Please help us spread the word. We are bringing Joshua Aaron from Israel and Aaron Shust from Nashville to recreate their “Brothers Together” concert (plus more) from their time together in Jerusalem. Friday night, February 28th at Fellowship Church, 8000 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN. Doors open at 6PM and worship concert begins at 7PM. Purchase tickets here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brothers-together-concert-aaron-shust-joshua-aaron-tickets-81958109913
Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Shalom,
Pillar Four: The Kingdom is Expressed in a Life of Power – part 5
Two things are percolating within me as I write this, and they are pretty much independent of one another. The first is an understanding of why God moves with power and the second is the value of good government.
First, I want to explain why God moves with power by first explaining the counter arguments. God is not into parlor games. He is not our “genie in a bottle,” although some people treat Him as if He is. And, God is not the righteous alternative to an ouija board.
Yet God does perform miracles today. Remember His standard for us is love. God insists that we be love motivated. He, Himself, is held to the same standard. God is love motivated. He performs miracles today because He loves us. And His love for us always leads to salvation.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
God performs miracles to build our faith. He wants us to believe that the One who heals our bodies is the One Who also heals our spirit. Spiritual healing is the salvation experience. Yeshua sent out the 12 with these words… Luke 9:1 Now when Yeshua called the twelve together, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Then in the next chapter, He gave the 70 the same instructions. Luke 10:9 Then heal the sick in that town, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ In both chapters, when Yeshua sent out the 12 and then when He sent out the 70, healing is connected to proclaiming the kingdom of God which is sharing the salvation experience. The message is simple. “Make Him your King. Do you need evidence? Then believe in the One Who heals you.”
My second point is unrelated to the first. In order to properly administer the gifts of the spirit, it takes administration. I shouldn’t have to explain that as this is what the words mean. Administration is government. Simply put, the gifts must be properly governed.
In most communities this vital part of gift ministries is either absent or applied inappropriately. Too much government squashes the spirit. Too little government leads to anarchy. One thing is always true. There will always be government. If proper authority is not administered by those appointed by God, then those appointed by Satan will take over.
This leads us to my final point of emphasis. A truly gifted minister will always willingly submit to government. Humility is a key ingredient in every ministry. Those who are truly gifted understand this and seek an environment of good government. We all need to be submitted. There are no exceptions. Never trust anyone who claims to serve God alone. The only way to have authority is to be under authority.
The last thought in the book of Hebrews is important. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as ones who must give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no benefit to you.
Week 6
Memory Verse: Genesis 50:20 Yes, you yourselves planned evil against me. God planned it for good, in order to bring about what it is this day—to preserve the lives of many people.
30 2/03 Monday: Genesis 39-40
* 31 2/04 Tuesday: Genesis 41
32 2/05 Wednesday: Genesis 42-43
33 2/06 Thursday: Genesis 44-45
34 2/07 Friday: Genesis 46-47
Question of the day: Chapter 41 is about Pharaoh’s dream and the reality of it. What does the Bible say about plenty and famine?
Answer: Paul writes the answer… Philippians 4:11b …whatever circumstance I am in, I have learned to be content. 12 I know what it is to live with humble means, and I know what it is to live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment—both to be filled and to go hungry, to have abundance and to suffer need.
And look where this “secret of contentment” leads… Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.
Have a great and blessed day. R. Michael.