Tag Archives: Zachary Bauer
A peace beyond our understanding
Greater Measure
(#145 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me. (Psalm 18:19)
Father, you said seek Your face and I have sought. You know all of my thoughts and all of my intent. You are even teaching me more about myself than I ever knew. You knew it all when You thought of me before the foundations of the earth (Jeremiah 1:5).
I must verbalize this cry of my heart, this thing that burns within me. I will not let it go dormant. I need this record of it. As I have sought Your face, it has been with the understanding that all things are in Your hands. The timing, the journey, and the end result, everything is in Your hands. My cry to You Father is that I might see Your hands. What do they look like? When I am touched, are they Your hands that touch me? As I step over into “finding” You, how will I know I have found? Is there an event, an epiphany? Is the process of seeking the actual finding? I still desire more Father, which leads me to believe that there is so much more. There is so much more Father; isn’t there? I must confess that the “peace that surpasses understanding” (Philippians 4:7) is not what I feel. Is it even a feeling Father, or is it a state of being? Or is it both?
Father, I know I cannot strive for these things with impatience and worry. I know there is a proper pattern to finding You when I seek. At least I believe I know. There are moments when I fight for the peace and joy. There are moments I praise and worship even while in great pain. I believe I have figured out the difference between striving and obedience. I know that all that I am, or ever will be, depends on finding You. Would You grant me permission to go to a deeper place with You? I am now asking You Father; would You open more doors to Your garden of love and acceptance? I know I cannot receive unless I ask (Luke 11:10). So, I ask and am reminded that, all the promises of the Mighty One in Him [Yahshua] are “Yes”, and in Him “So be it,” to the glory of the Almighty through us. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
I know that You are already pleased with me, as You see me through Your Son’s resurrection, but I am not pleased with myself Father. I do not condemn myself, but I know I must seek until I find. I am not seeking to earn Your love; You have proved Your love to me. I know there is more of You, so I am seeking to find more. My obedience in this brings me power Father. It is in that power that I seek You now. Please Father, come to me in greater measure.
Understand Redemption!
Understand Redemption!
(#144 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. (Exodus 13:13)
And in this physical fulfillment, which is a shadow of the heavenly, the metaphysical meaning cries out to us. The donkey is an ignorant and stubborn beast. The lamb is a fearful and docile creature. The redemption, which is necessary, includes protection against a future fall. The players: ignorant, stubborn, fearful, docile, and of course the neck, which represents fall or decline.
I too am ignorant, stubborn, fearful, docile, and in a mental decline, unless redeemed. And with my needed redemption, I also desire the ability to never fall (decline) again. Are these not states of your conscious emotions before its redemption by the Spirit? Isn’t it sad that this remains the state of consciousness for so many, even after they have claimed to be “saved?” And because of each one’s own choice to “fall” from Yahweh, everything must be redeemed over and over again, right?
To the contrary, Yahweh’s redemption means that you actually have the option to never fall (declining thoughts) again. The broken neck actually ends the “decline.” This should be a permanent brokenness in which you are forever broken by a Spiritual redeeming.
Every thought (firstborn) must now be spiritually transformed. Yes, that means your ignorance, stubbornness, fearfulness, docility, and mental decline are forever eradicated. Each thought is now sanctified unto Yahweh as a sign, the first fruit of a redeemed mind if you will. Human “love?” Unacceptable! Yahweh’s love “never fails” (1 Corinthians 13), and is the only acceptable standard of love. Human “goodness?” Impossible! There is none whom are good without His Spirit (Psalm 14:1-3, Romans 3:10). Human “worthiness?” Yahweh says, “filthy rags!” (Isaiah 64:6) Worthiness through His Son is the only absolute. Listen to the Spirit loved one. Sacrifice every thought unto truth, as revealed by Him alone (Romans 12:1-2). If you do, very soon you shall find a completely redeemed mind within you, a saved mind! This is a mind with no consciousness of sin (Hebrews 9:14).
Who Is Blessed?
Break it Down
(#143 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Note from the editors: take a breath; clear your mind; and enjoy the ride!
