August 2010

Alive in the Spirit

Rabbi Don Lansing

As a boy, I attended a Christian school. Every morning we would open the school day with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the flag; then we would stand up to recite our assigned Bible verses. I like to say that by the end of the eighth grade I had memorized the Bible. But the Bible, God’s Word, didn’t come alive to me until I fully submitted myself to the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit).

Kevin Geoffrey, in his book The Messianic Life, talks about the Word of God.  He says:

In the Scriptures, the word “Word” is translated from the Hebrew, Dalet-Vet-Reish (davar), and less often, Alef-Mem-Reish-Hey (im’rah). Both have similar meanings and usages relating to the words of speech. Davar tends to refer to the actual commands and teachings of Adonai—what we would consider to be the written Word of God. Im’rah sometimes speaks to the promises or attributes that are implicit in the Word—what we might consider to be the living manifestation of the Word in our lives, or the living Word. These words find their respective, approximate equivalents in the Greek, logos and rhema, although the pattern of “written Word/living Word” in each pair is by no means a hard and fast comparison.

Ultimately, what the Scriptures say about “the Word” is varied, but points to a single source and purpose. The Word is a fire and a hammer of destruction against those who misuse it, but it is a light and a lamp to the feet of those who follow in its way. The Word is the Torah of Adonai, the instructions and teachings for Israel. It is also the word of the Prophets who spoke by inspiration, moved by the Spirit of God. The Word is the Sword of the Spirit, separating spirit and soul, joint and marrow, discerning the thoughts of the heart. The Word is Truth, and it is alive—it is straight and upright, never crooked in its ways. The Word is the very seed of the Good News of the Messiah Yeshua; and more than that, it is the Messiah Himself—the Son, the Only Begotten One. This unbroken Word—dictated by the mouth of God, inscribed by human hands—is preserved for us in the Scriptures of our faith. Every aspect of the Word becomes alive in us when we receive its authority and power to change our lives.

When we summit to the Ruach HaKodesh, He makes the Word of God come alive and the gifts of the Spirit flow.

Scripture Readings

Saturday, Aug. 7, R’eh (“See!”)
Deuteronomy 11:26—16:17
Isaiah 54:11—55:5
1 John 4:1-6

Saturday, Aug. 14, Shoftim (“Judges”)
Deuteronomy 16:18—21:9
Isaiah 51:12—52:12
John 1:19-27

Saturday, Aug. 21, Ki Tetse (“When you go out”)
Deuteronomy 21:10—25:19
Isaiah 54:1-10
1 Corinthians 5:1-5

Saturday, Aug. 28, Ki Tavo (“When you enter in”)
Deuteronomy 26:1—29:9 (8)
Isaiah 60:1-22
Acts 7:30-36

Prayer Needs

We pray for all who are sick, homebound, or in financial need. Pray for all those traveling this month. Pray for our President, our nation, all fighters of terrorism, and the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for Israel’s new government and the return of the Jewish people to Israel. Also pray for Congregation Beth Shalom.

Scriptures

Ephesians 6

Yiddish

Yeytser hore—the evil inclination.
Yeytser tov—the good inclination.