Tag: Rosh HaShanah

Yom Teruah – Rosh HaShannah

Yom Teruah יום תרועה

Also known as Rosh HaShannah

One of the facts concerning this day is that it is considered the New Year in Israel although it is not called that in scripture. The truth is this day comes in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar year and was given the name Yom Teruah.

It shall be a Yom/Day of sounding for you. Numbers 29:1

For this year, 1 Tishrei, 5783 is September 26, 2022.

Because Israel counts the years from Genesis and not like the western calendar, which begins from Messiah Jesus/Yeshuas birth 2022 years ago; the date is 5783. Some scholars say there is compelling evidence that during/after one of the enforced exiles, the dates lost 200 years in the counting and would make the date 5983 which makes all the more startling number towards the 6000 year marker looking towards the 7th thousand year millennial reign of Messiah… whether this is accurate or not there is no doubt we are closer than we think to His return.

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Romans 13:11

 

The biblical/spiritual year starts in the spring with the month of Nisan. Exodus 12:2 the beginning of the new agricultural year. However the sages gave such significance to the first Sabbath/Shabbat of the fall/autumn holy days, that they eventually considered it as the new year and changed the name.

Biblically it is Yom Teruah translates as the 

day of sounding/festival of trumpets/shofars,

hence the day became known as the

Head of the Year which is the direct translation of

Rosh Ha Shannah.

The purpose of this Holy Day is summed up in the word regathering. Since these days call Israel to regather to a pure faith in God. Rosh Hashannah came to represent the day of repentance. It’s the day when the people of Israel make a careful examination of their spiritual condition and make the necessary changes to ensure that the upcoming new year will be pleasing to God.

This day was so important that the whole of the preceding month of Elul takes on a holy significance of its own.

The 40 days prior to Yom Teruah from the 1st day of Elul through the 10th of Tishrei (Yom Kippur),

was to be a time of special spiritual preparation. This was based on the belief that it was the 1st of Elul that Moses ascended Mt Sinai to receive the 2nd set of Tablets of the Law/commandments/Torah and that he came back down on Yom Kippur.

It shall be a Day/yom of sounding for you.

Micah 7:19

In synagogues, the shofar or rams horn is sounded daily to alert the faithful that the time of repentance is near. The theme of Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashannah is regathering for repentance and the focus is serious and for each individual to be authentic before a Holy God and there is always an abiding awareness of hope – because of Gods’ heart of forgiveness/ mercy towards His children.

In a traditional home in Israel, the evening begins with a meal and then a meeting at the local synagogue. Much of the following day is also spent in worship.

The Scripture readings and subject matter of the prayers and music are focused on the recurring theme of repentance/teshuvah, turning to God, our King. Based on Micah 7:19 where the prophet promises You will throw all their sins into the depths of the sea… families and groups of people will go in the afternoon to a body of water, (ocean, lake or stream); and join in an ancient service of Tashlich. This word comes from the verse above and to illustrate this beautiful promise people throw breadcrumbs or small stones into the water and rejoice in Gods promise of forgiveness. For Believers in Messiahs sacrificial death and resurrection we are trusting in His blood for our forgiveness and redemption having confessed and repented of our sins.

The most memorable part of this day is the blowing of the shofar, the rams horn which is mentioned in the scriptures. The shofar is sounded in the meetings with 4 different notes:

the tekia blast

the Shevarim – broken notes,

the teruah – alarm

and the tekia gedolah – the great blast.

The word for the second note is teruah

the name for the day Yom Teruah.

These notes provide some us with some spiritual lessons.

The shofar was used in the ancient world to hail/greet a king. So too at Rosh Hashanah all Israel is said to appear before the King of Kings in anticipation of personal judgement.

Also in the Bible the shofar was often:

sounded as an alarm to gather the troops together for battle!

as in Joshua 6 and the blowing of the shofars which were part of Gods’ instruction prior to the city walls collapsing.

For us the shofar is our wake up call – an alarm to call us to our appointed time.

Today it is recognized as the new year in Israel and also called the day of blowing Yom Teruah. The future day of judgement will be announced by blasts on the shofar. Matthew 24:31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, (with a great shofar), and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

This prophetic fulfillment was believed by the rabbis to be the holy day of regathering and the Messiah who would be the agent of regathering.

This season is a season of spiritual preparation and for us today, it’s a future fulfillment of His return and regathering of the believers in Jesus/Yeshua Messiah. Paul makes an interesting connection to this day in 1Thess.4:16, For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a rousing cry/shout with a call from one of the ruling angels and with God’s shofar.

The events on Mt Sinai also recorded the sound of Gods’ shofar.

So it would seem that the signal of the gathering will be the sound of the shofar. In fact the reference here is to a particular note sounded at Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah. In verse 16, the word normally translated shout or cry comes from the Hebrew word teruah; which is better translated as the alarm blast of the shofar. Similar references can be read in 1Cor 15:50 -58 and Rev 4:1.

Another important fulfillment of this day/yom, is the:

regathering of the remnant of the children of Israel at the second coming of Messiah.

In the 7th century B.C. Isaiah wrote verses 12-13 in chapter 27.On that DAY Adonai will beat out the grain between the Euphrates River and the Vadi of Egypt; and you will be gathered, one by one, people of Israel. On that DAY a great SHOFAR will sound. Those lost in the land of Egypt; and they will worship Adoanai on the holy mountain in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim.

It seems clear that this scripture is referring to a coming DAY/Yom, regathering of the believing remnant. Likewise Messiah Jesus/Yeshua when asked about the future of Israel confirmed this as a latter Day promise in His own teaching. Matthew 24:31 He the Son of Man will send out His angels with a great shofar and they will gather together His chosen people from the four winds from one end of the heaven to the other.

The sound of the shofar is a reminder of the blessed hope every messianic believer possesses in Titus 2:13, and that we can enter Messiahs’ presence at any time.

13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

When He comes, He will gather us to Himself and we do not know the exact day that our Lord will come; so we are to be ready like those 5 wise virgins – alert and prepared at a moments notice to answer the call of our Heavenly Bridegroom.

Keep looking up

mishpachah/family & chevarim friends

because…

one YOM /DAY He will come….

For more detail and sounds of the shofar.. click links below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/midweek-mannabite-the-sound-of-the-trumpet/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/apocalypse-of-the-teruahs-cry/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/blowing-your-own-trumpet-2/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/yamim-noraim-days-of-awe-or-high-holy-days/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/blowing-your-own-trumpet/ 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/apocalypse-of-the-trump-shofar-notes-and-numbers-the-sound-of-a-mystery/

The legend of Messiahs Missing Shofar

https://www.minimannamoments.com/secrets-of-a-life-filled-with-feasts/

 

Shalom shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

L’shana tova tikateivu 

(pronounced: shah-NAH toe-VAH tee-kah-TAY-voo)

literally means, “May you be written for a good year.”

L’shana tovah u’metukah 

(pronounced: l’shah-NAH toe-VAH ooh-meh-too-KAH)

means “for a good and sweet year.” 

L’shana tova (pronounced: luh-shah-NAH toe-VAH)

means “To a Good Year.”

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.

 

Rosh Hashanah

Some information regarding Rosh Hashanah greeting

רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה 

Rosh Hashana

The Jewish New Year

for Hebrew Year 5782

Rosh Hashanah

Hebrew: ראש השנה,

literally “head of the year”,

is the Jewish Civil New Year. It is also in remembrance of Breresheet/Genesis and the day of earths re-creation, or New birth, which can be likened to our new birth in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus.

It is the first of the High Holidays or

Yamim Noraim

(“Days of Awe”),

celebrated ten days before Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashanah is observed on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is described in the Torah as יום תרועה (Yom Teru’ah, a day of sounding [the Shofar]).

The New Moon Day of the seventh month is called

‘Yom Teruah’ (יוֹם תְּרוּעָה).

This is oftentimes translated as the

‘Day of Trumpets’,

although it actually translates more like the

‘Day of Blowing,’

or the ‘Day of Shouting.’

Yom Teruah literally means the Day of the Shofar Sound.

It is also called The Feast of Trumpets.

It occurs six cycles of the new moon (i.e. six months) after Pesach on the first day of the seventh month in the Biblical calendar.

