Mister Fixer Upper

"... barely a breath."

OLD COVENANT sacrifice was done with pomp and circumstance. There is a reason for this, that God wanted Israel to walk with Him and not return to Egypt. Either as slave or master. But because of its manner and requirements, the people did not recognize it when Jesus Christ fulfilled the tenets of the Law. What was of physical appearance to them was of spiritual fulfillment. His sacrifice was of the heart and of the will, pictured in how the kidneys of animal sacrifices were honored. But it is the shedding of blood which shows full surrender. Without it, man cannot live.

That the temple priests condemned Him pictures the priest offering the Sacrifice. That they were of the people and cause the people to wish Him crucified is the sinner transferring their sins to the head of the bull (Leviticus 1:4). The placement of the altar, though, is, as I have said, in the Father’s care. He is the walls. Our flesh was the veil, which only Heaven could rend (Hebrews 10:12)

“Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children (Matthew 27:25).”

Why go over these things? Because men bow to them still. The works of the flesh have been laid on the altar in place of Christ, many unknowing what they are doing. What seems to them to be what is acceptable to God is actually done to replace the work of God. But the requirement of the Law was to lead men to Jesus’ sacrifice. It was only for a time and could save no one from sin and death, otherwise Jesus’ work would not be needed.

“Moses’ rules are only like a shadow of the good things that will come. The rules do not show what those good things are really like. The rules say that the priest must continue to offer the same sacrifices for the people, year after year. The people bring their sacrifices when they come to worship God. So, people will never be completely good and clean because of those rules. If the rules could do that, the priests would have stopped offering sacrifices. The people would have become completely good and clean once, for all time. They would have become clean like that when they came to worship God the first time. So they would not still think that they had done wrong things.” (Hebrews 10:1-2, EasyEnglish)

Now, God sees our mistakes and shortcomings and works around them to heal and mature us. He NEVER turns His back on us “until we fix things.” That is said in error. Instead, He is the Fixer. He is who we can rely on to heal and rescue. But first, we must see the things that need fixing in us and recognize them in our behavior before we stop doing them. We’re looking for what my mom calls “a flesh flash” in order to please God. That’s a moment which pleases our physical nature, our personal will and our emotions. It feels good to us, so we think it must be God speaking. Except, what feels good isn’t what God is doing. There is pleasure in sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25). Put short, to a murderer, murdering feels good. Unclean spirits enjoy destroying people. They enjoy seeing death in us. Anger, argument, and strife seem to be productive. It “feels good” to defend ourselves, but it is sin.

Hebrews 2:14 tell us Jesus became man in order that “he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Jesus made our defense. His work is all we will ever need. He’s provided peace unending and joy in salvation. He gives us assurance in who we are as children of God.

It’s important to note the word POWER in this verse, “him that had the power of death,” is not exousia meaning authority nor dunamis meaning ability. The devil or any devilish being has no authority over us because of Christ in us, and no ability over us to afflict us if we will walk in the Spirit (Romans 8:2). That is the key. We must be spiritually keen. This is nothing to worry about, as if we need to somehow gain it, but it is a product of intimate relationship. When you know Him and hear Him speaking, when His Word is in your thinking and your speaking, you will never believe the lies of devils.

But the word POWER here in this verse is “kratos” meaning “vigor” or “intensity”.

Put simply, the devil sinned and became consumed, overtaken with, death. It rules him. He is 100% death. He has no good in him, no light, and cannot be good. Nor will he or any devil ever be forgiven. Jesus’ salvation is for humans, and His returning to earth is to, once more, cleanse the earth. Know, thought, that violence is not God’s way. He will not use violence to remove sin and death. The Spirit will do this with barely a breath. He is the God of Peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit who brings peace. The work of Calvary was to restore peace. The angels proclaimed this in the sky over Bethlehem. We are called peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Our heart is to be unity—of believers across denominations and into the secular world.

Unity is what makes the Trinity. They are one in everything. Though They will speak separately, all that is said is known by Them and in complete agreement. It is a most beautiful thing, when you experience it. But we must know that, in opposite, there is no unity amongst devils. Neither with the devil nor other lesser devils. And there is no organized system of working, no agreement amongst them of any kind. They know only separation, lies, and violence. Whether they appear agreeable, as the devil did with Jesus in the wilderness, or as they are usually, malevolent, they mean only our harm. They are here, on this earth, NOT BECAUSE they are allowed. Instead, they choose to inhabit it. God knows them all. None are hidden from Him, nor are any of their actions kept from Him.

What He wants from us is not fear. He is not the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). He is love, power (dunamis), and a sound mind. We do not have to fear tripping over devils. In fact, too much of what is our physical desires is labeled the work of devils. We sing about “the devil in my ear” or “demons in my head” and have to STOP. The Spirit says STOP! Know it is simply our personal longings that we allow to have authority over our actions, and also, doubts which come from what we hear and believe. These are all healed in us when we turn to God and make Him Lord. When we give Him submission, humbling ourselves before Him, then great change is made in us. But know this, submission is not humiliating. That is never God’s intent. He makes us stronger, more confident, more peaceful. Wiser. Discerning.

“My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:” (Proverbs 3:21)

I have discovered being known by Them, walking close to my Savior, makes me more of me, not less. There is truly nothing to fear of the change in us, but instead, immense revelation of the Truth of God, His ways, and His methods. And more than anything else, of His nature. Who He really is. This is the most beautiful thing, far more than can ever be, or has ever been, put into words. We are wrong about so much. And in His hands, molded by Him, a loving fragrance.

“Because of this, ever since we heard about you, we have not stopped talking to God about you and asking him to enlighten your minds with truth and with a greater knowledge of his character, methods, principles and will, thus increasing your wisdom and understanding of eternal realities.” (Colossians 1:9, Remedy)

Photo by Daniele Franchi at Unsplash


----------
Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com