Paul the apostle in writing to us today, says that "our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers in heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). Then he adds that YHVH has already disarmed them through the crucifixion/sacrifice of His Son: "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He [Elohim] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it" [Yeshua's death]" (Colossians 2:15). For had those rulers of this age known that they would be stripped of their powers, they would not have crucified the Master of glory (see 1 Corinthians 2:8). But on the other hand, the scriptures tell us that: "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in Elohim for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Messiah" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). John then adds that the: "purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8). What are those works, strongholds, fortresses and high places that we are to tare down and where are they?
The apostles commentaries tell us that once we were sons of disobedience as were the rest and that we lived under the power and influence of the nature of another kingdom (ref. Ephesians 2:1-3). During that time our soul, especially our mind, memories, and emotions had taken on the characteristics and expressions of that realm. Those traits were seen in what Paul describes as the "works of the flesh". John described them as "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). Peter writes "lay aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking" (1 Peter 2:1)…and 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance" (1 Peter 1:14).
Our spiritual task masters e.i. the demonic forces, through the means of thought, word and deed, built in us fortresses, and strongholds of the nature of Sin. Paul describes some of those as: "unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of Elohim, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful" (Romans 1:29-31)… "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of Elohim" (Galatians 5:19-21). Yeshua also mentions some of the above when describing the heart of man (ref. Mark 7:21-22). However, not only Yeshua came to eradicate these but He has made it possible for us to also tare down and obliterate them from within our own lives. For Elohim is now in us, by the Spirit to will and to do for His good pleasure (ref. Philippians 2:13), which is to destroy the works of Satan and to tare down his kingdom.
"Therefore put to death your members [the embodiment of sin] which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of Elohim is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Colossians 3:5-10).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them, for it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light" (Ephesians 5:11-13).
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua the Messiah, His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1 John 1:7-10).
YHVH's feast of Pesach is right around the corner. It is wonderful to celebrate the traditions of this feast day i.e. the Exodus of thousands of years ago, which was a mere shadow of that which YHVH brought into the light through Yeshua. I hope we will keep in mind what our great Deliverer accomplished for us through His Son. Spiritually speaking He put to death the "Sinner Man", and judicially dealt a death blow to Satan's rights to humanity. However, the reality of these facts are still being worked out through a remnant of His first fruit, first born company. I pray that the beginning of this new year which leads us to the Feast of Pesach will be filled with the light of revelation knowledge and understanding of this great deliverance and exodus out of the realm of "sin and death".
"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15).
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20).
"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philipians 2:12). Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim" (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Ephraim
The apostles commentaries tell us that once we were sons of disobedience as were the rest and that we lived under the power and influence of the nature of another kingdom (ref. Ephesians 2:1-3). During that time our soul, especially our mind, memories, and emotions had taken on the characteristics and expressions of that realm. Those traits were seen in what Paul describes as the "works of the flesh". John described them as "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). Peter writes "lay aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking" (1 Peter 2:1)…and 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance" (1 Peter 1:14).
Our spiritual task masters e.i. the demonic forces, through the means of thought, word and deed, built in us fortresses, and strongholds of the nature of Sin. Paul describes some of those as: "unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of Elohim, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful" (Romans 1:29-31)… "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of Elohim" (Galatians 5:19-21). Yeshua also mentions some of the above when describing the heart of man (ref. Mark 7:21-22). However, not only Yeshua came to eradicate these but He has made it possible for us to also tare down and obliterate them from within our own lives. For Elohim is now in us, by the Spirit to will and to do for His good pleasure (ref. Philippians 2:13), which is to destroy the works of Satan and to tare down his kingdom.
"Therefore put to death your members [the embodiment of sin] which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of Elohim is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Colossians 3:5-10).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them, for it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light" (Ephesians 5:11-13).
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua the Messiah, His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1 John 1:7-10).
YHVH's feast of Pesach is right around the corner. It is wonderful to celebrate the traditions of this feast day i.e. the Exodus of thousands of years ago, which was a mere shadow of that which YHVH brought into the light through Yeshua. I hope we will keep in mind what our great Deliverer accomplished for us through His Son. Spiritually speaking He put to death the "Sinner Man", and judicially dealt a death blow to Satan's rights to humanity. However, the reality of these facts are still being worked out through a remnant of His first fruit, first born company. I pray that the beginning of this new year which leads us to the Feast of Pesach will be filled with the light of revelation knowledge and understanding of this great deliverance and exodus out of the realm of "sin and death".
"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15).
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20).
"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philipians 2:12). Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim" (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Ephraim
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