We are walking in today: Torah Portion--Tazria/She Conceives and Metzora/Person With Skin Disease
Witness conceived throughout the Bible: H2029 harah to conceive, become pregnant, bear, be with child, be conceived, progenitor. In the mind to conceive, contrive, devise
Genesis 16:5, 21:2; Leviticus 12:2; 2 Samuel 11:5; 2 Kings 4:17; Jeremiah 49:30; Psalm 7:14; Matthew 1:10; Luke 1:24, 2:21; Acts 5:4
This morning for our Torah portion we have two, a double portion, She Conceives and Person With Skin Disease. These two portions are assigned to us this week is very fitting for us being in the taming of the tongue. Yahweh has given us this portion for His reason and let's take a look at why. The ideas that we have in our minds can conceive many things, both words and actions. This is where words are born. What have you conceived in your mind? In taming out tongues we have to know where did this word stem from? We have to also be aware if we are allowing those words uttered but it goes deeper than that! We are not allowed to think on those things that He has not directed us! Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. For we know that the power of life and death is in our tongue! What are we allowing to escape our lips into the air? We find that in the next Torah portion that what we speak in secret is never secret from Yahweh. The skin disease resulted from being among things that are unclean. But how can that happen? The main contributor is the evil tongue--lashon hara. This skin disease would allow the person to reflect on this time of isolation that this contagious thing did not spread to other people. Those who were to be placed outside the camp had to shout to others 'unclean, unclean' in the presence of others that they too would not be contaminated. This is showing us that we are not allowed to utter things against each other nor disregard His instructions! His desire is for us to walk in unity and the instructions were given for His purpose. John 17:15-21 (KJV)15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Pastor Lucinda Wagner's Closing Thoughts--
GENERAL LIFE- Prepare individuals to serve God--Increase knowledge and skills. Teach children to trust God in everything. Prepare for eternity. Look at God’s world as a whole—interconnecting—revealing God in every area. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmaments sheweth his handywork (Psalm 19:1). Teach children to love learning so they will become self-motivated, lifelong learners. Discover a child’s God-given gifts and talents, and develop them to their fullest potential. Focus on spiritual training. God-centered: “Thy will be done.” Authority with responsibility. Literacy, strong family ties, love of learning, security, independent thinking, high morals and values.
Bible: “His Story” (true history)
Character
Self-government (internal obedience to God)
The three main orders of study in ancient Israel consisted of:
1. Religious education
2. Occupational skills
3. Military training
with the basis of all knowledge being the fear of the Lord (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7).
Lawfulness:
Love one another. The last shall be first. Deny thyself. Obey God’s Commandments.
To understand the Early Church we must dig through layers of a mountain of man’s influences shoveling off and discarding man’s traditions, theories, interpretations, and philosophies from Greek and Roman civilizations, Aristotle, Constantine, Marcion, etc., to be able to examine the Early Church.
During the Reformation, men such as Wycliffe and Calvin were digging in the right spot. They dug up and discarded many theological errors and found a view of God’s plan of salvation by grace, but anti-Semitic layers remain and now there are new layers of tradition, interpretations, western thought (a return to the Greek and Roman philosophy) and conditioning that need removal. Only then can we have a clear view of the Early Church.
Greek philosophy between Aristotle and Augustine is the foundation of Western thought (Aristotle tried to merge the Bible and Plato = Hellenistic Philosophy). This is the reason for so much Greek philosophy in the church. Explore the differences between Eastern and Western thinking and how it affects each culture.
GENERAL LIFE- Prepare individuals to serve God--Increase knowledge and skills. Teach children to trust God in everything. Prepare for eternity. Look at God’s world as a whole—interconnecting—revealing God in every area. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmaments sheweth his handywork (Psalm 19:1). Teach children to love learning so they will become self-motivated, lifelong learners. Discover a child’s God-given gifts and talents, and develop them to their fullest potential. Focus on spiritual training. God-centered: “Thy will be done.” Authority with responsibility. Literacy, strong family ties, love of learning, security, independent thinking, high morals and values.
Bible: “His Story” (true history)
Character
Self-government (internal obedience to God)
The three main orders of study in ancient Israel consisted of:
1. Religious education
2. Occupational skills
3. Military training
with the basis of all knowledge being the fear of the Lord (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7).
Lawfulness:
Love one another. The last shall be first. Deny thyself. Obey God’s Commandments.
To understand the Early Church we must dig through layers of a mountain of man’s influences shoveling off and discarding man’s traditions, theories, interpretations, and philosophies from Greek and Roman civilizations, Aristotle, Constantine, Marcion, etc., to be able to examine the Early Church.
During the Reformation, men such as Wycliffe and Calvin were digging in the right spot. They dug up and discarded many theological errors and found a view of God’s plan of salvation by grace, but anti-Semitic layers remain and now there are new layers of tradition, interpretations, western thought (a return to the Greek and Roman philosophy) and conditioning that need removal. Only then can we have a clear view of the Early Church.
Greek philosophy between Aristotle and Augustine is the foundation of Western thought (Aristotle tried to merge the Bible and Plato = Hellenistic Philosophy). This is the reason for so much Greek philosophy in the church. Explore the differences between Eastern and Western thinking and how it affects each culture.
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