Divine Purpose - Part 3

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Part 3- The Vision of the Glorious Man

Slide 1

Introduction: In our former teachings we have had the joy of seeing how the desire of YAHWEH was that his name would fill the Earth and we have discovered some amazing truths regarding this Mission. 

We saw how Yisrael had not properly fulfilled this mission but we also saw how YAHWEH was bringing people from the Nations to Yisrael firstly through Naaman the Syrian and then through Cornelius in the book of Acts through which a revelation reached the Shilichiym (Apostles) of the call to the Nations. We even discovered that the place called Tarshish which Yonah (Jonah) booked passage to was in all likelihood in Britain being an Israelite settlement dating from the days of the Assyrian invasion of the Northern Kingdom of Yisrael.

 We understood that the call of YHWH for the faithful was and still is1st to sift out of the Goyim (Gentile) Nations the lost Sheep of the House of Yisrael but in that process YAHWEH was reaching the Goyim (the Gentiles) because his original promise to Abram was that “in him all the families of the Earth would be blessed.” 

We also saw how the Mission to the Lost Sheep of Yisrael was taken up by the Shilichiym (Apostles) & to Shaul (Paul) was given the message of Salvation in Yahshua unto the Goyim (Gentiles) as well.  

Slide 2

We also discovered some amazing historical facts that were hidden for many years but that reappeared through the discovery of a Document called “the Soninni Manuscript” often referred to as the lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles as well as reflected in “the Scottish Declaration of Independence” . From this we discovered some absolutely inspiring historical knowledge that showed us how Shaul (Paul) in all probability was indeed able to fulfil his Mission to go to Spain & Britain so that he could finally say before his death in:

Slide 3

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the Good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

What was even more inspiring was that we discovered through extra Biblical sources that he was even able to reach the highest ranks of Roman society as noted by the individuals he ministered to. One that was even the adopted daughter of Emperor Claudius formerly known as Gladys the daughter of the King of a province in Britain, as well as other highly influential people giving us a window to the mighty workings of YHWH working through his RUACH in the life of Shaul who indeed was a passionate emissary of the Good News.  

As exciting as all this is there is also another side to all this in which YHWH is also working though sometimes not so clearly defined and so that is what we will look at today. Though YHWH is not always seen we need by faith to believe he is definitely at work for his purpose to be achieved that will eventually become evident.

 YHWH at work in difficult times:

One thing we need to remember is that all these wonderful characters like Shaul and most of the disciples plus a myriad of faithful believers that we encountered in the last teaching inevitably ended up on the Chopping block for their faith but through their lives the Besorah (the Good News) was reaching to all the corners of the Great Empire. We have seen the working of YHWH but we also need to see how the counter Kingdom the kingdom of Ha Satan was working as well, through external forces such as persecution resulting from the Emperors desiring to be worshipped as Elohim (God) but also how the enemy works internally to obstruct the truth from being fully revealed.

If we look at the many stories in the Tanak (The Old Testament) we initially see the hand of Ha Satan dealing heavily with the chosen people. We could look to Yoseph (Joseph) and see how he was unjustly sold into slavery by his own brothers but through that Act we discover that YHWH worked out a plan of his design to rescue his people who were in the process of assimilating with the Canaanites but through their move to Mitsrayim (Egypt) YHWH was making them a unique people and preserving them to fulfil his purpose. This is why Yoseph (Joseph) was finally able to say to his brothers the following: 

Slide 4

Bereshith (Genesis) 50:19-20 Yoseph (Joseph) said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of Elohim (God)? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but YHWH Elohim (God) meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Since we just celebrated Purim the same can be said of the tale of Esther. This story deals with a fowl plot by Haman the Amalekite to eliminate the Yahudim (the Jews) dwelling in the whole Babylonian Kingdom comprising of 127 provinces from India to Kush which is just south of Ancient Mitsrayim (Egypt) but though YHWH is nowhere in sight we know he is working through the lives of Mordechai and especially Queen Esther as seen by the words of Mordechai:

Slide 5

Esther 4:14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Yahudim (the Jews) from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Mordechai is revealing his faith that Esther has been given her position by Elohim for such a time as this to rescue her people but as we observed the hand of Elohim is everywhere yet concealed.

Difficulties in the Early Nazarene Assemblies:

Slide 6

 We know that after the death and resurrection of Yahshua the call to the Disciples to bring the message throughout the World was given and they were empowered for that call by the Ruach Ha Qodesh (The Holy Spirit) and though the Talmidim (Disciples) delayed their call the word went before them by believers dispersing who were inspired and unafraid to speak out even though persecution was raging from which Shaul (Paul) was chosen as an emissary. 

As time passed the early Netzarim (Nazarene) Assemblies began to flourish even amidst the times of persecution but by the 2nd half of the 1st Century internal troubles had begun. If trouble only took that long it is understandable that today after almost 2,000 years of traditions and doctrinal controversies that problems would arise too: 

We see the disciples not only dealing with external pressure through persecution but with the influx of Goyim (Gentiles) beliefs arose that were divisive. This brought about Heretical teaching which we will briefly look at noting that most of the Epistles or letters were addressing these problems including the Epistles of Kepha (Peter), Yahudah (Jude) & 1,2 &3 Yahuchanan (John) : 

Slide 7

2 Yochanan (John) 7-8 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Yahshua Ha Machiach (the Messiah) as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Anti-Messiah. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.    

By this statement we see there was a group infiltrating the Netzarim Assemblies who followed Docetism being a belief that Yahshua’s body was an illusion and that he was a pure Spirit and only appeared in the flesh and died. 

Slide 8

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

Another divisive group that was harassing the Assemblies was the Gnostics considered heretics by the Talmidim (Disciples) that had infiltrated the Assemblies and to highlight some of their doctrines might be prudent though it might raise some interesting considerations:

Slide 9

1. They taught that Salvation is by grace alone & works or obedience to YHWH’s commands play no part. We might now understand why Ya’acov (James wrote this rebuff:

Ya’acov (James) 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

1. They taught that the flesh was totally depraved so the son could not have been flesh.
2. They taught the Creator was different than the Father of Yahshua. 
3. That we cannot lose our Salvation once we have it. 
4. That since the flesh was inherently evil the son could not have become a man but only appeared that way.
5. That people are predestined to be saved or dammed which was later used by Luther and Calvin in their doctrinal statements and called Predestination.
6. That they had secret knowledge giving rise to the name Gnostics. 

According to the early Congregations these teachings were all Heretical though some versions of their teachings still remain until today which is reason for thought.

With all this upheaval among the Assemblies it should remind us of the Words of the Prophet YeshiYAHU (Isaiah) quoted in:

Slide 10

Romans 9:27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Yisrael: “Though the number of the children of Yisrael be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. (Isaiah 10:22) 

We discover from this verse that no matter how great is the multitude of those brought near through the blood of Yahshua only a remnant with be the true Yisrael. 

Slide 11

In EliYAH’s (Elijah’s) day he too thought he was the only faithful Yisraelite but YHWH says this:

Melekim Aleph (1 Kings) 19:18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Yisrael, all whose knees have not bowed to Ba’al, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Though we see great upheaval happening in the congregations even Yochanan (John) must have wondered about the purpose of Elohim in his time but what we see as we see today is that YHWH is patiently at work calling to his people and patiently refining them because he was and still is in total control so his purpose & plan will come to completion.

The Revelation of Yochanan (John)

Like many today towards the end of the 1st Century the Assemblies (Qehilim) were struggling. Their faith was greatly tested & each Assembly (Qahal) responded to the trials they faced in different ways. These Assemblies are also symbolic of the ways that believers respond to their trials today so I want to take us back to the 1st Century at the time just before the book of Revelation was penned by Yochanan(John). 

Yochanan (John) lived at a difficult time since he knew that he was the last surviving Shilichiym (Apostle) knowing that Shaul & Kepha (Paul & Peter) had been martyred in Rome by Nero about AD64- AD68 & persecution saw all the other disciples lose their life along with many believers including those in the high positions that we met when we discussed Shaul (Paul) in our last teaching. Compounded with this was the fact that Yochanan (John) was arrested leaving the Assemblies to fend for themselves. 

During this time there is even a tradition of Yochanan (John) being boiled in oil but through divine intervention he is protected. 

Slide 12 

We find John (YAHUchanan) now exiled on the prisonIsle of Patmos an island in the Aegean sea off the coast of Asia minor (Modern day Turkey) being a barren rocky island about 10 miles long. YAHUchanan (John) is deprived of all his freedom feeling alone because all his fellow disciples had been killed for the faith and the Emperor Domitian had begun a great persecution against the Assemblies of the Way as they were also called. YAHUchanan (John) by this time knew his days were numbered & may have wondered if the Assembly of the living Elohim could survive in those dark days. The called ones (Qahal) in those days & in our days knew Yahshua as the great High Priest (Cohen ha Gadol) of their confession who had died for the sins of the World as we read in:

Hebrews 9:11-12 But Machiach (Messiah) came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Qadosh (Holy) Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Though this principle is the root of our faith even John (Yochanan) that great Shilichiym (Apostle) found himself in need of a new revelation to see the Machiach (Messiah) as more than the High Priest of our confession.  Today it is no different for many believers because Yahshua did not die and rise again for us to live in struggle just to endure life & hope to hold on to our faith, because he promised never to leave us nor forsake us.  The Good News to many is a promise of a future hope in the presence of the Master but today we need to see the Master as more than that because he is the ever present hope in times of need.

The Vision of John (Yahuchanan):

 The vision of YAHUchanan in Revelation is more important than we realize because many believers need this revelation too. We have often forgotten what Yahshua said before he was taken up into heaven:

MatithYAHU (Matthew) 28:18 And Yahshua came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

It was in this authority that Yahshua commissioned his disciples and us & no word of the enemy can take the authority from us unless we fail to walk in that authority. John (YAHUchanan) needed a new vision as we all need today:

Slide 13

Revelation 1:10-11  I was in the Spirit on the day of YHWH, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Aleph (Alpha) and the Tav (Omega), the First and the Last,”

Though many translations have this reading as “the Lord’s Day” as referring to the 1st day of the week I would suggest a better reading as above: 

Many therefore have believed that what is actually said is that YAHUchanan (John) found himself thrust forward in time not on a particular day of the week but found himself on the day of YHWH (the Lord) which I will show is ever so different. When we speak of the “Day of the Lord” we are referring to the day of Machiach’s return when he comes to judge the Nations as we will see:

Slide 14, 15, 16

YeshiYAHU (Isaiah) 2:12 For the day of YHWH the Lord of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty,
Upon everything lifted up—
And it shall be brought low—

YeshiYAHU (Isaiah) 13:6-7 Wail, for the day of YHWH is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will be limp; every man’s heart will melt.

Malachi 4:1 For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says YHWH the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. 

Considering what this day means we can better understand the following:

Slide 17

Revelation 1:12- 18 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden Menorahs (lampstands), 13 and in the midst of the seven Menorahs (lampstands) One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amein. And I have the keys of Sheol (the Grave) and of Death.

What YAHUchanan (John) saw was not the humble lamb of Elohim that would take away the sins of the World but the Lion of Yahudah (Judah), the greatly esteemed Lord of Lords, King of Kings the Judge of the whole Earth and it caused him to fall down as though dead. Rather than seeing a Priestly image he saw the image of a Glorious man and the golden band around his Chest symbolized a King who comes to Judge. Daniel also had a similar experience in the following:

Slide 18

Daniel 10: 5-9 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in colour, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigour was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

What these two great servants of YHWH experienced we too need to see. The Lord comes to YAHUchanan (John) to reveal he is awesome in power and that he is judge and no power in heaven or Earth can stand before the fury of his justice towards evil but his love for his people is as great as his fury. His desire is that we see him, how he is today in all his authority. YAHUchanon (John) needed to see that and History tells us that shortly after the writing of Revelation the Emperor Domitian was assassinated & replaced by the new Emperor Nerva who released YAHUchanan (John) and all Yahudim & Netzarim (Nazarenes) as the early believers were called and then he could continue to carry out the work of Elohim until his death in Ephesus at a good old age.  

In Conclusion:

The results of the Revelation that came to Yahuchanan (John) was that he experienced the power of the Master that enabled him to be able for many more years to encourage the Assembles to stand strong and upon his departure to bring the message of salvation through Yahshua to the next generation and beyond. What however makes the Book of Revelation so important is that it brought a new dimension to the message. 

Revelation begins with this promise:

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and guard what is written in it, for the time is near. 

The significance of this book should not be lost as it clearly details things that will happen and was and is a great encouragement to all who read it or will, since it details the final victory over evil that YHWH has promised.

History has proven how, though things so often went off track YHWH was always there to bring things back to the path. Throughout what is called “Church” history there were always a people who desired truth above all else and would not just submit. 

Slide 20

The Book “Foxes Book of Martyrs” is a grand History of the work of YHWH in the lives of many people of the past in whom YHWH was clearly at work revealed by the result of their sacrifice which has seen the truth of the scriptures reach the four corners of the Earth. Surely this was the hand of YHWH always at work with the result that after 2000 years of Church history we still have the Word of YHWH intact and more readily available than it ever was & its power is revealed with the result that we are here today. YHWH did in fact use Christianity as a vehicle but through his Word & power by the hand of his spirit we have been able to discover a deeper truth and all this reveals that he is and has always been at work to see his purposes fulfilled.  

In Summary:

Slide 21

-Through this series we have seen that the purpose of YHWH has always been that knowledge of his name and his salvation fill the Earth.

-Also that He has always had a special people that he has treasured and has never ceased to call them even though they at times have forgotten their purpose. 

-Their rejection and dispersion to the four corners of the Earth however has been a great blessing to the World because YHWH has never forgotten his promise and through those that faithfully serve him he has brought his message to the end of the Earth.

-From various examples we discovered that all things work together for his purpose which will bring the final redemption of the Earth. 

-We who are faithful to him know that we are called to sift the lost sheep of the House of Yisrael and in so doing we fulfil his purpose which will see his purpose complete with the return of the Machiach.

-I hope that if we can see Yahshua as Yochanan (John) saw him we will be better equipped to defeat our own weaknesses to rise up with renewed faith to see his purposes fulfilled in us but just as Mordechai said to Esther that if she did not do her part that Salvation would still come from another place since YHWH knows how to achieve his purposes for they stand firm.  Amein.  

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Who is the Messiah? - The demon at my Shul - Part 6

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Who is the Messiah? Part 5

The Demon in My Shul

(Slide) The next recorded miracle of Yahshua takes place in a small village on the north side of the Sea of Galilee.  By now, Yahshua is accepted by many in the region as an exceptional Torah teacher, but a cloud surrounds his ministry. Some of his language seems to suggest that he is the Messiah as foretold of by the prophets and he has been accruing a growing list of miraculous feats, which quite frankly are giving weight to some of his more provocative statements. Chiefly among his growing list of followers, are poor and middle-class individuals, which make up a large demographic. Those most emphatically convinced of his more controversial allusions are those who have directly witnessed, or been direct recipients of, his miraculous signs.    

(Slide) Yahshua is invited up to speak at a synagogue in Capernaum and during a particularly stirring shiur (lesson), he is interrupted by a fearful outburst. 

“(Yahshua and his talmidim) went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Yahshua went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 ‘What do you want with us, Yahshua of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of Elohim!’ 25 ‘Be quiet!’ said Yahshua sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28)”

(Slide) A day or so ago, Yahshua was preaching 40 miles away in his home synagogue at Nazareth, where he was set upon by the congregation and dragged out to the brow of a cliff to be thrown off. Miraculously he escaped. 

(Slide) Now, a man is raving at him to leave them alone! What’s going on? Despite what Hollywood and most religions teach us, the demonic world works best when it is left alone, quietly wearing down the conscience of its victims. There’s no benefit in putting on a special effects show. “The repetition of convulsions occur only in the course of the (spirit’s) entering or leaving the body” says the book Dybbuk, by Gershon Winkler. 

Most people refer to this incident as a case of demonic possession. There is no equivalent word in any ancient Near East languages, including Hebrew, for the English term “demon.” The concept of a spirit that chiefly concerns itself, whether individually or en masse, with causing individual human suffering are on the bottom rung of the food chain in the spiritual realm and are simply accorded the reference “unclean” or “impure spirits,” called in Hebrew, ruach tum’ah רוח טומאה. The term Shedim is a Hebrew word often translated as demons, which appears only twice (always plural) in the TaNaK in Psalm 106:37 and Deuteronomy 32:17.  The word is related to Akkadian word šêdu, which means a protective of benevolent spirit. 

Yahshua’s words provoked an outburst from a ruach tum’ah, an unclean spirit that had fastened itself to member of the commonwealth of Israel, a Jew. This took the occupants of the room by surprise. Luke’s account is as follows: 

(Slide) 31 “Then (Yahshua) went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man echō (holding onto) ä-kä'-thär-tos daimonion (an uncleansed divine power). He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Yahshua HaNazet? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of Elohim!” 35 ‘Be quiet!’ Yahshua said sternly. ‘Come out of him!’ Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, ‘What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!’ 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. (Luke 4:31-37)”

Note the Greek word echō, which means “to hold” and ä-kä'-thär-tos daimonion, meaning a power an “unauthorised divine power.” For a person to become overridden by an unsanctioned spirit, they have to be convinced that they need it. This is why no-one in Scripture asks to have an impure spirit removed from them. This is why they are sometimes called familiar spirits, because they feel like family.

(Slide) “What do you want with us, Yahshua HaNazet? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of Elohim! (Luke 4:34)” Ironically, the only individual in the room who is completely sold on Yahshua’s true identity is an impure spirit. Ya’akov HaTzadik (James the Just) said, “You believe that there is one Elohim. Good! Even the unclean divine powers believe that--and tremble. (James 2:19)” 

Dybbukim (Yiddish word for ‘attachments’) feared Yahshua. In fact, they were petrified of him. Why? Primarily because he was without sin. They could bring no valid accusations against him. There’s an old story of a group of rabbi’s who turned up to do an exorcism. After they arrived to begin the exorcism, the demon began calling them out, saying you can’t remove me, you steal, and you can’t remove me, you spoke Lashon Hara, and you can’t remove me, you’re immoral and so on. One-by-one the rabbi’s left the scene.  

When we sin, we allow our divine light to be swallowed up by a shell, a klipa in Hebrew. Prior to sin we are too bright and painful for an unclean spirit to even look upon, let alone harass.  After each sin, we block off more light and become targets of the dark forces. 

The serpent in Gad Eden is the blue print of the dark force’s method of attack. It approaches quietly at first and then increases the pressure of its proposition. By entering into conversation with the serpent, Hava exposed herself to harm. Error escalates. All witchcraft is, is plain old rebellion. Yahweh therefore forbad general conversation with the enemy.   

Wilful commune with these lowest of entities was outlawed in the nation of Israel.

(Slide) “You shall not tolerate a sorceress" (Ex. 22:17(18) “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to Yahweh; because of these same detestable practices Yahweh your Elohim will drive out those nations before you. (Deuteronomy 18:10–12)” King Saul had driven out the practitioners of necromancy out of the Land (I Samuel 28:3).

(Slide) Yahweh uses both angels and evil spirits as His agents. The Scriptures specifically state that all spirits are under His control. Take for example one recorded audience HaSatan has with the Almighty. HaSatan says he’s been walking to and fro upon the earth. His implication, by Elohim’s reply is that he’s looking for kinks in the armour of Tzaddikim (Righteous Ones). Yahweh then says to him, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears Elohim and shuns evil. (Job 1:18)" HaSatan is then permitted to harm him, even escalating the level of attacks only under the direction of Elohim.  

In another example, an affliction, which troubles King Saul is actually “an evil spirit (sent) from Yahweh (I Samuel 16:14)” 

In fact the Almighty goes onto say that calamities and illnesses are not from the dark forces, but from Him. "Shall there be evil in a city, and Yahweh has not done it? (Amos 3:6)” Any claim that HaSatan has brought about an evil by his own will, in exclusion to Yahweh, is an attack on the benevolence of Yahweh’s sovereignty. It’s like HaSatan is doing something Yahweh has to scramble to clean up. 

We think that if it’s Yahweh’s will, that we should experience calamity, then it must be His will that we die. Not at all! If Yahweh wills that something bad happens to you, Yahweh wants you to get better. Yah still brought about Job and Saul’s affliction, but He also wanted both of them to find rest from it. What does Yahweh say? "See now that I myself am he! There is no Elohim besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand (Deuteronomy 32:39)” You might say, ‘Well, if Yahweh said it, I believe it and that settles it.’ But this is not true. If Yahweh said it, whether you believe it or not, and that settles it.  

(Slide) So if we are in Yahweh’s will, we also accordingly have control over evil spirits. “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19)” This is why the people respond to Yahshua by saying, “He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” But actually, these astonished onlookers have been granted the “…authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; (and Yahweh promises that nothing) will harm (them or) you. (Luke 10:19)”  “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)” 

Your level of astonishment in Yahshua’s miracles is directly proportionate to your lack of trust in His Word which says, we have that power too!

(Slide) Many people see Yahshua’s casting out of demons as being a new thing. It wasn’t. What was new, was the ease by which he did it, with authority. “A new teaching—and with authority! (Mark 1:27)”

Even early Christian scholar Origen credits Jews with a special talent for exorcising demons (Against Celsus, book 4). 

Josephus recounts incidents of possession and exorcism in his Antiquities of the Jews (2, 5, 8, 45-48). In his description, exorcism involved burning herbs and immersing the possessed person in water.

One incident Josephus (Ant. 2, 5) recounts reads: "I have seen a certain man of my own country, whose name was Eleazar, releasing people that were demoniacal, in the presence of Vespasian and his sons and his captains and the whole multitude of his soldiers. The manner of the cure was this: He put a ring that had a root of one of those sorts mentioned by Solomon to the nostrils of the demoniac, after which he drew out the demon through his nostrils; and when the man fell down, immediately he abjured him to return into him no more, still making mention of Solomon, and reciting the incantations which he composed. And when Eleazar would persuade and demonstrate to the spectators that he had such a power, he set a little way off a cup or basin full of water, and commanded the demon, as he went out of the man, to overturn it, and thereby let the spectators know that he had left the man; and when this was done the skill and wisdom of Solomon were shown very manifestly."

(Slide) If asked where the first incident of exorcism takes place in the Bible, most people would say with Yahshua in Capernaum. This is wrong! The first incident was when David drove off the evil spirit from Saul with his harp. Sure, it was temporary, and sure it wasn’t a full, blown possession, but he is recorded as driving off the first evil spirit causing affliction to the then King of Israel. 

(Slide) Now, what caused the evil spirit to depart? You might say the playing of the harp. But it was the music from the harp or lyre that soothed Saul’s darkened mood. “Whenever the spirit from Elohim came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. (1 Samuel 16:23)” The notes plucked from the strings of a kosher instrument by a tsaddik saturate the spiritual realm. Thoughts, scents, sounds, smells, and smoke are things that inhabit both physical and spiritual reality and can be used to ward off or encourage evil. Many have heard the expression, “music sooths the savage beast.”  The actual quote is, “Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” – The Mourning Bride by William Congreve (1697) Will words speak to the mind, music speaks to the soul. When a poor fool is happy he sings, but when a wise man is happy he does not recite words, he also sings. A song has the power to restore a troubled heart. In recent times, studies have shown that exposing patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia to music, causes the diseases to abate. One study noted, “When used appropriately, music can shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function, and coordinate motor movements.” – Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA)

Let’s be honest, a Christian mind’s frame of reference for possession and exorcism is Jes-s casting out demons and Hollywood and not necessarily in that order. 

(Slide) In the year of 1970 an American novelist and script writer retired to the secluded locality of a rental chalet in woodland off Lake Tahoe to write a novel called The Exorcist. This book went on to become a New York Times bestseller, staying on the bestseller list for fifty-seven straight weeks with seventeen of those weeks remaining at the number one spot.  

This author was William Peter Blatty. In 1971 this novel was adapted into one of the most famous and controversial mainstream horror movies of all time. It set the standard for possession based horror films that has not been surpassed since, enjoying a strong following with the movie going public and genre fans alike. 

While it may have achieved its original intent as a horror flick, The Exorcist falls grossly short of being any assistance as an instructional video for driving out demons. The Catholic Church has unquestioningly cornered the market, if you will, with being the dominant religious template used by Hollywood for the so-called Biblical execution of exorcism.

(Slide) Although in recent times, The 2008 film, The Unborn, does explore a Jewish perspective, but unfortunately uses a reformed rabbi who teams up with a Christian minister. The result is a woeful mishmash of rabbinic and Judaeo-Christian rites that is just plain wrong even for the novice viewer. (Click) In 2012 Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert, creators of the original Evil Dead film, produced a slightly more centred film called Possession. It starred ex-Chabad reggae artist Matisyahu playing surprise, surprise, an orthodox Jew, who gets entangled with a disembodied spirit that’s emerged from an antique wooden box. Though this one doesn’t attempt to merge religions it ultimately falls flat due to minimal detail, choosing rather to focus on tension and scares rather than attempt to shed any light on tackling demons from a Jewish perspective.

(Slide) Apparently based off a true story, it simply borrows the source of a much publicised ‘Jinx Box’ that was placed up for sale on eBay and dubbed the “haunted Jewish wine cabinet box” by the seller who ran it with a fictitious possession story. However, the eventual purchaser, Jason Haxton, a medical museum curator, did some research and traced the box back to the holocaust, leading him to publish a book on his findings called The Dibbuk Box.

There’s little argument that Michael Cuneo’s 2002 book, “American Exorcism: Expelling Demons in the Land of Plenty,” is correct in crediting Blatty’s The Exorcist as being the chief catalyst in igniting the modern-day interest in exorcism. Cuneo does characterise Blatty’s work as a massive structure of fantasy resting on a flimsy foundation.

