HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE A TRUE FOLLOWER OF MESSIAH?

Good morning from here in Kenya.

Yesterday was a very rough day and it has been a strenuous night as our son has been very sick….

It has been an evening of prayer…. But also listening…. Hearing from Hashem.

The other day I posted a teaching asking the question what is in our own heart?
And now today I am going to ask another poignant question.
I truly hope this teaching reaches someone today.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE A TRUE FOLLOWER OF MESSIAH?

 "  All who are led by G-d's Spirit are G-d's sons."    Romans 8 verse 14

The title of this message poses a candid inquiry ; How do we know if we are actually a true Messianic believer and follower ? If we were to bring this case to court, How would we defend that we are a genuine Christian or Messianic believer ? It is not by believing certain things, Getting our doctrines in order or checking the right boxes. It is definitely deeper than that !

We cannot argue that because we prayed a prayer many years ago, that makes us saved and locked in as a true follower. Interestingly, nobody in the 4 Gospels, Book of acts or the Epistles ever prayed a prayer to become a Christian or a Jewish follower of Messiah. Although as a Messianic Bible teacher, I have had the joy and privilege of seeing people come to faith in Jesus / Yeshua and praying with them this is not what makes a person a true believer and follower; At least it never did in the New Testament Brit Quodesh.

To become a true believer and follower, It requires a change of heart that recognizes that we are what we are – a sinner, powerless, weak and separated from Hashem. Then, we acknowlege that Yeshua HaMashiach alone, by His death on the torture stake, satisfied the judgment of G-d for our sin. We make a personal decision to turn from ourselves and trust Adonai. Period. That is all. This is what we are reminded every year through the feast of unleavened bread and passover and 1st fruits.
This is why messiah said do this in remembrance of me.

A subject most spiritual leaders seem to ignore ….. On the day of judgment….. Who will testify for us ? Will we stand alone and present our ” good deeds ” as merit for reward ? Will the accuser stand up and display the evidence of our unworthiness to live in a new Jerusalem ? Or will the Spirit Stand with the Son and proclaim our adoption complete and our welcome assured ?

Rav Saul/ Apostle Paul tells us, ” When you believed ,you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Ruach HaQuodesh/ Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our and heritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession to the praise of His Glory” Ephesians chapter 1 verses 13 and 14. The moment we believe in Adonai, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Romans 5 verse 5 says ; ” ….. G-ds Love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” The Indwelled Spirit creates within us an appetite for things we never had an appetite for before, a hunger and thirst after righteousness.

How do we know that we are a true follower ?
The evidence a person is a true follower Is not because somebody told us. Remember half brother to Messiah James Tells us ” faith without works is dead ” It is the testimony of the works of the Holy Spirit in us and through us that has changed us and turned us into a new creature. There are different ways to prove we are a Christian or Messianic believer and follower……. But one of the most important ways is the Spirit testifying about us. Paul wrote, ” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s Children” Romans 8 verse 16. May our identity be found as children of Adonai G-d of Avraham, Yitzhak and Yisrael.

Our prayer
Heavenly Father thank You at the moment of my belief, The Holy Spirit the Ruach Ha Quodesh came to dwell within me. Grow in me a continual hunger and thirst for righteousness. In the Name above all names Yeshua HaMashiach Amein