RR “The Priority & Power of Relationship” by Jerry Miller
Shavuah Tov,
John 16:1 “I (Yeshua) have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away” (ESV).
In recent RR’s, I have been sharing on the importance of being a faith-filled people, especially as we go through trials and difficult times. In the above verse from John 16, Yeshua was, of course, sharing with His disciples—those who had walked with Him, heard His teaching, and seen many powerful works during the brief few years of His public ministry. The chapters leading up to this statement, chapters 14 through 16, show us one of Yeshua’s final teaching times with His disciples. So, in view of His statement here, what were the “all these things” that would be key to “(not) falling away”? What were the truths he was highlighting that were meant to keep them (and us) steady, as they would encounter challenges and opposition?
It’s in chapters 14 & 15 where Yeshua was teaching on the priority of relationship with the Father and the inward ministry of the Holy Spirit that would be available to every follower of Yeshua. Relationship with Him would be the key to not falling away and not being shaken. Growing relationship is key to not losing heart in times of adversity. I’m not suggesting we will never be tempted to lose heart, but my point is simply that our greatest defense against the temptation to lose heart is a vibrant walk with the Lord. It’s in this context of vibrant relationship that we find grace from God for seeing what I would call, God’s purpose in the process. This is key to not losing heart. Seeing God’s purpose in the process has to do with seeing God’s goals as we find ourselves dealing with adversity and trials.
You see, when we go through trials, we can wrongly assume that the goal for us is for the trial to end so that things can get back to normal, so to speak. The problem is, when the end of the trial is our primary goal and focus, we will often miss what God has for us in the process of walking through the adversity. I was praying about this recently, and I felt like the Lord spoke something to my heart. What I sensed Him saying was that the process is His goal for us. In difficult times, we tend to think that the goal is for our circumstances to change. But what I realized God was trying to get through to me was that His goal is actually for you and me to change, and it’s the process that He so often uses for that change to take place.
Now yes, I fully believe that God does want to bless us and see us come into wonderful victories and breakthroughs in our circumstances. But the point is, His highest goal for us is to see that growing likeness to Yeshua come forth, as we walk through adversity with faith, hope and love prevailing. We embrace the process rather than resisting it, and that becomes something of an invitation for God to have His way in us.
As I believe I’ve said in previous RR’s, every one of us as Yeshua-followers is in the school of the Holy Spirit, and He is really serious about teaching us. He’s serious about seeing us learn and grow in the ways of love, sacrifice and the crucified life—growing in different ways that can be so challenging to our flesh. I’m referring to the ways of forgiving, blessing those who may come against us, praying for those who criticize or oppose us, loving our enemies. You see, these are the kinds of qualities that demonstrate what God Himself is like, and really, isn’t that what we are here for? The truth is, in every situation and every season of life, we are ambassadors for Messiah (2 Corinthians 5:20), demonstrating what Yeshua is like to a world trapped in darkness. We represent the culture and values of Heaven, empowered by His Spirit to influence and impact the world around us. Thus, we must realize that it’s our lives and not our arguments that become the most compelling basis for our influence in this world. Day by day, one on one with people, it’s ultimately our lives that impact others, providing a testimony that the Kingdom of God is real.
We must be walking and living by the Spirit, and the only way that can happen is by our relationship with the Lord growing continually deeper and fuller. This is key to our fulfilling the specific assignments God has for us in the current and future days. So, we must be hearing the voice of the Lord amid the confusion and turmoil around us, so that we can become a voice for the Lord amid the confusion and turmoil. It’s our abiding in Him that positions us to be a voice in this world. Nothing else can prepare us for overcoming evil with good…for loving those who oppose us, and nothing else can prepare us for being a voice for Yeshua to a needy world. So, for each of our lives, may the Lord take us deeper into the richness of relationship with Him, equipping and empowering us to show the world what He is like.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun11-Jan-202622nd of Tevet, 5786
Ex 6:2-131 Ki 1 Ps 101-102 Lk 17(Eph 1)
John 16:1 “I (Yeshua) have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away” (ESV).
In recent RR’s, I have been sharing on the importance of being a faith-filled people, especially as we go through trials and difficult times. In the above verse from John 16, Yeshua was, of course, sharing with His disciples—those who had walked with Him, heard His teaching, and seen many powerful works during the brief few years of His public ministry. The chapters leading up to this statement, chapters 14 through 16, show us one of Yeshua’s final teaching times with His disciples. So, in view of His statement here, what were the “all these things” that would be key to “(not) falling away”? What were the truths he was highlighting that were meant to keep them (and us) steady, as they would encounter challenges and opposition?
It’s in chapters 14 & 15 where Yeshua was teaching on the priority of relationship with the Father and the inward ministry of the Holy Spirit that would be available to every follower of Yeshua. Relationship with Him would be the key to not falling away and not being shaken. Growing relationship is key to not losing heart in times of adversity. I’m not suggesting we will never be tempted to lose heart, but my point is simply that our greatest defense against the temptation to lose heart is a vibrant walk with the Lord. It’s in this context of vibrant relationship that we find grace from God for seeing what I would call, God’s purpose in the process. This is key to not losing heart. Seeing God’s purpose in the process has to do with seeing God’s goals as we find ourselves dealing with adversity and trials.
You see, when we go through trials, we can wrongly assume that the goal for us is for the trial to end so that things can get back to normal, so to speak. The problem is, when the end of the trial is our primary goal and focus, we will often miss what God has for us in the process of walking through the adversity. I was praying about this recently, and I felt like the Lord spoke something to my heart. What I sensed Him saying was that the process is His goal for us. In difficult times, we tend to think that the goal is for our circumstances to change. But what I realized God was trying to get through to me was that His goal is actually for you and me to change, and it’s the process that He so often uses for that change to take place.
Now yes, I fully believe that God does want to bless us and see us come into wonderful victories and breakthroughs in our circumstances. But the point is, His highest goal for us is to see that growing likeness to Yeshua come forth, as we walk through adversity with faith, hope and love prevailing. We embrace the process rather than resisting it, and that becomes something of an invitation for God to have His way in us.
As I believe I’ve said in previous RR’s, every one of us as Yeshua-followers is in the school of the Holy Spirit, and He is really serious about teaching us. He’s serious about seeing us learn and grow in the ways of love, sacrifice and the crucified life—growing in different ways that can be so challenging to our flesh. I’m referring to the ways of forgiving, blessing those who may come against us, praying for those who criticize or oppose us, loving our enemies. You see, these are the kinds of qualities that demonstrate what God Himself is like, and really, isn’t that what we are here for? The truth is, in every situation and every season of life, we are ambassadors for Messiah (2 Corinthians 5:20), demonstrating what Yeshua is like to a world trapped in darkness. We represent the culture and values of Heaven, empowered by His Spirit to influence and impact the world around us. Thus, we must realize that it’s our lives and not our arguments that become the most compelling basis for our influence in this world. Day by day, one on one with people, it’s ultimately our lives that impact others, providing a testimony that the Kingdom of God is real.
We must be walking and living by the Spirit, and the only way that can happen is by our relationship with the Lord growing continually deeper and fuller. This is key to our fulfilling the specific assignments God has for us in the current and future days. So, we must be hearing the voice of the Lord amid the confusion and turmoil around us, so that we can become a voice for the Lord amid the confusion and turmoil. It’s our abiding in Him that positions us to be a voice in this world. Nothing else can prepare us for overcoming evil with good…for loving those who oppose us, and nothing else can prepare us for being a voice for Yeshua to a needy world. So, for each of our lives, may the Lord take us deeper into the richness of relationship with Him, equipping and empowering us to show the world what He is like.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun11-Jan-202622nd of Tevet, 5786
Ex 6:2-131 Ki 1 Ps 101-102 Lk 17(Eph 1)
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RR Psalm 30:6 Part 5RR Psalm 30:7 Part 6RR Psalm 30:8 Part 7RR Favor (Chen/Charis) in Proverbs By David HarwoodRR - Psalm 30:9-11 Part 8RR Psalm 30:12,13 Part 9RR Psalm 31:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 31:3 Part 2RR Psalm 31:4 Part 3RR Psalm 31:5 Part 4RR Psalm 31:6 Part 5RR Psalm 31:7 Part 6RR Kohelet By David HarwoodRR “Taking Our Thoughts Captive – Part 2” By Jerry MillerRR Psalm 31:8 Part 7RR Psalm 31:8 Part 8RR Psalm 31:9 Part 9RR - Psalm 31:10 Part 10RR Psalm 31:11 Part 11Zechariah and Favor By David HarwoodRR - Psalm 31:12-14 Part 12RR Shalom SpecialRR Psalm 31:15 Part 13RR Psalm 31:16,17 Part 14RR Psalm 31:18 Part 15RR Psalm 31:19,20 Part 16RR Adonai-Tzva’ot and End-Time Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 31:21 Part 17RR Psalm 31:22 Part 18RR Psalm 31:23 Part 19
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RR Psalm 31:24 Part 20RR Psalm 31:25 Part 21RR Psalm 32:1 Part 1Rabbi’s Reflections - Favor and Luke By David HarwoodRR Taking Thoughts Captive Part 3 by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 32:2 Part 2RR Psalm 32:3,4 Part 3RR Psalm 32:5 Part 4RR Psalm 32:5 Part 5RR Psalm 32:6 Part 6Some Nuances of Charis By David HarwoodRR Psalm 32:8 Part 8RR Psalm 32:7 Part 7RR Psalm 32:8 Part 9RR Psalm 32:9 Part 10RR Psalm 32:10 Part 11RR Psalm 32:11 Part 12RR Psalm 33:1 Part 1RR Psalm 33:2,3 Part 2RR Psalm 33:4,5 Part 3RR Psalm 33:6,7 Part 4Favor In Acts 1 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 33:8,9,10 Part 5RR Psalm 33:11,12 Part 6RR Psalm 33:13,14 Part 7RR Psalm 33:15,16 Part 8RR Psalm 33:17,18,19 Part 9RR Psalm 33:20,21 Part 10RR Psalm 33:22 Part 11