Time~n~Destiny

Celebrating Firstfruits, or any of God’s Holidays, is not about trying to be Jewish.  The call to celebrate God’s Holidays is a call to know God more intimately.  When Father God established His Feasts in the Old Testament, He was not establishing ritual.  He was ordaining a time of blessing that was organic.  In other words, each time we gather to celebrate with Him, He brings something fresh, something new and living, with which to bless us.  If we choose not to celebrate, He’s not going to be mad at us, but we will miss out on having a great time with our Dad. 

 Firstfruits is a principle in the Word of God that means we bring God our best and He blesses the rest.  When the Jews celebrated, they offered God the first portion of their crops and livestock and then trusted Him to bless and multiply the rest.  The first portion of anything is special and we honor God by giving it to Him.  We meet with God at the first of each Hebrew month to hear what He has to say about this period of time.  Each month has significance in God’s calendar and it’s a blessing to hear His direction.  He gives us what we need to be successful in our journey through life.  Many people rely on horoscopes to give them insight to what’s going on, but God created the stars and set them in place to create the constellations.  God created the moon and ordained its orbit.  These are signs in the heavenlies that communicate God’s message.  Horoscopes are the devil’s counterfeit.   

 The Hebrew name of the month, represented by a Hebraic letter, is a pictogram.  The “picture” of the month gives insight into its meaning.  Each of the twelve months are also linked with one of the twelve  tribes of Israel.  The characteristics of the month are driven by the characteristic of its tribe as described in the Word.

 So what does all this mean?  God’s plan is a plan of redemption and blessing.  He has set “appointed times and seasons” for us to meet with Him and receive revelation so that we can fulfill our destiny.  His cycles of blessings are meant to take us from one level of glory to another – glory to glory, strength to strength.  I like to picture it as a spiral that leads upward toward heaven.  Each year we celebrate the same feasts, but if we are moving with God through His cycles, we are celebrating on a higher level each year.  We continue to gain revelation as we go through the cycles. 

 The Firstfruits celebration is a time to gain strategy. If we will set apart the first of the month to celebrate with Him, God will reveal what to watch out for and how to pursue our destiny to its fullness.  God wants to give you the keys to increase and multiply in your life.  He wants you to succeed!  He wants you to regain what the enemy has stolen from you.  He wants you to understand how to work with the angels. 

 You may ask why you haven’t heard much about this if it’s so important.  The truth is that God’s Feast times are something that the enemy has wanted to keep a secret;  so, using the religious spirit, he sought to convince the early church that these were “Jewish” and they didn’t belong to “Christians.”  He wanted the church to believe that these were the old dispensation so that we would miss out on the blessings that Abba Father wanted to give.  He was very successful at this – for a time.  But now, God’s people are hungry for Truth.  By searching the Word, one cannot escape the emphasis on celebrating God’s Feasts.  Hunger has caused people to ask the Holy Spirit the important question – “Are these relevant for us today?”  And He is responding by restoring this revelation to the Body of Christ.  There are many that still have not understood it, but God wants all His people to know the Truth.  He wants all His people to receive His blessings.  This is how we will become the pure and spotless Bride of Christ.  God is restoring Truth to His people.  If you don’t yet know anyone that participates in these feasts, begin to ask Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you to others that have this understanding.  He will certainly do that and then you can be one that leads others to their blessings. 

 This is the season to step into all God has to offer.  Don’t miss your blessings.  Celebrate Firstfruits!

For more on this subject, get A Time to Advance by Chuck Pierce and Robert and Linda Heidler

In 2 Samuel 22, David exalts the Lord and recounts the ways He has blessed him.  In verse 21, David states a major theme, namely that the Lord rewards those that have received his gift of righteousness. This gift is not based on anything we do, but it is based on our faith in what God has done for us.  Jesus is our righteousness.  Galatians 3:6 reminds us that “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.”  The rewards that the Lord gives us are not the same as salvation.  Salvation is the starting point, the entrance into the Kingdom.  From that point on, our whole life’s journey presents one opportunity after another to “believe God.”  We believe Him for greater revelation. We believe Him to reveal Himself to us in all the various aspects of His character as our life presents new challenges to us.  When we are sick, we believe Him as Healer.  When we need provision, we believe Him as provider.  When we are stuck in sin or bondage, we believe Him as Deliverer.  When we are hurt and grieving, we believe Him as Comforter.  This is how we grow in our knowledge of God.  At each point, the revelation of His character and the benefits He releases to us are our rewards.   

Secondly, David says, “According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.”  As we know, David was not sinless, yet he trusted God to restore him on every level.  This is another gift the Father gives to His children because we seek to know and obey Him, not because we are perfect in our actions.  Hebrews 11:6 says “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  When we seek to please God, He rewards us and considers us blameless because the Blood of Jesus was spilled on our behalf.  It is not enough just to believe that God is.  Many people believe that God exists, but He is not real and personal to them.  There cannot be relationship without knowing the nature and character of God.  When we move past just knowing that He’s out there somewhere, and we seek to know what pleases Him and cause our thoughts and actions to line up with His, then you can depend on His reward.  David knew that he sinned, but he also knew the heart of God, and God certainly rewarded him for his pursuit.   

It is amazing to realize that David had revelation of this before Jesus was born!  Because David diligently sought the Lord, God rewarded him with revelation that was “before his time.”  This is available to each of us.  We can pull down revelation that is stored up for future generations.  Because of our hunger for more of  Him, He will respond by releasing revelation it to us in our day.  Don’t you want to be like David?

In my last post, I told about our $5100 tax bill that is due on January 31.  Given our current financial situation, we had no way to come up with that amount of money.  This was one of those situations where there was no option but to trust God.  God has taught me to truly trust Him over these past few years.  By that I mean putting the issue in His hands, and going about the rest of my business with childlike faith that my Father would take care of the issue.  I was able to experience freedom from worry and anxiety, yet I had no idea what God would do.  

Yesterday, the provision came and our tax bill will be paid in full! This is nothing short of a miracle.  Glory to God, our faithful Father!  He has demonstrated His faithfulness to provide for all our needs, but even greater than that, He is making a statement to whoever will have ears to hear.  I went to bed rejoicing and in awe.  When I woke this morning, I felt the need to look at the story of Jesus instructing Peter to go fishing where he would find the provision for his two-drachma tax.  What He showed me was astounding.  

In this story, Jesus was teaching Peter about his identity.  God used this example in the civil (natural) arena, to make a point in the spirit.  The tax Peter was required to pay was the temple tax.  The temple and its services were products of the Mosaic Law and represented one form of worship and government.  However, the temple really belonged to God and Jesus pointed out that the sons of the king were exempt from paying taxes.  In essence, He is teaching Peter that he is a son of God and since the temple belongs to God, he is not required to pay taxes.  This teaching comes directly after Jesus tells the disciples that he is going to be killed and then raised on the third day.  He is saying the old form of worship is about to pass away and the sons of the God are going to be revealed.  A new form of worship and government was about to be established.  

So as not to hinder the new thing God was about to do, God told Peter “I’ll give you the money to pay those taxes (because I’m your Dad), and then no one will be offended.”  There was no reason to create unnecessary trouble over taxes at this point.  Only the sons needed to know who they were and that they were really seated above the government of that day because they belonged to the King who owns it all. 

God is saying the same thing to me, to you and to all His children today.  God owns it all, He owns the land that our houses sit on and He is restoring His covenant promises with His children and with the land.  He is saying the old system of man’s government and religion is about to end and God’s Kingdom government is going to be established.  His Kingdom is advancing! Jesus is coming soon!   God will provide for the needs of His children because we are the ones He is using to bring His Kingdom to earth, just as He brought the Church into the earth through Peter and the other disciples.  We must begin to see ourselves as those that are truly seated with Him in heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion.  We are to take dominion in the earth, not be dominated by it.  Yet, as Jesus demonstrated, we submit to God’s rule and authority and therefore, carry out His plans in humility, love, and order.  Today, I will pay my taxes not as a victim of heavy taxation, but as a child of God who has received God’s provision and chooses to humbly pay my taxes so that my Father’s will can be accomplished on earth. 

Shalom!

I had to laugh.  For the past several days, I was fretting over whether or not to spend $125 to send my son to a Lego Class.  I felt that this was something that would really benefit him at this time.  I am always torn between spending money I have on things that aren’t absolutely essential but desired, or holding on to every cent to make sure bills are paid.  I never know where the next funding is going to come from for my bills, so planning and budgeting is basically impossible.  I must live by asking God and making decisions based on what I believe He is saying.  I am always super conservative.  I give and believe but never want to be presumptuous regarding what I need versus what I want. 

