02/04/22 A LITTLE BACKGROUND AND THEN A POINT

02/04/22 A LITTLE BACKGROUND AND THEN A POINT

The World, The Flesh, and The Devil are the main three enemies of Christian living, which are recognized in the Scriptures.
"The World" is the worldly system, the worldly mindset, which can be the system (age) or order (cosmological or social).
"The Flesh" is the carnal (fleshly) or anti-spiritual inclination, with which we were born.
"The Devil" is Satan, the fallen angel, formerly known as Lucifer. He is the prince or head of fallen angels, also known as demons.

These are three enemies of the soul. Most people fear these three and think that Christians are not able to overcome, defeat them. However, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that Christ has defeated them, and therefore it is expected that Christians will also overcome them because Jesus gives us everything that pertains to life and godliness, and we are enabled to resist every temptation we face.

As a pastor, part of my responsibility is to warn my people about the dangers of these three, instruct them in victorious warfare and equip them for victorious living.
Here is an article I posted in 2015

VICTORY OVER ENEMIES
The other day I was thinking about the enemies, with which Christians contend. They are,
The World
James 4:4
(4) 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.
The Flesh
Romans 8:7-8
(7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
(8 ) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
The Devil
1 Peter 5:8
(8 ) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

BUT GOD HAS GIVEN US VICTORY OVER THESE ENEMIES
Victory Over The World
John 16:33
(33) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Galatians 1:4
(4) Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
1 John 4:4
(4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 John 5:4-5
(4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
(5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Victory Over The Flesh
Romans 8:1
(1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:6-10
(6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
(7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
(8 ) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
(9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
(10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 10:3
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
Galatians 5:16
(16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:24-25
(24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Victory Over The Devil
Ephesians 4:27
(27) Neither give place to the devil.
Ephesians 6:11
(11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
2 Timothy 2:25-26
(25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
(26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Hebrews 2:14
(14) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
James 4:7
(7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 John 3:7-10
(7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
(8 ) 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.
(9) 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.
(10) 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.

Our Last Enemy, Death
1 Corinthians 15:26
(26) The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Not Enemies Of One Another
A Christian should not be the enemy to other believers. We should not cannibalize one another.
Galatians 5:14-15
(14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
(15) But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

But we are not intimidated by our opponents.
We can overcome the world: (Ja. 1:27; 1 Jn. 4:4; 1 Jn. 5:4-5).
We can overcome the flesh: (Ro.8:1, 4-5, 9, 12-13; 13:14; 2 Co. 7:1; 10:3; Ga. 5:16, 24).
We can overcome the Devil: (Ep. 4:27; 6:11; 2 Tm. 2:26; Ja. 4:7; 1 Pe. 5:8-11; 1 Jn. 3:8).

02/04/22 DELIVERANCE FROM WORLDLINESS

02/04/22 DELIVERANCE FROM WORLDLINESS

As I was preparing for a Bible study recently, I realized that through the years, I have not had to spend much time dealing with the problem of "worldliness." I know that sounds strange, but it does make sense.

God tells us, "love not love the world or the things in the world," and that we should not be friends with the world. Since I preach the Biblical truth. that God saves us from all sin, many of my parishioners died to the world, when they surrendered fully to the Holy Spirit at the time of their Entire Sanctification.
Sadly, not every believer comes to a point of death to the Old Man, the Carnal Mind, Double-Mindedness and as a result, they become friends with the world (worldly thinking). The Bible tells us that friendship with the world is enmity against God.

Though I do warn people about the dangers of drugs, Secularism, Materialism, and other forms of "worldliness," I have not had to spend much time addressing the specifics because when people surrender totally and their Old Man (inherent sinful nature, or inborn sinful attitude) is crucified with Christ, they love God with the whole heart, mind, soul, and strength, which is evidenced by wholehearted obedience to God.

Likewise, as I have seen people hold on to their Carnal Minds, I have seen an affinity for the passing pleasures, powers, prestige of the world, which cripples the believers and the churches, to which they are a part.

02/03/22 IT MEANS, DON'T SIN

02/03/22 IT MEANS, DON'T SIN

BE SURE TO READ THE PASSAGES

People often tell me that the Bible doesn't mean what it says when I share passages that tell us not to sin; passages that tell us to be righteous and to live righteously; passages that call us to obey God.
DID YOU SEE THAT? They tell me that the Bible doesn't mean what it says. Well, whatever those passages mean, they do not mean the opposite of what they say.
Whatever the Bible means when it tells us to NOT SIN, we know what it does not mean.

It does not mean to keep sinning, to continue in sin.
It does not mean that sinning is ever acceptable to God.
It does not mean that a person can be sinning and still be in a right relationship with God.
It does not mean that we can sin and be exempt from judgment.
It does not mean that we can sin and still be saved.
It does not mean that we can sin and still be born of God.

A passage can indeed be misinterpreted or misquoted or misapplied, but when the Bible says the same thing repeatedly, then we need to know what it does mean when it does say what it says, and we need to align with what it says.

If a person testifies to be saved, to be born again, to be elect, but that person is living in known sin; if that person is not walking in holiness, then that person is mocking the word of God and mocking the saving power of God.

These passages say what they mean and they mean what they say.
John 5:14
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
1 John 2:1-6
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1 John 3:3-10
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:6-7
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Romans 6:11-14
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:15-23
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:34
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

02/02/22 GOD'S PLAN.

02/02/22 GOD'S PLAN.
YOU CAN'T IMPROVE ON IT.
BUT YOU CAN GET IN ON IT.

God is seeking and saving the lost.
God calls us to be His disciples (followers and learners).
God expects us to be good and faithful servants.
God enables those who receive, believe on Him, to be His children.

Notice also what Jude said:
Jude 1:21
21 "Keep yourselves in the love of God,"
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

02/02/22 ALIGN WITH GOD

02/02/22 ALIGN WITH GOD

Psst, c'mere.
If you get into a fight with the devil, don't be shocked if he does not fight fair or if he takes advantage of your weaknesses. If you play games with him, don't be surprised if you lose it all, since he plays for keeps (as in "playing for all the marbles").

When it came to providing us with salvation, God did not hold back. HE GAVE HIS SON; HIS SON GAVE HIS LIFE. God does require human response to His salvation.

If I mean business with God:
I will repent,
I will confess,
I will believe,
I will follow,
I will love Him and
I will obey Him because I love Him.

Don't let anyone make you think that exercising your will in obedience to God is sinful or futile, or equate it will the five "I wills" of Lucifer.
His "I wills" (Isaiah 14:12-15) were diametrically opposed to the sovereign will and power of God.

Isaiah 14:12-15
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

TO WILL THE WILL OF GOD IS FAITH IN HIS SOVEREIGNTY
When a human exercises his will, in obedience to God's commands, it is an act of faith and submission.
It is not rebellion or dependence on human effort.
We are saved BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH. Faith in Christ is not a fleshly attempt to justify one's self. It is trust in God's salvation.

Remember (or realize for the first time), God designed humans to have and to exercise human will in submission to God.
Don't hold back on God.
Don't hold back on trusting God.
Don't hold back on obeying God.
Don't hold back on resisting the devil.

Make total commitment and follow through with it.
Probably most people fail at total commitment because they want to hold on to something that God wants them to turn loose.

Giving up something we love or want is disturbing.
It causes angst, disappointment, anger, resistance, rejection or it causes sorrow in the person who understands the cost of discipleship.
When a person is considering the cost, he weighs the loss.
During the time of cost counting, all of the parts of the human nature are involved; Reason, Desire, Emotion, Conscience, and Will.

Matthew 5:3-12
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

This is why Jesus said, in the Beatitudes, that the blessed are: those who realize their spiritual poverty, those who make the great sacrifice, those who humble themselves, those who are spiritually hungry.

To be conformed to the likeness of Christ (Righteous, Merciful, Pure, Conciliatory, and Willing To Die In Service To God) the person must be broken from self-dependence, self-gratifying, self-aggrandizing, self-serving. The way to victory is through the valley of self-denial.

Also, consider the path James gave to victory.
James 4:1-12
Enemies Of Spiritual Peace
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
The Cost Of Spiritual Peace
4 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.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
God Provides Deliverance
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

God's Directive
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Pay The Price
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Trust In God
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

The Way Of Peace
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Do you see it? We must come to the realization that our distance from God, the absence of God's power, purity, joy, purpose, and fulfillment in our lives is because we are not internally aligned with the eternal God.
God calls such self-orientation, spiritual adultery. God expects our total commitment and dependence on Himself.
To have another focus in our lives, rather than God Himself is seen as unfaithfulness, infidelity.
It is not simply a preference of loyalty, it is a rejection of the only One worthy of our devotion.
There is only One Who is our Creator and only One Who is our Savior. Flirtations with the world indicate hatred toward God.

Nonetheless, God seeks to woo us to Himself and He is ready to forgive and restore. His grace not only covers our multitude of sins, but His grace in us also changes our heart of selfish pursuit and enables us, enlivens us to love God and desire Him above all others.

A right attitude, a right relationship with God is evidenced and advanced by Submitting to God, Drawing close to God, which results in Cleansing the sinner (life, conscience, past), and Purifying the heart of the Double Minded.

This relationship of rightness, regeneration, redemption, restoration comes to the person with a contrite heart, the person in true repentance.

Salvation comes to the person who honestly faces his own sinfulness, his own unworthiness, and submits, draws near, cleanses his way, purifies his heart, humbles himself, recognizes his affliction, mourns his condition, exchanges surface joy for heart-wrenching misery.

Think about the condition associated with repentance and seeking God; spiritual bankruptcy, great sorrow, humility, great spiritual hunger, compassion, affliction, mourning, weeping, awareness of personal weakness.

Only as a person comes through the valley of self-denial, death to self, the world, and sin will God lift them up.

02/02/22 GET FULLY EQUIPPED

02/02/22 GET FULLY EQUIPPED

Scholarly investigation is essential and helpful for Bible translation and interpretation. However, this does not mean that the average Christ-follower needs to become expert in these areas, anymore than the average believer needs to translate the Bible.

Sound Christian leadership requires spiritual and academic integrity. This includes expert Biblical translators; well-trained educators and writers of Bible, Theology, and History; highly trained, studious pastors. Christians should have spiritually qualified, well-equipped, and gifted leadership, teaching them God's word, God's way, and God's will. This will enable the average believer to grow in grace and knowledge, thereby becoming a faithful and fit follower of Christ.

Becoming a qualified pastor can happen in a local church, provided the local church provides leadership training of the highest caliber. Schooling will supply the tools but the student pastor must dig out the gems of truth himself. Ministry Training, whether formal or through a local church, enables pastoral students to become studious and equipped to lead believers into spiritual maturity and productivity.

It is getting more difficult to find mature, qualified, spiritual, knowledgeable pastoral leadership. Very few of the Christian schools have remained faithful to their calling and task and most pastors have not taken seriously, their calling to feed, lead, protect and train their people in ministry and service.

A FEW PASSAGES TO CONSIDER
Proverbs 4:5-9
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
1 Timothy 4:12-16
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Jude 1:3-5
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

02/01/22 BEWARE OF FALSE APOSTLES

02/01/22 BEWARE OF FALSE APOSTLES

Be Biblical in your thoughts, words, and deeds.
To ensure these three things, you must be totally dedicated to studying, accepting, and following God's revelation. There is a place for tradition in the Christian experience, but not when it contradicts Biblical revelation.

Thoughts and words are interdependent.
We cannot think clearly or broadly without an adequate vocabulary and we cannot communicate without orderly thinking. This is especially true when dealing with technical writing or speaking, and it is especially important when we are writing or speaking Biblical truth.
We must let God's word direct our thoughts and determine our speech.
We must use God's words to express God's thoughts. Otherwise, we will change God's message if we change God's words or change God's meaning. The process is more complex since we must use Scripture that has been translated into our language. Even though we may not be trained linguists, we must make certain that we are studying the word of God, as close to its original form as possible.

When our terms are extra-Biblical or our definitions of Biblical words are not what God intended, then our thinking and our behavior will not agree with God.

Faulty interpretation, faulty translation is the catalyst, which leads well-meaning Christians into aberrant beliefs and behavior. This becomes the faulty foundation upon which cultism stands.

For instance, God told us that He miraculously communicated His word through apostles and prophets. They were Divinely chosen, thoroughly equipped, infallibly led, and instructed to record God's word, as given to them by the Holy Spirit. There are no present-day apostles or prophets who meet Biblical criteria. And remember, to be a New Testament apostle, a person was required to be an eyewitness of the physically resurrected Christ. There is no such thing as a Biblical apostle today.

To claim to be an apostle is to claim the same gifts, calling, leading, and Divine inspiration as that of the New Testament apostles. Cults, like Mormons (LDS), Watchtower (JW), Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), Word of Faith (WOF), and other New Age Charismatics claim to get revelations from God that are equal to and as authoritative as The Holy Bible, as does the Roman Catholic Religion.

Don't allow traditions or culture or anything else to define God's word or His words.
Be a stickler for Biblical accuracy.
If you start compromising God's revelation you are opposing the revelation of God.
Lies are being fed to the people of God because they don't believe lies are being packaged as truth.

01/31/22 INTROS TO GENESIS

01/31/22 INTROS TO GENESIS

There are a lot of very good outlines of the book of Genesis. However, God made it simple and clear by introducing ten specific sections by designating the sections with, "These are the generations of..."
1. Genesis 2:4
(4) These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
2. Genesis 5:1
(1) This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
3. Genesis 6:9
(9) These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
4. Genesis 10:1
(1) Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
5. Genesis 11:10
(10) These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
6. Genesis 11:27
(27) Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
7. Genesis 25:12
(12) Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
8. Genesis 25:19
(19) And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:
9. Genesis 36:1
(1) Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
10. Genesis 37:2
(2) These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

This outline is not only an overview of the Book of Genesis or the historical origin of God's chosen people, it is also an introduction to the plan of God for salvation and an introduction to the chaotic world that has developed since the beginning.

