Pride or Humility

70,000 Dead

(#244 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

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Satan stood up against Israyl, and moved David to take a census of Israyl. . . David said to the Almighty, “Isn’t it I who commanded the people to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand, O Yahweh Almighty, be against me, and against my father’s house; but not against Your people, that they should be plagued.” (1 Chronicles 21:1, 17)

Have you ever been responsible for the death of another, not to mention 70,000 people? David condemned them when he succumbed to the temptation; “Satan (the adversarial will in opposition to Yahweh’s will) stood up against Israyl, and moved David to take a census (dependency upon personal power and might) of Israyl.” Translation: David was motivated by his own ego (“self” determination and reliance). Even after he was warned (Verse 3), “Why does my master require this thing? Why will he be a cause of guilt to Israyl?” he still chose sin.

Don’t you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? (Romans 6:16) David, the King of Israyl, servant of the Almighty, man after Yahweh’s own heart, and the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8), chose sin. David is well known for his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, her husband. But, rarely do we hear of his responsibility for the deaths of these seventy thousand.

This very same man, who gives us such hope with his genuine repentance; Have mercy on me; Against You, and You only, have I sinned; Create in me a clean heart (Psalm 51); was a slave to his own desires, a servant of sin. You are the servants of whomever you obey.

Now consider the thousands who died; would you be so inclined to see him as a pillar of faith if your loved one was one of his victims? Would you still read his words and be encouraged by them? Would you follow him if he was your “king” today?

Maybe a better way to ask is this. Do you see what Yahweh sees? Confession: “I am the one who sinned.” And intersession: “Please let Your hand be against me, but not against Your people.” Or do you overlook the heart (mental disposition) and see only what man sees, the consequences of sin; “Seventy thousand dead” (Verse 14)?

Who are you to judge? Does your true nature long to condemn others? Do you condemn others to make your “self” feel better about you? Learn from this, loved one. His fire is coming; you will be tried; you will be tested. If you’d rather have the short version of the test, then humble yourself. If you see yourself as a diamond with no flaws, step down from your self-made soap box.

The Father knows you are a diamond in the rough, in other words, a piece of coal. It takes a lot of “pressure” to turn coal into a diamond. The pressure will “squeeze” you and expose what is inside. Take your eyes off of everyone else’s sin. Get your focus back on you. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:31) If you do, there may just be hope for you yet.

Let him put his mouth in the dust, there might yet be hope! (Lamentations 3:29)

The Word of Yahweh

Bread Alone?

(#243 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

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No My child, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Mighty One.” (Matthew 4:4) For those who have been pruned in great tribulation, the significance of such a declaration takes on new meaning. When you are poured out like a drink offering, when your strength alone will no longer do, you must rather hold fast to the Word of life, so that you may rejoice in the day of the Messiah (Philippians 2:16-17).

Bread alone? Temporal provision satisfying your every need? This strength you have come to rely on, this so called “bread,” has you hanging on by a thread. Holding tight to this false security, much like a child clutches his blankie for safety and familiarity, will keep you from ever receiving your full inheritance. As long as the heir is a child, he does not differ from a slave, though he is master of all. (Galatians 4:1)

When faced with trials, if you habitually manage the strife with your own power, wisdom, and insight, it is imperative that I expose your true poverty. I command you not to lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6), for it inevitably leads to decisions which depend upon your own strength, and this will never do. I will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught (Proverbs 3:26). If I desired that you depend on yourself, then why did I sacrifice My Son? And the truth is, My Spirit in you has already testified this to you. Yet, you ignore it with your sacrifice, which often looks like “struggling to do it on your own.” I desire obedience, not sacrifice! (1 Samuel 15:22)

When you receive the revelation that “bread alone” will not preserve life, and very often I must take away your bread for you to embrace this revelation, all that is left is My provision. Then My Word becomes your only source of nourishment. My patterns cannot be changed. My Word comes before anything; I have magnified My Word even above My Name (Psalm 138:2). Consider it like oxygen; although you can still breathe on “bread alone,” true life comes from the “breath” of My Word.

There must be a crossing over. You see loved one, there is a difference between the one who spends an hour with Me daily, due to sacrifice, and the one who communes with Me perpetually out of love and adoration. Yes, like the baby on milk, obedience is taught first, so afterwards true love can emerge. If you need to go back to milk, then do so. Even then, your effort will be blessed. Remember, I desire obedience (thoughts bound to reverence) over sacrifice (thoughts bound to burdens)!

It is only after you embrace this revelation that you can help others to receive what is intended for them. So, consider My words, the true delicacies of life, eternal delicacies. Then come away with Me, My loved one, and dine on all I have for you (Song of Solomon 2:10).

Blessed by Suffering

Beautiful Affliction

(#242 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

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Yet it was Yahweh’s will [it pleased Yahweh] to crush Him, and cause Him to suffer [bear sickness], and though Yahweh makes His life an offering for sin [guilt], He [Yahshua] will see His offspring [seed] and prolong His days, and the will [pleasure] of Yahweh will prosper in His hand. (Isaiah 53:10)

Yes loved one; when this Priest [Yahshua] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Almighty. (Hebrews 10:12) He is the last sacrifice, the full atonement for your sins. He is your life-giver and your redemption (permission to renew your conscience to perfection). You seem to comprehend this at times, to actually live like you believe it; your obedience is how I gauge this. May I share something with you about the process? Perhaps this will help you develop a stronger desire to know Me, and therefore a stronger desire to obey.

Today child, it is the “crushing” I would like to discuss with you. Could have I chosen another method to perfect you, another “modus operandi,” a different pattern for purification? If I wanted, couldn’t I have simply allowed My Son to come and teach? I could have planned for Him to stay with you for many years, even centuries to show you My ways, no? Or, could have I simply programmed My creation to obey Me at all times? Yes, all of these options, and more, were available. So, why then do I, instead, choose the “crushing method” for your perfecting? Because it is the suffering that made My Son perfect (Hebrews 2:10). And Remember what [He] told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted [Him], they will persecute you also. (John 15:20) Therefore, do not invalidate the suffering process when the pattern shows up in your own life.

Yes, I did say that My Son was the last sacrifice for sin for all time, but I did not say that I would no longer use suffering to align My people with their destiny (James 1:2-4). Quite the opposite; it is in the suffering that the dross (all mental “self” reliance) is removed. “For it has been granted [gifted] to you on behalf of the Messiah, not only to believe upon Him [Yahweh], but also to suffer on behalf of Him [Yahweh].” (Philippians 1:29) It is in the suffering that purity is birthed. It is I who make all decrees, to bless or to afflict. Even if I choose to use evil to prune you, then so be it! And don’t be so hasty to assume that evil is some “outside force” and not a tool of revelation exposing the evil that resides within you loved one. Yes, the crushing and chastening are Mine!

Why would My way seem so harsh? You would not think it cruel if you embraced that My chosen methods always represent pure love My child. No more of your double-mindedness! Reckon this as truth; I only do good on behalf of My children, and therefore the suffering is to bring about good. I have said it before; this is a never-changing, ever-present pattern on the narrow road to perfection.

Now you should be thinking, “If I align with Your ways Father, then I would be able to see that suffering inevitably brings holiness into my life, and therefore serves good for those called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). And that would mean I should suffer well.” Exactly, My loved one. Embrace My “modus operandi,” My way of doing things. When your mind comes to peace with such thoughts, you are prepared to sail to the heights, finding the life I have always intended for you. Trust Me, you will get there; your suffering ensures it.

Yes, the only way to perfection is through suffering, so suffer well loved one. Suffer well.

Giving up everything you own

A Hard Saying

(#241 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

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If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. And anyone who does not carry his own stake and follow Me cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26-27)

Read it again!

Be still in your soul My child, and listen to Me. If I gave you revelation about whom and what in your life are your greatest priorities, it would be brutally convicting. I Am grace and mercy, but I Am also truth and judgment. If I took everything from you today, whether in a whirlwind, or in what men call an “accident,” it would reveal so much about you. It would show in what and in whom you place your trust. Trust in the flesh (any thought fueled by the personal will) always plants you in parched places; trust in Me and you are like a tree (truth) planted by many waters (Jeremiah 17:5-8).

If I took everything you value in your physical world, who would I be to you then? “Cruel,” is what I often hear. Is that what you would say as well, loved one? Would I still be the “Mighty One” to you? Would I still be “Loving Father?” The truth says so much about your love for Me, about who and what really comes first in your life? In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything [utterly forsake dependency upon your own understanding] cannot be My disciples. (Luke 14:33) It is good that I challenge you to consider such things.

“Who do you say I Am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living Mighty One.” Yahshua replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 16:15-17)

Now read from Luke 14:26 all the way to the end of the chapter, and talk to Me. Let’s really talk about who I Am to you, and in this you will receive your heavenly revelation.

We are nothing without Yahweh

Certainly Imputed

(#239 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

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Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But the Almighty chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; the Almighty chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. The Almighty chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in the Messiah Yahshua, who has become for us wisdom from the Almighty —that is, our righteousness, set-apartness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in Yahweh.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

If any of you are wise, if any of you have understanding, then let this mind be in you. What mind? The mind that understands and accepts that no goodness, effort, esteem, talent, or gifting is of you (“self” created). If you are “good,” you were made so by the spilling of blood. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights. (James 1:17) Everything you have been given, anything that helps you excel, has been given to do one thing. And what is that one thing? To serve for good. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of the Almighty, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in the Messiah Yahshua for good works, which the Almighty prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

To help this one thing become real to you, let me suggest a short prayer to repeat over and over until this truth becomes part of your DNA. “Father, I recognize that all of my talents; all of my gifts; all of my skills; as well as my generosity and wisdom; anything that is good in me; comes from You! None of it is actually mine. It was given to me by You, O Yahweh, for one purpose, and that is to honor You. May my life glorify You.”

If this is real to you, then repeat one more prayer: “Father, thank you for the spilled blood of Yahshua. Forgive me for not remembering the truth. Forgive me for robbing You of Your esteem. Set my heart (center of intellect) and soul (emotional character) into a right relationship with You. Remind me daily why I have anything good in my life.”

You are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify Yahweh in your body and in your spirit, which are the Almighty’s. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Yes, remember that. Have that mind in you. It is a dangerous thing to forget the proper order of things, to forget the price that was paid so you could be what you are. It would be a fearful thing to be reminded with a Heavenly chastening. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of the Almighty underfoot, counted the blood of the Covenant by which He was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says Yahweh. And again, “Yahweh will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Mighty One. (Hebrews 10:29-31)

Listen very closely loved one. Quiet your mind and listen. The amount of mental strife you suffer is directly related to your belief in the delusional non-reality that there is some personal (self-achieved) “good” in you, and that you are worthy of anything from anyone. Your lust for personal vindication, in any area of life (conscious activity), is a denial of the Sovereignty of Yahweh! Make the shift!

Consider every day a wonderful new journey. Shout to your Savior; “I want to be the best Your blood could buy; And I want to honor the reality that I was created to glorify You.” So be it!

No Excuse for your Sin

“Everyone’s a Sinner!” Ministry or Death Blow?

(#238 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

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Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34)

With every statement, a mindset is revealed. What is in you will ultimately “overflow” from you. Whatever is brewing in the heart eventually erupts into words spoken. We explored recently that “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.” (Luke 6:45) Your inner thoughts or mental disposition is always mirrored by your verbal exposition. Yes indeed, your words expose your mind’s intent, for out of the abundance of your heart your mouth speaks. Are you a viper, or do you bring forth good?

If you believe that you are unworthy of forgiveness; that the burden of your personal sin is overwhelming; and that redemption is not possible; to you I say, “All have sinned and fall short!” (Romans 3:23) and, “While you were still a sinner, the Messiah died for you.” (Romans 5:8) This is the spiritual antidote that is meant to soothe the suffering, humbled soul. Humility is the reason these words actually penetrate the conscience of the sinner. The humble soul knows they need a remedy and appreciates that true repentance brings forgiveness. Their heart is ripe to bring forth good.

However, if you continue to sin and justify your actions with excuses and lies like, “Everyone’s a sinner!” “I’m covered by the blood!” and “No one is perfect!” sin has not only crouched at your doorstep (Genesis 4:7), it has made its way into the deep recesses of your conscious and subconscious mind, and taken over. Your sin is literally telling the Messiah, “Listen, if You died for all my sins, then just add this one to the list; it’s covered!” This is an arrogant, irreverent, and boisterous mind indeed. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries [ego-driven thoughts]. (Hebrews 10:26-27)

Which mindset dwells within you? How far will you push Yahweh’s grace? “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more…?” (Romans 5:20) Can you push so far that you might not be permitted to turn back? The answer is simple; the answer is Scriptural. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)

There is only Light and darkness loved one. There is no variation or shadow of turning with the Father of lights (perfect mental illuminations). (James 1:17) There are no gray (compromised) areas (thought plains) in His Kingdom. In the end, in your eternal destiny, you are either Light or darkness. Nothing in the middle exists.

Taking Drugs in any form. What does God say

Taking Drugs in any form. What does God say

Here is the link to the video of the mind of Messiah

Let His Mind be in you

Treasure of the Heart

(#237 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

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Watch over your heart with all diligence, for out of it flows the sources of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Hebrew is a language of action. Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Almighty, Yahweh is One! You shall love Yahweh your Mighty One with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) The first word of this key verse, quoted by Yahshua Himself in Mark 12:29, is very revealing. “Hear” in Hebrew, shamah, pronounced (shaw-mah’), implies to hear, listen to, and to obey. Moses and Yahshua are not recommending an intellectual exercise; the instruction is to “hear and obey” the command. It involves a response: it requires action to be fulfilled. We are supposed to think about what we hear from Yahweh, and then we are supposed to do something about it.

Heart and mind—these are one and the same in the Scriptures. The heart of a matter is one of thought and it is from the mind that life manifests. The thoughts of a man precede his actions. Hear and do! However, the heart of a man can devise both righteousness and wickedness. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45) So, actions literally materialize from the treasure of a man’s heart, or in other words, the thoughts upon which he dwells.

Be warned loved one; the Word of the Mighty One will judge the thoughts and intents of your heart (Hebrews 4:12). With the tongue we praise our Mighty One, and with it we curse human beings, who have been created in the Mighty One’s image. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. (James 3:9-10) Therefore, you must guard your heart (mind) with all your strength. How so? Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to the Mighty One; and the peace of the Almighty, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts [center of intellect, intentions] and souls [character in consciousness] through the Messiah Yahshua. (Philippians 4:6-7)

But, that is just the beginning; there is an even higher calling, beyond guarding your center of intellect and character. It is a place where your awareness of impure thoughts is cleansed altogether. How much more, then, will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to Yahweh, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living Mighty One! (Hebrews 9:14) This is a place in which even the thought of sinning is not conceived.

Yahshua is our model; though He was tempted (constantly aware of self desire), He never conceived [thinking “not my will”] and therefore never even entertained evil desires (James 1:15). His mind remained pure through utter self denial and you are promised the same inheritance loved one. For this reason the Messiah is the mediator of a renewed Covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15) You have the mind of the Messiah. (1 Corinthians 2:16) In Him, you have been called to righteousness and have been given the power, through the Spirit, to reach this high calling. He has done His part; the rest is up to you. No one who is born of the Mighty One will continue to sin, because Yahweh’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of the Mighty One. (1 John 3:9)

Life springs forth from the heart (center of intellect) and therefore makes the soul (feelings, entire consciousness) merry.

Trust In Yahweh

Ba’al-perazim

(#236 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

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So David went to Ba’al Perazim, and David defeated them [the rolling, deviating thoughts; Philistines] there. And he said, “Yahweh has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water. Therefore he called the name of that place Ba’al Perazim (2 Samuel 5:20)

This is yet another prophetic declaration from the mouth of the man after Yahweh’s own heart. He called that place Ba’al Perazim, the “Master of the breakthrough.” Meditate on that loved one. Yahweh is the Master of the breakthrough. And as it was with King (dominant thoughts) David (praise), so shall it be with his descendants (thoughts that precede praise).

