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A Season to Examine the Heart

by NWGO

In the late summer & fall seasons, many Jewish, Messianic and Torah keeping Christians celebrate the Biblical Fall feasts(Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot). These Appointed times (Moedim) call believers to a deeper level of spiritual obedience and walk of faith in the “atonement work of Yahushua” HaMashiach (Jesus Christ). The spiritual disciplines practiced before and during these feasts are self examination, prayer, fasting, making attempts to repair broken relationships, meditating on the future Resurrection Day and the replay of our lives at His Judgment of us, as well as good works that reflect Him. Many pronounce to their family and friends the blessing, “May your Name be in the Book of Life” (Lambs book of Life).

In order to be in that Book, everyone born after Yahushua’s Atonement on the execution stake (Roman cross) must believe in Him as their Savior (Acts 2:38, Rev. 13: 8 & 21:27) and obey his commandments (Rev 14:12). This time is called a Mercy period of grace. Yahushua (JESUS) is the Resurrection and the Life (L’CHAIYM) John 10:10b & 11:25. This biblical season represents a roll call and wake up call for righteous believers to Elohim’s Judgment Day. Some will awake to eternal Life, while others will wake to eternal wrath and punishment (Daniel 12:2-3). (Scriptures on the book of Life (Philippians 4:3 Rev. 3:5, ch 20:11-15).

The Fall feasts promote submission to the Holy Spirit’s (Ruach HaQuodesh) work of sanctification (Gal 2:20-21). His work is to "Set Apart "our lives to Elohim (God) as Holy. There are things that we have the power to do such as repent, confess, believe and obey. There are also hidden things that only God can dig up and cure in the secrets of our hearts and minds.

The Hebrew word for "heart" is lev. It represents a two-fold description of the heart as the organ that pumps out blood and represents the idea of "emotion" and thinking.

Proverbs 4:23 KJV Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Blood flows out of the heart to other parts of the body and so does human behavior. Life is in the blood (Genesis 9:4,Leviticus 17:11,14 & Deuteronomy 12:23) . This shows an ancient Hebrew word picture of the heart’s function in the natural and spiritual of pumping out emotions and thoughts that cause life or death. Proverbs 18:21 notes that life and death is in the tongue. They are also in the heart. This has always been a concern of Elohim (Gen.6:5). His plan to correct this is found in writing His Law on the heart with the New Covenant (JerimiYah 31:30-36 & IsaiYah 53).

Many preach out of context that “all fall short of God’s glory and the heart is wicked above all things for believers”, Yahushua(Jesus) came to set us free from our lawbreaking nature and give us a new heart and mind like His (1st Cor. 2:16 and 2nd Cor. 5:14-17). The Fall Season promotes not conforming to the world and being transformed by the renewing of our minds by following Biblical guidelines, customs and procedures set by Elohim (Romans 12:1-2 & Ephesians 4:23). These are priestly (cohen) duties assigned to us because we are the Temples of the Holy Spirit (1st Peter 2:9 & 1 Cor 3:16). His covenant on our hearts directs us to be living midrashes (epistles) showing His power to transform lives( 2 Cor 3:2).

Shema in Hebrew means to “hear and do”. Believing in the heart is about practicing His Word. Paul tells believers to confess Yahushua (Jesus) and believe in the “heart” which requires “action ”( James 1:21-27). The action is T’shuvah (repentance) from lawbreaking and turning to God for help to change (Romans 10:9 & Acts 2:38). He gives us His Word and Holy Spirit in covenant to follow and grow. The result is our lives being shaped in the image of Messiah (Christ) Romans 8:28 & 1 Cor. 11:7.)

The Fall season represents the spiritual death of sin in the believers life like the fallen leaves from trees. We look forward in complete trust to the Final Restoration and Renewal in the Eternal Life in Yahushua (Jesus). Believers have the responsibility to examine their hearts to see if there is anything that is not right with Elohim based on His word. We all live in a fallen, depraved world. We often pick-up contamination when we feel weak or simply do not guard our hearts. Many times the Holy Spirit, The Word, and negative situations “draw out” and "to the surface" issues of the heart that need to be corrected. The biblical effect, if followed is counsel, conviction, confession, correction in allowing the Holy Spirit to further clean our lives and clarity. This makes Elohim (God) happy and us more useful for His Life to flow out of our hearts to others so they seek Yahushua’s Way to be in His Lamb’s book of Life.

Posted by YWGO on 2009-09-09 15:14:45 | Rating:

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Blog Comments

what a great reminder of his love for us
The fall is a time to examine our lives and be what God wants us to be bless you for posting this .

Posted by good_news on 2009-09-09 15:46:13

Blessed in Christ Jesus! (Yahushua)Amen!
Shalom

Posted by Christianthoughts on 2009-09-10 17:36:53

HELLO MY FRIEND
I HAVEAQU.FOR YOU,DO YOU FOLLOW OLD OR NEW TEST.?
i LIVE WITH SOMEONE WHO SAYS THAT I HAVE MISSED THE MARK BECAUSE I FOLLOW THE TEACHING OF NEW TEST.
HE SAYS THAT WE ARE STILL UNDER THE LAW OF THE OLD.
I SAY WE ARE UNDER THE NEW.
THERE IS ALOT OF CONFLICT IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
WE STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER MOST OF THE TIME;IT IS REALLY SAD BECAUSE HE IS A FAM.MEMBER.
I LOVE HIM BUT THERE IS A VOID BETWEEN US,HE SAY'S THE PEOPLE THAT REWROTE THE HOLY BIBLE LEFT ALOT OUT[I KNOW THAT IS TRUE]AND THAT JESUS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY.[I KNOW THAT IS A LIE]
WHAT DO YOU THINK.
I CAN'T GET THOUGH TO HIM.

Posted by BUTTERFLYLOVE on 2009-10-08 21:53:14

BUTTERFLYLOVE-Not sure what you mean, We (beleivers in Yahushua)-are under the grace of God which is eternal through out the Covenants....In the New Covenant..the Mercy(Grace is clearly seen). Grace does not mean we should practice paganism or tresspass Mosiac principles of lifestyle. God initiated His grace plan through His covenants until Christ could come to revile His Mercy plan of redemption.

The (OT) Law never taught circumcison salvation...the Oral tradition Law of Pharasee and Essene Jews did... Paul is adressing this in His Letters. The Jews see the Law their tradition, not sola scripta...therefore many misinterpreted it. Read Matt 5-7 chapters carefully. The answer to your question is there.

Clarification of the Biblical lifestyle according to what Jesus said about the Law is how beleivers should practice it. It's about first century full gospel example. Later other cultural traditions and philosophys were added. Many Judeo-Christians continued sabbath and holidays etc. Jude 1:3b shows that there were changes and we should contend for the faith once delivered to the saints...

Posted by YWGO on 2009-11-20 18:10:51