January 26, 2020

Hold Up....

Genesis 4:1-5:32

Genesis

4 Now Adam slept with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant.  When the time came, she gave birth to Cain, and she said, "With the LORD'S help, I have brought forth a man!  Later she gave birth to a second son and named him Abel.  When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain was a farmer.  At harvest time, Cain brought to the LORD a gift of his farm produce, while Abel brought several choice lambs from the best of his flock.  The LORD accepted Abel and his offering, but he did not accept Cain and his offering.  This made Cain very angry and dejected.

"Why are you so angry?" the LORD asked him.  "Why do you look so dejected?  You will be accepted if you respond in the right way.  But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out!  Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it."

Later Cain suggested to his brother, Abel, "Let's go out into the fields."  And while they were there, Cain attacked and killed his brother.

Afterward the LORD asked Cain, "Where is your brother?  Where is Abel?"

"I don't know!" Cain retorted.  "Am I supposed to keep track of him wherever he goes?"

But the LORD said, "What have you done?  Listen - your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground!  You are hereby banished from the ground you have defiled with your brother's blood.  No longer will it yield abundant crops for you, no mater how hard you work!  From now on you will be a homeless fugitive on the earth, constantly wandering from place to place."

Cain replied to the LORD, "My punishment is too great for me to hear!  You have banished me from my land and from your presence; you have made me a wandering fugitive.  All who see me will try to kill me!"

The LORD replied, "They will not kill you, for I will give seven times your punishment to anyone who does."  Then the LORD put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.  So Cain left the LORD's presence and settled in the land of NOD, east of Eden.

Then Cain's wife became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and they named him Enoch.  When Cain founded a city, he named it Enoch after his son.  Enoch was the father of Irad.  Irad was the father of Mehujael.  Mehujael was the father of Methushael.   Methushael was the father of Lamech.  

Lamech married two women - Adah and Zillah.  Adah gave birth to a baby named Jabal.   He became the first of the herdsmen who lie in tents.  His brother's name was Jubal, the first musician - the inventor of the harp and flute.  To Lamech's other wife, Zillah, was born Tubal-cain.  He was the first to work with metal, forging instruments of bronze and iron.  Tubal-cain had a sister named Naamah.

One day Lamech said to Adah and Zillah, "Listen to me, my wives.  I have killed a youth who attacked and wounded me.  If anyone who kills Cain is to be punished seven times, anyone who takes revenge against me will be punished seventy-seven times!"

Adam slept with his wife again, and she gave birth to another son.  She named him Seth, for she said, "God has granted me another son in place of Abel, the one Cain killed."  When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh.  It was during his lifetime that people first began to worship the LORD.  

5 This is the history of the descendants of Adam.  When God created people (man), he made them in the likeness of God.  He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them "human" (man).

When Adam was 130 years old, his son Seth was born, and Seth was the very image of his father.  After the birth of Seth, Adam lived another 800 years, and he had other sons and daughters.  He died at the age of 930.  

When Seth was 105 years old, his son Enosh was born.  After the birth of Enosh, Seth lived another 807 years, and he had other sons and daughters.  He died at the age of 912.

When Enosh was 90 years old, his son Kenan was born.  After the birth of Kenan, Enosh lived another 815 years, and he had other sons and daughters.  He died at the age of 905.

When Kenan was 70 years old, his son Mahalalel was born.  After the birth of Mahalalel, Kenan lived another 840 years, and he had other sons and daughters.  He died at the age of 910.

When Mahalalel was 65 years old, his son Jared was born.  After the birth of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years, and he had other sons and daughters.  He died at the age of 895.

When Jared was 162 years old, his son Enoch was born.  After the birth of Enoch, Jared lived another 800 years, and he had other sons and daughters.  He died at the age of 962.

When Enoch was 65 years old, his son Methuselah was born.  After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived another 300 years in close fellowship with God, and he had other sons and daughters.  Enoch lived 365 years in all.  He enjoyed a close relationship with God throughout his life.  Then suddenly, he disappeared because God took him.

When Methuselah was 187 years old, his son Lamech was born.  After the birth of Lamech, Methuselah lived another 782 years, and he had other sons and daughters.  He died a the age of 969.

