"God's Appointed Times"

Our last article was "Should Christians Celebrate Passover?" Today we would like to take that a step further and explain the ROOTS of our faith. First, as Christians, we are saved by grace (John 1:16). We have placed our faith in the only One through whom Salvation comes, Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, over the centuries many Jews and Christians have lost track of the fact that Jesus and a great portion of the 1st century church were Jewish. 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 explains the time honored ritual of communion (the Lord's supper) that most church's celebrate at least once each month. This meal that Jesus had with his disciples was in fact a PASSOVER meal and took place on the historical night before Jesus went to the cross. It was also on a Passover night that the death angel passed over Jewish households during their exodus from Egypt, the land of Pharaoh.

Jesus Himself observed "God's appointed times" (Leviticus 23:4). Most Christians today have come to believe that these feasts or High Holy days are just some sort of Jewish custom. In fact it was God Himself that ordained these times and decreed that "HIS PEOPLE" should observe them in perpetuity. The Spring "appointed times" include Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost.

How are these relevant for Christians today? Jesus died on the cross on Calvary precisely on the day of Passover. He was buried on Unleavened Bread. He rose from the grave on First Fruits and 50 days after His resurrection from the grave, and the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47) and the Church was born as three thousand souls were baptized in one day!

The Fall appointed times which include Tabernacles, Day of Atonement and Trumpets were also put in place by God Himself and many pastors and Biblical scholars believe that at some point in the future, these very three important "appointed times" could signal the rapture of the church, the second coming of Christ and the beginning of the 1000 year millennial reign of the King of Kings.

That is the relevance of Passover that will be celebrated on April 2nd, 6:30 p.m. at Crossroads church. So, come, all who are hungry, and partake of the Lord's Passover!

By Rance Cook, Pastor
Prophetic Sword Ministries, Intl.

When I See The Blood I will PASS OVER you....

On April 2nd, 2010 we will be gathering to celebrate Passover at Crossroads Community Church in Chowchilla, California , in the form of a Seder (pronounced "say-der", which means "set order") dinner. The Hebrew word for Passover is "Pesach", which means passing over or protection. On this night, we will re-count God's miraculous deliverance of the children of Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. During Passover, both Jews and Christians alike remember the Exodus from Egypt by coming together to commemorate the Biblical event, eat special symbolic foods associated with the bitterness of slavery and the sweetness of freedom and a time of special worship, celebration and prayer.

Yet the Passover Seder is so much more than a night of story telling, it is also a memorial in which we observe the New Covenant, as Jesus directed us when He said "Do this in Remembrance of Me". (1st Corinthians 11:25) The Biblical teachings of Passover and the "Last Supper", the crucifixion and the resurrection are divinely woven together, in fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. However for both Jews and Gentiles the message is the same, eternal life is available to all to place their hope in the Lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the world. (John 1:29)

Everything in the Passover Seder is directed toward the prime command from the Bible: "And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, "This is done because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt." (Exodus 13:8) As believers of the New Covenant according to Jeremiah 31, we recognize the fulfillment in Y'shua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ), as God delivering us from our own personal Egypt, slavery to sin, through the Lamb of God.

Just as Jesus Himself celebrated Passover with His disciples, He invites us to "taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" Psalm 34:8

So come, all who are in need of hope, deliverance, freedom, and new life...

"...For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us."

1st Corinthians 5:7

Shalom,

Brandy Cook

Director, Comfort Israel

Baja, Mexico

"Our Eyes Are On You" (what do to in the midst of the impossible)

This week I awakened with the leading to read 2nd Chronicles chapter 20. As I snuggled myself into my favorite chair with my Bible and my cup of tea, the Lord began to open my eyes to the treasures within this portion of Scripture. There were many verses that pierced my heart, and set my heart burning to go deeper.

Then, it seemed like all at once, several dear, dear friends began writing me emails or calling me on the phone sharing with me impossible situations either they or their friends and/or family were in, asking us to pray. Situations where there are simply no answers, no consolations, no advice nor no way out. These heart-wrenching cries have not only broken my heart, but have given me the "fear of the Lord" and I do not count it lightly that the Lord touched their hearts to share with me their need for prayer.

Question: Has someone ever asked you to pray about something and you said you would and then you didn't?

Answer: We all have, I think.

Realization: May God give us Holy Fear that we never take this lightly, as this is holy ministry unto the Lord.

All that said, I've been doing a lot of praying this week. And during this time, 2 Chronicles 20 has been coming back again, again and again. And again. And again. So much so, I feel like it is a "fire shut up in my bones", like maybe what the Prophet Ezekiel once experienced. So, here goes...this is what the Lord has shown me out of this chapter, and I write this to you, all of you who might be reading this who are hurting, confused, overwhelmed, depressed, angry, sad, offended, broken, isolated, without answers for your situation(s), scared or just plain numb... as a precious piece of the broken bread that Jesus has broken and distributed for all to share in.

Once upon a "real" time, there was a battle about to take place. The rumblings of war could be felt in the hearts of the people of the Land of Israel. The King of Judah, Jehoshaphat, was told that "a great multitude is coming against you". A massive group of enemies who wanted to wipe Israel off the map were about to come upon them and do just that.

So what did King Jehoshaphat do with this overwhelming news? Did he follow in the footsteps of many of his predecessors? No. The Bible tells us "Jehoshaphat FEARED, and SET HIMSELF TO SEEK THE LORD and PROCLAIMED A FAST throughout all Judah." Then it says that "Judah GATHERED TOGETHER to ASK HELP FROM THE LORD"...... to SEEK THE LORD".

What grabs me next, is the prayer he prayed. It APPREHENDS my heart! Read the text... he begins to recount the POWER, the GOODNESS, the FAITHFULNESS of the Almighty God. In His prayer before all the assembly of people, Jehoshaphat begins to PROCLAIM the truths that have been planted in his heart, RECOUNTING all of the mighty workings God did in behalf of Israel in the past. Reminding himself and the people to consider God's faithful track record of answering prayer in impossible situations.

And here's another one.

Now listen to this... he ends his prayer by saying, "For we have no power against the great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." (read this like 3 times or more before going on to the next sentence!)

If you find yourself (or those who you love) in an impossible situation - let this become your prayer!!

Tell me, especially those of you who are parents, if your child came to you in this manner... what would YOU do? "Daddy, Mommy, there are a group of gang members who have threatened to kill me on the playground tomorrow, I"m so scared, I don't know what to do! I need you to help me!!!" So, what would YOU do? Send them to school and forget they even asked you for help? I think not.

Next, the text tells us that after he prayed and the people were still all together, that the Spirit of the Lord came upon the prophet Jahaziel and spoke to His children. God's heart was moved! God said to the people "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's....you will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you...."

Then what did they do after they received the Living Word? They bowed before the Lord, worshipping Him. Then they stood, praising Him with voices loud and high. THEY BELIEVED AND TRUSTED IN THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD DELIVER.

In obedience to the specific instruction that God gave them through the prophet Jahaziel, they went out, in faith, to the wilderness of Tekoa as the Lord instructed them. God always gives us a battle strategy WHEN WE ASK HIM AND WAIT TO HEAR HIS ANSWER. (I guess that's the key, a lot of times we ask but don't wait to hear the instruction to follow??? I've certainly been guilty of that on several occasions)

As they were on the battle ground, here's where the showdown begins. King Jehoshaphat instructs the people to " BELIEVE IN THE LORD YOUR GOD AND YOU SHALL BE ESTABLISHED..."! And then he appointed those who should SING AND PRAISE the Lord as they went out before the army...

These are BATTLE STRATEGIES GOD SET IN PLACE. Just like when the walls of Jericho came down, through the people obeying God's directives by marching around the city and blowing shofars and shouting - they witnessed the power of God bring down WALLS OF A CITY! (Joshua 6) Did you know that God uses unconventional warfare tactics?????

Now, put on your seatbelts! In verse 22 it says this, and there is NO FONT big enough in my computer to write this so let the Holy Spirit of the Living God BURN it in your hearts.... "NOW WHEN THEY BEGAN TO SING AND TO PRAISE, THE LORD SET AMBUSHES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF AMMON, MOAB, AND MOUNT SEIR, WHO HAD COME AGAINST JUDAH; AND THEY WERE DEFEATED."

When they began to sing and to praise (in belief!!! in trust!!!) GOD SET AMBUSHES!!!

And then what, after the victory??? They returned from the battle WITH JOY, praising GOD.

HE received all the glory, for it is HE who caused them to triumph, not they themselves.

They did NOT need to fight, but TO OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD.

Dear friends.... DO YOU NEED GOD TO SET AMBUSHES IN YOUR LIFE??? What impossible situation(s) do you find yourself in that you need El Shaddai to MOVE ON YOUR BEHALF???? Do you find yourself, as Jehoshaphat did, saying to God "We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; NOR DO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU!" ????

Right now, wherever you are, get on your face and seek the Lord's. Get your Bible and soak yourself in 2 Chronicles 20 and let the Holy Spirit of the Creator of the Universe, who sent His only Son to die for you so that you may live, our Abba Father who WANTS to move on your behalf, set ambushes for you. TURN YOUR EYES TO HIM. PRAY. WORSHIP. PRAISE. WAIT. HEAR. OBEY. Even if His answer seems crazy, and everyone else might think your nuts. You are in good company.

"And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel."

Set your eyes on Him, and watch GOD fight for you today.

2 Chronicles 20