WHO ARE WE - PART 2

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WHO ARE WE? – PART 2

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

We have begun a study on who we are expected to be as the children of IAUE. The first characteristic we examined, and the most important characteristic (because all other attributes flow from it) is that we are to be the lovers of IAUE.  This is the first and great commandment.  Why do you suppose this was so important in the mind of IAUE that He made it singularly the most important instruction to His people?

When you have read the Scriptures, have you just made an academic noting of the multitude of the “other” gods that were a constant temptation to the Hebrews to worship; and just gave them little consideration because, after all, we all know that IAUE alone is Elohim?  Did the nations of the world serve made-up gods; and that is why we never bothered to give much thought to them?  Well, let me tell you, they weren’t made up gods.  Here is a list of some of them found in the Scripture:

Addramelech, Amon, Annamelech, Asherah, Ashima, Ashtoreth, Baal, Baal-Berith, Ball-Peor, Baal-Zebub, Bel, Castor & Pollux, Chiun, Chemosh, Dagon, Diana/Artemis, Gad, Golden Calf, Hermes/Mercury, Jupiter, Kalwan, Meni, Merodach/Marduk, Milchom/Malcham/Malcam, Molech/Moloch, Nebo, Nergal, Nibhaz, Nisroch, Remphan/Rephan/Rompha, Rimmon, Satan, Sikkuth, Succoth-Benoth, Tammuz, Tartak, Zeus.

All of these “false” gods were names ascribed to the fallen angels and the original generations of Nephilim who became renowned as the mighty men of old (Genesis 6:4).  They developed fearful reputations as warriors, hunters, masters of the field, masters of the sea, masters of the weather and they were fiercely sexual and perverse. They demonstrated incredible knowledge, technology, and supernatural ability. They were kings of great power and their legends crossed the flood waters to the post-diluvian age.

Deuteronomy 32:16   They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger.

17 They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.  (ESV)

They were the “new gods,” who represented themselves to man that they were gods.  Given their giant size and power and “alien” appearance, mere mortals clearly saw themselves as inferior to them.  (Consider, IAUE was not visible to man; so these who became visible among them captured their minds to receive worship from them.) Remember what ten of the twelve spies reported to Moses when they returned from spying out the promised land?  They said “we are as grasshoppers in their eyes.”  They were in total fear of them, just based on their size alone; and these were just the descendants of the Nephilim many generations removed.

In our study of The Seed War, we saw that the Serpent immediately began to work toward the destruction of the seed of Adam.  When he nearly succeeded, IAUE brought the flood and secured the bloodline of Adam through Noah (who was perfect in his generations…his bloodline had not been corrupted).  Post-flood, if he could not corrupt their bloodline, the Serpent would do his best to corrupt their worship of IAUE by offering them strange gods to worship.

Have you ever reflected on how it seems everyone in the recorded history in the Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, worshipped a god or multiple gods?  There were no atheists in the Scripture.  Everyone had a deity or deities that they revered and feared.  If you research the histories of ancient cultures, you will find they all had similar records of the creation of the world and the creation and the fall of man; however, they all tended to change the identities of who was good and who was evil.  The god of the Hebrews, IAUE, was frequently depicted as the corrupter of man.  The Serpent and the fallen Watchers were the heroes of their history. It is little wonder that mankind descending from these cultures went after these “new gods” and hated the “one” god of the Hebrews. (The Nephilim bloodlines that still exist today fervently and passionately believe that IAUE is evil and that their god, Lucifer, is the true “bearer of light,” the “illuminator” who will bring peace and prosperity and good will to the earth.)

Now that we have a better context for this first and greatest of commandments to love IAUE with all our heart and soul and mind and might; we need to reflect on the fact this is not an appeal to us to come and see who IAUE is, learn what He is like, and respond to Him with all our love.  No, we are COMMANDED to love Him.  It is an order not a suggestion.  Our obedience is to our love much the same as it is with faith and works.

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

In other words, love without obedience is dead.  It isn’t love.

Think of all the churches that have a seemingly wonderful time of praise and worship before the Sunday morning sermon.  Everyone enters in, they raise their hands in the air, they sway from side to side, they kneel, they bow, etc.; then two hours later they are pursuing their own selfish, and often sinful activities with total disregard for the will of IAUE.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of IAUE, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1 John 2:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Yahushua Messiah, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

¹³ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto IAUE, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto IAUE.

¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

We have referred several times in recent posts that the whole world lies in the wicked one. (1 John 5:19)  Every aspect of this world’s system has an underlying “god” that draws men into his/her worship by wooing their affection to their area of jurisdiction.  The disciples of Messiah are of a kingdom that is not of this world.  We are strangers here, pilgrims in an alien environment.  We are not to merge with our environment.  We are to function within it as ambassadors of the Kingdom of IAUE.  We are not to cultivate an affection for this world; thus we remain free of the unseen influence of the “new gods.”  When we allow our lusts to be drawn away to what this world offers, we are in essence worshipping a fallen angel or a Nephilim spirit. It isn’t innocent on our part.  We cannot claim ignorance even if we are; because we are not ignorant of the call of IAUE to love Him with all our heart and soul and mind and might.  What, after that, is left to love the world?

WHO ARE WE?  WE ARE THE OBEDIENT OF IAUE.

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Notice how Paul contrasts us in this verse with “the children of disobedience.”  In Messiah, we have been separated from that which connected us to the “new gods.”  We are now to be known as the children of obedience. Doing the will of IAUE is our heart’s desire and the focus of our life. In our obedience to His will, we do show to all others that we love IAUE.  This is HOW we demonstrate (give evidence) that we love Him…by keeping His commandments to believe upon His Son, our Master, Yahushua Messiah, and to love our brothers and sisters in Messiah.

This isn’t something to learn academically so we can teach others the information. That puts us in no better a place than the hypocrites in the Scriptures that loved IAUE with their lips but not with their hearts.

Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore IAUE said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

This is a very interesting verse because it clearly shows that we can “believe” in the fear of IAUE; we can be taught about the fear of IAUE; we may even be able to pass a test about the fear of IAUE and still not actually fear IAUE?  How much of our relationship with IAUE is just something we have learned by precept?  We lack the reality of those things we have been taught to understand and believe.  Well, belief/faith without corresponding actions is dead because it abides alone.  When we are tempted to sin; when we are wooed to do that which we know is unrighteous, to do that which we know is not the will of IAUE, are we more conscious of our love for IAUE and our heart’s desire to please Him; or of our mind’s awareness of the perceived “reward” of pleasure?  I would venture to say that in any area where the love of IAUE is not the easy Victor, our knowledge of IAUE is learned by precept and is not the reality of our heart.

Our love of IAUE is both activated and enhanced by our obedience to Him.  As the people of IAUE, we should be so permeated by a desire to serve His will that it rarely leaves our conscious thought.

WHO ARE WE - PART 1

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WHO ARE WE? – PART 1

Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love IAUE thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Today, we begin a new series.  I want to ask a simple question…one that has a complex answer.  As disciples of Yahushua, we are born again (John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23).  We have become a new creature in Yahushua Messiah (2 Corinthians 5:17).  We have already done a series of posts on the New Man. That was an analysis of the “new creature,” an examination of WHAT we became when we were born of the Spirit.  This series intends to examine WHO we are to become as new creatures in Messiah.  WHO we became speaks to our identity.  It is an active participation in the life to which we have been called as servants of Messiah. Unlike being the New Man, we do not assume the identity to which we have been called by default. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of those who profess to be believers have never become what they were called to be.  In truth, that is the purpose of contemporary Christianity…to prevent the disciples of Messiah from realizing their true identity.

We became a part of the New Man when we were born again. We may not live up to the dignity or the power of the New Man; but we have become an intrinsic part of the New Man. [If a carpenter makes a shovel, it is a shovel whether or not it is ever used as one.] Being the New Man is an inescapable reality.  It is WHAT we became. [if you have not been born again and are one who attends church, even if you are a member of a church, you are no different than the Gentiles who sat in the Court of the Gentiles outside of the Jewish synagogues, watching and listening to the proceedings within the synagogue and desiring what the Jews had---covenant with IAUE---but you have absolutely no part in it. You are just window dressing. You must be born again; which means you must forsake the life you currently have to become alive in a new paradigm…in the New Man.]

WHO ARE WE?   WE ARE THE LOVERS OF IAUE.

Matthew 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Yahushua said unto him, Thou shalt love IAUE thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.

When asked what is the greatest commandment, Messiah did not hesitate.  He said it was to love IAUE with every part of our being.  This is the first and most important call of the disciple of Yahushua.  We are to be known as the lovers of IAUE. 

This word “love” (agape) means to consider and to prefer the well-being and interests of its object.  It isn’t a word that defines an emotional feeling; but rather an honoring of the one so loved that it brings out the purest and most selfless life in the one who loves in this manner. As a result, it can produce within the one who so loves the deepest emotions of devotion for the one loved because of the connection it makes within him/her to the nature of the Creator; for such love can only come from Him.  In other words, our choice to consider, prefer and honor IAUE with all our being infuses us with His own love, enabling us to love others with His selfless care for their well-being.  It begins with our loving IAUE.  It ends with us loving others as He would love them through us.

We see the reverse of this demonstrated in the words of the apostle John.

1 John 2:15 Love (agape) not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love (agape) the world, the love (agape) of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  

Loving the world only brings out the worst in man. It evokes selfishness and every evil associated with it.  In fact, in the light of the nature of agape, we may conclude that loving something reproduces the nature of the “god” of that something within us. John tells us that the whole world lies in the wicked one (1 John 5:19).  What good can possibly come from loving any element of that which is within the hold of the enemy of our souls?  Yahushua said the same thing to the Jews.

John 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of Elohim in you.

43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from Elohim only?

Again, the aposle John restates this later in his first epistle.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of IAUE, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of IAUE in him?

If we love IAUE, His nature is reproduced with us and enables and empowers us to love others (who are in the world, and of the world, and bound by the god of this world), thus bringing them into contact with the nature of the One who is their Creator, who only desires their well-being. If we prefer ourselves over others, how can we expect the love of IAUE to be manifest in our lives?  Our very self-preferring lifestyle chokes out the possibility that we can love others as IAUE loves them.

As a disciple of Messiah, there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that knows us, meets us, sees us from a distance, etc., that we love IAUE.  This is what IAUE expects of those whom He has chosen to bless.

In the Old Testament, Moses reminds the Hebrews of the laws that were enjoined upon them by their agreement to serve IAUE.  The first and greatest of these was to love IAUE with all their heart and soul and might.  As a result, IAUE said they would be blessed in everything they do, in all the works of their hands, in all the produce of their farming, in all the yield of their livestock, etc.  In fact, IAUE declares that His blessings would overtake them.  They could not escape them.  His blessing would be a direct consequence of their choice to love Him. This cycle of love and blessing would make the Hebrews a light in the world that would demonstrate to those around them the goodness of IAUE.  However, because of their disobedience to this greatest of all commandments of IAUE, there was a laundry list of curses that would befall them because they refused to remain within this cycle of love and blessing.

Deuteronomy 28:47 Because thou servedst not IAUE thy Elohim with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;

Had they loved IAUE, they would have been a people filled with joy; but instead, they loved the world, and the world reproduced its nature within them.

Our Master, Yahushua Messiah, says that we would be known to the world because of our love for each other.

John 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

This can only originate in our response to the greatest commandment to love IAUE with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and might. The second commandment, “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” can only be obeyed if we are obedient to the first commandment.  The first commandment, however, cannot be obeyed if we prefer ourself…if we are in love with ourself. This takes us right back to one of the very first posts in this blog (5/19/13), The First Lesson in Discipleship:

Matthew 16:24 Then said Yahushua unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Our life must lose its preferential importance to us.  We must lay it down. The Scriptures say:

2 Corinthians 5:14  For the love of Messiah constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

So many have read the Scriptures and thought that Elohim was an egotistical, prideful being because He seems to constantly demand that His people love Him, praise Him, worship Him, etc., not understanding that IAUE knows that in so doing, He would be able to give them a taste of what a life of righteousness is like…to know what purity and goodness is like…to know what it is to love others as IAUE loves His own creation.

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of IAUE, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Messiah also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to IAUE for a sweetsmelling savour.

The apostle Paul goes on in this chapter to list all the acts of wickedness that should not be found in our lives as the children of Elohim. They are things that will not be reproduced in our lives if we are wholly given to the love of IAUE.

Who are we?  We are the lovers of IAUE.

THE SEED WAR - THE RIGHT PARADIGM

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THE SEED WAR – THE RIGHT PARADIGM

2 Peter 3:3 …there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

This verse describes the contemporary Christian condition. There is no sense of urgency to share Yahushua with others.  There is no sense of a need to repent or to call others to repentance. There is no awareness that the time is short.  After all, what has changed since we came to Messiah?  For that matter, what has changed in the past 2,000 years (assuming we aren’t students of history or of the Scriptures to know better). Everything is as it has always been…or so we think.

Contemporary Christianity focuses on getting the unbeliever to “pray the magic prayer” that suddenly makes them a born-again Christian who is now assured of going to Heaven when they die.  There is no emphasis on a changed life or of walking uprightly before IAUE, or even walking uprightly with our fellow man.  Instead, we now fill up their lives with attendance at church and Sunday School and the odd bible study, etc. It is just enough to create an atmosphere of a group-culture that does not focus on the lostness of those around them; or of the holiness of the Creator who has repeatedly commanded His people to be holy as He is holy.  Nope, none of that serious stuff is required; so very few bother with it; after all, nothing ever really changes. We are just biding our time, living our lives to the best of our ability to enjoy life until we die and go to Heaven.

We read the Scriptures and we see a Creator forming the heavens, the earth, the sun, the moon and the stars with a word. 

We see Seraphim, and Cherubim, and Angels and Arch-Angels.

We see a man being formed out of the dust of the earth and becoming the father of the race of mankind.

We see a seraphim (the great serpent) appearing in a garden to work his wiles against Eve.

We see angels coming down to take the form of men and forcing themselves upon the daughters of man to produce a race of giants. 

We see a flood destroying all that is living upon the earth; and a new beginning for mankind when the waters recede.

We see a man, Moses, hold up a staff and a river divides and heaps up into walls of water to allow a nation of people to walk over dry-shod.  We see the same kind of thing happen 40 years later with another man, Joshua, to allow the Hebrews to cross over the flooded banks of the Jordan River. 

We see the Messiah born of a virgin, who later heals the sick, heals the lame, casts out demonic spirits, raises the dead, cures the leper, and rises from the dead, himself. 

Not long after that, we see a room full of disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in languages they have not learned, declaring the mighty acts of Elohim.

We then see the apostles healing the sick and casting out demons and raising the dead. 

We see an angel appearing to free Peter from prison; and a body of disciples so familiar with the interaction of angels they are more inclined to believe it is an angel at their door rather than Peter for whom they were praying to be released from prison.

We see Philip casting out demons and healing the sick in Samaria. 

We see Paul doing signs and wonders virtually everywhere he travels through three missionary journeys…and, today, we hardly believe in the supernatural at all.  That all happened back then; but nothing has deviated from the drudgery of human existence since then.

