Tag: The Messiah

Iran Attacks Israel News

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Breaking news that will affect every Christian is the attack on Israel by Iran today. Which means Christians will go through tough days ahead if this attack continues and turns into a full pledge war. If it does escalate chances are many countries will be involved. As Christians we must ensure we are adhering to the Lord Jesus Christ teachings during these Biblical times. This means we pray for Israel, but, we also pray for all of God’s people in the Middle East.

We must pray and ask God for His protection over His people, His remnant, His Church and His Chosen Ones. This includes all who believe and follow Yeshua the Messiah/Jesus the Christ regardless of their nationality or the country they reside in. Yes, we pray and ask God to bless Israel, but, we must also remember to stay in alignment with the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Especially those teachings where the Lord spoke of persecution and our enemies. The Scriptures read;

Matthew 5:43,45 – You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be Sons of your Father in Heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Christians tend to forget, that yes while we love Israel, we must be very careful how we approach this subject. Scripture teaches;

1 Peter 3:9 – Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Pray for All people to REPENT and turn their hearts to the Son of God, Jesus Christ (Yeshua Messiah), who was sacrificed for our sins and reconciled us to God through His blood. I’m also reminded of the scripture which reads;

Matthew 15:18,20 – But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.

This is why all Christians must be very careful what they say and how they say it. While we love Israel and pray for the Jewish people, we’re called to LOVE all God’s People.

May God’s Grace bless you daily,
bring you closer to the Lord Jesus Christ
and Sanctify you in God’s Truth!

He is Risen

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Can you imagine the anguish and pain the Apostles felt along with the disciples after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ? Now imagine their joy and happiness when they realized He had risen.

Matthew 28:6 – He is not here; for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

He has Risen! Glory hallelujah our King is Risen!

Be Kind to All

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If you read the Bible one of the first things you’ll notice in the New Testament is just how humble and compassionate the Lord Jesus was to the Israelites when He walked among them.

He walked throughout Israel healing, casting out demons, raising the dead and preaching the Good Message of the Kingdom, all while teaching God’s Chosen people the right way to live. He showered the people with mercy, forgiveness, compassion  and love.

He also taught we should be kind to all people, including, loving our enemies. For many Americans this is difficult, especially, with what’s happening within our Country today. But since I’m a follower of Christ I know I must have the same mindset. Because the Lord Jesus said;

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:44,45

For me, this Scripture says it all. So my prayer is that all Christians realize this message before it’s too late. Jesus left us a blueprint for living the right way through His teachings. But He also gives us the ability to make our own choice. To follow Him, or, follow the ways of this world.

Peace Instead of Choas

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Our world seems to be spinning further out of control. While many have lost hope, my hope, is in the Lord Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who came to save the world. Which means as a believer I must speak God’s truth. Which is the same Truth Jesus (Yeshua/Yehoshua), the Christ (Messiah), of Nazareth taught. Since I believe in Him all of my belief, my trust, my faith and my hope is in Christ Jesus, along with everything He taught. One of those teachings Jesus taught is the need to love our enemies and do good to them. But it doesn’t stop there, because the Apostle Peter also taught something similar, the scriptures read;

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1 Peter 3:9-12

From Jesus teachings to the teachings of the Apostles, it’s pretty clear, violence, riots, insurrections, and protests was never intended for a believer. Unfortunately, many Christian believers are abandoning these teachings and purchasing guns and stocking up on ammunition. Jesus never condoned violence and He taught His Apostles the same. So, why is it many Christians are more concerned with their families, property, and earthly treasures instead of following the Lord Jesus teachings? Remember what Jesus said;

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we should be encouraging one another, building each other up and standing firm in the Faith. We cannot fear but must proclaim the Truth Jesus taught. It’s better to die in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, then it is to shoot someone all in the name of protecting your earthly treasures.

Glory be to God and if you’re not a believer, Get to Know the Lord Jesus Christ in the Post, What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Wept

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One of the most amazing works of the Lord Jesus, in the New Testament besides the crucifixion, is when He raised Lazarus from the dead. Can you imagine the shock and awe the people felt when this miracle was performed? I’ll be honest, I don’t know how I would have reacted, but, it’s definitely a testament to who the Lord Jesus truly was.

What’s really interesting about this narrative is how Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus letting Him know that Lazarus was sick. But instead of Jesus leaving immediately to heal Lazarus He waited an additional two days before leaving for Judea. But His disciples raised objection due to His recent controversy with the Jews and the the near stoning issue. Regardless, Jesus told them;

“Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”
John 11:11

Of course the disciples didn’t realize Jesus was actually telling them Lazarus had died, they thought Lazarus was actually sleeping. Jesus told them directly, “Lazarus is dead.” After Jesus arrived at Martha’s and Mary’s, he was greeted by Martha. Basically, she expressed to Christ that if He had been there her brother wouldn’t had died, but, she knew whatever Jesus ask of God, God would grant it. Jesus told her, Your brother will rise again but Martha thought Jesus was referring to the resurrection so Jesus continues to tell Martha;

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me,
though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and
believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?
John 11:25,26

Mary answered, Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Messiah (Christ), the Son of God, who is to come into the world. After speaking with Jesus Mary then went and told Mary The Teacher has come and is calling for you. Mary rose quickly and headed to Jesus. Those who were there to offer their support assumed she was going to the tomb of Lazarus so they followed. When Jesus saw Mary weeping along with the Jews who followed her, He groaned in the Spirit and was troubled. He asked where they had laid Lazarus and, Jesus swept.

Jesus was groaning in Himself when He arrived at the tomb and He asked for the stone to be removed. Martha, said to the Lord, by this time there is a stench since he’s be dead for 4 days. But Jesus says to Martha, did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the Glory of God? Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And He continues telling the Father that He spoke this because of those standing there so they would believe that the Father sent Him.

Once Jesus said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth! Lazarus who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and His face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, Loose him, and let him go.

While this is definitely one of my favorites next to the crucifixion, it completely verified who Jesus was when He walked among the Jewish people and what He will do when He comes back.

Truth

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During my reading of the Prophet Isaiah certain scriptures really stood out to me. I say this because I see a correlation in what He wrote about referring to transgressions, sin, and Truth to what is currently happening within the United States, in fact, the whole world. You see, many continue to deny God’s Truth, who He is, and how we’re suppose to live. Instead they prefer to deny His very existence while trying to force their own ungodly views on the rest of us. The scriptures I’m referring to in Isaiah read;

Isaiah 59:12,15 – For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us. Our transgressions are indeed with us, and we know our iniquities: rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart. So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For Truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes a prey.

From these scriptures, it becomes evident that Christ ministry also reflected this same theme. The Lord Jesus, the Son of God, preached the Good news of the Kingdom which spoke of the cause of sin, the need to repent of our sins, the need to turn back to God, to seek righteousness, to believe in the Lord Jesus as the Messiah (Christ), and believe in the One who sent Him (God), along with the need to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

But today’s society is just the opposite, instead, many continue to deny God, to mock the Lord Jesus, and twist the very Words of the Bible. These are those who prefer to live their lives on their on terms. They live according to man’s standards instead of God’s promoting their lies through false ideologies, misinformation and lawless deeds, including, what’s transpiring in many Church denominations today. But the scriptures read;

2 Thessalonians 2:9,12 – The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the Truth that would have saved them. For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the Truth and delighted in wickedness.

As a Christian I’m not called to judge or condemn the lost, but, we are called to speak the Truth in love with gentleness. However, when Christians try to speak openly to non-believers about Jesus, the love He has for us, and the sacrifice He made, we’re automatically deemed as hateful. So it’s not surprising how many Churches are changing doctrine to accommodate the lost and their twisted ideology. It reminds me of the scripture;

2 Timothy 4:3,4 – For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the Truth and turn aside to myths.

What is the Truth?

For me, the Truth is summed up by two scriptures in the Bible that speaks of what God did, why He did it, who Christ is, what His mission was and what He provides to those who believe and follow Him, the scripture reads;

For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but
have everlasting life. For God did not send
his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him
might be saved.

John 3:16

But there is Hope in the Lord Christ Jesus for all who believe, question is, will you?

