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Starting The New Year Right

There is a game called Rummikub in which the goal is to be the first to get rid of all of your tiles. When one or more players has just a couple tiles left, the race is on for the other players to jettison as many tiles as possible in the few moves that are left before the game ends. The winner is the first one to get rid of all his tiles, but those who have tiles left get penalty points that carry into the next game.

As we rapidly approach this new year, now is the time to evaluate your life before the year ends, and get rid of your baggage, emotional or otherwise, so that you can be a winner and start the new year right. If that process seems daunting, find a good Christian Counselor who can help you work through the baggage so that you can find peace, strength and wholeness.

Jesse Walker is an ordained pastor who is a Christian Counselor.

He is the founder and lead counselor of Christian Counseling Ministries in Phoenix, AZ.

2021
12/30
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Unforgivable

Many often wonder about the passage in Matthew 12 about Jesus’ statement of the unforgivable sin.

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (ESV)

Ancient Rabbis taught that a mute spirit could not be cast out, because in order to cast out a demon, one must ask its name, and by it’s very nature, a mute spirit can’t speak. Because of this, such a miracle would only be able to be done by the Messiah. So in Matthew, 12:22-23, Jesus performs what he knew would be a clear proclamation to the Jews that he was the Messiah. The response of the people shows us that they knew it was a messianic miracle when they say “Can this be the Son of David?” That’s when the Pharisees say “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that he casts out demons.” The Pharisees should have clearly seen that it was a miracle that only the Messiah could perform, yet because of their hard hearts, they blasphemed against the Holy Spirit.

It’s important to keep in mind that even though Jesus is God, when he came to earth and performed miracles he only did them through the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14 et al). That is, Jesus intentionally did not use his own power, but relied on the third member of the Trinity as an example for us to Follow. Since the Holy Spirit was the one performing the miracles (through Jesus, and later Peter and others), to deny that kind of evidence of Divine power meant that one must already be too hard-hearted and blind. In this sense, the person can’t be forgiven because the hard state of his heart means he will never repent. If one can deny the power of God when faced with it directly, there is nothing else that will change his mind. Inasmuch as the Holy Spirit works His miracles today, whether through believers or directly, people’s hearts can still be so hard as to deny Him. Therefore, it is “truly unforgivable” (because they won’t repent) and can still be committed today.

There is at least an indirect correlation in this passage to the third commandment. In Hebrew, “don’t take the name of the Lord in vain…” is at least a three-fold point:

  1. Don’t use His name as a curse word or to express disgust.
  2. Don’t waste the breath He gave you: Rabbis have surmised that in order to pronounce the divine name (Yahweh) properly, it required a breath in followed by a breath out. This is probably because when God created mankind, He “breathed into him and he became a living being.” That is, God gave him his very breath. Therefore, this second point is, “don’t take the very breath that God gave you in vain.” Don’t waste your life, don’t take your own life.
  3. Don’t carry the name of the Lord (Follower of Yahweh/Christian), and then do something to bring that name shame or ill-repute. “You shall not bear (carry) the name of the Lord in vain.”

The third one is the one that relates best to the passage about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What’s interesting is that the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of the exact opposite of this commandment. They were accusing Jesus of doing something GOOD in the name of Beelzebul. This points out the difference between “blasphemy” (claiming to be God), of which Jesus was accused, and “blasphemy against” (claiming God’s power to be of Satan) of which the Pharisees were guilty.

Hopefully this explanation brings clarity and peace to your hearts!

About Jesse Walker

2020
04/19
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2020 Perspective on Passover:

As born again Christians, we understand the foundational truth about Jesus’ sacrificial, atoning death and resurrection that brings us freedom and life, but I want to focus on the post-salvation implications of Jesus’ awesome work. Keep in mind, this will only apply if you have already committed to the side of Jesus.

After salvation, what does freedom and life look like for a Christian? Many might think “well, if a Christian is addicted to alcohol, etc. then Jesus can set them free from that” and that is true. But beyond that, what does freedom and life look like? It looks like this:

1. Freedom from false guilt.
2. Freedom from fear about what others may think.
3. Freedom from people who try to control and manipulate.
4. Freedom from the idea that you need anyone else’s approval other than God’s.
5. Freedom from circular or destructive thought processes.
6. Freedom…to grow, which is life-giving.

Pastors are supposed to promote freedom in Christians lives so that they can grow, but sadly many pastors do just the opposite.

Friends are suppose to be life-giving and help us grow, or at the very least, not hinder us from getting closer to Jesus, but sadly, many friends do just the opposite.

Assuming they already have a sincere faith in Christ, here are some things to ask yourself about a pastor or a friend:

1. Are they someone in whom I can see consistent growth?
2. Do they listen well?
3. Am I afraid to talk around them? Why?
4. When I come away from them do I feel burdened, or more free?
5. Does what they say ring true and bring clarity?
6. Can I see any ways that they attempt to manipulate?

There are many forms of manipulation, some are quite subtle and can even be seen as pious. Some of the more subtle ways of manipulation include:

* False guilt – does this person make me feel guilty if I don’t do what they want?
* Tone – are they talking down to me as though I don’t know anything? (Pay great attention to this one!)
* Leading Questions – do they appear to have all the answers? This is accomplished through the use of leading questions, that is, a question that is asked, with a very specific answer in mind. Therefore, unless you answer with the specificity that the manipulator is fishing for, you appear inferior while the manipulator appears to have all the answers.
* Positioning – there are many types of positioning, but one example is, is the person using tactical empathy? That is, do they claim to know and empathize with what you’ve been through, in order to earn your trust?
* Redirection: there are many types of redirection, but one of the most cunning is exploiting your emotional wounds to shift the attention off of something they don’t want to talk about.

Ask yourself, “who helps me walk in freedom?” It may surprise you who you DON’T list.

Jesus came to bring us freedom and life, and I believe the Lord wants the church to walk in Freedom and Life in 2020!

Wishing you freedom and life as you celebrate Resurrection day!

In His Love,
Jesse ישי

About Jesse Walker

2020
04/12
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The New Year

We are now only one day away from New Years Eve, and now is the time to get alone somewhere and be honest with yourself and God about this past years failures and successes. When talking about failures and successes, I am primarily referring to relational failures and successes. Not necessarily romantic relationships, but simply how you relate to, and love your fellow man.

As Christians, we know that we’ll never be perfect in this life, but that does not mean that we shouldn’t try to become better people. Ask yourself this question: “Am I more like Jesus today than I was last year?” If your honest answer is “yes” then congratulations! You have grown this past year into a better person. But if your answer is “no” or even “I’m not sure,” then let it be a warning sign to you that you might be headed for a stagnant, lukewarm lifestyle.

However, no matter what your answer is, we all need to continue our personal growth. Here are some tips to help you evaluate where you are and where you’d like to be next year:

  1. Look at your relational failures this past year and figure out what you might have done differently. Did you help others grow? Did you feed the hungry? Did you prioritize people over things?
  2. Make a note about how you want to act and what you want to do this coming new year.
  3. Look at your relational successes from this past year. Let these encourage you but also ask yourself “was it enough?” “what can be maintained or improved?”

You see, we live in a dark culture that is consumed with materialism. But the light of Christ shines through the compassion, generosity and kindness of those who practice loving people instead of loving “things.” That is why it is so important for us to grow and become more like Jesus, so that this dark world will see His light and have hope.

You are the light of Jesus, and you will burn brighter the closer you get to Him.

Happy New Year!

“You are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:14

About Jesse Walker

2018
12/29
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Christmas Fasting

In this most amazing season of Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of the Savior and King, it is a good idea for us to fast. However, when you read that, your mind no doubt specifically thought about food, and while that type of fasting is the most common, and has it’s benefits both physically and spiritually, it is not the kind of fast to which I’m referring.

I’m referring to the type of fast of which the Lord says:

“Is this not the fast which I choose, to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”   Isaiah 58:6-7 NASB

So what is the fast that the Lord chooses? It is has two aspects: The first part of the passage can be interpreted in it’s simplest form as the importance of forgiveness (see Complete Forgiveness). This is extremely applicable in it’s own right, however, it’s the second part that is the focus of this article, and that is generosity. We must be generous, not just financially, but with whatever resources the Lord has given us, and if necessary, yes, to go without a meal or two so that someone who doesn’t have the means or ability to feed themselves can eat. This is the spirit of Christmas…the spirit of giving and forgiving.

