Posts by JimZ

The Truth Shall Set You Apart

By JimZ, 25 December, 2009, 2 Comments

One trait that is common among regular readers of my writing is that each has a desire to be set apart to YHWH/God. “Set-apart,” of course, is a definition of “holy.” We are made holy as we are set-apart from the world and unto YHWH.

Holy for us does not mean “perfect” or “without sin.” And it certainly is not a scale of measure as in “holier than thou.” It is a state of being set-apart in mind, body, and spirit from the world, (as imperfectly as we might be accomplishing that at the moment), unto YHWH (as best we can at the moment).

That is important for us as YHWH’s people in Messiah Yeshua under the New Covenant. Being holy (again, set apart from the world, and unto YHWH) is the clear call of Scripture on our lives. For example:

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of [behavior]; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1Pe 1:15-16 KJV [modernized for clarity])

Our being holy is also the desire of Yeshua, our Messiah. This is clearly obvious in His prayer to our Father in behalf of His people:

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (John 17:14-19 KJV)

“Sanctify” means “set apart” which of course means “make holy” just as we are called to be. In His prayer, Yeshua reveals to us a supremely important key to our sanctification, or being holy. That key is truth, and that truth is identified as his Word:

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17 KJV)

It is through YHWH’s truth that we are set apart unto Him from the world. To be holy as He is holy requires us to know and act on His truth. And that requires we read His Word: the Bible.

It is not good enough to read books about the Bible. It is insufficient to rely solely on others’ opinions about the Bible (mine included, of course). All the books, tapes, videos, and programs in the world, as good as they might or might not be, are not as important as the Bible we have available to us right now on our bookshelf or coffee-table.

The others can be helpful as supplements to our Bible reading, but anyone who substitutes the others for their Bible is making a faith-debilitating mistake. It it YHWH’s Word that sanctifies us from the world and unto Himself.

The teachings and writings of others may be judged good or bad based on how close they come to His Word, but none are His Word. And it is His Word that is truth, and it is His truth that makes us holy.

Of course it takes more than just having a Bible available to us. We must read it. And that alone is not enough either. We must then take to heart and DO what we read. That is when we become sanctified, or holy unto YHWH. Knowing the truth is the doorway to becoming holy. Doing the truth is actually stepping through that doorway and becoming set-apart from the world and and unto YHWH.

Many of my readers are facing a new year in a few days. (And even if you’ve celebrated a new year a few months back, or will do so in about a month and a half…) It’s a great time to renew our decision to turn away from the world and place YHWH at the center of our lives. That kind of sanctification will require His truth, which is His Word.

Let’s give feet to our desire to be holy by making a decision to spend time everyday in reading His word. And then lets pursue holiness by spending the rest of our time everyday in doing what we have read in His Word. In that way we answer the clear call of Scripture. And we also we become a part of the Father’s answer to His Son’s prayer.

Abba Father, please hear your Son’s prayer and set us apart by your truth. Thank you for your Word, which is truth. Thank you for sending your Spirit to help us understand and do your truth. Sanctify us for your use in this world, just like your Son, so that we may follow your clear call to us as your people. We thank you and praise you for all these things, which we ask in the name of Yeshua our Messiah. Amen.
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Copyright 2009 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce and distribute hereby granted if the following four conditions are met: 1) The article must be reproduced in its entirety and the content may not be modified in any way. 2) Author’s name and copyright information, including these permission conditions must appear with article. 3) Author’s contact information (jim@jimzboran.com | www.jimzboran.com) must appear with article. 4) Article must be freely distributed without charge or financial gain.

It's All in the (Nick)Name

By JimZ, 24 December, 2009, No Comment

Many people like to be called by a nickname when it is complimentary and given in a spirit of love. Of course, not all nicknames are appreciated by those who receive them. Yeshua gave the apostles James and John an interesting nickname: The Sons of Thunder (see Mark 3:17).

Most folks I know would be very happy to have a “cool” nickname like that. A sign of the times I guess. I wonder if James and John felt that way about it though. I suspect that for them it served as a gentle rebuke of a bad character trait they apparently shared: a fierce temper.

This was illustrated in an event recorded by Luke that was quite fitting to their nickname:

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. (Luke 9:51-56 KJV)

This event, recorded only by Luke, occurred as Yeshua and His disciples were traveling through Samaria toward Jerusalem. He sent some of His disciples ahead of the group in order to make preparations for a place to stay along the way.

Some advance scouting would be necessary to find someone to receive them. There had been long-standing tension and prejudice between the Samaritans and the Jews. So it was no big surprise that they were confronted with prejudice on this occasion.

The Samaritans in the village were not about to make accommodations for a group of Jews making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. That was their way, and they had likely experienced the same at the hand of the Jews at some point or other in their own lives. But still, this would be an understandably upsetting affront to the group traveling with Yeshua.

But for James and John, men who aspired to sit at the right and left hand of Yeshua in His coming Kingdom (Matt 20:20-21), it was personal. They were infuriated by it! They turned to Yeshua and asked if He wanted them to command fire from heaven down upon the Samaritans, just as did Elias. (Elias did this? Ahh…the obligatory and conveniently misapplied scriptural justification for an act of the flesh.) One might admire their zeal, others might cheer on their faith. But Yeshua was not impressed. In fact it drew a rebuke from Him.

While James and John understood something of the Kingdom and the power of which they were involved, they had not caught on to the spirit of the Kingdom and the Kingdom-work to which they had been called.

They missed the fact that their mission was not to steamroll over everybody who provided personal offense. They weren’t called to destroy people, but to save them. To do that, they were called to lay aside their own lives. And that included their own ambitions, self-interests, and self-importance. Yeshua was setting the example they would need to follow in order to be faithful to the Kingdom.

And so He led to group into doing just exactly what Yeshua had already spelled out and commanded them to do just previously:

And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. (Luke 9:5 KJV)

Yeshua turned the other cheek and went on to another village. And we have been told to turn the other cheek also.

We have not been called to “bury” everyone that hurts our pride, ambitions, and self-importance. The spirit that seeks to destroy others, literally or figuratively, out of pride and arrogance is call “the flesh.” (See Galatians 5:19-21.) Like James and John, sometimes we don’t know of what spirit we are.

The Spirit of our Kingdom is mercy, love, longsuffering, peace, joy, temperance, gentleness, and goodness. And that is especially so when we are opposed, hated, and despitefully used. And that Spirit is given to us in part to be a blessing to the world as we go about the mission to which He has called us: saving people by pointing them to the Savior.

By the Spirit, we are able to demonstrate the love of YHWH for a lost world. We have to remember that the world in which we have been left is in fact LOST. Those of the world MUST generally act in the flesh. But we, of Messiah, do have both the choice and the command not to act in the flesh. For the world, the flesh is natural. For the Kingdom, the flesh is shameful. The flesh is not our spirit, if indeed we are of His Kingdom.

Do we know what spirit we are of when we act or react to the world in the name of the Kingdom and it’s Messiah? Let’s make sure it’s the right Spirit before we end up with a nickname we aren’t too pleased with.

Abba, Father, thank you for the examples you have provided for us to go along with your commands, precepts, and ways. May we learn from the experiences of those who learned before us in order to more quickly bring honor to your Name and your Kingdom by keeping in step with your Spirit and not the spirit of the world. We ask that you would forgive us for those times we don’t, and we ask that you would help us follow your Spirit in all our interactions with each other and with the world. We ask these things in the name of Yeshua our Messiah. Amen.

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What do you think? Please leave a comment below and let us know! Thank you.

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Copyright 2009 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce and distribute hereby granted if the following four conditions are met: 1) The article must be reproduced in its entirety and the content may not be modified in any way. 2) Author’s name and copyright information, including these permission conditions must appear with article. 3) Author’s contact information (jim@jimzboran.com | www.jimzboran.com) must appear with article. 4) Article must be freely distributed without charge or financial gain.

Plotting and Scheming, in a Good Way

By JimZ, 23 December, 2009, No Comment

Have you ever thought about how much physical, mental, and emotional energy go into planning and plotting evil every day in this world? Some folks’ lives are literally consumed with feverish desire to bring about evil and curses upon others. They dream, scheme, plot, and plan harm for others from the time they wake in the morning until the time they go to bed at night.

What a waste of energy! What a waste of life. Indeed, they have gone astray. They are lost. Their path leads to discontent, self-delusion, despair, judgment, and death. Can there be anything more foolish? Wisdom says:

Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. (Pro 14:22 KJV)

The wise quickly take this proverb to heart. But let’s not be too quick or we will miss what it really says! At first glance, our mind hears: “Don’t devise evil because bad things come of it.” But slow down for a minute. That’s not what the proverb is trying to communicate.

The proverb says that only indirectly in a rhetorical question to get our attention. What does it say to us directly? Devise good and some really good things (mercy and truth) will come to you. Very subtle difference. But very important.

It is telling us something we should set ourselves to do rather than warning us about something to avoid. (Of course we should also avoid the bad, but the real lesson here is that we should carry out the good.)

Do you want mercy and truth in your life? You can very proactively bring those into your life by devising good. What good? Good for others! This is very much on purpose, and not just as the opportunity arises.

Devise means “to form or arrange in the mind,” plan, bring about on purpose, invent or fabricate. In other words, we go out of our way to make it happen on purpose! So in this context we think up, gather resources, line up circumstances, and set in motion blessings and good for others. That requires expending physical, mental, and emotional energy in plotting, scheming and carrying out good.

“Commit random acts of kindness” is a clever saying and is well worth heeding. The Enemy hates when we take advantage of opportunities to bless others that arise at the moment. But that is the “icing on the cake.” The cake is to have an ongoing strategy to bless others.

As salt and light in the world, we are a sort of “resistance movement” for the Kingdom. While not allowing random opportunities that arise go to waste, we must have a much larger plan and strategy in our efforts to bring about good and blessings for others. That is where we need to be expending our energy.

What good can we plot in order to bring a blessing on someone we know today? This week? This month? This year? That is what should consume our thoughts from morning to night of each day. To secure mercy and truth in our own lives, Proverbs says we must wage good strategically and on purpose in this evil world in which we find ourselves. Forget about focusing on the evil around us! Let’s do something about it by plotting and scheming good and blessings for others!

Father in Heaven, thank you for showing us your way, the way of life and wisdom, and thank you for your Spirit who indwells us and makes it possible to see and to walk in your ways. Please help us to be ingenious in our plotting and scheming to do good and to bless others in your Name and for your Kingdom’s sake. Let us be innocent in evil, yet wise to see it and avoid it. May your Name be glorified and your Kingdom be built by your servants acting to bring about blessings to others, just as you do. We praise and thank you, and ask these things in the name of our Messiah, Yeshua. Amen.
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What do you think? Please leave a comment below and let us know! Thank you.

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Copyright 2009 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce and distribute hereby granted if the following four conditions are met: 1) The article must be reproduced in its entirety and the content may not be modified in any way. 2) Author’s name and copyright information, including these permission conditions must appear with article. 3) Author’s contact information (jim@jimzboran.com | www.jimzboran.com) must appear with article. 4) Article must be freely distributed without charge or financial gain.

Wise? Or Wiseguy?

By JimZ, 22 December, 2009, 3 Comments

We are asked a great question in the book of James: “Who is wise and understanding among you?” That’s important to know, isn’t it? First of all, we can figure out where we stand ourselves if we know the answer to that question. And secondly, we can recognize who to look to in order to glean more understanding leading to wisdom for ourselves.

We all want to be wise, right? Why settle for being a wiseguy? But if we get the wise mixed up with the wiseguys, we end up taking up the bad habits of others. And this is almost guaranteed because those bad habits tend to be abundantly on display and are very ostentatious. They scream in-your-face-style for attention on every street corner.

Thus we risk missing the far more subtle opportunities to gain real wisdom. The wisdom that comes in meekness. And don’t deceive yourself. Wisdom in meekness, not knowledge in conceit and brashness, is maturity in Messiah.

Thankfully for us, the question asked by James is rhetorical. He wasn’t looking for us to answer. He knew better. He just wanted to raise the question in our own minds so we could be prepared to receive the answer. And then he provided the right answer:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast against and lie against the truth. This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and self-seeking are, there is confusion and every foul deed. But the wisdom from above is first clean, then peaceable, gentle, ready to obey, filled with compassion and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (Jas 3:13-18 The Scriptures 1998+)

There’s our answer! Are we wise, or just a wiseguy? We simply need to look at our actions. Our actions are the “fruit” of our heart. How do we measure up? Knowing where we fall short helps us to know where we need to turn to Scripture and to the Spirit for forgiveness and for getting on the right path with YHWH.

If our actions can be described as: good behavior, meek, clean, peaceable, gentle, ready to obey, filled with compassion and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy, peacemaking, then we are on the right path.

If our actions demonstrate that our hearts are filled with bitter jealousy and self-seeking, leading to “confusion and every foul thing,” we must recognize that those are not coming from YHWH. According to James those things are earthly, unspiritual, even demonic.

In other words, wiseguys are firmly rooted in the flesh and draw inspiration for their activity, whether directly or indirectly, from demons. We definitely do not want to be a wiseguy!

But hold on a minute! Not so fast. Here lies yet another opportunity to separate the wise from the wise guys. Don’t fall in the wiseguy camp. There’s a trick and a trap in all of this.

The trick is to apply this question to ourselves for self-correction. We may also apply it as a part of using good judgment in determining from whom we will take our examples in godliness and maturity in Messiah. But it is never to be used to pass judgment on others. That’s the trap part.

We fall into a trap every time we apply the “James test” to everyone except ourselves and thus turn the Bible into a tool to judge others. That’s like using a screwdriver as a pry bar. No matter how convenient and tempting, don’t do it: you could very well take your eye out!

These verses were given to us first and foremost as a standard by which we may judge ourselves. This provides both an opportunity to judge ourselves before He does, and also direction to those seeking to be wise in Messiah.

But these verses do have secondary usefulness in that they may suggest to us who might serve as a good example for our own walk in Messiah. The trick is to limit this application to seeking the good, not the bad.

The trap comes when we use these as a “wiseguy” would: looking at everyone else and presuming to know they act with bad motives. Let’s leave that to YHWH. Those with understanding understand that. Those without understanding will arrive at that sooner or later. There’s no shame in getting there sooner.

We aren’t the judges of other’s motives. But that doesn’t preclude using good judgment in our relationships with others. How do you know the difference. Ahhh…that would be wisdom. Well worth seeking until finding. We just need to make sure we’re seeking it in the right places and applying the “James test” to ourselves often.

Father, thank you for your Word, and your Spirit, and for the teaching and example of your Son, Yeshua, our Messiah. We pray you would make us wise according to your ways. We pray that you would give us wisdom to recognize the “wisdom” of the world and help us to turn away from it. May we seek you, and find you as according to your promise, ever more in Spirit and in truth. And may the wisdom that comes from you work to the glory of your Name and your Kingdom, and also to the edification of us, the body of Messiah. We ask these things with praise and thanksgiving in the name of Yeshua our Messiah. Amen.

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What do you think? Please leave a comment below and let us know! Thank you.

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Copyright 2009 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce and distribute hereby granted if the following four conditions are met: 1) The article must be reproduced in its entirety and the content may not be modified in any way. 2) Author’s name and copyright information, including these permission conditions must appear with article. 3) Author’s contact information (jim@jimzboran.com | www.jimzboran.com) must appear with article. 4) Article must be freely distributed without charge or financial gain.

Seeking His Will? Look in Front of You

By JimZ, 21 December, 2009, No Comment

Many believers are admirably concerned with discerning YHWH’s will and “call” for their lives. May all believers seek these.

Finding the specific will of YHWH for our life is often a process involving healthy amounts of prayer, reflection on Scripture, and developing a sensitivity to following the Holy Spirit’s lead. If you are still seeking, seek on. YHWH has promised that you will find what you are seeking!

In the meantime, the Spirit has very specifically told us what YHWH’s general will and call for our lives involves. It’s all there in Scripture. That is the place to get started even while we still seek His specific will for our individual lives. And this Scripture is a great place to begin:

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful (tenderhearted), be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (1Pe 3:8-9 KJV)

Here’s a list from those verses revealing YHWH’s will for us:

  • Be of one mind
  • Have compassion
  • Brotherly love
  • Tenderhearted
  • Courteous
  • Blessing in return for evil/railing (Railing: To condemn or attack in bitter or abusive language.)

How are you doing on that “checklist?” We must ask ourselves: “Am I fulfilling YHWH’s will for my life right now?” If not, we need to prepare for His specific will by applying His general will to our daily lives right now.

These verses are a great place to start, in a very tangible and significant way, applying YHWH’s will and call to our own lives. Whether or not we know His will specifically for our lives doesn’t count for much if we ignore His general will.

If we’re missing what is plainly stated to be His will for our lives right now, what difference will knowing His specific will make?

Abba Father, thank you for your Word which reveals your will to us, and for your Spirit that helps us understand and walk in your will. Help us now to walk in your general will for our lives each and every day. Please show us your specific call for our lives as we seek to do all that you have already called us to do, as revealed in your Word. Thank you. In the name of Yeshua our Messiah. Amen.

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What do you think? Please leave a comment below and let us know! Thank you.

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Copyright 2009 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce and distribute hereby granted if the following four conditions are met: 1) The article must be reproduced in its entirety and the content may not be modified in any way. 2) Author’s name and copyright information, including these permission conditions must appear with article. 3) Author’s contact information (jim@jimzboran.com | www.jimzboran.com) must appear with article. 4) Article must be freely distributed without charge or financial gain.

You're in the Crosshairs, But He's the Target

By JimZ, 18 December, 2009, No Comment

Are you finding opposition in your efforts to serve Messiah Yeshua? Don’t take it personally. Even if it is aimed directly at you it is still being felt by another. And it is not going unnoticed.

Do you remember who Saul (later known as Paul) persecuted in his pre-conversion days? Here’s a reminder:

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord… (Act 9:1 KJV)

And that wasn’t an isolated event. Saul was notorious among the believers:

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem… (Act 9:13 KJV)

Saul opposed, violently and virulently, the early followers of Messiah Yeshua. He was doing all he could do to hinder and even wipe out the servants of Yeshua. But not Yeshua himself. As far as Saul would have been concerned, that was an old issue already dealt with by others. But Saul found out differently.

At Saul’s conversion, a lot is said in just a small number of spoken words:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest… (Act 9:4-5 KJV)

When confronted by Yeshua on the road to Damascus, Saul had no idea who he was up against! “Who art thou,” he had to ask. Well, come on, who else was Saul so diligently persecuting? Saul really had no clue who he was beating on. Certainly Yeshua was not even in his mind. Saul’s hand was heavy upon the followers of Yeshua. Not Yeshua Himself.

But that wasn’t the way Yeshua was keeping score. Yeshua put everything into perspective for us when He said, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest…” Yeshua had been taking it all personally.

And that makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? We’re His body. If they attack His body, they are attacking Him. Maybe they don’t have a clue about what they are doing, but they are still doing it just the same. And it is helpful for us to keep this in mind so we aren’t tempted to take matters into our own hands. Leave it to Him. He’s taking the attack personally. He will repay in the right way and at the right time.

Consider this too:

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. (Mar 9:41 KJV)

He promises to reward those who give aid to His servants. What do you think is the fate of those who work against His servants as they serve Him?

The matter is clear. When others oppose us in our service to YHWH they are not opposing us. They are opposing YHWH. They likely have no clue that this is the case, but it is still true nevertheless. And YHWH is taking it personally.

In light of that, it is best for us to just keep out of the way of their own “kicking against the goads” process. We can confidently allow them to oppose us knowing that in reality they oppose YHWH. It is His problem, not ours. And we can be confident that YHWH is personally involved and noting that the attack is against Him. When the time is right, He will move to defend His own cause.

Thank you YHWH for your Word and your Spirit that places all things in proper perspective for us, your people. Help us to understand and react appropriately towards those who oppose you by placing a heavy hand against our service to you. Help us to remember your call to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us. Help us to pray for those who despitefully use us. We know that they really are doing these things to you and and we know you are able to defend your own cause. We remain your servants and walk in your Spirit waiting and knowing that you will repay according to righeousness and just judgment. We ask these things, with praise and thanksgiving, in the name of Yeshua our Messiah. Amen.

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What do you think? Please leave a comment below and let us know! Thank you.

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Copyright 2009 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce and distribute hereby granted if the following four conditions are met: 1) The article must be reproduced in its entirety and the content may not be modified in any way. 2) Author’s name and copyright information, including these permission conditions must appear with article. 3) Author’s contact information (jim@jimzboran.com | www.jimzboran.com) must appear with article. 4) Article must be freely distributed without charge or financial gain.

Glory to the Highest

By JimZ, 17 December, 2009, 2 Comments

Do you or your congregation have a great deal of wealth on which to start new projects or to rely during hard times? Confident in the amount of influence you’ve attained? Proud of your theological knowledge? Congratulations. And be careful.

As the world goes, so go many in the body of Messiah. That’s because many are in fact fundamentally influenced by the world. And that includes the world’s system of evaluation. The world places great value on wealth, power, and intellect. And so do many within the body of Messiah.

In and of themselves wealth, power, and intellect are not a problem. The problem lies in the fact that these tools are often idolized. That is the reason they are glorified and sought after by those who glory in man. And ultimately, they are an idolization of man, because the world tends to idolize those who possess them. And that’s true with YHWH’s people as well.

Here’s a word to the wise from YHWH/God in order to put all of this in perspective:

Thus saith YHWH, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am YHWH which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith YHWH. (Jer 9:23-24 KJV (unmasked))

We do well to glory in something: the fact that we know and understand YHWH. And we are capable of knowing and understanding YHWH if we have entered into His New Covenant.

His New Covenant people have His laws written in their hearts, His Spirit which helps them understand and walk in His ways, and hearts in a softened condition to respond positively to the Spirit’s leading. That is knowing and understanding YHWH. And that is where we should find our reason to glory. Our glorying is in Him, and not ourselves.

Notice further that our verse today refers to a more mature understanding of YHWH in which we should glory: “that I am YHWH which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight.”

Those who consider the “God of the Old Testament” to be mean, capriciously judgmental, and hard have no understanding of what has been written about Him in what they call the “Old Testament.” Any who let the Torah, the Prophets, or the other Writings in the “Old Testament” speak for themselves see that YHWH does indeed, from beginning to end, delight in exercising “lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth.”

The mean, capriciously judgmental, and hard God are a construct that exists in other religious systems. It is foreign to the Bible. If it is seen there, it is only because someone imposes that picture on what is actually written.

And herein lies our opportunity to go on from “glory to glory.” We can grow in the amount of glorying we can do in YHWH by getting to know Him better! This comes from reading our Bibles.

And, if you’ve neglected reading the “Old” Testament in the past, then here is an awesome opportunity to really get to know YHWH better. You’ll be amazed at who He really is! Don’t allow the misconceptions of others to make you prejudiced against Him. Get to know Him personally. You’ll be amazed.

Glory, but put your glorying in the right place. Glory that you know personally and intimately the One who owns everything, influences all, and knows infinitely more than all of mankind has ever known put together.

Abba, Father, thank you that you have opened the way for us to know you personally and intimately, even as your children. Please help us to know you better and better, day by day. Help us to find our way into your Word everyday and help us to understand and do what we read. We ask this in the name of Yeshua, our Messiah. Amen.

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Copyright 2009 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce and distribute hereby granted if the following four conditions are met: 1) The article must be reproduced in its entirety and the content may not be modified in any way. 2) Author’s name and copyright information, including these permission conditions must appear with article. 3) Author’s contact information (jim@jimzboran.com | www.jimzboran.com) must appear with article. 4) Article must be freely distributed without charge or financial gain.

Hope in Perilous Times

By JimZ, 16 December, 2009, 4 Comments

There are a great many who are feeling the weight of hardship in their lives today. It’s not always because they bring it upon themselves. Sometimes it is a side effect of living in a society that is courting disaster.

Looking at the news headlines does not offer reason for hope. It is easy to feel as if hard-times, if not the outright judgment of YHWH/God, are going to be with us for the foreseeable future. Where can we find hope in such hopeless times? Jeremiah can clue us in.

The prophet Jeremiah was in a seemingly hopeless situation too. He was sent as a prophet to Judah during its rapidly changing final decades. Jeremiah saw the coming judgment. He called for repentance in order to avert it. He watched the warnings provided by YHWH ignored. Finally, he ended his days looking back at the fall of Jerusalem and the last of Judah’s kings.

Was he able to find hope in the discouraging, disappointing, and ultimately devastating events that were unfolding before his very eyes? Yes.

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of YHWH’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. YHWH is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. YHWH is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of YHWH. (Lam 3:21-26 KJV:unmasked)

Jeremiah’s hope is our hope too! And so we can follow Jeremiah’s example in finding our consolation: the proper perspective through which to view the unfolding societal events and judgment around us.

Jeremiah “recalled to mind” some facts which gave him hope. Here are the facts:

Even in judgment, YHWH is merciful and his compassion is evident. Just the very fact that we have not already been wiped out means there is hope. If we have a “today,” then it is time to turn to Him in repentance and faith. Some hold to the philosophy that “there is always time to change the path we’re on.” This is not true. What is true is that “today” we can change the ways and gods we follow. Tomorrow? We’re already on borrowed time. It’s foolish to push it.

He is faithful. He will do what He said He will do. He has made some promises and assurances, for good and for bad, to us. He has laid out the path by which we may come into those promises and assurances for our good. He has also laid out warning signs along the path that promise and assure us a bad outcome. Most walk the path of bad outcome by default.

We must turn to YHWH’s Word, the Bible, to be able to know the right path so we can get on it. The Bible also enables us to recognize the wrong path so we can avoid it. Each path has its own promises and assurances. In reading His Word everyday, and doing what it says, we find great hope because we find the way in which hope lies. In ignoring it, or not heeding what it says, we will find hopelessness and ultimately destruction.

The choice is ours as to which path we will follow. Either way, He is going to do what He said He would do. He is faithful to His Word. We are wise to heed it. But that is the choice left up to us. Those who do choose to pay attention will find the hope they seek.

YHWH is my portion. All we ultimately need is in Him, and so the ultimate place to find all we need is in Him. Most are gluttonous for a good size portion of life’s pie: wealth, health, power, and happiness. They begin carving out their portion as fast and furiously as they can. But not us.

Our portion is YHWH shaped. The rest may or may not be on the table for our taking. Either way is fine. And if the table is being cleared while we are still seated at it, then so be it. We already have YHWH, and that is all that is ultimately desirable.

YHWH is good to all that wait for Him and seek Him. The fact that we wait and seek means we have not yet been delivered and have not yet found. But not having found yet, and awaiting deliverance still, is not a sign of a problem.

It is just the point at which we currently find ourselves. We have His promise of deliverance in due season. We also have His promise of finding at the end of our seeking. So we can relax, wait, and continue seeking confident (having hope) in the fact that those days are numbered and that we will ultimately come out on top.

It is good that we should hope and quietly wait on YHWH’s salvation from our situation. It is a good thing, not a bad thing, to be in a position in which we must put our faith into practice. It is faith building and affirming for ourselves and also for others when we are placed in situations that require us to have faith. We must recognize why we are here. We are to find faith and fulfillment in YHWH, not our circumstances and what we are able to make of them.

So there we have it: Jeremiah’s source of hope in a “hopeless” situation. We have the same hope. Like Jeremiah, we can find consolation in our hope by keeping everything in the right perspective. His perspective.

Abba, we thank you for the great calling to which you have called us. We also thank you for the great hope you have given us. Help us to gain your perspective on events around us more and more each day. May we be found faithful and trusting in you in the darkest hours of our lives, and may we find our portion ever more fully in you. We thank you and praise you for your great goodness and mercy, of which we benefit. We ask these things in the name of Yeshua our Messiah. Amen.

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What do you think? Please leave a comment below and let us know! Thank you.

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Copyright 2009 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce and distribute hereby granted if the following four conditions are met: 1) The article must be reproduced in its entirety and the content may not be modified in any way. 2) Author’s name and copyright information, including these permission conditions must appear with article. 3) Author’s contact information (jim@jimzboran.com | www.jimzboran.com) must appear with article. 4) Article must be freely distributed without charge or financial gain.

Don't Keep It a Secret

By JimZ, 15 December, 2009, 3 Comments

David’s prayer for deliverance from enemies in Psalm 40 is more praise than petition. In it David praises YHWH/God for His many mercies while he waits for rescue. Here’s an important thought I want to bring out from this Psalm today: Let’s not keep YHWH’s greatness a secret!

I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. (Psa 40:10 KJV)

That’s David’s testimony. What about ours? Are we hiding YHWH’s greatness in our heart? I’m reminded of an old prank involving a word play with Prince Albert tobacco that came in a can.

One would ask the tobaccanist: “Do you have Prince Albert in a can?” When an affirmative response came, the prankster would reply, “Well let him out!” Do you have YHWH in your heart? Well let Him out! Don’t keep His goodness to you a secret. Tell us about it!

What if the right words escape us? We can get a grasp on them if we reflect, or meditate, on what YHWH has meant in our lives. Our Scripture today suggests a “five-fingered” shout out to Yah by which we too might grasp a handful of praise to scatter around.

Here are five areas of David’s experience with YHWH mentioned in Psalm 40:10 that he did not keep a secret:

  • His righteousness
  • His faithfulness
  • His salvation
  • His lovingkindness
  • His truth

You might consider writing those down on a scrap of paper or someplace handy. By reflecting on YHWH’s greatness in our own life in each of those areas today, we can cultivate a heart of gratitude. Don’t forget to ask the Spirit to show you His greatness and to give you a heart of thanksgiving for it. He’ll do it. And then we should share the insights about YHWH’s greatness we get with others!

In sharing our testimony of YHWH’s greatness we draw ourselves nearer to YHWH while pointing others in His direction. We also do something else important. We participate in defeating His enemy.

By peeking at the back of the Book, we can see how the “Accuser of the brethren,” Satan, is defeated:

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Rev 12:11 KJV)

See that? A part of what will ultimately prove to bring down the devil is the word of our testimony. So let’s spread those words of testimony about YHWH’s greatness toward us just as David did. It will bring us closer to YHWH and do some damage to the devil’s plans at the same time!

Abba, Father, we thank you for your great goodness and many mercies toward us. Help us today to rejoice in our hearts because of your righteousness, faithfulness, salvation, lovingkindness, and truth. And then help us to not keep those things a secret, but to share the testimony of those things in our lives with boldness and enthusiasm born of gratitude and love for you. We thank you and praise you in the name of Yeshua our Messiah. Amen.

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What do you think? Please leave a comment below and let us know! Thank you.

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Copyright 2009 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce and distribute hereby granted if the following four conditions are met: 1) The article must be reproduced in its entirety and the content may not be modified in any way. 2) Author’s name and copyright information, including these permission conditions must appear with article. 3) Author’s contact information (jim@jimzboran.com | www.jimzboran.com) must appear with article. 4) Article must be freely distributed without charge or financial gain.

Showing Up on the Right Battlefield

By JimZ, 14 December, 2009, 4 Comments

A famous slogan of the Vietnam war era was “What if they gave a war and nobody showed up?” A similar question asked by some comedy writers has been “What if they gave a war and somebody showed up at the wrong place?” While perhaps thought provoking or amusing, those events happen everyday in real life for believers everywhere.

When engaging in conflict it helps to know where the real battle lies. This way we can be sure to focus the fight where it belongs. The battles that rage around a believer are no different.

Usually those who oppose us are wrapped in flesh-and-blood. We may be tempted to become focused on the opposition represented by a person. But we must remember that our battle is not waged there.

An antagonistic person is only a weapon being used against us. It is the one wielding that weapon who is our real attacker.

And that is where we need to place our focus in the battle:

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Eph 6:11-13 KJV)

Those are well-known and important verses. Today, I want to focus on verse twelve in order to help us refocus on where the battle lies rather than how to suit up for it. I highlighted the verse for easy reference.

When we find ourselves under attack, the person doing the attacking is not the one we are fighting against. That person is a tool in the attack. We need to focus on the dark spiritual forces behind the attacker. That is where our battle really lies. That’s why we have been provided with spiritual armor and weaponry.

We must take the battle to the spiritual principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world. We do this through prayer, faithfully walking in the Spirit and in accordance with Scripture, and trusting in YHWH/God for our victories and deliverance.

But what do we do about those flesh-and-blood weapons hacking away at us? That is a part of the “hand-to-hand” combat outlined in our field manual. The strategy? Overcome evil with good:

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:21 KJV)

And we must remember a key aspect of that strategy. Yeshua/Jesus told us:

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Mat 5:44 KJV)

The enemy is making an attack upon us from behind human shields. When we aim our response back at the human we aren’t hurting the enemy. So we waste our effort. And something even worse happens.

We become a part of the problem rather than a part of the solution. We dim our light and we lose our “saltiness” when we us the weapons of the evil one: the flesh. (See Galatians 5:19-21 for a sampling of fleshly weapons).

We become a part of YHWH’s solution, and gain victory over evil, by waging good in the battles conducted against us. We must resort to lobbing the fruit of the Spirit in return for works of the flesh thrown at us. (See Galatians 5:22 for the fruit of the Spirit.)

When attacked by another, or others, we must remember where our battle lies. It is not with people. Our focus is not them, it is the dark forces manipulating them in the flesh. They are dupes of the devil. We need to lob some love, mercy, and patience “flash bombs” their way. Then we must get on our knees, get in His Word, and get serious in the real battle waging around us everyday.

YHWH will take care of the flesh and blood that rises against us. We need only focus on the battles fought in fields for which we have been equipped to do battle.

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What do you think? Please leave a comment below and let us know! Thank you.

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Copyright 2009 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce and distribute hereby granted if the following four conditions are met: 1) The article must be reproduced in its entirety and the content may not be modified in any way. 2) Author’s name and copyright information, including these permission conditions must appear with article. 3) Author’s contact information (jim@jimzboran.com | www.jimzboran.com) must appear with article. 4) Article must be freely distributed without charge or financial gain.

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