Category Archives: Living Kingdom

Identity Crisis?

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Who are you?  Do you know for sure?  Before you write me off as crazy, let me say that most people do not have a clue who they are, or at least not who they were created to be.  For many years, I did not realize who I was or, more accurately, who I am supposed to be.  I did not realize how much more meaningful my life could be.  Many times, I wondered if I had any purpose here on earth or if I was just a mistake.  For years, I did not understand that I am of great importance and value to Someone.

I was in my late twenties, and my outlook was bleak. I was in a dark place, loaded down with burdens and responsibilities, wondering how I could make it even one more day. I was a divorced mom who had just lost another job.  My young daughter and I were living far from family.  I felt alone and abandoned, overwhelmed and terribly inadequate.  My precious daughter deserved much more than I could give her.  I wanted the very best for her, and at this point, I was not sure I could even provide the basics. I felt like an utter failure, worthless.  I did not know where to turn. In desperation, I called a friend and poured out my troubles.  She led me to Jesus.  Thus began my journey into discovering who I really am.  As I prayed, read Scripture, and interacted with my Savior, I learned that I am loved, accepted, and valued more than I could have ever dreamed possible.

The same is true for you.  If you are feeling inadequate, unworthy, or unwanted, take the chance and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.  You are worth so much to Jesus that He suffered and died to pay the debt for your sins so that you could be restored to Him and to His Father. 

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

1 Peter 2:24– “[Jesus] himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

You are not an accident or a mistake.  You have not failed so miserably that you cannot be rescued and restored. It does not matter if others do not love you or even like you.  You are precious in the sight of your Creator.

Romans 8:37-39 – “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Asking Jesus to be Lord of your life does not mean that you and your circumstances will be instantly perfect.  God works in process.  For example, if you plant a seed today, you will not see an adult plant producing flowers or fruit in an hour or even a week. It takes time for the process to unfold.  As Jesus works through the process with you, you will get to know and trust Him.  You will learn many things about God’s Kingdom in Heaven and how different it is from the way this world operates.  The journey will take the rest of your life, and it may seem difficult and harsh at times, but every step will be worth the result.  You will become the person you were designed to be, and you will know favor, glory, and blessing beyond what you can imagine.  I speak from experience.  I am not quite there yet, but I am much closer than when I began forty-five years ago.  This world is not an easy place, but with Jesus at your side, you can become all that you were intended to be.

John 16:33—I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

I encourage you to ask Jesus to forgive your sins and to take over as Lord of your life.  Ask Him to show you who you are to Him.  Ask Him to teach His ways to you.  Speak from your heart and be honest with Him.  If you decide to invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then welcome, new Sister or Brother in Jesus!  Please let me know of your decision so that I can pray for you.  If you have questions about your walk with Jesus, please email me, and I will do my best to answer them.  I encourage you to talk to Jesus, read the Bible, and ask Jesus to help you find other brothers and sisters in the faith.  It is good to have guidance from those more experienced, and it is a joy to have others to encourage you, pray with you, and for you in your new life.  Watch for upcoming articles that I hope will be helpful to you

Who Is Yeshua?

Living Kingdom

Yeshua is everything to us:  our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible.  We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible.  It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah.  This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the twenty-first and final article in the series, Yeshua is Mighty Conqueror.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:3)

Yeshua came into the world not only to serve as our teacher and perfect example, not only to pay the debt of our sin, but also to overcome the evil one, hasatan, who is the enemy of Yehovah as well as our enemy.  So why does Yeshua say that He overcame the world rather than hasatan?  In my previous article about Yeshua as Restorer, we discussed how hasatan had taken over dominion of the earth after the fall of Adam and Eve.  It was necessary for Yeshua to overcome the world as well as hasatan, to win back for us what had been lost to us. Yehovah had assigned dominion of the earth to Adam and Eve and, consequently, to their descendants (Gen 1:26-28).

Yeshua also conquered death.  Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him (Rom 6:9).  Even though we all must die the first death, just as Yeshua did, we who belong to Him will never suffer death again but will have eternal life.  “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life” (John 5:24).

The enemy no longer has dominion over us unless we give it back to him by choosing hasatan’s ways rather than Yehovah’s ways. Therefore, it is important that we grow close to Abba, our Father in Heaven so that we are trusting and obeying Him.  When we place our trust in Yehovah, we overcome hasatan and temptation.  “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you” (Luke 10:19). 

In the first article in this series, we learned that Yeshua is the promised Seed of the woman (Gen 3:15).  We discovered that the Seed (Yeshua) died in order to produce more seed (us).  Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless a grain of wheat that falls to the ground dies, it stays just a grain; but if it dies, it produces a big harvest (John 12:24). We, as seed produced from the Seed, must die to ourselves daily or even suffer persecution or martyrdom in order to continue the production of many seeds. 

A seed contains the embryo of a plant.  In other words, a grain of wheat will produce a wheat stalk that produces more grains of wheat.  Yeshua, the Seed of the woman, has produced many seeds (us) through His death.  As we grow and mature, we become like Yeshua. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith (1 John 5:4). We are expected to carry on Yeshua’s work of building the Kingdom of Heaven.  We are able to do all things necessary for building Yehovah’s Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength (Phil 4:12-13).

As seeds produced from the Seed, we are mighty conquerors and can overcome the enemy’s influence and his evil ways.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:5)?  The Seed continues His work through us and because of Him we are more than conquerors!  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom 8:37).

If we remain faithful through all the trials and tribulations of this world, we will one day reign with Yeshua in victory. We will be part of His glorious Kingdom. Our rewards will be many!

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God’ (Rev 2:7).

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death’ (Rev 2:11).

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it’ (Rev 2:17).

He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations (Rev 2:26).

He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels (Rev 3:5).

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name (Rev 3:12).

He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Rev 3:21).

He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son (Rev 21:7).

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life.  When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own.  It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part.  This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered.  Don’t miss out.  After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.

Who Is Yeshua?

Living Kingdom, , , , , ,

Yeshua is everything to us:  our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible.  We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible.  It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah.  This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the twentieth article in the series, Yeshua is our Restorer.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).

When Adam and Eve sinned, they not only fell from Yehovah’s grace, but they put themselves and all creation under the power of hasatan. I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me (John 14:30).  Humans were no longer servants and children of Yehovah, they were servants and children of hasatan. (John 8:44).  Technically, humans are born enemies of Yehovah.  “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:2).

Many of us do not realize that we were born into bondage to hasatan.  We may feel offended at such a statement, but that does not change the truth of the statement. Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34).  Yeshua’s declaration applies to all of us because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Instead of feeling offended, we should seek to change our status and our spiritual parentage because we now have the opportunity to do so. For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life (Rom 5:10)!  Yeshua came to set the captives free (Is 61:1, Luke 4:18-19).

We have lost much that Yehovah intended for us to have when He created humans. When we accept Yeshua as our Lord and Redeemer, He restores what has been lost or stolen. What does Yeshua restore for us? 

Immortality “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)

Health Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel (Matt 15:29-31).

Safety But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one (2 Thess 3:3).

True Identity Yet to all who did receive Jesus, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— (John 1;12).

Relationships All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconcilingthe world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-19).

Our true purpose For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10). 

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 26:18-20).

Hope From: Sha’ul [Paul], an emissary of the Messiah Yeshua by command of God our deliverer and the Messiah Yeshua our hope (1 Tim 1:1).

True wisdom, knowledge and understanding That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:2-3).

Citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 3:20).

Righteousness He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21).

Forgiveness “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph 4:32).

Light When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Love and acceptance God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings (Rom 5:17).

In Jesus and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph 3:12).

When Adam and Eve fell, the earth was cursed and all creation has suffered since then (Gen 3:17-19). Just as we humans have awaited redemption and restoration, so has all of creation waited.  For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (Rom 8:19-22). Yeshua not only restores what was lost to humans, but is restoring all that was lost in creation due to the sin of Adam and Eve.  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” (Rev 21:1-5).

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life.  When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own.  It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part.  This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered.  Don’t miss out.  After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.

Who Is Yeshua?

Living Kingdom, , , , , ,

Yeshua is everything to us:  our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible.  We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible.  It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah.  This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the nineteenth article in the series, Yeshua is Yehovah’s Son.

For to which of the angels did He ever say, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again,“I will be a Father to Him And He shall be a Son to Me”? (Heb 1:5)

In order to understand who Yeshua is, we must first understand who His Father is. Yehovah is our Creator (Neh 9:6; Ps 139:14), our Provider (Ps 34:10, 81:10), our Rescuer (Ps 34:19, 37:4), our Protector (Nah 1:7, Ps 118:6-7), our Healer (Ps 147:3, Jam 5:15), our Teacher (2 Tim 3:16, Ps 32:8), our Redeemer (Gen 22:13-14, Ps 19:14) and so much more.  Yehovah’s ways are excellent (Ps 18:30, Is 26:7-8).  He is the source of wisdom (Prov 2:6, 1 Cor 1:25) and righteousness (Ps 48:10, Is 45:21).  Yehovah is King forever over all creation (1 Chron 16:31, Ps 45:6, Ps 103:19).

How do we know that Yeshua is Yehovah’s Son?  The angel Gabriel announced it to Yeshua’s mother, Miryam, twice (Luke 1:32, 35). “…therefore the child to be bornwill be called holy—the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). The prophet, John the Baptist testified that Yeshua is the Son of Yehovah.  “And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).  His followers declared that Yeshua is Yehovah’s Son.  “And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’” (Matt 14:33).  “He said to them, ‘But who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God’” (Matt 16:15-16i). Yeshua identified Himself as the Son of Yehovah (John 10:36; 11:4, 16:28, Matt 27:43).  On at least two occasions, the Father publicly proclaimed that Yeshua is His Son (Matt 3:16-17, Matt 17:5).  There are many instances recorded in the Gospels of Yeshua healing and teaching.

Yeshua demonstrates that He is his Father’s Son by His actions.  Yeshua worked with His Father and the Holy Spirit to create the heavens and the earth (John 1:3, Col 1:16).  Yeshua provided wine at a wedding (John 2: 1-12) and food to the crowds (Matt 14:13-21). Yeshua is our Rescuer (Matt 1:21, Heb 7:25) and Protector (John 10:28, 17:12). Yeshua has paid the debt for our sins and has redeemed us (1 Cor 7:23, Eph 1:7).  Yeshua’s ways are His Father’s ways (John 5:19-20, 6:38). Yeshua is the source of all wisdom (Col 2:3, 1 Cor 1:30).  Yeshua is our righteousness (2 Cor 5:21, Rom 5:19). Yeshua will reign as our King (Heb 1:8; Col 1:13).

Although Yeshua is eternal and is equal to the Father, when He came to earth as a human He became the firstborn of both the Father and His mother.  A firstborn son in ancient Near East times was considered the strongest of His siblings. He had authority over his younger siblings.  When his father died, the firstborn son was expected to take care of his mother and his unmarried sisters and became the head and spiritual leader over his family.  The firstborn son was also entitled to a double portion of the inheritance. 

Although our Father is eternal and will never die, Yeshua is not replacing His Father but is acting in His Father’s stead. Yeshua has assumed responsibility for those of us who welcome Him as our Lord and Redeemer.  We are considered His younger siblings.  We have the privilege and blessing of having a truly righteous Brother who teaches us, protects us and loves us.

In ancient times a man could redeem his relatives who had been sold into slavery.  He could also buy back property that had been sold. Yeshua is our Kinsman Redeemer.  Through the fall of Adam and Eve we became slaves of hasatan.  Yeshua has purchased our freedom not with money but with His own blood.  Just as Abram recovered Lot, his family and all that had been stolen by the enemy, Yeshua has rescued us and recovered all that has been lost or stolen from us (Gen 14:14-16, Heb 2:14-15, Acts 3:21). Yeshua’s sacrifice and resurrection as the Son of Yehovah ensure our eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven!

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life.  When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own.  It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part.  This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered.  Don’t miss out.  After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.

Who Is Yeshua?

Living Kingdom, , , , , , ,

Yeshua is everything to us:  our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible.  We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible.  It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah.  This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the eighteenth article in the series, Yeshua is the Promised King.

While the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years, they were governed by Moses who took his orders directly from Yehovah (Ex 3).  Yehovah was King and ruler over the people. Moses passed on the commands of Yehovah and Moses judged the people according to the law he had received from Yehovah (Ex 19:25). 

When Moses died, Joshua took over the role of leader and judge, still guided by Yehovah (Num 27:18-23).  After the Israelites were settled in the Promised Land, they were governed by a series of judges (Judges 2:18-19).  The Israelites began clamoring for a king because the other nations had kings to rule over them (1 Sam 8:4-9).  The Israelites had forgotten two things:  they already had a King and His name was Yehovah and they were not to strive to be like the other nations but were to be set apart. For you are a people holy [set apart] to [Yehovah] your God. [Yehovah] your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession (Deut 7:6).

In order to interact with Yehovah, the Israelites had to operate in the spiritual realm because Yehovah is a Spirit.  Most of the Israelites were not ready to deal in the spiritual realm; thus, the need for prophets and judges who were guided by the Holy Spirit. Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God (2 Pet 20-21). [Yehovah] replied, “Take Joshua, son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people (Num 27:18-21).

As we read in Scripture, the judges did not always obey the voice of Yehovah.  The people recognized that there was a problem, but dealt with the problem in the physical realm.  The human judges weren’t working out, so the Israelites clamored for a human king.  Why did they forget that Yehovah was their King?  They were relating more to the human leader than to Yehovah.  Having a human king did not resolve the problem, but in many ways exacerbated the difficulties.  In 1 and 2 Kings, we see that most of the kings were actually leading the people away from Yehovah to follow false gods. 

Yeshua is not only our perfect Lamb, our Deliverer, and our Resurrection, but He is Yehovah’s gracious answer to humankind’s clamor for a human king who will always obey Yehovah.  Yeshua is both the only begotten son of Yehovah as well as a human like us!  He is the promise that Yehovah gave through Moses.  [Yehovah] your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die” (Deut 18:15). Yeshua is Yehovah, but He is also a human with whom we can relate.

Yeshua will return to the earth one day to reign as the promised King.  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, … (Matt 25:31-46).  Those of us who belong to Yeshua yearn for Him to come soon.  Blessed is He who comes in the name of Yehovah (Matt 23:39)!

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life.  When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own.  It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part.  This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered.  Don’t miss out.  After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.

Who Is Yeshua?

Living Kingdom, , , , , ,

Yeshua is everything to us:  our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible.  We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible.  It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah.  This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the seventeenth article in the series, Yeshua is the Resurrection.

Yeshua said to her, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life! Whoever puts his trust in me will live, even if he dies; (John 11:2).

As Yeshua’s apostles spread the good news of the Kingdom, they emphasized the significance of Yeshua’s resurrection.  The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of [Yeshua], and God’s great blessing was upon them all (Acts 4:33). In fact, Sha’ul (Paul) claims in his letter to the Romans that Yeshua’s resurrection proves that He is the Son of Yehovah.  It concerns his Son — he is descended from David physically; he was powerfully demonstrated to be Son of God spiritually, set apart by his having been resurrected from the dead; he is Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord (Rom 1:3-4).

Yeshua raised the widow’s son from the dead in Nain (Luke 7:11-17) and also raised his friend, Lazarus after three days (John 11:38:44).  So, what is significant about Yeshua’s resurrection and how is it different from Lazarus being raised from the dead?  Unlike the widow’s son and Lazarus who were brought back to life in their mortal bodies, Yeshua was raised into an immortal body, a body that cannot be harmed, that is incorruptible.  What does that mean for us?

It means that the payment Yeshua made for our sin debt has been accepted by Yehovah (Rom 4:25). Our corruptible bodies will die but we need not fear for we will be raised into immortal bodies just like Yeshua. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies (1 Cor 15:53).

It also means that Yeshua is alive and active in His body of believers. He is very involved with us, with our growth and formation as citizens of His kingdom.  Even though He is seated at the right hand of the Father, Yeshua communicates with our spirit through His Spirit.  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing (Acts 2:33).

