Finding and Keeping Our Identity IN CHRIST

The difference between the first Adam and the last Adam, Jesus Christ, spells the difference between life and death for us. Perhaps it is best stated in scripture:

Version: NAS

1 Corinthians 15:22
"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive."

The phrase "in Christ" is the most critical element of our identity. So let's look a little deeper to see what this really means:

We weren't born "in Christ". We were born into sin, thanks to Adam and his sin in the Garden of Eden. So, what is God's plan to transform us from living like Adam to living like Jesus? When Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, He told us in John 3:3, "We must be "born-again". Our physical birth brings us only physical life, but Jesus promises us spiritual life, "Zoe" life, through Himself.

John 3:36
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life..."

When we become believers and have that re-birth experience we have our name written the the Lamb's Book of Life.

Revelation 21:27

and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

The "lamb's book of life" is literally a list of names of those who have asked Jesus into their hearts as Lord and Savior.


Contrary to what a lot of Christians believe, eternal life is not something you get when you die. We are spiritually alive in Christ right now. We were born again spiritually at our "salvation experience". We take on the "Zoe" life. When we die physically, we will exchange our earthly bodies for another "heavenly" type body. But our spiritual life in Christ will continue on; our spirit will move on to be with Jesus in heaven.


As in the words of the author, "Salvation is not a future addition; it's a present transformation. Eternal life is not something you get when you die. Eternal life is something you possess right now because you're "in Christ"."

Being a Christian is not just a matter of "getting something"; forgiveness of sin, and eternity in heaven with God, but we receive a new nature. Being born-again transformed us into someone who didn't exist before; a saint, a divine masterpiece, a child of God, and a citizen of the Kingdom of God.


It's not what we do as a Christian that determines who we are, but it's who we are that determines what we do.

When we have our identity straight; knowing that we are a child of God, a new creation in Christ, it will affect how we think, our decisions and our outlook on the future. Knowing we are God's child, loved and cherished by Him, we will be raising our heads and feeling hope and optimism, not feeling defeated, unloved, and condemned. Knowing who we are "in Christ" will absolutely change our life.

Version: KJV

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1 John 3:1-3
1. See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and [such] we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. 3. And everyone who has this hope [fixed] on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.


So leave behind the identity with Adam, and find your true identity "in Christ" with Jesus. Think of yourself as the new creation in Christ. Look over the list of "Who I Am in Christ" from the earlier post of January 28, and start believing them. Believe what God has to say about you, then find your actions and life start changing too.

Love,

in Jesus,

Debra

concepts and ideas from Chapter 2,

 Victory Over the Darkness

Chapter 2, Forever Different

As Christians, many of us feel like the "first" Adam, camped outside the Garden of Eden with a sign around our neck that says "Failure". We know we have blown it and forfeited paradise. And like Adam, we repeat his mistakes over and over. Instead, we should see ourselves like the "last" Adam, Jesus Christ. We are not locked outside of God's presence, but are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.

Version: NAS

Ephesians 2:6
"and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places],  in Christ Jesus..."

The difference between these two Adams in our history is profound. We need to make sure we are identifying with the right one. Jesus came as the "last Adam" to pay for our sins. The first Adam sinned and left the Garden to die spiritually. His "Zoe" life had been severed with God. Jesus' death on the cross made a bridge that united us with Father God once more. Our "zoe" life could be regained through Jesus Christ. The chasm that had been created relationally because of Adam's sin was bridged by Jesus.

Jesus Depended on God the Father

The first thing we notice about Jesus is that He was totally dependent upon Father God. Adam was dependent at first, but later decided to believe the lie of the enemy. Jesus spent His entire life and ministry totally trusting in and depending on His Father.

John 5:30
"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 6:57
"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats (takes communion) Me, he also shall live because of Me.


John 8:42
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.

John 14:10
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

Even after Jesus had been in the desert for 40 days and Satan came to Him to tempt Him to turn the stones into bread, Jesus said:

Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"

Basically Jesus was saying, "I may be hungry, and I have the power to do this, but I will put aside my physical desires and wants, and I will seek Father God for what He has to say in this matter. What God thinks is more important that what I might physically want or desire."

And as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest and crucifixion, He placed His life and ministry in God's hands.

John 17:7-8
"Now they know that everything You have given me comes from You. For I gave them the words You gave me, and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You and they believed that You sent me."

Luke 22:42
saying, "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done."

Jesus modeled for us what it was like to totally depend on God the Father at all times. Even at times of great distress and grief, even when Jesus was clarifying God's will for the crucifixion, He put God the Father first. He depended on God for everything.

Jesus had an Uninterrupted Spiritual Life

Jesus was born physically and spiritually alive. His "Zoe" life had been there from His conception by the Holy Spirit. Even as a child, when Jesus went to Jerusalem with His parents for Passover, He knew His purpose.
 
Luke 2:46-49
46. And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48. And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You." 49. And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's [house?]"

Unlike Adam, Jesus lived a sinless life. He did not forfeit like Adam through sin. Jesus was the only human to have been born without sin, and He lived His entire life, even to the cross without sin.

Luke 23:46
And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit." And having said this, He breathed His last.


Hebrews 4:14-16

 14. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as [we are, yet] without sin. 16. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

It's vitally important that we know the difference between Adam and Jesus. We strive to live a life like Jesus and conform to His image. No longer do we have to feel like an outsider or to live trapped in a life of mistakes and defeat. We need to realize that through Jesus death on the cross He has made new our ability to have "Zoe" life once more. Jesus has bridged the gap that sin had created.

Daily trusting in Jesus and seeking

that "zoe" spiritual life and awareness...,

Debra

(concepts taken from Chapter 2, "Forever Different")
 Victory Over the Darkness

                                                     

Weekend Comments

Well, we've finished the first chapter of Victory Over the Darkness this week. Studying Chapter 3 of Genesis and looking at Adam and Eve has given us a lot to think about concerning sin. How to avoid it and then what to do if it DOES happen.

I'm really enjoying getting started in this book again. It has so much great basic information about our human nature. Things that I need to be reminded of; about emotions and choices. Then seeking a relationhip with God that is one that He has intended and desires for all of us.

If you have any questions or comments be sure and let me know.

or you can email me on my profile info.

Have a great weekend you all.

Enjoy the Superbowl all you fans out there!

love,

Debra

I Needed Change

I've always had a heart "after God". From the time I came to know Jesus and invited Him into my heart at age 6, I've wanted to know God  up close and personal. I wanted more than just going to Sunday School and Church. I wanted to experience the kind of relationship with God that they had in the Old Testament. I'll never forget in my early 40's studying Abraham in the Old Testament. God called him out of his city and family and asked him to go to a place that was yet to be disclosed. I identified with Abraham. God spoke to Him. That's what I wanted and I asked for it.

God was calling me, I could feel it in every part of my being, but I couldn't shake the "old me". Somewhere along the way in life I had wandered off from God. Not in my heart, but in my head. I still loved God and had good intentions, I just was distracted with life; marriage, children, homes, relationships, jobs. You know, life in general.

I had a lot of things going on in my life that were not things that God had ordained. Things that started when I was young; feeling distanced and neglected in my preteens, then after high school starting schooling and training to be an x-ray tech. I no longer was around high school and "church friends" but was thrown in with a new lifestyle and group of people; many older and more worldly than I have ever been around. God protected me from myself, and sent me a husband when He knew I needed one.

I had always felt "incomplete" unless I was in a "relationship". I based my identity as a young woman on "having a man". I guess that was part of the way of thinking in the 60's and early 70's. I had always wanted to get married and have children, but when the time was approaching to do that, I was looking in the wrong places. Thank you Lord, that you did not let me make a big mistake. He sent my husband into my life when I was just 19. I knew he was the one.

I'm telling you these things, because I think a lot of us experience some form of this. We may have had a "salvation experience", but we don't change very much. Our identity remains the same. We get caught up in life and the world's way of thinking and doing things. We may have good, honorable, and even Godly intentions, but for some reason they don't translate into our everyday lives.

There were things in my life that didn't fit in with my identity as a Christian; anger, greed, obsessive compulsive behaviors, indifference, poor choices, depression, anxiety, etc. Generally, not living a Godly lifestyle. I don't need to go into detail here. You get the point. I wasn't exhibiting the fact that I was a born-again child of God. I might have wanted to do better, but I didn't know how, or even that I could. I thought I was that way and that's the way I would stay. I needed to change, but I didn't know how.

I didn't see myself "In Christ". I didn't know the scriptures about my "identity". I didn't read the Bible. The only time I picked it up was on the way out the door to church, just so I could follow along with the pastor during the service. I wasn't fully aware of the "life changing" event that had happened in my spirit when I made the decision to trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was walking like the old Adam, but I needed to know the "last Adam", Jesus Christ. I was living in condemnation and wrong choices, exhibiting all the negative emotions, and seeking approval of everyone else, myself included, without realizing I needed God's approval.

How do you see yourself, as in the first Adam? Do you have behaviors and ways of thinking that you have seen in the study this week? How do you even unintentionally, identify with Adam and Eve? Ask God to show you where you are in this. Let Him speak to you about emotions and actions that He wants you to turn over to Him. Share your thoughts on this with us. I've taken off the "mask". Is God urging you to do the same?

Monday we'll start looking at the differences between the "first" Adam of the Garden, and the "last Adam" in Jesus Christ.

in Jesus love,

Debra

(concepts taken from Chapter 2,

Victory Over the Darkness, by Neil Anderson)

Our Emotions in a Fallen World

Yesterday we talked about the fact that on Adam and Eve leaving the Garden of Eden after they sinned, their "spiritual" life had died; their "zoe" life, and that they were removed from the "protection" of the Garden. They were then on a course of "physical death"; their "bios" life changed. Death had come into the equation. Not only for Adam and Eve, but for all mankind.

            

Now to look at the middle circle; the "soul" of man. Let's see what happened to the mind, will and emotions of man after the "fall". What is our negative inheritance?

In the Garden all their "emotions" were positive. All their needs were being met and they had a close relationship with God. After they sinned the first thing we see is fear. Adam and Eve hid from God. They were afraid of God and they were consumed with shame, guilt, and anxiety. These negative emotions are all evidence of a lack of faith in God. Later in Genesis we see the emotions of anger, hatred, depression, and jealousy being shown in their children, Cain and Able, when Cain murders his brother.

Version: NAS

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity (fear), but of power and love and discipline.


Secondly, when we look at the concept of the "will", we can contrast in that in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve only had one wrong choice, and that was to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Up until that time all their choices were good and approved by God. Once they sinned and left the Garden, choices became hard as their will was given free reign.

John 7:17
"If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or [whether] I speak from Myself.



Their "minds" were darkened as they lost the knowledge of God. They lost relationship with God and in doing so they lost the ability to "know" God on an intimate level.

1 Corinthians 2:16
For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

As New Testament believers with a relationship with Jesus Christ, we have the ability to "Belong" to God and trust Him which can relieve fear and all the wrong emotions that are attached.

We can give God the ability to direct our "will" in that we pray for Him to lead and guide us with our choices. We don't have to be out there depending on our human nature to come up with the right answers for the choices that we must continually make.

Knowing Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, puts us back in the place to have relationship and knowledge of God. Our unregenerate "mind" becomes new, our eyes are opened to God's Word the Bible, and we can look at life through the eyes of God, not human nature.

Rejection becomes "belonging". Fear, guilt, and shame become "significance" in the eyes of God, and poor choices and sin become "safety and security" through our protection and covering by The Father.

Jesus offers us new life in Christ. Through Him we are reconnected and re-established with Father God. Our minds can be renewed and we are restored in relationship. How wonderful! We're not on our own, but filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and protect!

Next, Chapter 2 "Forever Different"

love you all,
Debra

Our Negative Inheritance from the Fall

"The idyllic setting in the Garden of Eden was shattered. The effects of man's fall were dramatic, immediate and far-reaching, infecting every subsequent member of the human race."

(excerpt taken from Neil Anderson, "Victory Over the Darkness")

Genesis Chapter 3:11-24
11. And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" 12. And the man said, "The woman whom Thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." 13. Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 14. And the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly shall you go, And dust shall you eat All the days of your life; 15. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." 16. To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you shall bring forth children; Yet your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." 17. Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18. "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field; 19. By the sweat of your face You shall eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return." 20. Now the man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all [the] living. 21. And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. 22. Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever "-- 23. therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Adam and Eve thought they would hide from God, Shame overtook them, and God asked Adam a question. "Who told you, you were naked?" God knew the answer. He wasn't on vacation when all this was going on. I suppose He waited for them to come to Him and confess, but they did not. They hid instead. It is said that there is great significance in that God gave them clothing for a covering. Up until this time they had not needed clothing because they were not aware they needed it. There was no shame in their nakedness. God himself sacrificed animals for their sin, to cover them; the beginning of that act of repentance.
         
God sent Adam and Eve from the garden, and with that banishment came curses. For Eve, childbearing and being subservient to her husband. To Adam, that he would work and toil for his living and that the earth would also change...just because they disobeyed. To Satan, that he would be cursed above all animals, slithering on the ground. A prophetic warning is given to Satan by God. "You will be at odds with the woman and her seed". Here God is speaking of Mary and her seed Jesus.

Romans 16:20
"And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."

Jesus crushed Satan by His sacrificial crucifixion on the cross, but Satan bruised Jesus' heal. Jesus regained the authority that was given away by Adam. He regained our "authority as believers" but Satan still is allowed to wander the earthly realm. This is our problem as Christians today; we have authority here on earth over Satan and all his demons, we just don't know it, or do not know how to exercise our authority. Jesus stepped on Satan, and he is under our feet, but he still can "bruise" us.


As a few of you mentioned, the book by Kenneth E. Hagin "The Believer's Authority" is a book that details this subject and is one of the very best, and I highly recommend it. It will explain this very important concept that we all need to know.
                       

So let's look at the diagram and see what changed after the "fall".

In the Garden, Adam and Eve experienced "Zoe" life. They were in spiritual union and relationship with God. When they sinned their spiritual life died. Their spiritual union with God was severed.

Genesis 2:17
"but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die."

God had warned them, but then Satan twisted their thinking and they sinned.

What about their "Physical Life" or "Bios"? Well, even though they did not die immediately their physical death was put in motion. They would have lived eternally in the Garden with God, but once they left, they entered the world of physical death. So now, every human comes into this world, physically alive, but spiritually dead, separated from God.

We are not born without sin and the world and life corrupts us. We are born fully into the "sin nature". The only human being born without that sin nature was Jesus.

So their spirit suffered spiritual death, and their body suffered the start of death and decay, tomorrow we will look at what happened to their "soul" the mind, will, and emotions.

I know there is a lot to read and keep up with. Hopefully you are gaining the main points of the information. It's good when there can be group discussion. I'll still encourage you to buy the book if you'd like. There is a lot to absorb in these little "dailies". You know how I love to hear from you!
Thank you again for your comments and input. I love hearing how these posts allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you. That's how the Word of God ministers and changes us. It penetrates "bone and marrow" to get to our hearts, where it can begin to work!

Love in Jesus,

Debra

"Encountering" Sin

Have you ever wondered how long Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden with God? How many years... hundreds of years... thousands of years...did they enjoy the intimate and loving company of God? How many years of knowing God and walking in perfect relationship, before they decided He wasn't "enough" for them?

(Just a little funny here,

before we look at a really serious subject)

Genesis Chapter 3 tells the story of Adam and Eve's lost relationship with God through sin. 

Version: NAS
Genesis 3

1. Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden '?" 2. And the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3. but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.'" 4. And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die! 5. "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make [one] wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 8. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9. Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" 10. And he said, "I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself." 11. And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" 12. And the man said, "The woman whom Thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." 13. Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

Having read this chapter again, I want to spend more time on this than the book covers. We can find some really important things to look at in Genesis Chapter 3. God has highlighted some points that we all need to think about when it comes to dealing with temptation and sin, and then how we react and relate to God after the fact.


1. God never changes and His Word, the Bible, never changes. It is just as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago, or 4,000 years ago, or however long ago that this time of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden occurred in this chapter in Genesis. It's not mythology, it's not fabricated to "prove a point". It's not a metaphor. It's the Truth. Now, having said that, if any of you doubt or don't believe there is an actual spiritual entity out there called Satan; I have two words for you... WAKE UP!

2. In verse 1 we need to realize that Satan is crafty. He is real and smart and devious. Don't lose sight of this. He will trick you, lie to you, and maneuver you with thoughts and ideas.

3. Satan looks for our "comfortable times". Adam and Eve were living the good life. All their needs were being met. Life was "cushy" and they were enjoying themselves. Don't let the enemy into your life at all. Always be on guard. Don't get too comfortable in your spiritual life, thinking everything is great and you are beyond the idea of temptation. Satan is looking for opportunity to catch us "off guard".

1 Peter 5:8-9
8. Be of sober [spirit], be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9. But resist him, firm in [your] faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
 4. Don't "engage" the enemy with conversation. It won't lead to anything good. If he starts talking to you, don't listen or talk back, except to tell him to get out of your mind and life "In Jesus Name". Satan cannot read your mind. He's not all knowing. How he presents himself in our mind is by his interjecting "thoughts". If you keep hearing in your heart and mind something that says. "You're no good... you're stupid...you're not worth it...you'd be better off dead"...any number of things. You are hearing from Satan. Recognize his deceit and rebuke him. Then stop listening.

5.This is why we need to be reading the Word of God daily. Spend time with the Lord, so that just like a counterfeit $20 bill, you will know it. The more time you spend reading the scripture and praying, the more easily you will be able to recognize when the devil starts trying to talk. Put God's Word in your mind and in your heart daily. Know the Truth of God's Word, then you won't be confused with what the devil may be throwing at you.

6. Realize that just like in the previous point, Satan will twist scripture to try to get you confused. He will take it out of context and change words and ideas around to try to get you to listen to him. He's smart, and he knows God's Word. He will try to make you question what God has said to you, and tempt you with doing it your own way. If Satan cannot keep us out of the Bible, then he will try to use it against us, by condemnation and misuse. There is a big difference between "condemnation" and "conviction". "Condemnation" makes you feel horrible and is not used by the Holy Spirit. "Conviction" is for positive change and doesn't beat you over the head. It's encouraging and challenging, without making you feel rotten.

7. Guard your attention, and interests. Don't get off into something that God has not permitted or orchestrated for you. Be careful what comes in front of your eyes and ears. If you set around reading novels about lust and romance and adultery, I can tell you it won't be long before the devil sees your interest in it. If you're reading and thinking about adultery and promiscuity, then hey, it won't be long before the enemy will present you with a real opportunity to experience it!
If you are trying to budget but you find yourself looking through catalogs and magazines, wanting everything you see, it won't be long until your charge card is burning in your hand and you're off to the mall.
Stay focused on God and what He puts in front of you. Don't let the enemy have place in your thought life.

8. Now I'm going to make a big point here. Husbands listen up. Men, you can stop playing the blame game. Pastors and teachers...read your Bible. This wasn't all Eve's fault!

OK, I've said it! This has always bugged me, that sanctimonious men have blamed Eve for all that happened. Not only punishing Eve, but every other woman. If you will read the scripture, you will realize that Adam was right there with her. Adam had authority in the Garden; not Satan and not Eve. It was Adam's responsibility to stick with his wife and watch over her, cover her, and protect her. He was the "spiritual head of his family" and he messed up. He didn't take authority over the devil and say, "Hey, stop talking to my wife!" He let the conversation go on and didn't stop it. He wasn't walking in his place of husband, leader, and protector. I could go on here and preach a sermon, but I won't. I'll stop now. But I hope you get my point!

9. So then, after we sin what is our first inclination? To run away from God? We try to hide and hope He won't see the mess we have made. We hope if we pull the covers over ourselves that He won't find us. We can't escape from God. We can try to run away, but the day will come when God stations Himself front and center in our path and then we will be forced to let God deal with us and our sin. It's best not to put it off. Come clean before God quickly, it's so much better.

10. Don't make excuses, and don't blame others. Sin is sin and we have to admit it. I remember at one time there was something that was plaguing me and I kept doing it. God had been speaking to me about it for quite awhile. It was something that I held onto and didn't want to let go of. I kept making excuses for my behavior, giving Him every reason in the book for why it should be acceptable to Him. One day He said to me. "Stop making excuses, it is sin and you better call it that." It was a strong word and believe me it got my attention!

11. God forgives our sin, but there are sometimes consequences. God is quick to forgive our transgressions. He is there to help us, move us forward, and encourage us. He loves us more than we could possibly know. But, we live in a "natural" world with natural "laws". If you jump off a building you will hit the ground...a natural law. Now, God will forgive your impulsiveness, your blindness, your stupidity, your arrogance, your lack of good judgement, etc.; but you will still be dead or disfigured.

This has been a lesson God gave me this morning. This is a real-time teaching that God has impressed upon me today, not from the book.

Tomorrow we'll pick up with our consequences from "the fall".

Let me know how this lesson effected you. I know it's a lot of food for thought. I am going to be having this in my head and heart all day today!

much love in Jesus,

Debra