Negative Confession

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

When we allow doubt and unbelief to take root in our minds and then begin to speak negatively about our circumstances, we then hinder our prayers. We cannot pray and ask GOD to move in our situations and then speak something negative! When we pray and ask GOD to do something, we shouldn’t turn around and say, “I’m afraid GOD will not come through for me.” That is a negative confession!

The words we speak are containers for power; they carry either a life-giving force or a destructive force! Don’t ever underestimate the importance of our words because they truly can make a difference in our circumstances and in our prayers! 

Remember the words we speak represent who we are because they reveal what is in our hearts.

Matthew 12:34

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it.

When GOD hears a prayer followed by a negative confession, He does not respond. But when He hears a prayer that is accompanied with words that express confidence in Him, He delights to answer!

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

God’s Strength is Greater

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Most people don’t like to talk about their weaknesses! But in today’s verse, we find the apostle Paul boasting in his weakness. Why would Paul do that? Because he knew that GOD’S strength was great in the midst of his infirmity.    

We all have weak areas in our lives. We need to never rely on our own strength but in prayer ask ABBA to give us His strength in our weaknesses! When we cry out to Him, He is more than willing to give us the strength we need. His grace (unmerited favor) is always more than sufficient to see us through!

(2 Corinthians 12:9… And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Messiah may rest upon me.)

May GOD’S power be made perfect in your weakness today! Praise His mighty Name! 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

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It’s a Matter of Trust

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Do you find yourself asking GOD what He is doing in your life and in your walk with Him, not understanding? Well, if we always understood, we would have no need for trust!

You may find yourself asking questions like, “What does my future hold or will I ever see my breakthrough?”

We have to learn to trust our heavenly FATHER, especially when we don’t understand His ways or what might be happening in our lives! We need to become comfortable with the unanswered questions. We need to relax and get comfortable trusting and believing GOD (the One who does know).

Make it a habit of trusting! Even if you can see one step ahead of you; take that step with the guide of the Holy Spirit and then trust ABBA to show you the next one.  

{Isaiah 55:8-9… For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts… }           

If your answer is delayed, trust and know His timing is perfect. GOD’S thoughts and ways are not ours and His are higher and wiser, even when you don’t understand.

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Click here to read more blogs from Pastor Bruce & Suzi

“God’s Providential Control”

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Ever wonder if God is really in control or if life “just happens?”

I assure you, even in the midst of what seems to be swirling chaos, everything IS in “God’s providential control.” He knows every hair on your head!

And, He knows us better than we know ourselves.  Charles Spurgeon calls Gen. 37-50 a “chain of circumstances” that HAD to HAPPEN to Joseph in a specific way and timing for God’s plan to unfold exactly as He planned. Spurgeon offers us these questions:

  • Why did Jacob want to send Joseph?
  • Why were Joseph’s brothers on this particular day in a different location?
  • Why did the Ishmaelites come along at that moment?
  • Why were they in the mood to purchase a slave?
  • Why were they going to Egypt and not some other destination?
  • Why did Potiphar purchase Joseph?
  • Why did his wife have designs on Joseph?
  • Why were the baker and the cupbearer in the prison when Joseph was there?
  • Why couldn’t Pharoah understand his dream?
  • Why did the cupbearer first forget Joseph and later remember him?

Spurgeon points out that every one of these events HAD to happen in the exact way at the exact time they occurred for Joseph to be where he had to be, when he had to be, which resulted in his family going to Egypt to be preserved during the famine in Canaan.  Spurgeon goes on to say, “God is to be seen in little things”, and he says all the foregoing seemingly random details are, “minutiae of Providence.”

God cares about you more than He does about sparrows! God cares about every tiny detail of your life, He made, knows and loves every subatomic particle of you, and He shed His sin-free blood to ransom you! Oh, yes! “PTL!”

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

“Do Not be Afraid”

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

 

Shalom!

 

We pray this letter will encourage, edify and bless you and yours as you walk the walk.

As you know, the Believer in Yeshua’s life is a battleground, not a playground.

My brother(s) and sister(s), the battles we face are Not ours! They are the Lord’s. Yeshua won the greatest battle when he died and rose again. God intends that you stand in victory at the end of the day. But that won’t happen without a fight.  IT’S not for those who want to run and hide. It’s a faith for strong men and brave women.

 

The evil day may be upon us, but I am not a pessimist.  It’s time to put on the armor of God. Let’s put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. Let’s make sure we’re wearing gospel shoes. Put on the helmet of salvation. Let’s pick up the shield of faith and the Sword of the Spirit, well prepared for the battle.

 

We were made for times like these.  Stand firm in the evil day.  Stand up for Yeshua in the power of the Spirit and victory WILL be yours!  Yes!, “PTL!”.

 

Please consider this edited version of a Sermon I’ve recently shared at L’Chaim and a local Brazilian sister Congregation from Matthew 10:26-31.   “Don’t be afraid” (vrs 26); “Don’t be afraid” (vs 28) and, “Don’t be afraid” (vs 31).

 

  • Do Not be afraid because the truth WILL be known and prevail.  
  • Do Not be afraid because God IS in control, never slumbers nor sleeps, and is greater than anything anyone can do to us.   
  • Do Not be afraid because God knows you, knows every hair on your head and loves you beyond measure. Two sparrows were sold for a penny, yet none fall without God’s sovereign will being involved. The gospel song reminds us, “ His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” “PTL!” and Hallelujah

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation