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Hatred and Heresies

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This is the ninth article in the “New Life” series written to address the needs of those seeking or those new to their faith in Jesus. This series may also be helpful to anyone who suspects that something is missing from their faith walk. Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash.

In last week’s article entitled “Our Hidden Past Revealed,” we learned that we had inherited lies resulting from the split between the Gentiles and the Jews.  Gentile leaders were not content to merely go their own way.  They began an “anti-Jewish” campaign that is still in effect to this day. I personally have encountered numerous Christians who hold Jews in contempt and want nothing to do with them because they are “Christ killers”.

After the split, followers of Jesus were no longer allowed to keep the Sabbath or other appointed times outlined in Leviticus 23. If caught, they could be put to death. Followers of Jesus were forced to break the dietary laws that God had established. These things were forbidden because they were considered “Jewish.”  Never mind that the very God they were professing to worship had established the laws permanently.  Thus began the heretical teaching that the law of God was defective or no longer valid. This stems primarily from a misinterpretation or misunderstanding of some New Testament passages, such as Hebrews 8:13. Others will cite Matthew 5:17 and declare that Jesus Himself said the law is now ended.  Apparently, those who teach such nonsense failed to continue to read even the next two verses. 

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-19).

Do we, then, nullify the Law by this faith? By no means! Instead, we uphold the Law (Romans 3:31).

If you read chapters 5 through 7 in Matthew, you will notice that Jesus repeats some of the law and extends our accountability each time.  For example, not only is murder a sin, but so is being angry or even calling others insulting names.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca, is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell (Matthew 5:21-22).

Pagan practices of the Gentiles were introduced to replace the now-forbidden appointed times. Followers of Jesus were now to worship on Sunday (the day of the sun god).  In pagan religions there are many gods, but the chief god is the sun god.  Christmas and Easter now replace the seven feasts.  The only exception is what is now called Pentecost, which was originally known as the Feast of Weeks. Followers of Jesus were required to keep a pagan solar calendar rather than the Biblical calendar, which was based on lunar cycles, so Pentecost rarely falls on the same day as the Feast of Weeks. Sam Nadler’s book, Messiah in the Feasts of Israel, shows how the feasts or appointed times established by God help us better understand His Son and what He has done and is doing for us.

Many of the leaders, now known as “church fathers,” wrote articles condemning all Jews, even the Jewish followers of Jesus. The Jews were called “Christ killers,” a term that is still around today among those claiming to follow Jesus.  In truth, the Jewish leaders were forbidden by the Romans to put anyone to death. The Jewish leaders handed Jesus over to the Romans to be crucified.  We are all responsible for His death because He paid our sin debt.  If Jesus had not paid our debt, all of us, Jews or Gentiles, would be lost forever and without hope.

 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”[ Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, or anger gives a foothold to the devil (Ephesians 4:26-27).

May I never join in their meetings; may I never be a party to their plans. For in their anger they murdered men, and they crippled oxen just for sport (Genesis 49:6).

Passages in the New Testament were misinterpreted or even changed to accommodate the false teachings. In recent years, other manuscripts have been discovered.  We now know that much or all of the New Testament was originally written in Hebrew, not in Greek.  There is now evidence of changes in the Gospel of John and in some of Paul’s letters that clearly show the attempts to “support” the false teachings.

The church fathers (John Chrysostom, Tertullian, Origen, Jerome, Ambrose of Milan, Ignatius of Antioch, Origen of Alexandria, Irenaeus of Lyons, Augustine of Hippo, and many others) wrote about their hatred of the Jews.  They spread many lies, including the heresy that Gentile followers of Jesus have now replaced the Jews and inherited God’s promises and blessings to Israel.  This clearly opposes what God has said in the Bible about Israel and the Jews. God’s promises do not change or fail. Michael L. Brown’s book, Our Hands are Stained with Blood shows how Christians’ hatred of Jews has continued through the centuries.

Another heresy is that the Old Testament is no longer valid and that those who follow God’s laws are “under the law”.  The term “under the law” is misunderstood.  It is a Hebrew idiom that means that a person has violated God’s law and is now subject to punishment.  It does not mean that the law is no longer valid.  In fact, those who teach that we should not follow God’s law are themselves very much “under the law.”

There is also the heresy that Jesus came to create a new religion.  In the first place, God hates religion. Instead, God desires to have a relationship with us. Religion is a man-made system to worship God or false gods on our terms. God is our Creator, King, and Judge, and He determines how we will worship Him. God wants to walk and converse with us, but only on His terms. When we choose to worship on our own terms, we fall into one of Satan’s many traps.

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:23-26).

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2).

 Praise God that people are awakening to the truth about their origins as followers of Jesus!  There are many books and articles written on this subject that tell the true history.  A book that we and many others have found helpful is The Messianic Church Arising!: Restoring the Church to Our Covenant Rootsby Robert D. Heidler. There are many YouTube videos on this subject, but a word of caution.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your selection and to help you discern the truth.  Even with all the troubles in the world, we are living in a glorious age of restoration.  God continues to establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

Discerning the Will of God

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This is the seventh article in the “New Life” series written to address the needs of those seeking or those new to their faith in Jesus. This series may also be helpful to anyone who suspects that something is missing from their faith walk.

Now that you have a new life in Jesus and are a citizen of Heaven, it is time to throw out your worldly lifestyle.  It is time to learn God’s values and priorities, for God is now our Father as well as our King. For example, the world, under Satan’s influence, teaches us to be selfish, but God teaches us to be as considerate of others as we are of ourselves. We are to focus on others’ welfare and dignity more than our own. The world teaches us to put our pleasures and addictions first, but God teaches us to put Him first. If we do so, God will see to our needs.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

God tells us in the Bible what He expects of us.  God, the Creator, determines what is right and good. Jesus tells us that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is our perfect example of how to live a life pleasing to His Father because He always follows His Father’s commands. Jesus shows that we can be all that God created us to be.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you (John 13:14-15).

Sadly, Satan works to confuse and mislead us. Satan wants to thwart God’s plan of establishing His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. When he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Satan quoted Scripture but distorted either the wording or the interpretation. When Jesus responded, He quoted from the Bible correctly. You can read about this in Mathew 4:1-11.  Some people today distort Scripture for their own purposes, or perhaps they are just confused or misinformed. Still, they claim to have the answers and entice us to listen.  There are many false teachings and false prophecies today, so be sure to ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern what is from God and what is not.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1).

 “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you (John 14:15-17).

We can start by weaning ourselves off worldly pursuits and influences and focusing our attention on time spent with Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  We can search the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to direct us to helpful passages and to give us a clear understanding.  If we have submitted ourselves to Jesus, then we submit ourselves to His perspective of good and evil.  If we read through the Bible, we will begin to see the patterns of what God deems as good or evil.

But test everything; hold fast what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.. (Colossians 2:8).

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:5).

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14).

How can we be sure that we are following God’s will?  First, we can read and study the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Second, we can spend time in prayer and sitting at the feet of Jesus.  Third, we can pray for discernment.  We can be like bank tellers who are taught to know every detail about authentic money.  They know so much about authentic money that they can easily spot counterfeits.  If we get to know Father, Jesus, and the Bible very well, we will easily detect false teaching and the enemy’s lies.

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them (Hosea 14:9).

As we grow in maturity and discernment, we will be able to detect and throw out the lies of the enemy. We can embrace all that our Father wants to share with us. We can become all that He intended for us to be. We will know the truth and the truth will set us free.

 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

Religion vs. Relationship

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This is the sixth article in the “New Life” series, written to address the needs of those seeking or those new to their faith in Jesus. This series may also be helpful to anyone who suspects that something is missing from their faith walk. 

You may hear the phrase “religion vs. relationship” from others who follow Jesus.  What does this mean?  Religion is when you worship a deity, listen to leaders who tell you about the deity, and follow whatever rituals and practices the leaders establish to worship the deity. You form an opinion of the deity based on what the leaders tell you. Allow me to share an analogy with you that I hope will illustrate this more clearly. Years ago, when I was a teenager, we would save our hard-earned money to buy teen magazines featuring articles about rock stars and movie stars.  Often, we were invited to join a fan club for a certain star.  For a fee, we could learn some facts about the star, such as favorite foods, hobbies, and the like.  We devoured every word we could read about the star, but we never interacted with the star, who did not even know we existed.  Religion is a lot like a fan club. On the other hand, a relationship involves interacting directly with another person, getting to know each other, and learning each other’s perspectives and preferences. You form bonds and ties. You learn to trust each other.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me (John 10:14).

Many of us grew up learning about God and Jesus in a church.  We learned about them, but we did not interact with them.  We heard about God’s love for us, but we did not experience His love directly.  We did not form a bond and did not learn first-hand that we could trust God.  We took the leader’s word on everything, whether right or wrong. When trouble came, we did not know where to turn.  Eventually, we began to question whether God or Jesus is real.  Many of us felt alone and cheated.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34:17-19).

Don’t put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you. When they die, they return to the dust; on that day all their plans come to an end. Happy are those who have the God of Jacob to help them and who depend on the Lord their God,the Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them. He always keeps his promises; he judges in favor of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry (Psalm 146:3-7).

Many people attend church for years without encountering Jesus and forming a bond with Him. Perhaps they do not realize that such a relationship is possible. It is when we interact with Jesus directly that we mature spiritually and grow more like Him.  We learn to trust Jesus and know where to turn when trouble strikes. Those who do not have a relationship with Jesus miss out on the most rewarding relationship of all. 

Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws” (Matthew 7:21-23)

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).

How do we have a relationship with Jesus?  We spend time with Him every day, talking and listening.  We put our burdens at His feet.  We share our joys and sorrows with Him. We thank Him for all that He has done for us and all that He is doing for us now.  Jesus is not only our friend, but our King. We look to Him for guidance and protection.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

Today, lies and misinformation abound.  False prophets seem to be around every corner. It is difficult and confusing to distinguish what is true.  How do we discern what is true? We can learn a lesson from bank tellers. Bank tellers are trained to know the authentic money in detail.  Because they are so familiar with the original, they can spot counterfeits right away.   As we interact with Jesus and get to know Him well, we can more easily detect the lies about Him. We can also ask the Holy Spirit to help us distinguish the truth from the lies.

 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1).

Fellowship with other Christians is important.  Ask Jesus to direct you to a church or home fellowship that will foster both a relationship with Jesus and submission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Look for people who are diligently searching for the truth and are not swayed by personal agendas. Interacting with our brothers and sisters in Jesus helps us. We can learn from each other and support each other.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near (Hebrews 10:25).

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles (Acts 2:42-43).

Religion is man-made and leads to disagreements and divisions. We can see from the number of different denominations that abound.  Religion is man’s attempt to relate to God on man’s terms.  Relationship acknowledges that God is in charge and we follow His ways. We can also have a personal relationship with the Father because we are now His children. Our Father’s ways lead to love, respect, and unity.  Man-made ways lead to resentment, judgment, and disharmony.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:10).

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:6).

Relationship with Jesus invites the Holy Spirit. You cannot understand this personal relationship intellectually.  You relate to Jesus in the spiritual realm with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Those who do not seek the help of the Holy Spirit are likely to scoff at the idea of a personal relationship with Jesus.  The Holy Spirit helps us to understand spiritual matters. 

But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means (1 Corinthians 2:14).

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come (John 16:13).

Understanding Scripture

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This is the fifth article in the “New Life” series written to address the needs of those seeking or those new to their faith in Jesus. This series may also be helpful to anyone who suspects that something is missing from their faith walk.

The Bible, also known as Scripture, can seem overwhelming, even intimidating, to those not familiar with it.  The Bible is different from any other book.  It is more than a collection of prose, poetry, prophecy, and historical accounts.  The Bible informs, teaches, inspires, admonishes, encourages, and comforts us. It is an instruction book about our origin, history, and future.  The Holy Spirit is the true author of Scripture and helps us to understand what we are reading and apply it in our lives.  Just ask for His help.  

The Bible is a collection of books.  Each book has chapters and numbered verses, which can be helpful.  A Bible reference is made up of the name of the book, the chapter number followed by a colon, and the verse or verses referenced. The Bible was originally written in books as we see today.  The chapters and verses in each book were added later. 

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

It helps to have a framework to reference as you read through the Bible. The framework is that God created the world to establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.  Satan wants to destroy God’s work.  Despite the interference and setbacks, God will accomplish His goal. Each person has a choice to follow God and be a part of His work, or to follow Satan and be part of the destruction.  A word of warning to those tempted to follow Satan.  He will use you to accomplish his purpose, but you are part of God’s creation, so he will eventually destroy you as well.  On the other hand, those who choose to follow God will live forever with Him in His glory.

The Bible is more than just a history book. It is also God’s love letter to His people. It helps us to keep in mind Yehovah’s goal. He will establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven, and He wants every one of us to join Him, but He will not force us. However, we do not join Him on our terms, but on His terms, because He is our Creator and the source of all true wisdom.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10).

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:28-30)

There are patterns and common themes throughout Scripture.  For example, God reaches out to people to teach them His ways. They follow His ways, and He blesses and protects them.  They thrive. Then they begin to think they succeeded on their own.  They stray away from God, thinking they are merely doing their own thing, not realizing that they are now doing Satan’s bidding. They fall into trouble and cry out to God for help.  He responds to their cries, and the cycle begins again. With the help of the Holy Spirit and learning from Scripture, we can end the destructive part of this cycle.  Each of us has a choice:  we can follow God, help build up His Kingdom, and live forever with God, or we can follow Satan, help tear down the Kingdom of God, and eventually be destroyed.  It may seem that there is a grey area where we can stay neutral and operate on our own, but this is a delusion.  There is no grey area.

In Matthew 12:30, Jesus tells us, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil” (Proverbs 3:7).

Another recurring theme in the Bible is the making of covenants.  God makes an agreement or contract with one or more people. God made covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Israel.  God is always true to His word and keeps His promises.  We are to keep our promises to Him. God always keeps His end of the agreement, but people often fail to keep their promises. In Scripture, we can see the graciousness and mercy of God and the failure of people.

Throughout Scripture, there is a recurring theme of God miraculously providing for His people. The stories of God providing for His people can bolster our faith and trust as we see His consistent provision.  He can be trusted to take care of us. God provided the Israelites with manna in the desert (Exodus 16).  Jesus fed over 5,000 people (Matthew 14:13-21).

Throughout the Bible, we find that suffering and glory are closely connected. God sometimes allows suffering so that we can be molded into the people He intends for us to be. 

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1 Peter 5:10).

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:3-5).

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can use the Bible to learn how to interact with God. We find examples of how God protects, teaches, encourages, and comforts us.  We can learn from others’ mistakes that are recorded in the Bible.  We learn God’s wisdom, which is far superior to the so-called wisdom of the world. Reading and studying God’s word strengthens us and nourishes our spirits and souls. We learn what God expects of us.

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4).

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Read and study the Bible every day.  You may not always understand what you are reading, but the Holy Spirit will teach you what you need to know at this time. As you grow and mature spiritually, so will your understanding of God’s ways. The Holy Spirit will guide you into greater depths of understanding if you are faithful to read Scripture often.  Also, there are excellent Bible studies available online and in congregations.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to the one that is best for you right now. No matter how often you read the Bible, there is always something new and fresh to discover in God’s love letter to us.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8).

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11).

The Unseen Battlefield

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This is the fourth article in the “New Life” series written to address the needs of those seeking or those new to their faith in Jesus. This series may also be helpful to anyone who suspects that something is missing from their faith walk. 

You no doubt have noticed that life can be difficult.  Sometimes it is challenging to get through one day, let alone one hour, at a time.  For many of us, our difficulties are what brought us to Yeshua in the first place.  We realized that we needed help; we could not make it on our own. Why is there so much turmoil and heartache in our lives?

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Whether or not we realize it, we live on an unseen battlefield.  Understanding this battlefield and how it came about helps us.  Just as we all have the same Creator, we also all have an unseen enemy who wants to harm us, even destroy us.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10).

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

God creates only what is good and fruitful.  He created us to grow and to thrive.  God desires only good and pleasant things for us.  It was the same when He created Heavenly beings.  One Heavenly spirit was especially beautiful and was appointed to a high position. He began to boast about himself.  At some point, he decided that he could replace God. He gathered an army of other Heavenly spirits to go against their Creator.  They were cast out of Heaven.  We call the rebellious leader Satan in English, taken from the Hebrew hasatan, which means “the adversary”.  You can read about this in Ezekiel 28:11-19.  The beginning of the chapter discusses the prince of Tyre, but many believe verses 11-19 refer to Satan.  Verse 13 says, “You were in Eden, the garden of God”.  Humans were banished from Eden after Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3:22-24), so these words cannot apply to the prince of Tyre. Ezekiel also says that this spiritual being walked among the stones of fire, which are near the throne of God (verse 14).

Since the adversary could no longer go directly after God, he decided to go after humans who were created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27).  God had created a delightful garden on the earth called Eden.  Everything was beautiful and perfect, a reflection of Heaven.  We were created in God’s image to reflect His glory. Satan sought revenge by going after God’s creation, especially us.  Satan tricked humans into serving him, rather than obeying and serving God. Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lies and disobeyed God (Genesis 3). They no longer reflected the glory of God, and the earth was cursed.  When we disobey God’s commands, we do not reflect His glory, and we separate ourselves from Him.  Satan and his followers are constantly at work to claim the earth’s inhabitants for their own.  We are caught in the middle of the battle.  So, what can we do?

The first thing is to realize that there is a spiritual realm, in addition to the physical realm. We are used to operating in the physical realm.  When we are born again, our spirit belongs to God. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit moves into us to care for our spirit and to teach our spirit how to live in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Our job is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to learn how to operate in both realms.  The physical realm reflects what is going on in the spiritual realm. Jesus set the perfect example of operating in both realms while He was on earth.

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children (Romans 8:16).

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed (John 5:19-20).

We can pray to our Father and Jesus to ask for help. The Holy Spirit will guide us, if we ask Him.  We can pray for discernment so that we can discern what the Holy Spirit is guiding us to do.  The Bible teaches us about God and His ways. We can praise and worship God in all things. Every day, we should remember to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right (2 Tim 3:16).

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future (John 16:13).

We need never be alone on the battlefield.  As born-again believers in Jesus, we have access to the Father and Jesus. We learn from them how to overcome the enemy’s attacks. We mature in operating in both the physical and the spiritual realms.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39).

Embracing the Holy Spirit

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This is the third article in the “New Life” series written to address the needs of those seeking or those new to their faith in Jesus. This series may also be helpful to anyone who suspects that something is missing from their faith walk. 

After Jesus died on the cross, He was resurrected on the third day!  He visited with His followers for forty days.  Then He went back to His Father in Heaven, but before He left, He promised His followers that He would send them a helper, the Holy Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit who descended on Jesus after His baptism. (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus is our perfect example of how to live in the Kingdom of Heaven, so we should welcome the Holy Spirit to help us, just as Jesus did.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

If you read through the book of Acts in the Bible, you will see that the apostles interacted with and were guided by the Holy Spirit.  We, too, have access to the Holy Spirit when we belong to Jesus.  All we need to do is ask our Father in Jesus’ name.  We need the Holy Spirit every bit as much as the apostles did. 

Some followers of Jesus, and even some congregations, tend to downplay or even dismiss the importance of engaging with the Holy Spirit.  Why? Why would you reject such a precious, necessary gift?  Here are a few reasons:

Some people do not understand the Holy Spirit’s function and role in our lives.  People sometimes avoid what they do not understand.  In addition, there is an overwhelming amount of misinformation that, unfortunately, is taught as Gospel truth.  You might hear people say that the Holy Spirit was given only to the apostles for a specific time and purpose.  Indeed, we do not live in the time of the apostles, but our purpose is the same as theirs.  We, too, are called to build up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, the very work that Jesus began while He was here on earth.

When we invite the Holy Spirit to come into our lives, we agree to relinquish control and let Him take over. It seems like a big risk, but the truth is that the Holy Spirit knows far more than we do and can guide us in our new identity and life in Jesus.  It is a more dangerous risk to deny the Holy Spirit. He helps us to understand the Bible and how it applies to us.  He guides us and equips us with gifts to complete our assignments from the Father. Even though we still live on the earth, we are now citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.  The Holy Spirit teaches us how to live and function in our Father’s Kingdom.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will bein you (John 14:16-17).

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).

Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26)

People often fear what they do not understand or cannot see.  Those who lived in Israel when Jesus lived there were able to see, hear, and touch Him.  He looked like them and spoke their language.  Whether or not they are accurate, we have pictures of Jesus, so it is easier to relate to Him. How do we relate to the Holy Spirit?  We cannot see Him or touch Him.  We can feel His presence, though, once we realize what we are sensing. It feels like love, peace, protection, and well-being.  The Holy Spirit nudges us from within or speaks to us in a still, small voice. Sometimes He uses Scripture to communicate with us. It takes time and practice to learn how to interact with the Holy Spirit, but it is well worth the effort.  We have so much to gain from the Holy Spirit!

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore, I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:12-15).

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound, the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language (Acts 2:1-6).

Ask the Father to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Welcome the Holy Spirit! Ask the Father to guide you to other followers of Jesus so that they can help you learn to interact with the Holy Spirit. Embrace the Holy Spirit!