Life’s Motivation

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Freedom is one of humanity’s most prized possessions! Yet many people are in captivity. You see, we aren’t just physical beings, we are also spiritual, and we can be enslaved spiritually as well as physically.                 

YESHUA said that anyone who commits sin is in bondage to it (referring to continuous wrongs that become a lifestyle, even for His believers)!   

Almost anything, including the pursuit of power, money or relationships, can develop into a pattern of sinful living.   Usually ungodly habits begin in a way that seems innocent and fulfills a desire or need.  Over time, we can easily become desensitized to any guilt that we might have felt in the beginning. As we sense less conviction by the Holy Spirit, our habit can become comfortable and eventually controls us!

John 8:34
YESHUA answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

Let’s not be deceived by satan. Take an honest look at your life’s motivations! Are there some habits, emotions or dreams that own you?

There is only One who can set you free. His name is “YESHUA.” Cry out to Him today!

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

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Burden Bearing

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

)If you are looking for a way to carry out YESHUA’S command to love your neighbor, the Apostle Paul has a suggestion in today’s verse, “bear their burdens!”

There are times when everyone struggles under the weight of a heavy burden, and now more than ever, there are lots of people struggling just to survive! As believers we have an obligation to help lift that burden for our fellow brothers and sisters in the LORD! We need to look at YESHUA as our example. He calls to Himself all who are heavy laden and gives them rest. (Matthew 11:28-29) 

Because GOD has conformed us to MESSIAH’S likeness, we should imitate His care and concern for those that are in need. Even though we have our own needs, YESHUA tells us in the Word that we can do all things through His strength, including sharing someone else’s adversity!

 I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Share each other’s burdens and in this way obey the law of MESSIAH. Galatians 6:2

When we’re willing to step out to help another in their time of need, two things happen! 

First, the person in need is receiving GOD’S blessings, support and love through you! 

Second; we are fulfilling the LORD’S command to love our neighbor. 

Let’s do it on purpose, be a blessing today!

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

One in Yeshua

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

The Bible says that GOD does not have favorites (Acts 10:34). By this we know He does not treat some people better than others and He is totally fair to everyone. He’s compassionate and merciful to the hurting and works to bring justice to their lives. 

The apostle James told the congregation not to pay special attention to people who wore fancy clothes and give them better seats in the synagogue. They were to treat all the people as worthy of respect no matter what they wore (James 2:1-4). 

YESHUA put an end to destination between people and said in Gal. 3:28, we are all one in Him! When we look around us, we need to see everyone as valuable, not looking at their color or race, what kind of car they drive or their professions or titles. We need to see all people as people whom YESHUA died for.

Rom. 2:11
“For there is no partiality with God…”

In our corner of the world, let’s treat people with infinite value as being loved and created by the GOD of this Universe because everyone of us are the apple of His eye!

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

First Things First

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Some people become so involved in ministry that they overlook their own family members and friends! In today’s verse we see the LORD makes it very clear that we are not to neglect one in order to attend to the other!

GOD is saying that we are not to only meet the needs of those around us in the world (the poor, needy and disadvantaged), but that we are also to meet the needs of our immediate family!

The Word of GOD tells us not only to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, but that we must also not hide ourselves from the needs of our own flesh and blood!

Isaiah 58:7
“It is not to share bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh.”

If you read on to the next verse, Isaiah 58:8, GOD is telling us to do things in His order, and if we do, then blessings and prosperity will follow! 

PTL!

With lots of prayers & love, shalom!

Pastor Bruce & Suzi

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Lake Worth/Lantana Florida

Speaking the Word

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

In our  verse today, YESHUA is encouraging us to speak to our mountain, not about our mountain! Yeshua is instructing His disciples to pray the will of GOD ( the Word) over their problems. Speaking the Word of GOD is powerful and absolutely necessary in conquering our mountains! But this has got to be accomplished by our obedience to GOD’S Word. Obedience is equally important.

If a person thinks he or she can live in disobedience yet speak GOD’S Word to their mountain and get results, YESHUA is telling us we will be sadly disappointed! For instance, there is no power in speaking to a mountain if our hearts are full of unforgiveness (Mark 11:25–26). Let’s see what YESHUA had to say!                                          

Mark 11:23
“For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

We can not operate under one of GOD’S principles while completely ignoring another. Let’s ask for help from the Holy Spirit to understand the whole counsel of the Word so that we can be living a victorious life as believers!

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Lake Worth/ Lantana FL

Planted in Messiah

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

 

When we receive YESHUA as our Savior we do it by faith! But that’s only the beginning—we have ahead of us a lifetime of walking with Him!

Our verses today states that we walk with MESSIAH the same way we received Him—by faith! This means we put our trust in Him for every circumstance of life!

The apostle Paul wanted us to know how our confidence in GOD grows. “Having been firmly rooted” at the moment of salvation we are planted in MESSIAH! And our roots grow deeper as we anchor ourselves in Him! Through obedience we are built up in MESSIAH!

Then in time, as we begin to understand more about YESHUA and how He operates, our trust in Him increases even through tough times because we have become established in our faith!

Colossians 2:6-7
Therefore as you received Messiah Yeshua as Lord, so continue to walk in Him—rooted and built up in Him and established in your faith just as you were taught, overflowing with thankfulness.

Walking in MESSIAH is a process; while on this earth we never “arrive,” but we are slowly transformed along the way! Trust Him today and walk by faith and not by sight!  Yes! In Yeshua’s Name. Amen. 

With lots of prayers, love & hugs,

Shalom!

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation