We are approaching our next Firstfruits on August 30th as we enter the 6th month of the Hebrew Covenant Calendar.

In the Old Testament, when Moses went back up the mountain to get the second set of Tablets of Covenant, he left on the first day of ELUL. While Moses was away for 40 days, the children of Israel humbled themselves and were hopeful God would give them a second chance.  Waiting in great anticipation for Moses to return, God used that time to allow the Israelites to gather together and examine their hearts so they were ready to honor God’s marriage proposal.

I asked a friend of mine, Tammy Carroll, to paint a picture of the month of Elul to put in the Firstfruits Calendar Journal.  Here is what she wrote:

“Sometimes we go through valleys in our lives that seem long and hard but when we listen and walk with God, we can experience His promises and responses to us! I actually dreamt about this place and knew I needed to paint it.  The 3 streaks signify the Trinity, the fullness of God’s presence. If you look at it carefully, you can see a figure of a bride entering the garden signifying the covenant He has with us as His beloved. Let His promises burst out for us!”

I love the fact that Tammy captured the essence of this month: God wants to respond to us intimately and make Himself known to us in the secret places of our heart, even when we have seemingly “screwed up.”  It is His desire to come and walk alongside of us, and make Himself known so we aware He’s with us.

Many times when I am reflecting about this month, I think of time when Jesus was walking with the two men on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection.  The two men were reasoning about all the things that had just happened when the women had arrived at the Jesus’ tomb and found it open, empty, and angels declaring He was alive.

Throughout their 7 mile journey, the men’s eyes were “restrained,” as to who Jesus was as they just thought they were talking to a stranger.  When they arrived at their destination, the men invited Jesus to stay with them, so Jesus changed His plans to continue on and stayed with them.

When they all three sat down at the table to eat, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave some to them.  Suddenly, their eyes were opened that Jesus was with them!

“Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed 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).

Why I like this scriptures depicting this month is because Jesus was with them throughout the 7 miles, but they didn’t even know it.  They were frustrated, sad, and doubting everything about their own future, let alone trying to understand the present day events while sharing with Jesus all that was in their hearts.  He was there all along, walking with them in the flesh, and they had no clue!

But then, Jesus sat down and had a meal with them.  The breaking of bread was the greatest witness of the SIGN they were told to remember of His greatest sacrificial love:  “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).  Sometimes, we just need an ELUL moment to remember that Christ has not forsaken us in our journey.

The Hebrew letters that make the word “Elul,” aleph, lamed, vav and lamed, are an acronym for the phrase “I am my beloved and my beloved is mine” which is from the Song of Songs.

It is the month of Elul that teaches us the necessity of being willing to turn around and be vulnerable to see God face to face.  Like a loving Father, He will never turned away from us. But sometimes we cannot see Him through the fiery trials we are going through.  When we sit and “eat” with Him, we literally turn ourselves toward Him.  And this month, God wants us to see Him right where we are at in our journey.

This month is tied to the tribe of Gad, who’s name means “troop.”  Gad reminds us of the importance of gathering together with those who God has chosen to use to sharpen our “swords” so we can gain intel, strategy, and support for the season ahead.  Who are you called to lock arms with?  Now is the time to unite so you are positioned with God’s people to conquer.

Adopting God’s ways inherently opens up the gates for His power and authority to be established in the earth. This seems so elementary in theory, and yet historically, man and “Church” have often not followed God’s ways.

I believe God wants us to start asking more questions as to WHY we believe certain teachings, or why we accept certain ways of organized “church.” Is what we believe consistent with the blueprint that is written in the Bible?  Let’s explore one just example.

Jesus tells us that His foundation begins with the apostles and prophets; Jesus Christ being the Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20).  If this is the blueprint, then the question one may ask about the Church is:  Why have “pastors” been leading the church?  Why are many apostles and prophets kicked out of the church because their anointing threatens the pastors?  Could this be one of the reasons we have a dysfunctional Church, because we have members in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, with the wrong titles?  It’s like asking a hand do the work of the foot, while the foot is doing the work of the head.  What?  Confusion!

Christian churches are typically led today by a “pastor,” a title that is recognized as the person in charge, overseeing their staff, and usually teaching behind the pulpit every Sunday.  But Jesus, who is our example, started building His Church serving 12 disciples, who were later charged to build the Kingdom of God.  They then became known as Apostles, not Pastors.

The Apostles of the New Testament were chosen to be the greatest servants to the body of Christ.  Are the Christian leaders in your life more more interested in elevating their platform than elevating others?  A good question to ask for sure.

The true blueprint of the Apostle is to actually decrease, while the others he or she serves increases (launches) into their gifting and calling.   Jesus set the example to follow:

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14,15).

God’s apostles are builders following the blueprint of Christ’s truth and His ways.  This building is a temple not made of hands, but each stone representing a person God saved by grace where His presence dwells.

In the process of serving, Christ the Apostle laid the groundwork for others to spring into their God given identity, purpose, contribution, and relationship with the Father so that ALL who chose to follow Him would be fitted together to display God’s glory on the earth.

“..in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 21,22).

Alongside the Apostles who are called to build, are the Prophets, who are chosen to see and speak God’s Word. Their main purpose is to confirm God’s heart, His truth His timing, His identity and purpose, and to encourage the Apostle who is building.

Alongside the Apostle and Prophet, there is the Pastor anointed to care for the needs of the people.  Pastors are appointed to “Tend My sheep” (John 21:16), encouraging and supporting the flock through their “sanctification process.” They are not necessarily teachers, although they naturally are given teaching moments as they mentor and support the “sheep” through life’s challenges and triumphs.

God also included in the foundation Teachers who are gifted to “Feed My Sheep” (John 21:17).  Teachers are NOT primarily called to be pastors who are off tending to the needs of the sheep.  Teachers spend a lot of time away and alone, digging for treasure through the scriptures. The nuggets they discover are found through great searching efforts that their gift can simplify when sharing to those who are hungry for the truth.

And lastly, the Evangelists are purposed to GO!  Evangelists have no problem being gone from home because their primary purpose is to connect with the those who need salvation; boldly sharing a message of hope and the good news of Christ to those in darkness.  They are the “outside” intel to the Apostles, prophets, teachers, and pastors, and are equipped for the adventure.

God tells us why we are all a part of the family, but each family member serves their own unique role:

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craziness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into His who is the head – Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes grown of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:11-16).

God also has an order He builds the blueprint:

“And God has appointed these in the church:  FIRST, apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, variety of tongues” (1 Cor. 12:28).

The building of the kingdom of God is not limited to a 5-fold “ministry.”  The scripture above establishes that.  However, the 5-fold ministry is the primary foundation.

Many people have made the error as well that the 5-fold ministry is just inside the four walls of the church.  But this primary foundation can be seen outside of the 4 walls of the church in any organization or body of people called together for a single purpose of heart.

Whether in or out of a church, the key to building something significant for the Kingdom of God is in the submission to the Chief Cornerstone, the Head of the Body, the King, the Anointed one that rules and reigns:

“having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ, Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20).

God makes it clear that in the New Testament, no man is chosen to sit in that HEAD seat, nor should any man put someone in that seat.  God designed His New Covenant so that the Holy Spirit would lead and guide and write God’s truth in our hearts and give us all the ability to follow His lead.  God will then use men and women gifted in the body of Christ to affirm His lead.

“And He is the HEAD of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have pre-eminance.  For it please the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.  And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col 1:8-10).

The Church over the past 2,000 years has mirrored a similar pattern the Israelites chose when they cried out for an earthly king, rejecting God as their king (leader) when they were living in His Promised land.  WHY?  Have they forgotten how sad God was when they rejected Him?

“Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Sam. 8:7).

God relented, and gave them King Saul.  Saul had flawed leadership that affected everyone, but the people still favored this over God’s rulership Himself because they wanted to be like the world.  But through Christ, God changed the mediator from a sinful leader to a sinless sacrifice so we can boldly enter His throne of grace and hear from heaven.  We now have access to God’s heart directly so we can follow His lead.  How amazing is that!

Unfortunately, as time has past since the disciples birthed the Church, the New Testament Church soon adopted a Saul mentality, leaning on a pastor to hear what God had to say.  More often than not, Christians even today will put their trust in their church leader over hearing God’s voice for themselves.  But the buck doesn’t stop there.  Church leaders over the ages have craved the power and control they create through their religious systems that elevate them “lording” over the flock.

This Saul mentality has not only bred an unhealthy codependent relationship between the church and their leaders, but also misplaces a believer’s identity with a denomination or man instead of in Christ alone.  God is waiting for us all to become dependent upon HIM FIRST, and see Him as our ruler with our identity as a son/daughter of God; not a Lutheran, Methodist, Assembly of God, etc, etc.

God has been training us to run Him and hear HIS VOICE FIRST!  Afterwards, we can trust and respect the gifting and calling in each of the saints who will encourage, confirm, support, connect, serve, and strengthen each other to build His kingdom here on the earth.  We have to see our Christian leaders functioning as just one part of the body, not as the Head.  We have to respect ALL for their part, not just the pastor of a church.

In this month of AV, we are reminded to listen to God’s voice, and to obey what He says.  In taking the time this month to do so, we will enter into the next Hebraic month ready with His instruction on how to unite and join for the work ahead, like a troop that has learned how to follow their Commander in Chief.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Lord’s simple point was this:

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

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

 “TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES………

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

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

On July 2nd, we will begin celebrating our next Firstfruits in the Hebrew covenant calendar known as Tammuz.  

The fourth month of the Hebrew calendar is associated with the tribe of Reuben whose name means to, “SEE, a son.”  Reuben was the firstborn of all the tribes of Israel, and the meaning of his name is a foreshadowing of God’s only begotten Son, in whom we “SEE, His Son” sent to save us from sin.

God uses the tribes of Israel as a foundational pattern reflecting a part of our identity, heritage, and inheritance that we are born into as “sons of God.” Reuben reminds us to fix our EYES on Christ, our redeemer, and the one who is Lord over all.

When we face life challenges, our faith is tested to SEE God’s truth over what we actually see that is before us.  Regardless of how long you have been a Christian, this test never goes away.

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8).

Below is a picture that was drawn by Reese Mueller, depicting the focus of this month: what we SEE can shape our destiny.

“The lamp of the body is the EYE. If therefore your EYE is good, your whole body will be full of light” (Matt. 6:22).

I love how Reese captured in the eyes of this picture this truth:  what we focus on can change our whole countenance.

This month God reminds us how important our EYESIGHT is to our spiritual and natural health:  

“Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see'” (Luke 10:23).

When our spiritual eyes are in the drivers seat over our natural eyesight, our minds are thinking like Christ:

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”(Phil 2:5).

Paul prayed like this:

“May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may He give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, that the EYES of your understanding would be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of glory of His inheritance of the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (Eph. 1:17-19).

Our hearts change by the things we think and SEE:

“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10).

Like a domino affect, what we say is the evidence of the health of our heart which is being fed with God’s thoughts and promises SEEN by faith.

“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).

When our hearts and minds are fixed on Christ, we experience His peace and our words will be full of life and love.  Listening to what people speak gives us a great indicator on what they think and SEE:

“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34).

So the challenge this month is:  What are you talking about?  It will give you a great indication of what you have put your SIGHT on.

It was during the month of Tammuz that the twelve leaders of the tribes of Israel were sent out by Joshua to spy out the Promised Land (Numbers 11).   Only two spies came back with a report that lined up with God’s promises.  The other 10 had put their focus (EYES) on the obstacles in their path that appeared to be too difficult to overcome, filling their hearts with fear, and reporting their fears to the community awaiting their return.

This negative report created a chain reaction that infected ALL the Israelites to fear and retreat from the plan of God to “enter in” and to take hold of the land God had promised to prosper them.

Unfortunately, God’s judgment came as a result.  Instead of entering into the Promised land, 40 years were given to them to live in the wilderness to learn from their mistake to get their eyes adjusted.

God will use opportunities, when facing our enemy, to see where our allegiance is:  FEAR OR FAITH!

“The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His EYES behold, His EYELIDS test the sons of men” (Psalm 11:4).

When we SEE with God’s understanding, no matter what is presented before us, we can respond victoriously.  David was a great example of this even in his youth.  When all the men of Israel saw the champion Philistine, Goliah, they ran in fear.

“And all the men of Israel, when they SAW the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid” (1 Sam 17:24).

David didn’t focus on Goliath’s champion battle record, his reputation, his size, or his strength.  David didn’t even take a moment to look at his own size and strength.  David kept his focus on how big GOD was.

“Then David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail because of him (Goliath); your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Sam. 17: 32).

We all know the rest of the story:  David’s brother’s mocked David for even being there at the battlefield; King Saul told David he wasn’t fit for the job; and the enemy Goliath despised and cursed David for thinking he could even stand up against him.

YET, David never lost his focus on trusting the Lord.    

This month, we enter into a summer season that is challenging us to see and hear what God is saying.  We must WAR with God’s word so our SIGHT lines up with His promise.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God” (Matt.5:8).

