Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph (Ex. 1:8). There is a lot to consider in this few words, for they take us to the beginning when Joseph was sold to an officer of Pharaoh as a slave. However, God was with him and through all his life in Egypt, he prospered to become second to the King. Finding favor with him, Joseph moved his family from Canaan to Egypt, where they stayed 430 years. The Israelites, after so many years in that land, prospered and never returned to Canaan. That seemed to be the story of Israel throughout history after they were taken captives to another land. Not until pressure of persecution to the point of their death, do they return home, but not all. Let’s remember Hitler’s day. How many were killed? How many are still in that land today, including the whole of Europe? What will take them to realize the way home? History has being repeating itself over and over in the lives of Israel; today they call it anti-Semitism. After the slaughter of many of their ancestors in Hitler’s day Israel has said, “Never again.” But it will not be so, until they go home.
Tag: Sanctification
The Eye- An Entrance to the Soul
The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light. But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you is darkness, how dense is that darkness! (Matt. 6:21-22)
In this teaching YAHSHUA covered several subjects including fasting, treasure and mammon. It is important to understand that the eye is the entrance to the soul. It is through the eyes that we perceive. When the treasures of this world are often desired and we lust after them, we will go a distance to acquire them. They become gods when our time is primarily spent seeking and obtaining them. The Christian people are not exempted from this and many have left the way for them. YAHSHUA said, Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be (Matt. 6:19-21). What was the meaning for our Lord YAHSHUA to connect the eye with earthly treasure, and what has one to do with the other?
Blessed Are the Persecuted for Righteousness Sake
(Matthew 5:10; II Thess. 1; I Peter 4:13-14; John 15:19-21)
Stephen was a man full of faith and full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:5). Noted for his outstanding faith, he suffered persecution and ultimately death through stoning. No harassment could touch his faith to diminish it. Instead, it grew deeper and deeper to the point of death, and death by stoning. Just before it happened, he saw the glory of God and YAHSHUA standing at His right hand (Acts 7:55). With uncontrolled anger, for not being able to convince him to give up the faith in YAHSHUA, the people dragged him out of the city and stoned him. Not even that, however, erased his steadfastness to the faith, neither his courage to face death. Instead, Stephen prayed, Lord YAHSHUA, receive my spirit, and falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them! And when he had said this, he fell asleep [in death] (Acts 7:58-60).
Sanctification Through the Word and Truth
(John 17:17; John 15:3-4)
In His priestly prayer, our Lord YAHSHUA prayed, Sanctify them by truth; Your Word is Truth (John 17:17). By the word of His mouth, YAHSHUA created all that is created; by truth He freed us from eternal death; He consecrated us for Himself, making us holy. We are chosen and separated from the world for the purpose of sanctification. Paul confirms with these words: for those whom He foreknew, He also destined from the beginning to be molded into the image of His Son, that He might become the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). Once we turn to God in repentance and acceptance of His Son’s sacrifice, we have entered the spiritual realm where He has called us to be in relationship with Him. It is a constant and permanent position we have while here on this earth. Sanctification is the next step to redemption through the sacrifice of YAHSHUA. It is a must for a believer to go through if he/she wants to enter heaven.
Light from the Word 