In this mortal body, we have pain, illness, and weakness, but in our new glorified bodies, we will have perfect health and power.  Living in this mortal body is temporary, but living in an immortal body will be forever. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body (1 Cor 15:42-44).

Yeshua is our resurrection; therefore, we have hope for the future beyond the death of our mortal bodies.  According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you… (1 Pet 1:3-4).

Yeshua’s resurrection means that He will someday return to the earth to judge, to rule and to reign in His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).  Those who remain faithful to Yeshua while in their mortal bodies will reign with Him in their resurrected bodies. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years (Rev 20:4-6). Revelation 1:5-6 states “and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life.  When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own.  It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part.  This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered.  Don’t miss out.  After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.

Who Is Yeshua?

Living Kingdom, , , , , , , , ,

Yeshua is everything to us:  our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible.  We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible.  It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah.  This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the sixteenth article in the series, Yeshua is haMashiach at Father’s Right Hand.

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God (Heb 10:12).

What does it mean for us that Yeshua sits at the right hand of Yehovah?  There are several aspects to consider in this verse.  First of all, the word “Christ” comes from the Greek word Christos and it means anointed one. Mashiach is the Hebrew word for anointed one and Messiah is the English word for Mashiach.  In Biblical times and, even sometimes today, an individual who was about to take on a role such as king, prophet or priest, was anointed with oil as a sign of his new designation.  Yeshua is our King (John 18:36), Prophet (Deut 18:15) and High Priest (Heb 4:14-16); thus, it is fitting that He is referred to as haMashiach (the Anointed).  The oil used for consecration is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.  When Yehovah told a prophet such as Moses or Samuel to anoint someone with oil, it indicated that Yehovah was appointing and equipping that person with His Spirit for the new assignment (Ex 28:41; 1 Sam 16:13). 

Was Yeshua anointed?  Yes, more than once.  In Luke 4:18, Yeshua tells that He was anointed.  “The Spirit of Yehovah is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed…”  It is possible that He was anointed by the astrologers who brought him gifts because myrrh was used to anoint kings and was also used for burial.  Yeshua was anointed again before his death and burial. While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table…(Matthew 26:6–13).

Yehovah empowers us for our assignments from Him by pouring His Holy Spirit upon us. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him (1 John 2:27).

Yeshua now sits on His throne at the right hand of Yehovah. Sitting at the right hand of a king is a symbol of authority.  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Matt 28:16).  From His throne, Yeshua commissions us to “make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19).  From His position at the right hand of His Father, Yeshua intercedes for us (Rom 8:34), serves as our High Priest (Heb 8:1, 4:14-16), mediates between His Father and us (1 Tim 2:5); and is our advocate in Heaven (1 John 2:1).

Yeshua also anoints and equips us with the Holy Spirit to carry out our assignments in the Kingdom. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today (Acts 2:33). As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him (1 John 2:27). As we carry out the tasks that Messiah Yeshua has assigned to each of us on earth, we are mandated to keep our focus on our Leader. So, if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God (Col 3:1 HCSB).

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life.  When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own.  It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part.  This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered.  Don’t miss out.  After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.

Who Is Yeshua?

Living Kingdom, , , , , ,

Yeshua is everything to us:  our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible.  We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible.  It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah.  This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the fifteenth article in the series, Yeshua is Sar Shalom.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on his shoulders, and he will be given the name … Sar-Shalom [Prince of Peace] (Is 9:6)

In English, we say that Yeshua is the Prince of Peace and we are speaking the truth, but not the complete truth.  In Hebrew, sar means prince, leader, ruler, but the Hebrew word shalom means much more than just an absence of war or conflict.  The root word of shalom is shalam. It is used several times in Exodus 21 and 22 where Moses is giving instructions to the Israelites concerning Yehovah’s commands to them.  In this instance, Moshe is discussing the compensation (shalam) that must be paid in case of personal injury to another or in case of damage to another’s property. In these two chapters shalam is translated as “make it good”, “shall surely pay”, “make full restitution” or to “restore”. (“The True Meaning of Shalom” by Doug Hershey, firmisrael.org) Yeshua paid full restoration for our sin in order to restore our relationship with Yehovah (Rom 5:1). 

