Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, February 22, 2020
Shabbat Shalom,
By now you’ve probably already heard about this. https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2020/february/wave-after-wave-of-people-broken-before-the-lord-tn-pastor-tells-news-about-revival-sweeping-his-city-nbsp Studies reveal only about 1 in 10 of you will click the link.
The article reports on revival in Rogersville, TN. One of the men behind this is Sheldon Livesay (he is mentioned first in the article linked above). I met Sheldon many years ago through the Pastors Prayer Network (read the RR from yesterday). He later attended many services at Shomair. He always had a heart for the unity of the body of Messiah. Let’s offer a prayer of thanksgiving for what the Lord is doing in our neighboring community, and may we experience that same power. Thank You, Yeshua.
Pillar Seven: The Kingdom is Expressed in a Quest for Unity – part 5
There is a tendency toward sectarianism and exclusivism within the Messianic movement. I want to speak out against it. We need to view ourselves as inclusive and not exclusive.
Rabbi Trail: Just saying those words puts a target on my back. Satan has a counterfeit to “inclusion.” In Satan’s world, “inclusion” means connecting the work of God to all kinds of ungodly activity; something God never intended. He is holy and His people are called to holiness. We are told to be separate. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony does Messiah have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement does God’s Temple have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God—just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 Therefore, come out from among them, and be separate, says Adonai. Touch no unclean thing. Then I will take you in. 18 I will be a father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says Adonai-Tzva’ot.” End RT.
In the quest for unity, as Messianics, we must connect in a positive way to both the Jewish community and to the non-Messianic body of Messiah. To the Jewish community, we are the image of the Jewish Messiah. To the church world, we are the point of connection to the unsaved Jewish world. What I’m describing is my vision, but sadly, it is far from my reality.
Pray with me… Lord of heaven and earth, open doors of opportunity within the Jewish community and in the church world. Opportunities to let Your light shine through us. We (as Messianics) are uniquely positioned to present Your truth to both communities. Grant us (along with those opportunities) the courage to stand with feet in both camps, and declare the truth… “Yeshua, Hu Adonai Echad” (Yeshua, He is the one Lord). Amen.