So, while I paid half the amount to the Lego class and was wondering where the other $60 was going to come from, a bill for $5100 comes in the mail that’s due by Feb 1, the same time the $60 is due.  Ha!  I looked up to my Heavenly Father and chuckled, “OK, Dad, whatcha gonna do about this?”  Of course, when I saw the big bill, fear started racing through my mind, but I quickly had to put the brakes on it and return to remembering how BIG my God is!  Truth is, for the past 3 years He has arranged for our taxes to be paid.  Truth is, He has been fighting for our house that’s been in foreclosure for the past 2 years and has reassured us of a favorable outcome over and over again.  This situation has sat in court for a long time, but is now moving forward and we have every reason to believe for the BEST!  Has God brought us through all this only to let taxes trip us up this year?  I don’t think so!  For three years my husband has only worked short stints at temporary jobs or side jobs, yet God has provided for us and never have we had a utility shut off or had a monthly payment that didn’t get paid.  At times, it seemed there was no way we would survive, but we have survived by the grace and mercy of our Loving and Gracious Father!   

And now we are in a new season, the season of miracles, the season of abundance, the season of the latter rain!  God has been speaking through His prophets and there is agreement that NOW is the TIME for promises to be seen, NOW is the time that God is releasing inheritance so that the Kingdom of God can advance.  Financial issues have been a major struggle for much of the Body of Christ in the past several years.  Many have lost everything, many have been without jobs, many have lost houses, but this is the TIME of restoration.  God has tested and tried His people and now He is bringing us forth like gold.  He is about to entrust the riches of heaven to those that have been tried and proven.  He is about to meet our little needs that seem so huge to us, so that we can take the riches of Heaven and BUILD His Kingdom.  My house needs lots of repairs after years of no maintenance, but those things are so small to our God.  He is concerned about building His House and it takes lots of money to accomplish these things.  God has demonstrated this through Glory of Zion Ministries’ purchase of the old Boeing facility in Corinth, TX.  This old warehouse and desolate land has been transformed into a Global Kingdom Outpost in just about one year. Global Spheres Center is now a gathering place for the nations, as well as a community center.  The facility houses a large sanctuary for major conferences, an international Prayer Tower, an eating area, offices, a recreation center, business offices and a beautiful Israel prayer garden.  They transformed the building and the land with great beauty. It reflects the glory and majesty of God’s kingdom.   As they put their faith and their hands to work, God supplied the finances to complete this colossal project.  It is truly beautiful and a testimony to what God is about to do through His Body in the earth.  If you don’t know about this project, you can check out their testimony at www.gloryofzion.org   It’s really important to “see” what God has done here!

Writing this little testimony has caused me to remember the goodness of God.  I hope that whatever you are facing today that looks impossible will become small in the light of Glory of God.  Take time today to remember how He has carried you in the past several years.  Look around and see how He has carried others.  Let go of judgments against others and acknowledge God’s goodness to all.  Then let your faith arise!  Get to work building what He has told you to build and trust Him to supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory.  Hold on to every promise, for this is the TIME for promises to come to pass.  This is the time for restoration.  Call forth the new to arise from the ashes and be blessed!

1. Thank you, Lord, that You are with me, my Emmanuel,

2. That you will never leave me nor forsake me,

3. Thank you that you have given me Your Holy Spirit,

4. Thank you for Your Word that is a light to my feet and a lamp to my path,

5. Thank you that You are Faithful and True. 

6. Thank You, Father, that You gave Your only  Son,

7. Thank you that You saw me before the foundation of the World,

8. That you made me in Your image and likeness,

9. Thank you that have an eternal plan of redemption,

10. Thank you that You are a loving Daddy.

11. Thank You Jesus, that You went to the Cross because You loved me,

12. Thank You that were obedient even unto death,

13. Thank You that You gave Your life so I could live,

14. Thank You that You forgave and forgive me,

15. Thank You that for Your shed Blood.

16. Thank You Holy Spirit that You are my Comforter,

17. My Teacher,

18. My Guide,

19. That you release revelation and truth to me that I might truly see,

20. Thank you for changing me.

21. Thank you for all the resources of Heaven that are now mine,

22. Thank you for the Angelic Host that are here to hearken to my voice,

23. Thank you for giving me authority in Your Name,

24. Thank you that You have seated me in Heavenly places with You,

25. Thank you that you have called me.

26. Thank you for hope,

27. Faith and

28. Love,

29. Thank you that you never change your mind about me,

30. Thank you that You have gone before me to prepare a place for me.

31. Thank you that I am never alone,

32. That you set the lonely in families,

33. That you call me as a little child to sit with my Daddy,

34. That you snuggle me up and hold me close to Your heart,

35. That nothing can separate me from Your love.

36. Thank you that you rule and reign for all eternity,

37. That there is no one greater than you,

38. That you are all-knowing,

39. Ever-present,

40. And All-Powerful.

41. Thank you that you have the last Word,

42. That you are the beginning and the end,

43. That all things are held together by You,

44. That you are the Firstborn from the Dead,

45. That you are fairer than the Sons of Man.

46. Thank you for the beauty of your creation,

47. That you do all things well,

48. That you pay attention to every detail in every life,

49. That you always have our best interest at heart,

50. Thank you for coloring our world.

51. Thank you for the awesome wonder of the human body,

52. For every animal and creature in the earth,

53. That each one is unique, colorful and glorious,

54. Thank you for all the plants, trees and flowers,

55. That you have given us life through your creation.

56. Thank you that you know every hair on my head,

57. That you numbered each of my days,

58. That you carefully watch over me every minute of my life,

59. Thank you that your eyes are on every person for all eternity,

60. That you love each one, not because of what we do, but because You made us all.

61. Thank you that you are merciful and kind,

62. That your love endures forever,

63. That you hedge us in with Your love,

64. Thank you that your love never fails,

65. Thank you that you are LOVE!

66. Thank you that nothing is too difficult for you,

67. That you are a God that does miracles,

68. That you are the same, yesterday, today and forever,

69. That you are our Healer,

70. And that you Deliver us from evil and all temptation.

71. Thank you that you rescue us,

72. That you don’t allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle,

73. That you know our frame,

74. Thank you that you are mindful of man,

75. Thank you that always provide a way of escape.

76. Thank you that You are Righteousness,

77. That you are the King of Kings and

78. The Lord of Lords,

79. Thank you that you establish justice and

80. That Your Kingdom will never end.

81. Thank you that You are coming again,

82. That your Kingdom is coming to Earth as it is in Heaven,

83. Thank you that you are releasing Your Glory into the Earth as never before,

84. Thank you that Your government continues to increase,

85. Thank you that every knee will bow and every tongue confess, “You are Lord.”

86. Thank you for the privilege of worshipping You,

87. That you are a God that makes Yourself known to Your people,

88. That you are not distant, but you desire relationship,

89. Thank you that we truly can experience you with all our senses,

90. Thank you that you are our Bridegroom and we are Your Bride.

91. Thank You that You are Holy,

92. That You dwell in unapproachable Light,

93. That You are the Light of the World,

94. That you are the Ancient of Days,

95. That you are the Rock of the Ages.

96. Thank you that All Power and Glory belongs to You,

97. That you are the Mightiest of the Mighty,

98. That there is no God like You,

99. That Your Name is the Name above all Names,

100. And yet You know me by name!

I love You, Abba Father, Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Another distinctive feature of the Feast of Tabernacles was the radiant light that emanated from the Temple.  Huge lampstands, called menorahs, lit up the Temple courts so brightly that their glow could be seen across the Judean hillside.  The menorahs were so big that the priests had to climb ladders to fill their bowls with oil.  For seven days these lampstands burned brightly as a sign of God’s Presence.  When the lampstands were lit, it was cause for great joy and celebration. 

Throughout the Word, God reveals His Presence in light.  The first thing God created was light.  He visited Moses as fire in the burning bush and He manifested Himself as a pillar of fire to give light to the Israelites in the desert.  Light is a symbol of revelation, purity and holiness.  It contrasts the darkness of sin.  Light always displaces the darkness. 

In John 7, Jesus declared Himself to be the Living Water.   John 8:12 tells us of another aspect of Jesus that was revealed during this Feast.  In John 7:37 it says that Jesus made the declaration of His identity as Living Water on the last day of the Feast.  On the last night of the Feast, the menorahs were not lit.  The brilliant light had been shining for seven days was giving way to darkness.  The next day, while Jesus was still in the Temple courts teaching, that He revealed Himself as the “Light of the World.”  The light of the menorah would burn out, but His Light can never be quenched. 

“I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

Jesus clearly links Himself to the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles.   He came in the flesh to dwell (tabernacle) among us.  He is the living water (rain which brings harvest), and He is the promised Light that had been spoken of through the prophets.  

Further study of the timing of Jesus’ birth reveals that He was born during this Feast.  Scripture shows that the angel visited Zechariah, the priest while he was on duty in the Temple. According to 2 Chronicles 24, Zechariah belonged to the division of Abijah which would have served in late June or early July.  The angel said Elizabeth would have a son and as soon as Zechariah got back home, she became pregnant.   Six months later Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  This would have occurred in December, during the Hanukah season, which is called the Festival of Lights.  From the last day of Hanukah to the first day of Tabernacles is 280 days, the exact length of a pregnancy.  

Another mystery of God revealed!  He has encoded the times and seasons for our discovery.  Keeping the feasts is not a matter of keeping rituals or acting Jewish.  In God’s great love, He has hidden His treasures throughout time for those that are hungry to find them.  When we partake of the divine mystery of God, it satisfies our hearts like nothing else can.   We are invited to celebrate in the Spirit of Christ all things that point to Him. 

Jesus, the Light of the World, was conceived during the Festival of Lights and born into the world to dwell with His people during the Feast of Tabernacles, a joyous time of Light emanating from the Temple.  When you see what God has ordained, it is clear that Jesus will come again during the Fall Feasts and set up His millennial Kingdom during the Feast of Tabernacles.  Revelation 21:23 tells us that the New Jerusalem will have no need of the sun or the moon because the glory of God will be its light and that lamp will be the Lamb (Jesus).  The glory of God in this context is called the Shekinah – it’s the Presence of God manifested by Light.  This is our destiny – to dwell with Jesus forever in the fullness of His glory!  That’s reason to celebrate!

The Feast of Tabernacles is a celebration of the harvest.  At the end of the agricultural year, God instructed the Israelites to bring in their harvests, make offerings to Him and to celebrate His goodness and provision.  After the hard work was completed, it was a time for great rejoicing.  Thus, the feast was also called the Feast of Ingathering (Ex 23:16, Lev 23:39).

 While rejoicing over the abundance of this year’s crop, it was also a time to look forward and pray for rain for the coming year’s crops.  The priests performed a ritual during the feast to request rain from God.  In Israel, there were two seasons for rain called the early and latter rains.  The early rains came in the autumn season, right after the Feast, to prepare the ground for spring planting.  The latter rains came in the spring, after the spring harvest of barley and wheat and before the second planting (Deut 11:14, Joel 2:23).  Israel was very dry and hot, so without the rains of heaven, crops would fail and there would be famine. 

 Each day of the feast the Priests would go down to the Pool of Siloam carrying a golden pitcher.  A procession would follow them singing praise psalms (Psalms 113-118).  The priest would draw water from the Pool and carry it back to the Temple.  All the people would wave palm and willow branches before the Lord and carry pieces of citrus fruit, often called the citron, in their hand. The priest would then pour the water into the basin in the inner court which was typically used for drink offerings.  Normally, wine would be poured into the basin, but on this day the water was poured into this basin and wine was poured at the same time into another basin.  As he did so, the priest and the people would rejoice while reciting Isaiah 12:3, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

  This was a most joyous ceremony with much symbolism.  The water represented God’s provision in the wilderness, as well as the refreshing, cleansing of Messiah that was to come.  The wine represented the outpouring of the Spirit that was to come. Waving the branches was symbolic of the progression through the desert as they encountered different types of vegetation, and the citrus fruit was a symbol of the fruit of the Promised Land. 

 Just before Jesus’ death, he was celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles.  In John 7:37-38, we read that during this water-drawing ceremony on the last day of the Feast, Jesus stood up drawing attention to Himself, and cried out in a LOUD voice, “ If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  The Jews who heard this would have been familiar with the many references in the Torah and from the Prophets that spoke about Living Waters, streams of life, river of God, etc.  Jesus was declaring fulfillment of these scriptures in Himself.  Verse 39 further defines “living water” as being filled with the Spirit of God. 

 While the Jews were crying out for natural rain to be poured on their land to give them a natural harvest of food, Jesus now gave them access to spiritual rain that would produce a life-giving harvest of souls.  Many recognized Jesus as Messiah after this, but many others refused to believe. 

 The beauty and mystery of God’s Word is seen again in this story.  The word “salvation” in Isaiah 12:3 is the Hebrew word ‘yeshua.’ Yes, it is the very name of Jesus!  Yeshua means salvation by God, deliverance, welfare, prosperity, victory, health and help.    Unknowingly, for seven days the priests and the people had been declaring that they would drink from the well of Jesus’ living water and here He was stating that prophecy was available in Him! 

 The application for us today is clear.  God has stated that He will have a great end-times harvest of souls.  In order to accomplish this, He has called His people to cry out for the latter rains of the Holy Spirit to awaken people’s hearts and draw them near to God.  This is the imagery proclaimed in Joel 2:18-32.  After the people rend their hearts and repent (Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement), then God will restore the people and release a great harvest!  This is the day we are living in….God is ready for us, the laborers, to work with Him to gather in the Harvest and make ready for Jesus to return. 

 Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the latter rain….And He will give them showers of rain… Zech 10:1

The Feast of Tabernacles is the most important Feast in God’s calendar.  It is mentioned as one of the three Feasts that all men are required to participate in each year (Ex 23:14-17, 34:23-24; Deut 16:16; 1 Ki 9:25; 2 Chr 8:13).  Additionally, Zechariah singles out the Feast of Tabernacles as the one that all survivors of the tribulation will participate in during Jesus’ Millennial reign (Zech 14:16-19).  If this feast is so important to God, it should probably be important to us, His followers, especially as part of the end-times generation.  

God’s desire has always been to dwell with His people.  In the beginning, He created a garden in which He and His creation would live, work and play.  When Adam and Eve sinned, they had to be sent out of the garden and out of God’s presence.  The plan of redemption is a plan to bring us back into union with God so that once again He can literally dwell with His people.  He never intended to pull us off the earth and take us to heaven.  He wanted to come and dwell amongst His people in the world He created.  Throughout the Bible, we see God continually establishing His Presence and inviting the people to repent, return and remain with Him.  

Once the Israelites left Egypt, they met God at Mt. Sinai where he gave them instructions on how they were to live once they came into the Promised Land.  He gave them all the details for constructing a tabernacle, the place where His presence would dwell.  Then He told them how the tribes were to be situated around the tabernacle. God was in the center of His people. 

 When Jesus came in the flesh, John 1:14 tells us that he came to dwell among us.  He left the glory of heaven so that He could be with His people.  When he returned to heaven, He gave us the gift of His Spirit to dwell inside of us (Eph 2:22).  

Revelation 21:3 says that once Jesus comes again and conquers all that hinders His Love, reigns on earth for a thousand years and puts an end to Satan, then He will establish the New Jerusalem, the place where God the Father and Jesus the Son will dwell among their people.  This is our destiny.  Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles on earth is a dress rehearsal for the eternity we will spend in God’s presence.  Today, God is pouring out more and more of His Spirit to move us deeper into His Presence during these appointed times.  Enter in and celebrate!  Our redemption draweth nigh!

When the Jews participated in the Day of Atonement, the ceremony involved two goats.  The first goat was called, “the goat for the Lord,” and it foreshadowed Jesus’ death on the Cross at Passover.  Jesus’ death atoned for the sins of all people for all time.  Once Jesus made this sacrificial gift on our behalf, no longer was it necessary for the priests to make this offering on the Day of Atonement.  In fact, Jewish custom led the priests to tie a scarlet cord on the door of the Temple on this day.  When the sacrifice of atonement was accepted by God, this cord turned white.  This happened every year, until 30 A.D., the year that Jesus was sacrificed once and for all.  God was saying this ritual has been fulfilled! 

The second goat was called the scapegoat and was a picture of what happens when we confess our sins.  The Jews would confess their sins and symbolically place them on the scapegoat.   Then the goat would be sent out to the wilderness, as a reminder that their sins and their guilt had been taken away.  This part of the Day of Atonement activities is still relevant to us today. 

The Day of Atonement is a Day of Judgment.  God judged the sin of the people and because of the blood, they were found “not guilty.”  Because of the Blood of Jesus, all those who believe in Him are found “not guilty.”  When Jesus comes again, He is coming as Judge.   Could it be that His Second Coming, called the Day of the Lord, will occur on the Day of Atonement?  I believe so. 

 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.”  Matt 25:31-33

 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.  2 Corinthians 5:10

Those who have believed in Jesus’ sacrifice and received cleansing through His blood by faith will be put on His right and they will hear Him say, “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  Matt 25:34  But to those on His left, He will say, “Depart, from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Matt 25:41

Truly, it was never God’s intention for any person to go to this awful place, but He allowed each one a free will with which they can choose to receive Jesus’ sacrifice or not.  This is the day to choose!  We receive forgiveness by faith in what Jesus did.  All we have to do is receive it. 

Once you receive His forgiveness, He tells us to confess our sins.  Why?  Because until we confess or admit what we have done, we feel guilty and condemned.  So many Christians walk around feeling guilty.  This should not be.  God does not see us as guilty, He sees us as righteous.  We must see ourselves as He sees us.  Only then are we restored to perfect fellowship with God.

The process of confession and cleansing is to prepare us for the next Feast, the ultimate celebration that represents God making His dwelling place among His people.  He invites us to come boldly into His Presence.  Let us prepare our hearts so that we can fully enter in! 

This understanding is vital to our part in the end-times scenario.  Each year, as we celebrate His Feasts, we enter into deeper and deeper revelation of His plans and purposes.  He is coming soon, so let us pursue the Lord wholeheartedly and continue to receive the unfolding revelation of Jesus’ blood and our standing with Him.

Today we welcome the new Hebrew year 5772, a time to pierce the world structures and recover all!  It is a time for celebration and a time to set the course for the year ahead.  In Jewish homes, many will be dipping apples in honey as a way of declaring the new year will be full of sweetness.  When leaving the House of Prayer, the Jews bless each other saying, “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.”   

What does it mean to be sealed for a good year?  This celebration was designed by God as a day to blow the trumpet.  There are many scriptures that instruct the people to blow the trumpet for various reasons, but this day there is a special significance to the blowing.  The prophetic meaning of this Biblical Holiday is so relevant to us today.  The sound of the trumpet is a call to AWAKEN.  Awaken from your slumber, from your routines, from business as usual to the call of God.  Awaken to His Presence and to His eternal plan.  The time is short!  Consider your ways before God and hear His voice.  It is the voice of the Bridegroom calling to His Bride.  It is an alarm that gives warning, there is still time to return to the Lord with all your heart. 

 The trumpet sound is a call to action.  The next 10 days are to be days of reflection and repentance.  We are called to consider our ways and consider Him Who made us.  Are there areas of your life that are not aligned with God’s purposes?  Do you know the precious plan He has for your life and are you submitting to His leadership to bring it about?  Are there habits and routines that hinder you from knowing Him more?  If you ask the Lord to reveal these things to you, He will.  That’s what this time is for,  it leads us back to Him. 

 Jesus Christ shed His own blood for us when He died on the Cross.  His blood is the atonement that we need.  It does not fade away each year like the annual sacrifice of a goat did on the Day of Atonement in Old Testament times.  His sacrifice was once and for all, for all men and women that would receive it.  It’s not about you, it’s all about what He did.  You cannot earn it, you can only accept it.  His blood is the salvation that brings us back into right relationship with God, but it doesn’t stop there.  The salvation of the Lord is not only for forgiveness, it’s for being who God created you to be, a son or daughter of the Living God.  God created each one of you with a purpose, a destiny in His Kingdom.  We must be awakened to the enormity of His call.  Most Christians don’t realize just how much God prepared for them in His Kingdom.  He didn’t send Jesus to the Cross just for your forgiveness.  That is only the starting place.  Once you know you’re forgiven, there is much more for you to know and to do.  He wants you to know Him deeply, just as you are deeply known by Him.  He wants to share secrets with you, to impart gifts to you, to give you incredible assignments that will cause others to know Him too.  He wants to show you His Glory….think about it! 

 So I pray today that you are “sealed for a good year,”  sealed by the Blood of Jesus, knowing that you are a child of His Promise, You are called to greatness in Him, You are anointed with the Holy Spirit and full of the Life of God.  You are sealed with the Reality of Jesus Christ on the inside of you.    You were not made to hide out awaiting Jesus’ return to rescue you from the wicked world.  You are made to be a victorious warrior, knowing His will and enforcing it, taking back the captives and setting them free, bringing light into every dark place.  You are called to take dominion in the earth.  This is an exciting and adventurous call.   Religion is boring, but life in the Kingdom is brimming with joy and excitement in Christ. 

 Hear the sound of His voice, the trumpet, as He calls you today.  Turn aside and listen to what He has to say.  Take these next 10 days to get reacquainted with the Word of God and His purposes.  Then set your heart on Him and get ready for the ride….

 Be sealed in Him and have a Sweet Year!

 Shana Tova!