Discipleship Network Forum

Ready for the Road Ahead

          March 20, 2011, was the beginning of Purim.  The Book of Esther explains the origins of Purim and why it is celebrated.   Esther's story begins with Queen Vashti's fall from grace.  Persia was known for its opulent and excessive wealth.  The royal city of Susa was often host to endless banquets and celebrations.  Many times the entertainment at these affairs was "R" rated.  Vashti's refusal to take part in this debauchery seems understandable, but an inebriated king is not one to be crossed.  With the encouragement of his officials, King Ahasuerus deposes Vashti.  It seems a bit unfair, but Vashti's departure is a prelude to a bigger story.

            Since Vashti has been removed it is decided that a "Miss Persia" contest should be held. The winner gets an all expense paid year at the Palace Spa and the prestige of being the next Mrs. Ahasuerus.  Whether they want to enter or not, all the young maidens in Persia are rounded up, put through a beauty regime and paraded before the king.  A beautiful, young Jewish girl, named Hadassah (Esther in Persian) is chosen to be the next queen.

            The plot thickens as Esther's cousin, Mordecai, thwarts an assassination attempt on the king, and a man named Haman is promoted to a high position in the king's court.  Haman has a deep-seated hatred for Mordecai.  Earlier in Israel's history Haman and Mordecai's ancestors had bad blood between them (Ex. 17:8-16; Dt. 25:17-19; 1 Sam. 15:8).   Haman uses his rise to power as a means to take revenge on Mordecai and his people.  He casts lots (pur) to determine a date to exterminate the Jews, and that is how this festival gets its name.  If you want to know the rest of the story, read Esther!

            The Book of Esther raised some eyebrows when it was included in the Scriptures.  Its message was clearly in line with all the other sacred writings, but it had one, obvious omission, the name of God!  Although God's name is never spoken or written, God is clearly at work across its pages.  His hand is guiding the events within each chapter.  And His Covenant promises are still in tact as the Jews come out victorious in the end.

            It would be easy to read through this book and think that it has nothing to do with us here in the 21st century, but we would be wrong!  At a critical point in the story, Mordecai challenges Esther (Est. 4:14) saying she will not be spared just because she lives in the palace.  "If you do not step forward to help," Mordecai warns, "Help will come from another place."  That little phrase, "another place" reminds Esther of God's sovereignty.  God has placed Esther where she can make a difference.  The same is true about us. 

            Have events in your life seemed to spin out of control?  Does it seem like God is removed from your situation?  The Apostle Paul, like Esther, could have felt the same.  Locked in prison and separated from his beloved Philippian church, Paul learned that some people had begun to spread the Gospel, not for God's glory, but to spite Paul.  Paul, however, could see God's hand at work in the situation.  First and foremost, the Gospel was being shared, and for Paul, that was the most important thing (Phil. 1:12-18).

            Although we do not face a life or death situation as Esther did, sometimes we have trouble seeing God at work in our lives.  Perhaps, in those times, we would do better by changing our perspective.  Maybe there is an opportunity God has placed in your path where you can make a difference.  Like Esther and Paul, you will need courage to take hold of that opportunity, for who knows, maybe God has brought you there "for such a time as this".

Ann LeFevre                                                                                                            3/20/2011

Ready for the Road Ahead

            I was in one of the moods- bored, tired, and not in the mood to do anything.  Exasperated with myself for not wanting to do something healthy or good for my soul, I turned on the television, flip-flopped around a few stations and landed on "The Amazing Race".  I'm not really into "reality" TV, but I was curious to see where they would be going, so I stayed with it.  On this particular episode, the convoluted goal was to decipher a phrase out of nautical flags, using the code from a compass submerged in a shark tank.  As the teams approached the "judge" (the commandant from a local marina), they breathlessly stated the phrase, hoping that they had correctly identified each flag with its matching letter.  If they did not get the words exactly, they were denied access to the next clue.  Sadly, one team failed miserably at their translation and was sent back to the flags to try again.

            In the early 80's, an educational theory called "Out-come Based Education" would have solved this poor team's problem immediately.  It proposed that if a student showed any attempt at doing work, even if it just meant showing up to class, that student should be given a passing grade for their effort.  It was a ludicrous idea, but it had some staunch supporters.  Unfortunately, the commandant did not believe that if a team got part of the phrase correct, they should receive the next clue.  Until they figured it out precisely, they were not allowed to proceed.  No out-come based education here!

            A similar idea appears among the world's religions.  It's called Universalism.  This concept accepts the belief that if a person recognizes God, in any way, shape or form, and does his or her best to please Him, that person will land in heaven once their earthly existence is over.   In this sense heaven is an inclusive place which accepts any religious practice as long as the person is sincere.

