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As
we approach the end of this millennium, no matter
how much shaking there may be economically, politically,
socially or technologically, no matter how chaotic
the world may become, we can have "shalom shalom"
- perfect peace - in the midst of it all.
In last month's newsletter, we considered the
first two reasons we shouldn't be afraid to face
the future. The third reason is because of God's
precious promises.
God
has promised to give us all the wisdom we need.
He is our "Pele Yoetz," our Miraculous Counselor.
He gives wonderful, miraculous advice, unfailing
in the depths of its wisdom for all who come to
Him. His counsel is miraculous, because it transcends
human understanding. In every situation He can
discern what is best for us and give us wonderful
counsel.
When you
find yourself in a difficult situation, and lack
the wisdom to handle it, you are invited to ask
our Miraculous Counselor for wisdom, and He promises
to generously provide it. David Wilkerson wrote,
"God will give us the right advice in every situation.
He has promised that no matter how hopeless a
crisis may appear, He knows the way through it
and has all the resources that we need. God -
our advisor and counselor has a detailed plan
for every one of His children, to help us face
the worst of times. He'll speak clearly to every
individual who makes up His body, giving specific
directions, dimensions, times, places, promises,
miracles. Therefore it's vitally important that
each child of God get to know and hear His voice."
God
has promised to give us all the power we need.
Rabbi Paul reminds us of the surpassing greatness
of God's power toward us who believe. God's
power is unlimited; and this great power is specifically
directed to those of us who believe in Messiah.
Simon Peter reminds us that we are protected
by the power of God. Since He is all-powerful,
we are all-protected. Nothing can happen to us
that our all-powerful, all-good, all-wise and
all-loving God will allow, that won't turn out
for our ultimate good.
We can
face the future without fear because God has promised
to remove a shy, cowardly attitude and replace
it with a healthy dose of courage, strength and
boldness. God has not given us a spirit of
timidity (an attitude of fear, or cowardice)
but of power and love and discipline. That's
why Messianic Jews and Christians have been able
to face all kind of opposition throughout the
ages, all kinds of trials, dangers and tribulations.
God
has promised to give us all the security we need.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and
whose trust (security) is from the Lord. He will
be like a tree planted by the water that extends
its roots by a stream and will not fear when the
heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and
it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor
cease to yield fruit. It is easy to be confident
when showers of blessing are falling, when the
economy is booming, and your 401K plan is climbing.
But not everyone can be happy when circumstances
change - when they are feeling the heat and the
drought - only those who place their confidence
in God can remain free of fear or anxiety. The
one who trusts in God is blessed at all times,
whether times are good and the rains are coming,
or when circumstances are difficult, and he is
feeling the heat. He will be like a beautiful
fruit tree planted near a stream which constantly
supplies it with water, even in a time of drought,
when the other fruit trees are drying up, their
leaves withering, and little or no fruit is being
produced.
God
has promised to provide for our needs, according
to His riches in glory, the source of which is
Messiah Yeshua. His divine power has granted
to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.
God has granted us not just some things, but all
things necessary for our physical well-being,
and for our spiritual life. God is able to provide
for His children in their distresses and in their
difficulties, even miraculously, if need be. He
was able to sustain several million Jewish people
for forty years in a harsh, desert wilderness.
He was able bring water out of a rock to give
them drink, and manna from heaven to feed them.
At one
point in Yeshua's ministry, He and His disciples
had been through a very busy time, and needed
a break. Yeshua took these disciples to a lonely
place to get some rest, but not without some difficulty.
Many people saw them leave by boat and, recognizing
them, ran ahead on foot from all the towns and
got there first. When Yeshua came ashore, a huge
crowd already awaited Him. He began teaching them
many things.
When they
became hungry, He also miraculously fed them in
order to demonstrate that He was the Messiah sent
by God to meet all the needs of the Jewish people.
Yeshua can provide rest for His disciples, truth
for the multitudes and miraculous food for all,
even in a wilderness. Doesn't it make sense that
if Yeshua was able to feed five thousand from
a few loaves of bread and a few fish while on
earth, He is all the more able to meet the needs
of His people now that He is resurrected, victorious,
exalted, glorified, all-powerful, and seated at
the right hand of God?
