Our next Firstfruits is Thursday, August 1st, which begins the fifth Hebrew Covenant Calendar month known as AV.  AV actually means”father” and is derived from the root meaning “to will, or to desire.”  Therefore, we are reminded this month to purpose ourselves to submit our will or desire to our Father in heaven.

This month is also associated with the tribe of Simeon.  Simeon’s name means, “to hear”  and is a great reminder to take the time to hear what God has to say.

We can all probably be found guilty of making the same mistake of doing all the speaking when praying, telling God all about our problems, pleading for Him to solve them, and afterward resuming our day without pausing to listen.  When we make time to listen, we also make a way for us to understand the will or desire of the Father.

I asked a sixth grader, Dillon, to draw a picture of how he would describe the month of AV.  This picture is what he drew that is in this year’s Firstfruits journal.  I immediately understood the simplicity of this drawing which spoke so loudly:  God’s will and desire is for each of us to help those in need with a simple act of kindness and generosity.  Children don’t ask why a person is homeless, or if the one begging really is in need.  They just respond from a heart that loves unconditionally, without judgment, and without reservation.

AV has an interesting biblical history.  It was the first of AV that the High Priest, Aaron died (Numbers 33:38).  In this month, the first and second temple were destroyed on the 9th of AV; once by the Babylonians, and secondly by the Romans in 70 AD. AV has a repetitive pattern of being a month of great judgment after God’s people continued in rebellion and chose not to listen to the warnings from the Lord.

Even Christians today can find themselves not listening to God’s warnings and landing in a heap of trouble.  Although Jesus made a way for our sins to be forgiven as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103),  our sins can result in consequences that can lead us down difficult paths.  This is why it is so important to hear what God is saying and then be quick to respond in obedience.

In the book of Revelation, the Lord speaks to the 7 churches a word of affirmation as well as a strong word of correction.   With every church, He finishes by saying:

“He who has an EAR, let him HEAR what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:7).

God repeats this phrase over and over in Revelation 2 and 3 because it was His simple but relevant point that sets believers apart as “OVERCOMERS.”

The Lord’s simple point was this:

“Now therefore, if you will indeed OBEY MY VOICE and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine” (Ex. 19:5).

The following is the list from Rev. 2& 3 of God’s “blessings” given to those who were known by Him as “Overcomer’s.” 

 “TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES………

1.  I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.
2. He shall not be hurt by the second death.
3. I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.
4. I will give him the morning star.
5. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6. I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
7. I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

This month, I pray you purpose within yourself to set aside time to journal what God is speaking to you so you too can enjoy the blessings of obedience and become known by Him as His “overcomer.”