A Preoccupation with the Demonic

In the video below, Minister Bertram H. Clendennen teaches on how evil imaginations will be a particular mark of the end times.

Artwork by Joyful Toons

• Jesus says that as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be in the last days
• Every civilization that does not glorify God is turned over to a spirit of perversion (Romans Chapter 1)
• The end is always contained in the beginning
• One of the most important characteristics of the time of Noah was that the people's minds were on evil continually
• God must be made real again, must be made alive again in His church to stand in these days
• There would have never been a Clinton in the White House if there hadn't been whoremongers in the pulpit
• The wickedness seen out in society is only a reflection of the wickedness in the heart of the church
• Instead of being worshiped, God becomes the means of fulfilling our own selfish desires
• Today's theology is as Noah's day; God is the means of self-realization
• God is going to discover whether we are just talkers or are we really believers
• In the days prior to the flood, men became strangely preoccupied with the demonic
• The false always follows the false
• The church has lost the ability to confront things
• The "name" of something is a reference to its character.  Being marked with the "name" of the beast is to be marked with selfishness (Revelation 13:17) 
• There must be a manifestation of light to counter the manifestation of darkness

Turning to FLIGHT The Armies of the Aliens

"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. " Hebrews 11:33-34

This is the type of faith I want to see in my own life.  This is the type of faith that God wants us to have.  Why else would it be held out to us as an example in Hebrews Chapter 11?  And remember this, these individuals had such strength of faith even without the opportunity to be born again!  They did not have the indwelling, regenerating power of the Holy Spirit as we do now.  So what has happened???  What is our excuse?

How is it that man has been empowered with more of God's Holy Spirit - even to change the very nature of who we are - and yet Jesus could ponder, "Will I find faith on the earth when I return?"  How is it that these men and women of old could wrought such awesome victories through faith in God and yet now many of God's people seem to be disempowered by and oppressed under the assaults of the enemy?  These things are listed for us in Hebrews 11 as evidences of their faith!  If God has provided "some better thing" for us (Hebrews 11:40), then where are the evidences of our faith (James 2:14-26)?

I am not speaking of earning salvation or seeking after signs.  I am speaking about the reality of walking in resurrected life with Christ.  Do you truly believe that such is the expectation of God for His people?  Or has serving God merely become about doctrinal debates, church niceties, and religious posturing?  Do you really expect to do "greater works than these" (John 14:12) simply because it is God's will to do such through His people?  Is our God dead or is He surely alive (in your estimation)?  Should we not examine ourselves to see if we "be in the faith" (II Corinthians 13:5)?

We have discussed before how the Greek word for faith "pistis" means both having faith and being faithful.  Well, Hebrews Chapter 11 has something interesting to say about these men and women of faith.

"For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:14-16

Unlike some might teach, these men and women had a choice as to whether to continue to walk in faith with the Lord.  Even after having made the decision to serve God, they could have returned back to the vomit of that from which they were delivered if they had remained "mindful" of it.  Yet they considered themselves "strangers and pilgrims" in this world so that they might attain to a city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:13, 10).  Their desire for things above (rather than things below) is what gave fuel to their faith.  It is what allowed them to please God and for Him to work through them to accomplish His will in the earth. It is what allowed them to "turn to flight" the armies of the aliens.
 
While the saints in the Old Testament fought in the natural against enemies (aliens) in the flesh, we war in spiritual battles against enemies (aliens) which are not of the flesh.  Fallen, extraterrestrial beings have invaded the souls of mankind in an attempt to pervert what God had created to be in His own image.  These aliens (demons) permeate the landscape wherever you go as they attempt to defile man in rebellion against the Lord of Hosts.  And we are not speaking of just a few devils.  There are armies of them (Ephesians 6:12).  Yet, who has the faith to stand against them? To stop their mouths and turn these armies to flight?

Quite honestly, I am sick & tired of seeing people bound by Satan and I am just about as sick & tired of talking about it.  Who is ready to turn these demons on their tails?  To truly be used of God to set captives free and bring deliverance to those who are oppressed by the enemy?  This is not something that can be done in the flesh.  We cannot rise up with loud voices, self-righteousness, and determined intent thinking our will to do it will bring it to pass.  We need the Holy Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6).

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26

In the above text, the absence of the evidences of our faith is likened unto the absence of the Spirit of God.  The answer is not to run around trying to do some work for God.  The answer is to seek more of God's Spirit; spend more time in communion with Him.  We need to be revived in our inner man and really put to death that which is drawing us back to the "old country" from which we have been delivered.  It is time for the breath of God to breathe upon us once again and rekindle the spark of life which is His alone (Ezekiel 37:5-10).

Don't focus on what you "don't have" or what you "can't do".  Get your eyes off of yourself and look to Christ.  I tell you that no obstacle (finances, family, health, education, location, etc.) can impede the work of God's Spirit.  If only we would believe...and we often have not because we ask not.  As we do, God will answer and He will equip us for the victory in Christ Jesus, for it has already been declared.

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23

Unforgiveness

A Brutal & Unrelenting Taskmaster

I have been in prayer about a young woman who is struggling with the spirit of lesbianism.  God has been placing her on my heart for over the past year, but I have known her since she was a child.

This morning in prayer, I asked the Lord to please give me the words to say to touch her heart.  I know the sin that she is in, but when I see her, I still see her as God revealed her to me many years ago: a precious daughter of the Most High.  In prayer, I really felt God pressing upon me that the root cause of this issue for her was unforgiveness.

When I got up this morning, I had a message from a sister on Youtube, which led me to her videos below.  They speak about her personal testimony of being delivered from a spirit of homosexuality and having to address the root of unforgiveness.  Let me tell you that God is faithful!!!!

I am posting the videos here because I know that they will be a blessing to many others.  It takes true deliverance to be able to speak boldly about what we were and what we have been delivered from; not to glory in those things, but to give God the glory for what He has done our lives. 

No matter the sin, unforgiveness can cripple our deliverance (Matthew 6:15).  In addition to the videos, I am reposting here an entry that was made on the message board on this topic as well.

The Healing Balm of Forgiveness

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14-15

Forgiveness can be a hard thing to offer when we feel that an injustice or offense has been committed. Yet not only does God command us to, He says that if we fail to forgive, He will not forgive us. This is a terrifying statement.

The one thing that stands in the way of forgiveness every time is pride. Forgiving and asking for forgiveness requires us to lay aside our selves, our positions, our rights, our causes, and even our pains. This cannot be done in man's strength alone, for man's natural instinct is to defend himself. Yet through the power of the cross, the love of God can be manifest in us, even towards those who we believe to be wrong.

"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."" Luke 17:3-4

• Offering/Requesting forgiveness does not mean you were wrong and the other person was right.
• Offering/Requesting forgiveness does not mean your hurts or views are not valid.
• Offering/Requesting forgiveness does not mean you have compromised on the truth.

Offering/Requesting forgiveness simply means that you have decided to obey the Father by taking up your cross and following Jesus so that Christ may live through you....even at the expense of yourself.

"Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.

The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'

And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."" Matthew 18:21-35

Unforgiveness is not just about what it offers to the other person. Forgiving is for our OWN benefit too, so that hatred, anger, malice, pride, or hurt does not rage down in our own souls.

Festering anger and unforgiveness is a tormentor! It is like walking around with a gaping, seeping, wound that is extremely sensitive to the slightest touch. It robs you of peace in God and shuts you up within yourself away from others.

BUT, there is a balm in Gilead! If you could but pray to be given the strength, God will intervene. He will remove the heavy weights which crush your soul and spirit. He will apply the balm of forgiveness so that you may be made whole and can release those who have caused offense. He will restore you in His love.

We are called to stand for that which is true. We are also called to forgive those who offend us. By the grace of God and through His love and mercy alone, we are equipped to do each of those things to the glory of God.

Et Facta Est Lux?

"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matthew 6:22-23

The phrase "Et Facta Est Lux" is the Latin translation of "and there was light."  It is a reference to the latter part of what is stated in Genesis 1:3, "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."

In this day and age, the word "light" is used to refer to any "truth" man wants to herald.  Yet, Jesus said that we must be sure that light within us is not actually a great darkness.

One thing which made this extremely apparent to me is a recent effort by those affiliated with Morehouse College to address what they view as "collective" concerns about the future of this institution.  In voicing these concerns to the Morehouse Board of Trustees, these men make an appeal to the college's motto: Et Facta Est Lux.  They remind all that the guiding principle of the college was to be an instrument of God's light in the earth. 

So what is the light by which they hope to reexamine & redirect the College's focus?  Is it the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Is it the light of making plain the way to salvation?  Is it the light of prioritizing what is needed to reconcile sinful man to God?  No.

It is the "light" of social justice and support of the anti-Christ ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  It is the "light" of helping Morehouse Men become citizens of the world's "elite".  It is the "light" of ensuring that the Morehouse community is a place of diversity for all types of gender identity and sexual orientations.

How utterly perverse and sad.  How tragic that these men can recognize the motto of their "beloved" institution, yet fail so completely in perceiving the "light" upon which it is based.  Instead, this institution is being encouraged to make its students the enemies of Christ (Philippians 3:18-19); to indoctrinate them with the mind of the world - and hence, the mind of the god of this world - all the while putting forth that they are doing the work of the Lord.  

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." II Corinthians 4:3-4

I in no way intend to pick on Morehouse College or those [mis]using the Scriptures to reform it.  It is simply one example of how fallen man promotes darkness as light. This is happening every day, all day in settings all across the world; and Jesus said it would be so (John 16:2-3). 

Do not be deceived by the false versions of "light" being promoted as truth in the world today.  Make sure that your eye is "single" and focused on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Truths so as to avoid deception.  Unless the truths we espouse are the truths of God, then we should know that our "light" is evil.

Soldier vs. Commander

The following is part of the book, Why Adam Cannot Be Saved, whose sections can be accessed here.

Man’s Relationship with God

Another aspect in the original relationship between man and God can be seen in God commanding Adam.

tsavah: to command, charge, give orders, commission, lay charge

God is a Commander and man was under His command. What God declared, man submitted to. Where God placed man, he stayed. That which God ordered, he heeded.

As mentioned previously, there was some contrary force in the realm of the earth with which man would have to contend. Man was expected to take dominion and subdue the earth as an ambassador for God’s Kingdom. Man was given authority, but also had to submit to authority so as to understand humility and faith in God. To teach him these things, God called man to be a soldier (Matthew 8:9; Luke 7:8).

We saw in Genesis Chapter 2 that God breathed into man the breath of life, allowing him to become a living soul. The Scriptures also speak of another purpose brought about in man when the Spirit of God is breathed upon him.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.” Ezekiel 37:5-10

Remember, apart from the Spirit of God, man is dead.  When the Spirit of God is breathed into man, he is equipped to become a warrior. One of the functions of man receiving God’s Spirit is to be raised up as a soldier (Hebrews 11:33-34; Ephesians 6:11-16; I Corinthians 9:25-26; II Corinthians 10:4; I Timothy 6:12; II Timothy 2:3-4, 4:7). The Spirit comes and brings man to life, but also empowers him to stand in preparation to engage in battle.

While each individual must receive God’s Spirit, the goal is for these members to come together into one body. Each individual is not an entity of its own, but God is looking to form “an exceeding great army”. Similarly, Adam & Eve were not expected to reign by themselves. One of the first things they were commanded to do was be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth so that all mankind – male & female – would exercise dominion together.

The relationship between man and God was not only one of creature & Creator. Being given God’s Spirit allowed man to know God as a Father, but also empowered him to be God’s battle axe in the earth (Jeremiah 51:20). This aspect of man’s relationship to God was critical to the purposes for which man was created: to fill the earth with the glory of the Lord.

Continue...

Creature vs. Creator

The following is part of the book, Why Adam Cannot Be Saved, whose sections can be accessed here.

Man’s Relationship with God

The first chapters of Genesis also give us insight into man’s relationship with God. One fact becomes immediately clear: There is a God…and it is not man.

Man is not the master of his own domain. He was not even the purveyor of his own existence. Prior to being bought (redeemed) with a price, man was made for a purpose. We are not our own and have never been our own.

Man is a created being, designed by an omnipotent Creator. Yet from the beginning, man shared an intimacy with God that no other creature did. Man was made in the very image & likeness of God because he was made with the ability to contain God within.

The word 'adam translated as “man” means “to be red”, representing the clay from which God made him. Once the Potter formed this clay from the earth, Scripture says that He breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life so that he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). This breath is representative of the Spirit of God being imparted to man’s spirit.

“All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.” Job 27:3

“The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” Job 33:4

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” John 20:22

With the Spirit of God being in man, God Himself was abiding in man (I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; I John 3:24). As a result, man knew God and was known by Him.

After God breathed life into man by His Spirit, man became alive to God. God placed the treasure of His Spirit in earthen vessels so that man would have knowledge of the glory of God (II Corinthians 4:6-7). Notice that God did not have to teach Adam who He was. Man knew this instinctively because of the Spirit within him (Jeremiah 31:33-34; Romans 8:16; Hebrews 8:10-11; I John 2:27). Having the Spirit allowed man to recognize and love God as his Father (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6-9; I Corinthians 8:3).

The Spirit of God was then able to lead man and communicate the mind of God to him (Romans 8:14; Galatians 4:6; I Corinthians 2:11-16); even to the point where man was more conscious of God than he was of himself.

self-conscious: conscious of oneself or one's own being; unduly aware of oneself as the object of the attention; embarrassed.

When told what to do by God, you don’t see Adam struggling with his own perceived inadequacies or limitations. He doesn’t wonder how he will carry out what God has tasked. He doesn’t consider his own ability or inability at all. He simply walks in obedience, depending on the Spirit to enable him.

This also allowed man to be completely transparent before God (Proverbs 20:27; Job 32:8). There was nothing to hide from Him and not even an inclination to do so. He and the woman were both naked before God, yet not ashamed (Genesis 2:25).

Without God’s Spirit within, man was dead to God; unable to know God or His ways. However, when God breathed life into him, man became more than just as created being; man became a son. As a son, man trusted and depended upon his Father, being sincere before Him and conscious primarily of Him.

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Self-validation: The New Gospel

THIS is the Condemnation

I had mentioned previously how the CD player in our car is broken and, as a result, we have been listening more to the radio.  As we do, it is becoming increasingly apparent that much of the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) and Gospel scene is nothing short of poison.  The music is often so unbiblical that I have to literally turn it off because it offends the Holy Spirit within me.

It makes me wonder, "What is worse?  Downright raunchy, profanity-ridden secular music or 'Christian' music which promotes 'another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel'?  Which is more damning?  To be an outright sinner or a hypocritical Christian?"  Jesus would say it is the latter (Matthew Chapters 6 and 23).

My children would often be bewildered when I turned the station.  In their eyes, if it is on a "Christian" radio station then it must be "Christian" music.  So I told them, "You know, this is not Praise & Worship music."  When they asked what the difference was, I had to consider that myself.

What was it that was so offensive about much of what was being played on the radio?  While perhaps not a technical definition, I told them, "Praise & Worship focuses on the Lord: His majesty, His mercy, His grace, His power, etc.  It glorifies Him.  Most of this music on the radio focuses on man and what God can add to man."  In a nutshell, one comes from a place of God-consciousness and the other self-consciousness.

Quite honestly, I have never heard such gobbledygook & psycho-babble as what is being passed off as the truths of God in music these days.

There could never be a more beautiful you...you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair are perfect just the way they are.

You gotta believe that you are someone worth dying for...You're worth it, you can't earn it. Yeah, the cross has proven, that you're sacred and blameless.

Everything that I see draws me...How do I sense the tide that's rising? De-sensitizing me from living in light of eternity...Lord what we gon do,We're relying on you...Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world.

He is with you when your faith is dead and you can't even get out of bed or your husband doesn't kiss you anymore. He is with you when your baby's gone and your house is still and your heart's a stone.

Tonight’s the night, for the sinners and the saints, two worlds collide in a beautiful display. It’s all love tonight when we step across the line. We can sail across the sea to a city with one king.

When a heart is cold as ice, you can't melt it with advice. No one wants to listen to a list of things they shouldn't do. So I build a city on a hill and I light a candle on the sill. Knowing you'll be always knocking at the door. Oh God I just want to love on everyone.

Some might look at these lyrics and say, "What's the big deal?"  I say it is a subtle, subversive attack of the enemy to make us believe that Christianity or even salvation is all about us.  It is a deceptive promotion of humanism as Christianity.

humanism: any system or mode of thought or action in which human  interests, values, and dignity predominate.

The BIG truth of which many Christians are ignorant is that salvation and indeed even our creation by God is not primarily about us (Revelations 4:11)!  We are not the center of God's world; His ways and His will do not revolve around us.

Believe it or not, this is a shocker for many people - even professing believers!  Too many people falsely believe that God created man so that He can sit back and enjoy granting our every desire like a big Sugar Daddy in the sky.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  We were created to accomplish God's purposes in the earth and until we realize that, then we will keep a self-centered (and erroneous) view of God.  I will be going into this more as I continue posting sections of the book, but I feel that I must address this here as well as it relates to the false views of salvation permeating the landscape (as reflected in much of the music).  Look again at the lyrics quoted above.

Are we perfect just the way we are or is God perfecting us to be more like the One who is perfect (Matthew 5:48; Romans 8:29; Titus 2:11-14; I Peter 5:10)?  Do we have to validate our image of ourselves & our physical appearance in this world before we can appreciate who we are in God?  Are we not encouraged to consider all in this world - and even our own lives - as dung so as to win Christ (Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 64:6; John 12:25; Philippians 3:8; I Peter 3:3-4)? 

Did Jesus die for us because we were "worth it" or did He die for us while we were lost in sin and the enemies of God (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:20-21)?  Does the cross "prove" that we are sacred and blameless or does the cross provide a way for us to become sacred and blameless (I Corinthians 1:8; II Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 2:14-16; I Thessalonians 4:3-7, 5:23; I Timothy 3:10; I Peter 1:13-16; II Peter 3:14)?

Is it normal for everything we see in the world to "draw" us or are we called to mortify our members on the earth so that the lusts of this world do not draw us? Are we to just depend on the Lord and His forgiveness when we allow ourselves to be consumed with the things of this world or does He tell us to sanctify ourselves so that we are not consumed (Genesis 19:15-17; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:26-27; Colossians 3:1-2, 5-7; I Thessalonians 5:23; James 4:4; I John 2:15-16)?  What is impetus behind, and outcome of, being "drawn" after that which is unGodly and is it possible not to be so drawn (James 1:12-16)?

What does it mean for God to be "with us"?  God is everywhere; He even shows grace and mercy to those who are His enemies (Matthew 5:45).  God's faithfulness is surely not dependent upon the things of this life.  However, His being faithful does not mean that we can walk around in dead faith or with stoney hearts as we are also called to be faithful to Him (Luke 19:17; John 14:15; Romans 12:1; I Corinthians 4:2; James 2:17-26; Jude 1:3; Revelation 2:10, 17:14).  God is always faithful, it is man who is not.

Is God bringing "sinners and saints" into a "beautiful" collision as they are all brought together in service under one King (Joshua 24:15; Luke 16:13; Romans 6:16-19, 8:5-8; James 4:4)?  Is the definition of "love" to eradicate the "line" that distinguishes sinners and saints or is this even a line which will be acted upon by God Himself at the Judgment Throne (Matthew 3:12; 13:30, 25:32-41)?

Is it "love" to not tell people about sin (Proverbs 17:15; Isaiah 5:20; Malachi 2:17; Matthew 6:23; Luke 11:35)?  What does Scripture say about those who despise correction (Proverbs 1:30, 10:17; 12:1, 13:1, 15:10; John 3:20)?  Does Jesus promise to always be knocking at the doors of our hearts (Jeremiah 7:26, 11:14; John 17:9; Romans 1:24-28; II Thessalonians 2:10-12)?

I am asking you to step away from the nice melodies & the inspirational words (as well as any idolatry of the artists themselves) to take a BIBLICAL look at the messages being portrayed.

Salvation is not about how you feel about yourself, what has happened to you or even what you have done.  Jesus is not the means to help you feel good about yourself.

We must get our eyes off of ourselves if we are to ever truly walk in fellowship with the Lord.  In the world, fallen man is completely self-conscious; driven by what he likes, what he wants, what he thinks...  We live our lives for ourselves and then we bring this attitude into salvation and call it "Christianity".

You can discern this mindset even in how people talk about coming to faith in Jesus Christ.  They will make comments such as, "My problem was that..."

• I was never loved
• I never forgave myself for things I have done
• I never felt accepted by others
• I never fit in anywhere
• I never thought I was beautiful

They then turn to Jesus as a means to "right" those perceived wrongs.  They seek Jesus because He will love me, He will accept me, He will forgive me, He will see me as beautiful...Me, Me, Me, Me, Me.  While it is true that Jesus loves us, forgives us, accepts us...the purpose of His coming was not to sign-off on our self-image.

The revelation of salvation is not that we can now finally be somebody, but the realization that we are in fact nothing apart from Him.  It is not to finally believe that we are worth something, but to understand that He alone is worthy.  It is not to be convinced of our own beauty & greatness, but to perceive how wretched & small we are in comparison to One so holy & mighty.

Let's not deceive ourselves.  The reason people don't come to Jesus is not because they don't have a positive view of themselves.  According to the Scriptures, there is only one reason why men do not to turn to faith in Christ:

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:19-21

THIS is the condemnation: we loved darkness more than light.

Your problem (and mine) was not that you were mistreated & abused in the world.  It was not that we were searching for love, but unable to find it.  Our problem was that we loved darkness more than light.  Unless we are prepared to deal honestly with that love for darkness, then Jesus will never be more than a "Dr. Phil" for many.  He will be a tool to help me be happy with me, love me, and be content with me.  He becomes the way towards self-validation because we falsely believe that learning to love ourselves is the "greatest" love of all.  Such is delusion for appealing to man's self-worth will not lead them to repentance from sin.

Notice however that anyone then who speaks of sin or repentance becomes the enemy to that type of message.  Instead of showing the way of righteousness, the Christian is supposed to simply embrace all and "show love" by leading people to believe that they are fine just the way they are. 

No song seems to make these issues more clear then one by Casting Crowns entitled, "Jesus, Friend of Sinners."  We have written before about the errors in promoting Jesus as a friend to sinners, but what also comes across in this song is how this message makes the real Christian out to be the obstacle to another's salvation.  The things which God commands us to do become those things which are considered "unloving".  In order to show love according to this thinking, we must turn a blind eye to sin.

I have loved a number of Casting Crown's songs and have often posted them here, but again I ask: truly examine these lyrics.  Is this the Gospel message? And if not, then what is being promoted here?  My comments appear in brown below.

