RR - 10/14/22 The Upper Room Discourse (part 52) - Shomair Yisrael Messianic Synagogue

Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, October 14, 2022
(Early) Shabbat,

Dear Faithful RR Readers:

We always knew this day would come. Take a breath, I’m not going to stop writing the RR altogether. By the grace of God, it gives me much blessing to write down my conversation with the Lord every morning. However; I am traveling to Kenya this Friday (together with a medical mission of Samaritan’s Purse at Tenwek Hospital) and will be in Kenya until the end of the month.

What this means is that I may not have time or the internet connection to write and publish as usual. Because of that and because I want you to stay current with both the Daily Bread (by Lars Enarson) and the F260, I am providing a list of next week’s readings below.

Rabbi Trail: Please be understanding and forgiving, as the RR’s may arrive late or not come out at all on some days (especially travel days). We will honor all refund requests as we want you to be completely satisfied with your subscription (our usual 100% satisfaction guarantee applies). End RT.

The history of Tenwek Hospital is truly amazing. https://www.tenwekhosp.org/history/ My son-in-law, a heart surgeon, and daughter-in-law, an OBGYN, have both volunteered there each of the last 10 years. This year, Jan and I have been invited to assist them. Please remember to pray for us while we are away.

Thank you and God bless you,
Rabbi Michael

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The Upper Room Discourse (part 52 of ???)

John 16:23 “In that day, you will ask Me nothing. Amen, amen I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 24 Up to now, you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be full.

I’m reading these two verses very deliberately. These words seem overwhelming. What did Yeshua mean? Why did He say this at this moment? Many other questions, each of which will take much prayer to answer.

Immediately, Yeshua is taking the focus off of Himself. “You will ask me nothing.” Why not? Yeshua, Himself, answers the question, “… you ask the Father in My name.” To properly understand the fullness of Yeshua’s meaning, we have to understand what He means by “in My name.”

Most of us easily end every prayer by saying, “In Yeshua’s name, amen.” We think that is the formula to “asking in Yeshua’s name.” Well, it isn’t! A “name” is more than a label of identification. A “name” is a reputation. A good name (and Yeshua has the only good name) is both faithful and true.

Hebrews 6:18b … it is impossible for God to lie….

God cannot lie because God cannot make a mistake. There is nothing He doesn’t know. All of Satan’s craftiness is his vain attempt to make God a liar. Psalm 145:17 Adonai is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. 18 Adonai is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.

Yeshua identified Himself with the truth… John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.” To ask in Yeshua’s name means to pray in agreement with His reputation. He promises He will give you “whatever you ask.” But that’s not the whole verse. We have to ask “in My name” which means in accordance with Yeshua’s reputation.

Praying in Yeshua’s name is not like playing “go fish,” where you reach for the next card and exclaim, “Got what I wanted.” If that were so, every time, it wouldn’t be long before we would believe in ourselves. But God’s perspective is eternal. We have to trust His judgment.

RR – 10/14/22 The Upper Room Discourse (part 52)

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