How and what are you willing to give, to the point of going without it, this Christmas Season so that you may provide it for someone else?

About Jesse Walker

2018
12/02
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Thanksgiving

The Psalmist says “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.” Some scholars have deemed this “The protocol of heaven,” that is to say, that if one were visiting royalty in another country (England for example) there is a protocol for what you do and say when meeting with them. It is similar when meeting with God Almighty. Similar, but not the same. Why, because God generally meets you where YOU are. He is wonderfully personal and too many people don’t understand that. He wants to meet with YOU, He wants to talk to YOU! You don’t need to go to a pastor or priest in order to hear the voice of God. There is one simple thing that you must do – be real with God.

God knows your heart anyway so why try to hide anything? He knows your thoughts, fears, worries, concerns, hopes, pride, and yes, even your sins. You see, “thanksgiving and praise” are not the protocol of heaven, but are evidence of the condition of your heart. No matter where on earth you are, you can connect with the God of eternity if you are simply real and honest with Him, because “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” “Real” people are humble people because their self-perception and world view are grounded in reality and the way things actually are. People who are proud or haughty are generally putting on a facade in order to present themselves as better than others. But as we know “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So as a humble person, you will recognize that we all (including yourself) need a Savior.

Humility unlocks the gate and then thanksgiving can begin. Otherwise we become like the Pharisee in Luke 18:10-14 who thanks God that he is more righteous than other men, obviously his prayer of thanksgiving was wrought with pride (which God opposes) and the gate of thanksgiving that he was trying to enter remained locked. But there was another man there who was humble when he prayed to God, and we’re told that he went away justified by God.

So humility unlocks the gate and you enter the gate by thanking God. This Thanksgiving, lets remember to be humble and real with God and others so that our thanksgiving is not in vain, and perhaps we can draw even closer to Jesus.

About Jesse Walker

2018
11/22
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Thanksgiving Prelude

It is so, incredibly appropriate that Thanksgiving begins the Christmas season. Unfortunately too many people are caught up in the materialism of “doorbuster savings” and getting the newest electronic gismo that will be outdated by the time they get it home, that they fail to take time to be truly thankful. The truth is, if you have a roof over your head, food and clean water, you are better off than most of the people in the world.

This Thanksgiving, be sure to start off the Christmas season right by really setting everything aside, and being thankful for everything God has done for you.

About Jesse Walker

2018
11/16
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You’re Alive

If you’re alive to vote, it’s because you weren’t aborted as a baby.

Vote Pro Life

#voteprolife

2018
11/05
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Complete Forgiveness

Forgiveness is such an important topic and yet it is perhaps one of the hardest to not only grasp, but articulate. However, nearly two decades ago I heard a pastor being interviewed about a book he had written on forgiveness, and the interviewer asked “What is the primary way you know that you have totally forgiven someone?” The pastor replied simply “When you can sincerely wish them well and ask God to bless them.”

The moment I heard this, it’s as if I had just received a little treasure, for all of us have people who have hurt us, some very deeply, and it’s even more important for us to forgive, than it is for them to receive it. At that moment, I integrated that nugget of wisdom into my life and it has helped me on the path of forgiveness throughout the years. The Pastors’ name is R.T. Kendall and his book is called “Total Forgiveness.” It should be, in my opinion, required reading for every Christian.

Something I have encountered in life is that forgiving is particularly difficult when the hurt is perpetrated by someone who should know better, such as a pastor. They should know better, but clearly they do not, which is why Jesus said regarding the Jewish leaders who sneered at him upon the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Even though they should have known better, they did not, and regardless of the fact that they should have known better, Jesus still asked the Father to forgive them.

Some hurts are so painful that we have buried them deep down in our hearts so that we don’t feel the pain, but that doesn’t fix it. When you bury things in your heart, whether it’s unforgiveness, sin, emotions, etc., there is less and less room for Jesus. What have you buried in your heart? Who do you need to forgive?

About Jesse Walker

2018
11/04
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