Erev Rosh Hashanah 5782
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Me
Me
Shana Tovah Mishpacha! We have made it to the Rosh Hashanah!!! The beginning of the High Holy Day season, the beginning of the Yamim Noraim, the Ten Days of Awe. We have made it through another Hebrew year, turning the year from 5781 to 5782. We have made it through another year of things getting more and more haywire as we draw closer and closer to the return of Messiah.
Years ago Danielle and I went to a youth retreat in Tampa called Arise, and a few months later a youth leaders retreat which was birthed from it, which was orchestrated by Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue in Tampa. These retreats were legitimately life changing and trajectory alternating for us. There were at least 300 people ranging in age from about 13 to about 30 at the youth retreat, and about 70 people at the youth leaders retreat. The power and presence of the Ruach HaKodesh was one of the most unreal experiences I had ever had to that point.
We watched the Lord do so much in the lives of everyone at these events. We watched teens and young adults see chains broken and find deliverance. We watched young people turn their hearts back to the Lord, and others who were there because they were forced to be find their Messiah and experience true transformation. We saw 300 hundred young people joined together in powerful and united worship, with arms raised, tears pouring, folks dancing, and voices lifted on high in unison completely unashamed.
These events were turning points in our walk with the Lord and our following our calling. We came back from these two retreats emboldened and completely on fire. I’ll never forget our first Shabbat back in our synagogue after the retreat, I was a vocalist worship team back then and at that point in time we didn’t have a band, we used prerecorded music and had several vocalists on stage with microphones leading worship in person with the prerecorded music. This particular Shabbat I asked our team to if I could open worship with prayer first, and I just prayed what the Lord had put on my heart and then worship began. But, with that prayer something tremendous broke and, even with prerecorded music, we had one of the most powerful worship experiences I had ever had in that congregation. And it ignited something that continued to carry on after.
Dani and I came back with a new found passion, a renewed fire for the Lord. We found ourselves in a season of repentance and restoration. We weren’t walking away from the Lord or anything, we hadn’t been backsliden, but we also hadn’t bee on fire either… Up to this point there was a certain degree of just going through the motions, if you know what I mean... The Lord completely flipped everything upside down in our lives, we cut out all secular music and started listening to only God-focused music, we made the Word and prayer a priority in lives and relationship, and so much more. And honestly believe the Lord was using this season of renewal and refocusing to prepare us for the next move He had in store for our lives and calling, and shortly their after (and I think it was just a few months later) we made the decision to follow His call to NY, which opened the door for us to eventually be here with all of you at Mayim Chayim.
We
We
Have you ever had an experience like this? A time where you know without a doubt there was a drastic spiritual shift in your heart and life?
Maybe you were at a worship concert and felt the Ruach overcome you and you found yourself on your knees in repentance and renewal?
Maybe you heard a sermon that rocked you to the core and caused you to turn back from a dark path and return to the Lord’s embrace?
Maybe you are praying for just such an experience for folks in your family… Maybe you’re sitting here tonight longing for such an experience in your own life… Maybe you find yourself just kind of going through the motions yourself, you’re doing what you know you’re suppose to be doing but maybe there’s just no fire behind… Maybe you just feel a little dry when it comes to the Ruach in your life...
God
God
Tonight we are observing Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah and called the Jewish New Year. This is a fresh opportunity for renewal, for rededication, for introspection and repentance. Rosh Hashanah begins the Ten Days of Awe in which we are focused on self-reflection and repentance before the Lord, asking God to reveal anything in our lives that needs to be changed and fully submitted to Him. And it’s this idea of spiritual renewal and rededication that I want to focus on tonight as we prepare our hearts this season.
Tonight the message is going to go focus on a passage of Scripture that is a bit off script if you will, it isn’t a passage traditionally read on Rosh Hashanah, but it is one I believe is a vital example for us for this season of renewal. If you have your Bibles with you go ahead and open to Nehemiah 8, feel free to use a Bible app on your phone and just in case we also will have it up on the screens and on our livestream feed as well.
I believe there is a very powerful key to spiritual renewal found in Nehemiah 8-
If we want a Spiritual renewal we must first submit to a renewal of conviction in the Word of God.
(Repeat)
Let’s dig into the text a bit together.
Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
“Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you erect the lamps, the seven lamps are to illuminate the area in front of the menorah.”
Aaron did so. He erected the lamps facing forward so they illuminated the area in front of the menorah, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.
Now this is how the menorah was made: hammered gold from its base to its blossoms. Just as was the pattern that Adonai had shown to Moses, so he made the menorah.
Again Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
“Take the Levites from among Bnei-Yisrael and ceremonially cleanse them.
This is what you must do to them to make them clean: Sprinkle the purifying water on them, then have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, thus purifying themselves.
“Then they are to take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, plus a second young bull for a sin offering.
Bring the Levites before the Tent of Meeting, and gather the whole community of Bnei-Yisrael.
This is a very influential time in the history of Israel. As a nation, Israel was rebuilding. They were fresh back from Babylonian captivity, they were reintegrated with the remnant of Israel who were not carted off to Babylon. They were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. They are facing great adversity as everyone around them hates them and wants to see them destroyed completely and the last thing their enemies nearby want to see are the walls of Jerusalem and the Temple being restored. For much of this time we are working with tools in one hand and weapons in the other, keeping a keen and watchful eye on everything going on around us in case anything pops off.
We’re dealing with our Jewish people returning back to our homeland feeling defeated and diminished, feeling broken and lost… And, honestly, aside from a few such as Nehemiah, most of the Jews returning and working really don’t quite understand why exactly everything fell apart a little of 70 years prier when the Babylonians razed Jerusalem. But, as we read in Nehemiah 8, eyes are opening and hearts are changing in drastic ways.
Then all the people were brought as a single body into the plaza that was before the Water Gate. They said to Ezra the scribe, “Bring out the Torah scroll of Moses that Adonai had commanded Israel.”
Ezra the kohen brought the Torah before the assembly, which included men and women and all who could understand what they heard. This happened on the first day of the seventh month.
So he read from it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from first light until midday, in the presence of the men and women, and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the scroll of the Torah.
The people are freshly back and working hard to reestablish Jerusalem, the very city upon which HaShem has placed His Name. The Jewish people are being renewed and reenergized as they see God’s faithfulness and protection while they work diligently. All of a sudden the lights come on and we realize what is missing… The Torah!!! The Word of God!!! The people came together united as a single body and cried out for the Torah of Moses to be brought out, read, and taught.
Ezra the kohen brings the Torah out before the entire assembly… This scene would likely have a bit of the same awe and excitement we often experience in our Torah service on Shabbat as the Word of God is processed around with great expectation. Then Nehemiah tells us that Ezra opens the Scroll and begins to read the Word of God to the people. But the time frame is key here folks,
Nehemiah 8:2 (TLV)
This happened on the first day of the seventh month.
So, what exactly is so important about the first day of the seventh month?
Adonai spoke to Moses saying:
“Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a Shabbat rest, a memorial of blowing (shofarot), a holy convocation.
You are to do no regular work, and you are to present an offering made by fire to Adonai.”
And again in Numbers...
“On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a sacred assembly. You are to do no laborious work. It is for you a day for sounding the shofar.
This monumental moment in the reestablishment of Jerusalem and the history of our Jewish people occured on the first of Tishrei, Yom Teruah, the day of the sounding of the Shofar, what we know now as Rosh Hashanah. This is beginning on the very same day that we are gathered here tonight and tomorrow to celebrate.
As Jerusalem was being restored and the Jewish people were experiencing renewal, the events align in divine orchestration with the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe. And the yearning of the hearts of this remnant of our Jewish people on this Rosh Hashanah long ago was for the renewal of the Word of God in our midst. Remember, as we’ve discussed with the Blessings and Curses of Deuteronomy, the Lord tells Israel if we turn our back on His Word we will be removed from the Land. They had spent a minimum of 70 years removed from the Promised Land because as a nation we walked away from the Word of God and began to live like the nations around us.
But now, the Jewish people are being brought back, a remnant is being reestablished and rebuilding. And just like a new believer in Yeshua who has been overcome with the Ruach HaKodesh, they are hungry and thirsty for the Presence of God, they are hungry and thirsty for a renewal of His Word.
Ezra opened the scroll in the sight of all the people for he was above all the people. When he opened it, all the people stood up.
Ezra blessed Adonai, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, amen!” as they lifted up of their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped Adonai with their faces to the ground.
The Word of God is read in the midst of the entire assembly and there is a reverence and excitement for the Word. Everyone is locked in and focused on what they are hearing, on what a life centered on Adonai looks like, on how they can rededicate themselves and the Promised Land back to HaShem.
They read from the Torah scroll of God, distinctly explaining it and giving insight. Thus they understood what was read.
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the kohen-scribe, and the Levites who were teaching the people said to all the people, “Today is kadosh to Adonai your God. Do not mourn or weep!” For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the Torah.
The entire remnant of Israel heard the Word of God, they felt the power and presence of the Ruach HaKodesh in the Torah, they were humbled and repentant. They realized the mistakes of their fathers and desired to make T’shuvah and to reestablish the Torah’s central role in the hearts and minds of Israel. They are realizing the impact and the reality that...
If we want a Spiritual renewal we must first submit to a renewal of conviction in the Word of God.
And this is a key biblical principle that we see all of the Bible. When we don’t place a prioritized importance on the Word of God in our lives and discipleship we find ourselves drifting in the winds of the world around us. When we are focused on the Word of God then we lose focus on what a Godly life looks like. When we walk away from the Word of God it is as though we are walking away from God Himself.
As I said, this is a principle we see throughout the Bible, such as...
Chazak! Be strong! For you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers to give them.
Only be very strong, and resolute to observe diligently the Torah which Moses, My servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so you may be successful wherever you go.
This book of the Torah should not depart from your mouth—you are to meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will make your ways prosperous and then you will be successful.
Have I not commanded you? Chazak! Be strong! Do not be terrified or dismayed, for Adonai your God is with you wherever you go.”
We see again in Psalm 119…
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Torah of Adonai.
Happy are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with a whole heart,
who also do no injustice, but walk in His ways.
You have commanded that Your precepts be kept diligently.
Oh that my ways were steadfast to observe Your decrees!
Then I would not be ashamed, when I consider all Your mitzvot.
I will praise You with an upright heart as I learn Your righteous judgments.
I will observe Your statutes. Never abandon me utterly!
And again...
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
With my whole heart have I sought You —let me not stray from Your mitzvot.
I have treasured Your word in my heart, so I might not sin against You.
Blessed are You, Adonai. Teach me Your statutes.
With my lips I rehearse all the rulings of Your mouth.
I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies above all wealth.
I will meditate on Your precepts, and regard Your ways.
I will delight in Your decrees. I will never forget Your word.
In fact, to this end, I highly recommend you go back and read and reread Psalm 119, it is such a powerful reminder of how important the Word of God should be in our lives.
We see in Matthew 4 as Yeshua is being temped by the enemy that He retorts the enemy with these words from Deuteronomy…
But He replied, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
And the author of Hebrews says:
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword—piercing right through to a separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And Paul encourages Timothy to remain steadfast in the Word of God...
You, however, continue in what you have learned and what you have become convinced of. For you know from whom you have learned,
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to make you wise, leading to salvation through trusting in Messiah Yeshua.
All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness,
so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed.
So, again I repeat:
If we want a Spiritual renewal we must first submit to a renewal of conviction in the Word of God.
The Body of Messiah needs to take to heart the humble posture we see from the remnant of Israel reestablishing Jerusalem in Nehemiah. We need to desperately seek and humbly submit ourselves to the Word of God. We need to reprioritize the Bible in our discipleship, in our lives, and in our communities. We need to approach the Word of God as we see in Nehemiah 8...
Ezra the kohen brought the Torah before the assembly, which included men and women and all who could understand what they heard. This happened on the first day of the seventh month.
You
You
Are you longing to see a renewal of the Ruach in your life? Are you longing to see your family rededicate their lives to the Lord? Are you praying for revival in the Body of Messiah today?
Are you longing to see your walk with the Lord take on a deeper more intimate relationship? Are you hungry to know God more and to hear His voice in your life? Are you thirsty for more of His Presence in your life?
It is time to make His Word a priority, to realign our heart’s focus on the Bible. To read the Bible and take it to heart, from Genesis to Revelation, daily consuming the Bread of Life.
We
We
If our worship team will make their way back up to the stage.
For far too long the Body of Messiah has decentralized the Word of God in our daily life and practice. For far too long most believers interaction with the Bible is when their pastor or rabbi is preaching, or when they go to a Bible Study. But, if you ask the average believer how often they read the Word you’d be dramatically surprised at the response. If you took a survey of how many believers have actually read the entire Bible even once, you’d be truly surprised at how few have.
How can we possibly long to hear His voice or to know His ways if we aren’t in the Word faithfully? This Rosh Hashanah, whether you’re hear in person, joining us online, or listening to this sermon via podcast later on, as we are entering into this season of renewal, repentance and rededication, let us rededicate our focus and attention on hearing the Bat Kol in the Word of God faithfully and daily.
If we want a Spiritual renewal we must first submit to a renewal of conviction in the Word of God.
This High Holy Day season let us take to heart the response of the remnant of Israel in Nehemiah 8 and let us yearn to humble ourselves in the hearing of Adonai’s Word. May we approach the Word of God with the same humility, the same hunger for the revelation of the Presence of God, and the same yearning for renewal, revival, and rededication.
And keep in mind, I highly doubt that they were able to read through the entire Torah over the course of just Rosh Hashanah, especially considering Nehemiah 8 says that they also taught on the Torah precepts as well. I am confident they followed through this season of renewal reading the Torah to the assembly, reacquainting themselves with the Bat Kol in the Word.