As of late, my research for an upcoming study and book I’m writing has taken me in-depth into the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and its future fulfillment. I wanted to take time out for a moment to share a ‘side note’; if you can call it that.
Throughout the depths of the Word of Elohim, the emphasis is placed much on the redeeming aspect of Messiah Yahushua – the Son of Elohim; and rightly so. For those who have been ‘saved’ out of the depths of the pit, knowing full well they have been delivered out of something, should bring about continual thanksgiving and praise to the One who has delivered them. Many of us though, like myself, whose deliverance came early in life, yet while over the years through trials and temptations, lost the meaning of ‘the joy of thy salvation’. However, thanks be to Elohim, now that I am older, have found once again, ‘the joy of His salvation!’ If we have forgotten the realization of our deliverance, our thanksgiving that is due unto our Deliverer will eventually fade into non-existence as well.
For myself, I was too young to fully understand the depths of what I was receiving; what I was being delivered from. Yet, that is not a negative, but the plan He had for my life since before the foundation of the world. For others who have lived out half their lives full of sin and degradation, and then cried out to be delivered from that lifestyle, they may have a greater awareness of the deliverance they experienced.
However, in both cases, if our Deliverer, Messiah Yahushua, is not recognized or understood in His ‘other’ office as High Priest, we can never fully appreciate His ‘office’ as the Lamb of Elohim. The Deliverer, our Redeemer and King both serves as our sacrificial Lamb and High Priest (mediator). For many of us, we can understand His role as Lamb of Elohim, but what is this role called Mediator? Once the Lamb of Elohim was slain, and our salvation was purchased, what else is there…right? Wrong! There is much more to it! The Lamb of Elohim provides a way back into the sheep pen, yet the High Priest, Mediator, the Shepherd and the Door, works non-stop to keep us inside the pen. It is only by our brokenness, and repentance that we enter into the pen, but it is most certainly our obstinance, pride, and rebellion that we voluntary leave it.
“Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to Elohim through Him, ever living to make intercession for them.” — Hebrews 7:25
Messiah’s one time work as the sacrificial Lamb of Elohim does not end with the payment, but continues as our resurrected High Priest. He is ever living to make intercession for us. Why? So that He may complete what He began in us (with our cooperation of course). The narrow way to salvation has been opened, but it is our walk along that way that determines our Kingdom position. Drawing near to Elohim the Father, accomplished by coming through the Son, is the beginning of our salvation journey. Messiah, who sits at the right hand of His Father as High Priest, is ever making intercession (communicating) with His Father (Who is the Spirit). Why? So that our faith might not fail and that we would have the power to overcome; receiving the crown of life.
In Luke 22, Messiah told Kepha (Peter) that He prayed for him that his faith would not fail because the accuser of the brethren asked to sift him as wheat. Notice, as in the case of Iyob (Job), that Messiah did not stop the accuser, Satan, from ‘sifting’ Kepha, but prayed that his faith would not fail as he went through the trial. This is evident in Messiah’s next statement, “…and you [Kepha], when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” This is an example of Messiah’s High Priestly role – to intercede and strengthen us through the trials in order that we might become strong enough; even to the strengthening of others who may be or who may go through the same trials.
To sift in the Greek means trial; to riddle; to shake in a sieve; and to winnow. Satan was allowed to call Kepha to the stand and to do his best to try and get Kepha to denounce the truth entirely. Isn’t that the role of the prosecutor – the accuser? If our confession of faith is not tried, and/or allowed to be tried, how will our loyalty to the One we professed to follow all the days of our lives, be solidified?
Persecution exposes to whom, or to what we are most loyal!
Messiah knew Kepha would deny knowing Him, yet He also saw from the foundation of the world that Kepha would go through a period of severe brokenness, and repentance. Messiah’s prayer for Kepha resulted in a promising word that though his faith would be shaken, he would turn and strengthen the brothers. Only the Creator of the universe who sees beyond our next breath knows the end of our journey and therefore works hard to get us through to the end. He knows that we are but dust. He is long-suffering, merciful and faithful to His Word. We have a great defense Lawyer who sees the future ‘evidence’ in us that we will complete our salvation journey. This evidence is then used against the accuser who always says otherwise.
How can Messiah Yahushua, our Great High Priest, help us along our salvation journey if He did not also identify with the same trials and temptations as we undergo?
“For we do not have a High Priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who was tried in all respects as we are, apart from sin.” — Hebrews 4:15
In verse 14 of Hebrews 4, it says we are able to hold fast our confession of belief because He understands our weaknesses. It is because of this that He is able to strengthen us to remain steadfast through all of our trials. In Revelation 3, the messenger speaks to the assembly in Sardis to strengthen that which remains and is about to die. We are to strengthen, pray for and encourage our brothers and sisters just as our compassionate High Priest does for us. It is by persevering, with His strength, through our own trials, sufferings and temptations, that we are able to help others. It would be very difficult to help anyone if we cannot even identify with what they are going through, or at least exhibit some compassion towards them.
The boldness and authority to speak into the lives of others and also to speak against and overcome the enemy’s voice, comes with our exposure to and successful journey through life’s trials, sufferings and temptations.
This is why Messiah Yahushua can strengthen us because He experienced the same weaknesses and trials we go through and will go through. The same three lies presented to Messiah in the wilderness are the same three lies Satan presented to Adam, and presents to us. If we do not identify with Messiah in the same trials as He went through, how can He strengthen us when we cannot relate to Him? Why does he ask us to pick up our stake and follow Him if He was not extending an invitation to fellowship with Him in His sufferings? His strength is only applicable to those who are weak. Those who operate in their “own strength”, who rely on ‘defending themselves’, really do not need an Intercessor on their behalf, now do they?
Yahushua, our Mediator, will only say, “I know what your going through”, if we will only say, “I know what You went through and I too will lay down my own will and die to the flesh in order to be raised to life.” We are only identifiable to the Father if and only if we look, and act like His Son; who became and is our example. No, we cannot keep our family name and still belong to His family. His Name, nature and identity must become ours in order for us to be recognizable as a son of Elohim.
Many things, throughout our walk of salvation, should be viewed as par for the course of daily living as a servant of Yahuweh. Think of Sha’ul’s (Paul’s) many journeys and mishaps along the way. Messiah the High Priest intercedes for our faith not to fail when the enemy tries us—not so that we can live a life of luxury and ease, but that we might inherit the Kingdom (the end of our salvation).
For those who still hold onto the, “I’m a Kings kid” mentality, a ‘pampered’ life is not what He died to provide. He is not interested in entertaining spoiled brats who throw themselves down on the ground demanding to be given everything they ask for. Sometimes the answer is no, and depending on our reaction to ‘no’ will depend upon our reward and quite possibly, our eternal life.
Somehow, western Christianity has taught us that we are “entitled”, and because we are King’s kids, we will live out our earthly lives in royalty. News flash… He will ensure His children do not go begging for bread as He cares about our basic needs; clothing, food, and shelter, but this business of Kingdom living now, being dressed in “royal robes”, is just as much of a blasphemous teaching as the rapture. Of course I am not speaking against having prosperity in this lifetime, yet the words of Messiah to the rich young ruler must be allowed to echo.
Simplification seems to open the doors of mobility, freeing ourselves to spend time nurturing what really matters; our eternal life.
The only Kingdom living “now” is for us to live as though we are in the Kingdom now – a place of righteousness, peace and joy in the Set-Apart Spirit. This means obedience to the King as His servants, proving ourselves loyal to Him and His Kingdom and executing any threat that may come against it. The fruit of the Kingdom comes by connectivity to the Root of the Kingdom – Yahushua – Whom which we can do nothing without!
Being a “King’s kid” is not a life of luxury, riches, honor and esteem, but one of persecution, hardships, trials, and temptations. Hmm, sounds like Messiah’s journey through his earthly walk. If Messiah, who IS the King’s Kid, had to endure through so much, why do so many believe that only good things should happen to them and not bad? We must first realize that our understanding of what is good and bad is so skewed and messed up from our decision to take of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, that it will take most of, if not all of our entire life’s walk of salvation to understand that what we deem is ‘bad’ is merely His ultimate love and mercy.
Wheat is worth nothing if the chaff is not removed. Healing in this lifetime is worth nothing if we do not bring healing to others. What is the point in walking in “physical” health if we are unconcerned about the “spiritual” health of others? Shall we maintain our health if we continually carry around hate and unforgiveness towards others? Probably not.
Our goal is to become once again, sons of Elohim, which is a journey of discipline, brokenness, repentance, and servant hood. Of course He desires to bless us, and He does bless us, yet we will never rule and reign with Messiah until we first can prove what it takes to receive the greatest blessing of all… eternal life. Eternal life is a free gift. We cannot earn it but to possess it, we must do everything possible to prove we our good stewards of the gift we have received. As Jacob wrestled with the Angel (who was Messiah Yahushua incarnate,) he proved himself worthy to reign with the King. Jacob received a name change that would take on his future role and of his descendants future as “prince – ruling with Elohim”. Jacob’s name became Israel.
“I am the door. Whoever enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and shall go out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to slaughter, and to destroy. I have come that they might possess life, and that they might possess it beyond measure. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” — John 10:9-11
Messiah Yahushua died and now lives to make intercession for us. Why? So that we might possess life and possess it more abundantly.
Messiah, the Good Shepherd, understands what it takes to possess life. If He is our pattern to attain that life, should we deviate from following it? Elohim forbid! Entering through the Door brings us salvation yes, but in order to possess (maintain) that life, there will be times the enemy is allowed to come and ‘sift’ us. And we know by Ya’acob (James) 1:3, that the testing/proving of our faith produces endurance and according to Luke 21:19, it is by our endurance that we possess/gain eternal life. The enemy cares nothing for the sheep, but cares very much about the connection the sheep has with the Shepherd. This is what he desires to sever and destroy. Killing off sheep that belong to the Good Shepherd is not as profitable, so to speak, as severing the relationship the sheep has with the Good Shepherd and then killing them off. Separation from the Good Shepherd results in death regardless. The enemy wants his kingdom full.
The enemy desires to sift us, and sometimes, through flattery, we think he is on our side and for us. I mean, why else would he offer us great positions, wealth and fame if it was not to lure us to serve the darkness? This is the deceit he poisonously spews out, the “package deal” so to speak, but the real agenda is to isolate the sheep, and break the connection, the relationship with the Shepherd. The enemy is after our loyalty to the Master. If loyalty is broken, divorce is imminent. Loyalty to the Master will eventually lead to the final end of the enemy; forever! The enemy is terrified of your relationship with Master Yahuweh and His Son. Protect it! Guard it! For through it, the enemy will be defeated and you will overcome!
Our preservation of life is determined by how well we hear and recognize the voice of our Good Shepherd. He came to bring us life eternal so we must live our temporal life as if we were living life eternal; according to His commandments. We are in training mode now, not in a five-star resort where we live life to the fullest, where Messiah waits on us hand and foot, beckoning to our every call and desire. No! He is THE great High Priest. He is not a butler. He is interceding on our behalf that our faith might not fail. How then should we be living? Our eternal life is not to be gambled with. Why else did Kepha (Peter) tell us to ‘make firm, make certain of our calling and choosing?’
To possess eternal life is to possess the Son, and the enemy is out right now looking for every way possible to destroy our relationship with the Master. The accuser of the brethren will not cease bringing accusations until he is thrown from his position of authority by Michael (Revelation 12). If the High Priest’s job of interceding for us to preserve our eternal life has not ended yet, than neither has our job of contending for the faith once delivered ended. We rest when He rests!
“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Yerushalayim, all the day and all the night, continually, who are not silent. You who remember Yahuweh, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Yerushalayim a praise in the earth.” — Isaiah 62:6-7
Go in His Name!
Acts 1:8
Shalom,
Derek