Messiah in Life

We continue to consider the meaning of spiritual leprosy, and how we may find evidence of that today. What is the opposite of the "evil tongue"? Are we expected to just say nice things in order to be nice? Or, does the Lord show us something profound as we "love our neighbor" as ourselves? We consider the words of the Torah, Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, and the apostles of our faith. Give a listen. References: Leviticus 15:1-2; Matthew 15:19-20; Proverbs 10:11; Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27; Leviticus 19:18; 34; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15; Ephesians 4:29; Philippians 4:8; Philippians 2:3-4; Acts 15:32; James 1:21-25.  

How you ever gossiped about someone? How did that gossip make you feel after the other person found out? Or, when your gossip continued to spread, but not exactly how you said it, how then did you feel? Were you able to reconcile? How did the Lord restore lepers in the Bible? How did Yeshua/Jesus restore lepers? In the process we find something beautiful about who we are in Him, and why, when He restores us, we are restored indeed. References: Matthew 8:1-4; Leviticus 14:1-11; 14:12-32; John 19:34. 

The 8th day! How do we find holy meaning in everyday life? Can there be importance in the most basic aspects of human life? Absolutely. There is a beautiful connection between the intricate details of the priests beginning their ministry, and how the ordinary person in the camp can experience the same level of holiness. While the portion may seem disconnected, appearing to have two very different subjects, the Lord in His mercy is showing us something beautiful. Give a listen!References: Leviticus 9:1, 3-6, 22; 10:3; Exodus 40:34-38; Numbers 6:24-26; Romans 12:1; 14:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23; Ephesians 4:1-3. 

What's wrong with leftovers? I like leftovers. Do you? Well, there is an issue with leftovers concerning certain sacrifices. What lesson do we learn from the leftovers, or lack thereof? Is there a life lesson for us in this today? Give a listen!References: Leviticus 6:1-2; 7:11-15; Exodus 12:10; 2 Corinthians 9; Colossians 2:6-7. 

This week we begin the Book of Leviticus. Often, people find Leviticus a difficult book to study. With the subject of sacrifice, ritual purity and impurity, clean and unclean foods, leprosy, holy time, and a season of release, what does any of this have to do with faith in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus?This week we consider "calling," as Vayikra means, "And He called." The life of Moses provides a wonderful way to enter the heart of Leviticus, and we being with calling, a word of relationship. Give a listen!Leviticus 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:7-9; Romans 8:28-30; Mark 7:15, 20, 23. 

The certificate of occupancy of a home, the assurance that the structure has been built to specifications. We, in faith, have an even greater assurance of our acceptance: the Holy Spirit. As the Book of Exodus concludes, Moses assembles and disassembles the Tabernacle during the time of sanctification of the priesthood. The Lord showed His approval of the project by filling the Tabernacle. What can we learn from this? Is there a way for us to understand the construction of the tabernacle in faith today? Give a listen.References: Exodus 40:34-38; 38:10; Genesis 50:25; Psalm 127:1; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:17-18; Ephesians 1:13-14; Psalm 34:8. 

When the Lord gives us sacred work, does the immediacy of the new sacred work set aside His call for us to rest? The children of Israel were deep into the fabrication of the Tabernacle when they receive a reminder: rest. What do we learn from this? What do we learn from a dramatic linguistic parallel to the account of creation and the account of the Tabernacle? What of the language of work and service, and its connection to sacred purpose? So much to consider, yet it all still points us to the mission of the Great Commission. How does this all knit us together? Give a listen. References: Exodus 35:1-2; John 1:14; Exodus 31:17; 36:6-7; Leviticus 23:1-3; Romans 14:13; 

This week we take a look at a lesson from the sin of the golden calf. What lesson in faith do we learn from this? What does Moses mean when he asks to behold God's glory, or for Him to show Moses His way? Why these questions from this incident? How does this incident inform our walk with Messiah Yeshua/Jesus? Give a listen. References: Exodus 32:1-14; 32:32; 33:13, 19; Luke 5:36-38; Matthew 5:1-12; 2 Timothy 3:5; 1 John 3:17; James 2:14-17. 

There are times when our personal history distorts how we see and experience the promises of God. In those times we need the Caleb's and the Joshua's to speak His promises to us, to refute the distorted view, and see the fruit of God's faithfulness in our lives. Thank God for those Caleb's and Joshua's in our lives. References: Numbers 13. 

Is there a theology regarding garments in the Bible? What would a garment theology reveal? The garments of the Levitical high priest are described to be for "glory and beauty." Why? Is there anything that we in Messianic faith can learn from this? Is there a theology regarding garments for those in Christ? Give a listen. References: Exodus 28:2; Ephesians 4:17-32; John 20:21-23. 

There is a strange shift in the Torah narrative, from the legal matter of Mishpatim (Judgments), to the constructive narrative of the Tabernacle. What is the Lord showing us? Can we understand the nature of "contribution," or terumah, differently when we understand the nature of giving itself? We find a teaching on transformation, not destruction, and a transformation from being selfish to being more selfless. Give a listen. References: Exodus 25:1-2, 8; Exodus 32:2-3; Galatians 6:6-10. 

