Monthly Archives: May 2017

Why Settle for Less Than the Best!!!

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Category : Jesus is Better in Every Way

WHY SETTLE FOR LESS THAN THE BEST!

If we would but only look back over our lives, we will find where we have sometimes and in various ways compromised our moral positions, values, dreams, relationships, and even our spiritual walk with God. And If we would be honest, oftentimes, we settled for less than the best due to impatience, feelings of unworthiness, a deflated self-esteem, or because we wanted instant gratification.

And if the truth be told because we decided to settle for less than the best, we’ve had to suffer severe consequences and deep regrets as a result.

However, we don’t have to continue walking in self condemnation (Romans 8). We need only repent, ask God for forgiveness, surrender to Him as the Lord of our lives and to begin to allow Him to lead and guide us in every decision–whether big or small.

Why settle for less than the best when you can have a better way in Christ. Not mere religion with all of its legalistic rules and manmade dogmas, but a true relationship with Christ.

In the book of Hebrews we find at least ten ways that Jesus is better than anything that this world or this life has to offer and they are outlined as below:

  • Jesus is better than the Prophets (Hebrews 1:1-3)
  • Jesus is better than the Angels (1:4-14)
  • Jesus is better than Moses (3:1-6)
  • Jesus is better than Joshua (4:6-11)
  • Better than the High Priests (5:1-10)
  • Jesus is better than Abraham (7:1-10)
  • Jesus is better than the Old Testament Priesthood (7:11-19)
  • Jesus is better than the Tabernacle (9:2-12)
  • Jesus is better than the old sacrifices (10:11-18)
  • Jesus is better than the experience at Mt. Sinai; 12:18-24

Over the course of time, we will be discussing a few of the blessings above as we seek to appreciate just how blessed we are to have Jesus Christ of Nazareth in our lives and to appreciate that He is better to us than anything this world has to offer.

First off, we wish to establish what “better” means in the book of Hebrews as it relates to Christ Jesus. In Hebrews 1:4, it says “being made so much better than the angels”, and we find in the Strongs Concordance, that the Greek translation for better is kreitton, pronounced krite’-tohn (G2909) and means “stronger, best, more excellent”.

In the Bible, angels held very important roles in speaking to God’s people.

  • Two angels accompanied the Lord when He spoke to Abraham. (Gen. 18:2-22)
  • Two angels met Lot in Sodom and warned him of the coming judgment. (Gen 19:12)
  • An angel wrestled with Jacob in the night and blessed him (Gen 32:22-32)
  • An angel spoke to Joshua on how to take the city of Jericho. (Josh 5:13-15)
  • An angel spoke to Gideon to drive the enemies of Israel from the land. (Judg 6:11-24)
  • An angel shuts the mouths of the lions when Daniel was in the lion’s den (Dan. 6:22)
  • An angel came to Mary to tell her she would give birth to Jesus. (Luke 1:26-38)
  • Angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Christ. (Luke 2:8-20)

Even though angels held prominent roles, they were not superior to Jesus. Only Jesus is deemed the First-born. Only Jesus is deemed the Messiah. Only Jesus came to redeem us. Only Jesus can save us. In other words He is the Captain of our Salvation. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light, no man cometh to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6).

When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, and came up out of the water, immediately the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens saying : “Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased.” (Mark 1:10-11).

With this statement, God identified Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. Jesus is the beloved Son of God. And all who call on the name of Jesus are accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:6 declares “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in His beloved.

Do you understand what that means? Yes, Yahweh God sends His angels to protect us on so many fronts, but can’t no nobody do us like Jesus. We are accepted in the beloved bosom of Jesus. Like a lamb in the arms of His shepherd, He loves us that much. He paid a price that no other could pay. Jesus shed His blood on Calvary’s Cross to save us, to protect, to shield us from all hurt, harm, and danger.

Jesus loves us just that much. And I agree with the Apostle Paul when he asserts this passage of scripture found in Romans 8:38 and I like this translation in the NLT, “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.”

And get this, even the angels know that Jesus is better. An angel had to warn John the Revelator not to worship him but to worship God. …”Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God! For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” (Rev. 19:10 (NLT)

JESHUA HAMASHIACH, “bka” JESUS is better than the Angels. So, why settle for the less than the best….More to come…stay tuned…..

 

 

 

Christ, The Conqueror of Death

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Category : Gird Up

JESUS MADE “OLD DEATH” TO BEHAVE!

Hebrews 2:14-15

Do you really mean it when you quote from the 23rd Psalm…”and though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil?” When unrelenting spiritual attacks seem to be the norm of the day, when the many media outlets are filled with horrors and atrocities associated with the persecution of Christians, who like you, only wish to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, or when you have received a shocking or terminal report from the doctor, do you squirm or hesitate to quote verse 4 or do you assert with an unwavering faith and trust in God that regardless of what comes, I will not fear death or evil.

In Hebrews 2:14-15, we find these words… “14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,   15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

At the time that the epistle of Hebrews was written, in approximately 67 A.D, the Jewish temple was still standing and the priestly ceremonies were still being done daily. During this same time, Jews who had become Christian believers were going through some rough patches and were being tempted to go back to the Jewish religion to escape persecution. And many of them feared death.

The Hebrew writer was assuring the Jewish believers just as he is assuring us on today, that Jesus, through His own death, has conquered death. In other words, Jesus has made that old death to behave.  Halleuia!

As believers, we are well aware of the fact that HaSatan comes to steal, kill, and to destroy, (John 10:10), however, he does not have power over death. HaSatan can only do what Yahweh God will allow Him to do. And we see this in Job 1:12; 2:6). God gave the direction that the devil could torment Job, but he couldn’t take his life.

But since HaSatan is the author of sin (John 8:44) and because sins brings death (Rom. 6:23), he does wield some power in the realm of death in this world.

And what HaSatan does is he uses the fear of death (shadow) as a tricky weapon to gain control over the lives of people. And Colossians 1:13 tells us that his kingdom is one of darkness and death.

But the good news is that WE CAN PUT OUR TRUST in the fact that only Yahweh God has the final authority over death. (Deut 32:39; Matt 10:28; Rev. 1:18).

We can trust God’s Word in Deut. 32:39 which declares… ‘Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. 

We as believers can walk through the valley of the shadow of death trusting in the Word coming from the lips of King Jesus when he asserts in Matt. 10:28…. ‘And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ Only Jesus has authority over the soul and body, not the devil. Amen!

We can walk with an unwavering faith and trust in the Word as written by John the Revelator when Jesus says this…..”I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” (Rev. 1:18)

So even though there may be seasons where we may have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we should not be in bondage to the fear of death, because we have the victory. We have the victory because the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ have given us the victory!

1 Corinthians 15:55 begs the question…”O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”   Verse 56 answers the question that “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.   57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.   58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

As we trust God and His unwavering Word, we can walk this thing out called “life,” til He shall call us home.

Please meditate on the words to this old hymn as penned by Louisa Stead.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Chorus: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more! 

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.

Prayer: Papa Yahweh God, in the name of Jesus, we give You Praise, we Honor You, and we Glorify You. We thank you that even when trouble surrounds us and storm clouds rise, we have the sweet assurance or knowing that we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and even though at times we may be plagued by fear, anxiety, and worry, you promised that you will never leave us nor forsake us in Jesus name, Amen!

Click on “Prayer” page for salvation prayer.

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