Today is not only the last day in the current biblical year but also Rosh Chodesh Preparation Day, and the 30th day in the month. Not every month has 30 days in it, as you know, on account of the reduced orbital lunation caused by some as yet unknown cosmic disturbance that occurred during or since the days of Noah, for originally there were 30 days in each month.

The number 30 figures in an interesting way in biblical symbology. The 30th year is quite an important one in the life of Yahweh's servants. When Yah'shua (Jesus) was 30 years old, He began His three year ministry, becoming the sacrifice for our sins when He was 33. The 30th day of the month is the Day of the Son. When he was 30, another famous son also began a spectacular career as not only the deliverer of Egypt but of his own family too, many of whom had persecuted him:

"Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt" (Gen.41:46, NKJV).

Sometimes we must languish as others forget their promises to us after Yahweh has blessed them through our instrumentality. Nevertheless there is always a time and season which Yahweh not only uses to jog the memory of such people but also to ensure that the one being reminded is used to set off a train of events leading to amazing happenings. Joseph, wrongly accused and wrongly punished, is elevated from being an unmarried imprisoned slave to being the Prime Minister of Egypt with a lovely wife, a woman of nobility. Yahweh changes circumstances suddenly and spectacularly for his servants but only upon the completion of their trial of emunah (faith).

We can only suppose that Yah'shua (Jesus) was little known before He turned 30 and began His mission. He would, quite suddenly, be propelled into national prominence standing before Roman Governors, tyranical Potentates and criminal religious leaders.

As we end the current biblical year I want to remind everyone that the times of obscurity and frustration at not being able to realise callings may well be over for many of us, and faster than you think. The real question is whether you held out or not during the long years of apparent failure. Who would have dreamed what Joseph would become? And indeed, who would have dreamed who and what Yah'shua (Jesus) of Nazareth was and what He would do for the salvation of the world.

Both were real and in earnest. There was nothing phoney about them. Many have come to this work who were phoney, who came with false pretenses or under major spiritual delusions, and have gone. Maybe one or two will repent and return but most will not because they preferred darkness to light. Many more fakes will come and are even now amongst us. They too will buckle under the hammer of the Son on Yahweh's anivil of testing and will either crack and vanish fromn the real of the Ruach (Spirit) or repent and become maleable, and useful instruments of salvation to those earnestly seeking the Kingdom.

Where do you stand today? Are you ready to play your part in this critical time in history for mankind? Tomorrow at sunrise a new year begins unlike any other previously and it is your privilege, and mine, to be alive on it. At the full moon, 14 days later, a new cycle of festivals begins at Pesach, and with that comes the opportunity to start afresh if you have fallen away or to deepen your committments to Messiah if you have remained true to Him. I have to say, along with Dickens, that I have 'great expectations' and great hopes.

This is a time for setting Yahweh's captive ministers free, those who walk in the footsteps of Messiah. Amen.