Click here for the PDF version
13th of the 9th month 2014/2015
Shalom all,
Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 2:3-5 “Suffer hardship with us as a good soldier of יהושע Messiah. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in the affairs of this life, in order to please only him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And if anyone competes in a game, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”
These were indeed some urgent words that were given to Timotiyos, and words that are still very much an urgent call for all of us to hear and take heed of, still today!
We are to be ‘good soldiers’ of Messiah, which takes great courage and belief, to stand in the Master, as we sojourn here as faithful ambassadors of the coming reign of Elohim.
In the instructions that are given in the Torah, in regards to facing battles, we see the following, in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 20:8 “And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Who is the man who is afraid and tender of heart? Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brothers faint like his heart.’”
This was the 4th reason that was given for some to not go out and fight, and that was: ‘fear of the enemy’.
Fear of the enemy is extremely contagious, as we can remember how the wicked report of the 10 spies caused an entire generation to stumble, in not being able to enter in to the Promised Land.
Giḏ’on said the same thing to his men, in:
Shophetim/Judges 7:3 “And now, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him turn back, and leave Mount Gilʽaḏ.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people turned back, while ten thousand remained.”
יהוה reduced the army to 1% of the original size, through this method, and what we recognise here, is that it is not about numbers that count, but it is about true courage in the face of fire and the suffering persecution and hardships for the Master’s sake!
יהוה wants people with the right heart and mind, to serve Him in Spirit and Truth, and He does not want those who procrastinate and think about the many ‘what ifs’, that most people try to reason out, before deciding to do what is right in the heat of daily battles, as this simply reveals the fear of the unknown, when we should be putting our trust in Him, The One who gives us life, and putting complete trust in Him who fights for us!
The cowardly have no place in the kingdom!
Look at who the cowardly are grouped with, in Ḥazon:
Ḥazon/Revelation 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, and untrustworthy, and abominable, and murderers, and those who whore, and drug sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the false, their part is in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.”
The Greek word that is translated as ‘cowardly’ is δειλός deilos – Strong’s G1169 which means, ‘cowardly, fearful, dread, timid, afraid’.
The cowardly will have their part in the lake of fire, which is the second death!
The English word ‘timid’ is described in the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate dictionary as:
‘Lacking in courage or self-confidence’ and ‘lacking in boldness or determination’.
This Greek word δειλός deilos – Strong’s G1169 is only used 3 times in the Renewed Writings (N.T.) and the other two uses are in regards to the words of our Master, to His taught ones, after He had calmed the raging stormy sea waters and wind:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 8:26 “And He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little belief?” Then, having risen, He rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.”
Marqos/Mark 4:40 “And He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you not yet belief?”
The reason for me highlighting this root word for ‘cowardly, afraid’, is to recognise the importance of not being in a place where our belief in our Master fails!
Our Master, in presenting a parable on how we are to always pray and not lose heart, he said that “when the Son of Aḏam comes, shall He find the belief on the earth?”
We are not to lose heart and be in a state of unbelief, for then we will not be able to fight the good fight of the belief with a proper boldness, courage and trust in our Master and His Word.
Having the right heart and mind, is crucial for our ability to stand firm in our Master and Elohim, and as good soldiers of our Commander and King, we need to be armed with His Torah and be armed with the right mind, in order to be properly committed to standing strong, in the heat of the most intense suffering we may face for doing good – that is: for doing what He commands!
In a message called, ‘ARMED WITH INTENT AND EQUIPPED TO SUFFER!’, I want us to be reminded how sober minded we are to be, and what kind of mind-set we ought to have, ensuring that our attitude do not stink, but rather that they are armed with great courageous belief and trust in Elohim.
Please read Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 4
These are extremely powerful and belief- equipping words from Kěpha, and so, in assessing our attitude and ability to stand armed in the Truth, I would like to break this chapter down a little and take a look at many of the Greek words that are being used here, with the hope that a sobering alarm will be heard, in making sure that our attitudes are right and that our minds are armed and ready, to face the battles that rage against us on a daily basis!
With this message, I am asking that you allow the mirror of the Word to show you how your attitude should be and then assess what you look like, against the clear standard that is instructed for us, as a set-apart, called out and royal priesthood!
Much of what we face, and go through, and how we either endure or fail, is determined by our attitude!
Yes: attitude – have you honestly appraised your attitudes lately?
Have you truly taken time to check your attitudes of late?
We all need to examine our attitudes and keep them in check, right?
Although, most of the time we don’t really want to do that, especially when we know that our attitudes have sucked!
What problems, if any, have you been facing lately, be it financial, relational, health or job etc.?
What has your attitude been toward these things?
What has your confession been?
It has been said before that ‘outlook determines outcome’; and so, when you expect good, no matter what happens, you will not be disappointed, but expect evil and negativity and you will not be disappointed either!
You know what I mean – you get what you expect.
Our attitudes then, are like any weapon!
We can use it on our enemies or turn and use it on ourselves!
We need to have the right attitude, if we expect to live a ‘right life’.
The English word ‘attitude’ can be defined as: ‘a mental position with regard to a fact or state’, or, ‘a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state’ and even, ‘a negative or hostile state of mind’.
We can either have the right attitude or the wrong attitude, which will affect the way we live out our lives.
And so, in this message, I would like to talk about the kind of attitude that we ought to have, as Set-Apart believers in יהושע Messiah.
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 10:24 “What the wrong one fears comes upon him, but the desire of the righteous is granted.”
This verse can, in many ways, reveal to us the clear difference between the attitude of the wrong and the righteous, along with the outcome of such attitudes!
As I have said, our attitudes are, or can be, our weapons, or our “arms”, and if our attitudes are weak, negative, doubtful and wrong etc., then we will most definitely be defeated in battle.
A right attitude is one of joy, energy, victory and expectancy!
One that is positive in all ways, aměn!
So, as part of this message and teaching, I want to ask you:
“How have your attitudes been lately?”
Let us now take a closer look at what Kěpha is telling us, when he says that we are to arm ourselves with the same mind as יהושע Messiah, who suffered in the flesh!
The Greek root word that is translated here as ‘mind’ is ἔννοια ennoia – Strong’s G1771 which means, ‘intent, mind’, and implies, ‘the act of thinking or consideration and meditation’, and relates to one’s, ‘thinking, or moral understanding’.
It comes from the compound of 2 words:
1) – ἐν en – Strong’s G1722 which is a primary preposition denoting position, and is translated as, ‘in, on, at, by, with’, and
2) – νοῦς nous – Strong’s G3563 which means, ‘mind, understanding, reason, intellect’, and speaks of the faculties of the mind that perceives and comprehends.
This word ἔννοια ennoia – Strong’s G1771 that Kěpha uses, is only used twice in Scripture: here in this chapter that we have just read and is also translated as ‘intentions’ in:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of Elohim is living, and working, and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through even to the dividing of being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
We are to ‘arm’ ourselves with the ‘mind’ of Messiah, and the Greek word that is translated as ‘armed’ is ὁπλίζω hoplizō – Strong’s G3695 which means, ‘to arm oneself, furnish with arms’, and metaphorically, this root word has the meaning, ‘take on the same mind’.
This word comes from the primary word ὅπλον hoplon – Strong’s G3696 which means, ‘a tool, implement, weapon, instruments, armour’, and speaks of any tool or instrument that is used to prepare something, and is used in:
Romiyim/Romans 6:12-13 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, to obey it in its desires, 13 neither present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to Elohim as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to Elohim.”
Here, in Romiyim/Romans 6:12-13, this root word ὅπλον hoplon – Strong’s G3696 is translated as ‘instruments’ and is translated as ‘armour’ in:
Romiyim/Romans 13:12 “The night is far advanced, the day has come near. So let us put off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
Furthermore, we see this word ὅπλον hoplon – Strong’s G3696 being translated as ‘weapons’ in:
Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 10:4-6 “For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly but mighty in Elohim for overthrowing strongholds, 5 overthrowing reasonings and every high matter that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to the Messiah, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”
So, we can see that this word ὅπλον hoplon – Strong’s G3696 is translated as:
instruments, armour and weapons.
What I am simply trying to highlight to you here, through this message, is the clear need for us to be good soldiers, who are ready to fight the good fight, as we stand firm in our Master, who has given us all we need for life and reverence and has equipped us to suffer hardship as a good soldier, being properly armed in His Truth, having put on His armour of Light!
This simply boils down to the sobering question of whether our minds are as יהושע Messiah’s or not, or perhaps even better put:
“Is our attitude right?”
In order to have the same mind as יהושע Messiah, we need to be ready and armed to ‘suffer as a good soldier’, for He Himself suffered in the flesh, and he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘suffered’ comes from the word πάσχω paschō – Strong’s G3958 which means, ‘suffer, be vexed, to be affected, endured sufferings’.
This word is used 42 times in 41 verses in the Renewed Writings, and is mostly used in reference to the suffering of יהושע Messiah Himself – a suffering that He had to go through, as it was written, in:
Luqas/Luke 24:26 “Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these and to enter into His esteem?”