When Lamech was 182 years old, his son Noah was born.  Lamech named his son Noah, for he said, "He will bring us relief from the painful labor of farming this ground that the LORD has cursed."  After the birth of Noah, Lamech lived 595 years, and he had other sons and daughters.  He died at the age of 777.

By the time Noah was 500 years old, he had three sons:  Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

***

 Thoughts....

So, I'm reading along in Genesis.  Something I've done many times before.   And it say Cain, who killed his brother Abel, was being banished from his land by the LORD God.  And Cain says, "All who see me will try to kill me!"  

All WHO?

There was God, Adam, Eve, one serpent, and 'kazillions' of animals.  You know....from "In the beginning....".  So, if they were the only folks/animals around, how did we go from 5 folks, and one serpent, and a kazillion animals to Thee and weeeeeeeeeeeee?

Then Cain's wife became pregnant.

Where did SHE come from?  Must have been one of the ALL that we don't know about, yet we do....sort of....now.  

Then it says - I don't even want to go into it all - I don't understand how all these sons were having sons with purportedly no one, yet "ALL" were around.  Then Lamech marries 2 wives.  Really?  Yes.  Was he divorced?  Separated?  Did his first wife die, like maybe in childbirth?  Or is this the beginning of why folks may believe in polygamy?  Or having affairs?  

Lamech goes on to kill a child who attacked and wounded him, and he declares, on his own, ie., self-proclaimed, not even waiting for God to say anything about this, that anyone who takes revenge against him will be punished seventy-seven times.  

Next, back to Adam, who sleeps with Eve again, and gives birth to Seth.  Seth grew up and had a son he named Enosh.  It was during Enosh's lifetime that people first began to worship the LORD God.  

Alleluia !  Will we see less questionable moral turpitude?  

Oh wait, there's more.

Gee, in Chapter 5, all I see in descendant ancestry is suppression of women.  All the men are mentioned as having first born children - named - and then other sons and daughters, but no mention of the wives who gave birth.

Should I be surprised there is a suppression of women.  Guess not, it still exists today.

In the first paragraph of Chapter 5 in the NLT, where it says 'when God created 'people' ', there is an asterisk which references 'people' as 'MAN'.  We're clear he made THEM in his image/likeness.  But it says 'he created THEM male and female'.  How can, then, 'MAN', singular, be 'THEM' plural?  And then he blessed THEM and called THEM 'human', asterisk again for 'MAN'.  

So what is it?  Are we?  

Let's hear from The Abington Bible Commentary Copyright 1929 by the Abingdon Press, Inc., which had many contributors.  Page 132, 4. Moral Criticism reads, in part, as follows:   

'It has already been said that the O.T., like any other literature, must stand or fall by its own intrinsic quality.  This principle has led many quite confidently to announce its approaching dethronement from the high position it has so long occupied in the literature of the world.   Rationalistic writers have openly made jest of some of the stories it contains.  Many Christian people have been puzzled by what appears to be it's imperfect morality, and have sought refuge in deeper devotion to the N.T. and a tacit neglect of the O.T.

Now, if we are going blindly to insist on the dogma of an equal inspiration of every verse in the Bible, we must inevitably defeat the purpose we have in view.  Instead of persuading people to love the Bible more we shall only succeed in making them skeptical of its claims to reverence.  Frankly, the O.T. does contain stories that are unedifying, some of them even told without apparent moral censure.  ....  The conclusion seems unavoidable that much of the morality of the O.T. is imperfect as judged by Christian standards.  This was quite frankly recognized by our Lord himself (Mt. 5:21-47) [NOTE: the references may not, most probably will not, coincide with the NLT, and because so many translations of the Bible were available at the time this book was written, I cannot hazard a guess as to which one(s) were used, so the reader will have to ascertain as best/closely as possible the actual references based on their particular date/translation of their Bible.]  It also seems to have been recognized in one form or another by all the leading N.T. writers; by Paul (Rom 8:2); by John (Jn. 1:17); and by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews (10:1-4).  At the same time it is undeniable that our Lord nourished his own soul from the O.T., and that "the Scriptures" was the common designation of the O.T. in N.T. times (Lk.4:21 Jn. 5:30 Acts 17:2, etc.).  There must therefore, have been that in the O.T. which satisfied the conscience and ministered to the spiritual life of Jesus and his apostles.  In other words, this O.T. contains, besides much that is imperfect, much also that reaches heights that are nothing short of sublime.  No pre-Christian literature ever produced a passage like that describing the martyrdom of the Suffering Servant in Isa. 53.

To say this means that the O.T. itself is quite capable of passing judgment on its own imperfect morality, does, indeed, tacitly pass such judgment insofar as it shows how that which was unworthy gradually gave place to what is above sane moral criticism.  In some passages we can actually see the judgment of a more enlightened conscience being  passed on earlier and crude conceptions.  ....  Actions that they had no difficulty in ascribing to God in the tenth century they could not bring themselves to ascribe to him in the third.

Once more, the solution of the problem is to be found in the analysis and dating of the sources of which the O.T. is composed. By that means we are able to see how God progressively revealed himself to men as they were able to receive hm.  As one lesson was learned, another was taught.  It could not be otherwise.  Moreover, a careful analysis reveals the fact that the transient elements in the O.T. such as the "ban" (see e.g., Josh. 7), polygamy, and the law of blood revenge, are roughly those that are pre-Mosaic, while those that are permanent and that were received into and perfected by the gospel of Christ, are those that sprang from the new impulse that Moses gave to religion for his countrymen and for the world.  It is true that the transient elements did not at once die out.  For long they persisted side by side with higher conceptions; but their disappearance was only a matter of time.

…. If we are rightly to value our Christian heritage, we need to be at once humbled and encouraged by the view backward over the whole of the long road by which God has led us to it.  And no one possessed of imagination and sympathy with the race in its upward striving toward God will wish to see a single verse of the marvelous record perish from the affection of his fellows.  We conclude then, that so far from the O.T. being discredited by criticism, its title to reverence has been abundantly vindicated.  It stands for all time as a memorial of goodness and severity of God (Rom 11:22) that prepared the way for the coming of Him in whom all it's promises are fulfilled. '   //

Bottom line.  The Bible, within which holds the Old Testament, O.T., is a compilation of segments of our history through the ages, both in ancestry and experience, documented historically, as is the New Testament, N.T., [excluding all documents found since, or that will be found which support the Bible truths historically, or provide new], which chronicles the path God took from creation to the introduction of the Savior of the world, Jesus, as Christians call him, who then, when he arose to heaven, sent us Holy Spirit, and shares with us the promise of our future for all eternity, if we become one with them, and obey (See John 15).    

Within the confines of the Bible, you will find things will that startle you, amaze you, make you question then, and now, paths of direction, and paths of destruction, the way to go and not to go, as directed by God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  And you will learn about Satan, the evil force in the universe and his assigns, who are opposed to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, who are the all time intrinsically good guys, so to speak.   

Some things will make sense, and others, as you read and grow, you will wonder how, why, who, etc., as I have done today.  I remember the creation story....everyone probably does.  I don't always (want to) remember some of the other 'stuff', being one of the many mentioned above who favors the N.T. over the O.T.  And, I continue to be amazed at the time warp difference of 'no people' to 'many people' in the course of a sentence, making me go 'out there' in my mind to wonder what else we don't know about others who may be in our universe....beyond the blue horizon.  Surely, if God's writers in history can share the initial 5, and then skip over to Cain marrying, and ALL purportedly would be 'out to get him', leaving out those bunch of people along the way, there is more to our story....yes, ours.  I'm not a movie enthusiast, always having way too much life to live and money to make to have time to sit and enjoy them, unless it is at Christmas time, or a good Hallmark movie, but I have to say, I look forward to seeing, or knowing, the whole story one day, as opposed to .... shall we call it the 'trailer' of life .... as the choice word of the day?

