SHALOM

(Sivan-Tamuz)

29 June 2006

 Word Six

 GOD’S FIRE TESTS AND PURIFIES

 Throughout

 THE LONG HOT SUMMER

God’s Word says:  “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in Heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.”  Psalm 11:4

“The Lord is righteous; He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.”  Psalm 11:7

“O let the evil of the wicked one come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds. –My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. –God is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation every day.”  Psalm 7:9-11

“The Words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.”  Psalm 12:6

            The Word of the Lord reminds us that beyond receiving the power of the Holy Spirit at Shavuot/Pentecost, we have by His grace, His Holy Spirit, His ability, through our willingness to do His work.  We receive freely the work He’s done for us and in us; now, we have also His Power, and in His name He will work His Power through us.  We freely give what He would have us share by who exactly we are in Him.  As individuals we must first change and grow in our own spirits.  Then, as He uniquely positions us, we are able to bless others by His Power through us.  We must represent His light in the earth.  His Will then has become our work.  Our privileged opportunity to be bond servants to God’s own purpose.

            The battle between flesh and spirit is one we must deal with daily, personally, by His Word, His Power, His might.  When we turn to Him “in all our ways,” He will fight all our battles for us, inward and outward.  Remember, His Spirit is “greater” in us!  All we have to do is to believe solidly and not be moved by anything but our belief in Him!  The consequences of our personal choices can either bring us to a place where we can willingly be used to do His will, or, to choose to be unwilling, and thereby be by-passed by Him for His work.  We can be “saved” and not be delivered from our former habits. We can be “saved” but not yet trained or conditioned maturely to His purpose.  When we operate in our belief in Him, we will please Him by what He expects of us and not miss the destiny and the plans that He has for us---to Bless us fully for choosing to depend on Him in all things, and at all times and seasons of our life.  Remember, He is the Perfect Timer.  In His perfect timing, we will be conditioned, and, then, positioned by Him.  There are always consequences to our choices.  Nothing is just a “blow off.”  If we choose to believe and to grow up in Him, Jesus’ Word says in Matthew 13:43, “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears, let him hear.”

            To grow, we must not be merely entertained, but trained and literally encouraged  by a true, called, and anointed Shepherd.  Prophetically, there is no longer time for us to be chasing after a comfort zone assembly to be entertained by various “distractions” which do not amount to training us for salvation and doing God’s work.  No one ever got seriously tested and purified and refined by avoiding serious training in basic spiritual matters any more than an astronaut merely “watches” videos to launch himself into space.  He has a lot of “training” to do—hard work.  As Christians so do we!  One cannot mature on ignoring the meat of the Word (still probably needing the milk of the Word) in a comfort zone.  Rabbi Benjamin used to say:  “No one is ever too poor to pay attention to what God’s Word expects of us in return for our salvation.”  So, Sh’ma Israel – that is, listen and hear with understanding – before there is no more time to do so.  In agreement,   this is what the true prophets of God are all saying now.  God instructs us in His Word that NOW is the day of salvation.   To seek Him while He may be found!

            The Long Hot Summer is the time between Shavuot/Pentecost and the Ninth of Av (August 3rd this year) bringing us to Tshuva; which means “return to the Lord”.  This is a time to humbly return to Him and prepare for the coming High Holy Days beginning with Rosh HaShannah   As it says in Psalm 7:  “God tries the hearts and minds.”  We get to walk on our own, as it were, for a time---with God watching and listening to our heart attitudes and decisions.  He is surely also interested in the consequences of our deeds, which reflect the genuine attitudes of our inner being as well as the sincerity of the motivational bottom-line reasons for our choices.  Do we decide and act because we love as He instructs?  Look at 1 John 4:16-17, “And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.  God IS Love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” v17, “By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.”  v19, “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

            Throughout this Summer time, this “growing Season,” we need to depend on Him ever more.  We are always learning to walk more maturely before Him regardless of our age or time in life.  At all ages the Lord says:  “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent.”  Revelation 3:19.  We are to love one another.  See 1 Peter 1:22, “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.”  We can be certain of the truth of God’s Word.  In the Book of II Peter, (Chapter One verses 5-8) the qualities listed here, in order, enable us to keep in mind how God’s order develops and sustains us and preserves us at all times, especially in difficult times.  We need to remember them and determine to make these qualities a living, functioning part of who we are.  The strength of our character depends on the integrity they build within us from the “inside out”  God’s Word says, “For he who lacks these “qualities” is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.”  I Peter 1:9.

  Yes, we are being tested by God’s purifying fire.  We are in a time when our spirits are being “tried” to become the Bride for whom He will soon return.  In order for Him to return for us, His Bride, we must first return to Him and determine to prepare for His second coming.  In II Peter 1:19-21, we are firmly reminded that God’s Holy Word is the truth we must follow and obey with all humility, “And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.  v 20 “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, v21 “for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

            These days of trying and testing culminate in bringing us—no matter how mature or how immature---to repentance and a desire to have a closer relationship with our God Most High.  A relationship that, because of our ever increasing reverence for His great love for us, we appreciate Him more, and simply want more surely to please Him more and more and more.  God’s love is unconditional to salvation.  His mercies “endureth forever,” and whenever we ask His forgiveness, He is quick to hear us and answer.  He knows our shortcomings, and provides us a way by His Word and mercy to deal with them.  Once we are “born again,” however, we can’t just choose to stay “stuck” in our self-centered “babyhood” habits and ways, and not grow up in Him BY Torah/Instructions (to be taught by fences—guidelines and His discipline.)  And, just as a child desires to please a loving parent, we must learn how He desires us to please Him more and more in all sincerity.  Torah and His whole fulfilled Word teaches us exactly that.  We learn by His Word how to please Him.  How to do things His way; not our own selfish way of being self-pleasing or men pleasers, or letting mere circumstances distract us; all of these “anti-life” directions rob us of the relationship promises and blessings with which God will reward us for our obedience out of love for Him.  To love Him IS to obey Him.  He is worthy!  None of our time is wasted when we follow His ways.  He promises us “good success” in return.  The simplest way to look at it is, if Y’shua would do it, leave it in your life---if Y’shua would not do it, leave it out of your life!  Live and walk out the love He has shown you.  He did nothing but to bring you into the Lord’s special place leaving all the curses and your past life behind and giving to you all His promised Blessings!  Look at what 1 Timothy 1:5 says, “But the goal of our instruction is LOVE from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  He also admonishes us in 1 Timothy 4:15-16, “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. v16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching, persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (And that includes future generations you may affect by your learning and knowing who you are in Christ, and by accepting your authority and responsibility with love and diligence.)

            As Christians, we are in the business of changing lives.  First our own.  Our family. Then outward, as God directs and as His Word declares.  We are different from the world.  We are to love to obey His command and His great commission as believers---to BE His “Church”---His “sent out ones” (which is what the word “church” means).  After He had risen, Y’shua appeared to the eleven as they were “at the table”---Mark 16:15-18:  “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all Creation. v16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who  has disbelieved shall be condemned.  v17 “And these signs will accompany those who have believed:  “In My Name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

            And, as for those who do live their belief,  Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”  Read all of Romans Chapter 8.  It will show you God will bless forever those who believe and obey.  Also see the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 54 v 17, which says, “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment, you will condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me, declares the Lord.”  In all that He asks and expects of us, God Himself will provide protection, when we are in obedience.  The refining Flames of His All-Consuming Love are there to bring us closer to each other and to Himself for all eternity. He may “divide”/allow “division” for His timing for the perfection and the purpose of His Divine will, but God will unify His “Chosen Race”.  His “Royal Priesthood”.  His “Body”.  His “Bride”.  His miracles continue to save, to connect, and to unify.  When we attend to our “small” beginnings inside ourselves and continue to “Sh’ma, and not “despise” the humility it takes,  continuing to depend on Him at all times and through the long hot summers---we can be sure His glory will shine through us.  The “Morning Star” will arise in our hearts.  His promise is, then, we will also be glorified with Him.

            So, through this Long Hot Summer of testing, stay cool!  But, desire to become the flame of His love which purifies and enables the endurance of true believers to “stay the course” of their faithful destiny.  As believers our initial work is to be diligent to depend on, confess, and pray His Word daily.  Because, when we Express His Power, which first changes our life, then we can begin to make a real difference in the lives of others.  And that is what Y’shua desires us to be about doing.

Baruch HaShem

Katherine Khizkyos

Deaconess KCKA Ministries                             

SHALOM

(Iyar-Sivan)

 16 May 2006

 Word Five

       A U T H O R I T Y     

            The Word of God reveals that the Spiritual laws are above all other laws.  Christian believers know this, and believe this is literally true.  If you do not believe it, or just don’t know, for the purpose of this message, let us assume that it is so.  Spiritual powers have supremacy over all powers by virtue of the Authority to which they are subject.  However, for confirmation, see Romans 8:1-8.

            Where there is a law, it can also be assumed that there is an Authority Who established it and who will enforce it as well.  To begin with, let’s look at the word AUTHORITY itself.  Let us look at it in English, in Hebrew, and in Greek.

            ENGLISH (Webster’s New World Dictionary) says that authority means:

            1.  The power or right to give commands, enforce obedience, take action, or make final decisions; jurisdiction – (b) The position of one having such power (a person in authority) – the right to enforce laws.

            2.  Such power as delegated to another; authorization, warrant.  Sanction.

            3.  Power or influence resulting from knowledge, prestige, etc. – self-assurance that comes from experience (expert/expertise).

            4.  A supportive citation.

            5.  Reliability of a source or witness.

HEBREW (Strong’s Dictionary of Biblical Words) Hebrew has two words for authority:

            1)  Rabah, which means – “to increase” (in whatever respect) “multiply” – much more – “be in authority”,  “return to God”, “grow”, “God will abundantly pardon”.

            2)  Toqeph, meaning – “might”, “positiveness”, - power, strength, authority.

GREEK (Same Src. as above) Greek has four words for authority:

            1) Authenteo – To have authority; to act of oneself; to dominate; to domineer.

            2) Dunastes – A ruler or officer of great authority, mighty potentate.

            3)  Exousia – (in the sense of ability/privilege) force; capacity; competency; right; liberty; jurisdiction; strength.

            4)  Exouiazo – To control; bring under the power of; (physically) self-control.

(The Hebrew and Greek languages define words specifically, and then contextually.  That is, the application to the meaning is determined by usage.  In any case, the word Authority is a very important word in all these languages, and it is the focus of “Express” this month.  It is a word of ultimate “POWER”.)

