The Misconception Some Jews Cling to When They Accept Yeshua as Messiah - SAM NADLER CHARISMA NEWS

A Jew is still a Jew when he or she accepts Yeshua as the Messiah. (YouTube )

The Misconception Some Jews Cling to When They Accept Yeshua as Messiah

 8/25/2016 SAM NADLER  CHARISMA NEWS

It all depends on who Jesus (Yeshua) is.

The New Covenant presents Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah (John 1:41, 45, 49, etc.). If He's not the Jewish Messiah, then no one should believe in Him, because His credentials as Savior of the World are based on His credentials as the Messiah of Israel.

If He is the true Messiah, then it is kosher that I as a Jewish person believe in Him. And, I would be a Jew in good standing with God, even if no one else agreed.

For argument's sake, suppose that Yeshua is a false Messiah. In the eyes of rabbinical authority, I must still be seen as a Jew. Why? Because, believing in a false messiah does not make any Jew a non-Jew. For example, in 132 c.e., Simon Bar Kochba was as a leader during the Jewish revolt against Rome. Rabbi Akiva (a very famous rabbi) declared Bar Kochba to be the Messiah, although at the time Bar Kochba had none of the accepted credentials.

However, no Jewish authority has ever said, "Akiva is no longer Jewish for believing in a false messiah." If, after endorsing a false messiah, Akiva is still considered to be a Jew in good standing, then one who believes Yeshua is Messiah cannot be considered otherwise.

In a synagogue on Long Island, New York, I once gave a presentation of why I believed Yeshua is the Messiah. Afterward, the senior rabbi stood up and declared, "Nadler, you're no longer a Jew because of your belief in Jesus!"

"Rabbi," I responded, "If the Bostoner Rebbe says I'm still a Jew, though a wayward Jew, and if the Encyclopedia Judaica declares I'm still a Jew, though a wayward one, then on what basis can you say I'm no longer a Jew?" "Well," the rabbi said, "perhaps I'm wrong." "Rabbi," I quietly responded, "maybe you're wrong about more than just that?"

To my astonishment, the synagogue audience of over a hundred Jewish people erupted into applause. It was apparent to all who would consider the issues objectively that a Jew who believes in Yeshua is still a Jew, whether the rabbi approves or not.

In the book of John, the early believers in Yeshua described Him as "the Messiah;" "the one spoken of in Moses and the prophets;" "the King of Israel," and so on. They consistently saw Yeshua in a Jewish frame of reference, as the centerpiece of Jewish history.

Please notice also how these believers understood themselves. In both Acts 21:39 and 22:3 in the New Covenant, Paul declares first to the Romans, then again to his own Jewish people, "I am a Jew from Tarsus." At this time, Paul had been a believer in Yeshua for well over 20 years.

So, it isn't that he's confused or that he's trying to say one thing to the Romans, and something else to the Jews. Paul doesn't say that he "was a Jew," or "an ex-Jew from Tarsus," or a "former Jew," etc.—Paul considered himself a present-tense Jew.

In Romans 11:1, Paul reiterates his Jewish identity when he raises the rhetorical question, "Has God forsaken His people (Israel)?" He then answers, "God forbid! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." His first "proof" that God has not forsaken Israel is himself. God chose a "Hebrew of Hebrews" (Phil. 3:5) so that the Gentile world would never think that God would forsake "a people whom He foreknew."

Today it's the same story. Every Jewish believer living his or her present-tense Jewish identity testifies, "Am Yisrael Chai b'Yeshua HaMashiach!"—The people of Israel live in Yeshua the Messiah! For if the Lord would break His promises to Israel, why should anyone else think Him trustworthy regarding the good news of Yeshua?

A few years back, I was invited to speak on a secular radio call-in show in Miami, Florida. I received a number of "you're-no-longer-a-Jew" calls from Jewish listeners. Then a call came in from a more polite gentleman: "Mr. Nadler, now that you're a believer in Jesus you're no longer a Jew, for the Bible says that 'in Messiah there's neither Jew nor Greek.'"

I recognized the Scripture portion and responded over the air, "Oh, you mean Galatians 3:28, 'there's neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female; for we are all one in Messiah Jesus'."

"Exactly," the caller replied. 

"Then let me ask you a question. Are you a believer?" 

"Yes, I am," he answered.

"Great. Are you married?" I asked. "Well, yes, I'm married," he slowly answered. "Is your wife a believer?" "Yes, she's a believer," he responded after a longer pause.

"Well," I said, pausing to catch my breath. "If you're a believer and still a male, and your wife is a believer and still a female, then I'm a believer and still a Jew. The verse in Galatians is not teaching that we lose our identities in Messiah, but that there's only one way to God for all people."

An extremely long pause, then, "You mean... I'm still Jewish?"

"If you were born a Jew," I responded, "then you're still a Jew."

"Hallelujah!" he shouted over the airwaves, "They told me I was no longer Jewish."

Yes, it has been said that one cannot believe in Jesus and still be Jewish. However, if, as the Bible teaches, Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah, then trusting in Him is the most Jewish decision a person could ever make. 

Dr. Sam Nadler is a Jewish believer in Jesus and has been in Messianic Jewish ministry for over 40 years. Sam is the president of Word of Messiah Ministries, which is bringing the Good News to the Jew first but not to the Jew only, and planting Messianic Congregations in Jewish communities worldwide. To encourage and equip the Body of Messiah in our shared calling, Sam is invited to speak in churches across the country, and has written multiple books on Jewish evangelism, discipleship, and the Feasts of Israel. For more information and resources, or to invite Sam to speak at your church, visit www.wordofmessiah.org.

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The Crucifixion of Jesus Was R-Rated 3/23/2016 J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA MAGAZINE

The Crucifixion of Jesus Was R-Rated

3/23/2016 J. LEE GRADY charisma magazine

'The Passion of the Christ' isn't a G-rated version of what happened on Good Friday. (YouTube)

The Christian faith is built on the undeniable, unshakeable truth that Jesus was raised from the dead. It is also founded on the historical fact that the Savior suffered unimaginable pain when Roman soldiers nailed Him to a cross.

I hope you will ponder that pain as you celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ this weekend.

When the movie The Passion of the Christ was released 12 years ago, Hollywood insiders mocked it because it offered a realistic—and extremely bloody—depiction of Jesus' torture and death. Regardless of what you think of controversial director Mel Gibson, he did a masterful job of capturing the brutality of a first-century Roman execution.

I know some Christians who objected to the R-rated violence of Gibson's movie, as if what happened to Jesus should be reduced to the sanitized charm of a Renaissance-era painting. But the truth is that what Jesus suffered on Good Friday was R-rated. It was spattered with blood and horrifying to watch.

Nobody performed an autopsy on Jesus' mangled body after He was taken down from the cross. But doctors who have studied the Bible's description of His death say the pain would have been beyond excruciating. In fact, the word excruciating means "out of the cross." Jesus literally defined the worst pain anyone could feel.

His suffering began in Gethsemane, when God laid the sins of the world on His beloved Son. Hebrews 5:7 says Jesus offered up prayers "with loud crying and tears" during this moment of anguish. Luke's Gospel says the agony was so strong that Jesus' sweat "became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground" (Luke 22:44). The intense stress caused what physicians call hematidrosis, a condition in which blood seeps out of sweat glands.

After His arrest, Jesus was flogged so mercilessly that his skin was stripped off His back, exposing muscle and bone. The soldiers who tortured Jesus would have used a weapon called a flagellum—a whip that had several leather strands with lead balls or shards of bone attached to the ends.

The cuts inflicted by this whip could actually rip open the flesh and expose internal organs. Jesus would have lost a significant amount of blood after His scourging—and this would explain why He did not have the strength to carry His cross all the way to Calvary.

Matthew 27:28-29 says the Roman soldiers stripped Jesus naked and then twisted together a handmade crown made of thorns to mock His kingship. Bible scholars believe these thorns were extremely long and hard. When the thorns pierced the top and side of His head, Jesus would have most likely experienced what doctors call "trigeminal neuralgia"—piercing pain all over the head and face.

After this merciless abuse, Jesus was covered with a red robe and led to Golgotha. There, Roman soldiers drove seven-inch metal spikes into his wrists (most likely hitting the median nerve, causing more blinding pain) and then they rammed another spike into his feet.

At that point, doctors say, Jesus would have suffered dislocation of His shoulders, cramps and spasms, dehydration from severe blood loss, fluid in His lungs and eventual lung collapse and heart failure.

Yet Jesus refused to drink wine mixed with gall, a pain-killing solution offered to Him by his executioners (Matt. 27:34). He chose to endure the full impact of the pain.

He felt that pain for us.

Some victims of Roman crucifixion took as long as nine days to die, but Jesus' death came in a matter of hours—probably because He had been flogged so cruelly before He was nailed to the rough wood. Victims of crucifixion typically developed serious dehydration because of a lack of blood and oxygen.

As Jesus took His last breath, He said: "It is finished." He was actually quoting the last verse of Psalm 22, a psalm He recited throughout His torture. It is one of the most graphic prophecies about Christ's suffering in the Old Testament—and Jesus knew it was about Him.

Jesus willingly poured out His blood on that cruel cross. It was an ugly, revolting, disgusting scene. We don't have to downplay the violence or muffle the gut-wrenching cries. The Bible does not soften the impact or censor the cruelty of Jesus's suffering. Isaiah 53:6 says: "But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."

God laid the sins of the world on Jesus, and then He sacrificed Him as the one and only Lamb of God. Isaiah 53 goes on to say: "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities." He took all that pain to fully pay the price so that we could be forgiven.

This Easter, please don't settle for a G-rated, greeting-card version of the cross. Consider the depths of the agony Jesus experienced when He died for you. He took the pain we deserved.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. He is the author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, 10 Lies Men Believe, Fearless Daughters of the Bible and The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale. You can learn more about his ministry, The Mordecai Project, atthemordecaiproject.org.

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Burn Within - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Burn Within

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32, NKJV)

Sometimes I feel like the apostle Paul did when he spoke about still doing that which he didn’t want to do. I can’t find the Scripture, but at some point he gave a sigh, or even more so wrote of his ongoing frustration, in seemingly doing the same thing over and over. And he wasn’t talking about that thing being a good thing.

He too wanted it to stop so he could move on with other challenges. He wanted to pass this test so he could graduate to the next class, or as we so often hear these days, “go to the next level”. (We must be riding an elevator?)

Maybe you think the same at times? You do something, say something, or think something about another, and then find yourself having to repent all over again for doing the same thing all over again. It gets frustrating. “When will I ever learn?” as we continually battle the same temptation, or even yet, the same sin, over and over again.

Contending for perfection is part of the ongoing battle we are in. Not only are there battles without and about us but we continually face the battles within ourselves. Because we are fighting in the spiritual realm, it works its way down into our natural being.

But we have hope! As this war within rages on, we can experience a burn within, which I believe is the Holy Spirit’s refining fire, to cleanse us of all that dirt, filth, and such. We are being conformed more to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and it is an ongoing process.

The apostle Peter (or as more accurately the Jewish versions of the Bible say, the “emissary” Peter) also wrote of this ongoing burn within us. He too was inspired by the Holy Spirit to remind his followers of this very same thing.

“Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents not to give in to the desires of your old nature, which keep warring against you; but to live such good lives among the pagans that even though they now speak against you as evil-doers, they will, as a result of seeing your good actions, give glory to God on the Day of his coming.” (1 Peter 2:11-13, Complete Jewish Bible)

It is a fact. The old nature, the one we had before coming to repentance, and finding salvation which is only found in the Lord Yeshua (Jesus), still tries to come back at us - those old (and new) desires and temptations to give in and give up. We will still battle in the ongoing war within, always trying to wear us down and take us out of the war raging around us.

“Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Stand against him, firm in your trust, knowing that your brothers throughout the world are going through the same kinds of suffering. You will have to suffer only a little while; after that, God, who is full of grace, the one who called you to his eternal glory in union with the Messiah, will himself restore, establish and strengthen you and make you firm. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:8-11 CJB)

Thank God, that even as Jesus did while here on earth, conversing with those disciples after His resurrection, He has now given us His Holy Spirit to walk and talk “with us on the road”, while still opening the Scriptures to us, revealing while always teaching, in order to refine us and mold us into His holy image.

Next time, probably today, when the temptation comes my way, to think ill will of another, or when I am fighting the temptations that so often come, and will happen, I must effectively make the choice to stop the thought before it prolongs in my mind, and resist.

By the Lord’s grace burning through us, those things which can so easily drag you and I down can end, in order that we can carry on with the bigger challenge, that of proclaiming His gospel in word and deed, to a world that is burning up in so many other ways.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

 P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

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Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 02.04.16 - #240 –“Burn Within” – Thursday at 3:30 am

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

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How 'Voice' Winner Jordan Smith Became Friends With God - JESSILYN JUSTICE CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Jordan Smith sits down with Rick Warren. (YouTube)

How 'Voice' Winner Jordan Smith 

Became Friends With God

1/11/2016 JESSILYN JUSTICE  CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Charismatic Jordan Smith rocked the world week after week on The Voice, praising God with hymns that soared to the top of secular music charts.

As the winner, "the most important person ever" to be on the reality singing competition is now using his platform to glorify God.  

"(My parents) really instilled in me from a very young age just growing up how important it was not only to be a good person but to be a person who is full of the love of God and to pour that on to other people," Smith tells Saddleback Church's Rick Warren.  

"I've grown so close to the Lord and try to walk with Him every day and try to direct my thoughts toward Him because He's been so good to me," Smith says.  

And Smith isn't leaving his relationship with his Savior in the dust. Watch the video to see what the singer wants to do for God in the future. 

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

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I Am Calling My Women Out of the Caves by Paulette Reed - Identity Network

I Am Calling My Women Out of the Caves

Paulette Reed

Identity Network

The Women 

Recently, one morning, I heard Holy Spirit say to me, "I am calling My women out of the caves." As I prayed into this word from heaven, the Lord showed me hundreds of women hiding in caves because of fear, failure, or fatigue. I then saw the women running from the caves with good news. It was clear that many had overextended their season in the caves and what was intended to be their secret place had become their hiding place. Today, God is calling you out of hiddenness and to the frontlines.

In the New Testament we find that Jesus had a group of female disciples who followed Him, whom Luke called "the women" (Luke 23:55; Acts 1:14). And since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then of course female disciples are still following their Savior wherever He leads. As God releases the great company of women commanded to share the good news in Psalm 68:11, we will see thousands more following Christ out of love, adoration, and devotion to Him. Women are being released to step into a new boldness in the Lord.

Run for Your Life

A couple memorable cave experiences can be found in the book of 1 Kings. Remember that the murderess Jezebel was going to have the prophet Elijah killed but God provided protection and provision, as He still does for His people today. First Kings 18:4 says, "For when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water."

Unfortunately, the spirit of Jezebel is still active in the earth today. The body of Christ made great strides in overcoming this spirit several years ago; however, as we have relaxed following the victory, and as an Elijah company is arising, we are seeing this spirit frequently raise its ugly head once again. As we live out Acts 2:17, God pouring out His Spirit on all people, and as we prophesy, let's stay alert and remember that this spirit is out to kill the prophetic. We are never to tolerate it (Revelation 2:20).

Go!

One of the reasons that many women are in caves is because of hurts and rejections they have experienced throughout life. I can't even begin to count how many people have shared their stories of hurt and pain with me and while they were wounded many inadvertently made ungodly covenants as they ran into caves. The confession usually goes something like this: "I'm so hurt. I'm just going to love the Lord and worship Him in my secret place because I sure struggle with His people right now."

I do understand that hiding in a cave can make a person feel safe, but in actuality it's a false security and it does not line up with the Word of God. In the Great Commission we are commanded to go into the whole world, and 1 John 4:20 says that we are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ: "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen." So, beloved, we must love our brothers and sisters as we go and serve Christ in them.

