Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, October 10, 2020
Shabbat Shalom and Shemini Atzeret Chag Sameach,
Announcement: Tonight (Saturday night) is the beginning of Simchat Torah. We will gather at 7pm to celebrate another year of completing the cycle of reading the Torah. Tonight we will carry the Torah around the congregation, and then roll back the scroll from Deuteronomy to Genesis. Simchat Torah means rejoicing in the Torah, and that’s what we will do. All are invited to be with us for this fun time.
Rabbi’s note: David Harwood is my friend, a pastor, an author, musician and song writer and an emissary for Tikkun. His music is beyond extraordinary. You can hear some of it with this link… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTg74t9mqqQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4YaLICU0wk
His nickname is “the love pastor” because he has ministered extensively and passionately on the love of God around the world. Now he has written multiple books on the subject. https://www.amazon.com/Gods-True-Love-David-Harwood/dp/1886296499 and David’s latest book for leaders, “Leaders, Do Unto Others” https://loveofgodproject.org/leadership/
David and his wife, Elaine, lead Restoration Fellowship in Glen Cove, New York. They are in Nassau County on the North Shore of Long Island. There are about 230,000 Jewish people living in Nassau County. That’s about 17% of the population. By comparison, in Knoxville, we are about 1% Jewish.
I want to publicly thank David for writing these “Reflections” that I publish every Shabbat. Many of you have written back to me expressing your appreciation for his insights. David, our blessings to you and Elaine. When the occasion arrises, please come see us in Knoxville. End Rabbi’s note.
Don’t take my word for it, here is the bio of David and Elaine Harwood…
David and Elaine, have led Restoration Fellowship (Glen Cove, NY) since the mid ‘70’s. They are parents of three wonderful grown children: Shira, Jonathan (married to Gina!), and Benjamin (married to Kristin!).
A Jewish believer, in 1982 David was ordained through The Lamb’s Chapel (Moravian Falls, North Carolina) and in 1993 he received a Masters of Professional Studies from the Alliance Theological Seminary, currently located in New York City.
He is a prophetic teacher, worship leader and author of, Leaders Do Unto Others…, For the Sake of the Fathers, and God’s True Love. David leads the Love of God Project which seeks to serve the believing community through instruction and releasing impartation concerning God’s love. He releases a weekly podcast, “Love and War with David Harwood.” You can access his recent worship album by clicking on this link: Looking for a City.
Regionally, David serves on the advisory council of Kingdom Partners Network which is primarily comprised of leaders who serve in south Queens, New York City.
Since 2006 the Love of God Seminar has been given one-on-one, and to churches, Messianic synagogues, leadership teams, ministry networks, and ministry training schools. The Love of God Project is based in Restoration Fellowship, and is also affiliated with Tikkun, a Messianic Jewish apostolic network.
Click here to go to some endorsements of David’s ministry. http://loveofgodproject.org/testimonies/endorsements/
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The Fullness of Our Messiah – part 1 by David Harwood
The next two weeks I want us to look at the topic of fullness. Today we’ll briefly examine the fullness of the Messiah and the fullness in terms of time.
What is “the measure of the stature of the Messiah’s fullness (Ephesians 4:13b TLV)”?
I understand this as God in action in His people through the agency of the Holy Spirit.
11 He Himself gave some to be emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers— 12 to equip the kedoshim for the work of service, for building up the body of Messiah. 13 This will continue until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Ben-Elohim—to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of Messiah’s fullness. (Ephesians 4:11-13 TLV)
We are on a journey. Our Father has a goal in mind for the greatly loved redeemed remnant of Israel and the nations – this transnational community of disciples. Here is our destination: Before the return of the Lord, before the resurrection, there will be a display of the Messiah’s fullness in His people. This describes God in action on the earth through those who are like the Messiah Yeshua. They shall be rightly relating to one another in loving humility and will resemble Him in compassion, character, courage, and charismata.
These shall be those who are receiving the Father’s love. I believe the apostle Paul’s benediction will be an experienced reality.
13 The grace of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and the love of God and the fellowship of the Ruach ha-Kodesh be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:13 TLV)
Like their Lord, they shall burn with zealous love for their Father’s house. They will love the brethren and enter into their identity as a corporate House for God.
His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for your House will consume Me!” (John 2:17 TLV)
They shall be faithful to the point of death.
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives even in the face of death. (Revelation 12:11 TLV)
The foundation of this fullness is knowing the Messiah’s love. Yeshua loves each one, and loves them as a family.
and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19 TLV)
The Messiah’s fullness in His people is one of the final stops on the journey to the resurrection. Our Father’s goal is that His Son’s people shall look just like the Messiah Yeshua.
12 Therefore, my loved ones, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence—work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For the One working in you is God—both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 TLV)
We are destined to fully share Yeshua’ glory.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, and from there we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 21 He will transform this humble body of ours into the likeness of His glorious body, through the power that enables Him even to put all things in subjection to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21 TLV)
Meanwhile, those who are Yeshua’s gifts to the Body help us on our way.
11 He Himself gave some to be emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers— 12 to equip the kedoshim for the work of service, for building up the body of Messiah. 13 This will continue until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Ben-Elohim—to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of Messiah’s fullness. (Ephesians 4:11-13 TLV)
We are not aimlessly wandering. God has a goal. What is our predestined destination?
We’re going to manifest the Messiah’s fullness.
This will take place in our Father’s time as His children hasten “the coming of the Day of God (2 Peter 3:12 TLV)”.
Let’s look at fullness in terms of time…
Paul wrote of this fullness:
The plan of the fullness of times is to bring all things together in the Messiah… (Ephesians 1:10a TLV)
There is a time coming in which God’s purpose will be complete; His purposes will be fulfilled. The whole cosmos shall be summed up in the Messiah.
Take a moment and read the following two verses. Pray that these words would reach your heart:
8b In all wisdom and insight, 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, in keeping with His good pleasure that He planned in Messiah. 10 The plan of the fullness of times is to bring all things together in the Messiah… (Ephesians 1:8b-10a TLV)
I am writing about this fullness in the context of knowing God’s love. How might we view these verses as relevant to our Father’s love?
Read how the Messiah is described in Ephesians 1:5-6.
5 He predestined us for adoption as sons through Messiah Yeshua, in keeping with the good pleasure of His will— 6 to the glorious praise of His grace, with which He favored us through the One He loves! (Ephesians 1:5-6 TLV)
In the Tree of Life version, Yeshua is described as “the One He loves.” The Complete Jewish Bible translates this as, “Beloved One.” The New English Translation as, “his dearly loved Son.”
Paul wrote that God is summing everything up in the His dearly loved Son, the Beloved One. The influence of wickedness will be banished through the dominion of the Beloved One. Redeemed humanity and restored nature will be within the sphere of liberating holy love.
The good pleasure of His will shall be fully realized in the fullness of the Messiah’s dominion. Now read this:
5b the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5b TLV)
9b the mystery of His will, in keeping with His good pleasure (Ephesians 1:9b TLV)
Good pleasure? In both sentences the Greek word eudokia is used. It is often translated “kind intention.” Both Ephesians 1:5b and 19b are connected to God’s will and are centered in God’s Messiah, His Beloved One.
God’s will, thelematos, has to do with accomplishing what will give Him pleasure. He wills to do that which He will enjoy. The King James Version gives this sense when it translated thelema in Revelation 4:11 as pleasure.
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11 KJV)
Let’s look at eudokia, God’s “good pleasure.” “Good pleasure” is a good translation. The Friberg Lexicon defines eudokia like this:
generally what pleases; (1) of people; (a) as having good intent goodwill (PH 1:15); (b) as a feeling of strong emotion in favor of something desire, wish, good pleasure (RO 10:1); (2) of God good pleasure, favor, approval
I have chosen to view eudokia as being easily translated “delight.” Both “good pleasure” and “His will” point us to what God loves. And His ultimate delight is that all things would be summed up in His Beloved One.
Everything that exists is destined to be within the sphere of the One the Father loves. This is His “kind intention.”
8b In all wisdom and insight, 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, in keeping with His good pleasure that He planned in Messiah. 10a The plan of the fullness of times is to bring all things together in the Messiah… (Ephesians 1:8b-10a TLV)
The future fullness of the appointed times will have everything summed up in the Messiah. Creation will share God’s delight, for it shall be summed up in the Beloved Son in whom God delights (euodokia).
5 He predestined us for adoption as sons through Messiah Yeshua, in keeping with the good pleasure of His will— 6 to the glorious praise of His grace, with which He favored us through the One He loves! (Ephesians 1:5-6 TLV)
That is your destiny. Let’s cooperate with God. He has a plan to manifest the Messiah’s fullness. That plan includes you.