Regardless, as you journey through the Bible, I hope you will understand that not everything will seem as it 'should' due to many factors, but that it in no way invalidates the Word of God, but should allow you the opportunity to learn as you go that there is 'more to the story', especially in the N.T. on how to live your life today, that you will one day learn, or which will be reinforced as previously having been learned.  And be aware, as you grow, each time you read a reference, it may mean something different to you.  That is because God is allowing you to peel back the layers, of your life, to arise to new depths of understanding and wisdom, Wisdom being the application of knowledge.  

With every breath you take, as the song says, I hope you will breathe in all God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and all the authors have to share.  Or 'Thought' provokers, like myself, and other Pastors, Ministers, Rabbis, Priests, etc.  We are not perfect, but we are willing to listen and impart, to the best of our ability, in my case at least, all the Trinity - God, Jesus, Holy Spirit - have to share.  We are all in this life together, none of us greater than another, so if God, Jesus, or Holy Spirit is speaking to you to share their thoughts, do not stand on conventional mandates designed by man that says you must be licensed, or ordained, or go to a special college.  If God calls you, you better go....and speak forth.  Paul sure did, as did many others.  But stand at their feet, bow down to them, and look up at them, always keeping them in focus.  And listen, for they have much to say.  If what you have to say does not align with the Word of God, maybe it's because others may need to get into the Word, or back into the Word, to 'prove' you wrong.  That's ok....because it got them into the Word.  God does not fail.  Nor does his Word.  Trust that he knows what he is doing and doing with you.      

May you be blessed as you carry on their names, in their names.    

***

Let Us Pray

Dear God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I so appreciate higher levels of learning when I take the time to spend more quality time with you.  Continue to help me grow in and with you.  And speak forth as you give me utterance.  'Imperfect' Bible or perfect Bible, imperfect words or perfect words.  And help all those you call to respond, or send others to remind them they need to go....forth.  There are not enough workers in the field to share your Word.  I cannot wait for those moments we 'get in the deep' together.  I am sincerely grateful for the astonishment, the joy, the laughter, the amazement, the questions, the answers, and even when there are not answers, now....for there will be one day.  For that I am grateful, too.  Please restore my vision literally, so that I can better see you, and your Word, and share it with the world.  I claim healing in Jesus' precious name, by and with the power of THE Holy Spirit, as I pray to you, dear Heavenly Father God.   I praise you.  I thank you.  I love you.  Amen,    

Majesty....worship His Majesty !

***

Grateful for God's lesson today?

We now have Pay Pal!  See below!

 Visit our NEW rooms in The Family Room!

Hey....we have a New Blog....'Truth On Main Street'!

Our Catalog Page is here....'Shoppe'!

Did you know there are 8 plus years (!) of 

'Thoughts....Archived'?

For when you need The Word any time of day or night!

***

 More love.... 

  Benediction....Blessing

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  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.

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.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

*** 

Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

***

Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.'  Galatians 3: 27

  It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!

Teach tolerance....reach in acceptance....worship as one!

Respect....Embrace....Encourage!

***

***

If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regularly to us, or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

***

There is no better time than now to let God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit know how grateful you are for them being there for you, all they have done for you and will do, and, show thankfulness for being fed the Word of God, so you can know and obey him.   

Through your donations,

 people will be able to continue to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world

and

lives will be changed!

Not only will people hear the Gospel preached, but healings will be manifested, food and housing provided,

water will quench thirsts, and medical care provided. 

Please consider donating your best gift possible today.

We now offer Pay Pal as a way to donate immediately and safely.  You'll find that option as you scroll down on this page.

Thank you and may God richly bless you!  

***

  Our Continual Cause

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, animals, the earth, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart.  

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you ! 

***

You can now donate securely through Pay Pal!

Stand by - disabled

 

No gift is too small or too large to the Lord. 

*

If you have any questions, I can be reached at:

000-000-0000

Monday - Friday

9 a.m.  -  11 a.m.

USA Mountain Time

****Temporary Issues****

Please note Trinity Missions or CoHS in your subject line.

****NO TEMPORARY CONTACT****

At this time,

due to security reasons, and my current employment,

all information of contact has been changed and deleted. 

Please understand.

 *

As we grow, you will have options for allocating your gifts.

In the meantime, we hope you will trust us to direct them to where the need is the greatest.

***

  One last thing....

Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

***

***

I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

***

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

 ***

NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

 *