Teshuvah  2010  (5770/71)
The Season of Repentance, Return and Preparation
by Kin & Debbie Clark

 

Foreword: Kin

This is a very specific year in the Lord for inspection. While it happens each year during this period, this year will be more intense for those really desiring to follow the Lord with their whole heart.  He wants to reveal to us areas that are holding us back or that He does not have...   The response to His call this year will determine the level He will be able to trust us with in the coming days.  This will take some time and prayerful consideration... He is talking about things in our heart, attitudes, idols, things we have never addressed and He wants to sit on the Throne in that area of our hearts. 

He began talking to us about this during "Between the Straits" this year, this has happened for several years now.  He's giving us the opportunity to let Him be Lord over every area of our lives.  The way He brought it to us this year is so multifaceted, it is almost incomprehensible.  Only He can walk us through this. "we have never been this way before".

The Biblical Month of Elul begins this year (2010) on Aug 10th at 6 PM. This marks 40 days before the final Day - Yom Kippur.  I encourage you this year, to throw down the idol of busy-ness, and take time before the Lord.  This is crucial for what is coming.

Here’s an additional article that is the heart of the Lord for this year, by Debbie

No Compromise – Do We Really Choose to Worship Him?

            I saw the Lord holding up a bright lantern light in His hand walking and searching through dark cavern tunnels.  I asked Him, “What are You doing?” 

I am searching the deep recesses of your heart looking for the hidden things.   I am bringing and calling you into a serious season of repentance, not just a hit and miss repentance but a real repentance where you let My eyes of Light and Truth pierce through you going down into the hidden recesses of your heart finding every hidden thing, every place where there is not light, every place where darkness prevails.  Do you desire Me to such a degree that you would long for Me to complete this work of grace in you?

          All of this was said in the middle of us studying in-depth the book of Deuteronomy.  Did you know that Jesus quoted from this book more than any other?  If He did that, then the words spoken in Deuteronomy must be very important.  This book is the foundation giving us direction for things to go well for us.

          There were the words from Deuteronomy 27:26 A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice. (Complete Jewish Bible)

“I don’t want this curse,” I spoke to the Lord. 

          Here was His response: 

The curse is this – All of these blessings can be yours but because of your choice, you choose to live below the standard.  You are cursed because you cannot receive all of the blessings offered.  They are there for you, but you choose to not walk in that place; therefore, that is a cursed place for you.  My Word says that a curse without a cause cannot alight so in all of the places where you have chosen to not put My Word into  practice, where you have chosen to turn away from My Word that I have ordered for you, every place where you have chosen to go to the right or to the left, every place where you have chosen to follow after other gods and serve them, that place cannot receive light, truth (blessing) because you are choosing to walk in darkness in those areas thereby keeping yourself from receiving ALL that I have for you.  You are choosing your own destiny.  The judgment is the curse. The curse is that you love darkness rather than light.

 

John 3:19-21  Now this is the judgment (condemnation in other translations):  the Light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness rather than the light.  Why?  Because their actions were wicked.  For everyone who does evil things hates the light and avoids it, so that his actions won’t be exposed.  But everyone who does what is true comes to the Light, so that all may see that his actions are accomplished through God.”

So instead of truth, you get the spirit of delusion. “ II Thes. 2:11

          On the other hand, if I am LORD of ALL of you, all of your areas because you choose to only follow Me, you choose to not go to the right or to the left, you choose to not turn away from My Words, My instruction, My Torah, you choose to “confirm My Word by putting it into practice,” you choose to walk in ALL my ways, to bow your knee in ALL things, then there is no mixture and I will pour out My blessings in abundance over you.  “To a people without mixture I will pour out My power without measure. (last sentence given by God to Bobby Conner)

Deuteronomy 28:1  If you listen to what the LORD your God says, observing and obeying all His commandments which I am giving you today, the LORD your God will raise you high above all the nations on earth:  and all the following blessings will be yours in abundance- if you will do what the LORD your God says.

For each of us this is a season to “Come clean,”  I heard the Lord say.  No more pretenses.  It is reality time.

Listen to the Lord’s words from John 8:31-41.

So Yeshua (Jesus) said to the Judeans who had trusted Him.  If you obey what I say, then you are really my disciples, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 

They answered, “We are the seed of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone, so what do You mean by saying, “You will be set free?”…

(Yeshua replied) I know you are the seed of Abraham.  Yet you are out to kill me, because what I am saying makes not headway in you.  I say what My Father has shown Me; you do what your father has told you!”

They answered Him, “Our father is Abraham.”

Yeshua replied, “If you are children of Abraham, then do the things Abraham did!  As it is you are out to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth I heard from God.  Abraham did nothing like that !  You are doing the things your father does.”

“We are not illegitimate children!”  they said to Him.  “We have only one father – God!”

Yeshua replied to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me; because I came out from God; and now I have arrived here.  I did not come on My own; He sent Me.  Why don’t you understand what I am saying?  Because you can’t bear to listen to My message.  You belong to your father, Satan, and you want to carry out your father’s desires.  From the start he was a murderer, and he has never stood by the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he tells a lie, he is speaking in character; because he is a liar – indeed, the inventor of the lie!  But as for Me, because I tell the truth you don’t believe Me.  Which one of you can show Me where I’m wrong?  If I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe Me?  Whoever belongs to God, listens to what God says:  the reason you don’t listen is that you don’t belong to God.”

If you are a true son of Abraham, then you are really a disciple of Yeshua and you seek Him out and allow Him to seek you out so that you can do what He says.  True sons of Abraham, sons of The Father, don’t run from or reject The Truth that comes from The Father whether it is being spoken by Father God or by Yeshua, Who is speaking what He hears Father say.

          He is longing for us to allow Him to bless us abundantly, but we have to be willing to hear the Truth about ourselves that He needs to tell us.  He will say it in love, not in condemnation because He desires to bless us.

          I saw it like this:  Picture a large reservoir of water, an abundance of water (symbolizing His blessings for us).  Holding the water back are flood gates; however, only 3 or 4 of 24 flood gates were open for the water to come through.  Blessings are coming through to us, but not in abundance.  The more we allow Him in love to examine and search us out, the more flood gates can be opened enabling more blessings to come into our lives.  He desires ALL the flood gates to be open so that the blessings will be ours in abundance.  

I had told the Lord that I wanted the blessing of Abraham.  (see Gal. 3:14)  He told me there was a blessing greater than that of Abraham and that was The Father’s Blessing.  He is a loving Father Who delights in His children.  He is eager for ALL the flood gates to be open so He can give us blessings in abundance.   So let’s let Him have His desire.


Prayer of Repentance

 

Father, I come to You now in the Name of Your Son, Yeshua (Jesus).  Show me every area of my life where You are not Lord.  Show me every place and time where I am turning away from Your Words.  Show me every area where I am turning to the right or to the left.  Show me every area where I am following after other gods and serving them.  I ask You for grace to love You and follow You unreservedly.

Father, Open the eyes of my heart to receive Your Truth.  Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive Your Truth.  I ask for mercy and grace to see and hear The Truth.  Father, deliver me from deception.  I don’t want to be deceived.  In Yeshua’s Name I pray.  Amen.

 

May the testimony the LORD spoke of Caleb and Joshua be ours from Numbers 32:11,12

None of the people aged twenty or more who came out of Egypt will see the land I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; because they haven’t followed Me unreservedly—except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, because they have followed ADONAI (the LORD) unreservedly.

Deuteronomy 5:32, 33 Therefore, you are to be careful to do as ADONAI (the LORD) your God has ordered you; you are not to deviate either to the right or the left.  You are to follow the entire way which ADONAI your God has ordered you; so that you will live, things will go well with you, and you will live long in the land you are about to possess.



Teshuvah


T’shuva begins with the Hebrew month of Elul. Elul is a month of repentance – a time to prepare to meet the L-rd.  T’shuva is a 40 day season that begins on 1 Elul and goes through 10 Tishri – Yom Kippur. 

T’Shuva  means to turn, to reverse oneself, to walk the other way. Repentance and restoration. Several words and phases that come to mind when talking about this period of time: Repent, Return, Preparation, Prepare the Way for The L-rd

The Shofar blast daily for the 40 days – in the synagogues - a call to repent and return. Shofar's are a type of the Prophet's call... sounding the alarm. 

Yochanan Ha McVille (John the Immerser) Prepare Ye the Way of the L-rd. (You prepare the way for the Lord)  Yochanan understood that he was prophetically in a time of Teshuvah – Repentance and return – that His Calling was to proclaim the Coming Day of The L-rd.  This is the man Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) was talking about when he said, "The voice of someone crying out: ‘In the desert prepare the way of ADONAI! Make straight paths for him!  Matthew 3:3
Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. 