It marks the end of a long, hot, and dry summer and the beginning of the fall festivals.

Most importantly Yom Teruah is a day of

shouting and alarm

to remind men that Yom Kippurim is near.

“There are only 10 days left”

for the wicked to repent of their wickedness

and join themselves to True Israel.

Each month throughout the year the reminder,

the warning cry, has been blown;

the seventh month is coming

and soon

it will be too late to repent.

Teshuvah.

Some greetings are:

 “Brachot l’shana tova ve…”

“ברכות לשנה טובה ו….”

“Greetings for a good and…year”.

“Have a happy and sweet new year” 

is Shanah tovah u’metuka.

 לשנה טובה תכתב.   l-shanah tovah tikatev

May you be written and inscribed for a good year!

Generally, “shana tovah” 

or “l’shava tova tikatev”

or “shana m’tuka”

and not the whole greeting and blessing.

There are four forms.

The correct greeting for Rosh Hashanah is

“L’shanah tovah”,

which translates to 

“for a good year”.

 People may also use a longer phrase, “Shanah Tovah um’tukah”,

Hebrew for “may you have a good and sweet new year.” 

Both form parts of the traditional full greeting of

“L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem”

 L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu: The literal Hebrew to English translation is

“May you be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for a good year.”

This traditional Rosh HaShanah greeting

wishes others a good year and is often shorted to

“Shanah Tovah” (Good Year) or “L’Shanah Tovah.”

לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה. [To a] good year. [leʃaˈna toˈva] Hebrew.

Used as a greeting during Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe.

Also used, simply

” shanah tovah ” (שָׁנָה טוֹבָה),

meaning “a good year”,

or

” shanah tovah u’metukah ” (שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה)

meaning “a good and sweet year”.

A more formal greeting commonly used among religiously observant Jews is

Ketivah VaChatimah Tovah

(Hebrew: כְּתִיבָה וַחֲתִימָה טוֹבָה‎), which translates as

“A good inscription and sealing [in the Book of Life]”,

or

L’shanah tovah tikatevu v’tichatemu meaning

“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year”.

Shanah Tovah means good year, with no context. 

In L’Shanah Tovah, the “L” is a Hebrew preposition

that corresponds in this case to the English preposition “for”,

and the context is the greeting

“May you be inscribed for a good year!”

טובה שאנה

 

Jerusalem from above.

The Golden Gate through which Messiah is believed to enter

Jerusalem.

Many believe that He may return around the day of blowing of trumpets, or that the catching away of the ecclesia will occur at this season; however Yeshua/Jesus said Himself  

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

Yes we can see the day approaching and must be ready but we must remember He will come at an hour that we do not expect Him!

Luke 12:40 Be you therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when you think not.

Luke 21:34-36. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares…. Matthew 24:42,44

This picture

and

the intriguing headline is worth a look:

The following video below was of interest to accompany the curious phenomena!

 

Link below to the post from last year as the content is always pertinent, simply change the date from 5781

to the new Hebrew Year 5782

https://www.minimannamoments.com/yamim-noraim-days-of-awe-or-high-holy-days/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/are-we-boxed-in/

further links for the Fall Appointed Times

are to be found on Home Page under heading

7 FESTIVALS/APPOINTED TIMES/FEASTS

May His true Shalom rest upon each one in Yeshuas’ Name.

You are greatly loved Mishpachah, Family,

משפחה

and prayed for daily..

 make sure you are secure in the knowledge you are saved

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.

Yamim Nora’im – Days of Awe or High Holy Days

Although we are still between the mountains of blessing and curses from the last post, and part 3 is coming shortly; it is timely to wish MMM

‘Mishpachah’

‘Family/Tribe’

משפחה 

Mish-pa-KHa,

friends, visitors and every reader

this customary Hebrew greeting…

L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu

 לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה תִּכָּתֵבוּ 

May you be inscribed for a good year

(in the Book of Life)!

This weekend starts the

Civil New Year

of

5781

in Israel.

It is also the start of the 

Yamim Nora’im

יָמִים נוֹרָאִים

10 Days of Awe

or

High Holy Days.

In Israel and Hebrew tradition,

Yom Teruah – The Day of Awakening…

Rosh Hashanah

(literally the head of the year)

is celebrated as New Years Day.

The holiday is observed on the first 2 days of the Hebrew month of Tishri (i.e., the 7th “new moon” of the year),

which usually falls in September or October, and marks the beginning of

a 10-day period of

prayer,

self-examination

and

repentance

more accurately translated as:

the Ten Days of Return

Aseret Yemei Teshuvah,

עשרת ימי תשובה

which comes to a conclusion on the fast day of

Yom Kippur.

Many believe that the 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is a season, when God is especially close to us; “the gates of heaven are open, and I will listen to your prayers.” Often citing the verse in Isaiah telling the Jewish nation to repent for their sins, he says, “Seek God when He may be found, call upon Him when He is near.”

This period of time represents an opportunity for reflection, repentance, and teshuva – a return to God.

It is an opportunity to regret the missteps of our past while committing to change and rectify our actions in the future. During these ten days, we examine the year that has passed, dreaming and planning for a better year ahead; a year marked by justice, goodness and harmony – true shalom – for ourselves and all of His children.

 

The Hebrew letters of the word

Rosh – ראש – Resh Sheen

constitute the root of the Hebrew word for Genesis,

pronounced

“Be’re’sheet” (בראשית),

which is the first word in the Book of Genesis.

(Recall that the letter Alef – א,

represents the vowels, a,e,i,o,u, in words.)

While Rosh Hashanah celebrates the Israel Civil New Year, it also signifies the creation of the universe, which Hashem /God completed in six days.

The Biblical name for this holiday of

Rosh Hashanah,

 רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה 

is

Yom Teruah

 יוֹם תְּרוּעָה,

literally

day of shouting or blasting.

On Yom Teruah,

the Day of the Sounding of the Shofar,

it is imperative for every person

to HEAR (SHEMA) the shofar.

The mitzvah

(or biblical commandment [John ( Yochanan ) 14:15]),

of the shofar is

to HEAR – SHEMA 

the shofar being blown,

not actually blow it yourself,

hence the BLESSING,

“to HEAR the sound of the shofar.”

The Torah tells us to blow

a teruah

from a shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

A teruah is a broken-sounding blast which resembles a cry.

This commandment is repeated in three different places.

Rosh Hashanah 2020 began before sundown on Friday, Sept. 18, and ends after nightfall on Sunday, September 20.

 A week later, the High Holidays reach their crescendo with

Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).

Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Israels calendar, begins on Sunday, September 27 and ends on the evening of Monday, September 28.

The day is devoted to repentance for sins that were committed during the previous year.

A delicate blend of joy and solemnity, it is a submission to the sovereignty of heaven as everyone is called to awaken to judgment. It is a shofar call to repentance. Yom Kippur is the holy day of atonement, so, may your sins be forgiven, and your coming year be BLESSED.

As believers in Messiah –  Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach, we do not have to depend on the Yom Kippur once a year blood sacrificial system – He was our Yom Kippur sacrifice.

His Blood

paid the price for us

once and for all.

“Leshanah tovah tikateiv v’teichateim—May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year!”

The phrase is short for “l’shanah tovah tikatevu ve techatemu” (לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה תִכָּתֵבוּ וְתֵּחָתֵמוּ), 

meaning

“may you be inscribed and sealed (in the Book of Life) for a good year”.

‘Good Days‘, or singular – יום טוב – Yom Tov – Good Day.

Chag sameach…

Literally, good holiday.

have a good holiday

שיהיה לך חג שמח –

This greeting can be used for any holiday, not necessarily a festival.

L’Shanah Tovah

(li-SHAH-nuh TOH-vuh;

li-shah-NAH toh-VAH)

Hebrew meaning is literally for a good year.

A common greeting during Rosh Hashanah and Days of Awe.

It is an abbreviation of

L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem 

(May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year).

L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu

לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה תִּכָּתֵבוּ

– This phrase is a customary greeting before the Jewish New Year and means

“May you be inscribed for a good year (in the Book of Life)!”

 Rosh Hashanah, people wish each other

“Ketivah v’chatima tovah”

כתיבה וחתימה טובה

“A good inscription and sealing [in the Book of Life].”.

People greet one another with

“ Leshana tovah tikatev v’tichatem”

לשנה טובה תכתב ותחתם

There are many previous posts connected to this season and His Appointed Times/Feasts; they can be accessed through the links are below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/midweek-mannabite-the-sound-of-the-trumpet/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/at-one-ment-with-the-one-you-love/

 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/apocalypse-of-the-teruahs-cry/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/blowing-your-own-trumpet-2/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-hidden-mystery-of-the-kallah/

This is the day for remembering the abundance of His greatness.

Psalm 150

– תְּהִלִּים – T’hillim – praises

Hallelujah – praise yah – hal’lu Yah.

Praise Him with the shofar sound – teka shofar –

Let us not be silent when blessings for Him are in our mouths but let us allow our hearts to express the love and gratefulness we have towards Him as we burst forth in praise and Thanksgiving for all He has done.

Let us remember His mighty acts, the expense of His strength and the abundance of His greatness.

Today let us remember our Creator the One who gives us life and as we breathe let us return every breath to Him in thanksgiving and praise.

Let us remember the way we used to live before we knew Him; and honor the One who gave His life in our place – bearing the penalty of our sin.

Let us remember afresh today the sacrifice that Messiah paid on our behalf willingly losing His life that we might be found.

Today let us remember and rejoice that we have been raised with Him to life everlasting, remembering His triumphant victory over death and the grave.

As we remember and once again become aware of the reality of our salvation; let us release sounds of praise that will finally shatter any doubts and fears that may be lingering in the shadows tucked away in the corners of our minds.

As we remember, let’s proclaim the redemption and freedom that comes with the deliverance and salvation He has provided for every family, tribe and nation.

Let everything that has breath praise yah, for He is strong and mighty, worthy and holy, abundant in greatness and abounding in loving-kindness.

Yeshua is our Master, Deliverer, Redeemer, our Salvation, our Righteousness, our Lord and soon returning King. Today we remember all that He is and sing praises to Him along with the sounds of the shofar hal’lu yah hal’lu El.

Shalom shalom

‘Mishpachah’

‘Family/Tribe’

משפחה 

Mish-pa-KHa,

friends, visitors and every reader…

Stay Alert ‘Mishpachah’….

Please don’t leave this page before making certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Its all about Life and Relationship, not Religion.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus 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 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 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. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

IF….

…. Jesus/Yeshua Had Not Come… there would be no New Year according to the Gregorian calendar.

So-called because it was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory Xlll, as a reform of the Julian calendar. It’s a solar-based calendar of 365 days, it was only adopted by Britain and its colonies 260 years ago! The biblically based lunar Calendar is the one still followed in Israel.It is 2018 only because of Jesus!

The year is dated because of His birth and even non believers reference His coming every time they say or write the year!

However if Jesus had not come our calendar would be as the calendar still is today in Israel counting from creation. According to that the year is 5778 but it would still be B.C.(Before Christ) or (AM = Anno Mundi meaning years since creation).Remembering that in Israel, the fall appointed time of Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year” and that’s why it’s called The Jewish New Year (also known as Yom Teruah and often translated as Feast of Trumpets.)

This is not at all like the New Years celebrations in the western world. It occurs on the first day of the 7th month of the year.

When the Israelites were in Egypt, the Lord changed the beginning of their year from the fall to the spring month of Nisan for Passover/Pesach to be the start of the spiritual year. (Exodus 12:1-2)

However, since Jewish tradition holds that the birth of the world took place in the fall, they kept the New Year observance where it was. So in effect, they are celebrating the world’s birthday on Rosh Hashanah and have a second beginning in the Spring Appointed Times. (The Seasons are represented as Cyclical not linear.)A very interesting point is, the Hebrew year 5778 coincides with 2018 on the Gregorian calendar and is significant because it was in the year 2018 BC (or AM) that God made the first covenant with Abraham. (This was 70 years after Abraham’s birth in 1948 BC (AM).

Then we see the new independent state of Israel was established by the UN in 1948 (Gregorian calendar), so 2018 will also be a 70 year time frame (or a generation, see Psalms 90:10) Just imagine, if Jesus had not come, the Bible would end at Malachi or if read in chronological order it would stop after 2 Chronicles.It would probably only be available in the Hebrew language and maybe still only on kosher scrolls.The complete set Hebrew Scrolls Tanakh

Among other things too numerous to mention or count: There would be no New Testament, no churches or denominations, no choirs, Christian charities, no Christmas trees, no carols and symphonies, no one would be born again and there would be no evangelists, no missionaries.No ‘communion’ (as in bread and wine celebration) outside of Passover, Pesach.This was celebrated as part of the commemoration of their liberation by God from slavery in ancient Egypt and their freedom and rebirth as a nation under the leadership of Moses. There would however still be the Holy Land and the children of Israel, the tribes and their descendants and the Jewish people. The term having come from the tribe of Judah – Yehudi – Judahite and shortened to Jew. It is written that all tribes will want to say they are from Judah collectively and not so much as individual tribes an example is Mordecai in the book of Esther, he was from the tribe of Benjamin but was known as Yehudi.That Hebrew language would be still intact as it is today and so is their faith that one day Messiah will come as promised in prophecy.

There would still bethere would still beTorah, Prophetic, Poetic and Historical Writings.

The history of God’s plan since creation would still be as it is.

How important is the old Testament then!

How foundational.

How significant are the Hebraic roots of our faith for they would stand even if Messiah had not come yet.

It makes one wonder if we would have converted to the faith of the Old Testament Patriarchs?

For if Jesus had not come we would be numbered among the heathen lost! 

Still the Jewish people would be, and are still, serving the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, celebrating the seven annual feasts, preparing and rehearsing for His promised appearing and keeping their covenant commandments.So what are we doing? Have we disregarded the Old Testament foundation in favor of ‘Penthouse’ believing? Are we guilty of thinking that somehow we are more ‘entitled’ by our new Testament faith in Jesus?

He came in fulfillment of the Jewish Scriptures not as a replacement, not instead of, but in addition to.A world without Jesus/Yeshua would be a world without born again believers, both Messianic Jews and Christian believers. No Christmas holiday or carols, no Turkey’s, presents or all the worlds commercialized accessories and distractions.

However we would still have the greater part of the Bible and could live by its instructions and guidance.The biggest obvious consideration is that our sins have to be paid for and that by a blood sacrifice.A life for a life. And the life is in the blood, so an innocent must die for each and every individual.

If Jesus had not come, believers in the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob would still be continuing to offer the necessary sacrifices today.

HoweverAnd by His life and death and resurrection, He fulfilled the promises in the bible of a coming Redeemer. One man’s life blood – God Himself, paid the price for our sins. Once for all and no more individual sacrifice is necessary.

However do we really comprehend it?

Do we appreciate it?

Do we understand it?

And do our lives reflect our appreciation and gratitude for what He did?

Or have we just grown accustomed and complacent with our faith and too easy-going in the gift of grace for the righteousness/ right-standing before the God of Heaven and earth?Do we have a deep remorse and hatred of the way we were before He graciously accepted us into the beloved. We are grafted in by His compassion He is calling the Goyim, the heathen, to be His own.Is living for our self the way we show Him our love? Is building our own reputation and kingdom/empire really part of His plan for us?

We aspire to be something, a somebody, to make a name for ourselves. It didn’t work out so well for those who tried it on the plains of shinar. Self-deception is subtle and is an easy slippery slope, the biggest problem being we don’t believe we are deceived or that we can be.

We help God out, because it’s taking too long or not going the way we want, we put words in His mouth, to justify our actions and decisions, and twist the truth of Scripture to fit our not so straight path.We use the tools of the world and its commerce to fulfill desires based on covetous, selfish ambition and aspire to a comfortable way of life.

Whatever we choose to believe will never change truth, for He said, I am the way the truth and the life.

For believers it should be His way or no way.

His way is clear, we are to live our lives as Jesus did and do the works of Him who called us and saved us.We are to preach the good news, make disciples, visit the prisoners and the sick, bring healing to them, deliver the oppressed, set spiritual captives free, feed the hungry, give to the poor, house the homeless, which of these did we do today? Which of these did we do this ChristmasWe are to bind up the brokenhearted, raise the dead, calm storms.

Christianity is not just a free ticket to heaven to then go ahead and live as we please. Grace is not free and neither is salvation, for we are set free to serve Him and further His kingdom, not ourselves in our own.If Jesus had not come we may have something of a legitimate excuse, that we don’t know any better but He did come and so we are without excuse.

As we begin 2018 Anno Domini on the Gregorian calendar take a moment to think how it would be if Jesus had not come!Time is one of the greatest gifts we have been given. What we do with it will have a huge impact on our final destination.

This time of year people make resolutions to improve their lifestyles, let us start learning to live in His presence, and to operate out of His shalom, where love abides and faith matures.

If God was in a hurry He would have not said over 2000 years ago, ‘I’m coming soon’.

He exists outside of our time and space and that is hard for us to comprehend.

We live our lives by the clock and without realizing it, it can bring us into bondage.

But in due season. Gal 4:4

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Romans 5:6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

We will be accountable for how we spent the time we have been given according to 2.Cor. 5:10

 It is a phrase that has the connotations of ‘satisfaction.’ Abraham died as a man at peace with himself, at peace with God and at peace with the world. He was contented with all that God had done with him and in him, at an old age that was good and mature and content. In verse7 ‘Now these are the days of the years of Abraham which he lived.’ For it implies that he had lived every day to the full in the will of God not one day was wasted of the days that had been given him. According to The JPS Torah Commentary on Genesis, the meaning of this phrase in Genesis 25:8 is “old and contented.” The commentary continues, “Such a summation of a life is found with no other personality in biblical literature. The phrase describes not his longevity, which is otherwise mentioned, but the quality of his earthly existence.”

And also in Job 42:17 so Job died, being old and full of days /years.

The civil year of 5778 according to Israel began in October at Rosh Hashanah and the spiritual new year according to scripture, begins in April at Passover with the sacrificial death of an innocent lamb.  As we go forward into ‘2018’ and continue in 5778, let any resolution we make begin with a grateful heart of thanks that HE CAME; and let the number of this year reminds us how long ago that was.Let’s try to remember that, ‘New Beginnings’ come from the Grace of God, not from dates or resolutions.

That they come from His Mercies, that are new each day. Not the day itself.

Let the next year be 365 days be FULL according to the will of God for us.

It may not be what we wanted to hear but its what we need to hear!

It’s a rallying call to the troops, time to renew our commitment to the Lord. It’s an alarm bell to wake up the sleeping ‘ecclesia’, we are the ‘called out ones.’

For the day is far spent.. Luke 24:29 Now is the time to let Him in, to abide with us and your salvation/redemption is nearer now than when you first believed. Rom 13:11

The times are serious and so is God!

Then as we realize Jesus did come, let’s make this year one where our resolution is; to spend more time in His presence and in doing His will. Fulfilling His plans and purposes instead of our own.

Let’s not be too busy this year. God is obviously not in a hurry, He has no daily rush hours. He is not driven, desperate or in a panic and looking for a way to make things happen!His presence is now, believing in faith is for now.

Today is the day of salvation, so share the gospel with that person you keep meaning to!

He is the ever present God. I am that I am.

He is Jehovah Shalom.

He moves, acts and abides in Shalom. Where there is nothing missing or broken.

He doesn’t rush through life.

He is life.

It is impossible to live life as we were meant to live it, if we are too busy rushing around.

We are too busy because of the decisions we have made, that brought us to where we are at this moment.

So this year we have an opportunity to make decisions that will enable us to be less busy. It’s our choice.

Choose this day.. choose life.  The treasures revealed from His Word, are not simply for information but include messages to be lived and ways to develop a relationship with the Father.

They are to be experienced which is the most important aspect. Let God impress upon our hearts the precious truths which are essential to the life of every believer who truly desires to follow Jesus/Yeshua our Messiah.

Lets pray that we comprehend all that it means to be a disciple. And as we learn about Him, let our central focus be, to know Him and the power of His resurrection in our personal relationship with Him, for we are required to apply His words to our lives, daily.

Thank God Jesus Came!

May His Shalom surround guard and keep you year in and year out!