Our Calling to Suffer, and be Longsuffering
01/14/17 (11/15) Video Broadcast
I want to share with you
a topic that is not very
popular to talk about
and not easy to actually
perform at times but necessary. You might remember our Savior said to us that "He who does not take up is stauros, his cross, his stake and follow me is not worthy of me. He who loves his life in this age and he loses life for my sake, will find it" and we have a calling here in our life, I don't know if we realize that but we have a calling. We have a calling to do a lot of things. We have a calling to share the word of Yahweh with those who are in need of salvation. But we have a calling in other areas that are, you know, not very attractive sounding but necessary and that calling is to suffer and to be long-suffering.
To suffer and to be long-suffering is actually a calling mentioned in scripture. In 2 Peter 2:20 it says "When you do good and suffer and you take it patiently this is commendable before Elohim, for to this you were called." To what? "To suffer and take it patiently, to this you were called." It's like a calling on our life or something, is how it's being described here. Because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow His steps. And this is the part of our faith in the Messiah that's kind of not really mentioned very much but you know it's partly why we're here. You know it's not very pleasing to the flesh the thought of suffering yet the scriptures are full of admonitions for us to have a willingness to do so.
Now suffering is not just a concept regarding the need for us to be willing to die for our faith it is a principle that guides our everyday life. Paul said in one place "I die daily." It is the crucified life or the life of impalement of the flesh but its the fear of suffering that often causes us to walk in the works of the flesh and by that tear down another person or even the body of the Messiah rather than building up the body of Messiah. For instance, if someone says a hurtful word to us the fleshly tendency is to get angry or bitter at the person. But you know if we already had a willingness to suffer and to bear the marks of others, as Yahushua was willing to suffer and bear the marks of others; remember its Yahushua who lives in us right? It would not bother us so much because we already have the mindset that this is one of our callings in this life; it's to be willing to suffer. And seeing that Yahushua suffered in order to show His love for us and loved us in return and that resulted in our choice to want to love Him in return. We are called to have that willingness to suffer at the hands of another person so that others might see the suffering of the Messiah and His patience dwelling in us as we are called to manifest His life as the body of the Messiah on the earth today. And we are called to exhibit His life through our actions.
Now not just in regards to willing to bear the marks of others we also have a willingness to encounter difficulties and persecutions in tribulations and trials, which can be hurtful.
Most of us before we died we go through a series of sicknesses or something we suffer prior to our death.
And so if we were to be approached with the opportunity to die for the Messiah, well you might as well die for a good reason, right? Well if we take that same mentality into sicknesses and diseases we may suffer and we say "Maybe there's a spiritual root behind this, maybe there's some bitterness I don't really see in my own heart but it's there. Maybe there's somebody I need to ask forgiveness for before we exit the earth and enter into
glory. You know that could be part of Yahweh's plan too.
And I think that perhaps, you know, those of us who towards the end of a normal human lifespan we go through diseases or sicknesses or whatever as either Yahweh has just allowed us to have that and we've done nothing wrong or maybe a consequence of something we have done wrong and an opportunity for us to get that cleaned up that we might be that purified bride.
So we need to always look at suffering as an opportunity to "A" either get cleaned up in something or "B" manifest the life of Yahushua being willing to suffer. It's a major problem that the body of Messiah does not have that willingness suffer like Yahushua did. It's a major problem. It's one thing you know for us to communicate "Oh Yahushua died for our sins and loved us even when we didn't love Him." And we talk about what Yahushua did, but we've got to be willing to do it ourselves. "He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk as He walked." 1 John 2:6 "If those who are outside the body of Messiah see us walking in carnal and fleshly anger because we're refusing to lay down our lives and suffer like Yahushua did, they're going to see us as When the body of Messiah is not acting like the no better than themselves. Messiah then where is the Messiah being manifested? Who is going to preach? Preach with your life. One place, an old saying says "Preach everywhere, and when necessary use words." See if we're going to manifest the Messiah's life we're going to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" we need to do more than just tell people about Yahushua and what he was like. We have the opportunity to live like He did in every aspect. Not just keeping Torah and these things we all hold as being important, but by being willing to suffer like He suffered and it seems that, you know a lot of times anger is the most justified when somebody's hurt us. But that's when it's least justified.
Yahushua was hurt many times yet did not rise up in selfish anger. And so what are the scriptural principles that we should consider when it comes to this? Lets take a look at the context here of the verse I just quoted in 1 Peter chapter 2 it says "Servants be submissive to your masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable if because of conscience toward Elohim one endures grief, suffering
wrongfully. For what credit is it when you're beaten for your faults and you take it patiently, but when you do good and suffer if you take it patiently this is commendable before Elohim." He's actually talking about a person who would be a slave. If a harsh and cruel, certainly unbelieving slave owner is mistreating them. He's called them to make it, to consider it an opportunity, because they could not escape, to consider an opportunity to manifest the life of Yahushua. Now, that's what our calling is.
For to this, to this, to what?
He said to what? "You do good and you suffer and you take it patiently, you do good and suffer to this you were called because Messiah also suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow his steps who committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth who when he was reviled did not revile in return. When he suffered he did not threaten but committed himself to him that judges righteously. Who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree that we having died to sin my live for righteousness by his stripes you were healed.
Now, I want to qualify this by saying the following: I want you listen very closely.
If you are a wife or if you are a child or a youth
who is being beaten mercilessly by somebody in your family, your father has beaten you or your husband is beating you. I'm not saying stay in the situation and just take it. Okay? This is talking about slavery here, when there was no other recourse, when there was no other option; which slaves had no option. If they tried to escape they would be taken back in the Roman world. Okay, not talking about Isreal. The way Yahweh wanted Israel to treat their slaves was to love them, not beat them. But that is a whole other subject.
In fact, in ancient Israel there were principles that if a slave was being mistreated he had the freedom to leave. In the Roman world that was not the case, okay? So if you have an abusive husband who is physically
causing wounds on your flesh, who is beating you mercilessly, who is abusing you, I'm not saying that you have to remain in the situation. I do believe in some cases it's either going to be let's call the man to accountability if he's called to be a believer and let people know what he's doing or if necessary call law enforcement and you can still love the man while he's sitting in jail. Or in the case of parents beating their children mercilessly in an abusive manner I do believe the body of Messiah needs to hold them accountable.
But what I'm pointing out here is we are called as scripture says "There's no recourse, there's no way to escape even Yashuah said "If they persecute you in one city, yes flee to another. It's okay to flee." But if there's no other recourse than manifest a life of Yashuah. Manifest His life. That was Peter's advice to slaves. I don't think we have situations like this today. Well, there is, it's human trafficking it is starting to get terribly ridiculous. But we have the opportunity, and this is what I'm pointing out, if even in this situation Peter is saying "To this you are called." It's okay. Follow the steps of the Messiah and if you have no recourse, then take it patiently, that's commendable before Elohim. If even in a situation like this He is calling people to take it patiently, how much more so if someone just says something that we didn't like, or says something that kind of hurt your feelings a little, or you know did something that offended you. I mean that's minor, right? I mean that's little stuff but Yahushua left us an example of a righteous principle, a blessed way of looking at life. When we are wronged and we are hurt what's our response supposed to be? We only need to look to Yahushua to find the answer. Take it patiently. When men smite us with their words, what do you say? When He was reviled, did not revile in return.
He committed himself to Yahweh who judges ighteously. We should never engage in an evil for evil, reviling for reviling. Romans 12:17 says "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men." 1 Peter 3:9 says similar things.
So we are called to this; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling on the contrary, blessing. For nowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. We are alled to this and it's okay that we can bear the marks of others who may be hurting us so we don't repay evil for evil, we don't repay reviling for reviling. You know, we walk like Yahushua walked. When we're willing and we take it patiently I mean what was it that caused us to turn our hearts to Yahweh? Was it not the perfect one Yahushua who loved Yahweh and loved his fellow man unwaveringly? When he received evil treatment he took it all in patient, loving silence.
Again, there are times we should take steps to escape ongoing, chronic abuse but sometimes all we have to do to escape from that is to cease from anger. Bless instead of curse and take it all in patient, loving silence.
One key thing that separated Yahushua from those people of his day was his willingness to suffer. That was one of the key areas was willingness to die. And we are called to put on Yahushua the Messiah. We take on his attributes and what did he teach us?
I say to you Matthew 5:44, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven where He makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Think about that for a moment. A lot of times the problems between even a husband-wife relationship is an unwillingness of the one person to love the person who's not being loving. ahushua says, "Well you're no better than anyone." So often the husband will say, "Well my wife does not respect me, how can I love her?" And the wife will say, "Well how can I love and respect my husband? He's not loving me." And around and around and around it goes until someone decides they're going to be just as our Father in Heaven and take it patiently when the wounds come. To be long-suffering to suffer rather than choose anger. To know as Ecclesiastes 7:9 says, "Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry for anger rests in the bosom of fools." Scripture says we don't want to be fools. We can instead say, "Alright, I'll bear that. I'll bear it. What they said to me hurt. What they did to me hurt but I'll bear it. I know Yahushua can bear it through me. I'm willing to bear the wrongs of others, even he did because it's no longer I who live, I have been crucified with Messiah. It is no longer I who live it's essiah who lives in me in the life, which I now live in the flesh. I live by faith in the son of Elohim who loved me and gave himself for me. I'm already crucified I can bear it. I'm already crucified. Messiah lives in me now and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of Elohim I'll bear it. I'll bear it. I'll bear it. Can we grasp that my brothers and sisters? Can we grasp it when the people hurt you at work when your parents or your relatives smite you with their words when your brothers and sisters are mistreating you, can you choose Messiah?
Can you choose Yahushua Hamashiach?
Can you? Will you? Are you willing to? He is our treasure that dwells within us that enables us to bear all things as scripture says, "Love bears all things" 2 Corinthians 4:7." We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of Elohim not of us. We are hard pressed on every side yet not crushed, we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Master Yahushua that the life of Yahushua also may be manifested in our body. That's our calling. When someone hurts us with their words there are times when saying nothing will speak volumes.
When a person hurts us and we did not hurt them in return our silence can be deafening because now they
have hurt us and we have not hurt them in return.
It brings attention to what their sin is. Whereas, if we hurt them right back they forget all about that. "Oh he hurt me now. Oh she hurt me now." See a wrong was committed but no wrong was returned? And it's like "Oh, wait a minute, I just hurt that person." That alone sometimes is enough to bring conviction to the one doing the wrong even if they don't act like it, even if they don't acknowledge it, even if they don't say a word about it. They realize they did something wrong. Yahweh can use it as an opportunity to scream into their conscience "Do not treat that person that way!" I tell you what, He can scream a whole lot better then you can.
He can. He can reach the heart. And so Yahushua came and suffered for us even though our lives, our lives were full of sin, hurting him daily, sometimes hourly.
And wasn't it Yahushua's love the realization of our indebtedness to him that compelled us to repent and to love him in return? And so as the body of Messiah one of our trademarks ought to be that we all have a willingness to suffer as Yahushua did. If we are wronged by others, especially if we're wronged by one another. I'm reminded of a time, there was an Amish school years ago in Pennsylvania ome guy walked in there unexplained, with no reason and just shot a bunch of kids. No reason. And when the news outlets all came to the Amish
folks and their parents, "What's going on? How do you feel about this?" The word got out that they had already forgiven the man. I thought, "You know that's it." I mean that's hard. But that's Yahushua who forgave us when we did wrong, right? And offered us a glimpse into what love truly is.
Loving those who don't love you, praying for those who don't treat you properly and so in Chapter 3 verse 8 of 1st Peter he says "Finally all of you, be of one mind, having compassion for one another. Love as brothers, be tender hearted, be courteous." I like this; it is a really nice verse "Have compassion on one another, love like brothers are supposed to love. Have a tender heart, be courteous, be nice to each other.
Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling but on the contrary; blessing.
So someone does you evil and you give them a blessing. What? Knowing you were called to this. You weren't just called to keep the Sabbath. You weren't just called to keep the other commandments that make us different than mainstream Christianity. Brothers and sisters we've got to be the whole package.
This right here is just as much manifesting Yahushua walk and walking as he walked. As keeping clean food laws or any other thing that we might think is important.
Do we have that willingness to put this into practice and to live it? Yahushua said, "Unless we take up your stauros and
follow after me, you are not worthy of me." ou've got to take up the stauros, the crucifix, whatever it was that he died on we have to die, we have to be crucified with him or die with him that we may inherit a blessing. "For he who would love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good let him seek peace and pursue it for the eyes of Yahweh are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers. But the face of Yahweh is against those who do evil. And who is he who will harm you?" If you become followers of what is good no one can ultimately harm you. All they can hurt is your flesh; they can't touch your soul.
"Turn away from evil and do good but even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats." Did you get that? Don't be afraid of what people say they're going to do to you. Don't even be troubled by it. Sanctify Yahweh Elohim in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that's in you with meekness and with a fear toward Elohim, not a fear toward man. And so this is the kind of lifestyle that we are
called to live. This is our lifestyle. This is the way we live our life on a daily basis.
Are we manifesting these attributes of the Messiah toward our brothers and sisters in the faith?
Are we manifesting these attributes of Yahushua the Messiah toward our spouses?
Are we manifesting these attributes of Yahushua the Messiah toward our own children?
If they hurt you personally do you take it personal and take it out on them in anger or is your end goal that they would be trained? It says train up a child the way they should go right? It doesn't say beat up a child in the way he should go but train up a child in the way they should go. That means you're not involving your own bitterness and your own anger in that training. You're trying to guide them into a right way of living.
So we are called to go therefore and make disciples and exhibit the characteristics of a servant who's willing to suffer just as Yahushua was. It is this attribute that will often compel them to ask us; "What is this hope that you have even when you're suffering in trials and tribulations?" And we still glorify and justify Yahweh in our trials and tribulations, in our difficulties and we tell people "Oh how wonderful Yahushua is." They're going to look at you and go "What is this hope you have? It seems awful real because the world doesn't have a hope like that when they wrong each other. They feel they must even the score because they're only mindful of he things in age." This world is all they have hope for and so they believe they must make sure they do not suffer in this short period of time that hey're here. But we who are looking toward the heavenlies who have our minds et on things above not on things on the earth we say "We're willing to bear the arks
of others." The world's not willing to and that's one reason why certain men ill go around trying to look like a tough guy intimidating and scary. You know they used to have this sticker in back of their truck window that says "No Fear." Or in other words "You're not gonna scare me." but why do you got that thing in your indow? Because you're scared. You don't want people to mess with you. The message is "Don't mess with me. I'll make sure you're the one who suffers if you do."
So they work out, they learn karate or whatever they learn to try to make sure they won't be the one to suffer. With the scowl on their face, the sunglasses they wear, big big intimidating-looking trucks and they're trying to scare everybody. I mean anything to try and avoid suffering. And that's why people try to act like ough guys. And you know some guys are tough guys, okay you don't have to act that way, but my point is we're supposed to be harmless as doves, innocent lambs who are wise as serpents. Serpents who are harmless as doves. Scripture says that wisdom is better than weapons of war. We don't intimidate others into not hurting us we don't lash out, we share the wisdom of Yahweh. We don't lash out and return at once reviling for revile them back and when you do that hen you don't lash out and instead you love and you bless. People are to say "That is bizarre! I mean why is he doing this? Where is this person placing his hope? Why does he act this way? Is there really something beyond this age?" And you tell them, "I'm blessing you because I
also have hurt others I also have hurt my Savior and yet He died for me, He suffered for me and so I feel like I need to do the same for others nd not hurt back. There is enough hurt in this world as it is."
And watch their jaw hit the floor.
When we don't hurt others those who accuse us of evil will then be ashamed. It will be evident by our conduct that's not the kind of person we are. We only love in return. That's what Yahushua did and that's what he wants to do in us.
Yahushua was long-suffering 1 Peter 3:14 I believe it says, second Peter 3:14 I think; it says "The long-suffering of our Masters salvation." Do you know what the word long-suffering is? "It means to suffer long?"
No, it doesn't really even mean that.
What it really means is this "long nostril or
nose." My children today said "What's your message on today Dad?" I said, about having a long nostril, having a long nose. Now the word "off" in Hebrew is translated nostril or nose, it's also translated anger because what happens when you get angry? You see little nostrils flaring out you know? You know and so in the very picturesque language
that it is, it means it's going to be a long time before you get angry. It's gonna take a lot to make anger come out of you. That's the meaning behind it and when your long-suffering like Yahushua was and you choose to have the good conscience not returning evil for evil it says that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Messiah will be ashamed. It will prick their conscience you know? It will casue them to go "You know, all this bad
stuff I did to them, and they don't do it back." That kind of shows him to be the better person than I am. For it is better if it's the will of Elohim to
suffer for doing good than to suffer for doing evil. For the Messiah also suffered once for the sins of the just and for the unjust. that He might bring us to Elohim being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.
Yahushua's death in the flesh and his living nature in us by the spirit of Elohim will be manifested when we choose to be slow to anger.
So it's two words actually Oph arek is long-off is anger or nostril. The actual word in Hebrew is Arek Oph it's ctually even translated "slow to anger" in various places talking about Yahweh eing slow to anger Psalm 103:8 and Nehemiah 9:17 other translations will ave patient or slow to anger wherever we see these words. But Yahweh himself is ery slow to anger and willing to forgive when wronged. Some suppose that Yahweh was quick to be angry in the Old Testament that "Now the Messiah came you know, no He's sort of more easygoing. And some people think He's like grandpa now He's kind of calmed down and everything's okay he'll put up with stuff. He's always been the same yesterday today and forever. You know, shortly after giving the Ten Commandments the children of Israel are worshipping a golden calf. Think about that! He brought them through the sea of reeds, all the stuff He did for them, saved them...a clear violation of his commandment. They're immediately worshiping golden calves. But after this event Yahweh says something about Himself that is very important for us to see and to emulate. Exodus three verse 34 and verses 1 through 20 Yahweh says to Moses "Cut these two tablets of stone like the first ones and I will write on these tablets the ords that were on the first tablet which you broke so be ready in the morning and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself to me there on the top of the mountain.
And no man shall come up with you and let no man be seen throughout all the mountain that neither flocks nor herds feed before that mountain." So he cut two tablets of stone like the first ones then Moses rose early in the morning and went out to Mount Sinai as Yahweh had commanded him and he took in his hand two tablets of stone.
Now Yahweh descended in the cloud and stood with him there. And look at this what happens here; "And proclaimed the name of Yahweh. The name of Yahweh. Would you like to proclaim the name of Yahweh? What is Yahweh all about? "And Yahweh passed before him and proclaimed, Yahweh Yahweh Elohim, merciful, gracious, long-suffering,
abounding in goodness, in truth."
That's his name. And so we who bear his name, we who proclaim his name, we need to be merciful, gracious, long-suffering and abounding in goodness. Abounding in truth that's what he's all about. Now, he says keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.
By no means learing the guilty. I'm not saying "Oh we'll forgive everybody, anyhow and it doesn't matter what you do you can do and live how you want; that's not what he's saying. Because he will visit the iniquity of the father's upon the children and the children's children to third and fourth generation. That is of those who hate him t says in Exodus 20. Of those who hate him. So, ultimately there will be judgment on the final day and on children who repeat the sins of their parents. That the sins of their parents and the iniquity of their parents will be upon them. Because they are howing "Yeah I'm just like my dad. I want to be able to live like he did." Instead of eing just like our Father in Heaven and living as he calls us to be. So, think about that; being long-suffering, being slow to anger, being merciful, being gracious, all these things are a part of who He is. And so we who bear His name especially should be associated with those attributes. Because those are the attributes He wanted his name to be associated with.
Is it true of us? There are some people out there who are using the name of the Most High and they're not merciful, they're not long-suffering. Even in there witnessing they are unloving,
unmerciful. But we see you know in spite of repeated demonstrations of rebellion by the children of Israel, Yahweh still forgave again and again and again. And it was not until the children of Israel started to stone Moses and appoint a captain to bring them back to Egypt that He decided "I can't bring this generation to the promised land. They'll defile it as soon as they get there." So when Yahweh threatened to destroy them Moshe interceded for Israel and said "But Yahweh the promises, your character, your name Yahweh. He told them in Numbers, Moshe told Yahweh "Now if you kill these people as one man, nations which have heard of your fame will speak saying, "Oh because Yahweh was not able to bring these people to the land which he swore to give them, therefore he killed them in the wilderness." And now I pray "Let the power of my Master be great!" Just as you've spoken saying "Ah his name, Yahweh is long-suffering, abundant, merciful, forgiving iniquity and transgression. He by no mean clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers on the 3rd and 4th generation. So he is recalling to Yahweh His name and who He's about. He says "Oh they'll know it, they'll know that your merciful, like you said and long-suffering. Let that be what your name is associated with as you said. "Pardon the iniquity of His people I pray according to the greatness of your mercy just as you have forgiven the people from Egypt even until now." And then Yahweh says "I have pardoned according to your word but truly as I live all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Yahweh." Do you know what the glory of Yahweh is? It's Yahushua. The brightness of his glory. And so Moshe appeals to the power of the Living Elohim which is what would be needed to forgive. Notice also Moshe brought Yahweh's ords into remembrance of His name and so we as a people who call upon the name of Yahweh need to carry with us the characteristics of it.