In Blatty’s film the Jewish Messiah is represented in his ever-popular Greco-Roman persona in the form of two Catholic priests, one young, but weak in the faith and the other, strong but physically ill, as they stumble through a ritual based exorcism that seems to rely on fancy words and artefacts rather than the true power of the Almighty. This attempt to drive out an unclean spirit stands in stark contrast to the simple and effective way King Messiah Yahshua handled the same situation. 

In one respect it might seem a bit excessive to level any great weight of criticism as even Yahshua’s very own talmidim encountered their share of difficulties.

(Slide) “Then the talmidim came to Yahshua in private and asked, ‘Why couldn't we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” (Matthew 17:19-21)

But perhaps we shouldn’t fixate on their one recorded failure. After all they were given the authority to do these works, so they weren’t operating beyond their jurisdiction by any means.  “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.” (Mark 3:14-15) 

And furthermore, Mark 6:12-13 records that they did have some success. “And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”

It’s not the success or failure of the exorcism in the movie that should be questioned, but rather the context of it being Gentile centric, the given that the religion brought in to handle the phenomenon is the true one and that the template for the procedure is somehow scripturally sound.

(Slide) After David’s soothing sonnet for King Saul, the next case of an exorcism is found in the Apocryphal Book of Tobit. This account is a particularly nasty story with a nasty shad (demon). A girl named Sarah is possessed by a demon named Asmodeus and that demon causes the death of 7 of her husbands before it is driven away by burning a fish’s heart and liver. In one part of this story, Sarah seeks to kill herself, but ultimately does not. In this instance the spirit is not a low level messenger or accuser, but a powerful pre-flood disembodied spirit. This is noted by Michael binding him in chains. 

We see that even by examining Yahshua’s methods of doing the same miracle, there is no two instances that are exactly the same. 

This book, along with the rest of the Apocryphal writings was originally considered part of the Christian Cannon. The Jews for many centuries distanced themselves from these works because no Hebrew originals remained in existence. For a long time, the only copies were ones translated and interpreted by the Church. However, Hebrew originals of the deuterocanonical books were discovered amongst the works of the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

(Slide) The Dead Sea Scrolls include several exorcism incantations and formulae, mostly directed against disease-causing demons. The DSS Psalms collection in particular (11Q5) has “four songs for the charming of demons with music.” People who fell under the influence of false prophets and mediums were thought to also require the exorcism of possessing evil spirits (the false prophets and mediums themselves were subject to death, a sure cure for most possessions; see Zechariah 13.  

(Slide) Rabbinic literature does contain accounts of rabbis removing dybbukim (spiritual attachments). One approach for removing a dybbuk involves a minian (10 men) who represent the 10 Kabbalistic sephirot (10 attributes of Yahweh). They encircle the individual and recite Psalms 91 three times. At the conclusion of this a shofar (ram’s horn) is blown. The sound of the shofar is said to cause confusion in the dark forces and prompt them to flee an area. The rabbi leading the ritual will usually enter into dialogue with the dybbuk, usually limiting the exchange to asking its identity and convincing it to leave the host. 

Most people who believe they are experiencing an evil spirit are simply going through a psychological episode and simply wish to externalise their problem to a foreign entity. There is a story that dates back to the eighteenth century where a woman took her daughter to a local rabbi after suspecting she was being influenced by a dybbuk. The rabbi found that she exhibited no real signs of a dybbuk, but noted that the girl and her mother were so convinced that he instructed them to take home an alarm clock and at 4:30pm the dybbuk will leave the girl. Hours after they arrived home the alarm clock rang and the mother and daughter were completely convinced that it had gone by the mere shock of hearing the bell of the alarm clock go off precisely at the time the rabbi predicted.

(Slide) Evil spirits appeared after the flood. Even a belief in ghosts emerged after the flood (I’ll explain why shortly). Even Yahshua’s own talmidim mistaken him for one as is evident in Matthew 14:26 & Luke 24:36-37). 

