Who's on Your Dinner Guest List?

Who Are Your Dinner Guests?
by py thomas
© November 18, 2013

 

Who do we break bread with?  Just who are our dining guests?  If you’re a Follower of Yeshua (Jesus), we need to consider this – not leaning to our own understanding, but acknowledging ADONAI in ALL of our ways – including those who we eat with.

The challenge for the Beloved (those sons and daughters in the blood covenant of salvation through Yeshua (Jesus)) is our willingness to obey the commandment of YHVH that the Apostle Paul directs us to that comes from Deuteronomy 13:6(5); 17:7,12; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21, 24; 24:7.  We say the Law (Torah) no longer applies except in those instances when it’s self-serving (for example in tithes and offerings, calling our children and/or spouses to obedience, or when someone has stolen from us, etc.).  However, those who have truly studied the full counsel of YHVH’s Word, know this is not so.   (But that’s a discussion for another day).   

The purpose of this post is to draw our attention to that uncomfortable topic of sexual immorality, greedy people, thieves, people who like to get drunk, abusive people, and idol worshippers (people who worship people, carved images, money, fame, success, sports, hobbies, etc.).  Why is it so uncomfortable?  Well, it’s because so many of us (and I’m only addressing the Followers of Yeshua (Jesus)) have either been involved in sexual immorality, or we’re currently involved in some type of sexual immorality, or any of the other aforementioned sins.  Yes, sins.  (Sins  by the way is the real 4-letter word we should all take time to examine in ourselves.  Selah.)

In the Body of Messiah, we are supposed to discern right from wrong based on the sovereign authority of Adonai Elohim from His Word.  We like to quote 2 Timothy 3:16-18:

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; ¹⁷ thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-18)

Thus if t ALL scripture is given by the Spirit of ADONAI (G-D), then all means we’re on the hook for obeying ALL of it. 

Further, folks (especially the convicted and/or guilty Followers of Yeshua (Jesus)), are quick to say “you can’t judge me.”  However, clearly the Apostle Paul calls us to consider that we are indeed to discern/judge sin amongst each other within the Body of the Messiah.   

¹² For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Isn’t it those who are part of the community that you should be judging? ¹³ God will judge those who are outside. Just expel the evildoer from among yourselves.  (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)

It is Adonai Elohim who will deal with those on the outside – those who have not come to faith in Yeshua and/or have rejected Yeshua.  (Remember we too were once numbered among that crowd until we heard and believed the Good News of Yeshua.).  But in our judging of the Beloved, we should be mindful that it is NOT our job to sentence and punish, but to turn them over to the Righteous Judge ELOHIM and allow Him to deal with them.   Our job is to stand apart from the sexual immoral, the thieves, the greedy, the drunks, the idol worshippers, and the abusive ones.  As a matter of fact, we’re told not to even eat with those that do these things (sackcloth & ashes – how we ALL need to repent).

⁹ In my earlier letter I wrote you not to associate with people who engage in sexual immorality. ¹⁰ I didn’t mean the sexually immoral people outside your community, or the greedy, or the thieves or the idol-worshippers — for then you would have to leave the world altogether! ¹¹ No, what I wrote you was not to associate with anyone who is supposedly a brother but who also engages in sexual immorality, is greedy, worships idols, is abusive, gets drunk or steals. With such a person you shouldn’t even eat! (1 Corinthians 5:9-11)

I recognize that obeying this will mean we suddenly find ourselves in a small group of friends and acquaintances, of those who are like-minded.  We are told however to live a consecrated life – to “come out from among them, and be separate.”  The other good news is that when we stand apart from our brothers or sisters in Yeshua bound up in sin and PRAY for them, the Holy Spirit is more than able to deal with them and restore them.  Yeshua reminds of us this truth in (John 16:5-10).  Our job is NOT TO BEAT THEM UP, but to tell them what YHVH’s Word says, and leave them in His capable hands.  Godly sorrow will yield repentance if we’re willing to step away and allow the Holy Spirit to deal with the brother or sister in error.

⁵ “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ ⁶ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹ of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John 16:5-10)

1 Corinthians 5:1-13:

5 It is actually being reported that there is sexual sin among you, and it is sexual sin of a kind that is condemned even by pagans — a man is living with his stepmother! ² And you stay proud? Shouldn’t you rather have felt some sadness that would have led you to remove from your company the man who has done this thing? ³ For I myself, even though I am absent physically, am with you spiritually; and I have already judged the man who has done this as if I were present. ⁴ In the name of the Lord Yeshua, when you are assembled, with me present spiritually and the power of our Lord Yeshua among us, ⁵ hand over such a person to the Adversary for his old nature to be destroyed, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.

⁶ Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know the saying, “It takes only a little hametz (leaven )to leaven a whole batch of dough?” ⁷ Get rid of the old hametz (leaven), so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach (Passover) lamb, the Messiah, has been sacrificed. ⁸ So let us celebrate the Seder (feast) not with leftover hametz (leaven), the hametz (leaven) of wickedness and evil, but with the matzah (bread) of purity and truth.

⁹ In my earlier letter I wrote you not to associate with people who engage in sexual immorality. ¹⁰ I didn’t mean the sexually immoral people outside your community, or the greedy, or the thieves or the idol-worshippers — for then you would have to leave the world altogether! ¹¹ No, what I wrote you was not to associate with anyone who is supposedly a brother but who also engages in sexual immorality, is greedy, worships idols, is abusive, gets drunk or steals. With such a person you shouldn’t even eat! ¹² For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Isn’t it those who are part of the community that you should be judging? ¹³ God will judge those who are outside. Just expel the evildoer from among yourselves.^[a]

Footnotes:

1. 1 Corinthians 5:13 Deuteronomy 13:6(5); 17:7,12; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21, 24; 24:7

The Watchers & Talkers - An Audience of Many

The Audience of Many – Not to Humiliate But to Generate What?

by py thomas
© November 14, 2013

Meditation on Psalm 40

“…my ears You have opened.” (Psalm 40:6)

PREFACE:  When the Beloved Obey & Help the Wounded Warriors.  While going through a 2-day period of testing, I was encouraged by my youngest blood sibling (and brother in Yeshua too) to tune out the noise of the Adversary the Devil; and tune-in and listen to worship music (which I did).   While doing that, another brother in Yeshua sought ADONAI on my behalf and was told to tell me to meditate on Psalms 40 (which I also did).

This is day two and the conclusion of the matter of what the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) has opened my ears to hear.  I pray that the revelation and comfort I have received will encourage and comfort you too.

I’m thankful for the Spirit of Adonai  to be mindful of me and send His instructions through my two brothers in Yeshua, who both OBEYED and told me what was needed; and even more so, I’m thankful that Adonai opened my ears so I could hear and immediately OBEY.  Truly “obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22, Acts 17:11).

The Fruit of the Spirit – Wisdom & Understanding.  This is what meditating on Psalms 40 has birthed in me…

I waited patiently for ADONAI;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
² He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
³ He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in ADONAI. (Psalm 40:1-3)

The Formation of the Witness & Witnesses of Tests & Trials.  If many will see my deliverance, it goes to reason there are many who have seen my afflictions.  Those who have seen my afflictions scratch their heads and wonder, “How could this happen?  She says she serves ADONAI, and yet she’s going through so much.” Or the accusing, critical finger pointing ones will say, “She must have some unrepented sin in her life – some secret sin she is being punished for, or she’s not really saved…I thought she was a “Christian.”   Or for those who know that I follow Yeshua (Jesus); and now keep Adonai’s Sabbath, feasts and commandments, take occasion to mock with spoken and unspoken comments, “That’s what happens to those who seek to obey His Torah (the impossible thing) and now she’s missing out on God’s grace and freedoms.”   Trust me, I’ve heard them all, just as Yeshua (Jesus), Job, Jacob, David, the prophets, apostles, disciples and for Followers of Yeshua (Jesus) overall.

So what do we say to these things?  The Scriptures answer and say,

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Be encouraged to know that it is during the season on hoping and waiting on ADONAI, that He is assembling the audience to witness and see His miraculous and majestic works to those who have put their hope and trust in El Elyon – the Most High God. 

Therefore, having been declared right by belief, we have peace with Elohim through our Master Yeshua the Messiah, ²through whom also we have access by belief into this favour in which we stand, and we exult in the expectation of the esteem of Elohim. ³And not only this, but we also exult in pressures, knowing that pressure works endurance; ⁴and endurance, approvedness; and approvedness, expectation. ⁵And expectation does not disappoint, because the love of Elohim has been poured out in our hearts by the Set-apart Spirit which was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 – The Scriptures Bible)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 - NKJV)

So, since we have come to be considered righteous by God because of our trust, let us continue to have shalom with God through our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. ² Also through him and on the ground of our trust, we have gained access to this grace in which we stand; so let us boast about the hope of experiencing God’s glory. ³ But not only that, let us also boast in our troubles; because we know that trouble produces endurance, ⁴ endurance produces character, and character produces hope; ⁵ and this hope does not let us down, because God’s love for us has already been poured out in our hearts through the Ruach HaKodesh who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 - CJB)

Now that the audience  of many has been assembled by ADONAI, just what will these witnesses see when YHVH fully establishes my steps? 

1. They will see that truly it IS a GOOD THING to wait patiently on ADONAI

2. They will see that hope in YHVH does not disappoint

3.  They will see that there is no situation so horrendous that He is not able to deliver, rescue and restore – even from the lowest points of our lives – utter destitution

4.  They will see and hear great rejoicing and praises of thanksgiving being given to ADONAI

5.  Many will take note, and consider their wicked ways and rethink their walk before YHVH – they will have cause to repent.

The Transfer of Hope to Us.  Psalm 40:7-8.  What will be written of us in Elohim’s books?  As for me, I have chosen to delight in doing YHVH’s will, and now with the understanding that the audience of many is for His testimony and glory, and not my humiliation.   It is the fully surrendered and obedient life that I find  delight.  Why?  Because ADONAI has opened my ears  and has written His Torah (Law – i.e. instructions for Godly living) written on my heart to the point that I live it out loud.  Even in those times when I stumble and fall short, like David, Adonai gives me the strength to get back up and press forward the prize – that I will trust Adonai as David’s witness has encouraged me to; and that my witness will birth other witnesses to the testimonies of ELOHIM for His namesake.

CONCLUSION OF THE  MATTER
The Earnest Expectations for Obeying YHVH’s Requirements – Psalm 40:9-10 – My Prayer:   

El Elyon, Master and Creator of the Universe, it is because of Yeshua’s death and resurrection on our behalf that I can enter Your presence, and with great thanksgiving, I now have the power over sin so I can obey Your requirements.  You are the Holy one of Isra’el, and I have been grafted in to the Olive Branch because of Your long-suffering mercies you bestow upon mankind.  I praise You most of all because my name is in written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.   As I have been forgiven, I forgive those who have trespassed and sinned against me.  You are my provider of all that concerns me, and therefore I thank You!

 I rejoice because I can enter Your presence and petition Your mercies, loving kindness.  I agree and profess from my heart and with my lips that it is a fact that Your Word is truth (and truth is Your Word).  I thank You because written in Your Word, is that Your truth  has and will always will preserve and save me no matter what is going on – even when I have sinned and fallen short…Your promise of being in covenant with me because of Yeshua, stands steadfast and unmovable.

I don’t have to be concerned about those who plot to hinder and destroy my life, for You El Elyon are my deliverer and fight my battles.  So I have now purposed to take my breath and energy to turn towards You and worship You.  My mind, body, soul and spirit belong in Your presence continually, just as You continually are my salvation, my peace, my comforter, my healer, my provider, my alpha and omega.

Instead of my complaint or worries, I instead have chosen to worship You and to thank You for the audience of many whose hearts will be turned to trust in You.  I’m humbled that You Adonai Tzevaot (Lord of Hosts); would consider me to not only be counted worthy to suffer so that I might bear and share the testimonies of You, so the audience of many will trust in You for their lives and all that concerns them. 

It’s truly well with my soul to have an audience of many who will become witnesses and bearers of Your testimonies.

¹⁶ Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let such as love Your salvation say continually,
“HaShem (The Lord) be magnified!”
¹⁷ But I am poor and needy;
Yet ADONAI (the Lord) thinks upon me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O Elohim.  (Psalm 40:16-17)

For there is no other name under the heavens given to men than the name of Yeshua – the name that causes demons to tremble,  and has set me free from the bondage of sin and death.  It is in His strong and powerful name I thank You and I have petitioned You El Elyon.
Amen, A-men and Amein!

Why Some Keep Choosing the Wrong People to be Involved With

Special Delivery - Love Letters to the Beloved
by py thomas
© November 12, 2013

 

The evidence of when single men and women make their interpersonal relationships (boyfriends and girlfriends) their God, is when they put the true and living GOD Elohim on hold, to answer the call of "flesh n' blood."  It's during those times that we choose what is most important to us.  Even though ELOHIM puts a premium importance on our relationship with Him, most seldom reciprocate.   Time that should be spent with ELOHIM, is given to these relationships and/or the pursuit of those relationships.  Once those relationships evaporate and subsequently leave behind collateral damage in our hearts, minds and emotions that have been pierced full of shrapnel, we wonder over and over what went wrong. 

Could it possibly be that "we" went wrong when we went after something in the wrong time, or even the wrong person?   Could there be any legitimacy to the Scripture that speaks to us about unequal yoking? 

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness: And what accord has Messiah with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the Temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says Yehovah. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’” (1Corinthians 6:14‑17)

Are we to compromise?  For single unmarried men and women who are the Beloved of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ),  are we willing to be honest to the point that we look back over our lives and see the many times we put a relationship ahead of our relationship with the true and living GOD, ADONAI? 

I’ll be candidly honest; there were those times in my life that I too was quite reluctant to face the overwhelming evidence of truth that I have been guilty of making relationships my gods, my idols.  Of course, I never viewed as that while I was doing it, because in my mind, I had always thought of idols and gods as these little statutes of wood, clay and metal that one burns incense to, prays to, or brings them food to eat, knowing that they are objects – lifeless, without breath, a soul, mind, body or spirit.  But nonetheless, the sobering reality is that they were idols – they consumed my time, thoughts and resources – that which is supposed to be set aside for ELOHIM. 



This was a gut-wrenching and sorrowful acknowledgement, especially for one who claimed to be a Follower of Yeshua (Jesus).  Guess I was following with lip service only, and not a circumcised and renewed heart.

We’re the Beloved, and we have idols?  Really? 

Time for truth or consequences?  So how do we avoid the counterfeits and the bondage of sin that so easily ensnares us? It takes truth to free us from this seemingly unending cycle of chasing and being chased by the wrong people.   But what exact truth do we need to consider?  Could it be the truth that would call us to a place to face the truth about ourselves and situations? Or another “strange seducing” truth that offers us excuses, faulty rationalizations, and requires no accountability on our part – and, is that really truth at all, or even perhaps a lie?

Truly, the “real” truth shall set those free who desire to be free.  But the freedom is not for the indulgence of carnality, but the freedom to pursue holiness – the obedience to the righteous instructions for living in the presence of the omnipotent and sovereign El Elyon (the Most High GOD). 

Just before Yeshua’s arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed for us, the predestined, the chosen.  He knew our frame and our weaknesses, yet covered us in prayer to Abba our Father in Heaven.  He prayed for us,  the Beloved  - the ones who would enter into His covenant of salvation:

 

¹⁷“Set them apart (sanctify) in Your truth – Your Word is truth.  ¹⁸“As You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. ¹⁹“And for them I set Myself apart, so that they too might be set apart in truth. ²⁰“And I do not pray for these alone, but also for those believing in Me through their word, ²¹so that they all might be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, so that they too might be one in Us, so that the world might believe that You have sent Me. ²²“And the esteem which You gave Me I have given them, so that they might be one as We are one, ²³“I in them, and You in Me, so that they might be perfected into one, so that the world knows that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:17-23)

So what should one do about this?  Well, I’m not going to say anything because I know Yeshua’s sheep hear His voice and answer Him.  I have …will you?

YAH will forgive for the sake of Yeshua (in Yeshua’s name) and make all things new when we surrender the old selfish person who insists on their own way – trade the old person in for the new model, which can be perfected through the example Yeshua provided us with by His life. 

There’s a special unlimited and with a full warranty offer from Heaven for an “oil change,” on your mobile vehicle called your temple (your body)…it is the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit to dismantle that which has enslaved us – freeing us from all bitterness, unforgiveness and striving after the wind.  Time for a Holy Spirit-fueled tune-up.  Selah.

 

Kill Off the Devil Hiding in Your Junk Rooms

Kill Off the Devil Hiding in Your Junk Rooms
by py thomas
© November 3, 2013

 

 

Why?  Why does YAH want us to be comforted and healed by Him?

³Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Master Yeshua the Messiah, the Father of compassion and Elohim of all comfort, ⁴who is comforting us in all our pressure, enabling us to comfort those who are in every pressure, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by Elohim. ⁵Because, as the sufferings of Messiah overflow in us, so our comfort also overflows through Messiah. ⁶And if we suffer pressure, it is for your comfort and deliverance, being worked out in enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort and deliverance. ⁷And our expectation for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are sharing in the sufferings – so also in the comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)

When we are hurt, cheated on, lied to, despitefully used, abused, unappreciated, unjustly treated, if left unhealed and uncomforted by our God ADONAI, we leave openings and portals for the Adversary the Devil to pervert our hurt and pains.  The Devil is a blood thirsty beast, and the blood he wants is ours.  But we don’t have to give it to him.  As a matter of fact, we CAN make the confession of our mouths be the pure and shed blood of Yeshua is our covering and the power to deliver us from the bondages of sin.  For truly, greater is He (Yeshua/Jesus) that is in us, than he that is in the world (those under the influence of the Devil).

My Personal Testimony.  I am humbled by YAH’s great mercy He has given to me and others, when He sent His Spirit  to knock  on the door of my life of pains, hurts, etc., and asking if I would allow Him to show me that He is truly the God of all comforts and healing.   But before YAH could show me, I had to cry out to Him; and when He showed up, I had to get up and open up the door to my heart; and listen to what He had to say. 

Once I heard, I needed to heed what the Spirit said about my spiritual condition; and subsequently make the decision to invite Him into my room full of hurt and pain.  I refer to this room of emotional and spiritual torment as my “junk room.”  I named it that because of all the junk I had collected over the years that was cluttering up my mind, soul, body and spirit.  It was one of many areas preventing my being conformed into the image of the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).  Unbeknownst to me, that lying deceptive Devil was constantly strategizing on how to prevert and exploit those pains in his ongoing effort to silence the work of the Holy Spirit,  and to paralyze and terrorize me.
 

The Horror & Urgency of My Need.  There was one more ugly truth I needed to face, and that was that I had "thought" I had dealt with my pains and hurts.  However,  I needed to acknowledge that I had only developed coping mechanisms, which had run their course (notice all the "I" statements...self out of control...).