Ma’asei/Acts 3:18 “But this is how Elohim has filled what He had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that His Messiah was to suffer.”
This Greek word πάσχω paschō – Strong’s G3958 is also used in referring to the sufferings of believers for יהושע Messiah’s Name, and in speaking of Sha’ul, יהושע Messiah says the following, in:
Ma’asei/Acts 9:16 “For I shall show him how much he has to suffer for My Name.”
We, as believers are to share, not only in each other’s rejoicings, but also in each other’s sufferings:
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 12:26 “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is esteemed, all the members rejoice with it.”
Sha’ul writes to the Philippians and says, in:
Pilipiyim/Philippians 1:27-30 “Only, behave yourselves worthily of the Good News of Messiah, in order that whether I come and see you or am absent, I hear about you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one being, striving together for the belief of the Good News, 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose, which to them truly is a proof of destruction, but to you of deliverance, and that from Elohim. 29 Because to you it has been given as a favour, on behalf of Messiah, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same struggle which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”
It has been given, as a favour, to suffer for His sake!!!
Yet we take note that יהושע Messiah is able to help those being tried:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrew 2:18 “For in what He had suffered, Himself being tried, He is able to help those who are tried.”
Our Master learnt obedience through what He suffered (Iḇ’rim/Hebrew 5:8).
Kěpha teaches us that we find favour when suffering for doing good – that is: doing what we are commanded to do, as we guard to do the good works that have been prepared beforehand for us to do – which is: to walk in righteousness, and in doing so, we are always hearing, guarding and doing the commands of Elohim!
Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:20-21 “For what credit is there in enduring a beating when you sin? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure, this finds favour with Elohim. 21 For to this you were called, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps”
Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 3:14-18 “But even if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not fear their threats, neither be troubled.” 15 But set apart יהוה Elohim in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer to everyone asking you a reason concerning the expectation that is in you, with meekness and fear, 16 having a good conscience, so that when they speak against you as doers of evil, those who falsely accuse your good behaviour in Messiah, shall be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the desire of Elohim, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 Because even Messiah once suffered for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to Elohim, having been put to death indeed in flesh but made alive in the Spirit”
As we consider all of these verses that I have mentioned, we come back to the beginning of this Chapter 4 of Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter, that we are looking at and recognise that since יהושע Messiah Himself suffered in the flesh, we better arm ourselves with the same mind!
How is your mind?
How is your attitude?
We need to ‘think like יהושע Messiah’, and we need to ‘walk as יהושע Messiah walked’ and ‘love like יהושע Messiah loved’!
Understanding this then, we need to have the same mind that יהושע Messiah has toward sin!
How is your attitude toward sin?
Have you, ‘in the intent of your mind’, truly ceased from all sin?
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 3:6 “Everyone staying in Him does not sin. Everyone sinning has neither seen Him nor known Him.”
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:18 “We know that everyone having been born of Elohim does not sin, but the one having been born of Elohim guards himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”
Kěpha makes it abundantly clear – having the same mind of יהושע Messiah, is clearly reflected by one who has ‘ceased’ from sin, and the Greek word that is translated as ‘ceased’ is παύω pauō – Strong’s G3973 which means, ‘to cease, leave, refrain, no longer stirred by its incitements and seductions’.
Have you truly ceased from sin, or do you find yourself being stirred by the incitements and seductions of the flesh, that scream for your attention and focus?
The Hebrew word that can be seen as the equivalent to this Greek word παύω pauō – Strong’s G3973, for ‘ceased’, is the root word שָׁבַת shaḇath – Strong’s H7673 which means, ‘to cease, desist, rest, observe, observe the rest, put an end’, which expressed as a causative action that can be understood as meaning, ‘to cease or put an end to, remove, exterminate, destroy, cause to desist from’.
We are told, in Shemoth/Exodus 12:15, to cause leaven to ‘cease’ from our houses for 7 days, which we know, is for the Feast of Matzot, beginning with the Pěsaḥ Meal.
This Feast reminds, and pictures for us, the beginning of the redemptive work of our Master, and therefore, symbolically recognises for us the starting point of the work of יהושע Messiah in our own lives, as we are to be rid of sin and cause sin to cease from our lives.
It is only then that the ‘good leaven’ of The Word can be worked in us and cause us to be waved as an acceptable and ready Bride before our Elohim, as we live our lives as a daily living offering!
In Wayyiqra/Leviticus 2:13 we are told that we are to bring salt with all our offerings.
Salt preserves, and therefore, it is a picture of eternity and the perpetuity of the covenant.
A covenant of salt is part of a meal, in which one promises to protect the one who is sealing the agreement through a meal.
As we partake in the Pěsaḥ Meal, we are committing our lives to walk upright and cause sin to cease from our lives.
As followers of יהושע Messiah, we, as a daily living offering, are called, in a sense, to be ‘salty’ believers.
Salt also represents a person’s willingness to do what יהושע demands of His talmidim (taught ones/disciples).
Luqas (Luke) 14:34-35 “The salt is good, but if the salt becomes tasteless, with what shall it be seasoned? 35 “It is not fit for land, nor for manure, they throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
What the Master is basically saying here, is that if the willingness turns into unwillingness – in other words: if a talmid (taught one/disciple) returns to worldly ways, after experiencing the truth and joy of following יהוה’s way – what else is left to restore him?
NOTHING!
As we live our lives, as a daily living offering, we must never lack salt!
We must never lack the willingness to do what is required, and this comes down to having a right attitude and having the mind of יהושע Messiah, and not giving up, because of the suffering that we may, or will, face for His Name’s sake!
What I also want to highlight to you, is that the reason for me sharing the Hebrew equivalent for the Greek word for ‘cease’, is that this Hebrew word שָׁבַת shaḇath – Strong’s H7673 is the primitive root verb from which we get the word for שַׁבָּת Sabbath – Strong’s H7676 which is the intensive form of שָׁבַת shaḇath – Strong’s H7673 and refers specifically to ‘the’ Sabbath, as in ‘the’ 7th day of the week.
Iḇ’rim/Hebrew 4:9-11 “So there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of Elohim. 10 For the one, having entered into His rest, has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim rested from His own. 11 Let us therefore do our utmost to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.”
Sabbath-keeping is vital for us, as it is a sure sign of us ‘ceasing’ from our own works, our own ways and our own words!!!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 58:13-14 “If you do turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My set-apart day, and shall call the Sabbath ‘a delight,’ the set-apart day of יהוה ‘esteemed,’ and shall esteem it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, 14 then you shall delight yourself in יהוה. And I shall cause you to ride on the heights of the earth, and feed you with the inheritance of Yaʽaqoḇ your father. For the mouth of יהוה has spoken!”
As we remain steadfast, in entering into the completed work of the Master, we are to make sure that we have ceased from sin!!!
Kěpha goes on and says that we who have the right attitude – that is: the mind of יהושע Messiah, and no longer live like the rest of the world!
How are you doing in this regard?
Do you find yourself doing what the world does and find that you conform to the lustful ways of the flesh or, are you being transformed by the renewing of your mind – having the mind of the יהושע Messiah, and are being filled with, and continually meditating upon, His Torah, day and night?
We are to no longer live the rest of the time that we have here in this body of flesh, running after the lusts of men.
The Greek word that is translated as ‘lusts’ is ἐπιθυμία epithumia – Strong’s G1939 meaning, ‘lust, desire, lust after, desiring what is forbidden, deep desire and longing for, coveting’.
Titos/Titus 2:11-12 “For the saving Gift of Elohim has appeared to all men, 12 instructing us to renounce wickedness and worldly lusts, and to live sensibly, righteously, and reverently in the present age”
The Greek word used here for ‘saving gift’ is χάρις charis – Strong’s G5485 meaning, ‘grace, kindness, blessing, gift, favour’.
Most translations may have this rendered in English as ‘grace’, and is often understood in the Hebrew, as the word חֶסֶד ḥeseḏ – Strong’s H2617 which means, ‘goodness, kindness, deeds of devotion, faithfulness’ and appears 248 times in the Tanak (OT) – almost 2 times more than the Greek word translated as ‘grace’ in the Renewed Covenant (N.T.)!!!
In Titos/Titus 2:12, Sha’ul tells us that this saving gift ‘instructs’ us on how to live in this present age and the Greek word that is translated as ‘instructing’ is παιδεύω paideuō – Strong’s G3811 which means, ‘to train children, to chasten, instruct, correct, discipline, correcting, educating’, and this word is also used in the following verses:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:7 “If you endure discipline, Elohim is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?”
We also see this word παιδεύω paideuō – Strong’s G3811 being used in the clear wakeup call that is given to the lukewarm assembly, in:
Ḥazon/Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I reprove and discipline. So be ardent and repent.”
Now, we can clearly see what this saving gift does: it disciplines us, teaches us, rebukes us and calls us to repentance and calls us to turn away from living in sin!
The saving gift of Elohim disciplines us to disown and say no, to desiring or lusting after that which is of this corrupt age and worldly system, that seeks only to satisfy the flesh.
The disciplining of us, to disown and say no to the fleshly things and live set-apart lives, according to the Kingdom of Messiah, is exactly what the Torah (instructions) of יהוה does!!!
To desire and lust after the fleshly matters, renders one being sold under sin, while the Torah is spiritual and having been redeemed from sin, we must disown that which once owned and enslaved us, as we live as sojourners here, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearance of our Master and Saviour!
We are in the world but not of the world, having died to sins so that we might live unto righteousness.
The gift of life teaches us, through the Torah, how to strip away that which does not belong and it disciplines us to be able to bear fruit of righteousness, if we are actually willing to be trained by it! (Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:11)
Ok, so the saving gift of Elohim teaches us to say no to that which we must say no to, while at the same time, it also teaches us how we are to live in this present age:
1 – SENSIBLY:
The Greek word that is translated as ‘sensibly’, is σωφρόνως sōphronōs – Strong’s G4996 which means, ‘soberly, with sound mind, temperate, sensibly’ and comes from the word σώφρων sōphrōn – Strong’s G4998 which means, ‘sound mind, self-controlled, prudent’ which is constructed from the two words:
1) σῴζω sōzō – Strong’s G4982 which means, ‘safe, well, to save, preserved, restore’ and
2) φρήν phrēn – Strong’s G5424 which means, ‘midriff, heart, mind, thought’ – in other words: ‘thinking’.
The word σώφρων sōphrōn is used 4 times in Sha’ul’s letter to Titos (1:8; 2:2; 2:5; 2:6). We are to live sensibly, meaning that we are to be sober and have a sound mind that takes captive the thoughts.
What is the opposite of being sober?
Being drunk!!!
Now, in terms of Scripture, we see that those who live lawlessly are living as the result of them being drunk with the wine of whoring!
What is whoring? It is to commit adultery!
In other words, whoring is what happens when one steps outside of the clear boundaries of a marriage covenant and breaks their commitment, through a disregard for the instructions for living set-apart and show true love to one’s betrothed!
Living sensibly in this age, can only be done with a renewed mind that meditates on the Torah, day and night, and does not turn aside or wander from the Torah!
2 – RIGHTEOUSLY:
The Greek word that is translated as ‘righteously’ is δικαίως dikaiōs – Strong’s G1346 which means, ‘righteously, just, upright’:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25 “And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.”
3 – REVERENTLY:
The Greek word that is translated as ‘reverently’ is εὐσεβῶς eusebōs – Strong’s G2153 which means, ‘reverently, piously, devout’ and expresses the pure devotion and commitment, respect and honour, that is to be given unto our Master and Elohim.
This gift of life, instructs us how to live a sober, upright life that walks in the fear of Elohim, with our eyes fixed on יהושע Messiah, as we look forward, with great expectancy, for His soon return! The return of our Beloved Saviour, who gave Himself for us, in order to redeem us from ALL LAWLESSNESS!
Titos/Titus 2:13-14 “looking for the blessed expectation and esteemed appearance of the great Elohim and our Saviour יהושע Messiah, 14 who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people, His own possession, ardent for good works.”
The Greek word that is used for ‘lawlessness’, here in Titos/Titus 2:14, is ἀνομία anomia – Strong’s G458 which means, ‘lawlessness or lawless deeds, unrighteousness’ and comes from the word ἄνομος anomos – Strong’s G459 which means, ‘lawless or without law, transgressors’.
This Greek word ἄνομος anomos – Strong’s G459 is a construct of two words:
1) α alpha – Strong’s G1 used as a negative prefix, and
2) νόμος nomos – Strong’s G3551 meaning, ‘that which is assigned, law, laws, principle’.
Therefore, lawlessness simply, and very clearly, means to be without law!
This verse is very loud and clear: יהושע Messiah redeemed us from ALL ‘lawlessness’!
If this is the case, which it is, then that means that we are to no longer be lawless!
We can now freely run in the commands of Elohim and no longer be without law and doing lawless deeds.
The Greek word that is translated as ‘redeem’ is λυτρόω lutroō – Strong’s G3084 which literally means, ‘to release by paying a ransom, redeem’.
In other words, יהושע Messiah has paid the price for us and released us from ALL lawlessness, by paying the ransom for our lives, with His own Blood.
Sha’ul tells us the following, in:
Romiyim/Romans 6:18 “And having been set free from sin, you became servants of righteousness.”
We have been set free and released from lawlessness!
Here Sha’ul is telling us that having been ‘set free from sin’, we are to become servants of righteousness – which is to obey the Law (Torah) of Elohim!
The Greek that is translated as ‘sin’ is ἁμαρτία hamartia – Strong’s G266 which means, ‘sin, failure, miss the mark, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong’, and also carries the meaning of, ‘wandering from the law of Elohim, violate the law of Elohim’.
In other words, we can clearly see that The Master יהושע Messiah has redeemed us and set us free from all lawlessness and sin, in order that we never wander from, or violate, the Torah any more.
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 3:4 “Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”
This verse spells it out very plainly, for those who seem to miss the fact, that to not walk in the Torah is sin!
It is as though Yoḥanan was spelling out this fact, very bluntly and straightforward, for those who struggle with a Greek mind-set and erroneously see no need to walk in the Torah – well, right here in the Greek it is made abundantly clear:
If you are lawless (that is to walk contrary to the Torah) then you are indeed sinning and have not been redeemed!!!
Our attitude, or mind-set, toward sin must be as יהושע Messiah’s!
Is your mind-set as His?
Are you ‘done with sin’?
Are you allowing the saving gift of Elohim to instruct you to renounce the lusts of the flesh and have ceased from sin, or are you still battling in areas where you should not be?
It is all about the attitude of the mind!!!
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 2:12-16 “And we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from Elohim, in order to know what Elohim has favourably given us, 13 which we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Set-apart Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual matters with spiritual matters. 14 But the natural man does not receive the matters of the Spirit of Elohim, for they are foolishness to him, and he is unable to know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual discerns indeed all matters, but he himself is discerned by no one. 16 For “Who has known the mind of יהוה? Who shall instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Messiah.”
Do you have the mind of Messiah?
Kěpha says that we should have and that we should no longer live in the flesh for the lusts of men, but we should live according to the ‘’desire’ of Elohim!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘desire’ is θέλημα thelēma – Strong’s G2307 which means, ‘will, desire, pleasure’ which comes from θέλω thelō – Strong’s G2309 which means, ‘to will, have in mind, intend’.
Romiyim/Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.”
Tas’loniqim Aleph/1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 “For this is the desire of Elohim: your set-apartness! – that you should abstain from whoring, 4 that each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in set-apartness and respect, 5 not in passion of lust, like the gentiles who do not know Elohim”
We are to be ARMED WITH INTENT!
That is: we are to have with the right mind – and with the mind of יהושע Messiah, we ought to have a militant attitude toward sin!
Sadly, this is where many fail, as they are not armed with intent against sin and are rather accommodating sin instead of causing is to cease from their lives – all because they are not armed with intent and are not equipped to suffer as a good soldier!
How about you?
Arming ourselves with the right mind, clearly implies here a militaristic type command, which Kěpha is giving us; and it is one that ought to be heeded by the faithful taught ones of the Master, who are always being ready and equipped to fight the good fight and stand armed in the Torah/Armour of Light, and after having done all, to still keep standing!
The choice is very clear: live according to the fleshly lusts of men or according to the well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim!
Kěpha goes on and tells us, in verse 3, that we have spent enough time in the past doing what the world does, as opposed to doing what pleases Elohim.
What he is basically making very clear to us here, is that the time of ‘the past ways’ is now over!
ENOUGH of the past ways of fleshliness and doing what the world does and what the world wants to do!
It is now time to do the desire of Elohim and to completely cease from all sin and lawlessness!
He then goes on and lists the wicked desires of the nations, that we are no longer to have any part in.
Let us take a closer look at the Greek words that are used here, for these things that we are to not have in our lives at all:
1 – Indecencies
The Greek word for ‘indecencies’ is ἀσέλγεια aselgeia – Strong’s G766 which means, ‘licentiousness, sensuality’.
The English word Licentiousness means, ‘lacking legal or moral restraint, disregard sexual restraint, disregard for strict rules of correctness’.
The English word Sensuality means, ‘gratification of the senses or indulgences of the appetite, devoted to or preoccupied with the senses or appetites, deficient in moral, spiritual, or intellectual interests’.
Have you, at times, found yourself deficient in the intellectual interest of spiritual matters? That is to say, that if you have found a deficiency for the need to be intellectually engaged in Scripture, and the study and meditation thereof, then you may be in danger of being given over to sensuality!
2 – Lusts
As already discussed, this is the Greek word ἐπιθυμία epithumia – Strong’s G1939 which means, ‘lust, desire, lust after, desiring what is forbidden, deep desire and longing for, coveting’.
