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Transcript

I recently started working on a project that will hopefully turn into an article and/or video series. As I was turning it over in my head, I realized that we are almost at the 10 days of awe between Yom Teruah and Yom Kipur. Yom Teruah, also called the Feast of

Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah, is the first

day of the seventh month and marks the

beginning of the fall feasts. Yom Kipur is

the 10th day of the 7th month and is the

holiest day of the year on God’s calendar. The 10 days between these two feasts is traditionally called the 10 days of awe. They are a time for self-reflection and repentance leading up to the time, when the temple was still standing, that the High priest would go into the Holy of Holies and make atonement for the nation.

In light of this, I thought it would be fun and beneficial to take some of the topics I was thinking about and do a 10-day challenge designed to help us reflect, repent, and be spiritually revived. It’s actually going to start today, the day leading up to Yom Teruah, otherwise day 10 would be Yom Kipur, which has its own “challenge” if you will.

I will provide a link to a sheet you can print and fill out as we go, or you can use notebook paper - just create one large column on the left and two small ones to the right.

Today’s challenge involves the Scriptures:

1. Study

• You may or may not read the scriptures every day.
  • If you don’t, commit to reading them for 10-15 minutes a day.
    • Decide right now when the best time would be to get a quiet moment and set this time aside for the next 10 days.
    • Scripture reading is a major way that God can speak to us, and helps us fix our mind on Him
• If you already read the scripture every day.
  • Take an extra 5-10 minutes to dig deeper than you usually do.
  • Find the answer to a question you have, study a word that stands out to you, or read a commentary.
  • If these are all normal for you, try and extend your study time, or involve your family.
• Today and tomorrow’s challenges are the only 2 that you will be asked to do each day following.

2. Pray

• As a Christian, you probably pray every day at. Everyone’s prayer life is a little different.
  • However, for the next 9 days, take some extra time to focus on your prayer life.
  • If you don’t already, set aside 5-10 minutes for consistent daily prayer, either individually, as a family, or both.
  • If you already have a consistent prayer time, set aside some extra time throughout the day, perhaps during the traditional prayer times of 9, noon, and 3.
  • If you don’t already have one, write down a prayer list and be sure to cover it every day.
  • However you choose to increase your prayer time, pick one unsaved individual to focus on with the expectation that God will move in their life during this time.

3. Look forward

• The Feast of Trumpets is now over, but the sound of the shofar is still fresh in our ears.
• This is a prophetic time pointing to the second coming of Yeshua.
• Today, let us fix our mind on the coming kingdom of Messiah by taking a moment to think about what it will be like when Messiah returns.
  • When he returns, we will receive our glorified bodies.
  • We will never have to worry about hunger or death.
  • We will see Yeshua in the flesh and live under his reign and rule
  • We will rule with him in his kingdom.
• Take a 5 minute break right now or at some point in your day and think about what it will be like when Yeshua returns.
• Why is this important?
  • So often, we get caught up in the here and now.
    • Personal issues
    • Political
    • Watching the world become ever-more wicked.
    • Seeing the enemy gain strong-holds.
    • Disasters and wars
  • We know that things will get worse and worse and become more difficult,
    • In Matthew 24, Yeshua calls some of these the beginning of birth pains
  • Just like real birth pains, it’s important to look forward to what comes after - the desired end - the reign of Messiah.
  • This will help us stay on fire and endure any hardship we may face.

4. Reconcile

• Today’s challenge might be a little more uncomfortable for some. We’re going to start getting into the nitty-gritty.
• Reconciliation is often overlooked as an important step in our walk. It can be difficult to admit that we have faults, and it can also be difficult to forgive others that have wronged us. In this season, let’s carefully consider the words of Messiah:
  • “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.“ Matthew 5:23-24
• Do you have any broken relationships in your life?
  • Did you have any part to play in that situation?
  • Please pause the video now and take a moment to think about it.
• Think about any ways that you have fallen short in your relationships with your family, friends, co-workers, etc..
  • If anything stands out to you, pause the video now, and write their name down on a separate piece of paper.
• Is there anyone that has offered an apology for something that you have yet to forgive them for?
  • Matthew 6:14-15 says “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
  • Think about what God has forgiven you of in Messiah. Let’s extend grace to those that are repentant.
    • Even if they aren’t, you can release any bitterness you may be holding. Letting the other person know your offense and giving them the opportunity to apologize can be an act of love. Don’t demand or expect an apology or become offended if they don’t acknowledge the offense - leave the door open for their heart to change.
• Finally, if any of these have come to mind
  • Confess to God
  • go to that person and apologize.
    • This can be in person, by phone, or message.
    • If you’re not sure how to begin, just say something like “I was reflecting today, and felt the need to apologize for ... “
    • Tell them what you should have done and wish them well.
    • Don’t demand or expect forgiveness. Leave it up to them.

5. Redeem the time

• So, one thing that we can probably all work on is managing our time better.
  • It can be difficult to figure out how to do that
  • Hopefully you’ve been keeping up with the challenges from day 1 and 2.
    • You might have had to re-prioritize some things to work in just the 20 or so minutes for that
  • One way we can learn to manage our time and efforts better is to think about what an ideal day would involve,
    • Other than work, eating, and sleeping,
    • List any activities you would incorporate into your day or week routine. Don’t try to schedule them, just make a list.
      • Include your study and prayer time
      • Include any of those resolutions you’ve made in the past year or two
      • Include any time with family or friends
      • Include any projects you would like to get done in the near future
      • Include any leisure activities
  • Now, keep that list. Since tomorrow is the Sabbath, I’m going to be uploading tomorrow’s video shortly after this one. That means you can either wait until tomorrow, or do both of them today, since they are related.

6. Get free of addictions

• Today’s challenge is to recognize any addictions or time wasting habits that we have formed.
• Many seemingly benign things can be addictive:
  • Television and radio
  • Social media
  • Online videos
  • Games
  • Negative news
  • Gossip
  • Issues we may be obsessed with can be like an addiction.
    • Pet doctrines
    • Political issues.
    • Etc
• Write down anything that you notice is continually absorbing your time and attention.
• Now take both your lists -
  • the one with your ideal daily and weekly activities from yesterday
    • or earlier,
  • And the one with your time-wasting activities
• Write a time range next to each activity that you think would be acceptable in a day.
• Finally, take the time you have available to do these things in a day and see if they can fit.
  • If not, can you work them into a weekly schedule?
  • Think about how you would need to adjust your schedule to do all of them.
• Everything in life takes time
  • Mismanaging our time can be a major spiritual stumbling block.
• Paul says in Ephesians, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
• Let’s remember that our time is precious,
  • Be circumspect
  • Use our time wisely so that we

7. Return to first love

• Think about what we were like when you first got saved.
• Sure, you are more knowledgeable now, and probably a bit wiser
• But how did you behave when you first found the love of Yeshua and have your life to Him?
  • Take about 5-10 minutes and write it down.
    • How did you feel for the first months or years you were saved?
    • What are some of the things you were inspired to do?
    • How did you feel toward the lost around you?
    • What actions did you take?
    • Once you've done that, compare that with today.
      • Do you do the same things?
      • Do you have the same level of urgency?
  • Yeshua tells the church at Ephesus “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Rev 2:4-5
  • Unless you’re a new believer, these words might sting a little. In this season of repentance,
    • Contemplate Yeshua’s words.
    • Confess any shortcomings to God
    • Finally, write down some things you can do to return to “the first works.

8. Self assessment

• Continuing in the spirit of repentance, today we're going to do some honest self-assessment.
• What are some of your weaknesses?
  • You may have already found some the past few days.
  • Go ahead and list them.
  • Areas you have fallen short in?
  • Anything in your life that brings you conviction, but you continue to do.
  • Things you know are a waste of time.
  • Habits and personality traits that aren’t Christ-like.
  • Confess them to God. Write them down on a separate piece of paper or speak them aloud.
• What are your strengths?
  • Go ahead and list them. This is your time to glory in what God has given you and how far you've come.
  • Godly motivations.
  • Spiritual gifts
  • Talents and abilities
  • Positive habits and personality traits.
  • Things that you do consistently for the benefit others
• Keep this list of things for tomorrow.

9. Move forward. Improve ^

• Pick 1 weakness and write down some ways you can improve
  • When you have time, do the same thing for the others
• Look over your strengths
  • Write down some ways that you could use those to
    • Serve those around you
    • Advance the kingdom

10. Share the gospel

• Jesus gave his disciples a great commission before he ascended to the Father.
• Think back a couple days to when you considered your first love.
  • Did this come more naturally to you?
  • Was it more of a priority?
• Something that may help is to think about the words of Psalm 51
  • One of David’s psalms of repentance
  • In it, he gives a clue to what can motivate an evangelistic desire
• Read Psalm 51. There is an if - then statement contained in this Psalm. Pay attention to v13 and what led up to it.
• Messiah commanded his disciples to go into all the world and teach them his words, and baptize them
• Today, think about the unbelievers in your life.
• Have you shared the Good News with them?
  • If not, think of some ways you can direct the conversation to God.
  • Some people are comfortable with simply leading the conversation that way,
  • If that's not you, bring up things that can naturally lead to spiritual subjects and pray for an open door.
  • Commit to using the next available opportunity you get to do that.
• If you have shared with them
  • Do you continue to pray for them?
  • Is there anything you can do to take an extra step to form a closer relationship and speak truth only their life?
• Think about these things and come up with at least one way you can move forward with the good news,
  • and then do it.
• Sharing the gospel is easier for some than others.
  • Part of the problem is perception of what it means to share the gospel
  • Sharing our own testimony, our life experiences are one way.
  • The fear of it being awkward can make it hard to do, and may sabotage our efforts.
  • We may not think that people want to talk about spiritual things, but in reality they do.
    • God calls everyone to repent and believe the gospel
    • He gave everyone a conscience and an awareness of eternal things
    • Even if they don’t seem to care, your words can cut to the heart,
      • God can use this to do a work in their life.
• Thanks for going along with me in this 10-day challenge of drawing our hearts closer to God in this season of repentance leading to the day of Atonement, Yom Kipur.
• Lord willing, there will be more videos to come soon, so please subscribe if you haven’t already.
• Shalom

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