Choose to Forgive

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Last week we talked about our prayer life and some of the hindrances to unanswered prayer. I truly believe that the number one hindrance is unforgiveness!

The Bible contains many scriptures on the importance of forgiveness! We are to forgive as GOD in MESSIAH forgave us (Ephesians 4:32).

We live in a fallen world full of imperfect people and we can’t avoid the fact of getting hurt or offended. We will always have a reason to be angry, but unresolved anger will turn to bitterness and unforgiveness, and that will hinder our prayers.

If we want GOD to answer our prayers, let’s go to Him with a pure heart – empty of any anger, resentment or unforgiveness!

YESHUA made it very clear in our scripture today; let’s read it.
Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your ABBA in heaven may also forgive you, your trespasses… ”

Don’t wait until you feel like forgiving, make it an intentional choice to forgive and remember forgiveness will set a prisoner free and that prisoner is you!❤️🙏🙏

FROM SUZI ELMAN ❤️

 

“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

 

 

Transformation – Amazing to Behold!

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

I would like to share a thought – ESPECIALLY with regards to the times we are presently living in:

When people apply the teachings of the Bible to their lives, they change. They are transformed into Godly people. It’s amazing to behold! And the secret of the power of scripture is that fact, that it tells us how to come to know God personally, how to have Him actually walk through life with us just as He did with the first human beings on this planet earth.

In fact, scripture has the power required to take a life that has been lived all wrong and turn it around. This Bible contains the power to help anyone start over; it has the power to enable a person to be re-born. You know, if I had to summarize my belief about the nature of this Book of books, I would say it is basically an invitation from God to us, an invitation from Creator to Creation. In these pages is God’s written offer to know Him personally, to walk with Him daily. And, like all invitations, God’s word calls for our response!

We praise the LORD Yeshua for you, our faithful Prayer and Ministry Partner(s), as we always seek to serve Him with His direction, strength and wisdom. May the LORD bless and use you, too, in every way, every day. Yes, in Yeshua’s Name. Amen.

With thanks and love,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation