Feelings, Favor, and the Feasts

Many people desire to live in the favor of God, yet they feel unworthy. The Lord’s blessings in their life are short circuited by their low self-esteem – by not seeing themselves as their Heavenly Father sees them.

God designed each of the major Biblical feasts – Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles – to address this tendency to have a faulty understanding of Him and of ourselves. Through the Feast of Passover, He provided His people with safety from the judgment He brought upon the Egyptians, and Passover ultimately led to their deliverance from slavery. However, the Lord wasn’t done yet in His plan to restore the Israelites to a place of favor and blessing.

When you stop to realize that God’s people had been slaves in Egypt for over 400 years, you can understand how their mindset would need to be radically adjusted. As the story unfolded, it became clear that it would take a while for their feelings to line up with the facts of what God had done for them.

Later, the Feast of Pentecost occurred after the newly delivered Israelites had crossed the Red Sea and were camped at the base of Mount Sinai. While there, God began to outline the special relationship He had called them to have with Him. He promised that by obeying His voice and keeping His covenant, they would be “a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine” (Exodus 19:5).

A New Identity

After hundreds of years of oppression, it must have been difficult to grasp that the Lord was giving them a whole new identity and purpose. Despite their new- found freedom, they no doubt still felt like slaves at times.

Yet God now declared that they would be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). They were called to be kings and priests – just as we are meant to be today (Revelation 1:6).

Do you see the difference God’s favor can make in your life? You’re no longer a slave…a victim…or an outcast. The Lord has set you FREE and called you to be part of His “holy nation.”

Referring to the scene at Mount Sinai, Peter wrote that believers are “a chosen generation, a royal priest- hood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

So, when you look at your life today, make sure you are seeing yourself through God’s eyes of love. Rejoice in your new identity, and take steps of faith to walk in His supernatural favor.

A Life of Victory

Although your Heavenly Father wants you to walk in daily victory, that doesn’t mean you’ll never face problems or enemies. In fact, one of His covenant promises associated with Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles is this: “I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries” (Exodus 23:22). Yes, you will have enemies and adversaries, but when you’re walking in a covenant relationship with the Lord, He offers to fight your battles (Exodus 14:14).

Deuteronomy 28:7 promises that if you are obedient to God, you can expect to prevail against any enemies you face: “They will come at you from one direction and flee from you in seven.”

When you live in God’s favor, you’ll be able to see the enemy’s attacks from a whole new perspective – as opportunities for a heavenly promotion. Not only will your adversaries be defeated, but they will flee from you in seven directions!

Friend, as you celebrate the Biblical feasts, I pray that you will allow God to transform you by “the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). When your feelings begin to match the truth of His Word, overwhelming victory will be yours.

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Want to learn more about the death and resurrection of Jesus? Watch this video