br />We do struggle yes. But God didn't ordain that to teach us. God wasn't the one who embeded struggle as part of our journey. It all started in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. That was a result of man chosing to perform inorder to be like God. Let me explain what I mean. The Bible says in Genesis that God created man in His image. Man was made like God. They didn't have to do anything to be in God's presence. The only qualification was to be simply "man".
But as we all know, the devil came and deceived Eve; he told her you will be like God if you eat from this fruit. Now this is very important. We only focus on the part where they disobeyed God and ate the fruit which resulted in the "great fall". And that is true. But read the 3rd chapter of Genesis again. The way the devil presented this idea was very subtle. Remember the very first verse of chapter three says that the devil was very cunning. But to have a clear idea of what I'm trying to say, lets go Isaiah 14:12-18
12 “ How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[b] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘ I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
16 “ Those who see you will gaze at you,
And consider you, saying:
‘ Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,
17 Who made the world as a wilderness
And destroyed its cities,
Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’
18 “ All the kings of the nations,
Lucifer was an Angel of God. But he wanted to be like God. From the verses above, we see that he wanted to exalt himself above the throne of God. And for that reason, he was kicked off of heaven. Now with that picture in mind, lets go back to the garden of Eden; imagine Lucifer who was angel in the presence of God; he envied God, and wanted to be like God, but for that, he was kicked out. And here in the garden of Eden, he saw that God has created man from the dust, yet in God's image; that is, like God. Can you imagine what went on in his mind? He was kicked out for trying to be like God, and now God made man from the dust, and God said that man is according to His image. I'm sure the devil thought to himself, I'm going to mess up this "thing called man". So he stepped into the scene and told Eve, if you EAT THIS FRUIT, you will BE LIKE God!
Before this time, there has never been any system for mankind to perform inorder to be like God. Mankind was like God, Period. Man didn't need to do anything at all. They were in the presence of God whenever they want. There were no conditions. But Lucifer decieved Eve and told her, you will be like God when you EAT THIS FRUIT. Once they ate the fruit, they implemented a system of WORKS. They were sent out from God's presence, and moreover, they now have to perform some rituals or works, inorder to please God. And of course they disobeyed God, which was sin.
While sin became the obstacle, the result of sin also introduced a new system; the burden was now place upon mankind to perform inorder come to God. Because man chose to perform, God introduced the Law. The Ten Commandmends say "thou shall not ..... if you observe the whole law, the burden is being placed upon mankind. You shall not do this; you shall do this; you shall not.....etc. Now there are conditions in dealing with God. But mind you, this was not God's original plan for mankind. This has to be observed because man rejected God's original plan and chose to perform/works.
As a result, all the religions of the world(with the exception of Christianity) all require some form of performance. The Bible called this system, "THE BABYLON SYSTEM". Thats why in Isaiah 14 it says Babylon felled when Lucifer was cast out. You can read the whole chapter 14 of Isaiah, and Ezekiel 28.
Lucifer came and introduce this "babylon system" of works to mankind.
But God wasn't done yet. God had another plan. God is a good God. He gave mankind free will from the very beginning. Because of man's choice in the garden of Eden, he didn't interfere with man. But becaues he gave His word, he is Just and Faithful, He wouldnt take His word back. So while Lucifer deceived mankind and took man's authority, God allowed him to reign because it was man who gave away the authority.
So God decided that to take the dominion back, He had to become man.
The bible says, "the word became flesh and dwelled amongst us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" John 1:14.
Jesus Christ took the form of man, and like man, under the law of Moses he obeyed and fulfilled the whole law. He did this of course representing the whole of humanity. Just like Adam in the garden of Eden represented us, Jesus also represented us in the garden of Gethsemane. He came under the babylon system, fulfilled the whole requirement of the system, and the removed the system far away from us. Matthew 5;17 -18 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Jesus said in those verses, that he did not come to destroy the law, but rather to fulfill it. Now what does that mean? In verse 17 he says he came to fulfill. vs 18 heaven and earth will not pass till it is fulfilled. Now my question to you is this; did Jesus fulfill the law? If he fulfilled it, is there need now for it? Do we still have to come to God through that system? The scriptures say "without faith it is impossible to please God".
So you can keep the whole law, but without faith, its all junk.
But the problem today is this; the church is trying to bring back the "babylon system" . We place certain conditions, God won't bless you unless you come to church (i'm not suggesting we shouldn't go to church); or if you don't pay your tithes, God won't bless you; or God make you sick if you don't pay tithes; then you end up paying the tithes anyway via the hospital bill, or car problems.....or you will not grow spiritually unless if you go through fire.....you fill in the blanks. There are many outrageous things being taught today in the church that is in essence returning us to the system of works.
I understand we learn from tribulations. But that is not the only way to learn. And tribulations will come, oh yes they will. But God is not the author of tribulations. Every good gift comes from above. Trials, tribulations and struggle resulted from man's disobedience. God is a good God. Jesus portrayed the Father's heart in many of his parables. In one instance he said, who among you will give their son snake, when they ask for bread? Then he said, "if you mankind are so kind, how much more then God". Yet, we attribute sickness, death, accidents to God. The insurance companies call huricanes and tornadoes, "acts of God". Where did they get that from? From the church!
I'm not done yet with this topic! I still have plenty to add. But I am going to stop here. You may add your comments.
In addition to that, the scriptues say in 2 Timothy 3:16
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
All of scripture is given.....is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
If we need instruction, behold the scriptures; Do we need correction, the scriptures; Are we struggling, the scriptures. In fact, everything that we need for life and godliness, has ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO US. We don't need MORE POWER, MORE GLORY, MORE REVELATION, MORE OF JESUS, MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Every power in heaven and on earth has already been given to us. If there is a need somewhere, the supply for it has been provided 2000 years ago. We need to look within where God the Holy Spirit dwells. Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit:
"13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."
I don't see why we have to suffer in order to learn. We do suffer however as a consequence of the fallen nature. But it doesn't have keep us under.
Am I saying that our bodies are already glorified? No way.
When we depend on our selves, our own efforts, our own brain, we falter. But when we stand on scripture and believe, then we can overcome. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
"6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[c]
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy[d] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?”[e] But we have the mind of Christ.
It says that "eye has not seen nor ear heard, the things......but checkout verse 10:
"But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit." So these things that eye has not seen, it says that God has revealed them to us. How? The Spirit of God who knows the things of God, dwells in us, therefore that same Spirit will reveal them to us. IT DOESN'T SAY WE HAVE TO FAST. NOR DOES IT SAY WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS LIKE JOB. It simply says God reveals them to us. Now what is the qualification? Faith. Faith is the vehicle that makes these precious promises real. Its not blind faith. It is faith based on the word of God Himself. By faith the patriochs did mighty things for God - Hebrews 11.
Let me make a point here, before I am misunderstood. I am in no way, shape or form advocating absence from church, or not giving offerings, or fasting.
We don't do these things to earn favor, or approval from God. We do these things to keep ourselves engaged in the word. If you are in Christ, you are already "accepted in the beloved" as it says in Ephesians. That means you are highly favored, and that is not because you come to church, or because you pay tithes, or pray. You are accepted independent of your works. I need to go to church to hear the word and to fellowship with other believers. It make me stay on the word. And as a result, I stay my mind on the integrity of what Jesus has already done for me. When I stay my mind on the word of God, grace and peace is multiplied unto me(2Pet 1:2) So the works that I do, I do them for my own sake, to keep me in the grace. I labor to enter into the rest of God. It sounds like contradiction isn't it? But thats what the scripture says in Hebrews 4:11. We labor to enter into the rest of God. What does that mean?
When we come to Christ, our spirit man is the part that becomes the "NEW CREATION". Man is spirit, soul and body. So, your spirit is created after God in true holiness and righteousness(Ephesians 4:24) But your mind, your ego, your feelings are in the soulish realm. Your mind still thinks the same way. Your mind still hates Monday morning when you have to go to work. Your mind still says I am from Dinka, Maadi, Nuer, Shilluk, Nuba, American, Arab, Ethiopian etc....Your mind is still wrapped up in the "babylon system". Oh what a dilemma! Who can save me from this, my condition. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak - does that ring a bell? The spirit is on one end, and the flesh is on the other, and the soul is in the middle. Whoever sways the mind its way wins. If your soul listens to your 5 senses more, then whatever your body tells you goes. But if we, by the power of the Holy spirit, renew our minds with the word of God, then the spirit man wins. Romans 12:1-3. We have to renew our minds. That is where the struggle is. We struggle to renew our minds. We struggle to stay our minds in the word of God; when we do that, we enter THE REST OF GOD. Because God has already taken care of the rest. We don't need to pay anything for it. All we need is faith, and then renew our minds to stay in the word, in His grace by faith; when we do that, we are seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO US. Amen!
The scriptures speak of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation. We don't read the Bible to know what is required of us. We are'nt suppose to read the Bible to know what does God want from us. Thats the wrong spirit to read the scriptures. But we read it to know what God has already done for us. Thats what the Gospel is. The Gospel is called so, because it is GOOD NEWS. What is the good news? The good news is ....." For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Verse 6 says "and the government will be upon His shoulder. What does that mean? I had mentioned previously that burden was place upon man to proof himself worthy when Adam and Eve chose to EAT INORDER TO BE LIKE GOD. The government was place on man. The king of Babylon, deceived mankind, and he has been oppressing man. But that has changed. A day has come where God has given us rest. Jesus said very clearly: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." This day of rest, was spoken about in Isaiah 14:3-11. It says:
3 It shall come to pass in the day the LORD gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say:
“ How the oppressor has ceased,
The golden[a] city ceased!
5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked,
The scepter of the rulers;
6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke,
He who ruled the nations in anger,
Is persecuted and no one hinders.
7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
They break forth into singing.
8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you,
And the cedars of Lebanon,
Saying, ‘Since you were cut down,
No woodsman has come up against us.’
9 “ Hell from beneath is excited about you,
To meet you at your coming;
It stirs up the dead for you,
All the chief ones of the earth;
It has raised up from their thrones
All the kings of the nations.
10 They all shall speak and say to you:
‘ Have you also become as weak as we?
Have you become like us?
11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
And the sound of your stringed instruments;
The maggot is spread under you,
And worms cover you.’
Oh, isn't this wonderful? The enemy, Lucifer "struck the people with continual stroke:" Isn't that how it feels. When trouble after trouble after trouble bothers you. And we say it is God testing our faith. No way. This king of Babylon, with his torture, IS DEFEATED. The only reason we still suffer is ignorance." My people perish for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. The king of Babylon is defeated. He was defeated by the "Son of Man; wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.
The government is no longer upon our shoulders; God took care of that. Isaiah 14:24-25 says:
24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying,
“ Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass,
And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:
25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land,
And on My mountains tread him underfoot.
Then his yoke shall be removed from them,
And his burden removed from their shoulders.
Look at the last part of verse 25; And his burden removed from their shoulder. It is still speaking about Lucifer. If you agree with that, why don't you say this with me: "I declare that I am free from his burden. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am born of God. I am a new creation. I overcome the world, the babylon system, and the flesh." Amen.
Yesterday at 8:52pm · Delete Post
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