Rosh Hashanah - the Fall Feasts and New Year by Richard Maisenbacher

Rosh Hashanah – the Fall Feasts and New Year

There is something special about the Lord’s feasts. Some may say, “Why celebrate them when they’re in the Old Testament?” The Lord calls them “My feasts” and “appointed times”mow’ed), meaning they are divine appointments set by God our Father for His people to meet with Him.

The feasts are important to God because they belong to Him. He commands His people to gather in a holy convocation on His personal calendar. They are designed to draw His people to fellowship with Him. They allow us to thank God for life, His protection, and the physical “harvest” and provision He provides.

Leviticus 23 teaches us about God's feasts and His appointed times of celebration and consecration. During the Fall Feasts, God wants His people to learn to commune and spend time with Him.

There are three major feasts. The Feast of Passover, which instructs us about God's peace. The Feast of Pentecost, which reveals and celebrates God's power. The Fall Feasts, including Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). These appointed times bring a holy pause to our busy schedules. They draw us closer to Him and help us understand God's desire for an intimate relationship, which brings us to a place of rest in Him.

Even though the 30 days (Days of Elul) before the Feast of Tabernacles were a time of repentance and reflection, they celebrated the final ingathering of the harvest, whereby God blessed the people for the year. The fruit of the land had been harvested, so the people could now rest from their labors. It was a time of great rejoicing! They would celebrate and thank God in advance for the next harvest.

The Fall Feasts emphasized rest with the Lord; however, it did not necessarily mean literally lying down and doing nothing. Rest meant abiding intimately with Him, staying involved in the everyday work of the Kingdom, while continuing with their occupation, family, study, prayer, and ministry.

The dates for this year’s Fall Feasts 2026 are: 

Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets) Beginning of the New Year - September 11th-13th (Fri.–Sun.)

Days of Awe -Include the 10 days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, September 11th- 21st (Fri.-Mon.)

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) A Day of Fasting - September 20-21 (Sun.-Mon.)

Sukkot or Feast of Tabernacles/Booths – September 25th-October 2nd (Fri.-Fri.)
God is always working on our behalf; however, during this time of various tensions, He is specifically bringing guidance, alignments and realignments, as well as restoration and reformation. I know during this Fall season God is going to move in a significant way, increasing His harvest by transforming His people. This will also automatically impact the seven mountains. I do not know how it will play out, but I still believe a correction is coming to level the playing field and begin to restore what has been stolen from His people.

We find in John 7:37-38 the words of Jesus included in John’s letter: “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’”

Enjoy the Feasts of the Lord with family and friends. Be prayerful and look forward to this New Year. His love, goodness, and limitless power will reign!

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. We thank you, Lord! (Eph. 3:20)

In His Covenant Love,

Richard
Info@thecovenantcenter.com
Covenant Outreach Ministries, Inc.

Is My Covenant Relationship in Ministry Performance-based? by Richard Maisenbacher

Is My Covenant Relationship in Ministry Performance-based?

Many people I have talked to recently have been discouraged because they do not seem to be “in the ministry” or a calling that was prophesied. They are asking themselves: What do I need to do to make this ministry, that I think God wants me to do, come to pass?

Ezekiel 16:60 says, “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.”   

Part of the answer to their question involves reviewing their covenant relationship with the Lord. In a covenant relationship, it is not necessary for the parties involved to negotiate or earn the favor of God’s promise, because God wishes to grant such a favor for His own reasons and on His own terms. In the covenant, it is God’s expression to Himself that He will exhibit His love and care toward those He calls into this relationship. He promises that He is the One best positioned to know what we need.

It is a blessing to know that God’s covenant promise toward us does not falter and is not dependent on our performance. God continues to love us, regardless of our failures and successes, because He chooses to love us. My struggles and failures may affect my joy and hurt my communion with Him, but He does not give up on me. He guides me back to His blessings.

With all the media, politics, opinions, and frustration in our world right now, it can ignite our own negative emotions. Therefore, if we are not doing what we want to do for God, this will come out in our thinking, emotions, and communication.

A reminder of Habakkuk 2:4 may help, “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.” God’s timing is not our timing. He is transforming us. We are in His covenant where He is exchanging our character for His character. This process does take time, but His love for us is what keeps us in this covenant relationship. Performing for God may not be what He is asking of you right now. It may be to enjoy this covenant love relationship even though things are not going exactly the way you planned. His purpose for you and timing is unfolding.  I encourage you to sense His presence, receive His love, and enjoy your covenant relationship that He has invited you into!

It is important to remember that ministry may be done in many different locations with many individuals. Yes, ministry takes place in churches and missions in other countries, but not only by the pastor. Jesus and his disciples ministered to people in groups and individuals in many different locations. You do not have to be a pastor to release ministry. There are opportunities for ministry in the marketplace (business) where you may be employed, in stores, restaurants, in families, with your children, and with your friends. God desires to expand ministry to many people through believers like you. This is the way He expands His covenant of love to others. He desires for you to be His hand extended to others wherever you go!

In His Covenant Love,

Richard Maisenbacher
www.thecovenantcenter.com
Covenant Outreach Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 524
Lakeland, Fl. 33802-0524
www.info@thecovenantcenter.com