A Yom Kippur Lifestyle

Emet Ministries

www.emetministries.com

By Rabbi Dani'el Rendelman

ravemet@comcast.net

However, there is much we can learn from this fast day and apply to our everyday life.  This teaching will challenge many well known and accepted theologies regarding blood atonement, sin, YHWH's judgment, intercessory prayer, salvation, healing, and more.  The purpose of this writing is to help you experience some real YOM KIPPUR CHANGE.  We each need to have a Yom Kippur life.  But first we have to get a grasp on the Holy Day called Yom Kippur.

          A little boy walked up the rabbi during the afternoon services on Yom Kippur. "Rabbi Pollak, you must help me I know that we're supposed to fast this day, but I am so thirsty--I must be allowed to have something to drink!"

          Rabbi Pollak quietly, but firmly responded, "I am sorry, but it must be life-  threatening before the fast may be broken."

          "But, you don't understand," whined the young boy, "if I don't get something soon, I am going to faint from thirst."

          The boy continued on for some time when the rabbi finally relented and instructed someone to give the boy a shot-glass of water.

          The little boy quickly downed the liquid, whereupon he gasped, "That's the last time I have 2 salty bagels for breakfast on Yom Kippur!"

Usually, Yom Kippur is a much more serious and solemn event.  Yom Kippur is mostly kept in Jewish synagogues and ignored by mainstream Christianity.  A few verses concerning this day include:

·        "This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work-whether native-born or an alien living among you-because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before Yahweh, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a Sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the community. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelite," Leviticus 16:29-31

·        "Yahweh said to Moses, "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to Yahweh by fire. Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before Yahweh your Elohim. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on that day. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your Sabbath," Leviticus 23:26 -32.

·        "This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work-whether native-born or an alien living among you-because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before Yahweh, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a Sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the community. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites. And it was done, as Yahweh commanded Moses," Leviticus 16:29-34

It was on Yom Kippur that a special service took place in the Temple/Tabernacle involving the HaCohen HaGadol (High Priest).  The HaCohen HaGadol would enter the Most Holy Place and make blood atonement for himself, the priesthood, temple, and all of Israel. 

·        "The High Priest shall bring a bull and two goats as a special offering. The high priest sacrificed a bullock as a sin offering for himself and for his house (Leviticus 16:6).

After filling his censer with live coals from the altar, he entered the holy of holies where he placed incense on the coals. Next, he took some of the blood which was taken from the slain bullock and sprinkled it on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant (Leviticus 16:13) and also on the ground in front of the mercy seat, providing atonement for the priesthood (Leviticus 16:14-15). Then he sacrificed a male goat as a sin offering for the people. Some of this blood was then also taken into the holy of holies and sprinkled there on behalf of the people (Leviticus 16:11-15). Next, the high priest took another goat (called the "scapegoat"), laid his hands on its head, confessed over it the sins of Israel, and then released it into the desert where it symbolically carried away the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:8,10). The remains of the sacrificial bullock and male goat were taken outside of the city and subsequently burned; the day finally concluded with some additional sacrifices.

All of this was necessary because according to the Bible, the penalty for men's sins is the sacrifice of another life. The shedding of blood was required to atone for their sin. 

·        "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of YHWH is eternal life," Romans / Romiyah 3:23.   

Torah remains forever therefore; there is still the need for blood atonement.  Sin always requires a sacrifice.

The Bible says the wages of sin is death - blood must be shed.  Through the shedding of blood, man is brought near to YHWH.  When Y'shua died he paid the ultimate price and accomplished what the blood of bulls and goats could not. 

·        "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O YHWH. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O YHWH. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Y'shua HaMoshiach once for all," Hebrews 10:6-9

Whereas the Feast of Trumpets occurred on the first day of the Hebrew month, Tishri.  The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) occurred ten days later on the tenth of the month. The ten days from Trumpets to the Day of Atonement are known as "the days of awe" which include penitence, prayer, and fasting in preparation for the most solemn day of the Biblical calendar. Unlike biblical times, the modern Jewish Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) does not include animal sacrifices.

Today, the Jewish Rabbis teach that the way to keep Yom Kippur is to fast and pray and beg for mercy.  On Yom Kippur they say that mankind should plead with YHWH that each person's name is written in the book of life.  Though fasting is not specially commanded in the Bible to happen on this day, from the early times Rabbis have interpreted the biblical command to "afflict yourself" as to fast (for 25 hours).  The Hebrew phrase for "afflict your souls" is "inul nefesh."  The word "nefesh" is translated in several verses as "soul" and in several verses as "appetite." This is where we learn to afflict our appetites on this day.  While most biblical holy days are full of things for people to do, Yom Kippur is about what you don't do.  This is a Shabbat, so work is forbidden on this day.  In addition to the prohibition of work, as on the Sabbath, there are five activities specifically prohibited on Yom Kippur.  These include, eating and drinking, anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions, marital relations, washing (for pleasure), and wearing leather shoes.

One custom observed by orthodox and Chasidic Jewish people on the morning before Yom Kippur is Kapparot (Atonement).  The ultra orthodox Jewish people purchase a live chicken, (a white rooster for a male and a white hen for a female), and revolve the chicken around their head reciting a prayer asking that the chicken be considered atonement for sin. The chicken is then slaughtered and given to the poor (or its value is given).   The hope is for this chicken to act as blood atonement.  And if the chicken swinging doesn't work, the Rabbis teach that prayer and good deeds will satisfy YHWH.  We are told that since the temple isn't standing, prayer has taken the place of blood offerings and sacrifices.

One passage modern Judaism uses to 'prove' sacrifice is no longer required is Hosea 14:3:

"Turn to YHWH, say to Him Forgive all iniquity and receive us graciously, so we will offer the prayers of our lips instead of calves."  THIS SIMPLY IS NOT TRUE.  YHWH'S word is forever and he has said in Hebrews 9:22 "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness or remission of sins."

This verse from Hebrews 9 is a paraphrase of Leviticus 17:11, which says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement."  Judaism today teaches that BLOOD IS NOT NECESSARY FOR ATONEMENT.  Once popular Jewish website has written, "forgiveness of sins against God alone is simply obtained through repentance and confession of one's sins in words before God Himself, and amending one's future conduct according to the halakhah, when one sins against a person (as by theft or injury), he must also do his best to make restitution to the person injured and gain his forgiveness, as well as repenting, confessing, and making amends in future conduct before God.  In current Jewish practice, prayer and study of the laws of sacrifices has taken the place of sacrifices." 

Jewish sages tell us that through TESHUVAH, TEFILLAH, AND TZEDEKAH that a person can be inscribed into the book of life.  Today instead of the high priest entering the holy of holies and animal sacrifices, we have chickens swinging and Jewish people doing good deeds.  WHERE IS THIS IN THE BIBLE?  What happened to the need for blood atonement?  Who changed Yom Kippur?

IN 70CE the Romans ransacked the HebrewTemple and destroyed it - sending the Israelite people into exile until 1948 when the nation of Israel was restored.  What is interesting with the destruction in 70CE is that Jewish writings say that a REAL YOM KIPPUR CHANGE occurred before the Temple was destroyed.  Tradition says that a cord of red wool was tied on the horn of the scapegoat and on the temple door, if the strip turned white then the people would know their sins were forgiven. If the cord did not turn white then Israel would mourn because their sins were not atoned on that day.  In the Mishnah it is written that the glory of YHWH left the Temple and 3 things began to mysteriously happen forty years before it was destroyed. 

These three things are:

1. The western candles of the Menorah refused to burn

2. The doors of the Temple would open themselves and not shut

3. The red wool that was supposed to turn white stayed crimson red

What happened 40 years before 70CE?  - Y'shua gave his life, shed his blood, and applied his blood to the heavenly mercy seat.  NO longer could the earthly sacrifices cover sin - sin was atoned for by Y'shua

Y'shua died on Passover HOWEVER because he was the sinless lamb of YHWH, He was able to act as the Yom Kippur sacrifice.  Y'shua was the azazel goat and the sacrifice AND the high priest.

·        "But Moshiach has now become a Kohen HaGadol of tov things to come, by a greater and more perfect Tent of Meeting, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; Neither by the dahm of goats and calves, but by His own dahm He entered in once into the Kadosh HaKedoshim, having obtained eternal geulah for us. For if the dahm of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a red heifer sprinkling the defiled, sets-apart the flesh:  How much more shall the dahm of Moshiach, who through the eternal Ruach offered Himself without blemish to YHWH, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living YHWH," HEBREWS 9:10-12

·        Hebrews 9:24-26 - "For Messiah did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in YHWH's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Messiah would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world."

The blood of animals had to be shed over and over again but the blood of Y'shua was shed only one time.  Judaism says prayer took the place of the blood.  The Catholic religion contends that the blood is shed over and over again in the mass.  The Bible says something different.  It proclaims that WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT THE BLOOD OF Y'SHUA!

·        Hebrews 10:12, "after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of YHWH"

·        Hebrews 7:27, "this he did once, when he offered up himself."

·        Hebrews 9:28, "Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many"

·        Hebrews 10:10, "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Y'shua once for all."

·        Hebrews 10:14, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

The blood of Y'shua is powerful. It is a saving, healing blood.  Y'shua did not apply His blood to the earthly Temple but the heavenly temple.  The earthly temple was made after the pattern Moshe saw in heaven.  This reminds us that it is important to learn about temple worship and the holy days because they are patterned after the model in heaven.  The Yom Kippur sacrifice of Y'shua was the ultimate sacrifice BUT the others did not stop.  The sacrifices before He came pointed to His coming.  The sacrifices after Y'shua came pointed back to His coming.  The purpose of Yom Kippur was accomplished by Y'shua.  The atonement was made.  Sin was dealt with.  The world was reconciled and redeemed to YHWH.

·        "YHWH commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Moshiach died for us" (Romans 5:8), so that, "when we were enemies, we were reconciled to YHWH by the Death of His Son" (Romans 5:10).

·        "We have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace," Ephesians 1:7.

Do YOU believe this?  Do YOU believe that Y'shua gave his life's blood AND accomplished the penalty for sin? 

It is when we really understand what Y'shua's sacrifice did for mankind that we can begin to experience a YOM KIPPUR LIFESTYLE.  Many struggle with Yom Kippur BECAUSE we really haven't grasped what Y'shua's death meant.  He died once and FOR all.  His blood redeemed mankind from sin and death.  The more we see and appreciate His sacrifice, the more we are set free to love and worship him.

And if we really believed that Y'shua's blood splattered on the mercy seat was full payment of sin and total substitution for YHWH's judgment; then our lives would really change.  AND our theologies would really change.  This Yom Kippur YHWH wants to set us free with the realization that sin is no longer an issue for YHWH.  Sin doesn't bother Him.  YHWH does not judge sin anymore.

All the wrath and judgment of YHWH was poured out upon Y'shua when he hung upon the tree.  YHWH is NOT mad at the world and YHWH is not wanting or waiting to judge us or even to judge America.  THE blood of Y'shua has saved us from judgment.  YHWH is NOT judging the world today.  His blood has provided mercy and forgiveness.  Billy Graham once said, "If god doesn't judge America then he will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah."  WRONG - If YHWH does judge America then he will have to apologize to Y'shua!  All the judgment of sin was placed upon Y'shua.  Yes, a person reaps what he sows, but YHWH has placed all judgment of sin upon His Son.

·        2 Corinthians 5:18-21, "Now everything is from YHWH, who reconciled us to Himself through Messiah and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that is, in Messiah,  YHWH was reconciling the world to Himself,) not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Moshiach; certain that YHWH is appealing through us, we plead on Messiah's behalf, "Be reconciled to YHWH."  He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of YHWH in Him."

The truth is that sin isn't a problem for YHWH anymore.  Our sins can not separate us from YHWH.  All of our sins have been charged to Y'shua's account.  Hebrews 9:11 - 12, "Now the Messiah has appeared, high priest of the good things that have come.  In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), He entered the holy of holies once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

When Y'shua was on the tree he paid the price for all sin. Hebrews 9:26, "But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself."

When YHWH looks upon us he doesn't see sin.  He only sees Y'shua.  1 Corinthians 6:17 says that "he that is joined to YHWH is one spirit with YHWH."  This is a life changing revelation NOT because it gives us a license to sin, to do so would be just stupid.  Sin opens the door to the adversary. 

·        Romans 6:16, "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" 

Sin brings curses upon us.  These curses are NOT sent by YHWH but by ourselves.  The Emet / Truth is that if we've been born again and follow Y'shua then His blood has been applied to ALL our sins - past, present, and future.  We don't need to do good works, fast on Yom Kippur, or give millions of dollars to be forgiven.  We simply need to accept REALLY accept what Y'shua has done.  His blood has been applied to the Mercy seat ONCE and FOR ALL.  His Mercy has been extended.  No longer does a high priest or even Y'shua have to enter into the holy of holies each year to atone for our sins.  IT IS FINISHED.  No longer do we have to afflict ourselves, kill a chicken, or beg forgiveness in prayer to hope that YHWH is in a good mood and is willing to pardon us.  Y'shua is the lamb, whose blood is worthy. 

AND, the truth is that if we don't have to beg YHWH for forgiveness of sin then we shouldn't have to beg him for any of our other needs.  YHWH is ready, willing and able to help us and grant us healing, hope, deliverance, financial blessings, etc because we have full access to YHWH through Y'shua.

He is our High Priest and our mediator. 

·        "For there is YHWH-Echad, and One Mediator between YHWH and men, the Man Y'shua ha Moshiach; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be proclaimed in due time," 1 Timothy 2:5

NOW LETS READ THIS TEXT IN CONTEXT:

Verses 1 through 5

·        "I urge that, first of all, supplications, tefillot, intercessions, and hodu, be made for all men; 2 For melechim, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and shalom-filled chayim in all Shabbat guarding piety and seriousness.  3 For this is tov and acceptable in the sight of YHWH our Savior; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and come to the da'at of the emet.   5 For there is YHWH-Echad, and One Mediator between YHWH and men, the Man Y'shua ha Moshiach; 6 Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be proclaimed in due time."

The idea of YHWH being our mediator is in context of prayer.  It is very clear that it is Y'shua who offered his life blood, paid the price, and stood in the gap as our mediator.  And indeed He stands today - there is no need for a priest for prayer, vicar, or mediator.

The emet is that Y'shua has paid the price and we can now go boldly before the throne of chesed / grace to find mercy and grace to help us in our times of need - Hebrews 4:16. 

What this verse teaches is that because Y'shua is our Yom Kippur sacrifice, we can ALL can now come boldly before the throne of YHWH for all of our needs - first salvation and then everything else.  It's not a throne of judgment or anger but a throne of grace.  We all have access and YHWH wants to answer our prayers.  He wants us to come boldly before Him to see our needs met.

Most of us don't view YHWH like that.  We picture him differently.  We picture YHWH with all the power and might, holding back the healing that we so desperately need.  Or He's holding the finances or miracle, or whatever.  We view YHWH as holding it back from us until we pray enough or beg enough or work enough.  This is just not the case.

We've been taught this.  We've been taught that to get YHWH to answer our prayers that we need to grab on to him and keep praying and keep praying and get others to pray.  We've read tons of books on intercessory prayer and we believe that we have to get 100 other people to agree with us until YHWH heals or saves or sends a blessing.  THIS IS NOT SO.  YHWH wants to answer our prayers more than we want to say them.  AND, YHWH has answered our prayers through the shed blood of Y'shua.  We don't have to beg for forgiveness, healing or whatever.  We simply have to ask and receive.  This is the message of YOM Kippur - the middle wall has been broken down.  We have access to the very throne of YHWH and YHWH is willing.  Matthew 7:7-8 shows us this very clearly.  Preachers and pastors love to quote verse 7 BUT what about verse 8? 