            In John 10:1-10, Jesus likens heaven to a sheepfold.  The sheepfold was an enclosure surrounded by a stone wall, about waist high, with only one opening.  The opening was just wide enough for the shepherd to lie down across it at night.  This prevented the sheep from wandering and predators from attacking the sheep.  The door was the only legitimate way in and one had to gain access through the shepherd; there was no other legal way.  Jesus said that those who entered any other way were thieves and robbers.   The way in to the sheepfold was not inclusive; it was exclusive. 

            Jesus claimed He was the door to the sheepfold.  He was the access to heaven that people were seeking.  Any other entry way was designed to "harm the sheep" rather than help them.  He adds an interesting fact about shepherding.  Shepherds lead their flocks in two ways.  They call out to the sheep as they walk.  The sheep hear their voice and follow by watching where the shepherd walks.  Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him.  Sheep will not follow the voice of a stranger.  They only follow their shepherd because they know he looks out for them.

            It is clear that Jesus did not see heaven as inclusive.  No matter how sincere someone might be, if they have not come through Jesus, they have not come through a legitimate entrance.   It is our responsibility to show people the way to the Shepherd.  Knowing this passage can help us to clearly show His love for all sheep if they will heed His voice (verse 11).

Ann LeFevre                                                                                                     3/13/2011

Ready for the Road Ahead

            Our tour group walked into the ancient city of Philippi on a beautiful day.  The sky was a pleasant blue filled with puffy white clouds.  But we recognized it only as a good back drop for the pictures we were taking.  Underneath our feet was the weathered Roman road, the Via Egnatia (Vee-ah Egg-nay-she-uh), one of the key elements in the spread of the Gospel.  It was especially moving for me.  Not only did Paul, Silas, Timothy and Lydia walk along this road, but countless "no names"; the people who were touched by the Gospel, but whose names were never recorded across the pages of Scripture.   They were my "spiritual" ancestors who first spread the Good News on this very road.

            When most disciples think about sharing their faith, they think in terms of Billy Graham Crusades, missionaries like Jim Elliot, and people they know who "have the gift of evangelism".  But these are more the exception than the rule.  The Via Egnatia is certainly proof of that.  While the activities of Philip, Peter and Paul are featured in the Book Acts, the unsung heroes are all the others who responded initially to their proclamation and then went on to share it with those they knew.  The spread of the Gospel was like the old commercial where an "average person" held up a bottle of shampoo and declared, "I was so pleased with this product, I told my friend!"  The screen continues to divide as friend after friend spreads the word about this fabulous product.  It was the same with the Gospel.  It was passed on to friend, after friend, after friend.

            We often think that we must know at least 100 Scripture verses by memory, and have all the points of the Four Spiritual Laws memorized in order to adequately share our faith with others.  We think that God demands this, but we are wrong.  The model for sharing our faith is actually set in the Old Testament in the Book of Deuteronomy.  In chapter 6 the Lord admonishes the people of Israel to teach their children diligently to follow God's commands.  They are to make it a part of their daily routine: while at home, while walking along the road, while resting, and while they prepare to work.  In other words, it's a natural part of the conversation.

            Sharing our faith is as simple as that.  It's part of our natural conversation, because it is who we are as a disciple of Christ.  We can't help but tell others about what we've discovered.  When Andrew met Jesus, he was so glad to have found the Messiah, he went and got Peter (Jn. 1:41).  Philip sought out Nathaniel in the same way (Jn. 1:45).  If you're hesitant about sharing your faith with others, remember you do not need to be a Bible scholar or debate team captain to share about your experiences as Jesus' disciple.  Many times you will be surprised at how receptive people can be.   Even Paul, whom we like to label as the greatest evangelist of all time, let the Gospel speak for itself (1 Cor. 2:1-5).

            I can honestly say that I am not bold when it comes to sharing what I believe with others.  I am constantly asking the Lord to step in and take over when I feel timid.  But I am never disappointed when I surrender those fears.  That trip to Greece during my seminary days proved to be a valuable lesson on this.  For later on, I stood with a classmate at Mars Hill in Athens, and as we discussed how the Gospel had spread along the Roman road system, a young woman from England overheard us.  She asked me to repeat it.  I was happy to oblige.  And while I recounted how the Gospel traveled along those ancient roads, I included its message and how it eventually came to me.  Who knows what seeds were planted that day!

Ann LeFevre                                                                                                             3/6/2011

Ready for the Road Ahead

            Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink!  That little ditty ran through my head several times during the first full week of March 2011.   Not only did we see record rainfall here in the Northeast, but an earthquake in Japan set off a tsunami which destroyed property and beaches in the Northwest.  The rainfall coupled with melting snow caused rivers and creeks to overflow their banks and commuters to detour around the more troublesome areas of flooding.  Thanks to the fact that I had to drive up Route 209 more than once that week, I was able to see the rising waters first hand.  One Saturday afternoon found me stopping at the Bushkill Access on the Delaware River to take a rather comical picture of the Stop sign submerged in four feet of water with debris caught on the One Way sign below it.   There was lots of water, but not much of it was worthy to drink.

            Sometimes I marvel at people who build houses along the coast or next to a river.  They must know about the risks, but the setting is so appealing, it's worth the risk I suppose.  I have to confess I've daydreamed about living near the ocean.  I love the vast horizon, the sound of the waves, and the shells!  There are appealing places like this in Israel too.   One such place is mentioned in Psalm 23:2.  We often translate the word as "green pastures", but this Hebrew word actually relates to the well-watered and green area at the bottom of a wadi.

            "What's a wadi?" you ask.  Wadiis are like gorges, but not as wide.  They were carved out of the limestone in the wilderness area in the same way the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon.  Shepherds who raise their flocks in these areas of Israel must know the layout of a wadi inside and out, because although they are a great water source, they are also dangerous.  Rain can cause flash flooding in a wadi, so it is wiser to get your water and leave, rather than make yourself comfortable and stay.

            Jesus had this geographical characteristic in mind in Luke 6:46-49.  Maybe you remember singing this as a child:  "The wise man built his house upon the rock...".  It's not necessarily convenient to build on the top of those rock walls.  It would be far more pleasant to build down in the gorge, next to the water source.   When you build next to the water, you don't have to lug those big water urns up and down the path.  It's easy.  It's comfortable.  But, Jesus warns, building in the sand, is unsafe!  When the rains come down, and they will, your house will wash away.

            It's tempting for us to "build our lives" in the conveniences of the world.  We think life should be easy, comfortable. The trouble is, putting trust in the comforts of this world, is like building a house in the bottom of a wadi.   So, when storms come rushing into our little world, its sandy foundation is washed away with the water.

            What should disciples build on?  Jesus says in verse 47 that those who come to Him, hear His words, and act on them have built their life on the rock.  If we are letting the Bible guide us in the way we live and what we believe, when the storms of life come (and they will come), we will be able to withstand the tempest.  It is certainly more popular to build on worldly things.  It's easier, more comfortable.  But it's unstable.  Today's fads are tomorrow's history lessons.  The latest trends are forgotten tomorrow when the "next big thing" becomes news.  So, why build on this shifting sand?  Build your life on God's Word so that you will stand firm when storms come your way (Proverbs 3:1-8; Colossians 3:2).

Ann LeFevre                                                                                                            3/27/2011

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

-         Phil 3:13, 14

       While in the womb, a baby strives in an atmosphere of water and is nurtured through the umbilical cord connected to the body of its mother.  The baby grows and is comfortable in water, but in the fullness of time, it must breach a new frontier and must learn to live in an atmosphere filled with air. 

        And so it is in the spirit.  Every human becomes comfortable with the environment he is used to.  To him, the old is good enough.  Man develops traditions and even if it does not make much sense, he will insist on living by his traditions.  The man of the world is used to listening to the voice of the world and his frequency is always tuned in to its channel.  To him, the reasoning and theories of the world are facts and truth.  Listen to what the people of Thessalonica said about Paul and Silas:

“These people who have turned the world upside down have come here too!”

-         Acts 17:6b

The worldly Jews and Thessalonians were screaming in a riot because Paul and Silas had upset their belief system.  They were not willing to investigate but would rather jump to an erroneous conclusion.

          YESHUA said, “Unless you are born from above, you cannot see the Kingdom of GOD.” (Jn 3:3)  Unless we trust in GOD, we cannot even see, much less, enter the Kingdom of GOD.  To be born from above means to be born by GOD’s SPIRIT in GOD’s way.  A baby does not choose when he is born but GOD does.  In the same way, a man does not choose how he is born from above but have to submit to GOD’s will and GOD’s way.  When asked by the Jews, “What is the work of the FATHER”, YESHUA answered, “This is the work of the FATHER, that you believe in the One whom He has sent.” 

          GOD’s will is that every man must be born from above.  GOD’s way is that we believe in His One and only SON, YESHUA the Messiah!  As it is in the womb of the mother, so it is with the world.  Man cannot remain in it and live; otherwise, he is stillborn or shall we say, unborn (i.e. to the Kingdom and dimension of GOD).

          The revelation of GOD is progressive.  So is man’s life.  There is a progression in everything around us.   History is a witness to the events that is leading to a culmination of GOD’s purpose for all creation.  YESHUA came to lay down the foundation of a new race – GOD’s kind.  A race of priests and kings who will serve GOD in excellence.  A new race of man who take after their real FATHER.

          Are you GOD’s kind? Who is your father?

מלאך

I've known Dr. Rick Morton as a fellow student (we did much of our Ph.D. studies together) and a fellow colleague from my seminary days. Later, I prayed as he and his wife Denise moved through the process of adopting a child from the Ukraine. Rick and Dr. Tony Merida have written a book that explores the theology of adoption and the Christian response to it. I've been thrilled to work on the study curriculum that NavPress will debut on April 4th that goes with their book, Orphanology. As a part of that, Rick agreed to an interview to introduce the book to our DiscipleshipNetwork members.

As you read this first part of the interview which deals with the social and global issues of adoption, please pray for those who will be reading the book and using the curriculum that God will use this work to help Christians and churches consider how they can respond to this tremendous need.

After you've read it, let me know what you think. How can the church make a difference in the lives of the orphans of the world?

Margie Williamson

Community Manager

What is the problem of orphans in the world? Approximately how many orphans are there around the globe; and if unadopted, how is their life experience, generally?

The statistics regarding the number of orphans in today’s world are staggering. UNICEF estimates that there are between 143 and 210 million orphans worldwide. Most likely, these estimates are low. UNICEF defines an orphan as a child who has lost one or both parents to the death but fails to account for “social orphans” who are abandoned as a result of causes like addiction, poverty, or neglect. The UNICEF figures also fail to account for nations who fail to report their orphan populations such as many Middle Eastern nations.

Only a small fraction of the world’s orphans actually live in orphanages (approximately 10 million). The rest live with extended family or many are relegated to life on the streets. In all, these children are a voiceless mass. They are defenseless, and in most societies, they are seen as no more than a social problem. Most of these children live life without hope of a future that ends well. They are vulnerable to those who would prey on them for profit or those who would try to hurt them or rid society of them as a nuisance. These are the children for whom Robert Raikes began the Sunday School almost two centuries ago. In the forgotten street children who were a social blight to most of the world, Raikes saw value because he recognized that they were created in the image of God and made to know the gospel.

What do many orphans experience going from an orphanage into the wider world. What does life look like for them after the orphanage?

In general, the institutional environment poorly serves children. Research has demonstrated that orphans who graduate from orphanages are more likely to become engaged in antisocial behavior in later life. They are more susceptible to suicide, drugs, and falling into a life of crime. Many of them are vulnerable to falling pray to human trafficking, particularly sex slavery.  While the orphanage may meet the basic needs of a child’s life (food, clothing, and shelter), often the institution fails to nurture and prepare the child to be ready to live independently. In Orphanololgy, we deal with how the church can be involved in changing this trend. We highlight ministries that people and churches can engage that will make a real difference in the lives of institutionalized kids. Certainly, we believe that every child would best be served by having a family, but that is not always possible. In lieu of that, we must actively engage in ministries to orphanages and workers who care for children in orphanages.

What is the tie between orphans and child trafficking?

As I stated earlier, orphans are among the most marginalized and voiceless people on the planet. Often, when they run away, no one goes to find them. When they graduate from the orphanage and go missing, no one notices. They are easy prey for those who would traffic children. Some are abducted to serve as slaves in factories working long hours for little or no pay. Others are lured with the promise of modeling jobs or au pair positions in foreign positions only to discover that they are being taken to become sex slaves. Regardless, they have no one to call for help, so they are defenseless. Approximately 300,000 to 400,000 children are trafficked across international boarders each year, and a significant percentage of them are orphaned children. If the church is to live out James 1;27, we must become active in the war against human trafficking.

If there can be strange fire in worship, then what about discipleship?

There is a principle in certain denominations called the "Regulative Principle," and it mostly applies to how we worship God. In a nut shell, the regulative principle states:

"The acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men." We are to worship God in the way he has commanded, and not according to our own desires. Westminster Confession of Faith (XXI:1)

Restated in simpler terms, true worship is only commanded by God; false worship is anything not commanded. Any thing outside of what is commanded in scripture for worship is considered "strange fire," taken from Leviticus:

Lev 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
Lev 10:2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

I will reserve my thoughts on the regulative principle for another time, but move directly to whether or not such a principle applies to discipleship.

If this principle is valid for worship, then wouldn't it be valid for discipleship? Jesus command to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you... " (Matthew 28:19,20) seems simple enough. There is a command, the command has clearly delineated instructional points, and there is a clear objective.

Today, there no shortage of manners, methods, and motives, for making disciples, of which few resemble the criteria that Jesus himself laid out.

Should tactics that originate from man's imaginations and devices be used in fulfilling the Great Commission?

See original post here.

Also, if you are on facebook you can check out Making Disciples.

A Lesson about Hunting Dogs and Church

I'm back in Europe this week with a group of senior adults from the church. We're cruising down the Rhine River and enjoying visiting the towns an cities along the way.

Yesterday, we were in Cologne, Germany, the site of the largest cathedral in Germany. The cathedral's main claim to fame, however, is the golden shrine that is placed behind the high altar which is supposed to contain the bones of the three wise men who came to visit Jesus. The idea that someone might know where those bones actually are blows my mind. I know from my church history that Helena, the mother of Constantine, spent much of her life looking for relics of faith and documenting holy places in Israel. She's given credit for having located these bones.

Of course, I also read that there were so many relics of the cross sold (tiny slivers of wood), that a ship could have been built from them. 

Everything is not always what is is presented to be.

I can't help but wonder why having claim to those bones matters. It's the reason this cathedral is so large, because they have this claim to the bones of the wise men. The city's crest is of three crowns, representing the three kings. Everywhere I went in the town, I was reminded that they have possession of the bones.

I asked if there had been any testing on the bones to substantiate the claims. The answer was no. They've looked at the bones, and archaeologists believe the bones are from a young adult male, a full-grown male, and an older male. Funny, I don't remember those details in the scripture.

But does it matter? What is it about us as humans that we are constantly searching for tangible proof of the things in which we place our faith? The very idea of faith is to trust in those things we cannot see, touch, or even understand. Yet, in our desire to prove our trust that God sent His Son to us as a babe, we want to hang our trust on things that have withstood time. 

I can't help but wonder if we demonstrate the shallowness of our faith when we look for tangibles to prove what we believe. I think there's a reason that God didn't give us those tangibles -- even an empty tomb! -- so we focus everything we believe on Him.

How would you describe our desire for tangibles to a non-believer? Is it a sign of the weakness of our faith or the strength?

Margie Williamson

Community Manager

Bob and I attended a conference Saturday morning in New Orleans that was designed to raise awareness of the human trafficking problems in the United States. My daughter is involved in this ministry in New Orleans, so I thought I understood the problems of human trafficking through our conversations. Not so! I learned alot in the conference.

1. I learned that women and children (and to a smaller number young boys and men) are being pulled into slavery to drug sellers and sex pushers through intimidation and threats. Some are even sold into slavery by a parent who needs the money or by being orphaned.
2. I learned that human trafficking is real and flourishing in the United States, even though it's seldom given any press.
3. I learned that in almost every case, those who are in the sex industry especially should be seen as victims instead of labeled with names like prostitutes.
4. I learned that most every city in the U.S. has problems with human trafficking.
5. I learned that Christians, sometimes through their churches and sometimes by themselves, are making a difference by educating children, building self-esteem to offset the promises of those who would lie to them, and building relationships with those in the industries to help them know about God's grace.

The movie Amazing Grace tells the story of William Wilberforce, a conservative, evangelical Christian, who used his position in parliament to help bring about the abolition of slavery in 18th century England. I can't help but wonder if this is a time for Christians to step up in numbers to help abolish this form of slavery as well.

Please, tell me what you think. How should we as Christians respond to this treatment of those who can't respond themselves? What's being done in your community to eradicate this form of slavery? Is your church involved? Should the church be involved?

I walked away from that conference with so many questions . . . I would love to hear your thoughts!!

Margie Williamson

Community Manager

• Has a pattern of behavior been established within a text or its context?
• Is that pattern verifiable or based on assumption?
• Beyond a pattern, has this behavior developed into a practice?
• Has that practice been established or incorporated into church life?
• Is the pattern or practice for all believers for all time or for a specific group of believers for a specific time?
• Is that practice to be modeled by us and passed on to future generations of the church?
• Is the practice, pattern, or model directly commanded or just inferred from the text?
• Does the particular passage simply recount history or is it instructive for the future?
• Does the passage describe what certain church actions looked like, or does it prescribe what they should look like?

• Have we matured enough in Christ so as not to bring our preconceived notions into the text?
• Do we have a tendency to want others to behave the way we do?
• Are we judgmental of others who have a different way of expressing their faith because of our personal conclusions?
• Are we more concerned with a model, mode, or modification that we have established by experience, or are we willing to consider that the Spirit may be leading us to accomplish His will in a way that might be peculiar to others?
• Do we have an inclination to be controlling?  
• Do we tend towards already made conclusions, or are we willing to reexamine how we arrived at those conclusions.

Such are the paths of all who forget GOD;

The hope of a hypocrite will perish –

His confidence is mere gossamer,

His trust a spider’s web.

He can lean on his house, but it won’t stand;

He can hold on to it, but it won’t last…

Yes, this is the “joy” of the godless,

and out of the dust will spring up others like him.

-         Job 8:13-15,19

              In the past few weeks, we’ve had a lot of shaking around us.  The world has become small and we hear all events happening around us almost instantly.  Not only that, we see them happening as they happen via live video streaming.  We can’t help but be distressed by the faces of agony and suffering in Christchurch, NZ; and most recently, in northern Japan.  Am sure many, if not all of the victims are asking, why?

            It makes us look within ourselves and ask.  What am I standing on?  Will I survive a shaking?  In times of crisis, who can I depend on?  The Book of Job tells us that those who depend on their wealth and power are likened to a man whose house is like a spider’s web.  He may think his “house” is safe but it won’t stand.  He can lean to it but it won’t last.  As soon as the strong wind comes, it is blown away and you won’t even see a trace of it.  The Scriptures call those who trust in their own accomplishments as hypocrites because they know very well the uncertainty of our times.  His confidence is flimsy and a mere house of cards. 

            It cannot be denied that the Church has suffered much in the past.  It underwent horrendous persecution at the hands of bigots and unbelievers; and many are still suffering today.  The Scriptures say, these things must happen but the people of GOD will discern and will look at it as an opportunity to serve the ungodly.

            Lately, when there was a tsunami in Aceh, our Church sent a medical team who ministered to the muslim community in the area.  It was quite apparent that their rich muslim brothers from M. E.  were nowhere to be found.  It was the Christians who helped them.  I am always happy to see that the people of GOD are always the ones who come to the aid of those who suffer.  As YESHUA once said, “By their fruits, you shall know them!”

            We may hear the oceans roar and the mountains quake, but the people of GOD understand that YESHUA is their Rock and Refuge.  The Name of our LORD is our strong tower.  The righteous run to it and we are safe!  The LORD rescues us from all trouble.  That is why the righteous shall not be shaken!

            From where will my help come?  My help comes from ADONAI ELOHIM, who made heaven and earth!  There is no other Redeemer but YHWH!

            מלאך

“Speak to Aaron and to his sons, and tell them that this is how you are to bless the people of Isra’el:  you are to say to them,

              ‘Y’varekh’kha YHWH v’yishmerekha,

              (YHWH bless you and keep you.)

              Ya’er YHWH panav eleikha vichunekka.

              (YHWH make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.)

              Yissa YHWH panav eleikha v’yasem l’kha shalom.

              (YHWH lift up His face toward you and give you peace.)’ 

In this way, they are to put my Name on the people of Isra’el, so that I will bless them.”

-Numbers 6:23-27

In my past blog, I suggested that the head of the family should bless the whole family by pronouncing the Aaronic blessing to the entire household; and not just once, but at least weekly, perhaps over dinner.  Today, I will expound on the meaning of this peculiar high priestly blessing.  As priest over your family, you preside on the blessings or curses that you allow over every member of your household.  It is important that we know exactly what we are declaring as we bless them.

Let us dissect the above-mentioned passage:

Firstly, let me explain that to understand the passage well, we must view it according to how the ancient Hebrews “see.”  The Hebrews were a nomadic people and they lived in an agricultural society.  They thought in concrete terms; meaning, they see things according to how they see, hear, smell, taste and feel.  They do have abstract ideas but it is closely tied to concrete practices.  They think and speak action words, rather than abstract words.  In contrast, our educational system was patterned after the Greek philosophical style.  So we have learned to think in abstract terms.  For example, the Septuagint uses the Greek word ‘pistis’ for the English word ‘faith’ to describe moral conviction of a religious truth.  Faith is an abstract word.  The Hebrews do not have the word faith but use the word ‘aman’ meaning to build up or support, to trust or to be morally certain.  In short, Abram trusted GOD’s promise because of past concrete experiences on the faithfulness of SHADDAI.  When a Hebrew uses ‘aman’ he pictures a parent nurturing, supporting a son.  So Abraham sees SHADDAI as a parent he can trust because He has faithfully nurtured and protected him and his family throughout his life.

There are some who would not like me using the Name of YHWH, however, I feel I must use His official Name because of the importance of this blessing which He himself commanded Aaron and his sons to bless Israel.  The Name by which ADONAI is to be known to all generations is YHWH.  Today, names are just identifiers but to the ancients, names come from words that depict the character of a person.  YHWH means I exist or I cause to exist.  YHWH is the One who is, who was and who is to come.  Before there was anything or anyone, YHWH is.  He has no equal because all that we see were caused to exist by Him and for Him alone.  The fact that the Name is mentioned three times indicates the prime importance of this particular blessing.

YHWH bless you.  The Hebrew word is ‘barak’ meaning to kneel.  Can you imagine ADONAI kneeling to bless you?  I know, the idea does not seem right to me.  However, did not ADONAI stoop down to earth to bless us with His only SON?  Did not YESHUA kneel before His disciples to wash their feet?  Yes, ADONAI will come to bless us with gifts!

YHWH keep you.  When we use the word ‘keep’ we are more likely to think of obeying but that won’t make sense because we know ADONAI will not obey us but we ought to obey Him instead.  The Hebrew word is ‘shamar’ meaning to guard or protect.  The Hebrews were shepherds and during the night, in order to protect their flock of sheep, the shepherds would build a hedge of rocks around the flock and discourage predators by placing thorn branches on top of the rocks.  Shamar means to protect by putting a hedge of thorns around a flock.  ADONAI ELOHIM is our shield and His Word guards our hearts and minds.

YHWH make His face shine upon you.  Face is ‘paniym’ in Hebrew.  You have many faces: a happy face, a sad face, an angry face, a smiling face, a stern face, etc.  The face is the essence of the character of a person.  The face is the ‘presence’ of a person.  To shine in Hebrew is ‘ore’ meaning to gloriously give light.  In Scripture, the presence of ADONAI is characterized by blinding light.  He dwells in unapproachable light!  It characterizes His holiness, justice, righteousness and love.  When ADONAI shines on you, you will also exude His presence!

YHWH be gracious to you.  The word gracious in Hebrew is ‘chanan’ meaning to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior.  This is a special act of favor when ADONAI ELOHIM stoops to favor a person who is but dust.  In Scripture, YHWH has names that characterize his eternal attributes, such as YHWH-Jireh (Provider), YHWH-Tzva’ot (LORD of Hosts), YHWH-Shalom (He is our peace), YHWH-Nissi (He is my banner/miracle), YHWH-Rapha (He is my healer), etc.  All that YHWH is, He is to His covenant children.  We are complete through union with our LORD YESHUA!

YHWH lift up His face toward you.  To lift in Hebrew comes from the root ‘nasa’ meaning to carry, bring forth, advance.  When YHWH lift His face toward you, He brings all of who He is to you, especially His presence.  You become the apple of His eye.  I remember the words of David, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place – what are mere mortals, that you concern yourself with them; humans, that you watch over them with such care?” (Ps 8:4,5)  We are beloved because of YESHUA!  Indeed, ADONAI! Our LORD! How glorious is your Name throughout the whole earth!

YHWH give you peace.  Shalom is a word that many do not really appreciate.  Many think that shalom or peace is the absence of conflict or war.  But it means more than just being safe.  It means to b restored or to be completed.  So when we pray for shalom, we desire the restoration of something into its original state.  This is why we are instructed to pray for the shalom of Jerusalem, for its complete restoration.  One day, the new Jerusalem will come down from ADONAI and there we will find all that is good.  We will find the river that refreshes from the throne of ADONAI.  We will find the Tree of Life just like it was in Eden.  And we will all be transformed into the image of YESHUA, just as ADONAI intended from the beginning.

By our blessing, we will put the Name of YHWH on our family and He will bless us all.  How can we put the Name of YHWH on our family?  Remember, tyhe Name represents the character and essence of a person.  In this case, ADONAI promised that as we bless our family, He will transform their mindsets and put His Torah in their hearts and cause all of us to obey His directions. 

So from beginning to end, it is all about YHWH.  The FATHER draws us to Himself in union with YESHUA by the gentle urging of the HOLY SPIRIT.  He nurtures us with His Word that creates a divine nature in us so that we may walk in the good works which He prepared for His covenant children before the foundation of the world.  He trains our hands for battle and His abiding presence becomes our victory in daily challenges.  In our weakness, He is strong and we go from strength to strength until we come before Him on that Day.  The righteous shall perform exploits for ADONAI!

מלאך

One of the things I spend most of my time on is developing curriculum to go with NavPress' LifeChange Series. As a part of that work, I've spent a lot of time reading Matthew Henry's biblical commentary.

Even though a new edition of his work was published in 1997, his original work is over 300 years old. I fell in love with some of the old classical writings in my doctoral work. I especially enjoyed reading books on teaching that dated in the late 18000s and early 1900s. I loved being able to see the passion of those early teachers and how far we as teachers have come.