Our faith is based on one miracle after another, one supernatural event after another.  There could be no discipleship to Messiah without a clear understanding that even our participation with him begins with a creative miracle of the new birth.  We are a supernatural people.  If we do not believe in contemporary miracles or the supernatural, then why would any of us ever pray about anything at all?  Isn’t prayer seeking a supernatural resolution produced by divine intervention to some matter?

Over the past several weeks, we have discussed the existence of bloodlines of people on the earth that are not even human.  They look like they are of the race of Adam; but they are not.  I believe it will not be much longer before their bodily forms are changed to be what they really look like; and are joined by the giants who have been living beneath the earth for millennia.  The world will believe it has been invaded by an alien race; but it will simply be the race of the seed of the serpent that has been with us since Genesis 6; and which long ago took the reins of power in government and finance in most countries on Earth.

The Vatican has been in league with the seed of the serpent for centuries. Many of the members of the church hierarchy participate in masses that worship and pledge allegiance to Lucifer.  Many in the leadership are regular customers in sodomite bars in Rome. Recently, the Pope has announced two rather startling things.  One: the Catholic Church is prepared to baptize aliens; and two: Hell never really existed. This isn’t the belief system of the millions of Catholics around the world; and soon they will be forced to make a life-altering decision.

The offspring of the Nephilim believe they have a birthright to power because they can trace their lineage back to the Watchers. (Every false religion on the earth can be traced back to the worship of the Nephilim, the giants that were “the mighty ones” who became the gods of every religion.) They will appear and tell us that they are our “parents” who seeded our planet millennia ago.  They will perform signs and wonders; and the whole world will fall for their deception…except for the elect.

Such language seems nonsensical to most Christians; because they have forsaken the supernatural nature of their faith.  It seems so over the top that it is ridiculous to them.  They are willingly ignorant that the supernatural and the interdimensional interaction of spirits with man permeate the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. 

Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

How often do you suppose that happens today?  I know in my personal experience, I have interacted directly with angels at least on two separate occasions; but this verse suggests there are times we entertain the company of angels and never know it.

The Scriptures tell us that the angels are very involved with the disciples of Messiah.

Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

How many is “all?”

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living Elohim, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Rev 5:21 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

When you begin to allow for the supernatural and the interdimensional (the spirit world interacting with the physical world), your life as a believer will take on a new paradigm, a new perspective from which to evaluate the evidence you will see and experience in this world.  This paradigm is an absolute must as a preparation for what is coming over the horizon.

The seed war has never stopped.  For the past 2,000 years, for the most part, the seed of the serpent has been acting quietly behind the scenes. Though very active, especially in Europe, the reality of who they are has been veiled.  They are about to rip away the covers and make a daring move to rule the world. If we are still acting like nothing is ever going to change; and we are just waiting to go to Heaven when we die, we will be their first victims.

THE SEED WAR - THE WAKE UP CALL

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THE SEED WAR – THE WAKE UP CALL

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Master, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of the Master, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of the Master, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The disciple of Messiah needs to understand that the seed war is a central theme that ties the entirety of the Scriptures together.  It is an under-current, and often mainline message, that weaves throughout every book of the Scriptures

I have said it before; but it bears repeating.  The serpent has been working tirelessly for 6,000 years to bring about the annihilation of Adam’s race and the exaltation of his own seed. There are at least 13 different bloodlines of families on the earth that can trace their genealogy back to the Watcher angels.  They believe they are “sons of gods” and have a right to rule the world. Collectively, they control virtually every element that makes the “world” function from day to day. Adam’s race, for the last 2,000 years, has been subjected to a servile role as job-holders to eek out a living and to support the ever-increasing profits and the control structure of these “blue blood” families.  The Apostle John tells us that “the whole world lieth in the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19).  We need our eyes opened to realize what that actually means.

