A surprised ex-Satanic priestess once exclaimed to me, “You understand that Satan attacks us through our minds! Most people don’t understand that…”
Satan indeed attacks us through our minds (and indeed most people don’t understand that). Most believers don’t understand it either. What Satan tries to do is to give us corrupted thoughts to follow after which seem like they come from Elohim, but do not. And those who are misled follow after these misleading dogmas.
Qorintim Bet (2 Corinthians) 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Messiah.
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into a messenger [angel] of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if [Satan’s] ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
It seems there is no shortage of corrupted ministers in the Hebrew Roots movement. The reason they have so many followers is that there are so many sheep who are willing to follow them, perhaps either because they don’t know how to hear in the Spirit, or perhaps because they are not willing to make the effort. Thus, they are unable to distinguish truth from error. Once we know how to distinguish truth from error we can do it, even though it takes constant application and discipline. We have to breathe and listen in the Spirit. Then we can test the words we hear (including the words we speak).
Iyov (Job) 34:3
3 For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.
Setting aside all other controversies right now, let us talk about the mechanics of how we can hear and listen in the Spirit, and thus avoid the pitfalls of wrong thoughts. (Then another time we can talk about application.)
In Hebraic thought, the ideal is to keep our inward focus on Yeshua as we go throughout our day, no matter what we are doing, or what happens around us. This restores the spiritual connection between man and the Divine which was lost in the Garden of Eden. At first this isn’t easy, but if we will train and discipline ourselves to do this, it gets easier over time, and the big benefit is that Yeshua’s Spirit dwells in us and guides us in all things. If we will do this, then we become willing tools of His Spirit, and we can do much good for Him (and He loves this).
Yochanan (John) 15:4-8
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
Satan will send many challenges to try to break this inner connection with Yeshua, but if we maintain this inward connection, then we can abide in His shalom.
Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in Yahweh [Yeshua] always. Again, I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. Yahweh [Yeshua] is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to Elohim;
7 and the peace of Elohim, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Messiah Yeshua.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the Elohim of peace will be with you.
The reason Shaul tells us to focus on what is good is that focusing on the good helps us to stay with Elohim. However, Satan tries to distract us from our relationship with Yeshua, by getting us to focus on all that is bad. He also tries to distract us from our abiding relationship by tempting us with the pleasures of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and pride (including worry).
Yochanan Aleph (1 John) 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of Elohim abides forever.
It is not that Yahweh does not want us to have things that will feel good, and look good, and which will give us esteem in our communities. It is only that we are to seek first Yeshua and His kingdom, and then (afterward) all these things will be added to us.
Mattityahu (Matthew) 6:31-34
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
It is also not the case that Yahweh does not want us to think. He gives us brains because He wants us to use them. However, the manner in which we think is critical. If we think while maintaining our connection with Elohim, then as we breathe and listen, our thoughts can come from Him. However, if we forget to breathe and listen, and we do not maintain our connection with Yeshua, then our thoughts will come either from the evil one, or from ourselves, and either way, the result is not good. So, what we have to do is to learn how to remain focused on Elohim as we go throughout our day, and discipline ourselves to do it. It is not easy, and it does take practice, but any believer who wants to, can do it.
The famous Jew Albert Einstein once said, “Genius consists of knowing what to ignore.” This saying is true, because when we ignore everything that could distract us from Elohim, then we can remain in connection with Elohim throughout our day, and Elohim can help us to resolve all of our problems and issues by His Spirit. But to achieve this state of blissful contentedness no matter what happens around us, we have to avoid the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and pride. And if ever we get to the point where we believe we don’t need to focus on Yeshua inwardly, then our pride is concealing the fact that we are prideful from us, and this is perhaps the worst condition of all (because the worst of all faults is to think that we have none). Therefore, we must discipline ourselves to breathe according to His Spirit, and to listen to the voice of His Spirit, and to ignore anything else that would distract us from our good happy relationship with Yeshua, so that we can attain the goal of an abiding, intimate relationship with Yeshua at all times.
Philipim (Philippians) 3:12-16
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Messiah Yeshua has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of Elohim in Messiah Yeshua.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, Elohim will reveal even this to you.
16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Now let us compare all this with the original sin in the Garden of Eden. In Scripture, women represent spiritual bodies, and in this case, Havvah (Eve) represents Israel (us). Havvah was abiding in perfect relationship with Elohim but was drawn away from that perfect abiding relationship because Satan tempted her with things that would feel good to her flesh, things that looked good to her eyes, and things that would gratify her ego, just as 1 John 2 says.
B’reisheet (Genesis) 3:1-6
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Yahweh Elohim had made. And he said to the woman, “Has Elohim indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, Elohim has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
5 For Elohim knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
It is not that Havvah (Israel) was not supposed to think. It is that Havvah was not supposed to entertain thoughts that would distract her from her happy relationship with Elohim. And thoughts that would distract her from her happy relationship is precisely what Satan provided her with. Because she took her eyes and ears off of Elohim, she fell prey to the lust of her flesh, the lust of her eyes, and pride (ego). Because she was not satisfied with food and clothing but lusted after the things Yahweh had not already given her, she lost her relationship with Yahweh and His shalom. This is why Shaul tells us to take all these kinds of lustful and prideful thoughts into captivity, so that we might obey the Messiah, who comes to save us from the things that would draw us away from abiding in Elohim and His peace.
Qorintim Bet (2 Corinthians) 10:1-6
1 Now I, Shaul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Messiah—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in Elohim for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Messiah,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
So, are there any tips or tricks disciples can use to help stay focused in Elohim as they go throughout their day? As we explain in our study on the divine names, there is a sode (secret level) teaching which tells us the divine name represents the sound of respiration. Meaning, it represents the sound of the breath of life. When we draw in our breath it sounds (more or less) like “Yah”, and when we let our breath out it sounds (more or less) like “Weh.” The Messiah’s name is similar. When we draw in our breath because of tension it can sound like “Yeh,” and when we let it out as a big sigh of relief (when we have been saved from some evil) it can sound like “Shua!” This sound is similar to the English “Phew!” sound, indicating a breath of relief. Whether this is true or not, it is certain that we should always remain focused on the One who gives the breath of life, and His Son, who gives us Salvation (Yeshua). If we will discipline ourselves to remain focused on Him, and our breathing, then we cannot be distracted by evil thoughts caused either by lusts or pride. That is why a deep abiding relationship is critical.
And once we are focused on the One who gives us the breath of life, then we are also to listen for His voice, so that we can know what He wants us to do. Breathing and sound are more primal than thought, and sounds can take thoughts away. So, if we focus on hearing, it can keep wrong thoughts out.
But again, it is not that we are not supposed to think. It is only that we are to remain focused on Yeshua, and on breathing, and listening for the sound of His voice before we give in to thoughts. If we stay inwardly focused on Yeshua, and breathe, and remain listening for the sound of His voice, then we can have thoughts that do not go against His will. And we can hear what He says to us (which some believe is genius).
If ever we find our thoughts distracting us from Elohim, then we simply need to refocus on Him, and refocus on our breathing, and hearing. This will send the evil one and his distracting thoughts at bay, as long as we do it.
Where so many people get stuck is that they get caught up in their thoughts, or in worries, and they forget to take a moment to refocus on Yeshua, and breathe, and listen. This even happens to very well-meaning believers who don’t understand that this kind of abiding, breathing, and listening relationship is primary. It has to come first, before thought, in order for thoughts to be ultimately productive, rather than ultimately destructive.
As disciples, we need to abide in Yeshua at all times. As our faith and our connection in Him grows we can learn to discern between good and bad thoughts. The good thoughts are anything that leads to us dwelling in Him in shalom, and the bad thoughts include anything which lead to thoughts of worry, or fear, or the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and pride (ego). Anything thought that takes us away from our peaceful abiding connection with Yeshua is of the Enemy, and we must take it into captivity, so that we might obey the Messiah. And when we do this, Yahweh Himself will punish those around us who are disobedient, and bring us salvation (Yeshua).
Qorintim Bet (2 Corinthians) 10:4-6
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in Elohim for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Messiah,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
