326 Who of what controls your mind | nazareneisrael2house

Who or what controls your mind?

We live in an age where we are absolutely flooded with information on a daily basis. We receive information in the form of pictures, sounds, written and spoken words that become entirely too much for us to take in and process. We are overwhelmed by information from many different sources, all contending for our money, time, attention and to try influence what we believe and think. The battle to ultimately control our minds is as real as the noses on our faces and should not be ignored. Ask yourself; who sets the standards in your life? Do you allow your friends or peers to decide by which standards you live? Or, does Satan’s influence on society influence your belief systems and values?

Our heavenly Father, who is the Creator of all that exists, made things like the Sabbath, His annual Set-apart Days and kosher food laws for mankind and specifically for the commonwealth of Israel with whom He made an everlasting covenant at Mount Sinai.However, after HaShem scattered the house of Israel into the nations of the world, they established their own standards and values according to which they operate and rejected the teachings of G-d. They changed the Sabbath to either Friday or Sunday, depending on which so-called god they decided to worship and eat whatever they feel like, without any regard for what their Creator taught.But, what about those who are returning to HaShem through Abraham’s one seed, Messiah ben Joseph? Are we totally content to follow Him and the teachings in His word,or do we sometimes make changes toHashem’s teachings to reflect our superior intellect? Do we like the brethren from Berea during Rav Shaul‘s time, study the Scriptures to confirm our beliefs, or do we study the same, to see how we can contradict the word of G-d? Why do people refuse to believe the word of G-d? Let me try to explain by means of an example: We read from Leviticus 23: 27, “On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present and offering by fire to HaShem.” This tells us that the Day of Atonement can only be on one specific day of the year and not when we want it to be. How many refuse to accept the Scriptural authority in the Tanach and confirmed in the Kituvim HaNatsarim that Judah is G-d’s lawgiver (see Psalms 60: 7 and Romans 3: 1 – 4). Instead the churches of the world want to specify which‘Sabbath’ and Feast Days their followers should observe, despite Messiah ben Joseph saying in John 5: 46 – 47:“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. (47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Do we believe the word of G-d, or are we contradicting Him as Rav Kepha warned in 2 Peter 2: 1, saying: ‘But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.’ The word denying here is translated from the word ‘arneomai’ in Greek which also means ‘contradicting’. We read Messiah ben Joseph’s warning in this regard from Matthew 7: 21 – 24, saying:“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Master, Master, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many miracles? (23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; ‘DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (24) Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.” The underlined section means that we should build our faith upon HaShem, the Rock of our salvation and not on Kepha and the Apostles, like the Roman Catholics and some Assemblies of Y-H-V-H do.

Whether you believe it or not, you and I are the focus of these groups in an ongoing effort to change your belief system, values and standards; and the skills aimed to shape the way in which you think and believe are extremely powerful and effective. We benefit enormously from the positive influences of fellow human beings. But not everyone who seeks to influence our actions are positive. It is like advertising; most of us are aware that without advertising, we will not be aware of all the products available on the market. However, most are also aware that not all advertising are always honest and there is a lot of fake news being spread as truth. It is true that we should base all our decisions on rational information, in order to make correct decisions most of the time. Ask yourself: Who or what has the greatest influence on the way you think and act? What external sources affect your thinking the most? Does the TV or internet influence what you think and do in your day to day life?The television is a very powerful tool for transmitting information and new ideas to large numbers of viewers. Television is also very effective in helping to shape and drastically influencing the thinking and behavior of most of its viewers. The reason is that television and the movie industry, knowingly or unknowingly redefines what is considered normal behavior in our world. Movie stars and entertainers do not even begin to realize what influence they have on the average citizen of the world. Because people idolize entertainers and film stars, they help shaping the minds of many of their followers. The standards and views of society in general are constantly changed by the entertainment media. But the results of the messages that we constantly receive through the media, will only come to roost in the future. Nevertheless, I for one am ever thankful for the internet, as it is one of the most important tools available to us to proclaim the kingdom of G-d into the entire world. We reach almost all four corners of the world with the messages that we send out from time to time. The internet also allows people in countries where world news is suppressed, in order to air local views and politics, to get a better idea of what is really going on in the world. However, the internet could also affect our lives negatively, as there are also people who publish negative information. For example, most parents are totally unaware of the music that their children listen to. The catchy tunes combined with deliberately unsocial lyrics, exerts a devastating effect on some of the hearers of such music. Most young children are able to flawlessly recite the words of such songs, but cannot remember the important facts taught them in school. Music and the sound waves are the most effective tools for influencing the minds of young people, because it reaches both the emotions and through patterns of the hearer, thus ensuring its permanent impact. If you believe that, that is ridiculous, recall for a moment some of the negative rhymes and songs that you learnt, many years ago as a young child.

In addition, not many parents are properly equipped to discern and explain right from wrong. Some of these songs by weirdos convince children to have body piercings and tattoos done without realizing that it is non-scriptural. Over the past few decades body piercing has progressed from earrings for ladies, to earrings for men, to multiple piercing for both men and woman in literally every part of the body.Similarly, tattooing specifically prohibited in the Scriptures (Leviticus 19: 28), is done in the same progression to the extremes. Then there are the ‘self-mutilators’ who purposely cut their bodies with knives or razors to get relief from emotional conflict. Physical pain and the sight of oneself bleeding become solutions due to their inability to overpower the strength of those feelings. It usually begins with feelings of anger, pain or anxiety. When such an individual becomes overwhelmed with one of the emotions mentioned he/she will knock something over or throw an object against the wall or floor. If this does not help, such an individual will plunge his/her fist into a wall or closed window, or even bang his/her head against a wall. Self-mutilators are ashamed of the mental pain that they experience and cannot describe the feeling to others. They believe physical pain to be a cure for emotional pain.Those who are supposed to set the moral standards in society are simply not up to it any longer. There are no more heroes and even the elected leaders are criminals and or sex-offenders. The escapades of our ‘leaders’ have everything to do with the explosion of secondary school sexual adventures in the western world. The lying politicians, our school system and society are responsible for what is happening to our children. We are simply going from bad to worse. It reminds me of wise words written by a Greek slave and fable author Aesop who lived from 620 to 560 BCE, stating: “We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.” But, despite the fact that the learned Professors of the Universities of the world, tell us that human traditions are too contradictory to allow for the setting of uniform standards, according to which we should behave, there is a source for setting unconditional standards for human beings to live by, namely the Scriptures or Word of G-d. Because G-d created us, He also set the standards for us to live by, if only we are prepared to follow Him and His ways. Our every thought is important to G-d, even though our thinking is usually quite different from His, as we read from Isaiah 55: 8 & 9, in this way: ‘“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares HaShem. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”’Rav Shaul explained the reason for the gap between mankind’s standards and that of G-d, in Romans 1: 18 – 23, as follows: ‘For the wrath of G-d is revealed from heaven against all unG-dliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (19) because that which is known about G-d is evident within them; for G-d made it evident to them (mankind). (20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (21) For even though they knew G-d, they did not honor Him as G-d, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing to be wise, they became fools, (23) and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible G-d for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures (i.e. created things).’ Even though we should know G-d, by His principal creation, namely mankind, we became wise and instead of honoring the One and only G-d and giving thanks to Him, we became foolish in our speculations about His being. Our heavenly Father wants us to accept Him as One, as He teaches throughout the Scriptures, but instead we came up with theories of a so-called trinity or two G-ds, with the lesser one being Y’shua.

Our Father made us in His image, male and female He made us. After taking the female out of the male, HaShem intended that we should join one another as husbands and wives and to populate the earth. He made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve as some came to believe because they did not give proper honor to G-d, as Rav Shaul continued warning in Romans 1: 24 - 32, saying: ‘Therefore G-d gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. (25) For they exchanged the truth of G-d for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amein. (26) For this reason G-d gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, (27) and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. (28) And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge G-d any longer, G-d gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, (29) being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, (30) slanderers, haters of G-d, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, (31) without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; (32) and, although they know the ordinance of G-d, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.Believing in the Oneness of G-d is vital to our continued existence as the people whose forefathers HaShem brought out of Egypt to be our G-d. It is only by remaining obedient to His word or Torah that we obtain the Set-apart Spirit giving us access to eternal life as witnessed in Ezekiel 18: 23 and Acts 5: 32 in turn: “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares HaShem G-d, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” and “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Set-apart Spirit whom G-s has given to those who obey Him.” . It is only when we have the Set-apart Spirit of G-d indwelling us, that we are able to discern Spiritual things, as explained by Rav Shaul in1 Corinthians 2: 11 – 14, as follows: ‘For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of G-d no one knows except the Spirit of G-d. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from G-d, that we might know the things freely given to us by G-d, (13) which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (14) But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of G-d; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.’