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

[Who is the "we" who have strayed so far from God and are cutting people down?  Is this supposed to represent all Christians?  While I agree that the word of God can be used unrighteously, is there not a rightful use of the sword to cut between that which is soulish and that which is spiritual in order to make plain the way of righteousness (Habakkuk 2:2; Psalm 149:6; Isaiah 30:21, 49:2-3; Acts 2:37; Ephesians 6:17; II Corinthians 2:17, 4:2, 10:4-5; Hebrews 4:12)? 

Is the "truth" that the "world" is really on its way to Jesus, but being tripped up by those who serve Him (Matthew 7:13-14; John 15:19, 17:9; I John 2:15-16, 3:1)?  Is the main calling of Jesus' disciples to make sure that they don't get in the way of the "world's" salvation or is it to preach the Gospel?  Are all Christians double-minded, hypocrites?  To whom does God command to clean their hands; is it the saint or the sinner (James 4:8)?  Who does God really command not to judge, and why?]

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

[It is unmerciful and hard-hearted to point out sin (Matthew 9:13; Luke 5:32; II Peter 3:9)?  Is God's heart broken about sin or does He have righteous indignation about it (Psalm 7:11; Nahum 1:2-3; Romans 1:18; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6; Revelation 14:10)?]

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

[Did the "righteous" turn away from condemning the woman caught in adultery or was it the "self-righteous" (the scribes & Pharisees)?  Isn't there a difference between the two?  Did Jesus' "love" mean He ignored sins or did He tell people to "go and sin no more"?  When Jesus & His disciples brought the reality of man's sin to light, were they "judging the wounded" (Matthew Chapter 23; Mark 11:17; John 4:16-29, 5:14; Acts 2:14-37, 6:8-7:54)?]

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

[Yes, Jesus came for those who were lost and leprosy in Scripture is symbolic of sin.  However, Jesus didn't just leave lepers in that condition.  Neither did He just overlook their leprosy and pretend it wasn't there or that it didn't matter.  Jesus healed their leprosy (Matthew 8:3, 10:8, 11:5; Mark 1:42l Luke 5:12-13, 7:22, 17:12-19)!  He will do the same with our sin, cleansing us from it and giving us victory over it so that we are no longer lepers; or as the Scriptures say, no longer "unclean" (Leviticus 13:3-59, 14:44-57, 22:4).  If we are still unclean lepers after having come to Jesus, then we have not yet been healed, delivered, saved; we need to be born again.]

Jesus is not out to make us "feel good", but to change our hearts and minds so that we can be like Him and do the works His Father has commanded of us.  It is only when our eyes are on Him that we can have a right self-image because in Him is where our identity is found (Acts 17:28).

The way that Jesus heals the brokenhearted is by giving us a new heart: one not focused on ourselves.  The way that Jesus heals our wounds is by getting our focus off of them so that He can work through us to tend to the wounds of others.  Let us never use the Gospel or a right relationship with Jesus Christ as a psychological crutch to prop ourselves up or make us feel better about our existence in this world.

Even in our "salvation", are our eyes on ourselves or on Jesus?

UPDATE: Brother Seeker_of_Truth has recommended the following video by Min. David Wilkerson called, "Counterfeit Christianity", so I am posting it here for your edification.

Shake OFF the Snakes

The Spirit of Divination

"And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour." Acts 16:16-18

Sometimes you read things in Scripture which you think you understand, but through life experiences God shows you how cursory your understanding really was.  Such is the case with me recently and the spirit of divination. I thought I understood this spirit, but did not realize until I saw it in action how little I knew. 

While this post is not a part of the book, this understanding has indeed helped in that regard as well.  The word for "divination" here is actually the word for python. This references the Oracle of Delphi (also called the priestess Pythia) which was one of the most important temples in all Greece and a focal point for intellectual inquiry.  It was dedicated to the god Apollo, who was believed to have the gift of prophecy and was able to impart this "gift" to his oracles. It is this serpent spirit which is referenced in the text above.

Scripture says that the serpent was more subtle than any beast the Lord had made (Genesis 3:1a).  There is a reason why Satan chose this creature to try and deceive man in the Garden of Eden.

subtle: not immediately obvious or comprehensible; difficult to detect or analyze; cunning or wily; operating or executed in secret: a subtle intrigue

Many times, people operate in this spirit and are not even aware of it.  Yet there are certain things about this spirit that we can discern from the Scriptures.

• Religious - It is a religious spirit, purporting to speak for God and about the things of God.  In this way it can deceive, as the outward appearance is one of being in line with God.  Additionally, it likes to manifest in religious settings.  Notice that it began to "prophecy" as the men of God committed themselves to prayer each day. 
• Wrong Spirit - It is important for us to understand why this woman's actions grieved Paul so.  This spirit claimed to know certain truths of God and to "prophecy" about them, but it was the wrong spirit.  Someone can say something that is true, but still be demonically inspired.  Taking her words at face value may not have caused much concern, but Paul was able to discern the spirit operating behind those words.  This is why God tells us to test the spirits (I John 4:1). Even truths spoken in the wrong spirit grieve God.
• Idolatry of Man - One way in which this spirit was in error is that it tried to get the people focused on the disciples instead of on the Lord.  The disciples were preaching Christ and drawing the people's attention to Him. Yet she followed them around, constantly trying to direct the people's attention to "these men".  Whether it is man himself or the life of man, any message that has you focusing on the things of this world is not of God. God admonishes us to always set our affections on things above, not below.  Even if a man is preaching the Gospel, the focus should always be on Christ.  Men must not take glory that belongs to God for themselves and must be aware of those trying to sow to their flesh.
• False Gifts - This spirit also attempted to use the Lord to validate its occult, psychic powers.  Seeming to speak truths about God gave the appearance that the woman's ability to "see" was of the Lord or sanctioned by Him.  Now, there are actual gifts of the Spirit which provide a word of knowledge or discernment, but that is not what was operating in this woman.  When this spirit is in operation, you will often see false spiritual gifts, which again can be deceptive if you cannot see the spirit operating behind the "gift".
• Pride - There is also an element of pride in this spirit.  Not only did it try to get the disciples puffed up about their obedience to God, it also operates from a position of self-pride in the one who carries it.  It deceives them into thinking that they are the "one" with the answers; they alone can "see" what others cannot.  Consider this.  The disciples were actively preaching Christ (Acts 16:10).  Anyone who could hear them knew they were showing the way to salvation.  Yet, the spirit in this woman felt led to proclaim this obvious "truth". It presents itself as being one with access to hidden or secret knowledge upon which others are dependent.  God did not need the validation of this spirit to confirm those He had chosen.  This is why pride in the Scriptures is often associated with Leviathan, a large serpent.

Some may ask, "Did this woman intend to deceive others?  Was she trying to speak & act against God?"  I would offer that such is unimportant.  What we intend or consider our motives to be has little to no bearing on what spirit we are operating in.

Consider Peter in Matthew 16:21-23, when he spoke against what Jesus stated must happen in His death & resurrection.  Did Peter intend to entice Jesus into disobeying God?  Was Peter trying to get Jesus to cherish His life in this earth more than His eternal life with the Father?  Probably not.  Yet nonetheless Jesus said to him, "Get thee behind me Satan!"

Can you imagine what Peter may have thought in response to Jesus' words?  "Lord, why are you calling me Satan?  I didn't mean anything by my statement.  I think you have misunderstood what I said or what I meant."  But did Jesus misunderstand?  No.  It is just that man does not know his own heart.  Peter did not know what spirit he was manifesting...but Jesus did (Luke 9:55).

I post this message in the hopes that it will lead each of us to examine our own hearts before the Lord.  If that spirit is in operation within, then we need to repent and seek God for deliverance.  If that spirit is in operation around us, then we need to sanctify ourselves from it.  Failure to do those things will allow that spirit to crush the spiritual life in us and in those around us.  It grieves the Lord and He will not bear with it, no matter how much a religious veneer it walks in.  Jesus is a faithful Deliverer, if we would just humble ourselves before Him.

Lastly, the following is a series of messages from Ron Phillips Ministries dealing with this spirit and its various manifestations.  As with all things posted on this blog, I am trusting the Spirit of God to lead each person in receiving what is from the Lord and dismissing anything else.  However, this is a very important message for the church to hear as we will encounter this spirit even more in the last days (II Thessalonians 2:9).

Videos:
Python: Coiling Cords of Wickedness
Leviathan: The Twisting Spirit
Jezebel: The Controlling Spirit
Absinthe: The Bitter Spirit
Cain: The Killing Spirit
Snakes: Shake off the Snakes

Preparation for Damnation

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" Numbers 23:13

I am still working on the book, but wanted to share the following video from The Ministry Is His.  It features an excerpt from Pastor Gary Price entitled "Preparation for Damnation" which discusses how people deceive themselves about the judgement of God.

• God's judgment is sure and His word promises that judgment will be executed in righteousness
• The Bible is not given to debate or quibble about, but to obey
• Religious dogma or data is not salvation
• Colleges & Universities try to indoctrinate you with the humanities so that you will have a mind that is the antithesis of God
• Anything you obtain in life is just an avenue to save souls, a tool to accomplish God's purposes
• Two things people do not like hear about: 1). The finality of death and 2). Eternal damnation in Hell
• God has an out-stretched hand to save, but who will come?
• It is important to truly know the voice of Jesus Christ and not just assume that the voices which tickle their ears are the Lord.  The serpent is subtle and able to deceive if we are not careful.  Man is able to deceive himself about God; we must examine ourselves.
• No one can save themselves.  We need to each be purged and cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ

The entire message can be heard here:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

The following article may also be helpful for those who watch the video: Does God Love Those He Sends to Hell?

One Flesh

The following is part of the book, Why Adam Cannot Be Saved, whose sections can be accessed here.

Man’s Relationship with Woman

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

Here we see the institution of marriage being established for the first time as that which was created male and female is now husband and wife.

One might ask, “Why is Adam making such a statement? What did he know about a relationship with earthly parents or about becoming one flesh with his wife?” Yet, we know that Adam had access to the logos of God. The same Spirit which inspired him to name the animals enabled him to make that prophetic statement. These were not Adam’s words, but God speaking through Adam to proclaim His will for marriage.

“And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed.” Malachi 2:15a

In Genesis 1 & 2, God makes clear His purpose for the earth: it was to be filled with the knowledge of the Lord and reflecting His glory. Crucial to this objective was the establishment of the family unit. God would use the union of the husband and wife to produce a godly seed from which He would reap a harvest (James 5:7).

Is it any wonder then why Satan so ardently attacks marriage, and by extension the family? What Satan attempted in the Garden he still tries today: pervert the marriage union so as to prevent a godly seed. In all the days of creation, Satan did not rear his ugly head. Yet as soon as the institution of marriage is in place, he comes swiftly to deceive.

The world would have you to think that marriage is a civil liberties issue, to be defined as we choose. However it is not man who defines marriage, but God, for He is the one who established it. God says marriage is not a “right” one possesses as a function of government or civil law. Marriage is a covenant made before God covering the sacred union of one man with one woman which is meant to last a lifetime (Malachi 2:14).

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:4-6 (Also Mark 10:6-8)

It is God who determined to make man “male” and “female” and it is God who stated that they would be brought together to become “one flesh”. When governments say it is discriminatory to limit marriage to one man and one woman…when entertainers cross-dress for your amusement…when the media blurs the lines between genders and promotes androgyny…when the schools teach your children that there are many different kinds of families…when the President of the United States says that he supports gay marriage…know that you are seeing Satan’s continued attacks to prevent a godly seed.