The church, on the other hand, has been sitting in pews on Sunday for an hour per week, then going about their worldly business, for the most part.  We are oblivious to the existing peril and the coming tribulation, believing we can appease Elohim by our lip service, and then get whisked away in “the Rapture” before anything really gets too uncomfortable down here. We are willingly ignorant of the trauma the church experienced during the dark ages, World War I, World War II, and the multitude of regional wars that have raged on an on around the world, where the disciples of Messiah have been targeted for persecution and annihilation.

We have ignored the warnings of our own Master who said that men’s hearts would fail them for fear for the things which will be coming upon the earth.  (That means they literally will die of fear.)  He said that a great deception will be coming upon the earth that is so powerful that even the elect would be enticed to fall for it.

I remember a very popular, well-known minister during the early years of the Charismatic renewal that used to say, “I am a lover, not a fighter.”  By that, he meant that he would rather focus on loving IAUE than fighting demons. He did not realize how much he influenced the disciples of Messiah to steer clear of preparing for battle and engaging in spiritual warfare.  The natural proclivity of the flesh is to avoid whatever is unpleasant; and combat is not pleasant.

Look at our opening verses for today’s post. It speaks of putting on armor.  It speaks of warfare. It speaks of a wrestling match, which represents close combat…hand-to-hand combat. It also is a command to dress for war because combat is inescapable.   Does this sound like sitting in a pew for an hour then going home to watch football on the television?

I have heard many people say that their faith is a very personal thing; and they do not wish to talk about it.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Our faith in Messiah is NOT a private matter.  If we actually have faith, we cannot help but share it with others, and/or live it in such a manner that it is obvious.

2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Messiah Yahushua shall suffer persecution.

1 Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

The battle between man and IAUE is over through faith in Yahushua Messiah; but the battle of the serpent and his desire to destroy man has not ended.  Look around you.  People are sick, diseased, demonized, walking in the foolishness of a darkened heart, engaged in the love of everything this world tells man to love.  The love of IAUE has waxed cold in the earth; and it began in the church of Yahushua Messiah.  In the messages to the seven churches of Asia (modern day Turkey) in the book of Revelation, the very first issue that the Master takes with the very first church (Ephesus) is:

Revelation 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

                                          

The fight of faith is not against men.  Even Messiah said that his kingdom was not of this world, otherwise his followers would fight to prevent him from being delivered to the Jews (John 18:36).

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood (other people); but we DO wrestle.  Combat is a part of being “of the faith” of Yahushua Messiah.  Our enemy is not people with bodies; but people without their own bodies.  It is with the ancient spirits that animated the children of the Watchers (the Nephilim), and their children’s children (the Rephaim), who are arranged in a hierarchy within their own kingdom’s structure.  We are not dealing with little imps and sprites that can be depicted as little red devilish characters sitting on your shoulder opposing a little white angel sitting on the other shoulder; but rather with the spirits of the giant hybrid races of the fallen angels who were cannibals and whose every thought was only evil continually.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Master, and in the power of his might.

We are not to trust in our own abilities.  We are to be strong with His strength.  That is why we are to wear His armor.  

11 Put on the whole armour of the Master, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

We must wake up.  We are not simply adherents to some religion or philosophy that we can merely hold our beliefs to ourselves; then go to heaven when we die. There is an enemy that is actively engaging us and those around us all around the world. Are we even aware of it?  Furthermore, do we even care; or are we like some people I have heard say, “I don’t believe in demons, therefore they do not bother me.”

We who have trusted in the Messiah to bring us into relationship with IAUE have enlisted into his Kingdom and, thus, into his army.  Are we going to do something with what He has given us; or are we going to be like the one who buried His gift in the earth and held it to give back to his Master when he returned?  How well received was that one by his Master?  (Matthew 25:14-30)

The life of the disciple of Yahushua is marked by combat.  It is time for us to engage the battle.

Psalm 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

6 Let the high praises of Elohim be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;

7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;

8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Hallelujah!