Fresh Bread

How about some very fresh bread - from the Bread of Life.  Anyone hungry? 

      Have you ever wondered why the bible says sin entered the world through one "MAN" - when "Eve" was the first human to actually transgress the commandment of God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?   Why then did Paul say that "sin entered the world" through "one MAN" (Adam) rather than through one woman, Eve????

      Eve's role is not altogether forgotten, for Paul mentions her part also!  I Timothy 2:14 highlights the difference between Adam's and Eve's actions.  "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression."   If Eve was the one who was deceived, and she transgressed the command first, before Adam, why isn't she fingered as the entry point of sin into the world? 

       Are you beginning to get it already?   What's the difference stated so far?  That's right!  Eve was deceived and transgressed; Adam was not deceived and transgressed.  Do you see the difference?  It is HUGE!

      Paul saw it by revelation and described it in his letter to the Romans in chapter 5.  "Therefore, just as through one man, sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. - For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam..." 

      Aha!  If we can understand what is the "likeness of Adam's transgression, we will be nourished by the fresh bread being offered today.   We already know what Adam's trangression was not like; it was not like Eve's - because she was deceived and HE WAS NOT!   THAT'S IT!!!!!!!  Do you see it now?   Eve transgressed because she was deceived into doing so, but Adam sinned fully knowing what he was doing! 

      That is why Paul wrote this, which underscores the truth we need to lay hold of.  " For as by one man's disobedience many were made [were constituted] sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made  [will be constituted] righteous."    The likeness of Adam's sin is described here as DISOBEDIENCE not as having been deceived.  The Greek language makes it even more clear by Paul's use of the word "para + akouo".  This word literally means to "hear - aside".   The Greek word for "obedience" is to "hear + under".   The difference between Adam who "heard aside" and Jesus who "heard under" is this; the first Adam constituted many men sinners by his hearing aside and the last Adam constituted many righteous by His hearing under.   

      Eve was deceived by the serpent and transgressed God's commandment; Adam was not deceived by the Serpent but chose to IGNORE God's commandment.  He "refused" to hear the commandment, and he did so without being deceived in any way.  This word "para + akouo" (disobedience/hearing aside) is also used in Matthew 18 in this way: "But if he will "NOT HEAR" [parakouo/hears aside], take with you one or two more....And if he "REFUSES TO HEAR" [parakouo/hears aside] the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."   

        How crucial it is for us to understand the difference between Eve's and Adam's transgressions.  The action was the same - Eve -"she took some and ate it" - Adam -"and he ate it" but the heart behind the action is altogether different.  There are several Greek words used to describe the full grown attitude of "hearing aside" [parakouo].  One of them is "ungodliness" from the Greek word [a (negative) + sebo - to revere (literally "to refuse to fall back")].   Refusing to "fall back", to recognize the authority and sovereignty of God is to become "ungodly/asebia."   This word describes more of the heart attitude of defiance towards submitting onesself to God by falling back, "hearing under" [obeying] His word rather than "hearing aside" [disobeying] it.  The other Greek word used to describe parakouo, "hearing aside", in its adult stage is "Lawlessness"!   Lawlessness is a description of the relationship with the defiant individual to The Law of God which he so disregards that he defiantly transgresses it without repentance or remorse.  

        Transgressions may look the same from the standpoint of an external observation, but the difference internally is one of life and death.  There is a sin not unto death, and there is a sin unto death.  They may not look all that different on the outside, but that's not where God is looking is it?   "The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."   

       The difference between Adam's and Eve's transgression can be seen in several other places as well.  "If we sin willfully after having received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no sacrifice, but a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the adversaries."    In the same book of Hebrews we also read "For if the message spoken by angels proved steadfast and every transgression AND DISOBEDIENCE [parakouo] received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation."  

        God will forgive the sinner who transgresses a command, then repents, confesses his transgressions, and begins to "hear under" (obey).  God will never forgive the sinner who transgresses one command after another because he continues to "hear aside" (disobeys) without repentance unto the "obedience/hearing under" of faith.

It was Adam's "hearing aside" that constitutes men sinners after the likeness of his transgression.  We should learn to appreciate the difference; it is a matter of life and death!

Hearts Set Aright and Steadfast Spirits

Psalm 78:5-8 states, "For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God." 

Four characteristics of this not to be imitated generation are given here: they were stubborn, they were rebellious, they set not their hearts aright, and their spirits were not steadfast with God. 

That their hearts had not been set aright was clearly seen in their response to the various trials God designed to "prove" (reveal) their hearts. A heart set aright is wholly devoted in unshakeable trust; therefore, when trials and tests come to prove it, the response is always thanksgiving and prayer. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication present your request to God." Any murmuring, complaining, fear, or anxiety reveals that our heart has yet to be set fully aright. We all know that we are to do everything without complaining, to do everything without arguing that we may become blameless and pure children of God. 

Consider all the ways the wilderness generation's responses revealed that they had not set their hearts aright. When they were caught between the red sea and the Egyptian army, they murmured. When the Lord allowed them to go three days without finding water, they grumbled. When the provisions of food that they had carried with them out of Egypt began to run out, they complained. When they grew tired of eating the bread of angels everyday, they protested. When they were forced to wait 40 days for Moses to come down off the mountain of God, they appointed a new leader and made themselves another god. When they were tempted by menacing maidens to offer sacrifices to Molech, many ran headlong into the trap and 23,000 died in one day. Every murmur, every grumble, every doubt, every protest, every disobedience, proved again and again that they had not set their hearts aright and that their spirits were not steadfast with God.

Some would be sympathetic to their plight and appeal strongly that they were simply "weak"; after all, the pain of desperate thirst, the dizziness of extreme hunger, the threat of total annihilation, are not common adversities. Yet, God's testimony of them, through Asaph, was that they were stubborn and rebellious. We understand stubbornness to be a resistance against all efforts to be persuaded; therefore, this generation was stubborn in that it continually resisted God's attempt to enable them to set their hearts aright and develop a steadfast spirit with Himself.

It was God who told Moses to have the people turn back so that Pharaoh would be drawn out of Egypt. His design was both to reveal to the people their unbelief and fear, while at the same time gaining glory for Himself through a display of might so great as to inspire faith even in the weakest heart. Did the people receive the faith imparting grace that God's glory afforded them? Indeed not; the tambourines had barely stopped rattling before the people began to notice that their water was running out. You would think that the God who could part one ocean, could easily provide another; however, their response to thirst revealed that they had not received His grace in their Red Sea deliverance. In every test their response proved that rather than receiving by grace the faith that He was seeking to set their hearts aright by, they instead stubbornly resisted in murmuring and complaining unbelief.

If we have begun to see their stubbornness, what about their rebellion? What were they rebelling against? They were rebelling against the very One who was attempting to lead them to the land of milk and honey. They were rebelling against His Spirit's attempt to win their heart's trust. Despite deliverance after deliverance, miracle upon miracle and mercy upon mercy, they stubbornly decided that God did not know what He was doing, and that bondage in Egypt was safer than battle in the Promise Land. God was finally brought to the end of His patience by the generation who continually provoked Him to anger. He declared His own faultless opinion about them: "How long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be ere they believe in me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?" Nothing provokes God more than stubborn resistance to His every attempt to set a heart aright through grace imparting faith. Nothing gives clearer indication that hearts have not been set aright than our response to trials and temptations.

The Lord has made it clear that His desire is for our hearts to be set aright and steadfast with Him in unwavering faith. A heart set aright, and a steadfast spirit counts it all joy whenever it is faced with trials or temptations. A heart that has been set aright will always respond in believing confidence that the God who has proven Himself faithful every time before, will once again be faithful. In the face of adversity, a steadfast spirit will sing, "There is no shadow of turning with Thee, Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not." This steadfast confidence manifests itself in continual praise and thanksgiving. It has come to the realization that the Lord has designed trials so that patience can have her perfect work that we can be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

A heart set aright is a believing heart that rejoices in God's design to teach us obedience through the things that we suffer. Paul had set his heart aright, and therefore declared, "I will boast all the more gladly in my infirmities, that the power of Christ might rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake." A heart set aright has been won over by the grace of God, and declares with Joseph, "You meant it for evil, the Lord meant it for good to bring to pass this day to save much people alive." Joseph's spirit had been made steadfast with God, and he realized that his own painful suffering had all been for his brothers' salvation. Hardship had not left him bitter, but blessed.
Nothing reveals that our hearts have not been set aright more than a brother or sister's evil thoughts towards us. There is no pain as keen as the wound from a friend, and no instrument sharper than a brother's accusing tongue. "Reckless words pierce as a sword, and a man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, a sword and a sharp arrow." Under these God sent adversities, hearts that have not been set aright are revealed, and spirits that are not steadfast toward God falter in the heat of battle. A heart set aright blesses when cursed, responds in kindness to abuse, and prays for those who treat it despitefully. Rather than an emotional outburst of flesh, it manifests a spiritual steadfastness of faith.

Are we undone to see the true condition of our hearts? Can we say with Isaiah, "I am a man of unclean lips?" Wherein can we obtain a steadfast spirit with God? There is balm in Gilead! God has made a remedy! There is something so steadfast that it never fails, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning." Only the love of God, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things; only His love never fails. Wherein can we obtain this steadfast love of God? This love is "shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit."
In order to know this love that surpasses knowledge, we must be strengthened with power through His Spirit in our inner man so that Christ can dwell in our hearts by faith. When the very love of God, Christ Himself, is dwelling in our hearts, His love constrains us. Then and only then are we steadfast, because the very One who changes not has set our hearts aright by His presence. When we know the love that the Father has for His Son, and have come to know and depend on the love God has for us, then we shall know a perfect obedience and a steadfast spirit with God.

When Christ's presence and power has set a heart aright and made a spirit steadfast, a marvelous transformation occurs. A consciousness far beyond our own capacity, one that surpasses human reasoning begins to guard and guide our every response to adversity. Then, when we feel the piercing of a brother or sister's tongue, we find ourselves far more conscious of God's thoughts towards them, than we are of their thoughts toward us.


O to be like Thee, O to be like Thee
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou Art
Come in Thy fullness
Come in Thy Sweetness
Stamp Thine own image
Deep on my heart

