December 7, 2007
The trip to England was like riding on the wings of an eagle. It was "blessed beyond blessed" from the time I left home until I saw the smiling faces of my family members greeting me at the airport, upon my return at 01:00 AM; Each stop along the journey was an oasis of His love, encouragement and anointing. Even though many of our brothers and sisters are experiencing troublesome times, His message to all of us was very simple and foundational. The Spirit was pointing us back to our first love, to the faith and to remembering what the Father had accomplished for us through His only begotten Son while we were yet sinners, an accomplishment that was the ultimate demonstration of His love, power and wisdom (ref. 1 Corinthians 1:24).
It was interesting that most of us were veteran believers, but in order to bring us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him, the Almighty had to shake our comfort zones, lifestyles, ministries and relationships. And while so doing, He also reminded us of the truth about ourselves vis-à-vis the New Covenant. What YHVH was imparting to us centered round the execution tree, that is the altar and sacrifice (Yeshua) that He had used as a means to forgive and reconcile us unto Himself.
We had to conclude that it is of utmost necessity that we hold on, and cling to what is true about ourselves, all of which may be summed up in the fact that we are dead, but that our life is hidden in Messiah in Elohim. Indeed, Messiah's presence in us constitutes our life and nature and hence the soul must come into union and merge with Him, so that the Father can glorify His Son. Yeshua prayed in John 17 that as He glorified the Father, the Father would also glorify Him. This, then, is the reason that the Father has placed the life of His Son in us, so that through us He would fulfill this goal.
Our circumstances, therefore, become opportunities to glorify Yeshua's indwelling presence. This is brought about by yielding to His nature (the fruit of the Spirit). In this way His life is glorified by us and in us, especially so in our relationships with others, as Yeshua's glory is seen in our love for one another. Yeshua prayed: "And the glory which you Father have given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one" (John 17: 22). We must believe what is true about our death and no longer look at ourselves, or others, after the flesh because when Yeshua died "all men died. Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh… if any man is in Messiah, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5: 15-17).
Many have been set free by believing and understanding this reality. Others are still in a battle with spirits of unbelief and doubt as to whether this is true or not. But when we walk in His indwelling presence we bring glory to the Almighty and to His Son. This is not an easy row to hoe, as we have plenty of resistance from the power of sin, which is the nature of darkness that wants us to be channels of its unloving character.
Let us make this season of dedication a time of remembering, recognizing, repenting and cleansing ourselves (temples of His Spirit) "from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim" (2 Corinthians 7:1).
May Yeshua be the light of His Father's glory in your holy place!
Ephraim
The trip to England was like riding on the wings of an eagle. It was "blessed beyond blessed" from the time I left home until I saw the smiling faces of my family members greeting me at the airport, upon my return at 01:00 AM; Each stop along the journey was an oasis of His love, encouragement and anointing. Even though many of our brothers and sisters are experiencing troublesome times, His message to all of us was very simple and foundational. The Spirit was pointing us back to our first love, to the faith and to remembering what the Father had accomplished for us through His only begotten Son while we were yet sinners, an accomplishment that was the ultimate demonstration of His love, power and wisdom (ref. 1 Corinthians 1:24).
It was interesting that most of us were veteran believers, but in order to bring us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him, the Almighty had to shake our comfort zones, lifestyles, ministries and relationships. And while so doing, He also reminded us of the truth about ourselves vis-à-vis the New Covenant. What YHVH was imparting to us centered round the execution tree, that is the altar and sacrifice (Yeshua) that He had used as a means to forgive and reconcile us unto Himself.
We had to conclude that it is of utmost necessity that we hold on, and cling to what is true about ourselves, all of which may be summed up in the fact that we are dead, but that our life is hidden in Messiah in Elohim. Indeed, Messiah's presence in us constitutes our life and nature and hence the soul must come into union and merge with Him, so that the Father can glorify His Son. Yeshua prayed in John 17 that as He glorified the Father, the Father would also glorify Him. This, then, is the reason that the Father has placed the life of His Son in us, so that through us He would fulfill this goal.
Our circumstances, therefore, become opportunities to glorify Yeshua's indwelling presence. This is brought about by yielding to His nature (the fruit of the Spirit). In this way His life is glorified by us and in us, especially so in our relationships with others, as Yeshua's glory is seen in our love for one another. Yeshua prayed: "And the glory which you Father have given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one" (John 17: 22). We must believe what is true about our death and no longer look at ourselves, or others, after the flesh because when Yeshua died "all men died. Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh… if any man is in Messiah, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5: 15-17).
Many have been set free by believing and understanding this reality. Others are still in a battle with spirits of unbelief and doubt as to whether this is true or not. But when we walk in His indwelling presence we bring glory to the Almighty and to His Son. This is not an easy row to hoe, as we have plenty of resistance from the power of sin, which is the nature of darkness that wants us to be channels of its unloving character.
Let us make this season of dedication a time of remembering, recognizing, repenting and cleansing ourselves (temples of His Spirit) "from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim" (2 Corinthians 7:1).
May Yeshua be the light of His Father's glory in your holy place!
Ephraim
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