Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Shalom,
The Tikkun America Restore Conference wrapped up Sunday morning. The keynote speaker on Saturday night was our invited guest, Dean Briggs (https://deanbriggs.com/about-dean/), who came to us on loan from the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. He also ministers extensively with Lou Engle. His message on Saturday night will resonate with us for years to come. Here is the link to the entire service. Dean begins speaking at about 1:37:00 into the recording. https://www.facebook.com/tikkunamerica/videos/958434881582722 I’m going to listen to it several times and get everything the Lord has for us out of it. Would you like to join me in doing the same?
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 1 June-2021 21st of Sivan, 5781
Nu 14:8-25 Jer 31 Dan 7 (Mk 14:1-42) 1 Co 13
What was that “different spirit” that was in Caleb? Numbers 14:24 However, My servant Caleb, because a different spirit is with him and he is wholeheartedly behind Me, I will bring him into the land where he went—his offspring will inherit it. God describes that “different spirit” as being “wholeheartedly behind” Him.
The contrast is with the people who were grumbling. Numbers 14:2 All Bnei-Yisrael grumbled against Moses and Aaron and the whole community said, “If only we had died in Egypt! If only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is Adonai bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be like plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”
There they are (I got this from Dean Briggs who spoke at the Tikkun Conference on Saturday night.), enjoying the blessing of mana and water in the desert, with their stomachs still full, they complain bitterly, without gratitude or recognition of the goodness, love and provision of God. That was them, and this is us.
How have we failed to walk in faith before the Lord Who offers us such great grace? When will we come to the place of realizing that God has not brought us here to abandon us? The writer of Hebrews asks another relevant question. Hebrews 2:3a How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
The answer is, “We won’t.” Another verse comes to mind… Luke 12:48b From everyone given much, much will be required; and from the one for whom more is provided, all the more they will ask of him. My friends, we have been given much. Let’s walk in faith and lead others to join in that walk. Shalom.
Week 23
Memory Verse: 1 Peter 2:23 When He was abused, He did not return the abuse. While suffering, He made no threats. Instead, He kept entrusting Himself to the One who judges righteously. 24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we, removed from sins, might live for righteousness. “By His wounds you were healed.”
111 6/3 Monday: Isaiah 6, 9
* 112 6/4 Tuesday: Isaiah 44, 45
113 6/5 Wednesday: Isaiah 52, 53
114 6/6 Thursday: Isaiah 65, 66
115 6/7 Friday: Micah 1; 4:6-13; 5
Question of the day: Will you claim your treasure?
Answer: Sounds like a line from the Publisher’s Clearing House, doesn’t it. It’s actually a line from Isaiah 45. Isaiah 45:3 I will give you treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, so you may know that I am Adonai, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. Our “treasures” are actually called the “keys to the kingdom.”
This is the power to lock up and let loose… Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will have been forbidden in heaven and what you permit on earth will have been permitted in heaven.” Yeshua is the connection between heaven and earth. The “secret” (it’s such a good “secret” that much of the time it is even hidden from us) is that Yeshua has all authority, (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.”) and the “great secret” is that He has given the power of His authority to us, His saints. (Luke 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority… over all the power of the enemy….)
This goes back to the top part of today’s RR. (I love it when the Lord does that.) God wants to give us the riches of His kingdom. He wants to take us victoriously into the promised land, but we seem content to grumble in the desert. Let’s change our expectation. Let God be God and may we, in the power of His Spirit, claim our treasure. To God be the glory. Amen.