Tevet 5782

Tevet 5782

Tevet has officially arrived kingdom family and we are entering into the gates of a new Biblical Month! As we enter into Tevet (Dec. 5th to Jan. 2nd), get ready to enter the gate of destiny for the nations of the world all in unison, but know that it all starts with each of us individually coming into agreement with the blueprint of Adonai. This is a month of judgment and authority, but what does that mean? Is the judgment of the Most High simply punishment and wrath, or is there more to it than that? Authority, but whose authority, and if we have been given authority, how do we wield it according to the Word? Also, as we enter this Biblical month, we celebrate the last days of Hanukkah, a feast that even Yeshua celebrated in Jerusalem. Why should we care though? It turns out Hanukkah points straight to Yeshua and even to the Spirit-filled body of Messiah today. Let’s dive into the characteristics of Tevet and find the mysteries of the month that give us a clear vision of what to expect, how to position ourselves, and how we are being called to stand victoriously in God’s perfect plan to foil the plans and schemes of the fallen kingdom of darkness.

Justice and Righteousness Go Forth

Tevet is a month of great contrasts in Scripture, but one central theme to these contrasts is the judgment of the Ancient of Days upon nations. On the one hand, during this month, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1), and the same month that the exiles from Jerusalem brought word to Ezekiel of the city’s destruction (Ezekiel 33:21). It is also a time of hope and promise, however, with Esther being made queen of Babylon during this month (Esther 2:16-17), as well as the re-dedication of the 2nd Temple after the defeat of the Greek/Syrian army (Hanukkah), and when Noah first saw the top of the mountains as the waters began to recede from the great flood (Genesis 8:5). Is all judgment bad? No. Are all of Adonai’s judgments righteous and just? Yes. The un-repentance of Israel after being given many chances by the Great I am led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, but the cries of Israel during the times of Esther and Mordechai were heard, and they were rescued from the unrighteous decree of Haman. Both were the judgment of the King of kings. Now is a time of judgment, shaking, and new beginnings when we must dig in and stand fast according to the promises of Elohim, but also receive the breakthrough of those promises He has been preparing for ourselves, our families, cities, and nations. Keep your eyes focused on YHWH, and even in the midst of turmoil and accusation, stick firmly to the path of Yeshua. The mountain tops are just over the horizon, and the promise of God is at hand!

Innocent Blood, Boasting gods, and Justice

Tevet is also a month of restoring divine order and bringing those who have broken the law to justice. Twice during the tenth month, prophet Ezekiel received the Word of Adonai in both Ezekiel 24 and 29 regarding Israel and Egypt. The Lord of Hosts reeled against Israel for the sacrifice of their children to Molech and decreed His wrath against Jerusalem for doing so. Instead of turning from their wicked ways, Israel turned further from YHWH and did these atrocious acts. Does this sound familiar to what we see today? In Ezekiel 29, once again Adonai speaks to Ezekiel, this time regarding the Pharaoh of Egypt and the principality behind the throne of Pharaoh who boasts of the Nile being made by his hands, and who betrayed Israel when they needed support the most. He declared the downfall and exile of Egypt for 40 years because of it at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

Lastly, during the tenth month, after the exiles had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, something crucial happened amongst the people. They began to search the Scripture again about what YHWH had commanded Israel to do through the Law of Moses, and found they had transgressed that law as many amongst them had married foreign women who served false gods. So what did they decide to do? Did they continue on as usual, or had the fear of Adonai taken hold after 70 years of exile? The latter would be correct, and on the first of Tevet, they began to investigate all who had broken the law and named them by name for all to hear. Israel knew the dangerous path they were going down and could see clearly the calamity that would befall them again if they continued to ignore the law, and they were bound and determined that would not happen. How determined are you that past mistakes and old habits will not lead you down the wrong path? Forward and into our God-given destinies is our direction this month, like a race horse that does not look back, or see to the right or left, but straight ahead, focused on crossing the finish line in top form.

Dan

The tribe of Tevet is the tribe of Dan which translates “to judge”. He was the first son of Rachel through her servant Bilhah, and Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son: therefore she called him Dan” (Genesis 30:6). While Dan was a blessing as Rachel’s firstborn son, he was also a reminder of her barrenness as he was born through her servant. The dichotomy of the tribe of Dan is similar to Rachel’s reasons for naming him, as a great judge of Israel would arise out of Dan, but also that Dan would become Idolatrous even before receiving its full inheritance in the Promised Land. After giving birth to Joseph, Rachel’s first son from her own womb, she then stole her father’s household idols without the knowledge of anyone else causing Jacob to decree that whoever stole them would surely die. And so it came to pass not so far from Bethlehem that she died giving birth to Benjamin never able to enjoy raising him as her own.