When I first started reading Henry's older work, I couldn't get past the funny English spelling (seemed like every other word had a "u" in it that had no purpose), the use of "thee" and "thou" and "thy" and the convoluted sentence structures. I mean, he used semi-colons and colons in ways that would never pass an editor these days. The editor is me kept getting hung up on those idiosyncrasies.

And then, I started reading the words for themselves, and making my way through those convoluted sentences, and found instead a passion in those words that began to resonate with me. I found myself nodding with affirmation of a uniquely-turned phrase that captured truth for me in a new way, even though the words were penned three centuries ago. Commentaries today are so academic, and so analytical, that there's little room for passion for Christ in the words. Not so with Matthew Henry. The reader can tell that Henry not only knew what he was talking about, he personally knew the One as well.

Many years ago, a youth worker wrote that the greatest sin youth teachers could commit was convincing teenagers that the Bible is boring through the way they teach. I can't help but believe she would have loved Matthew Henry's take on the Bible. 

Other commentaries give more depth and have the luxury of the work of textural critics and archaeologists to draw upon. But for fun, try Matthew Henry's. 

Margie Williamson

Community Manager

Making Disciples on facebook was started a little over a year ago, and has been the center of discussion about all things having to do with Making Disciples for quite some time.  There are over 10,000 hits daily on this site and it is genuinely a community of believers who engage in love and deep thoughtfulness.  I urge you to visit us and "like" our page, participate in the discussions, and help encourage others to Make Disciples.

You who live in the shelter o,f ‘Elyon,

Who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai,

Who say to Adonai, “My refuge! May fortress!

My GOD, in whom I trust!” –

He will rescue you from the trap of the hunter

And from the plague of calamities;

He will cover you with His pinions,

And under His wings you will find refuge;

His truth is a shield and protection.

                                  -Psalm 91:1-4

      In my past blogs, I explained the power of the Word of GOD.  We do not deny the facts and realities of physical life but we adhere to the Truth of GOD’s holy word.  We believe that when we appropriate GOD’s promises into our lives it will become physical and visible reality.  I always believe in practicing what I teach, so let us apply GOD’s Word into our daily life.  I suggest that we begin by daily declaring the truth.  Trusting comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD.  We must hear ourselves speak the seed of GOD’s Word so that it can be planted into the fertile soil of our hearts.  By this practice, trust or faith will sprout up and grow as we see the effect of GOD’s promises in our lives.  The more we pray GOD’s promises, the more we see results.  The more we see results, the more we grow in trust.  By this practice, we become overcomers because we faithfully apply GOD’s solutions to our daily challenges.

      Of course, I am assuming that you meditate on GOD’s Word daily and cling to it for dear life.  By meditating, I mean that whatever passage of Scripture you read, you think about it carefully.  You ask the HOLY SPIRIT to teach you its meaning and give you understanding on how to effectively apply it.  Meditation is an action word, not passive.  It goes on throughout the day as you go about your daily routine.  Meditation is interactive between you and the HOLY SPIRIT.  It is never boring but always dynamic.  Meditation is a catalyst to positive transformation!

      Here’s a sample of a positive confession after meditating on the subject passage above, that I do early in the morning, before I start my day:

      “FATHER, thank you for making me a covenant child of your Kingdom through union with the LORD YESHUA.  I praise you, LORD, for giving me your precious promises that provide me with everything pertaining to a life of godliness.  Today, I proclaim your goodness in my life through your holy Word.  I live in the shelter of my LORD, even my nights are spent in the shadow of your wings.  Without you, I am lost; but with you, I have all Ineed.  You are my refuge, my fortress! There is no other GOD in my life but you.  I surrender all of myself to you today.  O LORD, you are the One who rescue me from all trouble especially from the enemy who hunts me like a prey daily.  You will not allow any plague to come near my house but you will cover me with your hedge of protection.  Your Truth, O LORD, is a shield to me.  I am fully clothe with your armor as you fill me with your Presence.  You are with me all day and I have no fear.  Thank you, FATHER, for the indescribable gift of your abiding presence.  You are my shield and my very great reward! Through the glorious Name of my LORD YESHUA, I pray.  Amen.

      As we pray in the character of our LORD YESHUA, we are assured that the prayer of the righteous is indeed powerful and effective!

      May ADONAI bless you plenty!

       מלאך

How’s the prayer time in your small group? Is it something you look forward to or groan at? Are you seeing answers or do you assume that even God is bored? Here’s a resource that will help you. Evaluating Prayer in Your Small Group is a new assessment tool from SmallGroups.com. And I have two articles in it.

Continue reading at Why Didn't You Warn Me?