Following Christ Seeing God

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As I continued my study of, The Way, many of the scriptures I came across were often a reflection of what Jesus taught when He walked among the Jewish people in Israel. The Messiah taught to Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, which is found in Matthew 4:17. So as I continued my study I decided to cross reference New Testament scriptures to the Old Testament to help provide additional information. It was eye opening to see how similar the teachings of Jesus are compared to those God spoke through His Prophets of old. The Prophet Ezekiel, the Prophet Isaiah and the Prophet Joel are a few which spoke of the need to repent, turn away from transgressions and back to GOD, one of those scriptures reads;

“Therefore I will judge you, O House of Israel,
everyone according to his ways,” says the
Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your
transgressions which you have committed,
and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
For why should you die, O House of Israel?

Ezekiel 18:30,31

This same theme is mirrored by the Prophet Ezekiel found in Ezekiel 33:11, Ezekiel 14:6, Joel 2:12,13, the Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 1:16,18, Isaiah 45:18,19, Isaiah 30: 15,16. But I found one scripture which reminded me of what Jesus spoke when He stated, Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand, and that scripture reads;

Seek the LORD while He may be found, call
upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked
forsake His way, and the unrighteous man
his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD,
and He will have mercy on him; and to
our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:6,7

Can you see it, the phrase, Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is NEAR? And don’t forget, in the Old Testament GOD always declared what He would do before putting His plan into action, the scripture reads;

Behold, the former things have come
to pass, and new things I declare; Before
they spring forth I tell you of them.

Isaiah 42:9

But, one of my personal favorites finds the LORD speaking to the Prophet Isaiah which reads;

For thus says the LORD, who created
the heavens, who is God, who formed
the earth and made it, who has established
it, who did not create it in vain, who
formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD,
and there is no other. I have not spoken
in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I
did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me
in vain’; I, the LORD, speak righteousness,
I declare things that are right. Assemble
yourselves and come; Draw near together,
You who have escaped from the nations.
They have no knowledge, who carry the
wood of their carved image, and pray to
a god that cannot save. Tell and bring forth
your case; Yes, let them take counsel together.
Who has declared this from ancient time?
Who has told it from that time? Have not
I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides
Me, a just God and a Savior; There is none
besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved, all
you ends of the earth! For I am God, and 
there is no other.

Isaiah 45: 18-22

After all of these scriptures, what exactly have I learned?

First, God always proclaims to His people what is going to take place. He did this when He proclaimed the NEW COVENANT and the MESSIAH’s Suffering. But Jesus proclaimed what would happen during the GREAT TRIBULATION, but, notice what Christ says in the scripture below. Because just as God, Christ proclaimed what would happen ahead of time also, the scripture reads;

See, I have told you before hand.

Matthew 24:25

And Second, God has always instructed the people to do what is right. From Adam to Abraham to Moses and all the Prophets in between, His message has never changed. So, when Jesus began His ministry, He did the same, and, His message is simple. We are to Repent of our sins, turn away from them, believe in the Messiah as the Son of God, believe in the Father who sent Him, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit, let our Faith in Christ lead us to fulfill the commandments of God, and live a righteous, holy lifestyle before the living God.

This is what the LORD GOD has PROCLAIMED from the Old Testament to the New!

Tongues of Fire

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Today as I was reading in the Book of Acts I came across scriptures which I find very intriguing. And as usual for me during my study I’ll often use various bibles to help with the meaning. The scriptures I’m referring to are those spoken of by the Apostles in the famous delivery speech at the day of Pentecost. We’re told how tongues of fire settled on each of the Apostles and they were filled with the Set apart Spirit and began to speak in tongues according to what the Spirit gave them to speak. The scriptures continues to tell us that when the men begin speaking that the crowd came together and were confused. The reason these men were confused is because they heard the Apostles speaking in each of their own languages. Today we recognize this as speaking in tongues.

But Peter stood up and began speaking to the crowd explaining to them the wonders of God or the great deeds of God. What’s interesting as I continued reading there were other scriptures which really caught my attention, they read;

Acts 2:21 (NASB) – And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.

When I first read this scripture using a standard Bible the text seemed pretty straight forward. However, by using various Bibles, these scriptures really came alive for me. I’ve listed a couple below so you can see exactly what I’m referring to and just how important it is to use various Bibles while studying.