3 – Drunkenness
The Greek word for ‘drunkenness’ is οἰνοφλυγία oinophlugia – Strong’s G3632 which means, ‘excess of wine, debauchery, drunkenness’.
The English word Debauchery means, ‘the extreme indulgence in sensuality, seduction from virtue or duty’.
We know that those who are following the wicked and twisted ways of the whore, are, in a manner of speaking, drunk with the maddening adulteries of the whore, who has led astray many, through the extreme indulgence of sensuality and has seduced them away from the called for duty of set-apartness!
4 – Orgies
The Greek word for ‘orgies’ is κῶμος kōmos – Strong’s G2970 which means, ‘revelling, rioting, carousing, a village festival’.
The enhanced Strong’s dictionary, further describes this as: “a nocturnal and riotous procession of half drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honour of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before houses of male and female friends; hence used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry.”
The English word revelry can be a reference to as ‘noisy partying’!
The world loves to ‘party’ and revel in making a loud noise about it. Bacchus was according to Greek mythology, their deity of wine.
This word κῶμος kōmos – Strong’s G2970 is about feeding the lust of the flesh, to the extreme, and making a noise about it at the same time, while enticing others to join in.
In other words, they like to make a big noise and boast about the lustful acts of the flesh.
5 – Wild parties
The Greek word for ‘wild parties’ is πότος potos – Strong’s G4224 which means, ‘a drinking bout, drinking parties’.
Just think about most of the ‘parties’ that are going on today: it is all about the drinking, and the media promote this!
Most ‘parties’, events, functions or gatherings, that we see happening in the world today, is ultimately about the drinking.
Think about bachelor parties, many birthday parties, end of year functions and product launches!!!
I was in the hospitality industry for 16 years and I saw plenty of ‘wild parties’ being hosted by individuals, families and companies, where, no matter what the reason was, for the function or party, alcohol was a necessity and the excessive drinking would definitely take place and lead to revelry.
In fact, most events that had alcohol made available for free to its participants, by the host, had higher attendance than those that did not.
6 – Abominable idolatries
The Greek word that is translated here as ‘abominable’ is ἀθέμιτος athemitos – Strong’s G111 which means, ‘unlawful thing, prohibited by law, criminal, illicit’.
The Greek word that is translated as ‘idolatries’ is εἰδωλολατρία eidōlolatria – Strong’s G1495 which means, ‘idolatry, worship of false deities, formal feasts in honour of false deities, worship of mammon’, and is the compound of two words:
1) εἴδωλον eidolon – Strong’s G1497 which means, ‘an image (that is for worship), and by implication a false mighty one (idol)’, and
2) λατρεία latreia – Strong’s G2999 which means, ‘service of worship, set-part service’.
By the construct of these two words, we are able to clearly see the picture of what so many people are doing today, as they are rendering an unlawful service of worship unto mammon and even keep designated feasts that are designed for such abominable idolatries!
Kěpha proceeds into verse 4, by telling us that the world is surprised when we do not engage in what they do, and are surprised by the fact that we do not run with them in what is clearly an outright blasphemy against our Master.
During this time of year, we see how many are surprised, in a negative and vindictive way, by the fact that we refuse to have any part in the pagan rooted festival of Easter (Ishtar), that is done in honour of a wicked and idolatrous sun-worship system of man!
We also see how many people cannot understand why we refuse to join in on their ‘end of year’ parties and pagan-rooted Christmas functions, which is a celebration of a false worship system of lawlessness that bows to Satan and his blasphemous ways of sin and lawlessness.
Those who partake in such blasphemous idolatries, lusts, wild parties, orgies, drunkenness and indecencies, will give an account of their wicked works before Elohim at the second resurrection!
Do not be affected by the negative slander that is hurled at you, for doing what is good and right in the eyes of יהוה, by guarding His commands and doing His desire, while ceasing from all sin and lawlessness!
Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:11-12 “Beloved ones, I appeal to you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts which battle against the life, 12 having your behaviour among the nations good so that when they speak against you as evil-doers, let them, by observing your good works, esteem Elohim in a day of visitation.”
It is time to be sober-minded and attentive in our prayers for one another, having a deepened love for one another, ensuring that we maintain the ability to be hospitable and welcome each other without grumbling!
We are quickly reminded of what grumbling against the Torah and the commands of Elohim does, especially as we consider how the children of Yisra’ĕl grumbled against Mosheh and against Aharon in the Wilderness, which caused them to fall in the Wilderness and not enter into the Promised Land!
If you grumble and moan about your required work, then you render yourself unable to shine the light of true set-apartness, through your work, and are in danger of being an unfit vessel, which is of no use in the House!
The Blood of יהושע Messiah has cleansed us from sin, and therefore, we are to stay clean, through the continual washing of The Word, and by doing so, we learn how to keep away from the things that defile our set-apartness:
Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 2:21 “If, then, anyone cleanses himself from these matters, he shall be a vessel unto value, having been set apart, of good use to the Master, having been prepared for every good work.”
The Greek word that is used here, in Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 2:21, for ‘cleanses’ is ἐκκαθαίρω ekkathairō – Strong’s G1571 which means, ‘cleanse out, cleanse thoroughly, purge’, which comes from the two root words:
1 – ἐκ ek – Strong’s G1537 which means, ‘from, from out of’ and is used as a preposition denoting the origin or point from where the action proceeds; and
2 – καθαίρω kathairō – Strong’s G2508 which means, ‘to cleanse, of filth and impurity; to purge’ and also has the meaning, ‘to prune trees and vines from useless roots’ and metaphorically, it is also understood as ‘cleansing from guilt’.
I find that the meanings that these words express, highlight very clearly to us the clear fact that it is only by the Blood of Messiah, that we are able to be cleansed from guilt and be purged from the useless roots that we were held bondage to, in order to be grafted into the True Vine and His Covenants of Promise, by His Blood!
His cleansing and setting us apart, brings about a clear responsibility for us to keep clean and set-apart, making sure that we cleanse ourselves from all forms of the leaven of the flesh that corrupts, in order to have His Good leaven of the Kingdom of heaven worked in us and be presented as acceptable before Him.
Sha’ul outlined future challenges that Timotiyos would face, challenges, which I believe, we now face too, as we live in these ‘last days’, so to speak.
We are living in a time where we clearly see a superficial faith confession being made by so many, who are merely giving a worthless lip service, while being further and further corrupted through the lies and false teachings that have been handed down through the generations, being taught by false teachers who are simply motivated by evil desires.
Anyone who cleanses himself from the dross of sin and lawlessness and rebellion, will be a set-apart vessel unto value and of good use to the Master!
Our expectant attitude of mind, ought to be ready and eager to live completely set-apart lives, not being idle in any way and we are to be ready to endure any suffering for the sake of the Name of our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah.
To summarise the instructions that are being given to us here, from this chapter in Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 4, we see how he tells us what kind of people we ought to be, in having the same mind of Messiah.
We are to be sober minded and attentive in prayer.
We are to love each other deeply and always be ready to offer hospitality without grumbling.
We are to serve one another with the gift/s you have received.
We are not to be surprised by trials and suffering, but rather, we are to rejoice that we share in Messiah’s sufferings and we should not be ashamed of our suffering for the sake of the Name of יהושע Messiah.
We are to praise and esteem Elohim, in suffering for His Name’s sake and commit our life to a trustworthy Creator, in doing good.
We are to remember to hold fast, to His joy that strengthens us to stand, and suffer as a good soldier, that is armed with intent and equipped to suffer!
We are able to rejoice in Him continually, as we recognise that:
WE CAN REJOICE WHILE SUFFERING BECAUSE:
Our sufferings do not catch יהוה by surprise and in it, the esteem and blessing of יהושע Messiah is revealed upon us and through us, as long as we are suffering for יהושע Messiah’s sake, for our suffering is only temporary and Elohim is faithful to those who are committed to Him.
We who take part in suffering with יהושע Messiah, will take part in His esteem when it is revealed at His second coming!
What Kěpha is giving us here, in his letter, is a warning of what is to come and he stressed the mental readiness that is required!
Are you going to be found holding on to joy, when persecution comes your way, or give in to the lusts of men?
Let me ask you:
“Have you been suffering?”
If so, has it been for doing good or has it been as the result of making some really dumb choices?
If your suffering is due to sin or disobedience – then confess to Him and let His Word cleanse you from all unrighteousness and restore to you the joy of your deliverance.
If you are, or have been, suffering for doing good, because of your witness of יהושע Messiah, as you bear His Name, by holding on to His commands – then well done and congratulations!
Be reminded that יהוה is with you in a unique way and will keep you standing!
Therefore, use your suffering for Him, as a time of rejoicing and a witness of His Truth, as you are fervently continuing to serve as a good soldier, that is:
ARMED WITH INTENT
AND EQUIPPED TO SUFFER!
יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show you favour; יהוה lift up His face to you and give you Shalom!