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WHAT IF YOU ARE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER? —READING THE BOOK OF JONAH ON Yom Kippur

SEPTEMBER 27TH – DAY OF ATONEMENT – on the 10th Day of the Year 5781

Reorient Yourself, Return, Recover, and Reposition Yourself for A New Beginning…

The Book of Jonah is one of my most favorite Books of the Bible. Probably because it’s so misunderstood.

In a few Christian circles, the Book of Jonah is often thought about as a biblical fairytale, a bible story of sorts. Jonah in the belly of the whale, building a fire and camping out until he decided to take up the mission he was asked to perform and GOD released him.

But there is much more to this teaching…

On Yom Kippur, the Book of Jonah is read in order to help us reorient ourselves back toward GOD. It is a splendid tool to help us reassess and reevaluate where we are spiritually. Are we on board with the things of GOD or just giving lip service?

Are we willing to follow the plan of GOD, or just do the pieces and parts of the job that suits our sensibilities? Just how much dying to self are we prepared to do?

The world may show little love toward us and our loved ones, the world is harsh and can be so very difficult and destructive… but are we still willing to love the world despite all of the wrongs that have been done to us?

Spiritually, what happens when we blame GOD for the ills of the world? Is there any damage? What happens spiritually, to us and/or the world, when we disobey GOD?

Jonah’s one act of obedience was able to save a nation. How much more, could our one act of disobedience, deny salvation to the nations?

What if you are your brother’s keeper?

Tomorrow, please read these 4 chapters in the Book of Jonah and mediate on the WORD. Examine the Book again in light of these questions above & below and discover a brand new depth of knowledge about yourself and the Book of Jonah.

  • How was Jonah introduced to us in scripture?
    • How did Jonah introduce himself to the men aboard ship with him?
  • How do you think GOD would introduce you to the world?
    • How would you introduce yourself?
    • Have you ever introduced yourself by your spiritual identity to anyone?
    • Have you ever considered it?
  • What was the turning point for Jonah? What made him decide to come up out from the belly of the whale?
  • What makes you decide to come back from a crisis?
  • Have you ever made camp in a bad situation? A situation of your own design or created by your own decision?
  • What fueled Jonah’s transition from the whale, and back into the world?
    • How did Jonah make it back?
    • Was Jonah ever in the belly of a whale?
  • Is there any point in time in the message that you detect that Jonah’s soul is in Jeopardy?
    • Remember Rule #1: Always keep your eyes on what is happening to the soul.
  • Is it alright for GOD to forgive those that you have not forgiven?
    • or to forgive those who you refuse to forgive?
    • Should GOD only forgive those that you feel are worthy of forgiveness?
  • If you were a prophet of GOD like Jonah, and GOD asked you to go to your worse enemy (the person or persons that have done you the greatest damage) in order to give them a Prophetic Word from Him, how long would do you think it would take you to comply?
    • I would do it immediately, without question; It would take me a few days… ; It would take me a while… ; or I don’t see myself doing it at all…
  • Who are you most reluctant to forgive?
    • Think personally, communally, globally
  • Have you forgiven those that have done you the most harm? Are you willing to?
  • Do you believe that unforgiveness damages the soul?
    • What damage can unforgiveness do to a soul?
    • What has unforgiveness done to your soul?
    • What damage did you see happening to Jonah?
  • How would it affect you if your mortal enemy heard the Word of GOD and responded with greater faith than your own people? or even you?
  • How would it affect you if your mortal enemy heard you preaching the Word of GOD and knew GOD was speaking, inspite of your resentment toward them?
  • What reason could there possibly be for GOD to extend blessings and opportunity for life,
    • to those that oppress you?
    • to those that have hurt you? or to those that have power over you?
  • Should you plead the cause of the unrighteous?
  • In the end of the Book, Jonah found himself in a place where he refused to forgive. The Assyrians had committed such atrocities to his people, he could not muster an ounce of love for this neighbor.
    • Do you only love the loveable?
    • Are you capable of having compassion on the unloveable?
    • How best can you demonstrate love for the unlovely?
  • We say/teach that GOD is love and that our faith is built on love… GOD says if we love Him, we must walk in love with others…
    • What must die/live in us for us to walk in love with those that hate us without a cause?
    • Is it possible to have enough compassion for those that hate us or mistreat us, that we can still minister to them the Word of GOD, in such a way that they will only see Him? Hear Him? Respond to His Word?
  • Does the prophet of GOD need salvation?
    • Or just the enemies of GOD?
  • Does the prophet of GOD need one time salvation?
    • or ongoing salvation?
  • Jonah realized that he was just unwilling to forgive the Assyrians?
    • What damage did he do to his own soul?
  • What do you think caused the Assyrians to hear the prophet of GOD, and believe the Word he spoke and turn toward GOD?
    • What will it take for your enemies on earth to look past you and actually hear the Word of GOD?
  • In the beginning of the book, Jonah sat down in the belly of a “prophetic” whale… in the end of the book, Jonah sat down under a gourd.
    • Jonah is delivered from the whale, but not the gourd. Why? What’s the distinction between the two?
    • In the end, did Jonah lose his salvation?
    • Was Jonah so resentful and so angry with GOD for having brought the Word of deliverance and redemption to his enemy that he could not move forward anymore?
  • Is GOD allowed to forgive your enemies?
  • Is it possible that Jonah could only follow GOD so far, and no further?
    • Was Jonah only willing to follow GOD as long as he agreed with His Choices?
    • or as long as he (Jonah) was serving those that he wanted to serve?
  • What damage will unforgiveness, anger, resentment, disappointment, etc do to your soul?
  • Why do you think Jonah would not repent of his spiritual condition and move forward?
  • What has the power to stop you from releasing your burdens to GOD and asking for forgiveness?
  • Who is entitled to the Word of GOD and His forgiveness?
    • …only those that you approve of?
    • or can GOD offer forgiveness to whomever He sees fit, without your pre-approval?
    • Do all the nations belong to GOD, or just the ones we like?
  • What is the one thing that can restore your soul back to its perfect spiritual condition??

These are just some of the questions the arise from the Book of Jonah. GOD provided answers to them all, in 4 brief, yet all inclusive chapters.

I urge everyone who reads this post, to take the time tomorrow and re-read the book of Jonah for the answers that are on the page and inside of you. After all, you are a living epistle of GOD.

What shall the Spirit of GOD write about you next year?

What shall you write of GOD & Man next year?

Don’t Allow This Year to be Sealed in Unforgiveness… The Choice is Yours Alone!

Related Posts:

BANQUET OF PRAYER, Elul, Hebrew Scriptures, PREP FOR Rosh Hashanna

PREP FOR ROSH Hashanah, Prophetic WORD for 2021/5781

Teachings Notes From September 1, 2020 – Preparation for Rosh Hashanah. Prelude to Rosh Hashanah, Part by Rev. Y Malveaux

Hebrew Scriptures

ELUL, THE MONTH OF PROPHETIC DREAMS…

BECAUSE THIS IS A MONTH SO SATURATED BY PRAYER, REPENTANCE AND DRAWING CLOSER TO GOD… THIS MAY BE YOUR DREAMIEST MONTH OF THE YEAR!

Expect MORE Dreams!

Capture those Dreams and Pray them through During this Season!

If your dreams are vivid and a tad bit alarming…write them down as well and ask for deeper revelation. You could have been given a warning dream which is awesome!

Remember what Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Hannah, Hezekiah, Abigail, Deborah, the Zelopehad Daughters, Jochebed, Miriam, Aaron, Esther, and many more… did when they were confronted with situations that they were not so pleased about?

They stepped in and had a conversation with GOD. They didn’t let problems, complications, situations, even edicts from GOD, just stand unchallenged. They negotiated a better outcome for the people!

Should any dream alarm you… Never Fear…it’s time to open up negotiations with GOD!

The dreams we love the most are wrapped in sugar and spice, right? Definitely pray those dreams through!

Attached is a journal page from the workbook. Use it to write down your dreams and take them to prayer (in your hand) with you during your consecrated prayer time.

Make Note of The Time of the Watch in Which Your Dream Occurred

Jot down the date and time of your dreams whenever possible… Write the visions and run with them! (Hab 2:2).

Hebrew Root Word Study: ratz = run, to carry speedily, to escort speedily to a destination

ya’rutz = future imperfect; meaning Your actions (whether you will or will not) determine the outcome. In Hebrew the imperfect tense leaves room for what you are prepared to do with the information or situation, VISION OR DREAM!

This is one of the things I love most about the Word…GOD left room for our choices on the pages of scripture and in the declaration of His Will…

GOD has invited You to take part… the tense is imperfect… because He is waiting for Your decision….The Choice is Yours.

May all our prayers saturate you with prophetic insight, and visions and dreams… May this be the richest Season of Dreams and visions and insight for you EVER! May you see the crooked places made straight… May you see the abundance of rain coming in the distance.. May you walk each day in divine outcomes and decisions because you have stepped into the ALL The Provisions that GOD has made for you in His Word! You Shall Dream.

Enjoy! AMEN.

RELATED MESSAGES:

PRAYER JOURNAL PAGES FOR ELUL —THE NEXT LEVEL IN PRAYER

ELUL, A DAVID KIND OF PRAYER…

Elul… May GOD Find You Praying, like David Prayed…

Elul, Hebrew Scriptures, PREP FOR Rosh Hashanna

Elul… May GOD Find You Praying, like David Prayed…

NOW IS THE SEASON….

ROSH CHODESH ELUL— THE MONTH OF THE SEARCH

THE 1ST OF ELUL, 5781. ~ AUGUST 20, 2020

29 DAYS TO EXAMINE YOUR HEART….

SET YOURSELF UP FOR BLESSINGS!

GOD asks in His Word, that we proclaim His Feast in their Seasons. When we are obedient to this request we set ourselves under the Biblical Calendar and the cyclical nature of Supernatiural Seasons of GOD.

The Feasts are given to us as our personal and prophetic moedim (moe-eh-deem) ; Our personal & prophetic appointments with GOD. The modem translates into English as “The Feasts.” GOD takes personal possession of these days, which are separated and consecrated by GOD, just for You!

It was ALWAYS All About You!

GOD has dedicated and consecrated time, set aside just for you!

When we are faithful to proclaim His Seasons, we declare all honor, glory, power, might and reverance for GOD, faith and trust… believing that, “What GOD did then, He will do once again.”

Observing the Feast of God, which were designed with you in mind, sends a message to GOD that you are all about Him! And that the appointment time that He has set aside for you, you are decreeing and declaring….”I will be there!”

Leviticus 23: 

GOD asks us to proclaim His Seasons, FOREVER, Throughout our Generations… (not just in the “Old Testament times”. Throughout your generations… means an eternal consecration. Every generation is invited and we should want to be there.

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.

4 These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

GOD’S NEW YEAR IS FAST APPROACHING!

The prayers we offer during the month of Elul (when we search our own hearts) prepares us for GOD’s New Year -Rosh Hashanah, (September 19, 2020) Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement (September 28, 2020) and the Feast of Tabernacles (October 3 & 4, 2020).

As you just saw, GOD asks that we “proclaim” His Seasons. They were set aside by GOD for us, to draw closer to us as we draw closer to Him.

After GOD intiiated the Biblical Calendar with Nisan, “Let this be the beginning of months to you”, He continued…

Leviticus 23:

23 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month [Rosh Hashanah], shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement [Yom Kippur]: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord.

37 These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:

41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord.

Again, GOD asks us to proclaim His Seasons, FOREVER, Throughout our Generations…

  • On the 1st, 10th and 15th of the 7th Month – The Hebrew Month called Tishri
    • Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Feast of Tabernacles

Praying the Psalms can help you jumpstart the search into you own soul…You will be Praying like David Prayed!

Psalm 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm 7

1  O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute [chase, pursue] me, and deliver me:

2 Lest they [will] tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 O Lord my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

6 Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.

Psalm 39

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

  • One of the hardest things we have to do is keep silent before the wicked. However, when we restrain ourselves when provoked, we elevate and strengthen spiritually.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

  • dumb with silence [do-me-yaw] = I controlled my tongue, kept my composure
    • I did not lash out or lash back with my tongue.
  • held my peace [khaw-shaw] = I was still

3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

4 Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

  • David spoke to GOD about the situation instead trying to defend himself to others, or trying to explain, complain, or win.
  • David transformed the way he handled the pressures imposed upon him by Saul.
  • By today’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube standards of behavior, many who say they follow Christ, are not following Him in this. Many “believers” are lashing out, lashing back, etc.

Psalm 86 

1 Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

6 Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

You can pray the above selections of Psalms everyday if you lie, or you can join in praying the Psalms daily- at least 7 a day, from Psalms 1-150 all the way to the end and back again during the month of Elul!

Praying the Psalms truly help you to obtain place of self reflection, ponder the Word of GOD and review your deeds for the year – an much more than that.

GET YOUR FRESH START FOR WHAT GOD DESIRES FOR YOU IN 2021…

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer for Elul: Post from 2019 that remain on time for this season!

Scripture in the Public Domain provided by Biblegateway.com KJV