It is often remarked that man by nature is a social animal. Such remark can delude you into thinking that you cannot live or survive without your acquaintances. Otherwise if the people you think you can't live your life without turn their back on you or come out in their true colours one way or the other, what are you going to do? You are not going to pull the plug on yourself, are you? You are not going to allow whatever attitude or gesture anybody come up with to have an adverse effect on your destiny and future, are you?
Human being by nature is unpredictable and quite inconsistent. People do take unfair advantage of the fact that human beings are social animal to come up with attitudes and gestures that are capable of disorienting their fellow men psychologically. Have you ever experienced being at the receiving end of conspiracy, vicious allegations, hatred, discrimination, excommunication, ostracism, malicious or envious utterances or conduct, etc? And to think that more often than not, the individuals at the giving end are usually people you have probably delude yourself into thinking you can't live your life without. Believe me, friend, the only One you can't live your life without is Jehovah God. No matter how close you are to any human being, there is no relationship that can rival the one you have with the LORD. Hopefully you have one with Him. If not, you'd better start considering establishing a relationship with the LORD. If anything goes wrong or if the unexpected happens, you will at least have a lifeline. Otherwise, consider yourself roasted in the oven of life.
Avoid putting all your eggs in one basket. But if you see the need to put all your eggs in one basket (at one time or the other, we all identify such need), make sure that basket is in the hands of God. Your life, destiny and future stands a better chance when you put all your eggs in one basket, and realise that that basket is in the hands of the LORD. Keep these sayings in mind because one day you may look back and recollect them. Then will you realise that hindsight indeed explains what a good foresight could have prevented. Half a word is enough for the wise. As mentioned earlier, the only One you can't live your life without is Jehovah God. Which leads us to the next stage in this writing where the epithets of Jehovah God will be delved into as the Spirit of the Lord opens our eyes of understanding.
We generally refer to Him as God. He is JEHOVAH the Almighty. He is the Most High God. He is the all-knowing (infinite in knowledge and wisdom) God. He is also omnipresent (able to maintain His presence everywhere at all times at the same time) and omnipotent (infinite in power; all-powerful). He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His characteristics are often concealed (or revealed, as the case may be) in some of His epithets that are scattered through the scriptures.
ELOHIYM / EL ELOHEY - The Great and Mighty Supreme God
In the eternal past, EL ELOHI (The Almighty God) created the heavens and the earth. EL ELOHI is the name that deals with power and strength. The name ELOHI is connected to the angelic sons of God than to the saints. EL ELOHI is the name of act of power. EL ELOHI proved and justified the connotation of His epithet through the spellbinding moves that characterize the process of creation. Genesis chapter 1 contain an account of creation:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 And God saw that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." Together these made up one day.
6 And God said, "Let there be space between the waters, to separate water from water." 7 And so it was. God made this space to separate the waters above from the waters below. 8 And God called the space "sky." This happened on the second day.
9 And God said, "Let the waters beneath the sky be gathered into one place so dry ground may appear." And so it was. 10 God named the dry ground "land" and the water "seas." And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, "Let the land burst forth with every sort of grass and seed-bearing plant. And let there be trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. The seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came." And so it was. 12 The land was filled with seed-bearing plants and trees, and their seeds produced plants and trees of like kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 This all happened on the third day.
14 And God said, "Let bright lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. They will be signs to mark off the seasons, the days, and the years. 15 Let their light shine down upon the earth." And so it was. (Genesis 1:1-15 NLT)
1 In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. (John 1:1-3 NLT)
In the process of creation, the Father is the commander. The son is the doer. The Holy Ghost is not just the source of the power to make it happen as He commanded; He is the power.
God did not just create man. Rather, he took created dust and moulded it into the shape of man. This is referred to as the body. Then He breathed into it for it to become a living soul.
7 And the LORD God formed a man's body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And the man became a living person. (Gen 2:7 New Living Translation - NLT)
The Lord God stated in Gen 3:19 NLT concerning mankind:
All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day. Then you will return to the ground from which you came. For you were made from dust, and to the dust you will return."
But that is not the end of the story. "For you were made from dust, and to the dust you will return" only applies to the body that was formed from dust. Don't forget the component of man's existence that made it a living person - the soul. Man has something of God in his being. Because God the Eternal Being breathed into him, this makes mankind eternal in its existence. This is highlighted in the following scripture passages:
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 That is why we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So our aim is to please him always, whether we are here in this body or away from this body. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 5:6-10 NLT)
28 "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28 NLT)
God did not look like us; we look like Him for we are created in His image
26 Then God said, "Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all lifethe fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals."
27 So God created people in his own image;
God patterned them after himself;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals." (Gen 1:26-28 NLT)
Before the woman was created, man was lonely but not alone for God was his friend and companion. The following scripture gave an insight into the kind and level of interaction / relationship God has with man. Adam actually fraternized with God like a mate / soul mate. It also shows how high the 'Adamic' office is in terms of the authority and power vested in it by the Most High God.
19 So the LORD God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one. (Genesis 2:19 NLT)
Did I just read that "He (the Most High God) brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one"? No kidding! That is some office / status that is enough to make an archangel blink.
Lucifer is one of the archangels in God's hierarchy of angelic sons. His fall earned him the title Satan. When he fell, he lost his esteemed position among the angelic sons of God. Satan lost his esteemed status before the Most High God. Here is a relevant excerpt from the topic FOR THE LORD HAS DONE MARVELOUS THINGS:
Needless to say, Satan is a nasty piece of work. He is a sadist and a loser. He lost an esteemed position among the angelic sons of God. With His awesome power, Jehovah God quelled the rebellion led by the devil. The Most High God proved His immeasurable and unmatchable superiority by banishing him from His presence.
7 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and the angels under his command fought the dragon and his angels. 8 And the dragon lost the battle and was forced out of heaven. 9 This great dragon - the ancient serpent called the Devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world - was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. 10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It has happened at last - the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ! For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth - the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night. 11 And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. ............. (Revelation 12:7-11 NLT)
We are not fighting an enemy (Satan) with a mere angelic status; rather one with usurped Adamic office. It should be noted however that Satan is not to be underestimated. Even after his fall, he still possesses some of the powers he had originally as can be deduced from the following scripture verses:
12 "All right, you may test him," the LORD said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So Satan left the LORD's presence......... 15 when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. ......." 17 .......... "Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. ......" 19 ........ The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. .........." (Job 1:12,15,16,17,19 NLT)
6 "All right, do with him as you please," the LORD said to Satan. "But spare his life." 7 So Satan left the LORD's presence, and he struck Job with a terrible case of boils from head to foot.......... (Job 2:6-7 NLT)
(Please note that even though Satan has some power, his power is limited and subject to the authority and ratification of the Most High God. This is quite obvious in the scope of operation the Lord permitted him when he targeted Job.)
