Hebrew Months – It Is Finished

Av 5777 (2017)

promises Av is such a great month.. full of promise… even though on the Hebrew calendar this month is considered to be a low point….. a month of sorrow. When studying the Hebrew months, we are to look for the redemptive side of things and pull out the treasure… pull out God’s original plans and purposes for each month.

It was originally meant to be the month that the Israelites entered into the Promise Land but on the 9th of Av, ten of the spies came back with an evil report.. a report full of unbelief. They came back and gave the people a mixed report(Numbers 13:25-14:10). They told them that yes it was true that it was a good land…. flowing with milk and honey…. BUT there was no way that they could take the land because the giants were not only bigger than them but too big even for God. There was a zero chance of success! That report struck fear into the hearts of the people and caused an entire generation to miss out on entering into the promises of God and they had to in the wilderness for 40 years until they died there!

That story makes me think of Acts 13:36 that David had served his generation well. It says he served God’s purposes in his generation. The ten spies didn’t serve their generation well.. they didn’t serve God’s purposes in their generation. They caused their generation, through their mixed words of unbelief, to miss out on the purposes of God.

I want to be one who serves my generation well. I want the words of my mouth to cause faith to arise in the hearts of those around me… to release life and destiny to them. To encourage and help my generation reach their destinies and for the purpose of God to be manifested in their lives. I choose to speak words of life… to give a report that stirs the hearts of those around me to press into the promises of God. So that one day, like David, when it is time for me to “fall asleep” and be buried that it will be said of me that I served the purposes of God in my generation.

So even in a month viewed as a low point on the Jewish calendar, we can choose to see it as God originally intended….a month of goodness, grace and favor. A month of fulfilled destiny and promise! A month of Holy Spirit’s transforming power (the 5th Hebrew letter hey which is connected to this month) making us fruitful and productive, taking what we are not and making us into what He has called us to be… as in taking Abram from father to Abraham “father of a multitude”.

He added part of His name to Abram’s which caused him to be fruitful and productive. Likewise, He added Himself to us, being made one with us… we are now IN CHRIST and CHRIST is in us….and we are transformed in newness… with His Nature… bearing good fruit.

The name Av literally means “father.” Av derives from the root, which means, “to will” or “to desire.” This is a month for us to walk in the Father’s will for us. It is a month to hear and then speak forth what you have heard from the Father… just like Caleb and Joshua. They had another spirit… they wholeheartedly followed after God. They were “filled” with following after God… there wasn’t any room in them for anything else. They had no plan B… they had no mixed reports. They heard God’s promises and then saw through eyes of faith that they were well able to take possession of His promises.

Caleb is one of my favorites in the Bible. He is always so optimistic and full of undaunted faith…. wholehearted and unwavering! Verse 30 in chapter 13 says that he silenced the people and told them “we are well able to overcome”… in the Hebrew he said we are “yakol yakol”. He repeated the word, which means able, to have power, to prevail, to overcome! Repetition of a word shows intensity. He was in effect saying, “come on boys!! We’ve got this!! We can do it… we are strong in the Lord and the power of His might!”

Even when he is 80 and finally ready to enter the promise land with the 2nd generation of Israelites, he asks for the biggest mountain which was inhabited by the fiercest of the enemies to possess! His faith only got stronger during the 40 years of waiting. I’m sure he probably spent the 40 years serving this 2nd generation well. Stirring their hearts with courage and faith so that they would be able to walk in the purposes of God.

In chapter 14 the people had caved and given in to fear because the ten had spread an evil report after Caleb had spoken… that word dibbah means to whisper, to defame or slander.. from a root word meaning to move slowly, to glide, to cause to speak. Comparable to a word that means to walk slow or leisurely. These men did more than just “give” an evil report to the congregation…. they did more that just give their fearful opinion of the matter. These 10 men moved slowly through the camp from one person to the next whispering and slandering the promise of God. Telling the people that “this land… the land God has given us is not safe. It devours, it consumes its inhabitants and it is full of “giants of the giants.” And we saw ourselves as but grasshoppers and therefore they see us like that also!”

Chapter 14 begins with saying they raised a loud cry (in Hebrew they set, or established their voices). Even after hearing the encouragement of Caleb they made a choice to set their voices to speak contrary to what God had promised. Then it says they grumbled against Moses. The Hebrew word for grumble or murmur is “lun” which is to lodge, or to abide. Grumbling, murmuring, complaining was abiding in them instead of the Word of God. John 15:7 tells us that if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us we can ask whatever we desire and it will be done for us. Their grumbling pitted them against Moses and Aaron… it actually says “over” Moses and Aaron. Grumbling not only pits you against leadership but causes you to think you are over or above them.. which is pride.

This caused them to say two things

“we wish we had died in Egypt or in this wilderness”
“God’s purpose was to bring us into a land where we would be prey for the enemy. It is good that we return to Egypt. Let’s make… let’s establish or set… a captain, a leader and return to Egypt.”

Wow!! They didn’t just react with fear to the possibility of the Promise Land being hard to conquer…. they spoke out against the purpose of God and accused God of having an evil purpose for them!

Joshua was another one who was full of faith and courage. After he and Caleb tore their clothes in response to the Israelite’s words against God, Joshua tried again to encourage these rebellious people. He assured them that it was a very good land. In fact he uses the word very twice… a very, very, good land. An exceedingly, great land!! He goes on to say that the Lord’s desire is to bring us into and give us a land flowing (gushing or overflowing) with milk and honey. Overflowing and gushing with ALL GOOD THINGS! Overflowing and gushing with prosperity and abundance. He encourages them not to rebel against God and also not to fear the people of the promise land who will be our prey because the Lord is not with them and they have no defense.

The Israelites responded by wanting to stone Joshua and Caleb.

Regardless of the Israelite’s response and the fact that they were not persuaded and moved by Joshua and Caleb’s words, Caleb and Joshua had served their generation well and were allowed to serve the next generation well and enter the Promise Land with them.

God will have a people, even if He has to raise up a second generation to receive and walk out what the first generation refused.

This month be determined to be one who speaks forth a good report… a God report. Be one who chooses to see with eyes of faith… wholehearted in following after God… in being led by His Spirit into His exceedingly great promises. Be a strong leader of faith, encouraging others to step out into God’s purposes for their life. Serve your generation well – Acts 13:36

~ Robin

SaveSave

Shevat 5777 (2016)

blessed-1 Wow, it’s been almost two months since I’ve written on this blog. I’ve meant to, but life sometimes just gets busy. And time does fly when you’re having fun.

We spent seven weeks down in San Clemente at the end of the year, and it was lovely. We rented a condo that had a panoramic ocean view, and I spent the time just relaxing, reading, and spending quality family time with my husband and kids. Just allowing God to refresh my soul. I slept better than I had in a long time. I spent dinners, coffee dates and beach time with good friends who have become more family than friends. Just simple, pleasant long chats with girlfriends who encourage me, build me up and cause me go farther with God. I was also teaching the book of Hebrews at our church down there as well as doing my weekly online teaching of the book of Romans. The Hebrews study is finished, and we are wrapping up our Romans study next week. So, I’ll now have more time to devote to this blog, and I’ve been putting together notes and studies for a book I’m working on.

We are almost at the end of the month of Shevat. Shevat is spelled shin-beit-tet in Hebrew. Shin is a picture of a crown. Beit is a house, household or family. Tet is the letter for goodness. Shevat is a reminder that God has crowned our households…..our families with goodness. Psalm 65:11 “You crown the year with your goodness, and your paths drip with abundance. Another translation says even the hard places overflow with abundance.

Asher is the tribe associated with the month of Shevat. Asher means blessed or prosperous and comes from the root word “ashar” meaning to go on, to advance or to make progress. Asher was blessed with the potential for every earthly blessing – abundant resources, the most fertile land in Canaan, many children, peace with the other tribes, the favor of God and security from enemies. He is known as the prosperous one.

His blessing from Moses indicated both prosperity and pleasure. Asher is the blessing beyond the norm – to be given more than what is necessary for just basic survival. 2 Cor 9:8 “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others (New Living Translation).” 1 Tim 6:17b “….. place your confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” We are meant to not only be prosperous but to enjoy that prosperity, both the spiritual and earthly riches.

We are in the decade of 70 on the Hebrew calendar which means ayin. Ayin is symbolic of the ability to see or perceive and the choice of good and evil. This decade (2010-2019) is a season to have increased vision. To open our spiritual eyes and begin to see from God’s perspective.

From God’s perspective everything He is ever going to do for us has already been done in Jesus. 2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” Has given us… it’s past tense. It’s already done. All that we have to do is receive it and walk in it. To do that we have to change our perception and see it as God does. Sometimes our vision gets clouded by our five senses and by circumstances in life. At times, others words can cause us to see ourselves through their perception of us instead of God’s. God’s Word is a mirror. When we look into it, we see who we truly are. Created in His image and His likeness. We are joint heirs in Christ.

Exchange your vision for His. Begin to see that He has already given you everything you will ever need for life… and for godliness. Allow God to do the exceedingly, abundantly, above all you could ask, think, hope or imagine in your life this month in and through you!

This month walk in the revelation of all that God wants to do in your life… the prosperity He wants to pour out on you… not just enough but overflow. Prosperity AND pleasure! Walk in His goodness, in His richness. This is a month to go forward and continue on in the inheritance He has blessed us with. In Shevat, let’s remember to enjoy His bounty in our lives… to be happy…. full of joy, proclaiming “I am blessed with prosperity and pleasure in Christ Jesus”. This is a GOOD month.

♥ Robin

Hebrew month of Tevet 5777 (2016)

god_is_good Today we enter into the Hebrew month Tevet. Tevet is the 10th month of the year on the Hebrew Biblical calendar. 10 is a number of divine order … 10 is also 5 + 5… five being the number of grace or in this case, a double grace…. multiplied grace… abundant grace… dare I say it?… hyper grace! 😮

Tevet is a month full of the goodness of God. The first two letters in the word Tevet is tet and vav. Tet and vav make up the word “tov” which means good. The first time the letter “tet” is used in Scripture is Genesis 1:4 …. and God saw that it was good. The final letter in Tevet is also “tet”…. so the whole word Tevet from beginning to end is a word full of God’s goodness. A month beginning with goodness and ending with goodness.

I’m a lover of all things good. I’m an incurable optimist. I like looking for redemption and goodness….in people and all things in general. I do believe it’s a gift from God… I’ve always been like that. My mom nicknamed me Pollyanna Sunshine when I was little because of this abundance of optimism and hope. Though, these past couple of years, there have been a lot of personal challenges that would try to produce a critical spirit instead of seeing the good.

Sometimes it is going to require more effort than usual to find the good in something…. thank God for His grace to help in those times. Especially today when we are inundated with bad news from the media, bad attitudes from people, etc. It’s a choice we have to make. And when we make the choice, God will be faithful to open our eyes to see something good… even if it’s just hidden potential…or buried treasure in someone. Then we get the privilege and joy of co-laboring with Him to pull out that potential and treasure in those around us.

If I want to be like my heavenly Father then I need to make that choice to look for the good in everything around me daily. Because He is good… ALL THE TIME! In fact, good isn’t just a description of Him… it’s who He is. 1 Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Good in this Scripture is called an absolute noun, meaning it follows another noun forming a single idea. “Good” and God are one single thought. There is no “good” separated from God and then associated with Him. “Good” and God are the same thing (see my blog post on Goodness and Goodness and Grace)

I’ve been teaching weekly Bible studies this past year and I’m always amazed when I teach on the goodness of God, how some people will adamantly argue against it. They prefer to see God as judgmental, harsh, punishing and while they’ll see Him as sometimes good it’s based on only if they’ve done something to deserve it. Sadly, their interpretation of Scripture is in light of that perception of God…. and their representation of Jesus and of the Father is also through that perception.