I am confident that everyone reading this had some sort of provision that God released these past three months since the Hebrew Covenant Calendar started.  And most of you sowed a seed of something God told you to go and do, say, or pray about. Most likely, it produced excitement, hope, and joy.  Now as we continue to head on into the summer, many of you may be wondering why things have seemingly halted, are difficult, and wondering if God is really going to come through.

I want to encourage you that as much as we want to skip this time, God won’t.  We must go through the season of tending to the seed, which ultimately determines whether what was started with the Lord will produce a harvest.  It is the testing time of your testimony.

God said, “Seed, TIME, and harvest” (Gen. 8:22).  Time has to go by to tend to the seed with your faith, so watch your sight, guard your heart, and speak life over your seed.   Your initial seed was merely a deposit of greater things to come.  SEE that truth.  Let go of your expectations, and trust God with the seed given to you. Water it with your faith, believing in His promise, no matter what you see today.

For those of you who are following the Hebrew Covenant Calendar, the next “divine appointment” is Sunday, June 9th, which is the Feast of Pentecost.

If you would like to read what I have written about this Feast, search this blog, “Remembering the Feast of Pentecost – Part 1 and 2, which I posted on May 19th and 20th, 2018.

The Feast of Pentecost falls in the 3rd month of the Hebrew calendar known as Sivan, which is translated to mean, “glorious.”  As believers in Christ, we come into a corporate, unified heart, to thank God for the Holy Spirit given to us to empower us with His power and truth.

Jesus promised this gift when He spoke to the disciples:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

The Holy Spirit is also a reminder of the guarantee of greater glory to come:

“For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee” (2 Cor. 5:4,5).

For this reason, ALL believers have His word written on their hearts, and can be led to do the work of the Lord here on the earth through this wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit.  No longer do we need a mediator to know the heart of God.  We can now come boldly to the throne and hear from the Lord:

“When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He ^[c]will take of Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-15).

I am looking forward to embracing God’s presence through this divine appointment God established in His blueprint to honor His love for us, and embrace this part of His redemption plan that included the GIFT of His glory dwelling in each believer:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:15-18).

WHOOHOO!  Let’s all position our hearts to embrace the gift of the Holy Spirit and to honor Him, for God is looking for us all to come in unity of heart and allow His Spirit to work through all of us so we can be a SIGN to the world that He is GOD:

“God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will” (Heb. 2:4).

On a side note, but not really, as it is relevant to what God is doing NOW, and I believe will help stir up our faith to trust in God’s provision, God keeps reminding me this past week of the story of Elijah.

Back in the days of Elijah, there had been a draught in the land for three years. Toward the end of those three years, Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal with a challenge to prove who really knew the true God.

After the prophets of Baal failed in their attempt to prove that their gods were powerful and true, it was Elijah’s turn to show off to all the unbelievers who was the “living” God.  This is when the FIRE of God fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and many of the people fell on their knees and were in awe:

“Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. ³⁹ Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God” (1 Kings 18:38.39).

The opportunity to choose “whose opinion you are going to believe” had been given prior to this moment:

“So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. ²¹ And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:20-22).

But when the SIGN came, the proof was in.  And ALL the people were in awe: 

“Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God” (1 Kings 18:39)!

After seizing all the prophets of Baal and executing them, you would think that Elijah would be kicking back and celebrating the victory.  NO!  Elijah understood this defeat was for something far greater.  It was to be a SIGN for the NATIONS (both evil and good) that the God of Israel was indeed the true and powerful God.

Elijah believed in God, stood in His truth, and watched God bring the power and fire.  His next action was KEY.  He went to the top of the mountain, bowed down and humbled Himself before the Lord, waiting for His direction and lead.

God shared with Elijah that He was about to pour out His goodness and provision.  So by FAITH, Elijah HEARD what God said, and began declaring it so:

“Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” ⁴² So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, ⁴³ and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”

So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”

⁴⁴ Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ^[j]‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

⁴⁵ Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. ⁴⁶ Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel” ( 1 Kings 18:41-46).

This story of Elijah is to encourage us all today that there is a SOUND of the abundance of provision that follows the fire of God.

Today, the HOLY SPIRIT, is a SIGN to the world that He is the one true God.  There has been a TIME (the Church Age) that has transpired for ALL to choose “whose opinion are you going to believe?”

There has also been a demonstration of God’s SIGNS and wonders through the power of the Holy Spirit through believers who have gone out into the world and stood on His word as Elijah did (Mark 16:14-18).

Many believers have gone through God’s sanctification process, the “fiery trials,” that God authorized to test them as to “whose opinion are you going to believe?”

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6).

And NOW, God is asking us all to come up to the top of the mountain, humble our hearts once again on His divine appointed time of the Feast of Pentecost, and to keep our EARS open to the sound of the RAIN that is coming.

“Ask the Lord for rain In the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone” (Zechariah 10:1).

It is coming!  The outpouring of provision is coming!

“Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth” (Hosea 6:3).

You may have to go and look a few times by faith, as Elijah’s servant was told to do, but after seven times, even the servant finally saw the cloud.

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain” (James 5:7).

The LATTER RAIN is coming!  And God is about to pour out His provision for you as well so you can be HIS SIGN!

“Then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil (Deut. 11:14).

I pray you enter into the Feast of Pentecost with a heart of humility as well as expectancy that God’s provision will be released over you, and as we all seek God’s face in this nation, God’s mercy will cover us and bring us the provision to see even America fulfill her destiny as well.

“He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men” (Rev. 13:13).

This Monday, June 3rd, will begin the third month of the Hebrew Covenant Calendar, known as the month of Sivan.  Sivan means “glorious!”

It was during the month of Sivan in the Old Testament that God revealed His glory (fire) at Mt. Sinai, giving us the Tablets of Covenant (Ex19).  It is during this same month in the New Testament that the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the upper room as they spoke with “tongues of fire” as God wrote the Tablets of Covenant on their hearts and minds (Acts 2).

I asked Reese Mueller, who drew this picture representing this month in our Hebrew Covenant Calendar 2019, to share his inspiration.  This is what he said:

“I had just started doing art at the time of drawing this, so I didn’t really know what to draw.  But I got inspired thinking about Moses going up Mt. Sinai and remembering the fire.  Then I remembered the pillar of fire that protected the children of Israel from the Egyptians.  So I wanted to draw the “fire of God” as looking powerful and as our protector.”

I like how Reese captured the fire in the form of a “person,” known as the Holy Spirit of God, who dwells within each believer to comfort them and fill them with His glory.

Sivan is the month associated with the tribe of Zebulun, known for their wisdom in business.  Zebulun quite often was able to supply provision for all the tribes, and because of their location in Promised land, became a gateway for God’s people to prosper in trading.

This month is a time to reflect and be thankful for God’s provision of His Word written on our hearts, as well as the Holy Spirit of fire that empowers us to prosper and overcome as “sons and daughters” of God.

God promises us provision in many ways, and shows us in His Word how He always comes through.  Let’s take a look at a few examples.

God’s provision came supernaturally for the children of Israel in the desert, through manna and quail, and water springing out of a rock (Ex. 14-17) to help them journey through the wilderness.

“Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” (Ex. 17:6). 

Provision came supernaturally through Jesus as He laid hands of the sick, caused nets to be filled with fish, tax money to be found in the mouth of a fish, and fed the 5,000 with fish and loaves.

“Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first.  And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you” (Matt. 17:27).

In Acts 2, we read how the disciples and met in the upper room in one accord, and suddenly God filled them with His provision of power and truth that caused 5,000 witnesses to give their life to Jesus.

“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 of them” (Acts 2:3).

We then go on to read how all these followers of Christ came together again in one accord, surrendering all of their belongings for the greater goodness of the needs of the people. In return, God overwhelmed them with His supply to go and become His witnesses to His truth and glory.

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and good, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:43-47).

Today, we have access to not only that great supply of provision, but even greater!  As more Christians have multiplied in the earth, we have more believers to come in one accord to influence the nations!  We are also living in the times that are forming a corporate (national) movement of God’s provision of glory filling the earth.

We are also awaiting the FULLNESS of God’s provision when we receive glorified bodies and can then go from heaven to earth as Jesus did after His resurrection.

“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:54).

It will be a glorious day, and one in which we can take time this month to thank God for that provision to come.

“For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious” (2 For. 3:11).

There is a time when provision meets us at the turning point in our destiny to move us forward.  Let’s set our hearts to enter into the gateway of His provision to do the work He has called each of us to do.  Whether it is in business or ministry, or even personal, let’s stir our faith up this month that God has and will supply ALL of our needs, according to His riches and glory.

As you sow into the needs of others, expect the gateways of God’s goodness to pour back to you in fullness of measure.  This month, we are reminded that this is HIS promise.  I believe this year specifically, business opportunities that will influence the community they are in will enter into great provision.  There is also an anointing to step into seats of government so that His provision is used for good and not evil, to govern with righteousness and truth and not against God’s ways.

