The Riches of His Grace

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Scripture says that YESHUA chose to become poor—leaving Heaven and everything that belonged to Him as GOD’S Son so that we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). We read in Ephesians chapter 1 about the riches of His grace, check it out! 

We were chosen by GOD Himself; we belong to Him. He gives us a purpose for life, and we are, at the same time, eternally secure (as believers)! We have been given permanent citizenship in GOD’S Kingdom (Heaven), an inheritance that won’t perish (1 Peter 1:4).

Because of our redemption in YESHUA, His death on the stake, satisfying divine justice, our sin debt is marked “paid in full” in GOD’S eyes. And because of our salvation through MESSIAH, we enter into a personal relationship with our heavenly FATHER, and then we become His adopted children.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the richest of His grace.

Many of us don’t realize how rich we are. We think in earthy terms (like bank accounts or material possessions) instead of spiritual ones! Our real wealth is found in the spiritual blessings we have been given through MESSIAH YESHUA. We are rich in His grace!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Heaven Bound Express

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

YESHUA told us in the Word that we can choose the wide path or the narrow one to journey through this life! Placing our trust in YESHUA makes us members of GOD’S family and takes us immediately onto the narrow road!

As we travel on this heaven-bound express, the Holy Spirit becomes our guide, helping us move ahead. Through Him, we receive spiritual eyes to catch glimpses of His majesty and the love He has for us. He will equip us to be ambassadors for MESSIAH. Through GOD’S precious Word, the RUACH HAKODESH will speak to us and comfort us whenever the road gets bumpy. 

Now, on the wide road, none of these things are possible! On this road we may have lots of material things and satisfaction of self-desires, but it’s only temporary!

Matthew 16:26
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?       

Eternity is forever; let’s plan ahead and make sure we are traveling on the right highway that leads to our divine destination—Heaven!

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Uplifting Love

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

True love is more than a feeling! Whether or not thinking about someone causes a warm sensation inside us is immaterial! Feelings are fickle—they can easily change when the other person does something unpleasant to hurt us!

Unconditional love, on the other hand, is a decision, and GOD has chosen to love us for who we are right now, without expecting anything in return. There are no strings attached and no fine print. 

Our ABBA FATHER wants us to show others the same accepting and uplifting love that He has for us! 

Actually, as we see in today’s verse, it’s a commandment given to us by YESHUA.

John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

GOD commands us to love Him and one another. Righteous behavior, including acts of service, encouraging words and prayer should come forth from our commitment to obey our almighty GOD! This will please Him, and at the same time, we will be sharing with others His precious love!

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Read more blogs from Pastor Bruse and Suzi HERE!

Act of Love

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

We are in a war and the Bible teaches us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (natural) but are mighty through GOD for pulling down of strongholds: our Scripture today…

2 Corinthians 10:4

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…”

We need to get rid of wrong thinking: selfish, self-centered thinking! We need to forget about ourselves, our problems and start doing for others, even while we are going through our own trials! This is how we overcome evil! YESHUA, being our example, while on the cross in intense suffering took time to comfort the thief hanging beside Him (Luke 23:42-43). When Paul and Silas were in prison after GOD sent the earthquake to break their chains and open the prison doors, they remained to minister to their captors. They could have thought of themselves and run, but because of this act of love toward their fellowman (the captor and his family), all were born again, becoming believers in MESSIAH YESHUA! 

What battles in your life today need to be fought with an act of love?

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Bring Me All Your Feelings

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

BRING ME ALL YOUR FEELINGS, even the ones you wish you didn’t have. Fear and anxiety still plague you. Feelings, per se, are not sinful, but they can be temptations to sin. Blazing missiles of fear fly at you day and night; these attacks from the evil one come at you relentlessly. Use your Shield of Faith to extinguish those flaming arrows  Affirm your trust in Me, regardless of how you feel. If you persist, your feelings will eventually fall in line with your faith.

Do not hide from your fear or pretend it isn’t there. Anxiety that you hide in the recesses of your heart will give birth to fear of fear: a monstrous stepchild.

Bring your anxieties out into the Light of My Presence, where we can deal with them together. Concentrate on trusting Me, and fearfulness will gradually lose its foothold within you.

Ephesians 6:16 
1 John 1:5-7
Isaiah 12:2

From the devotional: Jesus Calling for July 19th

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation