Life Issues

The First Wedding

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Genesis 2:1-25 concluded..

These verses begin by showing Adam performing his God ordained task, as a matter of fact, he is showing a God-like quality. Just as God named the earth, the heavens, and man; Adam is given the ressonsibility to name the animals. This shows man in his ability to reason and to rule.

“And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.” (v. 20). As these animals pass before Adam he is shown that there is none like himself. This shows us that man is himself unique, and needs a unique help meet.

“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” (vv. 21-22). In these verses we find the first surgery performed, and the FIRST MARRIAGE. This was a very unique surgery. A rib is removed from Adam. The rib taken from Adam is then, ‘Built’ into the likeness of Adam in female form. The way she is designed is even unique. Instead of being formed from the dust of the ground she is built from the side of the man “For Adam was first formed, then Eve” 1 Timothy 2:13. It has been said, “Woman was not taken from man’s feet to be trampled by him, or from his head to rule over him; but from his side, to be near his heart, and loved by him”. UNKNOWN. In name and nature man and woman were made for one another.

In type [portrait] we see Christ giving His life for His Bride. Here is how it can be seen; 1) Deep sleep – death; 2) the side opened – the spear thrust into His side, and the blood and water flowed. Jesus died on the cross. His side was opened by a soldier’s spear (John 19:34). Even as Adam awoke; Jesus arose from death and the grave. When Adam awoke he discovered the most beautiful of all of creation. When Jesus arose from death He had prepared the way for the building of His bride. Just as God brought Eve to Adam, God brings us to Christ, also ultimately into the garden (Rev. 22:1-2).

The first husband and wife are truly one – Eve was taken out of Adam. Just for noting: Adam does not name give the woman the name “Eve” until the twentieth verse of chapter three, and that is after the fall. They were one in purpose, one in flesh, one in God and in worship.

In their innocence they were unashamed. They were open. Everything was revealed. They expressed genuine love for one another without shame or fear of reprisal. Their communication with one another, and with God was straight forward. There was no need for politics, political correctness, diplomacy or tact. It must have been wonderful. There is no way at all we can begin to understand the joy they shared together.

Here in this portion of Scripture is given direction for all marriages to come. The man begins his own family and is to, himself, become the head of his wife; not his mother, father of her mother and father.

God performed the first wedding ceremony. If God were allowed to be central of every wedding/marriag, and the couples; there would be no spousal abuse, divorce, adultery, etc., except because of sin.

It seems that in this year of 2007 Domestic abuse or Spousal abuse is up over much of our country. O, that those who are married would love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25ff). Too many times the husbands are always expecting to receive from the wife, when it is our privilege to give to the wife the very best that we can give, even to our lives.

Looking At The Beatitudes

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Matthew 5:1-12 continuing…

We will be looking at each of the Beatitudes individually through the next few posts.

LOOKING AT THE BE-ATTITUDES

Matthew 5:1-12

When we begin looking at the Sermon on the Mount we see how Jesus expects His dedicated followers to live. There are far too many professing Christians that are saying and believing, “We are not required to obey the law any longer”, thus we have a bunch of reprobate professors of Christianity. There could not be anything further from the truth.

Where the law only told us the way, but did not provide aid in the way; Jesus came fulfilling the law and because of His Spirit living within also enables us to live the law in our lives. The law which once was only written in cold hard stones, and could not reach stone cold hearts, is now written in hearts of flesh.

Anyone professing today that they live by the Sermon On The Mount had better read it before they make such a bold announcement. It is far more binding, and has much more it requires than does the Ten Commandments. We will look at some of those things when we get to those areas.

In this lesson of the ‘BE-ATTITUDES’, using a little play on words; we find the attitudes the individuals who are in the Kingdom of Christ Jesus the King, are to have.

There are nine “Blessed(s)” given. The meaning of the word “Blessed” is ‘happy’. That is a “Beatitude”. Each “Blessed” is a reference to more than happiness – it has most certainly to do with spiritual joy. Happiness (as often defined or thought of) is determined by circumstances; events which take place in one’s life which can either add great excitement and temporary happiness, or great distress and sorrow. If it is an event which brings temporary happiness and excitement, it is only fleeting. Spiritual joy is an attitude attainable only by faith in Jesus – having a close personal relationship with Him. The happiness of which these Bible Blessings speak of is an enduring happiness, an inner joy, which is everlasting, and cannot be taken away.

Matthews Gospel tells us that it was the disciples whom Jesus taught. After having multitudes following Him He probably felt a need to get away. If not only for His disciples sake. This is the first major teaching of Jesus in this Gospel. It covers chapters five through seven. It could be called PRINCIPLES FOR KINGDOM LIVING. This was the King’s way of setting up His kingdom, and preparing the hearts of His people for what was to come. It was a different kingdom, than what the religious rulers had heard and taught. For some reason they missed the part of the “Suffering Servant” (Isaiah 52-53), dying by the hand of God, and taking away our transgressions. We see by these that there is happiness, fulfillment, and joy in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior.

In the Gardens

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“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:8-9 and verses10 – 15.

For the sake of commentary we must mention that there are four gardens mentioned in Scriptures which have a great importance for us. The first garden is Eden which we will see shortly in Genesis; the second is Gethsemane found in John 18:1, and was the garden where Jesus prayed on His last evening; then, there was a garden at Calvary according to John 19:41-42 – that is the place where Jesus was laid after His crucifixion; and finally, there is the garden of the Heavenly Paradise found in the Revelation of Jesus Christ 22:1-2 – it is not there called a garden, but the Tree of Life is there and it is bearing fruit; it is surely a new Garden of Eden.

Of the first and the last gardens the only way into these is by God’s placing them/us therein. God created Adam and placed him in Eden. He makes us a New Creation, and places us, by His grace, into His heavenly paradise. The cross of Christ has made all things new in those who trust and believe Him.

There were two trees in the midst of the garden; the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The first was for eternal life, the second brought death.

This garden [Eden], as is also the Heavenly Paradise, is watered by a river which flows through and out of these gardens. The river which flows out of Eden is said to disperse into four rivers. Not much can be known of all these rivers, except one still has its original name [Euphrates], and Hiddekel is thought to be the Tigris River.

This river which flowed through the garden was a source of life. The river of water flowing through, from the throne of God, the Heavenly Paradise, is a source of eternal joy, and life.

We learn here, that God is the Giver of life and eternal life. “He that believeth on Me as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”, Jesus said, in John 7:38. Also see John 4:14. Jesus is the source of life, and those who drink from Him are the branches of water which go out to the rest of the world.

JUST AS THE LORD God PREPARED A PLACE FOR ADAM AND EVE HE HAS A PREPARED PLACE FOR ALL WHO TRUST HIM.

And On the Sixth Day…

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

Genesis 1:14-31 concluded

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Gen. 1:24-25.

On the beginning of the sixth day God created the final part of His creation before He created His crowning achievement.. He made all the provisions, necessities for human life, and comfort before He created the one made after Himself. When we see ourselves as we were originally made we will have a higher view of God, and eventually of ourselves, and others.

When the false teachers of evolution tell us that we are nothing more than a glorified animal, if even given that much credit, we find that there is no purpose for life, living, and that there is really no need for law. It would really come down to the teaching of THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. If we would take an honest look at our world and societies of the day we would find that people are becoming more and more unkind to one another. The evolutionits try and tell us that man is progressively getting better and better. If we are honest about it, though, we must conclude that there is little concern for human life. There is more concern for our life comforts, pleasures, conveniences, personal health and success, than there is for the unborn child. “The female of our species” can determine that this “thing” growing inside of her is nothing more than a mass which needs to be removed, comparing it to cancer. That is the result of being nothing more than another of the animal “species”, rather than having been created in the image and likeness of our Creator – God.

Often times, we as Christians, do not value the life of other created beings in the way that we should. I must say there have been times I was guilty of that. We should have a respect for all of life; even the life of the whale, dolphin, deer, elk, moose, cattle, horses, and all livestock, etc. However, that must be held within the perimeter of God’s Word. We have been told that, “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” Gen. 9:3-4 – of course we must realize this permission was given after the flood of Noah’s time. We are also told in the Proverbs, “The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious” Proverbs 12:27. I may aggravate a lot of hunters when I say this, but I will write it anyway. If you are a “Trophy hunter” and you waste the meat, and hunt for only the purpose of having a trophy, then you are nothing but a killer; a taker of precious life. There is nothing wrong with hunting and bringing in the meat for food, but when it is only for a trophy you fit into the role of “The slothful man”.

God has given to the creature created in His image and likeness the ability to think, to rationally think things through, to be logical, to dream, to achieve, to create – from materials which exist, and to build. The ultimate thing which God has given us is freewill with which to worship and adore Him.

When God made these cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the earth after his kind…we are told that, “God saw that it was good” Can you imagine this animal kingdom at peace with one another? The lamb and the lion feeding together; the ox and the tiger laying under the shade in the heat of the day sun; the child playing over the serpents den. This is the way it was in the beginning. There was peace in the “Animal kingdom”. The lamb and the lion; the ox and the tiger were eating the produce of the ground; “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.” (vv. 29-30).

Of man God says, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (v. 28). Nowhere does this mean mistreatment of animals, and nowhere does this mean they have as much or more value than human life. Of man God also tells us, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (2:7).

In verses 29 – 31 we find what has been called the Edenic Covenant. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. Sometimes a covenant may have conditions on both parties, or it can have conditions for only one of the parties. In the case of the Edenic Covenant God placed conditions on Adam and Eve in order for them to stay in Eden. These conditions are, 1) To multiply and fill the earth; 2) To subdue the earth for human use and the glory of the Lord; 3) To rule/have dominion over the animal creation, for their keeping and well being; 4) To eat herbs and fruits brought forth by the trees and vegetation in the garden; 5) To till and care for – Keep (Guard) – the garden; 6) To abstain from eating the fruit from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”; and 7) With the understanding of the penalty of death for eating the fruit of the forbidden tree.

Though we were made in the image and likeness of God; this image and likeness was later marred by sin when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. The bond between Adam and God was shattered by sin; by disobedience; and this image was restored by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It was not until the creation of the crown of His creation that God said, “It is very good”, and He said it of all that He created. Just think, if He could say that about the creation of the natural, what He will say when the New Creation is completed. The New Creation being every individual who has come to God through Jesus Christ’s shed blood, burial and resurrection. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” 2 Cor. 5:17. The evening and the morning were the sixth day.

On Day Five

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Genesis 1:14-31 continuing…

“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day” Genesis 1:20-23 (KJV).

 

We come now to the creation of the Fins [life within the waters], and creating of the Feathers [life of the fowl] (vv. 20-23). “Let the waters bring forth abundantly…”. Jesus said to the woman at the well, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” John 4:10. Jesus also said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” John 7:37-38. It was the fifth day that life was given in the waters of the earth. Remember who is doing the creating. The voice of God; the Living Word, and the Living Water.

In looking at these verses it almost would appear that the recent declarations by some evolutionists concerning fish and birds coming from the same form of life could have some merit. The only ‘merit’ I give them is that these were both created on the same day, and it does almost seem that you could make an argument for them coming from the water. I will not give them that, though. It does tell us that each was made “After his kind”. The fish was made for and after the fish. The bird [fowl] was made for and after the bird. It did not take hundreds, thousands, or millions of years to make these or any other part of creation. We are told this creating was all done in a period of six days. It is measured by the “rising and setting” of the sun, or one rotation of the earth. God tells the fish and creatures of the waters to fill the waters, and He tells the fowl to fill the earth. This was the fifth day.

Remember God’s order! 1. The heaven and the earth was created; 2. Light is created, ordered for the earth; 3. God puts a protecting sphere or canopy over the earth made of water; 4. Plants begin to grow, ‘After his kind’; 5. The light giving bodies are created becoming the permanent sources of light; 6. Aquatic and fowl life are created to reproduce “After his king’; 7. The land creatures are created – the cattle, horses, etc. – this also includes the creature created in ‘God’s image’. When there is such order how can anyone with a reasoning, thinking, mind of logic see anything but a Creator?

The Second Day

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Genesis 1:3-13 continuing…

“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day” Genesis 1:6-8 (KJV).

On day two the waters of the earth were to be divided. The water of the surface of the land, and the waters in the sky. This does leave us with the knowledge that there is water above us, even in our time. We know that because of clouds, rainfall, snowfall, icefall, etc. On this second day of creation this water above the earth seems to have been much more massive than that of today.

One thing that should be noticed is the orderly fashion in which God created. Of course, it is obvious to us that it should be done this way. However, far too many times we humans get the proverbial “Cart before the horse”. This is further evidence of the All-Wise, All-Powerful Creator.

This second day is a recorded day of division. It should also be noted that this is the only day where it is not recorded that “God saw that it was good”. It seems that there is something of a sadness on this day. Could it be possible that this division typifies the cross of Jesus? The separation of man from God? The separation of the God-Man from His father as He becomes the sins of the world, and becomes the brunt of His Father’s judgment? “We believe that the ‘firmament’ here typifies the cross and sets forth its twofold aspect. There our blessed Lord was divided or separated from God Himsell — ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’; and there also He was separated from man– ‘Cut off out of the land of the living'”. A. W. PINK Gleanings In Genesis pg. 24. One thing we must realize when we recognize “Types, shadows, etc.” is that a type does not deny the historicity or truth of the text. If we can see this here, then, truly glory is given to the Creator, and we magnify Him. This may be the reason why there is no acknowledgement of , “God saw that it was good”, His heart was grieved, because He saw the price that He would be paying to redeem fallen man.

It should be noted that at the last day of creation we are told, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (v. 31). At the completion of God’s New Creation he will be able to say, through His Son Jesus, “Well done Good and faithful servant. His creation is “Good”. The completion of creation – the New Creation (2 Cor. 5:17) – is “Very good”. Man, not the material things, are the priority of God’s glory.

The Price of Security

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Matthew 4:1-11 continuing…

“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” Matthew 4:5-7.

This the second temptation. How secure was the Lord Jesus in who He was/is? Did He have to prove it? Jesus had all the basic desires that all humanity has. He had one thing going for Him which we did not, and that is that He was/is Deity, yet He did not boast of it. He boasted of His Father. When an individual is secure they do not need to prove themselves before, mocking, hateful, envious, despising crowds, or individuals.

Jesus Christ had the desire for security. Again, I want you to remember these disires are God-given and no sin in them unless they become perverted, and outside God’s purview. People today have desire for financial security, health security, retirement security, home security, and family and marriage security. Many times these items can become a source of worry and fear, and that shows a lack of faith and trust in the Lord.

Security, or obtaining security can become a source of self dependence, and not so much depending upon the Lord and His provisions. People spend hours per day laboring extra long and hard to be sure their job is secure. Many labor, to the point of being afraid of their job – meaning they are afraid if they do not work the extra hours, do all the boss ask them to do above and beyond the call of duty, they could lose their position. Anyone who must do that is not secure. If you are fearful of these things; not having them, losing them, or maybe of never having them; you are not secure.

When a man or woman has obtained these or reached a point where they feel they are secure they have fallen into an open door to temptation. There has been many a Lottery winner who when they had won their million or millions, or maybe a little less, believed they were “Secure” now. They had it made. Then, something happened, they lost it, security was gone.

