|
|
|
Volume 1 -THE GARDEN OF EDEN - Adam's Creation and His
Volume 2 - NEW BEGINNING AND NEW WORLD ENVIRONMENT Volume 3 - JOSEPH, EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH - A Foreshadow of God's Agenda for Jew and Gentile Volume 4 - CROSSING THE JORDAN RIVER - A Foreshadow of Salvation for Jew and Gentile Volume 5 - THE BOOK OF REVELATION - God's Agenda for the End Time Volume 6 - THE SEVEN LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES Volume 7 - CHRIST IN THE TABERNACLE - A Foreshadow of Redemption **************** |
This quick study is a sub-topic support for the foreshadows in Volume 1 - The Garden of Eden - Go to chapter 3 - "What Happened in the Garden" *************************** This web site and all it's narrative contents are written under one Biblical presupposition - Ephesians 1:4 (NIV) - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. "Chose" means God made a decision. Even prior to day six of creation when he created man, He made the decision to have people that would be created in His image, to be holy and blameless in His sight. This was and is His objective for having created man. Therefore, God has a plan for fallen man to return to Him and be made holy and blameless in His sight. His plan is methodological and works in a specific Way. The Way is noted in the scriptures following Ephesians 1:4: God's intention: Ephesians 1:4b-6 (NIV) - In love (5) he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - (6) to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. "In love", "predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ", "in the One he loves" - God's objective of choosing "us in Him" is accomplished in Christ Jesus. Because God loves us, we are predestined to be adopted into the family of God. God's method: Ephesians 1:7(NIV) - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. "In him", "redemption through his blood", "forgiveness of sins", "God's grace" - By our faith in Jesus' blood that was shed for the forgiveness of our sins we have access to the grace of God and are accepted as His adopted sons. We, as the family of God, are "in Him". "Our faith" - The journey of becoming an adopted son in the family of God begins with our faith. How do we get the faith we need? James 1:18 (NIV) - He chose to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Our birth is contained in the New Testament scriptures of the Bible. Romans 10:17 (KJV) - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Our faith for salvation and transformation is established in the New Testament scriptures. These scriptures are seeds sown by the family of God into the world, so that faith can be rooted in the hearts of those who will believe them. God chose to give us birth through the Word of His truth. Only God, the Father of Jesus, can give us the real truth through which we are born again into His family. Jesus is the gate into the family of God. There is no other word from any other professed messenger of God that gives birth. The Bible is the true Word of God. Our faith begins when we believe what the Bible says. Ephesians 1:11-14 (NIV) - In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, (12) in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. (13) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (14) who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory. Author's recommendation: To those who are in the early stages of seeking out the messages of God, I encourage you to study the King James version of the Bible or a good translation of the King James. Since there are many versions, I have a rule of thumb I use when selecting which version is good - I only trust those versions that are written by a consortium of scholars, rather than a single individual. Why? A consortium of scholars helps prevent errors in translation and interpretations of the King James or the old Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. ********************************************* An indepth study of hearing the Word when sown by those called by God for this purpose. Matthew - 13:18-23 (KJV) - Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. (19) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. (20) But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; (21) Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (22) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. In the above parable there are four types of hearers: A) First type are those who hear the Word in verse 19 - The Word sown along the path. This hearer does not understand the message even though he seeks to believe. But, his heart cannot retain it because of embedded hindrances that resist God's truth. Many who first hear the Word have past experiences or habits that hardened their hearts. Although they desire to change their lives their hearts are not yet open to receive from God. The Bible calls this a calloused heart - Acts
28:27 (NIV) - For this people's heart has become calloused;
Calloused comes from a Greek word pachuno (pakh-oo'-no) which means "to thicken", much like calloused hands from hard labor. Although I am not a psychologist, I realize there are many experiences along the path of one's past life which can be deeply embedded in the heart. I encourage these hearers to know that through Jesus' blood there's forgiveness of sin and in God's eyes you are free. This freedom opens the heart of any believer who will continually seek to know Him. God will help these who believe, work through the difficult issues of life. Amen! C) The second type are those who hear the Word sown on stony places in verses 20 & 21 - This hearer heard the Word, received it and was delighted in what He heard. But, the Word did not take root in his heart and he returned to his old ways of living. This hearer delighted in the Word because his heart was opened. But, when persecution or tribulation comes because of the Word, he quickly fell away because eventually he is offended that he must make undesired changes. This hearer reminds me of those who think Christianity is a path covered in rose petals. When the time of testing his faith comes, he is offended. He failed to understand the cost of becoming a Christian - The cost for changing the way he lives, what he thinks and how he behaves toward others. Christianity is not a life lived in a rose garden. Why does persecution come because of the Word? Because the Word divides between things that result in death and things that bring eternal life. This dividing takes place in our hearts as we choose to put away the things that are sinful and replace them with things set forth in the Bible. This is the beginning of the rebirth transformation process. The truth of God is sweet when first heard, but it seems sour to our inner man when we count the cost of giving up sinful things we desire to hold onto. To some the cost of giving up some things is too high a price to pay, so to speak. Thus, many will put God off until a later time when they are ready to accept Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior and change their old beliefs, habits and behaviors. D) The third type are those who hear the Word sown among the thorns in verse 22 - This hearer heard the Word, received it, "but the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful". The thorns of life pressure us and many will turn to God and seek His help in solving thorny troubles. This is place of faith where hearers are focused on obtaining God's blessing to help them in their efforts, rather than being focused on seeking a closer relationship by trusting God through thorny troubles. His focus is on God's blessing, rather than on God. This hearer does not feel secure when he gives his worries over to God and trusts Him for the outcome. He sees wealth as his source of solving all his thorny worrisome troubles. He has great difficulty in putting his wealth or lack of wealth under the overseeing grace of God. He is deceived because he sees wealth as the source of provision for all that he will need in this dimension of life. He believes his welfare is either good or bad according to the wealth he possesses or does not possess. He fails to see the light of the truth of God - God is our Provider, not wealth. This hearer believes he is willing to trust God for all his needs, but in the time for testing his faith (perseverance while God tarries), the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth arise and choke his faith and he does not stand (trusting God) through the testing of his faith. He yielded to the temptation to not trust in God. He is impatient. E) The fourth type are those who hear the Word sown in good ground in verse 23 - These hearers received the sown Word into their opened hearts (good ground) and they understood what they heard. The seed established deep roots and was anchored deep in their hearts. The seed grew and produced good fruit, bearing fruit - thirty, sixty and hundredfold. Some hear the Word and their hearts are totally receptive. There is no resistance or obstacle to trusting God through all their troubles. Their faith does not waver by the appearance of things in their environment, nor does it waver when trouble comes in like a flood. They no longer live for themselves, but it is Christ living in them to do as He will. They are yielded vessels for the Lord's purpose. This is their joy for living, to love Him and serve Him. These Christians are truly brides of the Spirit! Psalms 34:19 (KJV) - Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. **************************************** This parable is a quick picture of the Bible's importance in our seeking to know God and live in Him while we pass through this dimension of time. Its instructions and guidance will be words coming directly from His heart. The application of God's words in our lives will change us to be like His Son, Christ Jesus! God will be with us through all our earthly troubles and He will teach us the Way of the Overcomer!
|