Let's rejoice in the fact that there is always a genuine safe place for all believers - it's in the shadow of the Almighty's wings. This true security is a supernatural act of protection, not an excuse to hide. We must learn to love and serve the bride of Christ even with all of her spots and wrinkles, for our gifts are not to be hidden for ourselves but they are to be given away to others. Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Developed in the Dark Room

It's wonderful to know that the character of Christ can be formed in us, even if we're in a cave season. We can learn a lot if we remain teachable and determined to become better and not bitter:

• We learn to stay in the safe place after slaying giants (1 Samuel 24:3).
• We learn to love (1 Samuel 24:10).
• We learn not to touch God's anointed (1 Samuel 24:10).
• We learn mercy and forgiveness (1 Samuel 24:10).
• We learn of the Lord's provision (1 Kings 18:4).
• We learn when to cry aloud to the Lord (Psalm 57:1).
• We learn that miracles can be birthed in caves (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:1-7).
• We learn humility (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:1-7).
• We learn to delight in hiddenness and live to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7).
• We learn to hear the Lord's still small voice (1 Kings 19:9-12).
• We learn there is a season to all things (1 Kings 19:13).
• 
  

What Are You Doing Here?

As the Lord releases a great company of women throughout the earth, let's take a look at 1 Kings 19:13-16 (NLT) to see what happened to Elijah as he was hiding in the cave. God asked Elijah a question as he stood at the mouth of the cave: 

The Lord said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  He replied again, "I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." Then the LORD told him, "Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.

In unpacking these Scriptures, it's great to see that God didn't lose track of His elusive servant, though Elijah had been hiding in a cave for quite some time. God had been watching over him and supernaturally ministering to his needs. But the cave season was coming to an end. Elijah had been resting, giving time to get his heart and soul right, so that he could continue on in his destiny and now God calls him back to the mountain to take a stand.

His heart must have been pierced by such a searching question from the Almighty: "What are you doing here?" I believe the Lord is asking many of us that same piercing question today: "What are you doing here?" Or perhaps we need to ask ourselves, "Am I in the right place?" Are you sensing a nudge from the Lord that's making you uncomfortable? If so, let's remember that the Lord often comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. Our faith, spiritual gifts, and Christlike character grow by being stretched, not by lying dormant in a cave.

And then,  in the solitude of Mount Sinai, perhaps at the same "cleft of the rock" that Moses hid in thousands of years before as God's glory passed by (Exodus 33:22), God showed up to give direction to His prophetic servant. It is amazing that God told Elijah to go back on the same road and along the same path that led him to the cave. Oh, how different this trip would be! Elijah was no longer fatigued or frightened by Jezebel; rather, he left the cave anointed by God and ready to be a heavenly force to be reckoned with. I hear the Lord saying, "Go! Get your eyes off of yourself. Here are your new marching orders; love, serve, anoint, appoint, and raise up successors."

Exchanging Grave Clothes for Bridal Armor

John 11:44-45 tells us of the raising of Lazarus from the dead: "The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.' Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him."

This is a season where God is exchanging your grave clothes for the armor of God.  I declare to you today. "Come forth now, with boldness, with purity of devotion and passion after God. Exchange the grave clothes that held you in bondage for pure, white linens, the righteous acts of God's holy people, and declare the good news of the kingdom of God so that many will believe in Him!"

Just think what would have happened if Jesus had stayed in the cave. Thank goodness He arose from the dead and walked out of the tomb in resurrection power. In Romans 8:11 the apostle Paul makes it clear that the Holy Spirit, the agent of Jesus's resurrection, lives within every believer: "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." I speak life to dreams, marriages, businesses and families today. Come forth! You shall live and not die!

Psalm 57:1 is a beautiful tribute regarding David as he fled from Saul and hid in the cave, and it's valid for you and me today: "Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by." Destruction has passed you by, beloved, and you are commanded to arise and shine. The Lord has softened your heart and given you a breastplate of righteousness. You're a radiant bride, soft on the inside and tough as nails on the outside. A heavenly, royal wedding gown covers the armor as you march in the great army of women. God is calling His women out of the caves.

Paulette Reed

www.propheticarrow.org

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"Going Beyond Our Present Experience" - Wade Taylor

"Going Beyond Our Present Experience"

Wade E. Taylor, formerly Nanjemoy, MD

The Elijah List

Those who have experienced Jesus as being their personal "Savior" openly acknowledge that He shed His Blood upon Calvary's Cross in atonement for their sin, and in some measure, they live a committed Christian life. The name "Jesus" has become precious to them.

Among these are many who also know Jesus as "Christ." The word "Christ" speaks primarily of the anointing, especially the "One who is anointed (Jesus)," and in a lesser sense, of our being "anointed" as a member of His Body. These have received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and have developed a sensitivity to His presence. In some measure, they are being used in Holy Spirit gift ministries.

There are fewer, however, who also know Jesus as being their personal "Lord." These have crucified their self-life by giving up the right to do as they please, and have unconditionally submitted themselves to the governmental rule of His Kingdom. To know Jesus in this way is to personally experience Him in the fullness of His Name, in which He has become, with meaning, "The Lord Jesus Christ." Each aspect of His Name has become a personal reality within their spiritual life experience.

There is More! Our Redemption and Inheritance

Heaven is not intended to be the "goal" of our Christian experience. Rather, it is included in our redemption as being our inheritance.

For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house made without hands, eternal, in the heavens. II Corinthians 5:1 Peoples NT

There is more that we can experience, which is beyond our being saved, healed, and filled with the Holy Spirit. This has to do with our having an active, personal relationship with Jesus, and as an overcomer, being among those who will be called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

...Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb... Revelation 19:9

This "more" is something of great value that can be added to all that has been freely provided for us, but requires an action on our part. Having a salvation experience is essential for us to enter Heaven (you must be born again). However, our submission to His Kingdom rule is conditional, in which Jesus becomes "Lord" of our spiritual life experience.

And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23

Since our ways are contrary to, and "cross" His will for us, we must die to our own ways, if we are to fully follow Jesus. We ourselves must take up this cross. We do this by dying to our "self-life" upon a cross which Jesus will form for us (He was a carpenter).

This "if" tells us that there is a choice that we are free to either make or avoid, without affecting the fact of our salvation. However, it will greatly affect what we have "become" (our position and function) throughout all eternity. If we choose to make Jesus our Lord, we must totally submit ourselves unconditionally, body, soul, and spirit, to He who totally gave Himself for us.

To do this, we are to take the totality of our being – all that we are and have – including the "gift" benefits that were freely provided for us through His atonement, and give all this to Jesus. In dying to our own ways and choosing His way for us, we are taking up our cross and making Jesus the personal "Lord" of our lives.

To experience "salvation" means that I have repented and have been cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. 

I have received Him as my Savior and being saved, can testify, "I have Jesus." To experience the "Kingdom" means that I have taken all that Jesus has freely given to me, plus the right to my own life, and have given all this unconditionally to Him. Now, "Jesus has me" and I can relate to the Lord experientially as being my "Lord Jesus Christ."

As I merge my life into His life, I become one with Him in the outworking of His purposes, both in the here and now, and also, in eternity. Once I have done this, I will gradually come to know that I am far ahead of where I would have been, if I had tried to make my own way through life apart from the Lord. The requirement for entering His Kingdom is not beyond the ability of any one of us.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:3

Being "poor in spirit" means that I have set aside all of my own ways, and have unconditionally submitted myself to the Kingdom – the governmental rule of my life experience. 

Now, whatever He may choose to do with me, will produce that which is of far greater value than anything that I could ever attain to, apart from Him.

Make Him Lord of Your Life

To specifically make Jesus the Lord of your life, you must:

First, find a quiet place in which to be alone with Jesus.

Then, "wait upon the Lord" until you become inwardly quiet before Him. While maintaining an attitude of worship, thank the Lord for His presence and tell Him that you deeply appreciate His desire to commune and fellowship with you.

Now, you are ready to vocally, explicitly, relinquish the "right" to your own life, and to all that pertains to it, and unconditionally turn it over to Jesus. As you do this, you are giving to the Lord full permission, and the total right to govern the totality of your being – all that you are and all that you have, as He chooses. In very direct words, say to Him:

"Jesus, I totally give up the right to my life and I pronounce You the 'Lord Jesus Christ' of all that I am, and have." And also, "Lord, I give You permission to bring me into the fullness of this commitment, whatever it may cost, or wherever it may lead."

From this moment onward, I unconditionally belong to Jesus, and He can bring me into the fullness of all the potential that He has seen to be within me.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do... I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Because I have given Jesus the right to accomplish this, He has personally become to me, "The Lord Jesus Christ" and I will receive the "prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

His Lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your Lord." Matthew 25:23

Wade Taylor
Parousia Ministries / Wade Taylor Publications

Email: nancy@wadetaylor.org or joanne@wadetaylorpublications.org
Website: wadetaylor.org | wadetaylorpublications.org

Wade Taylor graduated to Heaven on February 29, 2012. He served others as a teacher and spiritual father for over 50 years. He was respected and loved by many for his quality of spirit and walk with his Lord. He was an anointed author, bringing forth deep truths of the Spirit with a clarity and simplicity that drew the reader up into a closer walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Nancy Taylor Warner, serves as Executive Director of Parousia Ministries, carrying the vision passed on from her father, Wade Taylor.  In addition, she has established Parousia Prayer Chapel, hosts Parousia Ministries Gatherings, and travels from time to time to speak and pray with others. Her background as administrator, pastor, teacher, and missionary has prepared her for what the Lord is doing today. 

Nancy's special gift of relating to and loving people stems from her own love for Jesus and His Kingdom. Her spiritual life messages flow into the hearts and spirits of those to whom she ministers. Nancy has an expectation for visitation and carries a prophetic word that speaks into that which the Lord is doing today. For spiritual life teachings and to learn more about the vision ofParousia Prayer Chapel please visit www.wadetaylor.org.

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If You're Struggling to Trust God in Your Trial, Read This

 6/7/2015 SUE BIRDSEYE  charisma news

Life can be overwhelming but with this one thing, you can live with faith when circumstances scream that God is not on the scene. (Flickr | Daniele Meregalli)

Recently I went on a walk through a beautiful park. It was almost a spring day ... chilly, but still warm enough to skip the jacket. The trees were still bare, the flowers still asleep, and the air still a little crisp.

At one point, there was an overlook which provided a lovely view of the marsh and the river in the distance. The contrast between the tall yellow grass of the marsh and the beautiful blue of the water beyond was stunning.

I loved the view.

But when I glanced down, I found that the view close up was rather unappealing. It was muddy, dirty looking water full of branches and old, wet grass.

And it struck me that from this one vantage point there were two decidedly different views. And how, in my life, there are definitely two views offered ... two views ahead of me.

I can look at what is right before me and the view is kind of disappointing, definitely a bit muddy, and far from the view I was hoping to have. While taking in the scenery of this view, I can only see the situations I find myself in—the difficulties, challenges, and disappointments. I don't seem able to see beyond the troubles of the day. And, oh boy, are there a lot of those I can see from this vantage point.

BUT, if I can lift my eyes, even just a bit, I can see beauty in the beyond. Beyond my circumstances. Beyond my setbacks. Beyond my troubles. Beyond my exhaustion. Beyond my disappointments.

It, apparently, is the lesson of my life. The lesson I must continually learn.

If my view is only of my circumstances, they will overwhelm me.

If my view is of my Savior, He will overwhelm me.

I guess I have to decide what I want to be overwhelmed by ... been saying this forever. When am I going to get my rear in gear and live as I know I should?

Part of the problem is that I make choices that aren't great. I'm not talking about decisions—all those life decision I need to make—I'm talking about choices each day.

I choose to worry when I just need to wait.

I choose fear over faith.

I choose to seek comfort apart from God.

