7:16) And this is the Ministry Yahshua handed over to us. Tell everyone who listens; “The Spirit of Yahweh is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Good News…”
As we learned yesterday loved one, the Law is not “legalism” but the very Good News that saves our souls!
Justification by faith
Unauthorized Fire
(#281 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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“Aaron sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before Yahweh, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of Yahweh and consumed them, and they died before Yahweh.” (Leviticus 10:1-2)
Fire consumed them for choosing their own sacrifice. We think in modern terms you would call that “religion.” Ouch! Does Yahweh delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying Yahweh? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22) You would do well focusing on what has been commanded, rather than doing what you or your denomination has decided is pleasing to “God.”
On an individual level, it could be likened to a former drug addict who has the erroneous idea that one can make up for his past sins by diving into a plethora of self-chosen acts of service, otherwise known as “spiritual activities.” Remember, the Almighty demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, the Messiah died for us. (Romans 5:8) You were redeemed while you were still a slave to your addictions, and all idolatrous behavior for that matter. It is His Spirit alone who gives you the ability to leave your idols behind. No sacrifice on your part was necessary, no acts of service, only His. Your unauthorized fire, your self-assigned sacrificial activities, done with the sense that you must somehow participate in the atonement for your past behaviors, actually reveals your unbelief. It is self-righteousness, not righteousness. Israyl was guilty of such behavior; “they were zealous for the Mighty One, but their zeal was not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of the Mighty One and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to the Mighty One’s righteousness.” (Romans 10:2-3)
Any time you operate in the mindset that you must do something to “atone,” you are telling Him that you reject the offering Yahshua made. That’s right; you are saying that His death and resurrection were not enough to cover all of your maladies. This non-debatable core issue must be dealt from within. He [Yahshua] sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself. (Hebrews 7:27) He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12) He has won favor for you with your Father in Heaven once and for all. Done! The only thing you must do now is obey. “To obey is better than sacrifice.”
With your eternity secure, turn your focus toward obeying His commands. Your abundant life is found in them. He says, “You must obey My laws and be careful to follow My standards. I Am Yahweh your Almighty. Live by My standards and laws, for the person who obeys them will have life through them. I Am Yahweh.” (Leviticus 18:4-5) He has made it so that following His commandments adds life to your life. They are to bless you child, not to curse you. If you have been chosen, the ability to choose has been gifted to you, and you must now make a choice. “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) He has set before you life and death, choose life! Obedience to His laws is not “legalism” loved one; it is life. Conversely, disobedience is death. Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him. Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4) No more lawlessness loved one. No more religion. No more self-assigned sacrificial activities. Do it His way; anything else is unauthorized fire!
Sin and Repentance
But I Was Unaware
(#280 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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If the whole Israylite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of Yahweh’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must… (Leviticus 4:13-14)
When they realize their guilt? Were they guilty while they were still unaware they had sinned? The answer is obvious and atonement was demanded; “the assembly must…” Yes, even for their unintentional sins that they were unaware of, they had to make an offering. For you, whose sins have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, how do you respond? Do you defend your actions? “If I did not know, how can I be punished for it?” Or, do you repent?
The mature ones know the correct response. “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man…”(Romans 2:1) They are the ones who come into agreement and say, “No sin is acceptable, even in my own ignorance.” They would rather query themselves than deflect responsibility. “‘Why did I not know?’ rather than, ‘It’s not my fault.’” Herein lies so much of the problem deeply ingrained inside the body of the Messiah. Why don’t we know and what can be done about it?
Shaul’s humble expression might hold the key to unlock the answer we are looking for. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of the Almighty in the Messiah Yahshua. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, the Almighty will reveal even this to you.” (Philippians 3:13-15) If you stop at, “I do not count myself to have apprehended…,” then you will ride this excuse indefinitely. Sadly, this ignorance has become the acceptable infestation inside the body. The cure is to humbly admit where you are and to “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call.”
The maturity it takes to press toward this high calling—do you think it is exclusive, or is it a choice? Are you willing to sit quietly and allow the Spirit to reveal how your approach to sin answers this question? The word says “Press on,” so it would seem that it entails some personal responsibility and effort. You can agree with it, “As many as are mature, have this mind;” or you can argue, “If in anything you think otherwise, the Almighty will reveal even this to you.” But be warned, the revealing won’t be pretty!
Ultimately, maturity brings peace and resolution. If you are truthful with yourself, you will admit that even if you were unaware, you are still responsible for your actions. The mature stop questioning Yahweh in vain. This is the mindset of the mature; if Yahweh says the unaware are still guilty, then guilty they are. If this is you, the only questions remaining are, “Will you repent and what will you do to guard against doing it again?” Do not be the “vain man” who will suffer sharp rebuke. All that you need to know is available if you press on. The “Him” inside of you guarantees it. For those who repent and take responsibility, the blood of the Lamb has dealt with all guilt and sin; woe to the man who continues in his guilt.
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is available, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of the Mighty One. (Hebrews 10:26-27)
A Plea for Justice
Crossroads
(#279 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Let my vindication come from Your presence; let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. (Psalm 17:2)
“I hear you son.”
“What part Father?”
“The crossroads you face, the conflict in your heart about vindication.”
“You are always listening; aren’t you Daddy?”
“Of course I Am son; open your heart to Me about it.”
“You’ve brought me so far already Father.”
“You are welcome.”
“Yes. You know that I always thank you.”
“I know son. Go on.”
“Well, I have been crying out for vindication for quite some time now.”
“And?”
“I’m just not sure it matters as much anymore, at least not in the same way.”
“You are at the crossroads son; it’s a new place.”
“I believe so Father. Is asking for vindication just seeking to be exonerated in the sight of man?”
“Let Me ask you son; do you believe you are right with Me?”
“It was done at the stake, but more than ever, it has become so personal. Yes Father, I believe I am righteous in Your eyes.”
“So, if you are vindicated in My sight, then why do you still cry out for vindication in man’s sight?”
“That’s the crossroads Father. Suddenly I’m not so sure I need that anymore.”
“Son?”
“Yes Father?”
“It’s time to choose the gate.”
“You mean…the narrow gate that leads to life? (Matthew 7:13-14)
“Yes. It’s the narrowest of all possible ways. And there are few who find it!” (v14)
“I’m scared Father. What will become of me? I…”
“No son. Fear not, for I Am with you; be not dismayed, for I Am your Mighty One. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“Then you’ve got me Abba?”
“I’ve got you son. Your humility is so beautiful to Me.”
“Will you walk the narrow road with me Abba?”
“Better than that My precious son; I will carry you!”
Even to your old age, I Am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry and will deliver you. (Isaiah 46:4)
To Fear or Not to Fear
To Fear or Not to Fear
(#278 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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As we launch into this devotion, let us remind you of a critical pattern you must keep in mind at all times. We illuminated it in detail in devotion number 254. “The door of hope is in the valley (wilderness). Yahweh has chosen the wilderness as His place for revelation. And because the wilderness is the designated place of revelation, denial of the pattern leads to denial of revelation.”
When Yahweh gives you His word loved one, it is forever. Clarification comes from fresh revelation and fresh revelation comes from valley experiences which are meant to test your obedience. And you shall remember that Yahweh your Mighty One led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. (Deuteronomy 8:2)
Because mankind made decisions, those that brought eternal damnation, unnatural fear (paralyzing crippling fear and anxiety) became an option for carnal man. However, how often do you mistake the fear of Yahweh as a bad thing because of your inability to distinguish between a healthy fear of your omnipotent Mighty One and this unnatural damning fear? Your inheritance as sons and daughters of the King offers you to, “Fear not” with regard to this unnatural fear. You would be wise to walk in it. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear [paralyzing crippling fear and anxiety] involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18) Yahweh has declared, “Fear not, for I Am with you; be not dismayed, for I Am your Mighty One. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) At the end of this devotion you will learn how to be made perfect in love, how to “fear not!”
There is no clearer distinction between unnatural damning fears and the healthy fear of Yahweh than the words of Moses. “Do not fear; for the Almighty has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” (Exodus 20:20) The very day Moses was instructed to deliver the commands to the people we see the nuance; “Do not fear; be very afraid.” The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10) Reverence of Yahweh is the beginning of all wisdom, not anxiety or paralyzing crippling fear. Reverent wisdom teaches, “Don’t touch that; it will burn you.” Reverence is not fear that destroys; it is fear that preserves.
“Do not fear; for the Almighty has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” Loved one, the test is a good thing. It trains you to reverence Yahweh and fear sin. It helps you mature; it produces perfection. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)
In essence, fear of all types can be used for good when you consider your choices. Fear of Yahweh brings wisdom and fear of sin brings perfection. And, in your valley experiences, you are tested on what choices you will make when you face great trials. If you are not sinning, then unnatural damning fear is impossible and you are made perfect in love! In conclusion, the question you might want to ponder is this; “Why does it take so much testing to teach me not to sin?”
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Yahshua the Messiah. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
In His Presence
One Day
(#277 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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“For one day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the House of Yahweh, than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (Psalm 84:10)
It is time to go deeper! You learned in yesterday’s devotion: “There is so much more beauty below the surface loved one; it is where He makes ‘known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.’ (Ephesians 1:9) If you are willing to go there, you will see things never before seen and experience things never before experienced.”
You must go deeper and today is the day to go there. Today we will serve our King with the reverence He is due. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10) Even in this verse, if you dip just below the surface you will see that this is not a paralyzing crippling fear or anxiety, but reverence. Reverence of Yahweh is the beginning of all wisdom! So, reverence Him and let His Spirit guide you as we re-spect (look again at) Psalm 84:10. “For one day in Your courts…”
“For one day [illumination] in Your courts [“separated” and “surrounded” by Your presence] is better than a thousand [days of illumination] elsewhere [from some source other than Yahweh]. I would rather be a doorkeeper [vestibule to contain His essence] in the House [consciousness] of Yahweh (Maker of the Holy Mind for men) than to dwell [consciously reside] in the tents [thought dwellings] of the wicked [ego driven man].”
Here is a more concise paraphrase:
“One moment of illumination surrounded by Yahweh’s presence is better than a thousand days of illumination from some source other than Yahweh. Yahweh is the Maker of the Holy Mind and I would rather be a vestibule to contain His essence in my consciousness than to consciously reside in the thoughts of ego driven men.”
It’s all there loved one. Search the Word as a Berean and confirm it. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11) And when you do you will bask in the Glory of the House of Yahweh within you. Then you will certainly proclaim, “For one day in Your courts is so much better!”
Taking Risks for Yahweh
Deep Exploration
(#276 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. (Proverbs 20:5)
Deep waters! This is a powerful metaphor. Have you ever been in the deep of the ocean? Almost all light is absorbed within the upper 200 meters. Only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth. There is barely any measurable light that can reach as far as 1,000 meters, in fact, so little that photosynthesis is not even possible. Below 1,000 meters, sunlight does not penetrate at all. That zone is bathed in total darkness. However, what does change considerably as you go deeper is the pressure. At sea level, the pressure on your body is 14.5 pounds per square inch (psi). For every ten meters you go deeper, the pressure increases by 14.5 psi. So, even though the change in perceptible light is negligible, the pressure change between 200 and 1,000 meters is eighty fold. And in the deepest ocean, the pressure is over 1,100 times that of the surface, or the equivalent 16,000 pounds per square inch on a human body. That would be equal to eight tons sitting on a surface little more than the size of a postage stamp. That’s a lot of pressure!
This magnitude of pressure creates risk, fear, and uncertainty for those daring enough to go there. The metaphor: the deeper you go the fewer men you will find have ever explored there. There are not many treasure hunters in the deepest places. Those who dare to go face all of the pressure and risk involved. But they go to seek the potentially remarkable payoff, “some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:8-9)
What is the increase in store for those who risk going deeper with Yahweh? What hidden treasures await you, if only you are willing to draw them out? I tell you, the treasures are the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.” (Matthew 13:11) You get it, right? To those who do not search, it has not been given. To those who do, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which the Almighty has prepared for those who love Him.” But the Almighty has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of the Mighty One. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
The pressure is always increased when we travel to the depths, and the journey reveals who we really are, who we have been created to be. What too often is our daily alternative to the pressure? We stay on the surface. Staying on the surface only supports the illusion. Remember, it all looks the same from the surface and that is the great deception. We are not who we pretend to be. Better yet, we don’t even realize how much we are pretending. It is far worse than we are willing to admit. Some of us attempt to go to the deep places in order to heal, only to be frightened by the realities we discover in the depths, the pressure. There is so much more beauty below the surface loved one; it is where He makes “known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.” (Ephesians 1:9) If you are willing to go there, you will see things never before seen and experience things never before experienced.
Search the deep things of Yahweh, to attain all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of the Almighty, both of the Father and of the Messiah, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2-3) Don’t give up. Don’t fear the pressure. Keep going back, little by little. Dive deeper each time, precept upon precept (Isaiah 28:13), remembering that the treasure hunters never dive alone. For safety, there is always a companion. And you know who it is; you are not alone. Go deep and find the treasures.
Substance vs. Substance
Substance vs. Substance
(#275 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Substance: the real matter of which a person or thing consists; matter which has a specific composition and specific properties.
Examples of Substance
The World: food and drink.
The Kingdom of Heaven: the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
The world has its fairy tales, its princes and princesses. Yes, My Kingdom also, but not as the world portrays. My princes serve; “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) My princesses labor; “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.” (Proverbs 31:27). The world raises its children to “follow their hearts,” while I raise My children to recognize that the unredeemed heart can never be trusted; “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). And this, of course, only until I have replaced it with Mine. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26).
My Kingdom has a different substance than the world. In My Kingdom every thought is righteous and, therefore, exudes My Spirit’s power. For the Kingdom of the Almighty is not eating and drinking [flesh], but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17) The manifestation of each thought, from the moment it is perceived, creates what is holy and true. So, if your mind still finds itself wrapped in the tentacles of that other world (eating and drinking), you will find that you are often led by emotion, rather than the truth of My Kingdom. True reality is My Kingdom; everything else is a shadow or an illusion. “The Kingdom of the Almighty does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the Kingdom of the Almighty is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21) It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
And so how will you train up (elevate) your mind and the mind of your children to this level of righteous thinking? Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) Your inheritance from Me includes your training. Will you train yourself in the kingdom of flesh (eating and drinking) or let Me train you in the Kingdom of Heaven (righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit)? My training for you begins in My Word. All Scripture is given by inspiration of the Mighty One, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of the Almighty may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
This training is most important in these last days because we were warned long ago that “the truth of Yahweh would be exchanged for lies!” (Romans 1:25) What will you do with your inheritance, and what are you saying to the world by your choices? Are you going to stay a child of the world and heir to its end? You must realize that “an heir, as long as he is a child [immature, ill-equipped], does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all.” (Galatians 4:1) Or will you act like a child of the promise, a true heir, under guardians and stewards (Galatians 4:2), being trained in “instructions in righteousness?” Is your mind ruled by Kingdom substance, spiritual understanding and wisdom? Or, are you still no different from a slave, bound to worldly substance, to eating and drinking? Are you free, or are you still enslaved by your ego, your emotions, feelings, and lustful passions?
I Am not fond of the world and its “fairy tales,” for in it “happiness” is the purpose of life. “My Kingdom is not of this world!” (John 18:36) My Kingdom is a place of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Feel the peace of Yahweh
Microwave
(#274 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them. (Proverbs 29:20)
As I stood at the microwave waiting for my coffee to heat, I realized how the microwave had exemplified my life. In the past, when I needed a minute of the microwave’s effort to heat something, I would have usually opened the door with at least fifteen seconds left on the clock. There was not time to wait the entire minute, even though I knew that one minute was necessary. Because I had to “go,” I settled for lukewarm coffee. I never really enjoyed the lukewarm coffee; yet, I got used to it, used to “not finished, but good enough.” My entire life back then could be summed up by my choices made at the microwave, my inability to wait the full minute. Even though a microwave is already a shortcut, and not even good for you, I still could not invest the nominal time needed to get the best outcome it had to offer. The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)
Today I am in prison. Prison has changed me. I laugh as I set the microwave for one minute. I use every last second. Everything will be as it should, once the minute is up. And the universe was just fine without me, for the entire minute. I often used to say, “Men can’t save men.” My lukewarm coffee proved I did not believe my own words. I had to “make it happen.” I had to “be the one.” Why? Was it for Him? No, it was all for my own purposes, all while pretending to be serving Him. I know better now. I still want to “do things” and “be the one.” But now I only want to do what He says and be the one who He wants me to be. Yahweh is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of Yahweh. (Lamentations 3:25-26)
So now I always ask first. I talk to my Father about everything and I hear His voice. “Heat your coffee Michael. Take as long as you need. We have time to discuss what I will require of you today.” The coffee tastes so much better these days. I have new goals, new dreams, and new convictions. In prison we only have a microwave. When I’m home again with my family, I will get rid of the microwave altogether and heat my coffee on the stove. Can you imagine that? Meanwhile, Yahweh and I have coffee every day now. Hot coffee together.
But as for me, I will look to Yahweh; I will wait for the Mighty One of my salvation; and my Mighty One will hear me. (Micah 7:7)