“To Live is Yahshua and to Die is Gain”
Philippians 1:21
A Teaching and a Prayer to Willingly Suffer with Yahshua (Jesus)
“Being caught up in the reality of prophecy and the reality of its unfolding before us can be such a preoccupation that we forget our call to work out our salvation with fear and trembling””
We are watching biblical prophecy unfold very quickly; perilous times are upon us. It is written, “..everything that can be shaken will be” except the redeemed sold out remnant who are solidly established by faith in Yahshua (Jesus), standing on the immovable rock of their salvation (Hebrews 12:27).
The wise and spiritually alert are reassessing and reinvesting their lives, energies, talents, finances etc. into eternal treasures. They are reprioritizing the focus of their attention and affection, looking upward, preparing for the coming King of kings and His Holy Kingdom. There is a whole lot of shaking going on, causing a lot of different emotional reactions. Yahshua (Jesus) advised us, “where your treasures are there will your heart be” (Matthew 6:21). Those whose hearts are longing and eagerly waiting for our Bridegroom Savior will shine as a beacon light of faith and peace in the midst of pandemic terror, dismay, and despair. The blood redeemed Bride will be the only ones who will truly rejoice in the midst of this ever increasing shaking and desolation coming. Isaiah heard and recorded this, “The earth is shaken violently. The earth trembles … For its wrongdoing is heavy upon it, And it will fall, never to rise again…” Yet, listen to the righteous, “Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. For You have turned a city into a heap, A fortified city into a ruin; … It will never be rebuilt. Therefore a strong people will glorify You …” (Isaiah 24:19-20,25:1-3).
“We must become more like Yahshua who set His forehead like flint when He knew He was on His way to Jerusalem to be crucified””
We need to be excited to see our Savior’s words and the prophet’s and apostle’s words unfolding so quickly—pointing to the times truly being the last days. Some say the last hours. Some might say the last minutes that we have left on this Earth as we know it. This reality of being aware of the prophet’s words is vital, “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place …” (2 Peter 1:19). The light is to lighten our path as we follow Yahshua (Jesus), who is the One who leads His sheep out of this doomed world into His kingdom. However, in this huge outpouring of prophetic revelation of the Scripture, and the political times that are unfolding, we must become more like our Savior who set His forehead like flint when He knew He was on His way to Jerusalem to be crucified. Yahshua (Jesus) knew He had a work to fulfill on this earth and no fear of what was coming could stop Him for the “joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2).
Being caught up in the reality of prophecy and the reality of its unfolding before us can be such a preoccupation that we forget that the flesh is needing crucifixion. We are called to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” as we “make every effort to be found pure, spotless, blameless, and holy” (Philippians 2:12, 2 Peter 1:5-8). This is more important than ever because we do not have a lot of time to get our bridal garments ready before we see our Bridegroom. So the prophecies are wonderful to stir us up to the reality of the times but what are you doing with the little bit of daylight and peaceful times that are left before all hell truly breaks out on this earth? More and more lives are going to be martyred and the cost to follow Yahshua (Jesus) will become even greater worldwide.
“We are to pour out our lives “as a drink offering” so others can live because the abundant life of Yahshua (Jesus) is being magnified in and through our crucified carnal nature””
Do you want abundant life? If yes, know that it means suffering death to your fleshy nature. We are to pour out our lives "as a drink offering" so others can live because the abundant life of Yahshua (Jesus) is being magnified in and through our crucified carnal nature (2 Timothy 4:6). Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:21, “… to live is Messiah and to die is gain.” We must get to that point, dear ones, where to live is Yahshua (Jesus) Messiah, and to die is gain, gain, gain and more gain! If we cringe when we hear the word “die,” then we are not candidates to really be His disciples. Suffering with Yahshua (Jesus) means death to self and flesh and all its desires, hopes, and dreams because He alone becomes our “exceedingly great reward” (Genesis 15:1).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I have been enveloped in the pride of my own understanding, in my own flesh, in my own self-justified ways. Yahveh (LORD), what You see in my heart does not line up to being a true, born-again believer who suffers with You, who walks as Yahshua (Jesus) walked, and who has Your interests over my interests at heart. Yahveh, we are at the last hour; no one knows when Yahshua will come for our souls, to “…give to each person according to what they have done” (Revelation 22:12). You want me to fully give my life to You afresh with a new understanding of what it means to be Your son or daughter.
Yahveh (LORD), I want You to lead and guide me. Please forgive me for my selfishness, for being afraid to suffer, for being marked in Your sight as a coward. Forgive me for being ashamed of You; forgive me for not speaking about You and Your Word to others. I want to enter that narrow gate that so few will enter (Matthew 7:13). I beseech You, through Yahshua (Jesus), to help me strive with everything to enter that narrow path into Your righteous eternal kingdom. I want to be victorious; I want You to be pleased and say, “…Well done, my good [and faithful] servant!...” (Luke 19:17).
Yahshua (Jesus), I know You are coming soon and that time is of the essence; help me to use my time for Your glory and Your kingdom. Forgive me for fritting around and wasting time. I ask Your Spirit, to lead me into all truth. Forgive me for not having a love for the lost. I acknowledge that I am so selfish that I rarely care about others’ souls, not to the degree that it should consume me and cause me to die to my flesh so that You can reach the lost through me. I ask You to give me Your love, compassion, and a desire to seek and to save the lost through the power of Your Spirit.
I ask Your Spirit, Your Ruach, to fill, lead, and empower me to bear the identity of my Savior, and to count it a joy to be worthy to suffer with Him. Forgive me for what has been. Thank You for the blood of Yahshua (Jesus); I give my life to You. Help me in my weaknesses, and perfect Your power in my weakness ( 2 Corinthians 12:9). May I have many souls to bring into Your kingdom. Help me to never lean on my own arms of flesh, but in all my ways to acknowledge You and You will make my paths straight (see Proverbs 3:6). May You blot out the label “coward” from my soul. May you write upon me: “More than a conqueror through Yahshua Messiah (Jesus Christ).” In Yahshua’s name, halleluYAH!