As if paying our debt wasn’t enough, Yeshua provides even more for us. He restores to us all that has been lost through our own sinful choices as well as all that has been stolen or destroyed due to sabotage from our enemy, hasatan.  Yeshua restores our dignity, our true identity in Yehovah, and our lost dreams (Col 1:22).  He heals our soul wounds as well as our physical ailments (Is 53:5).  Everything that was lost to us through the fall of Adam and Eve or through our own fault, is restored to us (James 1:4).  In order to experience all that Yeshua provides, we must have an active personal relationship with Him. The more we seek Yeshua and trust Him, the more He restores to us.

Another definition of shalom is “full of well-being; healthy, prosperous.”  Shalom has been used as a greeting for centuries, even during Yeshua’s time.  In Luke 24:36, the resurrected Yeshua surprised his disciples by suddenly appearing in a room with locked doors and greeting them with “shalom aleikhem” or “shalom to all of you.”  This greeting is a blessing, a wishing someone to be completely well and prosperous. Only in Yeshua can we realize our full potential.

We are restored, not only for our own pleasure, but in order to be fully prepared and equipped to carry out our assignments in the Kingdom of Heaven (Heb 13:20-21).  Yehovah’s underlying purpose is to establish His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  He created and fully equipped Adam and Eve for such a purpose.  When they succumbed to the deception of hasatan, Yehovah made new provisions, at great sacrifice to Himself and to Yeshua, in order to carry out His kingdom-building plan. Yehovah is establishing His kingdom on earth, not only for His own pleasure, but for us as well.  He graciously allows us to participate in His great work.  As a result, we are blessed abundantly as we participate in His work.  When we seek Yehovah with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength, we will experience true shalom.

Now may the Lord of shalom himself give you shalom always in all ways. The Lord be with all of you (2 Thessalonians 3:16). 

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life.  When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own.  It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part.  This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered.  Don’t miss out.  After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.

Who Is Yeshua?

Living Kingdom, , , , , ,

Yeshua is everything to us:  our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible.  We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible.  It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah.  This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the fourteenth article in the series, Yeshua is Advocate.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).

If you look closely throughout Scripture, you may notice that our Heavenly Father is also the King and Judge over all that He has created and, in particular, over all the earth.  There are times, as in the days of Noah, that our Father warned the inhabitants of the earth that they were straying far from His ways and entrenching themselves in evil. When they continued to disregard Him, our Father, who is also King and Judge, pronounced sentence upon them.  Only Noah and his family were spared because they heeded Yehovah and followed his ways (Gen 5:32-10:1). Other examples include Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19); Nineveh, although that sentence was revoked due to their repentance (Jonah 3); and the dispersion of the Jews and the destruction of the second Temple in 70 AD (as Yeshua prophesied in Matt 24). 

As humans, we stray from Yehovah’s laws and we don’t always heed His warnings right away.  We need an advocate in Heaven to represent us before the Judge.  According to Easton’s Bible dictionary, an advocate is one who pleads another’s cause, who helps another by defending or comforting him.  Yeshua is our Advocate in Heaven, seated at the right hand of Yehovah.  Since the courtroom is in Heaven and we are residing on earth, we have another Advocate on earth to represent us and counsel us here. The Holy Spirit is our Advocate on earth (John 14:16, 15:26, 16:7). The roles of an advocate are to defend rights, to fight for needs and rights for other people, and assist others. 

It is a frightening thing to try to defend yourself in an earthly court; how much more so to try to defend yourself before the King and Judge of all creation. It is wise to repent and ask forgiveness as soon as we realize that we have sinned. We are not alone for we have advocates to assist us and advise us. Both advocates represent us in Heaven’s Court and both counsel us.  The Holy Spirit not only counsels us directly, but also relays Yeshua’s advise to us (John 16:14). If we will heed their advice and submit to our Father’s rule, we will have no need to be judged.  However, if we stray, we have two powerful advocates to plead our cause before the Judge and to advise us. They are clearly on our side, so it is in our best interest to heed their advice.

