Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Shalom,
Pillar Nine: The Kingdom is Expressed in Discipling the Nations – part 3
Sometimes I think I’m the opposite of Yogi Bear (the cartoon character, not the Hall of Fame catcher, Yogi Berra – although him too). Yogi was self-identified as “Smarter than the average bear.” He would frequently tell this to his son, Boo Boo bear.
All I’m saying is that it took me a long time to figure this out. The great commission is found at the end of the book of Matthew… Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, 20 teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
But that’s not all of it. The one verse before verse 19 is verse 18. Matthew 28:18 And Yeshua came up to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” That’s right, Yeshua has all authority. Therefore; we have no authority. Of course if Yeshua has it all, we have none. So, when we minister, we are using His delegated authority.
This is why I’m never nervous or intimidated when I minister. God has given us His delegated authority to minister. He has gone even further; He has given us the best tool for ministry called the Sword of the Spirit. Yeshua is the Word, and the Spirit is the Holy Spirit, so when we use the Sword of the Spirit we are using 2/3 of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Godhead.
Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without having watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to sow and bread to eat, 11 so My word will be that goes out from My mouth. It will not return to Me in vain, but will accomplish what I intend, and will succeed in what I sent it for.
And we will give God the last word for today… Isaiah 56:12 “Yes, you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace. The mountains and the hills will break forth before you singing, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands! Let’s get this in our heads and keep it there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Week 10
Memory Verse: Leviticus 26:13 I am Adonai your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, so that you would not be their slaves, and I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk upright.
46 3/2 Monday: Leviticus 23
47 3/3 Tuesday: Leviticus 26
48 3/4 Wednesday: Numbers 11-12
* 49 3/5 Thursday: Numbers 13-14
50 3/6 Friday: Numbers 16-17
Question of the day: Moses sent 12 spies into the land. What was their report?
Answer: We all know the answer to this one. They came back with a mixed report. All 12 spies spent 40 days seeking the answer to the question Moses asked. Numbers 13:17 As he sent them to explore the land of Canaan, he said to them, “Go up there through the Negev, then go up into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and the people living there, whether they might be strong or weak, few or many. 19 In what kind of land are they living? Is it good or bad? Also, what about the cities in which they are living? Are they unwalled or do they have fortifications?
All 12 saw the same things. 10 of them saw reasons for defeat. Only 2 of them had faith in God. What scared 10, built faith in 2. Last question, there are two camps; the camp of the 10 and the camp of the 2. In which camp will you be established? The camp of fear, or the camp of faith?
Joshua presents the same issue to the people as a choice 40 years later. Joshua 24:14 “Now therefore, fear Adonai and worship Him in sincerity and in truth. Get rid of the gods that your fathers had worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and worship Adonai. 15 If it seems bad to you to worship Adonai, then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve—whether the gods that your fathers worshipped that were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will worship Adonai!”
Choose God! Walk in faith!