If His word is true, then how long will the congregation sing “The battle belongs to Yahweh,” and still whimper and retreat at the first sign of trouble? A new paradigm in your mind must be established; it is a crossing over to a new place. The new reality to embrace is that you actually become everything you speak. Your words are always the fruit of your thoughts and they have the power of creation. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7) Remember Genesis, “And the Almighty said…” It is the mandate that Yahweh spoke all things into being. Perhaps this is one reason we are warned to measure our words carefully. Do not be hasty with your mouth, and let not your heart hurry to bring forth a word before the Almighty. For the Almighty is in the heavens, and you on earth, therefore let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2)

Our Creator was well aware of our capacity to sing of His power with one breath, and use the next to run from our enemies at the first sign of trouble. Be of good cheer however; He promises you the same testimony as David. “My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.” (Psalm 92:11) Yahweh is the Master of breakthrough. But in our example we see that the breakthrough came because, in faith, “David went!” Praise went forth loved one, to the place where Yahweh would defeat all enemies (ego driven ideas), no matter what! The righteous [right thinking] shall live by faith, but if anyone draws back, My being has no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10:38)

Go to where you are called, even if that means running toward your enemies (1 Samuel 17:48); don’t draw back. For the eyes of Yahweh diligently search throughout all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9) Yahweh is searching for that perfect heart and this requires a transformation of your mind. On this journey to the mind of the Messiah (1 Corinthians 2:16), you must let your words be few, diligently take each thought captive, and carefully measure everything against the Word of the Almighty and the testimony of our Savior. Do this; don’t draw back; then you will have your breakthrough.

Please Listen

Cling Tight

(#235 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)

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He put his trust in Yahweh, the Mighty One of Israyl, and after him was none like him among all the sovereigns of Judea, nor who were before him, and he clung to Yahweh. He did not turn away from following Him, but guarded His commands, which Yahweh had commanded Moses. And Yahweh was with him – wherever he went he acted wisely [prospered wherever he went]. And he rebelled against the sovereign of Assyria [the intellect focused on worldly prosperity] and did not serve him. (2 Kings 18:5-7)

Hezekyah (Hezekiah) understood. He embraced the true reality that the most important element in the walk of faith in the Most High was to “cling to Him tightly!” His testimony in 2. Kings itself speaks of Hezekyah’s obedience to the word of Yahweh, his clinging to Yahweh’s commands. It’s as if his life was a living testimony of Deuteronomy 30:15-20. Choose life; love Yahweh; obey His voice; cling to Him! The outcome: He will multiply and prosper you. The alternative: turn away; close your ears; worship self made idols; and “you shall surely perish.”

Hezekyah (the recognition of inner “strength” given by Yahweh), like all good kings, knew that the enemies he would face, the opposition that would come against him, would simply be too powerful for him alone. Hezekyah understood that to be a righteous king, his foremost responsibility was to remove all idol worship (ego driven devotion), and fight to trust in Yahweh Almighty alone. He was walking in the steps of the king after the Almighty’s own heart; “In You, O Yahweh, do I put my trust.” (Psalm 71:1)

What sounds so simple and basic is indeed a paramount task in the life of a king; so many before him had failed. The “pleasures” of the world and the influences of man had torn down many kingdoms of those who came before. Kingdoms that were intended to flourish and take dominion simply vanished at the hand of disobedient kings. Yes indeed, Hezekyah understood that his actions would affect the entire kingdom, and he had a reverent fear because of that reality.

How many of us simply go throughout our days and years, numb to the fact that our actions, as royal priests (1 Peter 2:9), affect the entire body of the Messiah, and that our lives do impact the Kingdom? Please recall; “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)

We somehow believe that our “secret sins” aren’t noticed by our Creator, and don’t affect other believers. This is a strong delusion that runs throughout the body and must be done away with. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. (Luke 8:17)

The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; give me understanding, and I shall live. (Psalm 119:144) This is the cry of a heart that clings tightly to the hem of His garment, “taking every thought captive unto obedience (2 Corinthians 10:5),” as did the Messiah. And one who possesses such a heart (center of intellect) then proceeds in that obedience with a reverent and awestruck wonder of Yahweh. This is the life of success. This is the life that is continually guarded and protected from all enemies. This is the heart of the child that knows Daddy will provide. “Daddy is the authority, and I do what Daddy says!” A very wise and obedient thought indeed.