Thoughts for Life: #51 The Pentateuch

C. Peter Wagner: The Pentateuch, (or
Torah), provides us with one of the key
texts for understanding the territoriality
of spirit beings.

It is part of the Song of Moses in
Deuteronomy 32:8.

Unfortunately, its meaning is hidden in most English versions translated from the Hebrew of the Masoretic text. For example, my New King James Version says:

"When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations,
When He separated the sons of Adam,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the children of Israel."

The problem comes with the phrase, "children of Israel," which would in itself have little to do with spirits ruling territories.

However, biblical scholars such as F. F. Bruce tell us that, due to some discoveries from the Dead Sea scrolls in Cave #4 at Qumram, we now know that the Septuagint version, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew made about 250 years before the birth of Christ, more accurately represents the original text.

Instead of saying that God set the boundaries of people groups according to the number of the children of Israel, it informs us that He set them "according to the number of the angels of God." A crucial difference, to say the least.

F. F. Bruce says, "This reading implies that the administration of various nations has been parcelled out among a corresponding number of angelic powers."

He then goes on to elaborate by carrying the implications of this to Daniel 10 where the "prince of Persia" and the "prince of Greece" are mentioned.

He further ties it to the New Testament by saying,

"In a number of places some at least of these angelic
governors are portrayed as hostile principalities and
powers—the 'world-rulers of this darkness' of Ephesians
6:12."

Moving back from Moses to Abraham, we receive further light on spiritual territoriality in Old Testament times. In analyzing the spiritual context of Ur of the Chaldees and Sumerian civilization from which Abraham was called by God, biblical scholar Don Williams points out that the Sumerians were dominated by a "pantheon of gods" and "centralized rule was seen as their gift, making life possible.

A territorial spirit named Enlil headed up the divine hierarchy, but he ruled in consultation with a heavenly council. "Each city was the property of its god, and its citizens were its slaves."

Abraham was the first among them to understand that Jehovah was king of the whole universe. The difference between God and territorial spirits was beginning to come clear.

(Google image and emphasis added)

Warfare Prayer

#51 The Pentateuch
By C. Peter Wagner

(pgs. 90, 91) Regal Books

Mark I. Bubeck shares with us from his book The Satanic Revival (pg 246) "When believers are living at a level below what the Holy Spirit brought to us, we need revival. When His impact upon the world in which we live is less than what He is able to do, we need revival."

Father, what is really needed, is to have You pour out Your Spirit on us!

Help us realize our inability to combat the evil forces all around us without Your Spirit living within us, to give us guidance in fighting them.

May we remember that You are the Supreme Being, and that You're in control of everything.

Help us realize too, that we must cooperate with what You want done, so You can have freedom to bring about the true moving of Your Spirit among us.

I ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: 2 Chron. 19:9 "Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and with a perfect heart."

Today's praise verse: 1 Chron. 16:35 "Cry out, 'Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.' "

Today’s quote:

The Secret

I met God in the morning

When my day was at its best.

And His Presence came like sunrise,

Like a glory in my breast.

All day long the Presence lingered.

All day long He stayed with me.

And we sailed in perfect calmness

O'er a very troubled sea.

So I think I know the secret,

Learned from many a troubled way:

You must seek Him in the morning

If you want him through the day!

By Ralph S. Cushman

Taken from Let God In

by Len L. Latham

(pg 127- out of print]

Some thoughts today: Are you everything you claim to be? God doesn't want any pretenders. If we profess to be "Christian", we're to walk in His Life as one with Him. (see Ps. 139)

- Protect your conscience, as it can be seared over with neglecting to act according to what you know to be what you should do.

- God's Word transforms us. Come against the fear, anger, and etc. that you experience with His Word, and watch how God enables you to face them.

26th- Thursday’s post: #52 Historical Books
C. Peter Wagner

28th- Saturday's post; Spiritual Blindness
Lorraine Welch

29th- Sunday evening's post: Why Choose Jesus?
Jean Oathout

31st- Tuesday's post: #53 The Prophets

C. Peter Wagner

A popular post: God's Timing, God's Terms, God's Method Dutch Sheets

relates the importance and results of
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jean-oathout.blogspot.com (save to check in sometime)

Samples of Jean's crafts

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Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse

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