On June 6th, the third Hebrew month kicks off known as “Sivan.” Sivan is linked to covenant, giving, mercy and alignment. This month is a month inherent “to do business with God” for His kingdom cause as we sync with His purpose.

Zebulun is the tribe associated with this month of Sivan, who was positioned on the east side of the tabernacle with the tribe of Judah and Issachar.  Judah brought to the trio the apostolic sound of praise, awakening, and an alarm to move out or go to battle. Issachar received the revelation and timing needed to navigate with wisdom and understanding. And Zebulun brought forth the supply and the place to rest and store the abundance of blessings. Jacob prophesied over Zebulun:

“Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea;
He shall become a haven for ships,
And his border shall adjoin Sidon.” (Gen. 49:13)

Moses also prophesied concerning the latter days that Zebulun and Issachar would work side by side together:  Zebulun was said to rejoice in going out, while Issachar would stay in his tents:  

“They shall call the peoples to the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; for they shall partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand.” (Deut. 33:18).  

Issachar’s portion was to “intercede and pray” and “gather the hidden treasures of intel.” Zebulun found joy in taking the revelation and facilitating the resources to enact on the intel. 

Zebulun was also known to profit through maritime trade.  One of their key roles was to bring forth the increase of their labor, so God blessed this tribe to fill “the storehouses.” This month is associated with both spiritual and natural provision to step into God’s kingdom cause.

When Jesus began His ministry, He went to the region of Zebulun fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 9, which said that the people who had been in darkness would see a great light.  HE was PROVISION!

Zebulun was a blessed and loyal tribe to the LORD, and one who gave the gift of sacrifice.  This month is linked with GIVING; giving sacrifice, gifts, and time to the LORD.

The month of Sivan coincides with the timing of the children of Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai. Later, God asked Moses to be His spokesman to propose to the Israelites:

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 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. 19:4-6).

The Israelites accepted the invitation, and God revealed Himself through thunder, lightning, His voice heard amidst the glory, sealing the marriage certificate with the “tablets of the testimony” (Ex. 19).  The anniversary date of this proposal would be embedded in the Law of the Feasts of the Lord known as the Feast of Pentecost, which is why covenant is key this season.

In the New Testament, the pattern is replicated through another invitation and outpouring. After His death at Passover, followed by His resurrection, Jesus returned to visit the disciples for 40 days.  The Lord gave His disciples a personal invitation to become His apostles, and to wait in the Upper Room for the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).  On the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came suddenly with an outpouring of glory, and they began speaking in tongues of fire.  

Even as God came down as fire upon Mt. Sinai, the Holy Spirit came as a fire upon the disciples on the exact same day in His Hebrew Covenant Calendar: 50 days after Passover. The difference was that the fire was no longer external as in the days of Moses, but internal! This shows a difference now concerning the new “temple” that God would inhabit. 

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwell in you” (1 Cor. 3:16)? 

It is no coincidence that Zebulun means “habitation or dwelling.”  The indwelling of His presence now through the gift of the Holy Spirit is the hope (down payment) when our own earthen vessels are first consumed with His fire and we receive our incorruptible bodies, and then the earth is filled with His glory in the Age of Tabernacles (1 Cor. 15:53-55).

God’s timing is always perfect, witnessing the Old Covenant blueprint as a shadow and type of the perfection of His covenant promise for us who are living in the days of the New Covenant. The month of Sivan continues to flow with the blueprint of an outpouring of God’s “kingdom business” with a people who say yes to His invitation.

Because of this amazing national covenant with God that has been witnessed both in the Old and New Testament during Sivan, it serves as a template for us to dive deep and into an alignment with those God has put His invitation on our hearts to come into a “covenant” relationship with for the King. Having ONE heart to serve Him and each other, sowing into these relationships will prove to bring a great harvest of blessings.

Sivan is the third month which is the number associated with completeness, and a oneness with ALEPH, our Father.  Jesus took three disciples with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed three times. During this time of great distress, He cried out to the Father, “Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will but what You will” (Mark 14:36).   After the third time praying and surrendering all, Jesus was ready to die for our sins and trust the Father to use Him to create a way to redeem mankind. Jesus was placed on the cross on the third hour (9a.m.).  At 3p.m., He died.  There was three hours of darkness while He was suffering on the cross.

Three is a number closely associated with resurrection life as we know that it took three days and three nights before Jesus rose from the dead.  It was after His resurrection that the disciples were given the resources and ability to go “build His Stone Kingdom not made of hands” (Dan. 2:45). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit also gave the disciples comfort that the LORD was with them intimately, and opened up His storehouses of His powerful signs and wonders as they went forth.

God’s business is always centered on honoring His Covenant for a people He has chosen. His mercy covers our mistakes, and His grace is sufficient for our weaknesses. Pentecost is a time of receiving His outpouring of grace, mercy, and power so we can align with heaven and go do “business” for the Lord in establishing His Kingdom here on earth.  We cannot even comprehend the great outpouring that is directly ahead of us….IT WILL BE MAGNIFICENT!

This Wednesday evening, May 8th, we begin the second month of the Hebrew covenant calendar known as IYAR, which is translated “reflected light.” 

Cyclically, Iyar reveals a pattern of how God gave increase of His timing and strategy to align with His purpose.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Iyar was in the midst of the 50-day period of transition when the children of Israel left Egypt and began journeying to Mount Sinai.  Through their wilderness travels, God alone became their resource for healing, provision, and deliverance.  

In Exodus 15, God made Himself known as “Jehovah Rapha” the God who heals.  When the children of Israel lacked water, God cleansed the waters at Mara and made the bitter waters pure for drinking.  

Next, God came to them as “Jehovah Jireh,” the Lord who provides.  Crying out in hunger, God released “manna” or “bread from heaven” supernaturally which the Israelites found in the morning dew.   

And finally, unable to defend themselves against their attacker, God revealed Himself as “Jehovah Nissi,” their victorious defender who covers their back with His righteous hand (Ex. 15-17).

The exodus from Egypt was a significant transition in departing from the oppression of a “worldly system.” Pharaoh’s government had brainwashed the Hebrews into accepting systems of enslavement that became normal and “comfortable.” This is evident through the complaining and grumbling of the children of Israel after their deliverance. Nevertheless, God “shows up” during this transition and makes Himself known to prepare them for His glory.

Similarly, during the same 50-day calendar time period in the New Testament, Jesus “shows up” after He rose from the dead to help the disciples through their transition.  Throughout the month of Iyar, Jesus manifested Himself alive as their Healer, the “Bread of Life,” and Deliverer. Thomas the doubter and Simon Peter both experienced healing of their faith and a renewal of purpose ahead. The LORD nurtured those who would be chosen to birth the “Church Age” and gave them direction to wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). 

Two thousand years later, we can expect a similar pattern once again as Jesus “reintroduces“ Himself during the shakings of heaven and earth. Pray for His miraculous healing, provision, and deliverance and instruction through the uncertainty.

The similarity between the children of Israel, the disciples waiting in the Upper Room, and the Overcomers of today waiting for the Millennium reign is that all experienced a revolution of transition, bringing forth a greater encounter of God’s glory.  At Mt. Sinai, the glory rested upon them  (Ex. 19:18;24:16-18). At Pentecost, a portion of the glory dwelt within the disciples through the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). During the Millennium, believers will receive greater glory. (Rev.21:3).

The tribe of Issachar is associated with the month of Iyar. This tribe was gifted to know the timings of the Lord for the nation.  As one of the tribes who came alongside David when he was anointed as King, the Bible says in 1 Chron. 12:22-32 of Issachar, “and the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times to know what Israel must do.”  I believe there is an anointing this month to go deeper in our understanding of the times we are in and our faith in a Covenant Keeping God so we can go out into the world with greater authority and power.  

The Hebrew meaning of Issachar is “bringing reward.”  It comes from the root word “nasa” and means “to lift, to advance, arise, bring forth exalt or raise up.”  What better reward can we get than to humble ourselves and seek the Lord and get the treasures of seeing and experiencing the God of Covenant!

Issachar was the tribe nestled in between Judah and Zebulun on the east side of the Tabernacle.  These three tribes formed a branch to march out first when God instructed the tribes to move. Judah would be given the charge to praise and worship, but Issachar understood the timing with which they were to depart and go.  Zebulun then came alongside the two and had the ability to provide the supply or “business” of what needed to be done.

Issachar’s symbol was a humble donkey.  He gets this symbol through Jacob prophesying over his tribe:  “Issachar is a strong ass couching between two burdens.” (Gen. 49:14). A donkey carries the burden of a load from one place to another.  Issachar represents a strong but humble servant of God who fulfills the law of Christ spoken of in Gal. 6:2, “Bear each other’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  

Issachar is rewarded from the Lord for serving His people, standing in the gap and carrying their burden whether it be through prayer or practical application.  Issachar is spoken of as carrying two burdens:  one for himself and one for a “brother in need.”  Rewards for intercession as well as carrying other’s burdens that the Holy Spirit is leading us to do is priceless and brings much joy.

God’s desire is to reveal His “mysteries” so that we are armed with His story, stand as His witness, share His truth, and obey His voice. The remnant is coming into their finest hour. The Issachar intel received this month will help bridge the gap between what God’s purpose is this year, and how to accomplish His goal.

Beginning with the Feast of Firstfruits, which is always on the first day of the week following Passover (which is what we know as Sunday), God instructed the children of Israel to count 50 days (or 7 Sabbaths) to the time they were to celebrate the fourth Feast called the “Feast of Weeks;” or most commonly known as Pentecost.

“And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that your brought sheaf of the wave offering, seven Sabbaths shall be completed.   Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord” (Lev. 23:15,16).

These 50 days were a significant reminder of the timespan between leaving Egypt and coming to the base of Mt. Sinai (Ex. 15-19).  

“In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai”(Ex. 19:1).

Years later in the New Testament, this same 50 day Feast blueprint corresponded to the time frame when Jesus visited His disciples after He was raised from the dead:  

“Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight’ (Luke 24:30,31).

On the 50th day in the Old Testament, God revealed Himself by fire after speaking to the people His proposal of marriage to the Israelites:

“And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God and they stood at the foot of the mountain.  Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire. It’s smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly”(Ex. 19:17,18).

On the 50th day in the New Testament, the disciples were gathered together in the “upper room” when the Holy Spirit came upon them like fire:

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each other them” (Acts 2:2-4).

Within the 50 day blueprint, God chose to “court” the Hebrews in the Wilderness by revealing His love through His provision and protection, meeting their needs and kindling their faith in Him, even while they were complaining.

In the New Testament, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples intimately after His resurrection, showing them His hands and feet; eating, sharing, and encouraging the disciples He loved.  

So how did God reveal Himself to the Hebrews in the 50-day wilderness journey to Mount Sinai that was reflective of Christ Himself, coming in the flesh to restore that bond of love?  

One of the first ways God revealed Himself is when He performed a miracle by turning bitter waters sweet:

“So Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree.  When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet” (Ex. 15:25).

In addition, God released water in the desert:

“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees, so they camped there by the waters” (Ex. 15:27).

Jesus would later reveal Himself in this pattern through the New Covenant.  Those who were thirsty for truth and believed in Him would receive His living water. Christians would then have the ability to use that life flow to reach out to others with God’s love.

“And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely”(Rev. 22:17).

After God provided water in the Wilderness, the Israelites soon complained about being hungry. God revealed Himself again through the supernatural unleavened manna:

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.  And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in MY law or not.”

This bread that fell from the sky, known as “manna,” would be the tool God would use to introduce the Sabbath rest, prophesying of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, whom by His sacrifice, would provide rest for all creation in heaven and earth through reconciliation with the Father.

“Then Moses said, ‘Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field.  Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none” (Ex. 16:25,26).

Jesus would later declare that He was the Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5), and that He was our provision, telling us He was the “bread of life” for those who believed in Him:

“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).

The third time God revealed Himself intimately in the midst of the 50-day wilderness journey was when He provided protection and strength when the Amalekites were attacking the Israelites.

“Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.  And Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek.  Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand…….So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Ex. 17:8,9,13).

Jesus would conquer Satan through His death and resurrection, taking dominion over the enemy permanently, and giving us the ability to have dominion over the enemy as well:

“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His might power, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion” (Eph. 1:19-21).

Jesus perfected the pattern “…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Col 2:17).

As we can see through the whole wilderness experience and the New Testament disciples, the people God chose lost heart and complained, even after experiencing God’s miracles.  And yet, God continued to choose them.   If we know Christ, He chose us as well, not because of our faithfulness, but because He loves us, flaws and all.  As we begin to recognize how Christ IS the substance of these Feast blueprints, our hearts are moved to set aside time to give thanks and to honor our Savior.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruits, and that your fruit” (John 15:16).

Join us as we share the “screenplay” of the Spring Feasts that is established in the Old Testament and fulfilled through Christ’s obedience as our “Sacrificial Passover Lamb.”

The Feasts of the LORD are an essential testimony of our Hebrew heritage that begins in Exodus 12 before the death plague came into Egypt. In order for death to “pass-over” the killing of the firstborn, God instructed the children of Israel to put the blood of a lamb over the door posts of their dwelling.  As they were obedient to do so, the Israelites were set free from the enslavement under Pharaoh’s leadership.

Moses then led the children of Israel out, through the parting of the Red Sea, to Mt. Sinai 50 days later. God then used Moses to ask the “Israelites” to marry Him so that they would become His “special treasure.”

“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, known as the  “Tablets of Testimony.”   Signed by the finger of God Himself, these tablets were given to 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 “marriage  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 with proximity to His presence, but later in time, would serve as the sign and witness of Jesus, the restorer of this “marriage covenant.”

When Christians honor the Feasts today, we honor the Father who sacrificed His Son for us, and we step into our covenant heritage. The Spring Feasts provide the blueprint (screenplay) on how Jesus came to be our Savior and serve as our High Priest. Therefore, when we celebrate the Feasts, WE REMEMBER. The Fall Feasts reveal the blueprint (screenplay) when Jesus returns as a King to judge the nations, along with a wedding celebration for those who have said YES to Him.  Therefore, when we celebrate the Feasts, WE PREPARE FOR HIS ARRIVAL!

“…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood..”(Rev. 1:5)

Let’s review the Spring Feasts screenplay and how it became a “live performance” through the purpose of Jesus’s first coming.  In Ex. 12:2, God declared His Hebrew Covenant Calendar to start on the 1^st of Nisan when He spoke: “This month (Nisan) shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.”

Then the LORD instructed Moses to tell the children of Israel to select an unblemished male lamb on Nisan 10.  In the New Testament, we read how God selected Jesus to be His unblemished male lamb when John the Baptist prophesied as Jesus approached: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).  Three and a half years later, on Nisan 10,  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).

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) so they had a blueprint of REMEMBRANCE of what He would suffer, yet become afterwards, as the unblemished Lamb who 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 unblemished sacrificial lamb was bound according to the law (Mark 15:25).

At noon, three hours of darkness fell on the land (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.”  After the light returned, the Passover lambs were then slain.

Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus down and placed him in a tomb nearby before sundown. 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 typically represents “sin” in the Bible, it foreshadowed how Jesus wiped out the penalty of “sin” through His sacrifice. He Himself had no leaven(sin) in Him because He was faithful to the Father, even while man rejected and killed Him, makes Him the most amazing Savior of the world.

The following day, the soldiers were ordered to camp out at the tomb to make sure no one stole Jesus’ body after they reported to Pontius Pilate:  

“Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise. Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.”  So the last deception will be worse than the first (Matt. 27:63,64).'”

Jesus rose before daybreak on Sunday morning.  When Mary arrived at the tomb, she found it open and empty, and the Roman Soldiers were also missing as they had already left to tell Pilate.  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 the event that happened 40 days later when he was seen ascending at the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:3-9). We know this because Jesus allowed the disciples to touch Him later on that evening and he was seen by many for 40 days (John 20:19,20). So Jesus must have ascended to the Father sometime AFTER He talked to Mary and then come back to be seen.  Why is this detail 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 15:20, 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 Feast of Firstfruits, Jesus 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 “legally” alive in heaven until the third hour (9AM) when the firstfruits offering was presented.  It was then Jesus also presented Himself as the “Firstfruits” offering before the Father on His throne!

Between The Feast of Firstfruits (Resurrection Day as the Church at large knows it) 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.

