To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Month: March 2012

The result of meeting with God

During our corporate meetings, there is often action items that are assigned to us by the manager or team lead and follow up meetings scheduled to determine progress and completion of those action items. However, when it comes to our meeting with God during our quiet time and/or Bible study, we usually assign action items to God (the manager) and expect him to have them completed before we get to meet with him again. The Bible however gives us a protocol as to how our meeting with God should be and the outcome that should result from our meeting with God. This is recorded in Mark 1:35-39.

Jesus arose early in the morning (a great while before day) and went to a solitary part and there he met with God in prayer (Mark 1:35). When his disciples came and told him that “All men seek him” (Mark 1:36-37), he told them, “Lets go to the next towns: that I may preach there also” which speaks about the ministry (to go) and the mission (to preach) that comes from prayer (Mark 1:38). The following verse tells us that Jesus preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and cast out devils (Mark 1:39). In other words, with the ministry and the mission, also came the manifestation of God’s power (to cast out devils).

Points to ponder:
Next time, we meet with God in prayer, let us not give him a “to-do” list, but instead, let us pray earnestly so that the result of the meeting with God would be ministry, mission and manifestation of God’s power to break down strongholds and bondages, in and through our life.

(Mark 1:35-39 (KJV)
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

The first man Adam and the last Adam

The first man Adam refers to the one who was fashioned from the dust of the earth by the very hands of God and into whom the breath of life was breathed by God (Genesis 2:7). The last Adam is Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten (not created) son (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:45) who was made a quickening spirit.

There are similarities and differences between the first Adam and the last Adam.

Similarities:
The first Adam was given a will to obey (not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; Genesis 2:17). The last Adam (Jesus) was given a will to obey (and it was the will of God the Father, that he should be the lamb of God to take away the sins of the world;  Isaiah 53:10)
The first Adam was given a work to do (to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it; Genesis 1:28). The last Adam (Jesus) was given a work to do (which was to lay down his life for the salvation of all mankind and on the Cross he affirmed that his work was completed, when he cried “It is finished.”; John 19:30)
The first Adam was given a woman to love (Eve was her name; Genesis 2:20-25). The last Adam (Jesus) is given a woman to love (The Church is her name; Revelation 19).

Differences:
The first Adam was shameful when he sinned and he needed to be clothed (Genesis 3:10). The last Adam (Jesus) was shamed (Hebrews 12:2) when he was made sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and they stripped him of his clothes (John 19:23)
The first Adam lost the presence of God as flaming swords were placed to prevent him from re-entering the garden and have access to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24), where he communed with God. The last Adam (Jesus) restored the presence of God to all men as the veil that separated the Holy of holies was torn into two, from top to bottom, and access to commune with God was now made possible (Mark 15:38).
The first Adam had to labor on the land which was cursed to bring forth thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18). The last Adam took the curse upon himself, and thorns were place on his head (John 19:2).

Points to ponder:
The first Adam brought death. The last Adam (Jesus) brings life and all who believe in Jesus Christ, shall have life, eternal and abundant. Have you believed?

1 Corinthians 15:45-47 (KJV)
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

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