......... But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud. (2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT)
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. (Zechariah 3:1 NKJV)
However, Satan can be subdued, defeated and conquered by using the powers God put at our disposal.
3 We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. 4 We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. 5 With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NLT)
4 For our weapons of warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 New King James Version - NKJV)
Even archangels cannot rebuke Satan because he gained an even higher office - Adamic. Mind you, Adam (man) was only a little lower than EL ELOHI - see the wide range of authority God gave him over His creation in the Garden of Eden:
The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. (Gen 2:15 NLT)
God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals." (Gen 1:28 NLT)
19 So the LORD God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one. (Genesis 2:19 NLT)
It was this Adamic office Satan cunningly usurped in Genesis chapter 3. As mentioned earlier, even archangels (who are considered higher in status than an average angel) cannot rebuke Satan; only Jehovah God can.
9 But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse Satan of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you." (This took place when Michael was arguing with Satan about Moses' body.) (Jude 9 NLT)
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! ........ (Zechariah 3:1,2 NKJV)
But Jesus - the second Adam - has shattered the Adamic power / office usurped by Satan, and took the saints to a level with God even higher than that that was originally ascribed to both the Adamic and angelic offices. Hence, we are able to sit with God in the high heavenly places.
1 Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. ........ (Ephesians 2:1,2 NLT)
6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realmsall because we are one with Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6 NLT)
5 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8 And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ......... 26 He came once for all time, at the end of the age, to remove the power of sin forever by his sacrificial death for us (Philippians 2:5-11,26 NLT)
14 Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2:1415 NKJV).
But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would never have crucified our glorious Lord (1 Corinthians 2:8 NLT).
19 I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. 22 And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence. (Ephesians 1:19-23 NLT)
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18 NLT)
18 "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning! 19 And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. (Luke 10:18-19 NLT)
12 "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, .......... (John 14:12 NLT)
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, ........ (Romans 8:16,17 NKJV)
As mentioned earlier, the original Adam (in the Old Testament) lost the office vested in him. We will read more about this shortly. But Jesus - the second Adam (in the New Testament context) - took the people of God to a level even higher than that that was originally ascribed to both Adamic and angelic offices.
When Adam fell, he lost the glory of God that clothed him and became 'naked'. The nakedness Adam and Eve felt was not in terms of physical nakedness as in nudity. After all, they had existed long enough to be accustomed to their outward physical appearance. Up till the point that they ate the forbidden fruit, their environment was saturated with the glory of God. It was like some sort of aura around them. Satan noted something similar in the life of Job when he went before God to accuse him:
"Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, ......." (Job 1:10 NKJV)
In case anyone is wondering what the big deal is about having or loosing the glory of the Lord, the following scriptures gives an insight:
1 When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not even enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. (2 Chronicles 7:1-2 NLT)
11 The priests could not continue their work because the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. (1 Kings 8:11 NLT)
1 Even the wilderness will rejoice in those days. The desert will blossom with flowers. 2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel's pastures and the plain of Sharon. There the LORD will display his glory, the splendor of our God. (Isaiah 35:1-2 NLT)
13 ...... Samuel took the olive oil he had brought and poured it on David's head. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him from that day on....... 18 ...... and the LORD is with him."
14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. .......... 23 And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away. (1 Samuel 16:13,18,14,23 NLT)
It's that significant? YES, it is!
So you have an idea what Adam and Eve felt when after all the time they've spent in God's garden, they 'mysteriously' realised that they were 'naked'. It has little to do with what they did not have on; it had a lot to do with what was taken away. David must have perceived this spiritual phenomenon and its significance when he pleaded with the Lord: "Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalms 51:11 NLT)
Such is the power in the prevailing presence of the Lord's glory that when the LORD God brought every kind of animal and bird (including the wild animals) to Adam to see what he would call them, none of them even had the notion of attacking him! Adam chose a name for each one - lion, elephant, tiger, dove, squirrel, horse, camel, donkey and a host of others - and lived to tell the story. Ever wondered what kind of scenario we are talking about here?
6 In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard and the goat will be at peace. Calves and yearlings will be safe among lions, and a little child will lead them all. 7 The cattle will graze among bears. Cubs and calves will lie down together. And lions will eat grass as the livestock do. 8 Babies will crawl safely among poisonous snakes. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes and pull it out unharmed. 9 Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain......... (Isaiah 11:6-9 NLT)
Such is the powerful and overriding effect of the glory of the Lord. Daniel experienced something in that respect when he found himself in the lion's den (Daniel 6:18-23).
Despite the fallen state of mankind, God JEHOVAH came looking for him. Such is the level of intimacy / friendship that existed between God and man.
8 Toward evening they heard the LORD God walking about in the garden, so they hid themselves among the trees. 9 The LORD God called to Adam, "Where are you?"
10 He replied, "I heard you, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked."
11 "Who told you that you were naked?" the LORD God asked. "Have you eaten the fruit I commanded you not to eat?" (Genesis 3:8-11 NLT)
In the Old Testament, JEHOVAH God came looking for man in his fallen state. He was later to re-enact this gesture of friendship in the New Testament when He came in the person of His son Jesus Christ (also known as Immanuel "which is translated, "God with us"" (Matthew 1:23 NKJV). He came to bring salvation and restore man back to God. He came looking for sinners like you and I so that the gap between God and man can be bridged. This was mentioned earlier in this writing.
Let's go back again to Adam and Eve.
6 The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too. 7 At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they strung fig leaves together around their hips to cover themselves. (Genesis 3:6-7 NLT)
Can you recollect the Lord God's instruction to Adam?
15 The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. 16 But the LORD God gave him this warning: "You may freely eat any fruit in the garden 17 except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die." (Genesis 2:15-17 NLT)
4 "You won't die!" the serpent hissed.
5 "God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil." (Genesis 3:4-5 NLT)
At the point when their eyes opened, they attained a status that seems 'high' and 'great' (or so their 'friend' the serpent wanted them to think). "You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil." As 'cool' or 'awesome' as that might have sounded, it was not entirely a brilliant idea. In fact, it was not a good idea at all.
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts." (Proverbs 21:2 NKJV)
"There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death" (Proverbs 14:12 NLT).
"You may think that everything you do is right, but remember that the LORD judges your motives." (Proverbs 21:2 GNB)
"Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:17 NKJV)
Attaining such 'lofty' status as mentioned by the serpent was totally out of line with the will of God for them and the entire human race. Up till the point when the forbidden fruit was eaten, mankind was in a perfect state. It was a state that was perfectly laid out by God. Nothing could possibly go wrong as far as God's established plan is concerned. It was an age of innocence. Without the knowledge of good and evil - like God - mankind cannot be held accountable for its actions. This is because whatever he / she does would be considered as being done out of the innocence of the heart. It's a child-like state. Remember what Jesus mentioned in Mark 10:13-16:
13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. 14 But when Jesus saw what was happening, he was very displeased with his disciples. He said to them, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God." 16 Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16 NLT)
This child-like state is ideal in the sense that it allows God to relate with man in such a manner that will maximize the blessing (and not a curse) of the Lord on humanity. Now you see why the Garden of God is such an ideal environment. God is totally responsible for their well-being. There was no satanic hurdle getting in the way of the relationship God has established with man. God fraternized with man the way a mother readily, easily and naturally relate to a child that is just few weeks / few months old. There was an invisible and inseparable bond between God and man. I refer you once again to the scripture verse in Genesis 2:19 NLT:
So the LORD God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam (like a parent bringing a toy to a baby cooing innocently in his crib to the delight of the parent) to see what he would call them, and Adam (not God) chose a name for each one.
Parents with children will most likely understand / appreciate how wonderful the bond and the feeling is in such a situation.
When man took the 'fatal' bite of the forbidden fruit, we unceremoniously kissed goodbye to that state / estate. We pushed our one and only Ally away. Imagine a child falling out of favour with the One who is the source of all that the child stands for and will ever be. Remember, it is the breath of God that makes us living souls. Mankind wound up in the hands of a bad 'babysitter' - Satan. We opted for the custody of a nasty piece of work who cleverly disguised his true identity by parading himself as an angel of light who is out for the 'best' interest of mankind. As a result of the outcome of the 'custody battle', we lost everything that we had hitherto been enjoying and taking for granted all along. We did not realise how significant it was until it was taken away from us. Not only did we lose what we had thus far, we also forfeited the wonderful plan that God had mapped out for mankind from the beginning for the future. Even worse, we became potential candidate of that hideous place "where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44 NKJV). Originally, this was not meant to be. Hell was originally intended for disobedient / fallen angels. How sad. We got what we want only to realize that it cost us what we really need. Some sort of dissonance was introduced to God's plan. Things went downhill for mankind from that moment onwards. Out of concern that they might further jeopardize His order of creation, He exercised judgment as regards their stay in the paradise He had created for them. After all, hindsight explains what a good foresight could have prevented. Who can question the Lord's logic?
22 Then the LORD God said, "The people have become as we are, knowing everything, both good and evil. What if they eat the fruit of the tree of life? Then they will live forever!" 23 So the LORD God banished Adam and his wife from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After banishing them from the garden, the LORD God stationed mighty angelic beings to the east of Eden. And a flaming sword flashed back and forth, guarding the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24 NLT)
This move on God's part was deemed necessary as it clearly demonstrated how serious He is about the way things are structured in His universe. Remember, what happened to Satan as mentioned earlier under the excerpt culled from the topic FOR THE LORD HAS DONE MARVELOUS THINGS? Our Lord is a God of order. Remember in Genesis chapter 1, we read an account of creation and restoration of order and structure in an earth that hitherto "was without form, and void; and darkness" prevailed (Genesis 1:2 NKJV). So structured and orderly is our God that in the course of creation He did not move on to the next step without first making sure that "And God saw that it was good" (Gen 1:10,12,18,21,25,31 NKJV). Everything that was created was designated the appropriate place in creation. There was no mistake or peradventure. With this backdrop, you can imagine why the Lord gave Adam the warning / instruction, and why He felt He had no choice but to ask them to leave the garden when it was flouted. What happened from the moment they took a bite at the forbidden fruit was not part of God's plan for mankind. The universal social order that the Lord established received a serious jolt, and humanity paid a heavy price for it. While one may feel sorry for Adam and Eve, imagine how hurt the Lord who set everything in place was. As much as one might have wished otherwise, a curse was placed on the serpent and the land. Hitherto, the prevailing presence of the Lord's glory had fostered a very favourable circumstance that is conducive to a lifestyle of ease and comfort in the garden. In the absence of the prevailing presence of the Lord's glory, however, the man and the woman were informed of the ordeal that lied ahead of them and their descendants (Genesis 3:16-19). Simply put, life has not been the same for mankind since then. How sad.
Things might have been different if Adam (who God gave the instruction) had cast his fate and that of his wife at the Lord's mercy. You will recollect that
8 Toward evening they heard the LORD God walking about in the garden, so they hid themselves among the trees. 9 The LORD God called to Adam, "Where are you?"
10 He replied, "I heard you, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked."
11 "Who told you that you were naked?" the LORD God asked. "Have you eaten the fruit I commanded you not to eat?" (Genesis 3:8-11 NLT)
And what was Adam's response?
12 "Yes," Adam admitted, "but it was the woman you gave me who brought me the fruit, and I ate it." (Genesis 3:12 NLT)
That's it? Anything else? No? That's it? Hmm. Well, let's see if the woman could fare any better.
13 Then the LORD God asked the woman, "How could you do such a thing?"
"The serpent tricked me," she replied. "That's why I ate it." (Genesis 3:13 NLT)
Okay. That's it? That's it? Hmm.
A prayer / plea / response similar to the one offered by Nehemiah would most likely have produced a far less harrowing end result:
4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I said, "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people ....... I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, laws, and regulations that you gave us ........
8 "Please remember what you told your servant .....: 'If you sin, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and obey my commands, even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.' (Nehemiah 1:4-9 NLT)
After the fall of man, Adam and Eve gave birth to Cain. Later, Abel came along. When they grew up, Cain became a farmer while his younger brother Abel became a shepherd. As time went by, Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the field to the Lord. Abel likewise brought the firstborn of his flock and of their fat as an offering. Whereas the Lord respected the offering of Abel, He did not respect that of Cain (Gen 4:1-4). Cain knew Abel's sacrifice was accepted because fire came down from heaven and consumed Abel's sacrifice. This infuriated the older brother. Rather than look inwards and deal with the issue in his own life as identified by the Lord in Genesis 4:6-7, Cain decided to attack and kill Abel, an innocent man.
But the LORD said, "What have you done? Listen - your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground! (Gen 4:10 NLT)
Abel has nothing to do with God's refusal of Cain's offering. Yet, he bore the brunt of it - the same way the Lord Jesus drank the cup of God's wrath to the last dreg on the cross of Calvary. He took our place and bore the brunt of God's wrath and punishment so that you and I may have eternal life. Like Abel, the blood of an innocent soul was shed. Jesus' precious blood was shed in order to restore us back to God. Hallelujah!
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! ........ (1 John 3:1 NKJV)
1 See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don't know God, so they don't understand that we are his children. 2 Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. (1 John 3:1-2 NLT)
Even if we make a mistake and slip into sin, we have a chance to get right with God and continue our journey as though we've never been derailed. How so? We have "Jesus Christ the righteous" as our "Advocate with the Father". He is always on the right hand of the Father interceding for us and favourably pleading our case before God (Mark 14:62; Acts 7:55-56; Hebrews 10:12). All we need to do when we fall into sin / backslide is to confess our sins with genuine remorse, ask for forgiveness from the Father, plead the precious blood that Christ shed for us, and "repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance" (Acts 26:20 NKJV). And we are back on track again.
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation of our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2 NKJV)
1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely. 2 He is the sacrifice for our sins. He takes away not only our sins but the sins of all the world. (1 John 2:1-2 NLT)
14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:14 NLT)
Indeed, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us"! We are so fortunate. Can you perceive how vast the grace we have at our disposal? If only the angels - especially the fallen ones - could say the same.
4 For God did not spare even the angels when they sinned; he threw them into hell, in gloomy caves and darkness until the judgment day. (2 Peter 2:4 NLT)
6 And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the day of judgment. (Jude 6)
We all know that Jesus came to help the descendants of Abraham, not to help the angels. (Hebrews 2:16 NLT)
....... For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10 NKJV).
YEHOVAH - the self-Existent One or Eternal Lord. JEHOVAH is the covenant name. The name JEHOVAH signifies a huge difference between merely knowing God in a historical or scholarly context, and knowing him closely like a friend and companion.
2 And God continued, "I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, though I did not reveal my name, the LORD, to them. 4 And I entered into a solemn covenant with them. ....... (Exodus 6:2-4 NLT)
14 You must worship no other gods, but only the LORD, for he is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you. (Exodus 34:14 NLT)
(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God) (Exodus 34:14 NKJV )
EL SHADDAI - The Almighty God
SHADDAY - The Almighty
In order to fully know and understand God as the EL SHADDAI, one needs to see things from His point of view by faith. When God promised Abram lots of things, he feared because he does not even have a child that can make the promise of God look real. But God brought him out of his tent to see stars. This is expounded on under the topic OF FAITH, WORKS AND GOOD DEEDS. It's hard for EL SHADDAI to supply your needs if you are filled with fear. Abram became Abraham when his eyes (perspective) were changed. You don't say "No" to God when your old man is dead. It is no wonder Abraham didn't say "No" but "Yes" to God when He required the sacrifice of His son on the mount of Moriah (mount of provision). We'll talk more about this later in this writing under Jehovah JIREH.
Another biblical character whose situation is identical to that of Abraham is the disciple formerly known as Simon. His brother Andrew introduced him to Jesus. Simon means reed. It later became Peter. Peter means stone or rock.
Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, "You are Simon, the son of Johnbut you will be called Cephas" (which means Peter). (John 1:42 NLT)
17 Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell (or the gates of Hades) will not conquer it. (Matthew 16:17-18 NLT)
Peter's ability to correctly identify Jesus was certainly not by "words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, .......... (1 Corinthians 2:13 NKJV). It is a product of revelation knowledge.
Revelation / revelation knowledge - just like effective intercession - is one aspect of the ministry that is desirable and nice to have. But it is not without cost. It will cost you everything you've got. A significant portion of your time, devotion and lifestyle will be demanded or 'tithed'. Constant prayer especially of praise and worship is imperative. More on praise and worship can be found under the topics PRAISE AND WORSHIP and THANKSGIVING and THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Occasional fasting (be it as a habit or as occasion demands) will be needed as well. Just as tithing is not limited to financial resources, fasting is not limited to abstinence from food only. Fasting may take the form of abstinence from certain pleasures of the flesh for a period of time in order to spend time in His presence and seek His face. Of course, Jesus knows the significance of this:
18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; ......... 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:18-20,21 NKJV)
Now back to Peter - the man with the 'rocky' name. After his name was changed to Peter, Jesus called him by his old name when he caught him sleeping. Or to put it another way, he was caught napping spiritually. He had his guards down.
37 Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. "Simon!" he said to Peter. "Are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour? 38 Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak."
39 Then Jesus left them again and prayed, repeating his pleadings. 40 Again he returned to them and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open. And they didn't know what to say.
41 When he returned to them the third time, he said, "Still sleeping? Still resting? Enough! ....... (Mark 14:37-41 NLT)
Old name deals with the old man and its inherent nature. The way of out of sleep (spiritual) is prayer.
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (Colossians 4:2 NLT)
Another occasion when Peter was reminded of his old nature was shortly after Jesus resurrected and he went looking for him and his colleagues by the Sea of Tiberias (John chapter 21). When he found them, the Lord demonstrated that his awesome power as a leader, guardian and mentor is still as sharp and spellbinding as ever. He had the last word in a long night of boredom and frustration that was the fishing expedition of some his disciples. Just when the boys were about to call it a night after catching a whole lot of nothing, the Lord Jesus stepped into the picture and told them what to do. Their compliance resulted in fishes of uncanny sizes and quantity mysteriously / miraculously finding their way into the net - all in one haul! The unprecedented harvest of fishes left the disciples speechless. As if the Master's resurrection from the dead, and his appearing and disappearing in several places afterwards is not spellbinding enough. Further reading can be found under A FISHY STORY ABOUT DIRECTIONS. I hope you can recollect what Jesus had told Peter shortly after he met him: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthews 4:19 NKJV)
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers - Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew - fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. 19 Jesus called out to them, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!" 20 And they left their nets at once and went with him. (Matthews 4:18-20 NLT)
Formerly, his name was Simon. Remember him? Simon - the old man with the old nature - the fisherman. His new calling earned him the name Peter. When Jesus was arrested, he denied His Master thrice before slipping into hiding with the rest of the disciples who were gripped with the fear of being dealt the same fate that befell the Lord. To further highlight how much Peter had slipped / backs lidded, he returned to fishing. Which begs the question? Who was that person who was told: "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!" Anyway, Jesus decided to give Simon - I mean, Peter - a wake up call.
15 After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon (not Peter) son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you."
"Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: "Simon (not Peter) son of John, do you love me?"
"Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you."
"Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.
17 Once more he asked him, "Simon (not Peter) son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you."
Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17 NLT)
Three times he had denied the Lord (Matthew 26:69-75). Three times the Lord called him to order (John 21:15-17 NLT). He referred to him by his old name that reminded him of his old nature. Thrice he heard the voice of He who had renamed him Peter (rock). Jesus seemed to be confronting him with the reality of his current situation: If your name is Peter (rock), why are you acting like a reed (Simon)? You seemed to have forgotten your calling. Well, here is a reminder: "Then feed my lambs"; "Then take care of my sheep". You are going back fishing quite all right. You are going back "to fish for people!"
As it turned out, our friend Peter (who had earlier denied the Lord out of fear) later on emerged in Acts chapter 2 - full of Holy Ghost and boldness. He preached what has been dubbed the first sermon in an evangelical crusade in the history of the church. When he cast his net that day, three thousand souls were brought into the kingdom - all in one haul! (Acts 2:41) All to the glory of the Master. Related reading can be found under BIBLE QUIZ 5.
ADONAI (ADONAY) My God the master.
ADON The sovereign ruler. The divine Controller, Master, and Owner
Abram could not refer to Him as ADONAI until his name was changed to Abraham. The establishing of a new covenant as well as the opening of a new chapter in Abraham's life is mentioned under the topic OF AGENDA AND THE HOLY SPIRIT:
Remember the fellow called Abram whose name was changed by God to Abraham? The difference between 'Abram' and 'Abraham' is that the latter cannot argue with God. Abraham is God's 'yes-man'. It is not that he did not have the free will to go against God's will. It just happened that he was a 'new' creature in God. The spirit in him had been renewed. Hence, he was keen on the things of God than anything else. He was willing to go all the way for God - and beyond. He was willing to go beyond the call of duty for God. You can't expect the same from him when he was Abram. Here is a hint of what is being pointed out:
"But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it" (Numbers 14:24 New King James Version - NKJV). For more on "My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully", click on OF INDIVIDUALS AND ATTITUDE.
Abraham will say 'Yes' to anything God tells him including taking his only son Isaac - the promised child - out to be offered as sacrifice. As hard and uncomfortable as this expectation was, Abraham did not object. He obliged. Mr The-Spirit-Leads-I-follow.
He began to see visions when his name was changed to Abraham.
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him ........ 3 ...... Abram fell face down in the dust. Then God said to him, ....... 5 What's more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram; now you will be known as Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 6 I will give you millions of descendants who will represent many nations. Kings will be among them! 7 "I will continue this everlasting covenant between us, generation after generation. It will continue between me and your offspring forever. And I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you .......... 15 Then God added, "Regarding Sarai, your wife - her name will no longer be Sarai; from now on you will call her Sarah. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings will be among her descendants!" (Genesis 17:1,3,5,7,15-16 NLT)
10 And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." ........... 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. (Genesis 18:10-11 NKJV)
1 Then the LORD did exactly what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant, and she gave a son to Abraham in his old age. It all happened at the time God had said it would.......... 5 Abraham was one hundred years old at the time. (Genesis 21:1-2,5 NLT)
God may give you promise in the old man but it cannot come to pass until the old man dies.
God did not give revelations to Abram, rather to Abraham who has come to know him as Jehovah ADONAI.
17 "Should I hide my plan from Abraham?" the LORD asked (rhetorical question) ........... 20 So the LORD told Abraham, "I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are extremely evil, and that everything they do is wicked. 21 I am going down to see whether or not these reports are true. Then I will know." (Genesis 18:17,20-21 NLT)
The Lord disclosed / discussed His plan of impending judgment / destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to him like a Boss having a discussion with His personal assistant over lunch! (Remember the kind of relationship man had with God in the Garden of Eden?) The Master pulled out the classified file on the action plans regarding Sodom and Gomorrah and even allowed Abraham some latitude of space to manoeuvre at the negotiation table.
22 The two other men went on toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham for a while. 23 Abraham approached him and said, "Will you destroy both innocent and guilty alike? 24 Suppose you find fifty innocent people there within the citywill you still destroy it, and not spare it for their sakes? 25 Surely you wouldn't do such a thing, destroying the innocent with the guilty. Why, you would be treating the innocent and the guilty exactly the same! Surely you wouldn't do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?"
26 And the LORD replied, "If I find fifty innocent people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake."
27 Then Abraham spoke again. "Since I have begun, let me go on and speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose there are only forty-five? Will you destroy the city for lack of five?"
And the LORD said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five."
29 Then Abraham pressed his request further. "Suppose there are only forty?"
And the LORD replied, "I will not destroy it if there are forty."
30 "Please don't be angry, my Lord," Abraham pleaded. "Let me speaksuppose only thirty are found?"
And the LORD replied, "I will not destroy it if there are thirty."
31 Then Abraham said, "Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continuesuppose there are only twenty?"
And the LORD said, "Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty."
32 Finally, Abraham said, "Lord, please do not get angry; I will speak but once more! Suppose only ten are found there?"
And the LORD said, "Then, for the sake of the ten, I will not destroy it." (Genesis 18:22-32 NLT)
As the old man with the old nature, Abram did not stand this kind of chance with God. As a reborn / reformed creature, Abraham can have this kind of relationship with Jehovah ADONAI. He was even able to make some intercession for the inhabitants of the doomed region. Please note that despite Abraham's allowed input, his approach was cautious and respectful as he was dealing with the Master who has the last word.
Jehovah JIREH - God my provider.
Yehovah Yireh - Jehovah will see (to it that it's done)
17 "When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the LORD, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never forsake them. 18 I will open up rivers for them on high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. In the deserts they will find pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the dry, parched ground. 19 I will plant trees - cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine - on barren land. 20 Everyone will see this miracle and understand that it is the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, who did it. (Isaiah 41:17-20 NLT)
In 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NKJV, He is described as the "God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this". Supply meets our needs. Provisions meet our desires as well as our needs. For as long as we "take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires" (Psalms 37:4 NLT). Abraham knew what it means for Jehovah JIREH to prove Himself as the God who meets our needs:
6 Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac's shoulders, while he himself carried the knife and the fire. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac said, "Father?"
"Yes, my son," Abraham replied.
"We have the wood and the fire," said the boy, "but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?"
8 "God will provide a lamb, my son," Abraham answered. And they both went on together.
9 When they arrived at the place where God had told Abraham to go, he built an altar and placed the wood on it. Then he tied Isaac up and laid him on the altar over the wood. 10 And Abraham took the knife and lifted it up to kill his son as a sacrifice to the LORD. 11 At that moment the angel of the LORD shouted to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Yes," he answered. "I'm listening."
12 "Lay down the knife," the angel said. "Do not hurt the boy in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from me."
13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering on the altar in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place "The LORD Will Provide." This name has now become a proverb: "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." (Genesis 22:1-14 NLT)
In Genesis 22:2 NLT, the Lord told Abraham:
"Take your son, your only son - yes, Isaac, whom you love so much - and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will point out to you."
When Abraham was about to offer his son, he saw a ram. Ram is symbolic of royalty. The ram was offered in place of Isaac - the way King Jesus was offered on the cross in our place. Jesus Christ the only Son of God was put up as sacrifice for our sins. By the way, Jerusalem - where Jesus was sacrificed - was established at Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1). Jesus was alluding to this when he said: "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56 NKJV). The people he was talking to at that time did not seem to understand that at all:
57 The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?"
58 Jesus answered, "The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!" 59 At that point they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself from them and left the Temple. (John 8:57-59 NLT)
If only they had realised the great deal of truth behind the following verses:
And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that
'Seeing they may not see,
And hearing they may not understand.' (Luke 8:10 NKJV)
10 He replied, "You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I am using these stories to conceal everything about it from outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
'They see what I do,
but they don't really see;
they hear what I say,
but they don't understand.' (Luke 8:10 NLT)
60 Even his disciples said, "This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?"
61 Jesus knew within himself that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see me, the Son of Man, return to heaven again? 63 It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you don't believe me." (John 6:60-64 NLT)
A parable (in this case, a saying) accomplishes two things: it reveals, and at the same time, it conceals. It reveals to those it is meant for while concealing it from those it is not meant for. It allows the person employing the parable / saying to use one stone to kill two birds. When Jesus said "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56 NKJV), he was not out to offend anyone. He was right; he knew what he was talking about. He was actually alluding to an historical event that foreshadowed the purpose of his mission on earth. Come to think of it, the foreshadowing of events is scattered in different portion of the scriptures. Take for instance, David was not just the king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13; 2 Samuel 2:1-7; 2 Samuel 5:1-5), he also exercised the office of a high priest (1 Samuel 23:9-13; 1 Samuel 30:7-20; 2 Samuel 6:12-15). Jesus - who came through David's lineage - has always been referred to as the son of David (Matthew 1:1; Matthew 21:9; Mark 12:35; Luke 18:38). David exercising both the office of a king and that of a priest foreshadowed the coming of One who is not just the King of kings and the Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:14-15; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:11-16); he is also our High Priest (Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 5:1-10; Hebrews 8:1-2) - Jesus Christ. As far as parables or sayings are concerned, keep in mind that "there are secret things that belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we may obey these words of the law" (Deuteronomy 29:29 NLT)
By the way, when "Jesus answered, "The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!" (John 8:58 NLT), he was right - again! He knew what he was talking about. After all:
1 In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. (John 1:1-3 NLT)
Jehovah RAPHA(H) I am the God that heals thee.
The Lord who makes healing happens. He brings about repair. He is the One who cures and causes wholeness.
22 Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the Shur Desert. They traveled in this desert for three days without water. 23 When they came to Marah, they finally found water. But the people couldn't drink it because it was bitter. (That is why the place was called Marah, which means "bitter.").
24 Then the people turned against Moses. "What are we going to drink?" they demanded.
25 So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a branch. Moses took the branch and threw it into the water. This made the water good to drink.
It was there at Marah that the LORD laid before them the following conditions to test their faithfulness to him: 26 "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you." (Exodus 15:22-26 NLT)
2 Praise the LORD, I tell myself,
and never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He ransoms me from death
and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle's! (Psalms 103:2-5 NLT)
Average people including those who believe in the Lord - fall sick on occasions in their lifetime. Of course, some illness / diseases / demonic oppression are contracted as a result of continually living ungodly lifestyle. After all, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Romans 6:1 NKJV) On the other hand, some illnesses are not direct result of sin / wickedness. Not all sickness has its root in demonic oppression / possession. At times, sickness is due to the breaking down of the normal body functions / processes. Unpleasant moments like such affords us the opportunity to give our body some needed attention and care. We have only one body. A good number of times, we cultivate habits / indulge in lifestyles that seem to ignore that important fact. Some of us subject our bodies to one abuse or the other. These abuses can be in the form of what we put into our system through eating, drinking, sniffing, or injecting, etc. Every now and then, in order to accomplish our missions, we stretch our body to its limit sometimes, beyond its limit. In order to achieve our set goals, at times, we put our body through lots of strain and stress. Some of us don't seem to know when to stop and rest / unwind / 'recharge', or discard of ungodly habits. Even when our body seems to be telling us to slow down lest it breaks down, we simply ignore the warning signs. After all, we have so much to accomplish in such a 'little' time. Even before the body withdraws its 'unconditional' cooperation, fatigue of the soul would have crept in on us unawares. When we drive our body to the point of 'overload', the body reserves the right to 'turn off the breaker' on us. Otherwise, we may bring about damages to our selves that may be extensive and beyond repair - the possibility of death cannot be ruled out. A good number of times, sickness could imply that unless our body / system slows us down temporarily, it may shut down permanently in death. Life is tough is one thing; death wish is another issue entirely. Not all sickness / illness are life threatening. As silly as it may sound, sickness / illness is one of nature's way of issuing us a wake up call. Did I hear someone muse that sickness / illness may wind up serving as a blessing in disguise?
19 Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT)
One way healing is administered is through good nutritional diet. Remember, we mentioned in the preceding paragraph about abusing our body through what we allow into our system in the form of eating, drinking, sniffing, or injecting, etc. Nutritious diet contains the materials needed to keep our system functioning properly the way God design it to function. Take for instance the automobile. When we acquire an automobile, it comes with an instruction manual. The instruction manual not only outlines how to operate the vehicle, it actually details how to operate it properly. The manual does not merely mention putting gas / petrol / diesel in the car to keep it running, it actually explains what kind / grade of petroleum product will keep the car running effectively / efficiently. There are dozens of automobile parts / products out there. The manual actually takes the trouble of explaining which brand and what make of parts / products your vehicle needs, and how often. Failure to comply with the content of the instruction manual will shorten the lifespan of the vehicle. Under such circumstance, the car not functioning properly may be attributed to negligence on the part of the owner. In the event the owner takes the car back to the manufacturer / dealer's repair shop, he / she should not be too surprised if told that the vehicle's warranty is void due to usage outside the standard set in the instruction manual. The same principle can be applied to our body and how we treat it especially what we allow into our system. Over the years, I realise that people who perceive their body as "the temple of the Holy Spirit" tends to treat it as such. This has nothing to do with being a religious fanatic. After all, does one need to be fanatic to treat one's body with the respect it deserve? Treating one's body with respect is like sowing; sooner or later, we will reap what we sow in terms of good / vibrant health. Thank God for leaving the knowledge / know-how pertaining to advancement in medical technology at our disposal. Such advancement has led to the production of medications, gadgets and therapeutic approaches in the area of health care. Please keep in mind that regardless of the advancement in medical technology, there is no substitute for a good immune system. Input determines output. As mentioned earlier, proper / nutritious diet contains the materials needed to keep our system functioning properly the way God design it to function. We really need to watch what we allow into our system. Doing things just to be seen as 'going with the flow', or to 'fit in', or to be reckoned with as being 'cool' is just not enough.
