Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, December 10, 2020
(First light of Chanukah)
Shalom,
The evening of Thursday, December 10, 2020, is the first light of Chanukah. For the last 8 years or so, we have gathered as a community for a community Chanukiah lighting ceremony, but not this year. This year I’m asking everyone to gather at home to light the first light of your own menorah.
But we are not “forsaking the gathering together of ourselves” (as some do). Instead, we will celebrate Chanukah at a party when we are all together, after the service, this Shabbat (Saturday night is the 3rd light of Chanukah). This will be our Chanukah Party/Oneg Shabbat, so please bring a covered dish to share.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu 10-Dec-2020 24th of Kislev, 5781
Ge 39:1-6 1 Sa 26-27 Ps 72 Lk 1:1-38 (1 Co 14:20-40)
I almost let this pass, but I can’t. There are two verses at the end of the 5 readings in the Daily Bread today. As you can see, they are from 1 Corinthians 14. These two verses (which I am quoting below) speak of the value of the prophetic gifts in evangelism. They are foundational to the vision for Shomair.
1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all are prophesying and some unbelieving or ungifted person comes in, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all. 25 The secrets of his heart become known, and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring, “God really is among you!”
Each week in our service, one of our elders (this week it will be me) is appointed as a prophetic moderator. The object is not to quench the move of the Spirit, but to provide good government in overseeing the move of the Spirit. The Scriptures are clear (we go to the very end of the chapter to get this)… 1 Corinthians 14:40 But let everything be done decently and in order.
There is so much abuse in the realm of the prophetic. The prophetic gifts are enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12. 1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given through the Ruach a word of wisdom, to another a word of knowledge according to the same Ruach, 9 to another faith by the same Ruach, to another gifts of healings by the one Ruach, 10 to another workings of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
Much of the abuse in administering prophetic gifts is due to poor government. It is possible to overly spiritualize everything. Good government provides balance. Good government also prevents bad government. Everything in this world abhors a vacuum. If good government is not present, bad government will step in to take its place.
I’m writing all of this to invite you pray over our gatherings (and come prepared). We want to see the victory in individual lives manifested through prophetic utterance. You don’t have to hold the office of a Prophet to be prophetic. There is much of this vision that is not yet spoken. Please continue in prayer, as we seek the fulness.
Week 50
Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 2:1 Therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Messiah Yeshua. 2 And what you have heard from me among many witnesses, entrust to faithful people who will be capable to teach others also.
246 12/10 Monday: 1 Timothy 1-3
247 12/11 Tuesday: 1 Timothy 4-6
248 12/12 Wednesday: 2 Timothy 1-2
* 249 12/13 Thursday: 2 Timothy 3-4
250 12/14 Friday: 1 Peter 1-2
Question of the Day: How does Paul “nail it?”
Answer: Consider the first verses of the reading today… 2 Timothy 3:1But understand this, that in the last days hard times will come— 2 for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 hardhearted, unforgiving, backbiting, without self-control, brutal, hating what is good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to an outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!
Yup, in the last days hard times will come. Paul then goes on to describe what that will look like. His conclusion is in verse 5. I find it so significant that I want to address it. It is actually connected to what I wrote above today concerning the gift of prophesy.
These people that Paul is describing in verses 2, 3, and 4 are to be avoided. Significantly, they hold, “an outward form of godliness, but denying its power.” They look like godly people, but they deny the power of God. And what is the power of God? It is the power to overcome every obstacle. The power of God is from the Greek word “dunimous,” from which we get our English word “dynamite.”
God moves in power through prophetic gifting. Nothing I’ve written today (from top to bottom) will be effective in any way unless we see it through Yeshua. Hebrews 1:3 This Son is the radiance of His glory and the imprint of His being, upholding all things by His powerful word.
In the paraphrased words of Misty Edwards, People get ready, Yeshua is coming.