I really love the Gospel of Luke and his sequel, the book of Acts.
Luke was a doctor. A learned man. He valued people and wanted to see them live healthy, full lives.
Do you know a doctor like that? Someone who went into the profession less for the money and more for the people? It’s not always easy to find a physician like that, but when you do, it is a blessing.
All too often, doctors rely on their extensive medical knowledge more than they do on God – the Giver of all that intelligence.
But Luke was different.
A doctor who encountered the Healer
Dr. Luke was certainly well-prepared and intelligent, yet he valued the spiritual side of things and was humble enough to recognize that there is an Almighty Healer.
As evidenced by his chronicling of the ministry of Yeshua (Jesus), Luke was very detail-oriented. Like any wise doctor, he would make thorough observations knowing that attention to detail could mean the difference between life and death.
Luke would have known firsthand that human medical practices were limited.
Surely he had been bedside when a patient succumbed to illness or injury and knew the feeling of helplessness, unable to prescribe a curing remedy.
Can you imagine the curiosity Luke must have felt when he witnessed the healing miracles of our Messiah? How perplexing! Was he skeptical at first? Did he try to explain it away using scientific reasoning? Or was he overjoyed that there was a true Healer?
Luke encountered the One who made the true difference between life and death – the One who defeated death and grants new and eternal Life.
As Luke realized that the Great Physician, Yeshua (Jesus) had come, he began to carefully document what he had seen in order to provide an orderly record to his beloved friends in the faith (ie.Theophilus). He must have been so fascinated, so captivated!
I’m confident Luke wondered: how could it be that this Man, Yeshua (Jesus), had authority to cast out sicknesses, heal diseases, and resurrect the dead!?
Luke the Gospel writer knew others were doing the same thing – “undertak[ing] to organize an account of the event fulfilled among us . . . ” (Luke 1:1). The Tree of Life Version gives an appropriate heading to the opening of Luke: “A Doctor Charts the Facts.” Luke wanted to make sure his account was accurate, to give yet another layer of evidence that the testimonies about the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) were indeed true.
Doctors would love to know things “for sure,” but usually they are making the best educated guess possible:
Maybe you have this going on…
We need to rule out x, y, or z . . .
Dr. Luke the Gospel writer was no exception. He didn’t believe that the Savior of the world came just because he saw one or two signs. His acceptance of Yeshua (Jesus) as the promised Messiah wasn’t based on what the crowds of people were saying.
He observed and concluded there were “many convincing proofs” (Acts 1:3) and wrote the second volume to his historical record, what is now known as the Acts of the Apostles.
If you are familiar with the book of Acts, you know that Luke doesn’t shy away from reporting on the miraculous. Luke trusted that what Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah came to do by the power of the Ruach haKodesh (the Holy Spirit) was absolutely true and verifiable.
Yeshua (Jesus) showed Himself to be alive after being crucified
Doctors, even back in Bible times, are trained to read a pulse and understand vital signs. It is thought that Luke probably studied at one of the medical schools in Tarsus, Pergamum, or even Athens.
Obviously then, as a doctor, Luke would know when to pronounce someone dead. And living in the Roman Empire . . . harsh, cruel deaths were commonplace. He knew that Yeshua (Jesus) had been crucified. Crucifixion was one of the worst possible ways to die: a suffocating and bloody death.
Left hanging on a cross: chance of survival 0%.
Yet this Holy Man, this Yeshua (Jesus) . . . “presented Himself alive!”
He showed Himself to the disciples.
And not just once.
Luke tells us He showed Himself to be alive, appearing to the disciples for 40 days!
Who else has died, been buried, and then wakes up and presents themself to people for 40 days?
Had Luke or the disciples thought the resurrection and subsequent appearances were mere dreams or hallucinations, he had the credentials to identify them as such and dismiss them.
Before I became a believer, I heard something that helped me sort out the confusion. Maybe it will help you, too:
Muhammed is dead. Ghandi is dead. Buddha is dead. But Yeshua (Jesus) is still alive.
Yeshua (Jesus) was dead and buried, yes, but that tomb is empty.
To this day, there is a sign at the tomb in Jerusalem that says, “He is not here for He is Risen.”
This is absolutely remarkable and Luke knew it! He knew there was abundant evidence confirming that the Savior of the world was alive and that what He taught was true.
Do you know this Gospel Truth?
Has your life been changed by the power of the Gospel?
If you are a person who needs proof, who needs evidence, then Luke is your guy! We will be going through the book of Luke together, and I hope that you will be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Yeshua (Jesus) is indeed the Messiah, the Savior, the Redeemer, and King of all kings!
Led by the One True God: Abram & his father, Terah
Most of us know about Abraham and Sarah, but how much do you know about Abram and Terah?
Abram’s father, Terah
Genesis 11:27-32 gives a genealogy leading up to Abram and Sarai, beginning with Terah, Abram’s father.
Abram had two brothers, Nahor and Charan (often anglicized as “Haran”), but Charan died. Charan was Lot’s father so he lived to be at least a young man, but he died before his own father Terah did.
They lived in a city called Ur, situated in Chaldean Mesopotamia.
Ur was known to be a prosperous place. The exact location is not definitive, but scholars find it reasonable to assume that Chaldea was located in the Fertile Crescent and that Ur was likely situated at the river delta where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers came together to spill into the Persian Gulf.
The city of Ur would’ve provided Terah and his family the benefits of urban life.
They would have had easy access to markets and trade opportunities as well as close proximity to fishing.
Despite all of that, Terah decided to leave it all behind.Genesis 11:31 tells us that the family left Ur with plans to reach Canaan.
Terah took his son, Abram, his daughter-in-law, Sarai, as well as Lot (his grandson) to Canaan. Scripture does not tell us why Nahor stayed behind nor why Terah decided to leave Ur.
Why Canaan?
If Terah had grown tired of the riotous idolatry rampant in the city of Ur, Canaan wouldn’t be a good place for relocation: Canaan was well-known for their plethora of gods.
You will find that sometimes Scripture leaves us with more questions than answers.
Was Terah a spiritual (albeit pagan) person, believing that the Canaanite gods could heal his broken heart after losing his son Charan?
Or similarly, was mourning the death of his son too unbearable – with all the memories associated with life in Ur – that Terah was simply seeking to move away, unconcerned with the Canaanite deities, just content to get away?
I don’t think it is unreasonable to believe that God Himself put it in Terah’s heart to leave Ur, preparing for the day when He would promise blessing to Terah’s son, Abram.
Regardless of the reason, Terah set out for his new life in Canaan.
Terah settled in Charan
Terah reached a place that the Bible calls, “Charan,” and stayed there.
So once again, we have more questions than answers:
Did Terah name this desert place, “Charan,” in honor of his son?
Was this place known as “Charan” before he got there, and therefore felt an affinity to it?
Whatever the reason, Terah stayed there and later died there, never making it to Canaan.
Did grief interfere?
Mourning a loss can be debilitating, and if we are not careful to seek the LORD as we mourn, our grief can begin to interfere with our ability to move forward.
We do not necessarily need to move “on” as though we will forget our loved one.
But we do need to continue taking steps in this life, walking . . . even if just baby steps, to move forward into the plan and calling that God has for us, despite any of our difficult circumstances and sorrows.
I heard a rather harsh interpretation of this passage once. The preacher said Terah stopped at “good enough”: that Terah never got to the Promised Land because he lacked vision.
Some then would argue Terah not only settled in Charan, he settled for Charan.
This could be the case.
We all know people who seemingly cannot conceive of anything more than what they have already seen or experienced; people who are limited in their ambitions and dreams. Proverbs 29:18 rightly warns, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”
But I am not convinced that Terah was unambitious or lazy.
Sometimes grief can take on that appearance.
Given that Terah was 205 years old when he died, maybe he had some age-related health issues and didn’t feel like journeying all the way to Canaan.
The place called Charan was, in a sense, “good enough” for Terah. It was just that – a good place of solace, far from the bustling noise of Ur. A good place to heal. A good place to emotionally move forward.
Scripture does not record a divine mandate given to Terah. Could it be that God was leading Terah to Canaan, just as He would lead Abram there? We don’t know, but it would seem that if that were the case, Scripture would’ve recorded it.
What we do know is that Terah’s action in leaving Ur paved the way for future generations to live in blessing.
In that quiet, remote place, Terah’s son, Abram, was able to hear the voice of YHVH clearly.
The reason, “LORD” is in all caps there is because in the Hebrew manuscript is found the most Holy Name of God: YHVH.
Why doesn’t the text read, “Now God had said to Abram . . .” ?
Well, Scripture was not put together haphazardly. It was inspired by God Himself (2 Timothy 3:16), so it is orderly and cohesive. Everything you read in Scripture is there purposely. Purposefully.
So we should believe it is significant that YHVH makes Himself known to Abram; and it would seem to make sense that the reason the Divine Name is written in this verse is to make very clear that the God who was speaking to Abram is the One, True God rather than one of the Canaanite gods:
“In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3)
7 is the Biblical number for perfection or completeness. Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) had not yet come to earth, so how can this be a perfect covenant?
Because the Author is Perfect and His Promises are Perfect!
What was required of Abram?
The promises required much of Abram, if you consider it.
He had to leave his country and his clan, and even his father’s house, meaning he was to give up his leadership role as leading the family. Abram would’ve likely wrestled with the feeling that he was abandoning his responsibilities and obligations as the leader of his family’s group now that his father was deceased.
Leaving family behind was really not something that was done in those days!
But when God is going to bless you, He requires that you’re all in.
God required Abram to leave the life he knew.
The Bible records Abram acting in obedience, departing Haran with Sarai and Lot (Genesis 12:4-5).
Interestingly enough, Abram was not required to leave his possessions behind.
Genesis 12:5 tells us Abram, Sarai, and Lot gathered all their possessions (including people they had “acquired.”)
The evangelist in me really hopes those are people they had acquired for the cause of faith. Members of a pilgrim congregation.
But realistically speaking, it is apparent these people served as slaves. When we hear that term, we tend to immediately think of American slavery, which was horrific, violent, and completely unacceptable. We must hope that Abram and Sarai did their best to treat their servants well.
God had promised to prosper Abram, so Abram was permitted to take his possessions along with him on the journey to Canaan.
Have you left your old life behind?
Abram’s calling to leave his old life behind should resonate with you if you follow the LORD.
If you have not yet made the decision to trust the LORD with all your heart for your salvation, let this be an invitation today.
Remember, Abram had grown up in Ur and had gotten married there. He was accustomed to idolatry and the worldly pleasures offered to him by the city. Chaldea was known for astrologers and fortunetellers.
Abram had willingly moved to Charan with his father, Terah. If he was old enough to remember his brother, Abram, too, probably did a lot of mourning. He was an overcomer and a pioneer.
Today’s world is so very similar.
Idolatry and witchcraft have become mainstream.
Even many churches are participating in the devil’s holiday this month.
What you and I are called to do is to be different.
The LORD asks us to bury our old lives.
Leave the past in the past.
Sometimes that does include our griefs. We need to surrender to the LORD and allow Him to heal our broken hearts.
So today, turn away – repent – of your sin, be baptized by immersion, and follow Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ).
Thanks for reading today! Please share any thoughts or comments below! I love to hear from you!
Why everyone needs the Full Gospel
Too many institutions entice young students to look for “truths” rather than the TRUTH
When I was in middle and high school, I was definitely a “seeker.”
I had grown up immersed in pluralism. I had never heard of the “Full Gospel.”
By junior year of high school, encouraged by “pastors” of the United Church of Christ (UCC), (a sect I now consider heretical), I had read all sorts of books from so-called “Christian” mysticism. I was particularly interested in such works as “The Cloud of Unknowing” and Thomas Merton’s writings recommended to me by the pastors of the church our family attended. I dabbled in Buddhism and other false religions. I was considered “well-rounded.”
In college, I visited a local Hindu temple as well as a mosque outside of Chicago. My friends were also exploring world religions, but the frightening thing is, we were all studying to be “Christian pastors.” We weren’t just learning about world religions so that we could properly share the Gospel with the lost, we were learning because we wanted to participate in their practices.
The UCC “associate ministers,” as they were called, (like bishops) were aware that we were learning about Islam and even sat across the table from us during a Ramadan dinner at that mosque that we had all been invited to by an interfaith council. There was no effort on their part to correct our course: all of us who were theology majors were encouraged to explore the commonalities between different faiths. But believe me, we were never encouraged to visit an evangelical or Full Gospel church.
When I was in grad school, we were required to read many books that were also rooted in mysticism. I remember observing (sadly!) that my Divinity School peers were intrigued and absorbing these ideas, likewise encouraged by the seminary’s professors. It is no secret that many who enter seminary lose their faith: but the true tragedy has to do with the leadership of these institutions whoentice young students to look for “truths” rather than the Truth. By this time, I had already met my Savior (to the dismay of many of my theologically liberal professors who wished I had retained my interest in ecumenism and interfaith activities).
Many professors have really gotten into using icons (a form of idolatry). Christian schools and churches now incorporate yoga into their programs despite yoga’s inherent spiritual connection to Hinduism. I have a missionary friend who is a native of India. She is so dismayed by how many American Christians have accepted and incorporated yoga into their “Christian” practices. She shakes her head and says, “if they only knew . . .”
See, you don’t need a whole host of odd rituals or candle lightings or chants. You just need the Full Gospel, brought to you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I share all this because so many people truly don’t know the Gospel, let alone the Full Gospel.
I feel like Peter writes more succinctly than Paul. He writes in a nutshell, the Gospel is:
In their own ways; however, both Peter and Paul describe what is termed, the “Full Gospel.”
Besides the death and resurrection of our Savior, He also brought healing, signs and wonders. We are saved, and we are healed. We are saved, and we receive the divine infilling of the Holy Spirit, if we will submit to the Holy Spirit’s authority.
“Fully” proclaiming the Good News, as Paul writes, is preaching what Messiah Jesus has accomplished (forgiveness of sin through His death on the cross and resurrection) with power. This is the Full Gospel!
In other words, preaching should be accompanied by signs and wonders – as something normal.
That doesn’t mean a worship service should become an entertainment spectacle.
And certainly none of this has to do with “manufactured miracles.”
But it should be completely commonplace for Gospel preaching to be accompanied by miraculous healings, deliverance, speaking in tongues, etc. The purpose of the spiritual gifts manifesting in power is to essentially give credence to what is preached. That God would heal someone is proof He is living! That God would deliver someone is proof He has power over sin and darkness!
This is the fullness of the Gospel!
A Gospel preached without power isn’t the full Gospel. And do you really want to settle for half?
There are some followers of our Savior who care so much about their outward looks they forget they are quite rotten in their speech and other aspects of their lives. They deny the power of the Gospel through their pettiness and gossip.
Then there are other followers of our Savior who carefully appear to be very godly in their doctrine and behavior, but literally deny the power when they claim that the Holy Spirit isn’t working and moving among the body of Messiah as He did in the past. This leads to anemic doctrine, lacking the vital nutrition of the full understanding of the Gospel.
The LORD is still working modern miracles today! Don’t be afraid!
This weekend we celebrate Shavu’ot, also known as Pentecost. A special time to celebrate this Full Gospel I am telling you about!
We rejoice knowing that the same God who gave us His Torah is the same God who gave us His Spirit!
A lot of people have been trained by our society to be afraid of “Pentecostals.”
I know I used to be!
The only reason anyone should be afraid of a Pentecostal is if they don’t want any deliverance in their lives.
Because when a true Pentecostal believer prays, you better watch out, the demons flee!
Some Pentecostals or Full Gospel folks might dress a certain way or wear their hair a certain way, and I’m not saying any of that is necessarily bad. But your outward appearance isn’t what makes you Pentecostal – its the Holy Spirit within you.
If you have been baptized by the fire from above with the evidence of speaking in tongues, you are Pentecostal. You might attend an Assembly of God church or Church of God (TN), or Pentecostal Holiness, or United Pentecostal. While there are disagreements among Pentecostal people (just as there are disagreements among any group of people!) about things like Trinitarianism or dress codes, we serve the same Mighty God who has this awesome plan to heal you and deliver you.
When you know that you are saved from your sin, you need to know that you weren’t saved just so you’d go to heaven one day.
You were saved so you could start living with the joyous benefits of heaven, starting even now, here on earth.
Life won’t be perfect, but you have access to so much divine opportunity to pray and to witness great miracles occur, even now. Heaven will be wonderful, but we don’t have to sulk while we bear with the sufferings of this life. We can pray in confidence for the LORD to enable us to live in victory, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
You have the opportunity to be saved – and sanctified! Set free to live in abundant joy and peace. Receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is described in the Scriptures as a deposit, a seal, so you know without a doubt that you are indeed saved!
The Full Gospel is for you!
If your pastor always stops preaching after Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you may need to start asking some good questions about the rest of the New Testament.
Starting in the book of Acts, you will discover how the early believers operated, constantly ministering to others in power. Healings and miracles were part and parcel of the Gospel Truth.
Your faith walk will be greatly enhanced by knowing this powerful Truth, that the Fullness of the Gospel is for everyone, and you are invited to live endued with power from on high! Whether you are a student or a seasoned believer, don’t ever pass up the opportunity to live your life yielded to the Presence of God in your life and the Full Gospel Truth!
Why does everyone need the Full Gospel?
Everyone needs the Full Gospel because everyone needs the Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh) will help you when you need to make important decisions. He will lead you closer to the Father. He will help you discern your next steps in life. The Spirit of God (Ruach Elohim) will anoint you and bless you. Your prayer life will improve, your worship will be deeper, and your longings will be much more satisfied.
If you have been a Christian for a really long time, but still feel like you’re missing out on something, don’t turn to mystical and false religions, turn to the Holy Spirit, who will take you to a new level in Him. If you do not yet speak in tongues, don’t think of it as something too strange for you. If Paul spoke in tongues, why can’t you? Our faith is not of this world, so dive in and allow the Holy Spirit to have His way!
A lot of people won’t talk about “speaking in tongues” because our culture has derided people who do as “wackos” and “crazies.”
Don’t let culture define you nor limit your experiences with God.
Follow the Word of God, and He will provide you the Full Gospel experience that you need.
Some great songs for Pentecost/Shavu’ot
I will leave you with some great praise and worship songs that I love! They are perfect for Pentecost/Shavu’ot, and all year round, too. May they benefit you spiritually as you seek the blessings of the Holy Spirit, our Eternal Comforter! I pray He baptizes you with His Holy Fire, even today! It is an experience that will transform your life!
Holy Spirit, How I love You
Send the Fire
Refiner’s Fire
Welcome, Holy Spirit
The Comforter has Come
Bo Ruach Elohim (Come, Spirit of God)
Please leave a comment or send a message to [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you! May you be endued with power from on high!
A great question for parents and children’s ministry leaders.
When introducing a young child to the Bible, would you start with Leviticus?!
I know I haven’t started with it.
I’ve always focused on the Gospel stories and the Psalms and the power of Pentecost (Shavu’ot). I love to share with them stories of Messiah Yeshua’s (Jesus’) miracles and ministry. The first verse my children memorized was Genesis 1:1. You can’t go wrong with starting at the beginning!
But did you know that it is actually fairly common in Jewish households to begin a child’s spiritual education with Leviticus?
The rationale is that because a child is pure, they ought to be taught the laws of purity. Not bad logic.
Who needs Noah’s ark sing-alongs when you can toss a list of burnt offering requirements at your three to six year olds? 🤨🤔😬
All joking aside, there’s a reason I’ve always respected the studious nature of Judaism. They don’t shy away from the hard topics. They don’t pretend that those tough passages aren’t in the Torah. And rather than run from them, they delve straight in, head-first. Master that which is difficult, and the rest will be a piece of cake. Speaking of cake, we will get to that in a moment.
There’s something we all can learn there.
Finding salvation in the pages of Leviticus
Introducing children to the concept of the sacrificial system at a young age might seem counterintuitive. Often, we want to protect children from the harsh realities of life such as sacrifice, suffering, and death. But sheltering them from these difficult concepts may actually do more harm than good. If a child gains understanding from the outset that death and life are both very much real, they can, also at a much younger age, begin to understand just how valuable the sacrifice that the LORD made for us through His death on the cross really is.
That is the goal, right?That our children would be saved, from an early age! Not through any type of manipulative techniques, but rather through honest engagement with the Word of God and related thoughtful, age-appropriate discussion.
Children ask all sorts of interesting questions. Let their curiosity be your guide.
Make connections with things your children already know. Like bread!
Bread? 🥖
Yes! Bread!
Every child in every nation eats some form of bread. From baguettes to flour tortillas to naan, bread is a staple to most people’s diets.
That’s why Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) told us He is the Bread of Life in John 6:35. He spoke in ways that are relatable! We know we need sustenance.
“Yeshua said to them, ‘I AM the Bread of Life.'” John 6:35
Kids understand the importance of eating when they are hungry. They also know they are supposed to say “please” and “thank you.”
So when you reach a passage like Leviticus 7, explain to your children how the LORD expected people to be thankful! And when they wanted to express their thankfulness and have peace with God, they would bring a special offering to the LORD – bread. And lots of it. Unleavened cakes, flour cakes, (yes, CAKE! 🎂) and leavened bread. It would be eaten by God’s representative and his family – Aaron the priest and his sons.
Leviticus 8 describes the consecration of the priests and their ordination. The offerings were brought to them – so ultimately, people were expected to honor these leaders of the Israelite community.
In American culture, the concept of “giving honor” isn’t something we talk about much.
Things like deference, submission, and putting someone else’s needs above our own aren’t real popular in a culture that emphasizes individual achievement and personal prosperity.
We don’t think to “honor” anyone who doesn’t “deserve” it.
To make matters worse, we hear of scandals in churches involving clergy and we determine that congregational leaders can’t be trusted and should not be honored. Listen, I know there is a ton of hurt there and a lot of evil that has been perpetrated in the name of faith, but we must not allow our faith and judgment to be clouded by the sinful examples. We must be wise and make sure there is accountability in every church position and structure, but we must not become overly cynical or disrespectful.
We must learn to honor, in a godly and safe manner. We must teach our children how to honor their teachers – all of those wonderful people who pour time and encouragement into their little hearts. Instead of always having to “win,” it is important to instill the value of kindness which naturally leads to honoring others.
The Bible clearly teaches that honor is something we must not only value, but give.
So you have to know that you are honorable. Before sin enters the calculation, your form was perfect and you have a deep inherent worth!
If you have that confidence, you should have no difficulty in submitting yourself to another with love and with kindness without losing your sense of self-esteem.
The Word of God shows us we are each responsible to learn to honor our brothers and sisters in the LORD. Children should be taught to respect and to honor their elders. Likewise as believers grow in faith, it is our duty within the family of faith to honor each other. Honoring another should not mean losing one’s autonomy and should never result in abusive relationships. Honoring ought be mutual, but we must be willing to serve even those we would rather not serve.
If we learn to honor one another, then we genuinely gain the ability to give honor to Adonai.
The fight for the souls of our children
Children’s ministries must take into account the fact that children come from so many different backgrounds and walks of life. If we water down the message and shy away from the more difficult subjects, we could be missing huge opportunities to help children. Whether a child’s perception or reality of a problem is large or small, if a ministry is there to guide them with love, kindness, and the unfailing Truth of the Word of God, the child will be receptive to the message about our wonderful Savior.
Today’s world is full of conflicting messages, ideas, philosophies, and religions. The devil is hard at work to rob our children, in so many ways. False religions work very hard to instill their values and beliefs into young people, so as believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) and disciples in His Truth, how much harder ought we be working to bless our children with the knowledge of His Glorious Truth.
I’ve grown tired of the repetitive nature of most children’s ministry programs that seem to simply seek to entertain the children.
I’d rather arm them for the real world with the real armor of God. Children are smart! Let’s give them a deep and strong foundation!
Maybe even start with . . . your new favorite, Leviticus!
I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know what you think! Is Leviticus growing on you, my friend? Please consider subscribing so you can stay up-to-date on our latest posts!
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It is finished: How the Completion of the Tabernacle relates to Calvary’s Victory
This passage starts out where we left off discussing the Tabernacle’s skilled artisans, Betzalel and Oholiab. They were the wise-hearted, skilled artisans who were responsible for the craftsmanship associated with the building of the Tabernacle.
Moses finished that work. It was necessary and surely it was arduous, but it was done. The tabernacle was built to foreshadow the unfolding of the story of salvation.
When the work was finished, then the glory of the LORD could come and fill that place.
The glory of the LORD filling the Tabernacle would have been absolutely amazing. Can you imagine being there!? But as awe-inspiring as that was, the salvation story was still being written.
You see, One greater-than-Moses would come: Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus the Christ). He would finish a greater work. He would complete the story of salvation. A story which is HIStory – the truest, greatest story ever told.
Yeshua, Himself the Temple of the Holy Spirit, imparts to us His Spirit. He died and rose again, and breathed upon the disciples so that they could receive the Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh). Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Just as the Glory of God came to fill the Tabernacle, He is willing to come upon you and to fill you with His Spirit. If you have not yet received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, please let us know and we will pray for you!
We end our reading of Shemot/Exodus as the Tabernacle is completed and gloriously filled with the Presence of the Most High. The book of Exodus is a book about freedom. The Greatest Freedom you can ever experience is the freedom from sin and death.
Will you trust Yeshua (Jesus) as your Savior today? He alone can free you from all bondage and give you eternal life.
As you can see, the Bible is full of amazing connections that demonstrate the continuity between the time of Moses and the time of Yeshua! Maybe you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments and please consider subscribing to our newsletter! Are you placing your trust in Messiah Yeshua for the first time? Are you renewing your commitment to Him? Let us know how we can pray with and for you! Shalom!
Exodus (Shemot) 2 introduces us to Amram עַמְרָם and Yokheved יוֹכֶבֶד (commonly rendered Jochebed in English).
It is important to note that their names are not revealed in Exodus 2. We don’t find out their names until a genealogy reports their names in Exodus 6:20.
Amram & Yokheved, of the tribe of Levi
What is revealed in Exodus 2 is this special couple’s status alone. They are of the tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe. Scripture tells us a daughter of Levi is married to a son of Levi and they have a son.
Amram’s name in Hebrew means “Exalted Nation.” Yokheved’s name means “YHWH is Glory.” Their son would be a deliverer through whom the holy nation would indeed be exalted and the LORD’s Glory made known.
If we do not spend time in study of the Scriptures, we would not realize the richness hidden there. These two Levites in Exodus 2 appear nameless and nondescript, yet look how instrumental they were in Adonai’s plan!
As mentioned above, Yokheved had a son. Scripture describes the baby boy as “delightful!” The situation in Egypt was horrifically oppressive at that time, so due to the danger, Yokheved hid her son. She managed to hide the child for 3 months.
Yokheved was a wonderful mother. She did what she could to protect her baby and trusted in the LORD G-D of Israel as she placed the basket upon the Nile’s waters. And protect him, He did, for this would be no ordinary child: floating in that basket was Moses (Moshe), the one who would lead Israel out of Egypt.
The LORD uses the simplest of vessels – from a basket to a manger – to demonstrate to the world that His power is made perfect in raising up the lowly.
The LORD uses the simplest of vessels – from a basket to a manger – to demonstrate to the world that His power is made perfect in raising up the lowly.
Truly, all that our Heavenly Father has done is marvelous, and always exceedingly above any expectation or level of understanding. He created you, and He did so with a purpose.
What is hidden within you?
What is it that you are hiding within you? Has the LORD placed a burden or a talent or a calling deep within you? If you pray and prepare, the time will come when your gift will no longer be able to be hidden!
“A man’s gift makes room for him, and leads him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16
Though Moshe stuttered, the anointing upon his life made room for him even in the presence of the highest authority in the land, and Pharaoh had to cave in and let the people of Israel go. It was a temporary deliverance, but many years later, the Greater Deliverer would come.
And though there was no room in the Bethlehem inn, the Anointed One’s presence alone caused room to be made in the hearts of those who would seek and follow Him. When Messiah Yeshua (Jesus the Christ) came to this world, born in that lowly and humble setting, few understood He was the One who would reign eternally.
Revelation requires an element of hiddenness
Revelation is a key component of Scripture. In order for something to be revealed, it would have to first be hidden. It is a Scriptural principle, and Yeshua taught us:
There is a time and season for all things, and many of those things that were previously unknown or hidden to us have now come to light. Will you faithfully follow the One who has been revealed as Messiah of Israel, the Lamb who was slain, the Savior of all those who would believe, the King of all kings? Will you allow Him to use you, to shield you and to lift you up to impact the nations with the Good News of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)?
How will you, like Yokheved, trust in the process and witness the LORD’s greatness revealed?
Moshe was of Levitical lineage, which was crucial to the unfolding of Biblical prophecies. If you have come to believe in Messiah Yeshua and have trusted Him with your salvation, you are of royal lineage, too.
May the LORD use you mightily and bless you on your journey!
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Divine Empowerment in an “Inclusive” Age: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2
The Empowerment of followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)
Acts 2 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture:
I think it is my favorite because it was completely ignored by the church I attended growing up.
And I attended faithfully.
Obsessively faithfully.
If the doors of that church were open, I was there. Choir practice, youth leadership teams, bell choir, instrumental ensembles. It was a very large church with a large staff, so there were many opportunities for me, and I’m thankful for that. I probably wore out the pastors with all my theological questions, but they put up with me!
But despite all of those years in the church, I had never heard Acts chapter 2 when the LORD empowered the believers with the power of the Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh).
I even learned to preach and lead entire worship services before I went to college.
The problem is, I had learned to preach a false gospel…
I didn’t know that, of course.
But when I did figure that out, I felt deceived!
I was angry, hurt, but on-fire for Jesus (Yeshua).
My experience in a universalist church
See, I grew up in a universalist type of ‘church’ in which everything and anything could be considered ‘divine’ and the deity of Messiah was even questioned.
It was normal to practice ‘mysticism’ and the congregation built a pagan labyrinth so that they could become ‘closer’ to God. ‘Sin’ was explained away through relativism and none of the leaders I knew believed in a literal eternal hell.
Liberal social justice agendas were presented as ‘gospel;’ and homosexual clergy were not only accepted, but encouraged.
I am a very spiritual person and have been since I was very little, so I was intrigued by the “historical Jesus” debate and the off-center teachings presented to me by my pastors as a teenager. I had the opportunity to travel to France, and walked on the Chartres labyrinth, excited to bring back books and souvenirs reflecting what I know now to be an occult practice.
I had no idea that we were so outside of a Biblical framework, but I did know that the pastoral staff thought ill of evangelicals, calling anyone who took the Bible at its word a “fundie,” their pejorative term for a fundamentalist.
There was always talk of “inclusion,” but this really meant including only those who agreed with their far left agenda.
I was taught an imitation, but the LORD led me to TRUTH
When I went to college and later to Divinity School, I realized how far the church had strayed from Biblical Truth.
By studying Hebrew, I was awakened to the reality that Scripture is inspired and without error in its original form.
The one nice thing about being raised as a ‘Unitarian Considering Christ’ was we were always open to Judaism. I never struggled with the concept that Messiah Jesus stood on this earth as a practicing Jew, a Holy Rabbi with the greatest teaching of all time. Eventually, I accepted my Savior Yeshua and the glorious gift of salvation.
Hallelujah!
The Postmodern/Emergent Church is looking for an “experience”
The postmodern and emergent church movements were popular when I was a student. One thing that stands out to me with those who want to start drawing and painting in church is that people are genuinely looking for an “experience.”
The church, as a whole, has strayed so far from Scripture that people don’t realize that the experience they are looking for is found within the pages of the Holy Bible and that everything else is a cheap imitation.
Well-meaning people add things into worship services, not intending to become idolatrous, yet these extraBiblical practices lead people far far away from what they actually need.
Worldly empowerment vs. Divine empowerment
Inclusiveness, feminism, empowerment – all key words in the liberal agenda, mask the true need in the world today. The Gospel is inclusive of all who would be willing to make a change, but the Gospel isn’t going to change to suit humanity’s deviant desires.
It is good to feel empowered! But you have to be empowered with the right thing!
That’s why the power from on high is so important. Acts 2 is all about supernatural empowerment!
The Holy Spirit will empower you in your calling to do the will of the Father.
The world offers a false empowerment. Feminists and liberal activists don’t actually support or love women. They hate Biblical womanhood because they want women to be men.
That devilish agenda says: Go ahead, have children, but make sure you’re back on the job in 6 weeks after you have your baby. We wouldn’t want you to reconsider and stay home with your children.
When my second son was born, I had been serving as a hospital chaplain on a staff of primarily men. When I informed them I would not be coming back because I was choosing to stay home with our little ones, they told me I was overly traditional and that I would regret my decision.
No regrets here.
To me it was humorous that I had grown up more liberal than any of them, and now they were calling me ultra-conservative. 🙂
Shavu’ot = Pentecost
The believers gathered in the Upper Room were there on a feast day. It was called Shavu’ot, and Jewish believers had celebrated it for years. Our English translations call it “Pentecost,” and many Christians today mistakenly believe it was a newly established feast day after the Resurrection, but that’s not right.
The word for “Pentecost” comes from Greek, for 50, because Shavu’ot referred to the Feast of Fifty Days, better known as the Feast of Weeks. The timing of Messiah is perfect, so on this exact day, 50 days after the resurrection, the LORD poured out His Spirit upon the gathered believers to coincide with the feast.
Are you experiencing a time of waiting?
In Acts 1:4, Messiah Jesus (Yeshua) told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Promise of the Father.
Maybe you are waiting. Maybe you know the LORD has something more in store for you, but you’re in a waiting pattern. If you are waiting, but with a sense of expectation, with faith that He will work in your life – I assure you, He will.
The last phrase there, in Greek, “upon each and every one of them” is important for those interested in “inclusivity.”
The Greek is emphatic meaning that this included men and women.
ἐφ’ ἕνα ἕκαστον αὐτῶν eph hena hekaston auton Upon each and every one of them
The gifts and calling of the Eternal One are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). He calls men and women to share the Good News, and to be empowered by His very Spirit to do it well.
What was going on before this moment, before the power of Adonai came?
Prayer and supplication. Both men and women were present in an Upper Room prayer meeting.
The LORD uses men and women. In different ways, yes, but (if you are a woman reading this) don’t let anyone tell you that there’s no place for you in the ministry. That simply isn’t true. If He has given you a voice, you have something to say, so long as it lines up with the Word of God. Most of the people in the Upper Room were men. The women were outnumbered. But they were most certainly included.
God chose this group of men and women to be present to receive the inaugurating outpouring of the fire of the Holy Spirit because they were faithful in prayer and they were willing to obey!
Comfort will come after pain or loss
I have used this passage with women’s ministry groups because women in all walks of life endure all sorts of challenges and pain: Women who have recently lost their own mother, women who have been told by doctors they cannot have children, women who have ended pregnancies due to poor guidance by nonChristian medical staff or women who genuinely felt there was no other option, women who now live with the regret or guilt of any type of past sins.
The most emotionally painful thing to endure might be the mother who lost a child, whether that child was an unborn baby or an adult child. Many times it is out of that pain that the LORD will use you to minister to someone else. If you’ve been marginalized from the pulpit because you are a woman, you will also understand a hurt others will not understand.
Whatever you relate to as a horrible pain to endure was exactly the kind of pain the women (and the men) endured the day after the crucifixion.
Even though they knew what they had seen and heard and they knew that Jesus was the Messiah, and He told them He would rise again and He promised to send another Comforter . . . even so, there must’ve been so many questions going through their minds.
Maybe you have experienced something earth shattering. Maybe you have watched as something you have loved, dreamed of, or even built seems like it’s gone. When we ministered in Alabama and Tennessee, we frequently worked with people who had suffered devastating losses after tornadoes raged through their neighborhoods. Just know that the Spirit of the LORD can help you get through whatever has distressed you or twisted your life upside down.
What is your own personal Sabbath’s Day journey?
The verses contained in Acts 1:12-Acts 2:1 describe what occurred in (what most have calculated to be) 10 days from the Ascension described in Acts 1:9.
If there is a situation right now in your life, give it a few days. It might take ten, it might be four . . . it might be more than 10. But like I said earlier, God’s timing is perfect. You can trust Him.
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12), a Sabbath’s Day journey – meaning it was a fairly short walk. They would not receive the Promise of the Father without resting in Him, without listening for His voice.
Maybe you’ve been traveling more than a Sabbath’s Day journey, keeping your agenda jam-packed. Honor the Sabbath, and the Lord of the Sabbath will meet you right where you are. Not everyone who desires to be baptized in the Holy Spirit receives that blessing right away. Think of it as a journey: He will satisfy your hunger and thirst when you need it most.
The Holy Spirit provides anointing so that you can be a Godly example to others
There is nothing more noble than to be an anointed, Holy Spirit-filled servant of God.
We need the power of God to change the way we speak, the way we interact, the way we present ourselves. You know, something that has been lost over time is the art of etiquette. I noticed this particularly when I lived in the south, having grown up in the north. Up North, we don’t usually say “yes, ma’am” and “no, sir.” It is wise and godly to teach your children, or your spiritual children, the etiquette of God’s Word. How to be a Godly example for others. It is more than attending an assembly. It is living the Word in thought, word, and deed, so that the transformation Christ has worked in you will be evident to all.
We need our etiquette to be anointed! If you comport yourself with grace, doors will open for you.
The Holy Spirit will empower you to pray for the salvation of your city!
We are not in Jerusalem, but we can tarry in our own cities, asking the LORD to intervene in these last days. I know from experience that those who have been immersed in false doctrines CAN be led to the Truth, but it requires prayer!
I am thankful for believers who prayed for me!
Pray, with fervor, without ceasing so He will send an outpouring of His power upon and into you, either for the first time, or for a new time.
Pray, pray, pray until the yoke-breaking, curse-disrupting and destroying, Almighty Power of the Most High descends upon you and believers around you and ignites your home and your city and your congregation with the Love of Messiah.
The most inclusive wonderful thing you can ever do is pray for someone and welcome them when they decide to become a citizen of heaven, too!
I look forward to hearing YOUR testimony! Please share your comments below. If you have not yet met Yeshua, the Promised Messiah of Israel, please reach out. He loves you very much and lived and died so that you could live eternally with Him. I would be so honored to pray for you or with you. If you’d like, please consider subscribing to our email list! Blessings and Shalom!
How you can be blessed in your daily routine
Updated 5/25/22 B”H
Do you want to be blessed in your daily routine? Here are some practical ways you can receive God’s blessing in your life:
1. Approach God directly through prayer
Some world religions teach that God is far-off, distant, and unconcerned with the daily activities of human beings.
Some people believe that they cannot personally talk with Him: that they need an intermediary or someone “holier-than-thou” to speak to the Almighty on their behalf.
Countless times have people asked me to pray for them, but it becomes clear they have no intention of doing so themselves.
Prayer on the behalf of another is never wasted, but it would be more effective if the requester would join in with true faith of their own.
You can pray any time! Start your day off right, by approaching the throne of the LORD with a humble prayer of thanksgiving and praise.
2. Reject American Christianity’s dangerous flirtation with yoga and kundalini in your exercise routine
If you have a morning exercise routine, keep at it! Incorporate praise and worship music when you’re on your elliptical or treadmill. Thank the LORD for the ability to move the body that He gave you. If you’ve ever had to recover from an injury or medical intervention, you know not to take exercise for granted.
Pray today for strength. That He would strengthen your every limb and muscle and tendon, that His strength would be made perfect in your weaknesses.
Do NOT follow the New Age movement’s suggestions to “look inward,” attempting to empty the mind in order to find enlightenment, self-actualization, or nirvana.
More and more Americans turn toward Eastern religion, incorporating yoga and kundalini worship practices into their lives and joining the pop culture fascination with anything decidedly nonChristian.
My advice to aspiring yogis: yes, stay healthy, eat some yogurt, but skip the yoga.
Let me explain why:
My friends (natives of northern India) who happen to be evangelical missionaries to that same region attest that yoga is indeed rooted in Hindu religion and they are saddened (appalled, really, but they are shy to show it) by the Western embrace of these dark influences. They risk their lives preaching the Good News of Messiah and rejoicing when bondages are broken as people reject idolatry and come back stateside only to be bombarded by American Christians who get all defensive about their exercise routines.
[Missionaries in India] risk their lives preaching the Good News of Messiah and rejoicing when bondages are broken as people reject idolatry and come back stateside only to be bombarded by American Christians who get all defensive about their exercise routines.
The Scriptures used by thousands of believers around the world instruct plainly what ought be done.
Rabbi She’ll (Paul, the Apostle) wrote to the Romans that believers should “renew their mind,” (Romans 12:2) and assured the Corinthian believers that by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh) and faith in His Name, they now had the “mind of Messiah”(1 Corinthians 2:16).
Followers of Jesus (Yeshua) are to set their minds on things above (Colossians 3:2). We must choose to live differently. Rather than empty our minds, we must fill our mind with the Truth of God’s Word.
There are plenty of ways to demonstrate our faith without compromise. After all, there are plenty of stretching exercises that we as believers can do that are not rooted in yoga’s practices. Let us honor our LORD and not invite Hindu spirits into our lives.
3. Meditate on the Psalms
“Meditation” isn’t anti-Biblical.
The Bible exhorts us to meditate! Meditate as a child of God, on the things of God. Do not meditate as the world does.
I always recommend that people meditate on the Word of God as a whole but also specifically on the Psalms. This is timely because I very recently reviewed an excellent devotional resource on the Psalms that uses some of the famous minister Charles Spurgeon’s writings called “Spurgeon and the Psalms.” You can read that review here.
It is a sad reality that so many people do not realize that their Maker, their Creator, will hear them (and answer them!) if they would call upon His Name. Too many think that spiritual meditation is reserved for Buddhists and Hindus. Too many people appear to feel ashamed by the knowledge that they are sinners that they are afraid to speak to the God of Heaven. Many choose not to overcome this barrier, embarrassed that their peers or family will judge them for choosing to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Yeshua haMashiach).
Many echo David’s wonderings that we find in Psalm 24:
But if you have failed and your hands are unclean due to dishonest dealings and impurities in your heart, let this be a message of hope for your life.
You can be clothed in righteousness if you choose to be wrapped in the garments of His salvation (Isaiah 61:10), the greatest blessing available to anyone on this earth. May nothing impede you from the blessing that is yours if you will receive it.
Make these broken weary bones rise to dance again, Wet this dry and thirsty land with a river! LORD our eyes are fixed on you and we are waiting, For your garland of grace as we praise your Name!
Hallelujah, sing hallelujah! We give all honor and praise to your Name! Hallelujah, sing hallelujah! We trade our sorrows for garments of praise!”
If you begin your day focusing on the LORD and His goodness, the rest of your day will be full of blessing, too. And when there are hard times, you will be spiritually prepared to endure the battle and win. Receive the blessing that He has for you – it is yours, just for the asking. He is willing to give you unmerited favor: what we call, “grace.” And His grace is more than sufficient for you, today.
Also, remember this: we may have our daily routines, but with God, life becomes much more than routine! It becomes full of meaning and joy!
4. Make the decision RIGHT NOW to follow the Savior of mankind and you will certainly receive the blessing and favor of God Most High.
And when you do, let me be the first to say, welcome to the family!!
If you have questions about Messiah Yeshua (Jesus the Christ), please send a message or leave a comment. We would be overjoyed to help you in your spiritual walk. Shalom!
