How Zealous are You for the things of ADONAI?

Torah:  Numbers 25:10 - 30:1

Haftarah:  1 Kings 18:46 - 19:21

B’rit Chadashah:  Romans 11:2 - 32

הָאְנִק  - 'qana'

11 "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal. 12 Therefore say, "Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; 13 and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel."'  ~ Numbers 25:11-13

qana’ - Hebrew, a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) zealous, i.e. (in a bad sense) jealous or envious:--(be) envy(-ious), be (move to, provoke to) jealous(-y), X very, (be) zeal(-ous).

and it’s Greek equivalent...

zeo - Greek, a primary verb; to be hot (boil, of liquids; or glow, of solids), i.e. (figuratively) be fervid (earnest):--be fervent. (from which comes the extended word ‘zeal’)

“10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer,“ ~ Romans 12:10-12

‘Be aglow, and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.’ - AMP version

You may have noticed a strong connection between ‘zeal’ and ‘enthusiasm’.  To be zealous over the things of ADONAI is to be enthusiastic, and even jealous for those things, just as HE is with us...

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I am zealous [qana] for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her.'  ~ Zechariah 8:2

“...(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous [Qanna], is a jealous [qanna] God),”  ~ Exodus 34:14

Therefore, one of the Names of God is El Qanna! [Jealous God]

Now, taking this one step further, we see the Greek word for  ‘enthusiasm’ is ‘entheos’ meaning ‘God within’.  Truly, to be ‘burning aglow, burning with spiritual fervor’ IS TO BE filled with His Spirit, producing fruit and zealous for building ADONAI’s Kingdom and not merely building our own ‘kingdoms’.

Pinchas (Phinehas) was a man whose righteous zeal indeed, caused him to ‘do things with all his might...as unto the LORD, and not unto men’ [Ecclesiastes 9:10; Ephesians 6:6-7].  

This zealous act was ‘done in faith’.  It was done because Phinehas fore mostly and chiefly believed ADONAI!  In other words, it was not the act itself that caused it to be ‘accredited to him as righteousness’ [as Psalm 106 reveals], it was Phinehas’ FAITH!  

And FAITH is nothing less than an ‘ACTIVE TRUST from a believing heart [pure conscience] that produces acts of righteousness in the ZEAL of ADONAI...ENTHEOS!

30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, And the plague was stopped. 31 And that was accounted to him for righteousness To all generations forevermore. ~ Psalm 106

Romans 14:23 cautions us that...

 “...whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin [whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful]. “

Both Phinehas and Abraham were JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, not by their works. [Please Read Romans 4:1-8]

You see that we, too, are justified [made righteous] BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST JESUS.  And we also see that whatever ‘works’ we do that are not DONE IN FAITH is SIN [dead works]!  This is why the writer of Hebrews reveals yet another great TRUTH to us:

‘13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?’ ~ Hebrews 9

Conclusion:  True zealous and righteous acts are works done IN FAITH, in union with the Mashiach, in the zeal of ADONAI.  These works will continue on and will be rewarded in the world to come [‘olam haba].  For Scripture declares:

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 

~ 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

• Do you have a real passion and zeal for the LORD, for the things of the LORD (as the LORD does}?
  
• Does it show in your work?
  
• What does this week’s Torah portion and extra drash reveal about your own heart?
  
• Have you asked the LORD to reveal to you what portion of your work is done IN FAITH (living works to be rewarded) and what work is done without faith (dead works to be burned = sin)?
  
• What does ‘be aglow, burning with the Spirit’ mean?
  
• How has The Word convicted and convinced your heart this week?
  
• What has ADONAI instructed that you do differently this week in your relationships?
  
• THE WORD can take you anywhere.  Where did the Ruach of ADONAI take you this week in your drash (study)?
  

Mriy!

1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. 2 And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. 3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” 4 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, 5 and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the Lord will show who is His,  and who is holy, and will bring him near to Him. The one whom He chooses He will bring near to Him. ~ Numbers 16:1-5

Mriy!

That’s the common thread running through this week’s parashah (Torah portion reading cycle). 

Mriy is the Hebrew word for ‘rebellion’.  Mriy means bitterness, disobedience, provocation, and rebellion.

It’s the exact opposite of honey that tastes sweet, pleasant and goes down smoothly.

Rebellion ALWAYS leads to some kind of division.  It divides the shalom known and realized in the UNITY of the Ruach. It grieves the Ruach of Elohim (Spirit of God).

Sowing discord among the brethren is one of the seven abominations that ADONAI hates, according to Proverbs 6:

16 There are six things that ADONAI hates,

seven that are an abomination to Him: 

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood, 

18 a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that make haste to run to evil, 

19 a false witness who breathes out lies,

and one who sows discord among brothers.

In 1 Samuel 15:23, the prophet Samuel filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, equates rebellion with the sin of divination/witchcraft!

witchcraft/rebellion: a way of attaining the desires of (your) evil, unbelieving heart through manipulation because you do not believe God has your best interests at heart.  Therefore, you must take up any means necessary to achieve the desires of your heart as you do not believe God is either able, willing, or both.

         1. Is this the means you use to get what you (think you) desire?  

2. Do you manipulate your spouse?  Your co-workers?  Your children?  

3. Has your heart been guilty of mriy in any form?

4. Have you asked ADONAI to examine your heart for any impure motives you may not be aware of? 

The wisdom of Scripture reveals to us that as we ‘Delight ourselves in ADONAI, He gives us the desire of our (transformed) hearts’! (Psalm 37:4)

To delight ourselves in ADONAI is to be one with ADONAI in perfect shalom and harmony according to His preparations.

ADONAI hates rebellion because it leads to discord.  And discord leads to division which is the opposite of yachad (unity).  When there is no yachad, there is no shalom.  ADONAI is One.  HE is perfect echad.  HE is never divided.  HE is perfect shalom.  Even His name is YHWH-SHALOM.  Shalom is what our Mashiach died to give to us.  

Scripture tells us to 'be at shalom as much as it depends upon us' (Romans 12:18) and that ‘a harvest of righteousness is raised in shalom by those who make shalom’ (James 3:18); and also that we are to ‘be eager to maintain the unity of the Ruach (Spirit) in the bond of shalom’ (Ephesians 4:3).

This is the kind of heavenly shalom that Yeshua said HE was giving to His disciples...

"What I am leaving with you is shalom -- I am giving you My shalom. I don't give the way the world gives. Don't let yourselves be upset or frightened.” ~ John 14:27

Go here for more about Korach in B'rit Chadashah (New Testament Reading with Torah)

A Tribute to Amy Jones

I had the privilege of being Amy’s long distance Friend. My husband introduced her to me some years back at a Ziglar speaking workshop in Dallas…just before she was given the great opportunity to work with Ziglar Training.

She welcomed me into her life like no one I’d ever known. She invited me numerous times to go to one of her conferences…and finally, my husband and I had the privilege of being her guests at a GM (Get Motivated!) seminar in Topeka, KS.

Man, was that fun!

She wore me out with her energy! I just love her to pieces…and one additional neat thing, I spoke to my Mom about her numerous times. And my Mom went to be with the LORD two years ago…And now, they finally know each other in that glorious REST called Heaven!

Shalom aleichem, Amy’s family…there is a BIG gap in this present world.

Tom Ziglar wrote an amazing tribute to Amy.  Read more about her tremendous influence in many lives at:  At the Foot of a Giant

Amy was a Girl who knew how to L-I-V-E!  Amy and I would often joke about our great love for acronyms!  They helped us to remember the simple things in an often complicated life. 

May we learn from her just how much of a GIFT today really is.  I will miss your sweet presence, Amy! 

You can get her newly released book at the Ziglar Online Shop.  

Amy seriously did 'TWICE AS MUCH IN HALF THE TIME'. 

Shelach-Lekha (‘Send for Yourself’)

This week's Parashah Reading: Shelach-Lekha ("Send for yourself")

Torah:  Numbers 13:1-15:41

Haftarah: Joshua 2:1-24

B'rit Chadashah: Hebrews 3:7-4:1 

The ‘Sin of the Spies’ account in this week’s Torah Portion follows on the heels of the account of Miriam’s sin of lashon hara (evil speech/slander/complaining, fretting, or whining all stemming from disbelieving hearts) against her brother Moses, the prophet of God.  You can read about it in the book of Numbers chapter 12.

Miriam’s punishment for judging Moses’ selection of his wife Tzipporah, (a Cushite woman with black skin) was ironically, to be stricken with tzara’at (a contagious skin disease) that turned her skin AS WHITE AS SNOW.  Miriam had, in essence, judged in this case, a person from outward appearances.

The entire camp watched as Miriam’s skin turned white as snow when the Cloud of ADONAI’s Presence was removed from over the tent. Ten of those who saw were the unbelieving spies!

We see that these ten of the twelve spies had done the same.  They had judged a land, Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) according to outward appearances as well. 

The Sin of the Spies was the same as Miriam’s.  They perceived with their eyes only and did not take into account the God Who had ALREADY PROMISED to give them this Land.  

The report they gave the Israelites upon their return was lashon hara, for they came back spreading falsities and fear instead of Truth and Trust in the God of their deliverance.

“We can’t attack those people because they are stronger than we are”; and they spread a negative report about the land they had reconnoitered for the people of Israel by saying, “"The land we passed through in order to spy it out is a land that devours its inhabitants. All the people we saw there were giant!  We saw the N'filim, the descendants of 'Anak, who was from the N'filim; to ourselves we looked like grasshoppers by comparison, and we looked that way to them too!"’ ~ Numbers 13:31-33

Noteworthy:  Just before Moses sent out the Twelve Spies out, he changed Hoshea’s (son of Nun) name to Y’hoshua (Joshua).  This was significant because Moses added the Hebrew letter yud to the front of Hoshea’s name. 

"In changing Hoshea's name to Yehoshua, Moshe [Moses] sought to address this last remaining element. Moshe’s choice of the new form of Hoshea's name was not random: adding the letter "yud" to Hoshea created a string of letters which constitute the first three of Tetragrammaton, the four-lettered DIVINE Name of God [YHWH]. "Hoshea" indicates salvation; by transforming this name to include the Name of God, Moshe includes God in the equation.  Hoshea becomes Yehoshua: God will be within him, there to aid, to bring about their salvation." ~Rabbi Ari Kahn

“YHWH is BEFORE YOU TO DELIVER YOU.  I’m going to change your name, Hoshea, as a REMINDER to you all of YHWH’s DELIVERANCE GOING BEFORE you all!” , was Moses’ encouraging sentiments to the Twelve Spies.

1.) Has lashon hara ever infected your life?  How has it infected the lives of those around you?

2.) Is your speech honorable to ADONAI Eloheinu (LORD our God)?

3.) We see that Caleb ‘had a different spirit’.  “But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.”  ~ Numbers 14:24

a.) How was it different?

b.) In what areas of your life is HE calling you to ‘follow Him fully’ and have a different spirit?

4.) YESHUA (Latin: Jesus) is a contraction of Y’hoshua, meaning ‘YHWH-SAVES’!

a.) How has YESHUA saved you?

b.) How does HE continue to do so?

c.) Where is HE directing you to fully follow Him in your marriage, with your children, co-workers, neighbors and family members, while driving on James River Freeway, and with the unfriendly check-out lady at SuperTarget?

5.)  Do you remember Rachav’s (Rahab) faith in the reading of Joshua 2? 

a.) What does Rachav's emunah (faith) say about her?

b.) What can you learn from Rachav?

c. ) How did ADONAI reward Rachav's faith?

6.) The B’rit Chadasha’s reading in Hebrews 3:7-4:1 equates the ‘good news of deliverance’ to ‘mixing our FAITH with The Message’:  

The Message (Word of Christ) + My Active Faith = Deliverance

a.) How is The Word directly linked to our faith (active trust), and our faith directly linked to our rest (deliverance)?

b .) How do we gain more faith? (Romans 10:17)

c. ) HOW IS YOUR EMUNAH GROWING AS YOU ARE HEARING THE WORD OF CHRIST BY IMMERSING YOURSELF IN IT DAILY?

Don’t Forget the Tzitzit!

Please Read Numbers 15:37-41

ADONAI instructed the Israelites that ‘they shall make for themselves tassels (Hb. tzitzit) on the corners (Hb. ‘kanaph’ meaning ‘wing’) of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.

The Israelites’ garments would have been large rectangular tunics with four corners.  Today, since that style has gone out of fashion, the prayer shawl or ‘tallit’ has replaced this garb.  The tallit is a rectangular prayer shawl draped over the shoulders with tassels on its four corners.

The color blue is also significant.  The color was more like a dark blue, almost violet.  This dye was taken from a substance secreted by the Murex off of the coast of Phoenicia.  It was not easy to come by and thus, very expensive.  This color was also used within the weavings of the Tabernacle and the High Priests’ robe.

Therefore, when every Israelite was tempted to ‘spy out’ (Hb. tuwr, same root word used for the spies) after their own hearts and eyes, they could look to the tzitzit instead and

1.) REMEMBER the Commandments of ADONAI...

2.) DO THEM...

3.) and THUS NOT (have to) ‘tuwr’/SPY OUT after our own ADULTEROUS hearts and eyes.

Imagine now, how well these mnemonic devices would serve us today!  In essence, always wearing this REMINDER on their garments helped the Israelites to...

1.) REALIZE that ADONAI’S GOOD COMMANDMENTS were given as a covering to PROTECT THEM ON EVERY SIDE!

2.) REMEMBER to keep HIS Commandments and be HOLY (Hb. kadosh-pure, set-apart, consecrated/unavailable to the world’s system)!

3.) RECOGNIZE who they really were - a ROYAL priesthood!

Where’s my tzitzit??!!

1.) How does this commandment of ADONAI resonate with your spirit in regards to your OWN hearts and eyes (that Scriptures tells us) which pursue ‘zanah’ (fornication, unfaithfulness, adultery, harlotry, idolatry)?

2.) Kodesh means ‘holy’.  It is also the Hebrew word used in the Tanach for the Holy ‘One’ of Israel, speaking of ADONAI HIMSELF!  [Such as Isaiah 1:4] HE is not divided.  He is the Holy ONE of Israel.  He is Faithful.  Thus, to not be in harmony with ADONAI in purpose, thought, and deed through His Word of Instruction and by the Power of the Ruach HaKodesh is akin to adultery against the Bridegroom Himself. 

Imagine. Dream. Love.

Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy. 

~ 1 Peter 1:8 (AMP)

Our imaginations of our LORD is what will prove to deepen our affections for Him.  

Just the same as a woman dreams of her lover when he is away, so we, too may dream of the One Who loved us.  Yes, even before HE ever laid eyes on us in our mother's wombs, we were loved by Him.  

We were dreamt of, in the mind of Yeshua, Creator of Heaven, Earth, and mankind before we ever inhaled our first breath as a newborn babe.

It is a beautiful gift from ADONAI to imagine and to dream.  

My husband's work takes him away from home quite a bit.  If I were to quit thinking about him, my love for him would eventually and definitely wane.  If I chose not to actively keep him in my thoughts even when he is around our home, my love for him would slowly suffocate.

Practically speaking, the hard work finds itself in our actively searching for those quiet, 'dreamy' places whereby we may fill our minds with glorious imaginings of the Lover of our souls.  

The perfect rendezvous.  That preconceived destination.  A still moment where nothing but birds chirp and the wind blows as the morning sun takes its place in the Eastern sky, perhaps.

Dream of Him as you dine with Him - as you partake of the FEAST of HIS Word HE has put before you at His table, dream of Him.  

Dream of Him as you walk by the way.  

Dream of Him as you talk and as you pray.  

Dream of Him as you speak of His glorious ways.  

Dream lovely visions of Him to fill your thoughts and bring joy to your days.  

Dream of Him as the sun arises, casting shadows on the ground.

Dream of Him in the night as you rest, safe and sound.

Just dream.

When and where are those quiet places of solitude you've discovered?  What do those places look like for you?  Where do you 'think upon', with wild imaginings, the One Who so intensely loves you?

The Fulfilled Woman at The Cafe

Yeshua HaMashiach said that He came that we might have ABUNDANT LIFE (John 10:10).   HIS Execution Stake (The Cross) made a way for us to receive inner joy, peace, and contentment in our life’s journey.  

 

In the glorious blessing of our salvation, Yeshua has given us THREE KINGDOM KEYS that we may unlock the doors of Favor and Blessing in our lives:

 

1.) KEY OF WISDOM (TO GUIDE US) - THE WORD OF GOD

 

2.) KEY OF POWER (TO INVIGORATE US) - THE SPIRIT OF GOD

 

3.) KEY OF LOVE (TO CHANGE US) - THE PURPOSE OF GOD

 

The journey to being The Fulfilled Woman is not far.  It’s much closer than you may think! 

Join me at the CAFE!

Words Are Not Enough...

The graphic to the left is the Hebrew word 'yachad' which means unity.  I wrote about Yachad in an earlier post.  Why do you suppose ADONAI looks upon our 'yachad' as GOOD and PLEASANT (Psalm 133)?

I believe HE does, not only because it fills our hearts and minds to be in unity with our brethren, but it also serves a GREAT PURPOSE for those watching eyes who are being called but have not answered His Voice!

Now, Chaverim, what would bubble up inside of you if someone were to ask you the following:

"What information, data, proof, evidence do you have for your religion, that would help me to decide to choose yours?"