The Feast of Pentecost would be patterned in the same time frame as the 50 days it took for the children of Israel to “PASSOVER” from the death plague, leave Egypt, and brought to the base of Mt. Sinai.  Recall that is when then God revealed Himself by thunder, lightning, the cloud of His presence and the sound of His voice heard by all after the acceptance of His proposal (Ex. 19).

In the New Testament, 50 days after Jesus was the Passover sacrifice, his disciples would hear 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 empowered with His truth and to hear His voice and to go forth and share the good news.

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.”  Christians today generally don’t celebrate these Feasts of the LORD 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.

Join us as we share the blueprint of what to do on April 8th, in the midst of all the signs that are taking place, that follows the footsteps of one of God’s righteous kings in the Old Testament.

Get ready to celebrate the HEBREW NEW YEAR at sundown on April 8th, following the event all are talking about: The Northern American Eclipse!

God proclaimed to Moses in Ex. 12:2 that His Hebrew covenant calendar year was to begin with the month of Nisan:

“This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.”

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.

Nisan is associated with the tribe of Judah, whose name means “praise.” God called for “PRAISE” to go first into their “flight” from Mt. Sinai to the Promised Land (Num. 10). When the trumpet was blown twice, this signified it was time for all the tribes to journey on, with the tribe of Judah chosen to lead out first.  Judah was also the first tribe to cross the Jordan, and the first to be allotted land in the Promised Land (Num. 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 ruler ship (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 sacrificial Lamb first, returning as the King of Kings. This month reminds us to start our day with a sacrifice of praise, and then step out in His authority as He leads.

The tribe of 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.

As the head of the tribe of Judah, Jesus was then responsible for multiplying God’s law. After His death and resurrection, He continued on with that responsibility by sending the gift of the Holy Spirit to inscribe God’s law on the tablets of the hearts of believers. This gift has been tutoring Christians in this Church Age to walk in faith and obedience to a Coming King of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

Jacob’s son 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 Jacob’s sons who became jealous of their brother Joseph because of their father’s love and favoritism toward him.  After conferring, the brothers decided to throw Joseph in a pit to die.  But Judah assessed the situation and said, “What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?” (Gen. 37:26).

Judah was wired to make a profit. He suggested to sell Joseph, and made a bargain with the Midianite traders who agreed to purchase him for twenty silver coins. The brothers agreed, and Joseph was sold as a slave. As time went by, Judah became remorseful in profiting for selfish gain. Judah’s shame led him away from his family and down a path of bad choices and personal loss.

After a season of heartache, Judah came back to his family with a repentant heart. Not long afterwards, the famine hit in the land, and Judah became instrumental in negotiating a deal to save his family. This deal was made at the expense of sacrificing his own life. Judah’s gift had gone through the “refiners fire,” and God used it to profit the whole family (Gen. 44:14-34).

Judas (Greek for Judah) Ischariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, also had this same weakness in his character.  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). The stronghold of the need for wealth was more powerful than family ties or intimate relationships once again. 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:

“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. Left to selfish gain like Judas, they have been used to set up a world money system that is corrupt and never satisfied.  This system is about to experience Gods judgment, and perhaps even this year. But like Judah, if they repent and submit to the Lord’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 under God’s direction. 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.  Expect new doors to open up.

This month also honors God’s redemption plan found in Christ and prophesied through the Feasts of the LORD as we celebrate and remember Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits (Lev.23).  

When Jesus rose from the dead, He presented Himself as the “FIRSTFRUITS” offering unto the Father in heaven.  Through Jesus, we see the pattern repeat once again where “Judah” goes FIRST. In doing so, Jesus made a way for heaven and earth to reconcile, and for a people (harvest) to be presented to the Father after He returns. 

“But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him” (1 Cor. 15:23).

King Jehoshaphat was one king in the Old Testament whose story captures the heart of this first month. In 2 Chronicles 20, we read about Jehoshaphat’s humility as he seeks the Lord when his army was ridiculously outnumbered and overpowered. “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 stepped out in obedience and asked the worshippers to go before His army as God instructed. This opened heaven to help him overcome in time 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 FIRST. This month, above all else, God wants us to praise Him.  PRAISE HIM in the midst of the chaos! 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 New Year!

Join us as we highlight 3 signs in the sky in addition to the 7-year American Eclipse Sign that confirms God’s message over America.