Total Victory

 “A Psalm of David. Contend, O YHVH, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of buckler and shield, and rise up for my help. Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.' Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life; Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me. Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of YHVH driving them on. Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of YHVH pursuing them” (Psalm 35:1-6 emphasis added).

Many Psalms, like the one above, are relevant today, not just for oneself or the corporate body of Messiah, but also for the nation of Israel. But when we pray this Psalm, do we have YHVH’s New Covenant perspective? That the Father and Yeshua are in sovereign control of everything in the heavens and upon the earth is a given. Indeed, the Psalmist points to his dependence on YHVH and dealings with his enemies. It is the Almighty’s buckler, shield, spear, battle-axe, and angel that accomplish the mission, while the one making the request rests in confident trust.

Total and complete victory over our enemies was accomplished in Yeshua’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the Right Hand of the Father.  His blood sealed the New Covenant promised to us and to all of Israel, laying a foundation for the restoration and rebuilding of the House of Jacob and for the establishment of His Kingdom. Our minds may agree with this good news, but do we believe it in our hearts? Does our being evidence peace and rest? Are we in His presence, manifesting His righteousness? 

How we perceive our present life circumstances may be a far cry from His perspective. But as believers in the New Covenant, we have to take the same posture as the Psalmist and prayerfully ask our Heavenly Father to reveal to us His viewpoint, both on the spiritual and the natural levels. What we believe becomes our reality. Thus, if we truly believe the Gospel that YHVH sent His Son to be our salvation, we realize that He has already answered the prayer petition in the above-quoted Psalm. This prayer, therefore, is totally appropriate for a person who has entered His rest and victory.  At this moment (in timeless eternity) we are “raised and seated with … in heavenly places, in Messiah Yeshua” (Ephesians 2:6).  

But on the other hand, if we are full of fear, frustration, and anxiety, what should we request from our Heavenly Father? Should it not be an appeal to Him to reveal His perspective on our situation or experience where fear is felt and for us to believe in our heart the truth of His disclosure?  If our hearts and emotions are not at rest, and His peace is not ruling, then it is time to enquire what lies or half-truths we have been believing.

The Holy Spirit (the Helper) is in us to accomplish YHVH’s purposes and transform us. He is not in us to help us escape the fires that are to take out the dross of lies that we have believed. He is there to establish the truth. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our hearts constitutes YHVH’s kingdom of “righteousness, peace, and joy” (Romans 14:17).

Therefore, why is this not our constant reality? The book of Hebrews provides an answer: “Therefore I was angry with this generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; and they did not know My ways' (perspective); As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'" (Hebrews 3:10-11).   ^“And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?  And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:18-19 emphasis added). Only through the obedience of faith do we enter His rest. It, therefore, behooves us to take the required test of a New Covenant believer.   “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Yeshua the Messiah is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test” (2 Corinthians 13:5).  The one sure sign of having passed this test is that we have entered His rest; peace rules our heart.  That is why almost every apostolic letter begins with: “Grace to you and peace from Elohim our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah” (Ephesians 1:2).  All four gospels declare that Yeshua came to fulfill the covenant of peace, spoken through the prophets of old (Isaiah 54:10; Ezekiel 34:25; 37:26). Therefore, “let the peace of Messiah rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).