We just stepped into the month of Nissan (or Abib) in the year of 2020. It is totally different than the Nissan of 2019. In this new era of challenges, it has caused all people to reset their priorities and change direction, whether they want to or not. The interruption to our norm has gotten everyone’s attention and many gods have fallen these last two weeks.
"When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God (representing His Presence) and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”
Joshua 3:3-4
Although Israel’s new year is in September, the month of Nissan is the first month of the Ecclesiastical year. This change was instituted the first Passover when God brought Israel out of Egypt.
“From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you.”
Exodus 12:2
As God delivered them from their enemies during Passover, He changed the order of the months to reflect their importance. When something is first, we know that there is significant purpose and realignment happening.
Days before Jesus was crucified, (fulfilling the new covenant) His own words state in John 12:31, “From this moment on, everything in this world is about to change, for the ruler of this dark world will be overthrown. And I will do this when I am lifted up off the ground and when I draw the hearts of people to gather them to me.”
So, in this month of repentance, redemption and the beginning of miracles, lets fully embrace repentance – the changing of our mind toward God and what we believe. Receiving freely all His unconditional love, sacrifice and best for us. Only when we know (experientially) how much we are loved by God, can we enter into a vibrant relationship with Him and open up our hearts as sons and daughters. As we open up, our minds are changed and the walls come down. Relationship happens and redemption and miracles follow. Inward transformation from changing our minds always leads to behaviour change.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you.”
Jeremiah 31:3
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 John 4:9-10
So, we declare over our nation and all the nations of the world:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
“So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that His love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. There is no power above us or beneath us—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!
Rom 8: 38-39
“The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken – who can change his plans? When His hand is raised, who can stop Him?
Isaiah 14:27