When studying the Scriptures we will soon realize that Messiah ben David will come to rule the world from Jerusalem on Yom Teruah or the Feast of Trumpets in the near future. We see from a prophecy about the timing of His return in Zechariah 12: 9 - 14 that our Jewish Brothers will be in their synagogues on that important Day keeping Rosh Hashanah with their ladies sitting separate from their men, as follows: “And it will come about in that day that I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (10) And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first born. (11) In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. (12) And the land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; (13) the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; (14) all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves.” The question we need to ask: are we also going to be celebrating the Feast of Trumpets on that very day, or will we keep it according to a calendar that is ‘more accurate’ than that of the Jews? Rav Shaul also remarked on this event where he tells us that in that day when Messiah ben David comes to rule as King and High Priest and the house of Judah accept Him as their Messiah, the dead in Messiah will be resurrected in Romans 11: 15, saying: ‘For if their rejection be reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?’ Rav Shaul completes the picture for us in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 – 16, saying: ‘But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Messiah ben Joseph died and rose again, even so G-d will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Messiah ben Joseph. (15) For this we say to you by the word of the Master, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Master, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Master Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of G-d; and the dead in Messiah shall rise first.’ After reading these Scriptural evidences in your own Scriptures are you still in two minds about which calendar to follow?

From the very beginning our forefathers chose to disobey HaShem our G-d. As a result they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Since then all have disobeyed G-d and are swayed by the deceptive false religious, education, financial and other systems of the world, under influence of Satan. In South Africa our children are now taught about all the different religions of the world, including the theory of evolution and as a result children ridicule Churchianity for teaching that the world is only six thousand years old. Most in Churchianity are totally unaware of the fact that HaShem created the universe millions of years before He recreated the earth to be inhabited by a spirit bearing mankind, who would eventually become His children. They also do not know that after Satan’s rebellion,the universe became formless and void; the condition we found the earth in, in Genesis 1: 2. We see in Job 38 in verse 7, after the initial creation, the angels (morning stars) sang together and shouted for joy. However their joy was followed by disappointment. In verse 8 we read about the control of violent waters; verse 9 talks about a dense cloud covering and darkness; and verse 13 talks about a shaking of the earth to deal with the wicked. In Psalm 18: 7 we read that the earth shook and quaked and went out of course and in Jeremiah 4: 23 we see that the earth became formless and void and the heavens had no light. In 2 Peter 3: 5 & 6 Rav Kepha wrote: ‘For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of G-d the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, (6) through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.’ This all happened when Lucifer tried to elevate himself on a position equal to HaShem and to take over the government of the Universe. HaShem had to bring judgment upon Lucifer and as a result the contaminated earth perished. He cast Satan and his demons out of heaven as mentioned in Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28; and Jude 6 & 7 left the world formless and void; we read further about this in Revelation 12: 3 & 4 and Luke 10: 18. This is the condition we see the earth in when we open our Scriptures at Genesis 1: 2. That was when HaShem recreated the heavens and the earth and also chose not to create his future children as spiritual beings. He therefore created mankind from physical matter, in His image with the mind power to think and plan and ‘create’. They were given free moral agency to decide between good and evil and had to prove throughout their lives that they would follow G-d’s way of life and ultimately develop His perfect character. The original universe created in Genesis 1: 1 was perfect. When HaShem created the universe through his word, He did not create darkness. However, even in Lucifer’s rebellion when he caused the earth to be totally destroyed, the all-knowing G-d used the darkness that resulted to provide night for physical man to rest in.

For those with access to the internet, kindly visit the webpage of Gerald Schroeder, a Jewish scientist, trained at MIT in both physics and biology at www.geraldschroeder.com In an article entitled “The Age of the universe”published by Schroeder in the monthly magazine entitled; ‘Jewish Life’ in the September 2009 issue, he wrote: ‘Every scientist knows that when we say the universe is 15 billion years old, there’s another half of the sentence that we never say.’ The other half of the sentence is: ‘The universe is 15 billion years old as seen from the time-space coordinates that we exist in.’ According to Schroeder, ‘the key is that the Torah looks forward in time, from very different time-space coordinates, when the universe was small. But since then, the universe has expanded out. Space stretches, and that stretching of space totally changes the perception of time.’ In another article entitled “Evolution – Bible Style” Schroeder wrote: ‘The creation described in Genesis 1:1 implies that G-d withdrew part of G-d’s undifferentiated unity and allowed physical complexity to appear: time, space, matter, the laws of nature. The creation of animals (Gen 1:21) relates to the creation of the soul of animals, the nefesh in Hebrew, and gives animals the ability to choose, to learn how to manipulate a maze. The creation of Adam (Gen 1:27) grants a further Divine pull back, allowing us free will, the soul of humanity, that Neshamah in Hebrew. G-d chose to give a leeway to the system. In this light, the rise and fall of the dinosaurs becomes understandable in the Divine scheme for life. Life, designed by Divine input, produced an array of animals, included therein were the dinosaurs. But, their dominance was off the Divine course. In a manner reminiscent of the flood destroying the 900-year longevity gene pool and replacing it with 90 year life spans, the destruction of the dinosaurs opened space for mammals, and eventually humans, to thrive. All of these examples are of micro (not macro-) evolution, small changes in existing body plans.Was G-d bound to allow dinosaurs to appear? Certainly not, but G-d chose to limit overt control to key junctures. Similarly, G-d could control the beasts just as G-d controlled the hornets, but chose not to. The Divinely created laws of nature are adequate to set the path. Even when the path is being directed, usually the insertion of direct control is in a way that can be interpreted as natural. The option for free will is maintained. Neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory calls out for randomness to set the course of life’s development. Evolution, Bible style, also sees life develop from the simple (day three and day five) to the highly complex (humanity on day six), but realizes that in this world, random reactions are simply not up to accomplishing that task. Random reactions alone simply do not and cannot produce stable order. That is the lesson of the laws of thermodynamics.’

The hornets mentioned in the quoted section, has to do with the Israelites’ planned conquest of Canaan in Exodus 23: 28 & 29, where G-d promised to send hornets to drive out the enemy before them. The souls of animals referred to as ‘nefesh’ in Hebrew is different from the souls of mankind, which is integrated with the spirit in man, referred to as the ‘Neshamah’ in Hebrew. The spirit and soul in man is so closely integrated that it can only be separated by the Word of G-d, as we read from Hebrews 4: 12, in this way: ‘For the word of G-d is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and the spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’ According to Job 32: 8, it is the spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty that gives them understanding. When HaShem breathed into man’s nostrils in Genesis 2: 7, He endowed mankind with a spirit, making them different from animals, as we read from Zechariah 12: 1, as follows: ‘The burden of the word of HaShem concerning Israel. Thus declares HaShem who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.’ Before Adam and Eve sinned, they had access to the tree of life, but were driven from the Garden of Eden and as a result lost their access to eternal life. Even so, knowing that mankind would fail, HaShem had a contingency plan in place right from the start.It is true, this is something I taught recently, but, need I remind you that we as Israelites learn by repetition as indeed all people do. That is why we read the annual Torah portions over yearly and also why we keep the Feast Days of HaShem our G-d from year to year, until Messiah ben David comes to rule us from Jerusalem. I pray that even though most of us were taught and followed false doctrines for many years that we repent and return to full Torah observance. Let us follow the pattern that we were taught for many years, namely do Torah and then learn Torah. This is the lesson of tefillin: tefillin are bound on the left arm (since it is close to the heart) and then on the forehead. If we do it the other way round, we will try and work things out with our own intelligence, before we start doing it. The problem with most is that despite the fact that they call themselves Messianic or even Christian, they do not follow or obey the one whose name they use. Many do not even know what sin is. An example is the idea of many in Churchianity thinks that the drinking of alcoholic beverages is sin. Yet in Deuteronomy 14: 26 we read (paraphrased), that we may spend our annual Festival Tithes at the Feast of Tabernacles on whatever our heart desires; oxen, sheep, wine or even strong drink. Sin is the transgression of the Torah commands of HaShem. Drinking alcoholic beverages is not sin, unless we overdo it and get drunk. Drunkards and other sinners will not make it into the kingdom of G-d, as Rav Shaul witnessed in 1 Corinthians 6: 9 & 10, saying: ‘Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of G-d? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, (10) nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of G-d.’ My point is: Do we have double standards. If we do, then our children will also have double standards. It is only by being a genuinely caring and loving parent, who does not compromise when it comes to the Torah of HaShem that we are giving our children the best chance possible to not follow every new craze or culture that is going around. This will also ensure their success and the blessings of HaShem as it says in Exodus 20: 6, as follows: “But showing loving kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

Judgment is now (during this age) upon the household of G-d (1 Peter 4: 17). We who are called at this time are being judged now, but the great multitude not called at this time will be resurrected at the end of the Millennium, during which time they will be given a chance to repent and accept G-d’s way of life (see Isaiah 25: 7 - 9). However, not all who are resurrected during that time will repent - we know also that they will not burn in hell for ever and ever, but will be burned up once for all and become ashes under the feet of the righteous, as per Malachi 4:1 - 3. At that point in time the New Jerusalem will come down from heaven, from G-d, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and as we read from Rev 21: 2& 3 in this way: ‘And I saw the Set-apart city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from G-d, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.(3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of G-d is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and G-d Himself shall be among them”’IMPOSSIBLE as this may sound; this is the same vision that our Father Abraham had. Despite the many different opinions regarding religion out there, including the false theory of evolution, HaShem wants us to obey His teachings, since He is our Creator; He knows what is good for us. HaShem our G-d is our heavenly Father (transliterated in Hebrew as ‘Avinu’) and only wants what is best for us, but as Satan somehow convinced Eve, to believe that HaShem lied to them, so we somehow, believe that we know better than Him. Those of us called out of the world by HaShem at this time, should know what is right and wrong for us and are responsible to teach our children and new believers the truth. Instead our children are bombarded by false teachings, TV shows, computer games, movies and by friends at school. We similarly get bombarded at work, by TV shows, computer games, movies and the people we associate with after work. In addition the Scriptures reveal that Satan is going all out to influence our minds on an on-going basis as we read from Ephesians 2: 1 – 3, as follows: ‘And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, (2) in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air(Satan), of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. (3) Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.’

The influence that Satan exerts upon unsuspecting mankind is so persistent and persuasive that it affects people in every area of society. Satan is according to 2 Corinthians 4: 4, the god of this world, who blinds the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the esteem of Messiah. It is because of Satan’s influence that people do not understand the gospel or good news about the coming kingdom of G-d. It should therefore be clear why some are deceived to believe that they are going to heaven at death. We should also not be surprised that Satan has succeeded to influence most religious beliefs, including modern day Churchianity, as recorded in 2 Corinthians 11: 3 & 4 and 13 – 15, as follows: ‘But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Messiah. (4) For if one comes and preaches another Messiah (ben Joseph) whom we have not preached (one who came to do away with Torah), or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel (one about the person of Messiah, rather than the coming kingdom of G-d) which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. (13) For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Messiah. (14) And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.’Satan has not only influenced the religions of the world, he is involved in business, education, politics as well as science. It is as we read from 1 John 5: 19, in this way: ‘We know that we are of G-d, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.’ The result of Satan’s influence in the world may be seen throughout history. Millions of people died in wars inspired by Satan. Millions in Africa, India and South America are on the verge of starvation, because of greed inspired by Satan. Many people live under dictatorial regimes with little control over the decisions that affect their daily lives. We read fittingly about our time from 2 Timothy 3: 1 – 5, as follows: ‘But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. (Are there any amongst us who are prepared to say that we are not living during the last days?) (2) For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, (3) unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, (4) treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of G-d; (5) holding to a form of G-dliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.’ At this time we can but agree that Satan has truly succeeded in turning humankind away from HaShem our G-d.

Our battle is definitely not against flesh and blood human beings, but as we read from Ephesians 6: 12, ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.’ It is time that we understand what is happening to and in our world. Who will intimately control our minds? Will it be Satan and his many spiritual and human agents? Or will it be HaShem through His Torah? We need to understand that HaShem will never force us to do things His way – we will always have a choice!