Sean Bortz
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
July 23, 2007
Numbers 32:1-9, “1 The descendants of Re'uven and the descendants of Gad had vast quantities of livestock. When they saw that the land of Ya'zer and the land of Gil'ad were good for livestock, 2 the descendants of Gad and of Re'uven came and spoke to Moshe, El'azar the cohen and the community leaders. They said, 3 "'Atarot, Divon, Ya'zer, Nimrah, Heshbon, El'aleh, S'vam, N'vo and Be'on, 4 the country that ADONAI conquered before the community of Isra'el, is livestock country; and your servants have livestock. 5 If you regard us favorably," they went on, "let this land be given to your servants as their possession; and don't have us cross the Yarden." 6 Moshe answered the descendants of Gad and of Re'uven: "Are your brothers to go to war while you stay here? 7 Besides, why are you trying to discourage the people of Isra'el from crossing into the land ADONAI gave them? 8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-Barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up to the Eshkol Valley and saw the land, they disheartened the people of Isra'el, so that they wouldn't enter the land ADONAI had given them.”
Gad and Re’uven were tempted to stay in the lush pastures of Gil’ad because they had much livestock. They weren’t considering the effect of staying east of the Yarden (or Jordan River) or what it would do to the moral of the entire Israeli community and they certainly weren’t thinking about how their actions related to the actions of their fathers just forty years prior.
When the spies had returned from the land, the report of the ten resulted in national fear and rebellion.
Numbers 14:1-3, “1 At this all the people of Isra'el cried out in dismay and wept all night long. 2 Moreover, all the people of Isra'el began grumbling against Moshe and Aharon; the whole community told them, "We wish we had died in the land of Egypt! or that we had died here in the desert! 3 Why is ADONAI bringing us to this land, where we will die by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be taken as booty! Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?"
Fear led to rebellion and the desire to return to slavery than to trust the Living G-d who had just delivered them!
Forty years later, the little children who were spared were now men with families of their own. They had wandered the desert dependent upon G-d for where to go, what to eat and what to drink. But at the very last step, right when they were about to cross the Yarden, the commitment of Gad and Re’uven was beginning to crack!
Can we not be guilty of the same? Given a view of what we think is important to us, couldn’t we also be guilty of thinking “I’ve got mine!” and our self preservation can become more important than obedience or community preservation.
Gad and Re’uven’s behavior could have brought the whole nation back to ‘square one’ so to speak. But this time, Moses intervened. Over the course of forty years leading the people through G-d’s direction, he had learned a few things about leadership! This time he spoke up and persuaded them to participate in the taking of the Promised Land. He didn’t let history repeat and fail to enter the Promised Land thus averting a national crisis!
Numbers 32:14-23, ‘14 Now you, another brood of sinners, have arisen in your fathers' place to increase still more the fierce anger of ADONAI toward Isra'el! 15 For if you turn away from him, he will leave them in the desert again, and thus you will cause the destruction of all these people!" 16 But they came up to him and said, "Here we will build enclosures for our livestock and cities for our little ones, 17 but we ourselves will be armed and ready for action to march at the head of the people of Isra'el, until we have brought them to their place. Our little ones will stay in the fortified cities here because of the people now living in the land. 18 However, we will not return to our own homes until every man in Isra'el has taken possession of his land for inheritance. 19 We will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Yarden, westward; because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Yarden, eastward." 20 Moshe said to them, "If you will do this - if you will arm yourselves to go before ADONAI to the war, 21 and if every one of your soldiers will cross the Yarden before ADONAI, until he has driven out his enemies ahead of him, 22 and if the land has been conquered before ADONAI, and only after that do you return - then you will be clear before ADONAI and before Isra'el, and this land here will be yours to possess before ADONAI. 23 But if you will not do this, then you have sinned against ADONAI, and you must understand that your sin will find you out.
Gad and Re’uven were certainly tempted to stay put in Gil’ad because it was lush and plentiful for all their livestock. When they were confronted by Moses, although tempted to stay in Gil’ad, they chose to be obedient and participate in the taking of the Promised Land.
Temptation is not sin. Yeshua was tempted for in the wilderness after fasting for forty days! The fasting made Him sharp as a razor and when He was tempted he countered the evil one with Scripture. His time of testing made Him sharp and prepared Him for His ministry.
Similarly, we can view temptation as testing without becoming disheartened and decide to be committed to the L-rd!
Psalm 37:5, ‘Commit your way to ADONAI; trust in him, and he will act.’
There are three important facets of commitment; commitment to G-d, commitment to others and G-d’s commitment to each of us.
We cannot be truly committed to Him and others unless we know how committed He is to us!
Luke 14:25-27, ‘Large crowds were traveling along with Yeshua. Turning, he said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, his mother, his wife, his children, his brothers and his sisters, yes, and his own life besides, he cannot be my talmid. 27 Whoever does not carry his own execution-stake and come after me cannot be my talmid.”’
The verses in Luke describe the type of commitment about which the L-rd is fostering in us. Looking closely one may be confused about what the L-rd is saying in regard to ‘hating’ your family. What He means is that because we love Him so much and are committed to Him that it will appear as though we hate our family. Of course we love our family. But the dedication and commitment toward the L-rd in comparison to the type of love we have for our family would make it seem like hating them.
Similarly, testing the commitment of His Talmidim, the L-rd says something outrageous.
John 6:53-58, ‘Then Yeshua said to them, "Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life -- that is, I will raise him up on the Last Day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live through the Father, so also who ever eats me will live through me. 58 So this is the bread that has come down from heaven -- it is not like the bread the fathers ate; they're dead, but whoever eats this bread will live forever!"’
The type of commitment He wants from us requires us to put all else aside. He wants us to say, “My answer is yes, L-rd, what is Your bidding?”
What type of commitment do we have? Are we like Paul who on the edge of death and danger because of his commitment to the congregations, put his life in danger and went to help them anyway? See 2 Corinthians 11 and Acts 20.
The L-rd is far more committed to us than we are to Him! He is always thinking about us as described in Psalm 40 and He is the defender of our very lives based upon Psalm 27:1.
We should take commitment seriously and be careful not to over commit either. G-d takes what we say seriously; what we say matters. Nor should we be under committed.
What makes commitment to Him, to others, and His commitment to us possible? The answer is love.
John 17:20-23, ‘"I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one -- 23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.”’
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
G-d’s Guidance
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
June 11, 2011
How does G-d guide us? His guidance was recorded for the Israelites through the desert.
Numbers 9:15-23, ‘On the day the tabernacle was put up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, that is, the tent of the testimony; and in the evening, over the tabernacle was what appeared to be fire, which remained until morning. 16 So the cloud always covered it, and it looked like fire at night. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tent, the people of Isra'el continued their travels; and they camped wherever the cloud stopped. 18 At the order of ADONAI, the people of Isra'el traveled; at the order of ADONAI, they camped; and as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they stayed in camp. 19 Even when the cloud remained on the tabernacle for a long time, the people of Isra'el did what ADONAI had charged them to do and did not travel. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle; according to ADONAI's order, they remained in camp; and according to ADONAI's order, they traveled. 21 Sometimes the cloud was there only from evening until morning; so that when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled. Or even if it continued up both day and night, when the cloud was up, they traveled. 22 Whether it was two days, a month or a year that the cloud remained over the tabernacle, staying on it, the people of Isra'el remained in camp and did not travel; but as soon as it was taken up, they traveled. 23 At ADONAI's order, they camped; and at ADONAI's order, they traveled -they did what ADONAI had charged them to do through Moshe.’
This passage of Scripture is expanded from Exodus 40:38, ‘For the cloud of ADONAI was above the tabernacle during the day, and fire was in [the cloud] at night, so that all the house of Isra'el could see it throughout all their travels.’
Fire provided warmth for the cool desert nights as well as light in the darkness. It may have also kept away wild animals from the people. The cloud by day provided shade from the hot desert sun. The fire and the cloud guided and protected the people and was a symbol of His divine guidance and protection!
The Hebrew word for cloud is ‘anan’ and for fire is ‘esh’. When the cloud lifted the Israelites would set out and when it settled, they would encamp. The Hebrew words used for ‘at the order of ADONAI’ are ‘peh ADONAI’ which literally means ‘at the mouth of ADONAI’. It was at G-d’s word, then, that the cloud lifted or settled!
Not only did the cloud represent the presence of the L-rd but also the word of the L-rd!
Psalm 119:105, ‘Your word is a lamp for my foot and light on my path.’
He guides and directs us through His word and His Spirit.
G-d has a witness of His word through all creation displaying to all humanity His existence. He speaks through His creation! He can speak to us through a sunset or sunrise and we can hear Him say, “I love you!”. Even the clouds moving slowly through the sky can witness to us that He is in control; slow down and don’t worry.
Romans 1:20, ‘For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities - both his eternal power and his divine nature - have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made.’
The Israelites had to trust and obey the L-rd as the cloud moved at the L-rd’s command.
Numbers 9:22, ‘Whether it was two days, a month or a year that the cloud remained over the tabernacle, staying on it, the people of Isra'el remained in camp and did not travel; but as soon as it was taken up, they traveled.
Do we obey similarly when it may be inconvenient to go or inconvenient to wait? It is too easy to run ahead or fall behind Him! We can move ahead and He has stayed or we can stay and He has moved ahead; whether individually as believers or corporately in our congregations.
The L-rd tells us to obey and He will guide us. His presence was constantly with them as they obeyed Him.
As the cloud He is the protector and as the fire He is the leader. As the cloud He is the gaurd and as the fire He is the General leading the army. We should also be watching and ready!
Mark 13:32-37, ‘However, when that day and hour will come, no one knows -- not the angels in heaven, not the Son, just the Father. 33 Stay alert! Be on your guard! For you do not know when the time will come. 34 "It's like a man who travels away from home, puts his servants in charge, each with his own task, and tells the doorkeeper to stay alert. 35 So stay alert! for you don't know when the owner of the house will come, 36 whether it will be evening, midnight, cockcrow or morning -- you don't want him to come suddenly and find you sleeping! 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: stay alert!"’
We can get so busy in our plans and what we are doing that we aren’t watching as we follow our own agenda that we’ve mapped out. We can keep doing things as normal and the L-rd’s presence has left us!
We don’t know when the L-rd returns, but we are to be ready. Similarly, we should be ready in all circumstances whether illness, trial or calamity. Always be ready and always be watching.
Are we available to the L-rd? Are we seeking Him? When we were born again, when we trusted Yeshua as your Messiah, His Spirit lives inside us and now leads us; dwelling in us and directing us!
Romans 8:13-14, ‘For if you live according to your old nature, you will certainly die; but if, by the Spirit, you keep putting to death the practices of the body, you will live. All who are led by God's Spirit are God's sons.’
The Greek word for ‘sons’ used in this passage describe a mature son, not a baby or newborn. If we are mature, we are being directed by the L-rd contrary to our own preferences and that indicates discipleship, growing and maturing.
Galatians 5:18, ‘But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism.’
The cloud by day and the fire by night reveals that His appearance doesn’t always look the same just as He can direct us differently dependent upon circumstance. Like the cloud, He can direct us to be calm, to bring comfort and conceal versus like the fire, He can direct us to shout, bring us conviction or reveal something once hidden. His Spirit is dimensional and doesn’t always lead us the same way. We need His Spirit to be dimensional; to fill us with love to counteract our fleshly selfishness, to bring joy in the midst of sorrow and to fill us with peace in turmoil. The degree of His Spirit will be made apparent based upon our availability to Him.
He is the first and the last, grace and truth and the lion and the lamb!
Be spiritually led! Let’s be open to be led, limited and enlarged by the L-rd whatever the case may be.
Further Reading: Psalm 19:1-4a, Acts 16:6-10, Psalm 29, Psalm 121, Deuteronomy 8:3, Hebrews 6:12, Matthew 28:20, Ephesians 4:30, 1 Corinthians 10, John 14:17, John 5:24, Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, 1 Kings 17
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
June 11, 2011
How does G-d guide us? His guidance was recorded for the Israelites through the desert.
Numbers 9:15-23, ‘On the day the tabernacle was put up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, that is, the tent of the testimony; and in the evening, over the tabernacle was what appeared to be fire, which remained until morning. 16 So the cloud always covered it, and it looked like fire at night. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tent, the people of Isra'el continued their travels; and they camped wherever the cloud stopped. 18 At the order of ADONAI, the people of Isra'el traveled; at the order of ADONAI, they camped; and as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they stayed in camp. 19 Even when the cloud remained on the tabernacle for a long time, the people of Isra'el did what ADONAI had charged them to do and did not travel. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle; according to ADONAI's order, they remained in camp; and according to ADONAI's order, they traveled. 21 Sometimes the cloud was there only from evening until morning; so that when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled. Or even if it continued up both day and night, when the cloud was up, they traveled. 22 Whether it was two days, a month or a year that the cloud remained over the tabernacle, staying on it, the people of Isra'el remained in camp and did not travel; but as soon as it was taken up, they traveled. 23 At ADONAI's order, they camped; and at ADONAI's order, they traveled -they did what ADONAI had charged them to do through Moshe.’
This passage of Scripture is expanded from Exodus 40:38, ‘For the cloud of ADONAI was above the tabernacle during the day, and fire was in [the cloud] at night, so that all the house of Isra'el could see it throughout all their travels.’
Fire provided warmth for the cool desert nights as well as light in the darkness. It may have also kept away wild animals from the people. The cloud by day provided shade from the hot desert sun. The fire and the cloud guided and protected the people and was a symbol of His divine guidance and protection!
The Hebrew word for cloud is ‘anan’ and for fire is ‘esh’. When the cloud lifted the Israelites would set out and when it settled, they would encamp. The Hebrew words used for ‘at the order of ADONAI’ are ‘peh ADONAI’ which literally means ‘at the mouth of ADONAI’. It was at G-d’s word, then, that the cloud lifted or settled!
Not only did the cloud represent the presence of the L-rd but also the word of the L-rd!
Psalm 119:105, ‘Your word is a lamp for my foot and light on my path.’
He guides and directs us through His word and His Spirit.
G-d has a witness of His word through all creation displaying to all humanity His existence. He speaks through His creation! He can speak to us through a sunset or sunrise and we can hear Him say, “I love you!”. Even the clouds moving slowly through the sky can witness to us that He is in control; slow down and don’t worry.
Romans 1:20, ‘For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities - both his eternal power and his divine nature - have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made.’
The Israelites had to trust and obey the L-rd as the cloud moved at the L-rd’s command.
Numbers 9:22, ‘Whether it was two days, a month or a year that the cloud remained over the tabernacle, staying on it, the people of Isra'el remained in camp and did not travel; but as soon as it was taken up, they traveled.
Do we obey similarly when it may be inconvenient to go or inconvenient to wait? It is too easy to run ahead or fall behind Him! We can move ahead and He has stayed or we can stay and He has moved ahead; whether individually as believers or corporately in our congregations.
The L-rd tells us to obey and He will guide us. His presence was constantly with them as they obeyed Him.
As the cloud He is the protector and as the fire He is the leader. As the cloud He is the gaurd and as the fire He is the General leading the army. We should also be watching and ready!
Mark 13:32-37, ‘However, when that day and hour will come, no one knows -- not the angels in heaven, not the Son, just the Father. 33 Stay alert! Be on your guard! For you do not know when the time will come. 34 "It's like a man who travels away from home, puts his servants in charge, each with his own task, and tells the doorkeeper to stay alert. 35 So stay alert! for you don't know when the owner of the house will come, 36 whether it will be evening, midnight, cockcrow or morning -- you don't want him to come suddenly and find you sleeping! 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: stay alert!"’
We can get so busy in our plans and what we are doing that we aren’t watching as we follow our own agenda that we’ve mapped out. We can keep doing things as normal and the L-rd’s presence has left us!
We don’t know when the L-rd returns, but we are to be ready. Similarly, we should be ready in all circumstances whether illness, trial or calamity. Always be ready and always be watching.
Are we available to the L-rd? Are we seeking Him? When we were born again, when we trusted Yeshua as your Messiah, His Spirit lives inside us and now leads us; dwelling in us and directing us!
Romans 8:13-14, ‘For if you live according to your old nature, you will certainly die; but if, by the Spirit, you keep putting to death the practices of the body, you will live. All who are led by God's Spirit are God's sons.’
The Greek word for ‘sons’ used in this passage describe a mature son, not a baby or newborn. If we are mature, we are being directed by the L-rd contrary to our own preferences and that indicates discipleship, growing and maturing.
Galatians 5:18, ‘But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism.’
The cloud by day and the fire by night reveals that His appearance doesn’t always look the same just as He can direct us differently dependent upon circumstance. Like the cloud, He can direct us to be calm, to bring comfort and conceal versus like the fire, He can direct us to shout, bring us conviction or reveal something once hidden. His Spirit is dimensional and doesn’t always lead us the same way. We need His Spirit to be dimensional; to fill us with love to counteract our fleshly selfishness, to bring joy in the midst of sorrow and to fill us with peace in turmoil. The degree of His Spirit will be made apparent based upon our availability to Him.
He is the first and the last, grace and truth and the lion and the lamb!
Be spiritually led! Let’s be open to be led, limited and enlarged by the L-rd whatever the case may be.
Further Reading: Psalm 19:1-4a, Acts 16:6-10, Psalm 29, Psalm 121, Deuteronomy 8:3, Hebrews 6:12, Matthew 28:20, Ephesians 4:30, 1 Corinthians 10, John 14:17, John 5:24, Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, 1 Kings 17
Monday, June 6, 2011
Multigenerational Congregations
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
June 4, 2011
Numbers 4:21-23, 46-47, 49, ‘ADONAI said to Moshe, 22 "Take a census of the descendants of Gershon also, by clans and families; 23 count all those between thirty and fifty years old, all who will enter the corps doing the work of serving in the tent of meeting.’ ‘The census of the L'vi'im, whom Moshe, Aharon and the leaders of Isra'el enumerated by their clans and families, 47 all those between thirty and fifty years old who were part of those working to serve and working to carry loads in the tent of meeting,’ ‘According to ADONAI's order they were appointed by Moshe, each one to his specific service or work. They were also enumerated, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.’
Seven times in this portion, G-d instructed Moshe to enumerate the priests for service; He specified their service be between the ages of 30 and 50 years old. Each priest served for twenty years.
Within the congregation as with the people of Israel, there is always people of different ages with different responsibilities.
Notice the different characteristics given by the Apostle Yochanan for the different generations.
1 John 2:12-14, ‘You children, I am writing you because your sins have been forgiven for his sake. 13 You fathers, I am writing you because you have known him who has existed from the beginning. You young people, I am writing you because you have overcome the Evil One. 14 You children, I have written you because you have known the Father. You fathers, I have written you because you have known him who has existed from the beginning. You young people, I have written you because you are strong the Word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the Evil One.’
Each of us fit into one category. Where do you see yourself?
Perhaps we are not limited to one category, but we can have different aspects from all three because we have the Spirit of G-d in us.
We can be like little children with an innocence in trusting like a child. We can be strong like the young overcoming the Evil One with the Word of G-d. And we can be mature with the wisdom that comes with spiritual age, fathering or disciplining others.
1 Corinthians 4:15, ‘For even if you have ten thousand trainers in connection with the Messiah, you do not have many fathers; for in connection with the Messiah Yeshua it was I who became your father by means of the Good News.’
As mature believers we should all be pouring our lives into others, not just teaching them but ‘fathering’ them or discipling them.
The Hebrew words for children are ‘yeladim’, ‘banim’ for sons and ‘banot’ for daughters. ‘Narim’ are for the young (wide range of meaning). The Hebrew word for fathers is ‘avot’; and the word for daddy is ‘abba’.
When we are His children, born again by His Spirit, our hearts cry Abba Father!
Galatians 4:6, ‘Now because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!").’
Romans 8:15,16, ‘For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!"). 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God.’
We have a sense of really knowing Him and knowing we are His and experience that wonderful assurance and intimacy with Him!
Another word for father is ‘zaqen’; the root word is derived from ‘zaqan’ which means ‘elder’ of which the root Hebrew word means ‘beard’.
Yeshua began his ministry when He was 30 years old (Luke 3:23). It is also written in the Talmud that one must be at least 40 years old to be considered wise. Notice in the conversation recorded in Gospel of John, the age of 50 was used as a measure of wisdom.
John 8:55-58, ‘Now you have not known him, but I do know him; indeed, if I were to say that I don't know him, I would be a liar like you! But I do know him, and I obey his word. 56 Avraham, your father, was glad that he would see my day; then he saw it and was overjoyed." 57 "Why, you're not yet fifty years old," the Judeans replied, "and you have seen Avraham?" 58 Yeshua said to them, "Yes, indeed! Before Avraham came into being, I AM!"’
G-dly wisdom is not necessarily based upon chronological age, but rather through humility, obedience and submission to our L-rd. Therefore, someone younger can actually be more wise spiritually depending upon one’s relationship and experience with the L-rd.
We all need each other to be healthy multigenerationally and intergenerationally within our congregation. In fact, Yeshua demonstrated characteristics of all three delineations described in 1 John. He had a childlike relationship with the Father (Matthew 3:17), He overcame evil like a warrior (Luke 4:4) and He is One with the Father (John 10:30 and Isaiah 9:6) and fathered disciples.
In the same way, we can exhibit these characteristics as well. But don’t get too comfortable in any one delineation. Rather, let G-d expand and grow us as we follow after Him.
Further Reading: Psalm 71, Psalm 78:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, Luke 3:23, Hebrews 5:12-14
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
June 4, 2011
Numbers 4:21-23, 46-47, 49, ‘ADONAI said to Moshe, 22 "Take a census of the descendants of Gershon also, by clans and families; 23 count all those between thirty and fifty years old, all who will enter the corps doing the work of serving in the tent of meeting.’ ‘The census of the L'vi'im, whom Moshe, Aharon and the leaders of Isra'el enumerated by their clans and families, 47 all those between thirty and fifty years old who were part of those working to serve and working to carry loads in the tent of meeting,’ ‘According to ADONAI's order they were appointed by Moshe, each one to his specific service or work. They were also enumerated, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.’
Seven times in this portion, G-d instructed Moshe to enumerate the priests for service; He specified their service be between the ages of 30 and 50 years old. Each priest served for twenty years.
Within the congregation as with the people of Israel, there is always people of different ages with different responsibilities.
Notice the different characteristics given by the Apostle Yochanan for the different generations.
1 John 2:12-14, ‘You children, I am writing you because your sins have been forgiven for his sake. 13 You fathers, I am writing you because you have known him who has existed from the beginning. You young people, I am writing you because you have overcome the Evil One. 14 You children, I have written you because you have known the Father. You fathers, I have written you because you have known him who has existed from the beginning. You young people, I have written you because you are strong the Word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the Evil One.’
Each of us fit into one category. Where do you see yourself?
Perhaps we are not limited to one category, but we can have different aspects from all three because we have the Spirit of G-d in us.
We can be like little children with an innocence in trusting like a child. We can be strong like the young overcoming the Evil One with the Word of G-d. And we can be mature with the wisdom that comes with spiritual age, fathering or disciplining others.
1 Corinthians 4:15, ‘For even if you have ten thousand trainers in connection with the Messiah, you do not have many fathers; for in connection with the Messiah Yeshua it was I who became your father by means of the Good News.’
As mature believers we should all be pouring our lives into others, not just teaching them but ‘fathering’ them or discipling them.
The Hebrew words for children are ‘yeladim’, ‘banim’ for sons and ‘banot’ for daughters. ‘Narim’ are for the young (wide range of meaning). The Hebrew word for fathers is ‘avot’; and the word for daddy is ‘abba’.
When we are His children, born again by His Spirit, our hearts cry Abba Father!
Galatians 4:6, ‘Now because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!").’
Romans 8:15,16, ‘For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!"). 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God.’
We have a sense of really knowing Him and knowing we are His and experience that wonderful assurance and intimacy with Him!
Another word for father is ‘zaqen’; the root word is derived from ‘zaqan’ which means ‘elder’ of which the root Hebrew word means ‘beard’.
Yeshua began his ministry when He was 30 years old (Luke 3:23). It is also written in the Talmud that one must be at least 40 years old to be considered wise. Notice in the conversation recorded in Gospel of John, the age of 50 was used as a measure of wisdom.
John 8:55-58, ‘Now you have not known him, but I do know him; indeed, if I were to say that I don't know him, I would be a liar like you! But I do know him, and I obey his word. 56 Avraham, your father, was glad that he would see my day; then he saw it and was overjoyed." 57 "Why, you're not yet fifty years old," the Judeans replied, "and you have seen Avraham?" 58 Yeshua said to them, "Yes, indeed! Before Avraham came into being, I AM!"’
G-dly wisdom is not necessarily based upon chronological age, but rather through humility, obedience and submission to our L-rd. Therefore, someone younger can actually be more wise spiritually depending upon one’s relationship and experience with the L-rd.
We all need each other to be healthy multigenerationally and intergenerationally within our congregation. In fact, Yeshua demonstrated characteristics of all three delineations described in 1 John. He had a childlike relationship with the Father (Matthew 3:17), He overcame evil like a warrior (Luke 4:4) and He is One with the Father (John 10:30 and Isaiah 9:6) and fathered disciples.
In the same way, we can exhibit these characteristics as well. But don’t get too comfortable in any one delineation. Rather, let G-d expand and grow us as we follow after Him.
Further Reading: Psalm 71, Psalm 78:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, Luke 3:23, Hebrews 5:12-14
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Enlisted Soldiers
Rabbi Ken Alpren
May 27, 2011
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Numbers 1:1-4, ‘ADONAI spoke to Moshe in the Sinai Desert, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month of the second year after they had left the land of Egypt. He said, 2 "Take a census of the entire assembly of the people of Isra'el, by clans and families. Record the names of all the men 3 twenty years old and over who are subject to military service in Isra'el. You and Aharon are to enumerate them company by company. 4 Take with you from each tribe someone who is head of a clan.”’
This census was taken after the Tabernacle was constructed and delineated who would serve as well as provided for the arrangement of the tribes for battle. The priests were separated and counted in a different census and the priests were critical for having
G-d’s blessing on the army.
Those subject to military service were to trust in G-d’s blessings and His strength for winning battles.
Psalm 44:6-8, ‘For I don't rely on my bow, nor can my sword give me victory. 7 No, you saved us from our adversaries; you put to shame those who hate us. 8 We will boast in our God all day and give thanks to your name forever. (Selah)’
Likewise, we are to trust in the L-rd, not our own resources; the victory is not dependent upon us, but on Him!
Notice also that G-d identified leaders for the head of the clans. Similarly, each of us is called to leadership in some form or fashion. He will direct us into leadership and service by putting desires in our hearts that are confirmed through prayer. Don’t wait for someone else to take leadership and know that sometimes G-d is waiting on us to be the leader!
No experience or qualifications needed for leadership. Remember Moses and Gideon? Where they qualified when G-d called them? In fact, G-d receives more glory if we have no ability of our own and when His strength takes over our weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, ‘but he told me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness." Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah's power will rest upon me. 10 Yes, I am well pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties endured on behalf of the Messiah; for it is when I am weak that I am strong.”’
G-d looks at our heart and loves our faith or trust in Him!
There are several key phrases that appear in the passage when G-d instructed Moses to enumerate those for military service.
The Hebrew used when counting those for military service is ‘shi-oo et rosh’ which means to ‘lift the head of’. G-d counts people and knows every one. He numbers the fighters; those going forth to fight. When one’s head is lifted, it is easy to look into the eyes; to be counted. He is counting them and is counting on them!
Additionally, the Hebrew word ‘paqad’ is used when He is numbering the fighters. ‘Paqad’ means number, but also means visit, look after, and care for. Doesn’t He keep count of the very hairs on our head, tears we have cried and the stars in the sky? He cares individually and counts on those mature enough to do battle. Those mature enough for battle protected the nation, they contributed and worked as a unit just as the Body of Messiah is designed to do.
Many people love to fellowship with other Believers, but fellowship in the Body of Messiah is much more than enjoying social activities together! We are meant to minister to each other and those yet believing, contribute to the Body and get together for eternal purposes.
In the Numbers passage above, if the person wasn’t mature enough to fight, then he wasn’t counted. G-d counted those He could count on!
Is G-d Army a volunteer army? NO! G-d’s Army are enlisted.
2 Timothy 2:1-4, ‘So then, you, my son, be empowered by the grace that comes from the Messiah Yeshua. 2 And the things you heard from me, which were supported by many witnesses, these things commit to faithful people, such as will be competent to teach others also. 3 Accept your share in suffering disgrace as a good soldier of the Messiah Yeshua. 4 No soldier on duty gets involved with civilian affairs, since he has to please his commanding officer. ‘
What kind of soldier am I?
Fourteen times in the passage of Numbers the phrase, “all who go forth to fight” is used; in Hebrew, “kol yatsa’ tsava’”. The word ‘tsava’ is related to the word used to describe the L-rd of Hosts which is ‘ADONAI Tzevaot’. We are in warfare and their is a lot against us!
As we have a Trunity G-d; also called a Uniplural G-d, so also, we war against three main forces which are the world or social culture, the flesh or sin nature and the devil also known as Ha Satan. We fight a cultural war which is external and a carnal war which is internal.
What did Yeshua use against temptation? Clearly in Luke 4 and Matthew 4, He responds with “It is written”. He fought with the Word of G-d as should we!
1 John 2:15-17, ‘Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him; 16 because all the things of the world - the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life - are not from the Father but from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, along with its desires. But whoever does God's will remains forever.’
The answer is to wield the Sword of the Spirit in the power of the Spirit! Many people know the Word of G-d but either don’t believe it to be true or aren’t following His direction and the power is not manifested in them. However, the power is manifested when the Holy Spirit is wielding the Word of G-d through us!
Most of the aspects of the Armor of G-d described in Ephesians 6 are defensive, however, two aspects are offensive; they are the Sword which is the Word of G-d and prayer! Be strong in G-d’s strength!
We are enlisted as G-d’s soldiers! Don’t get side tracked, detoured, or caught up in a lesser battle and don’t quit! Our real battle and focus should remain on sharing the Gospel and making disciples! And ultimately we are against the Adversary who opposes the spread of the Gospel and who is against the Word of G-d.
1 Timothy 1:18, ‘This charge, son Timothy, I put to you, in keeping with the prophecies already made about you, so that by these prophecies you may fight the good fight.’
Remember Yeshua will be returning as a Rider making war as described in Revelation 19!
Exodus 15:3, ‘ADONAI is a warrior; ADONAI is his name.’
He is returning to set up His Kingdom, as His enlisted soldiers let us focus on discipleship, His work and mission and don’t get entangled in lesser things!
Further Reading: Numbers 1:44-45, 1 Samuel 17:32-40, 44-45, Psalm 18:28-29, 31-34, 39; 144:1, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, 1 Timothy 6:12, Psalm 2
May 27, 2011
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Numbers 1:1-4, ‘ADONAI spoke to Moshe in the Sinai Desert, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month of the second year after they had left the land of Egypt. He said, 2 "Take a census of the entire assembly of the people of Isra'el, by clans and families. Record the names of all the men 3 twenty years old and over who are subject to military service in Isra'el. You and Aharon are to enumerate them company by company. 4 Take with you from each tribe someone who is head of a clan.”’
This census was taken after the Tabernacle was constructed and delineated who would serve as well as provided for the arrangement of the tribes for battle. The priests were separated and counted in a different census and the priests were critical for having
G-d’s blessing on the army.
Those subject to military service were to trust in G-d’s blessings and His strength for winning battles.
Psalm 44:6-8, ‘For I don't rely on my bow, nor can my sword give me victory. 7 No, you saved us from our adversaries; you put to shame those who hate us. 8 We will boast in our God all day and give thanks to your name forever. (Selah)’
Likewise, we are to trust in the L-rd, not our own resources; the victory is not dependent upon us, but on Him!
Notice also that G-d identified leaders for the head of the clans. Similarly, each of us is called to leadership in some form or fashion. He will direct us into leadership and service by putting desires in our hearts that are confirmed through prayer. Don’t wait for someone else to take leadership and know that sometimes G-d is waiting on us to be the leader!
No experience or qualifications needed for leadership. Remember Moses and Gideon? Where they qualified when G-d called them? In fact, G-d receives more glory if we have no ability of our own and when His strength takes over our weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, ‘but he told me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness." Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah's power will rest upon me. 10 Yes, I am well pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties endured on behalf of the Messiah; for it is when I am weak that I am strong.”’
G-d looks at our heart and loves our faith or trust in Him!
There are several key phrases that appear in the passage when G-d instructed Moses to enumerate those for military service.
The Hebrew used when counting those for military service is ‘shi-oo et rosh’ which means to ‘lift the head of’. G-d counts people and knows every one. He numbers the fighters; those going forth to fight. When one’s head is lifted, it is easy to look into the eyes; to be counted. He is counting them and is counting on them!
Additionally, the Hebrew word ‘paqad’ is used when He is numbering the fighters. ‘Paqad’ means number, but also means visit, look after, and care for. Doesn’t He keep count of the very hairs on our head, tears we have cried and the stars in the sky? He cares individually and counts on those mature enough to do battle. Those mature enough for battle protected the nation, they contributed and worked as a unit just as the Body of Messiah is designed to do.
Many people love to fellowship with other Believers, but fellowship in the Body of Messiah is much more than enjoying social activities together! We are meant to minister to each other and those yet believing, contribute to the Body and get together for eternal purposes.
In the Numbers passage above, if the person wasn’t mature enough to fight, then he wasn’t counted. G-d counted those He could count on!
Is G-d Army a volunteer army? NO! G-d’s Army are enlisted.
2 Timothy 2:1-4, ‘So then, you, my son, be empowered by the grace that comes from the Messiah Yeshua. 2 And the things you heard from me, which were supported by many witnesses, these things commit to faithful people, such as will be competent to teach others also. 3 Accept your share in suffering disgrace as a good soldier of the Messiah Yeshua. 4 No soldier on duty gets involved with civilian affairs, since he has to please his commanding officer. ‘
What kind of soldier am I?
Fourteen times in the passage of Numbers the phrase, “all who go forth to fight” is used; in Hebrew, “kol yatsa’ tsava’”. The word ‘tsava’ is related to the word used to describe the L-rd of Hosts which is ‘ADONAI Tzevaot’. We are in warfare and their is a lot against us!
As we have a Trunity G-d; also called a Uniplural G-d, so also, we war against three main forces which are the world or social culture, the flesh or sin nature and the devil also known as Ha Satan. We fight a cultural war which is external and a carnal war which is internal.
What did Yeshua use against temptation? Clearly in Luke 4 and Matthew 4, He responds with “It is written”. He fought with the Word of G-d as should we!
1 John 2:15-17, ‘Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him; 16 because all the things of the world - the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life - are not from the Father but from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, along with its desires. But whoever does God's will remains forever.’
The answer is to wield the Sword of the Spirit in the power of the Spirit! Many people know the Word of G-d but either don’t believe it to be true or aren’t following His direction and the power is not manifested in them. However, the power is manifested when the Holy Spirit is wielding the Word of G-d through us!
Most of the aspects of the Armor of G-d described in Ephesians 6 are defensive, however, two aspects are offensive; they are the Sword which is the Word of G-d and prayer! Be strong in G-d’s strength!
We are enlisted as G-d’s soldiers! Don’t get side tracked, detoured, or caught up in a lesser battle and don’t quit! Our real battle and focus should remain on sharing the Gospel and making disciples! And ultimately we are against the Adversary who opposes the spread of the Gospel and who is against the Word of G-d.
1 Timothy 1:18, ‘This charge, son Timothy, I put to you, in keeping with the prophecies already made about you, so that by these prophecies you may fight the good fight.’
Remember Yeshua will be returning as a Rider making war as described in Revelation 19!
Exodus 15:3, ‘ADONAI is a warrior; ADONAI is his name.’
He is returning to set up His Kingdom, as His enlisted soldiers let us focus on discipleship, His work and mission and don’t get entangled in lesser things!
Further Reading: Numbers 1:44-45, 1 Samuel 17:32-40, 44-45, Psalm 18:28-29, 31-34, 39; 144:1, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, 1 Timothy 6:12, Psalm 2
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Unbreakable Covenant
Rabbi Ken Alpren
May 21, 2011
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Leviticus 26:3-9, ‘"'If you live by my regulations, observe my mitzvot and obey them; 4 then I will provide the rain you need in its season, the land will yield its produce, and the trees in the field will yield their fruit. 5 Your threshing time will extend until the grape harvest, and your grape harvesting will extend until the time for sowing seed. You will eat as much food as you want and live securely in your land. 6 "'I will give shalom in the land -you will lie down to sleep unafraid of anyone. I will rid the land of wild animals. The sword will not go through your land. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall before your sword. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand -your enemies will fall before your sword. 9 "'I will turn toward you, make you productive, increase your numbers and uphold my covenant with you.”’
We must consider the seamlessness of the Old and New Testament; realizing there are differences, and know that according to 1 Corinthians 10:11, ‘These things happened to them as prefigurative historical events, and they were written down as a warning to us who are living in the acharit-hayamim.’
Know we are in covenant with the Living G-d, and that blessings and curses depend upon our obedience!
Also, know that He will never leave us or forsake us!
Hebrews 13:5, ‘Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, "I will never fail you or abandon you."’
The L-rd knows whose are His (2 Timothy 2:19)!
John 10:2-4, ‘“But the one who goes in through the gate is the sheep's own shepherd. 3 This is the one the gate-keeper admits, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep, each one by name, and leads them out.”’
We will be disciplined and chastised, but will never be taken out of His hand and nor can we even take ourselves out of His hand!
Romans 8:38-39, ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, 39 neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.’
We are in safe keeping, but that doesn’t mean we should live any way we want to live and in that way, the brit’ or covenant could be good or bad; it could be glorious or disastrous for Israel as well as for us.
Did you know that the L-rd has an order by which He will deal with us; for the Jew first and then the Gentile?
Romans 2:7-11, ‘To those who seek glory, honor and immortality by perseverance in doing good, he will pay back eternal life. 8 But to those who are self-seeking, who disobey the truth and obey evil, he will pay back wrath and anger. 9 Yes, he will pay back misery and anguish to every human being who does evil, to the Jew first, then to the Gentile; 10 but glory and honor and shalom to everyone who keeps doing what is good, to the Jew first, then to the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.’
The Hebrew word for honor is ‘kavod’ and also means weight. Kavod means honor and value but could also mean burden. There is privilege but also responsibility, prosperity and poverty, blessing and frustration, punishment and curse as well as success and disaster.
When referring to Israel, G-d says, in Amos 3:2, ‘"Of all the families on earth, only you have I intimately known. This is why I will punish you for all your crimes."’
Being in covenant with the L-rd is a serious matter.
Why was Israel chosen?
Genesis 12:3, ‘“I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed."’ Indeed, the L-rd has blessed us through Messiah as well as generally, through Jewish people.
We are in relationship with the one and only Living G-d and He answers our prayers!
Deuteronomy 4:7-8, ‘For what great nation is there that has God as close to them as ADONAI our God is, whenever we call on him? 8 What great nation is there that has laws and rulings as just as this entire Torah which I am setting before you today?’
In Leviticus 26 there is a 3:1 ratio of bad consequences for disobedience versus good consequences for obedience.
Our natural tendency is to turn away from Him and disobey. Four different times in the passage of Leviticus 26, He admonishes us to listen and then the bad consequences would stop. His heart is for us to turn and listen! Interestingly, in this passage the consequences get progressively worse ranging from distress, drought, invasion of wild animals, disease, siege of moral indecency, and finally, dispersion with enemies taking over the land.
Even so, our G-d does not give up on us, nor does He give up on the Israelites in Leviticus.
Leviticus 26:40-42, ‘Then they will confess their misdeeds and those of their ancestors which they committed against me in their rebellion; they will admit that they went against me. 41 At that time I will be going against them, bringing them into the lands of their enemies. But if their uncircumcised hearts will grow humble, and they are paid the punishment for their misdeeds; 42 then I will remember my covenant with Ya'akov, also my covenant with Yitz'chak and my covenant with Avraham; and I will remember the land.’
G-d’s door to restoration is always open! He won’t let us go. Can things be difficult and miserable? Yes! But He does bless us when we put Him first! The blessings can be more noticeable inwardly as expressed by Paul in Philippians 4, but G-d knows; He is familiar with the unknown, the unnamed and the unseen.
2 Corinthians 6:9, ‘unknown and famous. And we commend ourselves as God's workers headed for death, yet look! we're alive! as punished, yet not killed;’
We naturally gravitate toward those like ourselves or those who are well known or seemingly important. Even the prophet Samuel and David’s father weren’t looking for G-d to choose David, but He did choose Him.
Messiah Himself had an appearance that was not particularly outwardly attractive as expressed in Isaiah 53:2.
Let us be careful not to miss G-d because we gravitate toward being comfortable and toward those most like ourselves.
Further Reading: Psalm 89:31-38, John 15:4-8, Ephesians 2:11-12, 2 Timothy 2:16-17, Luke 8:18, Hebrews 12, Exodus 19:6, Deuteronomy 7:6-7, Ephesians 3:14, Revelation 1:13-15, Revelation 2:1, Hebrews 6:10, Psalm 139, Romans 16:8-9, Galatians 6:10, Hebrews 6:10, 1 Samuel 16
May 21, 2011
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
Leviticus 26:3-9, ‘"'If you live by my regulations, observe my mitzvot and obey them; 4 then I will provide the rain you need in its season, the land will yield its produce, and the trees in the field will yield their fruit. 5 Your threshing time will extend until the grape harvest, and your grape harvesting will extend until the time for sowing seed. You will eat as much food as you want and live securely in your land. 6 "'I will give shalom in the land -you will lie down to sleep unafraid of anyone. I will rid the land of wild animals. The sword will not go through your land. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall before your sword. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand -your enemies will fall before your sword. 9 "'I will turn toward you, make you productive, increase your numbers and uphold my covenant with you.”’
We must consider the seamlessness of the Old and New Testament; realizing there are differences, and know that according to 1 Corinthians 10:11, ‘These things happened to them as prefigurative historical events, and they were written down as a warning to us who are living in the acharit-hayamim.’
Know we are in covenant with the Living G-d, and that blessings and curses depend upon our obedience!
Also, know that He will never leave us or forsake us!
Hebrews 13:5, ‘Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, "I will never fail you or abandon you."’
The L-rd knows whose are His (2 Timothy 2:19)!
John 10:2-4, ‘“But the one who goes in through the gate is the sheep's own shepherd. 3 This is the one the gate-keeper admits, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep, each one by name, and leads them out.”’
We will be disciplined and chastised, but will never be taken out of His hand and nor can we even take ourselves out of His hand!
Romans 8:38-39, ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, 39 neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.’
We are in safe keeping, but that doesn’t mean we should live any way we want to live and in that way, the brit’ or covenant could be good or bad; it could be glorious or disastrous for Israel as well as for us.
Did you know that the L-rd has an order by which He will deal with us; for the Jew first and then the Gentile?
Romans 2:7-11, ‘To those who seek glory, honor and immortality by perseverance in doing good, he will pay back eternal life. 8 But to those who are self-seeking, who disobey the truth and obey evil, he will pay back wrath and anger. 9 Yes, he will pay back misery and anguish to every human being who does evil, to the Jew first, then to the Gentile; 10 but glory and honor and shalom to everyone who keeps doing what is good, to the Jew first, then to the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.’
The Hebrew word for honor is ‘kavod’ and also means weight. Kavod means honor and value but could also mean burden. There is privilege but also responsibility, prosperity and poverty, blessing and frustration, punishment and curse as well as success and disaster.
When referring to Israel, G-d says, in Amos 3:2, ‘"Of all the families on earth, only you have I intimately known. This is why I will punish you for all your crimes."’
Being in covenant with the L-rd is a serious matter.
Why was Israel chosen?
Genesis 12:3, ‘“I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed."’ Indeed, the L-rd has blessed us through Messiah as well as generally, through Jewish people.
We are in relationship with the one and only Living G-d and He answers our prayers!
Deuteronomy 4:7-8, ‘For what great nation is there that has God as close to them as ADONAI our God is, whenever we call on him? 8 What great nation is there that has laws and rulings as just as this entire Torah which I am setting before you today?’
In Leviticus 26 there is a 3:1 ratio of bad consequences for disobedience versus good consequences for obedience.
Our natural tendency is to turn away from Him and disobey. Four different times in the passage of Leviticus 26, He admonishes us to listen and then the bad consequences would stop. His heart is for us to turn and listen! Interestingly, in this passage the consequences get progressively worse ranging from distress, drought, invasion of wild animals, disease, siege of moral indecency, and finally, dispersion with enemies taking over the land.
Even so, our G-d does not give up on us, nor does He give up on the Israelites in Leviticus.
Leviticus 26:40-42, ‘Then they will confess their misdeeds and those of their ancestors which they committed against me in their rebellion; they will admit that they went against me. 41 At that time I will be going against them, bringing them into the lands of their enemies. But if their uncircumcised hearts will grow humble, and they are paid the punishment for their misdeeds; 42 then I will remember my covenant with Ya'akov, also my covenant with Yitz'chak and my covenant with Avraham; and I will remember the land.’
G-d’s door to restoration is always open! He won’t let us go. Can things be difficult and miserable? Yes! But He does bless us when we put Him first! The blessings can be more noticeable inwardly as expressed by Paul in Philippians 4, but G-d knows; He is familiar with the unknown, the unnamed and the unseen.
2 Corinthians 6:9, ‘unknown and famous. And we commend ourselves as God's workers headed for death, yet look! we're alive! as punished, yet not killed;’
We naturally gravitate toward those like ourselves or those who are well known or seemingly important. Even the prophet Samuel and David’s father weren’t looking for G-d to choose David, but He did choose Him.
Messiah Himself had an appearance that was not particularly outwardly attractive as expressed in Isaiah 53:2.
Let us be careful not to miss G-d because we gravitate toward being comfortable and toward those most like ourselves.
Further Reading: Psalm 89:31-38, John 15:4-8, Ephesians 2:11-12, 2 Timothy 2:16-17, Luke 8:18, Hebrews 12, Exodus 19:6, Deuteronomy 7:6-7, Ephesians 3:14, Revelation 1:13-15, Revelation 2:1, Hebrews 6:10, Psalm 139, Romans 16:8-9, Galatians 6:10, Hebrews 6:10, 1 Samuel 16
Sunday, May 22, 2011
G-d's Commanded Blessing
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
May 14, 2011
In the twenty-fifth chapter of Leviticus, three times the L-rd reiterates that His people not rule over or treat each other harshly; specifically in verses 43, 46 and 53. Interestingly, the Hebrew word used in these passages is ‘perek’ which is related to the Hebrew word ‘parokhet’ used for the curtain dividing the Holy Place in the Temple from the Holies Place.
When used in Leviticus, this word means with rigor, but also may mean to suffocate or stifle. Further in verse 17 of the same chapter, the word ‘yanah’ is used.
Leviticus 25:17, ‘Thus you are not to take advantage of each other, but you are to fear your God; for I am ADONAI your God.’
The instruction here with ‘yanah’ is not to oppress or wrong one another, but to fear G-d instead.
Am I critical or judgmental with others? Do I judge and draw conclusions based on appearances?
John 7:24, ‘“Stop judging by surface appearances, and judge the right way!"’
If I am judgmental I may speak harshly about someone and drive others away from the L-rd!
Romans 14:10, 12, 13, ‘You then, why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For all of us will stand before God's judgment seat, So then, every one of us will have to give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore, let's stop passing judgment on each other! Instead, make this one judgment - not to put a stumbling block or a snare in a brother's way.’ Instead, we are to ‘pursue the things that make for shalom and mutual upbuilding’ as is written in Romans 14:19.
Rabbinical teachings have cited Leviticus 25:17 and in the context, the word ‘yanah’, that our treatment and judgment of others may cause unbearable pain especially when reminding others of past transgressions.
We need to be careful! For G-d Himself says in Jeremiah 31:34 that He will remember our sins no more, ‘No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, 'Know ADONAI'; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more."’.
Our own judgements will come back to us!
Matthew 7:1-2, ‘"Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. 2 For the way you judge others is how you will be judged -- the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure to you.”’.
Would I want G-d to deal with me the way I deal with others?
In Leviticus 25, the L-rd not only gave instructions on how to deal with others, He also instructed the Israelites about the observance of Sabbath for the land they were entering.
The people would naturally be concerned about how they would survive during the Sabbath year.
Leviticus 25:20, ‘"'If you ask, "If we aren't allowed to sow seed or harvest what our land produces, what are we going to eat the seventh year?"’
What is G-d’s answer?
Leviticus 25:21, ‘“then I will order my blessing on you during the sixth year, so that the land brings forth enough produce for all three years.”’
G-d orders or commands a blessing! He promises something supernatural; something that man cannot do!
Doesn’t this remind us of what Yeshua said?
Matthew 6:31-33, ‘"So don't be anxious, asking, `What will we eat?,' `What will we drink?' or `How will we be clothed?' 32 For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. 33 But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”’
The principle is that G-d honors us when we put Him first, demonstrated by the obedience of the Israelites during the Sabbath year and for us as we seek first His Kingdom knowing that He will take care of us.
Give Him our best first; not the leftovers or something that cost us nothing and He will honor it!
Proverbs 3:9, ‘Honor ADONAI with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your income.’
What about my plans? Do I pray first or do I make plans and then pray about them?
Proverbs 16:3, ‘If you entrust all you do to ADONAI, your plans will achieve success.’
Just as G-d commanded the blessing to provide for His people during the Sabbath, He does so when we forgive and live in unity with one another.
Ephesians 4:32, ‘Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.’
Look at this verse as it relates to Psalm 133, ‘A song of ascents. By David: Oh, how good, how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in harmony. 2 It is like fragrant oil on the head that runs down over the beard, over the beard of Aharon, and flows down on the collar of his robes. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon that settles on the mountains of Tziyon. For it was there that ADONAI ordained the blessing of everlasting life.’
Unity is costly and requires humility; it requires putting our preferences and rights aside so as to love the L-rd and live together in unity.
In doing so, He commands the blessing! And what a blessing of everlasting life!
Contrast this principle with what happens when we don’t put the L-rd first as described in Haggai 1:6, ‘“You sow much but bring in little; you eat but aren't satisfied; you drink but never have enough; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who works for a living earns wages that are put in a bag full of holes.'"
If we wonder why things don’t work out or our lives are paved by obstacles, we may need to assess whether we are putting G-d first or not! We will not be free of tribulation, but our paths will be easier, better and be less stressful.
The Sabbatical year is known as Shana HaShmita and reminds us that the earth belongs to the L-rd and the Year of Jubilee is known as Shana HaYovel and reminds us that we are sojourners here on Earth.
As sojourners we are are looking toward the true Year of Jubilee or the Ultimate Yovel when we receive the fullness of His Commanded Blessing upon Yeshua’s return!
Revelation 21:3-4, ‘“I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "See! God's Sh'khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away."’
Further Reading: Leviticus 25:1-5, 8-10, 20-21, Malachi 3:8-10, Hebrews 11:13, Romans 2:1, Galatians 6:7, Isaiah 58:13,14, 2 Samuel 24:24, 1 Timothy 2:1, 1 Samuel 2:30, Mark 10:28-30, Romans 8:21, Acts 3:21, Revelation 20:4, Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 11:6, 2 Peter 3:13
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
May 14, 2011
In the twenty-fifth chapter of Leviticus, three times the L-rd reiterates that His people not rule over or treat each other harshly; specifically in verses 43, 46 and 53. Interestingly, the Hebrew word used in these passages is ‘perek’ which is related to the Hebrew word ‘parokhet’ used for the curtain dividing the Holy Place in the Temple from the Holies Place.
When used in Leviticus, this word means with rigor, but also may mean to suffocate or stifle. Further in verse 17 of the same chapter, the word ‘yanah’ is used.
Leviticus 25:17, ‘Thus you are not to take advantage of each other, but you are to fear your God; for I am ADONAI your God.’
The instruction here with ‘yanah’ is not to oppress or wrong one another, but to fear G-d instead.
Am I critical or judgmental with others? Do I judge and draw conclusions based on appearances?
John 7:24, ‘“Stop judging by surface appearances, and judge the right way!"’
If I am judgmental I may speak harshly about someone and drive others away from the L-rd!
Romans 14:10, 12, 13, ‘You then, why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For all of us will stand before God's judgment seat, So then, every one of us will have to give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore, let's stop passing judgment on each other! Instead, make this one judgment - not to put a stumbling block or a snare in a brother's way.’ Instead, we are to ‘pursue the things that make for shalom and mutual upbuilding’ as is written in Romans 14:19.
Rabbinical teachings have cited Leviticus 25:17 and in the context, the word ‘yanah’, that our treatment and judgment of others may cause unbearable pain especially when reminding others of past transgressions.
We need to be careful! For G-d Himself says in Jeremiah 31:34 that He will remember our sins no more, ‘No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, 'Know ADONAI'; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more."’.
Our own judgements will come back to us!
Matthew 7:1-2, ‘"Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. 2 For the way you judge others is how you will be judged -- the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure to you.”’.
Would I want G-d to deal with me the way I deal with others?
In Leviticus 25, the L-rd not only gave instructions on how to deal with others, He also instructed the Israelites about the observance of Sabbath for the land they were entering.
The people would naturally be concerned about how they would survive during the Sabbath year.
Leviticus 25:20, ‘"'If you ask, "If we aren't allowed to sow seed or harvest what our land produces, what are we going to eat the seventh year?"’
What is G-d’s answer?
Leviticus 25:21, ‘“then I will order my blessing on you during the sixth year, so that the land brings forth enough produce for all three years.”’
G-d orders or commands a blessing! He promises something supernatural; something that man cannot do!
Doesn’t this remind us of what Yeshua said?
Matthew 6:31-33, ‘"So don't be anxious, asking, `What will we eat?,' `What will we drink?' or `How will we be clothed?' 32 For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. 33 But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”’
The principle is that G-d honors us when we put Him first, demonstrated by the obedience of the Israelites during the Sabbath year and for us as we seek first His Kingdom knowing that He will take care of us.
Give Him our best first; not the leftovers or something that cost us nothing and He will honor it!
Proverbs 3:9, ‘Honor ADONAI with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your income.’
What about my plans? Do I pray first or do I make plans and then pray about them?
Proverbs 16:3, ‘If you entrust all you do to ADONAI, your plans will achieve success.’
Just as G-d commanded the blessing to provide for His people during the Sabbath, He does so when we forgive and live in unity with one another.
Ephesians 4:32, ‘Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.’
Look at this verse as it relates to Psalm 133, ‘A song of ascents. By David: Oh, how good, how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in harmony. 2 It is like fragrant oil on the head that runs down over the beard, over the beard of Aharon, and flows down on the collar of his robes. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon that settles on the mountains of Tziyon. For it was there that ADONAI ordained the blessing of everlasting life.’
Unity is costly and requires humility; it requires putting our preferences and rights aside so as to love the L-rd and live together in unity.
In doing so, He commands the blessing! And what a blessing of everlasting life!
Contrast this principle with what happens when we don’t put the L-rd first as described in Haggai 1:6, ‘“You sow much but bring in little; you eat but aren't satisfied; you drink but never have enough; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who works for a living earns wages that are put in a bag full of holes.'"
If we wonder why things don’t work out or our lives are paved by obstacles, we may need to assess whether we are putting G-d first or not! We will not be free of tribulation, but our paths will be easier, better and be less stressful.
The Sabbatical year is known as Shana HaShmita and reminds us that the earth belongs to the L-rd and the Year of Jubilee is known as Shana HaYovel and reminds us that we are sojourners here on Earth.
As sojourners we are are looking toward the true Year of Jubilee or the Ultimate Yovel when we receive the fullness of His Commanded Blessing upon Yeshua’s return!
Revelation 21:3-4, ‘“I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "See! God's Sh'khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away."’
Further Reading: Leviticus 25:1-5, 8-10, 20-21, Malachi 3:8-10, Hebrews 11:13, Romans 2:1, Galatians 6:7, Isaiah 58:13,14, 2 Samuel 24:24, 1 Timothy 2:1, 1 Samuel 2:30, Mark 10:28-30, Romans 8:21, Acts 3:21, Revelation 20:4, Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 11:6, 2 Peter 3:13
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Israel’s Restoration
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
May 7, 2011
As we celebrate Israel’s Independence and the unrest in the Middle East, we may be wondering if the current State of Israel is permanent or not.
Amos 9:15, ‘“I will plant them on their own soil, no more to be uprooted from their land, which I gave them," says ADONAI your God.’
At least seven times God promised the Land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in Genesis.
The current State of Israel is indeed permanent and it is important that the Babylonian exile and return be distinguished from the current global return to Israel.
Isaiah 11:12, ‘He will hoist a banner for the Goyim, assemble the dispersed of Isra'el, and gather the scattered of Y'hudah from the four corners of the earth.’
What about Yeshua’s return? Does He return before Israel’s return to God?
Let’s explore three scenarios.
The first scenario’s order would begin with Israel’s national restoration, followed by Yeshua’s return and culminate with the revelation of Yeshua’s identity and spiritual rebirth of the people of Israel as described in Zechariah 12:10 which says, ‘and I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look to me, whom they pierced." They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son.’
A second scenario would begin with Israel’s national restoration followed by it’s spiritual rebirth and culminate with Yeshua’s return.
Acts 3:18-21, ‘But this is how God fulfilled what he had announced in advance, when he spoke through all the prophets, namely, that his Messiah was to die. 19 "Therefore, repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be erased; 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord's presence; and he may send the Messiah appointed in advance for you, that is, Yeshua. 21 He has to remain in heaven until the time comes for restoring everything, as God said long ago, when he spoke through the holy prophets.’
This second scenario is quite plausible because Yeshua Himself said that His return would occur when His Jewish people would clearly be reborn demonstrated by their expression of praise for His return; which is currently occurring in Israel.
Matthew 23:39, ‘“For I tell you, from now on, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of ADONAI.'"
However, let us consider a third scenario which begins with Israel’s national restoration, followed by their spiritual rebirth in part, and then Yeshua’s return which then results in a full revelation to the entire State of Israel when all Israel will be saved.
Romans 11:25-27, ‘For, brothers, I want you to understand this truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed, so that you won't imagine you know more than you actually do. It is that stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Isra'el, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness; 26 and that it is in this way that all Isra'el will be saved. As the Tanakh says, "Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer; he will turn away ungodliness from Ya'akov 27 and this will be my covenant with them, . . . when I take away their sins."’
Regardless of the exact timing of God’s revelation to His people, we know He will revive His people demonstrated so vividly in Ezekiel 37.
Ezekiel 37:1-3, ‘With the hand of ADONAI upon me, ADONAI carried me out by his Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones. 2 He had me pass by all around them - there were so many bones lying in the valley, and they were so dry! 3 He asked me, "Human being, can these bones live?" I answered, "Adonai ELOHIM! Only you know that!"’
In this passage, Ezekiel is literally placed amongst skeletons; they are all around him and there are a multitude of them; withered and without moisture.
Consider at this point that the Lord Himself asked Ezekiel the question, “Human being, can these bones live?”
And Ezekiel answers, “Adonai ELOHIM! Only you know that!” He wasn’t going to say that is was impossible! No, he knew better and he knew that if the bones were to live, it would be through God and no other way.
What seems absolutely impossible, can be possible through Him! Notice how the Lord brings life into the bones described further in the passage. Through His Word spoken by Ezekiel which is reiterated by the passage in Romans that faith comes from hearing the Word of God.
Romans 10:17, ‘So trust comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through a word proclaimed about the Messiah.’
Ezekiel 37:4-10, ‘Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones! Say to them, 'Dry bones! Hear what ADONAI has to say! 5 To these bones Adonai ELOHIM says, "I will make breath enter you, and you will live. 6 I will attach ligaments to you, make flesh grow on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you. You will live, and you will know that I am ADONAI."'" 7 So I prophesied as ordered; and while I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound; it was the bones coming together, each bone in its proper place. 8 As I watched, ligaments grew on them, flesh appeared and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Next he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath! Prophesy, human being! Say to the breath that Adonai ELOHIM says, 'Come from the four winds, breath; and breathe on these slain, so that they can live.'" 10 So I prophesied as ordered, and the breath came into them, and they were alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army!’
From this portion of Scripture, a three-fold phase of spiritual rebirth is illuminated!
When Ezekiel spoke the first prophesy, the bones came together and ligaments grew and flesh appeared; there was life, but no breath indicating a first phase. They were living but without the Ruach. With the second prophesy, the Ruach came into them and they stood on their feet, acknowledged and recognized and then thirdly, they were a vast army.
The Hebrew for ‘vast army’ is written, ‘maod maod chayil gadol’ translated, ‘very very great mighty’. Chayil can mean mighty or growing mightily and ‘chayil’ can also mean anguish. We know that through pain the Lord can bring about something mighty as He is now doing. We are witnessing the Ruach of God entering the hearts of His people and they are beginning to stand!
Further Reading: Ezekiel 37:11-14, Hosea 5:15-6:6, Philippians 3:7-10, Psalm 110:1, Proverbs 30:4, Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:8, Isaiah 57:15, John 10:10, Isaiah 64, Psalm 85
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
May 7, 2011
As we celebrate Israel’s Independence and the unrest in the Middle East, we may be wondering if the current State of Israel is permanent or not.
Amos 9:15, ‘“I will plant them on their own soil, no more to be uprooted from their land, which I gave them," says ADONAI your God.’
At least seven times God promised the Land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in Genesis.
The current State of Israel is indeed permanent and it is important that the Babylonian exile and return be distinguished from the current global return to Israel.
Isaiah 11:12, ‘He will hoist a banner for the Goyim, assemble the dispersed of Isra'el, and gather the scattered of Y'hudah from the four corners of the earth.’
What about Yeshua’s return? Does He return before Israel’s return to God?
Let’s explore three scenarios.
The first scenario’s order would begin with Israel’s national restoration, followed by Yeshua’s return and culminate with the revelation of Yeshua’s identity and spiritual rebirth of the people of Israel as described in Zechariah 12:10 which says, ‘and I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look to me, whom they pierced." They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son.’
A second scenario would begin with Israel’s national restoration followed by it’s spiritual rebirth and culminate with Yeshua’s return.
Acts 3:18-21, ‘But this is how God fulfilled what he had announced in advance, when he spoke through all the prophets, namely, that his Messiah was to die. 19 "Therefore, repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be erased; 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord's presence; and he may send the Messiah appointed in advance for you, that is, Yeshua. 21 He has to remain in heaven until the time comes for restoring everything, as God said long ago, when he spoke through the holy prophets.’
This second scenario is quite plausible because Yeshua Himself said that His return would occur when His Jewish people would clearly be reborn demonstrated by their expression of praise for His return; which is currently occurring in Israel.
Matthew 23:39, ‘“For I tell you, from now on, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of ADONAI.'"
However, let us consider a third scenario which begins with Israel’s national restoration, followed by their spiritual rebirth in part, and then Yeshua’s return which then results in a full revelation to the entire State of Israel when all Israel will be saved.
Romans 11:25-27, ‘For, brothers, I want you to understand this truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed, so that you won't imagine you know more than you actually do. It is that stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Isra'el, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness; 26 and that it is in this way that all Isra'el will be saved. As the Tanakh says, "Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer; he will turn away ungodliness from Ya'akov 27 and this will be my covenant with them, . . . when I take away their sins."’
Regardless of the exact timing of God’s revelation to His people, we know He will revive His people demonstrated so vividly in Ezekiel 37.
Ezekiel 37:1-3, ‘With the hand of ADONAI upon me, ADONAI carried me out by his Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones. 2 He had me pass by all around them - there were so many bones lying in the valley, and they were so dry! 3 He asked me, "Human being, can these bones live?" I answered, "Adonai ELOHIM! Only you know that!"’
In this passage, Ezekiel is literally placed amongst skeletons; they are all around him and there are a multitude of them; withered and without moisture.
Consider at this point that the Lord Himself asked Ezekiel the question, “Human being, can these bones live?”
And Ezekiel answers, “Adonai ELOHIM! Only you know that!” He wasn’t going to say that is was impossible! No, he knew better and he knew that if the bones were to live, it would be through God and no other way.
What seems absolutely impossible, can be possible through Him! Notice how the Lord brings life into the bones described further in the passage. Through His Word spoken by Ezekiel which is reiterated by the passage in Romans that faith comes from hearing the Word of God.
Romans 10:17, ‘So trust comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through a word proclaimed about the Messiah.’
Ezekiel 37:4-10, ‘Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones! Say to them, 'Dry bones! Hear what ADONAI has to say! 5 To these bones Adonai ELOHIM says, "I will make breath enter you, and you will live. 6 I will attach ligaments to you, make flesh grow on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you. You will live, and you will know that I am ADONAI."'" 7 So I prophesied as ordered; and while I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound; it was the bones coming together, each bone in its proper place. 8 As I watched, ligaments grew on them, flesh appeared and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Next he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath! Prophesy, human being! Say to the breath that Adonai ELOHIM says, 'Come from the four winds, breath; and breathe on these slain, so that they can live.'" 10 So I prophesied as ordered, and the breath came into them, and they were alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army!’
From this portion of Scripture, a three-fold phase of spiritual rebirth is illuminated!
When Ezekiel spoke the first prophesy, the bones came together and ligaments grew and flesh appeared; there was life, but no breath indicating a first phase. They were living but without the Ruach. With the second prophesy, the Ruach came into them and they stood on their feet, acknowledged and recognized and then thirdly, they were a vast army.
The Hebrew for ‘vast army’ is written, ‘maod maod chayil gadol’ translated, ‘very very great mighty’. Chayil can mean mighty or growing mightily and ‘chayil’ can also mean anguish. We know that through pain the Lord can bring about something mighty as He is now doing. We are witnessing the Ruach of God entering the hearts of His people and they are beginning to stand!
Further Reading: Ezekiel 37:11-14, Hosea 5:15-6:6, Philippians 3:7-10, Psalm 110:1, Proverbs 30:4, Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:8, Isaiah 57:15, John 10:10, Isaiah 64, Psalm 85
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