Maranatha - Awaiting Christ's Return

1 Cor. 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Month: December 2022 Page 1 of 2

Are You a Noah?

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On December 30, 2022

In Devotionals, Miscellaneous

Gen 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Good morning, Reader! My husband’s illness not only affects him but it affects me as well as our sons and their families. It’s a trial that is extremely difficult, but it is one that has shown me the Lord’s blessings through it all. My readings today were especially thrilling to my spirit!

I’ve read the account of Noah many times but I never thought about it in this way before. As I was commuting back home from the hospital, the Lord impressed upon my heart how I could glean from Noah’s life. Today’s verse said that Noah found grace in the Lord’s eyes. This same grace was given to me in 1980 when I got saved. As believers, we find grace as well in the Lord’s eyes. He tells us so in Ephesians 2:8-9, amen? I was saved by the grace of God and there’s not a thing I can do to gain entrance into Heaven. It’s all about Christ’s payment for my sins that gives me this wonderful blessing!

I think about the trial Noah went through as he tried to live a righteous life in a very wicked world. It must not have been easy for him. It had never rained on the earth so can you imagine what the people did when Noah preached there was a storm coming? Their hearts were so wicked, more so than our wicked world today! Only eight people entered that ark – only eight people in all the earth faithful! How sad is that!

When we are saved, God gives us strength and spiritual wisdom in order to live righteously. We are basically in the same boat as Noah, so to speak (no pun intended). Living in a wicked world calls every believer to shine the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. Noah had that same calling. Unfortunately, he was fighting a losing battle as far as winning souls is concerned. It’s not so for believers today. We still have opportunities so don’t give us the cause!

God told Noah there was a storm coming which would destroy the earth as he knew it. Noah didn’t have a Bible back then so God audibly spoke to him. But you and I have a Bible and we hear from God as He speaks to us through it. God warned Noah of an upcoming storm and gave him instructions on what to do to prepare for that storm. The Lord still does the same work today! Prophecy is right there for us to read and understand through God’s Holy Spirit. We know the storm that’s coming – God’s wrath and judgment is coming to this wicked world during the seven year Tribulation. While we wait for the Rapture to occur, we are to be busy building the church by adding souls to it. Because once the Rapture happens, the Bride of Christ is finished with building the church; just as Noah finished building the ark before the storm came. Those people had 120 years to repent. The world has had over 2,000 years to repent but that time is coming to an end.

My task of winning souls is not yet finished despite the trials I’m currently undergoing. My trials and tribulations will soon come to an end but in the meantime, the same God who helped Noah, is helping me! There is no trial too difficult that God can’t handle my friend. Be strong – don’t quit – the God of all creation is the same God who parted the Red Sea. He’s the same God that raised Lazarus. He’s the same God that healed blind Bartimaeus. Friend, we forget just who God is! There’s nothing impossible with Him! Praise the Lord!!!

Psa 121:1-2  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  (2)  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

This is the end of our series and I hope you have enjoyed it! Don’t these symbolic points of these Feasts excite your spirit? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ, personally or do you only know of Him? He is the true sinless Lamb of God! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Update on Family Illness

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On December 27, 2022

In Miscellaneous

Christmas has come and gone and we are now awaiting the entrance of a New Year! It’s hard to believe that we will be entering 2023 – it seems like yesterday we were celebrating the turn of the century! The Apostle James wrote:

Jas 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

I have been blessed to be able to show my husband that our wedding vows taken almost 49 years ago were meant with all my heart. We have had many “for better” days as well as “for worse” days. But whatever happens to him also happens to me. My heart aches to see him well again; and I must accept that it may not happen this side of Heaven.

Mar 10:7-9  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;  (8)  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.  (9)  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

It has been since December 6th that his health took a turn and we are at the height of this mountain. Although my husband is not completely alert to what has been happening, with the Lord’s help and guidance, I am. My two sons and their wives have been a blessing during this time and my close friends as well. The Throne of Grace is being bombarded with prayers on his behalf and I know that the Lord’s timing is not our timing.

Psa 121:1-3  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  (2)  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.  (3)  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

I know that it is Almighty God Himself that holds my husband and me in the palm of His hands (John 10:29) and His will shall be done for both of us. During the midst of this trial, He is the only One who can actually help us! May we walk this difficult path glorifying His name through it all! After all, He is the one that knows the exact time when we leave this earth (Job 14:5)! God is forever from eternity past, He is into eternity future and He has seen every minute of our lives. He knows our suffering (Psalm 56:8) and each tear is recorded!

Thank you for your prayers! As time permits, I am working on a new devotional series which will hopefully publish with the New Year. In the meantime, I pray you will enjoy the devotionals that I’ve written in the past. Since it was the topic of the end times that drew me to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, may I recommend the following be added to your daily reading? These aren’t exhaustive studies but there is enough information and Scriptures to lead you to the One Who loves you!!

Are We In The End Times?

The Rapture

Revelation At A Glance

Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed – Feast of Booths/Tabernacles

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On December 23, 2022

In Devotionals, Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed

Leviticus 23:33-44  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (34)  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.  (35)  On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.  (36)  Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.  (37)  These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:  (38)  Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.  (39)  Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.  (40)  And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.  (41)  And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.  (42)  Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:  (43)  That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.  (44)  And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

It’s a new day and I’m thankful to be alive to live in times such as these. You may wonder how I can be thankful for the chaos and hatred we are experiencing. I am thankful because we are part of the best generation and time in which to be alive! At this point in time, the Church who is alive at the time Israel became a nation (1948), will not experience death but will be Raptured when Christ comes in the clouds to get His Bride! That’s enough to make you shout, “Glory”!!

Today is our last Feast, the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles; in Hebrew it is called “Sukkot.” Its actual definition is a temporary dwelling or hut. This is a Festival where the Jews remember the 40 years their ancestors dwelled in the desert. The Lord God protected and provided for Israel during their journey in the desert. Remembering all that God had done for them is the focal point. These temporary huts are taken down at the end of the Feast and rebuilt the next year; in memory of Israel moving the tabernacle from place to place in the desert. This tabernacle was with them throughout their entire journey and God was with them that whole time.

Israel’s “temporary dwelling” is still true today. Once they enter into the Millennium, their Messiah will no longer be dwelling temporarily with them but for all eternity! Prophetically, we read in Micah 4:1-7 that Messiah will dwell among His people once again after the Second Coming. All remaining believing Jews will see their Feast of Booths come to a reality when they enter the Millennium Kingdom and their Messiah, Jesus Christ, will be among them! Hallelujah! Jesus will once again “tabernacle” with them! Praise the Lord! Can you imagine living during the Millennium and living like we were in the Garden of Eden? The thought of this brings joy to my heart! 😀

This is the end of our series and I hope you have enjoyed it! Don’t these symbolic points of these Feasts excite your spirit? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ, personally or do you only know of Him? He is the true sinless Lamb of God! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed – Day of Atonement

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On December 21, 2022

In Devotionals, Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed

Leviticus 23:26-32  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (27)  Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.  (28)  And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.  (29)  For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.  (30)  And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.  (31)  Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.  (32)  It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

Good morning! Today’s Feast is an exciting feast, in my opinion. The setting is the Second Coming of Jesus and Israel finally accepts Him as their Messiah! They look upon Him who died for their sin and became the sinless and perfect offering for all sins! Hallelujah! 🥰

You can read in detail how God instituted this Feast in Leviticus 16. However, prophetically speaking, we see in Zechariah 12:10 and Zechariah 13:1, that Israel will look upon Him whom they have pierced! This can only happen at Christ’s Second Coming, amen?

It’s interesting to me that the Scriptures above mention several times that NO work is to be done. This time was to be one of fasting and praying (Leviticus 23:27); Repeating this certainly must have some significance, amen? The only one who could do work was the high priest as he would be burning the offering to the Lord. Anyone who violated this would be destroyed (Leviticus 23:30). Do you see the significance here, reader? There is no one who can “pay” for his salvation. (Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8-9) Only the High Priest can do this for mankind. There can’t be any “work” done in order to gain eternal life, amen? This time was to be a time of prayer and fasting. That is what “afflict your souls” is referencing in Leviticus 23:27, 29). They are to look inward and do inventory of their heart and focus on fasting and prayer! It’s kind of ironic that this is not a time of “feasting” but of fasting!

As focus is on Israel during the seven-day Tribulation, this will be their time to recognize Christ as their Messiah. During this time, they will be fasting and praying for God’s revelation of the One Who saved them to make Himself known to all Israel! They will see their Messiah at His Second Coming and will recognize Him! Their atonement will be complete in Him, amen?

Don’t these symbolic points of these Feasts excite your spirit? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ, personally or do you only know of Him? He is the true sinless Lamb of God! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Update on Absence

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On December 19, 2022

In Devotionals

Good morning, Readers! It has been a challenging two weeks, to say the least. My husband has been quite ill and had two major surgeries between December 8th and the 16th! This isn’t the first time he’s been this sick. You would think I’d be used to his sickness. But when you see your spouse so sick, near death, you can’t walk away from it without an ache in your heart. However, (and that’s a BIG however) the Lord sustains and comforts me. Friend, there is no other like Jesus! We can overcome our trials with His help and the blessing of family and friends! I have a dear friend who came to comfort me and she was my “Jesus with skin on”! What a comfort – what a blessing!

God blessed me with another friend who shared this verse, Zephaniah 3:17, and it totally lifted my spirit! She knew exactly what I needed as well! Not only did I experience God’s “touch” through my friend, Angie, but I experienced His Word where it firmly planted itself in my heart through Lisa!

Although Zephaniah 3:17 was meant for Israel, it most definitely can apply to me as I’ve been grafted into that olive tree (Israel) when I was born again!

With that said, let’s break down Zephaniah 3:17:

  • The Lord saved me – Luke 7:50, Luke 18:42, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9
  • The Lord is with me – His Holy Spirit resides within me and will never leave me (Hebrews 13:5)
  • The Lord rejoiced over me when I became His child at salvation! Just as an earthly father rejoices when his child is born, so did my Heavenly Father! Just as it says in the Parable of the Prodigal Son: Luk 15:24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Also, the angels rejoiced when I was saved (Luke 15:10)!
  • The Lord gives beautiful peace and rest now that I am His (John 3:16, John 14:27).
  • And lastly, the Lord joys over me with singing! (Luke 15:10, Luke 15:6, Luke 15:9) Just as an earthly father brags on his children with joy in his heart, so does our Heavenly Father!

I am a child of the King! I love this song because it expresses exactly the overwhelming love I have for my Saviour!

Child of the King

Once I was clothed in the rags of my sin,
Wretched and poor, lost and lonely within.
But with wondrous compassion, the King of all kings,
In pity and love, took me under His wings.

CHORUS:
Oh, yes, oh yes, I’m a child of the King
His royal blood now flows in my veins.
And I who was wretched and poor now can sing
Praise God, praise God, I’m a child of the King.

V2:
Now I’m a child with a Heavenly home,
My Holy Father has made me His own.
And I’m cleansed by His blood, and I’m clothed in His love & someday I’ll sing with the angels above.

Repeat CHORUS

Thank you Jesus! No matter what trials I go through, I know that my Father in Heaven loves me. I show this love to others by rejoicing in the trial He has allowed me to go through. He joys over me and sings!

Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed – Feast of Trumpets*

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On December 19, 2022

In Devotionals, Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed

Levicus 23:23-25  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (24)  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.  (25)  Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Good morning dear Reader! I do so apologize for the interruption. My husband had surgery and recuperation is extremely slow. Hopefully his healing won’t be too much longer!I’m praying that you are enjoying this series. I love reading anything about my Saviour and how He is revealed, especially in the Old Testament. These feasts are a wonderful depiction of His salvation and His reign to come!

Today, we’re going to cover the Feast of Trumpets. I love trumpets, don’t you? They are so loud and when one is played, it gets your attention. This is exactly what they were designed to do. From my research, I’ve learned that this Feast comes each year in late September to October according to the Jewish calendar. As you’ve probably noticed, trumpets are used throughout the Bible for different purposes. A trumpet (this is called the shofar) would be blown to call Israel to assemble together, a call to march and a call to war. The Scripture above says it was to be:

  • As a Sabbath to Israel where they would do no work.
  • A memorial of blowing trumpets, a holy convocation which simply means an act of calling or assembling (according to Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary).
  • To do no work
  • A time to offer a burnt offering unto the Lord.

The main point was to remember the Lord and to focus this time around Him and to “call” them to repentance. It makes sense since ten days later, they will be celebrating the Day of Atonement. Everything that happened to Israel at Mount Sinai set them apart as a nation – it was God’s covenant with them. The Feast of Trumpets reminds Israel that they are God’s people. This covenant (the Law) calls them to repent and seek atonement. We will cover that in more detail when we do the post on the Day of Atonement.

Some Christians believe that the Rapture will occur during the Feast of Trumpets. However, I’m not 100% convinced of this. If we look at 1 Thessalonians 4:16, we see that the Rapture trumpet is the “trump of God,” not the manmade silver trumpets of Numbers 10:2. This phrase, “trump of God,” is only mentioned once in the entire Bible. The rule of “firsts” would apply here. This trump is only blown when Christ comes in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17). There is also the “last trumpet” spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:52; in my findings, I take it to mean that it is the last opportunity for Believers to leads others to Christ – it is the Church’s last call and the end of the Church age. Israel will now become the focal point of God’s judgment to draw them to the Messiah.

The last trumpet blown in the Tribulation is for Christ’s Second Coming so this is where lies some confusion. Will the Lord Rapture us during this Feast? Maybe. However Jesus said in Matthew 24:36 that no one knows the day or the hour except our Heavenly Father.

Don’t these symbolic points of these Feasts excite your spirit? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ, personally or do you only know of Him? He is the true sinless Lamb of God! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Family Illness

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On December 12, 2022

In Devotionals

I will be taking a break this week due to family illness. I appreciate your prayers should the Lord bring us to mind. I will return next week to resume my writing! In the mean time, I’m awaiting His return! \o/

Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed – Feast of Weeks

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On December 9, 2022

In Devotionals, Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed

Leviticus 23:15-22  And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:  (16)  Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.  (17)  Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.  (18)  And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.  (19)  Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.  (20)  And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.  (21)  And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.  (22)  And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Good morning! As I research the different feasts, I stand amazed at how merciful God is – He gives people countless opportunities to “find” Him! I’m so thankful that God knows how desperately we need salvation and He reveals His plan in so many ways!

Today, we cover the Feast of Weeks as shown in Leviticus 23. We will start with a little bit of background on this feast. It is one of three feasts that requires all Jewish males to travel to Jerusalem to attend the feast. (Exodus 23:14-17, 34:22-23, and Deuteronomy 16:16) It begins on a Sabbath and ends on a Sabbath: seven weeks (50 days) after the Feast of First Fruits. This is where Pentecost (meaning 50) is derived (Acts 2:1). It is one of the harvest feasts and new grain was offered to the Lord (Leviticus 23:16). In fact, it is the only feast that uses leavened bread, which we will cover later in this post. Today, this celebration is called Shavuot, which is Hebrew for “weeks.”

It is a beautiful foreshadow of the coming Messiah and His redemptive work! In fact, we know that each of the Feasts reveals God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ! Jesus was the Passover Lamb and arose on the Feast of Firstfruits. How exciting is that!!! Afterwards, Jesus spent 40 days teaching those disciples He would leave to carry on His work. Jesus then ascended to Heaven, as recorded in Acts 1:6-11. When we count 50 days after Christ’s ascension, we arrive to the day of Pentecost (Feast of Firstfruits). The Holy Spirit was given to continue Christ’s ministry and to give power to His Church.

One of the exciting aspects of this Feast is that two loaves of leavened bread were used as a wave offering. This is a foreshadow of God’s redemptive plan being for both Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14-15). On Pentecost (Feast of Weeks), the “firstfruits” of the church became a reality after Peter preached the gospel and over 3,000 were saved in one day! God’s new Covenant through Christ and His Holy Spirit began and we continue to experience firstfruits!

Don’t these symbolic points of these Feasts excite your spirit? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ, personally or do you only know of Him? He is the true sinless Lamb of God! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed – First Fruits

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On December 7, 2022

In Devotionals, Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed

Leviticus 23:9-14  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (10)  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:  (11)  And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.  (12)  And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.  (13)  And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.  (14)  And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Good morning, reader! Have you been blessed by this series so far? I love finding the Lord Jesus Christ throughout each book in the Bible. Even in Genesis 3:15, we see the “Scarlet Thread of Redemption” given to us! God created a perfect man and gave him a perfect place to live. But man chose to sin, despite the God’s perfect creation. It’s not God’s fault that man had the free will to sin and chose to do so! It is our nature to sin by choice. Praise the Lord for our Saviour, the perfect Lamb of God, who gave Himself for us.

(Galatians 1:4)  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

(Galatians 2:20)  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

(Ephesians 5:25)  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

(1 Timothy 2:6)  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

(Titus 2:14)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Now on to today’s feast: The Feast of First Fruits! This feast was to be celebrated the day after the Sabbath (which is the first day of the week), once they arrived in the Promised Land! (Leviticus 23:10) They were to give to the priest a sheaf from their harvest and the priest would wave it (Leviticus 23:11) before the Lord. They would also offer a year-old male lamb without blemish. The food and drink offering was also given as a sign of fellowship with God (Leviticus 23:13-14). This was all to be done so Israel would know that God should receive their very best. It also helped Israel to remember who provided their food! The mere fact that they gave God of their First Fruits would teach them to trust in His provision; who could know if it would be a sparse harvest. When we give God the very best and of our own first fruits of our labor, He will take care of the rest! This Feast reminds Israel of their fellowship and dedication

What is the principle behind the Feast of Firstfruits? The people of God were to know that they owe their best to God. Nothing they have did not come from Him. It was definitely risky for them to offer the first of their harvest to God. Who knew if there would be more harvest? But in doing so, they were to learn faith and trust in the God who has proven His faithfulness over and over again. For us too, this reminds us that we don’t just give God the best, we are also to give God first. This is His due and our priority. This Feast was also to mark their dedication and fellowship with Jehova-Jireh, the God who provides. 

