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Day 32 of counting the omer. The number 32 in Hebrew is written with the letters lamed and beth, which form the word leb, meaning "heart"
WORD FOR TODAY “are our hearts any different today?”: Jdg 8:33 Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god.
WISDOM FOR TODAY: Ecc 1:9 That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.
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Exodus 17:15, “And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner.” A banner does not always need to be a flag, it may be an alter that reminds us who our Creator is.
A RENEWAL OF THE SPIRIT
There was once a church that was boasting new bells in their belfry. Since the church was built many decades ago, the congregation has held off on its plans to hang bells in a large open space above the sanctuary. Due to limited funds, the congregation suggested mounting a cross in the space or a series of liturgical banners that could be hung according to the seasons of the church’s year. In conjunction with the church's 25th anniversary, the church finally found the means to spring for three bells to fill the vacant hole. They are beautiful. However, you will never hear these bells peal on a Shabbat or any other day of the week for that matter. It does not have to do with city ordinances or complaining neighbours opposed to bells playing hymns. It has to do with the fact that the bells are not real. They do not have clappers. Although they look authentic, they are made of resin. At some point in our lives, most Moshiach followers can relate to those bells. We see, speak and do things that are representative of our faith in our Moshiach, yet deep inside we no longer sense the power of YHVH living inside of us. Through my years, I sense that many believers I come across, are in need of a spiritual renewal. They need a fresh injection of the Power of YHVH in their lives so that they can accomplish what He has called them to as faith-based social media platform owners and as individuals. And the place that they really need to start is with a renewal of Ruach HaKodesh in their lives. Let us do some soul-searching by considering three questions that are vital to Ruach Kodesh renewal in our lives. The first question we need to consider is this:
1. DO I NEED HOLY SPIRIT RENEWAL?
In other words, is this even an issue for me? Do I already have it together in this area or do I need some help? I have put together four questions that should help us each to make that decision.
A. Am I eager to serve YHVH? Am I spreading the truth of Gospel in my faith-based social media platform and in my life because it is something I feel obligated to do or because it is something I desire to do for YHVH? “But now we are delivered from the Law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” (Romans 7:6) In this verse Paul is making the distinction between those that do things for YHVH because it is legally required of them, and those that do them because the Spirit of YHVH is empowering them to serve. Where are you at on this? If serving YHVH is drudgery for you, you are in need of Ruach Kodesh renewal.
B. Am I enjoying time with YHVH? Do you hesitate to approach YHVH in prayer? Has quiet time become boring time? Do you look forward to the times when you can spend time in YHVH’s Word? “For the Kingdom of YHVH are not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in Ruach HaKodesh. For he that in these things serveth Moshiach is acceptable to YHVH, and approved of men.” (Romans 14:17-18) Our experience with YHVH is meant to be enjoyable and fulfilling. If you are not experiencing that right now, you are in need of Ruach Kodesh renewal.
C. Am I growing in relationship with YHVH? “As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby.” (1 Peter 2:2) This word “desire” means that this is something I long for and what I am to long for is the Spiritual Milk or the Word of YHVH. Do you find yourself in a state of desiring that time that you have with YHVH in His Word and growing closer and closer to Him? If not, you are in need of Ruach Kodesh Renewal.
D. Am I a follower of Yeshua example for others? Let us put this another way; would you be thrilled to know that every person in your faith-based social media platform was living life exactly the way that you do? If each and every one of us had the same level of commitment to YHVH and to His Church that you display in your life, would we all be better or worse off? “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Moshiach.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) If we are experiencing a life empowered and enriched by Ruach HaKodesh, we should be able to say “Yes, others should follow me as I am following Moshiach.” If we cannot say that, then we are in need of Ruach Kodesh renewal. Identifying our need for renewal is not difficult. If you answered “No,” to even one of these questions, you are in need of Ruach HaKodesh renewing your life. The next step is more difficult, but very much a double thing. We need to ask and answer our second question if any of this is going to do us any good.
2. HOW CAN I BE RENEWED?
I would be shocked if less than 80% of you on any faith-based platform have not come to the conclusion that we all need renewal; in fact, I think the number should be higher than that. The fact is that each and every one of us, even I, needs renewal on a regular basis. This is nothing to be ashamed of; rather, it is good to just admit it, get it out of the way and then move on to becoming the person YHVH wants us to be. “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.” (Colossians 3:10) Renewing the true faith-based social media platform is like remodelling your house: it takes longer than you hoped; costs more than you planned and makes a bigger mess than you ever thought possible. This applies as much to any faith-based social media platforms as to us as individuals. If you are reading this, hoping for a quick fix or easy solution, you are not going to get it. Rather, I am going to give you four necessary steps that need to be repeated every single time we find ourselves moving away from our relationship with YHVH.
A. Renew my commitment: I can remember as a kid in the Pentecostal church, that periodically someone would come forward at the end of the service and recommit / rededicate their lives to Yeshua Moshiach. These were people that were already saved, yet they had not been walking with Adonai as they should and coming under conviction of that, they decided to make a public recommitment of their hearts before the entire congregation. I really miss seeing that and I am not sure why people do not do it much anymore. A powerful thing happens to us when we renew our commitment to Moshiach; it is both a pledge to YHVH and a promise to ourselves that we are going to follow Yeshua as Adonai, while it can be done privately. When it is done before people, it encourages the any church to pray and to assist in the renewal process. “Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Create in me a clean heart, O YHVH; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:8, 10) To be renewed by the Spirit, I have to recommit myself to Yeshua Moshiach. If I am not committed to the process I cannot expect YHVH to bring renewal. It is not a matter of just praying to YHVH and Him giving us with a new heart; it is a matter of committing myself to YHVH and His will for my life.
B. Surrender my will: In the early 1990’s, in South Africa, a group of young people participated in an eight-year anti-smoking-campaign program. The results were not impressive. Of the group that went through the program, 25, 4% in the year 2000 smoke regularly. And of the control group, those who did not participate in the study; 25, 7% in the year 2000 smoke regularly. The education campaign hardly made any difference at all but the world believes education is the answer to any culture's problems. For some of them, it is, for many, it is not. People do not need new ideas or new techniques but a new power within. It is only by surrendering our wills to Ruach HaKodesh that we can be renewed before YHVH. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of YHVH dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Moshiach, he is none of His.” (Romans 8:9) Now to be under the Spirit’s control implies what? That I am not controlling myself. Until I voluntarily turn over control of my life to Ruach HaKodesh I will continue to be defeated by sin, depression, lack of vision, lack of hope and will not be able to function as the fully empowered child of YHVH that YHVH wants me to be. If you were in the midst of a battle, with no weapon and the enemy was standing beside you with a gun to your head, what would you do? If you had any sense at all, you would put up your hands in surrender and voluntarily place yourself under the control of the opposing army. The good news is that when I surrender to YHVH, He does not put a gun to my head, nor does He wish me harm, He is waiting for me to admit that I have lost the battle by trying to accomplish victory in my own strength and I am now ready to turn it all over to Him. When people raise their hands to YHVH in prayer or when they sing praises to His Name, is it not that what they are symbolizing? We are saying, “YHVH, I turn it all over to You.” “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) What happens when you drink too much alcohol? You surrender your mind, body and will to it, don’t you? You come under its control. YHVH says, “Do not do that,” instead “let Ruach HaKodesh fill and control you.” Like alcohol, Ruach HaKodesh will take over your mind, body and will when you surrender to Him, but unlike alcohol, the results are all positive. Ruach Kodesh renewal must be preceded by a surrender of our will to YHVH.
C. Live in obedience: Henri Nouwen once said: I cannot continuously say no to this or no to that, unless there is something ten times more attractive to choose. Saying no to my lust, my greed, my needs and the world's powers takes an enormous amount of energy. The only hope is to find something so obviously real and attractive that I can devote all my energies to saying yes… One such thing I can say yes to is when I come in touch with the fact that I am loved. Once I have found that in my total brokenness I am still loved, I become free from the compulsion of doing successful things. Nouwen discovered that it was not difficult to say no to the things that drew him away from YHVH, when He knew that He was completely loved by YHVH. I have pondered this and I think that he is right, in many ways our acts of disobedience are driven by disbelief that YHVH loves us. We act out because, for whatever reason, we do not accept YHVH’s love for us. When we know that YHVH is committed to us, we live as people who are loved, which are clearly demonstrated by our obedience to Him. In other words, when we do not think we are loved by YHVH, we react by living in a way that does not demonstrate love for Him either. When we fully accept His love, we react by living in obedience to Him. “If ye love Me, keep My Commandments.” (John 14:15) And what is the result of obeying His Commands? We find ourselves living lives of renewal. “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) Yeshua knew, Paul knew and now we know, that our obedience to YHVH’s Commands results in life lived in the Spirit. And when we are living in accordance to YHVH’s Instruction, we are better able to relate to Him on a spiritually defined level. In other words, when I am obedient to YHVH, I am becoming more like YHVH and better able to understand and relate to Him, because I better understand Who He is and where He is coming from.
D. Hear the Spirit’s Voice: In the book of Revelation, Yeshua gives instruction to seven different churches. The one instruction that goes out to each one is that they must listen to the voice of Ruach HaKodesh. What is interesting is that while each is given the exact same initial instruction, a different promise is given to three of them. Ephesus: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the church; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of YHVH.” (Revelation 2:7) Smyrna: “He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the church; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Revelation 2:11) Pergamum: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the church; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” (Revelation 2:17) Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea are given no particular promise, just told to listen to the Spirit. Now my point in all this is that YHVH has instructed His Church, which includes individual members of any faith-based social media platform, to listen and understand the Spirit. When we do that, a promise is given, each of which pertains to the life to come. But what is also true, is that when we listen to the Spirit in the here and now, we also benefit by being renewed by the Spirit in the here and now. I cannot go into all of the verses, but let me summarize: The Bible promises that if I listen and understand Ruach HaKodesh, He will empower me to be a witness for Yeshua Moshiach. He will be there to be my Counsellor and my Guide. He will teach me the truth and He will lead me into righteousness. He will teach me how to live in a way that is pleasing to YHVH. The fact of the matter is: I need to open up my ears and my heart to what Ruach HaKodesh is saying if I want to be a man or woman after YHVH’s own heart. When I allow the Spirit to enter into the secret place of my heart, I will become a person that has the power, the ability, the conviction and the wisdom that is necessary for me to be a sold-out, high-intensity, love-driven, sin-defeating, powerhouse for Almighty YHVH. No one and I mean no one; will be able to stop me in my efforts to become all that YHVH has created me to be.
A RENEWAL OF OUR VISION
Let me quickly give you the four questions again without additional comment just to refresh your memory.
1.) Am I eager to serve YHVH?
2.) Am I enjoying time with YHVH?
3.) Am I growing in relationship with YHVH?
4.) Am I a Godly example for others?
If you answer any or all of these questions, “No” you are in need of renewal. I need to talk about the need to renew our vision for Moshiach and His purpose. Most of you will remember when you first became a believer that you were fired up with a vision to reach people for Moshiach and to see His Kingdom grow. You probably spent considerable time in prayer asking YHVH to use you for His Kingdom and to make you a strong witness to others. You saw yourself as a champion for Moshiach, proclaiming victory in His Name and defeating the enemy with the sword of the Spirit. When you heard sermons or read letters about evangelism and outreach, you got fired up and clearly understood and accepted the fact that YHVH could use you in a mighty way but somehow, over the years or months, since your conversion to Moshiach, somehow that vision has faded and become nothing more than a distant memory. You might still talk about it and you know it is something that should be important to you but if the truth be known, it is the last thing on many your minds these days. Think about this for a minute; in this last week, how much time did you spend pondering the fact that YHVH has a vision for your life and for His followers? If you are like most people, you probably gave it little, if any, thought. I want to try and help change that by letting you in on something. You are an integral part of YHVH’s plan for this world and YHVH wants to give you the ability to fulfil that plan in your life and in your church. YHVH wants us to begin thinking on a much grander scale than we have been thinking and bring to us a personal renewal that focuses on a vision for the future. There are three sentences on your outline that we are going to complete together.
1. YHVH SAYS THAT…:
A.) …I AM COMMISSIONED: When you signed up to be a believer, you were also accepting the challenge of YHVH’s mission for your life. “And Yeshua came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of Ruach HaKodesh: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:18-20) This commission from Moshiach to make disciples, baptize them and teach them to obey was given to Yeshua’ disciples more than 2,000 years ago and is still given to us today. YHVH is telling us today that we are both individually and corporately accountable for fulfilling the mission He has sent us on. This is for men, women, young people, children, elderly, married, single, widowed, divorced, it is given to everyone and no one is given a pass. The sooner we understand this and take responsibility for it; the sooner we will begin to experience the renewal that YHVH’s wants us to have.
B.) …I AM EMPOWERED: Unlike any government, YHVH does not demand unfunded mandates. Do you know what I mean? Sometimes a government will pass rules, laws or procedures that are passed down to the States, County’s or Provinces, yet there is no funding given. YHVH does not work like that, He never asks us to do anything that He does not also give us the resources necessary to accomplish whatever He asks us to do. “But ye shall receive power, after that Ruach HaKodesh is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The same power given to the early disciples is available to us today and that power comes from Ruach HaKodesh who indwells every believer. That power was specifically given to accomplish the vision YHVH had given. I can never excuse myself from service by saying that I do not have the resources necessary; YHVH promises me that He will empower me to fulfil the vision.
C. …I AM ENTRUSTED: There is a story that a young man applied for a job as an usher at a theatre. The manager asked him, "What would you do if a fire breaks out?" The young man answered, "Don't worry about me. I would get out easily." That is how we respond sometimes. "What would you do if Yeshua came back tomorrow?" "Oh, don't worry about me. I would be okay." But you are an usher! It is not enough just to get out ourselves; we are responsible for helping others get out! “But as we were allowed of YHVH to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but YHVH, which trieth our hearts.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4) YHVH has entrusted His vision to us as individuals and as a church. There is no other plan in place; YHVH is counting on you and on me to get the job done.
2. I NEED TO…:
A.) …SEE MYSELF AS YHVH SEES ME: I believe that one of the biggest contributors to lack of vision is a misunderstanding of just who we are in YHVH’s eyes. Until I see myself as YHVH sees me, I will not be able to comprehend the vision. In other words, I cannot envision my role in YHVH’s Kingdom until I envision myself as a fully equipped, loved and cared for, child of YHVH. YHVH sees me as a person that can accomplish His will for my life. He does not look at me or you as failures; He looks at us and sees people that can reign victorious in this life. I can remember when I was a kid in school, my mother would go to those parent-teacher meetings and the teacher would always say, “Your son could be a great student if he would just apply himself.” I wonder if YHVH ever looks at us like that. He is looking at us and saying, “I know that he / she has the ability to accomplish great things for My Kingdom, if he / she would just apply the promises that I have made, there would be no limits.” It is clear from the Great Commission that you read earlier that YHVH believes in us. But for some reason we many times do not believe in ourselves. I am not talking about self-confidence, self-esteem or building up a false sense of bravery, I am talking about recognizing that YHVH has instilled within us the supernatural power to accomplish His vision for the Kingdom. And when I am not seeing myself in that Light, I am denying the very promises that YHVH has made to me. We all need to take some positive steps to correct this and the first thing that we can do is continually remind ourselves that we can do what YHVH has asked us to do, not because we are so intelligent, so powerful or such wonderful people, but because YHVH is everything that He claims that He is and if He says I can do it, then I can do it!
B.) …REALIZE THAT I AM ONE PART OF THE WHOLE: “For as we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office: so, we being many, are one body in Moshiach, and everyone member’s one of another.” (Romans 12:4-5) When I first went into ministry I did not really understand this passage. I thought that if I personally preached well enough and worked hard enough, that YHVH’s vision would be fulfilled in my life and the life of the ministry. You could say that I thought everything depended completely on me. I have since learned that I am just one piece of a gigantic puzzle. Everything does not rise or fall with me or my abilities, it rises or falls depending upon whether we are each doing our part for the greater good. There are literally millions of believers throughout this world and they are from many different nations, they have many different colours of skin, they speak many different languages and belong to many different denominations. YHVH has put together a mosaic of people who, working together, will fulfil the vision that He has for His church. My and your part in the vision is realizing that we are part of the whole and that our own personal application of YHVH’s vision, combined with that of others on our faith-based social media platforms and millions of others throughout the world will manifest itself in an unstoppable force called the Body of Yeshua Moshiach. What I and you must do, is realize what piece of the puzzle YHVH has called me to be and place myself in the picture of YHVH’s overall will for His church. Paul said, “We are all one Body in Moshiach, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” (There is no room for an independent or isolationist spirit)
C. …ENCOURAGE VISION IN OTHERS: I discovered that everything does not rise or fall on me. One of the most important duties that I have as a believer is to encourage the development of vision in other people’s lives. And once that vision is embedded in your very bones, you need to spread it to others around you. If I am encouraging you and you are encouraging others around you and they are encouraging others, we will find ourselves well on the way to renewal. When I did a faith-based social media platform survey a few months back, I was pleased to find out that the vast majority of the truth platforms both understood and agreed with their vision and spreading the Gospel. Many of the platforms are doing a good job of vision casting and encouragement, but I think it is time that we take this thing to the next level. It is encouraging to know that YHVH is leading us to truth faith-based platforms where we can communicate and worship, but what is even more encouraging is knowing that the platforms will be used as a tool where YHVH’s vision for us can be implemented at an even greater level than ever before.
3. WITH MY PARTICIPATION…:
It is one thing to say we believe in YHVH’s vision; it is quite another to participate in the vision that YHVH is giving us. In my years of lecturing and ministry, people that had the most complaints were invariably the people that were the least involved in the work of the ministry. Do you know why that is? Those that sit on the side-lines and do not roll up their sleeves and help to fulfil the vision do not have the ability to focus on what YHVH is doing in our midst. The renewal process involves getting off the side-lines and getting into the game. There are no armchair players allowed on YHVH’s play field. And if I do not participate in YHVH’s plan, I cannot expect to hear a word from YHVH. The coach does not share His plays with those that are not in the game and YHVH does not speak to those that are not willing to help faith-based platforms fulfil His vision. If you are not feeling renewed in your spiritual walk today, perhaps it is because you have been standing on the side-lines for too long. The problem that we sometimes have is that we end up with a few people doing all the work for the many that do not want to get involved. My challenge for those of you that are not participating in spreading the Gospel is to start doing so today; it is not right for you to depend on everyone else to always be ministering for you, you need to do your part and YHVH expects you to do it. If every single person in the church would find his or her area of ministry and do their best at it, we would see renewal take place like we cannot even imagine. With each of us participating, four things will happen.
A.) …THE TRUTHFUL FAITH-BASED PLATFORMS WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY: Part of the great commission that Yeshua gave involves continued spiritual growth. We are not only called to win people to Moshiach, but to disciple and teach them. When you are doing your part and I am doing my part, the result is a group of fully dedicated disciples that are growing in their spiritual walk with Adonai. This stuff becomes contagious when we join together with YHVH’s vision.
B. …THE TRUTHFUL FAITH-BASED PLATFORMS WILL GROW NUMERICALLY: It is YHVH’s vision that all faith-based groups grow numerically. Over and over again throughout the book of Acts YHVH records for us the numerical growth of the church. I always find it kind of ironic when people say they prefer small faith-based platforms, because they cannot find any platform like that in the Bible! The faith-based platforms that are in tune with YHVH is growing, in fact if a faith-based platform is not experiencing numerical growth there has to be something wrong. With each one of us participating, this will happen.
C. …THE TRUTHFUL FAITH-BASED PLATFORMS WILL GROW FINANCIALLY: It is impossible to experience spiritual renewal if we are not giving financially to YHVH’s work to cover the high costs of the internet. As each person contributes as YHVH has instructed, the platforms will be blessed as a whole and each individual will also be blessed. This is YHVH’s plan and a part of His vision for the church and when YHVH is behind it we know that is going to work.
D. …THE TRUTHFUL FAITH-BASED PLATFORMS WILL GROW GEOGRAPHICALLY: Part of social media platforms plans are to expand internationally; they want to spread out as far and wide as they can as they implement YHVH’s vision. Perhaps you will be a person that they will ask to help with their new faith-based platforms as a core group and help us to fulfil YHVH’s vision. Yeshua said: “But ye shall receive power, after that Ruach HaKodesh is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) One of these days He is going to be saying, “You will receive power and will tell people about Me in England, in Africa, in Europe, to your neighbouring countries and beyond.” With your participation and mine, this will happen and we will continually experience the renewal that YHVH has planned for us. It is easy for us to get so wrapped up in plans, finances and programs, that we can lose sight of the vision that started a faith-based social media platform. While we are building a tool, it is a tool and it is not the vision itself. It is simply a means to fulfil the vision that YHVH has given to each one of us. While we must do all the work that is necessary to get the tool built, we cannot and must not lose sight of the fact that YHVH has called us to something much greater than just build a faith-based platform. YHVH has called us, all of us, to fulfil the dream that He has placed in our hearts to win people to Moshiach and to disciple them to maturity. If you do not dream that dream on a regular basis, you are in need of personal renewal and YHVH will give it to you, if you simply follow the steps above.
A RENEWAL OF OUR MINDS
The average brain weighs about three pounds. It contains about 12 billion cells. Each one of these cells is connected to 10,000 other brain cells, totalling 120 trillion brain connections. Dr. Duane Gish has observed that “the human brain is the most complex arrangement of matter in the universe.” Some have compared the brain to a sophisticated computer, but technology still has a long way to go before it can duplicate the brain’s capabilities. The brain is not only the most complex mechanism in the world; it is the most influential organ in your body. It accounts for your ability to think, remember, love, hate, feel, reason, imagine and analyze. Everything we see, hear, touch and smell is recorded on the lobes of the brain. Your brain elevates you high above the animal kingdom; it literally sustains your life. If you are brain dead, you are dead because the brain supervises everything you do from the involuntary beat of your heart to the conscious decisions of daily life. It also houses your intuition, your conscience and your sexuality. It both houses and actually constitutes the mind. Proverbs 23:7 summarizes so well the over-arching significance of the mind as far as YHVH is concerned in this poetic declaration: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he….” We may rightly conclude that the human mind is the single most important entity in Creation for as it goes, so goes the person and the society in which he or she lives. Who and what we will be then must have its origin and sustenance in the mind. What we sanction or suppress mentally determines whether we take the high road less travelled or the low road which is far more popular. The degree to which we attain the mind of Moshiach will determine the quality of life we enjoy as well as the eternity we will experience. When we train our minds to become like the mind of Moshiach Himself we will find ourselves well on the way to personal renewal, because we will begin to think, act and do things like Yeshua Himself. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of YHVH.” (Romans 12:2) The point of this is simple; the pattern of conformity to the world is broken and a person’s life is transformed only if and when the mind is renewed. Whether this renewal of the mind will take place depends upon our daily mental discipline. Unquestionably and repeatedly the thought life is identified in Scripture as the very source of godliness or worldliness; holiness or unholiness. Our thinking may be dominated by Ruach HaKodesh or the evil one. We make the determination, we give the permission and we exercise the control. Our thought life is the real battleground and it is in our thinking that the most basic spiritual struggle takes place. In the Old Testament and the New Testament, the government of the mind is the condition which brings about spiritual transformation at the deepest level of a person’s being and determines whether we are holy and pleasing to YHVH. There are two basic areas that we need to really concentrate on, so that we can truly experience personal renewal.
1.) THE GOAL: TO OBTAIN THE MIND OF MOSHIACH:
We have read about personal renewal through Ruach HaKodesh and through Vision; now is the clincher, if I am going to be thoroughly and completed renewed, my mind must be like Moshiach’s mind. I want to spend the rest of my life developing the mind of Yeshua Moshiach. There are three things I need to do continuously for that to happen:
A.) I NEED TO KNOW MOSHIACH: When Paul writes to the Corinthian church He mentions the deep secrets of YHVH and quotes the prophets to show that no one can really know the depths of YHVH’s mind, yet there is one exception to this rule; those who have the Spirit of YHVH can understand the mind of YHVH. He puts it like this: “For who hath known the mind of Adonai, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Moshiach.” (1 Corinthians 2:16) This “mind of Moshiach” that Paul talks about is able to discern the things that YHVH Himself is thinking. This, to me, is one of the most astounding statements in the Scriptures; that I, a mere human being, have the ability to understand what YHVH is thinking. This promise is not made to just anyone, but only to those that know Moshiach through the indwelling of Ruach HaKodesh. In fact, just a couple verses earlier Paul stated this: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of YHVH: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) While the concept here is profound, my point is very simple; to possess the mind of Moshiach we begin by knowing Moshiach through the salvation experience. If you are a Moshiach follower you can have the mind of Moshiach.
B.) I NEED TO SURRENDER CONTROL: I have been mentioning this control issue frequently. And that is because I know this is probably the biggest hindrance to most of the believers experiencing personal renewal. We allow many things to control us; sin, our schedules, our friends, our culture, but for some reason we have trouble allowing YHVH to control us. If we just cut to the chase here, we need to recognize that someone or something is going to control our minds and it is up to us to decide who or what it will be. There are really only two choices: our sinful nature or YHVH! “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6) Notice the contrast here; it is between the sinful nature and Ruach HaKodesh. The first leads to spiritual death and the second to life and peace. Until I surrender control of my mind over to Ruach HaKodesh I will not be able to possess the mind of Moshiach in all of its fullness. This mind of Moshiach that the Bible talks about is something that seems to move in and out of our possession in varying degrees. Let me put it this way: When I am fully surrendered to YHVH I am able to discern His will and His way with clarity and precision. When I am not fully surrendered to YHVH, the things of YHVH are no longer clear to me and I am not able to understand His will for my life and might even begin questioning YHVH’s intentions for me and the world in which I live. Many of us live life trying to live right dab in the centre of this. We allow our sinful nature to control us most of the week and let YHVH take over on Shabbat or when we are at some type of worshipping function. But I cannot hope to obtain and continuously possess the mind of Yeshua Moshiach on a part-time basis; if that is the case I will always be torn between having my way and letting YHVH have His way. YHVH cannot bless us unless He has us. When we try to keep within us an area that is our own, we try to keep an area of death. Therefore, in love, He claims all. There is no bargaining with Him. If I am going to exist in the heavenly realms, thinking heavenly thoughts and being able to discern the heavenly mind of YHVH, I must give up the sinful nature which is controlling me. I do that, when I let go and let YHVH take over.
C.) I NEED TO WAGE WAR WITH EVIL: Some in our modern culture have trouble accepting the fact that there really is a satan and that there really is a demonic army that exists in the unseen world. I even hear believers sometimes making light of these things as if they are too sophisticated to take such a view of the supernatural world. Those who deny these beings exist, are the most vulnerable to their attacks. The most volatile battle zone in which Satan wages war is the battlefield of the mind; the last thing that he wants is for us to possess the mind of Yeshua Moshiach. He attacks us through images that make us lust for sex, power and money; he attacks us through words that cause us to doubt our YHVH Elohiym we worship; he attacks us through circumstances that leave us vulnerable and weak and sometimes his attacks are successful and cause us to give in to his purposes. “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank YHVH through Yeshua Moshiach our Adonai. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of YHVH; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:23-25) Paul describes his internal struggle as a “war with my mind.” It is a war that we are all too familiar with but what can we do? How can we overcome? How can we win when Satan is bombarding us? Let me give you a simple strategy: when a sexual image, lust or greed of some kind enters into your mind, do not give in for even five seconds before mounting a counterattack with the mind. I mean that! Five seconds! In the first two seconds we shout, "No! Get out of my head!" In the next two seconds we cry out: "O YHVH, in the Name of Yeshua, help me. Save me now. I am yours." Good beginning but then the real battle begins. This is a mind war. The absolute necessity is to get the image and the impulse out of our mind. How? Get a counter-image into the mind: Fight, Push, Strike and do not ease up. It must be an image that is so powerful that the other image cannot survive. For example, have you ever in the first five seconds of temptation, demanded of your mind that it look steadfastly at the crucified form of Yeshua Moshiach? I am going to use an example here with men in mind, but you women can apply your own areas of mind attack in its place. Men, let us say you have just seen a see-through blouse inviting further fantasy. You have five seconds. "No! Get out of my mind! YHVH help me!" Now, immediately, demand of your mind, (you can do this by the Spirit) demand of your mind to fix its gaze on Moshiach on the cross. Use all your fantasizing power to see His lacerated back. Thirty-nine lashes left little flesh intact. He heaves with His breath up and down against the rough vertical beam of the cross. Each breath puts splinters into the lacerations. Adonai gasps, from time to time He screams out with intolerable pain. He tries to pull away from the wood and the massive spikes through His wrist rip into the nerve endings and He screams again with agony and pushes up with His feet to give some relief to His wrists. But the bones and nerves in His pierced feet crush against each other with anguish and He screams again. There is no relief; His throat is raw from screaming and thirst. He loses His breath and thinks He is suffocating and suddenly His body involuntarily gasps for air and all the injuries unite in pain. In torment, He forgets about the crown of two-inch thorns and throws His head back in desperation, only to hit one of the thorns perpendicular against the cross beam and drive it half an inch into His skull. His voice reaches a soprano pitch of pain and sobs break over His pain-wracked body as every cry brings more and more pain. Now, I am not thinking about the blouse any more, I am at Calvary. And I am winning the spiritual battle because through YHVH’s help I have replaced the sinful image in my mind, with the image of the one who defeated sin on my behalf.
2.) THE OUTCOME: PERSONAL RENEWAL:
This is what I have been writing about; when we are filled with Ruach HaKodesh and we are in agreement with YHVH’s Vision and are in possession of the Mind of Moshiach, we will experience personal renewal at a level we have never even imagined before. And what is the result? Three things I am going to write you in short:
A.) SATAN IS DEFEATED: Through personal renewal, relying on YHVH’s power, I can completely and utterly destroy the work of Satan in my life. That does not mean I will not be tempted, but the temptation will not be given into because I am now experiencing something much greater than anything Satan has to offer me.
B.) GUILT IS REMOVED: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” (Psalm 19:13) How would it feel to go through life with absolutely no guilt on your conscience? We can know exactly what it feels like when we have been renewed. YHVH promises us that not only will every sin be wiped from our record, but that the guilt will go out the door right along with it.
C.) YHVH’S WILL IS DISCERNED: The closer I walk with YHVH, the more I know YHVH, the more I know YHVH, the better I understand YHVH, the better I understand YHVH, the more I think like YHVH and the more I think like YHVH, the more able I am to discern His will. With the mind of our Moshiach, I am free to be the person YHVH created me to be!
Nick Liebenberg has placed a series of posts on https://social.ttn.place/TTNPG which is in my view a very in-depth description of what is needed from us to spread the Good News through social networking.
As you can imagine, this subject is close to my heart and one I want to press onto everyone's heart. We don't all have time to be in full-time ministries, but do we use our spare time each day to reach out to others?
How do you see yourself in this as a task set out for every believer?
1. Be a Place of Belonging (Inclusion)
✅ Identify Needs: Actively listen to others—recognize their struggles, questions, or loneliness. Respond with empathy.
✅ Prioritize Needs: Offer practical help (prayer, resources, or encouragement) before sharing spiritual messages.
✅ Meet Needs: Show love through actions—answer questions, share uplifting content, or connect people with support.
2. Build Authentic Relationships
✅ Engage with Non-Believers: Reach out to those outside the faith; share your journey without pressure.
✅ Offer Identity in Messiah: Remind others they’re valued and redeemed by YHWH.
✅ Give Purpose: Encourage members to use their gifts (writing, prayer, teaching, etc.) to serve.
✅ Show Love: Comment, message, or pray for members—make them feel seen.
3. Share the Gospel Boldly
✅ Reveal Yeshua’s Power: Post testimonies, Scripture, or discussions about Messiah’s transformative love.
✅ Invite Responses: Ask open-ended questions (e.g., “How has faith changed your life?”).
Part 2: Grow & Give Back
4. Commit to Learning
✅ Study Scripture: Compare teachings shared on the platform with the Bible.
✅ Apply Knowledge: Share how you’re living out a verse or lesson.
5. Serve & Support
✅ Use Your Gifts: Volunteer to moderate, create content, or mentor new members.
✅ Give Financially: Contribute to platform costs if able (see Malachi 3:10).
✅ Encourage Others: Comment on posts, pray for requests, and celebrate victories.
Part 3: Invest in Others
6. Actively Participate
✅ Post Edifying Content: Share devotionals, prayers, or discussion topics.
✅ Guide Newcomers: Welcome them and answer questions.
✅ Pray for Members: Join prayer chains or send uplifting messages.
Part 4: Get Involved!
7. Fulfill Your Role
✅ Discover Your Gift: Ask, “How can I serve here?” (Teaching, encouraging, organizing, etc.).
✅ Take Responsibility: Don’t just observe—comment, share, and initiate conversations.
✅ Urgency: Remember—lives are at stake. Your engagement could lead someone to Messiah!
Call to Action
🔹 Today: Comment on a post with encouragement.
🔹 This Week: Share a Scripture or testimony.
🔹 Ongoing: Pray for 1 member daily and message them.
“You were created to spread the Gospel—your platform needs YOU!”
I want to encourage everyone to go to the Group (https://social.ttn.place/TTNPG ) and read the posts regarding Social Media for the full picture Nick explained in his posts.
Created OOMs 👉
menagerie beasts with spiralling interlocked eyes in danger stripe formation carouse in a fortean scene of a play, in the style of Paul Klee
{prompt for AI generated found OOM}
#dailycreatedoom
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