There is nothing I can ever do to deserve His goodness. He is not good to me because I’m being good and “obeying” His Word (for a definition on obeying see my blog post on No Hebrew word for obey). Goodness just overflows out of Him in my life because it’s who He is. He can’t help Himself. He’s not angry with us… He’s not angry with the sinner who is unsaved either. That’s the good news of the Gospel. Jesus satisfied the wrath of God, the punishment we deserved for sin, and He reconciled us to God.

Then He made us ambassadors of that reconciliation (2 Cor 5:20). It’s going to be hard to be an effective ambassador for Christ if we fail to see the goodness of God in the land of the living (Ps 27:13). 2 Cor 5:19 says “He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” We have been anointed to preach the good news just like Jesus (see my blog post on Jesus is our Jubilee, The widow of Sidon and one of my favorites Naaman the Syrian). No one wants to be reconciled to an angry, harsh, God who is only going to breathe down our necks and punish us every time we slip up….. that’s not the good news of the Gospel.

This month of Tevet, I encourage you to dig deeper into the Word and find out about the goodness of God… to quote Bill Johnson, “He’s better than you think”. We have a responsibility to re-present Him correctly. The more we begin to see Him as good in the Word, the more we will begin to see the goodness in the people around us and in this beautiful world of ours.

Then our co-laboring will be a joy to us and we will become true ambassadors of Christ…. running after ALL people, begging them to be reconciled to God because He is GOOD and wants to overflow that goodness into their lives.

~ Robin

Kislev 5777 (2016)

identity 1 I have been blogging about the Hebrew months for 2 years now and I’ve learned so much. God’s calendar is not like ours…. He has a different way of looking at time. After all, He created time! He designed a calendar to help us stay in step with Him as we move through the year. His calendar was established at creation….

Gen 1:14 “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years”.

On God’s calendar day begins in the evening not the morning. Night watches set the stage for the new day. His calendar includes “set apart” or “appointed” days such as the yearly cycle of Feasts and the weekly Sabbaths. Israel began every month with a first fruits celebration called Rosh Chodesh (Head of the Month). They did this because they wanted to honor God at the start of every month and during this celebration they also gathered to seek prophetic direction for each month….because they knew every month was like a prophetic season for them. Gathering for First-fruits allowed them to live in sync with God’s timing.

So, what is God saying about the month of Kislev…..

The month of Kislev (כִּסְלֵו in Hebrew) is considered a “month of darkness” because as you move through Kislev the days get shorter and the nights get longer. But Kislev is not only a month of darkness but a month of light shining in the darkness. It is the month of Chanukah, which is the festival of lights. God has called us to be a light in the darkness to the world… not just in this month but all the time.

Matthew 5:14 in the Message translation says “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.” Verse 16 in the same translation says “Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” I LOVE that! By opening up and being generous of myself, my family, my home, my possessions, it will prompt them to open up with God!

Kislev is also the 9th month. Nine is the number for fruitfulness, completion, fullness of blessings and Holy Spirit. It is the 9th month on the Hebrew Biblical calendar (counting from Nisan)….. it is a number of Divine blessings, divine completeness, and divine judgment. 9 is the number of gifts of the Holy Spirit and there are 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit. Twice in the book of Acts the 9th hour is associated with prayer (Acts 3 and Acts 10) And then of course the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost at 9am in Acts 2:15! Through the number 9 of this month God gives us a prophetic revelation of what to believe for in our lives…. again, not just this month but all the time. So let’s believe God for an increase of supernatural healings, angelic visitations, and Holy Spirit outpourings upon our households and families.

Nine is also usually a number representing finality and judgement. Lately I’ve been studying a lot on grace and the finished work of the cross… I think the number 9 represents the finality (completeness) and judgement of the Cross so beautifully… God’s judgement was poured out on Jesus who was crucified at 9am (Mark 15:25) and then at the 9th hour (3pm) He said “it is finished!” We are able to walk in the gifts and the fruit of Holy Spirit because of the finished work of the Cross and in our set prayer times let us continually give thanks to God for the judgement He poured out on Jesus and for the grace of this finished work… the complete work… that grace that enables us to live on Earth as it is in Heaven… to walk in our inheritance… no sickness, no poverty, no lack, only total victory in all areas of our life

I think the most important thing about this month is receiving revelation of your true identity. Kislev is the month of the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin… it is a month to begin to uncover your true identity. Whenever God changes someones name in scripture, their destiny changes… their new identity becomes their true identity… the identity He had for them all along.

Gen 35:18 Rachel was dying. As she took her last breath, she named her son Benoni [Son of My Sorrow], but his father named him Benjamin [Son of My Right Hand].

Benjamin was one of those individuals who had a name change which altered the course of his destiny. Although the tribe of Benjamin lost their way for a bit and were almost destroyed (see the story in Judges 20 – they lost 25,000 men! Only 600 survived) they ended up strong with members of their tribe saving the Jewish population (Esther and Mordecai) and writing almost the entire New Testament and fulfilling Israel’s destiny of being a light to the Gentiles (Apostle Paul)

Benjamin was the youngest child of Jacob and Rachel….and one of the smallest of the tribes of Israel. Rachael’s first son was Joseph and her second was Benjamin. She died giving birth to him. Before she died, she named him Benoni (son of my pain). Jacob knew this was not the identity God wanted him to have and so he renamed him Benjamin (son of my right hand… or son of honor). God’s destiny for Benjamin is in Gen 49:27 “When Jacob blessed him he said, “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” The tribe of Benjamin were fierce warriors, skilled in warfare… trained to hit the mark. The tribe of Benjamin had many distinguished slingers and archers such as in Judges 20:16, where we read of 700 “left-handed” slingers who could sling stones at a hair and not miss! One such Benjamite by the name of Ulam, had 150 sons and grandsons who were expert archers. (1 Chron 8:40) while King Asa had an army comprised of 280,000 valiant warriors from the tribe of Benjamin. (2 Chron. 14:8, 17:7)

King Saul was a Benjamite and also a skilled warrior (a quality God would use to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines – see 1 Sam 9:16)… however, nothing of spiritual significance is ever mentioned when we are introduced to Saul in 1 Sam 9:2. What is mentioned is how impressive his lineage and family status is and his physical appearance. Saul is chosen as king because the people asked to be given “a king to lead them like the other nations” (1 Sam 8:5). Even after Samuel warns them that he (Saul – whose name means “asked of”) will be a king that will take everything from them (sons, daughters, land, vineyards, etc) and make them like slaves… they still choose to have a king.

God, however, in His grace, put a new heart in Saul and made him a changed man (1 Sam 10:6,9) He did this in order to help him succeed as a righteous king. In contrast, David needed no such change in order to rule… he was already a man after God’s heart, having spent his whole life cultivating a relationship with God. God literally changed Saul in order to make him the kind of man who could rule and be King. When God removed His anointing… from Saul, He truly removed the qualities that made him king. He left behind the man Saul originally had been and worse. He became the man who hunted and tried to kill David. However, his son Jonathan cut covenant with David which forever united the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Although the potential was there… Saul was given a new identity when he became a changed man with a new heart, his fear of men (1 Sam 15:24) caused his downfall. Rather than walk in the “new man” that he had become, he chose to fear the people instead of God.

Saul of Tarsus is another Benjamite who had an identity change….. he was given a new heart, a new nature, a new name (Paul) and also given the Name above all Names! He was changed from Saul to Paul in Acts 9. Unlike the king who he was originally named for, Paul chose to walk in this new identity and fulfill the destiny God had for him…. a destiny which included writing most of the New Testament, planting churches, and being an apostle to the Gentiles…. he advanced the Kingdom. He counted the natural qualities of his old self (which were quite impressive) as nothing… in fact he called them “rubbish or dung” compared to gaining Christ. He received from God the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness and therefore “reigned” in life IN CHRIST.

Sometimes circumstances or people in life brand you with an identity that God never chose for you. The way you view yourself is not how God views you. This month choose to change your identity and be all that God has called you to be. If you are like king Saul, held captive by fear, this is a month to be set free. Ask God to show you the habit patterns and ways of thinking that hold you in an old cycle. Guard the word of your mouth, this is a time of confession and decree… what you say now determines your future. Ask God to breathe fresh revelation on you this month revealing your true identity in Christ… your sonship identity. And then begin walking as a son. For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation (the revelation) of the sons of God (Romans 8:19)

~ Robin

Cheshvan 5777 (2016)

cheshvan

“Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” ~ Isaiah 43:19

Tonight we enter into the month of Cheshvan. It is the 8th month on the Hebrew calendar. Eight symbolizes new beginnings. I have always loved new beginnings or new starts. The New Year, fresh new seasons, new adventures…. even as a kid I loved starting a new school year, with the brand new books and pencils, a new classroom, the promise of learning something new that I didn’t know before. It was always a time full of anticipation and hope that anything could happen!

In Isaiah 43:19 God talks about doing something new… “Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” A few verses before that He reminds Israel of all He has done for them.. the miraculous way He delivered them out of Egypt and overthrew their enemies. And then He says “But forget all that – it’s nothing compared to what I am going to do! (NLT)”… I love that! It would be easy to just camp right there… to live on the past miracles… on His past wonders that He has done for us. But He is saying to forget all that! The New American Standard version says not to “ponder the things of the past” and the NIV says not to “dwell on the past” As wonderful as the past miracles were, He is wanting to do new things, fresh things for us…. things that will surpass the old things He has done. Remembering the past, keeps us looking backwards…. God is wanting us to look ahead in expectancy for what He wants to do now and in our future.

The word “new” in this passage means “fresh,” but it also means to “renew” and to “rebuild. The word “renewal” implies a repairing or a replacement of something. For us as believers this new thing in Isaiah speaks of Christ Jesus. All of His grace, all of His goodness, His promises… His benefits are ours in Christ. The cross was a finished work… all of His benefits are ours by right of Covenant… but it takes renewing our minds to walk in our inheritance. As I study His Word, my mind is renewed…. old thought patterns and wrong traditions (doctrines of unbelief) that I’ve learned have to be cast down and replaced with right believing. Each day I learn “new things” in His Word… new areas of grace that belong to me… peace, prosperity, divine health (not just healing!). I am learning that these things are mine because they were purchased for me by my Savior and released to me by my loving Father… not because I obey and follow rules, but because they are my inheritance in Christ. This “new thing” He does for me on a daily basis….by revealing to me areas of unbelieving thoughts and teaching me how to take those thoughts captive, causing me to grow in His Word… to grow in grace… this right believing results in right living that glorifies Abba Father!

God desires to replace an old belief system and relationship with Him (that has been limited by mindsets, doctrines, etc.) with an updated and even repaired relationship and revelation of Him. So often we allow our own fears, circumstances or wrong teaching to determine our believing when it comes to grace, healing, prosperity, etc. He desires to repair our belief system and reestablish the truths of grace and faith and righteousness… giving us fresh revelation of the finished work of the Cross and what Jesus purchased for us and set us free from…. free from all sin, sickness, disease, poverty, oppression, etc. This renewal will bring forth a refreshing and in the midst of this, His perfect plan for our lives will be rebuilt. To make this shift, will require that we be willing to come out of our comfort zones, our comfortable doctrines and comfortable mindsets…. like the children of Israel to go to a new place where we’ve never gone before.

Joshua gave the children of Israel a few instructions in order for them to successfully navigate this new land. In chapter 1 verses 10-11, Joshua instructed his officers (in Hebrew officers is “shoter,” referring to a person of authority… an overseer or ruler) to “Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Prepare in Hebrew is “kun” is more than just getting ready, it means to be established in readiness. It also means to be fixed and stable. Prepare your provisions! What new thing is God doing in your life in this season? What is He rebuilding or renewing in you? Is it prosperity or healing?…. get your provisions prepared. Get established in readiness. We do this through prayer, studying the Word and renewing our minds…taking captive every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ. Dig in the Word and find out what the Word says about His promises… forget what you think you know, what you’ve been taught or what your circumstances are saying to you about His promises. Allow Holy Spirit to breathe life and fresh revelation into your spirit man as you read the Word.

In chapter 3 verses 1-4 Joshua gives a second set of instructions to the children of Israel through the message of his officers… “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer. They are instructed to stay behind the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant (symbolic of God’s presence). These people are to follow behind the priests (in Hebrew to walk after them). The priests will guide them…. so that they (the people) will know the way to walk. Ephesians 4:11 tells us the Jesus gave gifts to the church… apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Verse 12 tells us that these gifts were given to us to equip or perfect us…. in Greek it means to enable the individual parts to work together in correct order… and to build us up or edify us….in Greek it means constructive criticism and instruction that builds a person up to be the suitable dwelling place of God, i.e. where the Lord is “at home.” In this new season where God is renewing and rebuilding your faith to walk in His promises, it’s important to follow after “the priests” (the 5 fold ministers) who truly believe the Word and teach it truthfully. Those who anointed to lead the body of Christ and have the heartbeat of God… saying what He is saying.

Then in verse 5 Joshua gives them their final instructions before crossing over which is to purify or sanctify themselves. 1 Cor 1:2 says that God made us holy by means of Christ Jesus. Verse 30 says that Christ made us right with God, he made us pure, holy and free from sin (NLT)… He became for us righteousness, holiness and redemption. In this season, we have to know who we are in Christ… to know our identity. He has already made us pure… we just need to know what the Word says about who we are. Get a list of scriptures that tell you who you are in Christ… there are about 133 scriptures! Read them daily, meditating on them and allowing them to replace wrong beliefs.

The tribe associated with the month of Cheshvan is Manasseh. Manasseh was the first born son of Joseph. Manasseh and his brother Ephraim were adopted by Isaac and received Joseph’s inheritance and became tribes like 10 of Joseph’s brothers…they represent the next generation. They didn’t have to sit out and wait their turn by waiting until a generation passed away. They were adopted in and received the same responsibilities and blessings as the older generation. Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh were grouped together as 1 tribe on the west side of the Tabernacle. They were the youngest and smallest of tribes. Their responsibility in war was to defend the Holy things of the Tabernacle. This is a beautiful picture of the responsibilities of the next generation… they have to be taught to guard what is holy. Are we training this next generation to guard what is holy? By teaching them who they are in Christ and teaching them how to guard that identity and the inheritance through that identity that belongs to them.

This month I challenge you to stretch yourself and renew your mind in areas and promises of the Word that maybe you’ve not fully believed… maybe it’s healing, prosperity, righteousness or abundant grace…. and then teach your children to walk in those things and guard them for future generations… because ALL of His promises are yes and amen in Christ!

~ Robin

Hebrew month of Elul…… the King is in the field

We are currently in the month of Elul on the Hebrew Calendar. My favorite thing about this month is that it is known as the month the king is in the field. In the Bible, the king would leave his palace during the month of Elul and set up camp in the field and everyone was welcome to approach him.

Most of the year the king lived in a palace protected by guards and iron gates. To have an audience with the king, you had to be summoned. Should you approach without being summoned, you would die (Esther 4:11)… unless he extended the golden scepter to you and spared your life. After the summons, there was palace protocol to learn before you could approach a king. You had to dress correctly, speak correctly, and have proper mannerisms, your presentation had to be flawless. Once you got to the capital, you were ushered to the palace through the many intimidating gates, corridors and antechambers that lead to the throne room. Even the Queen of Sheba passed out when she came before King Solomon!

BUT….once a year in the month of Elul, the king would come into the field.

He would leave his palace and go out among his people. He would set up his royal tent in the field near a town and all who wanted to see him were welcome.

The announcement was made, The King is In the Field.

They were all welcome to come just as they were… no dress code, no protocol, no intimidation. The king receives them all with a smiling face and a radiant countenance, desiring to hear their concerns. The peasant behind his plow has access to the king in a manner unavailable to the highest ranking minister in the royal court when the king is in the palace.

Let’s look at a couple of Biblical examples of kings in the field. 2 Chronicles 19 is about king Jehoshaphat going into the field. Verse 4 says “So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.” The king went into the field to turn the people’s hearts back to the Lord — restoration. When he went out among the people he saw things God didn’t like…. injustice, bribery, and oppression. So, he established judges to end oppression and bring justice. — God wants his people to experience His character. He wants to manifest His Justice, His righteousness and His love — this wasn’t being seen among the people.

Another king who went out into the field is Melchizadek in Genesis 14. Melchizadek gave Abram bread and wine and blessed him saying: “Blessed is Abram by God and Blessed is God who delivered your enemies into your hand.” When Abram was weary from battle, king Melchizadek came into the field to strengthen and refresh him. He blessed Abram.

Of course, the greatest King who left His throne to come into the field was Jesus. He lived in our field in a tent of mortal flesh. He was God made accessible, smiling and radiant. He came to manifest God’s goodness, love and righteousness… to heal and deliver ALL. He came to draw us into a relationship with the Father. That’s what it looks like when the king is in the field.

He is the King of kings. Revelation 1:6 says He made us kings and priests. We are in the field. What should that look like? We should be walking among the people, receiving them with a smiling face, listening to their concerns and like Jehoshopat reconciling them back to God by manifesting His righteousness and love towards them…..

So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. ~ 2 Cor 5:20

Like Melchizadek, strengthening and refreshing them…letting them know they have been blessed by God. Offering them the bread and the wine… offering them Jesus and what He did for them through the Cross.

And like our King Jesus showing forth the nature of our Father… His goodness, love, righteousness. His ability to heal and deliver ALL. Drawing them into a relationship with a Good Daddy. Not just in the month of Elul but all the time.

~ Robin

Tammuz

Every month in Biblical times had a different meaning and purpose… it was a new prophetic season.

keep eyes on prize Jews in Biblical times had a special celebration at the beginning of every month, it was a time to put God first and seek direction for the new month. It was called Rosh Chodesh (Head of the Month). They came together to praise God, to give their first fruit offerings and to hear what God was saying for the month….to gain direction for the month ahead. They were only able to hear Him by listening to the prophets…..we, however, hear Him face to face. He abides in us and speaks directly to us.

Tammuz is the 4th month of the Hebrew Biblical calendar and the 10th month of the Jewish civil calendar. By looking at these Hebrew months in the Bible, we learn to think like God thinks. Romans 15:4 says For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Tammuz is a month that teaches us to worship and stay faithful. Each month was associated with a tribe and Tammuz was associated with the tribe of Reuben. By looking at Reuben we learn this month to wait on God and to choose to trust Him.

Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, and as such he was born into a position of great privilege.

In Genesis 49:3,4 Jacob prophesies over Reuben that “he is my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power.” This was Reuben’s position… firstborn son of Jacob. He was destined to inherit the double portion. He was to be the leader of the tribe as well as the priest of the family. But like his Uncle Esau, Reuben lightly esteemed his birthright…. he acted so disgracefully that he forfeited his birthright – Gen 35:22.

This incident changed the course of his life. The double portion was taken away and given to Joseph. His leadership as a tribe was taken away and given to Judah. His priesthood as a tribe was taken away and given to the tribe of Levi. When Jacob blessed the other sons he pronounced a curse on Reuben – telling him he would not excel.

Why did Reuben do this? As we look at Reuben’s family life, we see that their family had been through a traumatic period…..

They had fled from Laban who had chased them down and would have killed Jacob if God had not intervened.
Escaping Laban then they faced a confrontation with Esau who also tried to kill Jacob
Entering Canaan their sister Dinah was raped at Shechem and two of her brothers massacred all the men of the city in retaliation. Canaanites were outraged.
Fleeing Shechem, Rebekah’s nurse Deborah died and was buried at “The Oak of Weeping” Then Rachel went into labor and died giving birth to Benjamin.
Still, they journeyed on until they came to the tower of Eder where they finally stopped.

So the whole family had gone through a time of tremendous upheaval, violence, and loss. They had to just keep moving through all of it. Not until they stopped at the tower of Eder could they even begin to process what they had just gone through!

That’s when Reuben went in and found solace with Bilhah. He wasn’t even thinking about the Blessing that lay ahead in his future…. he wasn’t thinking about all he could lose because of this choice. He simply wanted comfort and he wanted it NOW!

He was desperate for comfort and security and sought them outside of God.

The biblical tower of Eder was built near Hebron as a watchtower that shepherds watched their flocks from. Eder became a symbol of God’s watchfulness over His people. It was a place of refuge. That’s where Reuben went to Bilhah. It was here that he should’ve sought refuge in God. Allowing Abba Father to refresh his soul… a soul that had been through a series of traumatic events. Doing that would have restored his vision and helped him walk out his prophetic destiny.

But instead, he sought out Bilhah. Bilhah means terror or trouble. It also means worn out…. something so worn out that it serves no purpose. Another possible definition means foolish. These definitions sum up for us what Reuben was experiencing when he slept with Bilhah. His action was foolish…Ps 14:1 – a fool says there is no God… a better translation is a fool says in his heart “no God!”. Reuben by yielding to sin was saying no to God… no to His promises, no to His destiny for Reuben, no to trusting God to see him through this terrible time in his life. He was so worn out in life that he ended up losing sight of his purpose in God.

Reuben’s name means “behold a son”. Behold means to see…. see a son! It’s important in this season that we begin to see ourselves as “sons”. Sonship is our destiny that was marked out for us in love by God (Eph 1:5). Having correct vision… seeing ourselves as God sees us, in a position of sonship… will keep us from forfeiting our spiritual inheritance.

God wants to awaken us to the revelation of “Sonship” in our lives in this season.

Psalms 2:7-8 tells us that we are to declare/decree our position as sons. Gal 4:1-7 tells us that it is time to claim our inheritance as sons because we are no longer slaves. And Romans 8:14-17 tells us that as sons & daughters we are endowed with authority in His kingdom. This is a time to displace, to cast off an “orphan spirit” and embrace the spirit of sonship that is ours, with all of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities (John 5:19).

Because of Reuben’s lack of vision, his birthright was forfeit. The wonderful inheritance… the prophetic destiny… God intended for him was lost. Reuben took his eyes off the prize (Phil 3:14). When you lose sight of the goal you are always in danger of not fulfilling your destiny. Wrong vision will cost you your inheritance. The sad thing is his descendants followed in his footsteps… the tribe of Reuben also lost their inheritance.

Next time we’ll look at how Reuben’s descendants followed in his footsteps……

~ Robin

Sivan – 5777 (2017)

Sivan is the month of Pentecost (or Shavuot as it’s called in Hebrew). Pentecost is God’s 2nd yearly feast (Ex 23:14-17)….. the first is Passover (Pesach), then Pentecost (Shavuot) and finally Sukkoth (Tabernacles). Pentecost is the feast of harvest or weeks. It is a celebration of provision. It initially marked the ingathering of the wheat harvest. Wheat ready to harvest marked a new season. The provision from previous seasons could no longer sustain them in a new season. Pentecost on Mt Sinai God provided the revelation they needed to walk with Him and understand His ways — it marked a new season for them.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. ~ Acts 2:1-4

Pentecost (Shavuot) was not a new thing to the disciples… they celebrated it every year. In Acts 2 the church was born… marking a new season. A time to go into all the world with the gospel… the provision of the last season wouldn’t sustain them… so at Pentecost, God poured out His Spirit and released His miraculous gifts. It marked the beginning of the “one-new-man” — the new humanity empowered to do God’s works. Pentecost represents the release from Heaven of God’s provision in every area of our life. God uses it to equip us with the new provision needed for a new season. When we celebrate Pentecost it actually unlocks and releases God’s provision for this new season.

This month expect God to open doors of provision that will equip you in a new season in your life.

BUT SIVAN IS MORE THAN JUST PENTECOST — SIVAN IS A MONTH OF RECEIVING NEW BOUNDARIES

At Sinai God began to set boundaries for His people. Boundaries help to define your identity… When God set boundaries for Israel He was defining them as a nation. Eph 1:5 says we are predestined for adoption as sons. The Rotherham translation says “in love marking us out beforehand unto sonship.”

Predestined means to establish boundaries.. in dealing with people it means to determine their destiny. Our destinies were determined.. marked out in sonship. This is the position IN CHRIST that He planned for us to walk in!

This is a month to press into the revelation of the boundary He set for us in the position of sonship. Ask Him to extend your borders… to extend your territories as you walk as a son releasing the Kingdom.

ENLARGE MY TERRITORY…….

The tribe associated with Sivan is Zebulon. Zebulon was a tribe faithful to the Lord. Deuteronomy 33:18-19 Moses prophesies over Zebulon that they will partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand. In Genesis 49:13 Jacob prophesied that Zebulon would dwell by the haven of the sea. Their prophetic destiny was to engage in trade and become wealthy through commerce on the sea — their symbol is a ship….they are tied to the sea.

In Joshua 19 when Israel entered the Promise Land, Zebulon was assigned a rich territory that was bordered by Asher, Naphtali, Issachar, and Manasseh. It was a great land but it left Zebulon with a problem… their prophetic destiny involved the sea… and here they were landlocked! How could they walk out their prophetic destiny where they were at??

GOD HAD PROMISED THEM A DESTINY BY THE SEA — BUT IN THEIR CURRENT SITUATION, THEY HAD NO ACCESS TO THE SEA!

What they did have was a wonderful trade route… the main east-west highway connecting the seas went through Zebulon. So they had no seaport but they did have an opportunity to begin moving toward one’s destiny in trade…..and that’s exactly what they did!

As the tribe of Zebulon was faithful to press into it’s prophetic destiny something happened — God shifted Zebulon’s boundaries. As Zebulon traded with those along the sea of Galilee, members of Zebulon settled in Naphtali and the 2 tribes intermingled. The land became known as the land of Zebulon and Naphtali (Mt 4:13). As Zebulon continued to be faithful to pursue their destiny right where they were, the same thing happened on the west with the tribe of Manasseh and the Mediterranean sea — God again shifted their borders.

By the 1st century, the Jewish historian Josephus said the territory of Zebulun reached all the way from the Mediterranean sea to the sea of Galilee….. the Mediterranean sea that was originally portioned to Manasseh and the Sea of Galilee that was portioned to Naphtali. Because they faithfully pursued God’s promise they gained seaports on two seas!

PURSUE YOUR PROPHETIC DESTINY WITH FAITHFULNESS!

Sometimes this happens with our lives. We have received a prophetic promise of our destiny and it feels as if we’re landlocked so to speak…. like we are so far from walking in and fulfilling that promise. Our present boundaries seem too narrow and not at all what God had promised us. But don’t respond to the promise in unbelief….pursue your call with faithfulness. Like Zebulon, work with what you presently have… they had a trade route and linked up with the tribes of Naphtali and Manasseh.

Naphtali means “pleasant words” and Manasseh means “cause me to forget” because Joseph was able to forget his past troubles and hardships. Apostle Paul in Philippians said “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” We need to say the same thing.

In order for God to enlarge our territory we need to be faithful in what we presently have and where we presently are…. by speak words of faith – declaring His prophetic promises over our lives.… and forgetting those things that are behind us — looking forward and pressing into our inheritance and the things purchased for us by Jesus at the Cross and Resurrection.

Our boundary that God marked out for us is sonship (Eph 1:5)…. let’s ask God to enlarge our territory in this new season…. for a larger territory for us to release His Kingdom and be a light to the nations.

~ Robin

Iyar — 5776 (2016)

Jehovah rophe necklace Last night we entered into the Hebrew month of Iyar. This is one of the three Spring months…. Remember that each month is a progressive blessing of revelation – the blessing of the Spring months are:

Reconfirm your covenant with God at Passover in the first month (Nissan)
So that, He can reveal secrets of His covenant in this second month (Iyar)
And then He will bring you into a whole new level of Pentecost in the third month (Sivan)

Spring is a time to plant…. as you sow this month declare that your harvest is being secured and that every seed will prosper. Biblically it is the “New year of Kings”… a time of counting the years of the reigns of kings in ancient Israel. It is also the month when kings go to war (2 Sam 10:1)… This is a time to reign as kings and to use your authority…. to war for your covenant promises. Zech 10:1 tells us to ask the Lord for rain in the springtime…. this month is a time to ask for the rain of His presence.

After coming out of Egypt, Iyar was the transition month between Egypt and Mt Sinai. It was a transition to a new level in their relationship with Him from being one of deliverance to one of covenant. The rabbis have traditionally taught that this new level was actually a marriage covenant between the Lord and Israel… He became their Husband. During this transition time, He began revealing His covenant secrets to them in the Wilderness.

In Ex 15:26 He revealed Himself to them as their Healer, Jehovah Rophe. In fact, Iyar is actually an acronym meaning Ani Yahweh Rophe. In Hebrew, it is spelled: Aleph, Yud, Yud, Resh….. “Ani Yahweh Rofecha. Aleph – stands for Ani, Yud – 2 yud’s next to each other always represent God’s name and Reish – stands for Rofecha.

In Ex 16:12 He revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh, the Lord their Provider as He sent in quail in the evening and rained down Manna (angel’s food) from Heaven. Another covenant secret He taught them was the Sabbath (Ex 16:26)… He was trying to teach them to rest in Him, that He would provide everything they would ever need. His provision was given even in their grumbling (Ex 16:2). In Ex 17 He revealed Himself as Jehovah Nissi, the Lord their Banner after their victorious battle against the Amalekites. This battle was only victorious because He was their banner and fought for them…. later after the report of the spies and they are judged to wander in the Wilderness for 40 years, they realize their sin and decide to go up and take the land against Moses’ counsel and are badly defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites.