            Suppose if a poll were taken about:  Whether or not there should BE authority---the consensus would no doubt be that authority is a good, desirable, and necessary priority to order and balance in any given area.  There needs to be a leader, a chief.  But then, if a second poll were to be taken regarding the actual definition of the word itself, and how that authority should rule or be applied, no doubt the responses would change into a wide gap of opinions---probably ranging from “frozen negative against” views, to the extreme opposite of “on-fire for” persuasions, and likely every degree of temperatures between.  Uniformity would be hard to find regarding “HOW” things “should be done”--- as our world and our own nation acutely experience today.  The distance between apathetic negatives and militant positives is the very reason in itself that enforceable authority IS necessary.  Effective Authority ought to enforce balance and minimize extremisms.

            Defining a word which affects each of us closely, personally, and which can literally get into our business, or worse yet control us, tends to bring out the best and the worst in all of us.  It can separate us by who we exactly are by our standards, our values, how we are by our reactions, and where we are basically headed by our actions. Yes, this is one VERY important word.  Moreover, it can further be seen that there is a vast “distance” between the mature and the immature; even as a free society is distanced from a dictatorial one regarding the authority over it.

There is hope for each new day when balance is maintained by responsible accountable authority in a home or in a nation.  On the other hand, tyrannical leaders who  dish out havoc, harm, and overall confusion, rule, reign, and unjustly lead dehumanized populations.  With mature leadership in free societies, things go well, even when times are tough.  In dictatorial ones, the leadership, being immature itself, denies and disregards their own accountability, and answers to no one beside themselves.  They deny and disregard individual freedoms to their people.  They often create a social condition whereby suicide or genocide looks better than life itself, and times are tough all the time for everyone except the dictators.  Nowhere, however, have reports flowed about how happy and joyful the lot of the dictator is---their end is usually a catastrophic tragedy.

            The Word of God is written to us by the Authority of the Creator of Heaven and Earth and of all things, “visible and invisible”---revealed to us by the Power of the Holy Spirit of the Living God.  When the Lord Y’shua is in our heart, the peace of God is there no matter in what place or situation we find ourselves.  We can have peace in His presence that passes all understanding.  See Philippians 4:7.

            Out of this Authority is formed all other authority.  All authority is under His Supreme Jurisdiction.  In fact, all leadership is subject to His Power.  Please look at Proverbs 21:3.  And, also, see Romans 13:1-7.  God’s perfect timing in all things from forever to forever plays out every “jot and tittle” (every significant detail) of prophetic fulfillment.

 To look more closely at He Who IS the Truth; Whose Authority is over all His creation, we must confront His motives.  His Word clearly indicates He desires a real relationship with us based on LOVE.  This reality becomes a tangible awareness to a true believer.  Tangible, because of His work in us that CHANGES our life.  In 11 Timothy 3:16, we are instructed about Scripture, that its purpose is to equip us “for every good work.”  And, we are admonished to “study it”, 11 Timothy 2:15.  We are to “walk by faith” 11 Corinthians 5:7.  Faith obeys the Authority of God’s Word.  In fact, without faith, we cannot please Him at all.  Our spirit condition as a Christian reflects our maturity, more or less, by our obedience to this Authority, which is His Word.  Within our full faith and complete dependence upon Him, there are benefits:  Salvation, healing, forgiveness, deliverance, peace, blessings, and promises.  God is “not a man that He should lie”!  He desires to Bless us.  To Bless all the children of Adam and Eve.  If not, He went through a lot of trouble just to be ignored by our own compromised unbelief systems, which, by our own choices cancel our relationship with Him, and therefore, all the benefits as well.  It is OUR choice.

            Lies abound about creation.  Lies abound about our most precious Lord, Y’shua.  But ridiculous tales based on mix-match-fabrications are getting harder and harder to sell to a more informed world.  The craftiest lie of all was the one sold to Eve/and Adam in the Garden of Eden.  HaSatan, who had no legal right to approach Adam directly because of God’s Covenant with him, therefore (the sneak that he is) he seduced Eve, who was not in that spiritual legal position.  Through Adam’s love for her as God’s gift to him, Satan hit and sold both of them his bill of goods.  The result being that this realm changed.  It became cursed.  This cursed condition resulting from the sin of disobedience to God required an Authority Who could provide a Savior for all generations to follow.  God’s unfathomable LOVE provided HIS OWN SON.  Satan just “used” our first parents AGAINST THE LORD, against the Supreme Authority because He had “sacked” the revengeful Angel for his prideful, arrogant, disobedience in Heaven.  This “bringer of curses” to all mankind through our original parents has had thousands of years to practice his deceitful three purposes here, as the Prince of the air:  to kill---to steal---and to destroy.  But no matter how hard he’s tried and still tries, overall, the Grace, the Strength, the Power, and the Might of the One True God, with ALL Authority abounds much more!  Always has, does, and always will!!!

            Believers have all His Power restored to them by promise, by Covenant, by faith, by obedience to His Holy Word when we receive the Lord Y’shua in our heart and make Him the Lord of our life.  His Power is secured by faith.  It’s not an  “easy” walk, (to believe) but it works! And the benefits are FOREVER!