Dwell in His presence and receive His provision!

Franklin Graham has reached out to the Christian community to pray for President Trump on JUNE 2nd.  The following is from his facebook page:

FROM FRANKLIN GRAHAM:

“Along with 250+ Christian leaders, I am asking followers of Christ across our nation to set aside next Sunday, June 2, as a special day of prayer for the President, Donald J. Trump.

President Trump’s enemies continue to try everything to destroy him, his family, and the presidency. In the history of our country, no president has been attacked as he has. I believe the only hope for him, and this nation, is God.

This is a critical time for America. We’re on the edge of a precipice. Time is short. We need to pray for God to intervene. We need to ask God to protect, strengthen, encourage, and guide the President.

We know that God hears and answers prayer. He can soften hearts and change minds. He is all-powerful, and He rules over the affairs of nations. The Bible instructs us to pray for those in authority, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:2–3).

On June 2, we ask that pastors would lead their congregations in praying for the President, that Sunday schools and other groups would join together and pray, and that individuals and families across the country would have a special focus on praying for the President that day.

Would you let me know in the comments below if you commit to pray with us? And will you share this on your social media platforms so that we can have as many people as possible praying?

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Let’s all join in and unite in prayer this June 2nd!

The National Day of Prayer has been around since 1952, setting aside the first Thursday of May to call out to God on behalf of our nation.  Today many have gathered at the flagpoles in our towns and bring God our concerns and to hear our pleas. But what is God saying?

For many years, I have set aside this day to go to city hall or another governmental landmark and prayed for our nation.  This year my heart was led to join a friend of mine over the phone to pray so that we had the freedom to pray as the Lord leads.  So what did God lead us to pray?

For us, the burden to pray for all the babies who were never given the chance to have a voice to choose life was at the center of God’s heart.  We wept for these babies whom God formed in the womb, but never experienced life outside of the womb.  We cried for the unarmed, unnamed, and unnoticed babies who aren’t with us today.

Someone sent me this article from life news today:

“A shocking 19 states do not require any protection for babies born alive after botched abortions, a new report by Americans United for Life revealed this week.”

I am sure you are as surprised as I to see this list bigger than just New York, which is the only state that is in the news right now.  Below is the link to this article:

19 States Allow Infanticide, Let Abortionists Leave Babies to Die Who Survive an Abortion

After the tears, repentance, and intercession for God to reveal truth to those who are blinded, we got an amazing vision from God that gave me chills: 

I saw Jesus, our Commander in Chief, returning with His army to reign in the Millennium.  As I looked behind Him to see who was with Him, I saw every baby who never had a voice, and who didn’t get the chance to live, coming with Him by His side. They were all singing and chosen by God to speak His truth to the nations.  Ahh, it was so powerful.

The authority they had to speak was like thunder and lightning.  These babies will be seen and heard someday.  Rest assured, all who have joined in the abortion slaughter will be caught up in God’s mercy and love He had for these little ones, and they too will mourn.  It was truly a vision of the scripture of how God turns all things around for His good.  Amazing!

I find it interesting that on this same day is National Holocaust Remembrance Day.  Nothing new under the sun:  the same spirit back then was killing the innocent as the Jews had no voice either of their rights to live.  We are being awakened to the murderous spirit that is staining our nation’s land.

If you haven’t had a chance to see the movie “Unplanned,” in the theaters, please go.  Supporting this documentary that exposes what has been happening at Planned Parenthood will help truth multiply in the land.

Of course we also prayed for Trump, his protection, and submitted each governor to the Lord as well. But after feeling the burden of our nation’s choices over the years, my heart went out for God’s remnant to arise and shine so they can step into positions of authority.

The Lord is saying it’s TIME to awaken to His truth, and act on its behalf.

The next Firstfruits in the Hebrew Covenant Calendar begins this Saturday evening, May 4th, 2019.

For those of you who have a Firstfruits Covenant Calendar, the picture drawn for this month was by a young girl named Isabella DiToro.  I asked her to share her inspiration::

Passover and Good Friday are both on the same day this year.  This is the second year in a row that has happened, and it is no coincidence.  This Passover is significant, and I believe that the time period between Passover and Tabernacles will one we will look back on and all see how significant it was.

I have written about Passover last year.  So if you are interested in refreshing yourself on the significance of Passover and the rest of the Spring Feasts, go to the blog post “Passover 2018.”