ISSUE: #4

MEM

Message

Salvation

How is salvation defined? What is your understanding of salvation? Ask ten people and you will probably get ten different responses.

"Our salvation consists wholly in being saved from ourselves, or that which we are by nature" (William Law). Paul gives us a good understanding of our fallen nature in Romans 7. He also shows us in Romans 8 how we must be led by the Spirit to be delivered from this nature, which is against God.

Yeshua states very plainly, "Except a man deny himself he cannot be my disciple." It is self we need to be delivered from. We must humbly submit to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which is the grace of God. What will it be? Pride, the way of death, or the humility of Messiah, the way of eternal life?

Proverb

Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is thrust out in his wickedness, but the righteous has hope in his death.

Bible Quiz

What was Judas paid for betraying Yeshua (Jesus)? Matthew 27:3

Which Gospels are known as the synoptic Gospels?

On which mountain did Moses see the burning bush? Exodus 3:1-2

Who loved the most important seats in the synagogues? Luke 11:41

What did Moses give to the Gershonites? Numbers 7:7

What woman died after giving birth to her son Benjamin? Genesis 35:16-19

Hebraic Lesson

Pentecost, Feast of Firstfruits or Feast of Weeks usually falls in late May to early June.

Most people associate Pentecost with the new covenant church. Pentecost is a Festival given to the Hebrews by the Almighty God. It is the fiftieth day of counting from the wave sheaf offering after Passover. It is the next day after the seventh week (7x7=49 plus next day = 50) [Leviticus 23:16-17]. Then a new offering of leavened bread is offered. [see article: Pentecost (Feast of Weeks)].

Historical events attributed to this day.

1) Languages divided some 3750+ years ago, Genesis 11:8

2) Torah given in languages of all nations 3300+ years ago Exodus 19:18-19; 20:1-3

(The Jewish understanding is that all the mixed multitude that left Egypt heard God speak in their own native tongue as on the day of Pentecost in Acts.)

3) Gospel given in languages of all nations, 1900+ years ago Acts 2:1-41

These all have something miraculous to do with languages. What could the future hold? Will there be a future occurrence on Pentecost that would have something to do with all speaking one language?

Book

Proverbial Wisdom & Common Sense, by Derek Leman. Lederer Books.

Why do People call Dr. Laura and write Dear Abby? They’re looking for effective solutions to everyday problems. Yet, the Bible has an entire book – the Book of Proverbs – devoted to this. Proverbial Wisdom & Common Sense makes the wisdom of Proverbs accessible, understandable and usable. It organizes the many sayings and explains their meanings in a way never done before.

Derek Leman has done an excellent job in organizing the proverbs into understandable bites of helpful information, which applies to our everyday life. You will enjoy his wisdom and insight in this ten minute a day devotional plan.

Saying

I do the best I know, the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing it to the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me will not amount to anything. Abraham Lincoln

Did You Know

What was used before the 18^th century for telling time?

The Sundial, an instrument for measuring time, by means of the location on a plane of the shadow cast by a marker exposed to sunlight. A sundial consists of two parts: a gnomon and a dial plane. The gnomon is the shadow-producing device, usually a metal plate set parallel to the earth's axis and pointing toward the celestial pole. The dial plane is the flat surface marked with the times of day. A sundial is specially designed for its location on the earth, and tables are used to calculate standard time from solar time, because solar time changes daily with the position of the sun. Sundials were used for judging time before clocks and watches became more available in the 18th century.

Humor

Actual classified ads:

Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once, you’ll never go anywhere again.

Our experienced Mom will care for your child. Fenced yard, meals and smacks included.

We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.

Children's story

Part 2

Recalling the Exodus

After prayer and sending each on their way father Jeremiah began placing the repaired wheel on the cart. In the process his mind wondered back when he was just a lad in Egypt. The best he could recall he was twelve years old when Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh to demand he let God’s people go. From that first meeting with Pharaoh, Jeremiah’s father was making preparations to leave. How this same cart was made ready. How his father taught him to grease the axle, to inspect the rest of the cart for cracks or rotten spots, to check for loose spokes in the wheels, to inspect the iron tire. In fact the father of the cartwright had repaired this same wheel back in Egypt.

It was interesting to muse on how many sons followed in the footsteps of their fathers. Jeremiah’s father was a master bricklayer in the service of the Pharaoh. Jeremiah would have been one also as they were in bondage and not much hope of doing otherwise. In fact Jeremiah was pressed into service to carry bricks for his father at the age of six. His father had taught him all the skills of being a master. The master brick layers were able to work on the best projects and had freedoms others were unable to enjoy.

Jeremiah remembered how his father, Nathan (he gave) and mother, Abigail (a father’s joy) would tell of their ancestors, about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. About the promise given them of a land for their own possession, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Jeremiah (exalted of God) was bolted back into reality with a crash and some loud yelling. A neighbor had pulled a crucial tent peg when the whole tent collapsed. His wife and daughter were still inside. Jeremiah rushed over to help by holding up on the open side until the disheveled wife and daughter were able to climb out. Jeremiah could not help but snicker as the wife, hair tangled, clothes wrinkled, stood with her nose in her husbands face pointing to a broken water pot. Jeremiah offered one of his water vessels if needed and returned to his task of making ready the family carts.

Glancing toward the tabernacle he could see the priest busy taking down the curtains of the tabernacle, packing them and covering them for transportation. The cloud seemed to spread out and cover the area as the sun got higher, protecting them from the heat of the day as the whole congregation of Israel prepared to follow their LORD (YHVH). Jeremiah uttered a blessing, "Blessed are you Oh LORD our God, Ruler of the universe. Who has brought us here to give us the promised land."

Quiz Answers

1. thirty silver coins
2. Matthew, Mark, and Luke
3. Horeb
4. The Pharisees
5. Two carts and four oxen
6. Rachel