Now let's look at another incident that the Bible records in which many Christians have been trained to believe concerning bad things coming from God, the life of Job. The first thing that we must understand is that the Old Testament revelation of God is incomplete (Ephesians 1:9, Colossians 1:26). We must also understand that Jesus Christ alone completely reveals the will of God in all matters, (John 5:19-20, 14:7, 9) which we will see as this series continues to develop. We must also recall the things that have been clearly revealed in scripture thus far that have evidenced sin and Satan being the actual causes of all the bad things happening to humanity, through man's constant rejection and rebellion toward God.
The thought behind Job's condition is that although God may not have directly caused all the bad things that happened to Job (Job 1:6-19, 2:7) it must be His will because He let Satan have his way with Job. This type of thinking creates serious error concerning the true nature of God. It indicates that God uses or lets Satan attack people for some mysterious divine purpose that only He knows; that God operates in any way He desires even if it contradicts His Word; when God allows something to happen, whether good or bad it must be His will and therefore what happened to Job was God's will. Can you see the twisted logic in this thinking.
Just because God permits something to happen, in Job's case, many terrible things, does not mean that it is God's will. We must understand that all the bad things that happen on the earth are clearly not God's will. If they were then we would have to blame God for all of the sin, injustices, losses, tragedies, pain, destruction and even demon activity because it must be His will. Honestly, to think like that is nothing more than a demonically influenced view of God, it is flat out Anti-Christ. So why did these things happen to Job?
For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.
(Job 3:25) The Apostle Paul tells us in his second letter to Timothy...
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
(2 Timothy 1:7) Notice that Paul tells Timothy that he is dealing with a SPIRIT of fear. A spirit of fear is not from God but from Satan. Paul tells the church at Ephesus...Nor give place to the devil.
(Ephesians 4:27) Job gave the devil an open door through a spirit of fear to attack him in the areas that Job feared and dreaded. Notice that both accusations and attacks against Job were limited...
And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:12)
And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life." (Job 2:6)
It is quite apparent that Job was dealing with fear and dread of losing certain things but not everything, such as his own life. Therefore Satan was not permitted to take his life. Also to show that he (and I might add his friends) had no idea why these things were happening, they did exactly what Adam and Eve did when they were confronted with their sin (Genesis 3:12-13), it's called the blame game. (Job 3 - 31) Finally a young man named Elihu spoke up and corrected Job and his three friends for playing the blame game. Look at two of many statements that Elihu makes concerning the true nature of God...
Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to commit iniquity. For He repays man according to his work, and makes man to find a reward according to his way. Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice. (Job 34:10-12)
There are some things that Elihu point out that are very important to grasp. Elihu considers what is taking place to be wicked and God does not cause wickness! Next he reveals that God repays or permits things to happen to people based on their works and their ways. Finally, Elihu says, "Nor will the Almighty pervert justice." God is just and responds accordingly toward man in every situation because He shows no partiality. (Romans 2:11) In other words, every person either meets or fails to meet the conditions that God has established and by this they receive the reward of their actions good or bad. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul gives us a great example of this...
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-8) The words may be different but the principle applies throughout the entire Bible and will continue throughout the history of man until Christ returns. Next Elihu says...
As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress. (Job 37:23) Look at these words that describe God, "...He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress." The word oppress in this verse means that God does not afflict, depress, browbeat, deal with harshly, hurt, ravish or weaken. We can certainly all agree that Job was experiencing all of these things, BUT THEY WERE NOT FROM GOD NOR WERE THEY HIS WILL FOR JOB!!!
Finally we see at the end of the Book of Job his repentance (Job 42:1-6) which took away the devil's place in his life and placed God in the position of authority over his life. We also see the true nature of God (Job 42:10-17) that of blessing. Unfortunately, due to poor teaching concerning the Book of Job, two main things arise in the lives of many Christians who truly love the LORD. They have been trained to accept bad things happening to them as God's will and or when bad things happen to them, they enter into the blame game and in doing so subtly blame God for bad things happening. Either way the results of this type of thinking produces serious doubts concerning the true nature of God and reduces the full redemptive work of Christ to nothing more than the born again experience and then muddling through life here on earth until one dies.
There are several reasons why so many Christians think this way, one being a lack of true Bible faith not being taught or preached in most congregations today due to a lack of faith among church leaders. If Christians leaders would put faith in the integrity of God's Word, teach and preach it to the church, the world would see the true nature and power of God in the church and run to Christ for the abundant life that is only through faith in Him!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 5
The next era of mans history as revealed in the Bible begins in Exodus which is the disspensation of the Law or the Law age the lasted for 1500 years. During this time God gives man a greater revelation of Himself.
Not only does He reveal Himself through a visible manifastation of a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud (Exodus 13:21) and as a Law giver (Exodus 20:1-17), but one of the greatest revelations that God had given to man during this time, is that He reveals His very nature to him (Exodus 34:5-7) This is very important to understand because the LORD does not change (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8)
The Apostle Paul tells us that the purpose of the Law is to show a sinner their guilt before God and stops them from justifying themselves (Romans 3:19), it brings the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20) and it defines sin (Romans 7:7). The Law does not give the knowledge of or define God, but sin.
God sets up a temporary system to deal with mans sin (Leviticus 1 - 7, Hebrews 9 - 10) but we see something revealed that shows us God's true nature even though the Law had been given. In Deuteronomy 28:1-14 we see that God is the one who blesses not the one who curses or causes bad things to happen. However, in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 it seems to indicate that God does cause bad things to happen to His people. This is where many people have learned to believe that bad things come from God. After all God does not change and bad things are happening to His people so it must be true for today also. But let's take a closer look at what the Bible reveals.
"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:" (Deuteronomy 28:15) The first thing we need to note is that this does not say that God will cause all of the curses to come upon them, but the curses are a result of their decision to disobey God, sound familiar doesn't it (Adam and Eve). The curses would come upon them due to their CHOICE to disobey. It was the same thing that happened to Adam when he chose to disobey God and become the slave to sin and Satan. The same principle that applied to Adam also applied to Israel. However, God in His true nature of being merciful, gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth, gives Israel the principle to live in His blessings and not the curses of sin and Satan.
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
All Israel had to do was choose God rather than sin and Satan to live a blessed life on earth free of bad things happening to them. However, if we look through Israel's history we see that they repeatedly rejected God and became slaves to sin which opened the door for Satan to have his way with them. Remember, Adam had forfeited his perfect life and all his authority to Satan and in doing so took himself out from under God's freedom and blessings to become Satan's slave. It was the same for Israel. They did not choose God's authority, protection and blessings to flow in their midst which would bring health, wealth and long life (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) but chose to reject God and let sin and Satan have their way bringing curses and ultimately destruction upon them. We see this very thing occurring throughout Israel's history as recorded in the Bible (Deuteronomy 28:15-68 the curse for disobedience)
We must see things from a correct perspective. God created man in perfection and gave him choice. It was man who chose to reject God and accept Satan as his master and all the evil that came with it. It was Israel that God chose and wanted to bless. It was Israel who chose sin (Satan) to rule over them through their rejection (disobedience to) of God. God does not choose bad things to happen to man, He permits them to happen because He will not encroach man's will to choose. If man chooses sin and Satan then he will reap the destructive nature of that choice. However, if man chooses God, he becomes a benefactor of all the blessings that God has promised, it is just that simple.
There are many believer that might say, "I am a believer and I did not choose this sickness, disease, fininacial problems, etc. so it must be God's will." However, when you look closer you will find that a statement like this is made due to one of two thing. One, is many believers let their body and soul have rule over their life and therefore open the door for sin and Satan to exploit them. The other is because many believers live their life in a natural type of faith that every person has. It is called sense knowledge faith or mental assent. It means that ones faith is based on ones mind and or senses, that is, seeing is believing, (John 20:24-25) and not revelation faith that emanates from the heart (spirit) that is, believing that you have received even though there is no tangible evidence (John 20:29, Hebrews 11:1) These things prevent believers from understanding the fullness of redemption which God has provided through Jesus Christ.
For many believers, redemption has been reduced to accepting Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior for the purpose of eternal life only, rather than seeing that redemption has completely restored man to what Adam was before the fall. This can only be realized through faith in Christ and in the integrity of God's Word. When believers come to realize that "Bad Things Do Not Come From God" they we begin to understand that they no longer have to live in defeat nor will they have to live a life constantly trying to defeat the devil, because he is already defeated. (Colossians 2:15) They will rest in the LORD because their faith has brought them to know that it is "God who ALWAYS leads us in triumph in Christ..."
Not only does He reveal Himself through a visible manifastation of a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud (Exodus 13:21) and as a Law giver (Exodus 20:1-17), but one of the greatest revelations that God had given to man during this time, is that He reveals His very nature to him (Exodus 34:5-7) This is very important to understand because the LORD does not change (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8)
The Apostle Paul tells us that the purpose of the Law is to show a sinner their guilt before God and stops them from justifying themselves (Romans 3:19), it brings the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20) and it defines sin (Romans 7:7). The Law does not give the knowledge of or define God, but sin.
God sets up a temporary system to deal with mans sin (Leviticus 1 - 7, Hebrews 9 - 10) but we see something revealed that shows us God's true nature even though the Law had been given. In Deuteronomy 28:1-14 we see that God is the one who blesses not the one who curses or causes bad things to happen. However, in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 it seems to indicate that God does cause bad things to happen to His people. This is where many people have learned to believe that bad things come from God. After all God does not change and bad things are happening to His people so it must be true for today also. But let's take a closer look at what the Bible reveals.
"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:" (Deuteronomy 28:15) The first thing we need to note is that this does not say that God will cause all of the curses to come upon them, but the curses are a result of their decision to disobey God, sound familiar doesn't it (Adam and Eve). The curses would come upon them due to their CHOICE to disobey. It was the same thing that happened to Adam when he chose to disobey God and become the slave to sin and Satan. The same principle that applied to Adam also applied to Israel. However, God in His true nature of being merciful, gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth, gives Israel the principle to live in His blessings and not the curses of sin and Satan.
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
All Israel had to do was choose God rather than sin and Satan to live a blessed life on earth free of bad things happening to them. However, if we look through Israel's history we see that they repeatedly rejected God and became slaves to sin which opened the door for Satan to have his way with them. Remember, Adam had forfeited his perfect life and all his authority to Satan and in doing so took himself out from under God's freedom and blessings to become Satan's slave. It was the same for Israel. They did not choose God's authority, protection and blessings to flow in their midst which would bring health, wealth and long life (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) but chose to reject God and let sin and Satan have their way bringing curses and ultimately destruction upon them. We see this very thing occurring throughout Israel's history as recorded in the Bible (Deuteronomy 28:15-68 the curse for disobedience)
We must see things from a correct perspective. God created man in perfection and gave him choice. It was man who chose to reject God and accept Satan as his master and all the evil that came with it. It was Israel that God chose and wanted to bless. It was Israel who chose sin (Satan) to rule over them through their rejection (disobedience to) of God. God does not choose bad things to happen to man, He permits them to happen because He will not encroach man's will to choose. If man chooses sin and Satan then he will reap the destructive nature of that choice. However, if man chooses God, he becomes a benefactor of all the blessings that God has promised, it is just that simple.
There are many believer that might say, "I am a believer and I did not choose this sickness, disease, fininacial problems, etc. so it must be God's will." However, when you look closer you will find that a statement like this is made due to one of two thing. One, is many believers let their body and soul have rule over their life and therefore open the door for sin and Satan to exploit them. The other is because many believers live their life in a natural type of faith that every person has. It is called sense knowledge faith or mental assent. It means that ones faith is based on ones mind and or senses, that is, seeing is believing, (John 20:24-25) and not revelation faith that emanates from the heart (spirit) that is, believing that you have received even though there is no tangible evidence (John 20:29, Hebrews 11:1) These things prevent believers from understanding the fullness of redemption which God has provided through Jesus Christ.
For many believers, redemption has been reduced to accepting Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior for the purpose of eternal life only, rather than seeing that redemption has completely restored man to what Adam was before the fall. This can only be realized through faith in Christ and in the integrity of God's Word. When believers come to realize that "Bad Things Do Not Come From God" they we begin to understand that they no longer have to live in defeat nor will they have to live a life constantly trying to defeat the devil, because he is already defeated. (Colossians 2:15) They will rest in the LORD because their faith has brought them to know that it is "God who ALWAYS leads us in triumph in Christ..."
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 4
Now that the state of man has changed from sinless to sinful and from having authority to being a slave, we will continue to explore the Bible to show us that "Bad Things Do Not Come From God." First we need to keep in mind some very important things...
Unfortunately, many believer's today fail in the same way. They have been taught that God let's bad things happen to them which paints a false picture of who God truly is. Christ has restored man and in that restoration has given him authority once again. By faith in Christ man is no longer a slave to sin and Satan (Romans 6:14) and yet many time believers fall prey by allowing their body and soul, where Satan continues to attack to rule them rather than exercising their recreated spirit where the believer has the power to overcome the body, soul, sin and Satan. Jesus paid the price for man's disobedience (Romans 5:17-21), He defeated Satan (Colossians 2:15) and has given the believer authority over Satan (Matthew 28:18, Mark 16:17-18, Luke 10:19, 24:49). It is a lack of faith and poor teaching concerning God's nature, character and will that promotes this unbiblical doctrine in the church.
Think about it. If sin and Satan are the product of all evil and Christ has saved humanity from these very things, then why would God still allow bad things to happen to His children? (Romans 8:16-17) He wouldn't!!! Bad things are still the product of sins destructive nature and the wickedness of Satan as it was in the beginning of man's history. However the good news is, Christ has delivered man from it ALL of these things. However, we must still keep in mind that man still has the right to chose concerning these matters. It comes down to choosing to place faith in the Truth of God's Word, not the false truth claims of faithless teachers and the deceptive lies of Satan. Remember, Satan came with his claims of truth in the garden that opposed the real Truth of God. His tactics and the destructive nature of sin have not changed, which is the very reason why believer's must "Live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us." It is only through faith in Christ and the integrity of God's Word that believers will truly know that "Bad Things Do Not Come From God."
- Adam was created in the image and likeness of God in righteousness and true holiness. He was not mortal nor immortal but a perfect human being. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7, Ephesians 4:24)
- God placed Adam in the garden and gave him authority (second to God Himself Psalm 8:5-8) and gave him a command (but also gave him choice Genesis 2:19-20) and made him a companion comparable to him (Genesis 1:28-30, 2:15-25)
- We saw the deception of Satan and the disobedience of man which caused man to be banished from the garden. (Genesis 3:1-24) Through this act of disobedience, man had become enveloped by the flesh (being controlled by the desires of the body and soul Genesis 6:3) and his desire was to do evil (Genesis 6:5) because he has become spiritually dead (Genesis 2:17)
- Finally we saw that Adam lost his authority and became a slave to sin or Satan (Genesis 6:5, Luke 4:5-6, John 8:44)
Unfortunately, many believer's today fail in the same way. They have been taught that God let's bad things happen to them which paints a false picture of who God truly is. Christ has restored man and in that restoration has given him authority once again. By faith in Christ man is no longer a slave to sin and Satan (Romans 6:14) and yet many time believers fall prey by allowing their body and soul, where Satan continues to attack to rule them rather than exercising their recreated spirit where the believer has the power to overcome the body, soul, sin and Satan. Jesus paid the price for man's disobedience (Romans 5:17-21), He defeated Satan (Colossians 2:15) and has given the believer authority over Satan (Matthew 28:18, Mark 16:17-18, Luke 10:19, 24:49). It is a lack of faith and poor teaching concerning God's nature, character and will that promotes this unbiblical doctrine in the church.
Think about it. If sin and Satan are the product of all evil and Christ has saved humanity from these very things, then why would God still allow bad things to happen to His children? (Romans 8:16-17) He wouldn't!!! Bad things are still the product of sins destructive nature and the wickedness of Satan as it was in the beginning of man's history. However the good news is, Christ has delivered man from it ALL of these things. However, we must still keep in mind that man still has the right to chose concerning these matters. It comes down to choosing to place faith in the Truth of God's Word, not the false truth claims of faithless teachers and the deceptive lies of Satan. Remember, Satan came with his claims of truth in the garden that opposed the real Truth of God. His tactics and the destructive nature of sin have not changed, which is the very reason why believer's must "Live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us." It is only through faith in Christ and the integrity of God's Word that believers will truly know that "Bad Things Do Not Come From God."
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 3
Now that God had placed Adam in the garden, gave him authority, specific direction and even a companion, a wife that was comparable to him we begin to discover the actual root of bad things being unleashed upon all mankind...
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
(Genesis 3:1-5)
One of the unique attributes that God had given to mankind was the freedom of choice. Adam was a spirit with a soul encased within a body, his spirit was perfect and because of this his soul and body (flesh) were under full submission to his spirit. We do not know to this point in scripture why Satan chose to whet the appetite of the woman with his deception, but his false truth claims cause her soul to reason between two claims of truth, God's and Satan's. Finally we see that she responds...
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6)
Unfortunately for mankind she chose wrong, but that is not the whole of it. Notice that when the woman ate of the forbidden tree she also gave it to her husband WITH HER, and he ate. Against some popular teaching that says Adam was not around when his wife was being seduced is not an accurate account. In fact he was WITH HER and watch the entire deceptive work of Satan unfold and did nothing to prevent it. Remember, he had the authority not Satan and did not use it against Satan's attack. Think about it, all he had to do was to speak and Satan would have had to obey. He could have said, "Satan get off the earth and never return" and that would have been the end of it forever. However, he chose to disobey the command of the LORD and by this act of disobedience forfeited his God given rights and authority to Satan. Now instead of Satan being under mans authority man was now under Satan's authority. Man not only gave up his authority but also his connection with God because he was now spiritually dead. God is Spirit and relates to mankind in spirit.
With Satan in charge of mans affairs so to speak let's look at what the Bible reveals as his nature. He is adversary, hater, opponent, enemy, accuser, slanderer, whisperer, enchanter, beguiler, tempter, liar, thief, murderer, do we get the point? His activities are to slander God to man and man to God; oppose God's ministers, pervert the Word of God, hold man captive through oppression, deception, possession, torments, vexing and buffeting. Because man is spiritual dead, Satan manifests these things through the soul (mind, will and emotions) and the body (the flesh). Even though there is much more evidence in the Bible that bad things do not come from God, we could actually stop here and logically conclude that all the bad things on earth are the result of the fall of man, that is, the destructive nature of sin and Satan.
The good news is that the LORD Jesus Christ conquered Satan and his gang and has made provision for all man to be set free by being turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, through faith in Jesus Christ.
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
(Genesis 3:1-5)
One of the unique attributes that God had given to mankind was the freedom of choice. Adam was a spirit with a soul encased within a body, his spirit was perfect and because of this his soul and body (flesh) were under full submission to his spirit. We do not know to this point in scripture why Satan chose to whet the appetite of the woman with his deception, but his false truth claims cause her soul to reason between two claims of truth, God's and Satan's. Finally we see that she responds...
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6)
Unfortunately for mankind she chose wrong, but that is not the whole of it. Notice that when the woman ate of the forbidden tree she also gave it to her husband WITH HER, and he ate. Against some popular teaching that says Adam was not around when his wife was being seduced is not an accurate account. In fact he was WITH HER and watch the entire deceptive work of Satan unfold and did nothing to prevent it. Remember, he had the authority not Satan and did not use it against Satan's attack. Think about it, all he had to do was to speak and Satan would have had to obey. He could have said, "Satan get off the earth and never return" and that would have been the end of it forever. However, he chose to disobey the command of the LORD and by this act of disobedience forfeited his God given rights and authority to Satan. Now instead of Satan being under mans authority man was now under Satan's authority. Man not only gave up his authority but also his connection with God because he was now spiritually dead. God is Spirit and relates to mankind in spirit.
With Satan in charge of mans affairs so to speak let's look at what the Bible reveals as his nature. He is adversary, hater, opponent, enemy, accuser, slanderer, whisperer, enchanter, beguiler, tempter, liar, thief, murderer, do we get the point? His activities are to slander God to man and man to God; oppose God's ministers, pervert the Word of God, hold man captive through oppression, deception, possession, torments, vexing and buffeting. Because man is spiritual dead, Satan manifests these things through the soul (mind, will and emotions) and the body (the flesh). Even though there is much more evidence in the Bible that bad things do not come from God, we could actually stop here and logically conclude that all the bad things on earth are the result of the fall of man, that is, the destructive nature of sin and Satan.
The good news is that the LORD Jesus Christ conquered Satan and his gang and has made provision for all man to be set free by being turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, through faith in Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 2
In part one we saw that God set all things into motion at the time of creation and on the seventh day He rested
And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. (Genesis 2:2)
In chapter two of Genesis we see in great detail what God had created on the sixth day specifically those things pertaining to man. First we see that God formed man of the dust of the ground, but it wasn't until God breathed His Spirit into man that man became a new creation, he was made alive in God. We also see that God had created the earth, water and vegetation which means that the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were present before man was created. We also see that God chose a specific place called Eden where He place man and gave man specific direction. In those directions God gave Adam authority over all things on the earth. Basically from God's perspective, if anything on earth got out of line Adam did not have to ask God to deal with it, but he had the power to put it back in line. ALL things were subject to Adam. The only one that had more authority than Adam was God Himself.
For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Youu have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. (Psalm 8:5-8) In the Hebrew, it states that God had made man a little lower than Himself. This is very signicant to the believer today when we begin to look at what redemption truly means through Jesus Christ.
Next we see that God gave Adam one command that required his obedience...
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17) And finally we see that God made Adam a companion whom he called woman. Keep in mind that the creation of man, God's directives to man and His placement of man in Eden had all taken place on the sixth day of creation. At the end of the sixth day of creation, everything was set in motion by God. Believers must understand this if they are to truly understand that that bad things do not come from God.
For many who read this series your faith will be tried because you have been trained to believe that God does do bad things to people to either punish them or for some mysterious divine purpose. Liberal theology like this has caused doubt to fill the hearts and minds of far to many believers which has resulted in many who are weak, sick and have died prematurely.
In the next part of this series we will begin to discover the orgin of where bad things that happen have their roots.
And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. (Genesis 2:2)
In chapter two of Genesis we see in great detail what God had created on the sixth day specifically those things pertaining to man. First we see that God formed man of the dust of the ground, but it wasn't until God breathed His Spirit into man that man became a new creation, he was made alive in God. We also see that God had created the earth, water and vegetation which means that the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were present before man was created. We also see that God chose a specific place called Eden where He place man and gave man specific direction. In those directions God gave Adam authority over all things on the earth. Basically from God's perspective, if anything on earth got out of line Adam did not have to ask God to deal with it, but he had the power to put it back in line. ALL things were subject to Adam. The only one that had more authority than Adam was God Himself.
For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Youu have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. (Psalm 8:5-8) In the Hebrew, it states that God had made man a little lower than Himself. This is very signicant to the believer today when we begin to look at what redemption truly means through Jesus Christ.
Next we see that God gave Adam one command that required his obedience...
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17) And finally we see that God made Adam a companion whom he called woman. Keep in mind that the creation of man, God's directives to man and His placement of man in Eden had all taken place on the sixth day of creation. At the end of the sixth day of creation, everything was set in motion by God. Believers must understand this if they are to truly understand that that bad things do not come from God.
For many who read this series your faith will be tried because you have been trained to believe that God does do bad things to people to either punish them or for some mysterious divine purpose. Liberal theology like this has caused doubt to fill the hearts and minds of far to many believers which has resulted in many who are weak, sick and have died prematurely.
In the next part of this series we will begin to discover the orgin of where bad things that happen have their roots.
Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 1
Another controversial subject that affects many believers comes in the form of these questions, "Does God permit bad things to happen to His people." Does God use bad thing to chasten His People." Is God behind all the bad things that happen in the world." When I use the expression bad things, I mean sickness, disease, poverty, premature loss of life, birth defects, wars, and what we call natural disasters (hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, etc). It will certainly take some time to thoroughly address these questions, but I do want to give you the answer to these questions up front now, emphatically NO! Bad things do not come from God!
Why so many believers have fallen prey to believing that God does permit, allow or use bad things to happen is due to church leaders having a lack of understanding God's true nature and character which effects their understanding of His will. They use the statement that "God is sovereign" but in saying so they insinuate that God's sovereignty permits Him to operate outside of His Word. God certainly is sovereign but He most definitely does not operate outside of His Word. The next problem is many church leaders have a gross misunderstanding of creation. These two together have promoted a false image of the Living God.
Genesis records...
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"..."Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was VERY GOOD. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day"...
(Genesis 1:1, 31) and "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." (Genesis 2:1-3) Note that after God had created everyhting, "God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from ALL His work which He had done." In other words, everything that God would ever do was set in motion in the six days of creation, His work was completed. This means that everything that would happen from this point, the beginning, forward to the end of time in the mind of God has happened. Remember God is the Alpha and the Omega the Beginning and the End. He is not bound by time and space and therefore He saw the end at the beginning. If we can comprehend this, we will begin to understand many incredible things concerning God's will, word, nature and charcater as well as seeing many of the doctrines that the church has embraced over the last five hundred years are not biblically sound.
We will discuss this in greater detail, but for now it would be good for you to read and meditate on
Genesis 1:1-31, 2:1-3. Let the Holy Spirit begin leading you into "All Truth" as Jesus said He would do because what will be discussed will increase your faith in Jesus Christ, who is the Word.
Why so many believers have fallen prey to believing that God does permit, allow or use bad things to happen is due to church leaders having a lack of understanding God's true nature and character which effects their understanding of His will. They use the statement that "God is sovereign" but in saying so they insinuate that God's sovereignty permits Him to operate outside of His Word. God certainly is sovereign but He most definitely does not operate outside of His Word. The next problem is many church leaders have a gross misunderstanding of creation. These two together have promoted a false image of the Living God.
Genesis records...
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"..."Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was VERY GOOD. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day"...
(Genesis 1:1, 31) and "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." (Genesis 2:1-3) Note that after God had created everyhting, "God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from ALL His work which He had done." In other words, everything that God would ever do was set in motion in the six days of creation, His work was completed. This means that everything that would happen from this point, the beginning, forward to the end of time in the mind of God has happened. Remember God is the Alpha and the Omega the Beginning and the End. He is not bound by time and space and therefore He saw the end at the beginning. If we can comprehend this, we will begin to understand many incredible things concerning God's will, word, nature and charcater as well as seeing many of the doctrines that the church has embraced over the last five hundred years are not biblically sound.
We will discuss this in greater detail, but for now it would be good for you to read and meditate on
Genesis 1:1-31, 2:1-3. Let the Holy Spirit begin leading you into "All Truth" as Jesus said He would do because what will be discussed will increase your faith in Jesus Christ, who is the Word.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Bye, Bye Flesh
The Apostle Paul reveals some interesting news oncerning our flesh...
"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:27)
To bring something into subjection means to rule over; to take authority over; to bring under control; to have dominion over. Paul considered his body/flesh to be and enemy with which he must contend. He does everything possible to subdue his weak body as well as all of its corrupt and carnal inclinations to show that he was not a slave to his body or under the dominion of evil passions, but that he is fully under the dominion of Jesus Christ.
Because Paul was an Apostle does not mean that he was more saved than you or I. It does not mean that he had more authority over his body than you or I over ours. Every believer has the ability to bring his or her body/flesh into subjection in the Name of Jesus. This is not based on shear determination, but an act of the will to submit to God and exercise faith in Christ! James tells us the power that is in our words...
"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh." (James 3:1-12)
A look at Proverbs we also see the power of the tongue..
"You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth."
(Proverbs 6:2)
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
(Proverbs 18:21)
In other words, you and I are the rulers of our bodies. We must let the spirit man on the inside rise up and take charge.
Smith Wigglesworth said it this way. “If someone asks, how is Smith Wigglesworth feeling today?” I tell him, I never ask Smith Wigglesworth how he feels, I tell him how he feels.”
A great prayer that you can start confessing over yourself is...
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
(3 John 2) However, do not pray this prayer and blatantly get into debt, abuse your body or do things that you know are appealing to your flesh that you know is wrong. As your soul prospers in the knowledge of Christ and the more you will prosper in other areas of your life which includes walking in divine health. These things will cause your faith to grow. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
There are numerous verses of scripture that believers can confess over their lives, only know this one very important thing, confess the Word in faith!!!
"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:27)
To bring something into subjection means to rule over; to take authority over; to bring under control; to have dominion over. Paul considered his body/flesh to be and enemy with which he must contend. He does everything possible to subdue his weak body as well as all of its corrupt and carnal inclinations to show that he was not a slave to his body or under the dominion of evil passions, but that he is fully under the dominion of Jesus Christ.
Because Paul was an Apostle does not mean that he was more saved than you or I. It does not mean that he had more authority over his body than you or I over ours. Every believer has the ability to bring his or her body/flesh into subjection in the Name of Jesus. This is not based on shear determination, but an act of the will to submit to God and exercise faith in Christ! James tells us the power that is in our words...
"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh." (James 3:1-12)
A look at Proverbs we also see the power of the tongue..
"You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth."
(Proverbs 6:2)
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
(Proverbs 18:21)
In other words, you and I are the rulers of our bodies. We must let the spirit man on the inside rise up and take charge.
Smith Wigglesworth said it this way. “If someone asks, how is Smith Wigglesworth feeling today?” I tell him, I never ask Smith Wigglesworth how he feels, I tell him how he feels.”
A great prayer that you can start confessing over yourself is...
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
(3 John 2) However, do not pray this prayer and blatantly get into debt, abuse your body or do things that you know are appealing to your flesh that you know is wrong. As your soul prospers in the knowledge of Christ and the more you will prosper in other areas of your life which includes walking in divine health. These things will cause your faith to grow. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
There are numerous verses of scripture that believers can confess over their lives, only know this one very important thing, confess the Word in faith!!!
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