4.17.25

Good morning!

Last night at our Q&A, I announced that it was going to be my last night here in Ft. Walton Beach, until it wasn't :-) Today is the last day and tomorrow morning I'll drive back to Michigan.  Unless...

Life changes doesn't it? Sometimes those changes are convenient and other times they are not. Either way, we always move forward toward our goal, knowing God directs our steps (Prov. 3:5-7).

Though unexpected life events may offer us a temporary reprieve from our regular schedule, time never stops ticking! And once it's gone,it can never be purchased back (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5). There's nothing positive about killing time here.

As we head into the 5th day of counting the omer, let's think about our spiritual journey for just a moment (Song 3:1-4). For every person who has been baptized into Jesus The Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach, they get the privilege of making daily decisions of walking in obedience or disobedience to the heavenly instructions given to us in Scripture. We can either submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKadosh or grieve and quench the Spirit (Eph. 4:30). It doesn’t matter whether it is a big instruction or the teeny-tiniest, each act of obedience in faith/emunah is accounted to you as righteousness (Deut. 6:23-25; Rom. 6; Rev. 19:7,8).

We have all been called to be virgins, in the spiritual world (2 Cor. 11:2) and called to be Holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:15,16; Lev. 11:44; 19:2; 20:7). This calling grants us the privilege of walking in agreement with Him (Amos 3:3). Every step of the way Yeshua is interceding for us that we will finish the journey strong  and ready to receive the prize of our high calling (Heb. 7:25; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Matt. 16:24-28). The Spirit is leading, teaching, abiding in and aiding us (John 16:23; Rom. 8:26) and if God/Elohim is for us, then who can be against us (Rom. 8:31)? The Spirit and the Bride, in preparation for the wedding feast of the Lamb, are inviting people to come and drink from water of life freely (Rev. 22:17). The call is there! The support is there! Now it’s time for the correct mindset followed by action to get there!

When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, individuals with a world-renown faith (Rom. 1:8), he spoke to those who had identified with the blood of the Lamb in chapter 5. In chapter 6, he deals with identifying with Yeshua's burial and resurrection through baptism and the choice we make to pursue life or death. Chapter 6 & 7 is directly connected to the journey of counting the Omer, the battle for obedience within. Chapter 8 takes us into our covenant calling where we are to recognize the purpose of Yeshua’s death, burial, resurrection and the prerequisites to have the position of ruling and reigning with Him in the future Kingdom. The details of this lifestyle are to facilitate the righteousness of the law/torah in and out of our lives to testify to the world that we are walking in the Spirit and not the flesh (Rom. 8:3-8).

As you continue counting the Omer, a simple act of obedience, there is a beautiful call and work going on the inside of each of us (Phil. 1:6; 2:12,13). Fears are replaced with courageous decisions. Purpose is revealed. And the Spirit of God is ready, willing and able to help each of us overcome those areas in life that keep us ensnared in Egypt (Matt. 26:41).

Each day we are faced with spiritual life or death decisions (Deut. 30:19; Psa. 119:30; Prov. 8:36; John 6:68). Choosing an obedient life leads to intimacy with the Lord our God/Yahweh Elohim, while missing the mark, through sin laden choices, leads to separation/death from that intimacy. Each day we get to choose...Life or death? Death or life? Hmmm...

Once we’ve been baptized into His death and raised to walk in the newness of life (Rom. 6:4) we get to choose our path. The best choice comes as a result of you reckoning yourself to be dead with Christ and alive to God (Rom. 6:11). If I don’t live that spiritual reality in my daily walk (Rom. 6:13), I’ll quickly succumb to the old man lifestyle of disobedience serving ‘Master Sin’ (1 John 3:4) →action of sin (Gal. 6:7-9) →death (Rom. 6:16, 23).

You, however, by the grace of God are not going to make the wrong choice (Rom. 6:14)! Instead, by faith, you are going to submit to ‘Master Obedience (Rom. 6:16). An obedient servant (Rom. 6:17,18) → righteous actions (Rom. 6:16,18)→ holiness (Rom. 6:19) → fruit of holiness (Rom. 6:22) → life for the coming age (Rom. 6:23).
We were all slaves in 'Egypt' (Ex. 13:3; Deut. 5:15; 15:15; 16:3; 24:18). And for those counting the omer, it's easy to recognize that there are areas of our lives that are still ensnared with Egypt. However, regardless of where you stand...with or without God...We will always continue as slaves, but In Messiah Yeshua, we get to choose which Master we will submit to. I was once a slave, but now I get to, by choice, choose to be a bond-servant. Can people tell which Master is yours?

Keep counting with anticipation towards the 50th day and a mini-jubilee for your own life! He’s working for you a far greater weight of glory than you can imagine!

Shalom!

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