·        "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you: For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened."

YHWH is willing and YHWH answers prayer when we ask it is granted - IF we believe.  If we ask him for bread he will not give us a stone!!!  Y'shua is our mediator and high priest.  It is the blood of Y'shua that has released all the goodness and power of YHWH to mankind.  YHWH is not sitting back waiting on us to beg him for revival, healing, finances, or whatever.  We don't have to get 1000 intercessors to pray for our healing.  We are to simply come before YHWH boldly in emunah and receive.  It's time for some balance.  It's time to come out of our prayer closets and begin to change the world around us by acting on our prayers IN FAITH.  Luke 18 shows us this more clearly.

·        "And He spoke a parable to them to this end, that men ought always to make tefillah, and not to faint;  Saying, There was in a city a shophet, who feared not YHWH, neither regarded man:  And there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, Do right to me regarding my adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said to himself, Though I fear not YHWH nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she wears me out.  6 And Y'shua said, Hear what the unjust shophet said.  7 And shall not YHWH do tov to His own elect, who cry day and night to Him, as He has patience with them? 8 I tell you that He will do tov to them speedily. Nevertheless when the Ben Ahdahm comes, shall He find emunah in the earth?"

We've been taught that the judge in this parable is YHWH.  That we have to come to him and beg and plead and trouble YHWH until he answers us.  DOING THIS is in direct opposition to what Y'shua did for us at Yom Kippur.  His blood provided for us "every spiritual blessing."  This happened once for all.

Y'shua wasn't comparing YHWH to the judge BUT contrasting YHWH to the judge.  Y'shua was saying that if our corrupt judicial system can offer up answers to our problems, then how much more can YHWH answer our prayers and give us what we need.  It tells us in verse 8 that YHWH will "do tov to them SPEEDILY."  YHWH wants us to believe, ask and then receive.  When Y'shua returns, will He find faith like this on the earth? 

The problem is that most of what is taught to us about prayer and most of what we learn about intercessory prayer is that we have to grab on to YHWH and not let go.  Here we are told to present our requests and TRUST that YHWH is greater and more wiling to meet our needs than a corrupt judge who can be begged and challenged to help.

Part of our problem is that we approach YHWH in prayer like he doesn't want to help us.  We feel like He's holding something back so He can teach us a lesson.  If this was the case then NO prayer would ever be answered because we are all learning.  The Bible says that all the power that raised Y'shua from the dead resides in you.  You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing.  All the power of resurrection is in YOU for LIFE: "but if the Spirit of Him who raised Y'shua from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Messiah from the dead will also give life to your bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you," Romans 8:11.

Having our prayers answered is in understanding that it's not about YHWH being willing to give, BUT us being willing to believe.  Through Y'shua's shed blood we don't have to pray and convince YHWH to move for us.  We don't have to shed our own blood in the form of tears of prayer.  We simply have to believe and act!

Pray for healing and then step out in faith and act as if you've been healed.  Speak the work to your body and act it out.  Pray for your finances to be blessed and then be a good steward of what you have - tithe, give, share and pay your bills.  Such faith puts responsibility back on us.  We have to believe and then act out our faith.

Here's another example for us in Luke 11:5-8:

·        "And He said to them, Which of you shall have a chaver, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Chaver, lend me three loaves; 6 For a chaver of mine in his journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?  7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give you.  I say to you, If he will not rise and give him because he is his chaver, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as much as he needs."

Intercessory prayer teachers say to beg and plead hours a day and your family will get saved and your check account will grow and the demonic forces over a city will flee.  The way to see your prayers answered and the demons to flee is to pray in authority, believe and act!!

YHWH is NOT NOT NOT the friend that you have to go to and trouble Him.  You don't have to beg YHWH to move.  YHWH wants to bless you MORE than you want the blessing yourself.  In Luke 11, Y'shua was contrasting the friend.  He was NOT comparing the friend to YHWH!  Read the parable again.  What kind of friend is that?  What kind of a god would that make YHWH?  How can a person relate to YHWH if you have to beg him to do anything and trouble him before he moves?

When we are born again, YHWH changes us.  All of our needs are met according to His riches in glory.  You didn't have to beg and plead and cry to him for salvation?  So, why should you for healing, prosperity, blessing, new job, friends, spouse, and end of stress?  Just ask, believe, and receive.  Step out in faith and walk it out.

The point is that Y'shua is our mediator.  He is our High Priest and Intercessory in reference to prayer and in reference to our everyday lives.  One Hebrew word for Prayer is tefilah. It is derived from the root word meaning to "judge oneself."  One part of Biblical prayer is the introspection it provides, the moment that we spend looking inside ourselves, seeing our role in the universe and our relationship to YHWH.  In prayer and during Yom Kippur, we should be judging ourselves.  Yom Kippur is all about that.  It's about us looking inside and enacting change.  It's not about YHWH judging us but about US judging US.   Yom Kippur is not about begging YHWH for forgiveness BUT accepting what Y'shua our High priest has already done.

It's customary to fast on Yom Kippur -The Hebrew phrase for "afflict your souls" is "inul nefesh."  The word "nefesh" is translated in several verses as "soul" and in several verses as "appetite." This is where we learn to afflict our appetites on this day.  This should be done in joy!  We should rejoice in what YHWH Y'shua has done for us.  Yom Kippur is not about sadness but gladness.  Yes, afflict your soulish desires but don't be sad and selfish about it.  Don't think that what you do will make YHWH love your more or forgive you.  IT won't!

And scripturally, we are to afflict our appetites NOT JUST one day but everyday.  To live a fasting life and tell our flesh "no."  One way we do that is by accepting what Y'shua did for us - totally and fully.  This is hard because it shows us that the abundant life is not about religious activities but faith and faithful works.  So many times we try to add to Y'shua's work when it is enough.  We shouldn't just pray for things to happen but make them happen - answer your own prayers, work miracles by praying and then stepping out in faith. 

·        "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of Yahweh will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and Yahweh will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I," Isaiah 58:6-9

The fasted lifestyle is not one of indulgence but ministry and service.  We've been called to help those who are needy and through MEETING the needs of those around us.  We are to shared food, help the poor, cloth the naked and bring healing.  Then, as we do these works of love, our answers to prayer will manifest.  Y'shua has paid the price so that we could live in freedom in him - to have eternal life in the hereafter and abundant life in the here and now.  He didn't die so we would walk around in fear of a judgmental YHWH.

When we grasp what Y'shua did for us we should respond in thanksgiving and in a desire to share Him through ministering His love to others.  Sharing the good news  - the love of YHWH with others is what we need to be doing.  Romans 1:18 says that "the gospel of Y'shua is the power o YHWH unto salvation."  Judaism doesn't save people because it teaches that the blood is not necessary.  There are not 2 doors to YHWH - JOHN 14:6.  Our prayers can stop the influence of the evil one BUT its when our actions and words share his love that the true message is received.

The Jewish got it right - Yom Kippur is all about Teshuvah, Tefilah, and Tzedekah.

Teshuvah - turning from our sinful ways and returning to YHWH

Tefilah - going boldly before the throne of grace, asking and believing, and receiving

Tzedekah - acts of a fasted lifestyle - good works of ministry to share the light & love of YHWH

This year, experience the Yom Kippur Lifestyle.  Celebrate with joy in what Y'shua has done.  Pray for effectively.  View YHWH not as the JUDGE but as the Redeemer who sent His son.  Understand the importance of the blood atonement.  Remember the words found in Hebrews 10:19-23:

·        "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Y'shua, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of YHWH, let us draw near to YHWH with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

Emet Ministries

www.emetministries.com

By Rabbi Dani'el Rendelman

ravemet@comcast.net