Some ministries are proposing "a day of prayer and fasting against the devastating Covid-19 virus". While that might seem like a good idea on the surface, instead of praying against the virus, wouldn’t it make more sense to come together in repentance regarding OUR sins against YHWH in case the virus ends up becoming a plague?
I don’t think I need to go into detail about YHWH is justifiably upset with us; but the thing is, we cannot simply cite passages such as Joel 2:15-17 to suggest that all we have to do is come together and pray, and all will be well. What about Joel 1:1-2:14, where we learn that it is YHWH's anger on His people which brings the darkness to those people?
Instead of attempting to “pray away” the plague or any “bad times” it seems we should come together as a community far more concerned about what WE have done that CAUSED this plague, and pray for forgiveness of our unholiness and our actions!
Joel 2:12 says "turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and lamenting." It does NOT say "Ask me to stop this virus while you do nothing, and continue living out your sins."
One ministry wrote:
"We want our prayers to rise like incense from the censer of the high priest Aaron who interposed between the living and the dead to stop the plague."
Great idea but, unfortunately, the scripture was misquoted and misapplied! You see, this idea came from Numbers 16:47-48, where Korach and his followers had rebelled against Moshe and YHWH! (Numbers 16:1-3). This was not a plague that simply "came upon" the people, that Aaron was required to stop; it came about BECAUSE of what the people had done – and Aaron atoned for them as an action to stop the plague (Numbers 16:47).
We are not to ask OUR will of YHWH. Our responsibility is to seek HIS Will, and to be holy and set-apart for Him.
Of course WE want the virus to stop – but what we need to do, if we are to participate in a world-wide day of prayer is to pray that YHWH would have mercy on his sin-filled people, AND for everyone to turn back to Him and to call on His Name so that maybe, just maybe, He would have mercy as in Joel 2:18-32.
YES, by all means, PRAY without ceasing! (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) But remember that our prayers should never be geared toward “compassion for a purposely sinful people” who refuse to seek YHWH.
Numbers 15: 30 "'But an individual who does something wrong intentionally, whether a citizen or a foreigner, is blaspheming ADONAI. That person will be cut off from his people.
Hebrews 10: 26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies.
2 Peter 2: 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him. 20 Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them.
Leviticus 26: 23 If, in spite of all this, you refuse my correction and still go against me; then I too will go against you; and I, yes I, will strike you seven times over for your sins.
1 Corinthians 6: 9. Or don't you know, that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim? Make no mistake! Neither sexual sinners, nor idol-worshippers, nor adulterers, nor the corrupt, nor men who lay down with other men, 10. Nor the oppressors, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of Elohim. (AENT)
Thank you, Carmen!
ReplyDeleteThis is so very well written. This is accurate. This is true.
Thank you, Carmen, Liam and The Refiner’s Fire for your numerous blogs and articles that (a) have helped us in our walk, to sort out the confusion and false teachings that have been rampant in Torah-focused groups and (b) have helped those who are seeking the Truth.
I know I have failed The Master miserably in so many ways.
For me, there have been times of frustration, times of bitterness and long periods of emotional & physical & spiritual exhaustion (1) because of all the confusion, the infighting, the nastiness and division, and (2) because of (last but not necessarily least) an overabundance of self-appointed teachers who might not need to be teaching.
Even when the sheep read and study and have a perfect desire to obey, they cannot obey if there is confusion about what they are supposed to do. In that environment, they are receiving mixed signals. These things (as mentioned above) have affected me and therefore, me in my walk of obedience and love. At times I have felt like giving up. But I cannot and am not supposed to.
The coronavirus issue has caused fear in many. Repentance is needed. We are to fear only YHWH. We are to only fear not obeying and not pleasing YHWH. I confess, I have been guilty of the fear response. Being prepared is different from fear.
May YHWH have mercy on me and help me (and any others who desire to do so) to have genuine humility, uncompromised strength and the sincerest desire to be obedient to YHWH so that I might please Him.
I repent of everything that I have done in not meeting up to YHWH’s expectations and Commandments. I am sick of the ways in which I have failed YHWH. I am tired of it. May He be merciful and forgive me for failing Him.
For every second of my life henceforth, may YHWH help me to please Him more, and please Him perfectly.
I believe there are many who may need to read what you wrote in this blog.
If no one else needed to read this blog, I did.
Thank you for this serious reminder.
Shalom
YOU WROTE:
Delete"These things (as mentioned above) have affected me and therefore, me in my walk of obedience and love. At times I have felt like giving up. But I cannot and am not supposed to."
AND THEN YOU FINISHED WITH THIS:
"If no one else needed to read this blog, I did. Thank you for this serious reminder."
I repeated that, Anonymous, because WE needed to hear YOUR words, too! They served as confirmation for us to continue being that "small, still voice crying out in the wilderness."
You see, I’ve recently been giving serious consideration to simply give up teaching, because it feels like no one really cares to hear the Truth or pays any attention to our heartfelt teachings designed to get people INTO the Word so they can “get themselves right with God”….
It seems most are not interested, and prefer to be off following the “ear tickling” self-proclaimed experts and rabble rousers who rail against any kind of authority and who do their level best to debunk wisdom, common sense and knowledge.
Lately, I’ve felt “too tired” to continue fighting the willingly blind and misled hordes – the self-proclaimed “Bible experts” who seem to exist to do nothing but fight, argue spout mostly personal opinions, and generally do their best to “exhaust the holy ones of the Most High” (Daniel 7:25)…
Your message was actually an answer to prayer – and to borrow your own words, “if no one else needed to read your message, I did. And I thank you for this serious reminder!”
It’s good to know that there IS a remnant who hears that “small, still voice!”
Shalom and blessings to you, too - whoever you are!
I needed to read your message, too. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, and many blessings on your, Sgainey! Thanks for taking the time to write!
Delete