The first mention of evil spirits occurs in the Book of Leviticus when Israel is warned not to associate with those who have tried to cultivate a livelihood out of contact with evil spirits. Leviticus 19:31; “Regard not those who are mediums, neither seek after spiritists, to be defiled by them: I am Yahweh your Elohim.” The actual appearance of the first evil spirit is mentioned as being sent out by Yahweh in Judges 9:23; “Then Elohim sent an evil ruach between Avimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously against Avimelech…” 

(Slide) The Book of Enoch, a text deliberately withheld from accepted Scripture until the last days, explains in detail the origin of familiar spirits. 1 Enoch 15; “But now the giants who are born from the (union of) the spirits and the flesh shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, because their dwelling shall be upon the earth and inside the earth. Evil spirits have come out of their bodies. Because from the day that they were created from the holy ones they became the Watchers; their first origin is the spiritual foundation. They will become evil upon the earth and shall be called evil spirits. The dwelling of the spiritual beings of heaven is heaven; but the dwelling of the spirits of the earth, which are born upon the earth, is in the earth. The spirits of the giants oppress each other, they will corrupt, fall, be excited, and fall upon the earth, and cause sorrow. They eat no food, nor become thirsty, nor find obstacles. And these spirits shall rise up against the children of the people and against the women, because they have proceeded forth (from them).”

(Slide) Josephus elaborates further in his work Legends of the Jews: “...And the spirits of the giants will devour, oppress, destroy, attack, and do battle and cause destruction on the earth and work affliction. They will be invisible, and these spirits shall raise up against the children of men and against women, because they have proceeded from them, thus they will destroy until the day when the consummation of the great world will be consumed.”

(Slide) Yahshua was not the first person to ever cast out an unclean spirit, but he certainly was the first to do so with such authority, by silencing them and literally waving them out with his hand. The Netzarim Writings (A.K.A. The New Testament) carries hints as to this practice’s prior history inside normative ancient Judaism. Note the existence of Pharisees who specialised in exorcism in this passage from Acts 19: “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Adonai Yahshua over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘We exorcise you by the Yahshua whom Sha’ul preaches.’ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Yahshua I know, and Sha’ul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:13-16)

Note, that these verses are talking about Pharisees who starting using the name of Yahshua within their existing formula and then there was also the seven sons of the High Priest Sceva. No success or failure in this practice is recorded in the first description, but there were also some religious charlatans in Ephesus who pretended to have special, miracle-working powers. Sceva, who is identified as “a Jewish chief priest” in Acts 19:14, had seven sons “who went around driving out evil spirits” (verse 13). Seeing the success that Sha’ul had in exorcising demons, the seven sons of Sceva began using the name, but stupidly added, “…the one whom Sha’ul preaches” which ended with disastrous results.  

(Slide) Demonic possession is the rarest and severest affliction that can befall a person. My hope is that no-one here becomes afflicted by a dybbuk or has to remove one. Removing one is extremely dangerous if one isn’t suitably prepared. An exorcist should interview the individual at length and only do so if asked by them or a relative. The fixing of a mezuzah in the home, regular blowing of a shofar, immersion, and regular reading of psalms is sufficient to make a person undesirable for an unclean spirit. 

It is believed within Judaism that demonic possession is lessoned in our age by to chief reasons. One, is that the onset of materialism in the world has caused people to be less inclined to be concerned about the spiritual realm, so the affliction accordingly become rare and two, a very powerful rabbi hundreds of years, banished them from civilized areas and they are thus confined to ruins and deserted places. This is why abandoned houses, tunnels and forests are undesirable to venture off into alone to someone who is attuned to spiritual things. The general rule is that if someone goes into deeply remote area, three people are safe, two are acceptable and one is not advised. 

“Dear brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. (1 Corinthians 14:20)”

(Slide) King Messiah Yahshua exercised authority over evil spirits, but he never went out hunting them, he simply moved from place to place, sifting lost Israel, and they presented themselves. He came to set the captives free, to deliver his children from bondage. Even those who had descended to the most filthiest of states found deliverance and were saved. Who is the Messiah? 

He is our Deliverer: “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. (Romans 11:26)”

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahweh shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as Yahweh hath said, and in the remnant whom Yahweh shall call. (Joel 2:32)”

Messiah is El Shaddai אל שׁדי (Mighty One over all Spirits). “‘I am the Aleph and the Tauv,’ says the Sovereign Elohim, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the El Shaddai (also translated as ‘One who holds sway over all things’). (Revelation 1:8)’”

 In the Midrash, Shaddai is also an acronym for “Guardian of the Doors of Israel” שׁוֹמֶר דְלָתוֹת יִשְׂרָאֶל. Yahshua is our doorpost, our mezuzah!

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