Living In The Victory That Has Already Been Won And Sharing The Hope Of Redemption With The World: Spiritual Warfare In Modern Times For Messianic Believers
Introduction: The Battle is Won, but the Mission Continues
As Messianic Jewish believers, we are called to live in the victory that has already been secured for us through Yeshua's death and resurrection. The battle against sin, death, and the powers of darkness has been won; yet, our calling is not just to stand in that victory but to actively share the hope of redemption with the world. This chapter will explore how we can live in the victory that has been won for us, empowered by the blood of Yeshua and the Holy Spirit, and how we are to share that victory with a world desperately in need of redemption.
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1. The Victory Already Won
From the very beginning, the Tanakh speaks of God's ultimate victory over evil, and that victory is fulfilled through the person of Yeshua, the Messiah. Through Him, sin and death were defeated once and for all. Yeshua’s sacrificial death on the cross and His triumphant resurrection sealed the victory, and the Scriptures confirm that this victory is permanent and irrevocable.
In Isaiah 25:8, we see the prophecy that declares God’s final victory over death:
> "He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken."
This victory is not only about the eventual eradication of death but also about the complete restoration of God’s people. Through Yeshua, we are granted access to eternal life, and in Him, all things are being made new. This victory over death and sin is the foundation of our hope and our lives as believers.
Additionally, in Micah 7:19, we see that God's victory over sin and iniquity leads to mercy and restoration:
> "You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."
Through Yeshua's blood, God has done this for all who believe. He has cast our sins into the depths of the sea and has reconciled us to Himself. This victory allows us to walk in the fullness of our identity as sons and daughters of God, fully forgiven and redeemed.
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2. Torah Law and the Victory We Live In
The Torah provides the foundation for understanding how God's people are meant to live in the world. It is not just a set of rules, but the way in which we experience life with God. Through obedience to Torah, Israel was meant to reflect God’s holiness and to be a light to the nations. However, the Torah also shows humanity’s inability to fully keep God’s commands, thus revealing the need for a Savior. The victory of Yeshua is the fulfillment of what the Torah pointed to—a Savior who would not only fulfill the law perfectly but also provide atonement for the people of Israel and the world.
In Leviticus 17:11, we see that life is in the blood, and through blood, atonement is made for sin:
> "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life."
Yeshua’s blood fulfills the ultimate atonement. No longer do we have to sacrifice animals on the altar, for His blood was shed once and for all. Through His sacrifice, we are made righteous, and we are empowered to live according to God's commands, not out of obligation but out of gratitude for what He has done.
Deuteronomy 30:6 speaks of the spiritual renewal that will come to God’s people, a renewal that is made possible by the work of the Holy Spirit, which was poured out on believers after Yeshua’s resurrection:
> "The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live."
The victory of Yeshua and the work of the Holy Spirit in us enable us to obey God’s commandments in spirit and truth. We are no longer bound by the law of sin and death but are now free to live in victory, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live holy lives that reflect the victory of Yeshua.
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3. The Blood of Yeshua: Our Assurance of Victory
The blood of Yeshua is not just a symbol; it is the power that brings victory over sin and death. In Isaiah 53:5, we read the prophecy about Yeshua’s suffering, which results in our redemption:
> "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
This passage is a reminder that the victory we live in today is the result of Yeshua’s suffering and sacrifice. His blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins, provides the power for spiritual transformation and victory over the enemy. When we walk in the victory of Yeshua’s blood, we claim the power over sin, sickness, and even death itself.
In Revelation 12:11, we see that believers overcome the enemy "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." The blood of Yeshua grants us the victory, but it is also through our testimony of faith and trust in Him that we engage in spiritual warfare and claim the victory He has won for us.
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4. The Holy Spirit: Empowered to Live in Victory
The Holy Spirit is the agent of God’s power at work in the believer’s life. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to walk in the victory that Yeshua has secured for us. In Zechariah 4:6, we are reminded that it is not by our own might or power, but by the Spirit of God that victory is achieved:
> "So he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty."
This verse is a reminder that, while we are called to live in victory, we cannot do so by our own strength. We need the Holy Spirit to empower us, to guide us, and to give us the wisdom and strength to live out our faith in a fallen world. It is by the Spirit that we can live as more than conquerors, walking in victory and sharing the hope of redemption with others.
Ezekiel 36:27 tells us that the Holy Spirit will be placed in us to help us follow God’s commands:
> "I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."
The Holy Spirit is not just a comforter or helper; He is the one who enables us to live in the victory of Yeshua and to share that victory with others. The Spirit equips us for service, empowering us to be witnesses of God’s redemption and to boldly proclaim the message of salvation.
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5. Sharing the Hope of Redemption
The victory of Yeshua is not meant to be kept to ourselves. As Messianic Jewish believers, we are called to share this victory with the world. Isaiah 60:1-3 speaks of a time when God’s light will shine on His people, and they will become a light to the nations:
> "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
This is a call to share the victory of Yeshua with those around us. We are called to be light in the darkness, to testify to the hope of redemption that we have in Yeshua. As we live in His victory, we must also share that victory by proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom to those who have not yet heard.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Yeshua gives the Great Commission, which applies to all believers:
> "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
The victory we have in Yeshua is not just for ourselves but for the world. We are called to go and share the hope of redemption with all people, so that they too can experience the victory that comes through faith in Yeshua.
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Conclusion: Living and Sharing the Victory
As Messianic Jewish believers, we are not called to live in defeat, but in the victory that has already been won for us. Yeshua’s blood has secured our redemption, the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in His victory, and we are called to share that victory with the world. The battle has already been won, and our mission is clear: to live in the victory of Yeshua and to share the hope of redemption with all people.
Let us walk boldly in the victory that is ours in Yeshua, and let us share that victory with a world in need of His light. The victory is certain, and the mission continues until all have heard and come to know the hope of salvation through Yeshua, the Messiah.
