ISSUE: #34

MEM

Message

In today’s world we have the internet, radio, TV, books, the mail, and churches that give us access to thousands of varying religious messages. Sorting through them can be a maze - how confusing. Is it okay to overlook irregularities for the sake of unity? Maybe; how can we know what is right, what is the truth?

If we have accepted Yeshua as our personal Savior, repented, yielded to Him, and are filled with His Spirit, we need to be seeking the truth. How?

Matthew 4:4 …‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’(Yeshua quoted this from the Torah - Deuteronomy 8:3).

John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. (Yeshua speaking to the Father).

John 14:15-17 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, …you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

If we are keeping His commandments we should have the Spirit of truth abiding in us. This Spirit will lead us, teach us and we will know the mind of the Master:

• verse 26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
• John 15:14-15 "You are My friends if you do what I command you. "No longer do I call you slaves, …but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
• V-26 "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,
• John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; …He will disclose to you what is to come.
• John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

John, writing his letters to the church, warned about some who were spreading deception; 1 John 2:18-21 Children, …just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; ... But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

V- 27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

I encourage you to read all the above scriptures in context.

Amazing, the Father so loved us, that we can be called the children of God. He has given us His Spirit to help us, to guide us in all truth that we might have a relationship with Him. Ask Him to help sort out the truth from error; He has promised to do this. May we trust Him and learn to listen for His voice. Study YHVH’s Word to show yourself approved.

2Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, ...

Proverb

Proverbs 16:6 By loving kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

Proverbs 3:3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Proverbs 22:20-21 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?

Saying

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is what you learn after you know it all that counts. John Wooden

Never, Never, Never Quit! Winston Churchill

Bible Quiz

1. Hebrews 2:16 says that it is not angels Yeshua helps but the descendants of whom?
2. What prophet was thrown into the lions’ den?
3. Candace was the queen of what country?
4. Abraham’s faith was credited to him as what?
5. Why did Jeroboam make golden calves?
6. Who preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins?
7. Who said, "Even if she gathers among the sheaves, Don’t embarrass her"?

Humility

"And so pride - the loss of humility - is the root of every sin and evil. ... Jesus came to bring humility back to earth, to make us partakers of it, and by it to save us." Andrew Murray

Satan induced our first parents to sin by planting the seed of pride in them. He deceived them, causing them to disobey their Creator by pridefully thinking the creature could be as the Creator. They lost their humility, their wonderful relationship, their complete trust in YHVH. So the seed of pride has been passed down to all of mankind.

The Creator humbled Himself, became a man, and died for man (made atonement for). He alone was able to redeem His creation. He will restore humility to those who will accept His sacrifice; to those who will repent (turn from sin), die to self (put away pride) and accept His indwelling Spirit. Yeshua longs to have communication with us, the relationship our first parents enjoyed - before they yielded to the Great Deceiver.

May we humbly recognize our need for Yeshua’s indwelling Spirit; trust Yeshua to lead in the paths of righteousness. Be filled with the divine nature of the Holy One of Israel. Enjoy a divine relationship with the Father and the Son. No longer be deceived by pride, the root of all sin! Blessed be YHVH - The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Did you know:

If you want a quick fix for low energy levels there is no better snack than a banana.  Containing three natural sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose) combined with fiber a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.  Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90 minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.  But energy is not the only way a banana can help us keep fit.  It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia. 

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt making it the perfect food to beat blood pressure. 

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness.  It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress.  It also neutralizes high acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance.  When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, there by reducing our potassium levels. These can be re-balanced with the help of a high potassium banana snack.

 (From internet sources.)

Lighter Side

• Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
• The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

Children’s Story

The next morning, the fourth day of the week, Jacques, Leona, and Pierre were up early. Saying good-bye for now, they headed back to the north side of the Island. They traveled over the island’s central high path so Jacques could quickly come back with his boat. He would then take the two men with the authorizing papers to the Island of Mirada. If all went well, they could make it by nightfall.

On the fifth day of the week, a fishing ship, The High Seas, was dispatched from Mirada’s Safe Harbor to pick up the survivors. Most all of the salvaged goods and passengers were loaded aboard The High Seas by sundown. Then they set sail for Mirada.

By noon of the sixth day, The High Seas anchored in Safe Harbor. The townspeople sent smaller boats to help get goods and Fair Seas passengers to their final destination. The small town of Safe Harbor welcomed the weary businessmen. Their small hotel was filled to capacity; the rest were made comfortable in boarding houses.

Jacques was back working on the dock when The High Seas arrived. He ended his work early to talk with the survivors before setting out for home. He always left early on the sixth day to be home before sundown and the beginning of the seventh day, the Sabbath.

As Jacques started his boat’s motor, he turned his little boat, Slow Poke, out to sea. He pointed the compass to the Southeast. Pulling up his comfortable chair, he opened his well-worn Bible, putting it on a wooden box that served as his table. To keep the pages from turning in the gentle ocean breeze, he placed his carpenter’s knife across the page edges. Keeping one hand on the boat’s rudder, an eye on the compass, he adjusted his chair and book so he could read and relax for the journey home.

Pierre had returned to the Hatah village the fifth day to assist with the language barrier the best he could between the Fair Seas survivors and the Hatahs. Helping to get everything aboard The High Seas that evening completed an exciting day for him and his Hatah friends. The survivors had sorted through their retrieved articles and given the villagers many gifts - clothing, iron items, cooking pots and some china. The cups were a special treasure for the natives.

As the ship set sail, Pierre and his Hatah friends were busy bartering with one another, trading items until everyone was satisfied. These gifts were a reward for all their kindness and hospitality shown to the Fair Seas survivors.

Darkness had set in so Pierre stayed the night. He returned home in the morning with his newly acquired hammer and pry-bar. Being the son of a carpenter, these items were treasures for him. He arrived home about high noon, proudly displaying his treasure for his mother. But mothers are mothers and she had Pierre put them away and pull out his math and geography books.

After a nourishing snack of fruits and coconut milk, he had to try to settle down to study. Leona had a whole week of assignments untouched and here it was time to prepare for Sabbath. Before long the time tree’s shadow indicated it was time for Pierre to finish his assignments and put his books away. He went down to the stream to bathe and put on clean clothes for Sabbath. Jacques arrived to bathe just as Pierre was finishing. He wanted to tell his father all about the gifts and treasures but was instructed to go back to the house and help - they would share after Sabbath meal.

Sabbath was a very special time. When the sun was about to set, the table would be also set with the very best. Candles would be lit. Fine china would grace a white tablecloth used only on this once a week occasion. Four places would be set just in case someone would find their way to their humble abode. Leona tried to have special treats just for this time; perhaps some chocolates Jacques had occasionally brought from Mirada. Reading scripture together along with music and singing praises to the Creator were part of the Sabbath. Jacques would play the fiddle and Leona would use tambourines to keep things lively. Pierre had learned to pick along on a guitar, yet he enjoyed singing more than anything else.

This was the happiest time of the week. A time to just rest, no schoolwork, no housework, and no building of docks; just building a family with the direction of Yeshua’s Spirit. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy!

Quiz Answers

1. Abraham - Hebrews 2:16

2. Daniel - Daniel 6

3. Ethiopia - Acts 8:27

4. Righteousness - Romans 4:9

5. To keep the people from going to Jerusalem to worship - 1Kings 12:26-28

6. John the Baptist - Luke 3:2-3

7. Boaz - Ruth 2:15