The devil tried to get Jesus to throw Himself over the edge. “If you are the Son of God, the angels will catch you, and no harm will happen to you” was his words. If you are secure in your own mind, and you feel you must prove it; you are the least secure person there is. The one who is secure needs not depend upon any proof, but upon the peace only God can give, then you will presume nothing. When the time comes all will be exposed.

Jesus would go to the cross, be lifted up before all to see, He would ask the Father to forgive their sins, He would finish what the Father sent Him to do, and three days later He would rise from the grave alive. He went all the way to death – the death of the cross – and He arose. He was secure in the Father’s will.

The Voice of God

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AND GOD SAID…Genesis 1:3-13

 

“In the beginning God…” clearly refutes all things which exalt themselves against God. “Pantheism” says all things are god and god is all things, but this is clearly refuted because if ‘all things are god’ then, how did they come to be? If God is all things, then, why create?

“Atheism” is repudiated by the Bible’s declaration of God.

“Materialism” is refuted because God’s material creation are distinguished as being separate by Scripture.

In these first few words God is seen as the All-Powerful (Omnipotent) One who is before all things and holds all things in His hand. It is declared that “…He is infinite and omnipotent, for no finite being possesses the power to ‘create’, and none but an Omnipotent Being could create ‘the heaven and the earth’.” A. W. PINK, From Gleanings In Genesis.

If we are to find the answers to the questions of life we must begin with God, as has been stated in the previous message. We must begin with Him, because it all began when He spoke things; seen and unseen; into existence.

There are those who follow the C. I. Scofield belief of a “Gap theory” between verses one and two. They believe this was the time of the dinosaurs, and gives allowance for the seeming contradiction of earth’s age, and other things, between science and Scripture. A look at Revelation 21:1, without question disputes the ‘gap theory’. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea”.

The earth ‘without form and void’ would be much like a painters canvas. The artist has a picture in his mind, but no one else can see it until the work is almost finished. This was a creation which was only beginning. The painter had not yet began His work.

There does seem to be Scriptural evidence which supports the existence of large dinosaurs on earth, even during the time of Job. In Job chapter 40 we see a creature called ‘Behemoth’ beginning in verse 15 – “Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron” Job 40:15-18. Some commentators say this is speaking of something like a hippopotamus. The description sounds to me to be much more than a hippo. In chapter 41 another creature call “Leviathan” is seen as a “fire breathing” creature, “By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth” Job 41:18-21. The Bible teachers of a few years ago declared that this was a crocodile. “Flame goeth out of his mouth…” a crocodile? Now, come on. Job must have lived sometime after the flood. This would have been when these creatures died off, because of the change of environment, after the flood.

At the initial creation the earth was covered with water. There was no light until the Spirit of God “Moved upon the face of the waters”. The Holy Spirit brooded, like a hen sits on her eggs bringing forth the desired result. PLEASE NOTE – God did nothing without the work of the Holy Spirit, or His Word which became flesh (John1:1, 14). This is so of individuals who find their lives void, and without purpose or meaning. God was not pleased with the darkness on the ‘deep’, and He is not pleased when our hearts are dark and void. God’s Spirit broods, and stirs our hearts to move us to God.

Without the moving of the Spirit there would be no light. NOTICE THE TRINITY AT WORK IN CREATION – 1. “God created…; 2. The Spirit moved…; and 3. God said…”; the Word went forth. When the Word went forth there was light.

Just as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were at work in the first creation, they are also fully at work in the New Creation bringing purpose, meaning and light into every life who is drawn to God’s grace and salvation.

The Beginning…

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The book of beginnings…

I have been posting these at the Watchman’s Trumpet, but I got away from its theme doing so. I will start over here. Forgive me if you have already read these first few posts.

 

THE BEGINNING… GODGenesis 1:1-2

If anyone is to know who they are, their purpose in life, where they came from, and where they are going, we must go back to the ‘Beginning’. No one will fully understand these life questions until they come to grips with the reality of the ‘Beginning’ of all things.

The Bible never argues the existence of God. It presents His reality, His person, power, and glory. The very first verse declares Him – “In the beginning God…”. ‘In the beginning…’ does not declare the beginning of God, but His creation; the things which He has made. For those who would say all things are god, then how did all things come to be? For those who would say, “There is no God”, their belief is repudiated by the declaration “…God created…”. For those who would cling to materialism and worldly possessions we see them as being separate in the created order, and mankind being the highest of the created order. Who is she/he that would elevate things over our fellow man? God has not done so, but has rather given to us all these good things to sustain us and for us to enjoy.

The answer to the four questions: WHO AM I? WHERE DID I COME FROM? WHY AM I HERE? WHERE AM I GOING? could also be followed with the question, HOW DO I GET THERE? To answer these questions we must begin with God. The unholy, unscientific theory of evolution leaves us asking still more questions like, ‘What came first the chicken or the egg?’ That is a foolish question when you understand God created the chicken full grown and layed eggs and to tend them. If we begin with God the question is answered. In man’s limited thinking everything has to begin small and grow larger. With God’s creating He began with a full grown earth – grown vegetation, vegetables, fruits, animals, and full grown human beings – a full grown Adam and a full grown Eve taken from Adam’s rib. Since God created a full grown creation that explains the age problems that “Science” seems to have with the Biblical account. If you begin with God there is no problem with creation. If you begin with evolution all you have is questions without answers.

Too many people want to interpret the Bible by science, when in reality we shoul interpret science through God and His Word – the Bible. When “Science” contradicts Scripture, then, science is in error; not the Scriptures. True science starts with something to study. Evolution – a human theory – begins with absolutely nothing, but human thought. You could even call it “Demonic thought” because it was the devil himself who asked the first doubting question, “Yes, hath God said…?” Ever since that day there has been a demonic thought in the mind of every man to doubt what God says, and to dethrone Him (See Psalm 2). It did not; it has not; nor will any plot of demon or man, ever overthrow the throne of God.

God was not just, “In the beginning”; He is the beginning, and He is the ending. He is the First and the Last. He is the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8, 11, 17; 21:6; 22:13).

Without God we have no beginning, identity, purpose or destiny. We are nothing more than evolutionary puppets on a string of chance, ie., if the Evolutionists are right. Nothing more than animals controlled by our passions, and lusts. God forbid!!!!

We can see by the order of the events in creation that there was a Supreme Being in control. The earth, planets, sun, moon, and stars are first; then, the separation of water and land, and the earth and sky; then, vegetation on earth, life in the oceans and waters; then, the birds of the air; then, the cattle and beasts of the field; and last of all man. This could not be an act of chance. If any of this would have been out of order it would have failed – at least by looking at it logically. How do the people who watch the stars, planets, and such (Astronomers) know when there is going to be an “alignment of planets”, an eclipse of the moon or the sun; and tell us to split second accuracy it is going to happen? Because there is order in God’s created universe. Things like that do not “Just happen”.

There is a better chance of winning a 350 million dollar lottery jackpot, with only one ticket, than all these things just happening without a Master-builder/Designer. You could probably say that there is a better chance of winning a 350 million dollar lottery jackpot ten times in a row, with one ticket each time, than these things “Just happening” without a Master Builder/Designer.

God Himself is the cause and effect of all that is. When you begin with God you will find who you are, where you came from, why you are here, and where you are going.

 

The Price of Survival

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Matthew 4:1-11 continued…

“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” Matthew 4:2-4 (KJV)..

Temptation. There are a lot of questions to be asked, that will be asked, but I will not try and answer. When it comes to Jesus and temptation I have heard many a question concerning Him and temptation, especially if the Son of God is really God. After the baptism of Jesus we are told that He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Now this would be quite the temptation.

This is another point which proves the deity of Jesus. It does not seem that the devil is a credible witness, but the very thought of his tempting Jesus kind of begs the question, “Why would he bother otherwise, unless he knew Jesus to be the Divine Son of God?”

We are now looking at the first offer of a shortcut around the will of the Father. There is within all of us the desire for survival. We have all heard many stories of people caught in snow storms, stuck in the mountains, unable to move from their position, and they survive. People caught in all kinds of horrific incidents where anyone without the will to survive would not have survived. It is a God-given drive that has been placed within us. There is no sin in this desire.

Jesus had fasted, ie., done without food and sustenance for forty days and forty nights. He was hungry. I have never gone very long without food. Most of the people of the United States of America have never gone very long without food. Forty days and forty nights would be stretching the absence of food to the limit. Jesus was hungry. The devil approaches Jesus, with the temptation, ‘If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread’, and he knew who Jesus was. It just seems that he was thinking in Jesus’s weakened state He would be mentally, and spiritually weakened and even deny who He was, or at least doubt it.

What would have been wrong with Jesus turning the stones available to Him into bread? He had the power, the ability. He would have been giving in to His appetites rather than following the will of the Father. If there was no other reason than the temptation of the devil, that was reason enough for Him to refuse turning stones to bread.

Many times in order to survive in the business world, the spiritual world, physical well being world, people are tempted to risk their very character and fail – their moral excellence. Jesus did not. There are also many tempted and do put their integrity at stake – who you are when no one is watching. Again, Jesus did not. Jesus understood, as well we should, that survival is dependent upon more than the material [bread] alone. Jesus realized there was a Higher Authority, and He was responsible to Him alone, and the Father did not lead Him to this temptation to turn stones to bread. That Higher Authority is God the Father, of course, and He has given us His Word as an instrument to wield against the overwhelming temptations to compromise when we are tempted to live by the material.

Jesus answered the devil’s temptation with, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Deut. 8:3). Learn the Word and face these temptations victoriously. O, how badly we need to work at this. I know I do.

PROMISES AND PROPHECIES 7-9

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PROPHECIES OF ENEMIES FROM THE NORTH.

A. Ezekiel 38:15 – “And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:”

B. Ezekiel 38:2 – “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him”

1. Notes: Rosh is present day Russia. Meshech is present day Moscow, and Tubal is Present day Tabolsk.

C. Ezekiel 38:11 – “And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates” NOTE: New cities of Israel are now unwalled.

D. Ezekiel 38:12 – “To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.”

1. Notes; “Midst of the land.” Any world map shows Palestine to be the center of land area. The Dome of the Rock is the center of the earth. The word Mediterranean means the middle or center of the earth or terrain.

E. Ezekiel 38:15 – “And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army”.

1. NOTE: “Armies of Russia on horses”; Russia has 70% of all horseflesh in the world today!

F. Ezekiel 38:5 – “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee”.

1. NOTE: These countries are Persia, Ethiopia, Libya (North Africa), Gomer (Germany), and Togarmah (Turkey). These countries plus Egypt, Lebanon and Jordon comprise the United Arab Republic as we know it today.

VIII. PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE LANGUAGE.

A. Zephaniah 3:9 – “For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.” Zeph 3:9 (KJV)”

B. Jeremiah 31:23 – “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.” (KJV).

Note; the State of Israel was born with a language barrier of 70 different languages from all over the world. In order to have a uniform tongue they adopted the national language of Hebrew, which is being taught in every school there today.

IX. PROPHECY CONCERNING THE EXCAVATED CITIES.

A. Ezekiel 36:11 – “And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” (KJV).

Note; “Old Estates” – By governmental law, the ancient excavated cities must retain their old names.

B. Ashkelon: Zephaniah 2:4 – “For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. 6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. 7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.” (KJV).

C. REBUILD: Ezekiel 36:33 – “Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. 34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. 35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.” (KJV).

Edited for tags and categories by t.a. 03/12/10

PROMISES AND PROPHECIES 3

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III. PROPHECIES CONCERNING JERUSALEM.

A. Luke 21:24 – “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” NOTE: June 1967 was the first time Jerusalem has been in the hands of an independent Israel since 597 B.C., and it has been 2000 years since it was even occupied by Jews.

B. Zechariah 2:4 – “And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:” NOTE: The modern cities do not have walls.

C. Jeremiah 31:35-40 – “Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: 36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. 37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD. 38 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. 39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.” READ Zechariah chapters 2 and 14 and NOTE: Present boundaries of the city’s new section to the Northwest touch every detailed landmark prophecied by Jeremiah.

D. Destruction of Jerusalem.

1. Ezekiel 7:23-24 – “Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence. 24 Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.”

2. Luke 19:41-44 – “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

E. Eastern Gate Closed. NOTE: In Arabic these gates are called Elabwab Addahriyat… meaning, “Everlasting doors” and mentioned once in Scripture in Psalm 24; “Be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors”.

1. Ezekiel 44:1-3 – “Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. 2 Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. 3 It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.”

F. Capital of the Messianic Kingdom.

1. Jeremiah 3:13-17 – “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.”

G. Wars.

1. Zechariah 12:2-3 – “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”

2. Zechariah 14:1-3 – “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.”

H. Peace. NOTE: Jerusalem means, “City of Peace”, yet it has been seiged 46 times since David’s time and utterly destroyed and leveled to the ground 17 times; (These are listed for further study on pages 158-160 in “ISRAELI-ARAB CONFLICT OF THE BIBLE” booklet).

1. Ezekiel 34:25 – “And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.”

a. Ezekiel 37:26 – “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.”

2. Isaiah 66:10-12 – “Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: 11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.”

3. Isaiah 32:17-18 – “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;”

a. Isaiah 33:20 – “Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.”

4. Haggai 2:9 – “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.”

5. Zechariah 9:10 – “And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.”

6. Micah 4:2 – “And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

Edited for placing tags, and categories, no text change 03/12/10 by t.a.

PROMISES AND PROPHECIES 2

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II. PROPHECIES PREDICTING FINAL RETURN OF THE JEWS TO PALESTINE.

A. Deuteronomy 4:27-30 – “And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’ hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;”

B. Isaiah 11:11-12 – “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”

C. Jeremiah 24:6 – “For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up”.

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

D. Jeremiah 32:37-41 – “Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: 38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: 39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. 41 Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.”

E. Ezekiel 37:21-28 – “And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: 23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’ children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.”

F. These verses say, “I will gather you in my anger”.

1. Ezekiel 22:17-19 – “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 18 Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. 19 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.”

2. Ezekiel 36:24-28 – “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

3. Ezekiel 39:25-29 – “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; 26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. 27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; 28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”

Edited by T.A. 03/12/10

PROMISES AND PROPHECIES

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

The next few articles were compiled by a good friend of mine who is now in Heaven with the Lord Jesus, whom he loved.  Wayne Stephens was a Pastor, an Evangelist, and a soul winner.  My work on this was only in putting the actual verses in place.

I. PROMISES AND PASSAGES OF THE LAND.

A. THE LORD’S LAND. Hosea 9:3 “They shall not dwell in the LORD’S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.”

B. THE LAND OF PROMISE. Hebrews 11:9 ” By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise”.

C. “MY LAND”. 2 Chronicles 7:20; Jeremiah 2:7; 16:18; 2 Chronicles 7:20 – “Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.”

Jeremiah 2:7 – “And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.”

Jeremiah 16:18 – “And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.”.

D. “Zion of the Holy One of Israel…”

Isaiah 60:14 – “The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”

E. Genesis 13:15 – “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever”.

Genesis 17:8 – “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God”.

Deuteronomy 4:40 – “Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever”

Isaiah 60:21 – “Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified”.

All refer to this land as being given by God to Israel, and some say, “Forever”.

Edited by T.A. on 03/12/10