Fanning the Flames by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

March 18, 2023 No comments Article

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” (Hebrews 12:29).

One of the first Christian songs I ever learned was Pass it On. It starts, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going…” That song came up for me this week as I thought about the fire that was kindled over eight years ago in Israel. In a store called Shorashim which means “roots,” the LORD told me that my Jewish father died but my Jewish roots never died. It has been an amazing journey since that word. It has led to a return to school to work on a Doctor of Ministry degree in Messianic Jewish studies and the production of two documentaries to fight antisemitism. Tomorrow I will be returning to Israel again with television friend, Destiny Yarbrough, to co-produce a documentary on Bridging the Gap in the Holy Land. It’s a look at how both traditional Jews, Christians and Messianic Jews are bridging the divide between each other.

However, jumping into the fire of a new calling has not been easy. Going back to Israel after having been there less than two months ago is somewhat overwhelming, especially since I fractured my arm there in January. Meanwhile, school is like a part-time job, in addition to other responsibilities. When the work seems mountainous and I am not sure I can make the climb, I ask, Am I really supposed to be doing this? That’s when ADONAI adds some fuel to the fire, and any doubt I have burns up.

G-d’s fire has been a repeat message for me over the past couple of weeks. I pay attention to patterns of three. It’s as if the LORD is saying “The fire of this calling I’ve placed on your life is growing and will be evident to others.” This week, I attended our in-person doctoral cohort. One of the classes I am taking this semester, as promised, is a lot of work. We have had hundreds of pages of reading and also had to prepare three oral presentations with PowerPoints for this week. However, the hard work was all worth it, and sitting in this class under the teaching of Messianic Jewish authority, Dr. David Rudolph, was an accelerant. The fire and passion toward my calling to Messianic Judaism was now a blaze. I could not get enough of the dialogue. It was as if G-d was confirming that school is where he has placed me in this season. As one classmate said, “It’s all coming together for you at this time.”

When the LORD spoke to Moses through a burning bush, it was the beginning of Moses’ true calling to lead the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt. As believers, the LORD has placed a calling on each of our lives. What fire has G-d ignited in you? Do you sometimes get discouraged when it gets too difficult? If you have received a spark toward a calling, ask the Lord to fan the flames and to consume you with his holy fire. It will be a bonfire seen from miles away.

Sibling Rivalry by Mayada Naami

March 13, 2023 No comments Article

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

(Genesis 4:4-5, NIV)

A few days ago, I woke up from an unusual dream. It was a dream about the story of Cain and Abel. I asked God to reveal to me why I dreamt this story. It’s not one I know well so I decided to go to the Bible and read it again. As I was reading, I discovered that Cain, the first human born, was not much different than many people today. He had a spirit of anger, which created jealousy and competition; leading him to murder his younger brother. As the story goes, Cain worked in the fields planting and harvesting crops while Abel became a shepherd. As they worked, they decided to give offerings to God to show their gratitude. The Bible tells us Cain offered “some of the fruits” while Abel offered “fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.” When Cain presented God with only some of his harvest, He was not pleased. He was pleased with Abel for offering the “fat portion” of the firstborn of his flock.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.

(Genesis 4:6-7, NIV)

The story of Cain and Abel teaches us that our attitude matters to God. After God spoke to Cain about his attitude, Cain took out his anger on his brother. He took Abel for a walk in the fields and murdered him. When Cain killed his brother, his punishment was to be exiled to the east of Eden, like his parents, and to be hidden from the presence of the Lord. He died a spiritual death when he committed the sin of killing his brother. Yet even Cain’s exile reflects God’s mercy. Despite our weaknesses and sinful nature, God is a God of grace and second chances. He allowed Cain to start a new life in a different place and marked him to prevent him from being killed by others.

What can we do when faced with feelings of jealousy and competition? We can turn to Scripture to be reminded of God’s love. Ask Him to calm your thoughts and open your heart to peace, comfort, and wisdom. Trust that He will protect you and keep His promise to strengthen you in your time of weakness. When faced with feelings of insecurity, jealousy, or rage, turn to the Lord, instead of taking matters in your own hands.

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

(Genesis 4:13-16)

Are You Stressed? By Mayada Naami

March 8, 2023 No comments Article

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

(Luke 10:38-42, NIV)

This past week has been extremely stressful for me. As I reflect on the things that are stressing me, I realize that I am distracted and spending less time with the Lord. Are you busy and allowing the noise and distractions of the world to cause your soul unrest? In a world of “busyness,” seek the Lord and His righteousness always and He will give you rest.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

This weekend, at Gateway Church, my Pastor, Robert Morris, continued his series “Divinely Human” with the story of Mary and Martha. As I sat there and listened, I related to Martha. Martha was “distracted by all the preparations that had to be made” while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to what He had to say. Jesus shares His “Divine Nature” with anyone who chooses to sit at His feet. Life can get very busy with our day-to-day responsibilities, but we must choose to spend time daily with our Teacher and Friend. As you spend time with Jesus, He changes you into His likeness. The change is gradual, little-by-little you become divinely human, reflecting His Light in this dark and busy world.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Freedom from legalism, guilt, shame, condemnation, and self-rejection. True freedom from the power of sin; selfishness, manipulation, and control. Freedom from the fear of death and what others think about us. Freedom from comparing ourselves to others knowing with confidence that Christ dwells in us. Like Mary, we can rest at His feet with peace, knowing that we are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory. Everlasting glory which can only come from the Lord, Who is Spirit.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

