​ 
The significance of God's timing and His coordination of events speaks loudly about His brilliance. On this very night, the 6th of Sivan, the third month on the Hebrew calendar, we should be aware of the "trifecta" of events that converge. They are all about the physical provision, revelation, and power that God gives His people. In Scripture, He commanded them to appear before Him three times a year to celebrate His goodness and align their lives with His timing. The first of these three feasts is to remember God's deliverance from Egypt and is called Passover or Pesach. Next comes Pentecost or Shavuot. On this day, the children of Israel brought to the temple the firstfruits of their wheat harvest and gave thanks for God's physical provision.
 
It is no coincidence that the Lord chose the day of firstfruits to give Moses and the Israelites the law of the Old Covenant. God gave Moses a reminder and a promise in Exodus 19:4-5. "You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to Myself. Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." In Exodus 19:16-18 it is reported: "On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled...Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace; the whole mountain trembled violently." Then the ten commandments were engraved in stone.
 
About 1,400 years later Jesus was born. He came as the fulfillment of the law. (Matthew 5:17, 18) His life was one free from all sin, as He perfectly kept both the letter and the spirit of the law. Christ's life and death met the requirements of the Old Testament law. His death and resurrection removed the law as a way of coming to God. It was replaced with salvation by faith in Christ's finished work on the Cross. Jesus broke down the divisions between God and us to bring us peace with Him. Here is how Ephesians 2:14 and 15 puts it: "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace."
 
For forty days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His apostles and gave them a command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit...You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:4, 5, 8) Their waiting was rewarded on the day called Shavuot (meaning weeks)—seven weeks from the Sabbath of Passover week—plus one day or fifty days. The Spirit of God descended to fulfill Pentecost (meaning fifty). "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1-4) Here we have God's provision of power, boldness, and revelation. It was the day when the Word and the Spirit came together as one.
 
The third commanded feast, Tabernacles, will not take place until the fall when we begin a new year on the secular Hebrew calendar and a time to repent for our sins and rejoice in the glory of God. In the meantime, we have much to contemplate. Jeremiah 31:33 tells us that God fulfilled His promise by writing His law on our hearts. Let us give thanks for all of God's promises and remember the "trifecta" of provision: Harvest to physically sustain us, Torah to guide and nourish us spiritually, and the Holy Spirit as the Lord's guiding, sustaining, and nourishing presence with us. Let us also cry out to the Lord for a fresh infilling of His Spirit and an illumination of the Scriptures.

​According to the Oxford Language Dictionary, the definition of transition is "the process or a period of change from one state or condition to another." This shifting from one state or place to another is mostly uncomfortable. When we are in transition, we must be willing to work on the process of transformation and look at the developments that are taking place as we progress.
 
The Bible is filled with stories of people making changes in their lives and trusting in God to provide for all their needs. But the one that stands out to me the most is when the children of Israel were moving toward Mount Sinai under the direction of Moses. During the first month of the year, Nisan, God set them free from slavery and brought them out with plunder from the Egyptians. They were making their way to a place where they would meet God, and He would give them directions on how to live their lives in the future. In essence, they were moving from redemption to revelation. The Israelites had fifty days of traveling to reach their destination. Their travels became a trial because they forgot what God had done for them in Egypt. They did not remember the powerful signs, wonders, and miracles they experienced before and during their time of freedom.
 
God's plan was to use this transition time to teach the children of Israel about Himself. With each trial and subsequent provision for them, they received insight into God's marvelous power and personality. Through several examples, God was saying to them, "Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) Despite what God had done, they had their first breakdown in the Desert of Shur. They had been without water for three days until they came to Marah. The water here was too bitter to drink, so they reacted by grumbling against Moses. God instructed Moses to place a tree into the water which resulted in the transformation of the water into sweet liquid. A decree was sent from God: "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals." (Exodus 15:26) First and foremost, God wanted His people to know Him as "Jehovah Rapha," The Lord Who Heals.
 
It did not take long for the children of Israel to grumble again. Exodus 16:1 tells us that this occurred on the "Fifteenth day of the second month," which is Iyar, the month we are in now. The community complained because they were concerned about lack of food. God used this opportunity to tell them that He is "Jehovah Jireh," The Lord Who Provides. He rained down manna and quail for His people so they had more than they needed. A third teaching moment came when the Lord helped Israel defeat the Amalekites who had attacked them. Aaron and Hur stood at the top of the hill with Moses and held up his arms while the Israelites fought. After they won the battle, Moses built an altar and called it "Jehovah Nissi," The Lord is My Banner.
 
As we can see, the time of transition became a time of learning and drawing closer to God. What can we learn from this story? First, we must remember what God has done in the past. Psalm 77:11 says, "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago." Then, when we are in a time of transition, we must trust God and seek His guidance. Proverbs 3:5 and 6 say it all. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Finally, we must give thanks to Him for all that He has done and will continue to do. "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17) I hope that these truths encourage you during your times of transition and as you contemplate what happened to the Israelites during this month of Iyar. God is faithful, and He uses our times of uncertainty to draw closer to us, introduce us to new aspects of His personality, and prepare us for our new seasons.

​Passover is all about remembrance of God's faithfulness and beginning a new life cycle. As slaves, the children of Israel had no relationship with time because one day was the same as the other. With the Passover, God was marking time and redeeming His people so that they could begin their year with encouragement as they recalled how He gave them new life. It is through remembering the victories of the past that we have hope for the future. Deuteronomy 32:7 tells us, "Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and He will tell you, your elders and they will explain to you." 
 
The yearly tradition of sitting at a table to share a meal and tell the story of freedom for God's people was instituted by the Lord. He said, "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance...Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt." (Exodus 12:14, 17) The Hebrew meaning of the Passover meal, called "Seder," is "order." It is written in a book called the "Haggadah," meaning "telling," that includes the story from the book of Exodus, an explanation of the meal courses, and songs and blessings. The gathering at the table is for all generations.
 
Asaph, the writer of Psalm 78, tells of our responsibility to bring up the next generation in the knowledge of the truth. Psalm 78:2-7 says, "...I will utter hidden things, things from of old...What we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us, we will not hide from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob (The King James Version says, "He established a testimony.") and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands."
 
This year the Passover began on April 12 (Nisan 14 on the Hebrew calendar). Many families sat around the Seder table for the retelling of the story of the exodus and the journey to the Promised Land. We can read how Jesus also celebrated a Seder with His disciples. It would be His "last supper" before going to the Cross. Imagine how he felt knowing that He was destined to be the Passover Lamb in the future and for all eternity. He told His disciples, “’I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.' After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, 'Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.'" (Luke 22:14-17)
 
Many Christian communities do not celebrate the Passover. Long ago Emperor Constantine tried to merge Christianity with paganism by changing the calendar. With the Council of Nicaea, he outlawed Passover and changed the date for celebrating Christ's death and resurrection to correspond with the spring festival of the pagan goddess Ishtar, also known as Easter. Those who refused to stop celebrating Passover were persecuted and murdered. Falling into the hand of Satan, the Church agreed to pronounce a curse on Christians who celebrated the Passover. Satan is still at the forefront of the battle to stop the Passover and taking Communion because he knows that the power is in the blood of Jesus.
 
The blood of Jesus was shed to redeem us from the enemy. Our deliverance comes through the blood of the Lamb on the Cross of Calvary. Every time Christians take communion, we celebrate the Passover Lamb. However, communion celebrates more than freedom from bondage in Egypt; it celebrates our release from the bondage of sin. We can take communion as often as we desire. 1 Corinthians 11:26 says, "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes." Father God is the one who connected the sacrifice of Jesus to the Passover and why He is called the Passover Lamb. For generations to come we must share the power of His shed blood.

​Preparation is a necessity when we desire to move forward into a new season. Scriptures talk about preparation for a meal, sacrifice, battle, building project, and life-style change. Much preparation took place for the children of Israel to come out of bondage in Egypt and for the disciples to be ready for life without Jesus. Since we are at the beginning of a new year and new beginnings in the month of Nisan, it would be wise for us to prepare for the journey. We can learn about how to do this from the Israelites and the disciples.
 
God would begin preparing the children of Israel for their journey out of slavery by bringing upon the Egyptians the last of ten plagues—the death of the firstborn. The Israelites were given several instructions. We can read their first one in Exodus 11:2. "Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold." God made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward them so that they would not leave Egypt without plunder. The next instruction was for each family to take a pure and spotless male lamb into their home on the tenth day of the month of Nisan. (Exodus 12:3, 5) The lambs were to be slaughtered on the fourteenth of the month and its blood placed on the top and sides of their doorframes. (Exodus 12:7) That night they were to roast the lamb and eat it along with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast.
 
The angel of death passed over the families of the Israelites when he saw the blood and killed the first-born in Egypt, convincing Pharaoh to release God's chosen people. Early in the morning the Israelites left their homes in Rameses (meaning dissolving evil) and headed toward Succoth (meaning booths). Before leaving, the people "...bowed down and worshiped" (Exodus 12:27) when they saw how the Lord passed over their homes. All Israel left Egypt at the end of 430 years. "Because the Lord kept vigil that night, to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come." (Exodus 12:42)
 
When it was time for Jesus to leave the earth, He had much to tell His disciples to prepare them for their life without Him. At their Passover Feast, Jesus began by washing their feet. This act of humility was to show the disciples that they would be expected to serve others, not to be served. "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (John 13:15) Next Jesus gave them the rule of love. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34, 36) 
 
Jesus wanted His disciples to know that He was going to leave them to prepare for their futures. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me...I am going to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1, 2) Jesus also needed to explain to them about the Holy Spirit who would take HIs place. "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever, The Spirit of Truth...You know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:16, 17) Finally, Jesus had to warn His disciples that they would experience great grief, but their sorrow would be transformed to joy. "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy...Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." (John 16:20, 22)
 
Life is a journey that includes known and unknown. Our job is to trust in the Lord and to consult with the Holy Spirit on how to prepare for our Promised Lands. "The Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5) As we stand at the beginning of the first month of the new year, let's prepare for the season that is ahead.

​Today we begin a new month, the first month on the Biblical calendar as ordained by God. It seems so appropriate as we look outside and see the budding trees, the blooming daffodils and forsythia, and the robins pecking the ground for worms. Deuteronomy 2:6-8 describes what the children of Israel experienced during this time. "So, the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders." The name of the first month is Nisan which means beginning. God desired that His children begin their new year with the remembrance of HIs mighty signs and wonders that brought to their memory how He set them free from the bondage of Egypt and then began leading them to their Promised Land. Thus, He said to Moses and Aaron, "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year." (Exodus 12:2)
 
The month of Nisan has become known as a month of miracles. During this time God was preparing the way for the freedom of the Israelites through a campaign of miraculous signs. These signs came in the form of ten plagues: The Plague of blood in the Nile River, frogs, gnats, flies, death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness that could be felt, and death of the firstborn (man and animals). While the Egyptians were contending with these plagues, the Lord made a distinction between them and the people of Israel. There was no plague in the land where the Israelites lived and they watched as God fought for them and prepared the way for them to begin a new life. It was time for them to “spring” forward.
 
Just as the Lord stretched out His arms to show miraculous signs and wonders, He did so on the Cross for our redemption. Jesus said in John 12:24, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." His desire was to redeem us through our acceptance of His blood sacrifice and repentance for our sins. All creation shows us the process of death and life throughout the year. Now is the season of new life as the blossoms of spring are reappearing.
 
God is calling us to new life during this set-aside time. He has paid a price for us to be free from all bondage and to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit that He placed within us. Those who start well usually finish well. We must start by acknowledging and thanking the Lord for His deliverance and redemption. Then we should step forward on to the path where we are being directed. Each of us is positioned for victory as we align our lives with God's plans and purposes.
 
Nisan 1 is one of God's appointed times that is meant to draw us into a life-giving encounter with Him. I believe that on God's appointed dates there is a thinner space between heaven and earth and that our pursuit at these times brings His presence. Our goal must be to host His presence and to dedicate our lives to blessing Him and the lost world.

​God has a position and destiny for every individual on the face of the earth. We are positioned for the purpose that God ordained for us. He consecrates us and sets up apart to influence those around us. The Bible gives us examples of individuals who have had "mantles" placed upon them. A mantle is a calling, an anointing, or transference of spiritual power and authority given to someone by God. We can look at the lives of Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Elijah, David, and Esther, to name a few.
 
One of the great modern-day prophets, Kim Clement, who is now in heaven, made a statement about the ways our lives unfold in alignment with our destinies. He said, "Your destiny dictates your present circumstances." He points to Joseph, Israel's favorite son, and reminds us that his destiny lay in Egypt. Joseph even named his second son Ephraim as a reminder of his call. He declared, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." (Genesis 41:52) Had Joseph not been in Egypt, he would not have been able to rescue his family from the seven-year famine that came upon the land.
 
Since Purim will be celebrated this week with the telling of the story of Esther, let's investigate how she was called to suffer for the salvation of her people. She and her people had been exiled to the Babylonian empire. Having lost her parents, a cousin named Mordecai took her under his wing to care for her. Esther's birth name, Hadassah, was changed to the Persian name, Esther. In changing her name, Esther's nationality and family background were concealed. God made Esther "lovely in form and features" (Esther 2:7) so that when the king was looking for a new queen, she was chosen as one of the candidates for consideration. As Joseph's destiny lay in Egypt; Esther's destiny lay in the citadel of Susa in the Persian empire. She was positioned for a purpose.
 
The call of Esther was one that would require humility and sacrifice. She would live in the king's palace as part of his harem. For one year she would undergo beauty treatments to prepare for one night with the king. Esther won his favor and was chosen as his queen. But, just as Esther received a promotion, a test would come. The enemy saw her destiny and plotted to destroy her promotion. Candice Smithyman wrote in her book, 365 Prophetic revelations from the Hebrew Calendar, "We are never truly promoted until we are faced with a situation where we have to stand for righteousness."
 
Stand for righteousness Esther did as she was faced with the possibility of death for herself and every Jew in the kingdom because of an evil decree from the king's chief noble, Haman. Mordecai said to her, "...If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish, and who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14) Esther determined to go before the king to save her people.
 
We can see how Esther served God and those around her so that she could attain her God-ordained destiny. She had been appointed by and established in her position by man so that God could use her in her calling at the right time. It was not until Esther had been tested that she received her spiritual promotion, her mantle was secured, and a miraculous turn of events occurred. We too can walk in miracles when we embrace God's call on our lives, live by faith even during times of testing, and position ourselves in the presence of our Lord. We have been commissioned to carry Christ's love. This is confirmed in Ephesians 2:10. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (NKJV)

​God is for us and not against us. (Romans 8:31) He even encourages us through each month on the Hebrew spiritual calendar. The first day of the last month on this calendar occurred at sunset on Friday night. Its very name, Adar, means strength and shows us that God wants us to finish the year with strength. Nehemiah 8:10 lets us know that "The joy of the Lord is our strength." Psalm 16:11 tells us that it is the presence of the Lord that brings this joy. A footnote in The Passion Translation explains that in Hebrew there is no word for "Presence," so the passage uses the word face. "For You bring me a continual revelation of resurrection life, the path to the blessing that brings me face-to-face with You." 
 
Can you imagine being face-to-face with Jesus and what that would do to our feelings of joy and peace and our growth in faith? Isaiah 61:2 and 3 instructs us to comfort those who mourn by bestowing on them "a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." While it is the intention of the Lord to lead us into joy and blessings, we must be aware that our enemy is always attempting to remove us from God's timing so that he can destroy our strength.
 
The Jewish people will be celebrating the festival called Purim on the 13th and 14th of this month. Every year on these dates they remember the plot of Haman the Agagite against the Jews who were moved into the Persian Empire, which is modern-day Iran. Haman's ancestors were enemies of Saul and the nation of Israel. Their hatred for the Jews was manifest through Haman who cast the lot (called Pur) to select the 13th as the day when those in the Persian kingdom could kill the Jews according to a royal decree.
 
None of this caught God by surprise. He already had a plan to raise up a young orphan girl named Esther (meaning star) to save her people. To do this she had to become part of the royal harem. After twelve months of beauty treatments, she would be called to the king, probably much older than her, to please him in whatever way he desired. Her sacrifice is unthinkable! She would lose her virginity and become the possession of the king.
 
After her night with the king, Esther was named queen but was only permitted to see him if called upon. Becoming aware of Haman's evil plot against the Jewish people, Esther became an advocate for them and fasted and prayed with them for three days. The plan was for Esther to go to the king without being summoned which could mean death for her unless he extended his golden scepter. Knowing this, Esther sent a message to her people: "...I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." The favor of the Lord was with her, and the king gave her permissions to write another decree that allowed the Jews to "attack those seeking their destruction." (Esther 9:2) "This happened on the 13th day of the month of Adar, and on the 14th, they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy." (Esther 9:17)
 
Ester 9:23 says, "The Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun..." The celebration continues to this day. In Israel, the Jews party in the streets, dressed in customs of the characters in the story and "booing" when Haman appears. Sadly, the anti-Semitic spirit lives today through Hamas. I would imagine that the joy meant for this season will be tempered by the sorrow of the great losses that have been inflicted on the people of Israel. May I suggest that we pray for comfort, peace, and strength for the Israelis, especially during this season? Perhaps God will raise up another advocate for His people.

​This past week we entered the eleventh month on the Hebrew calendar called Shevat. The focus this month is on trees and water. In the Scripture humankind is likened to trees. We, like trees, are called to be life-giving by bearing fruit. In fact, when God created Adam and Eve, He told them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1:28)
 
On the fifteenth of this month there is a celebration called "Tu B’Shevat" or the New Year for Trees. During this celebration new trees will be planted. They, like us, need to be planted where they will be watered, and their roots can take hold in rich soil. Psalm 1:1-3 gives us a key to God's blessings: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." 
 
Jeremiah 17:7 and 8 has a similar message to Psalm 1. "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."  Trust comes from the heart, and our confidence in God is what allows us to touch the living stream of God's presence so that our lives will be fruitful.
 
Zechariah tells us about "The Day of the Lord" when He comes as a warrior to fight for Israel. "On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem..."  (Zechariah 14:8) The prophet Isaiah says of God's people, "I will extend peace to her like a river and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream." (Isaiah 66:12) Joel 3:18 also talks about living water that will flow from God's house. "In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord's house and will water the valley of acacias." 
 
All who dwell by the living water that God provides are destined to be healthy, happy, and fruit-bearing. It is no coincidence that the constellation that appears in the sky during this month is Aquarius, “the water carrier.” God intends for His river of life to touch us and for our roots to awaken to His ever-flowing stream. We must ask ourselves where we have rooted and how we are being watered.
 
When Jesus stopped at Jacob's well and met the Samaritan woman He explained, "Whoever drinks the water I give to him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water, welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13, 14) Jesus is the source of everything that we need. Let's root ourselves in His living Word and allow His Holy Spirit, the River of Life, to saturate us so that our roots are strengthened, and we bear abundant fruit.

​A principle that is especially important to God but rarely talked about in the Church is called the "Principle of Firstfruits." What we say to God when we practice firstfruits giving is that we honor and worship Him, we have faith in Him, and we bless Him. The idea is that we are setting aside the first and best portion of what we have in gratitude to Him.
 
God introduced the principle of firstfruits to the children of Israel as they camped at Mount Sinai and after Moses met with Him to receive the Ten Commandments and other laws. He told them, "Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me...Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crop you sow in your field...Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord." (Exodus 23:14, 16, 19)
 
Monthly, the Israelites celebrate what they called Rosh Chodesh (The Head of the Month) or The New Moon Festival. Firstfruits offerings were an integral part of these celebrations. Not only did they set aside the firstfruits of their time to worship the Lord, but also the firstfruits of their possessions and crops. When King Hezekiah was arranging for worship contributions, he assigned priests and Levites to give thanks and sing praises. Second Chronicles 31:4 and 5 tells us what he did next: "He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and all that the fields produced."
 
It seems to me that when we follow the principle of firstfruits we are showing God our hearts toward Him. Only the Lord is worthy of receiving our first and best offerings. What does this look like for us today? How do we acknowledge the one who provides for our sustenance and increase? For most of us firstfruits are no longer tied to fields and growing. Today it is all about our lives and sacrificing in a way that we put Him first in our lives. We must ask ourselves if we are giving the Lord our first and best in time, resources, and love. We must be intentional in what we do and how we do it.
 
Romans 11:16 says, "For if the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches." According to the Passion Translation footnotes, the firstfruit portion of the dough refers to Abraham and the patriarchs, whereas the batch of dough refers to those descended from them. Since the first "portion" was dedicated to God, the rest belongs to Him also and is considered consecrated to God's use. James 1:18 explains further: "He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created."  
 
With the New Year upon us, it is appropriate that we offer the Lord the firstfruits of our time and resources. Let's remember all the ways He has been faithful to us in the year 2024 and that as the God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He will be faithful to us in 2025. Isn’t He  worthy of our worship?

​We have another interesting convergence occurring on December 31. It includes New Year's Eve, Day six of the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), and Rosh Chodesh (Head of the Month) for the tenth month on the Hebrew calendar, called Tevet. Hanukkah is a reminder that God wants our temples cleansed. When the Maccabees overcame the Syrian Greek army, they found their temple in a shambles and went about restoring it. Only one vial of oil was discovered for lighting the menorah. The miracle of this festival is that the Temple was illuminated for eight days with this vial. By then the priests were able to provide freshly made oil so that the light would continue.
 
Since our new year is 2025, we highlight the number five as it represents grace, goodness, restoration, and God's favor. The prophets are reminding us that there are five books in the Torah (first five books of the Bible) and that this is the year that we should put emphasis on the Word of God. The fifth book of the Bible is Deuteronomy, which is all about preparing to occupy the Promised Land. Consequently, we should position ourselves to cross over into the promises that God has for us.
 
Now, let us look at the Head of the Month (Rosh Chodesh). Please note that the Hebrew word Chodesh comes from Chadash which means to renew, rebuild, repair, and heal. At the beginning of every month the moon is a slight sliver in the sky. I so enjoy watching it grow to a full moon. It is a prophetic picture of what is to come. The light of the new year and the light of the menorah grow just as the moonlight and the daylight increase. Likewise, God is all about expanding and renewing our lights.
 
There is another convergency to take note of. The tenth month of the Hebrew calendar, Tevet, has within it January 20. Since ten is the number of godly authority, we should be praying for our new Commander in Chief in the White House. We must ask God to fill Donald Trump with godly wisdom. Pray that every decision he makes brings the Lord's blessings and prosperity to our country. This month we should be cognizant of our responsibility to pray for all our leaders. Let us build them up with prayer so that the enemy cannot get to us through them. Tevet is associated with the Hebrew letter AYIN which is a picture of an eye and of a well or spring of flowing water. These pictures tell us to be watchful against those who look to do evil. However, we should be excited that new life will be flowing as we enter the new year.
 
I am so blessed that my church, The Crossing, is beginning the new year with a week of fasting and worship to the Lord. This is the best way for us to start the beginning of the year and the head of the month. Fasting is a discipline that cleanses our systems and allows us time to reflect on the past year and look to God for direction for our futures. Let us use the new year to develop our spiritual hunger for the Lord and to realign our priorities by putting emphasis on our relationship with Him. We must look for the path of ever-increasing light and follow it. "The path of righteousness is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” (Proverbs 4:18)