You may be familiar with some of the coping mechanisms I had devised over my life such as joking (a lot), relationship hopping, sexual immoral behavior, drugs, striving for success (over achiever); and the ever so famous “do-gooder” co-dependency tendencies (on steroids) sister in Yeshua!  (Yes, I was and am a Follower of Yeshua, I just use to be a straggler, one of the sheep, Yeshua had to always go after because of my tendency to get distracted because I was coping and not allowing myself to be healed and delivered).

WHEN the “When” Shows Up.  You know, sometimes we’re embarrassed and ashamed just due to the fact that we’ve even built these “junk rooms,” and it becomes our dark secret.  On the surface we try to be everything we are not, yet desire to be.  However, this goal becomes more and more elusive the longer we pretend we’ve got things together.  But I’m thankful to ADONAI that when I was pressed to deal with the pride that had me going in the way of lying to myself, that I relinquished and invited the Holy Spirit into my “junk room.”  Whew!

The Holy Spirit who truly teaches me all things, came in shining the Light of the Word, Yeshua, on my “junk room,” and one by one, began to help me to work through the Pharaohs (abusers and oppressors) in my life, the childhood monsters that were secretly still terrifying and tormenting me, the heart hijackers who were ravenous wolves in sheep clothing; and the very elusive “pity party event planner.”

The Word of YAH says this about His many “comforts”  in the 19^th verse of the following, but well worth reading it in its entirety:

¹²Blessed is the man You discipline, O Yah,

And instruct out of Your Torah,

¹³To give him rest from the days of evil,

Until the pit is dug for the wrong.

¹⁴For Elohim does not leave His people,

Nor does He forsake His inheritance.

¹⁵For right-ruling returns man to righteousness,

And all the upright in heart follow it.

¹⁶Who would rise up for me against evil-doers?

Who would stand up for me against workers of wickedness?

 ¹⁷If ADONAI had not been my help,

My being would soon have settled in silence.

¹⁸When I said, “My foot has slipped,” Your kindness, O ADONAI, supported me.

 ¹⁹When anxiety was great within me, Your comforts delighted my being.

(Psalm 94:12-19)

 

Again we see the prophet Isaiah declare:  

¹³Sing, O heavens, rejoice, O earth!

And break out in singing, O mountains!

For Elohim shall comfort His people and have compassion on His afflicted ones. (Isaiah 49:13)

 

Self-Exposure for Help.  What are the conditions for our prayers and petitions to be heard by YAH to receive His comforts and healings?  Answer:  Something we’re all very good at, crying out.  However, our crying out needs to be to the One who hears and answers the cries of His children.  

Because our natural carnal natures have a tendency to turn us into “pity party event planners,”  we many times are crying out from a place of self-pity and not the needed brokenness that says we're weak and we need Him, that we've been prideful and ignored Him by taking matters into our own hands and trying to comfort, heal and self-medicate ourselves.  Or worst yet, turn our situations over to mere mortals for things that require His divine intervention.

We special-pick the guest list, typically comprised of “the empathizer sympathizers,” who have the same or like issues, and will share how they “cope.”    I absolutely know this is true, because it is true of me, and of others (we KNOW who we are…but don’t run away yet…YAH is sending His “Calvary” to help, and Calvary’s name is Yeshua/Jesus, who takes and follows the orders and guidelines of the Father).

 
 

 

O Adonai, how my adversaries have increased! Many rising up against me.

²Many are saying of me, “There is no deliverance for him in Elohim.” Selah.

³But You, O Adonai, are a shield for me, My esteem, and the One lifting up my head.

⁴I cried to YAH with my voice, And He heard me from His set-apart mountain. Selah.

