The Generations

Genesis 2:4 (ESV)

The Creation of Man and Woman

These are the generations

of the heavens and the earth when they were created,

in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

There no generations in the heavenly realm. The angels do not marry, nor are given in marriage. They were created in the eternal heavens for eternity and do not reproduce. 

The generations of heaven and earth must apply to descendants of Adam. He is the first man from the dust of the earth to receive the breath of heaven. 

The Lord Sent Me

Jeremiah 26:14-15 (ESV)

14 But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

Jesus could have said these very words. He came to His people and spoke the word of God. He was innocent in a way that no other man on earth could be. Yet because they were offended by the word of God, they sought His death. 

Jeremiah was spared, but the Son of God was not. His blood was shed as prophesied by Cain killing his brother Abel. God used this act of rejection and disobedience for Jesus to enter the darkness of the curse of death and defeat it. The light of the world would rise from the dust of the earth and call to us to enter His light. The separation of light and darkness in Genesis is at last being fulfilled. 

His Birth

Let us celebrate and praise the Lord for His birth as a man that begins a new creation of heaven and earth. They come together and are united in a baby who would become the cornerstone of the house of the Lord. 

The Child To Be Born

Luke 1:34-35 (ESV)

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

We are made virgins to the Lord through the waters of our repentance to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord into our hearts. As virgins to sin, we can become a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and thus made holy by His presence. 

The Latter Days

Jeremiah 23:20 (ESV)

The anger of the LORD will not turn back

until he has executed and accomplished

the intents of his heart.

In the latter days you will understand it clearly.

We are in the latter days. The enemies of Israel are gathering at her borders fueled by the demonic hatred of the chosen people of God. This will continue until the bowl of His wrath is emptied. 

In Their Own Land

Jeremiah 23:7-8 (ESV)

7 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 8 but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”

We are in the days of the return of Israel to the promised land. They have been gathered by the Lord and replanted in the land of their fathers. The prophecy of the dry bones of Israel has come true. The Lord has done this so that they and we will know He is God. 

Labor Pain

Jeremiah 22:23 (ESV)

O inhabitant of Lebanon,

nested among the cedars,

how you will be pitied when pangs come upon you,

pain as of a woman in labor!”

Eve was cursed for her disobedience to have pain in childbirth. The Jews who are her children have born this curse to this day. 

Each Believer

Luke 1:27 (ESV)

to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.

We have been made virgins of the Lord when we turn to Him and repent of our sins. God replicates this immaculate conception of a son of God within the heart of each believer to be reborn into His life as His son. 

The Child To Be Born

Luke 1:35 (ESV)

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

Every believer in Jesus is overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, reborn as a son of God. We enter the kingdom of heaven as a child. Our mortal bodies become the womb of a new creation where we grow and develop until the time for the sons of God is to be revealed. The labor pains of that childbirth are increasing as we draw closer to that day. 

In Keeping With Repentance

Luke 3:8 (ESV)

Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Repentance plants us in the Garden of Eden, in the presence of the Lord. If we listen to His word and seek His company, our roots will grow stronger and our branches will bear the fruits of His Spirit. 

Abraham’s Offspring

Galatians 3:28-29 (ESV)

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Genesis 5:2 (ESV)

Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.

Man was created male and female. The sons of God are neither. The sons of man are created from the union of a man and woman. The sons of God are created from the union of God with man, reborn into His life. 

To Be Marked

Revelation 13:16 (ESV)

Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,

It’s not too hard to imagine how we can arrive in such a dismal state of affairs these days. Despite the “sophistication” of modern man, it is no match for the evil and wickedness among us. 

If we are not able to display that we have not taken a shot, or resist masking, we can be excluded from public places, our movements restricted, lose our job, be arrested, and be ostracized and shamed for our beliefs if they are not deemed “correct”. Believing in Jesus is the most egregious affront in the darkness that is the world and the domain of the prince of darkness. 

The beast of Revelation is materializing before our eyes. The groundwork of the one world government has been underway for decades. I suspect we are about ready for his arrival. Israel is getting ready for the onslaught referred to as the time of Jacob’s troubles. Her enemies are gathering and preparing for battle. 

The Word Among Us

The Jews are the people of the Book which is the written word of the revelation of God. They brought the light of God into the world as revealed in the Law. 

The body of Christ are the people of His word in whom God reveals Himself in the hearts of mankind. We become the children of His light, the light of the world. In Him the Law is fulfilled. 

According To His Ways

Jeremiah 17:10 (ESV)

“I the LORD search the heart

and test the mind,

to give every man according to his ways,

according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Following the Law would teach Israel about God and reveal a distinct behavior to the world. The fruit of their relationship with the Lord would be seen by those around them. 

Following Jesus teaches us about God and will produce a distinct behavior to the world. The fruit of our relationship with the Lord will be seen by those around us. 

In His Own Likeness

Genesis 5:3 (ESV)

When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

Adam was the first man to receive the Spirit of God in the flesh of man which made from the dust of the earth. He was made in the image of God which he was until he died from disobedience to the Lord. Then he was reduced to the image of man, clothed in the flesh of a creature of the earth. He would father the people in his image who would become Israel. Abraham would place his faith in the Lord and obey His word. He is the father of many sons in His image according to his seed. 

From the descendants of Abraham came the second Adam who became the exact image of God and His word manifest in the flesh of man. Those who follow Jesus to His throne will be like Him, made in image of God. Thus the word of the Lord has gone forth and has accomplished all He has purposed. He is the Father of many sons in His image in the body of Christ according to the seed of the word of God. 

Into The Wilderness

Matthew 3:16 - 4:1 (ESV)

16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Temptation of Jesus

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

When we are baptized into the body of Christ, we then begin our walk led by the Spirit into the wilderness of the world which becomes a wilderness only because we have been transferred into the kingdom of heaven. We journey on the same earth with all of its temptations and trials, but do so as citizens of heaven sojourning in a place that is not our home. 

The Virgin Birth

The virgin birth is an integral part of being in Christ, of how we enter and participate in His way. He entered the body of man thrïough a virgin birth. We become virgins to sin by our repentance of sin and the cleansing power of His mercy and forgiveness. We are then reborn with spirits made alive in the righteousness of the Lord.  

Anyone who repents of their sin and asks the Lord for forgiveness becomes a virgin to sin and unto the Lord. This is necessary in preparing the way of the Lord; we become ready for His Spirit to dwell with us. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive the seed of the word in our flesh and we are reborn into the body of Christ. 

Abraham’s Offspring

Galatians 3:28-29 (ESV)

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Genesis 5:2 (ESV)

Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.

Man was created male and female. The sons of God are neither. The sons of man are created from the union of a man and woman. The sons of God are created from the union of God with man, reborn into His life. 

Morning Has Broken

Jesus took the flesh of man to fashion the cornerstone of the living temple of God. It is a new thing and a wonder to behold as we become the white and living stones of His perfect temple. We celebrate His birth that enables our rebirth as a child of God. Morning has broken. 

You Are All One

Galatians 3:27-29 (ESV)

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Creatures of the earth are created male and female. Those transferred into the kingdom of heaven become one with God. The kingdom of heaven is one in the body of Christ. 

Will Be Broken

Jeremiah 11:16 (NIV)

The LORD called you a thriving olive tree

with fruit beautiful in form.

But with the roar of a mighty storm

he will set it on fire,

and its branches will be broken.

The branches of the olive tree of Israel have been broken off and wild olive branches of the Gentiles are grafted on the stump that remains. The stump is alive with its roots deep in the earth of the promised land. The grafted branches are alive and reach into the kingdom of heaven. 

The Lord looks for the fruit of the new covenant of the Holy Spirit that emerges from the seed of His word. Those branches that do not bear the fruit of the Spirit will likewise be broken off and burned. It is through our obedience we respond to His love for us with reverent love for Him. 

Who Dwell In It

Jeremiah 12:4 (ESV)

How long will the land mourn

and the grass of every field wither?

For the evil of those who dwell in it

the beasts and the birds are swept away,

because they said, “He will not see our latter end.”

The ground of man was cursed because of the disobedience of Adam. A man is like like grass that springs up for a short time before it withers and fades away. Evil dwells in the hearts of man who are likened to the birds of the air and beasts of the field. He is the dark and empty earth without  the light and life of God. 

Its Branches

Jeremiah 11:16 (NIV)

The LORD called you a thriving olive tree

with fruit beautiful in form.

But with the roar of a mighty storm

he will set it on fire,

and its branches will be broken.

The branches of the olive tree of Israel have been broken off and wild olive branches of the Gentiles are grafted on the stump that remains. The stump is alive with its roots deep in the earth of the promised land. The grafted branches are alive and reach into the kingdom of heaven. 

The Lord looks for the fruit of the new covenant of the Holy Spirit that emerges from the seed of His word. Those branches that do not bear the fruit of the Spirit will likewise be broken off and burned. It is through our obedience we respond to His love for us with reverent love for Him. 

It’s Personal

Jeremiah 11:10 (AMP)

They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear My words; they have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant or solemn pledge which I made with their fathers.

The covenant of God was with the fathers of Israel. The covenant of God with the body of Christ is with each individual. It’s personal. 

A Man’s Way

Jeremiah 10:23-24 (NASB)

23 I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself,

Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.

24 Correct me, O LORD, but with justice;

Not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.

There is a way that seems good to man, but the way of God is best. It leads to His abundant life and the fulfillment of our destiny. Sadly this way is narrow, for few choose it to travel through the wilderness of the world and thereby remain in the world. 

Merely In The Flesh

Jeremiah 9:25-26 (ESV)

25 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— 26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”

There are two covenants of relationship between the Lord and man, two ways of knowing the Lord. One is in the flesh and the other is in the heart. Knowing Him in the flesh is head knowledge of the Lord that is filtered through our understanding and perception. Knowing Him in the heart is the intimate knowledge of the Lord made possible by His presence in our flesh, the indwelling of His Spirit with ours. 

Merely In The Flesh

Jeremiah 9:25-26 (ESV)

25 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— 26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”

There are two covenants of relationship between the Lord and man, two ways of knowing the Lord. One is in the flesh and the other is in the heart. Knowing Him in the flesh is head knowledge of the Lord that is filtered through our understanding and perception. Knowing Him in the heart is the intimate knowledge of the Lord made possible by His presence in our flesh, the indwelling of His Spirit with ours. 

Let Us Make

Genesis 1:26 (ESV)

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

The Hebrew word for “image” carries the meaning of a shadow or illusion of the real thing. See the Strong’s definition below. This is similar to the tabernacle being a shadow of a heavenly reality. Likeness is having the form of something even without its essence. 

Man is made in the image of God, but only becomes His image with the life found in the body of Christ. 

h6754. צֶלֶם ṣelem; from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e. (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol: — image, vain shew. (Olive Tree Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary)

Amend Your Ways

Jeremiah 7:5-7 (ESV)

5 “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, 6 if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.

There is no call here for repentance, only for a change in behavior. The inability of man to change his ways according to the Law which teaches us right from wrong is the weakness of the Law for the salvation of man. The rain from heaven can fall on us, but it stays on the outside of man and he dries quickly. It doesn’t penetrate the flesh of man. 

It is not until the word of God enters the flesh of man and takes root within a man that true change becomes possible. Repentance prepares the way for us to begin in the way of the Lord, which is walking with Him. We can only walk with Him when we have His Holy Spirit and follow His lead. 

It is then we can drink the living waters of life and enter the kingdom of heaven. We can change and be like Him. 

Virgin Birth

Anyone who repents of their sin and asks the Lord for forgiveness becomes a virgin to sin and unto the Lord. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive the seed of the word in our flesh and we are reborn into the body of Christ. It is a virgin birth that takes place within, yet our virgin status in Christ does not change, though there is a change in who we are. 

The virgin birth is an integral part of being in Christ, of how we participate in His way. 

The Work Of Creation

The work of creation will not be complete until man is made in the image of God. It is the union of heaven and earth in Christ. 

He Recovered His Sight And Followed

Mark 10:51-52 (ESV)

51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

It is faith that saves us, that makes us well. Jesus opened the blind man’s sight in two ways. He restored the man’s worldly sight and opened the eyes of his heart to witness and comprehend the light of the world. Being able to see in the world is a wonderful thing in life. Being able to see the light of the world beckons us to His salvation from the darkness of the world. Anyone who has seen the light and receives that light will follow after Him in the way. It is the narrow road that leads to His life, but there is plenty of room for all who would come. 

The Boundary For The Sea

Jeremiah 5:22-23 (ESV)

22 Do you not fear me? declares the LORD.

Do you not tremble before me?

I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea,

a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass;

though the waves toss, they cannot prevail;

though they roar, they cannot pass over it.

23 But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart;

they have turned aside and gone away.

The sand may be considered as the people of Israel, while the sea may be viewed as the waters of mankind that are without the light of God. Israel is to be the servant of the Lord who ministers between the people of the earth and the temple of the Lord. They dwell on the earth and bear the light in the world. 

There is a perpetual barrier, a great expanse between heaven and earth which can only be crossed by the Holy Spirit. The light has come into the world, but has no part with its darkness. There is a separation between the two. The people of the earth can come to the foot of the mountain of the Lord, but not touch it, for it is holy. The darkness remains for those who do not come to the light, though they will see the light from afar. 

Blessed Are The Meek

Matthew 5:5 (ESV)

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are the meek, for they have abandoned the arrogance of self which is overcoming the world. Theirs is the new creation. 

Love As A Bride

Jeremiah 2:2-3 (ESV)

2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD,

“I remember the devotion of your youth,

your love as a bride,

how you followed me in the wilderness,

in a land not sown.

3 Israel was holy to the LORD,

the firstfruits of his harvest.

All who ate of it incurred guilt;

disaster came upon them,

declares the LORD.”

Jesus says something like this to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:3-4. Their first love of the Lord has faded into a memory. The wilderness journey of Israel is like the wilderness journey of the Church today. We follow Jesus in the wilderness of the world, but often settle into a complacency of routine. 

We have become the harvest of His word made flesh. As such, we can become the bride of Christ if we do not fall in the wilderness and persevere in the faith of obedience to the end. 

The Light Of The Law

Where there is no Law, man is not held accountable for sin. The light of the Law reveals sin that man might repent, thereby clearing the way for the light of the Lord to reveal life in Him.