Israel
March 12, 2010
Shalom Fellow "Israelight,"
No, this is not a mistake. If we are Israelites, then we should be walking in the "Light". Speaking of which, Paul the apostle, writing to us, who are alive today in Messiah Yeshua, says that we are to "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). This obviously is easier said than done, as "our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers [of darkness] in heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).
However, in another place the same writer points out emphatically that by the crucifixion/sacrifice of His Son, YHVH has "disarmed [the] principalities and powers, [and]… made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [Yeshua's death]" (Colossians 2:15). Had the rulers of that age known that they would be stripped of their powers, they would not have crucified the Master of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8). To that scripture adds 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 the apostle appends the following: "For this 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 tear down, and where are they?
The apostle's commentaries inform 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 spiritual 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 identifies as "the works of the flesh" (see Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 1:29-31); while John defines them as "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16).
At that time our spiritual task masters, i.e. the demonic forces, through the means of thought, word and deed, raised up in us fortresses and strongholds of their nature of Sin. However, YHVH in and through Yeshua not only came to eradicate these, but made it possible for us to tear down and obliterate them from within; 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 demolish his kingdom, that is, those fortresses and strongholds.
YHVH's Feast of Pesach is right around the corner. It is wonderful to celebrate the Seder meal and read the story of our ancestors' deliverance, which was a shadow of that which YHVH brought into the light through Yeshua (His lamb). Spiritually speaking, He put to death the "Sinner Man", and judicially dealt a death blow to Satan's rights to humanity (as He did to Pharaoh and his army). However, the reality of these facts is 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", so that we might be that " chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that… should show forth the praises of him who has called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
Shabbat Shalom and Happy New Year!
Ephraim
Hebrew Insights into the Weekly Parasha
Also take a look at Yael's Tent and pass it on to those who are just beginning to understand their Hebraic roots or those who know and need further encouragement.