We Are at War

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Every morning when we open our eyes, we are at war! According to Scripture, spiritual warfare is a certainty, and yet hardly anyone takes it seriously! However the Word is clear that each day we wake up to a real personal battle we must fight!

Failure to recognize this results in painful defeat time and again. Dedicated Believers go about being confused and frustrated because they continually experience failure in their spiritual lives! Just when they think they have a temptation conquered, it rises back up to defeat them once again. The enemy catches them completely unaware; they go about their days without a single thought to the war being waged in their lives.

Satan never gives up!

John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.                

We are at war, and it is a fight for our lives, not our physical lives but our spiritual lives. 

I challenge you to watch for spiritual attacks. When you are aware of the truth, they are easy to spot! That is one reason why it is extremely important to meditate on the Word as much as you can!

Love & Blessings,
Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman
L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
Lake Worth, FL (Lantana area)

 

Our Enemy’s Plan

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

How does our enemy operate? I believe he has many objections when it comes to interrupting GOD’S work in our lives!  One of them is how Satan wants us to doubt GOD’S Word! If he can get someone doubting just a little bit, then he has secured a foothold in that person’s life. 

This is what happened in the Garden of Eden, when he planted that seed of doubt in Eve’s mind. Look at the results that affected all mankind (Gen. 3:1). 

He will do anything to keep us from making an impact for MESSIAH in this dark fallen world ! 

Then he wants to destroy us physically (sickness, addictions and stress)! He wants us to focus on our bodies so we don’t have time to focus on spiritual things and working for the Kingdom of GOD!

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Satan is always looking for ways to destroy you. Don’t let him! 

Keep your spiritual eyes open. And always depend on GOD’S Spirit to guide you.

 

Love & Blessings,
Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman
L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
Lake Worth, FL (Lantana area)

 

A Real Enemy

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

If we want to be victorious in our  walk with the Lord, then we must never forget who our adversary is! Scripture is very clear that our enemy isn’t a single little demon but rather a whole confederacy of evil spirits!                                    

How many times in the gospels did YESHUA cast out demons? Over and over again, we read about Him and His disciples speaking with authority over multiple evil spirits. 

Why, then, can we read such accounts and praise GOD for His demonstrations of power yet forget that those demonic forces are still active in our world today? 

You may say, “Well, I can believe only in what I can see.” If that’s true, then you are in serious trouble because there is a real enemy roaming about (satan)!

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.                 

 Do you take your spiritual enemy seriously? Never forget our enemy is roaming around looking for someone to devour; always be on the lookout!

Love & Blessings,
Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman
L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
Lake Worth, FL (Lantana area)

 

Spiritually Blind

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

The LORD will use a believer’s personal testimony in powerful ways! As we speak about how GOD has rescued and changed us, the Holy Spirit sparks people’s interest in spiritual things and then uses what we say to help them seek YESHUA  as their Savior and Lord!

In John 9:1-7, we learn about a blind man who YESHUA healed. Many people questioned him about how he received his sight. And to each one, he told the facts as he had experienced them. Here’s what he said.           

John 9:10-11

They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?” He told them, “The man they call YESHUA made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’” So I went and washed, and now I can see.

When we obey YESHUA’S commands, people around us will notice that there is something different about us. They will be curious to know why we may have calmness about us we never had before or why we gave up some popular activities or avoid certain places. Just like the blind man did; he received his sight, and before we received YESHUA as our Savior, we too were spiritually blind, but now we can see!

 

Love & Blessings,
Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman
L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
Lake Worth, FL (Lantana area)

 

A Quiet Spirit

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

When conflict arises, we oftentimes want to rush in and defend our position. Perhaps we even feel justified in blaming others.

James 1:19 gives different advice for dealing with tension and disputes. James tells us to “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.” In other words more can be accomplished through a calm approach and a quiet spirit to any situation.

Always pray first, and ask the LORD to give you the right words to say. And ask for discernment concerning the root issue to whether or not it might be our fault for the dispute?

If you have done something wrong, then you should apologize and ask for forgiveness! YESHUA died to pardon us of all our sins, so we in turn should forgive others as we are forgiven!

Proverbs 26:4
Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.

How do you respond to conflict? 

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you strength to stay calm and do what is right, even during difficult, emotional situations! 

The Holy Spirit will never lead you in a wrong direction!

Love & Blessings,
Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman
L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
Lake Worth, FL (Lantana area)