Happy New Year! We have crossed over into not just a new Hebrew month, but a New Hebrew Year as well, the month of Tishrei!

The month of Tishrei is known as the “Head of the Year” because just as our “head” gives vitality and direction to the rest of the body, this month directs the rest of the month in the same way!

We began this year with the Feast of Trumpets and the sounding of the Shofar! The shofar represents the Voice of the Lord and is an Awakening call & the Coronation of the King.

It is also a time of posturing ourselves before the Lord, a time of self examination and repentance. A time where we look to see what has tried to hinder us and keep us from running/burning fully after God.

The Lord wants us to start the year free of all hindrances, all perspectives and mindsets that would deny His greatness, and any sin that would want to ensnare us.         

Ask the Lord, what needs to be removed or uprooted in your life, to highlight that which would otherwise keep you from returning.

The letter linked with this month is “Lamed” which is a picture of a goad, or staff that a shepherd might use to prod the herd to action. But the original root word comes “lamad” meaning to learn or teach.

This shows us that learning the teaching of God’s Word should spur, or prod us to action!

Tishrei is associated with the tribe of Ephriam. Ephriam’s journey not only reflects the Fall Feasts, but he was also a forerunner, a prototype of the one new man - where Jews and Gentiles learned to function together as one new man in the Messiah!

The tribe/region of Ephraim later became known as Samaria!

Now... when you hear Samaria, what's the first story that comes to mind? The story about the woman at the well in John 4:4 where Jesus said “I have need, to go through Samaria” BUT did you know that woman had a name??

Her name was Photine! And when she went back after her encounter with Jesus.. she not only told the men and converted the city, but her 5 sisters and 2 sons as well. 

They ALL went on to be what historians recorded as “tireless evangelists” Photine later went to Africa to evangelize and is honored as the 1st person to proclaim the gospel!

See what she learned and what she was taught - spurred her to action!

Is what you're learning, and what you’re hearing spurring you into action?

Because the enemy DOES NOT want you to take action.. the Bible says that faith without works is dead! BUT I believe that faith WITH works is DEADLY to the enemy!

Ephraim means "double fruit" so begin to look this month for how the Lord is moving to cause you to be fruitful and multiply! 

One of the responsibilities of the tribe of Ephraim was to defend the Holy things from the Tabernacle in war. In his book 'A Time to Advance', Chuck Pierce says "The next generation needs to be taught to guard what is holy, defend the faith and honor the holy, or it will be lost in battle."

And unfortunately we see that happening in todays culture. That's were we, as the ecclesia need to stand up and say "Not our children, Not on our watch!!"

Decree: that the things that have been scattered will be returned

Decree: that lawlessness will return to righteousness, and that the Lord would mantle you with a fresh zeal of His holiness. 

Decree: the next generation would embrace the Holy, find their voice, and then give voice to what the Lord is saying!

Decree: that the Elijah's and Elisha's are aligning in a new way to overthrow the ungodly structures/strongholds in our land

In Matt 9 we find the parable of the woman who pressed through the crowd to “touch” Jesus. This is a perfect example for this month because one of the things the Lord is highlighting this month is the sense of touch.

Many people were pressing in to touch ON Jesus.. but one woman pressed in FOR Jesus. 

What are you pressing in for? This is a year to Break the Curse, and to be fruitful and multiply! This is a decade of Deliverance! What are you pressing in for?

Many people got to touch Jesus… but only one got the virtue from Jesus to touch them!

How many times might we be touching, reaching out thru ritual or habit.. But not through faith? Make a decision that this month you will be intentional in your touching Jesus! 

Press-in this month! Don’t let the crowd stop you, don’t let the doubts distract you. Press thru until He fills you with His Virtue!

Tishrei is also a month to concentrate on the justice system and cover your leaders in prayer - from the local government to the White House. That godly men and women be raised up in positions of power & influence who have the Word of the Lord in their mouths and His Wisdom in their hearts.

This will be KEY in not only this year, but in this decade! Don’t forget that this whole decade is a decade of war! 

The last decade (Ayin) was one of seeing, but we are now in Pey, a decade of speaking. And while our words have always had the power to create life or death - they carry an extra weight in this season. 

We are not just flesh and blood - we are speaking spirits. I love how Robert Hiedler puts it, 

“Blessings are assignments to angels, curses are assignments to demons - who are you handing assignments out to?”