All posts by John (HFJ Director)

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Teachable, Thankfulness, Traditions / Holidays

Embracing Sukkot by Increasing Our Understanding

Once again, I am focused on Yahweh’s appointed time of Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles. It is a fun celebration that reminds us how God led His people out of bondage in Egypt and looks forward to the return of our King, Yeshua, when He will dwell among us again.

Today I am highlighting two resources for you to consider that can help to broaden your understanding of Sukkot and how to celebrate it. I encourage you to explore both and test them against scripture. Both present a view of this appointed time in the context of scripture and our Messiah. You do not have to agree with everything they say and do in order to learn from the material which is well laid out and I find very helpful.

119Ministries.com will provide a video to watch. SetApartPeople provides personal insight into their journey celebrating this appointed time. You can refresh the search to get more recent articles on their page by searching “Sukkot”.

I include a few additional links below. However, be sure to validate everything you read against the truth of scripture. As a last encouragement, note that Yeshua even set an example by celebrating the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, despite people seeking to kill Him (John 7). I encourage you to click the link and read all of John 7.

Have fun with it. This is a celebration! Our Messiah returns! Consider even some easy online searches for songs or music videos associated with Sukkot. We have found some that are very cheerful and fun and some that are more spiritually focused and meaningful. Do not be discouraged from these resources because Sukkot is celebrated by Jews. It can be observed by anyone who rejoices in our Creator and His appointed times. With Christ, we have even more reason to celebrate these appointed times.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to embrace Your appointed times. Help open the eyes of Your followers everywhere to Your celebrations and their purpose in drawing us closer to You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Healer, Miracles, Seeking God

Call Out to God Even When Others Discourage You

There are many voices that will seek to discourage us from calling out to or following Jesus. Those who wish to have their lives transformed by Him must reject those voices and seek after Jesus with passion and conviction. Do not be discouraged by others, but seek Him as a priority in your life wholeheartedly and without reservation or embarrassment. He will transform your life.

Mark 10:46-52

Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

      46Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” 50Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” 52And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

If Bartimaeus would have listened to those discouraging him from reaching out to the LORD, he would not have had his sight restored. Yeshua did not seek him until He heard Bartimaeus calling. In fact, even when Yeshua stopped to help him, Yeshua called for Bartimaeus to come to Him. Sometimes we may be called upon to do likewise when we call out for help to the LORD. He may call us to come to him, rather than stay how and where we are in sin. He may want us to show some sign of faith and trust to seek Him out. What if Bartimaeus would have been too afraid or offended to get up and go to Yeshua when called? What if he became indignant because Yeshua was calling him as a blind man to get up and come to Him instead of the other way around? He would not have been healed.

Seek to trust and pursue the LORD fully. Do not find excuses to wrestle with God as if He must meet you on your own terms. Seek Him on whatever terms He offers.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You that you are healer and helper. Thank You that You love us and have compassion on us. Help Your people to have strong faith in You and to seek You boldly, despite any discouragement from others. Help us to meet You where You are instead of insisting You meet us where we are. Let us be humble and not prideful in seeking You out, surrendering all to You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Holy / Set Apart, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Peace / Rest, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Traditions / Holidays

Dive Into Scripture to Embrace the Meaning of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)

Rather than write another article today, I encourage you to review the following links from TheMoedim.com. There is much useful information. Remember to test everything. I may not agree with every detail, but pay particular attention to the scripture itself. It is very well laid out. Also, remember to keep separate in your mind scripture from traditions. Both may have value, but traditions should point back to scripture and not be taken with the same importance as scripture.

I encourage you to do some more personal study on this celebration. I include a few links below. However, be sure to validate everything you read against the truth of scripture. As a last encouragement, note that Yeshua even set an example by celebrating the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, despite people seeking to kill Him (John 7). I encourage you to click the link and read all of John 7.

