Tender Conscience

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Do you have a tender heart (Esphesians 4:32), which really is a tender conscience? This is a vital thing if we are to be used by GOD for His Kingdom!

It’s very dangerous to become hard hearted and to develop a seared conscience! When this happens it becomes hard to know when we are doing a wrong in GOD’S eyes. We need to be quick to repent and to avoid excuses when the Holy Spirit convicts us of wrongdoing; this helps us to develop a tender conscience. 

When we are convicted by the RUACH HAKODESH, we need to not make excuses and ask GOD for forgiveness and the help to not offend Him again.

It’s amazing how much that will help us keep a tender conscience toward our Creator!

1 Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit expressly says that in the last times some will depart from the faith , giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy having their own consciences seared with a hot iron.

Never make excuses for your  wrongs or try to reason them out. Instead, let’s have hearts that are willing, stirred up and wise toward the things of GOD and be ready to be used for the glory of His Kingdom! 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

The Good News

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

When you receive exciting news, what’s the first thing you do? 

You probably call someone who will share your joy! 

As in our verse today, the apostle Paul told others about salvation for a similar reason.                                   

Paul got saved on the road to Damascus (Acts 22), and he dedicated the rest of his life to spreading the Good News of the Gospel (cross of YESHUA paid our sin-debt in full)! 

He gave his time, energy and ultimately his life to committing to spread the Good News. He knew some would accept the truth, while others would reject it. 

Paul himself could not save people—he wasn’t responsible for their reaction. His task was simply to go and tell people about YESHUA! 

Because of his devotion to the LORD, he felt compelled to offer this glorious hope to the lost world that desperately needed forgiveness!

Rom. 1:16
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about MESSIAH YESHUA. It is the power of God at work saving everyone who believes—the Jews first and also the Gentiles.

Do you feel the same indebtedness that Paul felt? Pray that GOD would give you courage and wisdom to share the Gospel with others in your sphere of influence!

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Expressing Gratitude

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

What motivates us to express gratitude to ABBA FATHER? 

We often remember to thank Him when something positive happens in our life, but our verse of the day tells us to give thanks in all things, which would include difficult times as well as happier circumstances. 

That may seem illogical to some of us, but it is not!

Even though life may be difficult, our hope and joy remain because we serve the eternal, omniscient and omnipotent GOD of love!

We need to remember that our gratitude magnifies the LORD. He is pleased when we obediently thank Him even in difficult times! Our thankfulness also reinforces our faith. Recalling His faithfulness in the past equips us to face the future!

1 Thess. 5:18
In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in MESSIAH YESHUA  for you.

It’s easy to be grateful when we receive something we have desired for a long time. But, GOD wants us to express thanksgiving in everything!

Meditate on His goodness, faithfulness, sovereignty and His pure promises, always offering Him thanks in all!

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Abba Hears Our Cries

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Discouragement can cloud our thinking and give us a divided mind (some of the external causes). Today, let’s look at some spiritual causes which can take us by surprise!

Satan, being the primary instigator wants us to lose heart, think poorly of ourselves and focus only on the negative!

Then next is unanswered prayers; when a prayer is answered “no or not yet”, we can begin to lose hope!

Some get so disappointed they give up praying altogether; while failing to understand GOD’S sovereignty and that His timing is not always our timing! Cutting off communication with the LORD is a sure way into even deeper discouragement!

Psalm 40:1-2
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of the horrible pit, out of miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my steps.

Let’s not be taken by surprise by our enemy and lose heart! Never let Satan get a stronghold on us; knowing ABBA hears our cries and His love for us is based on His own grace, not our deeds!

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Count It All Joy

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Discouragement is one of Satan’s most effective weapons; he knows that if he can destroy our courage, we’ll be ineffective in accomplishing anything for MESSIAH!!

A divided mind will always be the result of discouragement, affecting every area of our lives and the decisions we make! No matter what we’re doing, it feels as if a dark cloud covers our entire thought life. Discouragement also leads to the “blame game,” where we feel a deep need to point a finger at someone else.

You may even want to blame GOD because He’s allowing these painful circumstances! Blame is always an empty activity; no healing ever came from blaming anyone else for your hardship!

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience…

Blame and resentment will act like a cancer that will slowly spread and destroy your life! Let’s short circuit the work of Satan and pray to ABBA to cleanse our hearts!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation