Deny the God of Self
Satan, along with his legions of demonic agents are the ancient and ultimate enemy of the Creator and His creation (humanity). These notorious “fallen angels” are demonic beings who have the utmost evil agenda aimed at deceiving and enslaving multitudes of unsuspecting victims and herding them like sheep, to slaughter (Revelation 12:9). This diabolical cohort successfully drags multitudes of souls, past, present, and future, down into the unceasing fires of the pit of Hell. (Matthew 25:41) This horrible reality is why our Savior said, "I have come to destroy the works of the enemy and to set the captives free.” (1 John 3:8) Yahshua (Jesus) revealed Satan as the “father of lies [who] has been lying since the beginning.” (John 8:44)
“Yahshua (Jesus) called Satan the “god of this world” because of his powerful influence and cunning strategies to continually deceive, seduce, and turn the focus of people’s lives, desires, and affections to anyone or anything of this temporal earth””
Let’s take a good look at one of our Adversary’s greatest strategies used to trap and hold people in bondage. Beginning in the Garden of Eden, the “Ancient Serpent” has cunningly slithered into the thoughts of men and women, casting his dark shadow of doubt over the truth, asking, “Did God really say that?” (Genesis 3:1) Consequently Adam and Eve, and all individuals to follow, were injected with the eternally deadly venom of rebellion, lies, and sin against our Creator. The crafty serpent had triumphed, through deception and lies, to poison the minds and hearts of humanity. Satan, also known as “the devil,” secretly lurks and crouches at the door of all of our lives. He and his demonic agents are always slyly waiting, with the fierce appetite of a hungry lion, ready “to rob, kill, and destroy” and carry the human prey away from their Creator and down to the dark den of eternal bondage and suffering (John 10:10). Yahshua (Jesus) called Satan the “god of this world” because of his powerful influence and cunning strategies to continually deceive, seduce, and turn the focus of people’s lives, desires, and affections to anyone or anything of this temporal earth. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Because of our misplaced affections and worldly focus, the enemy is easily able to steal the love, obedience, worship, and glory due only to Yahveh God and Yahshua (Jesus). The enemy’s constant evil agenda has turned divine order “upside down.” (Isaiah 29:16) Sadly, the majority of humans do not have love for the truth of the Living God and Savior and are progressively “exchanging the truth for lies.” (Romans 1:25) Yahveh the Holy One said, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness!” (Isaiah 5:20) We read about this tragic reality of “those who perish, because they did not receive the love for the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe lies, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-13)
“When Pilate asked who do you want me to release, they said, “Give us Barabbas!” That was Satan’s voice crying out, “Give us the flesh, give us the deeds of the flesh. We don’t want the Almighty Creator to rule and reign over us””
Our Savior’s aim to “destroy the works of the devil" is first and foremost to get us to be dead to our self sin nature and alive to Him.” (1 John 3:8, Romans 6:11) If we are not looking at that as the primary purpose for which Yahshua (Jesus) came to destroy the works of the enemy, then we are missing the target. The inherited self nature resembles Satan not our Creator. When Pilate asked who do you want me to release, they said, “Give us Barabbas!” That was Satan’s voice crying out, “Give us the flesh, give us the deeds of the flesh. We don’t want the Spirit to rule and reign. We don’t want the Almighty Creator to rule and reign over us. We want Satan and the flesh (because the fallen flesh nature is Satan’s offspring) to rule and reign over us.” When you choose the flesh it is like choosing Barabbas instead of Yahshua (Jesus). You are “re-crucifying” the Messiah all over again and according to the Scripture there is no remedy left after that. (See Hebrews 6:6) It is written, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” (Hebrews 6:4-6) If we don’t crucify our flesh we are re-crucifying Yahshua because we chose Barabbas to crucify Yahshua.
“If you try to save your self life and all of its gods, you will lose your soul to the enemy. The devil and our self nature are our life-time opponents””
We must realize and remember that within our souls is a raging battle between the god of self (Satan’s foremost instrument) and the Holy Spirit deposited in us. “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please” (Galatians 5:17). Yahshua (Jesus) gives us the grace and overcoming power to be “more than conquerors” over our flesh, the world, and Satan. (Romans 8:37) Paul explains simply, … put on the master Yahshua (the Spirit), … the flesh profits nothing … make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its desires … I do not consider my life in any way dear to myself, so that I may finish my course (the good fight of faith) …” (Romans 13:14, Acts 20:24, 1 Timothy 6:12) We must deny our flesh, starve it, reject, rebuke, resist, renounce, and repent for indulging our self and its worldly cravings. We are to crucify it and beat it back lest it overpowers us. “….Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:50). We must see the reality that our beloved flesh nature is not from Almighty God and is unholy and repulsive in His holy sight because it is fueled by the power of Satan “the god of this world.” Yahshua (Jesus) came to free us from the bondage to Satan and the ruling worldly god and the many idols of self. If you try to save your self life and all of its gods, you will lose your soul to the enemy. (see Luke 9:24) The devil and our self nature are our life-time opponents. They must be continually recognized and beat back and destroyed before they destroy us and brings us down with the multitudes of deceived victims into the pit of Hell!
As it is written, “Yahshua (Jesus), being in very nature God”, took on the form of a man and emptied Himself and became a humble servant so others would know His Father’s eternal love and salvation (see Philippians 2:5-7). This is an example for us to be emptied of self and its sinful nature so that we can be filled with His Spirit of unfailing love obeying the second and greatest commandment, You shall love your neighbor as yourself' (Mark 12:31). “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:13). Will you lay down yourself? Will you lay down your selfish interests so that others can live? Apostle Paul said, “I am being poured out like a drink offering” so that others can know Yahshua (Jesus) through my crucified life (Philippians 2:17).
“We begin to walk and thrive in the spiritual “abundant life” once the god of self is willingly denied and under the control of the Holy Spirit””
The identity and fruits of our Savior’s Holy Spirit must not be blocked or distorted by the arch enemy of Self and its fleshy worldly fruit. Our Savior said, “if I be lifted up I will draw men to me”. He was lifted up on the tree (execution stake) and sacrificed His life so we can live, by faith in His outpoured atoning blood. So, we too, must sacrificially die to self so that He can be lifted up and made known in and through our surrendered lives. Yahshua (Jesus) said “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). We begin to walk and thrive in the spiritual “abundant life” once the god of self is willingly denied and under the control of the Holy Spirit. This is the abundant life, “Yahshua in us the hope of glory,” magnified, seen, and heard through us. This is “the good fight of faith”, to fight and win the battle raging between the unholy self exalting flesh and the Holy Spirit exalting and glorifying the Almighty God and Savior. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Messiah [Christ], and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
“If you are discontent, craving and seeking some worldly carnal fix and fulfillment, then you have idols””
If we can’t prayerfully forsake the desires and things of this perishing dark world to wholeheartedly follow and walk in the light of Yahshua (Jesus), then there is an eternally dangerous self/sin problem. To reemphasize, our Savior came to set us free from the bondage to Satan, the god of self, and our multifaceted sin natures. Whatever we love and desire more than our God and Savior is an idol that provokes Him to jealousy and righteous indignation. It is time for little idols, medium idols, and giant idols (self) to be denied and relentlessly destroyed in our lives. Yahshua (Jesus) is to be the love of our heart, our “all in all,” and exceedingly great reward. If you are discontent, craving and seeking some worldly carnal fix and fulfillment, then you have idols. Our whole human nature has to go, it is the idol that provokes Him jealousy
Dear one, if you are discontent, the plain truth and problem is, He is not enough, because you are not getting enough of Him. You are not getting enough of Him because you have idols. It is a vicious cycle! Humble yourself, confess your sins and put your self and its idolatrous worldly desires on the altar, into Yahshua’s loving hands. Repent, ask for forgiveness and the Savior’s blood will mercifully cleanse away your sins. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you start praying and asking according to our Heavenly Father’s perfect will. Then, you will receive joy, peace, and “godliness with contentment which is great gain”, overflowing with the riches of His glorious abiding Presence. (1 Timothy 6:6) May Yahshua (Jesus) alone truly become the greatest fulfillment of your life and heart’s desires. Yahveh our Father and Yahshua our Messiah bless, bless, bless you, as you walk together in agreement, united in His eternal cords of unfailing ever present love.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for exposing the enemy’s constant evil agenda that has turned Your divine order “upside down” (Isaiah 29:16). Your wisdom compels me to rid my life from idols and self-centered worldly preoccupations. I know my temptations, the things I entertain in my mind, and the desires and inclinations of my heart will grow and grow as weeds until they take over, until they blind and enslave me. Praise be to my Helper, Your powerful Holy Spirit, that is mighty to the tearing down of every idol, stronghold, and vain imagination that rises up against my knowing and loving You intimately (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). Yahshua (Jesus), you are calling me to tear down my idols at any cost, by the might and power of Your Spirit. "It is Your Spirit who gives life; my flesh profits nothing; the words that [You] have spoken to [me] are spirit and are life” (John 6:63). Please consecrate me and cover my idols with Your atoning blood. I pray that I can begin to show forth the fruit of obedience at any cost with a humble and contrite heart that trembles at Your word” (Isaiah 66:2).
Yahshua (Jesus), teach me to walk in Your ways. Your word says, “How can two walk together unless they are in agreement with one another?” (see Amos 3:3). I want to be with You! “A day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside” (Psalm 84:10), so if I long for anything more important than that, I know that something is wrong in my relationship with You, and I need further correction. Mighty are You, at the close of this age, to give discernment and wisdom to all who desire to walk in the light of Your full counsel of truth. I pray You will continually correct the crooked and idolatrous places in me, so that the simplicity and profundity of worshipping and adoring You will be the greatest fulfillment and desire of my heart. Thank You for the power of Your blood that cleanses me of my confessed sins and clothes me in priestly righteous garments. In Yahshua’s (Jesus’s) name and unfailing love. HalleluYAH!