Messiah
instructed us not to worry about what we will
eat, drink or wear. Worrying about basic necessities
is for those outside the covenant relationship
with God, for pagans and unbelievers without faith.
God's sons and daughters are to be concerned with
greater things, like building up and extending
God's interests on earth. We are to be concerned
with taking up our cross and following Messiah,
dying daily, building ourselves up in our most
holy faith, serving the saints, preaching the
Good News to those who don't believe, and taking
care of the poor and needy. These are to be our
chief concerns. Take care of God's concerns first
and He will take care of your earthy needs. Devote
yourself to Him, and He will provide for you.
God
has promised us all the contentment we need.
He can teach us to live contentedly in all circumstances,
as did Rabbi Paul, who wrote: I have learned
to be content in whatever circumstances I am
(in good times and bad, in times of abundance
and times of lack). I know how to get along
with humble means, and I also know how to live
in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I
have learned the secret of being filled and going
hungry, both of having abundance and suffering
need. What is the secret of this contentedness?
The answer: I can do all things through Him
who strengthens me. If you are on intimate
terms with the Almighty, close to Him, He will
strengthen you in all circumstances so that you
may be content. Let your attitude be that recommended
by Rabbi Paul to Timothy: Godliness is a means
of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.
For we have brought nothing into the world, so
we can not take anything out of it. And if we
have food and covering, with these we will be
content. We have had fifty years of unparalleled
prosperity, but that is no guarantee that good
times will last. If our society suffers, we may
suffer, but we can be at peace, knowing that our
life, our well-being, our happiness does not consist
in the abundance of our possessions.
God
has promised to give us all the peace we need.
The night before He was to die, and the disciples
scatter, Yeshua prepared them for this difficult
time by saying to them: These things I have
spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you have tribulation, but take courage;
I have overcome the world. Yeshua is greater
than the world and all the many problems in it.
Joined to Him, we can have peace in the midst
of a chaotic, troubled world. He also said: Peace
I leave with you; My peace I give to you,
not as the world gives, do I give to you. The
peace that Yeshua gives is different from the
world's peace, which is dependent on a minimum
of conflict, or positive circumstances. The peace
that Yeshua gives is us is based on the inner
assurance that with Him in charge, all is well.
He went on to say: Let not your heart be troubled,
nor let it be fearful. We have some degree
of control over our hearts. We can allow them
to be troubled or fearful, or we can fill them
with thoughts of Messiah's victory, His return
for us, and our everlasting salvation. These thoughts
put our problems into perspective, and enable
us to maintain a peace which surpasses normal
human understanding.
God
has promised to remove anxiety and fill our hearts
and minds with peace.
Simon Peter tells us that we are to cast
all our anxiety upon God, because He cares for
us. With all the situations we are concerned about,
we make our prudent preparations, but then entrust
ourselves into the hands of the God who cares
for us. Rabbi Paul adds that we must be anxious
for nothing, but in everything (in
every situation, especially difficult ones) by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God. If we
pray and thank God, the peace of God, which
surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your
hearts and your minds joined to Messiah Yeshua.
Anxiety is a normal response to a threat, but
Messianic Jews and Christians must decide to entrust
their concerns to God, knowing He cares for them.
As we give thanks for the blessings we already
have received, and make requests for what we lack,
we rise above the situation which threatens us.
We then gain peace, despite our circumstances;
a genuine peace from God, who cares for His own,
and who works everything out for their ultimate
good.
We can
become anxious thinking about unknown dangers,
but nothing is unknown to the All-Knowing One.
Anxiety comes when we feel out of control of a
situation, but what we can't control, God can.
Anxiety comes when we think that something so
bad may happen that it will be beyond our ability
to handle. But again, God has promised that no
situation too difficult for us to endure will
happen that, with His help, we will not be capable
of handling.
Yeshua,
mocked, beaten, crucified, nails in His hands
and feet, His lifeblood draining away, dying on
the cross, could say, Father, into Your hands
I commit My spirit. In 1999, are we likely
to face anything worse than He did? Can't we commit
ourselves into those same hands with that same
attitude? Lord willing, next month we will look
at the last reasons why we can face the future
with confidence, whatever it may bring.
Shalom!
Rabbi Loren |
