Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, June 1, 2020
Shalom,
Ever been asked, “How’s your prayer life?” Don’t answer that question…. Unless you know the grace of God. (The “flesh” can never pray enough. The spirit always does.) There is a sin of prayerlessness, and we are all guilty from time to time. Like all sin, it must be repented of and brought under the blood of Yeshua.
Rabbi Trail: “The Sin of Prayerlessness” is actually the title of the first chapter in the book “A Prayer Life” by Andrew Murray. He lived and ministered as a Christian author and pastor in South Africa until his death in 1917. I’m hoping this RR will develop into a miniseries on prayer. Heaven knows, we need it. End RT.
God created the world specifically so that people would love Him, the giver and sustainer of life. God has children for the same reason that people have children, because He has enough love to share, so He grows the family. Relationships grow and develop through communication. Family is only “family” when we communicate, and God is only fully our personal God when we communicate with Him. Communication involves an initiator and a respondent.
God is always speaking (He never slumbers nor sleeps according to Psalm 121). We have to do our part and listen and respond to Him. For many people (especially immature ones), their idea of prayer is to present God with a “shopping list” of needs, much like a child at bedtime. God is calling us to more. He wants to go deeper in our relationship with Him.
We have all resolved to pray more, only to be disappointed in our own lack of discipline. (This goes back to my first point.) We lack discipline because that “discipline” is born of the flesh in “works” and God wants us to be children of grace born of the Spirit. So let’s try this again. Repent in the Spirit, stay in the Spirit and ask God for the blessing of an enriched prayer life.
Luke 11:10 everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened…. 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) to those who ask Him.
If a friend were to knock on your front door, would you open the door and have a visit? God is knocking…. Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
God is knocking. Will you answer? More tomorrow.
Week 23
Memory Verse: Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities. The chastisement for our shalom was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 6 We all like sheep have gone astray. Each of us turned to his own way. So Adonai has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
* 111 6/1 Monday: Isaiah 6; 9
112 6/2 Tuesday: Isaiah 44-45
113 6/3 Wednesday: Isaiah 52-53
114 6/4 Thursday: Isaiah 65-66
115 6/5 Friday: Micah 1; 4:6-13; 5
Question of the day: Our reading today is from Isaiah chapters 6 & 9. God asks the question of the day… Isaiah 6:8a Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying: “Whom should I send, and who will go for Us?”
Answer: Isaiah answers the question in the same verse. Isaiah 6:8b So I said, “Hineni. Send me.” A wonderful offer, full of good intentions. But all we receive from Isaiah is a prophesy of destruction until Isaiah prophesies the reality of all things. Yeshua is the reality of the One Who is sent.
Isaiah 9:5(6) For to us a child is born, a son will be given to us, and the government will be upon His shoulder. His Name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God My Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. 6(7) Of the increase of His government and shalom there will be no end— on the throne of David and over His kingdom— to establish it and uphold it through justice and righteousness from now until forevermore. The zeal of Adonai-Tzva’ot will accomplish this.
Let’s pray… Oh Israel, hear the words of your prophet Isaiah, as if for the first time. Read and know that Yeshua is the Son Who is given. His name will be called… “Pele Yo’etz” (wonderful counselor), “El Gibor” (mighty God), “Avi’ad” (my everlasting Father), “Sar Shalom” (Prince of Peace). Oh Israel, these names are in Hebrew for you, Hebrew speakers. May the eyes of your hearts be opened to receive the One Who longs for you, speedily and in our days. In Yeshua’s name, let everyone say, “Amen.”