Psalm 84:5-7
Blessed [favored] are those [the ones who follow the pattern] whose strength [power, provision, purpose] is in You [Abba], who have [without guessing, moving forward] set [like in concrete, steadfast] their hearts [minds] on a pilgrimage [advancing, moving, no rust, no moths]. As they pass [yes, they leave and move on] the Valley [low places] of Baca [weeping], they [the ones operating in Abba’s power] make it [create a new thing] a place of springs [life, abundance, real reality]; the autumn [falling] rains [Spirit outpouring] also [as well as, doubly] cover [sustain] it [the mind in the valley] with pools [abundant blessing, overflow]. They [the blessed ones] go [keep moving] from strength [trust in Yahweh] to strength [more trust in Yahweh, closer to perfection] till each appears [kneels] before the Mighty One [Yahweh] in Zion [un-obstruction, perfection, a pure mind].
Here is a powerful paraphrase for your edification:
Favored are the ones who follow the pattern, whose provision and purpose are in the Father, who move forward without guessing and with steadfast minds advance. They leave the lower place of weeping by operating in Abba’s power and create something new, a place of abundance; the Holy Spirit pouring out in double portion is what sustains their new thinking with abundant overflow and blessings. These blessed children of Yahweh continue to move from trusting in Yahweh to even more trust in Yahweh as they approach perfection, until each kneels before the Mighty One with a perfect, un-obstructed, pure mind.
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©)
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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©)
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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)
A Slave To Yahweh
No Options
(#140 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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One option! That is all you have. Freedom is having no other options. Is this not the true freedom I have for you? You have one choice, and that is to obey My commands! How quickly you test Me. I can hear your thoughts. “If I choose not to do Your will, then I can simply make my own choices, right?” It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But, you would never think like that, would you? Yes, My child, every day; every day you say this to Me. Your disobedience says it all. The death of My Son says it. What do you think the shed blood was for?
Fill in the blanks in the scripture I have given you. Are you ready?
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient [____________], you are [____________] of the one you obey—whether you are [____________] to sin, which leads to death, or [____________] to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)
Yes, slaves, slaves, slaves, and slaves! Read it aloud to Me. Fill in the blanks and read it over and over.
Because I know you and because I created you, I offer this consolation. My slaves are free! My slaves love! My slaves hope! My slaves grow! My slaves learn to adore their Master with all of their being! My slaves learn what freedom truly is! Won’t you come and learn from Me? Won’t you be My slave?
Yahweh Wants Your Heart
I Cry Out For the Little Ones
(#138 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” All men are like grass and their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of Yahweh blows on them. Surely people are like grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the words of the Mighty One endure forever. (Isaiah 40:6-8)
Your Word shall endure forever Father. Yes, You have said to me, “Those who hope in Me will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
I listen to Your whisper Abba; You say, “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths; I will guide them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)
My soul clings to these words, these words of life, these words of redemption. I too am a dad. I need Your atonement so that I might return to my young ones. As I need You, they need me. As You are teaching me to need only You, I too will teach them that they need only You. So many things You need to teach my soul. So many things I need to teach theirs. As I finally come to You in a truly authentic way, a way like never before, bring me back to them to show them how to also be authentic before You. I know that You know what it means to be a Father who gives the only kind of love possible, the love that never fails. How will the little ones know what it looks like lest their dad teaches them? Because Your love never fails, I know that You will allow me to teach my children what that looks like. I rest in that.
Inner Peace Acting Out
Inner Peace, Acting Out
(#136 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Am I not He who guides and protects you? Did I not appoint Malakim (mind messengers) to minister to your going out and your coming in? (Hebrews 1:14) Let Me be perfectly clear with you. I will work on everything on the outside, while you work on the inside. “Seek first”, My Spirit has spoken to you (Matthew 6:33). Am I not your Almighty Father? Is My strong arm not sufficient to cast away all of your foes? Am I not adequate to orchestrate the outcome of every situation on your behalf?
Listen to Me child! Your decisions; your acting out; and all the things you do to influence outcomes on your own; are evidence of a lack of faith. You attempt to control relationships, dreams, business deals, and the results in all situations and circumstances of your life, shouts so loudly that you cannot hear Me saying, “Be still and know that I am the Mighty One.” (Psalm 46:10) How quickly you act and react. “Please let this (whatever ‘this’ is) fall into place”, you beg of Me, before you even seek My will. All the hopes, all the efforts, “all the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied.” (Ecclesiastes 6:7)
Here is another unchangeable pattern for you. Listen closely! I will work on outside circumstances; you work on the inside. Synchronicity is what I desire. If you believe that I have all things in My control, then you have but one duty. Find out where I Am leading you and follow. I Am talking about inner peace, peace in all your decisions. Will I not tell you all things to come (John 16:13)? Am I a man that I should lie? Let inner peace be the language between us. How quickly you’ve run off without Me in the past. When you get ahead of yourself you are really only wandering away from Me. I Am the source for all good things in your life. I have the answers for all of your desires.
Synchronicity! Slow down and listen for guidance. Only after you hear My voice should you act. When you have My peace, then must you go.
Self-Sufficiency
Self-Sufficiency
(#135 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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I must become perpetually weak (not reliant on “self”) to become perpetually strong (reliant on Him alone). Weak and meek equals strong! (2 Corinthians 12:10) However, the natural inclination (ego-centered desire) is to say, “I need to be strong!” This is not the proper pattern, however. Look to the One who was spat on, bruised, afflicted, and murdered. And He endured all of these for the “joy set before Him.” (Hebrews 12:2) To redeem men, He became nothing. He did not become strong in the flesh, but mighty in the Spirit!
But, what of my “natural talents?” Aren’t I to use my gifts? The better question to ask yourself is about the motivation of your actions. Is the power you have been given to fulfill your own agendas? Here is the crux of the issue; are your agendas meant to satisfy your “self”? Dare we slowdown to be certain that our agendas line up with our Creator’s? They have always been His talents, His gifts. In the past, quick and decisive actions were taken without considering a question such as this; “Father, what do You want me to do with the abilities that You gave me?”
He took everything from me in order to perpetually sear this question into the center of my intellect. Everything that was not of Him was shaken to the core, removed! It did not need to happen that way. It did not “NEED” to happen that way! Get it? Anything not done of and by Him, fails. It will be removed; it will backfire. “The removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” (Hebrews 12:27)
Judgment begins in His house (the center of your conscience). Yes, that means you; before anyone else is judged, you will be judged. You will be first in line. (1 Peter 4:17) So much was given and so much is expected. Take me seriously. Stop! Slow down! Reconcile! Be repentant! Then, He promises to dine with you in a love feast of perpetual rejoicing (Rev 3:19-21). Turn back now. You will do so either way, forced or willingly. His love promises you will.
I know that everything the Almighty does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. The Mighty One does it so that people will fear Him. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
When We Lift Our Hands
When We Lift Our Hands
(#134 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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When we lift our hands to You Abba, what do we really intend? Are we worshipping? Do we really mean it? Is it possible to be filled with fears and doubt, and yet worship? Do You receive the worship of doubting people? How can we say we worship and adore You, but not trust You?
So very few of Your children live a life filled with power and grace. Is this why they hold up hands to You? Are they trying to pull something down from You, something deeply lacking in themselves? I ask again Abba; how can we worship You, but not truly trust You? Find me the man who says he does. Yes, Your Son is our comparison. How many raise their hands begging for mercy? This seems an appropriate reason to hold up holy hands. Is that worship Father? It seems like desperation. Is desperation power Father? Do we really believe Yahshua died for us? At times, it ironically seems more tangible to believe it was for Abraham, Moses or even Paul. Is it really for us?
Where are the ones who are anointed by Your touch Father, the ones who have lost their lives and found You? There are so few. Why Abba? Why? Your promises are for all of us who say we believe, correct? Forgive us for the mixed message we send, as we raise hands with doubt in our hearts. Help us believe, to believe in Your promises through Your Son and Your Ruach (Spirit). Grant us the faith of a mustard seed Abba (Matthew 13:31-32, 17:20). Birth belief in us Father, true belief. Make it real to us so we can move mountains (Mark 11:23). Prepare our hearts (minds) to suffer well for it. Help us to die to “self” so that we might offer genuine worship, for worship’s sake, and also for those who wonder about the faith of all who claim to believe what they so passionately preach, and seemingly, so strongly affirm.