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God’s Economic System
The Mystery of the Feasts
by David Cerullo
This is a
special season on God’s calendar — starting with the “High Holy Days” and
climaxing with the Feast of Tabernacles.
It’s a season
of supernatural Harvests, reminding us that there are two different economies
in which we can choose to live.
The world’s
economic system says work hard, be smart, and you’ll be rewarded. It’s all up
to you.
In contrast,
God’s economic system is based on the law of Seedtime and Harvest. He says He
will take care of you if you’re obedient to His commandments and faithful in
your tithes and special offerings.
While the world says hold on to what you have, God says, “Give,
and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38).
And while the
world says hoarding our wealth brings prosperity, God says withholding what you
have will lead to poverty (Proverbs 11:24-25).
Every promise
in the Word of God has a condition attached to it.
The Lord tells us in Malachi 3:10, “Prove Me.” In other
words, “If you’ll do ‘this,’ I’ll do ‘that.’”
Though our salvation
has NOTHING to do with any actions on our part, other than believing and
receiving His free gift of eternal life, the blessings we receive from God have
EVERYTHING to do with our obedience… fulfilling His conditions.
The Lord’s
amazing love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness are 100% unconditional, but He puts
specific conditions on the receipt of His promised blessings.
SPECIAL DAYS ON GOD’S CALENDAR
Although God
can give us a breakthrough anytime He wants, He has special days of blessing on
His calendar.
He calls these
His “Appointed Times,” when He promises to do extraordinary miracles in our lives if we honor Him and follow His instructions.
Along with the
Feast of Passover and Feast of Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles is one of
the Appointed Times.
It commemorates
God’s care and protection of His people when they journeyed from Egypt to the
Promised Land.
During the
Feast of Tabernacles, we’re reminded each year…
There is
shelter, protection, and provision in the tabernacle of God’s presence!
The Feast of
Tabernacles is one of the three Appointed Times when the Lord said He would
meet with His people and bless them in extraordinary ways.
God clearly
instructed His children that these are to be perpetual feasts, for all
generations (Leviticus 23:40-41).
Yes, there is a
BLESSING in store for us when we commemorate the perpetual feasts,
celebrations, and holy convocations God designated as His Appointed Times.
God promises in
Exodus 23 and Leviticus 23 that if we bring our offerings and obey what He’s
told us to do, He will pour out seven specific covenant promises in our lives:
· An angel of God will be assigned to protect you and lead you to
your miracles.
· God will be an enemy to your enemies.
· The Lord will prosper you.
· God will take sickness away from you.
· You will not die before your appointed time.
· Increase and an inheritance will be yours.
· What the enemy has stolen will be returned to you.
As wonderful as
these blessings are, God amazingly offers us seven additional “double
portion” blessings when we observe the Feast of Tabernacles…
A DOUBLE PORTION OF BLESSINGS
Joel 2 has many
parallels to the “Days of Awe” leading up to the Day of Atonement and Feast of
Tabernacles.
Just prior to
the Day of Atonement and Tabernacles, the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)
sounded an alarm and called people to sober soul-searching.
In the same way, Joel 2 begins with a call to repentance,
fasting, and holiness: “Blow the trumpet in Zion” (verse 1 …“Consecrate
a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the
congregation” (verses 15-16 NASB).
This passage
goes on to list seven special “double portion” blessings the Lord wants to
provide for His people during the Feast of Tabernacles:
·
A double portion. “He will cause the rain to
come down for you — the former rain, AND the latter rain in the first month”
(verse 23 KJV).
Although the
periods of the former and latter rains were usually separated by many months,
God wants to give you a double blessing during the Feast of Tabernacles so you
can receive both of these outpourings of provision “in the first month.”
This double
portion was of great practical necessity to the Israelites, because the Harvest
blessings of the Feast of Tabernacles season had to last them a longer period
than the interval between Passover and Pentecost (just 50 days) or between
Pentecost and Tabernacles (about four months).
· Financial
prosperity. “The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats
shall overflow with new wine and oil” (verse 24 NKJV).
· Restoration. “I will
restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten” (verse 25
NKJV).
·
Special miracles. “You shall…praise the name
of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you” (verse 26
NKJV)… “and I will show wonders” (verse 30 NKJV).
· God’s presence
and favor. “You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel… My people
shall never be put to shame” (verse 27 NKJV).
· Blessings for
your sons and daughters. “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…your
young men shall see visions” (verse 28 NKJV).
· Deliverance
from harm or oppression. “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be
delivered” (verse 32 NASB).
What a
fantastic list of promises! With every PROMISE from God, there is the PROVISION
to bring it to pass.
But notice that
the Lord is not depending on you to bring His promises to pass. He’s depending
on Himself! All you have to do to activate the promises is to obey His
instructions.
HONORING GOD’S APPOINTED TIMES
In order to
unlock the “double portion” of blessings God has in mind for us, it’s crucial
that we fulfill His conditions.
Deuteronomy 16:16 says, “They shall not appear before
the LORD empty-handed.”
At these
special times each year, the Israelites were to present their sacrifices and
offerings to the Lord from the Seeds they had Sown and the Harvest He had given
them.
Do you want to
Reap God’s BEST?
Do you want to
see Him move in your life as never before? Then begin now to prepare your heart
and your special offering to the Lord.
I’m convinced
that if you need a miracle breakthrough in your body…your relationship with the
Lord…your marriage…your children…your emotions…or your finances…
This is your
opportunity to obey God and receive His DOUBLE PORTION blessings!
I am standing
with you, believing God to give you amazing breakthroughs during this very
special season on His calendar.
Don’t delay or
procrastinate! The sooner you take a step of faith to obey the Lord, the sooner
your breakthrough will come.
God bless you!
David Cerullo is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Inspiration
Ministries, located in Indian Land, South Carolina – a ministry dedicated to
impacting people for Christ worldwide through media. The son of international
evangelist Morris Cerullo, David took a less traditional approach to ministry,
graduating from Oral Roberts University with a degree in business
administration and management. He has authored over 20 books, and operates a
global media ministry that powerfully impacts the world for Christ. More from David on
Inspiration.org.
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