Have fun with it. This is a celebration! Our Messiah returns! Consider even some easy online searches for songs or music videos associated with Sukkot. We have found some that are very cheerful and fun and some that are more spiritually focused and meaningful. Do not be discouraged from these resources because Jews celebrate Sukkot. It can be celebrated by anyone who rejoices in our Creator and His appointed times. With Christ, we have even more reason to celebrate these appointed times!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to embrace Your appointed times. Help open the eyes of Your followers everywhere to Your celebrations and their purpose in drawing us closer to You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Holy / Set Apart, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Peace / Rest, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

Celebrate Sukkot (Tabernacles) – Dwelling in His Presence

Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles (also Booths), is at first strange to those of us growing up in a Christian church or non-Jewish culture because so much of the Old Testament is not taught or is not taught as relevant anymore. As the Lord has revealed more to me in my study and prayer it has become quite a meaningful celebration for my family. My children look forward to it every year, sometimes months in advance. The celebration is coming up soon, so I encourage you to take some time to learn more and consider participating with your family, or even by yourself.

In a quick summary, the festival is about celebrating dwelling in the presence of our God. It looks back on the past as He dwelt with His people as they left Egypt for the Promised Land and also looks forward to when Yeshua returns to dwell among us at the second coming of our Lord. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate that!

From a practical perspective, it also reminds me to be thankful and humble, not to take for granted the nice home and secure lifestyle my family is blessed with.  I am reminded that He provides! He leads me, even if it seems like I am in hard times, like the 40 years in the wilderness.

Leviticus 23:37-44

    37‘These are the appointed times of the LORD which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, to present offerings by fire to the LORD—burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each day’s matter on its own day— 38besides those of the sabbaths of the LORD, and besides your gifts and besides all your votive and freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD.

      39‘On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. 40‘Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41‘You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42‘You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, 43so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’” 44So Moses declared to the sons of Israel the appointed times of the LORD.

We have not taken to live in booths in the wilderness as yet for this celebration, but we do set aside the Sabbath days of rest and pitch the tent to go camping. We started by camping in our own family room in a tent and have now moved outside on our property.  It creates excitement for the kids and questions about why and what we are celebrating and it all points back to our Father who provides for us and a reminder that Yeshua will return and dwell among us.

Consider taking steps to start celebrating God’s holy days. They consistently focus on our relationship with Him rather than worldly things like so many man-made holidays.  Take small steps at first to start observing and grow from there. Don’t be intimidated so that you put it off.

Invest time for personal study of this celebration. I include a few links below. Take a link a day and explore it over the next few days.  Validate everything you read against the truth of scripture. It is helpful to distinguish tradition from scripture.

As a last encouragement, take note that Yeshua even set an example by going to celebrate the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, despite people seeking to kill Him (John 7). I encourage you to click the link and read all of John 7.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to embrace Your appointed times. Help open the eyes of Your followers everywhere to Your celebrations and their purpose in drawing us closer to You. Thank You for the joyful reminder each year that Yeshua is going to return to dwell among us! Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

Yom Kippur – Deeper Reflection Through Scriptures

I have been sharing my observance of Yom Kippur as a follower of Christ with a close friend and she highlighted an important aspect of Yom Kippur that may get overlooked by some. It is a day of repentance and atonement. It is a day of fasting. We are also instructed to humble ourselves before the LORD. This is more than just observing some traditional rules like not wearing shoes with leather soles or putting on perfume. It is truly about our heart and our attitude before our Creator.

She shared some scripture the LORD had led her to as she has been observing with her family and I wanted to share it more broadly.

Each year as I observe this solemn holy day, I allow myself to continue to grow and change the approach for my family. There is so much good Biblical content to help lead us in prayer, humility and reconciliation with YHWH that I am embracing more each year the 10 days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur to pray and reflect on this subject with my family. These days are commonly referred to as the Days of Awe. I encourage you to study at least some of the scriptures below as you seek to humble yourself before the LORD.

Do keep in mind as you humble yourself before God, that if you are in Yeshua, you have been forgiven. We still want to be humble and repent, but we can also be thankful that God has already made a way for us to be forgiven.

Daniel 9:4-19 (Daniel)

4I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. 6“Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land.

      7“Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. 8“Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9“To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; 10nor have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets. 11“Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him. 12“Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem. 13“As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth. 14“Therefore the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the LORD our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.

      15“And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. 16“O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. 17“So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. 18“O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. 19“O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

1 Chronicles 16:8-38 (David)

Psalm of Thanksgiving

8Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.

      9Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.

10Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.

11Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face continually.

12Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,

13O seed of Israel His servant,
Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!

14He is the LORD our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.

15Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,

16The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.

17He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,

18Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
As the portion of your inheritance.”

19When they were only a few in number,
Very few, and strangers in it,

20And they wandered about from nation to nation,
And from one kingdom to another people,

21He permitted no man to oppress them,
And He reproved kings for their sakes, saying,

22“Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”

23Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

24Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.

26For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.

27Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.

28Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the LORD in holy array.

30Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”

32Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.

33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD;
For He is coming to judge the earth.

34O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

35Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,
And gather us and deliver us from the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
And glory in Your praise.”

36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting even to everlasting.
Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.

1 Samuel 2:1-10 (Hannah)

Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

      1Then Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the LORD;
My horn is exalted in the LORD,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

      2“There is no one holy like the LORD,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.

3“Boast no more so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the LORD is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.

4“The bows of the mighty are shattered,
But the feeble gird on strength.

5“Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to hunger.
Even the barren gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children languishes.

6“The LORD kills and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7“The LORD makes poor and rich;
He brings low, He also exalts.

8“He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor;
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S,
And He set the world on them.

9“He keeps the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by might shall a man prevail.

10“Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered;
Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Luke 1:46-55 (Mary)

The Magnificat

46And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,

      47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

49“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.

50“AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

51“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

52“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.

53“HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.

54“He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,

55As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Additional scriptures you may find enriching:

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, You and You alone are God. There are none like You. None can do the works that You do. Yet You love Your people and have made a way for us to be reconciled to You despite our sins. Thank You for Your grace and mercy shown through the death of Christ for our sins! May You be magnified and glorified in my life. Thank You for your continued mercy on me as a sinner submitted to Yeshua. Thank You for Your Spirit and Your word to guide me as a light unto my path. Help me to walk in repentance and seek diligently after Your ways. Amen. 

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Seeking God, Wise

You Will Not Find True Purpose and Fulfillment in Wisdom Alone

The context of Ecclesiastes is important. If you are unfamiliar with the book, and read some excerpts you may draw the wrong conclusion. For example, reading Ecclesiastes 1 may lead you to think that wisdom is futile and not worth pursuing. This is not at all the case! We must realize the broader context of the book. Solomon is reflecting back on many things he has pursued in his life in looking for personal fulfillment. If we keep his ultimate conclusion in mind, we can better understand the context in which he says pursuing wisdom is like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

13The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Wisdom is good, but wisdom by itself, as a goal, is empty without the presence and purposes of YHWH. Man was created to live in relationship with the Father. Many try to fill this “hole” with other things like wisdom, power, money, sex, achievement, etc. However, nothing else can fill this hole that was designed to be filled by our relationship with the Father.  It is all like chasing the wind without Him.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

The Futility of Wisdom

     12I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. 15What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted.

      16I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.” 17And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind. 18Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.

Seek relationship with the Father. Pursue Him through Yeshua, who is the way, the truth, and the life.

John 14:6

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Psalms

Sing Praises to Yahweh (Psalm 47)

Yahweh is to be praised and celebrated as King of Kings, Lord of Lords. He reigns over all the Earth. Let us not forget His absolute sovereignty and power, no matter what our personal challenges may be.

Psalm 47

God the King of the Earth.

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

      1O clap your hands, all peoples;
Shout to God with the voice of joy.

      2For the LORD Most High is to be feared,
A great King over all the earth.

