ISSUE: #13

MEM

Message

Are all born with certain proclivities that are difficult to change? When we find these proclivities that are not proper, and we want to be on our best behavior, we often hide them or cover them up trying to deceive ourselves or others about our inborn – not so acceptable behavior. The real problem is we are all born with the pride Satan breathed into us all. He would not change and we, no matter how hard we may try, cannot change ourselves.

Andrew Murray in his writing about humility gives three points that are helpful.

1. There may be the enthusiastic and active practice of Christianity while humility is still sadly lacking. But deeper than all human devotion is the existence of an inner power of sin and selfishness. There may be some who are gifted to do great things but under the right circumstances they fail and reveal a character short of the grace of humility. Humility is the chief, the highest virtue on which our efforts need to be directed. Humility is a virtue that only comes in power when the fullness of the Spirit makes us partakers of the indwelling Christ and He lives in us.
2. The reality that external teachings and personal effort are powerless to conquer pride or create the meek and lowly heart in a person. Yeshua told us the lesson we are to learn from Him in Matthew 11:29 "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart." – Humility is the only path to the glory of God. - The Lamb of God unfolded to us the inmost secret of His life: "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve" (Luke 22:28); "I am among you as one who serves" (Luke 22:27). He was teaching us … no personal resolve or effort, however sincere and earnest, can cast out pride. Nothing works but this: that the new nature in its divine humility be revealed in power to take the place of the old – to become our true nature.
3. The revelation that it is only by the indwelling of the Anointed One in His divine humility that we can become truly humble. We have our pride from Adam; we must also have our humility from the Messiah. Pride rules in us with incredible power; it is ourselves, our very nature. Humility must become ours in the same way; it must be our true selves, our very nature. As natural and easy as it has been to be proud, it must become natural for us to be humble. The Promise is "where sin abounds, grace did abound more exceedingly." The fact is that all the instruction of Yeshua while on earth did not change man. After His ascension He sent His Spirit to make Himself one with those He loved, actually live their life for them, so that they could live before the Father in humility like His own.

We no longer have to hide our old motives. We can yield totally to our Savior to live His life in us, to change us to be in His likeness. Our heart will be clean; we can rest in Him and have peace.

Proverb

It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:19)

Saying

Failures are divided into two classes – those who thought and never did and those who did and never thought. John Charles Salak

Bible Quiz

1. Who was chosen to replace Judas as an apostle? Acts 1:24-26
2. To support the divinity of Messiah, how many miracles did John record?
3. Name the city on the north edge of the Sea of Galilee where Yeshua ministered. Luke 4:31
4. Who said, "Creatans are always liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons"? Titus 1:2
5. What did Jacob make Joseph promise before Jacob died? Genesis 47:28
6. With whom did the members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen argue? Acts 6:8-9
7. Who said, "Pray that you will not fall in temptation"? Luke 22:40
8. What type of lights did Noah have on the ark?

Hebraic Lesson

The Feast of Passover was given by the Almighty to be a rehearsal of the first coming of our Messiah. The Passover ceremony was observed in remembrance of the past and in preparation for the future. Many years after the Passover in Egypt, a person named John the Baptist, pointed to the Messiah and declared that He was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29).

After this our Savior ministered for three and one half years. At the end of that time, on the tenth of Nisan, the high priest marched out of the city of Jerusalem to Bethany. The lamb that was to be slain by the high priest for the sins of the whole nation was led back into the city through streets lined with thousands of pilgrims singing the Hallel (Psalms 113-118). The people also waved palm branches as Yeshua rode into the city on a donkey in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. "Rejoice greatly O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey – even on a donkey’s colt."

The lamb that was to be slain by the high priest was led into the temple and put in a prominent place of display. Likewise, our Savior, the Lamb of God went on public display when he entered the temple and spent four days there among the people, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the Scribes, as the leaders asked our Savior their hardest questions. Our Messiah was questioned in front of the people for four days, showing Himself to be without spot or blemish, fulfilling Exodus 12:5

On the fourteenth of Nisan, at the third hour of the day (nine am), the high priest took the lamb and ascended the altar so he could tie the lamb in place on the altar. At the same time on that day, our Savior was tied (nailed) to the tree on Mount Moriah (Mark 15:25). At the time of the evening sacrifice (3:00 pm) for Passover the high priest ascended the altar, cut the throat of the lamb with a knife, and said the words, "it is finished." At this same time, our Savior died, saying these exact words "It is finished" in John 19:30. Yeshua died at 3 pm – (Matthew 27:45, 46, 50.)

Article/Website/Book/Audio Spotlight

The Kingdom of God – We are told to pray for it to come. What do we know for sure about the Kingdom? Is the Kingdom mentioned in the Old Testament? Read our WEB article to find the answers to these questions and more. Click here for online article.

Did you know:

John Field (1782-1837), British pianist and composer, was considered one of finest pianists of the nineteenth century. His nocturnes are believed to have been the model for much of Chopin’s work. He spent much of his life teaching music in St. Petersburg.

Field’s friends, attending him during his last hours, felt the need of a clergyman to administer the last rites. But they were not sure of Field’s religious affiliation. "Are you a Papist or a Calvinist?" they asked him. "I am … a pianist," replied the dying artist.

W. C. Fields [William Claude Dukenfield] (1879-1946), U.S. film actor and comedian. He made many successful movies, including My Little Chickadee (1940).

A lifelong agnostic, Fields was discovered reading a Bible on his deathbed. "I’m looking for a loophole," he explained.

Humor

MUG AND BRUSH
ADAM HAD 'EM
IS YOUR MAN
LIKE ADAM, MADAM?

For those of you who never saw the Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930s and 1940s. Before the Interstates, when everyone drove the old 2-lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farmers' fields along the roadside. They were small red signs with white letters. Five signs, about 100 feet apart, each contain 1 line of a 4 line couplet, and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream.

DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD            DROVE TOO LONG
TO GAIN A MINUTE                DRIVER SNOOZING
YOU NEED YOUR HEAD              WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT           IS NOT AMUSING

BROTHER SPEEDER,                CAUTIOUS RIDER
LET'S REHEARSE;                 TO HER RECKLESS DEAR
ALL TOGETHER,                   LET'S HAVE LESS BULL
GOOD MORNING NURSE              AND LOTS MORE STEER

SPEED WAS HIGH                  THE MIDNIGHT RIDE
WEATHER WAS NOT                 OF PAUL FOR BEER
TIRES WERE THIN                 LED HIM TO
X MARKS THE SPOT                A WARMER HEMISPHERE

AROUND THE CURVE                NO MATTER THE PRICE
LICKETY-SPLIT                   NO MATTER HOW NEW
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL NEW CAR        THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE
WASN'T IT?                      IN THE CAR IS YOU

A GUY WHO DRIVES                AT INTERSECTIONS
A CAR WIDE OPEN                 LOOK EACH WAY
IS NOT THINKIN'                 A HARP SOUNDS NICE
HE'S JUST HOPIN'                BUT ITS HARD TO PLAY

BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL         THE ONE WHO DRIVES
EYES ON THE ROAD                WHEN HE'S BEEN DRINKING
THAT'S THE SKILLFUL             DEPENDS ON YOU
DRIVER'S CODE                   TO DO HIS THINKING

CAR IN DITCH                    PASSING SCHOOL ZONE
DRIVER IN TREE                  TAKE IT SLOW
THE MOON WAS FULL               LET OUR LITTLE
AND SO WAS HE.                  SHAVERS GROW

Children’s Story

Number Ten

Being a part of the crews which assisted the children of Israel along their travels was very rewarding. It enabled the workers to use their talents to the benefit of all. It seemed there were always challenges making it all the more rewarding. No matter how much you prepare there is something that pops up in everyone’s life, especially during travel times.

Father Jeremiah was feeling good as those under his care were doing very well. He always watched over them with the care of a good leader. He took the time when not on the move to hold special meetings, not only to keep them up to date on events and instruction from Moses, or the Seventy Elders, but also to train. Many times a family was without an able-bodied person to assist in family planning, or help with all their needs. Jeremiah would train the young on how to tend flocks, repair wagons or carts, how to properly handle fire and use it for cooking, working metal, and keeping warm. Learning how to properly pack for a journey was required. There were no paved roads and the jostling of cart and goods could easily ruin a family’s possessions. He also set in place a system of neighbor helping neighbor, and how to handle a situation which required a community effort.

All of the training and preparation is brought to the forefront when an emergency arises. Zilpha, a widowed woman with two older sons and a daughter of marriageable age, was driving her cart with all their earthly possessions. Her daughter had left her to take water and food to the oldest son who was leading their flock along the trail. Zilpha’s second son was serving with the military at the front of the large column. Jeremiah had assigned Regad, the family behind Zilpha, to help when needed. Regad’s flock had fallen behind when crossing a gully and he was busy helping get them back on track when a rock badger scurried out of the shadows and startled the donkey pulling Zilpha’s cart. The donkey lunged off the trail. The cart wheel struck a large rock almost upsetting the cart and Zilpha at the same time. The cart wheel shattered and the cart dropped to one side cutting the donkey’s harness. Off he went into the night away from the light of the fiery pillar, and the contents of the cart flew through the air and made a loud clatter as pots and pans came crashing to the ground.

Zilpha got a few scraps and bruises as she tumbled from the cart seat. She was too dazed to get up and chase after the donkey. With Regad gone to tend to his sheep, there was no one to immediately assist her. Little Yena saw what happened and ran to check on Zilpha. Helping her up, dusting her clothes and looking for injuries, she aided in finding an out of the way spot for Zilpha. Then she ran to get help. The training paid off as Yena got to the captain of the clan and alerted him of the situation, then went to find Jeremiah.

Jeremiah had just returned to his family when little Yena came running up with the news. Jeremiah pulled his ram’s horn from his belt and gave the alarm call for the service crews along the trail. By the time Yena and Jeremiah arrived back to the accident sight, a service wagon was arriving and available men and women came from several directions. A crew of aid people immediately ministered to the needs of Zilpha. While she was cared for, one young lady went to find Zilpha’s son and daughter among the flocks.

The service crew analyzed the situation and sent a dozen men with torches to try to locate the donkey. Others got blocks and hoisted the cart up to begin repairs. The women started to collect the cart items. Some were beyond repair and the needed items would be supplied from the utensil wagon by morning. A new cart wheel had to be fabricated on the spot. A quick response was needed to keep the family with the clan they belonged to, as the column did not stop. One young man was sent to find a spare donkey from the clan’s herd along the trail. Jeremiah was wise enough to have several extra animals for cases such as this.

The salvageable items were collected and piled next to the cart. Jeremiah sent most of the women back to their families and Zilpha was put in the aid wagon until she fully recovered. Jeremiah asked Yena to tell Jeremiah's son Benjamin to take care of Zilpha’s flock. Then Zilpha's children could return to her and care for their possessions.

A fire had been started and was used to burn broken parts and to help add an iron ring to the cart wheel. The carpenters had parts to fashion nearly any wheel. Soon the wheel was completed. The men returned without finding the donkey in the dark valleys and dense brush. A donkey was brought from the clan’s herd. The service wagons had extra harness hardware to accommodate the hitching of the animal to Zilpha’s cart. The items were loaded just as her children returned. The son took over the cart to get it back into its place in the column and her daughter set out to catch up with the aid wagon which had gone on ahead.

Jeremiah thanked the crews and got them under way. Then he put out the fire. The first rays of light were breaking over the horizon when things looked like they were getting back to normal. He spotted a group of soldiers patrolling along the east side of the trail and alerted them to spread the word of a missing donkey. If it was located it was to be returned to the clan of Tahan.

Jeremiah looked toward the sky above Israel as the fiery pillar was changing from fire to an awesome cloud. Lifting his hands he said, "Thank you YHVH for seeing us safely through this situation tonight. Thank you for the wisdom of our leaders who have prepared us. Thank you and bless those who did their part and helped. May Zilpha’a donkey be returned as she has few possessions with which to enter your promised land. May you bless them in their travels. Especially bless little Yena; may she grow to be like Rachel and Leah, may you send her a husband and bless them with many children for she truly has a heart to give and serve. Blessed be your name – Hallelujah."

Quiz Answers

1. Matthias
2. Eight
3. Capernaum
4. One of their own prophets
5. That he would not bury Jacob in Egypt (but in the Promised Land)
6. Stephen
7. Yeshua (Jesus)
8. Flood lights