“Truly, Satan seeks to hold fallen humanity captive to the sinful flesh nature and its incessant desire for this world””
Our inherited sin nature is a by-product of “the ancient serpent’s” successful strategy to tempt, seduce, and deceive the Almighty Creator’s first children. (Genesis 3:1-13) After Adam and Eve fell through Satan’s enticements, the enemy continued working throughout history to draw God’s children away from His holy eternal presence. Yahshua (Jesus) the Messiah stated, “Satan is the ruler of this world.” (John 14:30) Truly, the ancient wicked ruler seeks to hold fallen humanity captive to the sinful flesh nature and its incessant desire for this world, [see footnotes below] which in reality is Satan’s domain of darkness, deception, defilement, and demonic control. (Revelation 12:9, see Ephesians 2:2) The devil and his demons, working through rebellious humanity, are continually trying to keep even God’s redeemed children captive to deception. It is written that Satan is "the father of lies”, his purpose is to “deceive all of mankind”. (John 8:44, Revelation 12:9) Yahshua (Jesus) and the apostles made it clear, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” (Matthew 24:4)
“Dissipation is the wasting of our precious lives, limited time, energy, affection, talents, and resources on anything and everything that is led by the flesh and not by the Holy Spirit””
Our Savior gave an explicit warning against a subtle, yet pervasive form of Satan’s strategy regarding our priorities and choices in life. He emphatically proclaimed to His redeemed remnant, “Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day, come on you suddenly like a trap; …” (Luke 21:34) Since our Savior warned us to be on guard against dissipation, it is important we understand what it is in order to avoid it. Simply put, dissipation is the wasting of our precious lives, limited time, energy, affection, talents, and resources on anything and everything that is led by the flesh and not by the Holy Spirit. Dissipation keeps our focus and affections below on the “here and now” in this temporary world, rather than above preparing for the eternal “hereafter”, united with our soon coming King in His Heavenly Kingdom. Yahshua (Jesus) gave us instruction to combat the preoccupation with this passing world, proclaiming, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it"” (Matthew 16:24-25) It is a vital requirement that we be “crucified to the world and the world to us.” (Galatians 6:14) Dissipation keeps us from denying ourselves, instead, we end up denying the Holy Spirit’s power to overcome our unruly flesh and its continual desires for the things of this world. The endless preoccupations, which are strong gravitational pulls of the world system, keep us from ascending new heights in the Spirit, where we are redeemed to “live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) Dissipation will be Satan’s victory shout over our lives, unless we rise up by the power of the Holy Spirit, to challenge and defeat it in our moment by moment everyday lives.
“Have you have been busy in the world, doing your own will, satisfying your own desires, instead of denying yourself, picking up your crucifixion stake and following Yahshua (Jesus)?””
Messiah continually warned against dissipation as seen in the parable of the different soils, magnifying the reality that “… the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19) “The Holy Spirit is jealous” for our undivided affection and wholehearted surrendered obedience. (James 4:5) He is shaking and waking us up in order to stop us on the reckless “broad path” of dissipation and preoccupation with this world. (Matthew 7:13) The Apostle James admonishes us saying, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) We must repent of any and everything that continually draws our attention and wholehearted affection away from our Savior and His coming heavenly kingdom. (Revelation 17:14) Apostle Paul instructs us, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2) The apostle further asks, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
In the Savior’s parable of the four different soils, He was pointing out that there is only a very small remnant, a few who receive the seed on the good ground. They are the ones who hear the word and understand it, who indeed bear [holy] fruit and produce: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty,” a bountiful harvest of righteousness. (Matthew 13:23) The other three types of soil represent “the many” who Messiah said will want to enter heaven, but “only a few will find it.” (Matthew 7:14, 13:1-23) Yahshua (Jesus) said, “Many will say to Me on that day [at heaven’s gate] ‘Lord, Lord’, but He will turn them away saying, “I do not know who you are or where you come from, you do not do the will of My Father.” (See Matthew 7:21-23, 25:11, Luke 13:25-27) You have been busy in the world, doing your own will, satisfying your own desires, instead of denying yourself, picking up your crucifixion stake and following Me.” (see Luke 14:27)
“ We must be proactive and diligent to recognize, resist, reject, renounce, and repent for the unceasing desires of our unruly flesh nature, that continually draw us away from Yahshua (Jesus), and “insults the spirit of grace and truth!””
Indeed, dissipation is an eternally deadly addiction with a list a mile long with its temptations such as, making money, spending money, busyness, going, doing, wanting, buying, selling, seeking entertainment, recreation, social media, television, sports, and the list is endless. These things in and of themselves are not evil, it is the excessive addiction to dissipation that leads to idolatry and keeps us out of the Spirit, away from Yahshua (Jesus), because we have a “love for the world that makes us an enemy to God.” (James 4:4) Apostle John says to us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. [see footnotes below] If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.” (1 John 2:15-16)
We are redeemed by the sacrificial blood of our Savior to become supernaturally “born again” “new creations”, filled with His Holy Spirit. (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17) By “His Spirit, the Helper”, we become “more than conquerors” over our ever present enemies, which are our inherited flesh sin nature, the world, and Satan. (John 14:26, Romans 8:37) Apostle Paul urges us, “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Messiah Yahshua [Jesus]. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life…” (2 Timothy 2:3-4) When we have come to faith in our Savior, we have entered the battalions of Yahveh Almighty, and we must uphold the Lamb of God’s atoning blood that redeemed us and the truth that set us free. It’s Midnight, time is almost up, let us “redeem the little time” that is left as we “work out our salvation”, “fighting the good fight of faith.” (Ephesians 5:16, Philippians 2:12, Timothy 6:12) We must wholeheartedly “draw near to God,” resisting the work of the enemy. (James 4:8) In order to overcome, as good soldiers, we must be proactive and diligent to recognize, resist, reject, renounce, and repent for the unceasing desires of our unruly flesh nature, that continually draw us away from Yahshua (Jesus), and “insults the spirit of grace and truth”! (Hebrews 10:29, John 1:14) Our blessed Redeemer is loudly declaring to all who profess to know and love Him, “Come out of her [this passing world under judgment] My people, so that you will not participate in her sins …” (Revelation 18:4) “Come out from them and be separate [holy], says the Lord Yahshua. … and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17)
Closing note and two biblical footnotes:
It is important to understand that although Yahveh God Almighty created the world, the dominion over the earth passed to Satan with the fall of Adam and Eve. This is why the Messiah referred to him as “the ruler of this world”. (John 14:30) The devil and his demonic cohorts strive to hold humanity captive to deception, in order to keep the reality of God’s existence out of this world’s system. The ancient serpent is raging, and the earth and its inhabitants are being deceptively herded into the prophesied anti messiah (antichrist) beast system that will have complete diabolical control over everyone and everything. (Revelation 13:1-8) Therefore, the Holy Spirit is beseeching us to flee from the flesh and the world into the Spirit. We must be ready, waiting, and wise, “redeeming the time for the days are evil”. (Ephesians 5:16) Yahshua (Jesus), the soon coming King of kings, continues to proclaim the good news, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)
These following two footnotes will be very helpful to understanding the many scriptural references to “the world”:
The New American Standard Bible 1 John 2:15 “the world (Gk., cosmos) is that organized system headed by Satan that leaves God out and is a rival to Him. Though God loves the world of men (John 3:16), believers are not to love at all that which organizes them against God.”
New American Standard Bible - Life Application Study Bible 1 John 2:15-16: “Some people think that worldliness is limited to external behavior - the people we associate with, the places we go, the activities we enjoy. Worldliness is also internal because it begins in the heart and is characterized by three attitudes : (1) the lust of the flesh - preoccupations with gratifying physical desires; (2) the lust of the eyes - craving and accumulating things, bowing to the god of materialism; and (3) the boastful pride of life - obsession with one’s status or importance. When the serpent tempted Eve (Genesis 3:6), he tempted her in these areas. Also when the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, these were his three areas of attack (see Matthew 4:1-11). By contrast God values self control, a spirit of generosity, and a commitment to humble service. It is possible to give the impression of avoiding worldly pleasures while still harboring worldly attitudes in one’s heart. It is also possible, like Jesus, to love sinners and spend time with them while maintaining a commitment to the values of God’s kingdom. What values are most important to you? Do your actions reflect the world’s values or God’s values?”
No one knows the time or the hour of our Savior’s return. As the Bible says, “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36). Indeed, the return of our King and Savior will come unexpectedly. “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn” (Mark 13:35). Indeed, it’s about time for each of us to know about time – yes, it’s about time to fully comprehend that each second and moment our priceless. Yes, no one can buy back more time. Instead we must be aware of this late hour and be wise stewards with the time allotted to us by the Almighty. Indeed, none of us can afford to idly sit by and watch as the time flies on by. Instead, we must be ready, waiting, and wise for our Savior’s soon-coming return.
As YAHshua (Jesus) proclaimed, “The kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish (did not understand the importance of being ready for Our Savior’s return), and five were prudent. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep; but at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:1-13). Indeed, it’s not enough to only be aware of this late hour and our Savior’s soon-coming return but we must also use are talents for his kingdom’s glory.
The parable of the talents highlights this theme. Simply, “Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away” (Matthew 25:14-30). As such, each of us must ask ourselves the following: “Am I using my talents and time for the Almighty’s glory and for the advancement of His kingdom or am I squandering my time and talents?” As time’s pendulum swings and the hour gets closer and closer to It’s Midnight (His Coming) you must be carefully asking yourself, “What will you do with each new day and each moment to ensure you’re drawing closer to the Almighty and using your talents to draw others closer to Him.” Simply, time is racing – our Savior is returning soon and each of us will either be prepared or not. Accordingly, it’s about time to use each of the talents we have been given for the Almighty’s glory. It’s about time to be ready, waiting, and wise for our Savior’s soon-coming return. Yes, it’s about time to know about time.