Missing the Home School Mark

     It would be quite unsettling to think that years of diligent effort to raise our children in a well insulated, rightly ordered environment might still find us "off center", having missed the intended target.  There are stories of a mysterious "Bermuda Triangle" phenomena of home schooling, where somehow the hearts of children are suddenly lost without a clue as to what happened.  Young families looking with awe and admiration to those "super moms and dads", whose older children were role models for their own little toddlers, are being left confused by the always easily explainable; moreover, the subject is often too painful to even discuss.  The last thing any of us want to hear is that "there are no guarantees."  Most home schooling families made the decision to teach their children at home based upon the biblical promise, "Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old, the will not depart from it."  We want this hope to be sure, because "hope differed makes the heart sick."
     The biblical record is not a glossed over account of glory reconstructed without the failures of the main characters.  We know all about Abraham and Hagar, Lot and his daughters, Judah and Tamar, David and Bathsheba, Solomon and his 700 wives.  God made sure we would have a record of the difficulties His people faced in this life, in fact scripture admonishes us to "Remember the days of darkness, for they will be many."  Where are all the first generation home schoolers: have they all done well, are they all living vibrant, godly lives filled with thanksgiving for the years of faithful instruction received through the sacrificial love of their parents?  Are we afraid to ask, or are we tempted to gloss over the glaring failure of some of the people we had held in such high esteem?  It is better to ask now, than to ignore the reality of what has happened with more than just a few home school families.  What can go wrong?  What do we look for?  What can we do about it?
     I am not claiming to have the answers; instead, my desire is to provoke us all to consider some of the dangers.  To claim there is a "fail safe" methodology would be to promote a myth.  Scripture tells us "He that thinks he stands firm, take heed lest he fall."  Paul never presumed that everything would be okay with those he had labored among.  He agonized in prayer for them, he sent fellow workers to inquire about their faith, and expressed great relief and joy whenever he received a good report about those who were always on his heart.  We would do well to learn from his godly concern, and avoid the costly mistake of over-estimating our own progress.  It is far easier to measure the mental retention of children than to ascertain the hidden condition of their hearts.  Answer keys for science and math, are far easier to use than the keys we must use to weigh their heart condition.  We must know what promises are based upon.  It is foolhardy to claim a promise while ignoring the conditions upon which it is given.  We are not given many promises that are based upon academic success, intellectual achievement, and scholarly status.  God's promises are based upon conditions academics do not automatically develop: the fear of God, righteousness, holiness, obedience etc.  With this in mind, we must know what mark we are aiming at, lest we find our academic bull's eye is not lined up with the heart pleasing spirit that is guaranteed God's blessings.
     One of the dangers we must become aware of is the "exaltation of knowledge."  There is a great difference between information and "revelation"; only God can reveal truth, wisdom, and understanding.  Jesus was the stone "the builders rejected;" the experts in the law were His greatest adversaries, while the prostitutes, publicans, and tax collectors adored Him.  The most biblically educated Jews stumbled over the stumbling stone, and refused to submit to God's righteousness, because they did not know the righteousness of God that comes by faith. If the mark we are aiming at is "raising our children in the nurture and admonition of Christ", we must avoid treating Christianity as a spiritual discipline of continually learning biblical principles.  Christianity is a relationship with the living person of Jesus Christ, not a lifestyle of ever escalating spiritual levels achieved by apprehending higher and higher principles.  The righteousness of God is experienced through living in intimate communion with the person of Jesus Christ.  Let us beware the danger of attempting to establish our own righteousness based upon "knowledge of the facts" without knowing communion with the person of Christ.  Teaching principles is far easier than instilling a "passion to know Christ"; if we are not careful, we will achieve the former while missing the latter.
     Another pitfall to be avoided is the assumption that our children need "peers" other than their parents.  The bible warned that "evil communication corrupts good morals", but just because other children are home schooled does not mean that our children will be safe with them.  Christians are warned to see that "there be in none of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God."  Evil communication is any communication that would undermine the pure and perfect heart that God's eyes run to and fro throughout the earth looking for.  In the same way that Satan used Eve to entice Adam to sin, the Devil can use other children to introduce desires to your children that lead to their downfall.  This is especially true of older children who have begun to drive and experience more unsupervised time away from their parents.  There is a grave danger in your children developing relationships with other seemingly innocent teenagers. A child's best friend should be his parents, beware the danger of allowing children to develop intimate relationships outside the immediate family.  One warning sign that indicates that our children are already in grave danger, is withholding information.  When young people have any friendship where it is discovered that concealment has occurred, the friendship should be scrutinized immediately.  The idea that young people can be more open with their peers than with their parents should not apply to a godly home.
     Perhaps the deadliest danger to avoid may be a direct result of the decision to home school, the danger of pride.  It is unwise to compare ourselves among ourselves, and yet home schoolers feel this pressure from the very outset.  We are stepping outside the current societal norm, so children schooled at home know that they are different, and that they are a part of a special movement.  We must guard them from any false notion of superiority, and minimize the spirit of competitive comparison between "us" and "they."  Our goal is to discover the simple joy of being found pleasing in God's sight.  Our reward is having His blessing and living in a home where righteousness and peace can be daily experienced.  The last thing we are trying to accomplish is promoting the very thing that led to Lucifer's downfall, and yet if we are not careful, "knowledge will puff up".
     I never intended for this article to be an exhaustive study of all the dangers home schoolers may face; instead it is hoped to stimulate careful consideration of potential problems, and some protective measures that can be taken to prevent the loss of our children's hearts.  If academics are our primary goal, we are blessed with a multitude of good materials to help us achieve excellence in education.  Before we make that our primary aim, we need to ask ourselves whether this is the main reason we chose to home school them.  Solomon is famous for building the Temple of God, but he is also infamous for building temples to Molech, Chemosh, and Ashtoreth.  Intellect without integrity will produce the same results; so will principles without a passion to know Christ.

The Real Difference between Adam and Eve

Have you ever wondered why the bible says sin entered the world through one "MAN" - when "Eve" was the first human to actually transgress the commandment of God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Why then did Paul say that "sin entered the world" through "one MAN" (Adam) rather than through one woman, Eve????

Eve's role is not altogether forgotten, for Paul mentions her part also! I Timothy 2:14 highlights the difference between Adam's and Eve's actions. "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." If Eve was the one who was deceived, and she transgressed the command first, before Adam, why isn't she fingered as the entry point of sin into the world?

Are you beginning to get it already? What's the difference stated so far? That's right! Eve was deceived and transgressed; Adam was not deceived and transgressed. Do you see the difference? It is HUGE!

