Your Key to Passover Blessings

Throughout the history of Israel, there were many ups and downs in their relationship with the Lord. God’s people often strayed from His ways, and repentance was needed in order to spark a new beginning of His blessings and favor.

King Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, had been “increasingly unfaithful to the Lord” (2 Chronicles 28:22). Instead of leading the people closer to the Lord, he took them down the path of pagan idolatry, “to burn incense to other gods” (v. 25). Predictably, God was angry!

When King Ahaz died, Hezekiah became king, and “he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done” (2 Chronicles 29:1-2). What did this include? First, Hezekiah repaired and cleansed the temple, and “the service of the house of the Lord was set in order” (v. 35).

My friend, take a moment and consider how this story may apply to your life at this point. Have you been “unfaithful to the Lord” in some way? Have you allowed some kind of idolatry to creep into your heart and life? Are there some areas of your life that God wants to “set in order”?

It’s interesting that one of the things Hezekiah set in order was the observance of Passover and God’s other “appointed times.” We read in 2 Chronicles 30:1 that “Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah…that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel.”

This is pretty stunning, isn’t it? Of all the reforms Hezekiah could have made after the disastrous reign of his father, one of the first things he did was to reestablish the celebration of Passover. This was no easy task “since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner” (v. 5).

Sadly, the same could be said of most of the church today. For most Christians, they haven’t celebrated the feasts of the Lord “for a long time”—if at all.

Hezekiah sent runners throughout the land to command his people, “Children of Israel, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria” (v. 6). Notice that this command to celebrate Passover was framed in terms of returning to the Lord. In order to fully return to a place of God’s favor, they had to obey Him by returning to His appointed times.

Hezekiah’s message warned, “Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord” (v. 8). This is significant because the previous generation had followed Ahaz and other unfaithful kings into idolatry. It was going to take a real decision for the people to break with that sinful tradition and yield to the Lord.

Hezekiah’s messengers did not have an easy time. Instead of immediately embracing this message of repentance and restoration from the king’s envoys, “they laughed at them and mocked them” (v. 10). This reminds me of the many people today who still mock anyone declaring that God’s appointed times are relevant.

Fortunately, Hezekiah was not deterred from this response, and eventually the Lord convinced some people to join in the Passover restoration: “The hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the Lord” (v. 12). Eventually, “a very great assembly” gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, which included special offerings presented to the Lord.

As the massive congregation prepared their hearts to seek God, we’re told that the Lord “healed the people” (vs. 19-20) and brought them “great gladness” (v. 21). The outpouring of blessings and joy was so overwhelming that “the whole assembly agreed to keep the feast another seven days” (v. 23).

What an amazing scene! Because of their disobedience, God’s people had not celebrated Passover for a long time. But once they did, the blessings were so evident that they extended the celebration for an additional seven days! As the chapter ends, we’re told that the Levites “arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven” (v. 27).

Believe for YOUR Blessings

I can’t think of a better testimony, can you? As you set your heart to obey the Lord and honor Him during His appointed times, you will be blessed, and your prayers will ascend to Heaven!

Just as in Hezekiah’s day, God promises specific Passover blessings to you if you will obey Him, celebrate Passover, and come before Him with a special Passover offering. Exodus 23 says He will send an angel before you to guard you … be an enemy to your enemies … prosper you … remove sickness from you … prevent death before your appointed time … give you increase and an inheritance … and return what was lost to the enemy. And this is just the beginning.

Would you like to claim these amazing promises for you and your family this month? Do you need a season of fruitfulness and favor? As you come before the Lord with your Passover offering, exercise your faith to believe God to release His Passover blessings in your life!

Referring to the covenant blessings offered during the Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, Deuteronomy 16:16 says, “None shall appear before the Lord empty-handed.” Yes, God put conditions on His promises.

The celebration of His feasts represents a cycle of giving and receiving between God and His people…a cycle of seedtime and harvest. From Passover to Pentecost…from Pentecost to Tabernacles…from Tabernacles back to Passover…the Israelites obeyed the Lord and experienced a wonderful rhythm of His supernatural blessings.

NOW is the time!

Whether you need a breakthrough in your health, finances, emotions, or relationships, NOW is God’s appointed time to come to your aid — if you obey Him. God still promises that if we follow His Word, He will protect us, guide us, provide for us, heal us, and keep us safe!

So take a step of faith and obedience … come before God to honor Him with your worship … prepare for Him a special offering … then trust that your amazing season of miracles and blessings is at hand!

God has made an appointment to meet with you … to speak to you … and to bless you with amazing turnarounds! Come celebrate Passover and surrender your heart to the Lord, so you can experience a new level of victorious, overflowing abundance today.

God bless you,