May 18, 2007
Hopefully by now you have become acclimated to being called an "Israelite". Moreover, to some of you the Spirit has revealed your specific tribal identity. Others, on the other hand, feel that they are Gentiles, while there are those who know that they are of Judah and others refer to themselves as Ephraimites. Our national/natural identity is indeed very important, so long as it does not cause us to lose our sense of identity and unity with and in Messiah Yeshua.
Paul declared something about himself that most of us would like to ignore. However, that statement is so important to our own oneness/unity that it bears considering and reading over and over, until it is fully absorbed: "I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Messiah. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Master, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which is from Elohim by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3: 4-11). In addition, although a born-again Believer and a seasoned apostle, Paul viewed himself as a "wretched man" (Romans 7: 24).
Please do not misunderstand me. I am not trying to make light of the natural identity. Without a doubt, it is a very significant factor. It is very much a part of our testimony and witness to YHVH's faithfulness to His covenants, and to that which He spoke through His prophets of old. However, we do not only have an earthly testimony; there is also a heavenly one to which we bear witness.
Writing to the Ephesian Believers, both Jews and non-Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, the Apostle highlights their first point of unity: "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Ephesians 2:1-3). Even with all of the Jewish and Torah keeping credentials, he came to realize that he was no different than any other person.
In that famous Chapter 11 of Romans, Paul notes that "Elohim gave up all", and that means all mankind, to disobedience (ref Romans 11:32). If YHVH has given all up to this condition, no one is exempt. Thankfully Paul doesn't stop there, but introduces another point regarding our unity/togetherness, as is seen in the following verses: "But Elohim, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua" (Ephesians 2:4-6).
Isn't that wonderful? By His grace and love YHVH made us alive together with Messiah, raised us up with Him and caused us to sit together with Him, and hence with one another. Psalm 133 tells us how pleasant and how important it is for brothers to sit/dwell/be in unity. YHVH redeemed and restored us in order for us to participate in an administration that for ages was hidden in Himself, but has now been made known to us and through us (that is, if we are sitting together in Messiah) to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (ref. Ephesians 3: 9-10).
Wow! Just think, at first we were all together under the influence of the prince and power of the air, and the spirit that was working in us was the same one that works in all the sons of disobedience… But because of His great love and grace, He has now taken us out of the kingdoms of this world's darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). The nature of this kingdom of light is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (ref Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are evident in those who are seated together in these heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua. As a result we are now ruling over the spirits that once ruled us.
Since we are called to such an incredible place, the Apostle implores us "to be worthy of this calling by putting on humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4: 1-3). With that let us greet one another with a hearty and fragrant….
Ephraim
Hopefully by now you have become acclimated to being called an "Israelite". Moreover, to some of you the Spirit has revealed your specific tribal identity. Others, on the other hand, feel that they are Gentiles, while there are those who know that they are of Judah and others refer to themselves as Ephraimites. Our national/natural identity is indeed very important, so long as it does not cause us to lose our sense of identity and unity with and in Messiah Yeshua.
Paul declared something about himself that most of us would like to ignore. However, that statement is so important to our own oneness/unity that it bears considering and reading over and over, until it is fully absorbed: "I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Messiah. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Master, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which is from Elohim by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3: 4-11). In addition, although a born-again Believer and a seasoned apostle, Paul viewed himself as a "wretched man" (Romans 7: 24).
Please do not misunderstand me. I am not trying to make light of the natural identity. Without a doubt, it is a very significant factor. It is very much a part of our testimony and witness to YHVH's faithfulness to His covenants, and to that which He spoke through His prophets of old. However, we do not only have an earthly testimony; there is also a heavenly one to which we bear witness.
Writing to the Ephesian Believers, both Jews and non-Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, the Apostle highlights their first point of unity: "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Ephesians 2:1-3). Even with all of the Jewish and Torah keeping credentials, he came to realize that he was no different than any other person.
In that famous Chapter 11 of Romans, Paul notes that "Elohim gave up all", and that means all mankind, to disobedience (ref Romans 11:32). If YHVH has given all up to this condition, no one is exempt. Thankfully Paul doesn't stop there, but introduces another point regarding our unity/togetherness, as is seen in the following verses: "But Elohim, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua" (Ephesians 2:4-6).
Isn't that wonderful? By His grace and love YHVH made us alive together with Messiah, raised us up with Him and caused us to sit together with Him, and hence with one another. Psalm 133 tells us how pleasant and how important it is for brothers to sit/dwell/be in unity. YHVH redeemed and restored us in order for us to participate in an administration that for ages was hidden in Himself, but has now been made known to us and through us (that is, if we are sitting together in Messiah) to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (ref. Ephesians 3: 9-10).
Wow! Just think, at first we were all together under the influence of the prince and power of the air, and the spirit that was working in us was the same one that works in all the sons of disobedience… But because of His great love and grace, He has now taken us out of the kingdoms of this world's darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). The nature of this kingdom of light is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (ref Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are evident in those who are seated together in these heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua. As a result we are now ruling over the spirits that once ruled us.
Since we are called to such an incredible place, the Apostle implores us "to be worthy of this calling by putting on humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4: 1-3). With that let us greet one another with a hearty and fragrant….
Ephraim
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