The Feast of First Fruits was also used as a provision for the priests. Numbers 18:2-13 gives us that account. So we see Israel giving of their first fruits to God; then God provided for the priests using these first fruits. We use this same method today – we pay our tithes and offerings to God, Who in turn provides for the man of God and the running of His church house.

So how does this feast reveal Christ? We know that the Lord arose on the first day of the week. (Matthew 28:1-10) Jesus was also the first fruit of those who had been dead and having the resurrection of life! (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23) Christ received His new glorified body and when He comes in the clouds to rapture His church, the dead first and after them, we will receive our new glorified bodies!!! Jesus Christ is the first fruit of rising above death’s sting. Without His resurrection, we are most miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19)! But because we know that Jesus arose, it encourages us that we will follow!

Do you see the Lord in this particular Feast? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ, personally or do you only know of Him? He is the First Fruit through His resurrection, which gives every man an opportunity to participate in the Rapture!! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed – Unleavened Bread

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On December 5, 2022

In Devotionals, Jewish Feasts & Jesus Revealed

Leviticus 23:4-8  These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.  (5)  In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover.  (6)  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.  (7)  In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.  (8)  But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Oh what a joyous time of year this is! 😀 Although Winter appears fruitless with its frigid temperatures, we celebrate the Saviour’s birth! His birth leads to the salvation of mankind!

I’ve learned so much doing the research on this series! I sorta knew the basics of the Feasts but never really dug deeper. In doing so, I see the Lord Jesus in every aspect and it excites the spirit within me! I absolutely love God’s Word and how it blesses us over and over! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Today’s Feast is that of Unleavened Bread. We covered this in part in the posts about the Seder meal. Today is strictly about the Feast itself. This Feast was seven days long and during that time they could not eat any bread that was made with yeast (leaven). Let’s park there for a minute and concentrate on the word “leaven.” Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines leaven as:

LEAVEN, n. lev’n. [L. levo, Eng. to lift.]

A mass of sour dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough or paste, produces fermentation in it and renders it light. During the seven days of the passover, no leaven was permitted to be in the houses of the Jews. Exo 12.

Any thing which makes a general change in the mass. It generally means something which corrupts or depraves that with which it is mixed.
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Mat 16.
LEAVEN, v.t. lev’n.

To excite fermentation in; to raise and make light, as dough or paste.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 1 Cor 5.

to taint; to imbue.

Think on this definition for a moment. Yeast/leaven produces fermentation and changes the texture and the size of the bread. If we regard leaven as a symbol for sin, it clearly opens up the purpose of this Feast, don’t you think? If we allow sin into our lives, it doesn’t just sit still. It produces more sin. It also has its repercussions! To the believer, it causes our relationship with the Lord to suffer. (Psalm 66:18) From the time of Adam and Eve, when sin was first brought into the Garden of Eden, sin has continued to grow and has created a depraved people. It has hardened the heart to its effects. It also reveals that even a tiny amount will cause an entire lump of dough to rise. Jewish tradition has it that women would actually get on their hands and knees sweeping with a feather every nook to rid their homes of any leaven. Wow, what would our Christian lives look like if we took the same painstaking effort of ridding our lives of sin!!?? The more sin there is (size), the harder the heart becomes (texture).

The Apostle Paul reprimanded the Corinthian church for defiling their church with sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-8). The church, as we know it today, is not like the church of yesteryear. Sin has crept into the church willingly and it is accepted. We see this all the more today! Allowing known sin to abide in the church is like adding yeast to the dough. A little will cause the all of the dough to rise – a little sin will multiply and the church will not be pure and chaste. (2 Corinthians 11:2)

But there is Good News in this Feast for all! The Good News is that the Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins! He lived that sinless life – He is the true unleavened Bread of life – He is the perfect sacrificial Lamb! But the best news of all is that He arose and is sitting with the Father awaiting His return for the Church (His Bride) at the Rapture! Oh what joy for the believer!!

Do you see the Lord in these Feasts? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ, personally or do you only know of Him? He is the true Unleavened Bread – the sinless Lamb of God! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

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