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Making your voice heard on high
The next three appointed times on YHVH’s calendar is approaching, Yom T’ruah, Yom Kippurim, and Sukkot. It is always a good thing to “take stock” of our spiritual condition before we observe these days. Especially Yom Kippurim, a day of humbling ourselves before YHVH. It is part of Jewish tradition to do introspection for forty days before Yom kippurim, the month of Elul and the Ten days of Awe (the first ten days of Tishri.) The word “elul” means search, so this is very appropriate as we search our hearts during this time. People examine themselves and forgive and ask forgiveness of those they have wronged. Though we should be doing this all the time, I find it a good tradition. It’s like a spiritual house cleaning before the fall feasts. I am currently reading through the book of Isaiah, and Isaiah 58, struck a cord with me and it fits in very well with this context of searching our hearts. It showed me that only keeping YHVH’s commandments is not enough. If we only keep YHVH’s commandments, we are participating in false worship. This may seem like a harsh statement, but allow me to explain.
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National and Personal redemption, both are required
“The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”(Eze 18:20) The Apostle Paul also teaches that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12) Each of us is responsible for him or herself in the sense that we are to repent of our own sins when we become aware of it. However, there is something to be said about national repentance and redemption. There is much proof of this in Scripture. How are we to understand and apply this in our lives?
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Praying in Y’shua’s Name
As believers, we were taught from the time we were little children to end our prayers with “in the name of Jesus (Y’shua)” Since YHVH revealed some of His truth, of keeping Torah, to us, we had to challenge and change many things we were taught as children and thereafter. Is this something else we need to change? Is it scriptural to end our prayers “in the name of Y’shua” or is this a doctrine of man? This doctrine originates from what Y’shua said in John 14:13-14 and a few other passages. Was this interpreted correctly to mean that we are to end our prayers in this way and if so, why?
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Scriptural introduction to prayer
Prayer is something most believers take for granted. There should be no need to do a study to convince believers that praying is something they should do on a regular basis. However, when we get into a bit more detail, we still find a lot of varying positions and teachings on specific dimensions of prayer. With this study we focus on what the Scriptures teach us about prayer. We look at some of the reasons for praying and what the outcome of prayer is. Can we see what YHVH wants from us in prayer?