Paul saw it by revelation and described it in his letter to the Romans in chapter 5. "Therefore, just as through one man, sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. - For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam..."

Aha! If we can understand what is the "likeness of Adam's transgression, we will be nourished by the fresh bread being offered today. We already know what Adam's trangression was not like; it was not like Eve's - because she was deceived and HE WAS NOT! THAT'S IT!!!!!!! Do you see it now? Eve transgressed because she was deceived into doing so, but Adam sinned fully knowing what he was doing!

That is why Paul wrote this, which underscores the truth we need to lay hold of. " For as by one man's disobedience many were made [were constituted] sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made [will be constituted] righteous." The likeness of Adam's sin is described here as DISOBEDIENCE not as having been deceived. The Greek language makes it even more clear by Paul's use of the word "para + akouo". This word literally means to "hear - aside". The Greek word for "obedience" is to "hear + under". The difference between Adam who "heard aside" and Jesus who "heard under" is this; the first Adam constituted many men sinners by his hearing aside and the last Adam constituted many righteous by His hearing under.
Eve was deceived by the serpent and transgressed God's commandment; Adam was not deceived by the Serpent but chose to IGNORE God's commandment. He "refused" to hear the commandment, and he did so without being deceived in any way. This word "para + akouo" (disobedience/hearing aside) is also used in Matthew 18 in this way: "But if he will "NOT HEAR" [parakouo/hears aside], take with you one or two more....And if he "REFUSES TO HEAR" [parakouo/hears aside] the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

How crucial it is for us to understand the difference between Eve's and Adam's transgressions. The action was the same - Eve -"she took some and ate it" - Adam -"and he ate it" but the heart behind the action is altogether different. There are several Greek words used to describe the full grown attitude of "hearing aside" [parakouo]. One of them is "ungodliness" from the Greek word [a (negative) + sebo - to revere (literally "to refuse to fall back")]. Refusing to "fall back", to recognize the authority and sovereignty of God is to become "ungodly/asebia." This word describes more of the heart attitude of defiance towards submitting onesself to God by falling back, "hearing under" [obeying] His word rather than "hearing aside" [disobeying] it. The other Greek word used to describe parakouo, "hearing aside", in its adult stage is "Lawlessness"! Lawlessness is a description of the relationship with the defiant individual to The Law of God which he so disregards that he defiantly transgresses it without repentance or remorse.

Transgressions may look the same from the standpoint of an external observation, but the difference internally is one of life and death. There is a sin not unto death, and there is a sin unto death. They may not look all that different on the outside, but that's not where God is looking is it? "The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

The difference between Adam's and Eve's transgression can be seen in several other places as well. "If we sin willfully after having received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no sacrifice, but a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the adversaries." In the same book of Hebrews we also read "For if the message spoken by angels proved steadfast and every transgression AND DISOBEDIENCE [parakouo] received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation."

God will forgive the sinner who transgresses a command, then repents, confesses his transgressions, and begins to "hear under" (obey). God will never forgive the sinner who transgresses one command after another because he continues to "hear aside" (disobeys) without repentance unto the "obedience/hearing under" of faith.

It was Adam's "hearing aside" that constitutes men sinners after the likeness of his transgression. We should learn to appreciate the difference; it is a matter of life and death!

How will We Come?

“Then the kingdom of the heavens shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” The Greek word for “wise” is φρονιμοι, the same word Jesus used in the parable of the “wise” and “foolish” builders. Jesus described the wise builder as one who not only hears the word of God, but after hearing, puts what he has heard into practice. Conversely, the same word for “foolish” is used in both parables; it is the Geek word μωραι, meaning dull or stupid. Jesus described the “foolish” builder as one who hears the word of God but fails to put what he has heard into practice.

Applying this understanding to the ten virgins, we have five whose habit was to hear the word of God and put it into practice and five whose habit was to hear the word of God without practicing the doing of it. In this parable, however, the distinction is indicated in another manner. Jesus first mentions that the “foolish” virgins took lamps but did not take vessels of oil along with their lamps.

