Shomair Yisrael, TN

John 16:23-24 In that day, you will ask Me nothing. Amen, amen I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Up to now, you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be full. This is my third time in a row to write on these verses. “Whatever” is an inclusive term, until you add “in My name.” Then, all of a sudden, “whatever you ask” becomes limited to whatever you ask that is consistent with the character and desire of Yeshua’s reputation (His name is His reputation). So this the “new whatever.” James 4:2b-3 You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives so you may spend it on your passions. These words are “sandwiched” between some pretty awful behavior descriptions. James 4:2a You crave and have not. You murder and you envy, yet you cannot get it. You fight and you wage war … 4a You adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? People who behave this way and pray will not receive. I’m just making my point that there are limits on “whatever.” This “new whatever” is a recognition, when we pray, that there is profound unity in the Father and Son. That unity is communicated through the Holy Spirit (who will guide you into all truth – a reference to John 16:13). This leads us to a sneak peek at John 17:1 Yeshua spoke these things; then, lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, so the Son may glorify You.” The “Good News” is that God has welcomed us into His loving family. (We studied this verse previously also.) John 14:20 In that day, you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. May you be filled today with all the fruits of the Spirit, (lack for no good thing) and pray from that place of satisfaction and sufficiency. Pray for “whatever” in the unity of the spirit and in the bond of peace in Yeshua’s name and you will receive it. Amen. [...]

The Upper Room Discourse 53

John 16:23-24 In that day, you will ask Me nothing. Amen, amen I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Up to now, you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be full. No, this is not a typo. I didn’t “forget” that I wrote on these same verses last time. They are so profound, that I can’t resist saying more about them today. Whatever I have to say further about these verses, must include Yeshua’s purpose for saying them, “That your joy may be full.” My youngest daughter, Jacquelyne, used to say, “Wanting isn’t getting.” Yeshua’s promise to answer prayer must include this wisdom. With all due respect, God knows what we want and He knows what we need and they’re not necessarily the same thing. Psalm 23 specifically states, Psalm 23:1 A psalm of David. Adonai is my shepherd, I shall not want. This thought is confirmed throughout the Scriptures. Psalm 34:10-11 Fear Adonai, His kedoshim, For those who fear Him lack nothing. Young lions may lack, and go hungry, but those who seek Adonai want for no good thing. We usually translate Jehovah Jirah (Yehovah Yireh in Hebrew) as “God is my provider,” but the more accurate translation into English would be “God will see to it.” I have good news … God has promised to shepherd His flock. Isaiah 40:11 Like a shepherd, He tends His flock. He gathers the lambs in His arms, carries them in his bosom, and gently guides nursing ewes. The word “husband” means “to care for in a loving manner.” God has always wanted to be our husband. Isaiah 54:5 For your Maker is your husband – Adonai-Tzva’ot is His Name – the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called God of all the earth. It is we who have been unwilling. (See Matthew 23:37) God sent His Son to heal that wound once and for all time. Romans 8:15-16 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall again into fear; rather, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Ruach Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. God answers prayer! (True statement) His answers may not come as we expect. Our part, pray and seek His perspective as we trust The Good Shepherd. Joy is being satisfied in Him. Fullness of joy is the “Shalom” He alone promises in every situation of life. More coming as time allows. [...]

Forgiveness

There are numerous references in the Tanakh for worship, yet one word, avodah stands out above them all! Avodah is derived from the root word avad and is often translated as work! Consider two passages in the Torah which use this word: “For six days you will work (ta’avod)‬, but on the seventh day you will rest” (Exodus 34:21, TLV). “When you come into the land which Adonai will give you as He has promised, you are to keep this ceremony (avodah)” (Exodus 12:25, TLV). The Hanukkah story recounts the plight of our forefathers to restore correct worship to God against both a foreign king and fellow Israelites who drew us away from God’s commandments (see 1 Maccabees chapter 1). Judaism calls this type of improper worship Avodah Zarah (literally “strange worship” or idolatry). The Maccabees fought back valiantly against this and eventually cleansed the Temple, restoring proper worship and instituting the Festival of Hanukkah. Read the full article here: November ’23 Issue 28 [...]

The Upper Room Discourse 52

John 16:23-24 In that day, you will ask Me nothing. Amen, amen I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Up to now, you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be full. I’m reading these two verses very deliberately. These words seem overwhelming. What did Yeshua mean? Why did He say this at this moment? Many other questions, each of which will take much prayer to answer. Immediately, Yeshua is taking the focus off of Himself. “You will ask me nothing.” Why not? Yeshua, Himself, answers the question, “… you ask the Father in My name.” To properly understand the fullness of Yeshua’s meaning, we have to understand what He means by “in My name.” Most of us easily end every prayer by saying, “In Yeshua’s name, amen.” We think that is the formula to “asking in Yeshua’s name.” Well, it isn’t! A “name” is more than a label of identification. A “name” is a reputation. A good name (and Yeshua has the only good name) is both faithful and true. Hebrews 6:18b … it is impossible for God to lie … God cannot lie because God cannot make a mistake. There is nothing He doesn’t know. All of Satan’s craftiness is his vain attempt to make God a liar. Psalm 145:17-18 Adonai is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. Adonai is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. Yeshua identified Himself with the truth … John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.” To ask in Yeshua’s name means to pray in agreement with His reputation. He promises He will give you “whatever you ask.” But that’s not the whole verse. We have to ask “in My name” which means in accordance with Yeshua’s reputation. Praying in Yeshua’s name is not like playing “go fish,” where you reach for the next card and exclaim, “Got what I wanted.” If that were so, every time, it wouldn’t be long before we would believe in ourselves. But God’s perspective is eternal. We have to trust His judgment. More on this next time. [...]

CONNECT WITH US

Shomair Yisrael, TN

Shabbat Service - livestream

El Shaddai, MD

Shabbat Service - livestream

Rosh Pina, Owings Mill, MD

Interactive Tabernacle Worship Service & Torah Study

Brit Hadasha, TN

Shabbat Service - streamed

We're Social

OUR BLOG

Request A Speaker