We who bear His name are called to be long suffering, as He is long-suffering. And it was not until the children of Israel were determined to kill their leaders and go back to Egypt that He finally forbade them from entering the land. But Moshe was a remarkable intercessor and man of great understanding. You know you can intercede like that for your children who have lost their way, for relatives who have lost their way. Yahweh no longer trusted the children of Israel to fill the land with the promise, with righteousness with his glory and He did forgive them He just would not let them into the land. o even in the Torah, even in the law there are
wonderful examples of Yahweh's ercy and his long-suffering. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Yahushua said "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law. Justice? Oh what's this word over here; mercy, and faith. These you ought to have done, what are these? These would be paying tithes of mint, anise and cumin, but without leaving the others. Without leaving the others undone. What are the others? In other words, give attention to the weightier Justice, mercy and faith.
matters, number one, but don't neglect the finer points either. But look at that; one of the weightier matters of the law is actually mercy. It really is. Don't let the modern anti Old Testament preachers tell you otherwise.
Jeremiah delighted in Yahweh's word and called upon the long-suffering of Yahweh in the midst of persecution he said in Jeremiah 15:15 "Yahweh you know, remember me and visit me and take vengeance for me on my persecutors and your enduring patience do not take me away, know that for your sake I've suffered rebuke, your words were found and I ate them and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart for I am called by your name of Yahweh Elohim of hosts." He declared it was for Yahweh's sake he was rebuked. Sometimes we as his people will be rebuked wrongly by family members or friends or the world or doing things that Yahweh tells us to do. Jeremiah, had that as well. I'm sure many of us have also been rebuked for keeping the commandments and proclaiming his truth even by close family members at times.
But to this we are called. Expect it, t's a part of the walk, it's a part of what we need to do. Its part, actually it's an opportunity for you to manifest the life of Yahushua in your mortal flesh. Yahushua said "Blessed are you when men hate you." Does it feel like a blessing when people hate you? It may not feel like it in the natural man, but if you can keep your eyes on Messiah, look how blessed He was. Blessed are you. And when they exclude you, they don't include you in what they're doing, they don't act like you're a part of them, blessed are you. And they revile you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake because you following Yahushua. Now if they are doing all these things and it's not because you're following Yahushua it's because you're not a very nice person, because you've been walking in the flesh you've got no reward there. But if you have been walking in the spirit and they revile you and they exclude you and cast your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake, you're blessed. You're blessed. When they hate you, in fact he says "Rejoice in
that day and leap for joy!" Have you ever seen anybody do that? Someone mocks them because of their faith and they say "Wahoo thank you very much! I appreciate that!" And they jump in the air. "I'm so blessed!" I can't say I've ever seen anybody do that.
Chalk one up for me. The age to come. And the guy's gonna look at you and go "Are you crazy? Why are you leaping for joy when I just cut you up one side and down the other?" Oh well I mean, because the Bible tells me blessed am I when people hate me because of the Son of Man and they exclude me, and they revile me and cast my name as evil and I'm going to rejoice and leap for joy because I have a great reward in heaven." The same thing happened to the prophets you know, so if you're going to be suffering then suffer for righteousness sake. Don't suffer because you've been walking in the flesh. If you're going to suffer you might as well suffer for good things right? I mean we're all going to suffer; you might as well
suffer because you're doing something good.
Even the evil, even the wicked suffer. I mean you might as well suffer for doing something right rather than suffer for doing something wrong. nly when we suffer for doing righteousness are we commendable before Elohim. So now other times we are rightly rebuked and we should be quick to hear it if that's the case
Proverbs 17 verse 10 says "Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on the fool."
So if we're wise we hear the rebuke and we won't need a hundred stripes, we won't need the chasing of Elohim. We hear the rebuke we hear the reproof. Sometimes we are without chasing because we're so quick to hear the rebuke.
Not just because we're sons but because we're quick to hear the rebuke f reproof from Yahweh. And so, hey take it, take the reproof, take the rebuke, it's okay, if it's true. As long as the reproof has proof and the correction is correct. If it makes you closer to the walk of Messiah, hallelujah! Now if you're going to offer reproof to somebody scripture says Galatians 6:1 "If a man who was taken in trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness."
..." You know brother, hey, we've all got work we're needing to do and I'm still a work in progress myself but I happened to notice the other day and I thought you would be the kind of person who might hear what I have to say on this. And that is that I saw this. I saw what happened in I from what I can tell it looked like you shouldn't be doing this and that and the other." And maybe a person will say, "Well I think you isunderstood, actually what happened was this over here." And the whole problem is solved. Or they may say "Oh you know what that's right, I think I do need to work on that." Hallelujah! What happened? Humility and gentleness manifested in the fruit of a man turning from something he should not be doing. If you don't come down to that spirit but you come to an arrogant spirit you don't consider ourself lest you also be tempted. Because Yahweh, if you come to him, this man, with an arrogant attitude in a prideful spirit and you try to correct him then you might be tempted yourself.
So, Yahushua said "In the same manner that we judge, we will be judged, right? Yahweh in heaven might be going "Oh you think you're so great because you're not oing what that man's sin. I'll let the enemy do what he's going to do and see how well you do in the same situation." One thing I've learned brothers and sisters is this; you know what, if someone is doing something he shouldn't do, you know what? I didn't live their life. I didn't experience the things they experience. I idn't have the upbringing they had, the parents they had. And I cannot say for ure that if I did, I would be
any better than they are in this particular area they're having trouble with. No matter what it might be. So we cannot go there was an arrogant spirit.
So we are a people who are pursuing righteousness if we are told by someone hat they noticed something was wrong, we need to be attentive to what they're aying and be wise men and be willing to hear rebuke even if it's not given in the ight spirit.
Because we are repentant people.
Romans chapter 2 verse 4 "Or o you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance and long-suffering?" Not knowing the goodness of Elohim leads you to repentance if you learn about the ong-suffering of the Messiah and His forbearance and His goodness and that oes not lead you to repentance, scripture says you're actually despising it, your despising all the long-suffering He did. You hate it. Because his goodness should lead us to a state of repentance and if we've not repented we are despising his ercies and goodness and forbearance and long-suffering. So, His goodness hould lead us to repentance and I say repentance I mean if you're not being long-suffering like He is if you're lacking mercy the mercy of Elohim be careful. Because you're not really walking out repentance you're not walking out righteousness. And with the same judgment that you judge others, you could be in the same position. So Yahushua says "Judge not that ye be not judged. With what judgment you judge, you will be judged and with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
Some of the most miserable people on the earth, some of the most unhappy people on the earth, are those who are always judging others. Because they get all kinds of judgment on themselves. He always sees to it. And it's all measured right back and they're not happy. And the more unhappy they are the more judgmental they get and the more judgmental they get the more unhappy they are and it's a vicious, vicious cycle and they can't seem to get free because they're not willing to let Yahushua's life flow through them. And they choose anger and the slightest speck in another person's eye they're quick to point it out. Yahushua says why do you even look at the speck in your brother's eye. Don't consider the two-by-four in your eye, the plank right? Why are you even looking at it? Why do you even look when you've got this gigantic
railroad beam in your eye, hypocrite.
He says, "How can you say to your brother, here let me remove the speck out of your eye, and look at plank that's in your own eye? Hypocrite, first remove the plank from your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Many times a person comes down very hard on others for committing a certain transgression and later that person falls in the same transgression. Or, they're already doing the same transgression that's why they can see it so clearly in the other person. And sometimes those who are doing these particular transgressions and are blind o their own failures in this area are quick to accuse another person of having done it even when they're not doing it.
But they think they're doing it because that's what they've been doing and they assume it's what they're doing when really the other person's not doing it all.
So, let's not fall into the snare. That's the alternative to bearing the life of Yahushua is to fall into these snares and pits and traps. We should fear Yahweh, walk in meekness, remember the need for justice, mercy and faith, the weightier matters of the law. When we see our brother or even our own children in
any manner of sin remember the long-suffering Yahweh has with us. And know also Yahweh is long-suffering with them. Therefore, let's be long suffering with them. 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 1 says "I charge you before Elohim and the Master Yahushua Messiah who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. Preach the word, be ready. In season and out of season, convince, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching. Boldly teach but do it with a long-suffering attitude. Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace." There it is! Long-suffering, because that's how Yahweh is. That's what he does. Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such there is no law." This is how Yahweh is with us. And those who are Messiahs have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires if we live in the spirit. Alright then walk in it.
Our long-suffering is evidence of Yahweh living in us, His name being on our foreheads, us being sealed with the spirit all one in the same. And so hatred and strife and arguments and anger
are examples of where long-suffering is lacking.
Proverbs 19:11 says "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook a transgression."
Proverbs 15 verse 18 a raffle man stirs up strife but he who is slow to anger elays contention."
Proverbs 16:32 "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he rules his spirit then he who takes a city." Wow, it takes a lot of strength doesn't it? The word they use for mighty in this verse is the ame word they used describing the giants of Genesis 10. David himself actually alled them mighty men. A wise man is strong Proverbs 24 verse 5 "Yes a man of nowledge increases strength for by wise counsel you will wage your own war and in a multitude of counselors there is safety." By wise counsel, not by the flesh, by wise counsel, by wisdom you'll wage your war.
"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Proverbs 25:28 is a city broken down ithout walls. The enemy just comes in and does whatever he wills. You have no walls; you have no rule over your own personal city, your dwelling place. "But the name of Yahweh is a strong tower."
Proverbs 18:10 "The righteous run to it and are safe.
Difficult times? Run to the strong tower of Yahweh's name. 1 Peter 2:21 "To this you were called." That is our calling. Remember that. Ephesians 4:1 I therefore as a prisoner for the master beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness with long-suffering, bearing with one another love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. The goal is to keep the unity of the spirit. It's going to take long suffering, it is going to take gentleness, it is going to take lowliness
and bearing with one another in love. hat's what it's going to take.
Not many will take up these matters. Scripture takes hem up. And we need to take up our staurus and follow him, to seek and walk in righteousness to walk as Yahushua walked. This walk is more than head knowledge brothers and sisters. Every minute of every day we must die. I speak to you as one who has plenty of overcoming to do myself, plenty of dying to do. We need to understand the knowledge of righteousness alone is not going to cut it. Just because you know something doesn't mean you're something special. Just because you know what you've got to do.
Be doers of the word not hearers only deceiving yourselves. Just because you know? I mean that just makes you more responsible. That just means "To whom much is given much is required." The fact that you know doesn't give you higher standing anybody else it gives you a higher degree responsibility. It doesn't make you any better.
Colossians 3:12 "Therefore as the Elect of Elohim holy and beloved put on he master Yahushua's tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and what? ong-suffering. Bearing with one another and forgiving one another. Bearing with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone has a complaint against another even as Messiah forgave you, so you must also do. You have to. You do too, like He did. That's the spirit-filled life brothers and sisters. No matter how evil the other person is, whether it be a total stranger, a friend, a family member, our own spouses, our children, whoever! We must be willing to suffer and get off our high horse and realize we haven't treated Yahweh any better than they're treating us and yet he forgives us and the very thing that we so freely expect to receive we're not even willing to give
if we're not willing to be long-suffering. See bitterness and unforgiveness is really rooted in pride. You're assuming you have the rights to something you don't necessarily have the right to. And when another person does the wrong thing and me get angry about it we're in essence saying, "Well if I was that person I wouldn't be acting that way." But if you really lived their life and lived the things they did experienced the things that they did and ent through the same things they went through are you really so sure you wouldn't be doing the same things they're doing? Really?
Are you really so sure that's the case?
We need to be humble, brothers and sisters we need to be clothed with humility so many times, maybe even every time, our anger is rooted in selfish pride. We think we deserve something better than what they're getting, then what we're getting I should say. Are we really just so righteous we don't deserve to ever, ever, ever, suffer?
Excuse me, but the most loving, righteous man who ever lived came on this earth two thousand years ago and they hung him on a tree.
Oh Yahushua, well Yahweh, you know, allowed Him to be killed and tortured but of course He wouldn't want us to be unhappy or have to suffer, right?
You see how weak we get, we think we deserve things. I tell you what, right now the only thing I deserve is hell. That's it! That's all I deserve is hell. I don't deserve anything else but the lake of fire.
Yahweh's given me what I don't deserve. Compassion, long-suffering, patience, entleness, goodness. It inspires me to want to be like that toward others. Yahweh's number one chief concern is not your own personal happiness right now. eally. His chief concern is that you would walk in his image. You would step down off your little thrown and realize we only deserve weeping and gnashing of teeth. We need to put on Yahushua. Put Him on the throne and exhibit His life to everyone we meet. So you're feeling a little anger inside about something that you know, ask ourselves "Might I think, do I think I deserve something better than this? Do I hink I have a right to something I don't have the right to? When we ask ourselves that we may realize really it's just our own pride driving our anger. And many times ou know, we look at the former life we had realize the sinner that we were, well you know what, other people are sinners too; just like you were. You were once a slave in Egypt right?
So treat the stranger with love, how you would want to be treated while you were a salve in Egypt. They're susceptible to the same passions and fleshly things we are. Let's humble ourselves and remember that pit from which he dug us out.
And why did Yahweh even care to call us out? To cleanse us and purify us and give us the honor of being called his sons and daughters.
When you think of those things you just wonder why would Yahweh choose someone like me?
Paul figured it out, why he was chosen, 1 Timothy
1:14 "And the grace of our aster was exceedingly abundant with faith and love, which are in Messiah ahushua. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Messiah ahushua came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief."
He saved him. hy? I mean look, Saul was there in Acts chapter 7 verse 57 to 59 before he was a eliever, so they cried out with a loud voice "Stop the ears and bring up it Stephan ith one accord they cast him out of the city and stone him. And the witnesses aid down there clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul and they stoned tephan as he was calling on Elohim and saying "Master Yahushua receive my spirit." And he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice "Master do not charge them with this sin." When he said this he fell asleep. while he's being stoned to death he's saying "Do not Who was there? Saul. Do not charge them with this sin and so Stephan charge them with this sin." Can you say that about someone who's hurting you
"Do not charge them with this sin?"
Could it be that Yahweh honored that prayer Stephan was speaking and that prayer prompted Yahweh to be willing to forgive Paul which ended up being a powerful witness to Gentiles? Could it be our mercy and forgiveness toward others causes Yahweh to bring others that we come in contact with to the place of repentance and faith in Yahushua? Isn't that our ultimate goal? Yahushua chose Paul to be like the Gentiles and he said this in the following verses. He said "For this reason I obtain mercy that in me first Yahushua might show all long-suffering."
As a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. The Gentiles were people with a lot of sin in there life. And Paul's experience will be a testimony to Yahweh's awesome long-suffering and mercy. And Paul's life and conversion were a demonstration that Yahweh can save even the worst of sinners. If Paul could be cleansed of that terrible thing where he killed one f the believers in Messiah Yahushua and Yahweh is willing to save him? The Gentiles who were terrible, terribly lost in sin, could look to Paul and say "You know what, if that guy can get grace maybe there's hope for me." And it is hope for you and it's hope for all of us.
Are we willing to be a Stephan when we're being hurt? Are we willing to be a Yahushua who said "Father forgive them they don't know what they're doing."
It was that kind of long-suffering. Long-suffering of our Master that became our salvation. Can we not see His example and be that way toward others? Sometimes it's much easier you know to be long-suffering toward another person when we sit and think about all the mercy you're going to need on Judgment Day. Think of the person right now with whom you have the greatest difficulty extending long-suffering to. Think about who they are. Think about what they've done to you. Maybe there's somebody in your own life and when you think about them you just get this high-octane Grrrrrr. Alright, now think of your own life. Consider what kind of mercy and long-suffering you're going to need on that day of judgment. Doesn't it get kind of a little easier when you think about your own helpless state without the great mercy and compassion and long-suffering of our Master Yahushua? Doesn't that compel you to want to be merciful, long-suffering and just let it go? And ask Yahweh to not charge them with this sin and to forgive?
You're right; some people will take advantage of that. Yahweh knows how that is. Scripture says, "Let grace be shown to the wicked yet he will not learn righteousness." Some people just won't, no matter how much of Yahushua is flowing through you they won't.
And they'll continue even in a land of uprightness deal unjustly and will not behold the majesty of Yahweh. You know if they take advantage so be it. You know? But you, Yahweh will bring your example to them and say "That man, that woman, that person, they showed you what the Savior was like. You knew that's the way you should be and you were not willing to be that way. You were not willing to humble yourself.
Now again, I'm not saying purposely walk into a situation we know for a fact someone's going to hurt you. Or if there's a way of escape of an abusive situation that you should not escape.
Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. My friends if every time you get within 10 feet of a person they pop you right in the nose, there's nothing wrong with staying to 15 feet away. It's not necessarily bitterness it's just saying "Well I mean it's like Yahushua said "They persecute you in one city, flee to another." If you persecute me within 10 feet I'll go 15 feet away. So, it's not bitterness and unforgiveness, its wisdom and knowing the other person is going to be tempted to do something he shouldn't do. But if there is someone who wrongs us and it just happens, we can meekly show them, Yahushua's example and attitude. But let's not be like those who receive grace but then not learn to do it ourselves and then not learn to show grace to others and then not learn to walk in righteousness.
You know some people have this concern that well you know Yahweh is so long uffering, and full of grace and mercy that you don't have to even be worried bout whether you sin or not. Wrong. If you're too concerned you're a legalist. Wrong. We have to seek and walk in righteousness. We have to repent the goodness of Yahweh results in our repentance. When we think about it doesn't have a good father have mercy on his children who were desiring to do well but perhaps would fail.
But the children who take advantage of mercy, who take advantage of the grace of the Father who is good to them and don't care, should be rightly punished and disciplined.
Different attitudes. Let's be among those who remember the long-suffering of Yahweh and it compels us to repentance and it compels us to allow His light to shine through us. So then, my beloved brothers let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of Elohim. emember that fathers, mothers your wrath toward your children will not produce ighteousness in them. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls.
I can think of two or three things that, I have some children who are older in their id-twenties that I can think of two or three things that I allowed myself to choose anger. I thought "Well this is a really important, I'm going to go ahead and correct them with anger. I'm going to justify it because it's so important. Maybe a little anger will help them realize how important it is to make sure that they're not doing these things." And they became adults and those two or three things
were things they were still doing because the wrath of man does not produce to righteousness of lohim. I wonder what would've happened if I chose to sit down with them and reason with them and be gentle with them and say "I know you're struggling in this area, can I ray for you?" I wonder what would have happened.
They may have overcame it nd even today I sometimes wonder do I have enough humility in my correction oward my daughters? I don't think I do. I don't. I'm ashamed to say that. I don't hink I have enough. Do I come to them and say, "You know, I got overcoming to do oo, your Daddy isn't perfect either, here's something I'm seeing." I don't think I do that enough. I want to be a doer of the word not hearers only and deceive myself. I don't want to be as one who is just, you know, if someone's a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like a man observing his natural face in the mirror. He observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. This message is for me just as much as anybody brothers and sisters let's be among the blessed. Let's walk like Yahushua walked. Let's willingly bare the wrongs of others, lets walk out humility. There's no reason to be angry. Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath as we seek Yahweh. Being hearers and doers as he reveals our imperfections. We've looked into the perfect Law of Liberty tonight or today. Let's not forget the man we saw in the mirror or the woman we saw in the mirror. If it was not Yahushua in that mirror brothern then you need and I need to repent.
For we not only need to seek his ways in regards to keeping Torah on the Sabbath and those things but the weightier matters of the law; justice, mercy and faith living as Yahushua did. Living a life that says I'm willing to suffer for the wrongs that I am experiencing. I will bear that; Yahushua will bear that in me. For it's no longer I who live, Messiah who lives in me." And they may come "Well I'll have to lay down my whole life for him." If I've endured the persecutions rejections and insults of men, have shared a long-suffering of Yahweh with others in the ultimate height of my suffering is reached when I lay down my own flesh as Yahushua did and commit myself completely to Yahweh. You know what? I'll already be in the habit. And it will be a lot easier for me because I'm used to bearing the marks of Messiah.
Because I have this treasure in my earthen vessel that the excellence of the power may be of Elohim, not of us but of Elohim being hard pressed on every side yet not crushed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken struck down but not destroyed. Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Master Yahushua that the life of Yahushua also may be manifested in our body. Actually the next verse says "For we who live are always delivered to death for Yahushua's sake." Are you willing to be delivered to death for Yahushua's sake? Do you regard and reckon yourselves as dead already? You can't offend a dead man. Have you seen a dead man get angry? I haven't seen it yet.
Let's bear the marks of Yahushua, especially those of us who bear his name his character, his life, his love, his attributes.
Are we willing to die now and die daily?
That's my question today.
Let's be that city on the hill that can't be hidden
and be his children. True children of our Father in Heaven. Let's pray, Oh Heavenly Father Yahweh Kadosh,
Kadosh, Kadosh be your great name.
Father we desire that Yahushua in the kingdom life he lived will be manifested in us. Forgive us Father Yahweh where we have not been forgiving. We let it go. We set aside all bitterness and clamor and
anger. We pray. Yahushua would manifest Himself through us where we are not able to bear it he will bear it through us.
I pray Father that you would strengthen each one of those within the sound of my voice, especially those who bear your name to manifest your wonderful character and bear the fruits of Your spirit.
For truly yours is the kingdom and power and glory and Majesty.
We want to bear your kingdom, your glory, your majesty. We choose to forgive those who have wronged us and Father we now ask if you would forgive us in any areas we have failed to live up this message today.
And keep us from the enemy who seeks to steal, to kill and to destroy. For we want Yahushua to be seen in this world today. Yahweh, let Him be seen in our every thought our every word and our every deed in Yahushua's great name we pray hese things.
Glorify your name.
Amein
perform at times but necessary. You might remember our Savior said to us that "He who does not take up is stauros, his cross, his stake and follow me is not worthy of me. He who loves his life in this age and he loses life for my sake, will find it" and we have a calling here in our life, I don't know if we realize that but we have a calling. We have a calling to do a lot of things. We have a calling to share the word of Yahweh with those who are in need of salvation. But we have a calling in other areas that are, you know, not very attractive sounding but necessary and that calling is to suffer and to be long-suffering.
To suffer and to be long-suffering is actually a calling mentioned in scripture. In 2 Peter 2:20 it says "When you do good and suffer and you take it patiently this is commendable before Elohim, for to this you were called." To what? "To suffer and take it patiently, to this you were called." It's like a calling on our life or something, is how it's being described here. Because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow His steps. And this is the part of our faith in the Messiah that's kind of not really mentioned very much but you know it's partly why we're here. You know it's not very pleasing to the flesh the thought of suffering yet the scriptures are full of admonitions for us to have a willingness to do so.
Now suffering is not just a concept regarding the need for us to be willing to die for our faith it is a principle that guides our everyday life. Paul said in one place "I die daily." It is the crucified life or the life of impalement of the flesh but its the fear of suffering that often causes us to walk in the works of the flesh and by that tear down another person or even the body of the Messiah rather than building up the body of Messiah. For instance, if someone says a hurtful word to us the fleshly tendency is to get angry or bitter at the person. But you know if we already had a willingness to suffer and to bear the marks of others, as Yahushua was willing to suffer and bear the marks of others; remember its Yahushua who lives in us right? It would not bother us so much because we already have the mindset that this is one of our callings in this life; it's to be willing to suffer. And seeing that Yahushua suffered in order to show His love for us and loved us in return and that resulted in our choice to want to love Him in return. We are called to have that willingness to suffer at the hands of another person so that others might see the suffering of the Messiah and His patience dwelling in us as we are called to manifest His life as the body of the Messiah on the earth today. And we are called to exhibit His life through our actions.
Now not just in regards to willing to bear the marks of others we also have a willingness to encounter difficulties and persecutions in tribulations and trials, which can be hurtful.
Most of us before we died we go through a series of sicknesses or something we suffer prior to our death.
And so if we were to be approached with the opportunity to die for the Messiah, well you might as well die for a good reason, right? Well if we take that same mentality into sicknesses and diseases we may suffer and we say "Maybe there's a spiritual root behind this, maybe there's some bitterness I don't really see in my own heart but it's there. Maybe there's somebody I need to ask forgiveness for before we exit the earth and enter into
glory. You know that could be part of Yahweh's plan too.
And I think that perhaps, you know, those of us who towards the end of a normal human lifespan we go through diseases or sicknesses or whatever as either Yahweh has just allowed us to have that and we've done nothing wrong or maybe a consequence of something we have done wrong and an opportunity for us to get that cleaned up that we might be that purified bride.
So we need to always look at suffering as an opportunity to "A" either get cleaned up in something or "B" manifest the life of Yahushua being willing to suffer. It's a major problem that the body of Messiah does not have that willingness suffer like Yahushua did. It's a major problem. It's one thing you know for us to communicate "Oh Yahushua died for our sins and loved us even when we didn't love Him." And we talk about what Yahushua did, but we've got to be willing to do it ourselves. "He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk as He walked." 1 John 2:6 "If those who are outside the body of Messiah see us walking in carnal and fleshly anger because we're refusing to lay down our lives and suffer like Yahushua did, they're going to see us as When the body of Messiah is not acting like the no better than themselves. Messiah then where is the Messiah being manifested? Who is going to preach? Preach with your life. One place, an old saying says "Preach everywhere, and when necessary use words." See if we're going to manifest the Messiah's life we're going to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" we need to do more than just tell people about Yahushua and what he was like. We have the opportunity to live like He did in every aspect. Not just keeping Torah and these things we all hold as being important, but by being willing to suffer like He suffered and it seems that, you know a lot of times anger is the most justified when somebody's hurt us. But that's when it's least justified.
Yahushua was hurt many times yet did not rise up in selfish anger. And so what are the scriptural principles that we should consider when it comes to this? Lets take a look at the context here of the verse I just quoted in 1 Peter chapter 2 it says "Servants be submissive to your masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable if because of conscience toward Elohim one endures grief, suffering
wrongfully. For what credit is it when you're beaten for your faults and you take it patiently, but when you do good and suffer if you take it patiently this is commendable before Elohim." He's actually talking about a person who would be a slave. If a harsh and cruel, certainly unbelieving slave owner is mistreating them. He's called them to make it, to consider it an opportunity, because they could not escape, to consider an opportunity to manifest the life of Yahushua. Now, that's what our calling is.
For to this, to this, to what?
He said to what? "You do good and you suffer and you take it patiently, you do good and suffer to this you were called because Messiah also suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow his steps who committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth who when he was reviled did not revile in return. When he suffered he did not threaten but committed himself to him that judges righteously. Who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree that we having died to sin my live for righteousness by his stripes you were healed.
Now, I want to qualify this by saying the following: I want you listen very closely.
If you are a wife or if you are a child or a youth
who is being beaten mercilessly by somebody in your family, your father has beaten you or your husband is beating you. I'm not saying stay in the situation and just take it. Okay? This is talking about slavery here, when there was no other recourse, when there was no other option; which slaves had no option. If they tried to escape they would be taken back in the Roman world. Okay, not talking about Isreal. The way Yahweh wanted Israel to treat their slaves was to love them, not beat them. But that is a whole other subject.
In fact, in ancient Israel there were principles that if a slave was being mistreated he had the freedom to leave. In the Roman world that was not the case, okay? So if you have an abusive husband who is physically
causing wounds on your flesh, who is beating you mercilessly, who is abusing you, I'm not saying that you have to remain in the situation. I do believe in some cases it's either going to be let's call the man to accountability if he's called to be a believer and let people know what he's doing or if necessary call law enforcement and you can still love the man while he's sitting in jail. Or in the case of parents beating their children mercilessly in an abusive manner I do believe the body of Messiah needs to hold them accountable.
But what I'm pointing out here is we are called as scripture says "There's no recourse, there's no way to escape even Yashuah said "If they persecute you in one city, yes flee to another. It's okay to flee." But if there's no other recourse than manifest a life of Yashuah. Manifest His life. That was Peter's advice to slaves. I don't think we have situations like this today. Well, there is, it's human trafficking it is starting to get terribly ridiculous. But we have the opportunity, and this is what I'm pointing out, if even in this situation Peter is saying "To this you are called." It's okay. Follow the steps of the Messiah and if you have no recourse, then take it patiently, that's commendable before Elohim. If even in a situation like this He is calling people to take it patiently, how much more so if someone just says something that we didn't like, or says something that kind of hurt your feelings a little, or you know did something that offended you. I mean that's minor, right? I mean that's little stuff but Yahushua left us an example of a righteous principle, a blessed way of looking at life. When we are wronged and we are hurt what's our response supposed to be? We only need to look to Yahushua to find the answer. Take it patiently. When men smite us with their words, what do you say? When He was reviled, did not revile in return.
He committed himself to Yahweh who judges ighteously. We should never engage in an evil for evil, reviling for reviling. Romans 12:17 says "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men." 1 Peter 3:9 says similar things.
So we are called to this; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling on the contrary, blessing. For nowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. We are alled to this and it's okay that we can bear the marks of others who may be hurting us so we don't repay evil for evil, we don't repay reviling for reviling. You know, we walk like Yahushua walked. When we're willing and we take it patiently I mean what was it that caused us to turn our hearts to Yahweh? Was it not the perfect one Yahushua who loved Yahweh and loved his fellow man unwaveringly? When he received evil treatment he took it all in patient, loving silence.
Again, there are times we should take steps to escape ongoing, chronic abuse but sometimes all we have to do to escape from that is to cease from anger. Bless instead of curse and take it all in patient, loving silence.
One key thing that separated Yahushua from those people of his day was his willingness to suffer. That was one of the key areas was willingness to die. And we are called to put on Yahushua the Messiah. We take on his attributes and what did he teach us?
I say to you Matthew 5:44, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven where He makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Think about that for a moment. A lot of times the problems between even a husband-wife relationship is an unwillingness of the one person to love the person who's not being loving. ahushua says, "Well you're no better than anyone." So often the husband will say, "Well my wife does not respect me, how can I love her?" And the wife will say, "Well how can I love and respect my husband? He's not loving me." And around and around and around it goes until someone decides they're going to be just as our Father in Heaven and take it patiently when the wounds come. To be long-suffering to suffer rather than choose anger. To know as Ecclesiastes 7:9 says, "Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry for anger rests in the bosom of fools." Scripture says we don't want to be fools. We can instead say, "Alright, I'll bear that. I'll bear it. What they said to me hurt. What they did to me hurt but I'll bear it. I know Yahushua can bear it through me. I'm willing to bear the wrongs of others, even he did because it's no longer I who live, I have been crucified with Messiah. It is no longer I who live it's essiah who lives in me in the life, which I now live in the flesh. I live by faith in the son of Elohim who loved me and gave himself for me. I'm already crucified I can bear it. I'm already crucified. Messiah lives in me now and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of Elohim I'll bear it. I'll bear it. I'll bear it. Can we grasp that my brothers and sisters? Can we grasp it when the people hurt you at work when your parents or your relatives smite you with their words when your brothers and sisters are mistreating you, can you choose Messiah?
Can you choose Yahushua Hamashiach?
Can you? Will you? Are you willing to? He is our treasure that dwells within us that enables us to bear all things as scripture says, "Love bears all things" 2 Corinthians 4:7." We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of Elohim not of us. We are hard pressed on every side yet not crushed, we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Master Yahushua that the life of Yahushua also may be manifested in our body. That's our calling. When someone hurts us with their words there are times when saying nothing will speak volumes.
When a person hurts us and we did not hurt them in return our silence can be deafening because now they
have hurt us and we have not hurt them in return.
It brings attention to what their sin is. Whereas, if we hurt them right back they forget all about that. "Oh he hurt me now. Oh she hurt me now." See a wrong was committed but no wrong was returned? And it's like "Oh, wait a minute, I just hurt that person." That alone sometimes is enough to bring conviction to the one doing the wrong even if they don't act like it, even if they don't acknowledge it, even if they don't say a word about it. They realize they did something wrong. Yahweh can use it as an opportunity to scream into their conscience "Do not treat that person that way!" I tell you what, He can scream a whole lot better then you can.
He can. He can reach the heart. And so Yahushua came and suffered for us even though our lives, our lives were full of sin, hurting him daily, sometimes hourly.
And wasn't it Yahushua's love the realization of our indebtedness to him that compelled us to repent and to love him in return? And so as the body of Messiah one of our trademarks ought to be that we all have a willingness to suffer as Yahushua did. If we are wronged by others, especially if we're wronged by one another. I'm reminded of a time, there was an Amish school years ago in Pennsylvania ome guy walked in there unexplained, with no reason and just shot a bunch of kids. No reason. And when the news outlets all came to the Amish
folks and their parents, "What's going on? How do you feel about this?" The word got out that they had already forgiven the man. I thought, "You know that's it." I mean that's hard. But that's Yahushua who forgave us when we did wrong, right? And offered us a glimpse into what love truly is.
Loving those who don't love you, praying for those who don't treat you properly and so in Chapter 3 verse 8 of 1st Peter he says "Finally all of you, be of one mind, having compassion for one another. Love as brothers, be tender hearted, be courteous." I like this; it is a really nice verse "Have compassion on one another, love like brothers are supposed to love. Have a tender heart, be courteous, be nice to each other.
Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling but on the contrary; blessing.
So someone does you evil and you give them a blessing. What? Knowing you were called to this. You weren't just called to keep the Sabbath. You weren't just called to keep the other commandments that make us different than mainstream Christianity. Brothers and sisters we've got to be the whole package.
This right here is just as much manifesting Yahushua walk and walking as he walked. As keeping clean food laws or any other thing that we might think is important.
Do we have that willingness to put this into practice and to live it? Yahushua said, "Unless we take up your stauros and
follow after me, you are not worthy of me." ou've got to take up the stauros, the crucifix, whatever it was that he died on we have to die, we have to be crucified with him or die with him that we may inherit a blessing. "For he who would love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good let him seek peace and pursue it for the eyes of Yahweh are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers. But the face of Yahweh is against those who do evil. And who is he who will harm you?" If you become followers of what is good no one can ultimately harm you. All they can hurt is your flesh; they can't touch your soul.
"Turn away from evil and do good but even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats." Did you get that? Don't be afraid of what people say they're going to do to you. Don't even be troubled by it. Sanctify Yahweh Elohim in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that's in you with meekness and with a fear toward Elohim, not a fear toward man. And so this is the kind of lifestyle that we are
called to live. This is our lifestyle. This is the way we live our life on a daily basis.
Are we manifesting these attributes of the Messiah toward our brothers and sisters in the faith?
Are we manifesting these attributes of Yahushua the Messiah toward our spouses?
Are we manifesting these attributes of Yahushua the Messiah toward our own children?
If they hurt you personally do you take it personal and take it out on them in anger or is your end goal that they would be trained? It says train up a child the way they should go right? It doesn't say beat up a child in the way he should go but train up a child in the way they should go. That means you're not involving your own bitterness and your own anger in that training. You're trying to guide them into a right way of living.
So we are called to go therefore and make disciples and exhibit the characteristics of a servant who's willing to suffer just as Yahushua was. It is this attribute that will often compel them to ask us; "What is this hope that you have even when you're suffering in trials and tribulations?" And we still glorify and justify Yahweh in our trials and tribulations, in our difficulties and we tell people "Oh how wonderful Yahushua is." They're going to look at you and go "What is this hope you have? It seems awful real because the world doesn't have a hope like that when they wrong each other. They feel they must even the score because they're only mindful of he things in age." This world is all they have hope for and so they believe they must make sure they do not suffer in this short period of time that hey're here. But we who are looking toward the heavenlies who have our minds et on things above not on things on the earth we say "We're willing to bear the arks
of others." The world's not willing to and that's one reason why certain men ill go around trying to look like a tough guy intimidating and scary. You know they used to have this sticker in back of their truck window that says "No Fear." Or in other words "You're not gonna scare me." but why do you got that thing in your indow? Because you're scared. You don't want people to mess with you. The message is "Don't mess with me. I'll make sure you're the one who suffers if you do."
So they work out, they learn karate or whatever they learn to try to make sure they won't be the one to suffer. With the scowl on their face, the sunglasses they wear, big big intimidating-looking trucks and they're trying to scare everybody. I mean anything to try and avoid suffering. And that's why people try to act like ough guys. And you know some guys are tough guys, okay you don't have to act that way, but my point is we're supposed to be harmless as doves, innocent lambs who are wise as serpents. Serpents who are harmless as doves. Scripture says that wisdom is better than weapons of war. We don't intimidate others into not hurting us we don't lash out, we share the wisdom of Yahweh. We don't lash out and return at once reviling for revile them back and when you do that hen you don't lash out and instead you love and you bless. People are to say "That is bizarre! I mean why is he doing this? Where is this person placing his hope? Why does he act this way? Is there really something beyond this age?" And you tell them, "I'm blessing you because I
also have hurt others I also have hurt my Savior and yet He died for me, He suffered for me and so I feel like I need to do the same for others nd not hurt back. There is enough hurt in this world as it is."
And watch their jaw hit the floor.
When we don't hurt others those who accuse us of evil will then be ashamed. It will be evident by our conduct that's not the kind of person we are. We only love in return. That's what Yahushua did and that's what he wants to do in us.
Yahushua was long-suffering 1 Peter 3:14 I believe it says, second Peter 3:14 I think; it says "The long-suffering of our Masters salvation." Do you know what the word long-suffering is? "It means to suffer long?"
No, it doesn't really even mean that.
What it really means is this "long nostril or
nose." My children today said "What's your message on today Dad?" I said, about having a long nostril, having a long nose. Now the word "off" in Hebrew is translated nostril or nose, it's also translated anger because what happens when you get angry? You see little nostrils flaring out you know? You know and so in the very picturesque language
that it is, it means it's going to be a long time before you get angry. It's gonna take a lot to make anger come out of you. That's the meaning behind it and when your long-suffering like Yahushua was and you choose to have the good conscience not returning evil for evil it says that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Messiah will be ashamed. It will prick their conscience you know? It will casue them to go "You know, all this bad
stuff I did to them, and they don't do it back." That kind of shows him to be the better person than I am. For it is better if it's the will of Elohim to
suffer for doing good than to suffer for doing evil. For the Messiah also suffered once for the sins of the just and for the unjust. that He might bring us to Elohim being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.
Yahushua's death in the flesh and his living nature in us by the spirit of Elohim will be manifested when we choose to be slow to anger.
So it's two words actually Oph arek is long-off is anger or nostril. The actual word in Hebrew is Arek Oph it's ctually even translated "slow to anger" in various places talking about Yahweh eing slow to anger Psalm 103:8 and Nehemiah 9:17 other translations will ave patient or slow to anger wherever we see these words. But Yahweh himself is ery slow to anger and willing to forgive when wronged. Some suppose that Yahweh was quick to be angry in the Old Testament that "Now the Messiah came you know, no He's sort of more easygoing. And some people think He's like grandpa now He's kind of calmed down and everything's okay he'll put up with stuff. He's always been the same yesterday today and forever. You know, shortly after giving the Ten Commandments the children of Israel are worshipping a golden calf. Think about that! He brought them through the sea of reeds, all the stuff He did for them, saved them...a clear violation of his commandment. They're immediately worshiping golden calves. But after this event Yahweh says something about Himself that is very important for us to see and to emulate. Exodus three verse 34 and verses 1 through 20 Yahweh says to Moses "Cut these two tablets of stone like the first ones and I will write on these tablets the ords that were on the first tablet which you broke so be ready in the morning and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself to me there on the top of the mountain.
And no man shall come up with you and let no man be seen throughout all the mountain that neither flocks nor herds feed before that mountain." So he cut two tablets of stone like the first ones then Moses rose early in the morning and went out to Mount Sinai as Yahweh had commanded him and he took in his hand two tablets of stone.
Now Yahweh descended in the cloud and stood with him there. And look at this what happens here; "And proclaimed the name of Yahweh. The name of Yahweh. Would you like to proclaim the name of Yahweh? What is Yahweh all about? "And Yahweh passed before him and proclaimed, Yahweh Yahweh Elohim, merciful, gracious, long-suffering,
abounding in goodness, in truth."
That's his name. And so we who bear his name, we who proclaim his name, we need to be merciful, gracious, long-suffering and abounding in goodness. Abounding in truth that's what he's all about. Now, he says keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.
By no means learing the guilty. I'm not saying "Oh we'll forgive everybody, anyhow and it doesn't matter what you do you can do and live how you want; that's not what he's saying. Because he will visit the iniquity of the father's upon the children and the children's children to third and fourth generation. That is of those who hate him t says in Exodus 20. Of those who hate him. So, ultimately there will be judgment on the final day and on children who repeat the sins of their parents. That the sins of their parents and the iniquity of their parents will be upon them. Because they are howing "Yeah I'm just like my dad. I want to be able to live like he did." Instead of eing just like our Father in Heaven and living as he calls us to be. So, think about that; being long-suffering, being slow to anger, being merciful, being gracious, all these things are a part of who He is. And so we who bear His name especially should be associated with those attributes. Because those are the attributes He wanted his name to be associated with.
Is it true of us? There are some people out there who are using the name of the Most High and they're not merciful, they're not long-suffering. Even in there witnessing they are unloving,
unmerciful. But we see you know in spite of repeated demonstrations of rebellion by the children of Israel, Yahweh still forgave again and again and again. And it was not until the children of Israel started to stone Moses and appoint a captain to bring them back to Egypt that He decided "I can't bring this generation to the promised land. They'll defile it as soon as they get there." So when Yahweh threatened to destroy them Moshe interceded for Israel and said "But Yahweh the promises, your character, your name Yahweh. He told them in Numbers, Moshe told Yahweh "Now if you kill these people as one man, nations which have heard of your fame will speak saying, "Oh because Yahweh was not able to bring these people to the land which he swore to give them, therefore he killed them in the wilderness." And now I pray "Let the power of my Master be great!" Just as you've spoken saying "Ah his name, Yahweh is long-suffering, abundant, merciful, forgiving iniquity and transgression. He by no mean clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers on the 3rd and 4th generation. So he is recalling to Yahweh His name and who He's about. He says "Oh they'll know it, they'll know that your merciful, like you said and long-suffering. Let that be what your name is associated with as you said. "Pardon the iniquity of His people I pray according to the greatness of your mercy just as you have forgiven the people from Egypt even until now." And then Yahweh says "I have pardoned according to your word but truly as I live all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Yahweh." Do you know what the glory of Yahweh is? It's Yahushua. The brightness of his glory. And so Moshe appeals to the power of the Living Elohim which is what would be needed to forgive. Notice also Moshe brought Yahweh's ords into remembrance of His name and so we as a people who call upon the name of Yahweh need to carry with us the characteristics of it.
We who bear His name are called to be long suffering, as He is long-suffering. And it was not until the children of Israel were determined to kill their leaders and go back to Egypt that He finally forbade them from entering the land. But Moshe was a remarkable intercessor and man of great understanding. You know you can intercede like that for your children who have lost their way, for relatives who have lost their way. Yahweh no longer trusted the children of Israel to fill the land with the promise, with righteousness with his glory and He did forgive them He just would not let them into the land. o even in the Torah, even in the law there are
wonderful examples of Yahweh's ercy and his long-suffering. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Yahushua said "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law. Justice? Oh what's this word over here; mercy, and faith. These you ought to have done, what are these? These would be paying tithes of mint, anise and cumin, but without leaving the others. Without leaving the others undone. What are the others? In other words, give attention to the weightier Justice, mercy and faith.
matters, number one, but don't neglect the finer points either. But look at that; one of the weightier matters of the law is actually mercy. It really is. Don't let the modern anti Old Testament preachers tell you otherwise.
Jeremiah delighted in Yahweh's word and called upon the long-suffering of Yahweh in the midst of persecution he said in Jeremiah 15:15 "Yahweh you know, remember me and visit me and take vengeance for me on my persecutors and your enduring patience do not take me away, know that for your sake I've suffered rebuke, your words were found and I ate them and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart for I am called by your name of Yahweh Elohim of hosts." He declared it was for Yahweh's sake he was rebuked. Sometimes we as his people will be rebuked wrongly by family members or friends or the world or doing things that Yahweh tells us to do. Jeremiah, had that as well. I'm sure many of us have also been rebuked for keeping the commandments and proclaiming his truth even by close family members at times.
But to this we are called. Expect it, t's a part of the walk, it's a part of what we need to do. Its part, actually it's an opportunity for you to manifest the life of Yahushua in your mortal flesh. Yahushua said "Blessed are you when men hate you." Does it feel like a blessing when people hate you? It may not feel like it in the natural man, but if you can keep your eyes on Messiah, look how blessed He was. Blessed are you. And when they exclude you, they don't include you in what they're doing, they don't act like you're a part of them, blessed are you. And they revile you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake because you following Yahushua. Now if they are doing all these things and it's not because you're following Yahushua it's because you're not a very nice person, because you've been walking in the flesh you've got no reward there. But if you have been walking in the spirit and they revile you and they exclude you and cast your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake, you're blessed. You're blessed. When they hate you, in fact he says "Rejoice in
that day and leap for joy!" Have you ever seen anybody do that? Someone mocks them because of their faith and they say "Wahoo thank you very much! I appreciate that!" And they jump in the air. "I'm so blessed!" I can't say I've ever seen anybody do that.
Chalk one up for me. The age to come. And the guy's gonna look at you and go "Are you crazy? Why are you leaping for joy when I just cut you up one side and down the other?" Oh well I mean, because the Bible tells me blessed am I when people hate me because of the Son of Man and they exclude me, and they revile me and cast my name as evil and I'm going to rejoice and leap for joy because I have a great reward in heaven." The same thing happened to the prophets you know, so if you're going to be suffering then suffer for righteousness sake. Don't suffer because you've been walking in the flesh. If you're going to suffer you might as well suffer for good things right? I mean we're all going to suffer; you might as well
suffer because you're doing something good.
Even the evil, even the wicked suffer. I mean you might as well suffer for doing something right rather than suffer for doing something wrong. nly when we suffer for doing righteousness are we commendable before Elohim. So now other times we are rightly rebuked and we should be quick to hear it if that's the case
Proverbs 17 verse 10 says "Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on the fool."
So if we're wise we hear the rebuke and we won't need a hundred stripes, we won't need the chasing of Elohim. We hear the rebuke we hear the reproof. Sometimes we are without chasing because we're so quick to hear the rebuke.
Not just because we're sons but because we're quick to hear the rebuke f reproof from Yahweh. And so, hey take it, take the reproof, take the rebuke, it's okay, if it's true. As long as the reproof has proof and the correction is correct. If it makes you closer to the walk of Messiah, hallelujah! Now if you're going to offer reproof to somebody scripture says Galatians 6:1 "If a man who was taken in trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness."
..." You know brother, hey, we've all got work we're needing to do and I'm still a work in progress myself but I happened to notice the other day and I thought you would be the kind of person who might hear what I have to say on this. And that is that I saw this. I saw what happened in I from what I can tell it looked like you shouldn't be doing this and that and the other." And maybe a person will say, "Well I think you isunderstood, actually what happened was this over here." And the whole problem is solved. Or they may say "Oh you know what that's right, I think I do need to work on that." Hallelujah! What happened? Humility and gentleness manifested in the fruit of a man turning from something he should not be doing. If you don't come down to that spirit but you come to an arrogant spirit you don't consider ourself lest you also be tempted. Because Yahweh, if you come to him, this man, with an arrogant attitude in a prideful spirit and you try to correct him then you might be tempted yourself.
So, Yahushua said "In the same manner that we judge, we will be judged, right? Yahweh in heaven might be going "Oh you think you're so great because you're not oing what that man's sin. I'll let the enemy do what he's going to do and see how well you do in the same situation." One thing I've learned brothers and sisters is this; you know what, if someone is doing something he shouldn't do, you know what? I didn't live their life. I didn't experience the things they experience. I idn't have the upbringing they had, the parents they had. And I cannot say for ure that if I did, I would be
any better than they are in this particular area they're having trouble with. No matter what it might be. So we cannot go there was an arrogant spirit.
So we are a people who are pursuing righteousness if we are told by someone hat they noticed something was wrong, we need to be attentive to what they're aying and be wise men and be willing to hear rebuke even if it's not given in the ight spirit.
Because we are repentant people.
Romans chapter 2 verse 4 "Or o you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance and long-suffering?" Not knowing the goodness of Elohim leads you to repentance if you learn about the ong-suffering of the Messiah and His forbearance and His goodness and that oes not lead you to repentance, scripture says you're actually despising it, your despising all the long-suffering He did. You hate it. Because his goodness should lead us to a state of repentance and if we've not repented we are despising his ercies and goodness and forbearance and long-suffering. So, His goodness hould lead us to repentance and I say repentance I mean if you're not being long-suffering like He is if you're lacking mercy the mercy of Elohim be careful. Because you're not really walking out repentance you're not walking out righteousness. And with the same judgment that you judge others, you could be in the same position. So Yahushua says "Judge not that ye be not judged. With what judgment you judge, you will be judged and with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
Some of the most miserable people on the earth, some of the most unhappy people on the earth, are those who are always judging others. Because they get all kinds of judgment on themselves. He always sees to it. And it's all measured right back and they're not happy. And the more unhappy they are the more judgmental they get and the more judgmental they get the more unhappy they are and it's a vicious, vicious cycle and they can't seem to get free because they're not willing to let Yahushua's life flow through them. And they choose anger and the slightest speck in another person's eye they're quick to point it out. Yahushua says why do you even look at the speck in your brother's eye. Don't consider the two-by-four in your eye, the plank right? Why are you even looking at it? Why do you even look when you've got this gigantic
railroad beam in your eye, hypocrite.
He says, "How can you say to your brother, here let me remove the speck out of your eye, and look at plank that's in your own eye? Hypocrite, first remove the plank from your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Many times a person comes down very hard on others for committing a certain transgression and later that person falls in the same transgression. Or, they're already doing the same transgression that's why they can see it so clearly in the other person. And sometimes those who are doing these particular transgressions and are blind o their own failures in this area are quick to accuse another person of having done it even when they're not doing it.
But they think they're doing it because that's what they've been doing and they assume it's what they're doing when really the other person's not doing it all.
So, let's not fall into the snare. That's the alternative to bearing the life of Yahushua is to fall into these snares and pits and traps. We should fear Yahweh, walk in meekness, remember the need for justice, mercy and faith, the weightier matters of the law. When we see our brother or even our own children in
any manner of sin remember the long-suffering Yahweh has with us. And know also Yahweh is long-suffering with them. Therefore, let's be long suffering with them. 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 1 says "I charge you before Elohim and the Master Yahushua Messiah who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. Preach the word, be ready. In season and out of season, convince, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching. Boldly teach but do it with a long-suffering attitude. Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace." There it is! Long-suffering, because that's how Yahweh is. That's what he does. Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such there is no law." This is how Yahweh is with us. And those who are Messiahs have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires if we live in the spirit. Alright then walk in it.
Our long-suffering is evidence of Yahweh living in us, His name being on our foreheads, us being sealed with the spirit all one in the same. And so hatred and strife and arguments and anger
are examples of where long-suffering is lacking.
Proverbs 19:11 says "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook a transgression."
Proverbs 15 verse 18 a raffle man stirs up strife but he who is slow to anger elays contention."
Proverbs 16:32 "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he rules his spirit then he who takes a city." Wow, it takes a lot of strength doesn't it? The word they use for mighty in this verse is the ame word they used describing the giants of Genesis 10. David himself actually alled them mighty men. A wise man is strong Proverbs 24 verse 5 "Yes a man of nowledge increases strength for by wise counsel you will wage your own war and in a multitude of counselors there is safety." By wise counsel, not by the flesh, by wise counsel, by wisdom you'll wage your war.
"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Proverbs 25:28 is a city broken down ithout walls. The enemy just comes in and does whatever he wills. You have no walls; you have no rule over your own personal city, your dwelling place. "But the name of Yahweh is a strong tower."
Proverbs 18:10 "The righteous run to it and are safe.
Difficult times? Run to the strong tower of Yahweh's name. 1 Peter 2:21 "To this you were called." That is our calling. Remember that. Ephesians 4:1 I therefore as a prisoner for the master beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness with long-suffering, bearing with one another love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. The goal is to keep the unity of the spirit. It's going to take long suffering, it is going to take gentleness, it is going to take lowliness
and bearing with one another in love. hat's what it's going to take.
Not many will take up these matters. Scripture takes hem up. And we need to take up our staurus and follow him, to seek and walk in righteousness to walk as Yahushua walked. This walk is more than head knowledge brothers and sisters. Every minute of every day we must die. I speak to you as one who has plenty of overcoming to do myself, plenty of dying to do. We need to understand the knowledge of righteousness alone is not going to cut it. Just because you know something doesn't mean you're something special. Just because you know what you've got to do.
Be doers of the word not hearers only deceiving yourselves. Just because you know? I mean that just makes you more responsible. That just means "To whom much is given much is required." The fact that you know doesn't give you higher standing anybody else it gives you a higher degree responsibility. It doesn't make you any better.
Colossians 3:12 "Therefore as the Elect of Elohim holy and beloved put on he master Yahushua's tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and what? ong-suffering. Bearing with one another and forgiving one another. Bearing with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone has a complaint against another even as Messiah forgave you, so you must also do. You have to. You do too, like He did. That's the spirit-filled life brothers and sisters. No matter how evil the other person is, whether it be a total stranger, a friend, a family member, our own spouses, our children, whoever! We must be willing to suffer and get off our high horse and realize we haven't treated Yahweh any better than they're treating us and yet he forgives us and the very thing that we so freely expect to receive we're not even willing to give
if we're not willing to be long-suffering. See bitterness and unforgiveness is really rooted in pride. You're assuming you have the rights to something you don't necessarily have the right to. And when another person does the wrong thing and me get angry about it we're in essence saying, "Well if I was that person I wouldn't be acting that way." But if you really lived their life and lived the things they did experienced the things that they did and ent through the same things they went through are you really so sure you wouldn't be doing the same things they're doing? Really?
Are you really so sure that's the case?
We need to be humble, brothers and sisters we need to be clothed with humility so many times, maybe even every time, our anger is rooted in selfish pride. We think we deserve something better than what they're getting, then what we're getting I should say. Are we really just so righteous we don't deserve to ever, ever, ever, suffer?
Excuse me, but the most loving, righteous man who ever lived came on this earth two thousand years ago and they hung him on a tree.
Oh Yahushua, well Yahweh, you know, allowed Him to be killed and tortured but of course He wouldn't want us to be unhappy or have to suffer, right?
You see how weak we get, we think we deserve things. I tell you what, right now the only thing I deserve is hell. That's it! That's all I deserve is hell. I don't deserve anything else but the lake of fire.
Yahweh's given me what I don't deserve. Compassion, long-suffering, patience, entleness, goodness. It inspires me to want to be like that toward others. Yahweh's number one chief concern is not your own personal happiness right now. eally. His chief concern is that you would walk in his image. You would step down off your little thrown and realize we only deserve weeping and gnashing of teeth. We need to put on Yahushua. Put Him on the throne and exhibit His life to everyone we meet. So you're feeling a little anger inside about something that you know, ask ourselves "Might I think, do I think I deserve something better than this? Do I hink I have a right to something I don't have the right to? When we ask ourselves that we may realize really it's just our own pride driving our anger. And many times ou know, we look at the former life we had realize the sinner that we were, well you know what, other people are sinners too; just like you were. You were once a slave in Egypt right?
So treat the stranger with love, how you would want to be treated while you were a salve in Egypt. They're susceptible to the same passions and fleshly things we are. Let's humble ourselves and remember that pit from which he dug us out.
And why did Yahweh even care to call us out? To cleanse us and purify us and give us the honor of being called his sons and daughters.
When you think of those things you just wonder why would Yahweh choose someone like me?
Paul figured it out, why he was chosen, 1 Timothy
1:14 "And the grace of our aster was exceedingly abundant with faith and love, which are in Messiah ahushua. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Messiah ahushua came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief."
He saved him. hy? I mean look, Saul was there in Acts chapter 7 verse 57 to 59 before he was a eliever, so they cried out with a loud voice "Stop the ears and bring up it Stephan ith one accord they cast him out of the city and stone him. And the witnesses aid down there clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul and they stoned tephan as he was calling on Elohim and saying "Master Yahushua receive my spirit." And he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice "Master do not charge them with this sin." When he said this he fell asleep. while he's being stoned to death he's saying "Do not Who was there? Saul. Do not charge them with this sin and so Stephan charge them with this sin." Can you say that about someone who's hurting you
"Do not charge them with this sin?"
Could it be that Yahweh honored that prayer Stephan was speaking and that prayer prompted Yahweh to be willing to forgive Paul which ended up being a powerful witness to Gentiles? Could it be our mercy and forgiveness toward others causes Yahweh to bring others that we come in contact with to the place of repentance and faith in Yahushua? Isn't that our ultimate goal? Yahushua chose Paul to be like the Gentiles and he said this in the following verses. He said "For this reason I obtain mercy that in me first Yahushua might show all long-suffering."
As a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. The Gentiles were people with a lot of sin in there life. And Paul's experience will be a testimony to Yahweh's awesome long-suffering and mercy. And Paul's life and conversion were a demonstration that Yahweh can save even the worst of sinners. If Paul could be cleansed of that terrible thing where he killed one f the believers in Messiah Yahushua and Yahweh is willing to save him? The Gentiles who were terrible, terribly lost in sin, could look to Paul and say "You know what, if that guy can get grace maybe there's hope for me." And it is hope for you and it's hope for all of us.
Are we willing to be a Stephan when we're being hurt? Are we willing to be a Yahushua who said "Father forgive them they don't know what they're doing."
It was that kind of long-suffering. Long-suffering of our Master that became our salvation. Can we not see His example and be that way toward others? Sometimes it's much easier you know to be long-suffering toward another person when we sit and think about all the mercy you're going to need on Judgment Day. Think of the person right now with whom you have the greatest difficulty extending long-suffering to. Think about who they are. Think about what they've done to you. Maybe there's somebody in your own life and when you think about them you just get this high-octane Grrrrrr. Alright, now think of your own life. Consider what kind of mercy and long-suffering you're going to need on that day of judgment. Doesn't it get kind of a little easier when you think about your own helpless state without the great mercy and compassion and long-suffering of our Master Yahushua? Doesn't that compel you to want to be merciful, long-suffering and just let it go? And ask Yahweh to not charge them with this sin and to forgive?
You're right; some people will take advantage of that. Yahweh knows how that is. Scripture says, "Let grace be shown to the wicked yet he will not learn righteousness." Some people just won't, no matter how much of Yahushua is flowing through you they won't.
And they'll continue even in a land of uprightness deal unjustly and will not behold the majesty of Yahweh. You know if they take advantage so be it. You know? But you, Yahweh will bring your example to them and say "That man, that woman, that person, they showed you what the Savior was like. You knew that's the way you should be and you were not willing to be that way. You were not willing to humble yourself.
Now again, I'm not saying purposely walk into a situation we know for a fact someone's going to hurt you. Or if there's a way of escape of an abusive situation that you should not escape.
Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. My friends if every time you get within 10 feet of a person they pop you right in the nose, there's nothing wrong with staying to 15 feet away. It's not necessarily bitterness it's just saying "Well I mean it's like Yahushua said "They persecute you in one city, flee to another." If you persecute me within 10 feet I'll go 15 feet away. So, it's not bitterness and unforgiveness, its wisdom and knowing the other person is going to be tempted to do something he shouldn't do. But if there is someone who wrongs us and it just happens, we can meekly show them, Yahushua's example and attitude. But let's not be like those who receive grace but then not learn to do it ourselves and then not learn to show grace to others and then not learn to walk in righteousness.
You know some people have this concern that well you know Yahweh is so long uffering, and full of grace and mercy that you don't have to even be worried bout whether you sin or not. Wrong. If you're too concerned you're a legalist. Wrong. We have to seek and walk in righteousness. We have to repent the goodness of Yahweh results in our repentance. When we think about it doesn't have a good father have mercy on his children who were desiring to do well but perhaps would fail.
But the children who take advantage of mercy, who take advantage of the grace of the Father who is good to them and don't care, should be rightly punished and disciplined.
Different attitudes. Let's be among those who remember the long-suffering of Yahweh and it compels us to repentance and it compels us to allow His light to shine through us. So then, my beloved brothers let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of Elohim. emember that fathers, mothers your wrath toward your children will not produce ighteousness in them. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls.
I can think of two or three things that, I have some children who are older in their id-twenties that I can think of two or three things that I allowed myself to choose anger. I thought "Well this is a really important, I'm going to go ahead and correct them with anger. I'm going to justify it because it's so important. Maybe a little anger will help them realize how important it is to make sure that they're not doing these things." And they became adults and those two or three things
were things they were still doing because the wrath of man does not produce to righteousness of lohim. I wonder what would've happened if I chose to sit down with them and reason with them and be gentle with them and say "I know you're struggling in this area, can I ray for you?" I wonder what would have happened.
They may have overcame it nd even today I sometimes wonder do I have enough humility in my correction oward my daughters? I don't think I do. I don't. I'm ashamed to say that. I don't hink I have enough. Do I come to them and say, "You know, I got overcoming to do oo, your Daddy isn't perfect either, here's something I'm seeing." I don't think I do that enough. I want to be a doer of the word not hearers only and deceive myself. I don't want to be as one who is just, you know, if someone's a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like a man observing his natural face in the mirror. He observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. This message is for me just as much as anybody brothers and sisters let's be among the blessed. Let's walk like Yahushua walked. Let's willingly bare the wrongs of others, lets walk out humility. There's no reason to be angry. Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath as we seek Yahweh. Being hearers and doers as he reveals our imperfections. We've looked into the perfect Law of Liberty tonight or today. Let's not forget the man we saw in the mirror or the woman we saw in the mirror. If it was not Yahushua in that mirror brothern then you need and I need to repent.
For we not only need to seek his ways in regards to keeping Torah on the Sabbath and those things but the weightier matters of the law; justice, mercy and faith living as Yahushua did. Living a life that says I'm willing to suffer for the wrongs that I am experiencing. I will bear that; Yahushua will bear that in me. For it's no longer I who live, Messiah who lives in me." And they may come "Well I'll have to lay down my whole life for him." If I've endured the persecutions rejections and insults of men, have shared a long-suffering of Yahweh with others in the ultimate height of my suffering is reached when I lay down my own flesh as Yahushua did and commit myself completely to Yahweh. You know what? I'll already be in the habit. And it will be a lot easier for me because I'm used to bearing the marks of Messiah.
Because I have this treasure in my earthen vessel that the excellence of the power may be of Elohim, not of us but of Elohim being hard pressed on every side yet not crushed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken struck down but not destroyed. Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Master Yahushua that the life of Yahushua also may be manifested in our body. Actually the next verse says "For we who live are always delivered to death for Yahushua's sake." Are you willing to be delivered to death for Yahushua's sake? Do you regard and reckon yourselves as dead already? You can't offend a dead man. Have you seen a dead man get angry? I haven't seen it yet.
Let's bear the marks of Yahushua, especially those of us who bear his name his character, his life, his love, his attributes.
Are we willing to die now and die daily?
That's my question today.
Let's be that city on the hill that can't be hidden
and be his children. True children of our Father in Heaven. Let's pray, Oh Heavenly Father Yahweh Kadosh,
Kadosh, Kadosh be your great name.
Father we desire that Yahushua in the kingdom life he lived will be manifested in us. Forgive us Father Yahweh where we have not been forgiving. We let it go. We set aside all bitterness and clamor and
anger. We pray. Yahushua would manifest Himself through us where we are not able to bear it he will bear it through us.
I pray Father that you would strengthen each one of those within the sound of my voice, especially those who bear your name to manifest your wonderful character and bear the fruits of Your spirit.
For truly yours is the kingdom and power and glory and Majesty.
We want to bear your kingdom, your glory, your majesty. We choose to forgive those who have wronged us and Father we now ask if you would forgive us in any areas we have failed to live up this message today.
And keep us from the enemy who seeks to steal, to kill and to destroy. For we want Yahushua to be seen in this world today. Yahweh, let Him be seen in our every thought our every word and our every deed in Yahushua's great name we pray hese things.
Glorify your name.
Amein