A Family that Fears the Lord Part 1
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The Year of the Kingdom of Our God
The Year of the Kingdom of Our God
Welcome to the New Year. You might perceive the new year as just beginning. But the new year actually started on September 25th as the year 5783, starting from what the Jewish people believe to be the date of creation. The number 83 is derived from pey פ (mouth; word; expression; vocalization; breath) and gimmel ג (a rich man running after a poor man to bless him. Gimmel means benefit; How you run the race determines blessings or judgment; Glory or godlessness). That sounds great doesn't it? All of you would like someone to chase you down and give you riches! But the key is, “How are you running this race? How does God see your living?”
Even if we are four months late to the celebration, Rosh Hashanah, is the first of the High Holidays or Yamim Noraim (“Days of Awe”), celebrated ten days before Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). 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 Teruah, a day of sounding [the Shofar]).
You might be thinking, that’s nice, but what does that have to do with me as a Christian? Well, my first question is what do you think a “Christian” is? Is it not one who follows the Christ? If so, what does it mean to “Follow Christ”?
You have heard Jesus’ reply when asked this same question, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” But what was His point of reference? What exactly was His thinking when responding with this catchy phrase?
God put it this way in Leviticus (Leviticus 18:3-5):
You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes.
You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.
You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
So, what is God really saying? How is it still applicable to us today? What is the intent of God? And how do I apply it to my life?
Folks, it is pretty straight forward. God is contrasting cultures. The culture of this world and the culture of His Kingdom. God is calling them to live altogether differently than the pagan people. The word “do” in Hebrew is asa עָשָׂה and means work, play, how you entertain yourselves, everything pertaining to life and how you live it, approach it, think about it and make choices through it. It applies to who you esteem, who you do life with, what influences you, your values, your children, and I think you get the idea.
I asked once, how cultured would you say your children are? For that matter how cultured are you? What does that even mean?
Webster’s Dictionary defines the term “Cultured” two ways. First, they define it as cultivated, educated, instructed or taught how to live. The second definition is to be produced under artificial conditions. Wow! They got that one right.
Any way of living outside of the Kingdom of God is to live under artificial conditions. I might even add that it is to live under superficial conditions.
The Lord has shown me that this is the Year of the Kingdom of our God. It will be an extremely biblically prophetic year. It will be a year of opposition to the Kingdom of God. But it will also be a year of retribution, deliverance, unity, and so much more. The people of God will see the favor of the Lord in the midst of it all and the church will flourish in the face of adversity. Bottom line, God is calling us to live and lead our families in a way that contrast significantly from the rest of this society but honors God.
To follow the Christ is to follow as He followed the Father, fear Adonai our King. To fear the King is to live according to His Kingdom not our cultures. This world is full of cultures all competing for your life and how you should think and live. I am not just talking about a dress code and a dietary plan. I am speaking to much deeper. The Psalmist said it this way (Psalms 25:12-15):
Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
If you consider yourself a part of this Jubilee Family, know this, Jubilee is a Family that Fears the Lord.
Many of you may have New Years resolutions. You may want to get you finances in better condition, accomplish something significant, or resolve something within your own heart. I want to present you the best way to start this new year with me.
Today is the day our culture celebrates the new year. Monday starts my birthday that goes through the entire month of January! Just kidding. But I do want to ask for a birthday gift from all of you. Tuesday, 3 January, is the Fast of Asarah B'Tevet עֲשָׂרָה בְּטֵבֵת (The Fast of the 10th day of Tevet). The word tevet טֵבֵת means “goodness”.
“For years, G‑d had sent His prophets to warn Israel about the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple if they didn’t mend their ways. But they derided the holy men as bearers of ‘false prophecies of doom,’ bent on demoralizing the nation. They even went so far as to kill one of the prophets. Then it finally happened. On the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet, in the year 3336 from Creation (425 BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem” (What Is Asarah B'Tevet;https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3170662/jewish/What-Is-Asarah-BTevet-Tevet-10.htm). (Ezek. 24:2)
It is a day of fasting, mourning and repentance. We refrain from food and drink from the rising to the setting of the sun. And we focus on lifting to God Selichot (peni-ten-tial prayers).
I am asking, those of you who can, to make every effort to join with me on this one day of fasting and repenting for ourselves, our families, the Body of Christ, and our Nation. If you are not working, spend the day doing something constructive, productive or relational rather then on your phones, video games, televisions and any other electronic device that has taken you captive. But multiple times throughout the day, pray prayers of repentance with me. What better way to start the year of the Kingdom of our God. Shalom