Acts 2:21 (ISR) – And it shall be that everyone who calls on the Name of  יהוה (Jehovah) shall be saved.

Acts 2:21 (ARA) – And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of THE LORD JEHOVAH shall receive life.

Acts 2:21 (HEB) – And everyone who calls on Jehovah will escape.

But as I continued reading there were more scriptures which I had to share, because, they really open the door to the multifaceted nature of God. These scriptures in various Bibles read;

Acts 2:36 (ARA) – Let therefore the whole house of Israel know truly, God has made this Yeshua, LORD JEHOVAH and The Messiah, whom you have crucified.

Acts 2:36 (NASB) – Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Messiah) this Jesus whom you crucified.

Acts 2:36 (ISR) – Therefore let all the house of Yisra’ĕl know for certain that Elohim has made this יהושע (Yeshua/Yehoshua), whom you impaled, both Master and Messiah.

If you continue reading you’ll find more scriptures which can help one understand the importance of calling on the actual name of God. And I’m reminded of an Old Testament scripture which reads;

Ezekiel 36:23 (ARA) – For I shall hallow My Great Name which is defiled among the nations, which you have defiled among them, and the nations shall know that I AM LORD JEHOVAH, says the LORD OF LORDS, whenever I am hallowed among you in their sight.

What I’ve noticed in scripture is anytime there is a J used in the English word it’s often translated as a Y in Hebrew. So instead of the name being Jehovah, in my mind it should be Yehovah. For instance, Jerusalem in English is, Yerushalayim in Hebrew, Jeremiah in English is, Yermiyahu in Hebrew, Joshua in English is, Yehoshua in Hebrew, Josiah in English is, Yoshiyah in Hebrew and Judah in English is, Yehudah in Hebrew.

Many know His name as YHVH, and, when you look at these letters and compared them to the name Yehovah, well, it maybe. But regardless, I know I don’t want to blaspheme the Lord’s name so I believe it’s time to take it to The Lord God, Jehovah in prayer!

If I Could Speak to Benjamin Netanyahu

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Many Christians find themselves stuck somewhere in the middle of what is happening between Israel and the Palestinian people unable to make a decision of who they support. But for me, the Bible is quite clear on this issue because Jesus said;

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in
return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for
He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:35

So, if I had the opportunity to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, what would I say?

First, I would start off by saying, two wrongs don’t make a right! Plain and simple what Hamas did to the nation of Israel is absolutely horrific, wrong and absolutely evil! But, we do not repay evil with evil! God gave Israel His Law, His statues and decrees, or, what many Jewish people refer to as the Mosaic Law. Within this Law it clearly states, do not commit murder because those who are under this Law will be judged by this law. You see, since majority of the Israeli people still live under the old covenant, they will be judged by it which means if they break one of the least of these commandments they break them all.

However, saying all this there are Bible Prophecies inspired by the Prophets of the Old Testament that will be fulfilled. So knowing this, I’m not condemning are judging what Israel is doing just stating what Jesus taught.

There will be many soldiers who loose their life and these are those who follow the Old Covenant. When Yeshua (Jesus) came to shepherd the Jewish people almost two thousand years ago they rejected Him. But in the last days, Christ will rise up and will fight their battle and everything will change.

While I know the Torah (Old Testament) was written and inspired by the words, an eye for an eye, are there any scriptures found within the Old Testament we can examine to prove there were those who showed mercy instead of killing? Let’s read the scriptures of David and King Saul, which reads;

May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you. Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.” When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?”

Then Saul wept aloud and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.

1 Samuel 24:12-19

While many Christians are mourning with those who have lost loved ones in Israel, and praying for the safe return of the hostages, we must also pray for the Palestinians who are being used as pawns with these terrorists and denounce this demonic evil. But as a believer in the Messiah, Yeshua, Christ Jesus, this is a time to show love and mercy instead of anger, rage, and hate. I’ll leave you with these scriptures;

Colossians 3:8 – But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Colossians 3:12 – Since GOD chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

Psalm 34:13 – Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD and vengeance is mine says the LORD!