⁵I, I laid down and slept; I awoke, for YAH sustained me. (Psalms 3:1-5)

 

Do YOU Want to be Healed?  Before we even consider spiritual warfare with  those outside of us, we must be ready to face the spiritual warfare that is going on inside of us.  More importantly, be willing to receive and apply the truth of YAH’s Word, which is our weapon of mass destruction against the blood thirsty Beast's lies and deceptions.  Once we do, YAH promises to deal with those who are in disobedience to Him.  YAH vindicates not only His name, but will vindicate us as well.

³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not fight according to the flesh. ⁴For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly but mighty in Elohim for over- throwing strongholds, ⁵overthrowing reasonings and every high matter that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to the Messiah, ⁶and being ready to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

The last of verse 6 in 2 Cor. 10 is the sum total of what YAH requires in terms of our participation in the process of being comforted, healed and delivered…our obedience.  Just as we go to doctors for illnesses and injuries, they give us instructions to heal the natural man.   How much more so will our spirit man be healed if we heed and follow YAH’s instructions and guidelines for living, which encompasses our comforting, healing, forgiveness, and deliverance?  Selah – meditate on that which comes from above from the Father, ELOHIM.

You Showed Up for Help, But Will You Take the Medicine?  The only reason why we invite anyone or anything into our lives is because we initially believe that they can help our situation – no matter the motive. (whether for good or bad).  So if our motive is for comfort, healing and deliverance, we need to go to the Source that provides for our need who is Yehovah Yireh, our provider.  We need to also believe and trust that Yehovah Yireh is also Yehovah Shalom (the God who gives His peace) and Yehovah Raffa (the God who heals).

⁶But without belief it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Elohim has to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) 

7 Steps - To Begin & Complete.  If you’re still reading this blog, PRAISE YAH!  You’re more than halfway there to start your journey with Him for your healing, comfort and the birthing of your deliverance into freedom and the destruction of your “junk rooms.”    The following are the 7 steps that the Holy Spirit has taught me that are all based on YAH’s guidelines and instructions for our lives found in the Scriptures - get ready, set, read:

1.       Begin to pray for those who have despitefully used us and have hurt us;
 

 

2.       Pray to the point that the Spirit begins to help us to see our own responses to the hurt, and if our responses are in alignment with His Word (the fruits of the Spirit);

3.       Once we see it, align our spirits with YAH’s righteous requirements of us (being willing to suffer and be persecuted for His namesake since we are partakers of the suffering of Yeshua the Messiah – our author and finisher of our faith)  (NOTE:  Many times the trials and tests are for the benefit of others as well - are you truly available for Him to use you like you sing about?);

4.    Keep our eyes open to see how our not allowing YAH to comfort and heal us has created portals and openings for the adversary, the Devil to have access ways to exploit our heart and have us saying and doing things that are not pleasing to YAH;

5.       See YAH’s mercy He has shown to us while we were busy putting our mouths on the perpetrators to everyone but YAH in prayer, which will bring us to the needed point of seeing the horror of who we are and what’s truly in our hearts that is not like Yeshua;

6.       Surrender to YAH’s grace and divine influence that we humble ourselves and ask for His forgiveness about our initial response to the hurt, rejection and being used; and

7.       Lastly, the awesome breakthrough (if we surrender to what He is showing and teaching us) results in our being given a heart of compassion towards those who have used us, lied on us, hurt us; and rejected our kindness and love and “mistook” it for weakness.  We will then have this area of our lives transformed to the point that this becomes our personal testimony; and fulfill YAH's requirements that we can also comfort others.
 

 With sackcloth and ashes, let us humble ourselves before our ELOHIM; and in our weakness surrender to His righteous requirements of us, which includes our being comforted and healed to seal off once and for all the access ways the Devil had to our hearts, minds, bodies souls and spirits through our “junk rooms.”  Some will be surprised that a lot will hinge simply on forgiving folks, and asking for forgiveness from others.

Shalom, shalom to those near and to those far off.

Much love in the powerful and strong name Yeshua’s name, maidservant of El Elyon, ELOHIM,

py thomas