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The process of sanctification
As stated in the previous article, sanctification is not something that we acquire instantly when choosing Y’shua as our Messiah. It is the process that takes us out of our old nature and brings us into the kingdom of YHVH. It is a process of breaking down the old and building the new. In some cases, He may even break us down completely in order to start rebuilding on a new foundation. This may be a very painful and traumatic process, and may happen more than once during our journey.
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Dispelling Spiritual Darkness
Darkness is the spiritual force that takes over when the will of YHVH is rejected. This gives the enemy legal right and authority. We are influenced by this darkness around us. We fall into temptation, we turn away from YHVH, our prayers are not effective, we don’t hear YHVH’s voice and don’t know His will. As believers, we are called to be lights in this darkness. The question is, are we effective in dispelling darkness or are we helping it along? This article is meant to help believers to be effective in this task.
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Knowing YHVH
An artist is known by his work. If you were to show a person interested in art a certain masterpiece, he will know who the artist is. YHVH is the greatest Artist ever. His art is visible all around us, in every living being and creature, in nature, in the setting of the sun. YHVH can reveal Himself in this way to us for He is the Creator of all. This is not the only way YHVH reveals Himself to us…
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Making your voice heard on high
The next three appointed times on YHVH’s calendar is approaching, Yom T’ruah, Yom Kippurim, and Sukkot. It is always a good thing to “take stock” of our spiritual condition before we observe these days. Especially Yom Kippurim, a day of humbling ourselves before YHVH. It is part of Jewish tradition to do introspection for forty days before Yom kippurim, the month of Elul and the Ten days of Awe (the first ten days of Tishri.) The word “elul” means search, so this is very appropriate as we search our hearts during this time. People examine themselves and forgive and ask forgiveness of those they have wronged. Though we should be doing this all the time, I find it a good tradition. It’s like a spiritual house cleaning before the fall feasts. I am currently reading through the book of Isaiah, and Isaiah 58, struck a cord with me and it fits in very well with this context of searching our hearts. It showed me that only keeping YHVH’s commandments is not enough. If we only keep YHVH’s commandments, we are participating in false worship. This may seem like a harsh statement, but allow me to explain.
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Who Am I?
When we become believers, we become children of YHVH. He is our Father who loves us unconditionally and wants the best for us. If we did not have an earthly father who modelled this love for us, or failed us in any way, we may not be able to fully comprehend this love the Father has for us. It is human nature to equate our perception of our earthly father with whom we think YHVH is. The reality is that our earthly fathers will fail us and this will give us a flawed perception of who YHVH is. If your father didn’t protect you, you will have difficulty is trusting YHVH for protection. If your father always criticized you, you will see YHVH as a Father looking for faults in you. This brokenness robs us of the blessing of our Father’s love and makes it difficult or impossible for us to have a relationship with Him built on absolute trust. We need to study the word and find our true identity in Y’shua.
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The Way of the Nations
There are two ways we can follow in life: the way of YHVH or the way of the nations. YHVH has given us free will so we choose which way we follow. However, even if we think we follow YHVH’s way, we might, unknowingly, be following the way of the nations. The way of the nations may inadvertently have infiltrated our lives in some form. In order to determine what this means and if my statement is true or not, we need to define “the way of the nations.” It can be defined as anything contrary to YHVH’s word or ways.