            Y’shua (Jesus) IS Who He said He is!  He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  John 14:6-7.  All the false “codes” shall fade away.  All the false teaching, speculations in twisted tales and books, as well as all the movies filled with lies shall be erased.  They shall go up in the smoke of the seamy dark places they came from.  Left standing will be the work of the Blood of Y’shua.  The Book of Life. Light. And joyful Truth!!!  The Holy Scriptures, wherein we can learn from the real AUTHORITY how to become and to remain a whole and truly fulfilled human being, have, and will stand the test of time and beyond time. We can possess all His promises and the Blessings from God’s heart of mercy. The Lord’s one-word motive is LOVE.  We are taken from “glory to glory” and become like a brilliant Light of Truth shining in us and then “shed abroad” from our hearts as we do the Lord’s work.  The work all Christians are to do no matter what “other” line of work they are in.  The works of love that believers freely give to others just as He gave Himself freely on the Cross as our example of a willing obedient heart---this love is REAL!  His Word very clearly instructs us what work pleases Him.  This  love is more tangible, more significant, and more visible to human hearts---it is valuable and practical and applicable to one’s life.  It is a LIFE style.  HaSatan’s intriguingly packaged lies via whatever greedy counterfeit “head trip” form he can muster, do not “shine.”  Counterfeit is counterfeit.  Fake is fake.  False notions by clever rearrangement are still false notions.  Fabrication is fabrication.  Not good “fiction”.  There is nothing good about them!  Besides, nobody, in the name of fiction or any other name is going to deceive better than the original cursed reptile.  If they attempt to do so, then, HaSatan will “just USE them, too”---How?  Just as he “used” our first parents---by deception.  Do these peddlers of “intrigue” really think they are equally “clever”?  Satan has had thousands of years of practice at his evil games on mankind.  It takes genuine belief in Y’shua to overcome him, his ways, and all the grief he can visit on humans.  But, the GOOD NEWS is:  when we do sincerely believe, than Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!  1 John 4:4.

            We need to have a grateful heart for this Power that enables us to overcome ALL evil and deception.  That gives us the true knowledge and understanding and wisdom that keeps us from ever being enticed to pay to experience the “foolish depths of fancy   cleverness.”  Rather, we need to give our Lord regular credit for being the God of love that He is.  It costs our love in return for His.  We need to THANK Him!  We give thanks here also to all Bond Servants of our Lord, who diligently have boldly spoken, traveled, and worked hard by their faith to obey the Great Commission.  Who tell the truth no matter what---many, of whom, have paid a great price.  We are very grateful to call these righteous ones our mishpocah, our spiritual family; that is, the Body of Christ.  May all believers be admonished to be effective prayers and witnesses to His honor and glory.  The eye-witnesses of old whose true accounts are all in the Book had no self-serving “reason” to lie.  They died for the Truth of their witness.  Jesus died for us all; we children of Adam and Eve.  Even so, the eye-witnesses saw Him after His resurrection.    He IS alive.  Forevermore!  So are they.  And so are we who believe it.  And, He promises we will be with Him forever. That’s fulfillment!

            To those who choose unbelief, doubt, or some “story” other than HIS, I say to you what author, Charlie Jones (a motivational speaker) said in a booklet he wrote many years ago.  He told about someone he knew when he was an unbeliever and a real skeptic.  That fellow said to him FOUR words that, he said,  changed his life.  This man said to him that he should ask himself:  “WHAT IF I’M WRONG?”  He seriously thought about what the consequences would be, after fully being presented with the Gospel.  He wisely decided to become a Christian.  I am sure that he has never regretted it, especially when times got tough.  As I recall, it certainly enhanced his motivational approach beyond measure, perhaps even to save others.  Heaven gets very happy over sinners/unbelievers getting saved.  The Holy Angels Rejoice!!!

            The tremendous truth is the reality of the very highest Expression of the Supreme Power of the Most High God.  Power over death itself forever.  This Power can only come from One Source Who IS the ever present and Eternal AUTHORITY.                                                              

                                                               Baruch HaShem

Katherine Khizkyos

Deaconess, KCKA

Shalom

(NISAN/IYAR)

4 April 2006

Word Four

            As nature changes to a new awakening of Seasons, it would likewise be a fitting thing for human spirits to wake up from within, clearly coming away from their old last season as well.

            Creation and natural life are programmed in their responsiveness.  Their interactions are part of our Creator’s incredible plan of overall balance in this realm.  He has, however, not programmed us humans like the rest of all creation.  We can appreciate, and be thankful on this very privileged place called Earth to aspire to an elevated position; one that surpasses just “relational” to the status of
RELATIONSHIP.  Jesus comforts His Disciples in John 14:1-4 – “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  v2) In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  v3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  v4) And you know the way where I am going.”  Our God has created us with the ability to choose intelligently; even to the humbling, but lofty place of an actual relationship with Himself.

            Much of natural life is directly affected by the seasonal changes.  Their programming is set, and they adjust to the timing and changes naturally.  We humans must adjust somewhat to these same seasonal changes, but our ability to do this adjusting is certainly not programmed into us.  For example, we have to choose to put on our coats.  They do not just “grow thicker” on us.  We must deliberately act on the external changes.  Our internal changes are spiritual ones.  We must make decisions and DO something about our choices.  Hopefully, we will make informed choices based on God’s Word that are ultimately the best ones not just for ourselves, but also for those we affect.

            Imagine that, if we had the financial means, it is possible for us humans, just by choice, to have the unique option of flying or sailing from one Hemisphere’s Seasonal changes to the Other’s, and physically experiencing more than just four Seasons in one year, but five or six or more repetitions of the Seasons in the same twelve months simply by going back and forth to follow them.  Surely, the rest of natural life does not have this capability, neither the choice, nor any means to do such a thing at all.

