THE SNAKE IS DEAD

~ How God Deals With the Devil ~

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

    It was not God's will that the human race would be afflicted with sickness, disease and death, ever since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden! Regretfully, that is the sad scenario of where we are today!

God, however, made a healing covenant with the nation of Israel which He had chosen for His own people. 

     It was simple: Turn from paganism, reject Satan the god of this world, and if you will worship and serve Me I will take sickness away from the midst of you. Not only will I bless you, but I will protect you so that the plagues that are afflicting the pagan will not touch you!

GOD'S HEALING COVENANT!

    Here is the list of the ten major gods worshipped by the Egyptians during the time of Moses: 1. AMUN-Ra “The Hidden One” 2. MUT “The Mother Goddess” 3. OSIRIS “The King of Living” 4. ANUBIS “The Divine Embalmer” 5. RA “The God of Sun and Radiance” 6. HORUS “God of Vengeance” 7. THOTH “God of Knowledge and Wisdom” 8. HATHOR “Goddess of Motherhood” 9. SEKHMET “Goddess of War and Healing” 10. GEB “God of Earth”

     As Zeus in Greek, Amun-Ra or Amon in Egypt is considered as Kings of Gods and Goddesses. Believed as the Father of the Pharaohs, Amun’s female version is Amunet and is considered as the “The Female Hidden One”. Forming the “Theban Triad”, Amun and Mut along with their offspring Khonsu “Moon God” were worshipped throughout the ancient Egypt. Amun-Ra was not only worshipped in Egypt, but also outside Egypt as Amun-Ra after the amalgamation with the Sun God Ra of Ancient Egypt. - anon

    Sickness and diseases came upon the Egyptians because of their idolatry. The Lord lifted His protection from them and the devil took advantage and put his baggage on them. God did not judge the people, but His wrath was against the gods of Egypt. They worshipped ten gods so He unleashed upon them ten plagues! (Exodus 12: 12)

    The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "If thou wilt diligently hearken to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: FOR I AM THE LORD THAT HEALTH THEE." (Exodus 15; 26, 27)

   When they sinned and broke His commandments bad things happened, like when they were bitten by snakes. They confessed their sins and begged Moses to pray for them. God instructed Moses:

    "Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: And it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looks upon it shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the (dead) serpent of brass, he lived." (Numbers 21: 4-9)

    Why did God instruct Moses to use such an object lesson in order to be healed? We go back to the Garden of Eden and hear His stern Word to the serpent that Satan used to tempt Eve: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; It shall bruise (crush) thy head and thou shall bruise his heel." (Gen.3: 15)

    A dead serpent could not kill them! God was showing His people that He was more powerful than their greatest enemy, which is death. By obeying Him, they would live. And, of course, it was a type of His Son Who would be lifted up on the CROSS and be made a curse for us so that we could live!

    The Bible says: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangeth on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.” (Gal.3: 13)

LOOK TO JESUS CHRIST & LIVE!

  God’s message to Satan was that he would be utterly defeated. He declared that from the SEED of the woman would come the Deliverer, who would crush his head. In that battle, however, he would bruise the Deliverer's heel.

  This was a direct prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ (the Deliverer) and the victory He would have over Satan by rising from the dead! The bruising of His heel was His death on the cross which resulted only in a temporary bruising, because of His glorious resurrection!

   In theology we call both of these truths 'the law of the first mention'. The Seed of the woman (not the seed of a man) and the Coming of the Deliverer, Who would crush Satan's head!

    Jesus said: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." (John 3:14). Our Lord was referring back to Numbers 21 and further back to Genesis 3:15, declaring that His death on the Cross would bring healing and eternal life to ALL who looked to Him.

CHRIST’S VICTORY IS OUR LIBERTY!

   His vicarious death on the cross would satisfy the righteous demands of Divine Justice in paying for all the sins of humanity back to Adam's fall, for those who would appropriate His promise by FAITH! Hallelujah to the Lamb of God that has taken away the sins of the world! (John 1: 29; 1 John 1: 22)

   The Bible says: "For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part in the same; that through Death He might Destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil; And Deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Heb.2: 14, 15)

   What does this mean to us? It means that we are safe from the powers of evil when we are covered with the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour! Not only are we protected by Christ’s blood and the Blessed Holy Spirit, but we have been given God's power to cast out evil spirits.      Jesus has given us the right and authority to go on the offensive against the Evil One!

    He said: “And these signs shall follow them that believe: In My name, shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues; if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:16-20)

   "He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might DESTROY the works of the devil." (1 John 3: 8).

    There are five specific works of the devil, which are sin, fear, sickness, disease and death, poverty and demons! The word Destroy is the key to this Scripture. Jesus has destroyed sin through His sacrificial death on the cross. He spoke peace to those who were fearful. 

    He healed the sick and raised the dead. Jesus had compassion on the poor by raising a young man from the dead to look after his widowed mother and He liberated multitudes from evil spirits! And He has given us the authority to do likewise.

    He said: “Behold, I give you power to tread on on serpents, and scorpions and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10: 19).

     St. Paul shaking off a deadly snake from his arm in Malta without hurt is a good example.(Acts 28: 2-6). Talk about receiving power and authority over all the powers of darkness and protection from every mechanism the devil has employed for our destruction. The Promises of God worked then and they still work today!

   The Bible says: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power Who went about doing Good and HEALING all who were oppressed of the Devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10: 38). 

   What an example the Holy Spirit has given us to follow in the life and ministry of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ! He led by example. He said: “As My father hath sent Me, so send I you.” (John 20: 21)

    “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him: “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will.” Heb.2: 3, 4)

IT'S OVER DEVIL: YOU HAVE LOST!

   The Bible states: "Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you: because the Darkness is past, and the True Light now shines." (1 John 2: 8).

   Jesus of Nazareth conquored the devil in His wilderness Temptation. Every challenge Satan used to tempt Christ was defeated conclusively by the Word of God alone! When Jesus countered with the Word of God Satan had to back off. Repeatedly, Jesus stated:

    “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God... “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God... “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord, and Him only shalt thou serve.” (Matt. 4: 1-11)

   Jesus taught, healed multitudes of sick folk and cast out thousands of demon spirits. He also sent out twelve disciples to heal the sick and cast out demons. Then, He sent out seventy more to do the exactly the same as He was doing. And finally, Jesus commanded 120 of His followers to wait in Jerusalem until they be endued with the Holy Spirit:

    “And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sicknesses and all manner of disease.” (Matt. 10: 1); 

    “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face ...And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The Kingdom is come nigh unto you.” (Luke 10: 1, 9,17)

    “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature...And these SIGNS shall follow them that believe. In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues...They shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16: 15-20)

    St. John's message to the Church is that we are mature in Christ. Things like envy, pride and jealousy are gone. We are finished with low living and hatred. The message of Christ is that we are to love one another!

    The message to the Devil is: "Back off and go away. Your day is over. You are finished, because the darkness is past and the True Light now shines." Jesus Christ is the true Light and He has dispelled the darkness!

    St. Paul wrote: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant (slave), and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the Death of the Cross.

    "Wherefore God hath Highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil.2: 5-11)

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST ATONES!

    Jesus said: "Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you Free." (John 10: 10); "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works' sake.

    “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me the works that I do shall ye do also and greater works shall he do, because I go unto My Father (and will send the Holy Spirit).

    “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ASK anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14: 11-14)

1). THE SNAKE IS DEAD:

   God spoke to Moses to make a serpent of brass and lift it up on a high pole for all who were bitten to see. We learn several truths here. First, brass is a symbol of judgment in the Scriptures. This was God’s judgment against Satan, the wicked serpent who lied to Eve. Second, it was a type of Jesus Christ who became a curse by dying on the Cross as God’s paschal Lamb for us. Third, God is greater than death and gives life to all who simply look to Jesus Christ by faith.

