After Passover was celebrated, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread commenced, the children of Israel were instructed to celebrate the third Feast to “set apart” provision in the Lord’s honor.  This was the Feast of Firstfruits and was celebrated on the day after the weekly Sabbath following Passover (which was the FIRST day, meaning Sunday) of the week.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was a weeklong celebration, was still in progress while this third Feast was executed. 

The Feast of Unleavened Bread prophesied to the world that Jesus was the “Bread of Life” as His sinless (unleavened) sacrifice would connect us to the source of life:

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)

However, in order to make way for a harvest (Christians) to become like Him, Jesus had to die as a sinless sacrifice, take the keys of Hades (overcome death because He had no “leaven” in Him) and rise and present Himself as a “firstfruits offering” to the Father. 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24).

The resurrection of Jesus was amazing.  But it had to go through the “set apart” process of becoming “holy and acceptable to the Father.”  This completion process happened on the Feast of Firstfruits.

“For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches” (Romans 11:16).

The Gospel of John verifies this timing and fulfillment of the Feast of Firstfruits.  After three days and nights since the crucifixion of Christ, Mary visited the tomb early Sunday morning while it was STILL DARK.  Mary discovered the tomb open and empty, and began weeping.  Two angels appeared and said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”  Mary answered that she didn’t know where Jesus was, and when she turned to speak, Jesus was standing there but she didn’t recognize Him.  When she heard His voice, she knew it was Jesus, but He commanded her this:

“Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God'”(John 20:17). 

The reason Jesus had not yet ascended is that He was waiting to offer Himself up to the Father at the EXACT time the Firstfruits Offering was offered up by the High Priest to fulfill the Feast blueprint (Lev. 23:11).  

“But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20).

Later that evening, when He appeared to the disciples, Jesus showed them His hands and feet, ate and drank, and allowed Thomas to touch him.  He could do this now because He had already presented Himself as the “firstfruits” offering, crowned High Priest and King, and transformed into His glorified body.

Now Jesus could ascend and descend from heaven to earth to be seen by many witnesses, which He continued to do so for 40 days.  Afterward, He ascended until the next SET TIME.  But between now and then, Jesus would send us a helper, a “firstfruits” deposit of His glory, to comfort us.

“But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1Cor. 15:23).

 

 

 

 

Passover and the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread basically happen in succession, which makes it a bit difficult to discern between the two, but I will attempt to do so very simply.  Passover begins at twilight on the 14th day of Nisan (sundown).  And since the next Hebrew day begins after sundown, the Feast of Unleavened Bread commences after Passover at the beginning of the 15th day of Nisan.  Literally, one rolls into the next.

Both Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were established as a blueprint to remember how God delivered the children of Israel from the hand of Pharaoh and the death plague.  And because of the rapid exit that the children of Israel made out of Egypt, they didn’t have any time to allow the bread to go through the leavening process.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a week-long Feast (Lev. 23: 6). The first day and seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread were considered “High Holy Days, or also referred to as “Sabbaths.” These “Sabbaths” were similar to a weekly Sabbath in that all the children of Israel were to cease from work and rest.  But the “High Holy Days” were specific to the Sabbaths of the Feast days:

“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away” (John 19:31).

Most Christians would read these New Testament scriptures and never know there is a difference between the Sabbaths.  But understanding the distinction helps to break down the truth of the events that happened when Jesus fulfilled scriptures and became the sacrificial Passover lamb.

Christ, Himself knew when it was His time to begin His ministry, and when it was His time to go to the cross.  This is why Jesus went willingly when the Roman soldiers came to take him away.  However, what is so amazing is that the Father Himself had to orchestrate the rest of the events to line up with the blueprint of prophecy and the dress rehearsal of the Feasts. Jesus could do nothing to help fix the outcome because he wasn’t able.

For example, the law said that the Passover lamb used was not to have any bones broken (Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Ps. 34:20).  Most of the time, a Roman soldier would break the legs of someone being crucified because they would try to use their legs to get air. Without the help of their legs, they would die of suffocation.  This happened to the two thieves who were crucified next to Jesus.  They both had their legs broken (John 19:30-37).  But when they came to Jesus, He was already dead, so there was no need.  Instead, they pierced his side, which allowed the blood and water to spill out.

In thinking about the Feast of Unleavened Bread, I am in awe of a few more things.  First, it is impossible to be righteous without Christ, which most of us understand and is why we ask Jesus to be our Savior.  Jesus Himself had to rely on the Father’s help to perfect prophecy concerning His birth, death, and resurrection.  God worked miracles through time, weather, circumstances, as well as moving on the hearts of men.

Secondly, it is equally impossible to be a “perfect” Christian.  If you have ever tried to edit a book or made sure a room was germ-free or cleaned your house, you know how hard it is to get it completely free of dirt, errors, or invaders.  Getting rid of the leaven in our lives as Christians are all a part of the journey of “sanctification.”

Even though Jesus covers our sins, the wages of sin (death) has not been removed from our bodies as of yet.  We can rest knowing that JESUS was without ANY leaven.  HE alone is perfection.  And in Him, we can abide in His perfection.  But it takes time for our soul to understand this truth.  And it will take Jesus coming back until we get bodies that have NO death in them but are a reflection of His glory.

“Your glorying is not good.  Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?  Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened.  For indeed Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us.  Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:6-8).

The greatest difference between the Old and New Covenant is this:  In the Old Covenant, man was trying to work at meeting the requirements of Covenant with God.  But in the New Covenant, man rests in the knowledge that the requirements of Covenant will be performed and perfected by God Himself.  The Old Covenant places trust in man’s effort.  The New Covenant places trust in God’s finished work.  When we get to the place in our hearts that we can rest in that knowledge, we have removed the “leaven” from our hearts and are “abiding in Christ alone.”

“I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

 

Passover 2018 and 2019 happened to fall on the same day as Good Friday, which I believe was not a coincidence since God is helping the body of Christ see the significance of these Feasts.  

Many Christians really aren’t aware that Good Friday and Easter were dates that the Catholic Church created as their “holy days” to honor Christ.  Through the adoption of Good Friday and Easter into our Christian culture, the body of Christ lost all connection to the Feasts calendar God established to honor His Son.

The problem of “changing God’s time and law” isn’t new since Christ came (Dan.7:25).  In the Old Testament, it most notably happened after the reign of King Solomon when the Israelites split into two kingdoms (families). Ten of the tribes of Israel formed the House of Israel and removed themselves from Solomon’s son’s reign. But out of fear that the people would go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feasts and not return, the leader of the ten tribes, Jeroboam, decided to change the Feasts times, laws, and place of worship (1 Kings 12:26-33).

“So, he made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month he had devised in his own heart” (1 Kings 12:33).

This change opened up the door for iniquitous roots to plague the House of Israel in years to come, and which is why most of the kings who ruled the House of Israel were wicked and rebellious towards God (1 &2 Kings).  

However, the House of Judah, who remained in Jerusalem, had times in history they didn’t follow the Feasts Calendar as well.  We know this because when you read the story about King Hezekiah in 2 Chron. 29-31, the worship and celebration of the Feasts were restored.

“The king appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offering; for the morning and evening burnt offerings; the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and the New Moons, and the set feasts as it is written in the Law of the Lord” (2Chron. 31:3).

Because King Hezekiah restored honoring God’s Covenant calendar and what was right in His law, the people were healed (2 Chron. 30:20).  In addition, unity, prosperity and protection were given to them by the Lord, and Hezekiah’s leadership kept Jerusalem safe against the Assyrian army.

Unfortunately, subsequent kings of the House of Judah didn’t follow the integrity of King Hezekiah’s leadership in honoring God’s laws.  Eventually, God’s judgment came forth because they didn’t honor the Sabbaths, and the House of Judah was taken captive by the Babylonian army.

“And those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths.  As long as she lay desolate, she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years” (2 Chron. 36:20,21; Lev. 26: 34-43).

After serving out their 70 years of captivity in Babylon, the Judeans (Jews) were able to return to the Promised Land and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.  Led by Ezra the High Priest and Nehemiah, the Jews were given an opportunity to start again.

Ezra was used by God to “awaken” the remnant to God’s truth by sharing the Law.  The construction of the temple had just finished, and after hearing about God’s “Holy Days” found in the pattern of the Feasts, the Jews chose to celebrate the Passover:

“And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.  For the priests of the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were ritually clean.  

And they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all the descendants of the captivity, for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.  Then the children of Israel who had returned from captivity ate together will all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel.  

And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread, seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel” (Ezra 6:19-22).

Ezra directed the Jews back to honoring the Feasts, which resulted in joy and gladness amongst the people.  Even Nehemiah goes into detail in chapter 8 on how they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles according to the blueprint of the law, which hadn’t been done since the days of Joshua!

Unfortunately, because God’s people chose not to separate themselves from the idolatrous culture, the people reverted back to their lawless ways.  Ezra was beside himself since they had just come out of the 70-year bondage.  He pleaded with the people to separate themselves for God’s service since they had been given a second chance:

“Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been very guilt, and of our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day.

“And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage” (Ezra 9:7,8).

The people responded to Ezra’s plea, but the idolatrous culture kept pulling them away again. 

In addition, between the 400 years from Ezra to when Jesus arrived on the scene, the Judean leaders began creating their own “holy” book of rules called the “Talmud.” Regulations were added even with celebrating these Feasts.  But many of these traditions weren’t written by the Lord, but by men themselves, and the heart and purpose of why God established the Feast blueprint became more of a ritual.

“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8,9).

Regardless of the religious practices that the Jews added, at least they followed the Feasts.  Even Paul the Apostle made sure he didn’t miss a Feast.  All of Paul’s missionary work was targeted to adhere to the Feast schedule because he understood the importance of honoring those Feast times.  But the Feasts needed a New Covenant revelation of why and how they were to be celebrated.  In addition, they were not to be pegged to an “earthly Jerusalem” any longer.

Since believers are the “temple of God” (2 Cor. 6:16), there was no need to have to go to the temple in Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

Ironically, the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. would actually help “cut off” having to go to Jerusalem to honor the Feasts, as well as the “traditions” that were created. 

There are many reasons why the Church at large has not embraced the Feasts as a part of their “Holy” Calendar for the past 2,000 years, but in general, they are the same reasons we have just outlined from the past. Patterns of sin repeat themselves, and this pattern of getting God’s people away from honoring God’s Calendar has been on Satan’s radar for centuries, so it must have some intrinsic value to the redemption plan of God.

Today, I believe that God is awakening the body of Christ to the heart of His “Holy” calendar.  This will give the body of Christ what Ezra and the people experienced,” a measure of revival in our bondage,” which will ultimately lead to healing and joy for the Church at large.

And how about the timing today?  Israel just celebrated their 70 anniversary as a nation.  This is a completion of time of looking to the Old Jerusalem and its man-made temple constructed under the Old Covenant as a pattern of the shadow of things to come.  NOW is the time for our eyes to adjust and shift to a NEW Jerusalem; a temple not made of hands.  Israel may try to build a third temple, but the Lord will not allow for it to stand because He has already made way for a better plan.

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, NEW Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev. 21:2).

Time is the one common denominator that the entire world is on the same blueprint.  We are all accountable to our days, months and years to the time-established universal.  But for those Christians who God has put a desire to be a part of the redemption plan and building His Kingdom here on the earth, we need to honor God’s time so we can sync into His plan.

“They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed meetings, and they shall hallow My Sabbaths” (Ez.44:24).

The Feasts give us the corporate pattern of how we become what God prophesies about, “The New Jerusalem.” That alone should get every Christian interested in discovering the value of the Feasts.

 

 

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The Feasts are an essential testimony of our Hebrew heritage that begins in Exodus. When the children of Israel left Egypt and came to Mt. Sinai, God asked the “Israelites” to marry Him so that they would become His “special treasure” (Ex. 19).

“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.  And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel” (Ex. 19:5,6).

After the children of Israel accepted God’s proposal, the “Groom” created a “certificate of marriage” for “His bride/nation” to abide with Him. The Tablets of Testimony were given through Moses as a sign of God’s love and His heart to be one with His people and a witness for the world to see the one true God.

“Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people.  And they said, “all that the Lord has said we will do and be obedient” (Ex. 24:7).

The “Feasts” were also a part of that “certificate” that provided a pattern God established to set aside life to honor those “wedding vows.”  This pattern would prove to not only benefit and bless God’s people but later in time, would serve as the sign and witness of Jesus, the restorer of this “marriage covenant.”

“For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed” (1Cor. 5:7).

When we honor the Feasts today, we honor the Father who sacrificed His Son for us.  And we step into our heritage. The Spring Feasts provide the blueprint (screenplay) on how Jesus would come to be our Savior and serve as our High Priest.

In Ex. 12, God established His Hebrew Covenant Calendar to start on the 1^st of Nisan.  He then gave Moses instructions to execute Passover on the 14^th of Nisan in which Israel was to slay the lambs and put the blood on the lintels and doorposts of their homes. (Ex. 12:6,7).  Passover was chosen to be the kick-off as the first Feast of the year.

On the 10^th day of Nisan, God instructed the children of Israel to select an unblemished male lamb.  This was the same day Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and the people cried out, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest” (Matt. 21:9).

Passover was fulfilled by Jesus in the month of Nisan, according to the pattern described in Ex. 12 and Lev. 23. This is why 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Messiah has become our Passover.” John the Baptist also confirms this fulfillment when he points to Jesus and says, “Behold the Lamb of God”  (John 1:29.)

On the eve of the 14^th of Nisan, Jesus was with His disciples at the last Lord’s Supper.  It was here that Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and broke bread (His body), and drank wine (His Blood) in remembrance of what He must suffer afterward as the Lamb was slain for our sins (Matt. 26:16).

On the morning of the 14^th of Nisan, Jesus was sentenced at 9am and crucified.  This was the same time the sacrificial lamb was bound according to the law (Mark 15:25).

At noon, three hours of darkness fell on the land supernaturally (Matt. 27:45). According to the law, no one was allowed to kill the sacrificial lamb in darkness. God prevented any lamb to be slain until Jesus cried out at 3:01, “It is finished.”  This is the same minute the eclipse is recorded to have happened, and afterward the Passover lambs were then slain.

The blood of the sacrificial lambs was put on the doorposts after the blood of Jesus was spilled out upon His death.  (John 19:34) Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus down and placed him in a tomb nearby before sundown since the Passover Dinner would commence that evening (John 19:38-42).

According to Ex.12, the “Passover” followed when they ate the lamb that was roasted by the fire with “unleavened bread.”  This they were to do as a memorial and an everlasting ordinance (Ex. 12:14).

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was to commence that evening and last seven days. (Lev. 23:6).  Because the Israelites left so quickly out of Egypt after the plague of the death of the “firstborn,” they left without any leaven in their bread (Ex. 12:39).  God made it easy for them to follow His instructions. Since leaven represents “sin” usually in the Bible, Jesus wiped out the penalty of “sin” through His sacrifice.

The soldiers were ordered to camp out at the tomb to make sure no one stole Jesus’ body.

Jesus rose before daybreak on Sunday morning.  When Mary and Mary arrived at the tomb, they found it open and the Roman Soldiers were not there guarding it.  They had already left to tell Pilate.  Mary ran to go tell others and met Peter and John who were also on their way to the tomb (John 20:2).

When they arrived at the tomb, they all discovered it empty.  Peter and John went home (John 20:10).  Mary was left alone in the garden.  When the sun arose, Mary encountered what she thought was a gardener.  When she recognized it was Jesus, she wanted to touch him.  But Jesus said to her, “ Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father.”

The ascension Jesus was referring to was not after the 40 days where He rose from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:3-9). We know this because Jesus allowed the disciples to touch Him later (John 20:19,20). So Jesus must have ascended to the Father sometime AFTER He talked to Mary.  Why is this important?

Lev. 23:20 says of the Feast of the First Fruits, “The priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the Lord…” In 1 Corinthians 25:20, the scripture says, “Now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the FIRSTFRUITS of those who have fallen asleep.”

In order for Jesus to fulfill the Firstfruits Feast, He had to present Himself to the Father at the same time the priest offered up the Firstfruits. Jesus was actually alive before the priest wave offering in the temple, but He could not present Himself as “legally” alive in heaven until the same time that the priest bore witness on earth.  It was the third hour that the priests offered up the firstfruits.  It was then Jesus went before the Father!

Between The Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Pentecost is 50 days in which is called Counting of Omer.  (Lev. 23:15-17) After these 50 days, the children of Israel were to offer a new grain (wheat) offering.  On Pentecost, farmers would bring the firstfruits of their spring harvest to the Lord.

 Pentecost would be the exact same time that the Law (marriage contract) was given to the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai and when God would manifest Himself as a witness to this union (Ex. 19). This would be the time when all the people heard the voice of God speaking in their own language out of the midst of the fire (Deut. 4:12).

In Acts 2, we read that on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down like tongues of fire upon the heads of the disciples who were waiting in the Upper Room. They became the new grain offering, the “firstfruits” of the indwelling of His glory presented to the Father since they had “accepted Jesus as Savior and Covenant restorer.” Now the Law was written on their hearts and they were one with the Father.

Christians today generally don’t celebrate these Feasts simply because they don’t understand their significance to Jesus.  Some have not fully grasped they entered into this Hebrew heritage and Covenant when they accepted Jesus as their Lord. But God wants to open up our eyes to our birthright and our inheritance in His marriage Covenant.  And as we abide in His blueprint (screenplay), we begin looking like the “Bride” set apart unto Him.

 

 

 

 

 

It is awesome to see how many Christians are now identifying with the Hebrew calendar and learning how it can speak to us today as to what God is doing in the earth right now.  This Hebrew Covenant calendar begins a new decade, so this indicates a huge shift taking place.

The number 57 in Hebrew is associated with the 16th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which is the letter ayin.  Ayin means to see, know, and experience.  God has taken us through a century of experiencing His power and presence through the manifestations of the Holy Spirit that we have seen and experienced:

“The Azusa Street Revival was a historic revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California.^[1] It was led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher. It began with a meeting on April 9, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915. The revival was characterized by spiritual experiences accompanied by testimonies of physical healing miracles,^[2] worship services and speaking in tongues. Today, the revival is considered by historians to be the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century” (Wikipedia).

The Holy Spirit is about to pour out an upgrade this decade.  Wow!  Can you imagine God’s glory coming in great power in the earth?  It will happen because God promised us so.  We are heading toward the promise of receiving our “glorified bodies” when Christ returns, so this upgrade is a part of getting closer to that set time.  And the “sound” of God’s people will break it forth!

“But we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23).

The number 80 in Hebrew correlates with the 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which is the letter pey. Pey has the numeric value of 80 and it symbolically means “mouth or to speak; an opening; or to breathe.”

When we put these together, the translation of the 5780 overall is: “God’s eye is upon the Word, the expression, the breath, and the speech or sound of His people.”  

“There is an amazing mystery hidden within this letter pey, as it is believed that this one letter is also made up of two other letters, kaf and yod. Without going too deep, it paints the picture of the divine spark (yod) of God, within the soul, or the place in the body where potential is actualized (kaf)” The pictorial letter itself looks like a spark inside an open mouth. This year holds a divine invitation for you to open your mouth with the spark, or decree, of God that will set into flame the fires of revival”(Charisma News; Christy Johnson).

As God spoke, “Let there be light,” and creation came into existence, we will see the creative power of our voices shape the decade ahead.  Last decade, what we saw was what shaped us.  This decade, what we SAY will shape us because the power of God’s glory will be exponentially greater.  We are already seeing this on the earth right now:  Those who are speaking God’s word, decreeing His promises, and allowing the sounds of the Holy Spirit to usher in God’s presence are seeing quicker manifestations of their prayers.

The “sound” that God anoints us to sing, speak, and join as His instruments of praise and worship will be the key that unlocks the glory of God in this decade.  The glory of God is actually here, yet veiled as God has commanded.  We were not ready for what God has in store for us, nor have we had the capacity to contain the glory He wants to reveal in our own bodies.  This is why He is calling a people to be “set apart,” and synced into God’s voice and heart for it is His time to release the sound that our cells will respond to for His transformation. Our bodies will be able to contain and release more of God’s glory.

This decade comes with it a greater responsibility to guard our lips and to speak only those things that come by His Spirit.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who speak life will see the fruits of their lips.  The restoration of the psalmists singing His Word will come with a breaker anointing.

Because we are in the year 2020, many have said this is the year for 20/20 vision.  While I agree we must see what God sees, our vision will become clear as we hear His voice and declare His promise.

We are also in a season of acceleration both spiritually and physically.  Healing and medical breakthroughs will be astounding, and so will be God’s healing power.

“But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves” (Mal. 4:2).

The Hebrew letter pey is also associated with great power.  The “Joseph’s” of this hour will be empowered to step into their authority and influence.  It is the decade of the orchestration of team Jesus uniting for His cause in one rhythm and heart that produces great power as their voice unites and creates His sound….resulting in the Spirit of God moving the unified body out into the cities. So for all the Joseph’s out there….you have been trained in humility and wisdom to wait upon the Lord.  And it’s your time to arise!

The elevation of ministry leaders will be leveled to ground zero, at the cross, where all the other leaders are waiting in assembly to “deploy” in the great army of the Lord, waiting for their Commander in Chief to lead the way.  Great authority comes with it a greater surrender to the Lord.

It’s a decade that will be known for many FIRSTS!  Even the “firstfruits’ remnant will arise in this season. NO longer will they be alone and hidden, but they will be found and linked together with those who understand the sacrifice of surrender and a hunger to follow God’s ways.

“Arise, shine; for your light has come!   And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.  The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side.  Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you.  the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you” (Is. 60:1-5).

 

 

Since 2012, God has been trumpeting this time we are experiencing at this hour through many prophets He has raised up.  But the Word prophesied of this day many years ago:

“The Lord also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3:16).

When God spoke a shaking was coming, He was speaking to the Church first to be ready.  So God gave the body of Christ  7 years to prepare, speaking this same message so we had ample time to respond:

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God” (1 Peter 4:17)?

He warned the body of Christ to get rid of their idols and to prepare their hearts for the shift that would transpire.  God highlighted these same scriptures He spoke through Joshua at the end of his leadership for us today:

“Now, therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt.  Serve the Lord!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:14.15).

The Church at large will change through this shaking, and we will see a church without walls emerge.  Religious structures will not be able to withstand this shaking, nor idols in ministry.  Fear and faith are at war.  God will use this shaking to also get the flock back to leaning on the true Shepherd and hearing His voice first.

“And the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:3,4).

So many people right now are searching to and fro to hear the voice of God through social media, and God is wanting all to stop and be still before Him.  He has much to say to each of us first because we all have a role to play in this hour. Once we get our intel from Him, then we can join the other voices.  But first things first, and that is resting in His presence so we can receive His peace.

“Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

What is God teaching the Church at this hour?  We are called to be His light, to walk in His ways, and to abide in His love……..We need to cry out to God as David did, pleading to help us stay in the center of His peace as we pray:

“Search me O’ God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties, and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting” (Psalm 139:23,24).

As we continue to accept this sanctification process and allow God to heal and lead us, a great reservoir of God’s peace and rest fills our spirit, soul, and bodies.  This training through “trial by fire” leads us into maturity in the ways of the Lord.  Great reverence and a fear of the Lord are produced for those who are seeking His face.  And we will be prepared for what He is bringing us into because we can hear His strategy.

God will shift His people into positions of influence to establish His righteous authority through this shaking.  But the method with which it happens will look different than expected.  Our maturity to lean into the Lord will be necessary to gain the intel and walk in His ways that may seem strange and new.  How we see and do things will forever change.  Guaranteed.  All these things are coming not to punish and destroy, but because He loves and is forwarding the promise of Christ returning and reigning in the earth.

For years, the saints who have been oppressed by the religious, political and governmental evil have cried out to the Lord.  The saints have waited patiently for God to move, much like the children of Israel who were crying out to God while they were under the hand of Pharoah’s slavery.  But at God’s “set time,” He heard their prayers:

“So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them” (Ex. 2:24).

God raised up Moses as His deliver, and gave him instructions as to how to get the Israelites through the process of the shaking so they would be protected:

“On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover” (Lev. 23:5).

God instructed the children of Israel to kill an unblemished lamb and take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses were they eat it.  In their response to His command, the death plague would pass over their dwelling:

“So this day shall be to you a memorial, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations.  You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance” (Ex. 12:14).

Moses told the Israelites that they would do this as a remembrance every generation so that the history of God’s deliverance and faithfulness to keep His promises He gave to Abraham would be handed down to the sons and daughters:

“And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’  So the people bowed their heads and worshipped” (Ex. 12:26,27).

The children of Israel did not expect Moses, who grew up in Pharoah’s palace, to be their deliverer.  A similar situation happened with the Jews later in history who didn’t see their Messiah right before their eyes.  We all should be shouting and praising God that He is in the midst of this chaos we are experiencing today, although we cannot recognize some of it in the midst of the panic that is prevailing.

Christians today inherit this great legacy of promises that God spoke through Abraham, confirmed through the nation of Israel, and later fulfilled through Christ:  

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29).

Our job is to rest knowing He is on the throne, and these events will give us a new landscape that will be free of some of the strongholds that kept Christians in slavery to sin and those who the enemy was using to destroy His people and plan to establish His righteousness in the earth:

“For thus says the Lord of hosts:  Once more (it is a little while) I will shake the heaven and earth, the sea and dry land, and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill the temple with glory, says the Lord of hosts.  The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.  The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former, ‘ says the Lord of hosts, And in this place, I will give peace, says the Lord of hosts” (Hagg.2:6-8).

We are about to start the New Hebrew Covenant Calendar this March 24th, sounding the trumpet and beginning the year with a shout of praise that God is on the throne.  God is working all things out for His good.  Our response to the coronavirus and all the chaos ensuring with praise is the greatest weapon of warfare.  It signifies to the enemy we are not moved by his work. It is a gesture of faith that responds to the fear that is running rampant.  It is with hands held up and palms wide open to accept we are not in control but praise the one who is that the enemy flees and bows to the boldness of faith.

Let’s praise…and then let’s honor the Holy Day of Passover fourteen days later, which is on April 8th at twilight. We must remember what God did for our forefathers of faith, and then what Christ did to set us all free from sin and death:

“With fervent desire, I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled int eh kingdom of God………And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”…….Likewise, He also took the cup after supper saying, ‘ This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’……….that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on the thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’ (Luke 22:17-30)”

Let us then rejoice knowing He protected His people back then, and now, the blood of Jesus protects us even greater, even against the coronavirus.  Let us remember that Christ became the sacrificial lamb that saves us from sin and death.  We must rejoice that God is working out a miracle in our midst that the history book will later reveal was His finest hour of the breakthrough.  Praise Him!  Praise His Holy Name!  We will Passover!

On March 24th, we will begin the Hebrew Covenant Calendar! God proclaimed to Moses in Ex. 12:2 that His Hebrew calendar year was to begin with the month of Nisan. Nisan means “to take flight,” so it was appropriately named since this was the month the children of Israel took flight from the captivity of Egypt and journeyed through the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai.

Nissan is associated with the tribe of Judah. Judah means “praise.” God called for “PRAISE” to go first into their “flight” from Mt. Sinai to the Promised Land (Numbers 10). When the trumpet was blown twice, signifying it was time for all the tribes camped around the Ark of the Covenant to journey on, Judah was given the leadership position of moving out first.  Judah was also the first tribe to cross the Jordan, and first to be allotted land in the Promised Land (Numbers 14.) This month is known for FIRSTS!

In Genesis 49:10, we read the prophetic destiny that Jacob spoke concerning the tribe of Judah in the latter days.  “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”

Judah was destined to carry the Messianic rulership (scepter), which we can see documented in Matthew 1 that traces the lineage of Judah.  Jesus was born out of this tribe when he came to earth to be our Savior, and He will return as our King of Kings. This month is significant to His “kingship” and stepping forward under His command to take “dominion.”

Judah was also responsible for making sure the “tablets of covenant/testimony” were safely passed down from generation to generation until Jesus came.  The “Torah (first 5 books of the bible) was canonized during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah during the 7th year of King Artaxerxes.  Ezra and Nehemiah were both a part of the House of Judah. When Jesus died and gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, the law was then written on all of our hearts.  This is when the obedience of the people then became unto HIM (Jesus the King).

Judah had a notable flaw in his character that was difficult to overcome; the love of money.  In Genesis 37, we read the story of how Judah and his brothers decided to kill Joseph because they were jealous of their Father’s love and favoritism toward him.  After conferring, they decided to throw him in a pit to die.  But Judah later assessed the situation and said, “What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?” (Gen. 37:26).

Judah’s first interest was in making a profit!  He suggested selling Joseph and made a bargain with the Midianite traders who agreed to purchase him for twenty silver coins.  As time went by, the guilt weighed on Judah over the years, and his repentant heart made him respond differently to his brother in need. This time, instead of bargaining for profit, Judah pleas with Joseph for his brother Benjamin, offering to sacrifice his own life (Gen. 44:14-34).

Judas (Greek for Judah) Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, also had this same weakness in his character that caused him to break God’s Commandments.  The Bible reveals his greedy heart in John 12:5 when Judas cannot understand why Mary poured costly fragrant oil on Jesus instead of selling the oil and giving it to the poor.  The scriptures go on to say in verse 6, “This he (Judas) said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the money box, and he used to take what was put in it.”

It wasn’t too long until we read about Judas betraying Jesus by making a bargain with the religious leaders for 30 silver coins (Mark 14:10,11). In both cases, the stronghold of the need for wealth was more powerful than family ties or intimate relationships. Judas, however, ends up taking his own life because of the guilt he bore in betraying Jesus.

Jesus tells us how difficult the struggle is for those who have a gift to profit once they have accumulated wealth for self-gain. “Assuredly I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:23,24).

Looking around the financial world today, many Jews are the world’s top financiers and control many of the banks, including the Federal Reserve. This is because they have been left a legacy of profiting so that God’s people could and would be blessed.  However, left to selfish gain, it can do more harm than good in the world. When Judah submits to God’s headship, their gift can benefit the advancement of the Kingdom of God, especially in helping visions “take flight.”

There were three tribes, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, who were positioned around the Tabernacle on the east side to form a branch.  Judah’s banner of the lion represented this branch, and it was these tribes who worked together to move the whole army out when the Lord’s cloud by day and pillar of fire moved.  Judah was chosen to “sound the alarm!”

Starting with Nisan, we enter into the “spring season” with the Lord. This season has a pattern for new beginnings; new seeds to plant, new alliances, and new battles arise during this season.  Kings go to war, praise leads the way, and the authority of Judah sets the foundation. Coming out of the “winter” rest and revelation season guides and directs the movement of the Hebrew year beginnings.  Also, coming full circle in the “winter” season lends itself to the new doors opening up.

This month also honors God’s redemption plan as we celebrate and remember the Spring Feasts of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits (Lev.23).  All of these Feasts were a blueprint of how Jesus would fulfill God’s Covenant promises of redemption and reconciliation.  As we read the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled these Feasts completely through His death and resurrection (Luke 23,24).  Fifty days later, He fulfilled the final Spring Feast, Pentecost, when He sent the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).

When Jesus rose from the dead, He presented Himself as the “FIRSTFRUITS” offering unto the Father in heaven.  Judah goes FIRST as Son of Man, and Son of God!  In doing so, Jesus made a way for heaven to come to earth in Holiness, and for a people (harvest) to be presented to the Father after He returns.  Thankfully, He sent the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of His return (2 Cor. 1:22).

God gave us a key this month to an individual intimate relationship with the Lord: REPENTANCE. Humbling ourselves under the Lord of Hosts (the one who rules over the armies of heaven and earth) connects and keeps us under HIS COVERING!  Jesus will come back as judge, conqueror, and king to fulfill the Fall Feasts through His second coming.

Through some of the Israelite Kings, such as Jehoshaphat, we can see the power of repentance and humility. Jehoshaphat understood complete dependence on seeking the Lord for His leadership. The minute he turned to the Lord, God gave him strategy, strength, and victory.

In 2 Chronicles 20, we read about Jehoshaphat’s humility as he seeks the Lord when the odds were up against his army. “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2 Chron. 20:3).

God gave Jehoshaphat a strategy of winning the war through praise.  Jehoshaphat asked the worshippers to go before His army, and this opened heaven to help him overcome in times of need. “Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated (2 Chron. 20:22).

The landscape of seeing the kingdom of heaven here on the earth will shift ahead through the praises of God’s people.

This month, above all else, God wants us to praise Him.  PRAISE HIM as you take flight! PRAISE HIM as you go into battle! PRAISE HIM because you have been CHOSEN to rule and reign in Him! PRAISE HIM for “FIRSTS!”  Your praise will spring you forward into the Hebrew Covenant Calendar New Year!

 

 

 

This Sunday evening begins the twelfth and last month of the Hebrew calendar known as ADAR. In Hebrew, the word Adar means “strength.” God desires that His people finish each year strong IN HIM, so they receive a new dimension of blessing, mantle, and identity to enter the New Year. This may require us all to put our “JOY ON” as we wrestle God for these “new clothes.”

This month is linked with the tribe of Naphtali. The name Naphtali in Hebrew means “to struggle and wrestle forward.” Naphtali’s wrestle is to conquer and win the victory with the partnership of the Lord. His mother, Rachel, named him Naphtali because of her struggles to give birth. “ With great wrestling’s, I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” (Gen. 30:8).

Naphtali’s father, Jacob, wrestled with the Lord as well. When Jacob was finally willing to let go of His IDOLS and grab hold of the Lord only, his wrestling changed history forever for himself, his family, and countless multitudes that have now inherited God’s covenant promise. However, amid Jacob’s struggle, the Lord touched the socket of his hip, making it difficult for Jacob to finish in his strength. Jacob had to exercise faith to cling to the Lord alone (something that his muscles had not been accustomed to doing), and in the final hour, Jacob says, “I will not let You go unless You bless me” (Gen. 33:26)!

There comes the point in all of our lives that our most significant efforts, gifts, and talents can only get us by so far. If we want to cross the finish line of our God-given destiny, we all need to go through the wrestling of submission to let go of control while we cling to God alone.  This wrestling chooses to die to a life independent of God.

Athena Koester’s picture below captures the pressure God allows so He can mold and transform our hearts to mirror His.   Out of that process, God cleanses us from the things that separate us from His love, as well as crowns us with His authority because we have learned to abide in Him.

Before Jacob died, he prophesied over the tribe of Naphtali these words: “Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.” The word “loose” comes from the Hebrew word shalach meaning, “to send away, cast away, to cast out, conduct, forsake, leave, let depart, push away.”

I believe this prophetic word speaks to us today as God wants us to “loose” idolatry, cast out the old, forsake the things that hold us back, push away the stumbling blocks, and spring forward into a new freedom that God wants us to possess. This comes out of humility that always produces a blessing! “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.” Prov. 22:4

The expression “let loose” has the implication of one who has escaped from the hunter.  Deer are beautiful animals created to be free. If you have a gift of Naphtali, you never want to be in bondage. Freedom is the lifeline, and trying to tie down anyone with this gift is difficult because they are not meant to have any chains around their necks.

In Judges 4:6, we can read about one hero of Naphtali named Barak, who worked with Deborah, the judge, to set God’s people free. This tribe was not known among the tribes as warriors. They were a part of the brigade with Dan and Asher in the rear guard, so they were not called to the front lines of battle. This is evident when Deborah confronted Barak why he wasn’t listening to the Lord, who had commanded him to deploy troops against the enemy. Barak requested that Deborah assist him with this task because he didn’t feel he could do it alone. Barak wasn’t concerned with rank or women in the game plan. He just needed to find a way to obey the Lord only.

The symbol of the tribe of Naphtali is a deer. There is one interesting thing about deer that we need to consider for this month. A deer has no gall bladder. The gall bladder is a  part of the anatomy. The gall bladder is a membranous sac attached to the liver, in which excess bile is stored and concentrated. Bile is the bitter, yellow-brown, or greenish fluid secreted by the liver. It is discharged into the duodenum and aids in digesting, especially fats. Bile produced and stored is like bitterness that is produced from an angry and jealous heart.

The beauty of Naphtali is that this tribe has the characteristic of one who carries NO BITTERNESS! And because of that, “beautiful words come out of Naphtali’s mouth. “ God’s word says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matt.12:34). This is an excellent month to examine what kind of communication is coming out of our mouth, so we see what is in our hearts. It is also a good month to communicate God’s heart and strategy for the New Year.

God says in Hebrews 12:14,15 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without no one, will see the Lord; looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness, springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” This month, I believe this is a time to reflect on the issues that lie deep within the heart and to “cast off” any bitterness, even bitterness toward ourselves so that we can enter into the joy of the Lord.

Moses also prophesies over this tribe before he dies in Deut. 33:23. “O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord, possess the west and the south.” Because Naphtali represents a pure heart, the favor of God is with this tribe to bless them. Faithful intercessors, a characteristic of this tribe, are ones with a pure heart, willing to lay their life down and stand in the gap for all, even the wicked.

Moses says to Naphtali to “possess the west and the south.” The west speaks of the land that lay to the west of Naphtali, which was the Mediterranean Sea. It was the gateway to new areas and new adventures. This is symbolic of “entering into the New Year through the gateway God opens to a new year of adventure with Him.”

The south speaks of the pleasant things, which lie at the foot of Naphtali. It was the southern coast of Naphtali that Jesus preached most of His life. That was the sea coast of Galilee and the town of Capernaum. The Sermon on the Mount was taught in the land blessed for Naphtali, in which Jesus said, “Blessed are those….”

Adar is the twelfth month, and twelve is the number for “government.”  Jacob had twelve sons, and Jesus had twelve disciples. The first recorded words of Jesus in the New Testament were when He was 12 (Luke 2:42).

Twelve symbolizes God’s power and authority as well as serving as a perfect governmental foundation.  New Jerusalem has 12 gates, and Christ’s bride in Revelation 12 wears a crown of 12 stars.  The Lord has a remnant of 12×12, totaling 144,000 that are marked as His.  Jesus is coming back with “government on His shoulders” to rule and reign (Is. 9:7).  We are being prepared to understand God’s government in heaven and on earth.

Finally, I believe that this month of ADAR is key to the body of Christ. God has been calling on His people these past few years to get rid of their idols and to purify their hearts. The line in the sand has been revealed. God has been preparing His army to go into a GLOBAL season with Him. It is a season of preparing for His return, and it will require separation unto Him and a willingness in the heart to say, “Not my will but yours.”

God is taking the masquerades off. We have been hidden for a time. Our identity has been hidden. Our gifting has been hidden. Our regional and national calling has been hidden. Our blessings are coming. God is taking off the masquerade, and we will be seen as people identified as His.

When it was God’s time, Esther’s true identity was revealed to the king. But that famous quote given to Esther when she was wrestling with stepping into that identity was, “For such a time as this.” It is for “such a time as this” we have all been called to understand His Covenant, His story, and His truth, and to walk accordingly in His plan!

The 11th month of the Hebrew Covenant Calendar, known as Shevat, is coming up this January 24th.  This month is associated with the tribe of Asher, whose name means, “happy,” and is indicative of the heart of this month.

January is the eleventh month of the Hebrew calendar associated with the tribe of Asher, the eighth son of Jacob. 

Asher means “happy” coming from the root word “ashar” which is translated: to be straight, level, right, to go forward, be honest, prosper, bless, guide, lead, and relieve.  Asher was known as a blessed tribe with the land that produced many natural resources providing food and delicacies fit for a king.

Asher was known amongst the tribes to share their resources. In the Promised Land, Asher was located between Tyre and Carmel, which was some of the most fertile lands in Canaan because it had low temperatures and much rainfall. Resources were a blessing, but Asher’s true happiness came from giving to others. “It is more blessed to give than receive.” (Acts. 20:35) With such an abundance of goods, Asher exported goods to supply to the other tribes and became known for its olive oil.