      3He subdues peoples under us
And nations under our feet.

      4He chooses our inheritance for us,
The glory of Jacob whom He loves.

Selah.

      5God has ascended with a shout,
The LORD, with the sound of a trumpet.

      6Sing praises to God, sing praises;
Sing praises to our King, sing praises.

      7For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with a skillful psalm.

      8God reigns over the nations,
God sits on His holy throne.

      9The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham,
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
He is highly exalted.

Yahweh is to be exalted and praised. All the Earth belongs to Him.

Shalom.

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Take time to truly reflect on or perhaps read over a few times the psalm. It is too easy to read it quickly and not dwell on the significance. Take a few minutes to praise and thank our heavenly Father. Let the focus be on Him and His glory rather than on our needs.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Miracles, Miracles, Purposeful / Intentional, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Share the Good News

What Can We Learn From How Jesus Sent Forth The Twelve?

Whether we seek to learn about Yeshua or to take His message to others, we should pay attention to the early ministry of Yeshua and His disciples and apply what we learn to our lives today.

Yeshua sent out His disciples to preach that men should repent from their wrong ways and turn toward God’s ways and toward God, Himself. They cast out demons and anointed the sick with oil, healing them. It sounds very much like a reflection of Jesus’ ministry as He began. (Matthew 4:17; Matthew 4:23)

Mark 6:7-13

The Twelve Sent Out

7And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; 8and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt— 9but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.” 10And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. 11“Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” 12They went out and preached that men should repent. 13And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.

It is a good thing when your ministry reflects that of the Master. We should pay close attention to His key message, which was repentance. This is a very important message. It is easy for each of us to conclude we are doing things “well enough” or “better than others”. However, that is not the standard to measure against. We are to measure against Yahweh’s holy standard. There is always more we can do, with His help, to identify and repent from sin in our life. It is not a one time decision. It is a decision and action we repeat every day of our lives. Sometimes we mess up and then we ask forgiveness and try again. For those who preach, the lesson is also that one should perhaps begin with the need for repentance as we preach or teach. People must understand their need for Yeshua… to be forgiven through His sacrifice to pay for our sins and mistakes.

I find it also very powerful that the disciples are sent with very little. They are to bring nothing extra. What a powerful statement! When we hear from Yahweh, we are to put our trust completely in Him to provide for our needs. He can and will do it. This does not necessarily mean to discard what He has already provided us, so seek His guidance prayerfully.  Jesus did not command the disciples to get rid of all their belongings or even to give them to the poor. He simply instructed them in regards to their missionary journeys not to take anything extra with them.

When they do enter a house, the intent is to stay there, perhaps to build relationships or perhaps to avoid the distraction of constantly having to worry about where they would stay the next night or week. They were not to move every night to another place.

If a place did not receive them, they are not to stay and force it, but rather shake the dust from their sandals and move on. We must take heed to this important lesson. Too often we may wish to force someone in particular to hear the message of Christ and repent. We can not force them to accept the message. Furthermore, if we continue to put our focus, time, and energy toward only those who reject Yahweh, then we will be delayed in bringing the gospel to others who are open to hearing and receiving the truth of Yeshua. Time is a limited asset and it is constantly passing. We must use it wisely.

The preaching of repentance was accompanied by casting out demons and healing. There are many examples where Yahweh allowed His followers to perform miracles in His name, in particular as they were spreading revelation from Him such as the good news about Yeshua as Messiah. When we go out to bring the good news of Yeshua, we are to accompany that with showing love and compassion to the people we meet. We are to try to help them and meet their needs, to alleviate their suffering. To those whom He calls, they can even do miracles in His name. Whether or not we can do miracles will be up to the LORD and, in part, our faith. With or without miracles, we can certainly have an impact in showing our love for people.

