It’s Time To Turn

Time to turn away

from everything that is distracting us –

towards Our Heavenly Father/Messiah.

In Hebrew culture, the time to turn, is designated to the appointed season of Teshuvah in the annual cyclical calendar. For believers in Yeshua/Jesus our Messiah, it is an ongoing daily attitude of heart and mind, so that we can walk as His disciples.

In Luke 22:31 the adversary demanded to have you people for himself to sift you like wheat….But I prayed for you Simon Peter that your trust might not fail.

When Jesus/Yeshua spoke of little or faith that might fail, He was referring to faith that was immature and needing further experience to grow by tests and trials; just as our faith grows and matures with every test and trial we go through.

Messiah continued…And once you have TURNED back in repentance strengthen your brothers.. Teshuvah turning..

Strong’s Hebrew: 8666.

תְּשׁוּבַת (teshubah) — a return, answer

תְּשׁוּבַת (teshubah) tchuvä;

בַ

Recall the hebrew letters b and v bet/vet בַ

are the same.

In the Hebrew mindset, Turning is not Conversion but repentance.

It is the ability to turn back to Him and seek healing for our brokenness.

Psalm 51 is sometimes called “Perek Teshuvah

the great chapter of repentance

which includes the well known scripture:

Create in me a clean heart …..

tchuvä;

Teshuvah is better translated as “return” and signifies:

a return to the original state,

and there we will have our ‘answer’, the place of restored relationship and peace, true shalom.

Teshuvah has 3 parts:

first, the regret of our sins,

secondly, the decision to change,

and third, a verbal confession of our sins.

We could also say there are the 4 R’s of Repentance:

Recognize: what we are doing wrong

Regret: with godly sorrow

Resolve: to change and do better in the future

Refrain: from exposing ourselves to things and people where there is temptation.

In truth, whenever we sin, we should immediately do Teshuvah;

to turn from evil, and to turn to the good.

2Cor. 7:10 godly sorrow worketh repentance For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation–and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death

Acts 3:19-21 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from

 the presence of the Lord,

After repentance

sins are blotted out

and

times of refreshing come.

and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

The season of Teshuvah is the month of Elul,

the 6th month of the Hebrew spiritual Calendar.

This is the equivalent of the months of August /September for the Gregorian calendar months and are observed over a period of 40 days.

August 26th is Elul 9, Elul is the 12th and final month in the Jewish civil calendar, or the 6th month, from nisan. (Recall Israel has 2 calendars Civil and Religious. These are covered in previous posts).

Elul 1 5783 began on August 18th 2023

Rosh Hashannah is on September 16th this year.

It is a month that connects the past year with the coming year..

Elul ( אֱלוּל)

Elul is traditionally a time of introspection and a time to review one’s deeds and spiritual progress over the past year.

This month is set aside for Teshuvah/Repentance in anticipation of the Fall Appointed Times/Feasts. The month of Elul is a time to prepare for Yamim Nora’im, The Days of Awe by getting our spiritual House in order.

This is a time to look into our hearts and ask the Ruach HaKodesh to search them and reveal any hidden sins, resentments, forgiveness, pride, anger, bitterness etc. and to repent, make Teshuvah and work at walking according to the Spirit and not the flesh.

For Messianic Believers in Yeshua/Jesus we look back and rejoice over our past redemption and deliverance during the Spring Appointed Times /mooedim/ Feasts of Messiah, With the Fall Appointed Times /mooedim /Feasts we look forward to our future deliverance and exodus from this earthly realm and to the return of our King. This is a time that we prepare ourselves as His Bride and make sure we are ready to hear the Sound of the Shofar! For the trump will sound.

Link below for more on the Appointed Times/feasts of the Lord

https://www.minimannamoments.com/disciples-divine-design-moadiym/ 

Notably the last 10 Days of this season of Teshuvah come between Rosh Hashanah and leading to Yom Kippur are specifically designated for Teshuvah, when in Hebraic tradition the gates of prayer and repentance are said to be more open than at any other time during the cyclical Hebrew year.

For messianic believers, Yeshua/Jesus is our sacrificial lamb. He has paid the price for our sin and as we have repented/teshuvah/ turned to Him; we have forgiveness of sin and are restored to a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

We do not have to wait a whole year to be forgiven because of Yeshua/Jesus we can repent immediately we sin, trusting in the power of His shed blood to not only cover our sins, but erase them. Then we are forgiven and the broken fellowship, the separation because of sin is restored.

Strong’s H8666

teshuvah; an abstract concept meaning,

“returning;” from 

Strong’s H7725

 שוב shuv,

a primitive root meaning,

“to return.”

The 3-letter root is:

shin + vav + bet.

shin ש =

two front teeth, sharp, press, eat, two, again.

vav ו =

the tent peg, add, secure, hook.

bet ב =

the house, household,

family, in, within

To put these together we have:

Again (shin) secure oneself (vav) to the house (bet). The house we have left, (like the prodigal son), to which our Heavenly Father returns us, is His house, because Genesis, His story, began with the Father, a beautiful garden, and the two children He had made to dwell with Him forever, to be a part of His household. His story will eventually be complete…full circle!

Shuv is the root of teshuvah, “repentance.” The term most often used to describe this restoration in the New Testament, is salvation or justification.

The abstract concept of teshuvah is used sparingly in the Hebrew scriptures; most English translations of repentance and restoration are of the verb, shuv.

Here it refers to Simon Peter / shimon kefa, RETURNING to unshakable trust after denying Him three times.

John 21:15 – 17 strengthen your brothers,

which he effectively did/ fulfilled in the early messianic community. Acts 1-15

This is what we are also called to do after we stumble into sin – once we have TURNED back in repentance and are restored and refreshed we are to strengthen our sisters and brothers..

Sifting exposes weaknesses that need to be, and can be strengthened by the infilling of His Spirit Acts 2:14 Peter stood up and said let me tell you what this means

and later in verse 41, 3000 were added.

Sifting is part of the process our Heavenly Father uses and applies to our lives. Then the weaknesses that surface and are exposed can be dealt with accordingly; salvation includes freedom, deliverance from all bondage.

Messiah prayed for Peter by name because He knew him and his previous stumblings.

In the same way He knows each of us our strengths and weaknesses. However just as with Peter and the talmidim/ disciples, He does not leave us in our weaknesses.

In the last three posts we have looked at His Spirit of Holiness. Ruach haKodesh, and His role in our lives. Peter was filled with that same spirit, a holy boldness spoke through him, he was never the same again.

The same can happen for us also, however we must be willing to surrender all, holding nothing back. If we have been saved for many years and feel a dryness in our walk and relationship with Him…

then it’s probably time to teshuvah –

to return to our first love ….

Click link below for more:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/returning-to-your-first-love/

The Lord had breathed on them in John 20:22, and it would seem that was the point of their being born again from above.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: Aramaic Bible in Plain English. 

This would mean that this infilling of His spirit was a separate occasion, different from the salvation moment and different from water immersion.

Paul also found this to be true in Acts 19:22

There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”  3“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.…

…46For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,

Acts 10:47 Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.”

 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38.

Is it possible that a lack of true heartfelt repentance is a spiritual block to receiving the fullness of His spirit?

According to scripture,

Repentance is a commandment and

only the obedient receive His spiritual gifts?!

And if we love Him we will obey what He asks of us?

So much of what our Father wants to accomplish in our lives is prevented by us; we are a stumbling block to ourselves, it is not our Father Who is withholding from us, it’s our self centered disobedience!

Acts 11:17
So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”

Acts 15:8
And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.

In Matthew 3:11 John declared two separate immersions or baptisms – one out ward cleansing the other inward cleansing

 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Here is a question for every reader to consider and ponder.

Have we ever come to the point in our lives where we can say the words from this verse..

I indeed …but He?

Until that moment comes we will never know what the baptism/infilling of His Holy Spirit means.

I indeed am at the end of myself and I cannot do anything more.

We have been struggling trying to walk a spiritual walk with only physical carnal tools, abilities and weapons; and we simply get worn out because it has been in our own strength.

We indeed are out of options, our energies and resources are completely spent, leaving us exhausted and feeling like we should just give up.

But He begins right there at that point of complete lack.

He does the things that no one else can ever do.

Are we really, truly, honestly, prepared for His coming?

When Jonah/Yona/Dove, preached in Nineveh they made a choice…and repented before judgment came upon them, a sign Messiah referred to..

We know He is coming again but He is also coming first in a personal way to each individual. He cannot come and do His work in and through us as long as there is anything blocking the way, whether it is something good or something bad.

When Messiah comes to us, are we prepared for Him to expose every wrong thing we have ever done into the light?

Because that is exactly where He comes and wherever we know we are unclean and need to repent, is exactly the place where He will stand and highlight the need and wherever we are clean, where we have dealt with that sin that hinders our relationship with Him He will walk away; expecting us to follow Him.

The sifting is in process in our lives and like Peter, there is the option of repentance, of turning.

Repentance does not produce a sense of sin, it produces in us a sense of unworthiness that words cannot express. It is not just an emotional feeling of being sorry for doing something and then turning around and continuing to do it again and again.

Derived from the Greek word METANOIA it means:

to have a complete change of mind; and to have a renewed mind in Yeshua HaMashiach /Jesus Christ. It means to forsake the old way of thinking, living and doing and to humbly seek our Heavenly Fathers will for our lives.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God.

When we find that true repentance, we realize that we are absolutely helpless and that like John, we are not worthy even to carry His sandals.

Have we ever repented like that, or do we have lingering thoughts of trying to defend our actions?

Perhaps the reason our Fathers Holy Spirit is restricted from coming into our lives in fullness, is that we have not come to the point of complete repentance in true humility.

In verse 11 he will baptize you….. John is not speaking here of the baptism of Holy Spirit as an experience, but as a work performed by Messiah Yeshua/Jesus .. He will baptize you.

The only experience that those who are baptized with His Holy Spirit are ever conscious of, is the experience of being aware of their absolute unworthiness, of how truly dependent we are on His mercy, grace and forgiveness.

I INDEED was us in the past, BUT HE came and something miraculous happened. We must get to the end of our ourselves, where we can do nothing but He does everything. It feels like a point of complete helplessness and it is because…. without Him we have nothing and we are in big trouble when we think we don’t need Him. He looks for our complete and total surrender, not just our acceptance of His offer of salvation and belief in Him.

Have we surrendered all?

Is there any part of us that we are withholding from our Heavenly Father?

Is there any area of our lives that we still want to be in control?

Today is the day to make certain and to allow the sifting process to complete its objective, then we can turn like Peter did and strengthen those Father puts in our path.

True repentance leads to complete surrender, then we, as the prepared vessels can be filled with His Spirit of holiness.

Christ in us, not only the hope of future glory, but present power to accomplish His will, plan and purpose and for His good pleasure. Let us be sure, certain, that we do not miss the day of our visitation. Let us grab it with both hands. We are only promised today so let’s surrender all to the only One who surrendered all for us. We don’t know the day nor the hour He is coming back for His Bride; a body of believers who are ready, without spot and wrinkle on their robes of righteousness.

The season, the time of Teshuvah is constant for the messianic believer; we are to be those wise bridesmaids with our lamps filled with oil/spirit of holiness. It’s a wake up call to all of us to be ready spiritually, prepared mentally with the mind of Christ; focused and not sleeping, looking for His return. Every day believers leave this world behind – one day it will be our turn.

The same cry that John called out is echoing through the ages into our hearing…repent for the kingdom of the heavens is near

…its the same cry that Messiah preached in Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

We cannot be saved without true repentance, being sorry is not enough. Acts 17 warns us… it’s a command, not an option; and when Messiah said it 2000+ years ago, how much closer are we today?

Time as we know it will soon run out,

we need to hear truth not ear tickling, comfortable messages from our pulpits; because only truth will make us free. We must have ears to hear, because only the truth we hear and apply will change us into vessels He can use….

There is a timely warning for us all to wake up in

A basic part of focusing on teshuvah is Who our Father is; and we can see that in the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy that were revealed to Moses after the sin of the golden calf in Ex. 34:6-7:

Link below to the Thirteen Attributes

13 ATTRIBUTES OF GOD’S MERCY.

Our Heavenly Father’s great compassion, in Hebrew His rachamim, is for us to make it to the end, to endure and mature and grow in grace and faith; so that once we return to Him we are to strengthen our fellow believers. Because everyone goes through the refining fires, the times of sifting and separating. This is the work of His Spirit of Holiness in us as we saw last post.

