Yom Kippur Teaching - Part 2

 

Greetings Family and Friends!  Yom Kippur/the Fast of Atonement ends tonight at sundown!  I am keeping it, no food, no water, and no working for money, just spending time with God, resting and praying.  I am usually running around busy working or running errands, so I love when I get to stop and just spend time with God.  I am also amazed at how God works things out.  I have a house full of people, my grandchildren who visit, and two sets of great grandbabies that I love when they come to visit too.  There is activity going on all week long.  Yet today, it’s so quiet I can hear the clocks ticking.  I did not say a word to anyone.  God made it happen.  Wow!

So, I wanted to focus on prayer today and on how to break a Yom Kippur/Atonement Fast.  There are many things to pray about.  We have all kinds of needs and wants.  However, praying about material things at this solemn time is not wise being that everything we own will go up in smoke when Jesus returns.  The Word of God teaches that we should not lay up for ourselves treasures on earth but instead treasures in heaven, Matthew 6:19-21. KJV I am not saying that it is wrong to have things.  But verse 21 is clear.  What we treasure is where we will have our hearts.  We don’t want our hearts stuck to things on earth when we are supposed to be preparing to go. 

A great example of this is the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Lot and his family were told to leave and not look back, but Lot’s wife looked back, and she turned into a pillar of salt, Genesis chapter 19 verse 26 KJV. I know that as thankful as I am for the things I now have, it won’t compare to living in the Kingdom.  Walking on streets of gold is an absolute upgrade.  When it’s time to go, “Beam me up Scotty!”  The fire that is coming will take care of all my junk…LOL…

So, what should we pray about?  I say pray for what God tells us to pray for like praying for the peace of Jerusalem.  It is going to be a very rough time there when the end comes.  Also, thanking God that believers will be able to escape the Day of Wrath because of the forgiveness we received through the sacrifice Jesus did is another good reason to pray.  We should also pray for salvation for family and friends.  Let the Holy Spirit lead in prayer so it does not become another tradition of routine prayers.  It is a time of forgiveness.  Pray to forgive others, and for the forgiveness of those we have hurt.

And finally, I used to love going with other believers to a favorite restaurant to break my fast.  It reminded me of the wedding reception we will be part of at the wedding supper of the Lamb.  However, I know of no other believers that keep Yom Kippur near me. So, I am content to break it at home.  Nevertheless, at a restaurant or at home, I start with something light, like salad, and go from there.  God bless all of you!  Love you all!  Pastor Monsy