Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Shalom,
We are characterized as a people who live in the spirit and not in the flesh. What does that even mean? My life verse (there are a few, but this one tops the short list) is Romans 8:4. It talks about those who walk according to the spirit and not according to the flesh. Today, I read Romans 8:5 as if for the first time….
Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Ruach set their minds on the things of the Ruach.
The difference between flesh and spirit is coming into focus. The following verses in Romans 8 (all the way to verse 17) continue to explain the contrast between flesh and spirit. Romans 8:6 For the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Ruach is life and shalom. There’s a choice, death or life and shalom?
Well this is a nice lesson, but what about our subject of prayer? Why don’t we pray? Because of unbelief. And why do we have unbelief? Because we live in the flesh and not in the spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14 Now a natural man does not accept the things of the Ruach Elohim, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15a But the one who is spiritual discerns all things. At the end of verse 16, to be “spiritually minded” describes us with these words… 1 Corinthians 2:16b But we have the mind of Messiah.
Rabbi Trail: The “mind of Messiah” is prayer oriented. How many times did Messiah, Himself, rise early, get alone, and pray. Before His crucifixion, He prayed with such fervor that He sweated blood. Luke 22:44 And in His anguish, He was praying fervently; and His sweat was like drops of blood falling down on the ground. End RT.
So our life is either spiritual (life and peace) or carnal (death). To be both is not an option. To be “carnal” is to have the cares and concerns of this world (leading to death) choking out prayer and other Godly activity (leading to life and peace). This is the seed sown among thorns… Mark 4:19 but the worries of the world, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Let us renew our faith in the fact that God has “condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3) and we now live according to Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Messiah have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Ruach, let us also walk by the Ruach.
This is a key to an enriched prayer life aka “life more abundant.” More on this 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: Who knew?
Answer: Who knew what? When Yeshua said 4 times in Revelation (1:8,17; 21:6; 22:13) “I am the Alpha and the Omega (the first and the last) that He was quoting Isaiah 44. Isaiah 44:6 Thus says Adonai, Israel’s King and his Redeemer, Adonai-Tzva’ot: “I am the first, and the last, and there is no God beside Me.
Why has this captured my attention? I love finding New Testament truths that originate in Old Testament Scriptures. If “Adonai” is Israel’s King and Redeemer, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Israel knew the fullness of that statement?
Rabbi Trail: There is a reason I put “Adonai” in quotes. “Adonai” means Lord but it is really in plural form Hebrew, thus “Lords.” This is a name that was created and is used to represent the four letter name of God (Yud – Hay – Vav – Hay). End RT.
In his book, “Who Are Lunch With Abraham,” Asher Intrater makes the case in a compelling way that Adonai IS Yeshua. He certainly is the visible image of the Father. Colossians 1:15a He is the image of the invisible God.
Paul wrote to the Romans about His passion for the salvation of Jewish people. In doing so, he put into writing the passion of Messianic congregations everywhere…. Romans 9:1 I tell the truth in Messiah—I do not lie, my conscience assuring me in the Ruach ha-Kodesh— 2 that my sorrow is great and the anguish in my heart unending. 3 For I would pray that I myself were cursed, banished from Messiah for the sake of my people—my own flesh and blood, 4a who are Israelites.
Let’s also keep prayer for the salvation of Israel as a top priority. Shalom.