Beloved, just because everybody else believes something to be correct does not mean that it is true. Likewise, if the world says that it is OK to act a certain way, it does not necessarily make it right. To live beyond the status quo we have to go back to the Apostolic writings. We have to establish in our own hearts and minds the authenticity of the Word of God. We need to make the Scriptures our standard and apply it to our thinking and actions above everything else. It does not necessarily matter what a pastor or a church group says. We should not blindly accept what is going on in Christian culture. In all aspects and in every decision of our lives, we need to ask—What does God’s Word say?
Too often, we are not wholly submitted to the Lord. Many are seeking an “experience” with God only to feel good. So, what do they do? They often manufacture an “artificial environment” by doing things like turning up the amplifiers in the worship service. This may stimulate human emotion but true anointing does not simply come from loud music and a vibrating bass. It is a shallow mistake. It is a superficial facade. True anointing comes from the Holy Spirit which is given to those who obey God.
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The Bible says,
“And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him,” (Acts 5:32).
Yeshua said,
“For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it,” (Matt. 7:14).
I want to encourage you to pursue the voice of the Holy Spirit. Do not become a casualty by listening to and cooperating with the world. Beloved, many will fall away from the faith during this season.
Jesus predicted this,
“And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another,” (Matt. 24:10).
Sadly, many will think that they are in the right merely because everyone tells them they are.
No!
Yeshua prayed to the Father for us saying: “Sanctify them in the truth, Your Word is truth,” (John 17:17, KJV).
Paul said,
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed,” (Gal. 1:8)!
The Gospel Yeshua and Paul preached calls for us to surrender to God and become obedient. Of course, this is possible not from fleshly striving but by God’s grace. But we must choose to say “yes” to Him.
In essence, Yeshua taught
“If you want to follow me, you need to be willing to give up everything: your life, your reputation, your material things and even your will. Whatever things you think are supporting you–discard. Whatever you are clinging to for your confidence–exchange. Whatever you are relying on for your security–remove. Whatever you depend on other than Me–replace. Unless you give those things up, you cannot truly follow Me.”
Paul put it this way,
“But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ. “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,” (Phil. 3:7-8, 10).
So what should our response be?
We must pick up our cross daily, lay our life down and follow Him. There is no other way.
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me’,” (Matt. 16:24).
Hymns have such a great way of giving life to the Word. Below is one that fits this letter. Consider singing along with it.
All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live
All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me, Jesus, take me now
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Savior
I surrender all
(Tommy Sims)
Rabbi Schneider hosts the impactful television program, Discovering The Jewish Jesus, which is available in more than one hundred million homes in the United States and nearly two hundred nations worldwide. In 2021 he began broadcasting on radio and now airs across America. Rabbi Schneider imparts revelation of Jesus’ Jewish heritage and His fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. Questions of how the Old and New Testaments tie together, and how Yeshua completes the unfolding plan of The Almighty Yahweh, are answered with exceptional clarity.
www.discoveringthejewishjesus.com/about-2/rabbi-schneider/
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