The attention of the whole world has been captured by recent events in the realm of finances, politics and health, as well as religion. Financial failures are at an all-time high; corruption in politics has shocked millions; "solutions" to health border on being criminal; apostasy is more evident than ever, and "religious" wars in Israel are raging.

As for all four areas, the sources of "information" are plentiful. If we depend on the mainstream media for news about what is going on, we will be given reports full of extreme bias--all orchestrated by unseen "powers" intent on deceiving. If we desire a balanced view we must look to other sources where concerned citizens donate their time in uncovering the truth behind the propaganda-type "news" we are fed on a daily basis.

That being said, the Bible has ALL the answers; we need only allow the Spirit of Truth to open our eyes and enable us to discern what is REALLY going on. Although the complexities are myriad, we can learn a few simple truths to help us in this time in which we live.

Since publishing Conquering the Greatest Enemy, the Lord has been stirring in my spirit numerous thoughts, but only this morning (December 29, 2008) as I awoke did He give me the "key" to what He would have me say. So, let's get on with it.

Israel

As of this writing, Israel is embroiled in battle with an enemy that has always been against them. The modern-day, mainstream media typically portrays such things as "Israeli aggression." This should come as no surprise, considering the influence from Ishmael's descendants. If you copy and paste this address into your browser you will learn some very interesting things: www.kingdom.com.sa/en/IntInvs.asp. Then check out the identity of the "executive chairman" at this address: www.kingdom.com.sa/en/mng_ExecChairman.asp. Do we think he "needs" the hard-earned tax dollars of US citizens to "bail out" one of his holdings? Ishmael's tentacles are far-reaching. In his bid to destroy his brother Isaac's son Jacob (Israel), he uses great influence all over the earth.

An Israelite, Asaph, who was very musical, sang this song of request to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Keep not your silence, O God: hold not your peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, your enemies make a tumult: and they that hate you have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against your people, and consulted against your hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: the tabernacles of Edom [Esau], and the Ishmaelites; of Moab [an incestuous son of Lot], and the Hagarenes [of Arabia]; Gebal [a descendant of Esau], and Ammon [an incestuous son of Lot], and Amalek [a descendant of Esau]; the Philistines [a.k.a. 'Palestine'] with the inhabitants of Tyre [a place in Palestine]; Assur [Assyrians] also is joined with them: they have helped the children of Lot. Selah. Psalm 83:1-8.

But the LORD God made a covenant with Abraham immediately after he had been willing to offer his son Isaac on an altar of sacrifice. This is what Jehovah promised Abraham:

That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice. Gen 22:17-18 (Emphases are mine).

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay [rely] upon him that smote them; but shall stay [rely] upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption [Hebrew: 'destruction'] decreed shall overflow [Hebrew: 'conquer/cleanse'] with righteousness. Isaiah 10:20-22.

Two covenants

From God's promise to Abraham that all the nations of the earth would be blessed, we fast forward to the words of Paul the Apostle. He is chiding the Galatians for their persistent desire to place themselves in bondage under the Law. Read this passage carefully:

Tell me, you who wish to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by the servant girl, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the servant girl was born according to the flesh, and he of the free woman through the promise, which things are symbolic. For these are two covenants: one in fact from Mount Sinai, bearing children into slavery, which is Hagar--for Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, and is in slavery with her children--but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, who does not give birth; break forth and shout, who does not have birth pangs; because the children of the desolate are many more than those of her who has a husband." [Isaiah 54:1]. But we, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as then the one who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is also now. But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the servant girl and her son, for the son of the servant girl will certainly not inherit with the son of the free woman." So then, brothers, we are not children of the servant girl, but of the free woman. Stand fast therefore in the freedom in which Christ has made us free, and do not be loaded down again with a yoke of bondage. Gal 4:21-31; 5:1 EMTV (Emphases are mine).

Not only is there persecution of Israel by the Ishmaelites (Arabs), but the true believers in Christ will face much persecution from the legalistic, "religious" crowd who are a part of the anti-Christ ones. The antichrist spirit is embedded in those who desire to "control" those who are free in Christ. The bondage from which they function is like a fast-growing fungus, intent on corrupting those of "Jerusalem above" which is free. The apostate ones and the pseudo believers are blind to the Truth that came to set them free. They have not received the Life of Christ to dwell in them, so all they see is "laws," even in the New Testament. They desire to legislate morality on a national scale, while "circumcising" others on a personal level. This is better seen as the war between flesh and Spirit. The Spirit of Grace is grieved at the judgment meted out by those who name the Name of Christ and who, like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, "compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." (Matthew 23:15).

The Pharisees were experts in the Law of Moses. They knew every part of it, and saw it as their responsibility to keep others under the Law. In reality, the Law was given to Israel as a tutor to bring them unto Christ. The sacrifices of flesh, through the shedding of blood, "tutored" Israel to prepare them for the coming of their Messiah whose own shed blood would provide freedom from mortal liability for all who would receive Him.

"Mortal liability" is what the self/flesh life inherited through Adam when he came into the knowledge of good and evil and gained independence from the Life of God, (which was not a gain but a loss). Paul the Apostle told the Corinthians, "The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam [Jesus] became a lifegiving spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:45). Later, in the same chapter, Paul tells us,

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. (Isaiah 25:8)" O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57.

The Life of Jesus can be found only in those who are truly born anew by His Spirit. It is about Life and death--not sin; and therefore not the Law which served to expose Israel's sinfulness through their disobedience! John explains the new birth with these words:

We know that whosoever is born of God does not sin; but he that is begotten of God keeps [Greek: 'to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon'] him, and that wicked one touches him not. 1 John 5:18.

There are some today who try to tell us the devil is able to cause a believer in Jesus to "sin," and that we should be fearful of his tactics. The Word of God tells us we are to fear God. Never does He ever tell us we should fear Satan. The Apostle Peter tells us,

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9.

As John said, "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4). The "wicked one" cannot touch one who is "steadfast in the faith," which puts into effect the "resistance" spoken of above, because the One who dwells in us is far greater! In our own strength we are helpless and therefore susceptible to the enemy's plots. We must keep in mind that flesh is the door through which Satan walks. That is the reason he tricked man into the knowledge of good and evil and the resulting separation from the Life of God. Then Jesus, the Greater One, came in the likeness of sinful flesh and put flesh to death on our behalf--thus destroying the works of the devil.

The power of God in one who is truly and wholeheartedly committed to Christ through faith and by His Grace will overcome the enemy because of the One in whom he dwells, and Who dwells in him. The devil actually fears such true believers!

Let me relate an example to show what I mean. While doing research, I came across the web site of David J. Meyer, and learned an encouraging fact he related in one of his newsletters. Brother David Meyer was once an "occultist, astrologer, and witch, who was saved by the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ," and "well acquainted with occult legends and symbology." Ever since he came to Christ, he has devoted his time to exposing the works of darkness which once held him in bondage. He tells of a "powerful wizard" who was asked "What is the greatest threat to witchcraft today?" When I read the reply it caused me to shout "Hallelujah!" and it may bring a similar response from you. The "wizard" said the "greatest threat" was "Probably the born-again Christians."

The devil and his hordes are fearful of true believers because of the One who indwells us. They cannot "touch" us; Praise the Lord!! But we have a responsibility (and privilege) to pray for others who are deceived and in great bondage. The power of prayer is our greatest "tool," and we need to make prayer a vital part of every day on behalf of lost souls.

Abominable fleshly influence

The topic of health is a huge one, so I will tackle one small aspect, then later do a word study with a larger commentary than usual.

It is easy to see that greed, not compassion, is behind the majority of "health care" issues in most nations of the world. The "disease" called cancer has reached epidemic proportions with no hope in sight for a "cure," even though there are numerous funds set up to "help fight cancer." If the pharmaceutical companies really wanted to find a cure for cancer they have billions of dollars at their disposal, but do they really want to? Cancer is big business, and to wipe it out would cause massive unemployment, not to mention the profits amassed by the mega-wealthy drug companies. These "chemical" companies are more concerned with eradicating the world of its God-given "natural" health supply which is found in organically grown herbs, fruits and vegetables, and organic meats.

Before I start going on (ranting) about this subject, let me just say that I have seen too many friends and relatives suffer and die from this disease. This is due in large part to the "chemotherapy" the drug companies insist on promoting through the medical doctors who receive a lot of their information about the disease from guess who? Big "Pharma," of course! A few moments ago, I received an email from a web site where I subscribe to a newsletter. In this issue, there is a link to an article which tells how chemotherapy contributes to 25% of the deaths in late-stage cancer patients. Here is the introduction: "A new study has raised serious questions about the use of chemotherapy for late-stage cancer patients. The review of 600 cancer patients in Britain who died within 30 days of treatment has found that one in four of the deaths was either caused or hastened by the chemotherapy."

We need only follow the money trail to find out who is behind such atrocities and why. People's lives are being destroyed because billionaires are un-feeling and greedy. That may sound a little simplistic, and some may say how a drug has helped them, but overall mankind has been deceived. I believe Revelation 18:23 may be applicable here. The word "sorceries" is translated from the Greek word pharmakeia which literally means "medication (“pharmacy”), that is, (by extension) magic (literal or figurative)," and is derived from pharmakeus which means "From pharmakon (a drug, that is, spell giving potion); a druggist (“pharmacist”) or poisoner, that is, (by extension) a magician."

God provided all that we need for health and healing. But has man followed His directions? No! and what a mess we are in!

These are dreadful days in which we live. We have touched on a lot in this article, but you will learn much more if you follow the links and consider the important truths you will find. Time is short, and as followers of Jesus it is our responsibility to pray and sound a warning to the ears of all who will hear. Share the Life of Jesus with someone today, and offer them freedom from bondage to self and flesh and every pitfall the enemy can find to send their way.

The following article was written in 2008, following the election of Barack Obama. It is uncanny how prophetic the article is, when we see how much of it has been fulfilled thus far. As so many are already beginning to see, the future of America is bleak. Read the article here: BEYOND REDEMPTION by Sheriff Jim R. Schwiesow, Ret., a firm believer in Jesus Christ God's Son. Let us join Sheriff Jim and sound a loud warning to all who will hear.

©2004-2020 ekklesia4him.net. Permission is granted for not-for-profit reproduction or distribution (without any changes) provided this notice appears and this link is included: https://www.ekklesia4him.net/freedom_from_bondage_vital_lesson.html