A Change Will Do You Good[1]

Pedro was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an
important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up
toward heaven, he said, “Lord, take pity on me. If you find me a
parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of my life
and give up tequila.” Miraculously, a parking place appeared.

Pedro looked up again and said, “Never mind. I found one.”

Jeremiah 48:11-13,46,47; Luke 24:1-16

“I have returned, my flower – a changed bee.”

The Emmaus Road - Luke 24:13 And behold, two of them were going on the same day to a village named Emmaus, distant from Jerusalem sixty furlongs; 14 and they were conversing one with another about all these things that had happened. 15 And it came to pass while they were conversing and discussing, Yahshua himself came near and went with them; 16 but their eyes were held so that they did not know him.

17 And he said to them: What matters are these that you interchange one with another as you walk? And they stood still with countenances sad. 18 But one, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said to him: Dost thou only dwell as a stranger in Jerusalem and hast not known the things that have come to pass in it in these days? 19 And he said to them: What things? And they said to him: The things concerning Yahshua the Nazarene, who became a man, a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to the condemnation of death and crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that it had been he that was about to redeem Israel. Yet even with all this, this is the third day since these things were done.

22 But also some women of our company astonished us; having been early at the sepulcher, 23 and not finding his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 And some of those with us went to the sepulcher, and found it so even as the women had said, but him they saw not.

25 And he said to them: O ye without understanding, and slow of heart to believe in all things that the prophets have spoken. 26 Was it not needful that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? 27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew near to the village whither they were going, and he made a show of going further; 29 and they constrained him, saying: Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day has now declined. And he went in to abide with them.

30 And it came to pass as he reclined at table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke and gave to them; 31 but their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another: Was not our heart burning within us, as he spoke to us on the way, as he opened to us the scriptures?

Heavenly Father, clearly show us the road that leads to the New Jerusalem – that we might make an intelligent decision as to where we should go and how we might get there by the most direct route. Amein. (Snyder Bible)

Change Means Struggle

One night, during a winter sleet storm (in Florida), a big yellow butterfly materialized in my office while I was working on the message. I couldn’t imagine from whence it came, but it stayed with me for three evenings. The butterfly is a symbol of resurrection, change, metamorphosis. Yellow is the color of decision. Three (nights) is the number of resurrection. If the three-night yellow butterfly was a message, then it signified making a decision to change something in the upcoming days. Though we follow Yahshua, and he never changes, his children are expected to continually change, improve, grow, sanctify.

The butterfly reminded me of the Callaway Gardens butterfly house in Pine Mountain, GA. I brought back a souvenir: a bumper sticker with a picture of an ugly, fat caterpillar, and the caption, “A Change Will Do You Good!” In school or in the garden, we learned about a worm’s struggle to become a butterfly. We also have personal experience with the labor of transformation, having tried to break out of the womb into the world (though memories of it may be locked in the subconscious).

Some have just been plucked out after a tremendous effort to break out. However we came forth, we’ve since learned about struggle as we negotiate the narrow way toward our ultimate destination. Our outward manifestations don’t come near to betraying the tribulation, confusion and sense of loss that exists within. Life is lived conflict to conflict, for life is lived change to change – from being to becoming; existence to existentialism.

We consider change and struggle in the same breath because all change represents loss of some kind: loss of the things we’re used to; loss of people we've been comfortable with; loss of beliefs that no longer jive with present reality; loss of certain ways, certain people, certain events; loss that’s incurred in the process of wrestling with the new and different. To change always means to struggle, especially if the change is for the better; and struggle always entails loss, even if change brings us gain. This is why we want to resist change so powerfully. Yet change happens, and constantly, and in every realm of life; we have little power to stop its progress; we’re crushed in its process.

Fortunately, the power for successful change is available through those who’ve been powerfully changed. Father is able to bestow upon us the ability to ride out the storms of even the most profound changes through a living trust in Yahshua Messiah, “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8), the rock of our salvation (2 Samuel 42:27). We must be willing to change with his will as his Spirit demands. Unwillingness to change for the greatest and highest good in the Father's plan is an indication of lack of faith in his providence and a poverty of belief in his existence.

Inflexibility – and inability to “roll with the punches” – make life all the more difficult to manage. Mismanagement of change leads to resentment, anger, depression, control issues, and eventually, demise and judgment. In the meantime, the change-resister is miserable and makes everyone around miserable.

I’m not saying change is easy! It’s not. It’s the hardest thing. I am saying that our Father is strong to strengthen us through the changes he desires!

Moab Resisted Change

Consider the allegory of the land of Moab, an ancient foe of Israel and Judah:

Jeremiah 48 {11} Moab has been at ease from his youth, settled like wine on its dregs; he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile; therefore his flavor has remained and his aroma is unspoiled. {12} Therefore, the time is surely coming, says Yahweh, when I shall send to him decanters to decant him, and empty his vessels, and break his jars in pieces. {13} Then Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh[2], as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence.

What’s that all about? Well, Israel was ashamed because her kings manufactured graven image of Yahweh as a golden calf. At Bethel, this abomination was worshipped. Chemosh was the fish-god of the Moabites (who were related to the Israelites through Abraham’s nephew, Lot). Yahweh vows that the Moabites will, like Israel before, become ashamed of their false worship and idolatry. Indeed, for Moab, their unwillingness to change in response to Yahweh’s command (as Israel had at this time) cost them everything, even their national identity. Yahweh the Almighty would “decant” (“pour off”) Moab and break the bottle in which she was contained:

Jeremiah 48 {46} Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh have perished, for your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters into captivity.

The Moabites sacrificed babies to Chemosh; millions of infants’ bones may be viewed in that region today. The people of Moab perished because they wouldn’t change toward righteousness and observe the merciful ordinances of Yahweh. The Almighty didn’t desire Moab be destroyed[3]; in fact, Moab was a protected people, not to be touched. He wanted to save! But the only means by which a nation or a people may be saved is through repentance – then change. Yahweh’s plan for change through his latter-day apostles and prophets will, in the end, turn out to be for the highest and best good of all involved. ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’(Anonymous). Yet for good to triumph, leaders of nations, schools and churches must change.

In fact, Yahweh makes Moab a promise:

{47} I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days.

Although Moab will be saved in the end (and indeed Moab has already been restored), had her leaders only sought the divine will in the first place, then harkened to the benevolent command, the common people would never have lost “fortunes” in the first place. Many times, we, like that ancient land, must change – that is, lose a little for the greater good – lose a little or die.

The Moral of the Story

Our world has got to change! The Creator will make His changes whether the world likes it or not, no matter how long it takes, no matter how much pressure must be applied. That’s why we’ve experienced constant war for 150 years! Pressure is being applied for change. Pressure is why we lost the World Trade Center. Pressure is being applied to the world to change. That’s why we’ve lost cities to weather – we’re living in a pressure-cooker to do right. And that’s why so many churches have closed or have gone far astray from the narrow way: some would rather die than let go a little and change toward the way of Heaven. <a The best course for me, for you, for any body of people, is to learn His will then get on board with what He is doing instead of what we think He should be doing or what we want to do. For what FATHER desires is the highest and best good of ALL concerned. Only his plan can bring the lofty peaceful world described in Holy Scripture. That’s why he’s setting up a one-world government – not under some antichrist as you may have heard – but under the benevolent rule of Melchizedek – the King of Righteousness: who will have one hand on the shepherd’s staff, the other on the iron rod. Righteousness will pour forth from New Jerusalem like rain from a hurricane in those days. Yet so many who surely know this, like Moabites, still sacrifice their posterity to Chemosh, choosing to believe that Yahweh’s Will is simply what they desire.

It’ll go so much better for all if we actively trust Yahweh’s divine plan, use the tools He’s given us to discover His will, then give in to His desire for change, then work toward his penultimate[4] goal. Yes, it’s harder than it sounds. It takes fearlessness and intentional, incarnational living – every single day a struggle – a struggle to be Born Anew.

Change in Yah Not Recognized

We must make ourselves aware of what’s changing: in our personal lives, and in the life of the assembly of (your town). On the Emmaus Road, heading out of Jerusalem, were two disciples and brothers of Yahshua – Simon known as Cleopas and James the Just (see “Who Is Klopa?”). They’d known the Master all his life, yet they didn't recognize him. He was still Yahshua, but his countenance had changed to a degree that his kin didn't expect – or, because he was dead, their minds simply rejected his presence. They knew Yahshua only as he was – not as he was becoming. Yahshua had undergone much suffering, but his Father remade him into a new likeness and called him to a new ministry in a new dimension. The old was gone; the new didn’t register.

These Emmaus travelers only perceived his identity through his uniquely familiar ministry of breaking bread. They recognized the New Man because they recognized the new thing he instituted among them. Though they recognized some features of his countenance, he had a new face of joy, a new ministry of power, he resided in a new dimension of glory. He appeared in the bread-breaking to promote a change in how all his family and followers might perceive him, themselves and their ministries to others; indeed, their entire universe.

We also must, with eyes of faith, recognize that “He’s doing a familiar thing in a new way in our presence.” As he once told his disciples, “Bring new skins for new wine, so that both the old and the new might be preserved.” He also said, “Bring out of your treasure that which is both old and new.” This is another way of commanding the continuous change that growth requires. We revere the old: tradition will always be a valuable part of who we are and how we worship. But once we rediscover our tradition and celebrate it in the new light of the Master’s resurrection, we’re then to walk in a new and appropriate direction. That means change.

Somebody said that G-d’s will for you yesterday is the devil’s will for you today. Amhn? That goes for the assembly as well as the individual!

Yahshua Is Making Changes Here

Let's try to recognize Yahshua’s new face through his ever-changing ministry in our church. We’re experiencing changes, every one of us. But Messiah is all and is in all. As we let him in the door, he’ll set the course of change – in families, in church ministries, in the lives of the desperate – who knows who and what new obedience may bring in! – changes in familiar surroundings, in worship; changes in people – a few new coming in – a few old passing on – others just traversing through. Some are considering going out because change is uncomfortable – some may have already vanished out of our sight (v.21); yet better, some are becoming visible as the Kingdom that we preach. How wonderful it is to realize that when change for the better is materializing, when spiritual progress is being made, when people refuse to quit in the process, then – there stands the Kingdom! The Kingdom wasn’t there when we looked before, but now we behold its glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

Change is particularly sensed by the messenger of Yahweh, sent to a new land with a mission and message, sent as a change agent. It’s so hard to look beyond what you’ve been taught—to reach for higher fruit – and when grasping it and eating it, heralding to other fruit-pickers how much better it is. It sometimes takes years to reject the ingrained deceptions learned in a personal Moab or a Bethel, and fully practice the new that you preach publicly and consistently. That has been a struggle. Yet truly, truly I tell you, I have seen some embrace new truths and change mightily, then become blessed for it. Believe me, some really, really have been changed – and blessed.

For others, any revelation out of the comfort zone is rejected without a second thought, no matter how it’s presented! How unfortunate and inhuman that is! One observer wrote of revelation and change in these words:

“Change is always [especially] hard for the guy who’s in a rut. For he’s scaled down his living to what he can handle comfortably and welcomes no change – or challenge – that would lift him out. The world hates change; yet it’s the only thing that’s brought progress.”

Change alone can bring our assembly forward toward a perfect imitation of the Chr-st and his Kingdom. We must at least be willing to consider changes Yahweh is offering. We’re a diverse people, yet we’re to be a united people; not under me, nor under some other person, but under a very progressive heavenly Potentate. Through the changes of the next year in joint ministry, “Our concern must [ever] be unity in diversity and not diversity in contradiction.” The progressive change we seek is diversity in unity in transition toward the highest and best good of all.

We Are Wesleyans

We are Wesleyan Christians, my friend. To be a Wesleyan means to experience the Risen Savior in a personal way yet still be corporeally united with others who’ve not necessarily experienced what we have. We’re to be open to learning and receiving new revelation and experience. Not everybody experiences justification in the same way. Not everybody believes theology in the same way. We must respect our history and tradition yet be very open to change for the better.

To be a Wesleyan Christian means to change our minds about certain prejudices we may hold against others who may not be at the same level of spiritual growth or sanctification as us. If we call ourselves by this term – Wesleyan – Methodist – let’s learn what it means now. To the traditional person or church it means having a cut and dried method – which may have been the case hundreds of years ago when there were only hundreds of Methodists. But today, there are seventy to eighty million Methodists in the world – a huge diversity of people. Now, “Methodism” is a movement known for having a significant flexibility toward what the Spirit is breathing in our presence and among our people worldwide. Many ideas you may consider to be new are only new to you.

The fact is, Methodism’s cutting edge has always been buried in TODAY and TOMORROW, for we’re a learning and learned people, and we’re a modern people. We boast of “open minds, open hearts, open doors.” Open, open, open, ephphatha (Mark 7:34)!

Invitation

So the question should never be “What’s this preacher doing in the open door?” or “What’re these new people doing in the open door?” or “What are these old people doing in the door?” or “What is so-and-so doing here?” The question that we must instead consider is “What is Yahweh doing in the door?” This is the most important because there’re often dire consequences for resisting His will. Like Moab, the resistor, or the self-willed religious hobbyist, will be broken into pieces in the end. Beware! Like Israel, Yahweh will have his way whether we like it or not, whether we thrive in him or whether we’re knocked to pieces by him, whether it takes days, years or generations. Even someone as tough as the Apostle Paul lost his old murderous self when he kicked against the pricks (Acts 9:5, 26:14)?

The question that follows is, “Who are we in Yahshua the Anointed Messiah, and what are we doing in the door?” Seriously considered, may lead us to firm conclusions about the Way that’s good. After all is said and done, through the struggle, the sifting and the decanting, a change will do us all good. Why don’t you say it with me, if you dare! A change will do us good. A change will do us good. Amhn.

The Prayer for Change based on Healing Scriptures

In the Name of Yahshua, we make a decision to change. We will turn our wills over to the Almighty One. We desire to change and gain a deeper knowledge as we look into the mirror of his Word. We will apply the truths we learn day by day. We will guard the entrances to our hearts and defend our minds from sloth and decay. We will be selective to what we accept and reject – we will accept that which comes from above. We disassociate from past errors and open ourselves to correction.

We will open our hearts and minds to our Heavenly Father, our source, and to our Savior, Messiah, our foundation stone. We will sow into the lives of others not weeds, but fruit trees. We declare our change is at hand. Yes, it is see-able. It is do-able. We declare our change! With your help, we will be a set-apart nation, a royal priesthood: ambassadors for your Kingdom and future glory. Amhn!