Week 4 of the Counting of the Omer- A Reflective Study
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We are through the fourth week of the counting. There have been so many things to consider with this week and I am so grateful that we have Shabbat so that we can consider our steps and the steps to come!
Let’s continue our reflection, as we count 7 days for 7 weeks.
The 4th day of Creation – HaShem creates the sun, moon and stars to govern the day and night, for signs and seasons (moedim)
Out of all the days of Creation, this day amazes me the most. HaShem placed the sun, moon and stars on the 4th day and this was and is all about government and authority. This was not the light we see on Day 1. The light that was brought forth on the first day was Messiah. This is the same light that will be present over the new Jerusalem when there will no longer be a need for the sun, moon and stars to determine the seasons or mark the days.
Revelation 21:23 "The city has no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s Sh’khinah gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb."
These lights of governance were set in the heavens as signs for the appointed times and seasons on earth, the moedim. These lights were put in place before Adam was created and long before a Jew or Gentile ever breathed on earth.
Light gives – it never takes. Yeshua is the light of the world – He is the shamash candle on the menorah, the servant candle - who ensures light can be given to the other six branches on the menorah. The menorah is a lamp that is lit with oil. Typically, olive oil is used to fill these lamps and a wick is placed within the oil for lighting. To produce this glorious olive oil, the olives need to be crushed and just like the olive is crushed to release oil so must our souls be crushed in order for our oil to produced. This oil is what is our character developed over time trough trials, through lessons learned, and wilderness experiences. Sadly the human character - our oil is not produced - through easy times. Consider time of growth in your life, have you ever grown without being uncomfortable and stretched? Most likely not – you are just like the little olive – filled with potential oil and in order to release the beautiful oil that must be present for lamp to burn, there must be a crushing.
- Do you have enough oil at present to shine HaShem’s glory?
- Are you walking after Yeshua and being the shamash (servant) candle?
- How much oil is in your reserve?
- What do you need to bring before HaShem in complete surrender to Him so that your lamp may shine and keep shining with His glory?
- Are these moedim for you? Read Leviticus 23
Manifestation of the Spirit – Spirit of Adonai
Day 4 of creation was all about governance and authority. The Spirit of Adonai is the central branch of the menorah and is manifest in the other six spirits, also known as the one Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit or Ruach HaKodesh was sent as our helper but was always there from before Creation and very much part of the Creation! The Ruach HaKodesh will cause us to walk in Yeshua’s ways should we respond. Ezekiel 36:26 -27
- Are you allowing the Ruach HaKodesh to lead you in Yeshua’s ways?
- For the Ruach Hakodesh to have more influence over your steps, what do you need to do and how can you start this as a daily practice?
Moedim – Shavuot
Shavuot or Pentecost is the moedim that we are busy counting towards with the Counting of the Omer. This is the season where the Israelites were encamped around the mountain and HaShem told them to prepare themselves for His presence. The sound of His voice and the glory of His presence became too frightening for them and so they chose for Moshe to be their mediator. It was only Moshe who experienced the fullness of the incredible glory of HaShem on Mt. Sinai and sadly the Israelites allowed their fear to keep them from experiencing all that HaShem had prepared for them of His holy presence - the awesome and mighty YHVH.
As a result of this decision, the Israelites grew tired of waiting for Moshe as he lingered on the mountain with HaShem, so, taking actions into their own hands, they attached HaShem’s name to a golden calf and pagan practices.
Without the presence of our Adonai Elohim we will quickly lose sight of His ways. The minute we take our eyes from HaShem we are vulnerable to the sin crouching at our door, waiting to consume us. We need the guidance of the Ruach HaKodesh each day to ensure that we do not fall into the trap of compromise and becoming spiritually blind to our own actions.
It happens so quickly and subtly, where we allow the truth to be blurred and we justify practices or behaviours that are contrary to the Word of our HaShem.
- Imagine you were at the base of the Mt. Sinai… what do you believe you would have chosen to do that day? Would you ascend the mountain with Moshe or elect him as your mediator?
- Have you blurred some truths in your life?
- Are there things you are currently holding onto that are not based in the truth of HaShem’s word?
- What do you need to do today to make teshuva and return to His Ways?
7 Churches – Thyatira
This is the first k’hal (congregation) where their deeds are noted. Our deeds are extremely important. Although we are not saved by any works of our own, it is deeds that determine how we live this life according to HaShem’s ways. Our deeds are the outworking of our heart, our faith and our response to our Heavenly Father.
The problem with Thyatira was that although their deeds were great, they were stumbling over their tolerance of Jezebel. Can you see the connections here to the golden calf at Mt. Sinai? Deeds are mentioned five times in the letter to Thyatira in Revelation which means we must sit up and pay attention. Just like we will be held to account for idle words spoken, so will be held to account for our deeds. Our deeds are the evidence of our love and obedience to HaShem.
The promise to this body of Believers is that to those who overcome and who keep Father’s ways to the end, they will be given authority over the nations, rulership with an iron rod and the morning star. This morning star can be linked back to Isaiah 14:11 – 12 where we read about satan’s plan to rule from the mount of the Moed and before satan fell he was the morning star. (Luke 10)
If we choose to follow Yeshua’s footsteps and live as He lived – a life of no compromise and of a desire to walk in love and obedience to the Father - we will know the goodness and the glory of our lamps being filled with oil. The crushing of our flesh would be the greatest and most precious time in His hands as we see Him, our Yeshua, Mashiach Ben David, riding out of the Heavens on a white horse to gather His bride to Himself!
- Do your deeds reflect Yeshua’s light?
- Where are you compromising in your walk with Father?
Prayer:
Abba Father, I come to you today and I thank you for your eternal light. Thank You for placing times and seasons in my life so that the pathway to Your presence remains clear. Help me to walk in rhythm with Your heartbeat and to choose Your way above my own.
May Your Ruach HaKodesh guide me as I walk this narrow path. May I be a delight unto You and may my deeds reflect my love for You and when they don’t will you please convict my heart to repentance. Help me to overcome and to be a sweet fragrance unto You.
In the precious name of your son, Yeshua, Amein.
Visit www.thecreationgospel.com for a detailed study
2 comments
Greetings Michelle in Yeshua. I have bee so blessed by these teachings and would love to have a printed version. Is it at all possible that a Word or PDF version could be made available? I have tried to print from your emails but it just doesn’t work.
wow… WoW… WOW!!!
Thank you… THANK YOU for this!!!
May Father BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY!!!