"What distinguishes your religion from others, that would help me to decide which is true, and which are not?" 

Imagine being posed these questions.  How might you respond?  Just think for a minute.

Recently, I was...and this was my response to the one seeking Truth:

"Friend, the ONLY evidence I have for my ‘religion’ being distinctive is my own changed life. And it is actually not a religion at all, as it is relational.  The One I know is Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) Who knew me first....most of my life I was my own god. And evidently god(desses) self-destruct...After all, all an individual has is his/her own experiences. And for me, I have experienced something life-altering."

"...what happened was Someone found me (Psalm 40:1-3)."

"ADONAI spoke to me (yes, HE still speaks) that I cannot change one person with persuasive arguments, but I can be so changed, that they desire what I have..and ask about it (and they do!)."

"And so it is, I cannot tell and/or give experiential Truth to someone in the hopes of changing or re-routing their prospective journeys, nor will I try. But what I will do is explain to them what HE has wrought in MY life…namely, a HOPE and REST that my troubled soul had sorely longed for."

I continue to pray for this man and ask ADONAI to grant him a repentant heart that he might respond to The Call of salvation through His Son Yeshua.

As I prayed and thought about this brief encounter, the LORD continued to challenge my own heart.  HE continued to speak to me about the roles we play as His instruments of righteousness.

Now, I ask you as I continue to ask myself.   What EVIDENCE have you to present to the world about The One Truth?

Is there anything distinctive and powerful about your LIFE , about your family, about your assembly that could be the catalyst that causes someone to ‘put their trust and confident reliance in ADONAI’?

The DEMONSTRATION OF KINGDOM POWER always manifests itself as 

1. HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS (1 Peter 3:15)/my Supreme Satisfaction
   
2. LOVE FOR THE BRETHREN (John 13:35)/my Sovereign Sanctification
   

Though both are beneficial to the Believer, they also serve as a 'sign' to the unbelieving.

Again, I implore you to gain the highest of understanding that the DEMONSTRATION OF THE KINGDOM, is the POWER of Christ in me, Who is my HOPE of glory!

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of words, but of power. ~ 1 Corinthians 4:20

The Evidence that TRUTH abides in us, and that we are walking with Him is not found in persuasive words, but it is found in a Transformed Life.

Neither in the Old or New Covenant do you see ADONAI jumping up and down like a forlorn child yelling ‘Pick me, Pick me!’.  On the contrary, both Yeshua and His disciples bid others to ‘Come and See’ for themselves.

And furthermore, it is HE Who does the pickin’.  Not us. (Another lesson for another day!)

Does any other ‘religion’ have a Being Who died for our sin that we may truly LIVE?  No.  Because no other religion’s ‘prophet’ died for his disciples, let alone be resurrected as Yeshua HaMashiach was.  They all remain in their graves.  

But not HE!

Is there another religion where the disciples are to ‘become one’?  Here is another distinction, whereby all other ‘religions’ are about ‘rugged individualism’.  Not so for Followers of The Way.

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. 

~ 1 Corinthians 6:17

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and all were made to drink of one Spirit.  ~ 1 Corinthians 12:13

There is this growing theme of YACHAD (unity) throughout the Scriptures.

We spoke of the “New Song” last week in our women's Beit Midrash as beautifully depicted in Psalm 40.  Notice the glorious progression...

In the miry pit.

ADONAI hears our cries (because HE is nearby).

He pulls us out from the depth of darkness.

He puts our feet upon The Rock (Himself).

He establishes our steps. (Ephesians 2:10 - our works ordained of ADONAI)

He puts a NEW SONG in our mouths (Universal Song of the Ruach HaKodesh).

BECAUSE of my singing that Universal NEW SONG of the Ruach HaKodesh, many will see and fear and put their fear and trust and confident reliance in ADONAI.

We Called-Out Ones have  A LOT yet to experience of ADONAI and one another!

We have been chosen that we, too, might sing the Ruach's New Song in GLORIOUS HARMONY with Him and with one another!

Take a blender, for example.  Does it not remain a hunk of useless, shiny metal (yet with so much potential) until it has been plugged in, and power flows from an outer source charging the appliance to do as it was designed to do. 

"There must be EVIDENCE revealing itself in Supreme Satisfaction and Sovereign Sanctification."

So, again I ask...Is your faith a demonstration of Kingdom Power?  Is the Evidence readily there for those seeking it?

...Because THEY are seeking.