Welcome Christ in 2021

As we enter 2021 with hopes and aspirations to put the previous year behind us, let us all take inventory of 2020. Many of us dealt with coronavirus in some form.  Death, despair, fear, heartache, political and social injustice gripped the masses.  Of all that happened last year, Jehova God brought us through. We may not understand why or how,  but by His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness we are here!! 

We are blessed with life in a new year. Despite the good and the bad in our lives, take this time to get your priorities in order. First things first, put The Father in Heaven ahead of all things. Second, allow the life and blood of Christ to make you a new creature.  Third, let the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to free you from your fears...all of them! 

2 Corinthians 5:17 says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he  is  a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Let the old you die its deserved death and be made new in Christ.  To be made new in Him joins you and the Lord as one. That said, if the Author and Creator of life is for you, nothing can stand against. 

Psalm 27:1 declares: the Lord is my light and salvation; of whom (or what) shall I fear, of whom (or what) shall I be afraid? Fear is a stronghold of the enemy. Take back your mind and life through Christ.  Don't let fear and worry bind you any longer. 

Let whatever time we have in 2021 be spent growing in the Father, not fretting over things in this world, things we can't control.   Put an end to fear in your life and stand firm on the Word of God. Being made new is gift only Christ can give. It means that old ways, desires, beliefs die with the old you. It is the best of clean slates, make the most of it through God.  

Happy 2021, here's to new beginnings and restoration of us all in Christ!!

Zacchaeus: Salvation over Riches

Luke 19:1‭-‬10 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.19.1-10.NKJV

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there  was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.  And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”  So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;  for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

This passage of Scripture illustrates what is the very opposite of this generation, of this world. Many who have wronged other are unwilling to repent and seek resolution, forgiveness, with whom they have hurt. This could be due to self-righteousness, true unknowing of the impact of their actions, or the offender could care less...amongst other things.

Zacchaeus saw the Savior and conviction of his wrongs burn in his soul. When Yashua Hamashiach requested a meal in his home, his soul was freed because he willingly,  but truthfully repented before the Son of God.  Christ  said salvation has come to this home this day, because Zacchaeus followed the burning conviction of his soul to salvation.  A peak into why many will die not knowing salvation is identified here.

This opposes the encounter Christ had with another rich man of the day. In short, he declares his desire to follow Yashua Hamashiach.  In turn, he is told to sell all he has in benefit of the poor and go with the Savior. He could not and left salvation, which by all means was right in front of him...speaking to him, and walked away.

This is the plight of this and many generations polluted and infiltrated by Satan. He walked away because he valued his wealth over eternity with the Father, over everlasting joy, not momentary happiness.  Many choose the vain riches of this world over God, people, and themselves.  They are blinded from the truth, willingly in a growing number of cases. Hence why the words of Yashua Hamashiach are true: the path to destruction is wide, that of salvation is narrow. Destruction's path is wide because many will follow it. Salvation's path is narrow because few will find it and stay the course to the Father.

Isaiah 59:7

Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.

The Narrow Way
Matthew 7:13-14

¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ^14 [c]Because narrow is the gate and ^[d]difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
Luke 18:18-23

¹⁸ Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁹ So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

²¹ And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

²² So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

²³ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

Tactics of the Enemy

Make every effort to know the desires of your heart. Then do the same to know and understand the root of each. It is our desires the devil uses to lure us away from YHWH. No one is immune to this, even Jesus Christ (transliteration of Yashua Hamashiach) was tempted.  

To identify the presence enemy in your midst, you must comprehend its tactics.  To defeat said enemy and send it fleeing from you, put on the Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10-20)

Today's version of this is the "do as thow wilt" movement.  The entire quote is "do as thow wilt shall be the whole of the law".  These words are on apparel, names of albums, and many other places.  The idea is simple, do what you want to satisfy yourself in the name of love and in the quest of truth. Allegedly, this is a harmLESS monacre for self expression.  How wrong they are!

No one is talking about this, but, the are the word of once deemed "most wicked man alive", Aleister Crowley. He was an English occultist who referred to himself as the Beast 666. He penned those words, what would make anyone think its of good origin? Open your eyes people and admit the devil is at work here to lead people astray! 

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

James 1:14 NKJV

Who are you?

Psalms 8:3‭-‬9 NKJV

Who and what are we, that You willingly bankrupted Heaven to save a wretch like me? We are nothing more than a grain of sand on the shores of eternity, yet,  You took time to number the hairs on our heads, and yearn for our affections to turn to you. What are You that You willingly forgive ALL our sins, to offer us a seat around your thrown?

