Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, December 7, 2020

Shalom,

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)

Tue 8-Dec-2020 22nd of Kislev, 5781 

Ge 37:23-36 1 Sa 23-24 Ps 69 Mk 15 (1 Co 13)

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 can we tell time is short before the return of Yeshua?

Answer:  I didn’t get very far in the reading today before I found this… 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Ruach clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, following deceitful spirits and teachings of demons 2 through the hypocrisy of false speakers—whose own conscience has been seared.

I was all over this in my message on Shabbat.  It was originally inspired by Mario Murillo.  I’m reprinting part of it here.  

There are signs that were prophesied.  What were they? The Apostles asked Yeshua.  Matthew 24:3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24:4 Yeshua answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray! (False prophets and false teachings).

Matthew 24:10 And then many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one other.  (Great falling away) 11 Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12a Because lawlessness will multiply. 

Immorality and righteousness will both grow in the end of days.  Consider the parable of the wheat and tares.  Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time, I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the weeds and tie them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

The “feel good” worship experience (aka “worshiptainment”) should be a great “wake up call” to us all.   What is the greatest lie being told in the Church today?  It is actually a real scripture, but only part of one.  

2 Corinthians 12:9b “My grace is sufficient for you,”  Is it that simple?  Read that in context… 2 Corinthians 12:8 I pleaded with the Lord three times about this, that it might leave me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Messiah may dwell in me. (Power is not made perfect in sin, power is made perfect in submission) 10 For Messiah’s sake, then, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 11 I have become a fool—you drove me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I am in no way inferior to the super-special emissaries—though I am nothing.

I want to ask a series of questions.  What was the first thing Yeshua said in Matthew 24?  ““Be careful that no one leads you astray!”  So then, is grace a license for lawlessness?  Does God really only care about giving us a “good time?” 

There is a spiritual storm coming.  We sensed it months ago.  Our response was to begin teaching discipleship through the Song of Songs.  We looked around the congregation and said honestly, we’re not ready for the coming storm.  How can we get the most people ready as quickly as possible?  

We’ve been warned… 1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour.

What are the errors we are hearing today?) 

Universalism: All roads lead to the same destiny.  There is no such thing as hell.  Coexist! (barf) 

Challenging the validity of the Word of God:  Does the plain text of Scripture mean what it says, or do we have to get some ungodly understanding through “spiritualizing” every text?

The hyper grace movement:  (20 years ago everyone went “gaga” over The Shack)  God has righteous standards.  He righteous standards do not weaken grace, they accentuate the need for grace.  His amazing grace is NOT actually “amazing freedom” to live like hell and get away with it.

So, what is left for us?  John 14:12 “Amen, amen I tell you, he who puts his trust in Me, the works that I do he will do; and greater than these he will do, because I am going to the Father. 

So finally, we arrive at Hebrews 10 (our text for today).  Does Yeshua offer something better or not?  Hebrews 10:26 For if we keep on sinning willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a fury of fire about to devour the enemies of God.

Hebrews 10:29 How much more severe do you think the punishment will be for the one who has trampled Ben-Elohim underfoot, and has regarded as unholy the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the One who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “Adonai will judge His people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

There is going to be a great “falling away,” but don’t you be the one who is caught up in the guilt of it.  I believe every message should demand change.  Have you been listening to the demand for change in this message?  I’m going to break it off here, but don’t miss this.  Time is short, God’s message demands a response.  Joshua 24:15b But as for me and my household, we will worship Adonai!”