The Great “I Am”

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Being passionate about our life and our purpose begins and continues with being passionate about “our heavenly FATHER.” 

We should always live in amazement about Him and how much He loves us. Everything that once thrilled us about His character should continue day by day filling us with “awe of who He is!”

So what can we do if the wonder and excitement of who GOD is and what He’s done for us begins to fade?

The answer is found in our Scripture today! 

Paul is giving instructions to Timothy when he was battling with fear! Paul told him to stir up (rekindle the fire) the gift of GOD that is in you. It was the gift of faith Paul was talking about. 

2 Timothy 1:6
Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

We have the ability, and it is our responsibility to fan the flames of our faith. Don’t delay; start today. Stir up the fire of passion in your heart for the things of GOD and the awesomeness of who He is: “The Great I Am”!

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

New Jerusalem

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

The Apostle John had heard YESHUA’S promise to prepare a place for His followers (John 14:1-6).

Then later in Revelation, Chapter 21, we see GOD giving John a vision of that place; check it out. John saw the new Jerusalem come down out of Heaven. It was beyond human description, but he did his best to put this heavenly vision into our language.

John saw the brilliance of GOD’S glory shining from the structure. The gates were made of pearls and the streets were made of gold. The foundation was made of precious stones! The 1400-mile (approximately), cube-shaped city was designed by the LORD as a place for Himself and believers to live there in perfect intimacy. In it was GOD’S throne and the throne of the Lamb (YESHUA)! 

There will be no more pain, tears, heartaches or death; and our new resurrected bodies will never grow tired or sick! 

Revelation 21:2
Then I, John, saw the Holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

As believers, when life becomes burdensome, we can focus on our glorious heavenly future where we will never again experience trouble or pain! It will be just joy and peace with our Savior forever! 

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Heaven, Our True Home

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Because of MESSIAH’S resurrection, we are assured that one day we will have a resurrected body too! Many people have misconceptions about what it will be like when we leave these earthly bodies. Some think that we will just be a formless spirit floating about while others flatly deny the existence of a place called Heaven! 

But the only sure source of accurate information about Heaven is the Word of GOD!

YESHUA had firsthand knowledge of Heaven because He came from the FATHER in Heaven to Earth. And shortly before His death on the ROMAN TORTURE STAKE, He told His disciples that He would return to His FATHER’S house to prepare a place for them.

John 14:2
There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? TLV (Tree of Life Version)

Since then believers have been waiting for YESHUA’S promised return.

Each of us will be given an immortal resurrected body! Heaven is for real, and there we will live, serve and worship our LORD for all eternity!

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Putting on Love

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

What does love look like? For this, we have to look at ABBA THE FATHER!   

1 John 4:8 says GOD is love. He knows nothing else! We see throughout Scripture the love YESHUA had for all people and how He handled Himself when they came up against Him and how He behaved during trials. Love puts up with anything and never gives up.

Love is not a feeling; it’s a decision we make. It’s seen when we treat people the way GOD instructs us to treat others! And it doesn’t matter how we feel!

Colossians 3:14
Above all, clothe yourself with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.             

When we choose to love, even the unlovable, we are honoring and glorifying GOD! Let the Holy Spirit lead you; ask Him to put someone on your heart today that needs to feel loved. It will return back to you many times over!

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Fear Not

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Fear has been a part of man’s emotional makeup since the fall! When Adam and Eve rebelled against the LORD, they hid themselves from Him and were afraid (Gen. 3:10). 

Things haven’t changed much. Anxiety often affects our thinking and controls our actions. It can keep us boxed in.

Let’s look at some truths written in the Word of GOD to help us defeat fear. GOD is almighty; through the Savior’s perfect life and sacrifice on the cross, our two greatest enemies have been defeated—Satan and death! 

Next, GOD is always with us. Because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at our time of salvation, we have GOD not only near us but also in us through the Holy Spirit! Nothing can separate us from Him; not past mistakes, present circumstances or difficult things to come (Rom. 8:38-39).

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Almighty GOD “Himself”  is the reason we should not be afraid. Next time fear overwhelms you, grasp hold of the truth of His awesome power, presence and total involvement in your life. He has you in the palm of His hand.

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation