Tuesday, January 31, 2012

FROM THE GARDEN TO THE C R O S S

The Garden of Eden & The Promised REDEEMER !

Genesis 3 : 15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; HE shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise HIS heel.

  • This is a glimpse of the promise of a "future" redeemer who will restore us back to the Garden of Eden - a place where the LORD and HIS creation can dwell together.
    • Hint Hint - Revelation 22
~ Here is the SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE . . .

Remember Adam confirms the promise of a redeemer by naming Woman "EVE"
  • Genesis 3 : 20
  • You would think, after having been banished from the Garden, the last thing on Adam's mind would be to name his "wife"  LIVING. 
  • Some might argue that Death would have been more appropriate.
Let's follow our couple out of the Garden and into their exilic state.

Look with me at Genesis 4 : 1

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a man the LORD".

Here is where I may loose some of you:

In MOST English translations it reads "I have gotten a man with the help of  the LORD.

CRITICAL POINT - PAY ATTENTION -

The "with the help of" is not in the original Hebrew Text.
What is in the Hebrew text is the letters  Aleph and Tav.
  • The Aleph Tav are the first and last letters of the Hebrew Alphabet.  Sort of like the ALPHA and OMEGA of the Greek Alphabet.
Do you see where I am going? 

Listen up...pay attention...

JESUS the MESSIAH refers to HIMSELF as the Alpha and Omega in Revelation 22:13.

In Hebrew it would read..."I AM the Aleph Tav"


The Mystery of the Aleph Tav

The Concordance number for Aleph Tav transliterated as `ath is H854.

Here is where it gets interesting...a concordance search of 854 only comes up with about 25 queries.

However, `ath shows up HUNDREDS of times in the Hebrew Scriptures, but it goes UNTRANSLATED!

Here is but one of MANY examples:

  • Genesis 1 : 1
    • In the beginning `ath [Aleph Tav] Elohim [GOD] created the Earth and the Heavens.
    • Here we have the Aleph Tav associated with C R E A T I O N
  • John 1 : 2 makes a little more sense now when John proclaims:
    • HE [JESUS] was in the beginning with GOD.

Now back to our original "teaching" in Genesis 4 where EVE believes she has given birth to the redeemer.

Well we all know the story, but in essence, Cain turned out NOT being the promised redeemer.

However, let's take this same mindset with us to the GOOD NEWS - aka the New Testament.
  • Keep in mind the idea of WOMAN bringing forth the MESSIAH or REDEEMER.
Ever find it odd that JESUS alwasy referred to HIS mother as "WOMAN" ?
  • well, there was a reason that it was recorded that way
  • Let's just say that the LORD GOD never forgets HIS promises ! ! !

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION

·      JOHN 2:4
§       “WOMAN what is it to ME and to You?  MY HOUR has not yet come.”

§       WHAT HOUR?  The HOUR of REDEMPTION ! ! !

·       JOHN 19 : 26

§         [26] When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”



In JESUS,  the REDEEMER has COME ! ! !

The LONG awaited Messiah has finally come through WOMAN.

Not buying it?

Check this out:

Mary in Hebrew is "Miriam" which means REBELLION !
  • The name Mary points the reader back to the Rebellion of the Garden!

And there we have it...from the Garden to the Cross and the promise of a MESSIAH.

Friends, we serve and worship a FAITHFUL GOD.  HE is TRUE to HIS WORD!

~ I pray that the LORD whom we serve, will add HIS blessings to this teaching and your life ~


Thursday, January 26, 2012

"ADAM & EVE"

  M A N, W O M A N
AND THE
G A R D E N



In order to better understand ourselves and the special relationship that exists between, man and woman, let’s take a look at the Hebraic terms associated with each.



MALE  is from the Hebrew word:
                        [H2145]          zakar
                       
…which interestingly sounds similar to another Hebrew word:

[H2142]          zakar   to recall or to remember to be thought of


¨      Perhaps as part of our design is an innate desire to remember our GOD – as in the days of the Garden of Eden.

¨      Similarly, GOD is reminded of HIS love for us when HE “sees” us.

¨      Which makes further sense, as to why JESUS came as a “male”



ADAM

Let's consider Adam for a moment...
There is the COMPLETE Adam

  • The one prior to the removal of his rib

There is also the INCOMPLETE Adam

  • The one without the “rib”
  • HE is now only complete by uniting with WOMAN
    • Pay close attention to the word plays below.
Below I have listed the Concordance Number, the Hebrew Translation, and its meaning.


ADAM
  • [H120]                        Man or Mankind – literally Earthling

From the Root

  • [H119]                        a’dam         be red or to dye red -
  • perhaps an indication of the clay he was formed out of...?

MAN
  • [H376]                        Ish       man or husband

From the ROOT


  • [H605]                        base root – to be sick / incurable or frail or weak 


FEMALE
  • [H5347]          neyqeyvah      meaning female

From the ROOT


  • [H5344]          neqab              to pierce or to bore



WOMAN
  • [H802]                        Isha

¨      NOTE: this is the ONLY TERM JESUS uses when speaking about HIS “Mother”, Mary.

¨      What is the Author / GOD trying to tell us ? ? ?

§         We will return to that later.

C R I T I C A L   P O I N T  

Man & Woman

·        In Hebrew “suitable” literally means “a helper before / against
o       See Genesis 2:20 for the reference when the LORD GOD mentions the need for a "suitable" helper for Man.

o       Denotes that the “woman” would either be in alliance or defiance of “man”

·        Hebrew scholars note: 

The words Man and Woman differ by just two Hebraic letters a Yod and a   Hey

o       Together [the YOD and the HEY] they form one of the Divine Names of GOD [YHVH or YAHWEH].

o       GOD must be present between them in order to be rightly related as man and woman.


Why didn’t GOD create Woman out of the ground?

IT COST ADAM something to have a “Help Mate”

IT cost JESUS something to send a Helper
  • 1st  Corinthians 45
  • JESUS as the Second Adam

Garden of Eden


Garden
  • [H1588]          garden or enclosure
  • [H5731]          Eden meaning pleasure or delight or luxury
C R I T I C A L   P O I N T

In the Garden we meet . . .

·        The LORD [YHVH] GOD [ELOHIM]

o       First time in the TORAH that these two names are used together:
o       YHVH – denotes divine compassion and mercy
o       ELOHIM – denotes divine power {creator} and Justice

·        Adam was TWO-fold:
1.      Dust from the Ground – “RED”
2.      Breath of Life

·        Adam was “placed” in the garden to serve and keep
o       To partner with GOD in creation
o       More of a Priest than a “gardener”
o       Work was needed outside the garden
§         Mary mistook JESUS for a garden-keeper in Luke


The Trees
                        Both are placed in the “midst” or “middle” of the garden so in order to                       eat from the Tree of Life you must come into contact with
The Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.


HOW MANY TIMES DID ADAM AND EVE GO TO THE TREE  BEFORE THEY FELL?


Choose LIFE or DEATH // GOOD or EVIL {Deut 30:15}


L I F E  Comes down to a SIMPLE Choice
TO  OBEY
Or
NOT TO OBEY

·        Tree of Life
o       Symbolizes Grace – Adam did nothing to cultivate this tree

·        Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil

o       Symbolizes the LAW

o       The Understanding of Right and Wrong

o       Flesh Versus Spirit

From the Hebrew word:
o       #H1847 da’ath                knowledge

From the root of:

o       #H1882 dath                   law or rule {as from a King}          


The Serpent

·        H5175       nachash          Serpent

From the Root

·        H5172       nachash         
To practice divination
To learn by experience or diligently observe
           
Satan is an Observer and an Accuser…
¨      He observes our short-comings and then tells them to GOD.
¨      Blessed are those covered by the BLOOD of the MESSIAH, YESHUA.

He is called “crafty”…

·        [H6175]          crafty, sly, shrewd
·        ROOT                        [H6191]
To make naked or uncover with malevolent / evil intent
           

~ satan uncovers our nakedness…makes us feel helpless…insecure…inferior ~


T H E   F A L L

…it all comes down to these 3 little principles

Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.


1 John 2:16
For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.


C R I T I C A L   P O I N T

JESUS faced these same 3 temptations in the wilderness, but HE CHOSE obedience!


What Happened When They “ate” the FRUIT?

1.      Their EYES were opened
·        They are able to “SEE” things which they had not before

2.      They realized they were naked
·        Naked or Helpless – That they were totally RELIANT upon the  
                                            LORD.
·        H5903       ‘eyrom
§         Helpless

·        H6191       aram [root of 5903]
§         To be crafty or prudent or shrewd
§         To make naked or uncover
§         Same root for H6175 when describing the “serpent”  ‘arum

The Fall
                       
·        Satan – the mouthpiece of deceit

o       Reminds me of the Book of Job – The Accuser

·         Their eyes are open and they realize they are naked

o       Condemnation; self-condemnation

o       They knew something was “wrong” before they even “talked” to GOD

·        Adam’s response lacks personal recognition of his transgression

·        Eve’s response is more “honest”

~ How amazing is Man’s love for Woman that He would willing eat of the fruit than to be separated from her. ~



Judgment

                        Genesis 3:14-19        
5 chapters Long [Grace]
All pertain to the judgment of the FLESH

·        Satan is judged first
o       Cursed which is contrary to Blessed

o       He will be a “dust” eater

·        He will seek to consume/destroy humanity

o       Hostility between you and the woman and their corresponding “Seed” or offspring

·        The Hebrew could read literally – between Her sowing and your sowing.

HOPE of RESTORATION is delivered before Man & Woman’s judgment –
A promise of a “Redeemer”


Genesis 3 : 14 - 19

·        Woman is judged secondly
o       Pain in child-rearing
o       A promise is attached to her judgment
o       Death

·        Man is judged last
o       Sorrow, labor
o       Instead of cultivating GOD’s “garden”, Adam must cultivate his own “ground”
o       Death
o       Adam acknowledges the Promise of GOD by calling her EVE – which means living!


FIG LEAVES ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Recall man and woman made fig leaves to cover themselves – in a sense they tried to create their own righteousness.

But We can only be redeemed by the BLOOD . . .



The Blood

                        Genesis 3:21
·        A Blood Covering – blood had to be sacrificed
·        Did GOD demonstrate this?
o       Genesis 3:21
·        How did Cain and Abel know to give sacrifices?

For Further Study:

Genesis 9:3

                        Leviticus 17:10
                       
Deuteronomy 12:23

How Gracious our GOD is to not allow man and woman to continue to live in this state of Eternal Separation!


Instead GOD LOVED HIS creation enough to allow them to die…and HE would provide a way back to the GARDEN!
~Revelation 22


~May the LORD add HIS blessing to HIS HOLY WORD . . .
 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Does GOD care about Football?

In lieu of the recent media hype surrounding the success of Tim Tebow, the question has undoubtedly come up.


Does GOD really care about Football?


For those of you who haven’t heard of Tim Tebow check out his sight at:


Also Wikipedia has some great information on him as well at:


My point is this; HE is not some kind of “publicity” Christian – this guy

appears to have a genuine love for JESUS the Messiah.  A love that is

manifested in HIS passion for missions...and football.

It is for this same passion that he has been HIGHLY criticized – you either

love him or hate him!

…and the secular media has been having a hay day with him, at the expense

of HIS FAITH!  [Simply Google Bill Maher on Tim Tebow]


Consider this famous picture of Tim Tebow…


Now consider the amount of passing yards in Denver’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers…

316

Setting  an NFL record with
31.6
…yards per completion.


Let me remind you, this was a record setting, over-time win, which NO ONE gave them a

chance of winning!


So let me ask the question again…


Does GOD really care about Football?


Or maybe we are asking the wrong question…

Maybe the more appropriate question is:

Can GOD use everyday life to reveal HIMSELF?


Just maybe what we PERCEIVE as a FOOTBALL game, GOD “may” see

completely different!


Just maybe HE is trying to let people know HE IS STILL ALIVE and

ACTIVE!  [That’s what I believe – no coincidences]


Just maybe, GOD can use a vehicle we call

“FOOTBALL” [or insert your occupation here]

to remind us of HIS ever-watching,

ever present love for us.


May the LORD help us to see things through HIS eyes, and not merely our own.


~ Love Much, Forgive Often, Seek Earnestly ~