Praise the Lord, Grace & Peace great people of our “Great God”…JESUS!

As I crossed over into 2020, a new decade; I reflect upon the victories afforded me in the prior years. The victories I received did not just come by naming it and claiming it, but by an earnest desire first to overcome Myself, and then the various people and things who were brought to the battlefront. Some of these battles did not seem fair nor warranted, but were required, so that Christ could take me to various levels in Him. I found out that my biggest nemesis was me, and hence came to the conclusion that if I can maintain victory over myself,  all external forces are futile. Hence for this Golden Nugget I would like to provoke the thought “Our Struggle With Me, Myself, and I”

My premise scriptures to provoke further gospel provocation are as follows:

Pro. 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Rom. 7:22-25 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Gal 5:16-18 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

While writing this Meditation, I interpreted an amazing allegory from the event when Amalek came against the children of Israel in Rephidim. I was amazed how this happened subsequent to when the Lord had refreshed them, with an abundance of water from the rock that was smitten by Moses. (a type of the Holy Spirit); for we are told in Exo. 17:8-9  Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill, with the rod of God in mine hand.” Please know my brothers and sister that the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit will attract conflict, because this light that dwells in us, if followed; will always raise a standard against evil. Hence there will always be a perpetual conflict with darkness.

Saints have you notice that when one decides to walk in darkness there is no struggle; but when one decides to stay the course and remain in the presence of light, the struggle perpetuates. The Apostle Paul validates this in Gal. 5:17 “The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other, so that ye should not do the things that ye would.” Wow!, do you see the parallels in Exodus chapter 17; we have the rock smitten and the water flowing forth, and immediately we read, “then came Amalek and fought with Israel.”

Please note that this is the first time Israel is seen in conflict with an external foe. Up to this point, the Lord had fought for them, as we read in Exo.14:14 “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” But now God gives Moses a word in Exo. 17:9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

My brothers and sisters God was still fighting for Israel, as He did before; but this reveals something different, as to the type; and as to the antitype!  We need to know that there is an immense difference between Christ’s battles for us, and the Holy Spirit battles within us. The former, bless the name of Jesus Christ, has already been won, and the victory gained. And because of this we have secured a glorious and everlasting peace! The latter, on the contrary, is perpetually going on within us. GOLDEN NUGGET!

Let’s look at what the characters Pharaoh and Amalek depicted, both depicted two different powers or influences. Pharaoh represented the hindrance to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt; Amalek (the flesh) represented the hindrance to Israel’s walk with God through the wilderness. Pharaoh used the things of Egypt to keep Israel from serving the Lord; he, therefore, prefigures Satan, who uses “this present evil world” against the people of God. Amalek, on the other hand, stands before us “as the type of the flesh.” Amalek was the grandson of Esau, who preferred a mess of pottage over his birthright; as noted in Gen. 25:32-33 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Amalek was the first who opposed Israel, after their baptism “in the cloud and in the sea.” These documented facts reveal the character of his seed with great distinction; and, in addition to this, we know that King Saul was rejected from being king over Israel because he fell to destroy Amalek as noted in 1 Sam 15. Furthermore, we find that Haman was the last of the Amalekites in the scriptures. He was hanged on a gallows, due to his wicked conspiracy attempt against the seed of Israel in the book of Esther. Hence, God had declared perpetual war with Amalek!

Saints, when I evaluate all these circumstances, they furnish conclusive evidence that Amalek is a type of the flesh. The connection between his conflict with Israel, and the water flowing out of the rock (that well of living water, the Holy Spirit) shows perpetual conflict with our evil nature, because of the new man, wrought by the Holy Spirit that dwell within! Please note that Israel’s conflict began when they stood in the full power of their redemption. They had tasted of “that spiritual meat and drunk of that spiritual Rock. Apostle Paul validates this in 1Cor. 10:3-4 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Israel had nothing to do prior to experiencing Amalek! They did not have to cope with Pharaoh. They did not break the power of Egypt, nor snap asunder the chains of its thralldom. They did not divide the sea or submerge Pharaoh’s hosts beneath its waves. They did not bring down bread from heaven, or draw forth water out of the flinty rock. It’s because they did not have the power to do any of these feats! But now they are called to fight physically with Amalek. All the previous conflicts had been between God and the enemy. All they had to do prior to Amalek was to “stand still” and gaze upon the mighty triumphs of God’s outstretched arm, and enjoy the fruits of victory. The Lord had fought for them; but now as a type, He fights in and by them. GOLDEN NUGGET!

It is the same today with us in the Body of Christ. The victories on which our eternal peace and blessedness were founded were gained, single handily by Jesus Christ for us. When the Holy Spirit took His abode in us, subsequent to Christ’s death and resurrection, is when our internal conflict really began. Hence, Christ fights for us; the Holy Spirit fights in us when we submit. The very fact that we enjoy such rich spoil of victory in Jesus Christ, puts us in direct conflict with ourselves. But we can take comfort in knowing that we are victors, even prior to entering into conflict with ourselves. Yes, we have been assured that we can enter the battle with a praise according to 1 Cor. 15:57 “Thanks be to God which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” because according to 1 Cor. 9:26-27 We do not, therefore, fight uncertainly or as those that beat the air, while we seek to keep under the body and bring it into subjection. And knowing according to Rom. 8:37 that “We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

Now let us evaluate the following verses in Exo. 17:9-13 “And Moses said to Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill, with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”

If you will notice in this passage that we have two distinct things, namely, conflict and intercession. Jesus Christ is on high for us, while the Holy Spirit helps fight the mighty struggle in us. These two things are mutually inclusive. When we enter in by faith into the prevalence of Jesus’ intercession on our behalf, we make Him the head against all our evil nature.

Saints, we can never overlook the fact concerning our perpetual conflict with the flesh. We cannot look upon the regeneration of our spirit as a total change or renewal of our old nature; for if we adopt this principle, it would mean that we have nothing to struggle with within! If my old nature has been renewed, then why am I perpetually contending with it? There is nothing within me, as it pertains to my old nature that has been made new; and hence there is nothing externally that can affect me, if I choose not to respond to my old nature, when I submit to the Holy Spirit within me! If our flesh has been entirely changed, the world would not have such alluring charms, and hence Satan would have less of a vehicle to work with. This is why allegorically Amalek appears in the history of the people of God. If Israel had conceived the idea that, when Pharaoh’s hosts were destroyed, their conflict would be over, they would have been overwhelmed when Amalek came upon them. But the fact of the matter was, that their conflict had only begun. This is why as children of God we are reminded in 1 Cor. 10:11 that “all these things happened to Israel for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition,” So please understand that there could be no “type,” no “ensample,” no “admonition” in “these things,” if our old nature has been made new.

Therefore we are distinctly taught in the Word of God, that a Saint of God has the answers to Amalek, that is, “the flesh” (Rom 6:6); “the old man” (Rom. 8:7) and “the carnal mind.” (Gal:5:17) Now, if we, who are empowered chosen vessels, experience the old nature stirring up in us, and begin to doubt that we have the power over it, we will not embrace the power and joy that the Holy Spirit gives. Hence, we deprive ourselves of taking full advantage against Amalek and Satan! This wretched flesh exists in every believer, and will remain until we die in the Lord, or be Raptured while alive! My brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit is fully aware that the old nature exist, as noted in  Romans 6  “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies.” Such a precept would be entirely uncalled for if the flesh does not exist among us. It would be out of character for Paul to tell us not to let sin reign, if it were not actually dwelling in us. There is an immense difference between dwelling and reigning. I emphasize that it dwells in a Saint, but it reigns in the Sinner. GOLDEN NUGGET!

However, though it dwells in us, we have, thank God, a principle of power over it. “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” That’s right, the grace which, by way of the blood of the cross, which has put away the penalty of sin; insures us the victory, and gives us present power over its indwelling principle. Glory!!!

We have died to sin, and hence it has no claim over us. Rom. 6:6 “He that has died is justified from sin. Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified together, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Hence; Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” They received total victory for that battle; and Gods’ banner floated over the triumphant host, and bared the sweet inscription of the one who gave them the victory, “Jehovah-nissi” (the Lord my banner). The victories in our lives should be as assuring, as the proven fact, that Jesus died and rose again. It is the knowledge of this that gives every child of God the power to enjoy a purged conscience, and not to be subdued from the  indwelling sin! Jesus Christ resurrection became our spring of power for all the details in any conflict thereafter. He died for us, and now He lives in us, and because of this, the former gives us peace, the latter gives us power. GOLDEN NUGGET!

It is so encouraging and edifying to see the contrast between Moses on the hill and Christ on the throne. The hands of our great Intercessor can never hang down. His intercession never fluctuates, according to Heb.7:19-25 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

I truly thank God His intercession is never ceasing and all-prevailing. Jesus having taken His place on high, in the power of His divine righteousness, acts for us, according to what He is, and according to the infinite completeness of what He has done. His hands can never hang down, nor does He need any one to hold them up. His perfect advocacy is founded upon His perfect sacrifice. He presents us before God, clothed in His own perfection and righteousness. It is the Holy Spirit within us that testifies of who He is for us before God, and who we are in Him. For Romans chapter 8 let us know that we have been enabled to have power over ourselves  “We are not in the flesh but in the Spirit.” We are in our natural body, as it pertains to our condition; but we are not in the flesh, as to the principle of our standing, if we walk in the Holy Spirit. It is because of  Christ Spirit, that we are alive in Him, and dead to the inner workings of the flesh!

Saints please notice that Moses had the rod of God with him on the hill while his hands were raised, it was the same ROD that he had smitten the rock with. This rod was a figure and expression of the power of God, which we can see in the atonement and intercession of Jesus Christ! 1Cor.1:22-25 expresses “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

My brothers and sisters when the work of atonement was accomplished, our JESUS took His seat in heaven, and sat down on the right hand (all authority) of God, and sent down the Holy Spirit to take up His abode in the Church; so that there is an inseparable connection between the work of Jesus Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us today! Hence, now we are in position to please Him, as we strive to walk in His Holy Word daily. We most definitely now, can give Satan less to work with, when we exemplify that we have the Spirit of God working in us, which is immensely greater than he that is in this world!

Yes, our struggle is real, this is why Amalek must die daily until that great day; so that we can raise and wave the insignia “Jehovah-nissi” (the Lord my banner). It is only when we are truly cognizant that there is no good thing that “dwells in this flesh,” will we become more zealous to follow after the Holy Spirit, so that we can have victory over “Our Struggle with Me, Myself, and I”  Please strive to have a “JESUS DAY”