In Matthew 8:14-15 NLT, healing is administered through the healing touch of the Great Healer:
14 When Jesus arrived at Peter's house, Peter's mother-in-law was in bed with a high fever. 15 But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
...... when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing (Luke 9:11 NKJV)
Healing comes to those that see Jesus.
3 He heals the brokenhearted,
binding up their wounds.
4 He counts the stars
and calls them all by name.
5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension! (Psalms 147:3-5 NLT)
Occasionally, the Great Healer works through the hands of some His vessels / agents:
32 Peter traveled from place to place to visit the believers, and in his travels he came to the Lord's people in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed!" And he was healed instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord when they saw Aeneas walking around. (Acts 9:32-35 NLT)
11 God gave Paul the power to do unusual miracles, 12 so that even when handkerchiefs or cloths that had touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and any evil spirits within them came out.
17 The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing magic brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. 20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. (Acts 19:11-12,17-20 NLT)
The healing touch releases the anointing and power to destroy the yoke of illness / sickness / diseases. The touch unties the knots of ailments, hence providing relief and comfort.
Spiritual ministration via the ministry of angels / spirit beings is not uncommon. More on the ministry of angels can be found under OF ANGELS AND CATEGORIES.
Then the Devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus. (Matthew 4:11 NLT)
43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. (Luke 22:43-44 NLT)
5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat." 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you." 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Kings 19:5-8 NKJV)
Wow!
Several people at one time or the other have experienced supernatural ministration by benign unseen divine forces on missions from Jehovah RAPHA. The Spirit of the Lord is deeply involved in such operation. Be it in a trance-like state or in a state of being still while under the touch of the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the Lord is able to administer the appropriate healing unto our body and soul. The touch of God is very powerful and very effective when administered. Even if it takes a while for the body to become aware of it, the soul detects the impact instantly.
The healing touch of the Lord is not limited to healing to the body; it can be - and has been - used to effect necessary changes to other areas of one's being / existence:
21 Saul replied, "But I'm only from Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?" (1 Samuel 9:21 NLT)
6 At that time the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you with power, and ....... You will be changed into a different person. (1 Samuel 10:6 NLT)
In other words, even though his outward physical appearance will remain / appear the same; his inner man will undergo transformation.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 NLT)
Without the "right spirit" in an individual, accomplishing certain aspect of God's mission is going to be very hard / unfeasible. Keep in mind that "it is the spirit that quickeneth" (John 6:63 King James Version KJV). The quickening of the spirit is like a catalyst in the process of making things happen the way the Lord wills / ordain. It enables the plan of God to come to fruition. With the "right spirit" in an individual, one is better able to conform to the image of the person that the Lord wants one to be in order to be able to carry out the task ahead. One is not just another face in the crowd or a mere believer; one has become the man / woman of God that He wants / choose one to be. In this position, the Lord has easy and direct access into one's being and can use one to accomplish His ends with minimal resistance. A stage in the life Saul, the first king of Israel, highlighted this:
9 As Saul turned and started to leave, God changed his heart, and all Samuel's signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw the prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 11 When his friends heard about it, they exclaimed, "What? Is Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?" 12 But one of the neighbors responded, "It doesn't matter who his father is; anyone can become a prophet." So that is the origin of the saying "Is Saul a prophet?" (1 Samuel 10:9-12 NLT)
How about this?
26 When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a band of men whose hearts God had touched became his constant companions. (1 Samuel 10:26 NLT)
In this domain, one's spirit is tuned and prepared to embark on the task ahead as well as take on the challenges that may cross one's path.
4 His father and mother didn't realize the LORD was at work in this, creating an opportunity ........ 5 As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. 6 At that moment the Spirit of the LORD powerfully took control of him, and he ripped the lion's jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat. ......... (Judges 14:4-6 NLT)
13 ........ So they tied him up with two new ropes and led him away from the rock.
14 As Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting in triumph. But the Spirit of the LORD powerfully took control of Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists. (Judges 15:13,14 NLT)
When the touch of the Lord fosters the "right spirit" in an individual, such a person finds himself in a state of mind / being of one who has the propensity of readily dancing to the tune of the Lord's spirit. Even though, he has a free will, a doorway has been opened in his being that allows the Lord to shape his thoughts and direct his path as occasion necessitate. It becomes easy for the Lord to tune his spirit to His frequency as He deems fit. Once the signal is received, his soul is joyfully and willingly / voluntarily receptive. The Lord can influence his will / provide guidance through the spiritual channel that links His mind to his soul. At this stage, the activity and ministry of the Lord's Spirit would have waxed so strong, it is capable of having overriding effect in every area of his life / every faculty of his being. It also becomes hard for external influence from the world (carnal) or from evil spiritual forces to prevail. This should not come as a surprise "because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world" (1 John 4:4 NLT). In this position, the ministry and activity of the Lord's Spirit is so strong, bodily functions such as speech (voice / vocal chord), motor movement of head and limbs (gestures), thought (mind / will) can be employed, as occasion require. The Lord - through His spirit - is able to speak and act through him as circumstances necessitate. From time to time, He can channel thoughts and ideas that are consistent with His will and purpose into his mind. Do not forget that He who He employs, He also empowers.
34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, ........?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; ........." (Luke 1:34,35 NKJV)
11 "Who makes mouths?" the LORD asked him. "Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see? Is it not I, the LORD? ........ 15 You will talk to him, giving him the words to say. I will help both of you to speak clearly, and I will tell you what to do. (Exodus 4:11,15 NLT)
6 I may not be a trained speaker, but I know what I am talking about. I think you realize this by now, for we have proved it again and again. (2 Corinthians 11:6 NLT)
14 So don't worry about how to answer the charges against you, 15 for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply! (Luke 21:14-15 NLT)
8 Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, ...... 10 None of them was able to stand against the wisdom and Spirit by which Stephen spoke. ......... 15 At this point everyone in the council stared at Stephen because his face became as bright as an angel's. (Acts 6:8,10,15 NLT)
Jehovah NISSI - The Lord is my banner / victory.
Yehovah Nicciy - Jehovah is my banner.
8 While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek came to fight against them. 9 Moses commanded Joshua, "Call the Israelites to arms, and fight the army of Amalek. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."
10 So Joshua did what Moses had commanded. He led his men out to fight the army of Amalek. Meanwhile Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of a nearby hill. 11 As long as Moses held up the staff with his hands, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites gained the upper hand. 12 Moses' arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset. 13 As a result, Joshua and his troops were able to crush the army of Amalek. ............. 15 Moses built an altar there and called it "The LORD Is My Banner." (Exodus 17:8-13,15 NLT)
But you have raised a banner for those who honor you a rallying point in the face of attack. (Psalms 60:4 NLT)
Jehovah NIKADESH - The Lord my sanctifier. Sanctification usually accompanies victory.
25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart (a heart of flesh). 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.
28 "......... You will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior. I will give you good crops, and I will abolish famine in the land. 30 I will give you great harvests from your fruit trees and fields, and never again will the surrounding nations be able to scoff at your land for its famines.........
33 "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I cleanse you from your sins, I will bring people to live in your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The fields that used to lie empty and desolatea shock to all who passed bywill again be farmed. 35 And when I bring you back, people will say, 'This godforsaken land is now like Eden's garden! The ruined cities now have strong walls, and they are filled with people!' 36 Then the nations all aroundall those still leftwill know that I, the LORD, rebuilt the ruins and planted lush crops in the wilderness. For I, the LORD, have promised this, and I will do it. (Ezekiel 36:25-36 NLT)
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (1Corinthians 6:11 NLT).
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. (I Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV)
Jehovah (Yahweh) TSIDKENU - The Lord my righteousness.
Yehovah Tsidqenuw - Jehovah is our right / righteousness
And this is his name: 'The LORD Is Our Righteousness.' In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. (Jeremiah 23:6 NLT)
In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And their motto will be 'The LORD is our righteousness!' (Jeremiah 33:16 NLT)
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my darkness; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1 NKJV)
21 ........ For there is no other God but me - a just God and a Savior - no, not one! 22 Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. 23 I have sworn by my own name, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to my name."
24 The people will declare, "The LORD is the source of all my righteousness and strength." And all who were angry with him will come to him and be ashamed. 25 In the LORD all the generations of Israel will be justified, and in him they will boast. (Isaiah 45:21-24 NLT)
Jehovah SHALOM - The Lord is my peace.
Yehovah Shalowm
Shalowm / Shalom: well; be at peace; rest safely; good health and prosperity
15 "But Lord," Gideon replied, "how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!"
16 The LORD said to him, "I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man."
17 Gideon replied, "If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the LORD speaking to me. 18 Don't go away until I come back and bring my offering to you."
The LORD answered, "I will stay here until you return."
19 Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with half a bushel of flour he baked some bread without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out and presented them to the angel, who was under the oak tree.
20 The angel of God said to him, "Place the meat and the unleavened bread on this rock, and pour the broth over it." And Gideon did as he was told. 21 Then the angel of the LORD touched the meat and bread with the staff in his hand, and fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all he had brought. And the angel of the LORD disappeared.
22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he cried out, "Sovereign LORD, I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"
23 "It is all right," the LORD replied. "Do not be afraid. You will not die." 24 And Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and named it "The LORD Is Peace." ......... (Judges 6:15-24 NLT)
Keep your weapons on alert and keep watching if you want peace. Earlier in this writing under Jehovah EL SHADDAI, mention was made of Peter who was caught napping when he was suppose to be on a prayer watch with the Lord.
6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)
26 And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and multiply them, and I will put my Temple among them forever. 27 I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Ezekiel 37:26-28 NLT)
25 "I will make a covenant of peace with them and drive away the dangerous animals from the land. Then my people will be able to camp safely in the wildest places and sleep in the woods without fear. 26 I will cause my people and their homes around my holy hill to be a blessing. And I will send showers, showers of blessings, which will come just when they are needed. 27 The orchards and fields of my people will yield bumper crops, and everyone will live in safety. When I have broken their chains of slavery and rescued them from those who enslaved them, then they will know that I am the LORD. 28 They will no longer be prey .......... (Ezekiel 34:25-28 NLT)
Jehovah ROHI - The Lord is my shepherd. With Him as your shepherd, you cannot follow with confusion. You follow with peace.
1 The LORD is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the dark valley of death,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You welcome me as a guest,
anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD
forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 NLT)
10 Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in all his glorious power. He will rule with awesome strength. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. (Isaiah 40:10-11 NLT)
I AM WHO I AM
13 But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they won't believe me. They will ask, 'Which god are you talking about? What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?" 14 God replied, "I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS. Just tell them, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 15 God also said, "Tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob - has sent me to you.' This will be my name forever; it has always been my name, and it will be used throughout all generations. (Exodus 3:13-14 NLT)
And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say ........ I AM has sent me to you.'"
Jehovah SHAMMAH - The Lord is there!
27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! 28 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: 29 that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, 'My name shall be there,' that You my hear the prayer which Your servant makes ........ (1 Kings 8: 27-29 NKJV)
And the LORD said to him: I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. (1 Kings 9:3 NKJV)
22 Then the hand of the LORD was upon me there, and He said to me, "Arise, go out into the plain, and there I shall talk with you."
23 So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, ....... (Ezekiel 3:22-24 NLT)
.......... And from that day the name of the city will be 'The LORD Is There.'" (Ezekiel 48:35 NLT)
Quite a revelation, don't you think? Who would have thought the Holy Scriptures has so many treasures buried in it? Thanks be to the Lord who - through the power of His Spirit - made it possible for us "to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is" (Ephesians 3:18 NLT).
ELOHIYM / EL ELOHEY - the great and mighty supreme God
God JEHOVAH Yehovah - the self-Existent One or Eternal Lord.
EL SHADDAI - The Almighty God
Jehovah ADONAI (ADONAY) - My God the master.
Jehovah JIREH - God my provider.
Jehovah RAPHA(H) - I am the God that heals thee.
Jehovah NISSI - The Lord is my banner / victory.
Jehovah NIKADESH - The Lord my sanctifier.
Jehovah (Yahweh) TSIDKENU - The Lord my righteousness
Jehovah SHALOM - The Lord is my peace.
Jehovah ROHI - The Lord is my shepherd.
Jehovah SHAMMAH - The Lord is there!
I AM WHO I AM
As we inculcate the use of the names / epithet / characteristics of the Most High God into our prayer life and worship, He responds powerfully. Remember, "O LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens" (Psalm 8:1 NLT). Using them regularly as we pray to Him and praise Him concerning our circumstances brings God-honouring results on the long run. Keep in mind that "The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10 NLT). Using them frequently (along with the relevant scripture quotes) as we call upon Him breed new life into our circumstances. His Spirit wells up within us, and the Lord summons the host of heaven to move into action on our behalf.
Lord, I pray that as we call upon You by using names / epithet and their characteristics / connotations, You will respond accordingly and move mightily on our behalf in our various circumstances.
19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. 21 May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen. (Ephesians 3:19-21 NLT)
God bless.
Yours
'Kunle Majek'
H I A F E M
Of impact, quality and excellence
That's the Spirit!
P.S.: I believe that the Lord has used this piece to bless you greatly. Why not share with others?
To return to HIAFEM Homepage, click here.
