Walking in Darkness

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Our verse for today, written by John, was to BELIEVERS who already had a relationship with Abba FATHER GOD (born-again believers) but needed a reminder of how to remain in fellowship with Him.

Although believers have been made new in MESSIAH (2 Corn. 5:17), we are not yet perfect and still can fall into sin. We are still human beings living in our fleshly bodies and can fall into temptations to appease the flesh, which invites darkness into our lives!

When this happens, it’s important to understand that we have not lost our salvation but that we have choices to get out of GOD’S will and veer off to a place of darkness. But confessing that sin and turning from it lifts the darkness and restores our peace with our heavenly FATHER!                          

1 John 1:16
So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.

Darkness and light cannot exist together; so when we fall into sin, let us be quick to repent and turn from the darkness! Being in right fellowship with ABBA always radiates the light of HIS SHALOM  and JOY for the world around us to see! Let your light so shine!

With lots of prayers & love,

Shalom!

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
2116 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, FL 33462

Endless Compassion

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

GOD’S care for us extends to the details of our lives. He knows when we are hurting and wants to offer comfort!

His compassion is personal, continuous and always available! The RUACH HAKODESH, who lives inside each and every believer, also comforts us. He is there to comfort and console us anytime, day and night.

Consider how the compassion of the FATHER was demonstrated through YESHUA’S life. HE met Peter’s betrayal with forgiveness. Thomas’s doubts were answered by YESHUA Himself (John 20:27). Our mistakes won’t stop THE LORD from loving us!

2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord MESSIAH YESHUA, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

GOD’S comfort and care are adequate for anything we face (declining health, finances, family troubles and so on)!

GOD’S Word tells us we are to comfort one another as we are comforted. In this troubled world we live in, there are people all around us who are in need of help and comfort! Who can you show compassion to today in your corner of the world? 

With lots of prayers & love,

Shalom!

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
2116 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, FL 33462

God’s Priorities

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

At times, people will say, “I’ve made YESHUA a part of my life.” But this statement reveals that they have missed the point. The truth is, YESHUA can never be simply a “part of life.” 

At the time of salvation, YESHUA becomes our life—everything revolves around Him because He is the central focus or should be!

For the believer, the essence of living is to walk in childlike obedience to MESSIAH.

That means we express His righteous life simply by faith, and to do this, we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit for the ability and His divine grace for forgiveness when we stumble. 

Because we live in this fallen world, there is always a constant conflict—the world’s way or GOD’S way!

Hebrews 12:2A
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

The way this is done—renewing your mind—is by opening GOD’S Word daily and letting Him use Scripture to flush our minds of anything that does not fit with His Priorities!

With lots of prayers & love,

Shalom!

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
2116 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, FL 33462

Acts of Love

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

As we grow in the LORD, we will make mistakes. As a result, we need to know how to receive GOD’S loving correction. He does this only because He loves us and wants us to know that He cares about what is best for us.                                      

People who struggle most with receiving correction are those who do not know they are truly loved by ABBA the FATHER!

Instead of feeling corrected for their own good, they feel like they are being punished! See, no one can receive GOD’S correction properly without a revelation of His great love! 

We may hear the correction and even agree with it, but it will only make us feel condemned or angry unless we know it comes from GOD’S heart of love and will ultimately bring about the change needed in our lives to conform us into the image of His Son.

Hebrews 12:6
For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He adopts as His child.

Next time the LORD corrects you, remember He is doing it out of love for you as any father would do!

He cherishes you, and you are always in His heart! The correction is simply an act of love!

With lots of prayers & love,

Shalom!

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
2116 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, FL 33462

Life’s Motivations

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.

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 the believer! 

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. 

Overtime, we can 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 control us.

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

Let’s not be deceived by Satan and his schemes; take an honest look at  life’s motivations!

Is there some habit, emotion or dream that owns you? 

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

With lots of prayers & love,

Shalom!

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
2116 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, FL 33462