Bread of Heaven

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 Monday, September 30 2019

Matthew 6:16 And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already.

It’s interesting to note that in passage above Jesus stated when you give, when you pray, and when you fast. Giving, praying and fasting are three characteristics of Kingdom citizens. And notice He didn’t say, “If.” The modern, culturally approved church, often finds these things offensive providing further proof that the soul of man is often at the helm of its “leader-ship.” Spiritual men and women will seek to join the armies of Heaven enrolling in the practice of all three of these disciplines. Perusal of the Halls of Faith will reveal its heroes who would crumple in humility seeking the Lord in prayer, fasting, sackcloth and ashes. Greats such as Joseph who fasted for an interpretation to Pharaoh’s dream from prison. Moses, who not once but twice, ascended the mountain of the Lord fasting 40 days and nights at the feet of the Almighty. Daniel who often prayed and fasted seeking the Lord for the lives of others, interpretation of visions and dreams, and observing the Old Testament fasting calendar. His time in Babylon was marked by fasting as he arrived in Babylonian captivity, when he refused to eat the food of the other slaves. Instead, he chose a fast of obedience, holiness and consecration distinguishing himself as head and shoulders above all the rest. Need we mention Jesus’ fast of 40 days, or His many all night prayer vigils in which He sought the Lord for wisdom, strength, and guidance?

Many fail to notice that prayer is often accompanied by fasting. Fasting was rarely done just for fasting’s sake. It was an outward expression of the humility which accompanied prayer. Throughout Scripture the practice of humbling oneself was simply another way of expressing that this humility would be accompanied by fasting and was synonymous. 

Jesus taught that fasting would be accompanied by feeding on another kind of “meat” or “bread.” His “meat” being to do the will of the Father. His “bread” to feed off of every Word that proceeded from the Mouth of the Father was, and still is, an obvious message for those of us who live more for our bellies cravings than the Spirits’ leanings. 

Lastly, fasting was synonymous with seeking the Lord. If you were fasting you were seeking to be in the Lord’s Presence, hear His Voice, and discover His answers. True Biblical, fasting wasn’t done as an empty, religious exercise but as a portal into the Presence of God. It was an intentional act of denying your soul and empowering your spirit.

With that in mind have you chosen from the “3 For 10” Fasting Menu? What’s going to be your entree and appetizer? The very first thing a waitress would do is to take your drink order. Have you drunk in the Wine of the Spirit and Word today? I wonder what “Wine” the Holy Spirit Waiter would recommend? I wonder would there be a particular Spiritual year that He would recommend? Enjoy your meal. Oh and don’t forget to tip your Waiter.

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Ten Days of Awe – An Introduction

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The Purpose of Seeking God Continually: A Deceitful Heart

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]?

Since our heart, or soul, is deceitful above all things it most definitely can deceive us into believing that we are believing and trusting in Jesus – when in reality we are really trusting in ourselves. Also it has the potential to deceive us into believing that we are worshipping, serving, and obeying Jesus – when in reality we are simply serving ourselves. For this reason we seek God.

John Piper, in an article entitled, Seeking God states: Seeking the Lord means seeking his presence. “Presence” is a common translation of the Hebrew word “face.” Literally, we are to seek his “face.” But this is the Hebraic way of having access to God. To be before his face is to be in his presence.

But aren’t his children always in his presence? Yes and no. Yes in two senses: First, in the sense that God is omnipresent and therefore always near everything and everyone. He holds everything in being. His power is ever-present in sustaining and governing all things.

And second, yes, he is always present with his children in the sense of his covenant commitment to always stand by us and work for us and turn everything for our good. “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). But there is a sense in which God’s presence is not with us always. For this reason, the Bible repeatedly calls us to “seek the Lord . . . seek his presence continually” (Psalm 105:4). God’s manifest, conscious, trusted presence is not our constant experience. There are seasons when we become neglectful of God and give him no thought and do not put trust in him and we find him “unmanifested” — that is, unperceived as great and beautiful and valuable by the eyes of our hearts. His face — the brightness of his personal character — is hidden behind the curtain of our carnal desires. This condition is always ready to overtake us. That is why we are told to “seek his presence continually.”

Examples abound in Scripture of characters throughout the Bible who, though well intentioned, were missing God through their daily religious activities. Even the followers of Jesus had a tendency to wander away from pursuing Him rightly. At the beginning of the Book of Revelation John is described as worshipping the Lord in the Spirit, yet his focus is redirected as Jesus surprises him from behind. Mary Magdalene is startled when she hears her Savior’s Voice coming not from the empty tomb but from the garden behind her. Two of Jesus’ followers, walking on the road to Emmaus, find themselves consumed by the death of Jesus. That is until they are surprised from behind by the Voice which warms their hearts to the fact that He has Risen, His body broken for them. Throughout the Bible we are encouraged and called to seek the Lord to find Him. It’s interesting to note that the Spirit is compared to a river. If you seek to follow a river from its banks you will note it’s twists and turns, its rises and falls. At times you may even lose sight of the river because of the thick brush, or rising hills or mountains. The problem of seeing is remedied as the seeker moves from an observer to a participant. That initial jump lands them in experiencing the waters up close and personal as the waters carry carry them wherever it wishes. 

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Like the river the experience of seeking God though these feasts and festivals requires some introduction to understand the two holy days that are utilized for seeking. The first feast, Rosh Hashanah, literally means the “head of the year”, being the Jewish New Year. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah, literally means “day of shouting or blasting”. It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days specified by Leviticus 23:23–32. The two days of Rosh Hashanah (September 29 at sundown to sundown September 30) usher in the Ten Days of Repentance (Aseret Yemei Teshuvah), also known as the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim), which culminate in the major fast day of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The Days of Awe represent the climax of a longer process. Starting at the beginning of the previous month, called Elul, the shofar is traditionally sounded at the conclusion of the morning service. A ram’s horn that makes a trumpet-like sound, the shofar is intended as a wake-up call to prepare for the Tishrei holidays. One week before Rosh Hashanah, special petitionary prayers called Selichot are added to the ritual. Rosh Hashanah itself is also known as Yom Hadin or the Day of Judgment, on which God opens the Books of Life and Death, which are then sealed on Yom Kippur.

Rosh hashanah is accompanied by Yom Kippur which is “the tenth day of [the] seventh month”[3] (Tishrei) and is regarded as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths”.  According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person’s fate for the coming year into a book, the Book of Life, on Rosh Hashanah, and waits until Yom Kippur to “seal” the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend their behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God (bein adam leMakom) and against other human beings (bein adam lechavero). The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt (Vidui). At the end of Yom Kippur, one hopes that they have been forgiven by God. The Yom Kippur prayer service includes several unique aspects. One is the actual number of prayer services. Unlike a regular day, which has three prayer services (Ma’ariv, the evening prayer; Shacharit, the morning prayer; and Mincha, the afternoon prayer), or a Shabbat or Yom Tov, which have four prayer services (Ma’ariv; Shacharit; Mussaf, the additional prayer; and Mincha), Yom Kippur has five prayer services (Ma’ariv; Shacharit; Musaf; Mincha; and Ne’ilah, the closing prayer). The prayer services also include private and public confessions of sins (Vidui) and a unique prayer dedicated to the special Yom Kippur avodah (service) of the Kohen Gadol (high priest) in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. 

Obstacles To Avoid

Choosing to jump into the river will introduce you quickly to the immediate need of navigation. For in the river you will be introduced to obstacles like buolders, fallen trees, and debris that will seek to snag, impede, or completely halt your progress. With that analogy in mind there are several obstacles to be aware as you navigate the waters of seeking God. For example when the two disciples on the Emmaus Road reached their destination it appeared as if Jesus would not continue with them. It wasn’t until they urged Him to remain that they experienced the realization of Who this stranger really was. The same principle occurs between Moses and God at the burning bush. Scripture records: And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him …out of the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here am I. Exodus 3:3-4

Another profound Biblical example of this principle of turning aside to pursue, seek, and see God is found in the narrative of Elijahs’ prophetic mantle being handed down to Elisha. Scripture records: 

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel. But Elisha replied, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel. The prophets’ sons who were at Bethel came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? He said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace. Elijah said to him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho. But he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? And he answered, Yes, I know it; hold your peace. Elijah said to him, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan. But he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And the two of them went on. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood [to watch] afar off; and the two of them stood by the Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up and struck the waters, and they divided this way and that, so that the two of them went over on dry ground. And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. He said, You have asked a hard thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you—but if not, it shall not be so. As they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire parted the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

And he took the mantle that fell from Elijah and struck the waters and said, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? And when he had struck the waters, they parted this way and that, and Elisha went over. 2 Kings 2:1-14

Three times Elijah tests Elisha to see if he would turn back and three times Elisha passed the test. But did you notice the final exam? Elijah had told Elisha if he could keep his eyes on Elijah and not be distracted by any other thing he would receive a double portion of the Spirit that rested upon Elijah. Elisha’s final test involved the flaming chariot of angels. Had Elisha fixed his gaze on this fiery wonder he would have missed the greater prize. Beholding the sight would have been a good thing, but not the best. 

The Rock of Offense, Jesus, is that test for us. Throughout my ministry I have observed with sadness those who have flunked this test missing God’s best. It is my opinion that Jesus’ “hobby” during His earthly ministry was to offend minds in order to expose hearts. This ‘hobby” of Jesus has continued into the present. Because many in the church are controlled by their souls they will most often choose that which is sensible, logical, comfortable or reasonable. Yet a life in the Spirit, of truly knowing Jesus, is not accomplished through living according to what is comfortable, reasonable, or appealing to the soul. It is quite the opposite. Regarding these obstacles John Piper offers some final words of wisdom: 

And there are endless obstacles that we must get around in order to see him clearly, and so that we can be in the light of his presence. We must flee spiritually dulling activities. We must run from them and get around them. They are blocking our way. We know what makes us vitally sensitive to God’s appearances in the world and in the word. And we know what dulls us and blinds us and makes us not even want to seek him. These things we must move away from and go around if we would see God. That is what seeking God involves. And as we direct our minds and hearts Godward in all our experiences, we cry out to him. This too is what seeking him means. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6) If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy . . . (Job 8:5) Seeking involves calling and pleading. “O Lord, open my eyes. O Lord, pull back the curtain of my own blindness. Lord, have mercy and reveal yourself. I long to see your face.”

Thuswe are ultimatelyresponding to the call of the Lord to seek Him and not simply observe a Jewish feast. I’ve taken the liberties of seeking to be creative in our approach of pursuing the Lord, and was reminded of the “3 for $10” Special at Chili’s Restaurant. In this pursuit I want to provide you with a “menu” of options to choose from that will assist you in breaking through to His Presence.

3 for 10 “Hot and Spicy” Yom Kippur Fasting Special

(What Price Are You Willing to Pay?) 

Start with a drink of the Holy Spirit, then choose an appetizer and an entree from our “3 For 10” Fasting Menu. Entrees include Fasting, Praying, Repenting, Worshipping, and time with the “Word” in the word & more. Appetizers include selected Humility, Holiness, Obedience and Setting the Mind and Heart to focus our attention on Jesus. So many choices – all for 10 days!

Choose Your Main Entrees

Choose your Fast: 

  • food – Full Fast, Daniel Fast, or Partial Fast.
  • sleep – keep a night watch of worship and prayer. The Jews had 3: Sundown to 10 PM; 10 PM to 2 AM; and 2 AM to Sunrise.
  • time – have focused prayer morning, noon, and night; one of these, two of these or all of these.
  • media – have a time to turn off all media devices using that time to seek God.

Choose your Repentance:

  • take the soul and spirit man evaluation – take the evaluation, score and evaluate yourself to see if you are more soulish than spiritual.
  • pray – through the soul and spirit man evaluation regarding where you need to change.
  • confess your sins specifically – note the areas in the evaluation where you have been living more for your soulish desires than for the Lord. Then confess those sins to the Lord.
  • repent – this is a plan of action in response to the areas you have sinned. What actions are you going to take to overcome your soul?

Choose Your Worship:

  • Sing songs of worship to the Lord at the beginning of the day. (A Great Resource for this is the internet, especially youtube. Simply google the name of the song and push play).
  • Thanksgiving practiced at the beginning of the day and throughout the day, especially for unmet needs, and in spite of frustrating or anxious situations. Practice this rigorously for the good and in spite of the bad.
  • Use the Psalms to praise and worship Him.
  • Read Romans 12:1-2 For Paul’s definition of worship asking yourself if you are offering to the Lord true worship, or simply singing a song?

NOTE: Not all Christian music is worship. Some songs are testimonials focusing on what Jesus has done, while other songs are prayers. A true worship song is personal and directed towards the Lord.

Choose Your Word

  • daily quiet or devotional time – this begins at the first part of the day before you start your regular activities. 
  • meditating in the word – have a specific book of the Bible that you are meditating on reading slowly, one verse or paragraph at a time, inviting the Spirit to lead and teach you. (Blue Letter Online Study Bible is a great resource for this).

E.T. Phone Home

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Mirrors are marvelous contraptions. Since narcissus fell in love with his own image while gazing at his reflection in a pond, the human race has been fascinated by mirrors. Mirrors are the friends magicians, the enemies of aging movie stars. WE have round mirrors and squat mirrors; big mirrors and compact mirrors; bathroom mirrors and rearview mirrors…If a dog is man’s best friend, perhaps his worse enemy is his mirror. Well, maybe his mirror isn’t really is worst enemy; it merely reflects the image of his most formidable opponent. What opponent is more dangerous than the one ho knows our deepest, darkest secrets? What opponent is more lethal than the one who can probe our most vulnerable points? – R.C. Sproul, Man in the Mirror Introduction

In this weeks installment of blogs we will seek to look into the mirror of the lives of Biblical twins to see what it reveals. In the familiar story of Esau and Jacob we are introduced to two brothers, fraternal twins (not to be confused with identical twins) who can teach us a great deal about who and what our spirit man can become. From the beginning of their birth the elder is favored over the younger as a man’s man; a hunter, or man of the outdoors. Tim Allen would depict him as a tool man (Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor), grunts and all. Jacob on the other hand was a homebody, some might ever refer to him as a “Momma’s Boy,” not given to grunts, hairiness, or the great outdoors. Whats’s amazing about these two is how quickly they expose our own spiritual condition; the divide between soul and spirit. Naturally, or soulishly, we would most likely have chosen Esau in a game of kickball, football or baseball. Jacob on the other hand would be the one last chosen; not our first pick. In an interesting twist God actually prefers the younger, and probably the least likely to be voted home coming king, or the most popular, or class president. But why? What is it about Jacob that God loved? What did He see that his earthly Dad couldn’t see?

Jacob valued the birthright, and the patriarchal blessing so much so that he was willing to stoop to any depths to obtain them. Jacob was so hungry for any blessing that he was willing to wrestle through the night to obtain it from an angelic stranger. But what was the big deal about the birthright and blessing? The Birthright was an honor given to the firstborn, bestowing “head of household” status and the right to inherit his father’s estate. The son with the birthright would receive a double portion of whatever was passed down. It’s your inheritance. The Hebrew word for birthright means to “bear new fruit.”  The Blessing on the other hand was prophetic in nature involving the Favor or Grace of God bestowed upon an individual in every area of their lives. (See Deut. 28). Jacob valued these – and he valued them bad. So badly, that we was willing to do whatever it took to get them. There you have it: inheritance and God’s favor or grace. Hopefully you can see what God saw. For in these two values of Jacob we have a foreshadowing of those who are born from above. Those whose hearts belong to Heaven. Alien strangers visiting an even stranger land. But these extra-terrestrial’s (E.T. phone home) have a heart light that must phone home. Col. 3:1-3 states an obvious characteristic of those E.T.’s when he states: If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. I used to be puzzled, even offended by the beatitude that stated: blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth until I read Psalm 37. That blessing is repeated 5 times. I noticed a teachable moment so I asked the Lord, What’s the big deal about inheriting the land? His answer surprised me. Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Everything that Jesus is coming back to possess belongs to His heirs. It should be of value to us because it is of value to Him. Jacob saw the value in the inheritance afforded to him through the birthright. He saw the value in God’s Grace and favor. He saw so much value in them that he was willing to do whatever it took to possess them. All children of the King should be the same way. This sounds really crazy but I long to be home with Jesus. But check this out: our heavenly home is only temporary. Why? Because Jesus is where our Home is and He is coming back to this earth to reign. Isn’t that crazy? Jesus makes Heaven – Heaven, and there’s coming a day when He will make earth like Heaven. Why do we pray, “Thy Kingdom COME!!!???? That’s so amazing. To be with Jesus – face to face; our faces looking into His Beautiful Face! Can you hear the call? E.T. Phone Home!

Frankenstein

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Frankenstein’s monster, often erroneously referred to as “Frankenstein,” is a fictional character who first appeared in Mary Shelley‘s 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. In Shelley’s Gothic story, Victor Frankenstein builds the creature in his laboratory through a method consisting of chemistry and alchemy. Shelley describes the monster as 8-foot-tall and hideously ugly, but sensitive and emotional. The monster attempts to fit into human society but is shunned, which leads him to seek revenge against Frankenstein. During a telling of Frankenstein, Shelley referred to the creature as “Adam” as in her epigraph: Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay to mould me man? Did I solicit thee from darkness to promote me? John Milton, Paradise Lost

Although the creature would be described in later works as a composite of whole body parts grafted together from cadavers and reanimated by the use of electricity, this description is not consistent with Shelley’s work. However in the Shelley’s original work, Dr. Frankenstein spends two years painstakingly constructing the creature’s proportionally large body (one anatomical feature at a time, from raw materials supplied by “the dissecting room and the slaughter-house”), which he then brings to life. 

But how does the story of Frankenstein’s Monster fit into the blogs written previously? Centuries ago two characters, Abraham and Sarah, allowed unbelief and presumption, to lead them to take it upon themselves to assist God in creating an heir. The tremors of that fateful decision released far reaching, consequences stretching beyond the land of Canaan shaking the earth this very day. The sons of Ishmael are still persecuting the sons of Isaac. Their story has amazing parallels for us as believers today. Galatians 4:28-31 it states: But we, brethren, are children [not by physical descent, as was Ishmael, but] like Isaac, born in virtue of promise. Yet [just] as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh despised and persecuted him [who was born remarkably] according to [the promise and the working of] the [Holy] Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out and send away the slave woman and her son, for never shall the son of the slave woman be heir and share the inheritance with the son of the free woman. So, brethren, we [who are born again] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free [the supernatural]. 

Abraham and Sarah’s unbelief has been a topic rearing its ugly head since the Garden. On that fateful day, our ancestors Adam and Eve, chose to allow unbelief and presumption to lead them away from God’s Word. Unfortunately for us mankind and the Church has been reaping the benefits of that fateful decision. Those two sins have created more than enough history books to fill the annals of time. As in the fictional account of Frankenstein’s monster, an ancient monster has emerged. The offspring of unbelief and presumptions produced an institution called the Church. You may be tempted to say, “Robert, you are awful hard on the church.” But I remind you that as in Tuesday’s blog, God’s Garden has been dropped behind enemy lines. Jesus’ parable has the tares growing right alongside the wheat. The kick in the pants is that wheat and tares look exactly alike. That is, they are similar until the harvest draws near. As the harvest approaches the wheat becomes ripe with fruit and begins to bend, bowing low to the ground. The poisonous tares? They remain upright, proud, and unbending. And just to add one more symbol to make the case, Jesus also made reference to sheep and goats. (Similar in appearance but they are not the same animal.) In fact it was the institution of Jesus’ day that crucified Him for the good of the people. So today’s modern church finds itself sharing “raw materials” supplied by “dissecting room and the slaughter-house.” It’s interesting to note that when Israel was to collect manna for the day they weren’t to store it up for the next day. Yet the Bible records that many disobeyed God’s instructions and to their dismay awoke to discover containers full of maggots. We know from Scripture that manna is a shadow and type of God’s Word (See Matthew 4). When the dots are connected we see that if attempts are made to live off of yesterdays manna – not gathering fresh manna for the day – that manna will become rotten. Like Shelley’s monster, the 21st Century Church, and its modern day attender are in many ways controlled by that which birthed Ishmael in the first place. In the meantime, unbelief and presumption mock the Isaac’s of Christianity. Which is an interesting term in the Hebrew for it implies that mocking actually involves mimicking. And isn’t this the problem with the church? People mimicking those who really know Jesus who haven’t been born-again of the Spirit. This mimicking by the sons of Ishmael produces a hypocrisy that knows no bounds. Hypocrisy being another interesting word used to describe how Greek actors would wear masks as they portrayed various characters. Thus the word came to mean, “mask wearer.” In true, Biblical, Christ-centered, Christianity the masks are removed and the sons of Isaac – the sons of Heaven’s Joy – the Promise is revealed. To break free from the Church of Ishmael requires courage to face the Sword of the Word examining your life carefully – daily. David exhorted the worshippers of Israel to Kiss the Son lest He be angry with them. Revelation records that Jesus has a double-edged sword extending from His mouth. Implying that if we are going to draw close to Him we are going to get cut. Yet His Sword is double-edged – one side to kill you and the other to heal you. Paul himself exhorted his readers to test themselves to see if they were still in the faith. Surprisingly when he wrote that it had only taken them 20-30 years to stray from the True Gospel. How far off the path do you think we have wondered after 2000 years of Church history? Paul’s remedy for this departure was to grow in the Spirit, as seen in 1 Corinthians 2. It states in 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. Contrary to many critics of the book of 1 Corinthians Paul was not discounting seeking to walk and move in the things of the Spirit. He was attempting to correct them. Corinthians gives us some clues as to how we are to grow: 1 Corinthians 2:2-5: For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you. And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them], so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.

Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit].  1 Corinthians 2:12-13 

The man who was “floored” by his encounter with Jesus said all he wanted was to know Jesus. In fact Philippians records that his determined purpose was to know Jesus …MORE. “Knowing” wasn’t just mere book knowledge, for the New Testament was being written at the time of this letter. So he wasn’t equating knowing through reading about Him. Paul wasn’t referring to the afterlife when he exhorted the believers to know Jesus – for it was obvious that they would know Jesus in the afterlife. No Paul was talking about a Spirit-filled Christianity, vibrant with life, experience, and power. He continued to exhort the believers to not have their faith in human wisdom, clever speech or the words of men. Where did he want their faith? In the Holy Spirit and His Power. He wanted them to comprehend and appreciate the gifts of the Spirit. For he himself was taught by the Spirit through heavenly or spiritual communication.

This life is not for those created through laboratories on Church growth but for those born of the Spirit. Ishmael’s cannot comprehend this life. Its foolishness to them. Ultimately we have to guard our hearts from becoming monsters of soulishness who live only for their mind, will, personality and emotions. Although “Ishmaels” will mock us ruthlessly for our beliefs, and practices sons of Isaac know Jesus raised up a Bride from the dead, not a monster (and he didn’t need electricity or alchemy.) He breathed into our dead spirits the life of His Spirit. We can never be the same. How could we ever?

The Hulk

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The Hulk is a fictional superhero appearing in publications by the American publisher Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of The Incredible Hulk (May 1962). In his comic book appearances, the character is both the Hulk, a green-skinned, hulking and muscular humanoid possessing a vast degree of physical strength, and his alter ego Dr. Robert Bruce Banner, a physically weak, socially withdrawn, and emotionally reserved physicist, the two existing as independent personalities and resenting of the other. Following his accidental exposure to gamma rays during the detonation of an experimental bomb, Banner is physically transformed into the Hulk when subjected to emotional stress, at or against his will, often leading to destructive rampages and conflicts that complicate Banner’s civilian life.

In the Biblical story of Cain and Abel it was Cains anger and rage which got the better of him. In fact, Cains assault upon his younger, twin brother, was actually an attack upon Abel’s worship. Cain wanted to control Abel; getting him to worship God his half-hearted way. The “hulk” of our soul man will seek to silence and intimidate the spirit man into submission. His bullying presence will seek to strong arm our worship into submission rendering it self-centered, and anemic. Yet the spirit man’s worship will go lower to ascend higher into the heavenly realms where they sit with Christ. You may ask, What is worship? Paul answers that question for us in Romans 12:1-2 when he states: I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Paul’s definition of worship would involve a dedication of your body to the Lord, holiness, obedience, non-conformity to the world’s standards of right and wrong, spiritual transformation, and an over-haul of your thought life. In essence it echoes the greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with ALL…your mind, heart, soul (will, emotions and personality), and strength.An all inclusive package. True Biblical worship is a whole-hearted response to the Almighty Creator of the Universe. In the New Testament true Biblical conversion was exemplified by totally surrendering the entire self: Colossians 2:6-7 So then just as you received Christ, Jesus as Lord continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught. Paul’s assumption being that when an individual truly surrendered themselves to Jesus they had received and embraced Jesus as Savior, Master and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Their conversion modeled their worship. Joshua encountersthe Captain of the Lord of Hosts after entering the Promised Land. Joshua’s response? He prostrated himself, burying his face in the desert sand, taking off his sandals, and worshipped. When Thomas saw the resurrected Christ he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” Which is a phenomenal statement coming from a monotheistic Jew steeped in the Hebrew Shema. Interestingly enough many body postures that westerners struggle with today were actually commanded as part of the worship. It wasn’t optional. (that’s what a command is). For example in 1 Timothy 2:8 Paul commands the believers to raise holy hands to God. We know this is a command because of the word used at the very beginning, “Therefore…” A command always follows this part of speech. The psalmist exhorts and commands the people to clap their hands, be still, dance, shout, worship, sing, and give thanks. Our bodily posture demonstrates an “ALL” in our worship. Yet the highest reverence and worship we can give our Savior exceeds our songs and postures. What is it? Our faith-filled, surrendered obedience. It’s here that the true worshippers the Father seeks are separated from the “Bruce Banners.” From this position the threat of a hulk-like shadow, can’t impose Cain-like worship upon those who worship the Father in Spirit and Truth. These are the worshippers God the Father truly seeks.


Jeckyll or Hyde?

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What’s happening to the Church in America? Would our normal Christian experience be considered abnormal to the Apostles and the Christians of the 1st century? Why is it becoming progressively difficult to distinguish a Christian from a non-Christian? Why are Scriptural references to anything related to the Holy Spirit ignored, pushed aside, or dismissed altogether? Why are things of the Spirit stranger and stranger for a 21st century church attender to grasp?

You’ve seen the movies, possibly even read the book written by Robert Louis Stevenson, about     a Doctor Henry Jekyll. The fictional doctor who produced a serum enabling him to transform into a monster he called Mr. Hyde. In this fictional novella, Mr. Edward Hyde, the doctors alter ego, is permitted to indulge in unstated vices, evil, and self-indulgence living solely for himself. Unfortunately the ravenous appetite of the self-centered monster, Mr. Hyde, can not be slaked. Dr. Jekyll’s veneer of sophisticated, self-control is wrenched from his grasp as Mr. Hyde emerges as the stronger of the two. And Dr. Jekyll? He is seen no more. What’s startling about the 19th Century allegory is that it’s not far being an allegory of the spiritual condition of the 21st Century Western Church. But why is that? What has caused the average church attender’s disconnect? How is it that it’s becoming progressively difficult to distinguish a Christian from a non-christian?

Galatians 4 provides us with a clue: But we, brethren, are children [not by physical descent, as was Ishmael, but] like Isaac, born in virtue of promise. Yet [just] as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh despised and persecuted him [who was born remarkably] according to [the promise and the working of] the [Holy] Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out and send away the slave woman and her son, for never shall the son of the slave woman be heir and share the inheritance with the son of the free woman. So, brethren, we [who are born again] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free [the supernatural]. Galatians 4:28-31 

In this passage, the Apostle Paul, is using Scripture as an allegory painting for us a portrait of the two sons of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac. Christians are seen as the true sons of Isaac whereas sons of Ishmael only live to satisfy their carnal, or soulish man (composed of mind, will, emotions and personality. The disturbing truth is that the church, along with the cultural Christian, has been taught to cater to Mr. Hyde’s hunger blinding us to its horror. Like Dr. Jekyll we’ve been attempting to live a double life whose hunger knows no bound or equal. We’ve assumed with the proper “formulas” the beast within can be controlled, squelching its behavior. Unfortunately avoidance of Truth (Truth is a Person) has led us to our present condition. For years I read the Scripture, Jacob I loved but Esau I have hated, being offended by its implications. (Romans 9:13) I puzzled over Israel’s behavior as he crossed his arms to give prophetic blessings to the sons of Joseph. And I pushed aside the nudges of curiosity as to why David, the youngest of all his brothers, was ignored and left to tend sheep, as Israels’ prophet Samuel sought to discover God’s chosen one, King Sauls’ replacement. Truth had been staring me in the face all these years, that is, until now. 

1 Corinthians 15:45-48 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual. The first man [was] from out of earth, made of dust (earthly-minded); the second Man [is] the Lord from out of heaven. Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust (earthly-minded); and as is [the Man] from heaven, so also [are those] who are of heaven (heavenly-minded).

From Paul’s writing we can deduce, First comes the physical then the spiritual. The first Adam represents or symbolizes the earthly-minded or soulish man, whose offspring find themselves  ruled from within by their souls – mind, will, emotions and personality. Yet, the Last Adam, the younger Jesus, represents those born of the Spirit and Promise. These son’s of our dread Champion, the Last Adam – Jesus, live for the things of the Spirit, being spiritually minded, inclined and focused. 

Unfortunately, as in the fictional allegory, the conclusion is that the building of God – the Church, along with its attenders have been overtaken by the sons of Cain, Ishmael, and Esau. The Good News is that Jesus’ Body, sons and daughters of the King’s Dominion, know His Garden is growing on the inside refusing to ingest self-serving formulas to live duplicitous lives. No, choosing to be crucified daily with their Savior, they have relinquished their rights for their Beloved, seeking to be filled and empowered – DAILY – with His Precious Holy Spirit. These over-comers know that it’s not by might, nor the power of carnal man that will achieve their victory. No, they know that in their weakness, and foolishness He is their strength and wisdom. They grow the Garden for their Beloved seeking for it to bear fruit for HIs Name. 

A House Divided

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On an early June morning in 1862, two brothers from Scotland were fighting for their lives and adopted homeland on a South Carolina battlefield. They had come to America less than two decades prior, and each had come to love his new homeland. Shockingly, Alexander and James Campbell, were fighting on opposite sides of the Civil War conflict. The two brothers made the transatlantic crossing together from their native Scotland to make America their new home. Yet, while Alexander remained in New York, Joseph, became a stone mason in Charleston, South Carolina. When the fighting broke out between the states, Alexander joined New York’s 79th Highlander Infantry Regiment while James enlisted into the 1st South Carolina Battalion. Each knew the other had joined the enemy cause because they corresponded with one another throughout the war. Eventually, Alex and the 79th New York landed on James Island, South Carolina, just outside of Charleston. The Union Army was attempting to make South Carolina pay for its rebellion and the attack on Fort Sumter the previous year. During this skirmish Union troops captured a Confederate soldier who told Alexander that his brother was operating in the same area with the Federal Army. It wasn’t until after the battle of Secessionville that the brothers learned the horrifying truth. Alexander wrote: “I was astonished to hear from the prisoners that you was colour Bearer of the Regmt that assaulted the Battrey at this point the other day…. I was in the Brest work during the whole engagement doing my Best to Beat you but I hope that You and I will never again meet face to face Bitter enemies on the Battlefield. But if such should be the case You have but to discharge your deauty to Your caus for I can assure you I will strive to discharge my deauty to my country & my cause.” Though the brothers were never engaged in dramatic mortal combat at Secessionville, it was the closest they would ever come. Following the battle, the Union Army returned north, in which Alexander was wounded in the Battle of Chantilly, Virginia. Brother James was captured at the 1863 Battle of Fort Wagner, South Carolina and sent to a federal prison, where he sat out the rest of the war in squalid conditions. The two continued their correspondence throughout James’ incarceration as a rebel soldier.

Scripture states in Matthew 10:21-22 that Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children will take a stand against their parents and will have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake, but he who perseveres and endures to the end will be saved [from spiritual disease and death in the world to come]. In this passage Jesus describes another battlefield in which He gives instructions to His 12 disciples preparing them for the adversity that they were about to encounter. What’s interesting though is that His discourse moves beyond the present and into the future as He prophesies Last Days events. Jesus prophetic vantage point saw that from the birthing of Adam and Eve’s children a battle had begun long ago between father, mother, and brothers culminating in a final, Last Days battle that revealed the true motive of their hatred. That motive begins to be unveiled in Genesis 4 as it records the birthing of twin brothers – Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer and Abel a shepherd. Physically they were twins but spiritually they were polar opposites. Cain sought to obey God half-heartedly, offering to God something that was to be “sacrificial” – but was anything but. Abel on the other hand brought to God his “first fruits” – his very best sacrifice – and it was pleasing to God. His brother Cain was none too happy with God’s disapproval being outdone by his younger, twin brother. As the animosity seethed inside of him it quickly evolved into premeditated murder. Who knows what drove Cain to silence the testimony of truth and righteousness reflected in his sibling. Was it that Cain couldn’t stand the sight of seeing what he did not want to be? Was it that when he saw his own face reflected in his brothers that he was reminded of his failure? We will never know. Suffice it to say Abel became history’s first martyr. But is there some deeper, spiritual significance that has been hidden for the saints of God to unearth its treasure? Absolutely. Presently we are engaged, consciously or unconsciously, in a spiritual civil war that is occurring right beneath our proverbial noses. As Solomon warns us throughout Proverbs, “Get wisdom and get understanding.” Yet Paul reveals the condition of man in Romans 3:10-12 “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. 

They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” We live in a day and time where the Body of Christ desperately needs shepherds who are prophetic. Shepherds who will point out: This is the way; walk you in it. Yet the blind are leading the blind not recognizing their own spiritual “dis-ease.” Something is desperately wrong in the Body of Christ, and has been for centuries. Only those seekers of truth will awaken to the warning blasts of the trumpet. Question is which side of the war to end spiritual slavery will we find ourselves on: Cain’s or Abel’s?


Behind Enemy Lines

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What would it be like to be dropped behind enemy lines, fighting your way back to allied territory only to discover that the battle you fought so hard to fight only landed you in enemy territory? What does the old adage mean: “We have met the enemy and enemy is us?” and how does this apply to Christianity in the 21st Century?

In Legend, acclaimed bestselling author Eric Blehm takes as his canvas the Vietnam War, as seen through a single mission that occurred on May 2, 1968. A twelve-man Special Forces team had been covertly inserted into a small clearing in the jungles of neutral Cambodia—where U.S. forces were forbidden to operate. Their objective, just miles over the Vietnam border, was to collect evidence that proved the North Vietnamese Army was using the Cambodian sanctuary as a major conduit for supplying troops and materiel to the south via the Ho Chi Minh Trail. What the team didn’t know was that they had infiltrated a section of jungle that concealed a major enemy base. Soon they found themselves surrounded by hundreds of NVA troops, under attack, low on ammunition, and stacking the bodies of the dead as cover in a desperate attempt to survive the onslaught.

When Special Forces staff sergeant Roy Benavidez heard the distress call, he jumped aboard the next helicopter bound for the combat zone without hesitation. What followed would become legend in the Special Operations community. Flown into the foray of battle by the courageous pilots and crew of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, Benavidez jumped from the hovering aircraft and ran nearly 100 yards through withering enemy fire. Despite being immediately and severely wounded, Benavidez reached the perimeter of the decimated team, provided medical care, and proceeded to organize an extraordinary defense and rescue. During the hours-long battle, he was bayoneted, shot, and hit by grenade shrapnel more than thirty times, yet he refused to abandon his efforts until every survivor was out of harm’s way.

1 Corinthians 3:9 states that we have been dropped behind enemy lines: For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building.

Why would I say that we have been dropped behind enemy lines? Because Romans 8:9 states: [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God,..” Good News Translation states: And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature;…”Aramaic Bible in Plain English Because the mind of the flesh is hatred toward God,…” Our carnal, fleshly, human or soulish nature is defined as our mind, will, emotions and personality. In essence, our soul is our spirit man’s evil twin. Make no mistake about it our soul hates God and is the enemy of God’s Spirit operating in our born-again spirit. This other-worldly, visitation from Heaven brings us into direct conflict with our selves seeking to see that God’s Garden takes dominion over the battlefield of our eternal destiny. Genesis 2:15 states: And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it. The Hebrew word for guard or keep implies that we are to exercise great care over it. It expresses several ideas that contain parallels for our own spiritual gardens. In one instance we are to guard or keep through doing things carefully, or diligently as in Proverbs 19:8’s injunction to “Give heed to understanding” or Dt. 11:32’s injunction to “Be careful to do (i.e. perform carefully.)” Another ramification is “take care of,” “guard” as in keeping a garden or tending it, guarding it against intruders. Frequently the verb is used to speak of personal discipline, in taking heed to one’s life and actions. Lastly it conveys the idea of paying attention to, and giving reverence to God. In summary you could say that while we are behind enemy lines we are to pay attention to God, His Word, and our lives while we gain spiritual understanding and keep watch against any form of enemy intrusion. Question is are the lines of the conflict drawn clearly in the church and believers minds? My limited assessment is that the conclusion is obvious: No!! Emphatically, No! As you will see in this weeks blogs many don’t know which side to fight on, what they are fighting for, nor what they are fighting against. Even in a pick up game of basketball between the skins (interesting symbolism) and shirts we know clearly who are opponents are. But as the old adage states: “We have met the enemy and enemy is us.”

Hide and See

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Why does God take pleasure in hiding things in plain sight? How do we make walking off with Jesus into eternity a beginning instead of a final destination? How does “tending” or “dressing” God’s garden in us find it’s fulfillment in and through His Living Word?

Proverbs 25:2 states that “It is the Glory of God to conceal a matter…” revealing God takes great pleasure in hiding things in plain sight. The examples are numerous but some of the obvious ones are Jesus, Holy Spirit, revelations from the Word of God, and prophecy. Four prophecies, have been hidden or embedded in the Garden story – hidden for you and I to unearth its treasures. As I have explained in a previous blog one of those prophecies is based on my interpretation and opinion. (I’m entitled. We all have two armpits) Those prophecies are: a) The Word of God will walk through His Garden (b) A Final Day of the Spirit is Coming Soon (c) satan will bite Jesus’ heel but Jesus will crush satan’s head, culminating in satan’s final destruction (d) and lastly, God will provide a Way to the Tree of Life through His Mercy.

In yesterdays blog we discovered that Jesus’ “Middle Earth” has emerged in sons of Adam and daughters of Eve through a new birth. This new birth has caused His garden to emerge in a land hostile to God. Paul would go so far as to say that this aspect of our nature actually hates God (Romans 8:7). As followers of the Final Adam – Jesus – it is our calling to pick up where our ancestors dropped the ball (or fruit, as in the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil). Their call was short-changed through a lie that had them sacrificing God’s Word for something that tasted good. Good, especially man’s measured good, has and always will be the enemy of God’s very best. For proof of this look no farther than the story of the Prodigal Son in which the elder brother became his father’s enemy. Why? Because of the elders goodness achieved apart from a relationship with his father. In Jesus’ parable the goodness of the elder brother is just as deprived as the evil of the younger. Again we have to ask the question, Why? Because both were centered in the “core” of the fruit of the knowledge of “doing to be.” Satan’s lie was, “If you do this – you will be.” Thus reliance upon the soul held mankind firmly in its grip as spirits withered and died. This iron, grip of death has a choke hold on those who would seek to live otherwise. Through the Final Adam we are resurrected from “doing to be.” New life has been breathed into our spirits catapulting us from our carnal graves. Yet satan doesn’t give up so easy seeking to keep the shroud of death wrapped tightly around our spiritual vision. I am convinced that this shroud or veil is removed through the Word of God. But not just the black and white words that the sons of hell, the Pharisees, were masters of. But the God-breathed words of the Spirit. These are the words that emancipate. By God’s grace, Jesus, the Voice – the Word, comes to us untangling the matted root systems of generations of religion, tradition, and ancestral rebellion and sin. He frees us to walk with the Word. To hold His hand through chapters, paragraphs, and pages discovering eternal life is relational, not a final destination. Albeit, misfortune has fallen to the impoverished masses who have made reading the word their final destination overlooking the treasure buried just beneath their proverbial feet. They fail to realize that walking off with Him into eternity isn’t a destination but a beginning. But how? Where do we begin?

Genesis 2:15 And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it. The Living Words of God are unearthed through tending, guarding and keeping. To tend or dress in the Hebrew means to “to do, or to make; to worship, or obey; to serve.” Although the term is typically applied to agriculture, it has also been used in reference to the artisans and craftsmen throughout the Bible, and of those who labor for another as in the the priests who served God in the Tabernacle and Temple. In this case their labor or service wasn’t a burdensome one but joyous, a form of worship. Webster’ Dictionary of English Words offers uncanny nuances, and Biblical parallels between God’s garden and Word when defining the word “dress:”

dress – 1a: to make or set straight b: to arrange (troops, equipment, etc.) in a straight line and at proper intervals 2: to prepare for use or service specifically: to prepare for cooking or for the table dress a salad 3: to add decorative details or accessories to : EMBELLISH 4a: to put clothes on b: to provide with clothing  5 archaic: DRESS DOWN 6a: to apply dressings or medicaments to dress a wound b (1): to arrange by combing, brushing, or curling (2): to groom and curry c: to kill and prepare for consumption d: CULTIVATE, TEND especially: to apply manure or fertilizer to dress a field e: to put through a finishing process especially: to trim and smooth the surface of (a material, such as lumber or stone).

As you can see all of these serve to connect God’s Garden to His Word. Why wouldn’t it? His Garden exist’s because of His Word. When we “dress” or “tend” to God’s garden applying His Word we begin to set things straight; we arrange our selves for battle; we prepare ourselves for service; we add details to our lives; we clothe ourselves; we apply the medications to our wounds, sicknesses and infinities; we arrange, combing and brushing, through our knotted lives; we prepare spiritual food for our nourishment (even our death); we apply the manure and fertilizer needed for God’s Spirit and His fruits to grow in us; and lastly we trim and smooth the surface of stoney hearts causing even these to cry out in worship and praise to Him.

In next weeks blog we will seek to see how we can apply the other directives given Adam regarding God’s garden.

Middle Earth

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If we are God’s garden, yet “our earth” is under a curse, how do we address the “cursed earth” in our lives to bring it into His Garden? Is abiding in Jesus based solely on our sentiment, thoughts, and feelings or is there a deeper more profound way to abide? SOS 8:5 asks, “Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her Beloved?” The question remains, in a Laodicean Church Age, Who, or more precisely, what have we been leaning, or relying?

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building.

There’s a Biblical principle of interpretation known as the Law of First Mention. It essentially states that to understand a particular word or doctrine, we must find the first place in Scripture that word or doctrine is revealed and study that passage. The reasoning being that the Bible’s first mention of a concept is the simplest and clearest presentation; doctrines are then more fully developed on that foundation. God’s Garden of Eden is the first mention we have of any garden and from it we can draw conclusions regarding God’s purpose for our lives. How often have we forgotten that man was made from the dust of the earth and that we are sons and daughters of that earth? According to Genesis that earth, our earth, is under a curse. There are six different Hebrew words used for “curse.” Curse being defined as to bind, to snare, hem in with obstacles, and render powerless to resist. Cursing in essence immobilizes the person and are the result of violating a relationship with God. Exodus 34:7 states …Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation. Dt. 27:26 states Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.‘ James 2:10-11 states For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it. For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said, You shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become guilty of transgressing the [whole] Law. The Bible has a great deal to say about curses mentioning, among others things, that not only is mankind under a curse but Jesus Himself became a curse for us – to redeem us from the curse.

Yet, we have to ask: If we are God’s garden yet our “earth” is under a curse how do we address the “cursed earth” in our lives to bring it into His Garden? Since we are God’s garden we have been called to produce fruit. Jesus referred to this in John 15 stating that we are not only gardens but vineyards. He continued sharing that when we abide in Him we produce the fruit of His Kingdom. This abiding is not produced from soul power – mind, will, emotions and personality. It is manufactured through a conscious and unconscious positioning of ourselves in the Son’s Power. It isn’t accomplished through sentiment. Sentiment being an attitude which is based on our thoughts and feelings. Abiding is not mere sentiment. Abiding’s Center isn’t the damnable “me” but the Person of Jesus – Who is the sum total and definition of where our center should be. Much of the music we use in our “praise and worship” is centered around the unholy trinity of me, myself and I. These songs “feel” great to sing leaving us feeling very sentimental yet remain soulish or carnal. They are built around what we think, how we feel, and our varying personality or temperament types. For Jesus’ garden to emerge we have to set aside the soul bringing it into submission to God’s Spirit in our spirits. Like solar panels have to turn to the sun daily to recharge we have to take time daily to turn our lives, our self-centeredness, towards Jesus seeking to get into His Presence. As plants and flowers turn their faces to chase the light during the day so we have to pursue and seek His Light. There are over 85 different passages on seeking God, not to mention the number of passages that exhort people to return to God. Helping us to form the conclusion that God is aware that we all have a tendency to wander away from Who He really is. The best place to begin this turning of our faces towards Him is in His Word. But be warned: even in the reading of the word our souls are inclined to push us to search for information, or to reduce the reading to just another empty exercise. Years ago I was caught up in Last Days predictions of the best selling author of The Late Great Planet Earth, Hal Lindsey. Unfortunately I was left disillusioned and disappointed by their outcome. Since, I have learned to be alert to the signs of His coming while riveting my spiritual focus on Jesus, in the Revelation of His Return. Knowing this has caused me to seek to be preoccupied with getting into His Presence and remaining. This wisdom has revealed that if we are truly occupied with Him – not the stuff that the Laodicean Church Age uses as substitutes – we will not miss a thing. As Song of Solomon records, Who is that coming out of the wilderness leaning on her beloved? In summary, we test our abiding by simply asking the question, What is our spiritual dependence based? Are we leaning on Jesus or our souls?

The Emerging Garden

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While on earth Jesus prayed in a garden, was crucified near the garden, was buried in a garden, and rose from the dead in that same garden. In fact His ascension took place near the garden and the Bible records He will return to split that garden in half. Why? Why was Jesus obsessed with the garden?

1 Corinthians 15:45-49 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual. The first man [was] from out of earth, made of dust (earthly-minded); the second Man [is] the Lord from out of heaven. Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust (earthly-minded); and as is [the Man] from heaven, so also [are those] who are of heaven (heavenly-minded). And just as we have borne the image [of the man] of dust, so shall we and so let us also bear the image [of the Man] of heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:46 alludes to a method that Jesus, Paul, and those reading the New Testament knew well. The method of alluding to the shadows and types of Scripture. Paul states a principal: First comes the physical, then the spiritual. Physical truth will often point to greater spiritual truth and so it is throughout Scripture. Even though the biblical narrative is historically true and accurate it has hidden behind its words a symbolic or prophetic meaning. It’s laughable to me when well intentioned believers say that they are not into the mystical stuff of Christianity when the Bible is absolutely mystical. Mystical being defined as “having a spiritual meaning or reality that is neither apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence b : involving or having the nature of an individual’s direct subjective communion with God .” Thus Paul is able to allude to Jesus being the Last Adam. But the question remains unanswered: “Why was Jesus so preoccupied with the garden?” I believe that Jesus, as the Last Adam, was longing to return to the Father (just as any believer groans for their eternal home). Jesus was not simply looking for Himself but for all the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve who would be returned to the Garden of fellowship with the Father. Not being hindered by time, He saw the past, present and future in one moment anticipating our reconciliation and our manifestations as sons and daughters. Romans 8:19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]. If creation is waiting for us to be made known and revealed how much more Heaven? In Acts 2:16-17 the Apostle Peter alludes to a Last Days event that began at Pentecost and will have its final culmination before Jesus’ return:

But [instead] this is [the beginning of] what was spoken through the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams. Pentecost was a beginning but not an end. In fact Jesus refers to this event in the Wedding of Cana. The Contemporary English Translation says it best in John 2:10 “The best wine is always served first. Then after the guests have had plenty, the other wine is served. But you have kept the best until last!” Jesus, our Bridegroom, will save the Best Wine of His Spirit, for the Last Days. In Genesis 3 there are several prophecies that were to occur in the future. Some of those “futures” were to occur quickly, but others would have a future beginning, and a future culmination. For example, Jesus, was going to be struck on the heel by satan, the serpent, and Jesus was going to crush his head. We saw this happen in part, but the fullness of that crushing will not come till the end of days. So also in this passage is another prophecy easily missed. Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: Its my opinion that the Voice is none other than the Word, and that the phrase “coolness” is actually the wrong interpretation. Most scholars are conflicted over how to interpret this passage from the original Hebrew. For the word used for “coolness” is the word from which is typically translated 2 words: wind and spirit. My personal opinion is that a possible reading of this verse should be: And they heard the Word of the Lord walking in the garden in day of the Spirit.”  I believe that it should be interpreted that way for the passage refers to a future awakening of the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve from hiding behind fig leaves from the Voice or the Word of the Lord – Jesus. When we quit hiding, drop our fig leaves, accepting His covering through His Blood (not simple animal skins), His Garden emerges in us. That emergence began with the Resurrection but its inauguration occurred at Pentecost. But their is a final days unveiling when we will rise up to His Purpose for our lives. We are not there yet but the day of His appearing is extremely close and we can only feel the tension building as the darkness increases and the Glory of the Lord rises upon His people. Maranatha Lord!