033 Diving Deeper Into Teshuva

The Watchman discusses a season of returning to God with all of one's heart and the biblical precedence for doing so during this time of year. He discusses the benefits of doing so. Failing to do so? Well, that's in the Bible too.

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Transcript

033 Diving Deeper into Teshuva 

Welcome to the Watchman Speaks! I’m your host, Lonnie Richardson. 

Last week I discussed the sixth month of Elul and touched upon teshuva. After having posted that episode, I decided that I probably didn’t cover the sixth month or teshuva as well as I could have. So, this week I’d like to get the diving bell out and dive, deeper. Currently, the month of Elul is upon us, this day August 21, 2023, being the fourth day of the sixth month on God’s calendar.

Last week, I made a Facebook Post about my personal walk regarding Teshuva. If you’d like to get extra tidbits about The Old Watchman visit my page, The Old Watchman, on Facebook. Additionally, I have a group on Facebook, The Watchman Speaks. You might want to look into that as well. But last week I mentioned that that I’d been praying and thinking about the sixth month of Elul and Teshuva for a two or three weeks now. 

What have I been praying and thinking about? I’ve been thinking about all the blessings that Cheryl and I have received over the past year. There have been many. I’ve been remembering the battles fought and the storms that we’ve faced. There have been more than a few. I have prayed about the attacks of the enemy that have come and been repelled. I’m thankful.  

In January, I was diagnosed with Covid. I had a mild temperature for about 16 hours and seasonal allergy symptoms for about 36 hours. After that, I felt fine. Certainly I did not experience anything similar to the suffering I have seen exhibited by others whom I have provided care for who have had Covid. Additionally, I did not isolate myself within my own household. I attended every meal with everyone else at the dining table and pretty much conducted business as usual within my home. No one else suffered in the wake of that. I’d called Cheryl when I was sent home from work and told her that I’d tested positive. When I arrived home at 2am, she met me at the door with a handful of essential oils, decreeing and declaring that I did not have Covid. She anointed me with those oils, and we went to bed and went to sleep. No great fanfare or fear distributed for Covid in my household. We didn’t accept it, but rebuked it in Jesus’ name.

In June, Cheryl underwent two eye surgeries. The first surgery caused her intra-ocular pressure to rise to the extent that pressure was exerted upon her optic nerve, causing her excruciating pain for nearly a week. Now I didn’t enjoy seeing my wife writhing in pain when there seemed to be little to nothing that I could do to help her. So, what did I do? I prayed more. I ramped up my worship and praise. I anointed her will oils. I messaged her head to relieve her stress and let her know that I loved her and was there for her. She underwent a second surgery six days after the first surgery and her pain was relieved. But in no way was the enemy going to convince either of us that God had forsaken her or me.

These are just two of the attacks that Cheryl and I experienced over the past year. There have been others. But these two attacks would have been enough to upset the rest most Christians have obtained if they had obtained God’s rest. We could have fallen into the, “Oh woe is me! We are undone!” ritual that I’ve seen many fall into. To be honest, we have fallen into that in the past. I won’t say that we will never fall into it again. But we made a conscious decision, together, that we would lean upon each other and that, together, we would trust God fully in all things and accept what was His will. 

There have been blessings as well. Neither of us has met our insurance deductibles now for the past four years. Our overall health has improved. We have had some unexpected expenses to arise but, we have been able to meet those expenses. Cheryl has been blessed with a wonderful job with good pay and benefits. I, just recently, have received a substantial increase in pay at work. We have been able to bless others and we’ve seen how blessing others often leads to still others being blessed. Additionally, I no longer work all night. I now work early afternoon into the mid-evening, which means that I’m home with the family at night. Blessed. Uh huh that’s me. And to top it all off the work place, along with that substantial raise did away with shift differential pay so I get paid the same no matter what shift I work. That’s alright. The raise was substantial enough that I still come our way ahead.

So, during the time approaching Elul and Teshuva, I have been praying and thinking about this season. What were my victories? What were my accomplishments? What were my losses and failures? Is there anything that I could have done better? Do I have any sin, identified or unidentified, in my life that I need to address and repent of?

 The answer to my last question was a resounding yes! I have not been a good steward of my time. It’s sad, but it’s true. I need to work on that.

As I’ve mentioned, I recently worked nights and time with my wife and family is scarce and precious to me. I make certain that my wife and children know that I love them because I make it a point to tell them and show them every day that I love them. But what about my mother-in-law that we take care of and who lives with us? Have I made it a point to let her know that I love her? Probably not as well as I should. I need to work on that.

I mentioned in the Facebook post that I talked about earlier that there were some changes going to take place. And there are some changes that are going to take place. 

What kind of changes?

Currently, I produce this podcast on a weekly basis. I will continue to do so. I also make two or three posts on social media on a weekly basis. But lately, I’ve noticed that I’ve fallen down on that front from time to time. I currently have a website with a blog where I post articles, post the podcast, and video materials. I’ve really fallen down on that front. It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted an article. While I have been diligent in producing the podcast, I can’t remember the last time I generated any video content.  

So, the question arose in my mind, “Why do any of those things?”

That was the question that led me into Teshuva. I didn’t have an immediate answer. At least, I had no answer that I could present in any manner that would make sense to anyone else. Then, I began to wonder, “Does it have to make sense to me or anyone else?”

The answer to that question is, “No, it doesn’t have to make sense. God has acted, many times, in ways that may not make any sense.  Yet, He is still God.”

That answer suffices for me and maybe it suffices for Cheryl. But I find myself wondering if it would suffice for those of you who actually listen to the podcast or read any of the things I write. No, you deserve more than that but initially I didn’t have more to give. So, I prayed about it. Why should I do anything? Why produce a podcast? Why produce a blog filled with articles about the Bible and Bible Study? Why produce video content? Why do any of those things? 

I’m not a pastor. I’m not a teacher. I’m not particularly gifted in speaking or presenting. I’m not at all particularly handsome to look at. I am not wealthy, or a celebrity, or famous in any way. Father, why am I so compelled by Your Spirit to do these things?

The answer to that question as resoundingly clear. “You are My watchman.”

Because Hosea 4:6 reads, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to Me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God,  I also will forget your children.”

Because Jeremiah 6:17 reads, “And I have set watchmen over you saying, ‘Listen to the trumpet!”, and they said, ‘We will not listen.’”

Because the world has gathered to itself preachers and teachers that tickle their ears and tell them what they want to hear instead of what God said.  

Because seminaries are churning out graduates, most of whose faith has never been challenged much less tested. 90 percent of what I present was never even mentioned in seminary. Which leaves me to wonder if there are wide gaps in the presentation of knowledge, understanding and wisdom.  It’s more than merely regurgitating the right answers to the same, age old questions. It’s more about asking the right questions on which to seek wise answers. 

So, the changes that are coming about from this time, this season of Elul and Teshuva are many. I am praying and working out schedules as to how I can better manage my time to accomplish more. Do I have a large following? No, not that I can tell. But God did not call me to gather a large following. Nor has His Spirit revealed that it might be large at any time in the future. 

Here’s my question. What is the price that a singular soul is worth? Would I be willing to pay the price, whatever that may translate to in the amount of time, study, research, producing, editing, and praying that I’ve spent? Am I willing to pay that cost for a single soul to be reached and the heart changed to a right standing before God? 

Yes, I think so. That’s why I do what I do. Because I do not wish to see anyone destroyed because they did not have access to or the ability to gain knowledge. I do not wish to hear anyone say, “We never heard the trumpet calling us to awaken and return to the ancient paths.”

More importantly, from my perspective, I do not want to stretch forth my hand for God to take the blood of someone who was not warned from me because I withheld the warning.

So, yeah. I’m going to continue with this podcast. I’m going to be scheduling the time to write some articles for the blog on my web site. That web site, by the way is www.theoldwatchman.com in case you are interested in visiting. Drop me an email. I’d love to hear from you. I’m going to be looking into ways that I can record, edit, and post video content on a regular basis in the near future. 

There are some other things that are going to present problems logistically as far as time goes. There are a few books floating around in my head as well as certain Bible Study guides. There are so many things that Holy Spirit has swirling around me that it’s been overwhelming at times. 

How am I to get these things done? 

That’s what this time of teshuva is for. To draw nearer to God. To repent. To prepare for the High Holy days and I’ll get to that very soon so that you will understand the High Holy Days. It is for learning how to better steward what God has given you and then turning what God has given you back over to God that His Spirit may lead you in the way God has planned for you. 

That may mean that you will be required to give up something, at least at first. How will you know that you can meet the challenges that will come if you’ve not been tested? Sometimes those challenges will be a development process. Other times it may mean that you’ll be confronted boldly by the enemy to discourage you. Will you shrink back? Will you proceed forward?

Now many of you may say, “Lonnie that’s Old Testament stuff. We know you’re an Old Testament geek and all. But does this stuff about Elul and teshuva, does that really have anything to do with us?”

Well, if “us” means the end times, gentile believer, my answer is yes, it does. You see, it’s not all entirely Old Testament stuff.

Let’s go to the gospel of Luke. Luke 1:26-27 reads, “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.”

Notice it was in the sixth month? What is the sixth month? It’s the month of Elul. When is Elul? We are in the sixth month of Elul now. Elul is upon us now. Remember? Elul is an acronym for “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” Are you truly the beloved’s? Is the beloved truly yours?

Luke 1:31 reads, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” Luke 1:35 reads, “The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the Holy Child shall be called the Son of God.”  Now do you believe that? Do you believe that a virgin can conceive a child, being a virgin, by Holy Spirit and the Power of the most High? That’s what happened, in the sixth month. 

Luke 1:36 reads, “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.”

Who was Elizabeth? She was the wife of Zacharias the priest. The child that Elizabeth is carrying is John the Baptist. So if biology has not changed or some other divine interceding has taken place, we can deduce the following. 1. Mary conceived our Lord and Savior in the sixth month of the year by Holy Spirit and Power of the Most High. 2. Elizabeth, Zacharias’ wife, conceived John the Baptist in the Month of Nisan, during the month of Passover, since she was six months into her pregnancy and was way past child bearing age. 3. Jesus, if carried nine months as is normal gestation, was born in the third month of Sevan or around The Feast of Weeks, Shavuot in the Old Testament or, in the New Testament,  what would be known as Pentecost.

Pretty interesting huh? Well, I think so.

I find it particularly interesting. I find it interesting that John the Baptist was conceived in the month of the Passover in which Jesus would be crucified. I find it interesting that Jesus was conceived in the Month of Elul just prior to the Feast of Trumpets. Why is that interesting? Well, the Feast of Trumpets is a season that it’s all going to come to a head. I find it interesting that Christ was conceived in Elul as Elul is the time of teshuva, turning back to God, and voila, the Son of God is conceived. Jesus, the King of all Kings was conceived in Elul the sixth month, The month in which Kings of the time would come down out of their palaces to meet and mingle with the common man. Enter in the conception of Christ the King who came down from His throne of Glory to become a man who was fully man and fully God to tabernacle among the “common folk”. 

I find it particularly interesting that His birth, given a standard nine months gestation period, is in the month of Sevan around Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about all these events and what transpired during these times. For me at least, it proves that God does indeed have certain times, and seasons and that He works in certain ways during certain seasons. At least, He has in the past.

But how do we know that all this stuff about teshuva is during this sixth month of Elul? 

Well, last week I shared with you the 2nd chapter of Joel, but Joel didn’t say it was in the sixth month did he? No, Joel didn’t say that it was in the sixth month. But Haggai did. Let’s go see what Haggai said. 

Haggai 1:1-5 “In the second year of Darius the King, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the sone of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘This people says, ‘The time has not come, even the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.” Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord, “Consider your ways!”

The people were in bondage and wanted to go home. They wanted to rebuild their homes. But God wanted a temple rebuilt and His stern warning was, “Consider your ways!”

Haggai 1:6-7 read, “You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but ther is not enough to be satisfied; you drink but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways!” 

Wow! That’s the second time that God has said, “Consider your ways!” 

Now remember, In Joel, these things were foretold. In Haggai these things had come to pass. The people wanted to go home. God told them, “Consider your ways!”. God reminds them, in Haggai, what the conditions were. Little harvest. Famine. No wine to speak of. Little oil. Not enough clothing and a wallet that won’t hold money. He reminds them again, “Consider your ways!” WHEN did God remind them? In the sixth month, the sixth month of Elul. Don’t know about you, but during this sixth month, I am seeking my beloved for I know that the beloved is with me. The king has come down from His throne to give me His audience. I’m going to take advantage of that. 

Verse 8 tells the story. “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD.

God wants that temple rebuilt. He wants people to reconsider their ways and He wants that temple restored. WHY? So that HE may be pleased and glorified. 

If you read verses 9-11 God re-iterates a famine and drought conditions brought about by disobedience and allowing the temple to fall into ruin. 

Ahhhh….but verses 12-15 show us that Zerrubabel, Joshua, and the remnant obeyed the voice of God and they SHOWED REVERENCE for the Lord. It goes on to say that God stirred the spirit of Zerrubabel, Joshua, and the remanant of people that they came to work on the temple. ALL on the 24th day of the sixth month, one week prior to The Feast of Trumpets. 

It’s strange how all these events keep swirling around God’s timeline on events and appointment dates that God had established since Israel first became a nation. 

If you’ll notice, God has challenged Haggai, Zerrubabel, Joshua, and the remnant to 1) Consider your ways!” and 2) rebuild the temple.

That’s what Teshuva is. Elul and Teshuva are a season in which one should “Consider their ways!” What about rebuilding the temple?  Are we to invade the country of Israel, demolish Islam, tear down the temple mount and re-build the temple?

Nah, we don’t have to do that. It’s much simpler than all that.

1st Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.”

We are the temple. What was the purpose for which God wanted the temple rebuilt in Haggai? Do you remember? “So that I may be pleased and that I may be glorified.” What does Paul tell the people of Corinth? “Glorify God in your body, the temple.”

That’s what this season of Elul and Teshuva are about. Considering your ways and glorifying God.

I am The Old Watchman, Ezekiel. Now you know. You have been warned.

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