2). THE SERPENT'S HEAD IS CRUSHED:

   A dead serpent cannot hurt you. Jesus removed the stinger from death, which is fear. The Bible says: “For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (1 Cor. 15: 25, 26); “O death where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55-36).

   The Bible says: “But we see Jesus Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb. 2: 9).

“…For the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in Me.” (John14: 30); “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not, but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that Wicked One toucheth him not.” (1 John 5: 18)

Jesus said: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though He were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die…” (John 11: 25, 26)

    The Bible says: “Who His own self bare our sins in His own Body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, by Whose stripes we were healed. For we were as sheep going astray; but now are returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1 Peter 2: 24, 25)

3). CHRIST HAS CONQUORED:

     “And the seventy returned again, with joy saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us though Thy Name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Behold, I give unto you Power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the Enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:17, 18)

    “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,

    "Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every Name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2: 5-11)

    “And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the Throne.

     “And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints.

   “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy Blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and nation, and people. And hast made us unto our God, kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5: 1-10)

4). SATAN IS AN ETERNALLY DOOMED DESPOT:

    “And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

    “And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their testimony: and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev.12: 10, 11)

“Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet (qualified) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the powers of

Darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: in Whom we have redemption through His BLOOD even the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1: 12-14)

   The Holy Bible reports Satan’s defeat: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His CROSS: And having spoiled principalities and powers He (Jesus) made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2: 13, 14).

   “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,

    “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all things.” (Ep. 1:19-23)

    After the Holy Spirit fell upon JESUS at His Baptism, He returned in the power of the Spirit and great miracles of healing followed His ministry. He cast out many unclean spirits from those who were possessed:

    The Bible says: “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; What have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God.

“And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold Thy peace and come out of Him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.” (Mark 1: 23-28)

    “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the Devil.” (1 John 3: 8): “The Thief: (Satan) cometh not but for to Steal, Kill and Destroy: I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

    “And the DEVIL that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Rev.20: 10)

5). GOD'S WORD IS CONFIRMED:

    The Bible states: “The Word of God is quick (living) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piecing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4: 12)

   “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow ever tongue shall swear (confess).” (Is. 45:22, 23)

   “So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Is. 55: 11); “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” (Matt. 24: 35; Luke 21: 33)

   The New Testament is filled with the fulfilled Old Testament Scriptures by advent of Jesus of Nazareth as the Jewish Messiah, the Christ (anointed of God). Here are some powerful Scripture texts that speak of the fulfillment of God’s prophetic Word. “And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum… that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of Esaias the prophet…” (Matt. 4: 13-16);

    “When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His Word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Eaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” (Matt. 8: 16, 17)

   “But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew Himself from thence and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all… That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esais the prophet, saying, Behold My servant, whom I have chosen….” (Matt. 12: 15-18)

6). WE HAVE FREEDOM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST:

    Jesus said: “And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be FREE indeed.” (John 8: 32, 36)

    “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE from the law of sin and death.” (Rom 8: 1, 2)

    “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.

   “And we KNOW that all things work out together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn, among many brethren.

   “Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

    “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall separate us from the love of CHRIST? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword. Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

  “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, or angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, or things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 8: 15-17, 28-39)

7). GOD IS GLORIFIED THROUGH CHRIST!

    “But God, Who is rich in MERCY for His great love, wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; by grace ye are saved. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

    “That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves in is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

   “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2: 4-10)

   The Gospel is the Good News: The Glad Tidings that Light has come into a world of Darkness; that Peace has come into a world of Turmoil; that Forgiveness has come into a world of Sin, that Healing has come into a world of Sickness; that Love has come into a world of Hate; that Life has come into a world of Death; that Freedom has come into a world of Bondage and that Slaves are made Free through Jesus Christ, the Liberator of the Human Race! Amen.

NO SNAKES IN MALTA SINCE ST. PAUL!

    For 1,000 years, only Roman Catholic clergy were allowed to preach in Malta. In order to keep out the marauding, murdering Mohammedans, the Knights of Malta made that decree a law. By the hand of God, I was thrust into a situation that opened the door for the Gospel Ministry to enter that nation!

   On December 6, 1973, I met with Monsignor Michael Gunzi, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Malta. After a very spirited talk with the Archbishop he said: "I wish you the best success in your Mission of preaching Jesus Christ to the Maltese people."

    Immediately, Police Chief Enoch Tonna sent for me and divulged that the Mafia had threatened him and his family. As we prayed together, he received Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and we continued a spiritual friendship by mail for some time!

    History was made and the 1,000 year-old Law forbidding anyone except a Roman Catholic priest from preaching in Malta was cancelled and freedom of religion came to that country.

   The Jehovah Witnesses who had been imprisoned for breaking the law were released, and unfortunately I helped the Muslims get their Antichrist teachings into Malta for the first time in 1,000 years.

    In more than 50 years of preaching the Glorious Gospel of Christ, I have visited many islands. The snakes are plentiful almost everywhere. Many islands have imported the mongoose to kill the snakes. In Malta, however, there are NO SNAKES. They all died when the "man of God" shook off the beast" into the fire!

   Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, let us do the same: Shake of the beast! The Bible says: “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy Name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven.

   “Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. And NOTHING shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10: 17-19)

  When St. Paul had come ashore at Malta hanging onto a piece of wreckage, the Gospel message and a revival of great magnitude began. The weather was cold and unsettling and St. Paul helped build a fire on the beach to keep them warm.

   While the 'man of God' was laying some wood on the fire, a viper jumped up and bit him on the arm. He shook the beast off into the fire and felt no ill effect from the poison, causing the natives to believe he was a god.

MIRACLES THE KEY TO EVANGELISM!

   That Miracle opened the door for the Gospel, as many received Christ as Healer, Lord and Saviour: "In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and lodged us three days courteously.

     “And it came to pass that the father of Publius' lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed and laid his hands on him and HEALED HIM. So when this was done, others also which had diseases in the island came and were healed." (Acts 28: 1-11)

   Here, we learn several lessons: God can use seemingly impossible and hurtful situations to bring glory to His Great and Wonderful Name:

First: The ship was wrecked; St. Paul unknowingly "taking up a serpent" without succumbing to its poisonous bite (Mark 16:16,17), the healing of the Chief's father and the ensuing revival with all the sick on the island coming to the man of God for healing through the "laying on of hands" in the name of the "crucified and risen Lord Jesus."

Second: The SNAKE could not kill the 'Man of God' who shook him off into the fire! The Snake is Satan and the fire is Hell. "And the Devil (Liar) which deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the Beast and the False Prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Rev.20: 10)

    Our Lord invites us to join together in prayer according to Matthew 18:19. He promises to answer our prayers! He waits for our desperate cries for intervention in our lives: Prayers for forgiveness, divine healing and deliverance from the Evil One!

    Jesus issues seven invitations to prayer in John chapters 14, 15 and 16. He encourages us to ask Him for whatever we need. He would not do so, if He did not expect to answer those prayers!

    St. John states emphatically: "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the Petitions, that we desired of Him." (1 John 5:14, 15).

PEACE THROUGH CHRIST’S BLOOD!

   Through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, we have the amazing PEACE of God. Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not heart be troubled, neither let it not be afraid.” (John 14: 27)

   “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ. For He is our Peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us:

   “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making Peace; And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Eph.2:13-18)

   “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, He is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17); “And having made Peace through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven.” (Col. 1:20)

    “Now the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the BLOOD of the everlasting covenant. Make you perfect in every good work to do His will working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ forever and ever.” (Heb.13: 20, 21). Amen.