Seeking Guidance: The First Step
1 John 1:8-10
By forsaking the broad worldly way, believers have chosen a narrow path (Matt. 7:13). However, we’re not wandering blindly on it. The Holy Spirit is our guide. He directs our steps toward new opportunities and offers discernment so we can make wise decisions that keep us on course for God’s will.
It is the nature of this journey that we have to stop often and seek guidance. God is pleased to respond to earnest requests for direction, as He wants to keep His followers in the center of His will. But I’ve discovered that many Christians wonder how to pursue divine guidance.
Seeking God’s direction involves a pattern that begins with cleansing—in other words, the first place to look is at ourselves. Ask, “Father, do You see anything in my life that might interfere with my understanding what You are saying?” Sin shuts down the guidance process: it strangles the power flowing from the Holy Spirit and thereby clouds our judgment (1 Thess. 5:19). First John 1:9 tells us that God cleanses unrighteousness when we confess our sins. The Bible also contains a clear warning for those who refuse to relinquish a rebellious habit or attitude—the Lord does not hear their cries (Ps. 66:18). As He brings to mind problem areas, lay them before the cross.
Cleansing is actually woven into the entire process of gaining divine guidance. God brings sin to our attention as we’re equipped to deal with it. So on the way to receiving His clear direction, we may revisit this “first” step often and in that way can experience a time of rich spiritual growth and renewal.
Friday, April 29, 2011
After Jesus's resurrection, He appears to His disciples and reassures Thomas of His deity.
John 20
After Jesus's resurrection, He appears to His disciples and reassures Thomas of His deity.
INSIGHT
God commands us to believe in Him, but He doesn't require us to believe in Him contrary to the evidence. Thomas needed to be shown that the miracle of Jesus' resurrection was really true. God provided Thomas with the proof he needed. Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands. . . . Do not be unbelieving, but believing" (20:27). Jesus saw what Thomas needed and gave him sufficient evidence to believe. You don't have to be afraid of sincere doubt. That doubt can be changed. Just examine the evidence of Christ's work in the New Testament. Then ask God to help you to believe according to the evidence. Like the father in Mark 9:24, your prayer can be: "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
PRAYER
Praise the Lord that He has made the truths of His existence, power, and righteousness plain for all people to see:
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in (Isaiah 40:21-22).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord:
When I know to do good and do not do it, to me it is sin (based on James 4:17).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him (Psalm 103: 11-13).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater love for the glory of God's creation
The work of missions in Asia
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth (Isaiah 42:10).
After Jesus's resurrection, He appears to His disciples and reassures Thomas of His deity.
INSIGHT
God commands us to believe in Him, but He doesn't require us to believe in Him contrary to the evidence. Thomas needed to be shown that the miracle of Jesus' resurrection was really true. God provided Thomas with the proof he needed. Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands. . . . Do not be unbelieving, but believing" (20:27). Jesus saw what Thomas needed and gave him sufficient evidence to believe. You don't have to be afraid of sincere doubt. That doubt can be changed. Just examine the evidence of Christ's work in the New Testament. Then ask God to help you to believe according to the evidence. Like the father in Mark 9:24, your prayer can be: "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
PRAYER
Praise the Lord that He has made the truths of His existence, power, and righteousness plain for all people to see:
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in (Isaiah 40:21-22).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord:
When I know to do good and do not do it, to me it is sin (based on James 4:17).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him (Psalm 103: 11-13).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater love for the glory of God's creation
The work of missions in Asia
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth (Isaiah 42:10).
Take The Lead! (Part 2)
Take The Lead! (Part 2)
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1st Peter 5:1-4)
St. Mark chapter 10 verses 42-45 give us four characteristic of good leaders in the church. The first characteristic was that a good leader realizes and understands that they are caring for God’s flock, and not there own. It is very important how we treat God’s people who are under our authority. The second characteristic that we began talking about was that a good leader leads out of eagerness to serve, not out of obligation. The message Bible (vs 2)says: “I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God.” Obligation is something by which a person is bound or obliged to do certain things, and which arises out of a sense of duty or results from custom, law, etc. Romans 6:14 says: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Because of Christ, I am no longer under the law of sin, but now living under grace. The only obligation I have now is gratitude. I am grateful for the things he has done for me.
The third and fourth characteristics of a good leader is that a good leader is concerned for what they can give, not for what they can get, and also leads by example, not force. The rest of that scripture in 1st Peter chapter 5 verse 2 (Message Bible) continues with: Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. A good leader becomes an example. I am a firm believer that the best way to lead is by example. As a leader it is important to not try to figure out what’s in it for you, but rather what you can do to help others. How can you really lead, guide, protect, instruct or direct those under your authority, if you are trying to use them for your own gain? In all actuality, proper leadership will bring proper profit or gain. The bible says in 3rd John 1:2 (Message Bible): “I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!... Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth! A pastor should want this for his/her congregation…a president for his/her company, and parents for their children. As a mom, I want my children to follow me in ministry, so I live a life at home, and everywhere I go. Paul said in 1st Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. With them I am fair, understanding, and consistent. Come on leaders, it is time to take the lead, but let us lead according to the Word of God.
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1st Peter 5:1-4)
St. Mark chapter 10 verses 42-45 give us four characteristic of good leaders in the church. The first characteristic was that a good leader realizes and understands that they are caring for God’s flock, and not there own. It is very important how we treat God’s people who are under our authority. The second characteristic that we began talking about was that a good leader leads out of eagerness to serve, not out of obligation. The message Bible (vs 2)says: “I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God.” Obligation is something by which a person is bound or obliged to do certain things, and which arises out of a sense of duty or results from custom, law, etc. Romans 6:14 says: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Because of Christ, I am no longer under the law of sin, but now living under grace. The only obligation I have now is gratitude. I am grateful for the things he has done for me.
The third and fourth characteristics of a good leader is that a good leader is concerned for what they can give, not for what they can get, and also leads by example, not force. The rest of that scripture in 1st Peter chapter 5 verse 2 (Message Bible) continues with: Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. A good leader becomes an example. I am a firm believer that the best way to lead is by example. As a leader it is important to not try to figure out what’s in it for you, but rather what you can do to help others. How can you really lead, guide, protect, instruct or direct those under your authority, if you are trying to use them for your own gain? In all actuality, proper leadership will bring proper profit or gain. The bible says in 3rd John 1:2 (Message Bible): “I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!... Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth! A pastor should want this for his/her congregation…a president for his/her company, and parents for their children. As a mom, I want my children to follow me in ministry, so I live a life at home, and everywhere I go. Paul said in 1st Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. With them I am fair, understanding, and consistent. Come on leaders, it is time to take the lead, but let us lead according to the Word of God.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Listening with Purpose
Listening with Purpose
1 Samuel 3:1-10
Yesterday we learned about hearing the Word with eagerness and attentiveness. Now, let’s think about approaching the Bible purposefully, expectantly, and prayerfully.
Christians study the Scriptures not just individually but also corporately to learn more about God and His ways. Underlying this simple concept is a big challenge. To gather biblical knowledge with purpose means determining in our heart to obey what we hear (Ps. 119:33). And to do so expectantly means we believe that the Lord is going to speak specifically to us (Ps. 25:4). Sermons, Sunday school lessons, and quiet times on our own are all things to be anticipated. God uses these to build us up, strengthen us, or offer us comfort—He certainly makes listening to Him worthwhile. And obedience is the only proper response to this kind of personal attention.
Approaching the reading of Scripture prayerfully prepares our hearts to listen well and ushers in an attitude of purpose and expectancy. Today’s passage tells the story of young Samuel’s first encounter with God. The priest Eli gives the boy valuable advice—that when the Lord calls, he should say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (v. 9). Pray those simple words with conviction before you open your Bible, and you will hear God more clearly.
If you want to experience God working in your life, come to Scripture with a prayerful, expectant, purpose-filled attitude. The mourner will be comforted. The weary will gain strength. Those convicted of their sin will repent and know peace. All will sense joy. Recognize what a gift God’s Word is.
1 Samuel 3:1-10
Yesterday we learned about hearing the Word with eagerness and attentiveness. Now, let’s think about approaching the Bible purposefully, expectantly, and prayerfully.
Christians study the Scriptures not just individually but also corporately to learn more about God and His ways. Underlying this simple concept is a big challenge. To gather biblical knowledge with purpose means determining in our heart to obey what we hear (Ps. 119:33). And to do so expectantly means we believe that the Lord is going to speak specifically to us (Ps. 25:4). Sermons, Sunday school lessons, and quiet times on our own are all things to be anticipated. God uses these to build us up, strengthen us, or offer us comfort—He certainly makes listening to Him worthwhile. And obedience is the only proper response to this kind of personal attention.
Approaching the reading of Scripture prayerfully prepares our hearts to listen well and ushers in an attitude of purpose and expectancy. Today’s passage tells the story of young Samuel’s first encounter with God. The priest Eli gives the boy valuable advice—that when the Lord calls, he should say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (v. 9). Pray those simple words with conviction before you open your Bible, and you will hear God more clearly.
If you want to experience God working in your life, come to Scripture with a prayerful, expectant, purpose-filled attitude. The mourner will be comforted. The weary will gain strength. Those convicted of their sin will repent and know peace. All will sense joy. Recognize what a gift God’s Word is.
After being cruelly mistreated, Jesus is crucified and gives up His spirit.
John 19
After being cruelly mistreated, Jesus is crucified and gives up His spirit.
INSIGHT
The apostle John reveals the most detailed picture of Pilate's judgment of Jesus. At first, Pilate says, "I find no fault in Him at all" (18:38). Then, he scourges Jesus, hoping to placate the Jews. Without success, he makes efforts to release Jesus, but the Jewish leaders will not stand for it. Anxious about his political reputation in Rome, Pilate caves in, washes his hands of the affair, and releases Jesus to the Jewish leaders to be crucified. We place much of the blame for Jesus' death on Pilate. But if at any point in time Pilate had repented of His deed, Jesus Himself would have welcomed him into the kingdom of God.
PRAYER
Give your praise to the Lord for sending His only begotten Son to provide the way for your redemption:
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities(Isaiah 53:10-11).
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.
For the kingdom is the Lord's,
And He rules over the nations (Psalm 22:27-28).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Deeper gratitude for your salvation
The integrity of those who represent Christ in the pulpit
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever (Psalm 23:6).
After being cruelly mistreated, Jesus is crucified and gives up His spirit.
INSIGHT
The apostle John reveals the most detailed picture of Pilate's judgment of Jesus. At first, Pilate says, "I find no fault in Him at all" (18:38). Then, he scourges Jesus, hoping to placate the Jews. Without success, he makes efforts to release Jesus, but the Jewish leaders will not stand for it. Anxious about his political reputation in Rome, Pilate caves in, washes his hands of the affair, and releases Jesus to the Jewish leaders to be crucified. We place much of the blame for Jesus' death on Pilate. But if at any point in time Pilate had repented of His deed, Jesus Himself would have welcomed him into the kingdom of God.
PRAYER
Give your praise to the Lord for sending His only begotten Son to provide the way for your redemption:
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities(Isaiah 53:10-11).
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.
For the kingdom is the Lord's,
And He rules over the nations (Psalm 22:27-28).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Deeper gratitude for your salvation
The integrity of those who represent Christ in the pulpit
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever (Psalm 23:6).
Take The Lead! (Part 1)
Take The Lead! (Part 1)
1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1st Peter 5:1-4)
In this 5th chapter Peter is writing a letter to the elders (verse 1-5). The word “elder”, simply means older. Elders were church officers providing supervision, protection, discipline, instructions and directions to the other believers. They carried great responsibility and were also expected to be good examples. Peter himself was an elder. He had witnessed Jesus’ death and resurrection, preached at Pentecost, became a pillar of the Jerusalem church, but when he was writing to the elders he identified himself as a fellow elder, and not a superior. When he told them to “Feed the flock of God..” this was an echo of what Jesus told him in St. John 21:15-19. Peter was taking his own advice as he worked along side of the other elders in caring for God’s faithful people. This good example of Christian leadership…authority based on service, and not power, is found in St. Mark chapter 10 verses 42-45: “But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
When reading this passage of scripture, I find at least four characteristic of good leaders in the church. All of us lead others in some way. Whatever our role, our leadership should be in line with these characteristics. First, a good leader must realize they are caring for God’s flock, not their own. As a leader, a guide or an elder in a church we must know that what we do to or use the flock of God for that displeases God, will result in discipline from God. Psalms 105:13-15 says: When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.Don’t get it twisted Pastors, Bishop, Apostles, TD Jakes, Juanita Bynum and the like are not only God’s “anointed,” that mother in the mothers’ corner…that young person that chooses to stand up and not to be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their school…that man that just exchanged a needle in his arm for a bible in his hand…these are God’s anointed! When you hurt them using unnecessary authority over them (choir director, usher leader, etc), God takes it personally!
Secondly, a good leader leads out of eagerness to serve, not out of obligation. (to be contined)
1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1st Peter 5:1-4)
In this 5th chapter Peter is writing a letter to the elders (verse 1-5). The word “elder”, simply means older. Elders were church officers providing supervision, protection, discipline, instructions and directions to the other believers. They carried great responsibility and were also expected to be good examples. Peter himself was an elder. He had witnessed Jesus’ death and resurrection, preached at Pentecost, became a pillar of the Jerusalem church, but when he was writing to the elders he identified himself as a fellow elder, and not a superior. When he told them to “Feed the flock of God..” this was an echo of what Jesus told him in St. John 21:15-19. Peter was taking his own advice as he worked along side of the other elders in caring for God’s faithful people. This good example of Christian leadership…authority based on service, and not power, is found in St. Mark chapter 10 verses 42-45: “But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
When reading this passage of scripture, I find at least four characteristic of good leaders in the church. All of us lead others in some way. Whatever our role, our leadership should be in line with these characteristics. First, a good leader must realize they are caring for God’s flock, not their own. As a leader, a guide or an elder in a church we must know that what we do to or use the flock of God for that displeases God, will result in discipline from God. Psalms 105:13-15 says: When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.Don’t get it twisted Pastors, Bishop, Apostles, TD Jakes, Juanita Bynum and the like are not only God’s “anointed,” that mother in the mothers’ corner…that young person that chooses to stand up and not to be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their school…that man that just exchanged a needle in his arm for a bible in his hand…these are God’s anointed! When you hurt them using unnecessary authority over them (choir director, usher leader, etc), God takes it personally!
Secondly, a good leader leads out of eagerness to serve, not out of obligation. (to be contined)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
How to Listen to God’s Word
How to Listen to God’s Word
Nehemiah 8
How is it that two people can sit in the same pew, hear the same sermon about the same portion of Scripture, and walk away with two different reactions? One is joyful and the other unaffected. I think the reason is that some people do not know how to listen to the Word of God.
Nehemiah 8 is an amazing scene of God’s people coming together to hear His Word. Remember that they didn’t have individual copies of Scripture to read. For generations, the events of Genesis though Deuteronomy were passed down from parent to child. Moreover, the people had been in captivity for many years. This was the first time most of them heard the Word read. Imagine their excitement as they listened attentively for the Lord to speak to them.
The Israelites were hungry for God’s Word. Are you? Do you listen eagerly and with an expectant mind and heart? The length of a person’s attention span is directly related to the intensity of his hunger for something. If you crave to know more of God, then your mind is going to be fastened on what He’s saying through your pastor or your personal reading. And the reality is that nothing in the world mattersas much as what the Lord has to say.
So many things clamor for our focus but few truly deserve it. The Lord is worthy of nothing less than our undivided attention. He has something to say to every person. So whoever listens to God’s Word with an open heart and alert mind will receive from Him.
Nehemiah 8
How is it that two people can sit in the same pew, hear the same sermon about the same portion of Scripture, and walk away with two different reactions? One is joyful and the other unaffected. I think the reason is that some people do not know how to listen to the Word of God.
Nehemiah 8 is an amazing scene of God’s people coming together to hear His Word. Remember that they didn’t have individual copies of Scripture to read. For generations, the events of Genesis though Deuteronomy were passed down from parent to child. Moreover, the people had been in captivity for many years. This was the first time most of them heard the Word read. Imagine their excitement as they listened attentively for the Lord to speak to them.
The Israelites were hungry for God’s Word. Are you? Do you listen eagerly and with an expectant mind and heart? The length of a person’s attention span is directly related to the intensity of his hunger for something. If you crave to know more of God, then your mind is going to be fastened on what He’s saying through your pastor or your personal reading. And the reality is that nothing in the world mattersas much as what the Lord has to say.
So many things clamor for our focus but few truly deserve it. The Lord is worthy of nothing less than our undivided attention. He has something to say to every person. So whoever listens to God’s Word with an open heart and alert mind will receive from Him.
After His arrest, Jesus is taken before Pilate and the religious leaders.
John 18
After His arrest, Jesus is taken before Pilate and the religious leaders.
INSIGHT
As the power of the Creator of the universe was veiled in human flesh in Jesus of Nazareth, men came with torches and weapons to subdue Him. He asked, "Whom are you seeking?" They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." With the force of those words from Jesus, they "drew back, and fell to the ground" (John 18:6). It must have rattled their confidence to have to arrest Jesus. How much greater significance it lends to Jesus' words: "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself" (John 10:17-18). For our sakes, Jesus laid down His life that we might take it up. He became what we are so that we might become what He is. Praise and glory to God!
PRAYER
Offer to the Lord your praise for His willingness to lay down His life for you:
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen (Psalm 72:18-19).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
No temptation has overtaken me except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that I may be able to bear it (based on 1 Corinthians 10:13).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation (Hebrews 9:27-28).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater sensitivity to sin
The ministry of your local church
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, . . . through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Biblical Portrait
of Marriage
Instructor Training
After His arrest, Jesus is taken before Pilate and the religious leaders.
INSIGHT
As the power of the Creator of the universe was veiled in human flesh in Jesus of Nazareth, men came with torches and weapons to subdue Him. He asked, "Whom are you seeking?" They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." With the force of those words from Jesus, they "drew back, and fell to the ground" (John 18:6). It must have rattled their confidence to have to arrest Jesus. How much greater significance it lends to Jesus' words: "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself" (John 10:17-18). For our sakes, Jesus laid down His life that we might take it up. He became what we are so that we might become what He is. Praise and glory to God!
PRAYER
Offer to the Lord your praise for His willingness to lay down His life for you:
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen (Psalm 72:18-19).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
No temptation has overtaken me except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that I may be able to bear it (based on 1 Corinthians 10:13).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation (Hebrews 9:27-28).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater sensitivity to sin
The ministry of your local church
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, . . . through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Biblical Portrait
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Instructor Training
The season of our liberation
GALILEE DIARY
The season of our liberation
by Marc J. Rosenstein
Discuss on Our BlogAnd when you enter the land that the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. And when your children ask you, "What do you mean by this rite?" You shall say, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, because He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but saved our houses."
-Exodus 12:25-27
Notes on Passover in the land, 2011:
Schools close a week before the holiday, for a two week vacation. For many families this is a disaster, as the parents cannot take off work, and child care can be a daunting challenge. So there are short-term day camps provided by community centers, youth group excursions, etc., as well as a certain amount of chaos, juggling, frustration, and TV.
The weeks before Passover are boom times for housepainters, appliance dealers, and houseware shops, as a kind of frenzy of spring cleaning and renewal sets in, often with no clear relationship or proportion to the religious requirement of removing chametz (leavened bread).
The supermarkets in Jewish towns generally remove or cover all items that are not kosher for Passover. Every year Jewish food technology advances, so there are fewer and fewer foods that are not available kosher-for-Passover (a trend that some love and some hate). Meanwhile, the bakeries in Arab towns and villages are very busy during Passover, supplying the needs of the many Jews who do not observe the prohibition of eating chametz.
Despite warnings published in the media and announced over loudspeakers at the border crossing, over 20,000 Israelis went to Egypt for Passover, camping and scuba diving in Sinai. Meanwhile 300,000 headed for Turkey, Greece, and points north and west. And these numbers don't seem to have been seriously affected by matters of diplomacy or even by revolutions.
One day during the holiday we went to a mall, to shop for the patio furniture we'd been promising ourselves. If one doesn't shop on Shabbat, and works on Sunday, it is often hard to find time to make such non-routine, non-local purchases. Needless to say, we were not alone there. As we drove out of the parking garage around noon, the line of cars waiting to enter stretched for blocks. Not only shopping, but craft activities for the kids were offered, and half of the films in 23-plex cinema were animated features.
The next day we left for a two-day camping trip in the Golan Heights. We planned carefully, trying to figure out how to avoid the crowds. The dramatic canyons of the northern Golan are a huge attraction, so we opted for the more moderate trails above the southeastern quadrant of the Kinneret. Here too we were by no means alone, but our planning paid off and there were sections of trail where it was just us – and the JNF campsite where we camped was gratifyingly empty. And we somehow managed to avoid the horrendous highway traffic jams to and from the Galilee and Golan that are characteristic of Passover. But with or without company on the trail, the views, the foliage, the soaring hawks and storks, the play of sun and clouds (and rain) over the Kinneret below us – all contributed to a feeling of spring renewal and liberation.
Some people would argue that we "liberated" the Golan in 1967. Others claim that the Golan will be "liberated" when we negotiate a peace treaty and return the Heights to Syria. In that day of redemption we will cross the border freely for our camping trip (like we do to Jordan and Egypt) and reminisce about the days when we were slaves to an outmoded, irrational world order.
The season of our liberation
by Marc J. Rosenstein
Discuss on Our BlogAnd when you enter the land that the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. And when your children ask you, "What do you mean by this rite?" You shall say, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, because He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but saved our houses."
-Exodus 12:25-27
Notes on Passover in the land, 2011:
Schools close a week before the holiday, for a two week vacation. For many families this is a disaster, as the parents cannot take off work, and child care can be a daunting challenge. So there are short-term day camps provided by community centers, youth group excursions, etc., as well as a certain amount of chaos, juggling, frustration, and TV.
The weeks before Passover are boom times for housepainters, appliance dealers, and houseware shops, as a kind of frenzy of spring cleaning and renewal sets in, often with no clear relationship or proportion to the religious requirement of removing chametz (leavened bread).
The supermarkets in Jewish towns generally remove or cover all items that are not kosher for Passover. Every year Jewish food technology advances, so there are fewer and fewer foods that are not available kosher-for-Passover (a trend that some love and some hate). Meanwhile, the bakeries in Arab towns and villages are very busy during Passover, supplying the needs of the many Jews who do not observe the prohibition of eating chametz.
Despite warnings published in the media and announced over loudspeakers at the border crossing, over 20,000 Israelis went to Egypt for Passover, camping and scuba diving in Sinai. Meanwhile 300,000 headed for Turkey, Greece, and points north and west. And these numbers don't seem to have been seriously affected by matters of diplomacy or even by revolutions.
One day during the holiday we went to a mall, to shop for the patio furniture we'd been promising ourselves. If one doesn't shop on Shabbat, and works on Sunday, it is often hard to find time to make such non-routine, non-local purchases. Needless to say, we were not alone there. As we drove out of the parking garage around noon, the line of cars waiting to enter stretched for blocks. Not only shopping, but craft activities for the kids were offered, and half of the films in 23-plex cinema were animated features.
The next day we left for a two-day camping trip in the Golan Heights. We planned carefully, trying to figure out how to avoid the crowds. The dramatic canyons of the northern Golan are a huge attraction, so we opted for the more moderate trails above the southeastern quadrant of the Kinneret. Here too we were by no means alone, but our planning paid off and there were sections of trail where it was just us – and the JNF campsite where we camped was gratifyingly empty. And we somehow managed to avoid the horrendous highway traffic jams to and from the Galilee and Golan that are characteristic of Passover. But with or without company on the trail, the views, the foliage, the soaring hawks and storks, the play of sun and clouds (and rain) over the Kinneret below us – all contributed to a feeling of spring renewal and liberation.
Some people would argue that we "liberated" the Golan in 1967. Others claim that the Golan will be "liberated" when we negotiate a peace treaty and return the Heights to Syria. In that day of redemption we will cross the border freely for our camping trip (like we do to Jordan and Egypt) and reminisce about the days when we were slaves to an outmoded, irrational world order.
Jesus or Barabbas?
Jesus or Barabbas?
1Now Jesus stood before the governor [Pilate], and the governor asked Him, Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him, You have stated [the fact]. Now at the Feast [of the Passover] the governor was in the habit of setting free for the people any one prisoner whom they chose. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when they had assembled for this purpose, Pilate said to them, Whom do you want me to set free for you, Barabbas, or Jesus Who is called Christ? 20The chief priests and the elders prevailed on the people to ask for Barabbas, and put Jesus to death. 24So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was about to break out, he took water and washed his hands in the presence of the crowd, saying, I am not guilty of nor responsible for this righteous Man's blood; see to it yourselves 25And all the people answered, Let His blood be on us and on our children! (St Matthew 27:11, 15-17, 20, 24-25 Amplified)
As Jesus stood before Pilate, the religious leaders accused Him of a different crime than the ones for which they had arrested Him. When they arrested him they accused Him of blasphemy (He claimed to be God), but because they knew that charge would mean nothing to the Romans, they had to accuse him of crimes that would be of concern to the Roman government. They than accused him of encouraging the people not to pay taxes, claiming to be a king, and causing riots. The accusations were not true, but the religious leaders were determined to kill Jesus. They even broke several commandments in order to do so. Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion against the Roman government (Mark 15:7), and was actually guilty of the crime for which Jesus was being accused. Ironically, Barabbas’ name means “son of the father”, which was actually Jesus’ position in God.
Faced with a clear choice, the people chose to release Barabbas, a revolutionary and murderer, over the Son of God. Faced with the same choice today, people are still choosing Barabbas. They would rather have the tangible force of human power than the salvation offered by the Son of God. They would rather run after and make heroes of religious leaders…who preach a feel good message, but are guilty of breaking the commandments of God so that they can secretly live lives that do not accompany the salvation life that Jesus came to give. “1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
If you had a choice to make today, what will it be? Will it be Barabbas (tangible force of human power, only what you can see, feel, or touch) or, Jesus (salvation which includes redemption, deliverance, healing, perseverance, and safety)? As far as I am concerned…I’ll take Jesus over Barabbas.
1Now Jesus stood before the governor [Pilate], and the governor asked Him, Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him, You have stated [the fact]. Now at the Feast [of the Passover] the governor was in the habit of setting free for the people any one prisoner whom they chose. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when they had assembled for this purpose, Pilate said to them, Whom do you want me to set free for you, Barabbas, or Jesus Who is called Christ? 20The chief priests and the elders prevailed on the people to ask for Barabbas, and put Jesus to death. 24So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was about to break out, he took water and washed his hands in the presence of the crowd, saying, I am not guilty of nor responsible for this righteous Man's blood; see to it yourselves 25And all the people answered, Let His blood be on us and on our children! (St Matthew 27:11, 15-17, 20, 24-25 Amplified)
As Jesus stood before Pilate, the religious leaders accused Him of a different crime than the ones for which they had arrested Him. When they arrested him they accused Him of blasphemy (He claimed to be God), but because they knew that charge would mean nothing to the Romans, they had to accuse him of crimes that would be of concern to the Roman government. They than accused him of encouraging the people not to pay taxes, claiming to be a king, and causing riots. The accusations were not true, but the religious leaders were determined to kill Jesus. They even broke several commandments in order to do so. Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion against the Roman government (Mark 15:7), and was actually guilty of the crime for which Jesus was being accused. Ironically, Barabbas’ name means “son of the father”, which was actually Jesus’ position in God.
Faced with a clear choice, the people chose to release Barabbas, a revolutionary and murderer, over the Son of God. Faced with the same choice today, people are still choosing Barabbas. They would rather have the tangible force of human power than the salvation offered by the Son of God. They would rather run after and make heroes of religious leaders…who preach a feel good message, but are guilty of breaking the commandments of God so that they can secretly live lives that do not accompany the salvation life that Jesus came to give. “1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
If you had a choice to make today, what will it be? Will it be Barabbas (tangible force of human power, only what you can see, feel, or touch) or, Jesus (salvation which includes redemption, deliverance, healing, perseverance, and safety)? As far as I am concerned…I’ll take Jesus over Barabbas.
God’s Grand Plan
God’s Grand Plan
1 Peter 1:13-16
First Peter 1:16 says, “You shall be holy for I am holy.” What an overwhelming command! But that is exactly what the Lord is committed to do in our lives—make us holy. His grand plan can be summed up in one word: sanctification. This is the three-stage process by which He sets us apart for His purposes.
Stage one occurs at the moment of our salvation. When God declares us righteous, we are positionally holy. The second stage is a progression of growth as we become more and more in practice what we already are in position. This process will continue for as long as we are alive on this earth.
The Father has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, and He is continually working to shape our conduct, character, and conversation. Although God is the one who accomplishes the transformation, we have some responsibility in the process. If we don’t cooperate with Him, the world will squeeze us into its mold, and we will miss the great plans He has for us.
The third stage of sanctification is our ultimate perfection when we will possess absolute holiness. Upon our physical death, the soul and spirit are freed from sin, and in the resurrection, our bodies will be made perfect. We will stand faultless and spotless before Christ.
If we could just get a glimpse of what the third stage is like, we would never moan and groan about the difficult sanctification process we endure now. Our eyes would be fixed on the goal, and our greatest motivation would be to glorify God by submitting to Him as He transforms us.
1 Peter 1:13-16
First Peter 1:16 says, “You shall be holy for I am holy.” What an overwhelming command! But that is exactly what the Lord is committed to do in our lives—make us holy. His grand plan can be summed up in one word: sanctification. This is the three-stage process by which He sets us apart for His purposes.
Stage one occurs at the moment of our salvation. When God declares us righteous, we are positionally holy. The second stage is a progression of growth as we become more and more in practice what we already are in position. This process will continue for as long as we are alive on this earth.
The Father has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, and He is continually working to shape our conduct, character, and conversation. Although God is the one who accomplishes the transformation, we have some responsibility in the process. If we don’t cooperate with Him, the world will squeeze us into its mold, and we will miss the great plans He has for us.
The third stage of sanctification is our ultimate perfection when we will possess absolute holiness. Upon our physical death, the soul and spirit are freed from sin, and in the resurrection, our bodies will be made perfect. We will stand faultless and spotless before Christ.
If we could just get a glimpse of what the third stage is like, we would never moan and groan about the difficult sanctification process we endure now. Our eyes would be fixed on the goal, and our greatest motivation would be to glorify God by submitting to Him as He transforms us.
Jesus prays that the Father will make His disciples fruitful and give them future glory
John 17
Jesus prays that the Father will make His disciples fruitful and give them future glory.
INSIGHT
The mark of a Christian should be love. In Matthew 22, we read that the two greatest commandments are love for God and love for our neighbor. In John 13:35, Jesus says, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." In John 17:21, Jesus says if Christians have unity (based on love), the world will believe that Christ was sent from God. When our badge is love, the world is convinced that we are genuine disciples of Jesus, rather than hypocrites.
PRAYER
In the words of this psalm, offer your praise to the Lord, who is patient with us when we doubt:
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night . . .
For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands. . .
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him (Psalm 92:1-2, 4, 15).
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. . . .
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:8, 13-14).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;
and the bread that I shall give is My flesh,
which I shall give for the life of the world (John 6:51).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Others to see Christ in you
Laborers for the harvesting of souls
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen (Revelation 7:12).
Jesus prays that the Father will make His disciples fruitful and give them future glory.
INSIGHT
The mark of a Christian should be love. In Matthew 22, we read that the two greatest commandments are love for God and love for our neighbor. In John 13:35, Jesus says, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." In John 17:21, Jesus says if Christians have unity (based on love), the world will believe that Christ was sent from God. When our badge is love, the world is convinced that we are genuine disciples of Jesus, rather than hypocrites.
PRAYER
In the words of this psalm, offer your praise to the Lord, who is patient with us when we doubt:
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night . . .
For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands. . .
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him (Psalm 92:1-2, 4, 15).
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. . . .
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:8, 13-14).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;
and the bread that I shall give is My flesh,
which I shall give for the life of the world (John 6:51).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Others to see Christ in you
Laborers for the harvesting of souls
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen (Revelation 7:12).
I’ll Wash Your Feet!
I’ll Wash Your Feet!
1Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. (John 13:1-5)
The scripture brings us to the place where Jesus is with his disciples just before the Feast of the Passover. The first Passover is described in Exodus chapter 12: one lamb was slain for every household and the blood painted onto the lintels and doorposts. This was done in order that the angel of Death would not slay the first-born son of the Jewish households, but only those of Pharoah's people, whom God had warned He would judge. "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" the Lord told the children of Israel (Exodus 12:13).. God ordained that the children of Israel would commemorate the Passover every year to remember their deliverance, almost. Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. It was now suppertime, and by this time the Devil had Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, firmly in his grip, and all set for the betrayal. In spite of all this, Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything. He came from God and was on his way back to God. Jesus got up from the table, laid aside his robe, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He poured water into a basin, and one by one begin washing the feet of his disciples, drying them with the towel.
Jesus washing his disciple’ feet is a great display of serving. Feet washing is a way of saying to someone, “I am willing to take time to understand what you have walked through in life”. We are so often busy with our on lives that we don’t take time to really look at people who pass through or come into our lives. I am so moved by the woman in the 7th chapter of St. Luke. She came to the Pharisee’s house with an “alabaster box of ointment”. She stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” (verses 37-38). Jesus had to walk through dung, dirt, and other stuff on the road, so when this woman was kissing his feet, dropping tears and using her hair to wipe them, she was kissing and wiping with her hair, everything he had walked through!
When dealing with that mean people with bad attitudes, try to understand, what they may be walking through…trouble with their children… problems on the job, or even bad news. Sit them down (encouraging them to take a load off)… and let them know that you will wash their feet!”
1Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. (John 13:1-5)
The scripture brings us to the place where Jesus is with his disciples just before the Feast of the Passover. The first Passover is described in Exodus chapter 12: one lamb was slain for every household and the blood painted onto the lintels and doorposts. This was done in order that the angel of Death would not slay the first-born son of the Jewish households, but only those of Pharoah's people, whom God had warned He would judge. "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" the Lord told the children of Israel (Exodus 12:13).. God ordained that the children of Israel would commemorate the Passover every year to remember their deliverance, almost. Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. It was now suppertime, and by this time the Devil had Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, firmly in his grip, and all set for the betrayal. In spite of all this, Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything. He came from God and was on his way back to God. Jesus got up from the table, laid aside his robe, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He poured water into a basin, and one by one begin washing the feet of his disciples, drying them with the towel.
Jesus washing his disciple’ feet is a great display of serving. Feet washing is a way of saying to someone, “I am willing to take time to understand what you have walked through in life”. We are so often busy with our on lives that we don’t take time to really look at people who pass through or come into our lives. I am so moved by the woman in the 7th chapter of St. Luke. She came to the Pharisee’s house with an “alabaster box of ointment”. She stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” (verses 37-38). Jesus had to walk through dung, dirt, and other stuff on the road, so when this woman was kissing his feet, dropping tears and using her hair to wipe them, she was kissing and wiping with her hair, everything he had walked through!
When dealing with that mean people with bad attitudes, try to understand, what they may be walking through…trouble with their children… problems on the job, or even bad news. Sit them down (encouraging them to take a load off)… and let them know that you will wash their feet!”
Monday, April 25, 2011
Qualifications for Sainthood
Qualifications for Sainthood
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Many people hold an unbiblical view of sainthood. Their idea of a saint is one who has led such an exemplary life that he or she is venerated by the church, but God’s Word presents quite a different picture. The Corinthian church struggled with all sorts of ungodly behaviors, yet Paul describes them as “those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling” (1 Cor. 1:2).
Sanctifymeans to set apart from common use to a sacred use. Throughout Scripture, the Lord has sanctified days (such as the Sabbath), places (the tabernacle), things (Ark of the Covenant), and people. A saint is simply a person whom God has set apart for His purposes. That means every believer is a saint.
Before you were saved, your position relative to God was one of enmity (Rom. 5:10). But the moment you trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, the Lord changed your position and set you apart for Himself.
You were born again and are now His child. He forgave your sins and declared you righteous. A saint is not a perfect person but one who is in a right relationship with God. Although our position of sanctification is not predicated on good behavior, the Lord expects us to live in a manner that honors Him.
Just think—God set you apart for a sacred purpose. That means you are here, not to live as you please but to bring glory to Him. He calls us to live according to our new position in Christ. To refuse this responsibility of sainthood is a blatant act of ingratitude, which grieves His heart.
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Many people hold an unbiblical view of sainthood. Their idea of a saint is one who has led such an exemplary life that he or she is venerated by the church, but God’s Word presents quite a different picture. The Corinthian church struggled with all sorts of ungodly behaviors, yet Paul describes them as “those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling” (1 Cor. 1:2).
Sanctifymeans to set apart from common use to a sacred use. Throughout Scripture, the Lord has sanctified days (such as the Sabbath), places (the tabernacle), things (Ark of the Covenant), and people. A saint is simply a person whom God has set apart for His purposes. That means every believer is a saint.
Before you were saved, your position relative to God was one of enmity (Rom. 5:10). But the moment you trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, the Lord changed your position and set you apart for Himself.
You were born again and are now His child. He forgave your sins and declared you righteous. A saint is not a perfect person but one who is in a right relationship with God. Although our position of sanctification is not predicated on good behavior, the Lord expects us to live in a manner that honors Him.
Just think—God set you apart for a sacred purpose. That means you are here, not to live as you please but to bring glory to Him. He calls us to live according to our new position in Christ. To refuse this responsibility of sainthood is a blatant act of ingratitude, which grieves His heart.
The Lord teaches the disciples about prayer through His own example.
John 16
The Lord teaches the disciples about prayer through His own example.
INSIGHT
We often gain by our losses. The one who has suffered no loss is still a shallow person. It was expedient for the disciples that the Lord should leave because the Spirit's presence was contingent upon His physical absence. Christ's work must be complete so the Spirit can apply it to the hearts of men. Jesus must die and be resurrected. The Holy Spirit will draw men to His offer of salvation. And the best news? We'll see Jesus again.
PRAYER
God forgives our sin and beckons us to Himself for which we offer Him our gratitude and praise:
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God. . . .
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:1-2, 17).
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight-
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge (Psalm 51:4).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
The homeless in America
Greater wisdom for living life
The needs of your immediate family
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10-11).
The Lord teaches the disciples about prayer through His own example.
INSIGHT
We often gain by our losses. The one who has suffered no loss is still a shallow person. It was expedient for the disciples that the Lord should leave because the Spirit's presence was contingent upon His physical absence. Christ's work must be complete so the Spirit can apply it to the hearts of men. Jesus must die and be resurrected. The Holy Spirit will draw men to His offer of salvation. And the best news? We'll see Jesus again.
PRAYER
God forgives our sin and beckons us to Himself for which we offer Him our gratitude and praise:
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God. . . .
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:1-2, 17).
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight-
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge (Psalm 51:4).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
The homeless in America
Greater wisdom for living life
The needs of your immediate family
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10-11).
The Blood Speaks!
The Blood Speaks!
24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 5See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. Hebrews 12:24-26
We used to sing a song which contained these words “There is power, power, wonder working power in the blood…of the lamb. There is power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the lamb”. When I was just going to church this song did not make much sense to me, but when I gave my heart to Jesus, and experienced this wonder working power…the washing away of my sin…being washed in the blood of Jesus…being saved by his mercy, this song became alive in my soul. It is by God’s grace, I am born again of water and the spirit. I am now justified by his grace, and I am an heir according to the hope of eternal life. All of this because Jesus shed his blood on Calvary, just for me. Not only did he shed his blood, but he sprinkled his blood on my life, and now I am clean. Now I understand the power the blood of Jesus holds. Jesus blood speaks, and speaks better things than that of Abel. When Cain slew Abel in Genesis 4:8-10, Abel’s blood cried out from the ground (vs. 10). Abel’s blood was crying out for vengeance for sons that would never be born. Jesus’ blood spake of forgiveness. His death became a proclamation for grace. Jesus blood spake of sons yet to be born. The blood of Jesus Speaks. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing, but the blood of Jesus.
Jesus’ blood spoke at Calvary’s cross, and it still speaks today. When sickness enters my body, the blood speaks, for according to 1st Peter 2:24 “24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed”! The blood speaks when I am going through. It says “and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. (St. Matthew 28:20) The blood speaks when I am under fire, and says “No weapon that is formed against shall prosper, and every tongue that lifts itself against me in judgment I have the right to condemn” (Isaiah 54:17). So lying tongue, shut your mouth, criticizing tongue, shut your mouth, because I have been washed in the blood of Jesus.
The same blood that Jesus shed on the cross over two thousand years ago, has the same ability today. Whatever it is that you are facing…whatever that seems to be keeping you bound…Whatever struggle you are going through…when all hell seems to be breaking loose, put it under the blood. I know sometimes the voices of these things seem be deafening…voices telling you that you can’t make it…things will never change...you can’t come out of this, but I challenge you to allow the blood to speak. It is the blood of Jesus that is a proclamation for grace in your life. So let the blood speak, I’m sure hell will listen.
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!
Be Blessed,
Pastor Rebecca Roman
Revival Time Internet Ministries
24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 5See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. Hebrews 12:24-26
We used to sing a song which contained these words “There is power, power, wonder working power in the blood…of the lamb. There is power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the lamb”. When I was just going to church this song did not make much sense to me, but when I gave my heart to Jesus, and experienced this wonder working power…the washing away of my sin…being washed in the blood of Jesus…being saved by his mercy, this song became alive in my soul. It is by God’s grace, I am born again of water and the spirit. I am now justified by his grace, and I am an heir according to the hope of eternal life. All of this because Jesus shed his blood on Calvary, just for me. Not only did he shed his blood, but he sprinkled his blood on my life, and now I am clean. Now I understand the power the blood of Jesus holds. Jesus blood speaks, and speaks better things than that of Abel. When Cain slew Abel in Genesis 4:8-10, Abel’s blood cried out from the ground (vs. 10). Abel’s blood was crying out for vengeance for sons that would never be born. Jesus’ blood spake of forgiveness. His death became a proclamation for grace. Jesus blood spake of sons yet to be born. The blood of Jesus Speaks. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing, but the blood of Jesus.
Jesus’ blood spoke at Calvary’s cross, and it still speaks today. When sickness enters my body, the blood speaks, for according to 1st Peter 2:24 “24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed”! The blood speaks when I am going through. It says “and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. (St. Matthew 28:20) The blood speaks when I am under fire, and says “No weapon that is formed against shall prosper, and every tongue that lifts itself against me in judgment I have the right to condemn” (Isaiah 54:17). So lying tongue, shut your mouth, criticizing tongue, shut your mouth, because I have been washed in the blood of Jesus.
The same blood that Jesus shed on the cross over two thousand years ago, has the same ability today. Whatever it is that you are facing…whatever that seems to be keeping you bound…Whatever struggle you are going through…when all hell seems to be breaking loose, put it under the blood. I know sometimes the voices of these things seem be deafening…voices telling you that you can’t make it…things will never change...you can’t come out of this, but I challenge you to allow the blood to speak. It is the blood of Jesus that is a proclamation for grace in your life. So let the blood speak, I’m sure hell will listen.
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!
Be Blessed,
Pastor Rebecca Roman
Revival Time Internet Ministries
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Jesus teaches that a personal relationship with Him, and others, is central to His design.
John 15
Jesus teaches that a personal relationship with Him, and others, is central to His design.
INSIGHT
There are times when our prayers are answered and we seem "in tune" with God. At other times, our prayers seem not to be answered, and we seem far from God. Jesus gives us two directives to keep in mind as we ponder our prayer. First, we are to abide in Him. This abiding, among other things, includes fostering a conscious awareness of His presence at all times and bringing all thoughts, attitudes, and actions in line with what we understand of His teachings. Second, "and My words abide in you" must involve studying, memorizing, and meditating upon the Word so that we pray intelligently, knowing God's will ahead of time on some things. As we grow in these two areas, more and more of our prayers will be answered.
PRAYER
The Lord is pleased when we offer Him our praise:
Let my mouth be filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all the day. . . .
But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness,
of Yours only (Psalm 71:8, 14-16).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
For there is not a just man on earth
who does good and does not sin(Ecclesiastes 7:20).
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and confidence shall be your strength (Isaiah 30:15).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater faithfulness in evangelism
National and world affairs
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
Jesus teaches that a personal relationship with Him, and others, is central to His design.
INSIGHT
There are times when our prayers are answered and we seem "in tune" with God. At other times, our prayers seem not to be answered, and we seem far from God. Jesus gives us two directives to keep in mind as we ponder our prayer. First, we are to abide in Him. This abiding, among other things, includes fostering a conscious awareness of His presence at all times and bringing all thoughts, attitudes, and actions in line with what we understand of His teachings. Second, "and My words abide in you" must involve studying, memorizing, and meditating upon the Word so that we pray intelligently, knowing God's will ahead of time on some things. As we grow in these two areas, more and more of our prayers will be answered.
PRAYER
The Lord is pleased when we offer Him our praise:
Let my mouth be filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all the day. . . .
But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness,
of Yours only (Psalm 71:8, 14-16).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
For there is not a just man on earth
who does good and does not sin(Ecclesiastes 7:20).
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and confidence shall be your strength (Isaiah 30:15).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater faithfulness in evangelism
National and world affairs
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
Saturday, April 23, 2011
A Dark Sabbath
23—Holy Saturday
A Dark Sabbath
John 19:31-42
Just as Christ once rested in the stern of a boat through a raging storm, He rested in the tomb as storms raged within His disciples. A day after Jesus’ death, fear, doubt, and grief must have cycled endlessly through their minds. Memories of their lives with Him must have played there too: how it felt to stand upon a rolling sea, to feed thousands with a few loaves of bread, or to see Lazarus’ burial clothes heaped in the dirt. No doubt their hearts grew sick with confusion as they contemplated these things.
The disciples’ feeble faith shouldn’t surprise us, because if we’re honest, we see it in ourselves. The “little of faith,” as Jesus often called them, failed to believe or remember things the Lord said of Himself—that He’d lay down His life and take it up again. Had His followers faithfully held these things in their hearts, that Sabbath day might have been a time of joyful anticipation.
At times in our lives, God may seem absent, but ultimately we know that He will never leave us (Heb. 13:5). And unlike the disciples, we’ll never experience the dark prospect of a failed Savior. But many times we forget the promises of God. In the face of uncertainty, how frequently do we turn to a “do-it-yourself” Christianity to fix our problems?
Too often we look no further than our own solutions, when what we need is the wonder-working power of Christ’s resurrection and a posture of humility as we wait on Him. If we are willing to wait through the darkness of night, we can rest in knowing that morning will surely come.
A Dark Sabbath
John 19:31-42
Just as Christ once rested in the stern of a boat through a raging storm, He rested in the tomb as storms raged within His disciples. A day after Jesus’ death, fear, doubt, and grief must have cycled endlessly through their minds. Memories of their lives with Him must have played there too: how it felt to stand upon a rolling sea, to feed thousands with a few loaves of bread, or to see Lazarus’ burial clothes heaped in the dirt. No doubt their hearts grew sick with confusion as they contemplated these things.
The disciples’ feeble faith shouldn’t surprise us, because if we’re honest, we see it in ourselves. The “little of faith,” as Jesus often called them, failed to believe or remember things the Lord said of Himself—that He’d lay down His life and take it up again. Had His followers faithfully held these things in their hearts, that Sabbath day might have been a time of joyful anticipation.
At times in our lives, God may seem absent, but ultimately we know that He will never leave us (Heb. 13:5). And unlike the disciples, we’ll never experience the dark prospect of a failed Savior. But many times we forget the promises of God. In the face of uncertainty, how frequently do we turn to a “do-it-yourself” Christianity to fix our problems?
Too often we look no further than our own solutions, when what we need is the wonder-working power of Christ’s resurrection and a posture of humility as we wait on Him. If we are willing to wait through the darkness of night, we can rest in knowing that morning will surely come.
Jesus reassures His disciples with His promise to send the Holy Spirit.
John 14
Jesus reassures His disciples with His promise to send the Holy Spirit.
INSIGHT
A very tender and intimate scene begins in chapter 14. The disciples do not understand clearly everything that is going on, but they know that something big is about to happen and that Jesus will be leaving them. Their Teacher, their Mentor, their Friend for the last three years is leaving, and their hearts are crushed with the burden. In this spirit, Jesus speaks softly, kindly, tenderly to them: "Let not your heart be troubled; . . . I go to prepare a place for you (in My Father's house). And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself" (14:1-3). Again: "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you" (14:18). How loving and compassionate. And He loves us just as much as the disciples.
PRAYER
God's love for us is indeed cause for us to give Him our heart-felt praise and adoration:
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Say to God, "How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You (Psalm 66:1-3).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits (Psalm 103:1-2).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater love for others
The work of missions in Australia and the islands of the South Pacific
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17).
Jesus reassures His disciples with His promise to send the Holy Spirit.
INSIGHT
A very tender and intimate scene begins in chapter 14. The disciples do not understand clearly everything that is going on, but they know that something big is about to happen and that Jesus will be leaving them. Their Teacher, their Mentor, their Friend for the last three years is leaving, and their hearts are crushed with the burden. In this spirit, Jesus speaks softly, kindly, tenderly to them: "Let not your heart be troubled; . . . I go to prepare a place for you (in My Father's house). And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself" (14:1-3). Again: "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you" (14:18). How loving and compassionate. And He loves us just as much as the disciples.
PRAYER
God's love for us is indeed cause for us to give Him our heart-felt praise and adoration:
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Say to God, "How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You (Psalm 66:1-3).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits (Psalm 103:1-2).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater love for others
The work of missions in Australia and the islands of the South Pacific
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17).
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Lamb of God
April 22 - Good Friday
The Lamb of God
Matthew 26:47-27:56
Jesus is called by a variety of names—Messiah, Lord, Christ, Rabbi, Teacher—but the one that is probably the most unfamiliar to the modern world is the Lamb of God. Since most of us do not have a Jewish background, we have a limited understanding of this title. But the Israelites of that day understood the significance of this name. Lambs were for sacrifice.
God has always dealt with sin through the blood of sacrifices. When Adam and Eve sinned, an animal was slain to cover the nakedness and shame of two individuals(Gen. 3:21). On the first Passover, each householdcovered their doorway with sacrificial blood (Ex. 12:1-7). Later, a goat was slaughtered for the atonement of the entire nation (Lev. 16:15). Now in John 1:29, we see the ultimate sacrifice—the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.
Usually a person’s most impressiveachievements are completed while he or she is alive, but think about what Jesus accomplished through His death. Just as innocent animals had died in place of the guilty, so Christ gave His perfect life for sinful mankind. He assumed full responsibility for all our sins and took the punishment that we deserved. As He hung on the cross, the judgment and wrath of God was poured out on Him instead of on us.
Since we are limited by our human minds and senses, we cannot fully understand all that the Lamb of God endured to bring us salvation. But we know enough to realize that we owe Him our lives. He took our place on the cross; let’s give Him first place in our hearts.
The Lamb of God
Matthew 26:47-27:56
Jesus is called by a variety of names—Messiah, Lord, Christ, Rabbi, Teacher—but the one that is probably the most unfamiliar to the modern world is the Lamb of God. Since most of us do not have a Jewish background, we have a limited understanding of this title. But the Israelites of that day understood the significance of this name. Lambs were for sacrifice.
God has always dealt with sin through the blood of sacrifices. When Adam and Eve sinned, an animal was slain to cover the nakedness and shame of two individuals(Gen. 3:21). On the first Passover, each householdcovered their doorway with sacrificial blood (Ex. 12:1-7). Later, a goat was slaughtered for the atonement of the entire nation (Lev. 16:15). Now in John 1:29, we see the ultimate sacrifice—the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.
Usually a person’s most impressiveachievements are completed while he or she is alive, but think about what Jesus accomplished through His death. Just as innocent animals had died in place of the guilty, so Christ gave His perfect life for sinful mankind. He assumed full responsibility for all our sins and took the punishment that we deserved. As He hung on the cross, the judgment and wrath of God was poured out on Him instead of on us.
Since we are limited by our human minds and senses, we cannot fully understand all that the Lamb of God endured to bring us salvation. But we know enough to realize that we owe Him our lives. He took our place on the cross; let’s give Him first place in our hearts.
Lessons from Pesach
Lessons from Pesach
As Jews throughout the world gather this week and next to commemorate our deliverance from bondage in Egypt, many of Israel's neighbors (Egypt included) are undergoing populist upheavals that bespeak a yearning for liberation.
What remains to be seen, however, is whether the parallels between the two narratives are simply superficial - or whether the Arab revolutionaries of 2011 can apply some valuable lessons learned through the ancient Israelites' struggle for freedom.
One of those lessons, we believe, is that the Jews were liberated not simply for freedom's sake, not only to remove the whip from the hands of their Egyptian taskmasters, but for the higher purpose of serving God. In effect, they exchanged physical slavery for a different kind of servitude.
And with this "spiritual servitude" came a wealth of responsibilities that are spelled out in the Torah's commandments, many of which are instrumental in creating a just society.
This is a lesson that the leaders of the rebellions in Arab countries would be wise to heed. Getting the authoritarian monkey off their backs - whether it is Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, Moammar Gadhafi in Libya, Bashar Assad in Syria or other dictators - is the first, but not the final, step. It is necessary, but not sufficient to construct a viable alternative to despotism.
Parliamentary democracies are one possible result of these revolutions. Waiting in the wings, however, are other, unsavory outcomes: restoration of the ousted ruling elites, the establishment of military rule, the creation of an Islamist totalitarian regime.
Only by endeavoring to create governments and societies based on justice, the rule of law, basic human rights and good international relations can the rebels realize the essential value of their newfound liberty - and ultimately resist backsliding into tyranny.
As we celebrate our holiday of redemption from slavery, we hope they are able to secure the blessings of true freedom.
As Jews throughout the world gather this week and next to commemorate our deliverance from bondage in Egypt, many of Israel's neighbors (Egypt included) are undergoing populist upheavals that bespeak a yearning for liberation.
What remains to be seen, however, is whether the parallels between the two narratives are simply superficial - or whether the Arab revolutionaries of 2011 can apply some valuable lessons learned through the ancient Israelites' struggle for freedom.
One of those lessons, we believe, is that the Jews were liberated not simply for freedom's sake, not only to remove the whip from the hands of their Egyptian taskmasters, but for the higher purpose of serving God. In effect, they exchanged physical slavery for a different kind of servitude.
And with this "spiritual servitude" came a wealth of responsibilities that are spelled out in the Torah's commandments, many of which are instrumental in creating a just society.
This is a lesson that the leaders of the rebellions in Arab countries would be wise to heed. Getting the authoritarian monkey off their backs - whether it is Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, Moammar Gadhafi in Libya, Bashar Assad in Syria or other dictators - is the first, but not the final, step. It is necessary, but not sufficient to construct a viable alternative to despotism.
Parliamentary democracies are one possible result of these revolutions. Waiting in the wings, however, are other, unsavory outcomes: restoration of the ousted ruling elites, the establishment of military rule, the creation of an Islamist totalitarian regime.
Only by endeavoring to create governments and societies based on justice, the rule of law, basic human rights and good international relations can the rebels realize the essential value of their newfound liberty - and ultimately resist backsliding into tyranny.
As we celebrate our holiday of redemption from slavery, we hope they are able to secure the blessings of true freedom.
Jesus meets with His disciples and institutes the Lord's Supper.
John 13
Jesus meets with His disciples and institutes the Lord's Supper.
INSIGHT
More than 2000 years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ ate a ceremonial meal with His disciples. This meal originated in the Passover and pictured Christ's death, our need to receive Him personally for our salvation, and the fact that all those who are His people are a communion of saints. During the meal, He instructed His disciples to observe this ceremony regularly and with gladness until His return. And so, whether called the Lord's Supper, Communion, or the Lord's Table, Christians today observe a solemn but joyous ceremonial meal which looks back to the redemption of the Cross and forward to the glory of the Second Coming.
PRAYER
Praise God that He is powerful enough to keep the promises pictured by Communion.
The Lord reigns;
Let the peoples tremble!
He dwells between the cherubim;
Let the earth be moved!
The Lord is great in Zion,
And He is high above all the peoples.
Let them praise Your great and awesome name - He is holy (Psalm 99:1-3).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear (Psalm 66:18).
As you contemplate the mercy of God, confess any sins which the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me! (Psalm 66:19-20).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater understanding of other traditions within Christianity
Heart-felt worship at your local church
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb! (Revelation 19:9).
Jesus meets with His disciples and institutes the Lord's Supper.
INSIGHT
More than 2000 years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ ate a ceremonial meal with His disciples. This meal originated in the Passover and pictured Christ's death, our need to receive Him personally for our salvation, and the fact that all those who are His people are a communion of saints. During the meal, He instructed His disciples to observe this ceremony regularly and with gladness until His return. And so, whether called the Lord's Supper, Communion, or the Lord's Table, Christians today observe a solemn but joyous ceremonial meal which looks back to the redemption of the Cross and forward to the glory of the Second Coming.
PRAYER
Praise God that He is powerful enough to keep the promises pictured by Communion.
The Lord reigns;
Let the peoples tremble!
He dwells between the cherubim;
Let the earth be moved!
The Lord is great in Zion,
And He is high above all the peoples.
Let them praise Your great and awesome name - He is holy (Psalm 99:1-3).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear (Psalm 66:18).
As you contemplate the mercy of God, confess any sins which the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me! (Psalm 66:19-20).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater understanding of other traditions within Christianity
Heart-felt worship at your local church
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb! (Revelation 19:9).
K’doshim Tih’yu—You Shall Be Holy
D'VAR TORAH
K’doshim Tih’yu—You Shall Be Holy
Naamah Kelman
Our fairly new Reform prayer book, Mishkan T’filah, never ceases to surprise in the best ways. Every time I use it I discover another intention, another commentary, another remarkable offering for our prayer experience.
Just recently, as a humble, praying participant at our Shabbat morning t’filah at the HUC–JIR (Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion) campus, I was able to take in the siddur as a delightful pair of our first year rabbinic and cantorial students (Sarah Fishman and Sara Weiss) were leading us in t’filah, kavanah (intention), and song. We rose to recite the Amidah as a community, we reached the third blessing known as the K’dushah. As I am often leading t’filah on Shabbat or concentrating on our students’ efforts, I usually focus on the traditional “right side” of our siddur, the traditional Reform K’dushah prayer. This time, with this cantorial student in glorious command, my gaze wandered to the left side of the book. While these words have stared me in the face since I began using Mishkan T’filah, I found myself totally taken aback by the fact that on Shabbat, when we recite the K’dushah, on the left side of my siddur are the powerful, ethical mitzvot of Leviticus 19, opening with the words: “You shall be holy, . . . ” (Leviticus 19:1, Mishkan T’filah, p. 249). This time, I could actually “pray” the Leviticus 19 alternative and ponder the power of its juxtaposition to theK’dushah.
The K’dushah has long been considered the climax of our prayer service. It is the moment when we literally reach for God. The Amidah prayer is constructed in a rhythm and flow that allows us to simulate entering a majesty’s palace. We approach humbly, taking three steps back, and bowing left and right; standing upright with feet together (at attention!) we introduce ourselves based on the merit of our ancestors in the Avot V’Imahot (ancestors’) prayer. We then praise God so we can get closer in the G’vurot prayer, which acknowledges God’s might. In the K’dushah, we remain standing straight, but we lift our heels upward three times, with each utterance of the word kadosh (Holy, holy, holy is Adonai Tz’vaot!). This choreography is meant to imitate a protocol for appearing before a Supreme Power. But there is actually a severe “breach of protocol.” What audacity it is to reach up to God! What are we doing? Are we trying to be like the ministering angels? Are we bringing God down to us?
This prayer had so much power that the Eretz Yisrael tradition had it recited only on Shabbat. But the prayer was eagerly adopted by the Babylonian rabbis for every publicly recited Amidah prayer (twice a day). In a recent conversation, Rabbi Dalia Marx, professor of liturgy at HUC–JIR in Jerusalem, said that this difference shed light on the tension between these two approaches to holiness—that of Eretz Yisrael and that of Babylonia—illustrating the challenges of “being holy.” Marx continued: “the rabbis of Eretz Yisrael were more time and site specific on holiness, whereas the Babylonians sought God’s Presence everywhere!”
So, unbeknownst to most of us, our Reform siddur is harking back to this dynamic tension. During the week, the alternative readings for the K’dushah are collections of p’sukim, “passages” regarding ethical/holy behavior. On Shabbat, we can “recite” Leviticus 19, our compendium of the ethical mitzvot.
Transposing the ancient argument on our reach for holiness, as a person living in Israel, I ask myself, is it tougher to be ethical when you actually have the power to be ethical or can acting ethically be possible in ways not previously tested? With sovereignty comes the ability to implement our values. Reading Leviticus 19, I pause at two particular mitzvot: “You shall not . . . place a stumbling block before the blind” (19:14) and “The wages of a laborer shall not remain with you until morning” (19:13).
Are we a society that enables our disabled? Are we a society that enforces fair labor practices and equal employment? Israel has some of the most progressive laws regarding the disabled and supporting workers, but they are not always enforced. Early Zionism promoted social-democratic laws and values, but decades of privatization has rendered us a country with one of the biggest gaps between the rich and the poor. And yet, we have universal health coverage here, and generous maternity and paternity leave for all!
One new organization, Bema'aglei Tzedek, has taken up this challenge in Israel. As Orthodoxy and Ultra-Orthodoxy has become increasingly concerned with ritual practice and purity, this relatively new organization founded by young Modern Orthodox adults who promote social justice based on Jewish values is like a breath of fresh air. This is the organization’s mission:
“Bema'aglei Tzedek ("Circles of Justice") does more than just imagine a brighter future for Israel. It empowers the next generation of young Israelis to engage their Jewish identity and become powerful agents of social change.
Bema'aglei Tzedek uses cutting-edge educational tools and social action campaigns to create a more just Israeli society informed and inspired by Jewish values.”
Perhaps the organization’s most ambitious campaign is to add a new kind of “kashrut certification”:
“The Tav Chevrati is a seal of approval granted free of charge to restaurants and other businesses that respect the legally-mandated rights of their employees and are accessible to people with disabilities.
This initiative encourages Israeli consumers to selectively patronize those businesses which have been awarded the Tav Chevrati, with the ultimate goal to encourage exponentially more businesses to uphold ethical and equitable business practices, while teaching consumers that they have the power to impact society.
The Tav Chevrati has already been awarded to 350 businesses throughout Israel and it is estimated that approximately 20,000 "unique visitors" have chosen to go to Tav Chevrati businesses in the last three months alone.
The Tav Chevrati, a pioneer in the field of Social Kashrut, is maintained by over 30 volunteer supervisors who perform monthly spot checks of Tav Chevrati certified establishments.” (www.tav.org.il)
Leviticus 19:15 reminds us to use the law fairly; not to privilege the rich and powerful, or give undo preference to the disadvantaged. For example, the Israeli Court recently convicted a former President of Israel of rape, sexual harassment, and obstructing justice.
Living in Israel we a have the responsibility to reach high for holy and ethical behavior; but it is very challenging. Perhaps that is why our ancient Eretz Yisrael rabbis limited our access, lest we think we have a direct connection to God and can easily abuse our sense of ourselves. The Babylonians, far away from the source of power and protection, wanted that closeness.
In true Rabbinic argumentation, they are both right!
Rabbi Naamah Kelman is the dean of Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem. Born and raised in New York, she has been living in Israel since 1976, helping to build a pluralistic, progressive, and egalitarian Jewish Israel.
K’doshim Tih’yu—You Shall Be Holy
Naamah Kelman
Our fairly new Reform prayer book, Mishkan T’filah, never ceases to surprise in the best ways. Every time I use it I discover another intention, another commentary, another remarkable offering for our prayer experience.
Just recently, as a humble, praying participant at our Shabbat morning t’filah at the HUC–JIR (Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion) campus, I was able to take in the siddur as a delightful pair of our first year rabbinic and cantorial students (Sarah Fishman and Sara Weiss) were leading us in t’filah, kavanah (intention), and song. We rose to recite the Amidah as a community, we reached the third blessing known as the K’dushah. As I am often leading t’filah on Shabbat or concentrating on our students’ efforts, I usually focus on the traditional “right side” of our siddur, the traditional Reform K’dushah prayer. This time, with this cantorial student in glorious command, my gaze wandered to the left side of the book. While these words have stared me in the face since I began using Mishkan T’filah, I found myself totally taken aback by the fact that on Shabbat, when we recite the K’dushah, on the left side of my siddur are the powerful, ethical mitzvot of Leviticus 19, opening with the words: “You shall be holy, . . . ” (Leviticus 19:1, Mishkan T’filah, p. 249). This time, I could actually “pray” the Leviticus 19 alternative and ponder the power of its juxtaposition to theK’dushah.
The K’dushah has long been considered the climax of our prayer service. It is the moment when we literally reach for God. The Amidah prayer is constructed in a rhythm and flow that allows us to simulate entering a majesty’s palace. We approach humbly, taking three steps back, and bowing left and right; standing upright with feet together (at attention!) we introduce ourselves based on the merit of our ancestors in the Avot V’Imahot (ancestors’) prayer. We then praise God so we can get closer in the G’vurot prayer, which acknowledges God’s might. In the K’dushah, we remain standing straight, but we lift our heels upward three times, with each utterance of the word kadosh (Holy, holy, holy is Adonai Tz’vaot!). This choreography is meant to imitate a protocol for appearing before a Supreme Power. But there is actually a severe “breach of protocol.” What audacity it is to reach up to God! What are we doing? Are we trying to be like the ministering angels? Are we bringing God down to us?
This prayer had so much power that the Eretz Yisrael tradition had it recited only on Shabbat. But the prayer was eagerly adopted by the Babylonian rabbis for every publicly recited Amidah prayer (twice a day). In a recent conversation, Rabbi Dalia Marx, professor of liturgy at HUC–JIR in Jerusalem, said that this difference shed light on the tension between these two approaches to holiness—that of Eretz Yisrael and that of Babylonia—illustrating the challenges of “being holy.” Marx continued: “the rabbis of Eretz Yisrael were more time and site specific on holiness, whereas the Babylonians sought God’s Presence everywhere!”
So, unbeknownst to most of us, our Reform siddur is harking back to this dynamic tension. During the week, the alternative readings for the K’dushah are collections of p’sukim, “passages” regarding ethical/holy behavior. On Shabbat, we can “recite” Leviticus 19, our compendium of the ethical mitzvot.
Transposing the ancient argument on our reach for holiness, as a person living in Israel, I ask myself, is it tougher to be ethical when you actually have the power to be ethical or can acting ethically be possible in ways not previously tested? With sovereignty comes the ability to implement our values. Reading Leviticus 19, I pause at two particular mitzvot: “You shall not . . . place a stumbling block before the blind” (19:14) and “The wages of a laborer shall not remain with you until morning” (19:13).
Are we a society that enables our disabled? Are we a society that enforces fair labor practices and equal employment? Israel has some of the most progressive laws regarding the disabled and supporting workers, but they are not always enforced. Early Zionism promoted social-democratic laws and values, but decades of privatization has rendered us a country with one of the biggest gaps between the rich and the poor. And yet, we have universal health coverage here, and generous maternity and paternity leave for all!
One new organization, Bema'aglei Tzedek, has taken up this challenge in Israel. As Orthodoxy and Ultra-Orthodoxy has become increasingly concerned with ritual practice and purity, this relatively new organization founded by young Modern Orthodox adults who promote social justice based on Jewish values is like a breath of fresh air. This is the organization’s mission:
“Bema'aglei Tzedek ("Circles of Justice") does more than just imagine a brighter future for Israel. It empowers the next generation of young Israelis to engage their Jewish identity and become powerful agents of social change.
Bema'aglei Tzedek uses cutting-edge educational tools and social action campaigns to create a more just Israeli society informed and inspired by Jewish values.”
Perhaps the organization’s most ambitious campaign is to add a new kind of “kashrut certification”:
“The Tav Chevrati is a seal of approval granted free of charge to restaurants and other businesses that respect the legally-mandated rights of their employees and are accessible to people with disabilities.
This initiative encourages Israeli consumers to selectively patronize those businesses which have been awarded the Tav Chevrati, with the ultimate goal to encourage exponentially more businesses to uphold ethical and equitable business practices, while teaching consumers that they have the power to impact society.
The Tav Chevrati has already been awarded to 350 businesses throughout Israel and it is estimated that approximately 20,000 "unique visitors" have chosen to go to Tav Chevrati businesses in the last three months alone.
The Tav Chevrati, a pioneer in the field of Social Kashrut, is maintained by over 30 volunteer supervisors who perform monthly spot checks of Tav Chevrati certified establishments.” (www.tav.org.il)
Leviticus 19:15 reminds us to use the law fairly; not to privilege the rich and powerful, or give undo preference to the disadvantaged. For example, the Israeli Court recently convicted a former President of Israel of rape, sexual harassment, and obstructing justice.
Living in Israel we a have the responsibility to reach high for holy and ethical behavior; but it is very challenging. Perhaps that is why our ancient Eretz Yisrael rabbis limited our access, lest we think we have a direct connection to God and can easily abuse our sense of ourselves. The Babylonians, far away from the source of power and protection, wanted that closeness.
In true Rabbinic argumentation, they are both right!
Rabbi Naamah Kelman is the dean of Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem. Born and raised in New York, she has been living in Israel since 1976, helping to build a pluralistic, progressive, and egalitarian Jewish Israel.
You Can’t Hold Me Down!
You Can’t Hold Me Down!
“But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.” Acts 2:24 New Living Translation
On the day of Pentecost, marking the fiftieth day after Christ’s resurrection, there was a red-hot preacher in town that began to minister with great boldness under the power of God! I imagine he even shocked himself. His name was Peter, and 3,000 souls were saved in one day after his sermon! This was the same man who denied his closest friend Jesus at his time of greatest need.
Peter wasn’t the only disciple that abandoned Jesus before he was crucified – most-all His disciples scattered. And worst yet, one of his disciples, Judas, betrayed him to those who would commission his crucifixion.
To those who’ve experienced it, there are not many feelings worse than betrayal. Despite the betrayal Jesus endured, according to Acts 2:23, it was all a part of God’s preordained and prearranged plan. There was a greater purpose Jesus had to fulfill. By taking our sins and being crucified in our place, Jesus was exposed to man’s fiercest enemy – death! Man feared death. While we grieve over the sting of betrayal, imagine the sting of death. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law” (1 Corinthians 15:56 ESV). Since we all have sinned (Romans 3:23), we all are worthy of death (Romans 6:23). We all would be doomed to live an eternity separated from God.
But Jesus arose on Easter morning shaking off the power of death! According to Acts 2:24 it was impossible for Jesus to be held by death (ESV)! “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Jesus Christ our Savior “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). He is arisen indeed! I get excited just typing these words! He is the Living One and is alive forevermore, and has the keys of Death and Hades (Revelation 1:18).
If Jesus took on your fiercest opponent – and won – what do you believe that He’s already done for you concerning sickness? Hurt? Poverty? These opponents desire to take advantage of a perceived vulnerability and bring you down. But God sees and knows all, and has already made provision for your deliverance. “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Your enemies can’t hold you down… you already have victory through Christ!
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the weekend!
JOIN US FOR RESURRECTION 2011!!
Good Friday Service - Friday, April 22 @ 7PM
Easter Sunday Services - Sunday, April 24 @ 8:30AM & 11:30AM
All services will be held at the J.C. Williams Community Center
116 Florence Street
Springfield, MA
Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries
“But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.” Acts 2:24 New Living Translation
On the day of Pentecost, marking the fiftieth day after Christ’s resurrection, there was a red-hot preacher in town that began to minister with great boldness under the power of God! I imagine he even shocked himself. His name was Peter, and 3,000 souls were saved in one day after his sermon! This was the same man who denied his closest friend Jesus at his time of greatest need.
Peter wasn’t the only disciple that abandoned Jesus before he was crucified – most-all His disciples scattered. And worst yet, one of his disciples, Judas, betrayed him to those who would commission his crucifixion.
To those who’ve experienced it, there are not many feelings worse than betrayal. Despite the betrayal Jesus endured, according to Acts 2:23, it was all a part of God’s preordained and prearranged plan. There was a greater purpose Jesus had to fulfill. By taking our sins and being crucified in our place, Jesus was exposed to man’s fiercest enemy – death! Man feared death. While we grieve over the sting of betrayal, imagine the sting of death. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law” (1 Corinthians 15:56 ESV). Since we all have sinned (Romans 3:23), we all are worthy of death (Romans 6:23). We all would be doomed to live an eternity separated from God.
But Jesus arose on Easter morning shaking off the power of death! According to Acts 2:24 it was impossible for Jesus to be held by death (ESV)! “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Jesus Christ our Savior “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). He is arisen indeed! I get excited just typing these words! He is the Living One and is alive forevermore, and has the keys of Death and Hades (Revelation 1:18).
If Jesus took on your fiercest opponent – and won – what do you believe that He’s already done for you concerning sickness? Hurt? Poverty? These opponents desire to take advantage of a perceived vulnerability and bring you down. But God sees and knows all, and has already made provision for your deliverance. “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Your enemies can’t hold you down… you already have victory through Christ!
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the weekend!
JOIN US FOR RESURRECTION 2011!!
Good Friday Service - Friday, April 22 @ 7PM
Easter Sunday Services - Sunday, April 24 @ 8:30AM & 11:30AM
All services will be held at the J.C. Williams Community Center
116 Florence Street
Springfield, MA
Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Christ’s Last Supper
Christ’s Last Supper
Exodus 12:1-39
The Last Supper, which took place hours before the Lord’s crucifixion—was a Seder(Passover observance). Previously, the feast’s symbols had only pointed back to the Hebrews’ redemption from Egypt. But that Thursday night, Jesus revealed the messianic significance of two symbols: bread and wine.
In a Seder, a cloth bag with separate compartments holds three sheets of matzoh, or unleavened bread. The middle matzoh is removed and split. One half is broken and distributed; the other is wrapped in a napkin, hidden, and bought back after it is found.
Breaking the bread, Jesus said, “Take, eat; this is My body” (Matt. 26:26). In Scripture, leaven symbolizes sin, so bread without yeast represents holy God. In the divided bag, matzohs are unified yet distinct—a picture of the Trinity. The middle bread signifies the Son, who left His Father’s side to dwell among us (Gal. 4:4) and was broken for mankind (Isa. 53:5), wrapped in a burial cloth (Matt. 27:59), hidden in a tomb (v. 60), and resurrected (28:6). Our redemption was, indeed, costly (1 Cor. 6:20).
Wine, the other symbol Jesus highlighted, is poured four times at a Seder. Scholars believe it is the third cup—known as the cup of redemption—that He called “My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:27-28).
When speaking about Jesus, follow His example of meeting people where they are in their understanding and then leading them to deeper awareness. And as you next take Communion, look back on what Christ did for you, look forward to His return, and remember He is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7).
Exodus 12:1-39
The Last Supper, which took place hours before the Lord’s crucifixion—was a Seder(Passover observance). Previously, the feast’s symbols had only pointed back to the Hebrews’ redemption from Egypt. But that Thursday night, Jesus revealed the messianic significance of two symbols: bread and wine.
In a Seder, a cloth bag with separate compartments holds three sheets of matzoh, or unleavened bread. The middle matzoh is removed and split. One half is broken and distributed; the other is wrapped in a napkin, hidden, and bought back after it is found.
Breaking the bread, Jesus said, “Take, eat; this is My body” (Matt. 26:26). In Scripture, leaven symbolizes sin, so bread without yeast represents holy God. In the divided bag, matzohs are unified yet distinct—a picture of the Trinity. The middle bread signifies the Son, who left His Father’s side to dwell among us (Gal. 4:4) and was broken for mankind (Isa. 53:5), wrapped in a burial cloth (Matt. 27:59), hidden in a tomb (v. 60), and resurrected (28:6). Our redemption was, indeed, costly (1 Cor. 6:20).
Wine, the other symbol Jesus highlighted, is poured four times at a Seder. Scholars believe it is the third cup—known as the cup of redemption—that He called “My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:27-28).
When speaking about Jesus, follow His example of meeting people where they are in their understanding and then leading them to deeper awareness. And as you next take Communion, look back on what Christ did for you, look forward to His return, and remember He is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7).
After the triumphal entry, the multitudes herald Jesus as their Messiah.
John 12
After the triumphal entry, the multitudes herald Jesus as their Messiah.
INSIGHT
It is easy to get someone to talk about God, but try to talk about Jesus, and it is not so easy. People will often talk about "feeling close to God." But mention Jesus, and people start to get uncomfortable. Say that Jesus is the only way to God, and people get downright offended. But Jesus says that if you accept Him, you accept God; and conversely, if you do not accept Him, you do not accept God. When someone talks about being close to God but wants nothing to do with Jesus, you can be sure he is not yet close to God. Regardless of anyone's unbelief, here is the simple truth: Jesus is God the Son, and He is the only way God has provided for sinners' reconciliation with Himself.
PRAYER
Praise God for His merciful provision of a Savior:
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I said, "Lord, be merciful to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You" (Psalm 41:4).
As you consider God's mercy, confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand (John 10:27-28).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater appreciation for Christ
A revival in our nation
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).
After the triumphal entry, the multitudes herald Jesus as their Messiah.
INSIGHT
It is easy to get someone to talk about God, but try to talk about Jesus, and it is not so easy. People will often talk about "feeling close to God." But mention Jesus, and people start to get uncomfortable. Say that Jesus is the only way to God, and people get downright offended. But Jesus says that if you accept Him, you accept God; and conversely, if you do not accept Him, you do not accept God. When someone talks about being close to God but wants nothing to do with Jesus, you can be sure he is not yet close to God. Regardless of anyone's unbelief, here is the simple truth: Jesus is God the Son, and He is the only way God has provided for sinners' reconciliation with Himself.
PRAYER
Praise God for His merciful provision of a Savior:
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I said, "Lord, be merciful to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You" (Psalm 41:4).
As you consider God's mercy, confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand (John 10:27-28).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater appreciation for Christ
A revival in our nation
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).
A Tale of Two Houses
Celebrities frequently crash and burn in flagrantly flamboyant ways. Their home lives implode and their careers slide. Other people often weather huge career upheavals by keeping their home lives strong and stable. Never underestimate how important it is to keep your house strong regardless of the storms and tempests you are fighting outside. Likewise, don’t underestimate how far a colleague’s performance could drop should he or she be undergoing the destruction of a house. This is one of the lessons of Passover being celebrated this week.
The Passover Seder’s ritual is largely based on this verse. It appears after the Exodus from Egypt has already taken place.
And it shall be when your son will ask you at some future time,
‘What is this?’ you shall say to him,
‘With a mighty hand God took us out of Egypt,
from the house of bondage.’
(Exodus 13:14)
To guarantee intergenerational continuity, we encourage the next generation to ask why we celebrate the Seder. We respond with three thematic elements: (i) a mighty hand; (ii) a taking out; (iii) a house of bondage.
The first, ‘mighty hand’ is often found throughout the account of the plagues. We even spot it earlier than this, back at the Burning Bush:
And I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go
except through a mighty hand.
(Exodus 3:19)
The second theme, ‘Taking or going out’ is also found many times in the Exodus story.
However, the third thematic element, 'House of Bondage' is new. We’ve only seen this phrase once before, eleven verses earlier:
Moses said to the people, 'Remember this day on which you went
out from Egypt, from the House of Bondage…’
(Exodus 13:3)
Later we see it again in the first of the Ten Commandments:
I am the Lord your God who took you
out of Egypt from the House of Bondage.
(Exodus 20:2)
It occurs again five times in the book of Deuteronomy.
While in Egypt the Israelites experienced the ‘mighty hand’ and the ‘going out’. But the phrase, 'House of Bondage' appears and is emphasized only after the Exodus is over.
We do see a different 'house' playing a significant role during the religious trigger that launched the Exodus; the Passover sacrifice, or the Pascal Lamb.
In one house shall it be eaten…
(Exodus 12:46)
And we see that 'house' being marked by blood:
They shall take some of its blood and place it on the two doorposts
and on the lintel of the houses in which they will eat it.
(Exodus 12:7)
Ancient Jewish wisdom reveals the relationship between the two houses; the Egyptian house of bondage and the Hebrew house of deliverance.
In many languages, the word house can mean a school of thought, a culture, an organization or any group of people bound by a common vision.
There were two parallel parts to the Exodus. God took the Israelites physically out of Egypt, freeing them from slavery, oppression and suffering. However, they also needed to be taken out of the house of bondage, to leave Egypt spiritually. This is much more difficult. Often, it is easier to rescue someone from a traumatic circumstance than to expunge the psychological effects of the trauma.
The Israelites needed to be freed from the long-lasting psychological effects of slavery. On that special night of the Exodus, God began the process of taking us out of the Egyptian house of bondage by re-consecrating family integrity. Each family gathered inside its own house with its own Pascal Lamb, signaling the rebuilding of the family - blood relatives - as the primary group. The house of deliverance can overcome the house of bondage. That is not a one-time deliverance but instead is a battle each generation needs to fight, including in our own times.
I encourage you to embark on a program of consecrating your own house of deliverance by recommitting yourself and your family to a program of regular Bible study together.
The Passover Seder’s ritual is largely based on this verse. It appears after the Exodus from Egypt has already taken place.
And it shall be when your son will ask you at some future time,
‘What is this?’ you shall say to him,
‘With a mighty hand God took us out of Egypt,
from the house of bondage.’
(Exodus 13:14)
To guarantee intergenerational continuity, we encourage the next generation to ask why we celebrate the Seder. We respond with three thematic elements: (i) a mighty hand; (ii) a taking out; (iii) a house of bondage.
The first, ‘mighty hand’ is often found throughout the account of the plagues. We even spot it earlier than this, back at the Burning Bush:
And I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go
except through a mighty hand.
(Exodus 3:19)
The second theme, ‘Taking or going out’ is also found many times in the Exodus story.
However, the third thematic element, 'House of Bondage' is new. We’ve only seen this phrase once before, eleven verses earlier:
Moses said to the people, 'Remember this day on which you went
out from Egypt, from the House of Bondage…’
(Exodus 13:3)
Later we see it again in the first of the Ten Commandments:
I am the Lord your God who took you
out of Egypt from the House of Bondage.
(Exodus 20:2)
It occurs again five times in the book of Deuteronomy.
While in Egypt the Israelites experienced the ‘mighty hand’ and the ‘going out’. But the phrase, 'House of Bondage' appears and is emphasized only after the Exodus is over.
We do see a different 'house' playing a significant role during the religious trigger that launched the Exodus; the Passover sacrifice, or the Pascal Lamb.
In one house shall it be eaten…
(Exodus 12:46)
And we see that 'house' being marked by blood:
They shall take some of its blood and place it on the two doorposts
and on the lintel of the houses in which they will eat it.
(Exodus 12:7)
Ancient Jewish wisdom reveals the relationship between the two houses; the Egyptian house of bondage and the Hebrew house of deliverance.
In many languages, the word house can mean a school of thought, a culture, an organization or any group of people bound by a common vision.
There were two parallel parts to the Exodus. God took the Israelites physically out of Egypt, freeing them from slavery, oppression and suffering. However, they also needed to be taken out of the house of bondage, to leave Egypt spiritually. This is much more difficult. Often, it is easier to rescue someone from a traumatic circumstance than to expunge the psychological effects of the trauma.
The Israelites needed to be freed from the long-lasting psychological effects of slavery. On that special night of the Exodus, God began the process of taking us out of the Egyptian house of bondage by re-consecrating family integrity. Each family gathered inside its own house with its own Pascal Lamb, signaling the rebuilding of the family - blood relatives - as the primary group. The house of deliverance can overcome the house of bondage. That is not a one-time deliverance but instead is a battle each generation needs to fight, including in our own times.
I encourage you to embark on a program of consecrating your own house of deliverance by recommitting yourself and your family to a program of regular Bible study together.
My Cross
My Cross
“And he [Jesus] said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” Luke 9:23 English Standard Version
There is an old hymn written by Thomas Shepherd with the words: Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone, And there’s a cross for me.
Jesus sacrificed his life to save the lives of his friends. While we are not called to die on a literal cross, we are called to bear the burden of sacrificing our own comfort, desires, and agendas for the sake of others.
To come after Jesus, one must first “deny himself,” meaning not simply denying certain things but denying personal control of one’s life, and saying as Jesus declared to the Father, “Not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Secondly, the disciple must “take up his cross daily.” In other words, make an unwavering commitment of obedience to God. Think of those nails they used to affix Jesus to the cross; yet, it wasn’t the nails that kept Him there, it was His commitment to obey His Father. Lastly, Jesus said, “follow me.” Just as an apprentice must study under their mentor to gain the training and skills necessary to carry out their vocation with excellence, so too the disciple must follow the teachings of the Master so that “these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:17-18).
We take up our cross as an act of free will. We know that it’s a charge that is motivated by love (God’s love for us), and must be engaged upon by love (God’s love flowing through us). Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Yet we also are confident in this, no matter how heavy the burden we bear, every cross bore in the name of God will always lead to a resurrection! “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also” (1 Corinthians 6:14). For “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12).
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Join Pastor Steve for a special Passion Week Teleconference Wednesday, April 20th and Thursday, April 21st at 7:30PM. Call 1-218-632-9407, use access code: 7832
Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries
“And he [Jesus] said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” Luke 9:23 English Standard Version
There is an old hymn written by Thomas Shepherd with the words: Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone, And there’s a cross for me.
Jesus sacrificed his life to save the lives of his friends. While we are not called to die on a literal cross, we are called to bear the burden of sacrificing our own comfort, desires, and agendas for the sake of others.
To come after Jesus, one must first “deny himself,” meaning not simply denying certain things but denying personal control of one’s life, and saying as Jesus declared to the Father, “Not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Secondly, the disciple must “take up his cross daily.” In other words, make an unwavering commitment of obedience to God. Think of those nails they used to affix Jesus to the cross; yet, it wasn’t the nails that kept Him there, it was His commitment to obey His Father. Lastly, Jesus said, “follow me.” Just as an apprentice must study under their mentor to gain the training and skills necessary to carry out their vocation with excellence, so too the disciple must follow the teachings of the Master so that “these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:17-18).
We take up our cross as an act of free will. We know that it’s a charge that is motivated by love (God’s love for us), and must be engaged upon by love (God’s love flowing through us). Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Yet we also are confident in this, no matter how heavy the burden we bear, every cross bore in the name of God will always lead to a resurrection! “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also” (1 Corinthians 6:14). For “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12).
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Join Pastor Steve for a special Passion Week Teleconference Wednesday, April 20th and Thursday, April 21st at 7:30PM. Call 1-218-632-9407, use access code: 7832
Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Prepared for Betrayal
Prepared for Betrayal
Luke 22:1-13
We’ve all experienced or witnessed betrayal at some point. And no example in the Bible illustrates the pain, guilt, and shame caused by that sin more clearly than the story of Judas.
Chosen as one of the twelve, Judas was privileged. John 12:6 says that he was even granted the responsibility of maintaining the disciples’ money box. But that same verse reveals an important truth about Judas—he was a thief.
John indicates greed was Judas’ weakness. After Mary had anointed the Lord’s feet, Judas complained, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” (v. 5). The following
verse, however, clarifies that he wanted the money only for himself. One can safely assume that if Judas had reached the point of stealing cash from Jesus’ supply, then his greed had gone unchecked for some time. That hidden sin was all Satan needed to interfere with his life. And once the Enemy stepped in, the disciple began “seeking a good opportunity” to betray Jesus (Luke 22:6).
First Peter 5:8 says the Devil is like a “roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” And in Judas, Satan found a willing victim. If we’re honest with ourselves, each of us has a natural tendency toward sin.
Daily communion with God keeps hidden sins from becoming greater problems. Left unchecked, the “roaring lion” will also come after us, no matter what our weakness may be. Ask the Lord to reveal any sins you need to confess. Deal with them today—don’t let sin lead you down the path of Judas.
Luke 22:1-13
We’ve all experienced or witnessed betrayal at some point. And no example in the Bible illustrates the pain, guilt, and shame caused by that sin more clearly than the story of Judas.
Chosen as one of the twelve, Judas was privileged. John 12:6 says that he was even granted the responsibility of maintaining the disciples’ money box. But that same verse reveals an important truth about Judas—he was a thief.
John indicates greed was Judas’ weakness. After Mary had anointed the Lord’s feet, Judas complained, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” (v. 5). The following
verse, however, clarifies that he wanted the money only for himself. One can safely assume that if Judas had reached the point of stealing cash from Jesus’ supply, then his greed had gone unchecked for some time. That hidden sin was all Satan needed to interfere with his life. And once the Enemy stepped in, the disciple began “seeking a good opportunity” to betray Jesus (Luke 22:6).
First Peter 5:8 says the Devil is like a “roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” And in Judas, Satan found a willing victim. If we’re honest with ourselves, each of us has a natural tendency toward sin.
Daily communion with God keeps hidden sins from becoming greater problems. Left unchecked, the “roaring lion” will also come after us, no matter what our weakness may be. Ask the Lord to reveal any sins you need to confess. Deal with them today—don’t let sin lead you down the path of Judas.
After Jesus raises his close friend, Lazarus, from the dead, many believe in Him.
John 11
After Jesus raises his close friend, Lazarus, from the dead, many believe in Him.
INSIGHT
Jesus was ministering on the east side of the Jordan River, about a day's walk from Bethany, when Lazarus fell sick. Messengers were sent to tell Jesus, who waited two days before returning to Bethany. He found that Lazarus had been dead for four days, apparently having died the same day the messengers were dispatched. So Lazarus was dead by the time Jesus learned about his illness. Why, then, did Jesus delay His return for two days? Jesus knew Lazarus' condition. His delay was to heighten the manifestation of the power of God. Jesus called, "Lazarus, come forth!" And Lazarus came forth. The result of this miracle? Many of the Jews believed in Him, and the Son of God was glorified.
PRAYER
As a God, both of power and compassion, we offer Him our praise:
Stand up and bless the Lord your God
Forever and ever!
Blessed be Your glorious name,
Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
You alone are the Lord;
You have made heaven,
The heaven of heavens, with all their host,
The earth and everything on it,
The seas and all that is in them,
And You preserve them all.
The host of heaven worships You (Nehemiah 9:5-6).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:17-18).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
A stronger desire to be like Christ
The ministries of your church
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).
After Jesus raises his close friend, Lazarus, from the dead, many believe in Him.
INSIGHT
Jesus was ministering on the east side of the Jordan River, about a day's walk from Bethany, when Lazarus fell sick. Messengers were sent to tell Jesus, who waited two days before returning to Bethany. He found that Lazarus had been dead for four days, apparently having died the same day the messengers were dispatched. So Lazarus was dead by the time Jesus learned about his illness. Why, then, did Jesus delay His return for two days? Jesus knew Lazarus' condition. His delay was to heighten the manifestation of the power of God. Jesus called, "Lazarus, come forth!" And Lazarus came forth. The result of this miracle? Many of the Jews believed in Him, and the Son of God was glorified.
PRAYER
As a God, both of power and compassion, we offer Him our praise:
Stand up and bless the Lord your God
Forever and ever!
Blessed be Your glorious name,
Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
You alone are the Lord;
You have made heaven,
The heaven of heavens, with all their host,
The earth and everything on it,
The seas and all that is in them,
And You preserve them all.
The host of heaven worships You (Nehemiah 9:5-6).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:17-18).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
A stronger desire to be like Christ
The ministries of your church
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Traffic control
GALILEE DIARY
Traffic control
by Marc J. Rosenstein
Discuss on Our BlogWhen you build a new house, you shall make a railing around your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall from it.
-Deuteronomy 22:8
Shorashim recently completed a major upgrade of the entrance to the moshav. The entrance road was widened and a proper curb and sidewalk added. A new space for recycling containers was paved, as well as clearly demarcated parking spaces, and center lines with reflectors. Most significantly, a whole series of speed bumps was created from the gate up into the new neighborhood. Several of these are particularly aggressive, and will soon be scarred by the many unsuspecting drivers who will hit them too fast and bottom out. The residents, of course, have already figured this out, and are careful to approach very slowly. Speed bumps are definitely annoying, and I assume not good for the car. On the other hand, they work. In Arab villages, where the Israeli police, for whatever reasons, don't enforce traffic laws, speed bumps are frequent and brutal; often, I suspect, they are the work of the local residents and not of the municipal authorities. There may be a good deal of reckless and underage driving in the villages, but not much speeding down residential streets. You can put up signs and conduct driver education and re-education classes, but it's passive-aggressive speed bumps that actually affect behavior in a culture in which no one wants to be a "friar" (goody-goody). There is a saying with origins in the army: "If force doesn't work – try more force."
Meanwhile, as speed bumps spread into the Jewish villages, another rapidly growing phenomenon on Israeli roads is the traffic circle. In the past few years these have multiplied everywhere, not just in towns and cities but on intercity highways. Just this week I noticed construction of still another traffic circle underway at a very busy intersection near Tivon, currently controlled by a traffic light. Interestingly, like speed bumps, these seem to be a form of involuntary enforcement: you can ignore (or not notice) a stop sign, yield sign, or red light, and speed through the intersection into a broadside collision. But you cannot speed through a traffic circle – you are forced by the geometry to slow down; and if you have a collision it will most likely be at an oblique angle and not broadside. Like speed bumps, traffic circles save us from our own absentmindedness or recklessness, whether we are paying attention or not. I imagine they also save fuel (no idling at red lights).
One could see these two techniques as an admission of our failure to convince people to do what is right and in their own self-interest – a sad commentary on our inability to live within a system of laws. Or one could simply see them as the equivalent of building a railing around the roof, to prevent us, despite all warnings and campaigns and signs, from getting too close to the edge and falling off. Which brings us to the question of responsibility. If I am responsible for the injury to someone who falls off my unfenced roof, then I guess Shorashim is responsible for the injury caused by a driver speeding on an un-speed-bumped road – and therefore, whatever I may feel about having rules and a system of educating for – and enforcing – compliance, the bottom line is that the community must do whatever it can to keep people from driving too fast, even if it means using "force." The issue is not moral philosophy, it is the lives of our children. These new obstacles on the uphill drive into Shorashim are irritating (especially if you have a manual transmission and have to downshift) and disempowering, but I am trying to learn to love them.
Traffic control
by Marc J. Rosenstein
Discuss on Our BlogWhen you build a new house, you shall make a railing around your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall from it.
-Deuteronomy 22:8
Shorashim recently completed a major upgrade of the entrance to the moshav. The entrance road was widened and a proper curb and sidewalk added. A new space for recycling containers was paved, as well as clearly demarcated parking spaces, and center lines with reflectors. Most significantly, a whole series of speed bumps was created from the gate up into the new neighborhood. Several of these are particularly aggressive, and will soon be scarred by the many unsuspecting drivers who will hit them too fast and bottom out. The residents, of course, have already figured this out, and are careful to approach very slowly. Speed bumps are definitely annoying, and I assume not good for the car. On the other hand, they work. In Arab villages, where the Israeli police, for whatever reasons, don't enforce traffic laws, speed bumps are frequent and brutal; often, I suspect, they are the work of the local residents and not of the municipal authorities. There may be a good deal of reckless and underage driving in the villages, but not much speeding down residential streets. You can put up signs and conduct driver education and re-education classes, but it's passive-aggressive speed bumps that actually affect behavior in a culture in which no one wants to be a "friar" (goody-goody). There is a saying with origins in the army: "If force doesn't work – try more force."
Meanwhile, as speed bumps spread into the Jewish villages, another rapidly growing phenomenon on Israeli roads is the traffic circle. In the past few years these have multiplied everywhere, not just in towns and cities but on intercity highways. Just this week I noticed construction of still another traffic circle underway at a very busy intersection near Tivon, currently controlled by a traffic light. Interestingly, like speed bumps, these seem to be a form of involuntary enforcement: you can ignore (or not notice) a stop sign, yield sign, or red light, and speed through the intersection into a broadside collision. But you cannot speed through a traffic circle – you are forced by the geometry to slow down; and if you have a collision it will most likely be at an oblique angle and not broadside. Like speed bumps, traffic circles save us from our own absentmindedness or recklessness, whether we are paying attention or not. I imagine they also save fuel (no idling at red lights).
One could see these two techniques as an admission of our failure to convince people to do what is right and in their own self-interest – a sad commentary on our inability to live within a system of laws. Or one could simply see them as the equivalent of building a railing around the roof, to prevent us, despite all warnings and campaigns and signs, from getting too close to the edge and falling off. Which brings us to the question of responsibility. If I am responsible for the injury to someone who falls off my unfenced roof, then I guess Shorashim is responsible for the injury caused by a driver speeding on an un-speed-bumped road – and therefore, whatever I may feel about having rules and a system of educating for – and enforcing – compliance, the bottom line is that the community must do whatever it can to keep people from driving too fast, even if it means using "force." The issue is not moral philosophy, it is the lives of our children. These new obstacles on the uphill drive into Shorashim are irritating (especially if you have a manual transmission and have to downshift) and disempowering, but I am trying to learn to love them.
His Cross
His Cross
“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17 English Standard Version
Sin may be temporarily pleasurable, but it is eternally fatal. The fruit of sin is described as poisonous and bitter (Deut 29:18 ESV). Jeremiah describes the un-regenerated heart as “deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (17:9). From man’s heart comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness (Mark 7:21-22). Even if you’ve lived an overall moral life, we have all inherited tendencies of evil from the first man Adam, who sinned against God (Romans 5:12). It may be hard to accept, but man’s heart is diseased by sin and is in desperate need of restoration.
So we look to the Cross. Crucifixion was one of the most cruel and barbarous forms of death known to mankind. Yet it is precisely what the Father chose to redeem mankind’s sinful heart. Following his trial before the Jewish and Roman authorities, Christ was led forth for crucifixion. Before being crucified, he was scourged. They bent him over and tied him to a post, while the Roman soldier applied blow after blow on his bared back with a lash intertwined with pieces of bone or steel.
They affixed him to the cross, nailing and tying his hands and feet to the wood. They hung him up for all to see. The abnormal position of the body was a cause of even greater suffering for those who were crucified. The slightest movement brought on additional torture. Medical studies suggest that when a person is suspended by two hands, the blood sinks rapidly into the lower extremities of the body. Within six to twelve minutes the blood pressure has dropped to half, while the pulse has doubled. Death during crucifixion is usually due to heart failure, which generally would take two or three days. Death was hastened by breaking the victim’s legs. “But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs” (John 19:33).
In order to justify the horrors of crucifixion, one would have to assume that Jesus’ crimes were so heinous, obscene, and reprehensible to deserve such a cruel form of punishment. But the Prophet Isaiah says that “he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (53:5, emphasis added). God the Father would only accept the sacrifice of the sinless Lamb of God in order to redeem mankind.
Oh, the grace that conquers the power of sin! No amount of good deeds or charity can make things right with God; only the grace given to followers of Christ triumphs over sin and death!
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Join Pastor Steve for a special Passion Week Teleconference Wednesday, April 20th and Thursday, April 21st at 7:30PM. Call 1-218-632-9407, use access code: 7832
Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries
“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17 English Standard Version
Sin may be temporarily pleasurable, but it is eternally fatal. The fruit of sin is described as poisonous and bitter (Deut 29:18 ESV). Jeremiah describes the un-regenerated heart as “deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (17:9). From man’s heart comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness (Mark 7:21-22). Even if you’ve lived an overall moral life, we have all inherited tendencies of evil from the first man Adam, who sinned against God (Romans 5:12). It may be hard to accept, but man’s heart is diseased by sin and is in desperate need of restoration.
So we look to the Cross. Crucifixion was one of the most cruel and barbarous forms of death known to mankind. Yet it is precisely what the Father chose to redeem mankind’s sinful heart. Following his trial before the Jewish and Roman authorities, Christ was led forth for crucifixion. Before being crucified, he was scourged. They bent him over and tied him to a post, while the Roman soldier applied blow after blow on his bared back with a lash intertwined with pieces of bone or steel.
They affixed him to the cross, nailing and tying his hands and feet to the wood. They hung him up for all to see. The abnormal position of the body was a cause of even greater suffering for those who were crucified. The slightest movement brought on additional torture. Medical studies suggest that when a person is suspended by two hands, the blood sinks rapidly into the lower extremities of the body. Within six to twelve minutes the blood pressure has dropped to half, while the pulse has doubled. Death during crucifixion is usually due to heart failure, which generally would take two or three days. Death was hastened by breaking the victim’s legs. “But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs” (John 19:33).
In order to justify the horrors of crucifixion, one would have to assume that Jesus’ crimes were so heinous, obscene, and reprehensible to deserve such a cruel form of punishment. But the Prophet Isaiah says that “he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (53:5, emphasis added). God the Father would only accept the sacrifice of the sinless Lamb of God in order to redeem mankind.
Oh, the grace that conquers the power of sin! No amount of good deeds or charity can make things right with God; only the grace given to followers of Christ triumphs over sin and death!
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Join Pastor Steve for a special Passion Week Teleconference Wednesday, April 20th and Thursday, April 21st at 7:30PM. Call 1-218-632-9407, use access code: 7832
Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Anointed for Burial
Anointed for Burial
John 12:1-8
Imagine this scene. A woman walks into the annual church rummage sale with a beautiful collection of designer clothes worth thousands of dollars. She says, “I want to give this clothing to the Lord.” Then, as people nod in agreement, she drops the items on the floor and sets fire to them.
You would probably think, What a waste! That’s how the disciples reacted when Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus’ feet with an entire bottle of perfume. For almost three years, the disciples had lived on the donations of wealthy women and other generous people. And this particular bottle was worth about a year’s wages for a rural worker. Proceeds from its sale could have supplied the needs of Christ and His followers for weeks.
Judas spoke up, criticizing the apparent waste, and the other disciples joined in scolding Mary. But her liberal use of the fragrance wasn’t a mistake. Jesus explained, “When she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me forburial” (Matt. 26:12). By using the entire jar at once, Mary released an aroma so overpowering that it filled the whole house (John 12:3). Every breath the guests took reminded them of her extravagant, seemingly imprudent gift.
From Mary’s day until now, the call of God has always inspired His followers to act in ways that others don’t understand. In doing so, we release the fragrance of Christ to everyone we encounter (2 Cor. 2:15). What has God called you to do as an expression of your devotion and love for Him?
John 12:1-8
Imagine this scene. A woman walks into the annual church rummage sale with a beautiful collection of designer clothes worth thousands of dollars. She says, “I want to give this clothing to the Lord.” Then, as people nod in agreement, she drops the items on the floor and sets fire to them.
You would probably think, What a waste! That’s how the disciples reacted when Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus’ feet with an entire bottle of perfume. For almost three years, the disciples had lived on the donations of wealthy women and other generous people. And this particular bottle was worth about a year’s wages for a rural worker. Proceeds from its sale could have supplied the needs of Christ and His followers for weeks.
Judas spoke up, criticizing the apparent waste, and the other disciples joined in scolding Mary. But her liberal use of the fragrance wasn’t a mistake. Jesus explained, “When she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me forburial” (Matt. 26:12). By using the entire jar at once, Mary released an aroma so overpowering that it filled the whole house (John 12:3). Every breath the guests took reminded them of her extravagant, seemingly imprudent gift.
From Mary’s day until now, the call of God has always inspired His followers to act in ways that others don’t understand. In doing so, we release the fragrance of Christ to everyone we encounter (2 Cor. 2:15). What has God called you to do as an expression of your devotion and love for Him?
Using the parable of the Good Shepherd, Jesus teaches of salvation and His deity.
John 10
Using the parable of the Good Shepherd, Jesus teaches of salvation and His deity.
INSIGHT
Whoever comes in contact with Jesus is either blinded or enlightened. They either accept Him or begin manufacturing reasons not to believe in Him. Jesus illustrates this reality with the imagery of sheep and a shepherd. He says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (10:27). Make your heart tender and sensitive to hear and obey Jesus. Walk in His light and you will not stumble.
PRAYER
Join your heart with the saints of the ages over the last 2,000 years in offering praise to the God of our salvation:
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name. . . .
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings
I will rejoice (Psalm 63:3-4, 6-7).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me (Psalm 51:1-3).
As you contemplate the mercy of God, confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater personal discipline
Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
Biblical Portrait
of Marriage
Using the parable of the Good Shepherd, Jesus teaches of salvation and His deity.
INSIGHT
Whoever comes in contact with Jesus is either blinded or enlightened. They either accept Him or begin manufacturing reasons not to believe in Him. Jesus illustrates this reality with the imagery of sheep and a shepherd. He says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (10:27). Make your heart tender and sensitive to hear and obey Jesus. Walk in His light and you will not stumble.
PRAYER
Join your heart with the saints of the ages over the last 2,000 years in offering praise to the God of our salvation:
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name. . . .
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings
I will rejoice (Psalm 63:3-4, 6-7).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me (Psalm 51:1-3).
As you contemplate the mercy of God, confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater personal discipline
Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
Biblical Portrait
of Marriage
The Unforgiving Servant
The Unforgiving Servant
Jesus tells an interesting story concerning the kingdom of God. He describes it as a king who decided to collect on the debts owed him by his servants:
One servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, “Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.” Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.
The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, “Pay up. Now!”
The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, “Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.” But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
The king summoned the man and said, “You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?” The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy. (Matthew 18:23-35 The Message).
In this story, the servant was asked by his fellow servant to forgive a debt representing .01% of the total debt he himself had just been forgiven of. He refused to forgive his fellow servant, and suffered the consequences. God has graciously forgiven us of so much; shouldn’t we therefore forgive each other?
Jesus tells an interesting story concerning the kingdom of God. He describes it as a king who decided to collect on the debts owed him by his servants:
One servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, “Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.” Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.
The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, “Pay up. Now!”
The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, “Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.” But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
The king summoned the man and said, “You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?” The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy. (Matthew 18:23-35 The Message).
In this story, the servant was asked by his fellow servant to forgive a debt representing .01% of the total debt he himself had just been forgiven of. He refused to forgive his fellow servant, and suffered the consequences. God has graciously forgiven us of so much; shouldn’t we therefore forgive each other?
Monday, April 18, 2011
Cleansing the Temple
Cleansing the Temple
Matthew 21:12-17
For the disciples, Palm Sunday must have felt like a dream. As they followed Jesus into the temple grounds, their voices would have been drowned out by the clamor.
The Court of Gentiles, the only area that non-Jews could enter, had become an open-air market. The Teacher and His followers pushed through the hordes of customers haggling with merchants and shouting to be heard over livestock and doves used for sacrifices. Other pilgrims crowded around money changers’ tables, protesting unfair rates of exchange for the temple currency.
Jesus had seen enough. He stormed through the court, upending tables, overturning traders’ chairs, and driving animals toward the gate, past a throng of people scrambling for scattered money. Finally, He blocked the way so merchandise couldn’t be carried through the temple (Mark 11:16).
The disciples must have been astounded. They expected the Messiah to judge their oppressors, not His own people and theirtemple. Finally, Jesus shouted above the din and reminded them of a scripture they’d apparently forgotten. “Is it not written,” He cried, “‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den” (v. 17). The crowd was amazed. But the religious leaders were offended and began to plan His death (v. 18).
Jesus’ actions in the temple emphasized how extravagant the offer of salvation is. He showed that no one should restrain or interfere with those God calls to be saved. This week, consider people you know who need the eternal life Jesus promises. How can you help clear the way for them to worship?
Matthew 21:12-17
For the disciples, Palm Sunday must have felt like a dream. As they followed Jesus into the temple grounds, their voices would have been drowned out by the clamor.
The Court of Gentiles, the only area that non-Jews could enter, had become an open-air market. The Teacher and His followers pushed through the hordes of customers haggling with merchants and shouting to be heard over livestock and doves used for sacrifices. Other pilgrims crowded around money changers’ tables, protesting unfair rates of exchange for the temple currency.
Jesus had seen enough. He stormed through the court, upending tables, overturning traders’ chairs, and driving animals toward the gate, past a throng of people scrambling for scattered money. Finally, He blocked the way so merchandise couldn’t be carried through the temple (Mark 11:16).
The disciples must have been astounded. They expected the Messiah to judge their oppressors, not His own people and theirtemple. Finally, Jesus shouted above the din and reminded them of a scripture they’d apparently forgotten. “Is it not written,” He cried, “‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den” (v. 17). The crowd was amazed. But the religious leaders were offended and began to plan His death (v. 18).
Jesus’ actions in the temple emphasized how extravagant the offer of salvation is. He showed that no one should restrain or interfere with those God calls to be saved. This week, consider people you know who need the eternal life Jesus promises. How can you help clear the way for them to worship?
Jesus heals a man born blind, stirring up controversy.
John 9
Jesus heals a man born blind, stirring up controversy.
INSIGHT
While Jesus certainly has compassion on those to whom He ministers, His miracles are done not only to relieve human suffering but also to establish His credentials. He claims to be the Bread of Life. To validate that message, He feeds the 5000. In chapter 9, Jesus says that the man's blindness is not because of sin but for the purpose of manifesting the work of God in him. The same was true with Lazarus. His death was not final but was for the purpose of bringing glory to the Son of God. Jesus raises Lazarus and then says that the Son is glorified.
PRAYER
Offer this psalm of praise as you seek spiritual closeness with God:
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory (Psalm 63:1-2).
You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created (Revelation 4:11).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I said, "Lord, be merciful to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You." . . .
But You, O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
That I may repay them. . . .
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting! (Psalm 41:4, 10, 13).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
An eternal perspective
Your spiritual goals
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this closing prayer:
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Jesus heals a man born blind, stirring up controversy.
INSIGHT
While Jesus certainly has compassion on those to whom He ministers, His miracles are done not only to relieve human suffering but also to establish His credentials. He claims to be the Bread of Life. To validate that message, He feeds the 5000. In chapter 9, Jesus says that the man's blindness is not because of sin but for the purpose of manifesting the work of God in him. The same was true with Lazarus. His death was not final but was for the purpose of bringing glory to the Son of God. Jesus raises Lazarus and then says that the Son is glorified.
PRAYER
Offer this psalm of praise as you seek spiritual closeness with God:
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory (Psalm 63:1-2).
You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created (Revelation 4:11).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I said, "Lord, be merciful to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You." . . .
But You, O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
That I may repay them. . . .
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting! (Psalm 41:4, 10, 13).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
An eternal perspective
Your spiritual goals
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this closing prayer:
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
History of Yom HaShoah
History of Yom HaShoah
Barry Shainker
Yom HaShoah is officially known as Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day. As the name suggests, it is a day dedicated to memorial and somber reflection in recognition of the millions of lives lost under Nazi persecution. But Yom HaShoah also reminds us to reflect on the acts of resistance that took place throughout the war. For this reason, an early proposal favored by many survivors and Zionists called for the holiday to be commemorated on the 14th of Nisan, the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, perhaps the most well-known of the many revolts against Nazi aggression. The recommendation was dismissed because of the day’s proximity to Pesach, but the spirit was maintained when the Knesset approved a plan calling for Yom HaShoah to be observed within the timeline of the actual uprising just two weeks later. The 27th of Nisan was ultimately chosen, placing the commemoration in between Passover and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day.
But the holiday’s occurrence in this season is not without controversy, especially among more traditional Jewish communities. On the heels of Purim and in the optimistic spirit of Pesach, Nisan is regarded as a joyous month in which we celebrate the triumph of the Jewish spirit in spite of unspeakable odds. Setting aside a day of mourning during this period would completely counteract that objective. The 10th of Tevet, a winter holiday commemorating the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, was therefore suggested. Tisha B’Av, the summer fast remembering the destruction of the First and Second Temples, was already seen by many to be a day of mourning in the calendar and was therefore proposed as another option for the day of Yom HaShoah. While not discounting the idea of a Holocaust commemoration, others still wondered later if the day should incorporate a remembrance of lives lost in other European atrocities such as the Inquisition or the Russian progroms.1
In response to these voices of opposition, Kenesset member Mordechai Nurock spoke passionately about the need to place Yom HaShoah on the 27th of Nisan. In a powerful speech on the legislative floor, he elevated the horrors of the Holocaust above any of the other previous massacres or battles faced by the Jewish community. “We need to choose a date,” he said, “that coincides with most of the slaughter of European Jewry and with the ghetto uprisings that took place in the month of Nisan.” Directly addressing the idea of Nisan as a joyous time, he went on to note that this date occurred during the counting of the Omer (the days between Pesach and Shavuot), a time when many Jewish communities were destroyed throughout history and a period of semi-mourning in traditional circles.2 The goal seen in Nurock’s impassioned speech came true shortly after he gave it as the Knesset passed a bill in 1951 establishing the holiday on the 27th of Nisan. As a compromise to the opposition and in recognition of Shabbat, Yom HaShoah is observed a day early if it falls on a Friday or a day late if it falls on a Sunday.
Having just completed Passover, the timing of Yom HaShoah is a constant reminder about the importance of maintaining resistance despite circumstances which make it nearly impossible to do so. In Israel this connection is explicitly made with the official state ceremony at the Warsaw Ghetto memorial at Yad Yashem, the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem. In the face of unspeakable tragedy and with little chance of success, we revisit the hope and determination that has come to define Jewish resilience and fortitude. Despite the early controversy, Yom HaShoah is today fully integrated into the country’s culture and collective national identity. With Israel’s Memorial and Independence Day holidays only a week later, all Israelis are keenly aware of the tragic Jewish past and the importance of struggling for continued survival.
1. Divrei HaKenesset (Kenesset Reports), 1959, p. 1386
2. Divrei HaKenesset (Kenesset Reports), 1951, p. 1657
Barry Shainker is currently an Education student at HUC-JIR in New York. Originally from the New York area, he has served a handful of congregations in various youth education capacities: classroom educator, youth group advisor, mitzvah project mentor, and religious school administrator. He is thrilled to be leading his first Birthright Israel trip with the Reform movement this spring!
Barry Shainker
Yom HaShoah is officially known as Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day. As the name suggests, it is a day dedicated to memorial and somber reflection in recognition of the millions of lives lost under Nazi persecution. But Yom HaShoah also reminds us to reflect on the acts of resistance that took place throughout the war. For this reason, an early proposal favored by many survivors and Zionists called for the holiday to be commemorated on the 14th of Nisan, the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, perhaps the most well-known of the many revolts against Nazi aggression. The recommendation was dismissed because of the day’s proximity to Pesach, but the spirit was maintained when the Knesset approved a plan calling for Yom HaShoah to be observed within the timeline of the actual uprising just two weeks later. The 27th of Nisan was ultimately chosen, placing the commemoration in between Passover and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day.
But the holiday’s occurrence in this season is not without controversy, especially among more traditional Jewish communities. On the heels of Purim and in the optimistic spirit of Pesach, Nisan is regarded as a joyous month in which we celebrate the triumph of the Jewish spirit in spite of unspeakable odds. Setting aside a day of mourning during this period would completely counteract that objective. The 10th of Tevet, a winter holiday commemorating the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, was therefore suggested. Tisha B’Av, the summer fast remembering the destruction of the First and Second Temples, was already seen by many to be a day of mourning in the calendar and was therefore proposed as another option for the day of Yom HaShoah. While not discounting the idea of a Holocaust commemoration, others still wondered later if the day should incorporate a remembrance of lives lost in other European atrocities such as the Inquisition or the Russian progroms.1
In response to these voices of opposition, Kenesset member Mordechai Nurock spoke passionately about the need to place Yom HaShoah on the 27th of Nisan. In a powerful speech on the legislative floor, he elevated the horrors of the Holocaust above any of the other previous massacres or battles faced by the Jewish community. “We need to choose a date,” he said, “that coincides with most of the slaughter of European Jewry and with the ghetto uprisings that took place in the month of Nisan.” Directly addressing the idea of Nisan as a joyous time, he went on to note that this date occurred during the counting of the Omer (the days between Pesach and Shavuot), a time when many Jewish communities were destroyed throughout history and a period of semi-mourning in traditional circles.2 The goal seen in Nurock’s impassioned speech came true shortly after he gave it as the Knesset passed a bill in 1951 establishing the holiday on the 27th of Nisan. As a compromise to the opposition and in recognition of Shabbat, Yom HaShoah is observed a day early if it falls on a Friday or a day late if it falls on a Sunday.
Having just completed Passover, the timing of Yom HaShoah is a constant reminder about the importance of maintaining resistance despite circumstances which make it nearly impossible to do so. In Israel this connection is explicitly made with the official state ceremony at the Warsaw Ghetto memorial at Yad Yashem, the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem. In the face of unspeakable tragedy and with little chance of success, we revisit the hope and determination that has come to define Jewish resilience and fortitude. Despite the early controversy, Yom HaShoah is today fully integrated into the country’s culture and collective national identity. With Israel’s Memorial and Independence Day holidays only a week later, all Israelis are keenly aware of the tragic Jewish past and the importance of struggling for continued survival.
1. Divrei HaKenesset (Kenesset Reports), 1959, p. 1386
2. Divrei HaKenesset (Kenesset Reports), 1951, p. 1657
Barry Shainker is currently an Education student at HUC-JIR in New York. Originally from the New York area, he has served a handful of congregations in various youth education capacities: classroom educator, youth group advisor, mitzvah project mentor, and religious school administrator. He is thrilled to be leading his first Birthright Israel trip with the Reform movement this spring!
The Universal Gift
The Universal Gift
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 New Living Translation
Needing one of those personal pampering moments, I decided to visit a local nail salon and spa. The receptionist was friendly; I told her what I wanted, and she introduced me to my nail technician for the day. We politely greeted each other and he began to work. We made small-talk, but communication was difficult because he didn’t speak much English, so we struggled to find common ground. We talked a little about music… everybody loves music! He named some popular American recording artists – while I recognized their names, I don’t enjoy their particular genre of music. So we discussed movies – in particular, actors from his country who became famous in America. We had more success finding common ground on that subject.
Suddenly, I began to reflect on how these recording artists and actors had a gift that they perfected and enriched to the point of creating a demand that reaches beyond their immediate environment. The same was true for this nail technician – clearly it was his gift and my need that brought us together. However, despite how great the gift, and how talented the person, there are still some people they can’t reach. Not everyone wants a manicure or pedicure. Not everyone listens to pop music or watches action movies.
So what gift, when perfected to its most mature state, will transcend all language barriers, and all racial and ethnic diversities? The answer is love. God’s love extends beyond the limits of race and nationality, beyond the limits of class and religion, beyond our faults and failures; God’s love is graciously given even to those who refuse to love Him in return because love is who He is (1 John 4:8). Love found its supreme expression in Jesus’ self-sacrifice on Calvary. We all have been freely given that gift of love – share it with someone in need today!
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!
Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 New Living Translation
Needing one of those personal pampering moments, I decided to visit a local nail salon and spa. The receptionist was friendly; I told her what I wanted, and she introduced me to my nail technician for the day. We politely greeted each other and he began to work. We made small-talk, but communication was difficult because he didn’t speak much English, so we struggled to find common ground. We talked a little about music… everybody loves music! He named some popular American recording artists – while I recognized their names, I don’t enjoy their particular genre of music. So we discussed movies – in particular, actors from his country who became famous in America. We had more success finding common ground on that subject.
Suddenly, I began to reflect on how these recording artists and actors had a gift that they perfected and enriched to the point of creating a demand that reaches beyond their immediate environment. The same was true for this nail technician – clearly it was his gift and my need that brought us together. However, despite how great the gift, and how talented the person, there are still some people they can’t reach. Not everyone wants a manicure or pedicure. Not everyone listens to pop music or watches action movies.
So what gift, when perfected to its most mature state, will transcend all language barriers, and all racial and ethnic diversities? The answer is love. God’s love extends beyond the limits of race and nationality, beyond the limits of class and religion, beyond our faults and failures; God’s love is graciously given even to those who refuse to love Him in return because love is who He is (1 John 4:8). Love found its supreme expression in Jesus’ self-sacrifice on Calvary. We all have been freely given that gift of love – share it with someone in need today!
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!
Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries
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