His Suffering Was Heartbreaking

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As I journey through the scriptures, I read a passage which broke my heart into pieces last night. While many believers claim to be a Christian, Jesus told His Apostles that if they truly love Him, they would do the will of His Father and follow His commands. Each of us must evaluate ourselves in truth because Christ is coming back, and those who mock, ridicule, blaspheme against Him will pay the ultimate price. There are two sets of scriptures I’m sharing and I’ll be writing them back to back, hopefully, you’ll understand the emotion I felt. The first passage reads;

See, My servant will prosper; He will be highly exalted. But many
were amazed when they saw Him. His face was so disfigured He
seemed hardly human, and from His appearance, one would scarcely
know He was a man. And He will startle many nations. Kings will
stand speechless in His presence. For they will see what they have been
told; they will understand what they had not heard about.
Isaiah 52:13-15

Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD
revealed His powerful arm? My servant grew up in the LORD’s
presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There
was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing
to attract us to Him. He was despised and rejected-a man of
sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on
Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not
care. Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows
that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were
a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins!
But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so
we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s path to follow our own. Yet the LORD
laid on Him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated
harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led like a lamb
to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
He did not open His mouth. Unjustly condemned, He was
led away. No one cared He died without descendants, that His
life was cut short in midstream. But He was struck down for
the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had
never deceived anyone. But He was buried like a criminal; He
was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the LORD’s good plan
to crush Him and cause Him grief. Yet when His life is made an
offering for sin, He will have many descendants. He will enjoy
a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in His hands.
Isaiah 53:1-10

You see, Jesus came to the land of Israel, to the Jewish people first, His people. They rejected Him, the one who could save them. He was their Messiah, the King of Israel, the Chosen One from the House of David. Yet, they rejected Him because their minds were worldly.

And it’s no different today, cause while Christ suffered and died on a cross for all man’s sins, there are those who still deny, reject and mock Him. They put their FAITH, their BELIEF, their HOPE in science, in politics, and in themselves! But the Word teaches all these things will perish along with those who put their TRUST in these worldly things.

So make NO mistake, Jesus IS COMING BACK and all will fall on their knees and confess, JESUS IS LORD! Question is, whose side will YOU be on?

Why I Read the Old Testament

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Sometimes many forget just how important the Old Testament is to a believer. It provides insight into God’s ways, gives us stories of the Patriarchs, the history of the Jewish people, it told of God’s Creation, it teaches one how to bare their soul to God and how to praise Him. It also provides warnings, insight, blessings, and curses through His prophets when a nation or people go astray.

While God did many wonderful works in the Old Testament, the information I believe the most important is the coming of the New Covenant. Remember, God always warns His people long before it happens and that’s exactly what He did through His prophets. One of the most revealing reads;

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My Covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. For this is the Covenant I will make with the House of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD: I will put My Law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah 31:31-33

But there are other fascinating scriptures which help us grasp just why the Old Testament is so important and still valid. And other scriptures which help us understand the bigger picture of God’s New Covenant. A few of these scriptures read;

Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new Spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statues and keep My Judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:19,20

I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Ezekiel 36:26,27

But did you know the Old Testament also prophesied of the coming Messiah? Yes, God’s only Son was prophesied long before He appeared. Some of these scriptures are;

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.

Micah 5:2

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son today I have begotten you. Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like potter’s vessel.’ Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Bless are all those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 2:7-12

Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fist? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know?

Proverbs 30:4

And of course, who can forget the passage which speaks of the most heartbreaking scriptures found in the Old Testament prophesied hundreds of years before it occurred, the crucifixion of the Christ, the Messiah.

He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He took on our affirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to His own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:2-12

The Lord God announced the New Covenant long before it went into effect. He told His people He would write His Law on their hearts and put it within them, give them a new Spirit, HIS SPIRIT, so they could walk in His judgments (Law). Which means, the 10 commandments are valid, they’re written on the Heart of every true believer, they’re put within them, and God’s Spirit will help us to walk in them. For we walk by FAITH, not by sight.

THIS is the reason I read the Old Testament…

Live by the Spirit

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If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow
the Spirit as well. Let’s not become
boastful, challenging one another,
envying one another.