            So, what does this mean to our overall appreciation of the revolving times called Seasons?  How can we value seasons in any one place by hopping around the planet simply to avoid those we dislike—and to bask in those we do like; alternately.  The challenge here is how firmly rooted are we in our most meaningful basic choices and decisions to the extent that no matter where we are for however long at a time, or for whatever season or reason, we will not be moved, in our inner being, by where we happen to be.  That our Standard (God’s Word) and basic lifestyle is so rooted and grounded in obedience to Him; and that our salvation is so set on Y’shua, our Rock; that our persuasions cannot be moved or altered by any situations or any place we might go.  If our main considerations serve only, or mostly ourselves, we could  no doubt arrange to cram five to eight Seasons (or parts of them) into just a twelve month period, simply by extended vacations, or by evaporating into reading books with travel themes, or by computer surfing, or even just a “mind-trip.”  Nevertheless, when one gets back to reality, or where home is, and puts the books down, or leaves the hallowed computer screen, or just plain lets one’s mind’s-eye land, the obvious question is:  “So what!  NOW WHAT???  Would we really be in a better place than we were before we “left?”  Or, would it mostly have been a costly “trip” of just leaving one’s senses (perhaps common sense as well) and then coming back to just continue to wade in the same old shallows of exactly where we were before “leaving?”  Many folks just grumble until “going away time” is again somehow possible.  Negative and addictive habits might apply here for “motivation.”  To the devout Christian,  however,  these attitudes amount to self-centered unbelief still requiring salvation.

            Realistically, NOW is all we have.  NOW is all there is.  No matter whether we are traveling, escaping, examining, investigating, or by creative imagining, if we do not come to a closer relationship with our Savior Y’shua (Jesus) by doing all that meandering, we’ve probably wasted much time, energy, money, and the opportunity for Spiritual closeness with Him.  We would have wasted a chunk of ALL we have, namely, NOW!  Whatever the “trip” was, unless it brought some literal eternal value to our life, “everywhere” can amount to Nowhere at all!  We would still find ourself firmly stuck in right now.  Who exactly we are becoming in Him decides the true value of our time and Seasons spent.

            Ecclesiates observes that God predetermines the events of our life—stating that there’s “a time for everything under the sun.”  There are endless escapes from the times and the Seasons as they are, but these deviations of our attention from the real basic relationship as well as relational reasons for “the way” God made them doesn’t change them.  They are the way they are no matter how cleverly we work at deviations.  All these useless attempts can only serve to make us broke and/or dizzy on “our” endless “trip-loops”  to just NO PLACE worth going.  Wasting time on useless activity does not enable one to perceive the true worth of our most precious commodity which boils down to:  Time=NOW.  Our God, the Most High God, Creator of all and over all made all the Seasons in us and around us in the balance of His Love; His eternal NOW.  He permits us to be with Him forever by our own choice, just as HE chose to give up His life on earth so that we may have a supernatural endless Season of Eternity in His presence.

            But as beautiful and marvelous as the seasons are, as believers in the Lord Most High; as Christians, we cannot have a “relationship” with them.  To worship “mother earth” or the rest of “creation” amounts to idolatry, the religion of witchcraft.  As Christians, we worship our Creator---not the creation or any part of it.  The first Commandment emphatically declares in Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

            One way to learn the Love of our Lord is to honor Him by honoring the relationship purpose of the Biblical Seasons; God’s Appointed Times, which His unchanged Word says are to be remembered.  The Word declares in the Book of Leviticus, Chapter 23:14, and in 23:21, and in 23:41: that - ”It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.”

            God’s Biblical Seasons are there, not just for balance or sacrifice, neither just for provision, but by Christ, the Incarnate Word Who fulfilled the Covenant, these times are there to honor and to gratefully remember all that the Lord has done; and to praise Y’shua for all that He has done for us with grateful hearts.  We experience an increasingly closer relationship of unity and oneness as His obedient believing Spiritual family.  We are being refined as His Bride.  He moves us from ‘glory to glory” within the NOW of each “new morning” and within each Season of remembrance.

The Word of God says in Matthew 4:4 that we live “on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”   He is our God Who changes not!  The Lord declares in Malachi 3:6 – “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob are not consumed.”…  Under His unchanging cover we not only live the privilege of obedience, but also have the awareness of the fulfillment of the majestic drama of each next Season to enjoy.  Only the true Master of the Universe could speak such a balanced creation, timed perfectly into an Eternal existence.  Our life is His gift to us for all eternity.  Why?  Because quite simply, HE IS LOVE!

            LOVE cares about all things and is not limited to the Seasons, or even just to what they bring to mind or represent.  Spiritually, we are not limited to built-in timing like the rest of creation.  We are, indeed, uniquely able to receive information and make decisions by it.  We can decide to choose to be blessed or to be cursed in any and all times by our chosen beliefs and lifestyles.  When we believe, we know without a doubt that God Blesses His obedient people, and imparts understanding, and gives us the most awesome privileges and protection.  In His Love, it truly is “new every morning.”  WOW!!! 

            Whenever we Express the Power of this Love by returning our love to Him prayerfully, by witnessing, spreading the salvation Gospel, by our testamonies, by praise, by music, by the work we do daily based on our faith, or by Biblical Seasonal remembrances, we grow closer to the reality of His constant presence directing our life.  His Seasonal balance is meant to Bless us by this Presence.  And we are to bless others in His Name.  We are the Temples of His Holy Spirit.  We are also the Praise and the   EXPRESSIONS OF HIS POWER here on earth.  And forever!  May the Lord Bless you in this and in all the Seasons of your life!

                                                          BARUCH HaSHEM

Katherine Khizkyos

Deaconess of Praise and Intercessory Prayer

SHALOM

(ADAR)

8 March 2006

Word Three

            The Word of God in the Book of Philippians 4:6-7, tells us not to be “anxious” about “anything.”  Indeed, what can “we” add to reality by our useless frustrations!  (NAS) v6) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  v7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  This is more than a comforting command today, as we look at all that is happening in the world around us, and in our own surroundings.  The Spirit of God is with us, and within us.  No matter how out of focus to reality our surroundings are, or the world overall is, as solid believers, as sons and daughters in God’s covenant relationship, we cannot be moved by any of it which directly, indirectly, or even subtly opposes God’s Word in us.  It takes His Words of effective encouragement these days more than ever to be in the work world and not be ruffled at times by the things we confront.  It takes our constantly remembering that this world is what God “loved So much” that He sent His only begotten Son to die to save it!  False gods and their destructive servants have always tried to raise up terrorism; false religions of deceptive persuasions of tyrannical control.  Adonai Echad, our Good and loving Father, was, is, and always will be in “control” over all from everlasting to everlasting!  He sent His Son, Y’shua (Jesus) to save us and to freely give us an everlasting relationship with Him.  FOREVER.  Y’shua paid our debts and entrance fee to Heaven through His most precious Blood.  This caring God, Who has loved us enough to do that; to save us (who believe He actually did) from the evil one, and then to share with us His resurrected life—forever—even has power over death itself.  Is this a worthy God?  Is He deserving of our love in return and being taken seriously in return?  If you would give your life for someone, you probably have a meaningful serious purpose for it.  The key word there is “give”!  Our Lord gives us life.  He came to save the world NOT destroy it or the life in the world which He created in the first place.

            The first thing that ought come to our hearts and minds is to thank Him—when we mean it.  For everything He went through for us!  Not just to say “thanks,” but, to literally be absolutely, humbly overwhelmed, grateful from a completely appreciative and sensitive heart of love back to Him.  We must realize we are, by His powerful mercy (Blood) and grace (Holy Spirit) totally dependent on Him and on His Word for our very life, our life while here in this realm—and forever.  His power is not in us, if we do not believe all the above by our faith.  When we have no doubt Who Y’shua is; what He truly has given to us, our heart and our life changes from the darkness of unbelief, religion, and doubt.  His Holy Spirit enables the eyes of our heart to see clearly and to respond to Him.  It enables us to appreciate Him, not just with a thankful and grateful heart, but enough to desire diligently to use the brightness of His presence in us:  First) by responding with all our believing heart of love back to Him in praise, and adoration.  Second) to willfully determine to change our lifestyles, habits, and repent of them in the light of His holy presence.  Third) To do His will.  His grace is sufficient for our strength to walk in obedience to His Word.  To be His light and salt in our work world, where we live, and everywhere we go.  Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”  And it says in Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.”

            His “sufficient grace” is there that we can respond, to Him with an attitude of gratitude giving Him acknowledged credit for all His love to us, and then to use the power He has placed in us by our responsive unbroken belief.  By our determined will to serve His will by our faith, we enter a real relationship with Him becoming faithful to Him in return.  What is our heart motive?  Not just to BE blessed by His unending Goodness, but to become a blessing to Him in worship and a blessing to others according to His Word.  We do this by simply living in His righteousness and thereby projecting His image through our very being.  We are the vessel, the tool He uses to glorify Himself, and to accomplish His good plans and purpose for our life as well as for His will on earth.

            As His children it is not enough to (religiously) say, that as believers “the Blood covers me no matter what I do now.”  However one might desperately try to rationalize and justify attitudes and lifestyles that do not line up with and do not obey God’s Word, by disobedience, we are not even covered by the Blood.  To acknowledge Him “in all our ways” means exactly that.  It means literately that we are to obey His Word in “all our ways” (our decisions-our actions-our speech) so that HE WILL DIRECT US!  See Exodus 12:22-23 – which basically says that if the Israelites disobeyed God’s “instructions” and had set foot outside their homes on that Passover night, they would have perished with the blood right in front of them!  God TOLD them to “stay inside!”  Proverbs 3:5-8 says – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean to your own understanding.  v6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. v7) Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil, v8) it will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones.”  To become aware of all the power available to us through obedience to God is to realize that IT’S ALL THE POWER THERE IS!

            Think of swallowing an atomic vitamin each morning.  A genuine believer who wakes up praying has more power than that!  This super energy from communicating with the Spirit of God fires up a true believer all day.  This “energy”, this “force” is REAL.  When we walk/live our belief out all day by this prayerful stirring up of our spirit, we can confidently go out and make a positive conscious difference in this world.  The Spirit realm controls all matter.  Our Lord Y’shua’s resurrection from the dead is tangible proof of that.  His Word is the activator of the Holy Spirit’s power with us.  We are the power plant He uses to control and to operate His will and His work.  When we start with serious connecting with God by praying first each day, listening, following the instructions, and guidelines commanded by His Word, by Torah and by Y’shua’s fulfillment of the whole Word, we have “good success” and endless blessings for this obedience.  Y’shua is our example of how to live a fully power-filled life to the Father’s glory.  It is obvious that disobedience brings on curses.

            It is not a mystery why out of control militants blow themselves up.  They live their definitions of a destructive and evil deity in total self-deception.  They do not serve a constructive loving God.  Not that the “power” they play with isn’t power.  But it is a counterfeit, negative unreasoning power against the virtues of the love of Christ---anti-Christ.  Anti-God.  The One true God is not the author of chaotic violence, which leads to death, but of order, which leads to life and abundance.  In the dark destruction of the violent is no quality of eternal virtue or value based on love.  Their source is dead.  Our Source the Most High God who created Heaven and earth is alive forevermore!!!

            Therefore, believers can confidently relax and be “anxious for nothing…” because all false powers will never ultimately rule over the hearts of those whose God is in their “inner man” and Who reigns Supreme to bring life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to the hearts and whole lifestyles of obedient believers.  We are to have LIFE and have it abundantly. Fear and death are not a believer’s focus, but rather faith and life to join a living God Who is LOVE.  We need to confess daily ISAIAH 54:14-15, 17 – “In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you. v15) If any one fiercely assails you, it will not be from Me. v17) No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment, you will condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me, declares the Lord.”

            By our Lord’s covenant promise, He will, when we obey Him, fight our battles for us.  His way = we win!  In 11 CHRONICLES 20:15 it says – “Do not fear or be dismayed  because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”  Because God’s Spirit, His power, is within us, does this mean we are stronger than an atom?  YES!  Because Y’shua, our second Adam, has given us dominion over all the earth.  ALL power!  We are to be obediently reasonable and accountable with it.  We are even more than an atomic weapon in the Spirit realm of control where all decisive war is fought.  (KJ) 11 CORINTHIANS 10:4 – “…for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”  Therefore, we have all our Creator’s power---just for believing and not ever doubting that we DO have it.  What a deal!

            So, I exhort all believers:  Let us obey, do what He instructs, and act like we HAVE that dominion!!!  Not just sit around knowing it.  Not just discussing it.  LET’S USE IT!!!!!!  The consequences in these prophetic times if we do not use our God given power are too devastating to imagine.  We CAN make a difference in this realm.  By neglect or luke-warm self-serving attitudes we give HaSatan’s  false deceptive destructive fabricated counterfeit powers our permission to take over our free will and also our God given freedoms.  COLOSSIANS 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the traditions of men, according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ.”  We are without excuse not to pray seriously daily using our most devastating weapon against evil.  Like love, prayer is a verb, not a noun.  It is something that has to be done; something we have to DO.  The overall consequences for good are greater than any man-made bomb for evil.  (KJ) ROMANS 9:31 – “What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”

            So, if you have never thought of yourself as an atomic bomb, well, don’t!  Because, you are much MORE than that when your relationship with God is real and you pray.  What you have as an obedient believer in Y’shua is ALL the power in you from He Who IS all the Power.

Learn to pray His Word.  Learn what keeps this weapon of warfare spotless and therefore effective against all dark and destructive realms.  Learn what attitudes can hinder or even cancel your greatest weapon; then pray and believe as you pray that you have already been answered in His perfect timing. In 11 CHRONICLES 7:14-15 it says – “If My people who are called by My Name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  v15) “Now” My eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.”  And in 1 CHRONICLES 16:11  “Seek the Lord and His strength.  Seek His face continually.”

Activate your most privileged, dynamic force from your nuclear Spiritual Source.  Express the Power and rest peacefully in the V I C T O R Y of unbroken faith.

Baruch HaShem!

Katherine Khizkyos

Deaconess of Praise

& Intercessory Prayer

--All scriptures from NAS version unless otherwise noted--

   HOME

SHALOM

(SHVAT)

15 February 2006

Word Two

            God’s timing is the perfect focus.  It is an eternal constant.  An eternal standard.  He is NOW.  God does NOT change.  Our Lord is eternally present in all creation.  The variety of His manifestations endlessly reflect Him.  When the realization of His presence is firmly applied to our constant awareness, we begin to clearly see that all His manifestations are within His design and ultimate purpose.

            Where do I fit into this over-whelming awesome system of design?  I fit where He places me, because He made me, and He wants me to reflect and to glorify Him.  He seeks me first.  I have the incredible, prophetic and predestined privilege of responding to Him; He is Creator of me, and of all.  After I sincerely respond to Him, the Holy Spirit shows me where and how I fit.  When I decide in my heart that I believe Him, when I confess with my mouth that belief publicly, He changes my spirit by the Power of His Holy Spirit.  Now I am able to listen to His Spirit with my new spirit ears, rather than with my old flesh ears, and I am able to study God’s Word making it a part of me.  I am able to be taught His way about life and to obey His order and guidelines by His Word because His Spirit leads me into all truth.  My mind needs to become stable and not stay in old habits beyond deliverance; habits that conflict with or block out the truth.

            Variable minds with habits of spontaneity attached can surely lead to double-mindedness leaving one unstable in all his ways.  JAMES 1:5-8.  God’s desire is to establish us firmly on the Rock of our salvation by all that makes us complete, joyful, whole, and strong equipped for “every good work.”  He gives us “power, love, and a sound mind.” 

            Am I, or have I been a “variable?”  Hopefully not.  At least, hopefully not by choice.  When one has been the world’s captive, the need is to be set free by the changes possible by God’s grace.  That first step is to become “free indeed!”  Free to make confident right choices for right reasons and stick to them at all costs.  His Spirit gives us this ability.  JOHN 8:36.  It is our birth right by His authority through Y’shua’s  Blood. 

            Instead of the word “variable,” let’s look at and define the word “vary” (Webster’s NWD)  Simply put, the first context says:  1) vary implies, “able to change.”  The second context says:  2)  “to make different from one another.”  Third context says:  3)  “to give variety to…”  And the fourth states:  4)  “In music, to reflect a theme or idea with changes in harmony, rhythm, key, etc.”