When another person complains to the Father about us or when the adversary, who constantly seeks opportunities to destroy us (1 Pet 5:8) raises accusations against us, the Righteous Judge must address the matters brought before Him.  Thanks to His merciful provision, we already have two court-appointed advocates to plead our cause and intercede for us.   

Since Yeshua has lived upon this earth as one of us and has suffered as we suffer, He understands our weakness and is an empathetic Advocate.  He knows our hearts and can plead for us based on what’s inside of us, unlike an advocate in an earthly court who can only work with external evidence.

Every time we are found guilty or plead guilty in Heaven’s court, there is a corresponding debt to be paid, one that we cannot pay for ourselves.  Our Father, the righteous Judge, does not cancel our debt and pretend our sin hasn’t happened when we stand before Him.  However, in His infinite mercy, our Father has provided the payment for our sin, through the sacrifice and blood of His first-born, His precious Yeshua.  Yeshua is not only our Advocate in Heaven, but He has already given His life for us and provides the payment for our debt with His own blood. Once our debt has been paid, our sin is stricken from the record.  We see a picture of this in the commands concerning the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement as described in Leviticus 16. 

When we cooperate with the Righteous Judge and our two Advocates, everything works out beautifully in our favor and our rewards and benefits are bountiful.

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life.  When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own.  It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part.  This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered.  Don’t miss out.  After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.

Who Is Yeshua?

Living Kingdom, , , , , ,

Yeshua is everything to us:  our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible.  We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible.  It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah.  This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the thirteenth article in the series, Yeshua is Deliverer.

As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God (Ps 40:17).

What is a deliverer?  According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, “deliverer” is defined as:

  1. A person who delivers goods to customers usually over a regular local route; or
  2. One that saves [others] from danger or destruction

Let us explore these two definitions beginning with the second definition. If Yeshua is our deliverer, what has He delivered us from?  If we explore the Scriptures, Yeshua has delivered us from much danger and eternal destruction.

Yeshua delivered us from:

Bondage to hasatan and to the law of sin and death which comes from hasatan  For freedom [Messiah] has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1).

Our sins [Yeshua] Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14 ESV) And she will have a son, and you are to name him Yeshua [Yehovah saves] for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt 1:21).

Heavy burdens Each of us carries heavy burdens such as worry, anxiety, sorrow, grief, soul wounds, and so on.  Then [Yeshua] said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28).

Eternal condemnation (the second death) and separation from Yehovah For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Sickness, disease, weakness But [Yeshua] 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 (Is 53:5 ). That evening many [demonized] people were brought to [Yeshua]. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick.  This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases” (Matt 8:16-17).

Fear “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Luke 14:27).

Spiritual debt Due to our sins, we each owe a debt that we cannot possibly pay.  Yeshua has paid that debt for us with His own blood.  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, [Yeshua the Messiah] the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

Spiritual darkness/blindness Yeshua spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12).

In addition to rescuing us from many evils, Yeshua also delivers to us numerous delightful gifts.  Some of these gifts are listed below.

Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. (John 15:26).

Adoption and Inheritance [Yehovah] determined in advance that through Yeshua the Messiah we would be his children — in keeping with his pleasure and purpose (Eph 1:5).  Also, in union with [Messiah] we were given an inheritance, we who were picked in advance according to the purpose of the One who effects everything in keeping with the decision of his will, so that we who earlier had put our hope in the Messiah would bring him praise commensurate with his glory (Eph 1:11-12). The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him (Eph 1:15).

A share in His glory Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne (Rev 3:21-22).

The righteousness of Messiah For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:21)

Eternal life And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life (1 John 5:11-12).

Joy But rejoice insofar as you share [Messiah’s] sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed (1 Pet 4:13).

Spiritual Gifts Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness (Rom 12:6-8).

Wisdom …that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is [Messiah],in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:2-3).

As we meditate on Scripture, we can add to both these lists.  Yeshua delivers us from the hell we were born into and His gifts equip us to thrive in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Take courage, for we have all that we need to fulfill Yehovah’s purpose for us.

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life.  When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own.  It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part.  This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered.  Don’t miss out.  After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.