Shalom Fellow Israelite,

When we think of or consider any of the “powers” that are at work in nature, we find that each of them is harnessed and kept under control by laws.  If this is true in YHVH's creation, then it would also hold true regarding His "power” (“the power of Elohim”).  “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of Elohim” (1 Corinthians 1:18).  What is the “message of the cross” and why is it defined as “the power of Elohim”?  In order to understand what took place two thousand years ago, when Yeshua was on the execution stake, we must have a judicial or legal perspective.  

As mentioned above, all power (including Elohim’s) is governed by laws, so as we examine the laws that are relevant to Yeshua’s death, we will begin to gain a clearer understanding of spiritual dynamics.  This will also enable us to comprehend what our Heavenly Father accomplished in and through His Son’s death and how it relates to us in our daily conflicts with another “power” -  “the power of Satan” (ref. Acts 26:18). It says about the latter that he is “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).  Obviously we are in daily contact with the “air” and thus, even as believers, we are susceptible to the influence of this spiritual power of disobedience that can cause us to participate with the nature of darkness and its consequential laws of “sin and death.”  However, this need not be our constant inevitable reality, and experience. We can overcome and have victory, that is if we are aware of the laws that are governing our redemption and justification through the death of our Kinsman Redeemer, as in actuality YHVH “having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [Yeshua’s death]” (Colossians 2:15).  

Satan was determined to tempt Yeshua, and tried to do so in many ways, but was defeated each and every time.  Threatened by Yeshua’s righteousness, he thought that the next best thing would be to come up with a plan, which would result in the death of the Son of Elohim.  However, this was like the proverbial carrot that the Father placed in front of Satan and all the wicked principalities, in order to round up and herd them into the great spiritual courtroom over Jerusalem.  What took place in that unseen court of law at Pesach two thousand years ago is extremely important for us to apprehend.  When we become aware of these “laws”, it enables us to gain freedom from the “sin that dwells in me” (ref. Romans 7:20), and also from the external sources, which originate with the “prince of the power of the air” and infiltrate our thought life. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in Elohim for pulling down strongholds,  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Messiah” (2^nd  Corinthians 10:4-5).  

As mentioned above, these spiritual powers were disarmed and defeated when Yeshua died.  Satan walked out of that court room empty handed.  Judicially he had no more rights over Man.  In what way did the Father, through Yeshua’s death, separate Man from the dominion of “darkness”?   This is how Paul explains it:  “For the love of Messiah compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh” (2^nd Corinthians 5:14-16 emphases added).   The Apostle uses here a judicial term (“judge”) in order to define a “spiritual law” that became operative when Yeshua died.  Yeshua’s death stripped Satan of his power and made of non effect the laws of “sin and death” over humanity.  Mankind was now rendered dead, and thus useless in perpetuating the kingdom of darkness.

All too often we think in religious terms of “doctrines,” but fail to view certain parts of Scripture as being judicial and statutory realities. Satan, and the principalities under his dominion, would not have crucified the Lord of glory had they known the wisdom of Elohim (ref. 1^st Cor. 2: 7-8). But now they do know and understand those laws of YHVH and the “message of the cross.”  

Thus, if we are to have daily victories and live as over-comers, we too must know what Satan knows about the “power of Elohim.”  The question is how do we put into practice this knowledge that is now available to us, in order to mature into the full stature of the “Son of Elohim” (ref. Ephesians 4:13)?   

“I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of Elohim abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14).   To be continued.

Shalom,

Ephraim