Blessings, Family,
Sundown, last Wednesday, marked the end of the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). This appointed time will be fulfilled on the Great Day of the Lord, when all will be judged–either according to their own works, or according to the work of Jesus on the cross.
As I mentioned in my last article, “Sound the Shofar!,” the nine days preceding this day, the Days of Awe, were a time to reflect and seek the Lord concerning the behaviors and beliefs that separate us from His Glory. Yom Kippur followed on the evening of the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri), with ten marking the completion of a cycle, and seven designating Divine completion. As commanded by God, it is a day to afflict ourselves (fast) and repent for our sins and the sins of our nations.
“The tenth day of this seventh month is Yom-Kippur; you are to have a holy convocation, you are to deny yourselves, and you are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai” Leviticus 23:27 CJB.
The Day of Atonement was the one day every year when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to intercede on behalf of the people, that the blood sacrifices may be found acceptable to atone for their sins for one more year.
The word kippur means covering. The blood of the Lord’s goat was to save the people from God’s judgment and wrath. The Scapegoat was to free the people from their own guilt and condemnation for falling short. (Read more on the symbolism of the sacrifices in “7 Steps to the Holy of Holies.”) When the blood of God’s Perfect Lamb, Jesus, was shed, the blood of animals was no longer acceptable. What then are we to sacrifice on this most Holy Day?
“For you don’t want sacrifices, or I would give them;
you don’t take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice to God is a broken spirit;
God, you won’t spurn a broken, chastened heart” Psalm 51:18, 19.
Once we believe on Jesus Christ as our atoning sacrifice, all that remains is that we worship and seek the Lord in all humility, allowing Him to sanctify us and transform us from glory to glory.
Though most years, Yom Kippur is a solemn time, in the Year of Jubilee, every fiftieth year, Yom Kippur is a time of feasting and celebration! It is a time of complete restoration.
“Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family” Leviticus 25:9,10 KJV.
This is the most exciting promise to me. This is God’s ultimate plan. Restoration!
Several years ago, I was fasting, not just for Yom Kippur, but from the beginning of Rosh Hashana to the end of Yom Kippur. I fasted and prayed for our nation for ten days. As is usually the case when I fast, Heaven seemed pretty silent during that time, and I had to go on faith that God would honor my sacrifice. As Yom Kippur drew to an end, I stood at the sink, peeling carrots for our breaking the fast feast, when God spoke to me very clearly. He said, “I will restore ALL things in this season!” I was completely humbled when He went on to elaborate. You can read the whole story in my article, “I Will Restore All!” I have been praising Him and thanking Him for this promise every day, since. I know my God keeps His promises.
I mentioned in my last article that seekers usually receive special words, dreams, or visions during Rosh Hashana and, though I hear from Heaven quite frequently, I look forward to my High Holy Days encounters. This year was short but sweet—and extremely powerful.
As I sat with the Lord in my early morning prayers, I began to think of all the evil the enemy is unleashing upon the world today and, to be honest, it made me weary. As a prophetic intercessor, it seems I’ve done nothing but battle, and the enemy just keeps coming. Because that is what he does. Suddenly, my pity party was interrupted by a vision. I found myself in space, looking at the earth and the Heavens in a dissected view. What I saw was the earth, surrounded by a dark layer of demonic activity. Over that layer was yet another layer…a layer of light. The Lord showed me that I, along with all intercessors reside in that second layer. Not on the same level as the enemy and his hordes, but above them! Over them!
“And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” Romans 16:20.
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” Luke 10:19.
Talk about an attitude adjustment! I knew that I operate in the spirit realm, but I was operating under the false assumption that I was on the same level as demonic spirits. No wonder I was feeling weary! Now that my perspective has been corrected, I can pray from a position of even more power and authority than before!
“You will also declare a thing,
And it will be established for you;
So light will shine on your ways” Job 22:28.
Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!
The Lord is speaking to you today. “Come up higher! Seek ME with all your heart! Humble yourself before ME and I will lift you up!”
My prayer for you in this new year, 5780, a year of new beginnings, is that you will do just that. Set aside time to speak with and hear from the Lord each day. Be bold like Daniel and set aside three times a day! Fast and pray, and don’t give up until you have apprehended your seat in the Holy of Holies! Use your prayer language to the fullest!
It is believed by the sages that, when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies each year to meet with God, they communicated in Heavenly tongues. This is because the enemy does not know this language. Praying in tongues has power I believe we haven’t even begun to realize!
In this season, I believe intercession is the greatest calling in the Kingdom. Can you hear it? Are you feeling the tug on your heart to draw nearer to God? Don’t resist. Nothing on earth is more thrilling or fulfilling than moving and shaking in the spirit realm.
May the Lord reward your seeking with the fullness of His presence, with eyes to see and ears to hear, and open doors like you have never seen before! Amen, and Amen!
God’s grace and peace be yours,
Rebecca