Galatians 5:25

Our country is living in dark times with many choosing to follow the ways of this world. But distractions are nothing more than temptations used against man to push them further away from Christ. As a believer I’m called to walk in the Spirit and to embrace the fruit of the Spirit with open arms. For me to walk in the Spirit I must choose love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. All things which help me to keep my focus on Christ, on His Church and to spread the Good News of His Kingdom. When we live by the Spirit we must ensure we are walking in the Spirit with persoanl integrity, godly character and moral courage, otherwise, non-believers, will use us as their reason to continually reject Christ.

My Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray for this world that is so full of hate, unrest and is completely divided. My heart grieves, because, I see so many forsaking the gift of salvation for worldly passions and desires. I pray that in these dark times your people will continue to be led by the Spirit so we can walk upright with integrity, righteousness and courage. That we keep our focus on Jesus, as we stand boldly facing adversity and the flaming arrows of spiritual warefare. All these things I pray in the name of Yeshua, Jesus, and through Him, Amen.

An Unrepentant Heart

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Over the past couple of weeks my schedule has changed and I’ve found myself in bed by 9 or 10:00 pm. It doesn’t happen every night at this time but it is happening more frequently. This allows me to get up early and enjoy some Bible reading on my patio before it gets too hot or an unpredictable rainstorm comes in. I really enjoy and look forward to this time of solitude.

Of course, last night didn’t go as planned and the last time I remember looking at my phone it was 4:00 in the morning. I was working on a combined project with my husband before realizing it was extremely late, or, early depending on how you choose to view it. But I told myself I still wanted to do some Bible reading even if it’s only one chapter. I love reading the Bible before I lay down because it helps to keep my focus on Yeshua (Jesus) as I fall asleep.

While reading the Bible before I laid down I came across a scripture that really made me stop and think. You see, for awhile now I’ve had such a burdened in my soul for those who are lost in this world so when I read this scripture I felt that familiar conviction. The scripture reads;

But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL REPAY EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perserverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life; but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indigation. Romans 2:5-8 NASB

Normally, I’m not a fan of the modern translations but I was really impressed with how the New Living Translation worded this scripture. In their translation it reads;

But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But He will pour out His anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. Romans 2:5-8 NLT

For me this is a very scary scripture because what I see happening in our world today has a direct correlation to people with an unrepented heart and a stubbornness that is unreasonable, irrational and extreme. But the Bible is clear, those who refuse to seek good and live lives obedient to Christ will receive the full force of God’s anger and wrath.

Our world is falling deeper and deeper into descent, and while many claim that the “right president” can turn all this around in the US, I believe, it’s a call for the antichrist to step up and take center stage soon. Keep your focus on Christ Jesus (Yeshua, the Messiah) because it is written;

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:42 NASB

Overcome Evil With Good

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Yesterday as I was reading my Bible I came across a scripture which reminds me of the words Jesus spoke during His crucifixion, which were; forgive them Father, for they know not what they do (paraphrasing). While Jesus hung on a cross for the sins of the world, He asked God(Yahweh, Jehovah, Adonai, Abba) to forgive those who had caused this, because, they didn’t know what they were doing.

How extraordinary is that! The Son of God being nailed to a cross and He still had the ability to think about others. This shows me exactly who Jesus was and the incredible love and compassion He had for the people of this world.

So it’s no wonder when I read this scripture last night I immediately thought of the words Jesus spoke on the cross. The scripture I’m referring to, reads;

But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For by doing this you will heap burning coals on his head. Romans 12:20

To completely comprehend what the Apostle Paul was indicating I did some research, and for me, it’s changed how I see this particular scripture.

According to the Thayer’s Greek Lexicon this scripture is a proverbial expression, which means, it was quoted from Proverbs 25.22, signifying to call up, by the favors you confer on your enemy, the memory of the wrong he has done you (which shall pain him as if live coals were heaped on his head), that he may more readily repent. The Arabians call things that cause very acute mental pain burning coals of the heart and fire in the liver.

So with that said, this is how I see this scripture, because of your good deeds it causes your enemy to be weighed down with so much shame that it causes them to remember all the hurt and pain they caused you and how much pain and shame it has caused them. Hopefully, they choose to repent of their past deeds towards you and turn their life around. And because you chose to overcome evil with good, you’ll be rewarded by the Lord.

I really like this scripture and while I had to do a little digging to fully comprehend the exact meaning, I believe, it truly reflects the character of Jesus.