Again everything is connected, we cannot compartmentalize His working in our lives, nor can we say we don’t need this part or that part. We cannot choose His method or the instruments of His preparation for our promotion. Listen to what the Ruach HaKodesh is saying to us and showing us, as we submit ourselves more and more to His Way, His Truth and His Will for our lives.

Do we as Believers in the Messiah need to Repent, to do Teshuvah?

What does the Word say?

Read again His message to the 7 Assemblies/Synagogues in Revelation and we will see correction from our Messiah and His warnings to repent. Revelation 2-4

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Revelation 3:19

 

Prophets like Jeremiah and Joel were calling the people to return to the Lord:

They said, ‘Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever. Jer. 25:5

Joel 2:12-13 AMPC Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning [until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored].

The verb ישׁוּב, turn oneself, turn about, is here used in a double sense: first, as turn away from one; and then turn towards him, return again. 

In the new Testament in Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. 

This season also reminds us of Esther and her willingness to prepare herself before coming into the Kings presence so she could approach him and ask for mercy for her people. This is a reminder that in humility with a truly repentant heart we can always approach the King of Kings and allow His countenance to shine on us.

Prophetically,

Teshuvah’s 40 days of repentance,

prepares believers for Messiah’s appearing!

We must choose to allow our Father’s Ruach HaKodesh, Who loves us, to rebuke and chasten us so we can bring true fruits of repentance and go forward a Bride without spot or blemish ready for the Wedding Feast!

Turn and keep on coming to Messiah family, for surely this is our hearts desire that every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship with our Lord is restored.

This is His desire for us…

and it’s time to turn!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם‎,

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Peace to friends and family.

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

Not sure ..you can be…

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,

SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name

Are You 99 Yet?

Genesis 17:1

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; Walk [habitually] before Me [with integrity, knowing that you are always in My presence], and be blameless and complete [in obedience to Me]. AMP.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk before me, and be blameless. NHEB

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect. ASV

The word BEFORE

is

Strongs 6440

Original Word: פָנִים
Transliteration: panim or paneh
Phonetic Spelling: paw-neem’

Hebrew Rabbis teach that the words we have in English Bibles translated as

(walk) before me

ə·p̄ā·nay
לְפָנַ֖י
before Me

should read as

walk WITH me.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

Plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh’}; from panah); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.) — + accept, a-(be-)fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ – out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), WITH (-within, + -stand), X ye, X you.

This changes the perspective

of Abram’s relationship with the

Almighty God – El Shaddai –

which we render as:

the all sufficient God

or the Almighty-Breasty-One.

The Hebrew language incorporates numerical value to letters and words and it is understood that the number

9 is the number of completion

and

90 is the number of Humility.

According to this it would indicate that when Abram became

99, complete in humility,

he recognized and understood that God was truly

El Shaddai – all-sufficient

and he could

walk WITH God.

Torah scholars definition of humility is that, we are not for one moment to be trusting in self, in the arm of flesh, our own capabilities, knowledge, talents or any kind of security we have built; or any dependence on wealth or provision from any source other than the Lord/El Shaddai.

It is having complete total TRUST in our

Heavenly Father as El Shaddai,

to be all-sufficient for us.

We are to put our trust/batak in our Heavenly Father as He and Abram did. Messiah never put His trust in people because He knew and understood the shortcomings and weaknesses of the fallen human nature.

Jesus didn’t commit Himself to them. John 2:24,25.

He was never suspicious, yet He was discerning and wise.

He was never bitter, resentful or offended, nor did He take vengeance toward anyone; and yet at the same time, He never gave up hope for them.

Why?

Because His BATAK/TRUST

was totally and completely in His Father first.

If we place our trust in people before Him and not in the Father, we will quickly experience despair, hopelessness and disappointment towards them. This can lead to bitterness and resentment because they didn’t measure up to how they presented themselves. Understanding that not one individual, except Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, can ever be right or perfect in this life, prevents the negative assessments in others. The only part of a person or ourself we can trust, is God’s spirit of grace and mercy in us.

Hebrews 10:9. He came to do God’s will.

An individual’s obedience is to what they see and determine to be a need. Messiah’s obedience was to His/our Fathers will. To seek and save the lost and tell the heathen about Him. However, first we are to make sure that God’s needs and His will in us personally are being met. Jesus/Yeshua said for us to be mindful of this in Matthew 6:5-15

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.[a]
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,[b]
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.[d]

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The purpose of our training as His disciples, is to get us into the right relationship towards the needs of our Heavenly Father and His will, plan and purposes, NOT ours. Once our Father’s needs in us have been met, He will then open the way for us to accomplish His will, which is meeting His needs, plan and purposes somewhere else.

 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18

We are also to remember that He said: Matthew 18:5 who ever receives one little child in my name receives me.

Messiah came as a child Himself. He is entrusting Himself to each of us and desiring our individual lives to be a Bethlehem; where He can grow up, where the natural life could be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God. His ultimate purpose is that the life of Messiah be manifest in and through us. The same life/ chaim that was in Him can also be in us, by the power of HIs Holy Spirit, just as it was in

Luke 1:41. and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh.

And we are to be always ready with a listening ear for the slightest whisper of His Voice/kol, calling to us. In the Song of Solomon there is a verse that says:

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land; 2:12

A season of the voice of Messiah, the bridegroom is calling.

This season is also a time of pruning, to bear more fruit for His Kingdom.

The dove, Yonah (Jonah) in Hebrew, reminds us that Messiah Jesus pointed to Noah and Jonah as end-times signs.

The dove was a sign for Noah and Yonah/Jonah/Dove

was a sign to the people of Nineveh

to repent and turn to the Lord before His judgment came.

Matthew 12:39; 24:37.

The entire book of the Song of Solomon is a picture of Messiah’s love for His bride; into whom we are grafted and His voice calls to us in unconditional love and devotion. He is calling to His Bride.

Those who truly love Him will respond to His loving call.

Like always attracts like- what is common between people will draw like a magnet, just like the old saying, birds of a feather flock together.

Like desires, like lifestyle, like interests, like goals, etc.

If you ever feel you don’t fit, like you are a square peg in a round hole, then you’re probably in the wrong place with the wrong group. The Spirit of God within people draws them together.

Phil. 2:2-8. fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.

1Pet 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded [united in spirit], sympathetic, brotherly, tender-hearted, and humble in spirit;

Romans 15:5 Now the God of endurance and of encouragement give to you to be like-minded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus;

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 

We are to have Messiah as the center and the priority of our lives.

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Spirit which is given to us and like Elizabeth/ John leaped when in the presence of his Messiah.

We too have that inner knowing… we are one in Him with fellow believers/ disciples and love has always been the test of true discipleship.

Those listening to the voice of their beloved, will not be deafened by the cries of man. In a world filled with noise, all clamoring for our attention; we need to hear only the voice of our beloved and those who love Him will hear and recognize His voice and will respond just like the sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me John 10:27

They will even hear the tender gentle cooing of the turtledove above the chaos of the world busyness. And just as Elizabeth’s inner involuntary response was to the close presence of Messiah within Mary.

We are up to watch for Him, wait for Him, with baited breath, and anticipation as the bride for her groom; and as we do, our heart will not only listen for Him… our hearts will hear.

There are times when many bewildering experiences challenge the peace/shalom in our souls; however, when we truly love Him and are listening, and our spirits are submitted to Him willingly, He works all things together for good.

 

Just as the scripture records the story of Joseph in Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

God has His Plan and purposes, His ways are not our ways.

’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” Isaiah.55:8,9.

The one who truly loves Him submits to His discipline and chastening, also called pruning, shaking and sifting. His love holds us steady beneath the chastening rod.

“I will make you pass under the rod [as the shepherd does with his sheep when he counts them, and I will count you as Mine and constrain you] and bring you into the bond of the covenant.

Ezekiel 20:37-38

The verse says that the sheep

pass under the rod.

Besides being an instrument of both offense and defense, the rod was, in effect, a two-foot club;

it also functioned as a tool, under which the sheep passed.

What does this picture?

First of all, it pictures counting. The shepherd would count the sheep in his flock to make sure they were all present and accounted for.

This is also a picture of something else, because as the sheep passed under the rod, which is a symbol of the Word of God, they would undergo a very close examination. The shepherd would run his rod backward or across the sheeps body, which separated the wool. This action allowed the shepherd to look down onto the sheep’s skin, enabling him to see both the condition of the wool and the skin which was hidden beneath.

Our Savior the Good Shepherd, is illustrating that by means of His rod, He is giving us a careful, close examination: it gives Him the opportunity to check the quality of His sheep and it also provides a means of separation. As His disciples, both quality and separation are the reasons that He carefully examines us. The rod and the path it leads us on, will take us to deep and difficult places, taking us right into the hidden man of the heart where holiness is formed.

In Matthew 25 we read of the separation of the sheep and the goats. The rod helps to identify, or is a means of making sure of ownership. Sheep’s ears were often bored through or distinctively notched as an identifying mark. When the shepherds could not always clearly see the identifying mark because  several flocks had mixed together in the fields, they would make the sheep

pass under the rod.

When they did, the shepherd would flip back the EAR to see the mark of ownership. Again, it also gave them a chance to examine and check the health and quality of each of the sheep.

Note the EAR… that listens and hears! 

Right now we are all

Because now,

this season,

is the time of our judgment – I Peter 4:17,

and we are being evaluated to make it clear to whom we really belong: the Heavenly Father or the adversary.

Who is our Shepherd?

Who are we following?

The rod is a vitally important instrument for a shepherd and no good shepherd would be without one.

This process is critical and should not be avoided but rather welcomed because it means He loves us.

Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

1Corinthians 13:7 because love believes and hopes and all things and love will never fail.

Love endures what ever comes. It seeks not its own doesn’t retaliate because it rests in Him rather than in the circumstance. As long as we are focused on and our desires are fulfilled in him we will never be deprived of comfort.

Luke 1: 53

He who goes away Will always be empty in spite of his riches. He who seeks the Lord first will never be unhappy or poor.

David said in Psalm 146:3 Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation–

6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them, Who keeps truth and is faithful forever,

What is first in our lives?

We must trust in Him 1st

We must put His will 1st.

We must put Messiah 1st.

The questions we should and indeed

must ask ourselves are:

Are we 99 yet?

and are we in other words,

at a place where we are

walking before/WITH the Lord El Shaddai?

Is He all sufficient to us?

Are we doing Gods will for our lives?

Are we hearing His voice directing our path or our own choices of future plans?

Will we respond to His loving call?

Are we watching for Him, waiting for Him, with baited breath,

and anticipation, as the bride for her groom?

Can we say with the Shulamite?

The dove

was a sign for Noah and Yonah/Jonah/Dove

pruning before He returns…

Are we willing to be sifted like the disciples?

Luke 22:31

Are we truly 99 – complete in humility, yet?

If we are obedient and willing

we shall eat the good of the land

and we will be ready to walk WITH Him.

 

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim/friends and mishpachah/family!

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week,

you are greatly loved and prayed for.

Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation

Not sure ..you can be…

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer,

Savior, Lord, and soon returning King

and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..

don’t delay one more minute,

SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.

What Did Yohanan Say Was in His Cousins Hand?

There are many scriptures that speak of things in Jesus/Yeshuas’ hand….

….including…

Ezra 8:22; Job 2:10 Goodness

Ps. 18:35 Holds us up.

Ps. 48:10 Right hand is full of righteousness.

139:10 Hand leads us, gives direction.

145:16 Open and satisfy every living thing.

Prov. 3:16 Length of days in her right hand (wisdom).

Song Sol. 2:6 Right hand embraces, left hand under head.8:3

John 13:3 Father has put everything into His hands.

Habb. 3:4. The hiding place of His power.

Matt. 8:3; Mark 7:33. Healing from His touch.

John 9:6. Mud/salve for our eyes.

Ps.23. Rod and staff of the good shepherd chastening, guide, guard and govern

John 6:35, 56. The Bread of Life.

Matthew 26:27; Luke 22:19.  The cup of Redemption

Which includes salvation, deliverance and comfort.

Mk. 1:41; Matt. 9:35-36. Compassion in His touch.

