Different Practice, Same Rhythm

Today we see something different before us. The chairs are set up differently, and it’s for a reason.

Many times we come together doing the same things every week. Last week we talked about feeling His W-rd, and that is exactly what we are going to do today by engaging through prayer. Most of us here grew up doing the same thing over and over again, and it is not bad. However, we become so engrained into a certain habit that we neglect to see how worship can be done in different ways without losing its’ purpose. In fact, the Word of God tells us to engage in prayer and petition and to pray for one another.

Some of you may like the new feeling, and others may be looking around like… okay, what’s going on? Today, what we will be doing is actually something that most Synagogues do, and yet we still have our own style. We have two groups of tables, one side is for men and the other side is for women. The purpose for the separation has nothing to do with orthodoxy rather the separation is because of the activity that makes it necessary for the separation. Every week, I ask each person to dedicate time to scripture, have quiet time, and even engage with the community. This is real life stuff!

After a certain amount of time, sometimes we feel that we are becoming religious or that other people are starting to become religious, and it shakes us. I know some of you were waiting to hear exactly what I am doing, to make sure that I am not going off the rails.

It all boils down to how you define religion. To many, religion has become this idea of someone who practices according to the principles of a certain order: so if you practice the church rules then you must be Christian, and if you do Synagogue and rules then you must be a part of Judaism. The same goes with other religions. In all the question that is being asked is… What do you practice?

The Bible talks about there being a perfect religion. Do you know what that religion is?

Before we answer the question, Religion has become more about practice than faith. In fact I hear many times… “what is your religion” instead of “who do you put your faith in?”

I think that if many asked more about faith, people would be encouraged about their faith and not their religion.

In example, prayer life is many times put to the side, because when we think of prayer life we think of it as a religious activity instead of engaging in conversation with G-d.

Let me ask you, when you see someone you love, do you just walk past them?

Of course not! If I saw someone I loved and cared about, I’d get out of my way to say hello, embrace them, compliment/praise them, and usually end the conversation with, we need to hangout or spend some time together.

A person may believe that Jesus was real, but many have no real faith in Him. the Bible to them may be a really good book, but for them it’s just a bunch of interesting stories. Yet, because they go to church, do not kill or murder and love all people, they must be a christian. I mean Jesus did some really good deeds, and surely anyone can become like Jesus if they tried and still make it to heaven right?!

No, What is interesting is that it’s not about trying to be like Jesus. This is where many people mess up! While it is good to want to be like Jesus, you can’t be like Him. Let me put it this way, I worship Yeshua, and He does the work through me. There is a difference between abiding in Him and Him in us and trying to be like Him. It is the same as saying, putting your livelihood/trust in Him vs. not putting your trust in Him. Here’s an example, but before I go into the example I want to share that I am not putting Jews for Jesus down, I believe the organization is formed to share that one must abide in Messiah Yeshua and I consider the organization as a friend and bother of and to the Messianic Jewish Movement. It is the name Jews for Jesus that I wish was different, because it is open to the idea that Jews should be proponents to Jesus without putting their faith in Him. Again, the organization believes and works to share the good news to the Jew first and nations likewise so that all might be saved, so I am not attacking them. I am only sharing my thoughts on the name by itself. With that being said, we should be praying for the continued work of Messiah to be accomplished through them in reaching out to the Jewish community, and that the good news would continue to be shared in the Jewish community and to the world.

In regards to faith listen to this story:

There were two farmers who were in a great famine. For months, they prayed every night for the rain to fall. The first farmer, he had a great field and considered himself so blessed that every day he went out to pray, work his field, and thanked G-d for the fruit of his labor. Even though the land was dry and barren, everything was set for the moment it should rain.

The second farmer, he also had a great field and when he looked out, he cried out during the heat of the day to G-d asking Him why he was given such a big field! As he saw the other farmer working in the heat, the second farmer chuckled thinking it shouldn’t rain for another couple of weeks as he turned back to the lawn chair under the shade of his home and napped.

After many hours that day, the first farmer accomplished his work and went to say his prayer for the night, “Thank You L-rd for the fruit of my labor, may my rest be in You”! As the first farmer began to snore away, a drop of rain fell on the second farmer and so he rose from his chair. Tired and Not thinking much about what just happened, he went inside and lay in his bed…. BOOOOM! The lighting crashed and the thunder rumbled as the rain began to fall! The second farmer startled by the storm was fully awakened and realized that his field was not finished. He ran out in desperation to try and work the field even in the rain, but the field was to great and he was overcome by the rain.

This parable is similar to the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. 5 of them were wise to be ready with their lamps and oil, while the foolish others only had their lamps and no oil.

The difference between those who were ready and those who were not was their trust in G-d. This makes all the difference in our practice. It’s not about whether a person is qualified or not… here, it is about the G-d who can do all things and will work all things for good to those who Love Him and are called by His Name. Essentially are you ready for Him to do a good work in your lives! If so how have you prepared yourself for Him?

Let’s read from Philippians 2:1-18

1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Messiah, if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship of the Ruach, if there is any mercy and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, united in spirit, with one purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfishness or conceit, but with humility consider others as more important than yourselves, 4looking out not only for your own interests but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua,

6Who, though existing in the form of God,

did not consider being equal to God

a thing to be grasped.

7But He emptied Himself—

taking on the form of a slave,

becoming the likeness of men

and being found in appearance as a man.

8He humbled Himself—

becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross.

9For this reason God highly exalted Him

and gave Him the name

that is above every name,

10that at the name of Yeshua

every knee should bow,

in heaven and on the earth

and under the earth,

11and every tongue profess

that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord—

to the glory of God the Father.

12Therefore, my loved ones, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence—work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

13For the One working in you is God—both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15so that you might be blameless and innocent, children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. Among them you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast to the word of life, so that I may boast in the day of Messiah that I did not run or labor in vain. 17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and the service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18The same way, you also—rejoice and share your joy with me!

Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society, Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015), Php 2:13–18.

In this, Yeshua emptied himself, humbled himself, and gave himself!

Because of this, He was lifted up!

We read in verse 12. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling!

And why is this?

Because God who is in you is inspiring you and He is doing the good work!

Not my will L-rd, but Yours be done!

His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven! You Lord, give us this daily bread!

See how when we engage in the feeling of scripture, He is revealed. And when He is revealed, we can engage in Him who is more than able! But how can you reveal yourself to Him if you are quiet!

You know, I love my dogs, but one day my dogs did wrong and ran out of the house. As I went out to look for them, do you think I went out only to look to see if they were close by… of course not! I went out calling out their names… Alexander! Selah!

I then gave a loud whistle, and suddenly one returned to me while the other was no where to be found. Later I found someone else had found the other as we posted the lost dog on social media.

It is true that they know a master’s voice. However, what made me really nervous and anxious was when I had gotten outside, I couldn’t see them or hear their voices.

Imagine the G-d who wants to hear from you and is calling out your name, and yet, you are quiet and walking miles away. Religion doesn’t make you a believer in Yeshua. Your faith in Him that He can and will do a great thing in your life makes you a believer, and the way to step into that is by drawing near to Him, calling on Him and allowing Him to love and embrace you.

Today we are going to engage with each other to allow G-d to move in a mighty way!

In Ephesians 3 we read verses 7-21

”I became a servant of this Good News by the gift of God’s favor given to me through the exercise of His power. This favor was given to me, the very least of His kedoshim, to proclaim to the Gentiles the endless riches of the Messiah and to bring to light the plan of the mystery—which for ages was hidden in God, who created all things. The purpose is that through Messiah’s community the multi-faceted wisdom of God might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places, which is in keeping with the eternal purpose that He carried out in Messiah Yeshua our Lord. In Him we have boldness and access with confidence through trusting in Him. So I ask you not to be discouraged by my troubles on your behalf—they are your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father— from Him every family in heaven and on earth receives its name. I pray that from His glorious riches He would grant you to be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Ruach, so that Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to grasp with all the kedoshim what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.“

Ephesians 3:7-21 TLV

We are going to pray together, because prayer is our communion with Him. It is how we lift Him up, and lift each other up to Him.

Let’s look at the L-rd’s prayer:

”“Therefore, pray in this way: ‘Our Father in heaven, sanctified be Your name.“

Matthew 6:9 TLV

a. ”Do not be anxious about anything—but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.“ Philippians 4:6-7 TLV

”Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.“ Matthew 6:10-11 TLV

a. ”Therefore let us draw near to the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need.“

Hebrews 4:16 TLV

”And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’“ - Matthew 6:12-13 TLV

a. ”But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God. They were born not of a bloodline, nor of human desire, nor of man’s will, but of God. And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We looked upon His glory, the glory of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth. Out of His fullness, we have all received grace on top of grace. Torah was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah. No one has ever seen God; but the one and only God, in the Father’s embrace, has made Him known.” - John 1:12-14, 16-18 TLV

”Yeshua sent out these twelve and ordered them, “Do not go to the Gentiles, and do not enter into any Samaritan town. But go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near!’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with tza'arat, drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give.“ - Matthew 10:5-8 TLV

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”

It’s His glory that is made manifest in our lives when we empty ourselves, humbly come, and give our lives to Him!

So now, we are going to turn ourselves to each other as we empty ourselves before the L-rd our G-d. And as we confess our sins, we will prayer for each other, and we will give our request to the Lord and we will in faith pray that the Lord would accomplish His good work in our lives!

For those watching online, we are going to close with the Aaronic blessing, and we ask that you take the time to devotion. For those here after the blessings, I will give over some directions as we engage in prayer.