I choose to disobey, when I need to (I must) obey.

I choose to question instead of trust.

I choose the struggle instead of the peace.

I choose it all instead of Jesus.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were formerly far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made both groups one and has broken down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of the commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile both to God into one body through the cross, thereby slaying the enmity. And he came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near" (Eph. 2:13-17).

I choose the things of this world—the things right in front of me—and somehow expect them to heal my broken heart, to fill the empty spaces, to comfort me completely.

They don't.

Nothing does, but Jesus.

I've said it before, but in some ways, I almost want to go back to the place when everything fell apart. When everything was truly out of my hands ... when all I could do was rely on God.

Since then I've been under the false impression that there are things in my control ... that some things need me ... that I can rely on myself ... good golly! That is so not true.

I no longer want to be in control of my life—it's too stressful. I want to let God have it all—so why don't I?

Because for some silly reason I continually think this little thing ... this thing before me ... this one thing I can handle. I can handle this thing. No worries.

Thanks God ... but I got this.

Ahhhh ... why do I insist on this silly way of living?

Does anyone else have this struggle? This insistence on self-reliance?

How do we win against it?

What's the secret?

Focus.

Focus? Is it really that simple?

Simple ... might not be the best word to use to describe anything in our lives. At least in mine.

Even focus is not simple. I'm a mess of focuses: kids, house, meals, schoolwork, classwork, homework, work work, teenagers, college student, college admission process, church, health, sleep, family, friends, car, stuff, and stuff, and stuff ...

I just want to focus on Jesus alone, but all the other things in life seem to edge into my vision.

"Therefore, since we are encompassed with such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:1-2).

It sometimes feels that I can't really get my focus on Him alone because there is just so much to do—how in the world do I do it?

Maybe the problem isn't the focus point (Jesus) as much as what I think focusing means. What does focusing look like?

I usually envision it as something akin to prayer on my knees, Bible study, and time spent fellowshipping with others.

That can't be what focusing on Christ means because I can't stop everything else in my life to do that and that alone. We would be the most ragamuffin family ever ... not to mention we'd probably starve!

Alright, so what does it look like?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:4 came to mind: "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

It made sense to me that that would be a way to focus—rejoicing, praying, thanking.

If I'm rejoicing, I must be focusing on Christ, who is my Savior.

If I'm praying, I must be focusing on Jesus, who is working in my life.

If I'm thanking, I must be focusing on Jesus, the source of all things in my life.

It just makes sense.

So maybe in some ways it is simple. It is simply living my life with my mind focused on who Christ is, what He has done and continues to do, and thanking Him for it all!

Good golly! We are brought back again to the gospel!

If our focus is on Christ, we cannot miss the gospel and its impact on our lives. We cannot lose our focus, because our lives are so covered by the gospel of grace.

Each day begins with the knowledge that I am saved, that I am blessed with another day to serve, that I am loved beyond measure, that I am forgiven, that I am precious to my God.

Each day continues with the sustaining strength of the Holy Spirit working in and through me to bless others. If I am praying and thanking Him throughout the day, I find myself more aware of how and where He is working. My focus is on what He is doing through me, rather than what I am doing for me.

Each day is covered with the grace of God. How can I begin to thank Him for that? How often do I just want to crawl into a corner and weep for my sinfulness? For the way I spoke to my child, the facial expressions I used, the anger I showed, for the thoughts I had that were unkind, the muttering and complaining that spilled from my mouth, the temptations I gave in to, the judgment, pride, and arrogance that invades my heart sometimes ... oh Lord, how is it possible you love me so much? I'm so very unlovable.

And yet, I AM so very loved.

Crazy.

Unexpected.

Amazing.

The view I'm taking right now ... and I pray it will continue into the next 5 minutes ... even into the next day!

Is the view of Jesus my Savior.

Jesus, who is my life.

Jesus, who is my peace.

Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of my faith.

Jesus.

Sue Birdseye is an author and single mom of five kids. Her book, When Happily Ever After Shatters (Tyndale House) is in bookstores. This is adapted from her blog, uptomytoes.com