Habakkuk 3:17-19

 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
• DAILY READING    Revelation 5; Nehemiah 7:5-8:12; Psalm 100
Animal sacrifice ended in Israel, when the Jewish  temple, was destroyed in the year AD 70. Thereafter the Jews were denied access to the temple mount for many years. Since then, rather than daily burnt offerings, religious Jews now offer daily prayers instead. 

But with the return of the Jews back to their homeland in 1948 and their recapturing of Jerusalem in 1967, the temple mount once again came under the control of the Jews. As a result many Jews desired to go back to the Old Testament days of carrying out animal sacrifices on the temple mount. But the Rabbis of Israel and the government have forbidden Jews from going to the temple mount. This is because since the destruction of the temple, the exact location of The Holy of Holies has become unknown. Therefore, Jewish Rabbis feared that any Jew entering the area ran the grave risk of inadvertently treading on the sacred ground of the Holy of Holies, which only the high priest was permitted to enter — and only once a year with blood.  

However some radical Jews, disregarding this order, still try to go to the temple mount to carry out animal sacrifices. Some organizations who hope to eventually build a third temple on the site, have been holding what they call a “practice drill” for the Passover sacrifices. Though they come with priestly clothing, trumpets and animals for the sacrifice, police usually prevent them from accessing the Temple Mount. 

Other families desperate to carry out sacrifices for atonement of sin, look for ways to smuggle in their sacrificial goats. However in many cases  they are often arrested by the police and the goats confiscated and given to the city’s veterinary services department. Though these religious Jews are soon released, still each year they are back again with other goats, because they believe that either by slaughtering the goat or police arresting their goats, either way, they have still somehow made a sacrifice. 

Well, just imagine the troubles these Jews go through just to be able to make an animal  sacrifice for the atonement of their sin. What a joy then as believers to know that we have free access to the blood of Jesus by His eternal sacrifice on Calvary. The power of the blood of Jesus has provided everything we need to live a life of victory, including Redemption, fellowship, healing, protection and authority over the devil. Revelation 12:11 says “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” 

Therefore by the blood of Jesus, we declare that we have overcome everything that has so far tried to resist our progress and eagle’s flight this year. June, for us shall be a month of divine harvest. Every effort we have put in so far in any area this year, shall begin to yield sudden amazing harvest. And let’s not forget that joy is the sickle for such harvest.

Isaiah 12:3-5 says ‘Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.’

As we remain Joyful and praiseful this month we shall indeed be experiencing the excellent doings of The Lord.

Because joy is crucial to harvest, therefore resist everything that tries to tamper with your joy and laughter this month. 

 Joel 1:12-17 says ‘The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.’

We must therefore not permit anything to wither our joy. And as we remain praiseful in every situation, this month will indeed prove to be a month of amazing testimonies  for us in Jesus Name. 

PRAYER:  Lord,  I Thank You that by the blood of Jesus I am an overcomer in every area of my life. Thank You for giving me continual victory and filling my heart with joy all through this year in Jesus Name. .

QUOTE 

Praise is proof that you believe God to do what He said, He would do in your life, – WORDBITE 201. 

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE]