Come and See – Chapter 10 of the Gospel of John, Verily, Verily – Part vii, Sin Lieth at the Door –

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Sin Lieth at the Door

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Verily, verily , I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7)

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)

   The simplicity of the Law of First Mention in the Scriptures sets the stage of history. The book of Genesis is the seed plot of ALL the things to come, and therefore, our subject the Door of everlasting life is first mentioned in Genesis 4:7. If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the DOOR. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. This clarifies that the DOOR of John Chapter 10 was available to Cain in Genesis 4:7. The fulfillment of the DOOR comes in the fullness of time, and the revelation of the DOOR comes in John 10:7 and 9. Therefore, the first mention must tie the cord in John 10:7 and 9, and then the conclusion is the last mention of the DOOR in Revelation 4:1. After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

   Let’s examine very closely Genesis 4:7. This verse begins with a question. If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? What is this question in reference to? It is quite obvious that there must have been a transgression or an act of disobedience by Cain; it must have been this disobedience to the things that God had established with both Cain and Abel, his brother. God had established a way of approach to Himself. He had given both men a DOOR of hope, a DOOR that would lead them to the path of righteousness. A DOOR that would open to them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. The power of sin is fulfilled in its outcome, or in its finality, which is death. On Cain’s part, he was without God in this world. Both men received direct revelation from God Himself, for at that time Cain was in the very presence of God, and we have to believe that both men had been in the presence of God prior to Cain’s sin.

   When Adam brought sin into the world, God asked the first question that is recorded in the Scriptures. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (Genesis 3:9) This question was asked after the fall of man which applies to ALL men through Adam, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) This question was not about the physical hiding place amongst the dense trees of Eden, but the question was about the spiritual condition of Adam which unknowingly Adam answered and revealed his own spiritual condition that he was naked before God. And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (Genesis 3:10) He was exposed as a sinner and cut off from God. The record in Genesis Chapter 3 is truly amazing because in this Chapter the foundation of sin is documented, and yet, mankind breezes over this Chapter because he is more concerned about the fruit of the tree, than the sin that came into the world. Genesis Chapter three gives us the foundation of sin, of trial and of sorrow, and all manners of betrayal, and lies, and deception. Genesis Chapter 3 is the foundation of sin whereas John Chapter 3 is the foundation of the new birth in Jesus Christ.

   In Genesis 3, man shut the DOOR to God because of sin. Between Adam and God was the impregnable wall of sin that brought forth death. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12). Adam opened the door to sin and at that same moment closed the DOOR to righteousness. This separated Adam from God and would start a long line or path of separation throughout the history of mankind. God had established the Law of Sin and Death before Adam’s transgression. Adam KNEW what the penalty would be if he disobeyed His Creator, and yet, his rebellious will and disobedience cost him his life, and his God.

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (Genesis 3:2) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Genesis 3:3)

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The Law of Sin and Death

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   To clarify the Law of Sin and Death we must turn to the book of Romans, Chapter 8 verse 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Here we see the Law of Sin and Death that was established by God prior to the fall of man. The book of Romans 5:12 proves that sin brings forth death and proves the fulfillment of the Law of Sin and Death. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. In the tangible world in which we dwell, death is upon ALL men for all have sinned, and ALL bare the sin of Adam. The fulfillment of sin or its end is DEATH. And this is SURE to ALL men.

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The Law of the Spirit of Life

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   The only cure for the plague of sin is found also in the book of Romans 8:2, and here we find another law, the LAW of the SPIRIT of LIFE in CHRIST JESUS. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. This is not man’s cure, but God’s cure. It is CHRIST and His shed blood that has offered life in Himself to ALL men. And yet, we still have those who go in the way of Cain, and those who follow the faithful path of Abel. So, what is the difference in this world of sin?

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The Law of Faith

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   The difference is the gift of faith, and the Law of Faith which is found in Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. The book of Romans is the legal document against mankind in Adam. It is also a legal document for those who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. The legality is that Adam cannot pay for his own transgression. He has nothing to base redemption or salvation on. He is in a cloud of darkness with no light, and his eyes are dim with the blackness of sin. But the Law of Faith was established IN Abel. He was the first of those who would trust God for his eternal destination and life. He was the first one to come under the shadow of the blood of Christ in the very lamb that he offered to God in the more excellent sacrifice.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4)

   This first man of faith was the first to receive the gift of faith. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8). Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17) I would like all to realize that in Ephesians 2:8 faith is the DOORway to grace. It is through faith that grace is received. Scripture says So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) (Matthew 4:4) Therefore, since faith comes by hearing the word of God, how then did Abel receive the word of God? Both Cain and Abel spent time in the Presence of God which Genesis 4:14 and 4:15 proves because Cain was driven from the face of God; therefore, both men had been in the presence of God.

Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. (Genesis 4:14)

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. (Genesis 4:16)

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The Power of Sin

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   When God asked Adam, Where art thou? Adam never mentioned sin, he never took responsibility for the sin that he brought into the world. He never repented for his disobedience instead, he shifted the blame onto the woman that God had given him. And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (Genesis 3:12) This is the mechanics of sin: man will commit sin but will not acknowledge sin because sin blinds man to his fallen nature. He is disobedient to God (in Adam) with no escape except through faith. Adam would not accept his responsibility for bringing sin and death into the world. He justified himself at the expense of another (which was the woman that God had given Adam). The Lord asked the woman. What is this that thou hast done? This conversation between God and Eve is documented in Genesis 3:13, And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

    The same transaction that had taken place within Adam also took place within Eve. We see the same response of the woman shifting the blame to another. Although the woman was bone of Adam’s bone, and flesh of Adam’s flesh, she had placed herself under the same penalty of death as Adam, for she also had sinned; thus, death was upon her as well. As Adam had blamed another, she also blamed another: the great dragon, the old serpent, the tempter, the devil, Satan.

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)

   The serpent was also judged by God openly before Adam and Eve, however, notice that the serpent was not judged with death. This was Lucifer, the created angel, and angels cannot suffer death — because angels cannot die! Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:36) Therefore, God cursed the serpent. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: (Genesis 3:14). The dust of the cursed earth (thorns and thistles) would be the curse of the serpent’s existence. As Lucifer spread his lies and deception through this serpent in Eden, so also Lucifer continues to spread his lies and deception throughout the whole earth bringing those who believe his lies down into the cursed dust of the earth with the serpent. This was Lucifer who had rebelled against God and with his confederate angels tried to overthrow the throne of God. The penalty for this act of sedition was to be cast down to the ground, and to lose all standing before God. But Lucifer saw an opportunity to act in revenge and to continue his goal to destroy all that God creates, especially God’s creature: man.

    Man was given dominion over the earth that God had created, but Lucifer’s plan was to dominate and destroy everything that God created, thus, Lucifer was not going to allow this new created race called man to have dominion over God’s earth. Therefore, this cunning lying deceiver came into the garden and stalked the weaker vessel in the woman and activated his plan of attack. Eve took the fruit of sin and death, and then passed it on to her husband Adam. This transaction was so great in sin that the characteristics of Satan became the characteristics of mankind. Adam had become a sinner. He lied to God and became a deceiver because his guile was revealed in attempting to pass the blame on to the woman and refusing to accept responsibility for the sin that he had brought into the world.

    Before we continue on, we should also account for the other rebellious angels, the confederates of Satan. It is recorded that they also sinned, and they were (at that time) cast down to hell, and now are in chains in the fires of torment until their final judgment with Satan in the lake of fire when hell and death are delivered up for judgment. They were not allowed to roam the heavens nor the earth but were immediately placed in chains and reserved for a later judgment.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14)

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (2^nd Peter 2:4)

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. (Jude 1:6)

  In 2^nd Peter the word reserved is very important. We also find this word in the book of Jude concerning these same angels; however, we also see this in the realm of reprobate men such as Cain, false prophets as Balaam, and the way of Core (Korah). All these are children of Adam under sin, and they are confederate with the works of Satan. They will lie, they will deceive, they will murder, they know NO repentance, and their hearts are closed to God.

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (Jude 1:11)

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; (Jude 1:12)

Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 1:13)

    The apostle Peter also gave a warning to those on the earth concerning the evils of Satan. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1^st Peter 5:8) resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1^st Peter 5:9) Don’t think that this adversary is peaceful in any way. He roams this world with hate in his heart for God, and his main goal is the destruction of mankind in both sin and in death.

   Although God has made a way of redemption IN His beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ and opened the DOOR through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, Satan continually throws sin before the DOOR to block the way of man from eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Satan seeks his prey as a roaring lion. Every animal in the jungle pays attention when they hear the roar of a lion. From all the beasts, the lion is king, and his roar shakes the jungle. If you apply this to Satan, you will find that peace is not in his vocabulary. He is at war with the children of God, and he is the great reaper of death to the children of Adam. We should remember that Satan stalked his first two victims in the garden of God. He was so bold that he slithered into the garden of God and brought his sin with him. Both Adam and Eve suffered the penalty of sin, which is death, and when Adam partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he was transformed into a sinner before God. But this was not all because the sin that dwells in the adversary (the devil) is the same spirit of sin that dwelt within Adam.

   The power of sin is that it affects ALL mankind. It is a spiritual power that deceives and manipulates ALL goodness so that man is NOT good as the Bible declares, there is none good, no, not one. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12) But this is only the beginning of the evil testimony of man under the power of sin. In the book of Romans, Chapter 3, we have the declaration of God, the Holy Spirit, in His condemnation of ALL men. Beginning at verse 13, we have the character of mankind.

•  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: (Romans 3:13)

•  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: (Romans 3:14)

•  Their feet are swift to shed blood: (Romans 3:15)

•  Destruction and misery are in their ways: (Romans 3:16)

•  And the way of peace have they not known: (Romans 3:17)

•  There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:18)

• Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)

   This testimony leaves mankind without excuse. And the conclusion of all these things is that when sin is finished it brings forth death. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:15) So death is upon ALL men, as it was  upon Adam and Eve. The DOOR was shut and could only be opened by faith.

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The DOOR of Sacrifice

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   We have established that the next law that was given (after the Law of Sin and death) was the Law of Faith. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (Romans 3:17) We see this law established in the first man of faith: Abel.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4)

   Abel found the key to the DOOR in the shed blood of the lamb. And by faith, Abel (being a keeper of the sheep) brought a lamb, the firstling of his flock, exercising his faith by bringing a lamb without blemish, without and within through his offering to God. The blood and faith in that blood was the purifying agent against sin, and this was a prefigure of the Lord’s blood on the cross of Calvary. I want you to also notice that in the book of Leviticus 1:3, it is at the DOOR of the tabernacle that the Israelite presented his lamb for sacrifice. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. Now to draw the Lord Jesus into this sacrifice of the lamb, and the blood of the lamb, it is the Lord’s blood and the sacrifice of His body that fulfills ALL the Old Testament types.

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)

   This verse is a majestic verse. You may think, How is it majestic? First, Jesus is the Mediator; secondly, He brings to us a new covenant; and thirdly, this new covenant is in the blood of sprinkling — His blood. We need to pay attention to the word sprinkling. This is very important. On the day of when the high priest offered an atonement for sin in the sin offering, he took the blood of the sacrifice into the Holy of Holies, and there he sprinkled the blood SEVEN times showing the fulfillment of all righteousness. And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. (Leviticus 16:14) (Also see Leviticus Chapter 4) When the high priest sprinkled the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat seven times God saw that it was good, and it was accepted. Then, the priest applied the blood, and emptied the vessel that held the blood, on the Mercy Seat, and the Cherubims looked on in amazement and wondered for they KNEW what was ahead in the fullness of time.

Unto whom it was revealed,  that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1^st Peter 1:12)

  So how is this better blood then the blood that Abel offered? Abel’s sacrifice was a type of the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. It is here that Abel exercised his faith believing that God in His redemptive plan would be able to raise him (Abel) from the dead. Abel was the first man to enjoy everlasting life in Jesus Christ. When Abel offered his sacrifice, it was upon a stone that had never had a mark of a tool, it was a tried stone, one that was unique, and this is where Abel offered his sacrifice. How did we come to this conclusion on where Abel offered his sacrifices? The Holy Spirit is quite capable of filling in the pieces. It might be later in history; however, it is just as accurate as the day that Abel offered his sacrifice. Turn to 1^st Samuel Chapter 6.

And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. (1^ST Samuel 6:3)

Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. (1^st Samuel 6:4)

And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. (1^ST Samuel 6:18)

   Before we continue, we need to reflect that with our God there is nothing that is impossible. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29) For with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37)

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2^nd Timothy 3:15) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2^nd Timothy 3:16) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2^nd Timothy 3:17)

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The Living Stone

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   We are opening the DOOR by the key to faith. And faith sees the invisible, and the invisible reveals the tangibles of faith. In 1^st Samuel, the Almighty God wants us to see A GREAT STONE. . . . . even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. (1^ST Samuel 6:18)

And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where [there was] a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD. (1^st Samuel 6:14)

And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that [was] with it, wherein the jewels of gold [were], and put [them] on  the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD. (1^st Samuel 6:15)

And the golden mice, [according to] the number of all the cities of the Philistines [belonging] to the five lords, [both] of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great [stone of] Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: [which stone remaineth] unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.(1^st Samuel 6:18)

   Understanding the course of history might help us here. During the days of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness, they trespassed against God many times. In one of their trespasses, God sent venomous snakes among them, and if anyone was bitten, they died. Therefore, Moses (as the great mediator that he was and through God’s instruction) took a pole and placed a brazen serpent upon that pole so that the individual who was bitten IF they looked to the brazen serpent they lived. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. (Numbers 21:9) In John Chapter 3, the Lord Jesus referred to this serpent as a type or shadow of Himself being lifted up before men in His redemption for sin. If men looked to Him, they would live. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (John 3:14) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15)

   A little-known fact about this brazen serpent is that in days of Hezekiah, the children of Israel had preserved THIS VERY SAME SERPENT that Moses had made, and they were worshiping this relic serpent. What makes this so amazing is that it was approximately 725 years since Moses had made this serpent. The Holy Spirit is exact by telling us that this is the very serpent made by Moses in 2^nd Kings 18:4. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. {Nehushtan: that is, A piece of brass}

   We also have the twelve stones that the children of Israel placed ON the banks of the Jordan and IN the Jordan when they crossed over into the land of promise. Which John the Baptist referred to in Matthew, And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. (Joshua 4:3)

Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: (Joshua 4:4)

And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: (Joshua 4:5)

That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? (Joshua 4:6)

   Now, I admit that this discourse on the great stone of Abel is truly a leap of faith, for only the eyes of faith can see the impossible.

And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where [there was] a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD. (1^st Samuel 6:14)

And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that [was] with it, wherein the jewels of gold [were], and put [them] on  the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD. (1^st Samuel 6:15)

And the golden mice, [according to] the number of all the cities of the Philistines [belonging] to the five lords, [both] of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great [stone of] Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: [which stone remaineth] unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. (1^st Samuel 6:18)

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4)

   First, this great stone is mentioned only three (3) times. Nowhere else in Scripture is this particular stone mentioned. And ONLY in the last mention do we see the name of Abel. Secondly, the great stone of Abel is in combination with the name Joshua which means Savior; thirdly, the great stone of Abel is in the presence of the ark of the LORD which is truly a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, Joshua (Savior) was a Bethshemite (which means ‘the house of the sun’), and this field was in Judah (‘he shall be praised’).

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2)

   The men of Bethshemesh took the sacrifices of their enemies and offered the kine upon the great stone of Abel. They recognized this stone as the great stone of Abel through common knowledge. God the Holy Spirit mentions this exact stone and ONLY here in all of Scripture do we find this great stone of Abel. God was able to keep this stone through the flood, through the turmoil of the fountains of the deep being broken up, and as the ark preserved Noah and his family, this Ark of the Lord preserved this stone and placed it in the field of Joshua (Savior) the Bethshemite for THIS particular time and incident. The Holy Spirit through the words [which stone remaineth] unto this day, reinforces the thought that the Israelites understood that this stone of Abel had existed from the days of the flood. This was a great stone of antiquity as understood by the men of Bethshemesh, and included in this narrative by the Holy Spirit. There were many stones, but only ONE GREAT STONE, this again points to the tried and polished STONE: the Lord Jesus Christ. 

To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious, (1^st Peter 2:4) 

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  (1^st Peter 2:5) 

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  (1^st Peter 2:6)

Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (1^st Peter 2:7)

 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (1^st Peter 2:8)

(I am including this verse to show the possibilities and power of God.) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1st Corinthians 10:4) 

  Now, in conclusion of the stone, the great stone, it has been more than two thousand years since the Lord was crucified. Tell me, is there a witness today to the Living stone, to the tried stone, to the stone disallowed by men. You have the witness before you in 1^st Peter Chapter 2. So, it is no great thing for the God of impossibilities to preserve the very stone that Abel, the first man of faith, offered his sacrifice IN faith on the great stone which later would bear his name. . . .even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.

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The DOOR of the More Excellent Sacrifice

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   The name Jesus and the name Joshua mean ‘Jehovah is salvation/Savior ‘ which the Lord was called on the night of His birth. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11) He was born in darkness to bring light into the world. In Genesis 1:3, And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. This light divided the darkness and God called the light good. And so, Christ came into a world of darkness of sin and death to bring life and light to those who would believe on Him through faith. In our day and time, we have not seen the visible image of God in Jesus Christ, however, through faith we believe, and the Scriptures bear out our faith.

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:29)

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  (1^st Peter 1:8)

   These Scriptures prove that there is an eye of faith which Abel exercised, and he believed although not seeing the invisible. This is also borne out by Scripture.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.(Hebrews 11:27)

   Therefore, we see that our faith has eyes that can reach into the past, the present and into the future. The eyes of faith give us our believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is truly a substance. It is the substance that God puts within us as a gift from Himself, and faith not only unlocks the door of salvation in Jesus Christ, but faith applies the love of God within our hearts. Faith creates a bond between the invisible and the tangible. Faith becomes the evidence of things not seen. To a child of God, the word of God becomes an enormous looking glass that reveals the God of eternity to the heart, the soul, and the spirit.

   In the two mentions of Abel in the book of Hebrews, in Chapter 11, verses 4, it is Abel’s faith, and a more excellent sacrifice. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. This brings us to the more excellent sacrifice in Ephesians Chapter 5, verse 2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. In Hebrews 11:4, we have the only mention of a more excellent sacrifice, and in Ephesians 5:2 this sacrifice of Himself was as a sweetsmelling savour unto God, which was the more excellent sacrifice.

    By faith we are going to enter into this in examining Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. When the Lord Jesus came into this world, the Godhead proclaimed that all the Old Testament sacrifices of men were as nothing for NOW a new sacrifice had come in the body that was prepared for the Lord Jesus Christ as the manifestation of God on earth through which the fullness of the Godhead bodily would dwell. This sacrifice in its majestic magnitude would eclipse all other sacrifices and it is THIS sacrifice that the Holy Spirit refers to (in type) as a more excellent sacrifice. The second time that the name of Abel is mentioned is in Hebrews 12:24, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. Here we see that Abel was one of those in the Old Testament who saw with the eyes of faith for as the Lord told Thomas, blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. This not only applies to us, but to ALL those who walked by faith in the Old Testament, and the blood that Abel shed upon the great stone of Abel were just the eyes of faith believing that God was able to provide a more excellent sacrifice.

   Abel, being the first man of faith, had embraced the Law of Faith. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (Romans 3:27) Lord Jesus referred to this Law of Faith when He mentioned faith in Matthew 21:21, Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. Here is an example of the magnitude of the Law of Faith. Faith is an expandable tangible element within the child of God. We can exercise faith  in believing in Christ which brings forth one of the greatest miracles of faith in the new birth. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13) This Law of Faith fulfills the new birth as the Lord described in the gospel of John Chapter 3.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? (John 3:4)

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.(John 3:6)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)

  In Chapters 1 and 3 in the gospel of John we see the work of the Spirit of God through faith, and the result of faith is belief, and the result of belief is the new birth all brought about by the sacrifice and death of that more excellent sacrifice: the Lord Jesus Christ. But faith does not become dormant, it moves in the unseen, and believes the capabilities and powers of the Almighty God. All these web sites, all seven, are the works of faith in Jesus Christ. For it is He who has accomplished these things through faith. Here the desire of the heart of faith brings a tangible result from the unseen, and the things hoped for. Every time a soul moves on in his faith it is evidence that faith is alive in the heart of the believer and nourished by the word of God through the Spirit of God. The first man of faith had no one else to compare to, he could not look back on a long line of saints who had walked by faith. It was only himself, and His God, and he believed God, and according to Hebrews 11:4, the Lord imputed to Abel righteousness through the sacrifice that he offered to God Almighty, having not seen, he believed. And Abel, along with all saints, was made perfect in the blood of the Lamb.

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7)

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)

   In Hebrews 11:40, we have everything accomplished by the perfect or more excellent sacrifice in Jesus Christ. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. And we have faith in His blood of atonement as Abel exercised his faith in the blood of the lamb. As Romans 3:27 was applied to all the Old Testament saints, and to the New Testament saints, this faith that God had established as a gift was brought forth and SEALED in the fullness of time. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. (Galatians 4:4) The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ covered the fullness of the Law of Faith. For the Old Testament saints, and for the New Testament saints, and for those saints who will suffer during the tribulation, and during the great tribulation they all come under that same Law of Faith which was established in Abel through his more excellent sacrifice, which was fulfilled in the fullness of time.

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The DOOR is the Gift of God.

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    The book of Hebrews, Chapter 11, verse 1, sets the parameters of faith. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. First, faith is a substance, and secondly, it is the evidence of things not seen. This is truly abroad spectrum for it opens the DOOR of eternity in Jesus Christ, and it justifies men before God and makes them stand before God in the perfection of Christ. They, without us, could not be made perfect. But we all come through the same faith, and the same fullness of time. In Hebrews 12:23, it presents ALL as the spirits of just men made perfect. But yet, there is a division in this verse. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. The general assembly covers ALL of the Old Testament saints, and the Church of the first-born covers those who are in Christ in this present day. For they are the Church of the first born, which is Christ risen from the dead. We see the general assembly in the Old Testament saints in Psalm 1:5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

  We are attached (according to Hebrews 11, verse 40) to the Old Testament saints. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. How? Through the blood of Christ faith becomes the key that opens the DOOR, and this DOOR is the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith removes that inherent sin that lies before the DOOR barring ALL of mankind from God. The Lord knows the way of the righteous, He has established them THROUGH faith, and yes, it is through faith that they have received the free gift of grace. But this does not exclude faith as also being a gift for it is God who sends out grace THROUGH faith as the free gift of God. The Lord knows the way of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:6)

  The confusion with the Law of Faith and its tangible and unseen elements are that when the Lord came and was manifest before man it was before Israel, and Israel was subject to the Law which God gave to Moses. So, man, in his spiritual blindness, can only see one Law, and that the Law that was given to Moses (which according to the book of Hebrews 8:13) is passed away. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. This verse refers directly to the Law that was given to Israel to establish Israel as a righteous nation in the world of evil and corruption. However, since all the children of Israel were also children of Adam, they could not keep the Law of God.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (Romans 8:7)

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1^st Corinthians 2:14)

   By examining the word ‘law’ we find many applications. First, we have the Law of Sin and Death pronounced by God to Adam and magnified in Romans 8:2. the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. The very word Law is firm through Scripture, and its application is by the Holy Spirit. For instance, the Law of sin and death was FIRM to Adam, and is STILL in effect today, so that mankind cannot deny that there is a LAW of Sin and Death. When we apply the same firmness and the same power to the Law of Faith then we arrive at this conclusion: the just shall live by faith, and this Law of Faith is just as FIRM and have results and a conclusion OVER the Law of Sin and Death, even OVER the Law of Moses. Therefore, we conclude that Romans 3:27 and Romans 8:2, FREE us from the Law of Sin and Death, and draw both Old Testament saints, and New Testament saints together in the faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

  In the Old Testament we have the first mention that the just shall live by his faith in Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Why does this verse become so important? Paul, in the book of Romans, used this verse from Habakkuk as a foundation for those who live by faith. After all, the book of Romans is a legal document against the sin of man, and justification by faith. In Romans 1:17 Paul initiates his discourse with the just shall live by faith. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Of course, it is through the power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that he is not ashamed of this gospel wherein man can be saved through faith. The condemnation of men is brought before us in many ways. In the finality, it is that ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. ALL have sinned; therefore, the DOOR is blocked, and Paul presents the key to justification. It is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

   In Galatians 3:11, we find that NO ONE is justified by the Law. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith. To put it simply, we call it the Law of Moses, and NO MAN can be justified by THAT Law in the sight of God. Remember, according to Hebrews Chapter 3, those who perished in the wilderness perished because they had no faith. 

   In Hebrews 10:38, Paul clarifies the difference between one of faith and the one who has no faith. Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  However, the world of religion tries to make these verses into a nullification of faith which cannot be for as we have the Law of Sin and Death, which is permanent for the children of Adam, so we have the Law of Faith which is permanent for the children of belief who become the children of God. There are many who sit under the gospel week after week without faith. Paul shows us this in Hebrews 10:38 and 39, Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Paul separates two different groups of people in Christendom. The first group is the justified — the just shall live by faith. The second group is those who embrace the religion of man, and not Jesus Christ. This is why Paul (in verse 39) talks about those who are justified and is bold when he declared that we are not of them who draw back unto perdition because Paul is describing those who are justified by faith and have believed to the saving of the soul. These have exercised the key to the DOOR. It unlocks eternity through the Lord Jesus Christ and removes that fatal sin that was before the DOOR. And this fatal sin that blocks the DOOR is the Law of Sin and Death. Faith is one of the tangible gifts of God, that Christ gives for He is the totality of the gift of God to mankind.

• Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)

• Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

• But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:7)

• Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2^nd Corinthians 9:15)

• But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Romans 5:15)

• For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)

   All these verses are completely compatible with John Chapter 10, and the DOOR which is Christ. In Genesis Chapter 4, God gives us the contrast between the man of faith, and the man of sin, the devil in Cain. The question to Cain was If thou doest well shall thou not be accepted. This question by God Almighty exposed the failure of Cain not to obey God in the sacrifice of the lamb, but instead, as many today, Cain brought the works of his hands, and placed it in the offering plate. This put Cain in a position of disobedience and rebellion. It is quite evident by the Levitical sacrifices that Cain was instructed to bring a lamb, a first-born male, without blemish without and within. Although Moses gave the Law and the ordinances in another time period, the institution of a sacrificial offering of a lamb was first established by the Lord Himself within the garden when He provided the coats of skins for a covering for the offenders. This was not a position of faith for Adam or for Eve. Justice demanded death. The coats of skins covered their sin; thus, God allowed them to live, but they were driven out of the garden, into a world of thorns and thistles, a world of sin and death. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews Chapter 11 presents Abel as the first man of faith. 1^st John 3:12 presents Cain, the first born of Adam, as a child of the devil. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

   Later in the history of mankind Israel was chosen as a nation under the authority of God. God also provided a sacrifice in the Passover where the blood of the lamb allowed the Israelite to live. God also gave them instruction that they were to place the blood on the lintel and on the door posts. But this was not all. They were also to roast the lamb and completely consume it. It was to become part of them, and this would prefigure the new birth in Jesus Christ where Christ becomes part of the newborn child in Him.

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1^st Peter 1:9)

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (1^st Peter 1:10)

Searching what, or what manner of time  the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1^st Peter 1:11)

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.  (1^st Peter 1:12)

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2^nd Peter 1:21)

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (2^nd Thessalonians 2:13))

  Both the apostle Peter and the apostle Paul show us the work of the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, the Holy One. We see that it is God Himself who not only gives prophecies through the Spirit of Christ, but protects prophecies through the history of mankind, and allows the prophets to comprehend the reason why they were writing and speaking the word of God. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1^st Peter 1:12) They understood (through the prophecies that they were given) that they were ministering to a future generation who would believe by the SAME Spirit of Christ that was within them. And as we see in this Scripture it is the SAME Spirit of God sent down from heaven that is working within us who believe. The Lord Jesus said of the Spirit that He is given to lead us into all truth and apply this truth to our own lives receiving the word of God by faith and believing it through the power of the Spirit of Christ within us. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13) But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1^st John 2:20)

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The DOOR is the Supernatural Power of God

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  To continue with the theme of the first-born lamb of sacrifice, we have the manifestation of God in Jesus Christ on the banks of the river Jordan, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. And let us not forget Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. In all the sacrifices in the Old Testament that were true to God, they were all figures of God providing Himself as a lamb for sacrifice, which He did in the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary. Cain understood that God demanded a lamb, and yet, he brought the works of his own hands.

   Let us see how Cain responded to God’s displeasure with his offering, the works of his own hands. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. (Genesis 4:3) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. (Genesis 4:5) And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? (Genesis 4:6) Cain responded to God with wroth (intense anger). His disobedience was magnified by his intense rage against God. He had labored, he had worked hard, yet all that he brought was not accepted because God had declared that there had to be a lamb without spot and there must be blood to cover the transgression of man. Yet, Cain, would not believe. He demanded that the efforts of his own works would justify him before God. Not only was he wroth with God, but his countenance had fallen. The word fallen should give us a hint to the ways of Cain, as in 1^st John 3:12, and Jude 11, Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. The Holy Spirit is quite good at filling in the blanks. You should realize the time period that we live in today in that we have the full and complete canon of Scripture, and we are allowed by the Spirit of God to look into the past, identify the present, and see the future. This all comes to us through the Spirit of Christ leading us to all truth.

   In John 3:12, the Spirit of God tells us that Cain was of that wicked one. This would make Cain’s works evil. They were not works of faith, but works of sin, and this sin lieth at the DOOR. In John Chapter 10, Christ is the DOOR. And sin blocks this DOOR. Sin has to be removed before the DOOR is opened to redemption. Once again, it goes all the way back to Abel’s excellent sacrifice, and this sacrifice FOR us is the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. We cannot enter in through the DOOR until we appropriate Christ as our Sin Bearer. When we, by faith, accept the sacrifice of Himself for our sin and His blood covering our sin, the DOOR opens through the new birth and live is infused by the Spirit of Christ. Cain’s problem was that sin was not removed, but it remained laying at the DOOR. And as long as sin is between and Christ, the DOOR is blocked. Once again, sin has to be taken away by faith. Therefore, Abel exercised faith in His God that God was able to take away his sin and open the DOOR of redemption for him in the lamb that was slain; he offered the more excellent sacrifice than Cain.

   Cain was wroth. He was in the presence of the displeasure of His Creator God. The attitude of Cain was, ‘don’t tell me what to do. I will approach you (speaking of God) in any way I please. I will justify myself before you.’ Isn’t this mankind today in the spirit of Cain? Doesn’t all of man’s religion give a false door, a false path, and a false righteousness to those who offer the sacrifices of Cain? So, sin blocked the DOOR. Cain could not be justified, and his disobedience was in line with his father’s disobedience in the garden . . . . and then some.

    Now the meekness of Abel is seen in verse 11 of Genesis 4, If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And unto thee shall be his desire. Cain (by right of birth) was the inheritor of all that was of Adam. Abel being the second born concurred (in obedience) to the right of the first born. We see this through Scripture, we also see that there is a work of faith that separates individuals from the natural paths of mankind because faith is a supernatural element as we see in Hebrew Chapter 11:1.

   The natural progression of man deals with line of sight, this is, everything that man sees and possesses has a certain order under man’s laws and control. Although in most societies today, we do not honor the right of the first born. However, in the days of Cain and Abel, it was very real. Abel did not rebel against the natural order, however, when the supernatural order was applied or entered in, it did not create enmity in the heart of Abel, but it created enmity in the heart of Cain, therefore, faith caused a rift between two brothers. And this rift became so hateful and divisive that Cain murdered his brother. According to verse 7, God acknowledged that Cain had the right to rule over his brother, however, he did not have the right to interfere with the supernatural work of faith. Cain did not understand or accept the things not seen. As we turn the pages of history, we reflect on the words of Daniel, in Daniel 2:28 – 30.

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; (Daniel 2:28)

As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. (Daniel 2:28)

But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. (Daniel 2:28)

   This section from Daniel reveals the unseen workings of God. This was not a matter of faith with Nebuchadnezzar. It was God revealing His secrets to man. Nebuchadnezzar at this point was an ungodly king who walked in the ways of Cain having the power of life and death over his subjects, and exercised this power frequently; however, God interrupted his life and caused him to live among the beasts as a beast for seven years.

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. (Daniel 4:33)

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: (Daniel 4:34)

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (Daniel 4:35)

At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.  (Daniel 4:36)

Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.  (Daniel 4:37)

   We see in Nebuchadnezzar that God is able to interrupt and change the natural ways and order of man, and whether you like it or not, even the history of mankind.

   Cain, in the natural birth right, would rule over Abel; however, Abel being a man of faith, would not contradict the order of Cain’s inheritance unless and until it interfered with his faith in God. The first priority of Abel was obedience to God, and then obedience to the one who ruled over him, which was the right of the first born. However, this conflict was between the natural and the supernatural . . . . we see two forces at work. We see the Law of Faith in Abel, which is supernatural, which leads to righteousness in conflict with Cain, the man of the devil, holding to the Law of Sin and Death.

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.(1^st John 3:6)　

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. (1^st John 3:7)

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1^st John 3:8)

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1^st John 3:9)

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (1^st John 3:10)

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1^st John 3:11)

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.  (1^st John 3:12)

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. (Genesis 4:8)

   What do we see in Genesis 4:8? We have a collision between two unequal powers of the supernatural realm. We have the God of faith, and His righteousness against the devil and his children of evil and sin. By the way, what do you think of sin? Sin itself is unseen. Did you know that sin is a supernatural power? Look what it did to Adam. And if this is not enough, see what it has done to mankind throughout his entire history.

    And Cain talked with Abel his brother. Cain was the deceiver trying to convince Abel to go his way, after all, Cain was the eldest, and it was his responsibility to take care of the younger siblings. Cain tried to get Abel to offer the same sacrifice that Cain was offering, the same sacrifice that God had refused. It’s the same with the religion of man today. The religionists will look everywhere, under every rock, for the key to heaven, yet they refuse to accept God’s key in the Lord Jesus Christ to open the DOOR. Abel would not turn from the path of righteousness; his faith within him demanded that he take a different path than the way of Cain in this conflict. The power of the wicked one, within Cain, caused Cain to raise up against his brother Abel, and Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

   Abel was the first martyr of righteousness in this world. He was righteous because God accepted his sacrifice as a more excellent sacrifice than Cain in which he received the testimony from God that he was righteous.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4)

    Cain did not believe in the supernatural power of God; however, God was well aware of ALL of Cain’s actions. Cain even thought that he could bury his brother without God knowing. He was not aware of the eyes of the Lord go to and fro throughout the whole earth. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.(2nd Chronicles 16:9) God was still examining the heart of Cain when He asked Cain, Where is Abel thy brother?

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4:9)

   Cain responded with a lie from his father the devil, I know not. (John 8:44) Here is the same irresponsible heart of his father Adam under the power of sin. Man will deny, or pretend ignorance, and both denial and ignorance are brothers of evil. Now we see more anger from Cain, when he declared Am I my brother’s keeper? He also knew that this was a lie, he was the eldest, he was the first born, he had a responsibility to all of his siblings, to keep them out of harm’s way, and to instruct them in the things of God which he did not believe. Cain acted in opposition to his responsibilities when he could not deceive nor influence his brother Abel to turn away from God’s directives as he talked with him in the field. And as Abel became the first faithful martyr so also Antipas in Revelation 2:13 became a faithful martyr for holding fast to the name of God, and for not denied the faith of Christ. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

   How many who have walked by faith have had to suffer the evils of the devil and his children. Both Abel and Antipas were slain by and among their own brethren. The supernatural power of the serpent (from the beginning) was and is to murder those who refuse to deny the faith of Christ.

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:15)

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What Hast Thou Done?

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   Remember that the very first generation of mankind was under the sway and rule of sin. And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. In verse 10 of Genesis Chapter 4, the eyes of the Lord were revealed to Cain when God said to Cain, What hast thou done? How many times has this condemnation echoed through the bloodied sands of the history of mankind? Even in our day and age, man has become an abomination to God slaying His children in the womb. This will bring the wrath of God upon ALL mankind. I want you to be aware of a very important verse that God has given for the days of evil in which we live. Turn to the book of Isaiah to understand what God is saying to US TODAY about our evil world. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. (Isaiah 57:1) When the righteous is taken out of the world because of evil the children of Adam, the men of this world, the ones who walk in the way of Cain do not take it to heart. In fact, they’re glad to see the righteous go. This was the heart of Cain. He slew his brother, and had no remorse, his heart was hard as flint. He had gone beyond the point of redemption. A merciful man in Abel was taken away and none considered the righteous taken away from the evil to come.

   The murderous scene from Cain and Abel has not changed throughout time. Abel was murdered because of the conflict between God’s way and man’s way. Antipas was murdered (as documented in Revelation 2:13) because of religion . . . . the conflict between God’s way and man’s way . . . the way of Cain . . . . religion. Abel’s faith and the faith of Antipas were stronger than life; thus, the anger of Satan was stirred up against both of these men of faith. Antipas was slain among the religious men of Cain who walked in the ways of Cain. Their religion was in the dwelling place of Satan, and they bowed to the works of their own hands and would not allow a man of faith to live, and as Cain slew Abel, they slew Antipas. We could ask them,  What hast thou done?

   The Lord taketh the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. Very soon, the cup of the Gentiles will be full, and overflowing. The world is beginning to see this evil to come. Evil is personified in the days in which we live. All the governments of our world have given themselves over to their father the devil, and the way of Cain. We have said many times, and we will continue to repeat (and the word of God reminds us) that the devil was and is a murderer and a liar from the beginning. (John 8:44) We, the children of God who remain, are waiting to hear the words, Come up hither, from the Lord. This poor earth has endured the sins of the sons of men long enough. The hammer of God’s judgment is ready to fall on ALL of mankind, consequently, we ask ALL the same question that God asked Cain, What hast thou done?

   This question is asked seven (7) times in the Bible. Seven times this question is asked in every kind of circumstance. However, every time it is asked, there is a conflict of evil against righteousness. In each case that this question is asked, it is sin that is at the root in disobedience.

1. And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. (Genesis 4:10)

2.  Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. (Genesis 20:9)

3.  And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives [taken] with the sword? (Genesis 31:26)

4.  And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed [them] altogether. (Numbers 23:11)

5.  And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and [that] thou camest not within the days appointed, and [that] the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; (1^st Samuel 13:11)

6. Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why [is] it [that] thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? (2^nd Samuel 3:24)

7. Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? (John 18:35)

   In the first mention of this phrase in Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. (Genesis 4:10) we have brother against brother.

   In the second mention in Genesis 20:9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him,What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done, we have the conflict of a man of faith with the world. Abraham disguised his relationship with Sarai his wife because he feared Abimelech, and this lie potentially caused a great sin to be committed by Abimelech. When God revealed this sin to Abimelech in a dream, Abimelech (to make things right) went to Abraham and asked this question, What has thou done? Abraham confessed, and Abimelech sent Abraham away with herds of cattle and great wealth.

   The third time that we have this question is in Genesis 31:26, And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives [taken] with the sword? Jacob had found refuge with Laban, his mother’s brother, however, Laban put Jacob in bondage and used his own daughters in order to gain the advantage to acquire herds and wealth through Jacob’s labor for Laban’s own benefit. The result was that Jacob left and took Laban’s daughters with him, and when Laban caught up to Jacob without any thought of his own wrong actions, he asked Jacob, What hast thou done? Here we have another conflict among brethren that led to heart ache, sorrow and pain.

   In Numbers 23:11  we have the fourth mention (And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed [them] altogether. Numbers 23:11) we see the mystery of God working through the enemies of His people Israel. Balak, king of the Midianites, hired Balaam to curse the people of God. However, the Lord turned the words of Balaam from a curse to blessings. In anger and in disgust, Balak asked his confederate, the false prophet Balaam, What hast thou done? Here we have the Almighty God of righteousness turning the evil of the devil against himself. And Balak can only say to Balaam when he heard the result, What hast thou done unto me.

    And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and [that] thou camest not within the days appointed, and [that] the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;(1^st Samuel 13:11) (CLICK HERE to read about the progressive theme in the chapters labeled with the number 13.) This is the fifth mention of our study phrase. When Saul, the first king of Israel, disobeyed God, Samuel (God’s prophet) said to Saul, What hast thou done? In this verse we see again that the sinner refused to accept responsibility for his own actions. Although Saul had been elevated to king, he still had a moral responsibility to God and to Samuel because Saul had been instructed by God to wait for Samuel. He disobeyed and took it upon himself to offer a sacrifice to God. And because of this disobedient act, the kingdom was rent out of the hands of Saul, and eventually given to David, a man after God’s own heart.

   In 2^nd Samuel 3:24, we have the sixth mention, Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why [is] it [that] thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? It is the second conflict within the kingdom of David. Joab had gone to king David, and said What hast thou done? The background history to this question is the division of David’s kingdom. Abner, who was once a confederate with David and a leader of David’s men had turned away from David to help the enemies of David. Joab was assigned Abner’s place as military leader under David, and Joab being a very forceful person, even to the point of being arrogant against his king, overrode David’s order to maintain peace with Abner. David was attempting to make everything right in the kingdom by giving Abner a pass on his crime against the kingdom. Joab saw the danger of allowing Abner to go free and thus, we have the question to David, What hast thou done? Here we have conflict within the kingdom because of sin.

   The last mention is in John 18:35, Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Pilate was standing in judgment over the King of Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ, Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:37) However, when He came unto His own, the Jews and the nation of Israel, received Him not. They delivered Christ to Pilate to be put to death by crucifixion. Pilate tells us that the whole nation, and the chief priests and in another reference verse, all the people, had delivered the Lord Jesus Christ into Pilate’s hands. However, Pilate found no fault in Him. When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify [him], crucify [him]. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify [him]: for I find no fault in him. (John 19:6) Yet Pilate asked the Prince of life, What hast thou done? The Lord could have said, ‘I raised the dead, I gave sight to the blind, I cleansed the lepers, I caused the lame to walk, and I brought salvation down to mankind,’ however, the Lord Jesus simply answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36) Here we have the conflict of the righteousness of God against the evil and sin of the whole world. They had filled up their own cup with sin, just as Cain, and they stood in condemnation against the Lord who was the Prince of life, and the Author of eternal life. Five (5) times in five verses it is recorded that Pilate said that he found no fault in Jesus the Christ. (Luke 23:4, 14; John 18:38, 19:4, 6)

   In all these seven instances of What hast thou done? man would not take responsibility for his own actions. The sin of man caused others to be put in harm’s way and discomforted by God Himself. Since Abel was the first man of faith, and also the first martyr of righteousness, in the seventh repeat of this question, we have the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ on trial for His life by a sinful and evil world of children who have gone in the way of Cain. Sin lieth at the DOOR.

   In Genesis 20, verse 9, Abimelech confronted Abraham with these words, What has thou done UNTO US? Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. (Genesis 20:9) And and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? This is the second time that Abraham fell victim to the same sin and caused others to suffer. The children of Adam are subject to sin and repeat the same sins showing the power of sin over all of mankind. God had separated Abraham from Ur of Chaldees, then He separated Abraham from his father’s house in the death of Terah. However, Abraham’s nephew Lot was still a presence of the past world. After Abraham left Haran with his herds and cattle, and his nephew Lot, and Sarai, Abraham’s wife, Abraham went into the land that God had promised, and there he built his first altar and offered unto the Lord. Then we have the first trial of Abraham’s faith within the land.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (1^st Peter 1:6)That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1^st Peter 1:7)

   And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. (Genesis 12:10) Abraham sought refuge in the world of the Egyptians because of the famine. This is the first time that Abraham intervened for himself by committing sin and deceiving others. So, Abraham turned from his altar and went down . . . down . . . down in Egypt. The famine was to try Abraham as Job was tried. Abraham had to learn that God held ALL power not only over the world, but over all the possessions of man including Abraham. Abraham had to realize that his very life was in God’s hands twenty-four hours a day, and seven days a week. In fact, the days of Abraham’s life had already been counted. Abraham revealed his heart for he feared the Egyptians and he deceived them with a lie. The further that we depart from God, the greater the fear of man, and the deeper we tread in the quicksand of sin. At this point, Abraham’s heart was not in alignment with God’s will. Abraham could not apply Psalm 23:5 to his faith. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.He was captive by his own fear. Instead of casting out fear and relying on God, he succumbed to fear and committed a great sin against Pharaoh and his nation. And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? (Genesis 12:18) The response of Pharaoh is similar to that of Abimelech, however, even in this the Scriptures give us insight for three (3) times this phrase is recorded by the Spirit of God to show us the depth of the sin of man.

And the LORD God said unto the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. (Genesis 3:13)

And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What [is] this [that] thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she [was] thy wife? (Genesis 12:18)

Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines [are] rulers over us? what [is] this [that] thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. (Judges 15:11)

   We will return to Genesis 20:9. Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. This is another trial of Abraham. God had already shown to him the length, the breadth, the height and the depth of the land that he was to inherit. And yet, Abraham wandered down into the southern area of Shur ruled by Abimelech, which is on the border of Egypt.

   Since Abraham had gone down into Egypt God had revealed Himself to Abraham many times, well let’s see how many times? Remember, at first, that it was the God of glory who appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia, in Ur of Chaldees (Acts 7:2). This was the God of glory who had stated that He will not share His glory with another; to be called by the God of glory, was truly a monumental calling of Abraham.

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (Isaiah 42:8)

For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.  (Isaiah 48:11)

   These two verses lead us to the New Testament. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2^nd Peter 3:18) And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Revelation 21:23) All three of these verses describe the God of glory in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is the same God of glory who appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia, and revealed His glory to Peter, James and John on the holy mount when His glory, His heavenly glory, was manifested to them.

    Before the famine God appeared to Abraham once again. It was a visit from the God of glory in Genesis 12:7. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. We have two instances of the God of glory appearing to Abraham. Abraham looked to others when there was a famine. There was no appeal to God in the time of famine, instead, Abraham went down into Egypt. When Abraham returned into the land faith took him back to the altar that he first made. And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; (Genesis 13:3) Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. (Genesis 13:4) We do not see heaven open again until verse 14, And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: The heavens opened again with the voice of the Lord as He set the land before Abraham. Lot, however, had gone down into the well-watered plains of the Jordan, and separated himself from Abraham, and pitched his tent toward Sodom, where the land was as Egypt in the land of Zoar, even as the garden of the Lord. Lot had succumbed to the three great tempters: the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

LUST:  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14)

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:15)

THE WORLD: Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1^st John 2:15)

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1^st John 2:16)

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1^st John 2:17)

THE DEVIL: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1^st John 3:8)

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  (John 8:44)

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;  (Matthew 13:38) The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (Matthew 13:39)

For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. (1^st Thessalonians 3:5)

   In the case with Lot, green fields and easy times led his heart to wander, and the next time that we see Lot he is living in Sodom and had taken a wife of sinners. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. (Genesis 13:13)

    You may think that all is well in the land of prosperity, however, your possessions become more important than God. You see your own gain among a world of sinners. It is the same today with the children of God. We live in a land with well-watered plains where prosperity is a god unto itself to be worshiped. Rivers of sin, however, surround and feed the land of prosperity. All around us we have the world, the flesh, and the devil to tempt us every day crying out with the voice of Cain, ‘Lay down that sword of faith, and come with us, we will show you great things.’ However, there are many unseen and hidden facets to this world of prosperity and sin. Lot experienced another unseeable consequence of living in Sodom when he was carried away captive, and all his goods ripped out of his hands by an ungodly world, caught in a war between the king of Sodom and the idolatrous kings of the east: Amraphel, Arioch, Chedorlaomer, and Tidal. (Genesis 14). 

  And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. (Genesis 14:12) Although Lot was Abraham’s nephew, the heart of Abraham was as a brother toward his nephew. Consequently, when someone came to Abraham who had escaped out of the clutches of the east and told Abraham Lot’s plight, Abraham acted immediately.

And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. (Genesis 14:13)

And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. (Genesis 14:14)

   Here we see that the bond of blood is strong, and even stronger in the man of faith. He MUST act on behave of his brother’s son. Abraham was truly his brother’s keeper. Where Cain faltered in sin, Abraham rose up in faith. Abraham was not the judge of his nephew’s decisions, but the redeemer. With his three hundred and eighteen (318) trained servants, and his confederates in the land of Mamre, Abraham headed north to the area of Dan, left of Damascus.  Most likely they traveled the old Damascus Road, well-traveled by many through the centuries including the kings of the east. Since Abraham had a warrior force of 318 trained men it is obvious that Abraham was not a passivist nor was he an aggressor, but he was prepared to face all aggressors. We now see the soldier in Abraham. Fear was left behind, and faith and valor went forward. Deep in the night (as a future hero Gideon with his small band) Abraham and his small band divided his men and created more than one front of attack. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. (Genesis 14:15) This confused the superior enemy forces not knowing which side to defend, and by dividing his men, Abraham created in the minds of his adversaries a larger force then he actually had. In the darkness of night, they four kings were driven all the way to Hobah. Abraham and his men overcame a superior force through a superior faith. Abraham returned the goods of Sodom to the king of Sodom, and the women and the people of Sodom who had been taken captive. Oh yes, and his brother Lot and his goods were now in the hands of Abraham, and Abraham was in God’s hands. Abraham was well aware that the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth, had given His servant the victory. However, the devil is always waiting after a victory to let the air out of faith. The king of Sodom went out to meet Abraham, and we are reminded that there had been a slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him. Prior to Abraham’s meeting with the king of Sodom Abraham had lifted up his hand to the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth for the victory that he had received.

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The Door

God of Glory – The Most High God – Prophet – Priest – King

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   Psalm 24 confirms that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world, and them that dwell therein. This is the most high God possessor of heaven and earth. This 24^th Psalm also ties in the God of glory for this psalm ends with a grand finale with Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

<<A Psalm of David.>> The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:7)

Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8)

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:9)

Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:10)

   To answer to our faith today, in the gospel of Mark 5:7 the demons recognized the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Son of the most high God. And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. The manifestation of the most high God in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ in combination with the God of glory is defined in Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. The Lord Jesus is described as the brightness of God’s glory, the EXPRESS manifestation or image of His Person, and that His creatorial power, BY His word, upholds ALL things by the very word of His power. God is the ONLY ONE who can speak matter into existence, it is the power of God THROUGH His word that has created all things, and it is the power of God THROUGH His word that upholds ALL things. The Lord Jesus Christ, being the fullness of God’s glory, MUST possess the fullness of the Godhead bodily: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9) Hebrews 1:3 and Colossians 2:9 confirms that the Lord Jesus IS the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth. In Genesis Chapter 14, the Holy Spirit used this phrase, the most high God four (4) times.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (Genesis 14:18)

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (Genesis 14:19)

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (Genesis 14:20)

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, (Genesis 14:22)

   This confirms that the four parts of the earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof. In verse 18 of Genesis 14, we have the next visit of the Lord Jesus Christ (who is the God of glory, the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and the express image of God) to Abraham as the priest of the most high God (possessor of heaven and earth). It is interesting that the Possessor lists heaven first, and earth second. As in Genesis Chapter 1, God created the heaven first, and the earth next. There is an economy, a society, and a heavenly realm that mankind, under Adam, cannot conceive. In the heavenly realm there is one throne, one King, one Priest, one God, and this is Jesus Christ. He is the Eternal Priest, Melchisedec. As the Priest of the most high God He attends the things in heaven which are typified by the tabernacle that was given to Israel on earth. This is why Melchisedec not only bears the title of Priest, but also bears the title of King, for the Lord Jesus is also the King of heaven and the King of Peace.

   The visit of Melchisedec was to confirm in Abraham’s heart his independence from the world, and his dependance on God in the most high God. A man called out from the world is strong indeed. The book of Hebrews gives us the nature of the man of faith in Hebrews Chapter 11. Just as man bears the nature of Adam in sin, those who are redeemed have within faith and the nature of God, a divine nature. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2nd Peter 1:4)

   This is what the eleventh Chapter of Hebrews is all about, separating the children of God, the children of faith, from the world. It is the strongest Chapter in the entire Bible given over solely to the faith that God has provided for His children. Hebrews 11 is an assurance to us today that we can look for that same city whose builder and maker is God. We can walk through this world as strangers and pilgrims as Abraham walked. Through faith we seek a heavenly country for God has prepared a city and a dwelling place for us.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (John 14:1)

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (John 14:2)

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. (John 14:4)

   All the mansions of heaven will not be as grand as to look on His face of the One who has saved us by His grace, and to know that our journey is over when we will be home with our blessed God, the Lord Jesus Christ. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8)

   The DOOR of John Chapter 10 leads to many treasures, all possessed by faith. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7) And each and every treasure is in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God.

