No Excuses

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Even though the Bible clearly states that every believer receives a spiritual gift, some nevertheless think they were overlooked. So they go through their lives refusing to serve. Others are so busy wishing they had a different ability that they do not use the one given to them by the Holy Spirit! Both of these attitudes are sinful!            

GOD has a specific purpose and ministry for every believer. Our spiritual gifts help us fulfill GOD’S master plan. He always has a purpose for handing out our spiritual gifts. We are to use our gifts for equipping, edifying and encouraging one another (Ephesians 4:11-13) and for bringing the lost into the Kingdom. Everyone profits when we do GOD’S work through the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 4:10
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of GOD.

Each one of us has important work to do for the kingdom (no excuses for bypassing GOD’S will)! Where He has gifted us, He will also provide strength and courage to exercise those gifts.

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Click here for more blogs from Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman!

The Power of Love

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Believers are vessels for GOD’S love. His love flowing through us is a powerful force that enables us to do more than the unbeliever, who RELIES upon himself. The love that dwells in us is described perfectly in our verse of the day!

1 Corinthians 13:4
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…”

First, “love is patient,” and with GOD’S Spirit living within us, we are empowered to wait upon His timing and purpose so we can be patient with others, knowing GOD is working on their behalf. 

“Love is kind,“ and with GOD’S love, we have the capacity to be genuinely kind, regardless of how others may treat us.

Love is not jealous or envious. Jealousy is a fear of losing someone. GOD’S love gives us the security to hold relationships more loosely.

“Love does not brag, is not arrogant.” We understand our value in GOD’S eyes, and there is no need to be arrogant!

GOD’S love is powerful! When we allow His caring Spirit to flow through us, we can have a profound effect upon our world!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Messiah-Like

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Is repentance necessary in the life of the believer? Yes! 

We see the critical truth in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, GOD is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Remember, “to repent” means to change our minds! For unbelievers, this refers to a decision about where to find security! But for us (children of GOD), it involves a change of heart with regard to behavior or attitude.

Repentance is an ongoing decision to lead an obedient, MESSIAH-LIKE life. GOD absolutely hates sin! So if we agree with Him about sin, then we are changing our mind about disobedience in our lives. 

Thoughts, attitudes and actions that once seemed perfectly natural will no longer fit who we are in MESSIAH YESHUA!

Proverbs 28:13

He who covers his sins will not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

Is there sin in your life that has become too uncomfortable to bear? Confess the matter to ABBA FATHER, and allow Him to change your mind about it and to turn away from it today, and you will receive His mercy!

Love & Blessings, Bruce & Suzi Elman L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

God’s Tool

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

If you want GOD’S best for your life and desire to be used by Him, at some point you’ll have to travel the road of adversity. This means His purpose for difficulty cannot be bad, yet many Messianic Jewish Believers  consider it a setback or defeat!

GOD has designed hardship to become a turning point from which we take our greatest leaps forward in spiritual growth. He allows adversity to remain in our lives only until it has enabled Him to accomplish His purpose in us. He will not let it linger one second longer than necessary. Difficulties show us where we stand in our faith! Of course we don’t actually know how much diversity we are able to endure, but GOD does! He does set a limit on our storms—establishing our threshold!

Psalm 103:13-14

As a father pities  his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame, He remembers that we are dust.

Next time adversity comes our way, remember this is GOD’S tool for building godly character in us. As we experience these storms of life, we are being conformed to the likeness of MESSIAH YESHUA! Count it all joy!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Wholehearted Love

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

GOD wants us to serve Him enthusiastically and wholeheartedly! He doesn’t like half-hearted effort. Our verse today warns us against being lukewarm and teaches us that being neither hot nor cold is not acceptable to GOD. He would prefer that we be cold toward Him, rather then lukewarm! Why? It seems lukewarm is better than nothing, right? Well, this is because lukewarm people are easily deceived into thinking they are doing what they should be doing, when in fact they are not! 

Example: these people might go to church as an obligation, but in reality they do not want to be there at all! They are offering sacrifice, not whole-hearted obedience!

Revelation 3:15-16

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.

Our LORD never does anything half-way and we should not either! We need to work unto the LORD, heartedly (with all our heart)! Never lag in zeal and in earnest effort; be aglow with your love of GOD, heart, soul and spirit!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation