Month: December 2013

Jesus Christ – The Ark :: Roomy

On December 11, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Jesus Christ - The Ark, Noah's Ark (and Jesus), Through the Bible

This article is part of the series, Jesus Christ – The Ark, where in we learn of Noah’s ark as a pre-type of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, as The One and Only Ark to save mankind.

God told Noah to build the ark with gopher wood and immediately following this instruction, on the kind of wood to use, God tells Noah that he should make rooms in it. In fact, it is in this account that the word “rooms” is used for the very first time in the King James Version of the Bible. Ever wonder why God would state something such as a “room”, which is implied so explicitly, as his requirement in the building of Noah’s ark. Logically it would make sense that these rooms would possibly serve as storehouses for the provisions needed to sustain life, but these rooms would also serve as the dwelling and resting place for Noah, his family, and the other creatures that Noah was to bring onboard the ark.

Points to ponder:
Jesus said “In my Father’s house are many mansions (rooms) and that he was going to prepare a place (room) for us (Jphn 14:2)”. The ark was made with many rooms to house many creatures just as Jesus will house his new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) in his Father’s house.

Interestingly though, when Jesus was born of a woman, in this world that he created, there was no ‘room’ for him in the inn (Luke 2:7). Today, there are many who are rejecting Christ and shutting him out, as if there was no room in their lives for him. However, because he is a God of love with great faithfulness and new mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23), he has a room for you, if you repent and confess to him and receive him as Lord and Savior, believing that in your heart.

Jesus said, come unto me and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Only if we abide (dwell) in Christ Jesus and he in us, as one would in a room, can we be assured of true rest. Like Noah’s ark with many rooms for its inhabitants to dwell and rest, Jesus is God’s room for the resting of our souls. No evil shall befall those who make the Lord, even the most High, their habitation (room) (Psalm 91:8-10).

Jesus asked “I stand at the door and knock and if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20). Do you have room in your life for Jesus?

Genesis 6:14 (KJV)
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

John 14:2-3 (KJV)
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions [rooms]: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jesus Christ – The Ark :: Mysteriously Unique

By Mano Paul

On December 10, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Jesus Christ - The Ark, Jesus Impersonator, Noah's Ark (and Jesus), Through the Bible

We are familiar with Noah’s ark that brought about salvation to all who were in it. This ark was commissioned by God and was built amidst an evil and wicked generation until God’s impending judgment by flood destroyed all of mankind (including all land and air organisms). While it is easy to merely focus on the the judgment of God and Noah’s faith, close scrutiny of this account reveals to us, the very Son of God – Jesus Christ. As we dissect this account using the characteristics of Noah’s ark, it doesn’t take much to realize that it is a pre-type of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, as The One and Only Ark to save mankind. This article is part of the series, Jesus Christ – The Ark.

First and foremost, God tells Noah that he must build the ark with gopher wood. In fact, the word “gopher” is unique as it appears only once in the entire King James Version of the Bible. Though some other (newer) translations have attempt to identify this wood as that of Cypress, there is no conclusive evidence of such speculation. All we know is that gopher wood was a type of wood before the flood that God brought about during the time of Noah. Today, it remains a mystery and is unique of its true identity.

Points to ponder:
The Apostle Paul writes that the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but is now made manifest to God’s saints, is Christ Jesus in us, the hope of glory. Jesus Christ remains a mystery to some, and some even worship him ignorantly as an unknown God (Acts 17:23) which God overlooked in the past but now commands to repent (Acts 17:30) but the fact remains that he is unique. Just as the ark was the only (unique) means of salvation from the flood of God’s judgment, there is none like Jesus Christ, for their is no other name, given under heaven or earth, by which man can be saved (Acts 4:12), from God’s righteous judgment, when he returns to reign. Is Jesus Christ, still a mystery to you? If he is, ask God the Father to reveal his Son Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, now, before the flood of his judgment comes.

Genesis 6:14 (KJV)
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

Colossians 1:26-27 (KJV)
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Ephesians 3:2-11 (KJV)
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

All flesh must die

By Mano Paul

On December 9, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The sixth chapter of Genesis states that God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt and all flesh was corrupt before him. So God told Noah, it was time for God to put an end to all flesh (every living human, every land animal, and even the birds of the air). Now one may wonder, why did God have to put an end to the other land creatures and the birds of the air? Man’s willful sin and disobedience against God had consequences. Man was made with the Spirit of God to reign within him for he was made a living soul (Genesis 2:7), but with the lust of his flesh, the lust of his eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16), he sinned and had inherited death, becoming corrupt. Man’s corruption was not limited to just mankind and his willful disobedience (sin) brought about a curse. Not only was the ground curse on account of man, but the Bible tells us that against their will, all of creation was subject to God’s curse; to corruption, i.e., to die and decay (Romans 8:20). So in a sense, the do-over of all of God’s land creation was in essence, God’s act of mercy to free the groaning creation from death and decay (Romans 8:22). All flesh must die, so that the corruptible could be made back in the way, God had intended it to be, incorruptible.

Points to ponder:
There is a conflict between our flesh and the Spirit of God that reigns within us (Galatians 5:17). They are at war and the lust of our flesh leads to corruption and condemnation for the wages of sin is death (Romans 8:1). We need to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh but in order to live by the Spirit of God, as holy and righteous creatures, we need to mortify (put to death) the sinful things of the world that lurk within us (Colossians 3:5). If we live by the flesh, we shall die, but if we live by the Spirit, then we must through the Spirit of God, mortify the deeds of the body so that we shall live (Romans 8:13). In other words, all (of our) flesh must die (for the Spirit of God to reign in our life)! Are you dead or alive?

Genesis 6:11-13 (KJV)
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Romans 8:19-22 (NLT)
19. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.
20. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,
21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
22. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Romans 8:13 (KJV)
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

What will God see?

By Mano Paul

On December 6, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Thee Bible states in Genesis 6:5 that the man was exceedingly wicked and the thoughts of his heart was continually evil. A few verses later, in verses 11 and 12, the Bible states that the earth was filled with violence and it was corrupt and everyone (all flesh) on the earth was corrupt. What is however interesting to note is that God saw (Genesis 6:5) and he looked (Genesis 6:12) and he found man wicked, evil, and corrupt.

The fall of one man, Adam, brought sin into the world which brought about wickedness, evil, violence and corruption. The creation of God, which he had seen and declared as was good six times (Genesis 1:4,10,12,18,21,25) and once as very good (Genesis 1:31) was now corrupt. Sin brings about corruption.

Points to ponder:
If God sees you and me today, what will he see? Will he see us as wicked, evil, and corrupt? Sin bring about wickedness, evil and put our soul in the pit of corruption (Isaiah 38:17). In order for our soul to be delivered from the pit of corruption, Jesus, the One who did not see corruption (Acts 2:31) and the incorruptible Savior (1 Peter 1:23) is needed. He is the only one who can casts all our sins behind his back (Isaiah 38:17), when we believe in him in our hearts and confess with our mouths Jesus’ Lordship (Romans 10:9). So the question remains, when God sees you and me, what will he see? Will he see us as corrupt or will he see the Spirit of his incorruptible Son, Jesus Christ, reign in us? What will God see?

Genesis 6:5,11-12 (KJV)
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
…
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Isaiah 38:17 (KJV)
17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (KJV)
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you and I, a Noah?

By Mano Paul

On December 5, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

During the time of Noah, the Bible describes that the entire human race was totally and perpetually evil and God reels sorry for having made man. God decides to destroy all of the human race he created, along with the land animals, creeping things and the birds of the air, but the Bible says, that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. It then goes on to describe who Noah was. It is said of Noah, that he was a just man. He was perfect in his generations and he walked with God.

Habakkuk 2:4 states that the just shall live by faith and Noah by faith, not sight. In fact, Noah’s faith was expressed in action. It was not dead faith but living faith, for he obeyed God and built the ark which God had commanded him to do (Hebrews 11:7). Noah was perfect in his generation meaning that it was credited to him as being righteous for his faith (belief) in the Lord God (Romans 4:3). It was the righteousness of God imputed on his for his faith (belief) in God (Philippians 3:9) and not his own for no one is righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). Like his forefather Enoch, Noah walked with God. The Bible says that unless two are agreed together, they cannot walk as one (Amos 3:3) meaning that Noah was in agreement with God’s will and plan and subjected his own will to the will of God, heeding his voice.

Finally, it is important to note that Noah did not find grace in the eyes of the Lord because he obeyed and did what God commanded him to do i.e., by his works, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord because he believed through faith, bringing about the Salvation of his family and through his family, the human race. It was the grace of God that saved him and not his works (the ark).

Points to ponder:
Can it be said of you and me that we would find grace (God’s unmerited favor) in the eyes of the Lord? Salvation comes solely by the grace of God through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8)
Can it be said of you and me as was of Noah that we are just, perfect and one who walks with God? In other words, have you believed in Jesus, which imputes on us the perfection (righteousness) of God and do we agree with God to do his will and purpose in and through our lives?

Genesis 6:8-10 (KJV)
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Philippians 3:9 (KJV)
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Amos 3:3 (KJV)
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Ephesians 2:7-9 (KJV)
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ctrl+Z, says God

By Mano Paul

On December 4, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, HackFormers, Tech Talk Christianity, Through the Bible

In computing, most software use the combination of the control (Ctrl) key along with the “Z” key to undo the last operation. In Genesis 6, God repents for having created man because man had willfully chosen to be sinful and totally and solely evil (wicked) perpetually and the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:5-7) In other words, God states that he will undo his creation that were upon the face of the earth, which included man, the beasts, creeping things, and the birds of the air, because of man’s perpetually and total wickedness.

Points to ponder:
When we believe and abide in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are made a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17) and if we walk according to the Spirit of God and not according to the flesh, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). But after we have the foreknowledge of the Sacrifice and Salvation of Jesus for our sins, if we continue to walk according to the flesh, willfully choosing to be wicked (evil), then there remains no sacrifice by which we can be saved, but only a fearful expectation of God’s impending judgment (Hebrews 10:26-31). Let us not live our lives in such a manner that it would grieve the heart of God, so much so that he will would have to Ctrl+Z (undo) us, his creation. Let our prayer, today, be “Search me O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24).

Genesis 6:5-7 (KJV)
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV)
23. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Making God sad and to suffer and be sorry

By Mano Paul

On December 3, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The King James Version of Genesis 6:5-6 reads “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” The New Living Translation explicitly render these verse as God observed and saw the extent of human wickedness, which was consistently and totally evil and so the Lord was sorry to he had made man and his heart was broken.”

The Merriam-Webster’s dictionary gives the two meanings of the word “grieve” . One is to cause someone to be unhappy or sad, and the other is to cause someone to suffer. Sin entered into this world with the disobedience of one man, Adam (Romans 5:12), and like a gangrene infected the whole human race with immense wickedness – so much so, that it caused the Lord to be sad (in his heart), and to suffer and making him sorry that he had even made man.

It is important to note that God ‘saw‘ the rampant wickedness on the earth. He saw not just the actions of man, but their very thoughts; and every imagination of the thoughts of the heart of man was continually evil. The Bible counsels us to guard our hearts for out of the heart comes the springs (the issues) of life (Proverbs 4:23). The Bible also counsels us that out of the heart comes the evil things which defile a man. These include evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness (Mark 7:20-23). The willful disobedience of man which defiles man makes God grieve – so much so that God is sorry for having made man.

Points to ponder:
Jesus said that “As in the days of Noah (Noe) so shall the days before his coming be.” (Matthew 24:37). While this statement of Jesus indicates the suddenness of his coming, it also is reflective of the sinful and sad state that the world will be in before his coming. Unfortunately, it does not take much to look around and see that the world is rife with wickedness and evil; filled with evil thoughts, adulteries (sexual immorality and idolatory), murders (anger), thefts (withholding of tithes, time and talent), covetousness (greed), deceit, lustful desires (such as pornography, sodomy (homosexuality)), envy (jealousy), slander (blasphemy against the Holy Spirit of God by rejecting the Lordship of God’s only son, Jesus), pride (trying to be like gods), and foolishness (denying the existence of God). One or more of these sins may be the poison that defiles our own life. Let each of us, take stock to determine, what’s your poison? If we don’t guard our hearts with the breastplate of righteousness (found in Jesus Christ alone), and if we don’t put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), we can be beguiled and ensnared by the wiles of the devil, and sin against God. Our sinfulness and wickedness makes God, not just sad, but also causes him to suffer and be sorry for having knit us together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). Let us love God with all our heart, so that we don’t grieve the Lord; i.e., we don’t make God sad, to suffer or be sorry!

Genesis 6:5-6 (KJV)
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Matthew 24:37-39 (KJV)
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

What kind of giant are you?

By Mano Paul

On December 2, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 6:4 speaks of some earthly giants in the days of Noah. The Bible describes these giants as men who became mighty and renowned. Yet these giants were the result of an unholy union between the sons of God (fallen angels) and the daughters of men and in their time each man did evil continually, except Noah.

Fast forward, many generations, and we come to the time of David, the shepherd boy turned king; the son of Jesse. David faced another giant, one named Goliath in the name of the Lord and was successful in defeating and destroying him (1 Samuel 17). He was not worried of his current circumstances nor the potential future outcome, because he did not focus on himself, but on God. In essence, while Goliath was a physical giant, David was a spiritual giant.

Points to ponder:
David knew that he was owned by God. He belonged to God for God addresses him as “my servant” (2 Samuel 7:5) and was with him (2 Samuel 7:9). He focused (renewed) his mind by keeping his eyes fixed on the Lord (1 Samuel 17:45; Isaiah 26:5; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:2) that made him one of the mightiest kings of Israel, one of great renown (even more than the then king of Israel – king Saul).
A spiritual giant is one who is mighty because the Almighty God is in and with him or her.
A spiritual giant is one who is renowned for he/she is RENewed in his/her mind and OWNED by God.

Are you a spiritual giant? What kind of giant are you? What kind of giant will you become?

Genesis 6:4 (KJV)
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Month: December 2013

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