   Christ opened the DOOR for Abraham when He appeared as the God of glory in Ur of Chaldees. But this was just the first step. God would reveal Himself in many ways to the child of faith. It is a progression of living, and believing, of going further into the light of faith, seeing the world growing dimmer, and heaven shining brighter. In Genesis 14, the Lord Jesus appeared as Melchisedec. He is the heavenly high Priest come down from above and He is the heavenly Priest of the realm of the most high God. He is not of this earth. For the only priesthood that God established upon earth would typify the most high Priest in heaven, which was, and is Melchisedec revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Aaronic priesthood and the tabernacle were given to man to show forth the glories of the Eternal Priesthood and the Eternal fabric of the heaven above. There is only one other priesthood mentioned in Scripture and this is the priesthood of all believers, and they are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. These are the children of heaven, not of this world.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1^st Peter 2:9)

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6)

   In the millennial kingdom there will be priests of the earth, but the One who sits upon the throne, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be a Priest on His kingly throne. He will be both Priest and King joining heaven and earth to both His Eternal kingdom and His Eternal priesthood. Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13) The Holy Spirit is showing us in this verse that the counsel of peace shall be between them both speaking of both Priest and King. We also see this phrase; he shall bear the glory. In Revelation 5:12, it is the Lamb that was slain who receives GLORY. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:12)

   In 1^st Peter 2:9 we have the establishment of a royal priesthood of both kings and priests which is established in Revelation 1:6. This reveals that the new creation is brought into the priesthood of Melchisedec and the throne of the Son of God. But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8). He is both King and Priest holding the sceptre  of sovereignty over His kingdom. And we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ and subject to both His priesthood and His dominion as King. We are to be children of obedience to show forth the glory of God. (Hebrews 12) We have been given both these titles as well as sonship acquired through the writ of adoption, signed and sealed in the blood of Christ.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  (Galatians 4:4) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  (Galatians 4:5) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7)

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.(Romans 8:17)

   This is our inheritance and our position as the sons of God. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1^st John 3:1) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1^st John 3:2) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1^st John 3:3) This makes us this new creation different from the children of the world, and their father the devil. We belong to God in an unseen realm, and this realm is the realm of faith. The religious person believes that his faith is subject to his own will. The child of God believes that they are subject to their faith, and their faith must be in alignment with the will of God. The Spirit of Christ reveals within us that we have lifted up our hand to the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth. As Abraham, we belong to God and no one else. We have become both strangers and pilgrims in a world of thorns and thistles. And Christ has opened the DOOR that no man can close. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Revelation 3:7)

   In Chapter 15 of Genesis God spoke to Abraham as the Prophet. And through the course of the life of Abraham God revealed many prophecies that would come during Abraham’s life and would be fulfilled in man’s history. We should see all the promises that were given to Abraham concerning His seed as prophecy. In Chapter 18 of Genesis, the Lord Jesus came forth as the fullness of the Godhead in the representation of the three men meeting with Abraham. Here the Lord is revealed by Abraham as the Judge of all the earth.

And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;  (Genesis 18:1) And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, (Genesis 18:2) And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:  (Genesis 18:3)

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)

   So, we see the Lord Jesus as the God of glory appearing to Abraham in Mesopotamia, then in Genesis 14, we see the Lord presenting Himself as both Priest and King. In Chapter 15 we see the Lord revealing Himself as the Prophet, and in Chapter 18, He comes forth as the Judge of all the earth, and this completes His position as the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

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The DOOR – the Way to Salvation

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   Cain was presented to the DOOR (sin lieth at the door) meaning that God explained the way of salvation THROUGH the DOOR, but Cain would not give up his sin. Sin was between Cain and the DOOR. With all the seed of Adam the genetic code of sin is between them and God. As with Cain, God was looking for repentance of the heart, and a contrite spirit, yet Cain expressed himself as his father Adam, not wanting to take personal responsibility for his sin which grew into envy, and hatred, until Cain rose up and slew his brother Abel.

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:15)

  This is true of individual responsibility before God in both one’s own life and the actions of his life. Lust for any object begins WITHIN man. This lust brings forth sin, and sin when it is finished brings forth death. This is true of the individual in his own life, and it is also true of many individuals in their actions involving others. For it is recorded in John 8:44 that the devil is a murderer from the beginning. No matter the time period there is always the voice of the Spirit. God revealed this to Cain, He informed Cain that the blood of his brother was not silent. It cried from the ground. In the book of Revelation, the saints during the tribulation who are martyred also cry out to God.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (Revelation 6:9) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:10)

  In Revelation Chapter 6, we see the cry of those who have been slaughtered for the word of God and for their testimony; their blood, as Abel’s blood, will speak out from the ground. This should also show us that Abel, the first man of faith, and the first martyr of righteousness was able to communicate with the Almighty God even in death. In Hebrews 11:4 we see that it is the blood of Abel, and his testimony, that the Holy Spirit declared, yet speaketh. Through the history of mankind, the blood of Abel has been proclaiming (through the testimony of the Law of Faith) that the DOOR to the righteousness of God is by faith.

   In the very beginning of the book of the Revelation (1:9) of Jesus Christ, John stated the reason for his banishment to the isle of Patmos that it was for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. God revealed to His servant, John, things which must shortly come to pass. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne. In Revelation 1:4, we see the name that cannot be written, for only He Himself knows the name of Him which is, and which was, and which is to come. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (Revelation 19:12) And it is he who is the DOOR of everlasting life.

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7)

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)

  Christ makes a controlling forceful statement that IN His Person is the very DOOR of salvation and that ONLY THROUGH THIS DOOR can anyone receive all the mercies and grace of God. Again, in John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. It is in John 14:6 that the Lord Jesus proclaimed the pathway to God the Father MUST GO THROUGH HIM . . . . THE DOOR . . .  For He IS the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, as He makes known to all mankind in His statement that it is by me.

   John 14:6 is compatible with John 10:7 and 9 because we have a combination of grace, truth, and faith that opens the DOOR to the presence of God. The first mention of the DOOR in Genesis Chapter 4 teaches us that the DOOR was blocked by sin. If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the DOOR. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. The last mention of the DOOR in the word of God shows us that sin is removed, and the DOOR is open to heaven. After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)

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The DOOR Judges

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   There are two sides to every door. On one side it is an entrance, on the other side it is a bar to keep anyone from entering, much as the flaming sword and the Cherubims that God placed at the east of Eden so that man could not enter in. In Genesis 4:7,  sin lieth at the DOOR, how is this sin removed? There MUST be a judgment upon this sin, and there must be a Judge to judge that sin. Turn to James 5:9, Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. We must establish that judgment must be upon sin. We also must establish that God is the Judge who standeth before the door, and He is the Judge of the whole earth. That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)

   Here we see the Judge of the whole earth standing before the DOOR, and the sin that lieth before the DOOR. God had come down to the earth and manifested Himself before Abraham as the Judge of the whole earth. God was there to Judge the sin of Sodom, and the cities of the plains. And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; (Genesis 18:20) These were the cities that had corrupted themselves with the sins of the flesh. And the terrible outcome is found in Romans Chapter 1: God gave them up.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (Romans 1:24)

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (Romans 1:26)

And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge,  God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28)

   Every city (throughout the entire world) has corrupted themselves with the sins of the flesh, as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the five cities of the plains. The Judge is now standing before the DOOR of the judgement of God, and mankind is blind today (as they were then) of the judgment that is already taking place. When the angels of God were in Sodom to remove Lot, they blinded the men of Sodom so that they could not find the DOOR because their sin had already blinded them. It is similar today. Sin has blinded mankind to the judgment of God; they refuse to repent of their sin because they are blind to their sin. They have gone beyond the mark, beyond the point of no return because the heart of Cain within man beats louder and louder as they celebrate and applaud their sin. The masses are wandering in darkness, they cannot find the DOOR because it is blocked by sin.

Side Note: The door in conflict in Genesis Chapter 19. (Chapter 19 is a Chapter of conflict: the conflict between Lot, the angels of God (the two men), and the men of Sodom.) Interesting piece of information, the word door is recorded in four (4) verses in this Chapter of conflict. (Four is the symbol for world.) This word, however, is mentioned six (6) times. (Six represents mankind in sin.)

And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, (Genesis 19:6)

And they said, Stand back. And they said [again], This one [fellow] came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, [even] Lot, and came near to break the door. (Genesis 19:9)

But the men (two angels ) put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. (Genesis 19:10)

And they smote the men that [were] at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. (Genesis 19:11)

 The door is shut to the world and sin (in type). God the Holy Spirit through small points and details continually teaches and reveals His message. ♦ End of Side Note: The door and conflict in Genesis Chapter 19.

  This is our world today concerning its blindness. On every street corner there is a church door many preaching another Jesus and selling their brand of religion and redemption. Yet, they are blind to the DOOR, and they weary themselves to find the DOOR. In their darkness they struggle but will not give up their sin or repent before the Lord. Many have another Jesus who is not the DOOR, and few declare that He is the Judge of all the earth, and that He stands at the DOOR.

   Let’s compare the churches of our age to the days of Samuel and Eli. The priesthood had completely corrupted themselves. Eli, the high priest, and his sons (Hophni and Phinehas) had sold themselves to sin. Eli (because he refused to see the sins of his sons) became blind; consequently, he is noted as the blind priest: the last of the Aaronic priesthood was BLIND. Hophni and Phinehas traded and extorted sin at the very DOOR of the tabernacle where the SIN OFFERING was offered. It is the same today. The souls of men are bartered for trinkets and coins where church membership is branded as salvation.

  In the days of Eli, the sins of his sons were so great that God put OUT the light of the candlestick IN the tabernacle. Do not think for one second that the house of God (as we know it today) will not come under the judgment of God as the house of God (as the Israelites knew it then) came under His judgment in Ichabod (the glory has departed). For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1^st Peter 4:17)

Side Note: Ichabod (the glory is departed), compared with the last church of the Laodiceans, (the Glory stands outside the door because the Glory departed from the outward church since its infancy).

And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. (1^st Samuel 4:19)

And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. (1^st Samuel 4:20)

And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.  (1^st Samuel 4:21)

And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken. (1^st Samuel 4:22)

 Through the seven churches in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Chapters 2 and 3) we have the church of Ephesus (location), the church in Smyrna , the church in Pergamos, the church in Thyatira, the church in Sardis, the church in Philadelphia, and the church of the Laodiceans. Note that the last church belongs to the people, the Laodiceans because the Glory has departed. Christ is outside the door knocking. The Glory is outside the door knocking. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) ♦End of Side Note: Ichabod compared with the church of the Laodiceans.

  The gospel that is being preached is a social gospel, for the betterment of mankind, and to find unity within man’s religion; however, there neither is repentance in a social gospel, nor can mankind be made better by rejecting the blood of Christ, nor can unity be accomplished in Christendom by denying the word of God and the Spirit of God. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. (1^st Corinthians 2:14) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1^st John 4:6) Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.  (Matthew 12:31) And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Matthew 12:32)

  There is no DOOR of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ in a social gospel. There is no pathway to eternal life BUT through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Tabernacle of God became dark, just as the darkness of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, the Judge stood at the DOOR, and judged complacent Eli with blindness. Later He judged both Hophni and Phinehas with death, and because Israel was saturated with sin God judged four thousand men by the hand of the Philistines.

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. (1^st Samuel 3:13) And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. (1^st Samuel 3:14)

And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.  (1^st Samuel 4:2)

   God removed Eli from the priesthood by death and removed forever the seed of Eli from serving as priests. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. (1^st Samuel 3:12)

Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? (1^st Samuel 2:29

Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. (1^st Samuel 2:30)

Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.  (1^st Samuel 2:31)

And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. (1^st Samuel 2:32)

And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.  (1^st Samuel 2:33)

And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.  (1^st Samuel 2:34)

   The sons of Eli had made merchandise out of both the sacrifice and the feasts of Jehovah. They had perverted all so that the DOOR was in darkness to the people of Israel. Eli’s two sons committed all manners of evil at the DOOR of the tabernacle by perverting both the sacrifices of God and laying with the women who gathered to the tabernacle. They were not only judged for perverting the sacrifice of God, but they were also judged for perverting the flesh as well. (Déjà vu, see Genesis Chapter 6.)

  Little did the sons of Eli know that the Judge was standing at the DOOR. Today, as the nations and the peoples of the earth pervert themselves with each other, the Judge of the whole earth is standing at the DOOR. He is looking with eyes of fire and judgment, and He is remembering Genesis 6:5 as it was in the days of Noah, so it is today. We must remember that in the days of Noah God revealed Himself as a long-suffering God. He had watched mankind for millenniums and He had seen ALL the sins of man as their sins blocked the DOOR, and God judged the whole earth. For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1^st Peter 4:17)

   I know that you have heard many declare that we live in the day of grace. There is no such thing as the day of grace. Grace is an eternal gift given by God through faith and it is not of the earth, or of the day, or of one particular time period or age. It is a gift revealing salvation through Jesus Christ for a heavenly people and not the peoples of the earth. Grace is God’s gift, and there is no time period attached to this gift. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8) These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9) Abel acquired the grace of God and was seen by God as righteous because Abel understood the sacrifice of blood for the remission of his sin. This same grace has traveled through Scripture even to our age, and beyond. Grace is given freely by the One who is Grace, the most high God of heaven and earth. We live at the very edge of the precipice called tribulation. The hammer of God’s judgment is at this very moment falling on the peoples of the earth, and they refuse to see that what they are experiencing is the judgment of God. In the days of Noah no one expected the flood, or the judgment of God. Although Noah was preaching righteousness and the way of righteousness, man refused to listen, and judgment came upon the peoples of the earth, and only eight souls came through the flood.

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2^nd Peter 2:2)

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  (2^nd Peter 2:18)

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  (2^nd Peter 3:3) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  (2^nd Peter 3:4) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (2^nd Peter 3:5) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (2^nd Peter 3:6) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  (2^nd Peter 3:7)　

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  (1^st Peter 3:15) Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (1^st Peter 3:16) For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.  (1^st Peter 3:17) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1^st Peter 3:18) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; (1^st Peter 3:19) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1^st Peter 3:20) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (1^st Peter 3:21) Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. (1^st Peter 3:22)

  These verses are just as much a part of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as John3:16, you cannot have a one verse gospel. The gospel must be presented to man in its fullness to create in man a heart of repentance and acceptance of the Son of God believing God was IN Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. That ALL of man’s transgressions were placed upon Jesus Christ, and by faith and belief IN Him man shall be saved. Do not think that the eyes of the Lord cannot determine truth from the error that is being preached today. You cannot preach the doctrines of the world and expect man to be saved. It is the preaching of the cross, and the shed blood of Christ that heralds the remission of sin, and salvation through Jesus Christ. Those who know not Christ can only see a God of judgment (although while at the same time refusing to acknowledge God and His judgment). Those who are in Christ see the God of love. One of the mysteries of God is that He examines every heart and asks, What hast thou done?

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.  (2^nd Chronicles 16:9)

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The Everlasting DOORS

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit

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    It is the Lord’s power and ONLY His power that opens the everlasting DOORS.  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Revelation 3:7)

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.  (Revelation 3:9) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  (Revelation 3:11) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12)

   One day the everlasting DOORS will bow to Him when they open, and the King of glory will come in.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:7)

Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8)

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (Psalm 24:9)

Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:10)

  The Verily, verily of John 10:7, (Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.) shows the need of every man, and the DOOR in Jesus Christ is the answer to that need as in verse 9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. In this verse we again have the repeat of the great I AM as I AM the DOOR. This reflects back to John 8:58 which falls in perfectly with before Abraham was I AM. For Christ was/is the DOOR in Genesis 4:7. If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. One blink from the eyes of the Lord can see the whole timeline of the history of man. Why can’t man see the same DOOR of John 10 in Genesis 4 or in Revelation 3? It is because of blindness and man’s desire to limit Scripture so that he might justify himself. Man lives in a state of blindness to the truth. This is why God over and over declares Verily, verily, truly, truly, and Amen and Amen. The truth is all about seeing God as the Almighty, and the Lord Jesus Christ as the manifest image of God and beholding Him as the fullness of the Godhead bodily, yet, man, because of his sin, cannot accept such a great, great, great God. Man cannot see Christ made higher than the heavens. (Hebrews 7:26) This wonderful Chapter in the book of Hebrews has much more to reveal to us. We need to spend more time looking into this Chapter; however, we are now concentrating on Verily, verily, which in John Chapter 10 we have both Father and Son in keeping their sheep.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:29) I and my Father are one. (John 10:30)

   Within the DOOR there are many assurances that the Holy Spirit witnesses within the child of God; it is the Holy Spirit who directs the truth of the Scriptures to the child of God. In John Chapter 10, we have a foundation of security in God the Son and God the Father. We have a foundation stone to set our faith upon for neither person nor beast, nor angels can pluck us out of the Lord’s hand. In verse 30, we see the Father and the Son in complete union, and this union describes their equal divine power in keeping their own sheep. Of course, these are the sheep who hear His voice and follow Him. Over and over, throughout the Scriptures we have the testimony that the children of faith follow the Lord through thick and thin, through trial and tribulation, through pain and sorrow, and through life and death. They walk through an evil world shaking the dust of sin from off their shoes. They walk with the Shepherd of the sheep and depend on Him for all guidance. They rely on the Lord Jesus for all wisdom, all righteousness, all sanctification and for redemption. He is ALL to His sheep, and His sheep are all to Him. This is the love of God, which is beyond all understanding, yet faith has revealed it to us in the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. Sin has been removed for all who call upon the name of the Lord. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Amen and amen.

© Copyright 2022, Michael Haigh

This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)