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Authority
The Authority of Yeshua and His Authority in Us

Luqa [Luke] 11:14
And He was casting out a demon that was dumb.  And it came to pass, when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spoke; and the multitudes marveled.

It amazes me at times, that there are people today who believe in Yeshua and the Scriptures, but do not really believe demons exist.  Moreover, there are others still, who think that, while demons do exist, they cannot bother, oppress, or possess people today, especially the talmidim of Yeshua.  However, demons are quite real and are allowed to do what they do within certain parameters.  There are things people do every day in this society that actually open the door for demons to harass them, and to cause problems in their lives.  Yeshua’s talmidim today do not really seem to realize the significance of this, because of the widespread acceptance in our society of those things that actually open the doors for demons to enter into the life of a talmid of Yeshua.

When children are disobedient to their parents, this opens the door for demons to come into the lives of those disobedient children, as any Torah breaking does.  It is up to the parents to shut that door as quickly as possible, by helping and guiding their children through proper repentance and proper living according to Torah.  However, what often happens is that instead of parents shutting that door and denying access to unclean spirits, they actually open the door wider by justifying and excusing the Torah breaking actions of their children.  Rather than properly using the rod of correction upon their children, they are making excuses and bailing them out of situations, rather than allowing their children to suffer the consequences of their wrong decisions.  Thereby, they are setting up the scenario to repeat itself over and over again, until the child is only worthy of destruction.

In the situation above, Yeshua is dealing with a dumb spirit.  This is a spirit, which when it takes control of the host, does not allow him to speak.  One of the lessons we need to learn from this, is how demons capitalize upon a person’s passivity.  What this means, is the person who is being demonized acquiesces to the will of the demon, rather than exercising his own will.  Usually, this is a gradual process in which the host relinquishes more and more authority to the unclean spirit.  When dealing with this situation and driving this spirit out, one must understand that it is going to be difficult for the person so freed, to remain free; because he now has to take responsibility for his own thoughts and actions, whereas before, he was basically only along for the ride; i.e., beforehand such a person was only following the dictates of the demon.

It is important to realize, that when a person is freed from the influence of unclean spirits, he is going to need good support around him to help guard and keep him on the straight and narrow.  This is not that difficult, it just means that one must be watchful and diligent in making sure that one does not reopen the doors to the influence of unclean spirits.

The authority Yeshua has over unclean spirits of any and all ranks is absolute.  Yeshua has passed that authority to us as His Talmidim.  One thing that needs to be pointed out here is that regardless of how much power and authority a true talmid of Yeshua had over the unclean spirits, if the person being helped is not willing to live a clean and Torah observant life, it is a wasted effort and perhaps should not even be done.  Before I take anyone through a deliverance, I speak to them straightforwardly concerning this portion of Scripture.  If he is not willing to live a life set-apart to YHWH, then I will not proceed, because he will actually end up being in worse shape than when he started.  We need to use this authority judiciously.

Luqa [Luke] 10:19 
19 “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.
20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”   

Yeshua taught us that we need to be sure to keep a proper perspective in this whole aspect concerning unclean spirits and demons.  It is quite easy to get carried away by this authority and to get caught up in having this the focus of one’s life and ministry.  Yes, Yeshua has given us authority over these matters in Him.  However, we should only deal with these things as they arise and are made known to us.  I am not sure that one should become a “demon hunter.”  Yeshua never did this, and I do not see any record of any of the apostles doing this.  Yes, Yeshua and the apostles cast out demons, but only as they encountered them.  There is no record they went hunting for them.

Matithyah [Matthew] 6:34 
“Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Prince of the Demons

Luqa [Luke] 11:15
But some of them said, “By Beelzebub the prince of the demons He casts out demons.”

There were those who had witnessed Yeshua cast out demons and they accused Yeshua of casting out demons by the prince of the demons, Beelzebub.  They did not understand the nature of kingdoms and certainly not of the Kingdom of Light as opposed by the kingdom of darkness.

Beelzebub has many names.  This name comes from the following passage.

Malakim Bet [2nd Kings] 1:3 
But the Malak of YHWH said to Eliyah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no Elohim in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’”

The meaning of this name is “master of flies”; or sometimes some understand it as “master of chaos.”  This prince of demons is mentioned in the Besorot of Matithyah, Marqa, and Luqa.  In each case, he is referred to as the “prince of the demons.”  Some have equated Beelzebub with Satan, but most seem to be in agreement that Satan and Beelzebub are not the same being.  It would seem that Beelzebub is actually Satan’s chief prince.  When we get down to verses 18 and 19 below, we will see that Yeshua addresses both beings, indicating that if Beelzebub and Satan were against each other, how could Satan’s kingdom stand?  This seems to clearly show us that these two names are referring to two separate beings.

In the Besorah of Nicodemus we learn that it was Beelzebub who gave permission to Mashiach during His three days in the underworld to take the prisoners of Adam and all those with him to heaven; above the protests and objections of Satan.  There is no way for us actually to verify all of this; however, there are passages in the Brit that seem to allude to this as well.  I can see why that book was not included in Scripture, as I cannot imagine why Yeshua Mashiach would need permission from an unclean spirit to do anything at all.  However, it does point out that Satan’s kingdom became divided.

Ephesians 4:8-9
8 wherefore, he says, ‘Having gone up on high He led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men,’
9 and that he went up, what is it except that He also went down first to the lower parts of the earth?

This is one of those passages shrouded in mystery.  We have a few clues, but that is it.  It would seem wise for us to discuss these things, but not wise for us to make doctrines out of them, considering that we do not have a lot of information concerning this.

A Sign from Heaven

Luqa [Luke] 11:16
And others, trying him, sought of Him a sign from heaven.

There are so many people who simply refuse to believe unless they see with their own eyes.  The interesting thing about this is that even after these same people see, they still have a strong tendency not to believe.  Their mind is already made up.  They would ask you to please not confuse them with the facts.

Matithyah [Matthew] 12:39 
But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Yonah the prophet.”

It is wrong for us to seek after a sign from our heavenly Father.  However, this is exactly what many people do; they seek some kind of sign for this, that, or the other, as they go through their lives.  Often they will tell YHWH that they will do such and such if He gives them a sign, or they ask Him for a particular sign so they know which decision to make.  Yeshua said that when one does this, it is evil in His sight.

This should be distinguished from YHWH giving a sign.  YHWH does this many times.  The difference is that one did not seek the sign; He just gave it.  In this instance, we need to develop a sense that we can have understanding of the signs He gives to us.  We also need to be able to recognize a sign as a sign when He gives us a sign.  When He gives us a sign, it does not benefit us if we do not see it as a sign or we do not correctly understand the sign.

It has been my experience that YHWH gives us many signs in the course of our lives.  They seem to be like sign posts along a highway.  They are there, and if we read them and understand them, we will not get lost and take a wrong turn.

A Divided House

Luqa [Luke] 11:17
But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falls.”

Let us consider this next passage as well.

Matithyah [Matthew] 10:34-36
34 “Don't suppose that I have come to bring peace to the Land.  It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword! 
35 For I have come to set
36 a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, so that a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.”

These are some difficult words of Yeshua our Mashiach.  It highlights the reality of the sinful world we live in, particularly in these days when the order of the day is for almost everyone to do what is right in his own eyes.  It does not seem at all uncommon in our world for either the husband or the wife to come to Yeshua in saving knowledge, but the spouse does not.  It is difficult in these days to walk in faithful obedience to Yeshua when one’s spouse will not submit his or her own life to Him as well.

A divided house is not an easy place in which to be.  Not only are the husband and wife at odds, but also many times the children are placed in a position in which they have to choose between one or the other parent.  Situations like this are difficult at best and have no easy solution.  Obviously, it would be the best if both the husband and wife would submit their lives to Yeshua as Mashiach.  However, in the interim, the believing spouse must do the best he or she can in the circumstances they are in, learning to pray at all times, seeking YHWH in all matters, and walking in obedience to Him, trusting that He is working to bring all to a place of repentance.

By Whose Authority

Luqa [Luke] 11:18-19
18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?  Because you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebub.
19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore shall they be your judges.

There are two things that really stand out in these verses.  The first is that Yeshua is confronting the Pharisees with the fact that they are accusing Him of casting out demons by the power (authority) of Beelzebub.  Since Yeshua is YHWH in the flesh, and He was casting out demons by His own power and authority, He asks them by whom their sons cast out demons. 

Apparently, it was not unheard of that the Pharisees, Levites, and Kohenim cast out demons from Israelites.  Of course, they would say without hesitation that they were doing it by the power and authority of Elohim.  They would not suggest or think for one second, that the prince of the demons would even consider casting his own kind out of a person.  What would be the point?

The other thing that stands out, is that these same people who cast demons out in the name of YHWH by His power and authority, and who were their sons, would in turn judge them concerning this matter.  This strongly suggests a principle we should not ignore.  When a person accuses another person of something that is not true, those who do the exact same thing whom they support, will become their judge in this matter.

What we glean from this is that we should be very careful in making accusations against His people.  It most likely will come back to get us in the end on the Day of Judgment.

By the Finger of Elohim

Luqa [Luke] 11:20
But if I by the finger of Elohim cast out demons, then the kingdom of Elohim has come upon you.

The importance of what Yeshua then tells them far exceeds the topic at hand.  Of course, we know that He was casting out demons and unclean spirits by the power and authority of Elohim (finger of Elohim).  Therefore, what Yeshua was stating was that the Kingdom of Elohim had arrived!

The question we need to ask ourselves is:  What is the Kingdom of Elohim?

As we will see shortly, there are two main aspects to the Kingdom of Elohim.  One aspect of the Kingdom is that it is not seen in the here and now; i.e., it is not a physical kingdom.  The other aspect of the Kingdom of Elohim is that it will be seen in this world at some point in the future as a physical kingdom.   Let us examine a few passages and see what YHWH has to show us.

Matithyah [Matthew] 25:34
“Then shall the King say to them on His right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’”

Yeshua tells us that those who obey Him (His Torah) will inherit a kingdom that is older than the earth itself.  This kingdom we are walking towards is an eternal kingdom.

Matithyah [Matthew]  16:28
“Amein I say to you, there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.”

Yeshua went so far as to tell His talmidim nearly two thousand years ago, that there were some standing there that day, who were listening to Him, who would see Him come in His kingdom.  That tells us that His Kingdom has been around since at least from the first century here on earth, at least in some aspect.

Marqus [Mark] 12:34
And when Yeshua saw that He answered prudently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of Elohim.”  And no man after that did ask Him any question.

When we answer with wisdom, we are close to the kingdom. 

Luqa [Luke] 17:20
And being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of Elohim would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of Elohim does not come with observation.”

What Yeshua states here in this passage is one of the reasons why He commanded us not to seek after signs.  There is an aspect of His kingdom that cannot by seen with the physical eyes.  There is an aspect of the kingdom of Elohim that is not visible to us in the here and now.  It is not visible at least to the physical sense of seeing.  This is the spiritual side of the kingdom already inaugurated by Yeshua’s first coming.

Yochanan [John] 18:36
Yeshua answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight, that I should not be delivered to the Yehudi; but now is My kingdom not from here.”

When Yeshua stood condemned before Pilate, He told him that His kingdom was not of this physical realm.  This is an interesting statement because of all the other things Yeshua told us about His kingdom.  We know it started at least nearly two thousand years ago.  We know there were some living then who saw the beginning of His kingdom.  We know it is not really visible in the here and now. 

However, there is another aspect of His kingdom we do not want to miss, either.  At some point in the future, His kingdom will be manifested completely in the physical realm.  It will be visible in every respect by which an earthly kingdom has been visible.  Yeshua even taught His talmidim what to watch for as signs for when this was about to come to pass in this realm.

Luqa [Luke] 21:31
“Even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, you will know that the kingdom of Elohim is near.”

We discussed above the difference between seeking a sign and a sign YHWH gives to us without our asking.  This is a classic example; YHWH has given us many signs in Scripture to watch for concerning prophetic events, so that as they come to pass, His people will know and understand the times in which they live.  It also gives glory and honor to Him as these things come to pass, because we know that He is the One doing it.

In this case, we are to watch for certain signs which indicate that the manifestation of His kingdom is about to be revealed upon earth. 

Matithyah [Matthew]  13:11
And He answered and said to them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

YHWH does not keep secrets from His true servants; rather He reveals them to us.  He will just reveal them in such a way that those who do not belong to Him will not understand what He is saying or doing.

Tesaloniqa Aleph [1st Thessalonians] 5:4 
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief;

If a person is filled with His Spirit, then whatever YHWH is doing is going to be known and will not surprise the one so filled.  After all, He cannot surprise Himself, can He?  No, of course not. 

Matithyah [Matthew]  13:19
“When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the evil one will  come, and snatch away that which has been sown in his heart.  This is he that was sown by the way side.”

However, when a person hears a kingdom truth and they do not act upon it in obedience, that truth will be taken away from him.  Yeshua plainly taught us this truth in the parable of the soils.

Matithyah [Matthew]  7:21
“Not everyone that says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”

On a side note:  I do not believe we should use the title of “lord” when referring to our heavenly Father or our Savior, Yeshua our Mashiach.  However, many do use these titles.  Many who use these titles are going to cry out on the Day of Judgment using these titles.  However, Yeshua is going to tell them that He never knew them.  It is not a given that one who uses the correct names and titles of YHWH our Elohim will make it into His kingdom.  Likewise, it is not a given that those who do not use the correct names and titles will not make it into His kingdom.  The distinction is two-fold.  One, why is the person using the names and titles he is using; and two, is he ignoring the pricks of the Ruach Qodesh (Holy Spirit) in using the wrong names and titles?

Yeshua was making it plain that it will take more than just calling upon Him to get into His kingdom.  He implicitly states that it will be those who have done the will of the Father in heaven.  Just exactly what is the will of the Father in heaven?  It is keeping His commandments, specifically the Torah.  Talk is not enough!  Yeshua tells us that to enter into His kingdom, we are going to have to obey our heavenly Father’s will; i.e., keep the Torah commandments - not just the ones we like, but all of them.

Matithyah [Matthew]  6:33
“But you seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”

Yeshua taught us that we are to seek His kingdom in the here and now before anything else.  How many people do you know that seek after a career?  Or, they seek after wealth and all that wealth can bring to them:  houses, cars, fat bank accounts, whatever their hearts desire.  It is not wrong to have these things; but if one is seeking after them, then it is wrong and will absolutely keep one out of His kingdom.  If He wants us to have these things, let Him bless us with them.  Otherwise, let us work to build His kingdom and not our own little empires.

Matithyah [Matthew]  16:19
“I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Yeshua has given us the keys to the kingdom.  I wonder if we know where the door is so we can unlock it to enter in.  Many people carry around the keys to His kingdom, but never unlock the door and never enter into it.

Matithyah [Matthew]  6:9-10
9 “After this manner therefore pray.  
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
10           Thy kingdom come.  
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.

Finally, Yeshua actually taught us to pray for the kingdom to be revealed here upon earth as it is known in heaven.  You see, that is actually the task He has called us to do:  to make the kingdom of Israel here on earth identical to the kingdom of Israel in heaven, in which, when YHWH commands something to be done, immediately His servants run to do it.  May it be so in our day here on earth, and may each one of us do our very best to do His will as soon as possible when He tells us.

The Strong Man

Luqa [Luke] 11:21-22
21 When the strong man fully armed guards his own home, his goods are  secure;
22 but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he takes from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divides his spoils.“

One of the companion passages to the above is found in Matithyah.

Matithyah [Matthew] 12:29
“Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?  And then he will spoil his house.”
 
The historical interpretation of the church and Christianity at large has been to declare that the strongman is Satan.  May I please ask you to prayerfully consider the whole counsel of Scripture in this matter to see that this interpretation is most likely not correct?  Who is the Creator and owner of the house?  It is YHWH/Yeshua.  Yeshua was found in His Father’s house and said that is where we should expect to find Him, in His Father’s house doing His Father’s will (Luqa 2:49).  Satan on the other hand is not the owner; rather he is a thief and a liar.  It is Satan who is the one who breaks in to steal, not our Master and Mashiach; He is already the Owner; He needs not to break in to claim what is already His.  Notice what Yeshua said in this passage.

Yochanan [John] 10:1-2
1 “Amein, amein, I say to you, he that enters not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep”.
 
He that breaks in is clearly the enemy, Satan.  The Strongman, who is the owner of the house, is bound so that His house can be plundered.  Who was it who was bound upon the cross?  It was not Satan; it was Yeshua our Mashiach.  Yeshua our Mashiach is the Strongman!  Please, I implore you to be very careful when dealing with Satan in deliverance ministry.  Satan is a legalist!  What this means is that he will take your well-meaning words and apply them in a way you did not intend if you use the words in a wrong way.  The way this works out in deliverance is that if you “bind the strongman” and even though you may mean to bind Satan, he has a legal right before the Throne to apply that prayer to binding Yeshua our Mashiach because He is the rightful Strongman.  Therefore, when we are binding, it is important to be explicitly clear in our language when casting out demons.  If you are not sure, then do not use the term “strongman” at all.  Use terms that are not confusing and cannot be twisted.

For those of you who are parents, have you ever had an occasion in which you told your child to do something and he did exactly what you said, but did not do what your intent was?  That is legalism.  This is the standard mode of operation of demons.  They will follow, and have to follow, exactly what you tell them to do.  They do not have to obey your intent, as the intent is unspoken and unknown to them.  They may surmise your intent, but in no way are demons obligated to obey your intent, regardless of how good, righteous, and pure the intent is.  They do have to follow your verbal orders because of the Blood of Yeshua our Mashiach.

We need to be wise as serpents, but as innocent as doves!  Be wise in this matter, my brethren!

Which Side?

Luqa [Luke] 11:23
He that is not with me is against Me; and he that gathers not with Me scatters.

Yeshua taught us that there are two sides to the question of the kingdom.  Which side we work on in this life will ultimately determine what kingdom in which we will spend eternity.  The question one needs to ask himself is this:  What am I doing to further His kingdom right now, today?

Unclean Spirits

Luqa [Luke] 11:24
The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house where I came out.’

Unclean spirits and demons are similar to man in that they also seek rest and a place in which to rest.  However, the problem lies in that when an unclean spirit rests in or upon a person, the person cannot and does not rest.  When an unclean spirit or demon leaves a person, it seeks another place in which to rest, namely, another person.  However, if it finds none, then it will return to the place out of which it was forced, to see if it can reenter and take up residence again.

Cleaned and Put In Order

Luqa [Luke] 11:25
And when he is come, he finds it swept and put in order.

When a demon or unclean spirit is cast out of, or removed in some fashion from a person, that person’s heart is clean and swept and made ready for another occupant, namely, the Holy Spirit.  In this case, that occupant should be His Spirit, but if one does not do what is necessary to invite and bring into his life the infilling presence of His Spirit, then at some point the unclean spirit or demon will return to see if it can take up residence in the person once again.

Degrees of Evil

Luqa [Luke] 11:26  
Then he goes, and takes with him seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man has become worse than the first.

Nevertheless, herein lies the great tragedy that happens all too often.  The Ruach Qodesh is not invited to reside in a person when the unclean spirit or demon is cast out, and when it returns and finds the person ready for occupancy but not occupied, it goes and finds seven others who are even more wicked and vile than itself, and they all go and take up residency in that person.  The end result is that the state of that person is worse than before the original unclean spirit or demon was cast out in the first place.

So how is one to prevent this from happening in his life?

First, by understanding that one needs to be filled with His Spirit, if he is going to put the right occupant in his house.  Second, by understanding that when one is saved through grace it is not automatic that one is also filled with His Spirit at that time.  Then thirdly, one seeks the infilling, indwelling presence of His Spirit and does not stop seeking it until he is actually filled with His Spirit.  Then, once that is done, to live in such a way that the infilling is constantly renewed by seeking and asking and obeying His Voice.  For a more detailed treatment of being filled with His Spirit, please refer to the study, Have You Received the Power? – Part 2.

ABBA YHWH, please fill us with Your Spirit and teach us to walk daily in Your Spirit; in the name of Yeshua our Mashiach.  Amein.

Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunah
www.onetorahforall.com
zerubbabel@onetorahforall.com

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