What is Man That Thou Art Mindful of Him (Part 2)

Below is an excerpt from the May 2010 issue of my monthly newsletter called: "to the Saving of the Soul".

Being ‘born again’ is a dynamic spiritual occurrence. It is not a physical feeling, a fleeting notion, a philosophical theory or a scientific postulation! It is a very real and defining experience within the core, spirit or heart of a human being. It is true immortality according to scripture!
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (I John 2:17)
When a chicken begins to form within an egg, development begins from the yolk where life is generated. When man accepts Jesus as Lord and Saviour, he is similarly ‘born’ in spirit. Jesus is the ONLY way!
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
The spirit in man immediately regains a connection with God through the Holy Spirit who God sends to dwell within man’s spirit. New life is created because humanity is infused with divinity again (Ephesians 2:4-5). The Righteousness of Christ is imputed into and around man’s spirit.

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What Is Man That Thou Art Mindful of Him? (Part 1)

Below is an excerpt from the April 2010 issue of my monthly newsletter called: "to the Saving of the Soul".

In the beginning God created (Heb. BARA—to bring something into existence from nothing that exists) the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God then made (Heb. ASAH—to make something from materials that already exist) the firmament or atmosphere around the earth (Genesis 1:7) and subsequently made everything else in the earth (Genesis 1:9-25; 2:19-20). God created the spirit-man (Genesis 1:27), formed (Heb. YATSAR—to mould or squeeze into shape like a potter does) his body from the dust of the earth and infused the created spirit-man into the body He had made (Genesis 2:7). God ‘breathed’ (Heb. NAPHACH—to breathe out) the ‘breath’ (Heb. NESHAMAH—breath, respiration) of ‘life’ (Heb. CHAYIM – lives {plural, from CHAYAH—to live, revive or preserve alive}) into the body. By this act ‘man’ (Heb. ISH) became a living ‘soul’ (Heb. NEPHESH—a breathing, living, spirit-organism). The ‘breath of lives’ caused the body and spirit to function together. In all of this man was innocent, not knowing evil and connected to God spiritually.

God saw that man was alone so He took a rib from man’s side and ‘made’ (Heb. PANAH—built, skillfully formed {not ASAH, the ordinary word for made}) ‘woman’ (Heb. ISH SHAH—she man or womb-man) as a help for him (Genesis 2:21-22). Woman (she had not yet been named) was made from under man’s arm, by his side, not to be ahead of or behind him, not to be above or beneath him, but to be loved and protected by him and to be equal to him. She was not a mere physical help but an intellectual/spiritual help as well. The scripture says they were both naked and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25).

In the Messianic Psalm 8 David entreats God, asking a very profound question!
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (v. 4)
David asks about two very different aspects of man. First, when David asked: “What is man…” his question referred to ‘man’ (Heb. ENOSH—mortal, weak, sickly) in his fallen state; man separated from God from birth. He asked God why He was still ‘mindful’ of this fallen man. Second, when David asked: “…And the ‘son of man’…” his question referred not only to Jesus the Messiah (Hebrews 2:6-9) but by extension to all ‘man’ (Heb. ADAM—created man) born again through Jesus the Messiah!

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Perfect Submission

Below is an excerpt from the Mar. 2010 issue of my monthly newsletter called: "to the Saving of the Soul".

Throughout the scriptures we see examples of submission. When Solomon was officially made King of Israel, all of Israel, including the chief ones, submitted to him (II Chronicles 29:23-24). In Psalm 81:13-16, Asaph told Israel that God called them to hear His reasoning and outlined the consequences of rebelling. He also set out some things that God would do if they submitted to Him. He told them God would: (1) subdue their enemies; (2) turn His hand against their adversaries; (3) subjugate the haters; (4) bless Israel eternally; (5) provide the best things in life for them; and, (6) satisfy them with good things. But they were still rebellious.

It is a fact that God chastens His rebellious children (Hebrew 12:6). Earthly fathers sometimes chastise, rebuke or whip (not physically abuse) a child at some point in the child’s life (Hebrews 12:9). The writer of Hebrews says we should not despise this neither should we faint (grow weary) when it occurs because if we are not chastised then we are bastards, outsiders and not family (Hebrews 12:8).

James addressed Christian Israelites who had backslidden (James 4:7). He told them that they needed to submit to God and resist the devil. He said when one resists the devil he flees from them. Paul addressed the Romans using the Israelites as examples (Romans 10:2). He told the Romans that Israel had “a zeal of God” but “not according to knowledge”. He further said they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own righteousness because they had not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3). The only way to walk in perfect love is to be in submission to God perfectly.

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Heaven is a real place

Below is an excerpt from the Feb. 2010 issue of my monthly newsletter called: "to the Saving of the Soul".

So, “What is Heaven?” you ask! The scriptures say there are three heavens and define them as follows:

1. the clouds—the atmosphere around the earth (Gen. 1:6-9; Job 26:8; Matt. 24:30);
2. where the stars are—space (Gen. 1:14-19); and ,
3. Heaven—the actual place (II Cor. 12:1-4) that was created by God (Psalm 8:3); where He dwells (I Kings 8:30, 39, 43, 49); and, where His throne is located (Isaiah 66:1).

This ‘third heaven’ is the focus of our lesson. Paul was caught up there. He wasn’t doubtful of where he was; he was sure that he was in third heaven. What he was unsure of was whether he was there in body or out of body.

This Heaven is our inheritance. Christ will return and take us there to dwell in God’s presence. II Thess. 2:8-12 comes alive in these occurrences. When believers are caught up (raptured) and the Holy Spirit is taken out of the earth then the anti-Christ will be revealed.

The good news is that from the very beginning God has chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. He now calls you to himself by his written and preached Word. God’s desire is that no one should perish but that all come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9).

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Hell is a real place (and is under your feet)

Below is an excerpt from the Jan. 2010 issue of my monthly newsletter called: "to the Saving of the Soul".

Does Hell exist? It is a fact of scripture that Hell exists as a real place and contains the spirits of all who have died a physical death and were outside of the family of God.

The scriptures teach that Hell is a place of immense activity. There is sorrow there (Psal. 18:5); there is fire there (Deut. 32:22); it is hidden from man but naked before God (Job 26:6; Amos 9:2); it is a place of power (Psal. 49:15; Hos. 13:14); all spirits there are fully conscious (Isa. 14:9-9-15; Luke 16:19-31); there are conversations there (Isa. 14:9-16; Ezek. 32:21); certain kings and chief ones of the earth are there (Isa. 14: 9-11); the inhabitants are stirred up at the coming of others (Ezek. 32:27-32); men recognize and correspond with each other (Isa. 14:16); and, it is a place where knowledge and memory exist (Isa. 14:10; Luke 16:19-31). It is evident from the scriptures that Hell is a very real place. Souls there experience emotions such as sorrow, regret and anxiety because they are fully conscious of their existence and possess memory of life above ground.

Enjoy and feel free to comment and ask to be put on the mailing list...

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