Let this marinate and take root in your heart, mind, and soul this moment, this day. The Creator of all things created us...you...me...in His image. We are His pride and joy! Despite our foolish and selfish ways, we are the proverbial apple of the eye of our Heavenly Father. You...me...WE ALL are passionately loved by Him who made us! All He wants is for the same in return...

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. O Lord , our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

The power of the Father's understanding

He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness. They grope in the dark without light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Job 12:24‭-‬25 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/job.12.24-25.NKJV

This is why the world is hurting. Because people, by majority, are relying on human knowledge and wisdom, the world is being led to slaughter, with the exception of the true bride of the Son.  It is history repeating itself. We know the fate of Israel post crossing the Red Sea. 38 yrs they wandered. Approximately 2 miles from the Promise Land. Why? Apostasy and selfishness! Sound familiar?

We can't make progress based on human understanding, which is finite and highly incomplete.  Proof of this is how often history repeats itself.  The enemy of YHWH is not just satan anymore.....its people too. People who willing choose the broader way of the world, vs. the narrow path of righteousness.  I would posture that narrow is so empty in this current time that occupants may feel lonely.

Our Savior said, "I am the truth, the way, and the life. No come to the Father except through Me".  He also said, "put the Father above ALL things". Yet by the second, may elevate self as pinnacle of existence.  This is, was, and always will be the plan of the devil. As we rely on human judgment,  wisdom, knowledge and understanding, satan's plan infiltrates the utter core of the soul of the followers of self. Then this evil spreads faster and farther than any pandemic or natural disaster in history.

So ask yourself these question.  Who is at the head of my life? Whose wisdom, understanding, and truth guides all areas of my life?

Psalm 42:11

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

ABBA, Father, the one who gives us life, and does so abundantly.  I humbly stand before you to praise you and seek help. I praise you because come what may, You, are in control. I praise You because I know You and Your will are not my enemy.  I praise You because it gives me joy to exalt You. Praising my almighty Father is what Youdelight in, it's the purpose You gave me.

Father, YHWH, my joy in praising you has been deeply diminished.  With Covid19, the irreverence of humankind towards You and itself, seeing the innocent suffer while the evil ones gloat in presumed victory, my soul is disquieted within me. Please Father, show us, Your faithful, how to rid the world of this pestilence, heartache, and destruction.  We are all affected by all of this somehow, some way. Your word says You will never forsake us. That is the hope I cling to daily.

Despite the events and demeanor of the world around us, mine and me will always praise You. Please restore the joy to our praise. Let not depression, disease, crime, hatred, or anything else rob us of that gift, joy. 

Father I lift up all the sick, destitute, misled, and hurting people of this world. I pray that more than myself is praying for them. Put Your gentle yet firm and guiding hand into there lives and show them Your love and healing power.  Restore their hope and faith in You!

This I humbly ask......

Amen.

Salvation

Salvation is what was achieved the moment YESHUA gave up the ghost. Many then, now, and forever, truly believe they aren't sinner and salvation is dead, useless, or even imaginary.  Proof of this is witnessed in the luciferian/satanist mantra, "do as though wilt". Do what you want..regardless of consequence, regardless of others. 

This is echoed by sayings like YOLO, you only live once, and hosts of others. People, why is it so hard to believe, admit, understand,  be ok with the fact that we all are hellbound in a basket of gas and dynamite, without salvation? YESHUA said, "29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30 New King James Version (NKJV)) He proved that in His teachings, action, and interactions.  He preached from the scriptures on the importance of salvation, being saved from sin. Yet, as He predicted, He was, is, and will be rejected by His own, and ultimately the world.

The world is fooled by the devil to glorify self, materialism, and satan himself. This is sin 101! It's not only the non-believers,  but believers as well. The whole premise is to drive us from YHWH, so we suffer the fate of satan with him, classic misery loved company syndrome.  

Were we created to be naive, stupid,  puppets, slaves? NO! Yet, here we are, all of those things and more, and still willingly won't admit we are sinners and need salvation. Stiff-necked, self absorbed brood of vipers! The wages of sin is death, and eternity away from He who made us. 

Salvation does three things for us sinners. One, its proof we place YHWH above all, including self, which staves off our judgment for our crimes against Him. Secondly, it breaks the hold of sin in your life and all of its aspects.  Lastly, it allows the blood of Christ and the work of Holy Spirit to convict sin, point out sinful ways to the person, and remove condemnation, wrath of God,  from the equation.  

Salvation is needed in this world, and it's free too all.  "9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death". (Revelation 12:9-11 New King James Version (NKJV)) 

It's time to seek YHWH and run from sin. Stop toying with your place in eternity.  Find salvation in Christ, He will not fail you.