Unfortunately, it was the tribe of Dan who first began to worship false idols during the conquering of its allotted portion of the promised land on what is today the Northeast Mountains of Israel (Judges 18). However, from this idolatrous tribe also came Samson, the judge of Israel during the oppressive times of the Philistines. He was used by YHWH against the most advanced army of its time. With no weapons except for the strength of Almighty God, Samson brought down the temple of Dagon upon the heads of all of the leaders that oppressed Israel, killing Israel’s enemies and ushering in a time of justice. We pray that this month of Tevet will be just that for you, a month of justice when the things done in the darkness will be exposed to the light for the glory of Adonai when that which has stolen will be returned 7 fold, for every curse to be turned to blessing and every evil against you to be turned to good as is the promise of Adonai. It is time to stand firm brethren, not holding onto hidden idols, but being renewed and being used as a light in the darkness to bring about the fulfillment of your full destiny, and the destiny of your family, job, business, city and nation.

Yeshua In Hanukkah

It is well known that Yeshua celebrated Hanukkah, but what did He say while He was in Jerusalem for the feast? What He said shines light on what we can expect during this month, and also gives us a better understanding of the term “judgment” according to Yeshua. It was during Hanukkah that Yeshua said, “I came into this world for judgment [to separate those who believe in Me from those who reject Me—to declare judgment on those who choose to be separated from God], so that the sightless would see, and those who see would become blind” (John 9:39). Directly after this, the Pharisees and Sadducees began to question His deity when finally Yeshua said clearly that He and the Father are One (John 10:38). Can you imagine Yeshua who had been in the throne room of heaven already with the 7 lampstands and the 7 Spirits of God? The Temple must not have looked like much in comparison, but now with the Holy Spirit we also have access to the 7 Spirits of God (Isaiah 11:1-3) which we are being called to operate in this month for the glory of the Most High. Now is not the time to operate from the flesh, thinking we can do things by our power or might, but knowing full well it is only by the Spirit of Adonai (Zechariah 4:6) that the impossible will be achieved for His glory. As we restore the altar through our prayers and worship in Spirit and Truth, the Lord of Hosts fights our battles, the Judge releases His last words, and Jezebel is cut off. We must walk without fear just as Yeshua did through Jerusalem through a sea of enemies, knowing who we are in Him, and Who our heavenly Father is in us so that we may continue to walk boldly preaching the Gospel of Peace unafraid and unashamed even in the most hostile territory to be the light in the darkness, and declare the promises of God in Scripture form the victory of Yeshua.

Constellation: Capricorn (Gedi)

The constellation this month is Capricorn, or “Gedi” in Hebrew, which means goat. The goat is seen in both a positive and negative sense in the Bible. In one instance the goat is the animal that takes on the sin of Israel (Leviticus 16:22), and in another instance, the Word says that he will separate the sheep and the goat nations, the goat nations being the nations that are harshly judged by Him (Matthew 26:31-46). In either case, we should be sure not to align with those who are not aligned with the King of glory, lest we fall into the goat category this season. Instead, we must be like the goats of Habakkuk 3:19 where it says, “He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on high places.” When our refuge is in the Father, “He will not allow our feet to slip; He who keeps us will not slumber” (Psalm 121:3). Even in what may seem the most treacherous or uncomfortable of times, when we are on the verge of falling from the mountainside, we must keep our eyes locked on His, and He will see us to the top. Now is not time to worry about the obstacles or the circumstances, but to trust in Him who makes the way clear. Remember, As believers, we are not moved by how we feel, we are not moved by what we see, but we are moved by what we believe which is the Word of God. Walking by faith says we don’t know how you are going to get us where we are going, but no matter how impossible the odds or what it looks like in the natural I trust Adonai, My Shepherd to guide through to the victory as He has promised. Let the Shepherd do the shepherding instead of we the sheep trying to do it ourselves.

Letter: Ayin

The letter Ayin means “eye” or “to see”. This month will be a time of seeing more clearly in the Spirit when eyes will be opened to the things of God in the heavenly realms. Oh, how important are the eyes! “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light” (Matthew 6:22). Make it a point to clear your eyes this month, and see from the heavenly places. Be in the throne room with the King, looking from His perspective, seeing from His eyes and His heart. Where are your eyes fixed? Are they wandering or focused? “Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you” (Proverbs 4:25). Yeshua, show us the plans of your enemies like you showed your prophet Elisha, whom you brought into the tent of your enemies (2 Kings 12), and opened our eyes like Elisha’s servant who saw that “The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha”. The Hosts of heaven surround us even when we are not aware, and the Holy Spirit gives us insight and understanding beyond our capacity. See the unseen, and be strengthened in the knowledge that Adonai is a shield round about you (Psalm 3:3).

Conclusion

Get ready for a month of big surprises brethren, the King is standing up from His throne and He is releasing His final judgments of 2021. We are entering into the gate of the destiny of the nations and are being called to intercede and declare righteousness and justice over our nations. The gods are being judged and what the fallen kingdom of darkness has been doing behind closed doors is about to be blown wide open. Adonai has been scoffing this entire time, and it is for us as His remnant to see what He sees from His throne and to declare and decree what He is saying on earth as it is in heaven. Shaking is coming, revival is coming, but repentance must always precede it. Let’s enter through the gates with thanksgiving in our hearts this Tevet watching the giants falling all around us paving the way for the return of the King of glory, and entering into the promised land victoriously. Adonai bless you and keep you kingdom family!