In this week's Torah portion, the Lord seems to be making a radical departure from a more personal narrative, to one that seems to focus on the legal matters of a nation. Is there a reason for this besides the obvious? Can the Lord be teaching us something important for the life of faith in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus? Yes, and amen. The Lord begins to transform memory. Give a listen. References: Exodus 21:1; 23:9; Leviticus 19:18, 33-34; Deuteronomy 10:17-20; Luke 10:25-37. 

As the children of Israel make their way physically and spiritually to Mt. Sinai, how does the Lord ensure that, following the war with Amalek, that His people will not become a covered or withdrawn light? Enter Jethro, the father in law to Moses. What important lesson to we learn from Jethro that continues to teach us today? How are a nation of leaders led? How are a nation of priests served? How does the wisdom of Jethro help us to understand the gift offices of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher, and the ecclesiastical offices of Bishop and Deacon? How do these leaders lead leaders, and how do they help us to mature in Messiah for world-changing faith? Give a listen. References: Exodus 18:1; 17:8-16; 18:13-14; Exodus 20:1-4; Ephesians 4:11-16. 

How does the Lord heal a nation of freed slaves? In the wonders shown to Israel during the exodus, was there, perhaps,  a secondary purpose to them, beyond the obvious? The fulfilled promise, the parted waters, the bitter waters, the manna from heaven, and  the water from the rock, how do these miracles help in the recovery of a generation of God's people who suffered under Pharaoh? In the Lord's grace and mercy, He gave bread before mandates. Why? Give a listen. References: Exodus 13:17-18, 19; 14:2; 15-17; John 6:25-28, 41-51. 

As Egypt experiences the judgment of God through the plagues, the children of Israel are given a yearly and daily reminder of their time as slaves in Egypt. For what purpose? Why do we remember? Why do we share generational testimony? How does the Lord keep our hearts from becoming hardened, just as Pharaoh's heart was hardened? What would this hardening produce in us as we carried the Gospel over the mountains to those who need to hear it? Give a listen!References: Exodus 10:1-2; 13; Deuteronomy 23:7; Romans 1:16; Matthew 5:44; 7:12; Exodus 23:4-5. 

The "sign miracle" of  Aaron's staff being turned into a serpent. What is the meaning behind it? Why, when the Egyptian magicians so easily replicated it, did the Lord command for it to be a sign to Pharaoh? How does this help to harden Pharaoh's heart? How do we reconcile the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, and the hardening in part that has come over Israel, according to the apostle Paul? Is there a message here for us as modern day disciples of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus? When we face trial, or fear over preserving our own legacy, what does these seemingly unrelated stories tell us? Give a listen!References: Exodus 6:2-3; 7:8-13; 9:16; Ezekiel 29:3, 6-7; Romans Romans 9:18; 10:4; 11:26; Hebrews 4:7, 12, 15. 

As we open the Book of Exodus, we find the Lord beginning to "attend to" His people as they face dire circumstances. Often, what appears to be an end is a beginning, what appears as a loss, will become a victory. Moses is born under a death decree, but is delivered to be an heir of the very Pharaoh who issued the decree. Why? Moses was saved from death, raised to an exalted status, only to find himself as an unknown shepherd years later. There, out in the nowhere, the "I Am" would meet Moses, even while he wrestled with "imposter syndrome." When we meet the "I Am" we too leave the imposter behind as He forms us to the image of His Son. References: Exodus 1:1, 7; 2:1-2, 4; 3:11, 14-15; 4:10-12; Matthew 7:12. 

We conclude the opening book of the Torah, Genesis. This portion focuses on the life of Jacob in Egypt with his beloved son Joseph. Yet, in a touch moment of blessing, Jacob blesses and adopts the sons of Joseph in order to give them, and Joseph himself, a future hope. Then Joseph, as the day of his death approaches, uses a phrase that will appear in the calling of Moses, and, according to Rashi, serves as a code word of sorts to the elders of Israel. What does it mean when God "attends to"? What is being signaled by this phrase? We will consider this, and much more, in this episode of Messiah in Life. References: Genesis 50:24-25; Exodus 3:16-18; Genesis 21:1-2; Jeremiah 1:12; Hebrews 11:1; 13. 

Have you ever been a bridge for someone? Or did someone ever bridge a gap for you? We see some beautiful examples of bridges in this portion as we look at a root word peppered through this portion. Judah, Joseph, and ultimately, the greatest bridge, Yeshua/Jesus. We consider all this, and more in this episode. References: Genesis 44:18; 45:3, 4; James 4:8; John 17:14-19. 

"At the end" of what? After years of false imprisonment, and two years after the cupbearer is released, Joseph is brought before the Pharaoh of Egypt. Why? Is it just to interpret dreams? Or, is the time at hand for God's plan to openly unfold? Joseph enters Egypt as a slave, but becomes its ruler. He is adopted by a nation, given a new name, until the set time of his revelation when he says, "I am Joseph." How does this speak to our own seasons of waiting, of frustration, of pain or apparent failure? Give a listen!References: Genesis 41:1; 50:20; 45:3; Psalm 139:16; Mark 1:15; Luke 2:1, 15; Revelation 1:3; 22:10.