The very thing God desires to see in the earth is that which Satan works against.

Question what God has decreed: Did God really limit marriage between one man and one woman? Didn’t Jesus say that love fulfills all of the law? Shouldn’t we allow any who are in love to celebrate that love in marriage? It’s just all about love, right? How can “love” be wrong?

Question even God’s righteousness: Is it fair that homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders cannot enjoy the benefits of marriage? Aren’t we all children of God? What kind of God would prevent people from being happy and enjoying life?

Satan will try to get you to do anything but believe and obey God’s words.

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11

Man’s problems begin when he deems to take what God has created – even his own life – and thinks that they are his to do with as he chooses. Yet, everything God created was for His pleasure; and that includes the institution of marriage. While everything God has given man is good and for his good, there is a higher purpose for God's creation that does not revolve around what man wants or thinks.

“What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” I Corinthians 6:16-17

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31-32

The union of one man and one woman in marriage contains a “great mystery”. It reflects how the church is brought into union with Jesus Christ. As the man and woman become one flesh, those united with Christ become one spirit. The family unit (one man and one woman becoming one flesh to produce godly seed) is a picture of how Jesus Christ joins supernaturally with His Bride, becoming one spirit to bear godly fruit (John 15:5). Apart from Christ we are barren, we can do nothing. Being made one with Him, we can do all things. The pattern of marriage is an illustration to us of God's desire for us to be in union with Him.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” Ephesians 5:22

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” Genesis 2:23

Do we not understand the mystery God has used the institution of marriage to reveal to us and the significance of the order which is imbued in it? It is all to glorify God, to manifest His great love for us, and to make plain the way for us to be joined together with Him in sharing that great love. It is for our benefit, but for His glory.  Christ claims us for His own and we become part of Him, just as a wife is joined to and becomes one with her husband.

Nothing was done by happenstance; not God’s determination for there to be “male” and “female” nor the joining of the two together to become one flesh. It all has meaning and purpose in making known to man the Kingdom of God in the earth and our role in that Kingdom. Any other union is an abomination primarily because of how it perverts the image of God. When we pervert the nature of marriage, we are by default perverting the nature of the “great mystery” of our redemption in Jesus Christ.  God not only desires the best for man, but He paid the price to enable us to have His best, even using the very creation He established to illustrate that best to us.

In Adam’s proclamation in Genesis 2:24, we see God’s intent in defining marriage between one man and one woman. Not only was such essential to the very survival of the human race (Genesis 1:28, 6:19), but it was the foundation upon which God determined to bring forth godly seed. He used marriage to reveal to us the mystery which would unfold of Jesus Christ reconciling man unto Himself.

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A Head & A Help

The following is part of the book, Why Adam Cannot Be Saved, whose sections can be accessed here.

Man’s Relationship with Woman 

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:18

Unlike some believe, woman being a "help" for man was not a product of the fall. This was God’s original design for her.

When it comes to the solution for man’s loneliness and the appropriate mate for him, God is not ambiguous. Woman was created specifically for this purpose. The woman is the help which is “meet” (fit or worthy) for the man.

help: (ezer) One who helps or succours

for him: (neged) Against, parallel to, opposite

When God saw this need in man’s life, He did not decide that it would be good for man to have a maid. Rather, He saw the need for one who would offer man strength in his areas of weakness and complement him in a way that no other creature could (Genesis 2:20). In a similar way, Scriptures indicate that God serves such a purpose for mankind; He is our "ezer" (help).

Being a help “meet” for man therefore illustrates how woman was purposefully designed for him.  The Hebrew word neged implies that which is “against” another, but its use here is not in an adversarial way. Physically and spiritually, God made woman so that she would be a complement to man. Together they would form a symbiotic relationship, like two puzzle pieces fitting together, each having a particular set of strengths from which the other would benefit.

These distinctions would prove vital in the roles God determined each to fulfill: the man being the head and the woman being his help.  As there was an established order to be preserved between man and the earth, there was also an order between the man and the woman.

Just as Adam’s naming the animals denoted his being in authority over them, so did Adam’s naming of the woman. As God presented her to the man, Adam called her ishshah (woman) because she came "out from man" (Genesis 2:23). In this act, Adam claimed Eve as his own and identified her as being part of himself.

Another way Adam’s headship can be seen in the creation story is in how God communicated His commands about life in the Garden. We see in Genesis 2:16-17 that God gives these instructions before the woman was even created. Yet it is clear that Adam was expected to pass them on to Eve, and had done so (Genesis 3:2-3). Further, when they both fell into sin, God came to Adam for an accounting of what happened, even though it was Eve who had been deceived.

The authority that comes from God will always bear His signature; it will be patriarchal in nature because such reflects & reinforces His image. In establishing His authority in this way, He continually brings our eyes back to Him as our source and our Father.

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Genesis 2:21-23

The world is quick to say how without a woman, there would be no man. Yet Scripture says that the woman is of the man, and not the other way around (I Corinthians 11:8-9).

It is also significant that Eve was taken from Adam’s ribs. The ribs provide one main function: they offer protection for the heart & lungs. Both are critical to sustaining the life of the body, yet the nature of their work requires that they be soft, delicate, and pliable...even while being amongst the most resilient organs in the body.  Their strength then is not in outward appearance, but is an inner strength.

Understanding the functional purpose that these delicate organs serve and how vital their work is to the health of the body, it is clear to see why God - in His infinite wisdom - encased the heart and lungs under the protection of the ribs. This is a parallel to who woman is and what she does...and why God in His wisdom placed her under the authority of the man.

God designed woman with the primary purpose of her carrying and supporting life…in all areas.  The Hebrew word for Eve is chavvah which means "life". The woman can physically nurture and give birth to life, but she is also designed to be a spiritual life-giver. The very spirit a woman walks in can either build up a home or work to destroy it (Proverbs 14:1, 19:4, 21:9, 31:11-12; Psalms 128:3a; I Peter 3:1-2). Although the woman is referred to as the “weaker vessel” (I Peter 3:7), God did not create woman to be without strength. Her strength is manifested in her virtue (Ruth 3:11; Proverbs 12:4, 31:10).

virtue: (chayil) Strength, might, efficiency, wealth, force, army.

While being equally created before God, man and woman were designed to serve different roles in God's creation.  As the head, man was expected to watch over and protect the woman who was specifically made to complement him as his help.

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Equal

The following is part of the book, Why Adam Cannot Be Saved, whose sections can be accessed here.

Man’s Relationship with Woman 

 “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone…” Genesis 1:18a 

How compassionate is our God! It was “good” that He had personally formed man in His image, given him dominion over His creation, and inspired him by His Spirit. Yet, He did not stop there. God was concerned with man’s companionship and determined that it was "not good" for man to be alone.

God always desires the best for His creation and He knew that man needed someone with whom he could share the love God had placed within him. Genesis Chapters 1 & 2 show us God’s plan in that regard.

Equal 

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27 

God’s image was reflected in two types of creation: male and female. There are attributes of God in the male character as well as in female character. They are both equally created as a reflection of God’s nature. In terms of importance, one is not less or more before God than the other. When God decided to make man in His image, He decided to make depict His image in both the male and the female.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26

Not only were they each equally created after the likeness of God, but God had given dominion over the earth to both the man and the woman. They were to exercise authority over the earth together.

Woman was not taken from the head of man as if she is his authority, or from the foot of man as if she is beneath him. She was taken from man’s side for she is on equal standing with him before God. This does not mean, however, that they can - or were even designed to - serve in the same roles or functions. 

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Harmony

The following is part of the book, Why Adam Cannot Be Saved, whose sections can be accessed here.

Man’s Relationship with the Earth 

“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.” Genesis 1:29-30 

This was not about a command for a vegetarian vs. a carnivorous lifestyle. God did not say, “Eating meat is bad, so eat vegetables, fruit, & grain.” There was no prohibition against eating meat because such was simply not necessary. The plants and fruits had all of the nutrients both man and beast needed to sustain life.

 The significance of the text was not the diet, but to illustrate that: 1) God Himself was the Provider of nourishment for His creation; and 2) All God had just created was in harmony with each other.

God made supernatural provision for man and the animals in terms of sustenance. Neither had to work to produce it, but God ensured that the earth provided for it (Genesis 2:5-6, 9; Matthew 6:25-29). Man surely had work to do from the Lord, but he was not “working for food”. From the beast, to the fowl, to man…all were given herbs, plants, and fruits to eat.

All creatures were in harmonious relationship with each other. Man had nothing to fear from the animals and the animals had nothing to fear from man. Although animals are not man’s equal, they are alive in the sense that blood flows through them as it does through us (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11-14; Deuteronomy 12:23). God’s provision of food reinforces that there was no need to take the life of another, there was no need for the shedding of blood; there was no need for death.

We know that God’s instruction to eat herbs & fruit had nothing to do with there being something sinful about eating meat. Believing that there is anything impure or unclean in eating meat is described in the Scriptures as a position of “weak” faith (Romans 14:2-3, 14-15). Such is also said to be one of the doctrines of devils spoken in the last days (I Timothy 4:1-3). What God has declared clean for consumption may be received from Him with thanksgiving (Acts 10:10-16; I Corinthians 10:30-31; I Timothy 4:4-5). One is not more or less spiritual to eat meat, but let all be done as a matter of faith (Mark 7:15-19; Romans 14:22-23).

After the flood, God instructed man to eat meat in the same way that he had previously given man “every green herb” (Genesis 9:3-4).  Man was given by God “every moving thing” for meat. Yet, notice the condition of creation at that time.

“And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.” Genesis 9:2 

Now it becomes clear that there was an absence of harmony in the earth. The animals – over whom man had been originally appointed caretaker – had now been delivered into the hands of man…in fear. What a change between the original relationship between man and beast! Previously, man was to be an ambassador for God, taking care of all living things in God’s stead, reflecting His love. Now the animals were being handed over to the jurisdiction of fallen man and fear would be the basis of that dominion. If the “beasts” are now afraid of man, then what had man become (Daniel 4:16; Psalm 49:12, 20; 73:22)?

“I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.” Ecclesiastes 3:18 

Fear was a consequence of the fall. Man’s first reaction to God after sin was fear (Genesis 3:10). It is only natural then that those over whom man had dominion would now fear him as sin spread like a cancer to affect and pervert all of creation. The introduction and escalation of sin affected more than man. It affected the very way in which all living things related to each other. The harmony which had once existed between man and animal was now gone because of sin.

God is not bringing man back to some spiritualized ideal of vegetarianism. He will however bring all of His creation back in harmony with one another, as it was in the beginning. Such cannot be realized in human effort or works. You can try to live in harmony with a lion if you want, but it will likely devour you. It is a “wild” animal. There is only one thing that can reverse the curse of sin and that is God taking His rightful place as the ruler of all. We are told that the harmony referenced initially will be restored during the Millennial Reign of Christ (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:17-25). Yet, there would still seem to be meat available even at that time.

“And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.” Isaiah 25:6 

Even should the “fat things full of marrow” merely be symbolic, it still references the choicest meats as representing the good things reserved for those who serve the Lord (I Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12). The presence or absence of meat for consumption is not the issue at all.

Remember, the Kingdom of God is not about meat nor drink, but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17). This was the condition upon which man existed with the rest of creation initially, and this is what God will restore in the end.

In the beginning, man’s relationship with the earth was one where he exercised dominion over it while at the same time existing in harmony with it.

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