Life of Freedom

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

GOD’S goal is for us to grow up in Him. He doesn’t want us to stay a baby Believer!

He wants us to become a mature overcomer and being an overcomer means learning how to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh!

As long as we’re letting our flesh rule us, we’re not free and if we’re not free, we’re not enjoying a life of freedom!

We must realize that we all have to deal with our flesh for as long as we live and we’re going to have a choice to sow to the flesh or sow to the Spirit! We’re never going to become so spiritual that our flesh never gives us trouble. The flesh will always want control.

However, if we submit ourselves to GOD daily, He will break the power of our flesh and change us.

Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord YESHUA MESSIAH and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts…”  

We cannot defeat the flesh with the power of the flesh, but by yielding to the power of GOD’S Spirit, we can live dead to sin and alive in  MESSIAH and then enjoy the life of freedom that YESHUA died to give us!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Second Opportunities

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Our living FATHER is the GOD of second OPPORTUNITIES! His grace is so extensive that He offers countless opportunities to hear the gospel and receive His Son, YESHUA, as your Savior and Lord.

On our own, no matter how much we try to be good, we slip and fall back into sin. Thankfully, GOD’S grace is immeasurably greater than our sin. Our LORD considers grace an action word. Because He is a holy God (righteous judge), He cannot ignore our transgressions.

So He implemented a simple plan for each person: whoever believes in His Son, YESHUA, as Savior is forgiven! We are then justified by faith and at peace with GOD. Our sins are washed away to be remembered no more!

(Romans 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord (YESHUA).

Yeshua is our second chance! Apart from Him, there is no salvation, no justification and no grace. We cannot clean up our own hearts. Each man and woman must take advantage of the purity of MESSIAH purchased for us with His sacrifice on the Roman torture Stake!!

If you have never asked YESHUA into your heart, don’t delay, do it today and your life will never be the same! He’s waiting for you!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Conquering Fear

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

What is the first thing you do when you feel threatened or overwhelmed? Do you reach for the phone to call a friend or do you get on your knees and pray? In our scripture today, our heavenly FATHER is giving us instructions for what He wants us to do; prayer should always be our first step.

We need to make a choice to walk by faith. This may mean going forward even though we do not know what is in front of us or it could mean being still before the LORD!

GOD holds our lives within His omnipotent (all knowing) mighty hands! If you are tempted to become fearful, ask Him to speak to your heart and encourage you in the way you should go.

{Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand}

Fear is not from GOD (2 Timothy 1:7). It is deception from the enemy! Stay focused on the LORD and keep His Word in your heart and He will direct your path.

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Adjustment

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

When you become a child of GOD (accepting YESHUA as your Savior), GOD has things for you to do for the kingdom. You will never hear that still, small voice say to you, “What do you want to do?” His plans for you don’t change to suit your purposes; instead He asks you to adjust your life to align with His will!                            

Sometimes our change of lifestyle is required; Peter, Andrew, James & John were fishermen before becoming YESHUA’S disciples. Their lives revolved around catching fish and making a profit. But when Yeshua called them to follow Him and become fishers of men, they had to make a dramatic change in their lifestyle.

{Proverbs  3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths… }

Our heavenly FATHER’S plans are based upon His goodness, justice and mercy. Because of His perfect character we can trust His directions. Adjusting to GOD’S direction and His will and making needed changes in our lives is always the wisest action we can take.

Are you willing to adjust and pursue GOD’S plans for your life (which is your destiny)?

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

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The Resurrection Matters

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

What does MESSIAH’s resurrection mean to you? Is it simply an event in the distant pass or does it affect how you think and act in your time now (2019)?

On Friday evening, April 19, 2019, we celebrated the Passover!

In 1 Corinthians 15:13-17, the apostle Paul gives us a glimpse of the resurrection’s importance by describing what would have happened if YESHUA had NOT been raised! Our celebration would be a big lie and our faith would be worthless! Worst of all, we’d still bear the guilt of every sin we’ve ever committed with no hope of forgiveness, salvation or eternal life in Heaven!

1 Corinthians 15:13-14 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then MESSIAH has not been raised either. And if MESSIAH has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless.

Today, let’s continue rejoicing at YESHUA’s victory over death, looking forward to that day when He will return and resurrect all those who have trusted Him as Savior!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Exchanged Life

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Each Messianic believer’s journey is unique! Yet certain stages of growth should be common to all believers. Example: GOD wants to use us through our walk with the Lord to show new believers the basic principles for the foundation of their new life in MESSIAH!

Next, we were created to do good works and this becomes evident as growing believers use their talents to glorify YESHUA!

Then because pride and self-confidence are threats to our spiritual growth, GOD will bring us to a place where we realize we can achieve nothing of value without His guidance and power. The LORD teaches us how to live the exchanged life, check it out in (Galatians 2:20).

Looking back you can recognize these stages, maybe you can see an area where GOD is still working with you. If there is anything standing in the way of allowing Him to live fully through you, then ask the RUAH HAKODESH to help you be everything GOD created you to be!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Click here to read more blogs from Pastor Bruce & Suzi