I saw an outline that referred to four sections of the book of Genesis as Four Books. I saw some value in that outline, but I thought about it and present my own outline, through the idea of Five Sections.

We need to be careful not to misunderstand, misinterpret or misrepresent the meaning or message of the Holy Bible. Even when we understand a Biblical truth, we should not label our insight or explanation as Divine revelation or Divine inspiration. Only God's word is infallible. This little outline is not intended as Divine revelation to the book of Genesis, but it might help us see the congruity of the record with the message of salvation.

Remember, Paul said that God uses the Old Testament to instruct New Testament believers in God's salvation.
1 Corinthians 10:11
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

This is actually seen in the New Testament when Paul referred to the relationships and interactions of Isaac and Ishmael, and Jacob and Esau.

The book of Genesis shows us:
The Origin, Nature, and Condition of man (Eden to Babel; 1 to 11);
God's Plan of Salvation (The Promised Seed, beginning in 3:15);
The Life of Faith (Abraham; 12 to 25);
The Life of Internal Conflict (Isaac vs Jacob; Jacob vs Esau; 26 to 35)
The Life of Victory (Joseph; 37 to 50).

ADDENDUM
I separated this comment from the main post because this is more of a personal view. It might be helpful in remembering and understanding the Genesis narrative. I do not claim that this note is an actual, Divine Type. Bible "Types," have Biblical authority. We must be careful not to overrate our observations as Divine revelations. My comment simply points out that in the lives of the Patriarchs there was conflict, and in the life of New Testament believers there is conflict. Internal conflict always comes because of corrupted hearts, and sometimes it is the corrupted heart of a believer. This is why I included this view in Section Four of my outline.

I see these five sections as addressing;
Section One.
The Origin, Nature, and Condition of Lost Man Today
(Created by God, corrupted by sin).
Section Two
God's provision for salvation (The Promised Seed is Jesus)
Section Three
Faith as the way of salvation (As with Abraham, we are
god's children by faith and we live by faith).
Section Four
Internal struggle with carnality (As there was an internal conflict in Abraham's linage, there is internal strife within a believer).
Section Five
The victorious life of submission (Joseph was faithful in times of trouble).

As I said, my outline is just a tool to help us remember the Genesis narrative. It might also help us see the overall message of salvation. My outline is basically a human understanding. However, the Genesis account is actual history and theology, and the points of my outline are true to the life of believers. Though the conflict between Isaac and Ishmael, and the conflict between Jacob and Esau clearly refer to the Messianic linage of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the conflict between them also is seen in the spiritual conflict of the flesh and the spirit of New Testament believers.

01/31/22 BEWARE THE PSEUDO INTELLIGENTSIA

01/31/22 BEWARE THE PSEUDO INTELLIGENTSIA

I recently listened to an interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Do you remember the really smart kids in school (you know, like out-of-this-world-smart)?
Do you remember that in the middle of their ocean of intellect there were little volcanic islands of total disconnect from reality?
Do you remember that when they were wrong about something (I mean REALLY WRONG), it was impossible to get them to see the obvious, the actual, the real, the true and they spewed their angry errors like magma from a volcanic cesspool?

Those kids grow up to be highly esteemed leaders. Then they are able to spew whatever errors they believe, without fear of contradiction, at least from the intellectual morons who make up the rank and file of society.

On more than one occasion I have heard Tyson build his arguments on erroneous foundations. His mistakes are obvious contradictions of historic, scientific facts, but his commitment to his mistakes is based on a predisposition to attack that which he does not believe to be true (such as the existence of God and the reliability of Scripture and the reality of spiritual truths.

Sometimes the attitude, if not the intellectual prowess, is seen in religious leaders. In the sea of truth they have islands of error, major error, damnable error. But because people are impressed with human accomplishment and humanistic academia more than Divine revelation, "Academia's" mass of spiritual pollution is ignored and accepted by the masses as though it is truth.

People are ever learning but never come to the knowledge of the truth.
People love worldly wisdom, demonic wisdom, earthly wisdom but hate Divine wisdom.

01/31/22 DON'T GET BOGGED DOWN IN THE MARSH

01/31/22 DON'T GET BOGGED DOWN IN THE MARSH

Even my short posts or videos are usually longer than I want them to be. My problem is, I can usually explain an idea clearly and concisely, but I have encountered so many people through the years who can't see the open waters of truth because they choose to get hung up in the marsh of the incidental or bogged down in the mire of human invention.

Therefore I try to share enough truth to help them escape the traps of misdirection. If they would only accept the greater truths they would be able to better navigate the dangers of narrow sloughs and muddy thinking, thus making it to better waters and better sailing.