            So, we know God’s the timer.  We know He is the standard.  We know He’s constant.  And, we know He’s the perfect focus.  Nevertheless, we also know that by human decision in this relational order, we were all born into a variable mass of a disobedient world.  Until, or unless we make the decision to put His unchanging love back into our heart decision, and follow Him instead of following our own world of habits, or the world’s corrupt habits, we leave a dangerous spirit door open to likely stay, or become an undisciplined variable.  The same dictionary says:  that is “one who easily changes, is inconsistent, fickle, fluctuating…tending to deviate from a standard…having no fixed value…maybe having a number of different values like a “shifting wind.”  EPHESIANS 4:14.  Life becomes incredibly difficult for those with attitudes where there is no real anchor.

            Yet, all this sea of humanity exists, because all that God has created are surely within His infinite, absolute, and ultimate purpose.  Yes, we are all made different.  Unique.  Each with a purpose.  In His timing, as He calls, and as we respond to Him, we are endued with the Power on High to change our awareness, our appreciation, our affections, and our love.  When we decide to follow Him, we become His unique expression of obedience and praise.  Our Redeemer, Y’shua, IS worthy and IS our Praise.  And we are surely His praise.  His precious originals.  He made us to be many and to “fill the earth”---and to be varied.  Not variable!

            Stop and think for a moment, if you were the creator, would you create a sea of stiff-waved religious breakers all forever singing in unison:  “there’s only one way to splash?”  Or, as a celestial music director, think of putting together an orchestra wherein the only acceptable eternal praise sound are the bassoons over all the rest?  What a religious thought!  In a very short while, you would have a musical rebellion, perhaps even a banging instrumental revolution on your hands out to kill every bassoon they could lay notes on, or could find from then on.  Who needs bassoons anyway?

            Are you a bassoon?  We do NEED bassoons!  Why?  Because they are exactly what they are supposed to be; very different from flutes, or anything else for that matter.  You ask what the point is beyond the obvious?  The point is God, the Creator of all, enjoys a vast human sea of great variety and range of different expressions---all to His glory---but under His baton.  We can’t just take this Power, this grace, and do anything at all we want to with it.  He is Holy.  We must be humbly sincere, genuine, and things must be done so that we truly honor Him in all our diversity.  In short, we NEED His direction!  He is the Captain of the Host of Heaven, and of our ship.  He is the Maestro—our Director—the focus of our praise.  Further, the point is also that within our obedience to Him, our freedom increases, and is only limited by our own wise or unwise choices.  PROVERBS 3:1-8.  This is His Orchestra of Praise.  No one else’s!

            Unfortunately, what so many of God’s instruments with attitudes of independence manage to do is fail to take His Divine Power seriously, which invalidates His direction in their lives.  They stubbornly direct themselves.  Often they decide to sail, or “poor me” fail through life, hanging on to everyone and everything but God.  They get stuck in some abstract tune outside the harmony of His perfect direction by His Word; outside His plans for their life, or worse yet, end up leaving their first love altogether for the convenience of  “their” better plan.  REVELATION 2:4-5.

            The Word says we are “without excuse,” once we have heard it.  It is always “time” to do things His way.  By His Word.  ROMANS 1:20-23.  On the other hand, when we desire more than anything else and really want to become His voice, His light, His salt, His reflection, then we have decided to live like we truly love Him.  His Power enables us to do all this as well as all the work He put us here to do.  We are free to fulfill the Vision given us through the Blood; to have life and life abundantly.  But our part is to “take up our cross daily”---to follow His ways.  LUKE 9:23-25.

            So stop now and imagine how light and salt might “sound” using your unique vision and instrument.  How do you sound?  How do you shine?  How do you study the Word?  How do you pray?  Are you putting Him first each day?  How many lives have you directly, prayerfully, indirectly changed?  Are you diligently attending to what you have charge over?  Are you free from past and all curses, walking in His blessings?  Are you free from habits that would hinder your relationship with Him?  Do you understand the authority you have in the Name of Y’shua?  MATTHEW 5:13-14;  TITUS 2:11-15.

            The entire Biblical score, God’s Word, attends to every detail and answers all the questions of self-examination.  Our Lord has custom-designed you.  You are His instrument.  His “never-fail” manual addresses every technical aspect of how to keep you well-oiled and  working perfectly.  The Maker knows His instruments thoroughly especially caring about the ones who need saving, deliverance, reconstructing, repairing, healing, tuning up, etc.  When we call Him, He will meet the needs.  In other words, He cares about us all the same all the time.

            We rehearse life all day long every day.  We might squeak a lot as we practice.  Get frustrated.  Just plain tired.  Whatever.  But, if we seriously depend humbly on Him, and remember all He has done for us---even for a fleeting second in the worst part of our day,---His joy will be in us.  His joy is our strength.  I PETER 5:5-9.

            Until next month, I admonish all believers in Y’shua, especially all leaders and those in authority to decide to be a serious bond servant in His service; to be the vital, unique part of His Chord of Love He has assigned you to be so that boldly, all of us with one spirit, one mind, one voice, one thankful heart of praise, under His Supreme direction fitly joined together will determine to Express the Power He left to us by how we use it.

Because, soon it will be time when we will hear Him come to answer our serious sounds with the sound of His Trumpet.  HALLELUJAH!!!

SHALOM

(TEVET)

10 January 2006

Word One