In Ex 17 He revealed Himself as Jehovah Nissi, the Lord their Banner after their victorious battle against the Amalekites. This battle was only victorious because He was their banner and fought for them…. later after the report of the spies and they are judged to wander in the Wilderness for 40 years, they realize their sin and decide to go up and take the land against Moses’ counsel and are badly defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites. Our victories are only guaranteed IN CHRIST… Psalm 108:13; Psalm 60:12; How do we learn His secrets? Simply when we ask! Dan 2:21-22, Mt 13:11, James 1:5.

Iyar is often called the month of Ziv, meaning radiance. It is linked with light or increased revelation. It is the opposite of darkness….Isaiah 60:1-3. This is also the month the disciples were taught many things about the Kingdom by Jesus during the 40 days after His death and when they waited in the upper room to receive the promise from on High. Just like every year before, as tradition dictated, they spent the night before Shavuot (Pentecost) first taking an offering to the temple and then staying up all night studying the Word.

But this particular year on Shavuot, He fulfilled the prophecy in Joel 2. He poured out His Spirit upon them and they became changed men and women who went forth changing the world. This month we are still in the period of what is called counting the Omer. Omer in the Hebrew is to form and utter speech! This is a time to speak out the promises of God… releasing words that will help propel us into our destiny and transition us successfully into this new season!

Remember that this is the month of transition for them through the wilderness before Mt Sinai. In the wilderness they received grace – the word encampments translates “grace was available”.

This month walk in the abundance of grace that is yours IN CHRIST as you move towards the month of Sivan. This month begin to learn the ways of God….the secrets of His covenant.

The tribe associated with Iyar is “Issachar”, this is probably one of my favorite tribes. Jacob prophesied over Issachar in Gen 49:14-15 and Moses prophesied over them in Deut 33:18-19. Issachar was the 5th son of Leah…..five represents grace, goodness, and the favor of God. Issachar was a man of strength that would not hold back from hard work to establish a secure place to rest. He was a burden bearer… this links the anointing to intercession.

Men of Issachar were also prophetic people…. they not only had an understanding of the times and seasons but they also knew what Israel should do in those times and seasons… 1 Chron 12:40. Deut 27:12 reveals that an Issachar anointing understands the timing of God and the government of God, carries the burden of the Lord, and releases the blessing of God into the earth realm at the crossroads of every season.

IN CHRIST we have this same anointing….. to understand the timing of God and of His government…. to carry His burdens in prophetic intercession…. and to release His Blessing into the earth and to everyone we come in contact with. This month walk in the revelation of the Issachar anointing.

~Robin

Nisan – 5776 (2016)

Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you. ~ Exodus 12:1-2

barley yeshua

Last year as we entered into the Hebrew month of Nisan I woke up to a song in my heart and on my lips… “it’s a new season, it’s a new day….a fresh anointing is flowing my way…a season of power and prosperity…..it’s a new season coming my way.” And in prayer, I kept hearing God say “new day, new day!!” Then He led me to Joshua 1:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all these people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.” All of this happened in the Hebrew month of Nisan. A new day had come for the children of Israel… the old way of living (in the Wilderness) was over and it was now time to cross over into the Promise Land and receive all that God had promised them.

On this past Friday evening we entered into Nisan… on Saturday morning I woke up with an expectancy of something new. It felt as if something in the atmosphere had shifted. Saturday was also the day of Azusa Now in Los Angeles (which marked 110 years anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival) as well as United Cry DC in Washington DC. East coast and West coast worshipping together and crying out to God on the same day for revival in our land! A day of unity in the Body of Christ.

I believe we have entered into a new day… Saturday marked a day that everything changed… an historic day for us! For our nation! And not coincidentally it happened as we entered into the Hebrew month of Nisan. The month of Passover… a time of liberation, personal change, going from slavery to freedom, and the emerging out of the old.

Saturday I believe we “passed over” into a new season… a season that has shifted us and positioned us for the next Great Awakening. Rev. William Seymour, the leader of the Azusa Street Awakening, prophesied that in 100 years there would be an outpouring of God’s Spirit and His Shekinah Glory that would be greater and more far reaching than what was experienced at Azusa.

REVIVAL — A TIME OF GREAT AWAKENING IS UPON US!

Revival is defined as to live again, to receive again a life which has almost expired; to rekindle into a flame the vital spark which was nearly extinguished. Another great definition I read is “The Spirit of God working through the Word of God, in the lives of the people of God.”

Passover (which is in Nisan) is a time of revival and spiritual renewal, a restoration of the Power and Glory….a renewed interest in God! In Nisan the children of Israel shifted into a new season… a season of liberation as they followed Moses, the revivalist, out of Egypt. The children of Israel had been enslaved for 430 years and in Exodus 6 God told Moses that He heard their groanings….and He responded to their prayerful cries and to the hearts of His people… there was a revival of His covenant with Abraham.

Zech 10:1 tells us to ask the Lord for rain in the springtime…. this month is a time to ask for the rain of His presence. I loved that on Saturday the 8th (Azusa now and United Cry DC) it rained here in California and also in DC…. in fact my Facebook post that morning was Hosea 6:3 “He comes like the rain”. That day on Facebook I saw two different photos of rainbows… one over the colosseum in LA and two double rainbows a few days before over the Washington monument and the US capital.

It is also the month that the King had favor on Nehemiah and granted him permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. This was another time of revival for Israel…. in Nehemiah chapter 8 the people gather as Ezra reads the Word of God. They stood listening to the Word for about 6 hours!! Then they began weeping, because they realized how much they had sinned against God…. they were repentant… and worshipping God after it was read…. their hearts were revived and turned back to God. Again, this happened in the month of Nisan.

It is also month to watch your speech.. be aware of what your confessions are. Your Word confessions should “grab the wind” and change the atmosphere. Speak forth revival… in your life, your families, your city and your nation!

~ Robin