Both as disciples seeking to learn and follow after Christ, and as those seeking to bring the truth of Christ to others, we can learn a lot by prayerfully reflecting on scripture and the truth God reveals to us through it.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please show me clearly where You would like me to share the gospel and how I should approach any mission for which You send me. Let me not proceed on my own understanding but with strong faith and in obedience to Your direction. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

Scripture Readings to Enrich Yom Kippur

Yom Teruah signals us with the trumpet blast to remind us that the return of the King is nearing. Yom Kippur is a day to come humbly before God and acknowledge our sins, turning from them. The days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur are often called the Days of Awe. This is a good time to reflect on the goodness of God in His forgiveness of our sins through Yeshua. It is also a good time to prepare ourselves to come humbly before God to reflect on any sins in our lives and repent from them. We can gratefully reflect on the sacrifice of Yeshua who has paid our debt for sin. He died so we have forgiveness of sin. We should take care not to be arrogant in regards to receiving forgiveness as if we earned it or deserved it. We don’t. It is a gift. Be humble and thankful.

First and foremost, remember that if we are in Christ, we have already been forgiven.

1 Pet 2:24  and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

I found some additional scripture reading suggestions referenced by Hebrew4Christians. We do not read them all on the day of Yom Kippur, but rather read them in preparation over several days. I find this helps, especially for young children, to be able to digest more of the importance of this Moed, or appointed time.

The scriptures are as follows:

I also encourage you to visit the sites linked below and pull in the videos, scripture, or teaching that helps your family better understand Yom Kippur in full context.  It is very helpful to study more about our Creator’s appointed times as we learn to observe them. Remember, however, we are not begging God for forgiveness, but rather humbling ourselves and thanking Him for already forgiving us through Yeshua.

As you study, remember to separate what is Jewish tradition from what is written in the Bible. The study of tradition can be helpful and enriching, but I find it good to know for myself what is scriptural and what is traditional. When getting started, I focus on the scriptural aspects first. The traditional would then be optional as it fits with and helps or supports the scriptural message.

I have provided a few links to help you get started, but you can search on your own, of course.

 

  • JacobsTent.org is a fellowship that meets in Tennessee and live streams events for Moedim and regular Sabbath services weekly. It is more than just a study, but brings you in to be part of a fellowship worshipping and learning together.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Help / Serve Others, Jesus (hearing from God), Submitted / Servant

To Be Great Is To Be A Servant To All

As the time for Jesus’ suffering and death drew nearer, He continued to try to prepare His disciples for what was coming. On one such occasion, Jesus tells His disciples explicitly what is going to happen. There is no response documented, but instead, James and John engage Jesus in a discussion about the honor of sitting beside Him in heaven.

Mark 10:32-45

Jesus’ Sufferings Foretold

      32They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him, 33saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. 34“They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”

      35James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” 38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40“But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

      41Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. 42Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43“But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

It is amazing to ponder that as Jesus tells them He will suffer and die, the response is to ask about honor for themselves. Perhaps they were simply standing in solidarity with Him with willingness to suffer alongside Him. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. The were likely not sure what to say about the news Jesus was sharing with them. To their credit, they truly meant well and were willing to suffer and die with Jesus to follow Him. Most of us our truly not willing to do that for Him.

The other disciples were indignant at James and John. Conflict arose at least to some degree. Jesus settled the situation by focusing on what was important. He clarified how greatness is measured in the kingdom of heaven.

42Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43“But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.

I am always impressed how Jesus gets right to the heart of the matter, and is not bogged down with distractions. He leads the disciples away from infighting and arguments about who is greater and points them toward what it means to be great so they can all pursue greatness through righteousness and obedience to Christ. If they want to debate who is greatest, they must serve one another. It brings them together in unity and humility.

Are you pursuing greatness in some part of your life? Do you measure your success by the same standard that Jesus does?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for sending Yeshua as our savior and example. Thank You for His teaching and recording it in the Bible so we could study and understand it. Help me to be humble and focus on being a servant to others in Your name. Let me not try to be great in the eyes of the world, but rather in Your eyes. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.