2023 MONTHLY ARTICLE

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December Article 2023

     CHANUKAH


 

The most wonderfully joyous holiday of Chanukah occurs this month. In light of the horrific events of the past few months, the message and lights of Chanukah could not come at a more appropriate and necessary time. For Chanukah, its essence represents the ability to withstand oppression and evil, coercion and bigotry, and to believe in the improbable miracles that have always marked Jewish history and advanced the cause of all human civilization.

The story of Chanukah is made up of two radically different components. One is the war, the battles of the ruling dynasty of Judea, the blood spilled, and the casualties sustained, the human sacrifice and tragedy that always accompanies the struggle for Jewish survival and a better world for all humankind. The other is the miraculous, supernatural event of the small pitcher of oil that supplied oil for eight days while physically holding oil only for one night. So, Chanukah is the culmination of man and Adonai in the joint effort to improve our world and society. There is no message that could be more fitting for us this Chanukah season than this particular one.

Our current struggle, whether here in the United States or in Israel, where we face an enemy that has yet not reconciled to the right of the Jewish people to exist in their homeland. Or in America where terror stalks our land and requires of us these same two elements that make up the Chanukah story. 

There are no cheap victories in the cause of human progress and freedom. “According to the effort and the pain is the reward,” was one of the most favorite sayings of the rabbis of the Mishna.  The Jewish people, out of all nations should realize by their history how costly the battle for good and fairness and tolerance and independence truly is. Risk, sacrifice, devotion, integrity and tenacity are the weapons of the success of the Chanukah story. These are our weapons of success today as well in our war against terrorism in Israel and America and worldwide.

 Light in the world cannot be judged as being man-made alone. We do not have enough fuel by ourselves to light eternal lights that burn on for centuries so as we light and view the flames of Chanukah in this troubled year, we should take heart and hope in the eventual triumph of good over evil, of holiness over profanity, of the few over the mighty many, of the original story of Chanukah repeating itself  “in our time as in those days.”  So, may I wish you, my friends, a happy, joyous, meaningful, memorable, and latke/doughnut filled Chanukah.

  Al

Messianic Senior Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua





November Article 2023

     IT IS GOOD TO PRAISEI


Psalm 92:1-5 TLV

A psalm, a song for the Shabbat. It is good to praise Adonai and to make music to Your Name, Elyon, to declare Your love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night, with a ten-string harp, with resounding music on the lyre. For You made me glad, Adonai, by Your deeds. I sing for joy at the works of Your hands."

After reading this Psalm today, it made me wonder why the Bible repeatedly tells us to give thanks to the Father Almighty? After thinking about it for a while, I think the main reason is because HE deserves it. He created us and keep’s our hearts beating. SO, trying to claim our life as our own amounts to the lack of appreciation and ingratitude. Adonai our God created us to love Him and He also sacrificed a lot and delivered us from our sins. Expressing thankfulness to Him not only honors Him but acknowledges all that He has done for us.

Most of us, or I should say many of us, admit that most of our prayers are self-centered. We come with a list of our requests, but how much time do
 we spend thanking Adonai for what He has already accomplished in our lives? The above Psalm advises us to begin each day by focusing on God’s loving kindnesses and faithfulness. Even though sometimes, even in the past 24 hours might have brought us pain or even difficulties, (such as the current Israeli conflict), we can still and must express our appreciation for His presence as He carries us through.

Please continue to pray Psalm 122:6 “Pray for the Peace Of Jerusalem.”  
 Let us take time to remember what Adonai has done for us and express our thanks especially during this coming Thanksgiving Season. Try to be creative in ways to show gratefulness by singing praises and joyfully worship Him. When we keep our focus on Him it’s amazing how His goodness can sustain us all day long. 

  Al

Messianic Senior Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua

 

 

October Article 2023

     CRY OUT TO ADONAI

At some point in our life, we will be hit with great turbulence. The way the world is today, we might be currently experiencing a storm that feels like there is no end in sight. Sometimes the situations may be so serious that we think and wonder how we’ll ever get through it. We think we have probably tried everything possible to solve whatever it is but to no avail. 

If we want a solution, we need to do exactly what Psalm 107:28 tells us to do. Cry out to the Lord in your trouble. Psalm 107:28 (TLV) “So they cried out to Adonai in their distress, and He brought them out of their troubles”.

Adonai is sovereign over all things, especially storms, and He uses them for His good purpose. He knows sometimes that we must reach the end of our own resources before we turn to Him. It seems that then and only then, if we call out to Adonai/Elohim and submit to him and to His authority over the situations, He will answer in His perfect timing and guide us to safety.

Remember, the goal is not only to escape the turmoil or turbulence but to learn to depend on Him all the time instead of ourselves. Trusting Adonai’s sovereign will to handle what we cannot, will eventually lead to gladness, thankfulness and praise for His loving kindness and intervention on our behalf. The ultimate and wonderful results will be that we can tell others how faithful our God has been, so they can also trust in Him.

Psalm 107:31-32 “Let them (us) praise Adonai for His mercy, and His wonders to the children of men. 32 Let them (us) exalt Him in the congregation of the people and praise Him at the assembly of
 elders.”

Al

Messianic Senior Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua

 

 

Septermber Article 2023

     ADONAI ALONE DESERVES WORSHIP


For us jealousy isn’t very attractive, BUT for Adonai/Elohim it’s a holy attribute. He is unhappy when we worship anyone or anything besides Him. He deserves our praise.

When reading the Old Testament, we may not understand why people would bow down before idols --surely, they didn’t think that these things were living and powerful. Yet, we make kind of the same mistake, placing too high of a value on money, relationships, and the like. Though they are not bad in themselves, these things can become the focus of our importance and worship. That’s why our heavenly Father is jealous of our heart.

There are two reasons Adonai/Elohim our Father in heaven won’t tolerate our misplaced devotion. The first, and a very important thing, is He deserves Glory! And second, there is nothing better for us than His love. Praising Him above all else is actually in our best interest. So, when our hearts don’t belong solely to Him, He will use discipline and reminders, so we will prioritize Him.

This month as we approach Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, we contemplate and notice where we spend our time, money and what dominates our thoughts. Even if our interests seem good on the surface. We must pray about what might be an idol in our lives. Confess any misplaced affection and desires and ask Adonai/Elohim for help in making Him the object of our devotions. 

Consider James 4:4-8 TLV:

4You adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that in vain the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit which He made to dwell in us?” But He gives greater grace. Therefore, it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded!  

Al

Messianic Senior Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua

 



August Article 2023

    GOD IS IN CONTROL

 

How many times have you asked yourself, “WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN?” Honestly it is a question that many of us can’t answer, but I believe that our Lord in heaven has a purpose for everything. Our faith is in the fact that the Lord is sovereign.

When we are in the middle of a hardship or trial, it’s hard not to resist crying out to the Lord, “God, why is this happening?” Sometimes we get an answer and sometimes we don’t. But you can be sure nothing happens by accident.

Romans 8:28 TLV tell us 28 Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose."

Looking in advance at how the Almighty will work all things for our benefit can at times seem difficult, if not impossible. Our limited human outlook often doesn’t allow us to grasp His greater plan. But the Father’s good handiwork is everything --- even our pain, hardships and losses. He turns our mourning into gladness and provides numerous blessings and benefits from our darkest hours.

As Believers, we must accept that things won’t always make sense to us.

Isaiah 55:9 TLV tells us “For as the heavens are higher than earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

He sees the beautifully completed picture. We can definitely rely on the fact that the Father is in total control no matter how wildly off-kilter our world may seem to be at times.

Isaiah 45:5-7 tells it all.
“I am Adonai—there is no other. Besides Me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known Me, so they may know, from the rising to the setting of the sun, that there is no one besides Me. I am Adonai—there is no other. I form light and create darkness. I make shalom and create calamity. I, Adonai, do all these things."

Al

Messianic Senior Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua

 


July Article 2023

                                               SANCTIFIED

Have you ever thought about this? Are you set a part for God’s purpose? When you as a Believer place your faith in our Lord Yeshua HaMachiach, you become sanctified or as the Bible describes it, set a part. It is not like salvation. Salvation takes place in a single moment. Sanctification is a lifelong process. It is something that we need to and must work on all the time. As the Word of God and the Ruach HaKodesh work in our lives we are set apart or sanctified. In other words, we are progressively maturing in our faith.


Romans 8:28-30 (TLV) tell us.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.


Our basic character, conduct and even our conversations with people  should be reflection of our Lord Yeshua. On our own, we’d probably place too much emphasis on our behavior and get all caught up with following rules and rituals that look Christian like without really reflecting Yeshua. We must thank our heavenly Father who works through His Word – The Bible - to Renew our minds. BUT we need to co-operate in the sanctification process by filling our minds with Scripture.


We’ll never be perfect this side of heaven, but with the Lord’s help and guidance, He’ll shows you how to think and act so you can walk in a manner worthy of the calling.  

 

Al

Messianic Senior Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua

 


JUNE ARTICLE 2023


                                                   BE SET APART

   

We as believers should meditate on the scripture of Romans 12:1-3:

I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy, acceptable to God—which is your spiritual service. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given me, I say to everyone among you NOT to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think—but to use sound judgment, as God has assigned to each person a measure of faith."

When we as believers place our faith in Yeshua HaMachiach, we become sanctified (holy and set apart) for Adonai’s purpose. Unlike salvation, which takes place when we accept Yeshua as our Lord and Savior, sanctification is a lifelong process. As the Word (Yeshua) says and the Ruach (holy spirit) works in our life, we are being sanctified.  So, it can be said we’re progressively maturing in our faith.

In Romans 8:29 (TLV) Paul tells us about the purpose for us that are believers.             

“For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters."

Our character, conduct and conversations should reflect our Lord Yeshua. If left to us, we’d place too much emphasis on our behavior and get caught up following rules and rituals that look like a believer without truly reflecting our Lord and Savior Yeshua. Thankfully, the Father has given us the Holy Spirit who works through His word to   renew our minds. BUT we must co-operate with the process of sanctification by filling our minds with Scripture.

We’ll never be prefect on this side of eternity, but the Almighty shows us how to think and act as scripture tell us  in Ephesians 4:1 (TLV) “Therefore I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you were called”.

Al

Messianic Senior Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua

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MAY ARTICLES 2023

DISAPOINTMENT

Can you name a single group that Yeshua did not disappoint? The Zionists and some of His disciples wanted Him to kick out Rome and take the earthly throne. The Saducies and Helenists wanted Him to leave well enough alone. The Essenes wanted Him to initiate Temple reform and remove the Saducian mob from power. Pilate wanted Him to submit to him and cooperate. 

One day, Yeshua announced to His disciples that He was about to be handed over to the authorities to be crucified. Peter, who had just been admonished for declaring Yeshua to be Messiah, started rebuking Yeshua. Can you imagine how hurt, frustrated and scared he must have been? "What do You mean they are going to kill You? You are our rabbi! You're the Messiah for whom we have been waiting generations! You can't surrender to them! You have to save Israel!"

Yeshua seemed to have no problem rebuking him for this. But what was the rebuke specifically? "You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but the things of men."

We are called to disappoint people. When someone wants something of us, for us, or from us but it isn't what Adonai wants of, for, or from us, we should be perfectly content telling them "no."

Practice praying something like this: "Adonai, please help me disappoint people the way You want me to disappoint them, the way Yeshua modeled for me."

Matt

Messianic Pastor

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tOO GOOD FOR SALVATION???


There is a scripture that really stands out to me; Ephesians TLV 2:1-10. I encourage everyone to read it and absorb it. The bottom line was that as believers we were destined for wrath and saved only by grace.

When Yeshua was here on this earth, He was constantly rejected by one particular group of people – the Pharisees. The most seemingly righteous or honest people of that day didn’t or couldn’t see themselves as sinners.  These religious leaders made an assumption that they had
 no need for Yeshua, when He said “10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10 TLV).” 

There are a lot of people today that think the same thing. That they’re good enough to get to heaven on their own. They don’t gamble, smoke, etc. and think they are basically good people. Surely, their good manners and deeds must outweigh their bad ones. Are they right? WRONG! In the Almighty Father’s eyes, we are ALL spiritually dead.

Ephesians 2:1-3 TLV tells us; You were dead in your trespasses and sins. At that time, you walked in the way of this world, in conformity to the ruler of the domain of the
 air the ruler of the spirit who is now operating in the sons of disobedience. We too all lived among them in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and
 the mind. By nature, we were children of wrath, just like the others. 

Pride, the killer, often keeps us from understanding the extent of our guilt. Remember sin led to HaSatan’s downfall and has infected the whole human race since Adam and Eve. We often think there is something good in us to please Adonai, but the WORD teaches us we can only be saved by Adonai’s grace.

Salvation is a gift received only through faith in Yeshua HaMachiach. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn it because any good thing we do is poisoned and defiled by the sin that is in us. Our only hope is to look to Yeshua, our Messiah, to save us. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us; 17 Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

  Al

Messianic Founding Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua

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APRIL ARTICLES 2023

Anointing of Matt

 


Shalom My Mispache (family),


There is an old saying that, "One person cannot do it all!" To expand a future vision and growth within our congregation at Ahava, on Sabbath, Saturday 3/11/2023, Paul Aldridge, Lee Tidwell (Elders) and myself anointed Matt Croswhite as Pastor for Ahava B'Shem Yeshua Messianic Congregation.

Matt has shown exceptional spiritual and leadership qualities with new ideas and visions, which I have felt was needed today to forge ahead.  Both Matt and I have agreed to be open to all suggestions and ideas brought to us by congregants. Everyday operations will remain the same.

There have been concerns by some that I am retiring. This is not so! I will remain as Founding Pastor.

Pray for Matt and Ahava. Luke 10:2 tells us “The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.”

Blessings in His holy Name,

Al Rodriguez

Messianic Founding Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua



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How Do YOU Think of GOD?

 


"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."
- A.W. Tozer

When you think of God, what is He like? Do you imagine Him to be the Cosmos Watchmaker who set everything in place with meticulous detail and released it to see what would happen? Or perhaps the Angry Tyrant looking for any reason to be angry and disappointed with you? Or how about the Kindly Old Man who is friendly and wants the best for you but can't provide any practical help? Maybe the Neighborhood Super-Dad who plays ball with his kids, pushes them on the swings, and takes them to the movies, but you know you can't have that kind of relationship with him since he isn't your father? 

Most of us don't spend much time assessing how we perceive God and whether our views line up with what Scripture says, but it is vital to our growth and health. How we imagine Him in our mind/heart has a profound impact on how we relate to Him. If we think of Him as distant and uncaring, we likely won't spent time in prayer or trying to pursue intimacy with Him. The Angry Guy in the Sky doesn't make us excited to run up and jump into His arms. 

So who is God really? What does He think of you? We can know the answer definitively. That is the primary question the Scriptures answer for us. So dig in and challenge your assumptions and preconceptions about Him!

Matt Croswhite, Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua



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March Article 2023

Praying in faith


James 1:5-8 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,[a] who gives to all without hesitation and without reproach; and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without any doubting—for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord— he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

To trust Biblical promises are true requires faith.  Now Hebrews 11:1 says: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen.  At salvation, we believe through faith that we are saved by Adonai through the sacrifice of His Son Yeshua.

Since many of us have from time to time struggled to believe that Adonai’s  promises are true --- or that they apply to us. Our faith has been mixed with, if I may, doubt. Sometimes we feel unsure of the Father’s love of forgiveness. Other times when things get tough, we question if we have been given all we need. If prayers are not answered as WE expect, we wonder whether our Lord really cares about us. In situations such as these our feeling and circumstances cloud what we truly believe.

The good news is that the word, the  bible or a scripture can help us gain confidence in times of uncertainty. It can be trusted because the author --- the Almighty Father Himself, is trustworthy. As we study the pages, the Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit works through our doubts and the promises of Adonai
 begins to sink in.