(2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)\

Internal and External by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

March 4, 2023 No comments Article

Jesus never forgot about his small group. While he spoke to the masses, and people were constantly seeking him out for healing, he did not disregard his twelve disciples. In Mark 9, Jesus had just healed a demon-possessed boy, one who the disciples tried to help and couldn’t. After that miraculous healing Jesus traveled through Galilee and did not want anyone to know he was there because he desired to spend more time with His disciples in order to teach them.

And boy, did he teach them. He told them he would be betrayed, killed, and three days later would rise from the dead. He instructed that whoever wants to be first needed to be last. He shared that children are important and that anyone who is not against them is for them. The last teaching was about sin, and he said if your hand, foot or eye causes you to sin, you might as well cut it off. He concluded, “It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out” (Mark 9:48). Wow Jesus, have you seen any good shows lately? “The Chosen” is a great series.

It was a heavy conversation, but Jesus cared deeply about his small group of twelve and wanted them to be ready when he physically departed the earth.

This passage was a reminder that our internal circle of family and friends is just as important of a ministry field as those we know externally.

When I thought of the love Jesus had for his disciples, I thought about our own Pearls of Promise team, now at eight, and the love I have for each of them. While we have a broad reach through our media, our small group is just as important, and I cherish the position I hold as servant leader.

In the same way, I try to live out my faith in front of family members. They know where I stand. My youngest son just sent me a photo of a beautiful piece of art in Prague where he is visiting. It depicted Jesus carrying his cross. He knew that would be meaningful to me and it also told me he’s watching and listening, and hopefully, witnessing authenticity.

Internal is every bit as important as external. Jesus knew that, and took every moment He could to teach and minister to his disciples. We cannot forget the ones God has placed in front of us to disciple. We should see it as a privilege and an honor that the Lord has entrusted each of us believers with a small group of His children to whom we can minister and to whom we can teach—just like Jesus did.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

Jesus Revolution is Here! By Mayada Naami

February 28, 2023 1 comment Article

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

(Revelation 22:16-17, NIV)

I had the pleasure of watching the movie Jesus Revolution with my Sunday Funday group that I co-lead at Gateway Church. This movie is based on the true-life story of a man that was raised by a single mother who battled alcoholism and was married and divorced seven times. His name is Greg Laurie, who today is Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship based in Riverside, California. Greg Laurie was not raised in the church—he was not a Christian until he was 17 years old—when he had an encounter in 1970 with a hippie named Lonnie Frisbee. Lonnie was a catalyst of the Jesus movement in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s; a Christian movement which began in Newport Beach, California. He was a preacher to the hippies and helped spark the rise of Chuck Smith’s Calvary Chapel and Vineyard Movement that spread worldwide. Lonnie believed and preached on the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit and was sometimes harshly criticized for his beliefs by members of his own church. He believed in an extraordinary power given by the Holy Spirit to all who believe in and follow Jesus. Some of these abilities or “charismatic gifts” are: the gifts of healing, the gift of prophecy, the discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues. These gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to people with the purpose of building up the church; the body of Christ.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

(1 Corinthians 12:4-11, NIV)

I had a similar encounter when I was reborn in the Spirit in 2011. I was not led there by a hippie, but by a woman that I met amid my personal storms. I was homeless and lost everything after my second divorce. This woman’s faith and prayers planted a seed that caused me to thirst for the water of life, Jesus. It was when I was down on my knees crying out for help that He put out His hand and said, Follow Me. Like the woman at the well, in my despair, He introduced Himself and asked me if I was ready to surrender and submit to Him. In essence, he wanted me to surrender to Him my controlling spirit and trust Him in all areas of my life. I was a believer but, until that moment, I never heard Him speak to me. In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” In 2011, I made the decision to not only believe, but to follow Him. It’s not been an easy decision—it comes with its share of challenges—but every morning since that day I wake up realizing I am not perfect, I am human and I am loved. I let go of fear, shame, guilt and all the other lying spirits that I had allowed to attach to me. This was my moment of truth when I realized that by being a follower—not just a believer—I can walk with Him and be in His presence daily.

By making this decision, I received the supernatural gifts of the Spirit that are promised to every follower of Christ. I use these gifts at the grocery store, at work, and when I am among non-believers. I want every person I encounter to see the love of Jesus within me. This is why the movie Jesus Revolution and all the other Jesus Movements are spreading like wildfire. The world needs the love, kindness, and humility of Jesus. In Jesus Revolution, Lonnie says there is an entire generation of people who are seeking God through drugs. Psychedelic spiritual experience is a lie that truth seekers are believing in their pursuit of God. Some truth seekers are searching for all the right things in all the wrong places. The only Truth—Jesus and the Word of God—is where you will find all the answers.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

(Romans 12:3-8, NIV)