(Sermon for 9/13/15)
Days of Awe
Readings: 1) Genesis 1:14 – God set sun, moon and stars to be SIGNS.
2) Joel 2:30-31 – God’s wonders in the heavens and earth, sun turned to darkness and the moon to blood will declare the dreadful day of the Lord.
3) Luke 21: 25-28; 36 – When there are signs in the sun, moon and stars, STAND UP for the Son of Man is coming. Be on watch and pray that you may escape.
God’s word has declared that there will be signs in the sky: sun darkened and moon turning to blood, before Christ returns. We should not be afraid but excited about the events that are happening now. There was a partial eclipse of the sun in the southern hemisphere today and this evening begins the two day celebration of Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets. This Rosh Hashanah marks the end of a Shemitah year, the seventh in a series of years. It also marks the end of the seventh of seven years (7 x 7+49) or the year before the 50th year. The 50th year is the Year of Jubilee, which starts on Yom Kippur this September 23.
The Jubilee Year is significant because it is the year of freedom and celebration, deliverance and salvation. Slaves were sent HOME, and there was no planting of crops. Interestingly, Jesus’ earthly ministry started on Yom Kippur also known as the Day of Atonement. It was on this day that the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to offer blood for the forgiveness of sins.
This Jubilee Year is the 70th Jubilee and is the 40th Jubilee from the time of Jesus’ ministry. The number 70 in Jewish tradition means “perfect completion” and the number 40 means “redemption”. Putting the two together means that this Jubilee is “perfect, complete redemption. What could that signify? Is our “redemption drawing near”?
It is interesting that between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are ten days that in Jewish tradition are called “the Days of Awe”. It was said that during these days the books of our lives are opened and we have opportunity to change our destiny. Jews were encouraged to be introspective and prayerfully consider how they have lived their lives. It was a time of repentance, a time of change. If there was any offense between them and others, it was a time of reconciliation. At the end of the ten days, and just before the Day of Atonement, the books were closed and the opportunity was over get things right.
What should this say to Christians? Could Jesus return soon? Could Jesus come for us on the same day that He started his ministry? His return would mark the perfect, completion of our redemption. It is possible. We don’t know, but we know he will come. Even more important, we want to be ready when He does come!
During these Days of Awe, I would encourage you to do as our Jewish heritage has explained. Take these days to examine yourself. Get alone with God and ask Him to search you and show you your ways, Psalm 139. Love truth and allow the “sword” to cut off the excess that hinders your relationship with God and others. Repent from the things that you know are wrong. We all have wrong actions, thoughts, motives and words. Confess these to God and purpose to change with the help of the Holy Spirit. Let God help you remove all walls between Him and you, as well as, between you and others. Forgive and be reconciled! God desires for us to be holy (1 Peter 1:16), so let’s begin now to work on it before our high priest returns.
On September 28th the last Jewish feast of this month will take place, the Feast of Tabernacles. A blood moon will also appear on that day. It is the last blood moon of the tetrad, a series of four blood moons falling on Jewish feast days. This will not happen again for 100 years. The Feast of Tabernacles is also known as the Feast of the Ingathering (Ex. 23:16), the season of our joy, the Feast of YHVH (Lev. 23:39) or simply ‘the Feast’ (1 Kings 8:2). The Feast of Tabernacles was considered as God’s harvest or the Harvesting of Souls.
We all know that God loves to paint pictures and give us hints about things to come, so we look forward to these feasts and hope for the return of our Messiah. Let us be watchful; let us pray for strength to stand in these days and let us allow God to finish the work he has begun in us. Pray for the church that it will be without spot or wrinkle.
Amen
Days of Awe
Readings: 1) Genesis 1:14 – God set sun, moon and stars to be SIGNS.
2) Joel 2:30-31 – God’s wonders in the heavens and earth, sun turned to darkness and the moon to blood will declare the dreadful day of the Lord.
3) Luke 21: 25-28; 36 – When there are signs in the sun, moon and stars, STAND UP for the Son of Man is coming. Be on watch and pray that you may escape.
God’s word has declared that there will be signs in the sky: sun darkened and moon turning to blood, before Christ returns. We should not be afraid but excited about the events that are happening now. There was a partial eclipse of the sun in the southern hemisphere today and this evening begins the two day celebration of Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets. This Rosh Hashanah marks the end of a Shemitah year, the seventh in a series of years. It also marks the end of the seventh of seven years (7 x 7+49) or the year before the 50th year. The 50th year is the Year of Jubilee, which starts on Yom Kippur this September 23.
The Jubilee Year is significant because it is the year of freedom and celebration, deliverance and salvation. Slaves were sent HOME, and there was no planting of crops. Interestingly, Jesus’ earthly ministry started on Yom Kippur also known as the Day of Atonement. It was on this day that the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to offer blood for the forgiveness of sins.
This Jubilee Year is the 70th Jubilee and is the 40th Jubilee from the time of Jesus’ ministry. The number 70 in Jewish tradition means “perfect completion” and the number 40 means “redemption”. Putting the two together means that this Jubilee is “perfect, complete redemption. What could that signify? Is our “redemption drawing near”?
It is interesting that between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are ten days that in Jewish tradition are called “the Days of Awe”. It was said that during these days the books of our lives are opened and we have opportunity to change our destiny. Jews were encouraged to be introspective and prayerfully consider how they have lived their lives. It was a time of repentance, a time of change. If there was any offense between them and others, it was a time of reconciliation. At the end of the ten days, and just before the Day of Atonement, the books were closed and the opportunity was over get things right.
What should this say to Christians? Could Jesus return soon? Could Jesus come for us on the same day that He started his ministry? His return would mark the perfect, completion of our redemption. It is possible. We don’t know, but we know he will come. Even more important, we want to be ready when He does come!
During these Days of Awe, I would encourage you to do as our Jewish heritage has explained. Take these days to examine yourself. Get alone with God and ask Him to search you and show you your ways, Psalm 139. Love truth and allow the “sword” to cut off the excess that hinders your relationship with God and others. Repent from the things that you know are wrong. We all have wrong actions, thoughts, motives and words. Confess these to God and purpose to change with the help of the Holy Spirit. Let God help you remove all walls between Him and you, as well as, between you and others. Forgive and be reconciled! God desires for us to be holy (1 Peter 1:16), so let’s begin now to work on it before our high priest returns.
On September 28th the last Jewish feast of this month will take place, the Feast of Tabernacles. A blood moon will also appear on that day. It is the last blood moon of the tetrad, a series of four blood moons falling on Jewish feast days. This will not happen again for 100 years. The Feast of Tabernacles is also known as the Feast of the Ingathering (Ex. 23:16), the season of our joy, the Feast of YHVH (Lev. 23:39) or simply ‘the Feast’ (1 Kings 8:2). The Feast of Tabernacles was considered as God’s harvest or the Harvesting of Souls.
We all know that God loves to paint pictures and give us hints about things to come, so we look forward to these feasts and hope for the return of our Messiah. Let us be watchful; let us pray for strength to stand in these days and let us allow God to finish the work he has begun in us. Pray for the church that it will be without spot or wrinkle.
Amen