Remember, Yeshua himself asks us and invites us to bring our burden of doubt to Him. We can trust that He will give us rest as Matthew 11:28 says: "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

   Al

Messianic Senior Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua




February Article 2023

“ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD”


When we look at Romans 3:23, "All Have Sinned and Fall Short of the Glory of God," this is the general character of all mankind. So, what does this verse actually mean to us? The first word I would like us to focus on is “All.” This means there is no one left out. Right before this verse, Paul states there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. This means that every person ever born on the face of this earth has fallen short of God’s requirement, making us all sinners.  

Just in case you are wondering, how this is possible? You must understand what Adonai’s requirement IS. His requirement is not to be measured by scales where you balance out the good and the bad. His requirement is measured by perfection. You must do everything right according to his law, one hundred percent of the time. Here is what He said in James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole Torah but stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 

Let me ask, have we or you ever broken at least one of God’s laws? (It’s okay to say yes because we both know the answer.) Since this is true, then we, and I include myself, are guilty. Adonai’s requirement is not that we keep most of the law but all of it.  When we break one law, it is the same as if we have broken all of them. For this reason, we are all sinners because there is not one of us who has kept the entire law perfectly, except for our Lord Yeshua. 

If we ever wonder “How can we have eternal life?” there is only one answer: through our faith in Yeshua HaMachiach. John 14:6 is very clear when Yeshua said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.  When we trust in Yeshua and surrender our life to Him, He becomes our personal Lord and Savior.

Let me ask, have we or you ever broken at least one of God’s laws? (It’s okay to say yes because we both know the answer.) Since this is true, then we, and I include myself, are guilty. Adonai’s requirement is not that we keep most of the law but all of it.  When we break one law, it is the same as if we have broken all of them. For this reason, we are all sinners because there is not one of us who has kept the entire law perfectly, except for our Lord Yeshua. 

If we ever wonder “How can we have eternal life?” there is only one answer: through our faith in Yeshua HaMachiach. John 14:6 is very clear when Yeshua said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me."  When we trust in Yeshua and surrender our life to Him, He becomes our personal Lord and Savior.

  Al

Messianic Senior Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua



January Article 2023

Trust & Perserverance


Have you ever looked at someone and thought, they are so lucky or their life so easy? This last year brought us here at home some problems and trails. In reality, no one has a problem --- free existence. James1:2-8 CJB describes life’s trails as universal. We all face times of trouble.

James1:2 2 Regard it all as joy, my brothers, when you face various kinds of temptations; James regarded trials as inevitable. He said when, not IF you face various trials --- trials because they are used to produce patience. Patience is the ancient Greek word hupomone. This word does not describe a passive waiting but an active or working endurance (strength).

James1:3 for you know that the testing of your trust (faith) produces perseverance (patience).  Trials don’t produce faith, but when trials are received with faith, it produces patience. Yet patience is not unavoidably produced in times of trial. If difficulties are received in unbelief, complaining and grumbling, trials can produce bitterness and discouragement. 

 James1:24 But let perseverance do its complete work; so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing. The work of patient endurance or strength comes slowly and must be allowed to have full bloom. Patient endurance is a mark of the person who is perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James1:5 5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach; and it will be given to him. In trials, we need wisdom a lot more than we need knowledge. Knowledge is just raw information, but wisdom knows how to use it. Someone once said that knowledge is the ability to take things apart, BUT WISDOM is the ability to put things together. 

James1:6 6 But let him ask in trust (faith), doubting nothing; for the doubter is like a wave in the sea being tossed and driven by the wind.  We need to notice that not only must one come in faith, but one must also ask in faith; and this is where the prayers of many people fail. 

James1:7 Indeed that person should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, The one who doubts and lacks faith should not expect to receive anything from Adonai. This lack of faith and trust in Elohim also shows that we have no foundation, being unstable in all our ways.

James1:8 8 because he is double-minded, unstable in all his ways. To ask Adonai but to ask Him in a doubting way, shows that we are double-minded.  

  Al

Messianic Senior Pastor

Ahava B’Shem Yeshua

 

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