Preparation for the Day of the L-rd
a.  Cleansing of the Bride
b.  The Coming Judgment to rebellion

We are actually in the process of entering into this season. When Yeshua said everything that can be shaken will be shaken – He is speaking of this season.  
Luke 21:26  as people faint with fear at the prospect of what is overtaking the world; for the powers in heaven will be shaken.
Hebrews 12:27
 And this phrase, "one more time," makes clear that the things shaken are removed, since they are created things, so that the things not shaken may remain. 28  Therefore, since we have received an unshakeable Kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverence and fear. 29  For indeed, "Our God is a consuming fire!" (CJB)

This is a rehearsal for the Body of Messiah to prepare for the Day of the L-rd - how do you prepare?  By repenting and drawing near to the L-rd. Letting the L-rd restore you.

 
Going back to Shavuot (Pentecost) – G-d Betrothed  Israel
Showing them His Chesed (lovingkindness) by the miracles of deliverance from Egypt

And soon after their commitment the Betrothal on Shavuot – Israel fell into gross sin and immorality, idolatry.  They responded to their loving Husband with a gentile, pagan orgy.  They made a golden calf and worshipped it with drunkenness, dance and sex. Here’s a picture that makes this really clear – The newly betrothed Bride had jumped into a cesspool, wallowed in it and then spit in the face of her perfect intended Husband – She grossly insulted the only one that would have her. G-d’s heart was wounded…  Moses spent from Tammuz 18 – AV 29  cleaning house. Moses ended up spending 3  - 40 day period before the L-rd before Yom Kippur The Last of which was Elul – This was Moses last chance to get it right. Moses went back up before G-d for 40 days  So the L-rd taught Moses what this 40 days was for… Exodus 34:2 He was there 40 days and nights without bread nor water – Exodus 34:28

The Rabbi’s of ancient times saw Elul as this time being devoted to the Bride - In Hebrew ELUL is made up of four letters
Alef
Lamed
Vav
Lamed
Rabbi’s taught this so it could be remembered as Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) 6:3
”I AM” in Hebrew    =   “Ani”              and starts with           (Alef)
”my Beloved’s”         =    “L’dodi”        and starts with          (Lamed)
“and my Beloved”     =    “V’dodi”        and starts with          (Vav)
“is mine”                    =     “Li”              and starts with           (Lamed)

If you are wise you will use this time to, as His bride to be cleansed – we are tarnished through the sins we do, and the things we should do that we don’t,  through things that are put on us and the things we inherit.  The gift of Elul (this time) is given to begin removing from your heart those things that have piled up during the year, or if you have never experience this to remove the filth that has been piled up for many years.
(
Rav M. Washer)


During the Day of the L-rd – during this season Our Bridegroom will come
. What will He find – will He find a group of people called the Congregation of the L-rd that has prepared itself as a bride without spot or wrinkle  - Ephesians 5:27   in order to present the Messianic Community to himself as a bride to be proud of, without a spot, wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without defect.  Or will the “so called”  bride continue to be an adulterer – unfaithful, with the allures of this present world.

 Yeshua gives us the picture – You know I am coming – it is throughout all of the Scripture – Song of Songs is our love story - how I will love you…. He tells us in Matthew 25:1-13  part of a wedding party will not be ready…

A Prophetic Call and  Voice is going forth in this time – GET READY !!!! How?  Get to know the G-d of Israel and Yeshua, His Son, intimately.

   
A Day for Repentance:
 

Here are the main scriptures used to encourage repentance (Teshuva - returning):

 Numbers 5:5-7  YHVH said to Moses,  "Say to the Israelites: 'When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to YHVH, that person is guilty  And must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.

 Deuteronomy 30:1-6  When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever YHVH your G-d disperses you among the nations,  And when you and your children return to YHVH your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today,  Then YHVH your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.  Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there YHVH your God will gather you and bring you back.  He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.  YHVH your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

1 Kings 8:33-34
  "When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and confess your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,  Then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their fathers.

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek YHVH while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to YHVH, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Jeremiah 3:12-14
Go, proclaim this message toward the north: "'Return, faithless Israel,' declares YHVH, 'I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares YHVH, 'I will not be angry forever.  Only acknowledge your guilt--you have rebelled against YHVH your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,'" declares YHVH.   "Return, faithless people," declares YHVH, "for I am your husband. I will choose you--one from a town and two from a clan--and bring you to Zion.

Ezekiel 18:21-23
  "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.  None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live.  Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign YHVH. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

Ezekiel 18:30-32
  "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign YHVH. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.  Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?  For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign YHVH. Repent and live!

Hosea 14:2-5
Take words with you and return to YHVH. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.  Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses. We will never again say 'Our gods' to what our From me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.  Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.  O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Lamentations 5:21-22
Restore us to yourself, YHVH, that we may return; renew our days as of old, unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.

 

 

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