God Revealed

How much of God had can you find in the first chapter of Genesis? It is said that He has revealed Himself in ten ways. I will list them:

1. God is pre-existing – there was nothing before Him.
2. God is one and created all things.
3. God is Spirit and hovers over His creation.
4. God spoke things into existence from nothing.
5. God makes order out of chaos.
6. God is the God of distinctions, dividing light from dark, water from dry land.
7. God is the creator of moral judgement, declaring things good and bad.
8. God creates life. There is no death in Him.
9. God desires to be known.
10. God is good. All that He created is good.

Religion vs Relationship

…Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. Genesis 4:2-5

For years I have heard that the reason that God accepted Abel’s offering and not Cain’s was because Abel offered a blood sacrifice to the Lord and Cain did not. What if I told you that that idea was wrong?

The problem with this explanation is that the Hebrew word for offering is “minchah” which does not mean a blood offering. It is actually a bloodless offering. Therefore, blood was not required for this offering. It was an offering of thanksgiving.

So, what made the difference between Cain and Abel? There is something that is very significant here. It was the quality of the offering.

Both brought an offering without being commanded, it would seem. Both brought an offering from their labor. But, there are two clues into Abel’s offering. The first is that his offering was a firstborn from the flock. To emphasize the quality he offered the fat. The Hebrew word for fat, “cheleb”,  can also mean the choicest or best This word is also used in Numbers 18 in offering the best oil, the best of the new wine and grain.

Cain’s offering does not have these same descriptions. It was worship that was not from the heart. I have to question the description of “in the process of time,” a description that does not go will with fruit. Could the fruit have been rotten? Or, was it a matter that Cain waited to make sure that he had enough for himself before he offered his fruit.

Established very early in scripture is that the value of our worship is determined on the value it is to us or what it cost us – a sacrifice of praise. This is a great example of the contrast between relationship with God and religion.

Prayer of Three College Students

Hampden-Sydney College

Following is are two paragraphs from J Edwin Orr’s book, The Eager Feet, and found on page 66.

“In Virginia, a sorry state of affairs existed at Hampden-Sydney College, a Presbyterian school. On campus in 1787, there was drunkenness, cheating, lying and profanity, the students being utterly careless in conduct and character. A group of three students, all unconverted–so far as one can ascertain–but concerned about conditions on campus and about their own spiritual destiny, deciced to hold a prayer meeting to entreat the Almighty. They locked themselves in a room to avoid ridicule or uproar. All were novices about intercession. ‘We tried to pray,’ said one, ‘but such prayer I never heard the like of. We tried to sing, but it was in a most suppressed manner, for we feared the other students.’ They were discovered, and a tormenting mob tried to break down the door and rough them up.”

“The president of Hampden-Sydney College was Dr. John Blair Smith, born 1756, converted 1770. Called upon to investigate the uproar, he rebuked the rowdies and told the praying youths that they could meet in his private room. This they did, and thus began a remarkable college revival. Many vicious and profane students were converted, and the movement was extended over three or four counties by the preaching of Blair Smith, who won more than two hundred young people to Christian faith within a year and a half–several of whom became outstanding leaders in the greater awakening soon to come.”

Never underestimate the power of a small group willing to pray.

Never Getting Ahead

The Devourer

Malachi 3:10-11 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” Says the Lord  of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of Host;

Yes, I am one of those who believe that this verse works for us today. It is a practice that preceded the law. It was the practice of not just 10%, which is what the word tithe means. It is the practice of first fruit. It is where Cain failed. It is what Abram did in Genesis 14. It is the city of Jericho was when Israel defeated them. Some even believe that it was what was requested of Adam and Eve when they were asked not to eat of the tree, that it was God’s portion.

But, that is not what I am wanting focus on. In Malachi God mentions a devourer. Each time we give of our tithe (first fruit, ten percent) He rebukes the devourer. What we often fail to remember is that the reverse is true. If we do not give in our tithe then we have the devourer taking from us.

The point is, there is never a moment where we will ever enjoy 100% of our increase. We either give to our Provider what is His share or the devourer takes and often wants far more than 10%. Please remember that not everything has to do with money. It can be health. It can be your family. It can be your employment. It can be your relationships.

This principle has always worked for me and it will for you too. Keep the devourer away!

When Does FIRST Make A Difference?

Genesis 4:1-7 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and siad, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Can was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Can, “why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

What was Cain’s sin? Some have suggested that it was because he gave fruit rather than a blood offering to God. Really? What if that was not the issue, what would be the difference?

Able’s Gift – Able offered up a blood offering. It was the fruit of his labor and therefore a portion of his increase. It was not just from his increase but it was the firstborn of his increase.

Cain’s Gift – Cain offered up fruit. It was the fruit of his labor and therefore a portion of his increase. It does not state that it was the first fruit of his labor. Instead, it said “in the process of time.” Either he waited to make sure that there was enough to give to God or, do you know what happens to fruit in the “process of time?” It turns mellow or rotten.

If the problem was all over the issue of offering to God the first of what was earned or produced, then what message does it speak to us today?

Was this a trial and error experiment with these Cain and Able to try and figure what God wanted? I don’t think so. God said to Cain, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” Therefore, I believe that Cain and Able knew what was expected.

This may have been the very first time that we see a lesson on firstfruit or firstborn, but it is not the last.

Let’s jump over many other illustrations. When Israel came into the promised land what was their order in regards to the first city they came to? They were to destroy it and take NOTHING for themselves. Why? The principle of firstfruit.

For another study, take a deep hard look at verse 7. “… sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

The Tail of Two Paths

In Genesis 38 we find the story of Judah being tricked into sleeping with his daughter-in-law. This pregnancy produced twins. What is interesting is the fruit from these two twins.

Perez was the ancestor of David and therefore in the direct line of Jesus.

Zerah, the other twin was the ancestor of Achan who stole goods from the defeat of Jericho and because of his sin Israel lost their second battle.

Feel free to leave a comment or insight.

Prophesy

Peter Preaching

Acts 2:17-18 And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.

Peter is preaching a sermon and begins it by quote the prophet Joel in Joel 2. I shared only half of it because the point I am wanting to make is here in these two verses.

He quoted Joel and then at the end of verse 18 Peter added a phrase that was not found in Joel’s prophesy. Actual, it is mentioned once but Peter took it upon himself to add it a second time for emphasis, “And they shall prophesy.”

Why should Peter choose to emphasize prophesying? It would seem to be a key to what the Holy Spirit is wanting to do. Acts 11:27; Acts 21:8-9; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5,31

1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you my prophesy.

Feel free to leave a comment or insight.

Jesus, the Vav

The Vav

This is my second article on the Vav, the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Not only is it the sixth letter of the alphabet, it’s numerical value is six. Six represents the number of a man, Revelation 13:18. In the article on the “broken vav” we discovered that it represented Jesus.

The name for the curtains around the tabernacle is the same name that the scribes used to refer to the pages of a scroll. The hooks that held the curtains were called Vav which means hook. Could it then be said that Jesus is the hook that holds up the Word between God and man? But, let’s not forget that He is the Word.

The scribes, when copying the Torah, began each column with a Vav as if to hook the words onto the page. If Jesus is the Vav then even more true the writing of John when he said, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.” Jesus is on every page that the scribe wrote.

The very first Vav that is used in scripture is in Genesis 1:1. Not only is the Vav written before the very first letter was placed, but it is also the 22 letter in the sentence. Does that mean anything? Well, if you consider that there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet it signifies that the Vav is now the first and the last. Again, another support that the Vav represents Jesus, the first and last.

It’s location in Genesis 1:1 is with two other letters, the first and last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the aleph and tau. These are the two letters that are found two words before which are not translated as I dealt with in another article. The word where the Vav is associated, with the first and last letter, is the word that is translated “and”, between heaven and earth. The Vav is connecting or joining heaven and earth or spiritual and earthly matters. Jesus is the divine connection between God and man.

Check out hebrew4christians.com

Feel free to leave a comment or insight.

Harlot

Jericho's Walls

Joshua 2:1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there.

For years, even back in the day that I was in college, there has always been a question whether Rahab was really a harlot or an inn keeper. See, in the Hebrew language the word used for “harlot” could mean either harlot or inn keeper.

So, let’s allow the Word to answer the question for us. In Hebrews 11:31 she is called a harlot. In the Greek language the word that is used here only has one definition – harlot.

Why is this so important? There is a greater understanding of God’s call and grace when we know these two things:

• The saving of Rahab’s life is another picture of how God brings salvation to us.
• Although she had been a harlot she is found in the genealogy of Jesus, David’s great-grandmother.

Feel free to share a comment or insight.

Another Gospel?

Joseph Smith

Galatians 1:8, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”

Joseph Smith, in 1820, involved in using a “peepstone” used in the occults, who was also a treasure hunter, said he went out into the woods to pray and that he was seized upon by some powerful being of the unseen world.  He said that thick darkness gathered around him. His tongue was held bound so that he could not speak and he was sinking into despair, ready to succumb to this being from the unseen world with great powers, when, all of a sudden, there appeared over his head a pillar of light in which two personages appeared. He asked them which Christian church was right.

He said, “I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all of their creeds were an abomination in his sight, and that all their teachers were corrupt.”

This was the beginning of a new religion taking foundational principles from the Bible. They teach that about 600 years before Jesus was born jews came to America and established a new civilization.  They became the ancestors of the Indians.  They built large cities of concrete.  Their prophets recorded everything on gold plates.

After Jesus rose from the dead He came to America to teach this other Jewish nation about Himself.  Then in the early 1800’s a man named Joseph Smith was given these golden tablets from God along with a prophet named Moroni, Mormon’s son who had come back to life.  God gave Smith the power to translate these ancient writings and then took the gold plates back to heaven with Him.  There are eleven witnesses who say that they saw the gold places, each having very little reputation for reliability.

This religion? The Church of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons. Their major recognized truth is called “The Law of Eternal Progression” which says, As man is, God once was, and as God is, man may become.

Here is the problem. In the very introduction of their book of Mormon it refers to their book as “another gospel.” As in the scripture above, Paul said not to believe it. Therefore, I can not believe it.

I do not believe in bashing other Christian groups, followers of the teachings of Christ, but can we accept the teachings of another gospel when we were warned over 1,900 years ago not to? Here are some of the frustrations which Mormon scholars face:

• No Book of Mormon cities have been located.
• No Book of Mormon names have been found in New World inscription.
• No genuine inscriptions have been found in Hebrew in America.
• No genuine inscriptions have been found in America in Egyptian or anything similar to Egyptian, which could correspond to Joseph Smith’s “reformed Egyptian.”
• No ancient copies of Book of Mormon scriptures have been found.
• No ancient inscriptions of any kind in America, which indicate that the ancient inhabitants had Hebrew or Christian beliefs, have been found.
• No mention of Book of Mormon persons, nations, or places have been found.
• No artifact of any kind, which demonstrates the Book of Mormon is true, has been found.

http://www.apologeticspress.org/rr/reprints/Book-of-Mormon.pdf