NISAN OR AVIV 5782
April 2nd – May 1st
Nissan has 30 days. Corresponding to March or April
Nisan is one of only two Jewish months whose names are also given names. Nisan is a common name for boys, and Aviv is a common male and female name.
Strongs definition of Nisan means “their flight.” (#05212)
According to one tradition, the three patriarchs of the Jewish people—Abraham (1948–2123 from creation, 1813–1638 BCE), Isaac (2048–2228 from creation, 1713–1533 BCE) and Jacob (2108–2255 from creation, 1653–1506 BCE)—all were born and passed away in the month of Nisan. We are now 5782 years from creation.
Each month is designed to bring us blessings. When we are linked into God’s cycles they produce change and we can receive higher levels of blessings. His cycles are designed that we may move spiritually from a lower level of wisdom, revelation and effectiveness to a higher level. The three cycles are designed to break the power of the enemy, so we can draw closer to God. Weekly, monthly and yearly, Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and the Moedim, or the yearly Feasts, all appointed times to meet with God.
PRAISE AND MEDITATION
Nisan marks the beginning of the Hebrews’ movement out of Egypt and into His covenant making this a time to cross over into the inheritance that has been promised you. Judah is the tribe and Judah carries the meaning of praise. When the Tribes moved out they moved out in Praise before all else.
This month lead out in Praise.
Psalm 81:10 says,
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide,
and I will fill it.”
This is a month to fill your mouth with praise. No matter your situation it is a time to express “violent praise.” I am not talking about dancing to the music or clapping your hands to the beat, I am talking about praise that comes from the depth of your soul filled with the conviction that God keeps His promise, that His Word never returns void, and that He will never leave you.
I liken “violent praise” to the kind of “meditation” found in Isaiah 31:4.
While meditating can be thinking on it, pondering and reflecting it is also used in Isaiah 31:4 as to ‘growl,’ as a lion growls over his prey.
For thus says the LORD to me, “As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey, Against which a band of shepherds is called out, And he will not be terrified at their voice nor disturbed at their noise, So will the LORD of hosts come down to wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill.
It is done with energy, sincerity, and conviction like the “violent praise.”
Set a pattern this month for the year and begin each day praising God and Jesus from the depth of your soul, then pick a Scripture for the day and growl over it.
REDEMPTION
Nisan is a month of redemption. Redeem means to “buy out.” This is used specifically for a slave’s freedom. The Israelites received a “buy out’ the evening they put the blood on the door posts. Then, when the angel of death passed over, they were protected, and at dawn they were able to move from being Egypt’s slaves to being children of the Most High God.
The Gospel of John in 8:34 tells us “everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin,” and Romans 3:23
Tells us “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory.”
Because of redemption We are now freed from sin and it no longer has power over us. Romans 6:6-7
We are redeemed by the price Jesus paid on the Cross, made possible through His Blood. Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood,
[which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin,
in accordance with the riches of His grace
From the Garden of Eden in Genesis to the last Book of the Revelation of Christ, the glorious power of the Blood is revealed.
Noah’s new beginning began with blood, Abraham became the first mention of substitutionary atonement by the blood, all leading up to striking the door post with the blood of the Paschal Lamb, (Paschal from pesah – meaning Passover) making a new beginning through redemption made possible by the blood.
It is the same for us today. The Blood for our redemption comes from God’s Lamb. Through His Blood, we have been redeemed, forgiven of our sins, and reconciled to God. We have received atonement, drawn near to God, and given life.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. John 6:53
The life we have been given is eternal life. Not just everlasting life but “eternal.” The most used New Testament word for “eternal” is aiónios, which carries the idea of quality as well as quantity. Eternal life begins the moment you exercise your faith in Christ. It is all about our current standing in Christ and living a Kingdom life.
Declare
SPRING
God has created an entire season for new beginnings, new life. It is the season of Spring.
Seasonally, it was Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 3:33 UTC of 11:33 am EDT
Spiritually, it is Nisan 14th or April 15th. A night of darkness and horror and death for some, but for those who trusted in the Lord it was a night of protection, deliverance, healing – a new beginning.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:11
For 92.8 days we will have the opportunity to start new- to actualize we are new creations in Christ.
We are no longer the seed of Adam with the effects of the fall.
When we professed the Son of God as our Savior and declared our dedication, loyalty, and love to Him asking forgiveness for our sins, we became new creatures in Christ by the Blood.
Our old man is dead and we are not to look back at who he was or what he did. We are to put away the former things and look to the new. Our spirit is alive in Christ and we are to live by our spirit that is alive in the Holy Spirit.
“Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things [of life]
will not be remembered or come to mind. Isaiah 65:17
Living by the Spirit (as a new creature in Christ)
If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. Galatians 5:25
Living by the Spirit is being the person God created us to be, not living out of our past mistakes, abuses, or what others have labeled us, but who God says we are.
Gideon thought himself to be the least, but God saw him as a mighty warrior.
Ask God how He sees you and take steps to begin to live out of how God sees you.
DECLARE
Desires of the flesh are the ways you are used to doing things.
Remember all things are permissible, but not all are beneficial.
Before doing something the way you have always done it – ask God for His way. See if there is a difference.
Nisan is a miracle month – nothing is impossible with God.
Through 10 miracles God took out the pagan gods of Egypt.
God clearly says, “you shall have no other God’s before me.”
How do I spend my time?
Is there something I covet that diverts my mind and heart from the guiding voice of the Holy Spirit?
Where do I spend my money?
Is there a thing I love more than God, someone I want more than God in my life?
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth.”
Colossians 3:1-2
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Nisan or Aviv is the “beginning of all months.”
Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year. Exodus 12:1
.
We know the “plagues” on Egypt were well underway by the first of Nisan. Knowing the last plague in Egypt, the death of the first born, on Nisan 14th makes it likely that when the Lord talked to Moses in Exodus 11, it was the end of Adar.
Notice when the Lord spoke to Moses about the last plague, the first thing He says is that the Israelites are to “spoil” the Egyptians.
Exodus 11:1-3 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague. After that, he will allow you to leave this place. And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely. Now announce to the people that men and women alike should ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”
And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians.
The Lord gave them favor in the sight of the Egyptians, by making it appear how much He favored them. He also changed the spirit of the Egyptians toward them, and made the Israelites to be gifted by their oppressors.
This is a fulfillment of the promise God made to Moses in Exodus 3:22 while at the burning bush.
And I will grant this people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you leave, you will not go away empty-handed. Every woman shall ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.”
It is our time to “spoil” the enemy. During this season the Lord gives favor to move for us to be gifted by our oppressor. God clearly said when delivered we will not go empty handed.
Those who honour God, He will honour.
FOUR DAYS WITH THE LAMB
The next instruction God gives the Israelites is to select a lamb.
Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household. If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor based on the number of people, and apportion the lamb accordingly.
Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats. You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month…Exodus 12:3-5
On the tenth day – ten meaning divine order, completed cycle, good or evil, congregation- a complete congregation.
The lamb was to be separated for four days.
In these four days, they were to carefully and fully inspect the lamb before the sacrifice.
It is the same time Jesus was in Jerusalem under examination when His innocence was declared to the world after His seven inspections. This year, April 11th is Nisan 10th.
Below are 4 meditations, one for each of the four days we are to bring the lamb in our home, inspecting him, searching him. Use these as a foundation to see Jesus as never before.
If you can, follow God’s timing for evening and morning of each of the following four days. The new day begins at sunset. There is a time before we attempt to sleep that we quiet our heart, a time of meditation.
DAY ONE April 12th
When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethpage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,
‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU,
GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,
EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.’”
The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road.
The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David;
BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Hosanna in the highest!”
When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Ask yourself, “Who is this?” “Who is He to me?”
DAY TWO April 13th
Ponder on each descriptive of our Paschal Lamb (Paschal from pesah – meaning Passover)
DAY THREE April 14th
Think about it, your view of God reveals how much you will allow Him to do for you.
Your view of God reveals the limits you place on His power.
He wanted to share His love. So, He created in His image. Created in His image so we can relate to Him.
So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:27
He is all about relationship, being close, dwelling among us, that is why He was called Emmanuel -God with us.
This is why Moses was to build the Tabernacle and why he had to be exact in following God’s instructions – it was God’s place to dwell among His people.
He wants to be known by us.
This is why He came to Earth to be God in the flesh that we might see and experience God.
Jesus died and rose from the dead and returned to Heaven, so God could live in us, making us One.
“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
John 16:7
that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John 17:21
He wants us to experience Him, not just know about Him.
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You; Job 42:5
They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
He has created us to hear and to speak with Him, everywhere and anywhere.
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
If He did not create us to hear, why would He say listen to Him?
Therefore listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them. Luke 8:18
He waits for you. Our responsibility is to respond to Him.
He has called us to intimacy with Him
Nothing breathes without His breath – Psalm 104:29
DAY FOUR April 15th
Intimate With Jesus By Oswald Chambers
“Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?” —John 14:9
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “…I have called you friends…” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away…” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).
Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.”
One way to begin a more intimate relationship is to practice the presence of Lord.
How do you begin? You wait on God.
Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
Psalm 40:31
The Festival of Passover begins April 15th which is Nisan 14th and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 23 April 2022, I have prepared insights and declarations for Passover, which I will send the beginning of April.
Enjoy.
God Bless,
Pastor Karen-Elisabeth