John 1:35-42; Matt. 4:18-23; Luke 5:1-11. Discipleship as He beckons to us to follow Him

Isaiah 41:13.  He bears us up in His hands, carries us.

Isaiah 49:16.  Our names are engraved there.

John 14:27. His Shalom/Peace He gives to us.

John 20:27. Holes from the nails.

Rev. 1:18. Keys of Death and hell he holds the timing of our departure.

BUT

What did

Yohanan say was in His cousins hand?

Yohanan is Hebrew for John

יוֹחָנָן and means: God is gracious.

and his cousin of course, Jesus/Yeshua.

Yohanan/John said …

Whose

winnowing fork 

is in His hand

..in context:

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.

Matthew 3:11-12 Mark 1:8 Luke 3:16! And John 1:33

One who is coming

said John, shouting from the Judean desert, as a prophetic forerunner of the Messiah with his call for repentance; and his warnings to the Pharisees and Sadducees, calling them “You brood of vipers!”

His main focus was Repent!

Note the meaning of the letters:

return to the cross of grace!

In Matthew 3:12

Hebrew : תשובה,

literally meaning: return.

tshuva or teshuva

pronounced: te-shoov-ah

to turn from the way you were going and return to God for healing, forgiveness and instruction in righteousness.

תשובה

Teshuvah, a Hebrew word often translated as repentance; however it is more accurately understood as turning back/returning – shuv to our Heavenly Father/YHWH and to obey Him. Deut. 4:30

 

In Modern Hebrew Teshuvah means an “answer” to a shelah, or a question. God’s love for us is the question, and our teshuvah – our turning of the heart toward Him – is the answer.

Teshuvah is one of the great gifts God gives each of us – the ability to turn back to Him and seek healing for our brokenness.

The book of the words of Isaiah the prophet foretold his message and his role: “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’” [Isaiah 40:3]

John declared that the kingdom of heaven was at hand and called sinners to repentance/Teshuvah. He was very careful to distinguish his role and message from that of the Messiah, whose arrival he announced, and whose WAY he made straight.

John made it clear, I baptize you with water but he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He who is coming after me is mightier than I, John acknowledged. His sandals I am not worthy to carry.

Directly addressing the Pharisees and Sadducees, he called them out as a brood of vipers and warning them that even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Judgment is at hand. Do not presume to say to yourselves . . . .  John understood their hearts and their future rejection of the Son of God and Son of Man and he warned that the unfruitful tree will be thrown to the fire.

The eschatological imagery is clearly that the wheat represents those who are truly repentant, the chaff those who are not.

Messiah will judge the world, and those that are worthy would be brought into his barn/kingdom while those that were unworthy will burn in unquenchable fire.

His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Verse 12 teaches us that Jesus will come as one with a winnowing fork.

The winnowing fork separates the wheat from the chaff.

Figuratively, He will gather the wheat, or true followers of Jesus/Yeshua, into the barn; but the chaff will be burned up. 

As with the axe already placed against the tree in the preceding verse, the winnowing fork is already in hand, emphasizing the nearness of judgment. 

We know what an Axe is and what it is for; however, we may not be so familiar with a winnowing fork especially if we are not from an agricultural background.

These references were used because those hearing them were familiar not only with what they looked like, but what they were used for; and the whole process of farming, growth and harvest. So together with their knowledge and obedient celebration of the Appointed times/harvest cycles of the Lord it made complete sense to them.

 So this description would have been obvious to John’s listeners. At the time of the harvest a winnowing fork would be used to toss the stalks and heads of grain into the air, usually in the face of a breeze.

The wheat would fall to the ground to be collected, but the chaff would blow away to be collected and burned. The Lord of the harvest will collect his grain into the barn, but the chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire.

His winnowing-shovel is in His hand, and He will make a thorough clearance of His threshing-floor, gathering His wheat into the storehouse, but burning up the chaff in unquenchable fire.

It Is A Process:

After

It is placed on the Threshing Floor and trodden out by animals 

or

The stalks and grain would look like this after threshing.

In Job 39:15 and Dan. 7:23

the Hebrew verb ‘to thresh’ is  דּוּשׁ
Strongs#1758 to tread, thresh

and has as its root-meaning

‘to trample down’, ‘to tread under foot'”

Transliteration: dush or dish
Phonetic Spelling: (doosh)

At the season of Shavuot we remember part of the event celebrated, was the fire of the Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit, falling upon those who had patiently waited since Messiah had instructed them to tarry in Jerusalem; the place of His presence, preparing their hearts while counting the Omer.

This season also remembers Ruth and the meeting with Boaz on the threshing floor in Jerusalem.

For more on Ruth Boaz and the threshing floor click link below

https://www.minimannamoments.com/knot-just-another-string-theory/

So it is a place – location specific.

And we are reminded that the threshing floor in question is that very same location that David purchased and brought the ark/presence of God to reside. And where his son Solomon eventually built the Temple.

2 Sam.24:21

 Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”

“To buy your threshing floor,”

David answered,

“so I can build an altar to the LORD, 

As we understand more of the life culture and times of Messiah we gain more understanding of His words and how they relate to us; and how they can enable us to mature in Him.

The construction of the floors are very simple. Comprising a circular space, from 30-50 feet, (9-15 meters), in diameter, and made level. The ground is smoothed down and beaten solid so that the earth will not get mixed with the grain during threshing. Over time, the floors, especially on the mountains, are covered with a tough, hard grass. They are often the prettiest, and in many places the only, green plots in the village, here any traveller appreciates to pitch his tent. Daniel calls them summer threshing floors; and this is the most appropriate name for them, since they are only used in that season of the year.

Why A Winnowing Fork?

And what exactly does it do?

רַ֫חַת noun [feminine] winnowing-shovel, 

rachath: winnowing shovel –

strongs # 7371

רַחַת

From ruwach; a winnowing-fork

(as blowing the chaff away) — shovel.

Referenced in Is. 30:24.

Transliteration: rachath
Phonetic Spelling: (rakh’-ath)

Note Ruwach root to Ruach רוּחַ

strongs #7317 breath, wind, spirit

Transliteration: ruach
Phonetic Spelling: (roo’-akh)

zarah: to scatter, fan, winnow

strongs #2219

זָרָה

Transliteration: zarah
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-raw’)

 

John describes the Messiah as a discerning judge, who will separate the good from the bad because, Winnowing forks, generally made of wood, were common at the time, and several dating from this period have been found.

Modern scholars mostly agree that the term “winnowing fork” is the most accurate but older versions have fan, shovel, broom, amongst other translations. 

The description of the winnowing or threshing process was the one farmers used to separate husks from grains of wheat.

(Keep in mind the process is spiritual for us.)

Then The Process of Winnowing:

The stalks and grain were thrown up for the wind to separate the grains of wheat from the chaff or husks which cannot be used because they are inedible.

They used winnowing fans (or forks) to toss the harvested grain into the air.

Winnowing the grain was accomplished by the use of either a broad shovel or of a wooden fork which had bent prongs.

With this instrument, the mass of chaff, straw, and grain was thrown against the wind. Because there was generally a breeze blowing in the evening, this was the time when it was normally done.

The wheat berry is surrounded by a sliver of dry husk that has to be separated from the wheat.  After threshing, which removed most of the bigger stuff, harvesters used either a fork or a basket to toss the wheat up into the wind. 

The wind blows through the tossed wheat and the chaff, which is very light, dislodges from the wheat in the action of winnowing. 

The wheat falls to the ground into a nice pile of relatively clean, useable grain.

 

Winnowing separates the good and useful from the worthless.

It cleans.

 

“His winnowing fork is in his hand.”

This metaphor perfectly describes Yeshua/Jesus’ actions.

There will come a time when God does this work of separating in a final sense, those whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life, from those whose aren’t. 

His winnowing fork is in His hand – applies to us now and to the content of our hearts.

Some separating needs to take place.

The chaff can also refer to sin in the lives of the overcomers, and sin needs to be removed, if not willingly then through the winnowing and sifting processes. Then good fruit needs to come forth and be seen.

The world needs to see His Bride becoming more like her Bridegroom.

So Naomi Said to Ruth concerning Boaz:

“Behold, he winnoweth barley tonight in the threshing floor”

(Ruth 3:2).
When the Bible speaks of the farmer’s fan, it does not mean that some instrument was used to increase the speed or movement of the wind. It meant, the fan was the shovel or wooden fork used when unseparated grain and straw was thrown against the wind.

In Jeremiah 15:7, he tells of God using a fan to winnow His people Israel:

I have

winnowed them with a fan

in the gates of the land.

The chaff (the unwanted husks) would separate from the grain and be lifted away by the breeze, while the heavier grain would settle back onto the ground.

When the grain and straw, not as yet separated, are thrown into the air, the wind causes the mass of material to fall as follows:

Since the grain is the heaviest, it naturally falls beneath the fan. The straw is blown to the side into a heap, and the lighter chaff and the dust are carried beyond into a flattened row formed by the wind.

This gave the Psalmist David, his picture:

“The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away” (Psa. 1:4).

As Scriptures often indicate the chaff is burned.

And the flame consumeth the chaff  (Isa. 5:24).

John the Baptist was familiar with the winnowing process and the burning of the chaff which is why he said:

“Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17).

Sifting the grain:
When the winnowing process is over, then comes the sifting of the grain.

The wheat or barley will still be more or less mixed with certain amounts of chaff, little stones, and perhaps some tares.

Sifting is therefore necessary before the grain can be ground into meal.

The sifter sits on the floor, and shakes the sieve which contains the grain, until the chaff begins to appear on the top, and this is blown away by the sifter. Here, the stones and tares are removed.

 
Yeshua/ Jesus made reference to the sifting process in Luke 22:31. He said: 

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you all as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Jesus/Yeshua, is referring to ALL of the 12 ( the word you here is plural). This indicates that ALL who follow Him will also be sifted as they were.

Before separating a part from itself – it has to be broken!

The image He chose, that of sifting like wheat, is painfully graphic. The picture is of grain in a sieve, where the head of grain is taken apart (cf. Amos 9:9). Our English idiom of picking someone to pieces or taking someone apart, brings a similar image to mind.

Strongs Greek #4617 siniazo: I sift,

prove by trials,

winnow.

Original Word: σινιάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: siniazo
Phonetic Spelling: (sin-ee-ad’-zo)

לְנַפּוֹת  לִבזוֹק

sieve, scrutinize,

 filter, filtrate, strain,

In other words, hasatan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat.

He was warning them that ALL of them would be attacked by the devil but, as their leader, Peter would be most obviously singled out. Just as satan would temporarily succeed in scattering the disciples by striking down the Chief Shepherd, he would also temporarily knock Peter down.

Once this process is completed, the farmer could then gather the grain and store it in his barn.

 Transfer these images to our lives and see the process for those who will follow Him.

This was the image John used to describe the ultimate judgment Messiah will bring. After using his winnowing fan, He will clear his threshing floor, gathering the good grain into His barn and burning the unwanted chaff with unquenchable fire.

This reference His threshing floor today, is to the temple, of which we are, specifically the sanctuary where His Spirit/ruach/presence reside/abides/lives.

The outer court of the Temple was open to all and sin had to be allowed there because they came to bring their sacrifices to the altar to obtain forgiveness through the covering by/of innocent blood.

Now Jesus/Yeshua is going to clear/purge His threshing floor that is, those who are His that still have sin in their lives. It’s the preparation process, the final one, before the gathering in of the grain to His Barn.

This depiction of Jesus/Yeshua as the one who separates good from bad, then gathers the good to Himself and burns the rest. This may not be our favorite image of Messiah from the scriptures however, it is one that John the Baptist and the evangelists after him wanted us to hear. We are not supposed to be afraid of Messiah or of future judgment, but we are supposed to be forewarned and aware: What we do and who we are matters to God.

WHY?

Because, we cannot be with Jesus/Yeshua, in his warm barn full of good grain, unless we are ready.

Below a picture of a Fine Tooth Comb which is also used in the harvests separating process and where our metaphor comes from.

Why Fire?

Because the Messiah will be mighty and will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John then describes the Messiah as a discerning judge who will separate the good from the bad.

For individuals, it is to burn away all that is not of Himself. All flesh will one day be consumed but until then, we are to eliminate the fleshly things of this life while still in the physical body.

His Holy fire purges the flesh of impurities and cleanses our hearts and minds. This is of course is the view we have now that since Jesus/Yeshua came, died and was resurrected and said He would never leave or forsake us because He was leaving His Spirit, the comforter with us. His Ruach/Spirit, came and was released into the earth and received by individuals who were properly prepared vessels.

Let this be a timely warning to us, because followers of Messiah must never be so naïve as to think that satan pays most attention to those who have already surrendered to his demonic powers. In fact, the opposite is true. It is those who follow Yeshua/Jesus and have a Godly reputation who have targets on their backs.

 Hasatan/adversary, cares little about professing believers who are not seriously following Messiah because they are no threat to his kingdom.

2 Cor. 2:11 says, We must not knowingly allow him to take advantage of our weakness, or remain ignorant of his schemes, however, we must also never minimize our personal responsibility. Surely we throw open the door to making the devil’s work so much easier, whenever we allow our pride to control us and we can fall when we least expect it.

“In the story of Peter’s fatal self-confidence and pitiable fall every believer has a permanent and powerful warning never to rely arrogantly on his own strength. A healthy confidence is indeed necessary to every Christian, but this must be in the sense of reliance on God—i.e. faith, not in our own resources, but in the power given to us by Him” (Geldenhuys).

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

How do we do that?

We cooperate with His working in us…the process…all of it…

Fortunately for us, the winnowing process has already begun. The words of Yeshua/Jesus and his forerunner John the Baptist have already begun threshing us, separating the worthless, husky part of us from the valuable, substantial grain. Our will must be surrendered to His will, it is that part of us that needs to be broken the rebellious part that makes up who we are spiritually, just like that of a wild horse needing to broken to be of use to his owner. We are to yield willingly and then the process is not so painful and takes much less time!

The sifting is happening now… so don’t be alarmed or discouraged..you are not alone..

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-13

Cast Your Cares on Him … 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.…1Peter5:9

But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not:

He prays for us just as He prayed for Peter.

The faithful preacher is like the winnowing fork in the Lord’s harvest.

True gospel preaching leads to wheat collected into the barn, but also leads to chaff collected for the burning. It is not the most heartwarming message, however, it is the glory of the calling of a true minister of His Gospel and the end result is the best conclusion we can ever have…eternal life in the Fathers presence.

Sifted but saved!

We are facing difficult days with unprecedented challenges.

There will be only one place to hide…IN HIM…Get into the Ark/Yeshua/Jesus.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Col. 3:3

and of course among others Psalm 91!

Make these scriptures your own – stand on them – they are the rock of our salvation and with this firm foundation underneath us along with His everlasting arms, we will withstand every storm and He is with us even to the end of the age,

Our calling is clear, we are to

preach the Word,

proclaim the Gospel,

herald the truth

that the kingdom of the heavens is at hand.

Be humble,

take courage,

be not afraid,

the time of sifting His harvest is here.

Shalom shalom mishpachah/family and cheverim/friends! You are loved and appreciated and prayed for daily.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read the posts. If they have been a blessing and if you haven’t already, please sign up for free email notification, like, share and subscribe, it all helps to freely spread the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth and reaches others with His Truths. MMM will continue as long as the platform is accessible… meanwhile let’s remember

it’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

 

Returning To Your First Love

Of The Heart…

The fall festival season begins with a 40-day period called, in Hebrew, Teshuvah,which means “to repent or return.”

At this time every year in the Hebrew calendar is a season of self examination.Prophetically: Teshuvah’s 40 days of repentance, Prepares Believers For Messiah’s Appearing.

“I Tell You A Mystery: We Will Not All Sleep, But We Will All Be Changed— In A Flash, In The Twinkling Of An Eye, At The Last Trumpet (Shofar). For The Trumpet Will Sound, The Dead Will Be Raised Imperishable, And We Will Be Changed.” 1 Cor 15:51-52

Create in Me A Clean Heart Oh Lord/Adonai and Renew a Right Spirit Within Me. Psalm 51

Elul is the 6th month of the Biblical Calendar year. This month is set aside for Teshuvah/Repentance in anticipation of the Fall Feasts. The month of Elul is a time to prepare for Yamim Nora’im, The Days of Awe by getting our SPIRITUAL HOUSE IN ORDER.Jeremiah 24:7

This is a time to look into our hearts and ask the Ruach HaKodesh to search our hearts and reveal any hidden sins, resentments, forgiveness, pride, anger, bitterness etc. and to repent, make Teshuvah and work at walking according to the Spirit and not the flesh.The root of this important word is shuv which means to turn back. Teshuvah is as much a state of mind (faith / creed) as it is a step of action (Faithfulness / Deed).

The call to make teshuvah is a call to leave one’s own path and turn to The Lords/Adonai’s. It is a call to submit one’s will to God’s will.Perhaps the most important dimension of teshuvah to grasp, is that it requires more than simply turing from sin. One must be willing to turn to the path of righteousness. The cry of the penitent one says, ‘My soul desires what Your soul desires!’

Primarily, repentance calls for the abandonment of the way of sin and the inner resolve never to return to it, and not the outward acts that accompany it.

Note: In Hebrew a person is called a Ba’al Teshuvah who turns to the Lord/Adonai, from a life of sin. Literally this means, a Master of Repentance. It describes the reality that TESHUVAH IS NOT A ONCE AND DONE ACT! As followers of Jesus/Yeshua we live a life of turning back to The Lord/Adonai.  We are ever turning from self to The Lord/Adonai.

The 40 days of Teshuvah begins on the first day of the sixth month, the month of Elul. Elul last for 30 days, (known as the month of MERCY, the month when The Lord/Adonai draws near to His people.)

It concludes with the 1st of Tishrei, the 7th month, which is also the mo’edim/appointed time, known as Yom Teruah or The Day of Trumpets. (Leviticus 23:23-25)

Ten days later, on the 10th of Tishrei, is Yom Kippur or the “Day of Atonement”. (Leviticus 23:26-27). The days in between these two Biblical festivals are called Yamim Nora’im which literally means the “awesome days”; commonly called the Days of Awe. This 10 day period, coupled with the 30 days of Elul, make up the 40 days of Teshuvah. (Literally: “returning”; a Hebrew term for repentance.)

The Rabbis said that this is the time when “the King is in the field”. The heart of HaShem is for His beloved to make teshuvah.We are the beloved of Adonai/The Lord. It is His love that draws us to repentance thus, in love, He beckons us to return to Him. Deut. 4:30The month of Elul is sometimes called the month of love and compassion based on the acronym formed from,


     I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine. Song of Solomon 6:3This poignant verse alludes to the mystery that God is our heavenly groom and we are his betrothed. God is the great lover of our souls and the greatest mitzvah/commandment of all, is to keep faith in his covenant promise of love. Romans 8:24 Our beloved is coming Jesus/Yeshua our Messiah, will soon be here chevarim (friends), don’t miss the bridegroom’s call. Return to the passion of your first love. Rev. 2:4

Jesus/Yeshua illustrated the idea of Teshuvah which means returning to God, by telling the story of the prodigal son. Luke 15:11–32.

After squandering his father’s inheritance a wayward son decided to return home full of shame and self-reproach. That while he was still a long way off his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him and he ran to his son threw his arms around him and kissed him.The father then ordered a celebratory meal in honor of his lost son’s homecoming. When his older brother objected that father said, we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found.

In the parable reveals that teshuvah ultimately means returning (shuv) to the compassionate arms of your heavenly Father.God sees you while you are still a long way off. Rom. 5:8

He runs to you with affection when you first begin to turn your heart toward Him. Indeed Gods compassion is so great that He willingly embraces the shame of your sins and then adorns you with a fine robe a ring and sandals.Your Heavenly Father even slaughters the fattened calf Jesus/Yeshua so that a meal that celebrates your life may be served.

Why did Jesus/Yeshua come? He was like the father in the parable who was actively looking for his lost son. He came to seek and save the lost Luke 19:10

Jesus/Yeshua likened Himself to a shepherd who left his flock to search for one lost sheep and after finding it laid that sheep on his shoulders rejoicing. Luke 15:3–7He also likened himself to a woman who lost a coin but diligently searched for it. After she found it she called together her friends and neighbors saying rejoice with me for I have found the lost coin. Luke 15:8–10Jesus/Yeshuas first words of public ministry were REPENT and BELIEVE THE GOSPEL. Mark 1:15

The word repent is metanao meaning to change your thinking and the word gospel means good news. From good and message. We could translate the verse as: change your thinking and believe the message of God’s good will toward you. The good news is that we are to be set free from the curse of the law and futile efforts of seeking self justification before heaven. We no longer need to live in fear of God’s conditional acceptance of us and therefore of our conditional worth.

As Paul later preached, let it be known to you therefore brothers that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38–39The Jews had known about repentance teshuvah for a long time of course. They understood the rituals and mitzvoth/commandments that were required to keep the law and they even devised legal formulas for making your defense before the Almighty. (ie the Kol Nidre service recited before Yom Kippur which was, we exonerate ourselves for failing to keep our word.) If Moses and the law could have saved us we wouldn’t need to be declared righteous by God’s grace through the redemption in Jesus/Yeshua. Romans 3:24  and we would not need the cross. All we’d need to do is work hard at repentance, perform additional mitzvoth/good works but clearly Jesus/Yeshua meant something other than this when He made the call to repent.The repentance that Jesus/Yeshua preached was inextricably connected with the good news that He alone is God’s answer to the problem of sin. Jesus/Yeshua was born to die as the divinely appointed Sin bearer of the world. Hebrews 10:5-7

He came to the earth and emptied Himself of His regal glory and power in order to be the high priest. After the order of Malki –Tzedek and the mediator of the new covenant. Hebrews 5:6; 9:15; Psalm 110:4; 1 Timothy 2:5;

He came to Jerusalem, to Moriah for the explicit purpose of suffering and dying and being raised from the dead. Matthew 16:21 Luke 9:22

Jesus/Yeshua died not only for our forgiveness but also to deliver us from the law of sin and death.i.e. the power that  sin holds in our lives. He died to set us free so that we could become the beloved children of God. Jesus/Yeshua surely was not calling people to become followers of the scribes and Pharisees, who were blind guides and hypocrites Matthew 23:13–36. He did not want people to become slaves to rituals or religion, now he called people to follow Him.

Take up your cross and follow Me.

Turn your thinking around.

Die to your religion.

Be comforted because there is good news from heaven.Gods unconditional acceptance is given to those who trust in the righteousness of Jesus/Yeshua in place of any self righteousness that might be gained by performing the works of the law. Galatians 2:16, Titus 3:5

Jesus/Yeshua is the goal of the law for righteousness for all who believe Romans 10:4–13

 Dying to the religious project of attaining self-righteousness is to admit the need for radical deliverance from the law itself.Jesus’/Yeshua’s message of salvation was rejected by the religious establishment of His day, just as it is likewise rejected by all other karma-based religions and philosophies that believed that good deeds are sufficient for your place in heaven. After all the religious Jews assumed they already understood the requirements for repentance and the means for finding atonement with God through the rituals and practices surrounding the high holidays.Their religion was essentially a meritocracy based on the performance of good works. That were thought to impart zechut and righteousness to the soul.

But Yeshua explained to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, that a person is not justified on the basis of their supposed good deeds or merits but entirely by appealing to God’s compassion and mercy.

It was the despised tax collector not the self-righteous Pharisee that left the temple justified: Luke 18:10-14

The talmud (Hebrew Commentary) draws a distinction between those motivated by:

Teshuvah me-yirah, “return out of fear” (of punishment),

And

Teshuvah me- ahavah, “return out of love” (of god).

Of the former, their intentional sins are accounted as if they were unintentional;

Of those who return out of love, their intentional transgressions become like merits.

The concept is that the human personality is capable of regeneration and renewal.

Thus teshuvah is an experience of transformation.

When performed out of fear, it lessens the burden of sin but does not give victory over the sin.

Teshuvah undertaken out of love accomplishes a fundamental transformation, in which healing and purification are complete ‘for the baal teshuvah, the man who returned.’

During this season of teshuvah, we must always remember that the Lord is for us and not against us.

He died while we were yet sinners. Romans 5:8

He is the loving strongman who rescued us forever.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Rom 8:31–39

We are literally saved in this hope. Romans 8:24

Peace – Shalom!