Jacob prophesied over Asher these words, “Bread from Asher shall be rich, and he shall yield royal dainties.” (Gen. 49:20) The Hebrew word for bread in this scripture is “lechem” and means “food you eat to obtain nourishment.”  In the natural, Asher was blessed with rich food fit for kings, but in the spirit, God is saying prophetically that the gift of Asher brings rich, strong meat (revelation) of God’s word.  Asher has a gift to pull out the treasures hidden in God’s Word.

 “Rich” can also be translated as “fat.”  The Hebrew word for fat is “shamen” and means “greasy, plenteous, oily and rich.”  Oil is typically symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The bread or “word” of Asher will not only be meaty but richly anointed by the Holy Spirit! (The fruitful olive tree is actually the symbol for this tribe).

Moses further prophesies over Asher in Deut. 33:24 “Asher is most blessed of sons; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil.  Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; As your days, so shall your strength be.”

Asher “dips” or “plunges” his feet in oil is not a small prophetic word.  In order for Asher to fulfill his call, his foundation needs to be the “Word” and to spend time in the presence of “The Word” to share God’s revelation with His people. Psalm 1:1-3 describes Asher: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law, he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

Asher’s sandals being of iron and bronze describes the nature of his gifting.  Shoes of iron are God’s judgments, and the word God gives them to share can shake the world. Signs and wonders will follow!

The first miracle recorded in the gospels takes place in Cana of Galilee, where Jesus turned the water into wine. This land was the inheritance of Asher and the beginning of miraculous signs of provision. (John 2:1-11)  This land is also where Jesus revealed himself as the “bread of Life” which is symbolic of the gift Asher would share.

Matt 4:4 “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Bread is symbolic of the word of God.

 Anna, the prophetess from the New Testament, came from the tribe of Asher and was one of the first to recognize Jesus as the Savior when He was born.  Her faithfulness and dedication to serving the Lord for 84 years made her “fat” with God’s revelation about the Savior. (Luke 2:36-38) “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, and this woman was a widow of about 84 years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to ALL those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

In the Bible, Asher is spoken of by Moses as the most blessed of the sons and favored by his brothers.  This tribe was blessed with numerous children and lived in peace with all the other tribes.

Asher is set around the tabernacle on the north side between Dan and Naphtali.  These three tribes had the assignment of being the  “rear” guard and were generally not ones to be warriors in battle.  Avoiding battle when needed can be Asher’s weakness and downfall. Asher chose not to help during Israel’s national crisis when called to battle by Barak and Deborah. However, they did come when Gideon called as well as King Hezekiah.

God wants to reveal His Covenant in a “meaty” way so we can move in His heart ahead as the bride of Christ. Seek God’s presence and expect to receive His revelation.  He wants to bless you in this season of “rest” in knowing Him and why He created you!  God wants to revive and awaken your “roots” to be vibrant and alive in Him.  Rivers of living water shall flow through your roots system and spring forth life in areas that have appeared dead.  Expect to hear and see His oil! March will be a month God is preparing us to sow the seeds of revelation He gives us.  Whatever the circumstances bring up ahead, His revelation will carry us through.

So the key this month is to REST and receive His anointed Word! And if you have the gift of Asher, God’s people need that “meaty” word!

We are now entering the “rest” season in the Hebrew Covenant Calendar as we celebrate the month of Tevet beginning December 26th.  Tevet means “good circumcision” and is a time God wants to “cut to the heart” and judge matters that are important to Him.

In the Old Testament, the sign that set apart an individual as one who was sealed with in the Abrahamic Covenant was circumcision:

“And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.  This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you:  Every male child among you shall be circumcised, and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you” (Gen. 17:9-11).

God also declared that those who did not circumcise as He commanded were “cut off” from the Abrahamic Covenant:

“And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be CUT OFF from his people; he has broken My covenant” (Gen. 17:14).

Being “cut off” meant much like being “disowned,” and cut off from the family inheritance and identity.  God took this seriously, and so did the Israelites.

This sign was kept all throughout the Israelites history.  Even the Apostle Paul himself shares he and his family had followed this law:

“…circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee” (Phil. 3:5).

Circumcision would prove to be a SIGN in the New Testament too, however, it would be an internal (spiritual) sign rather than an external (flesh) sign:

“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:11-15).

When Abraham was chosen to be the one God would use to set up the Abrahamic Covenant, it was by faith alone that opened up his relationship with God, and God chose him….he did not choose God.

After God chose Abraham, circumcision was then established as a sign.  This would be a foreshadowing of when Christ came, and we who believe in Christ by faith, accept Him in our hearts as our Savior.  We are then “set apart” as His; “sons of God.”

It is the transformation of our hearts from being lord of our own lives to submitting our life to the Lord of lords that transpires, which is the process of “circumcision.”

When we accept Christ, we are then set apart as His, and with that covenant comes the inheritance of eternal life with Him and the identity as a “Son of God.”

While we remain on earth, the Lord brings us through a sanctification process that requires a heart examination, a “circumcision;” a cutting of the heart through His Word and His truth.  For those who are willing, we must allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the issues of our hearts so He can judge our motives, decisions, and intentions.  We must allow the Holy Spirit to be the “fruit inspector,” and follow His instruction as to what needs to be pruned or lacking nutrition for our heart to mimic His love and light.

This month of Tevet reminds us of how important it is to not bi-pass this process of resting in God’s presence so He can speak to our hearts.  Allow the Lord to judge your heart and all that your heart is set upon.  Give God permission to “cut” out those things that could inhibit your relationship with Him.  Give God the time to speak to your heart so He can direct your steps in the months ahead.

Below is a picture from the Firstfruits Calendar Journal depicting the month of Tevet, and the tribe of Dan, whose name means, “to judge.”  Christian did a great job capturing this month.  You can read more in the  “Firstfruits” book.