The “wise” He said, took oil in their vessels with their lamps. The Holy Spirit would have us to see that it is in the practicing of what we hear that we secure the oil for our vessels. Peter even said so while speaking to the Sanhedrin: “We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit Whom God has given to those obeying Him.” Paul indicated that God gives His Spirit and works miracles among us through the “hearing of faith.” He certainly meant the “hearing under” of faith, for this is what he called all the Gentiles to, “the hearing under (obedience) of the faith.”

The parable continues to unfold illustrating that all ten virgins experienced the same conditions.

They all experienced a time of waiting, a long delay. They all experienced becoming drowsy and they all fell asleep. They were all awakened with a start in the middle of the night by a cry that the Bridegroom was coming and it was time to go out to meet him. They all awakened to the same urgent need for something – for light! It was the middle of the night, thick darkness, and they needed light in order to be able to make their way to the meeting place without stumbling. Can you imagine waking up in the pitch blackness and attempting to make your way without a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path? Their lamps were simply an earthen vessel with an oiled wick aflame that had to be carried delicately. There was a great danger of stumbling over unseen rocks, roots, or uneven ground, dropping or jostling the lamp and suddenly finding oneself with a snuffed out lamp in pitch darkness.

It is in the middle of the darkness that the wisdom of the prudent became apparent, for during the long delay the oil in all the lamps had been used up. Flames must be kept burning to have light and be able to light other lamps, but to have continuous flame one must have continuous oil. This is where the “foolish” virgins had been short-sighted. Like those in II Peter who have not given all diligence to add to their faith, virtue, knowledge, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Not having those things in an abounding measure, Peter warns will result in our becoming near-sighted and blind. Thus was the state of the “foolish” virgins as they go to trim their lamps and discover the problem is not with the wick, they have run out of oil, their wick is nearly dried out. Wicks that burn need to be trimmed, that is they need the burnt, brittle area clipped off so that a brighter flame can become a brighter light. The “foolish” virgins first assumed that the problem was with their wicks, but became alarmed to discover that their oil had run out. A trimmed wick, in a good vessel, is completely useless without “the oil.”

The reaction of the “foolish” virgins was predictable and common among far too many believers today. They turned to their “wise” fellow virgins and begged their help. Seeing the vessels of oil in their sisters hands they asked them to share from their supply. The answer they received was not what they had hoped for: “Not ever!” That's right, it was not a simple no, for there was a Greek word for simply no; the answer here was “Not ever!” How could a fellow virgin be so calloused as to give such an answer for such an earnest request for help? The answer was not callous, simply “wise;” because, the prudent virgins realized that it would take all the oil in their vessel to bring their own wicks back to full light. The answer was “Not ever, lest there not be enough for us and you.”

If you have ever used an oil lamp, you will understand that an oil lamp will not work unless it contains a sufficient amount of oil. The “wise” virgins realized that the oil in their lamps was so low it would take all the oil they had brought along to re-kindle a full flame upon their own lamp. There was no point sharing, for it would likely take all the oil on hand just to keep five lamps burning. Five burning lamps are better than ten partially filled useless lamps; they wisely refused to risk otherwise.

There was no other answer to give in the situation but for the “wise” to instruct their “foolish” companions to hurry to the ones selling oil and buy for themselves. Reluctantly and remorsefully, the “foolish” virgins had no other choice but to go back by the very way they had previously come. Moreover, they had to do so without the benefit of a good light from their lamp. It is difficult enough to carry a good lamp, fully alight; how much harder was it for them to attempt to retrace their journey while attempting to preserve the dying flame on their empty lamps. The difficulty must have been nearly unbearable, for their progress would necessarily be slow and arduous, all the while filled with the anxious thoughts of would they be in time. Moreover, in the back of their minds, would they not all have been convicted for the missed opportunities they had to purchase extra oil while it was near and readily available. Now it was midnight, no stores were open, visibility was extremely limited, and yet they were forced to press on in their dim hope.

While the journey for the “foolish” became tedious, anxious, and somber, the journey for the “wise” virgins became a joyful celebration in the presence of the bridegroom and the bounties of the wedding feast. Isn't that the way it is today with many fellow virgins? We all have trials, we all have to wait, we all find ourselves in a crisis needing light to make our way. Those with the oil of the Holy Spirit are the over-comers. The “wise” virgins who hear the word of God and put it into practice are purchasing the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit in due season and their vessels are full. Jesus called them the “ready” ones – a word which comes from the Greek word meaning “fit.” Only believers full of the Holy Spirit are “ready” and “fit” for the marriage feast of the Lamb. They are the only ones experiencing the fullness of the abundant life of Jesus. They are the ones who are counting it all joy, whose weaknesses are becoming those areas where Christ strength is being perfected. They are the ones feasting on the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Their joy is full, Christ's peace is guarding their hearts and minds, and they have entered into His rest. They are living in the righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

While the “wise” virgins are celebrating, the “foolish” virgins have had to retrace their journey, going backwards to purchase the oil that they had neglected to buy when the time was right. Notice, that the voice of the bridegroom will awaken all virgins, but it will not fill all their lamps with oil. The oil of the Holy Spirit will be given to everyone who asks, but the voice of the bridegroom does not make up for the choice of not asking. The consequences for not being “fit”, not being a “ready” one, are the whole point of this parable. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation!” “Be very careful then how you hear, with the measure you mete, it will be measured to you. Whoever has he will be given more and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.” Have we checked our oil lately? Do we actually have oil, or could we be those who think we have, only to be shocked to discover our lamps are going out?

The “foolish” virgins eventually came. The actual wording of the Greek expresses it this way, “falling short they came.” Yes, the same word used in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The same word used in Hebrews 12:15 “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God.” The same word found in Hebrews 4:1 “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have fallen short of it.”

May the grace of God lead us to carefully examine ourselves to see the true condition of our waiting for His return. There is not a doubt that He will come, and there is not a doubt that we will come. The question is HOW will we come? Will we be “fit”, the “ready” ones, or our coming “fall short?”

Blessed our those who Mourn

Mourning is a reflex indicating that our heart is in good spiritual health. “There is a time to mourn” All of God's faithful servants mourn over the things grievous to their Lord. Ezekiel was given a vision of 6 men with hewing axes accompanied by a man with a writing tablet. The man with the writing tablet was instructed to go throughout Jerusalem and mark the forehead of all who were mourning over the deplorable spiritual state of the people. The six men with hewing axes were then instructed to go throughout the city, beginning at the Temple and slaughter everyone without the mark of mourning upon their forehead. The people whose hearts were grieved were spared; those who were glad lost their life.

We love the thought that our Lord is willing to give “beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning”, yet we fail to make the connection that “ashes” and “mourning” are responses of people that are grieving because the name of God is being blasphemed by the lawless condition of His people. Jesus pronounced woe upon the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida with these words: “…for if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” When Daniel understood from Jeremiah’s prophecy that the destruction of Jerusalem would last seventy years, his response was to humble himself and pray in sackcloth and ashes. The” oil of joy for mourning” and “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” represent the comfort given to those whose hearts are broken over the state of God’s people and the reproach that their unfaithfulness has brought upon His name. Wisdom laughs over the calamity of those who refuse to be corrected – she does not comfort all.

Taking pleasure in unrighteousness is a response opposite to that of mourning. Those who take pleasure in conditions that are grievous to God are in grave spiritual peril. Paul warned of the consequence of “taking pleasure in unrighteousness” in his second letter to Thessalonica. “…with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them a strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Those who believe the truth mourn over unrighteousness and they will be blessed with comfort. Those who do not believe or love the truth will be receive a strong delusion that will lead them unto condemnation. They are condemned because instead of mourning over unrighteousness, they derive their pleasure from it. “Blessed are those who mourn – for they shall be comforted.”

Beware of Making Cakes!

          Making cakes can be dangerous to your physical well-being. Yes, this is a very serious matter! Especially beware of cake pans that produce likenesses of certain figures, like queens. It would be wise for every husband to search the pantries in the kitchen to know for certain that his wife or daughters are not baking cakes shaped like queens. Does this strike you as incredulous? Then you need to be reminded that there is a historical precedence for such alarm. There was a time when cakes in the shape of queens were very popular with the people of God. if you are still unconvinced, this can be found in Jeremiah chapter 44.

The setting is in Egypt, where Jeremiah was forcibly taken when the remnant Jews from Jerusalem fled from the threat of Babylonian retaliation. Here Jeremiah discovered that Jewish families, which had been living in Egypt were having cake parties. It seems that they had decided to practice baking cakes in the image of the "Queen of Heaven." This was going on with the husbands of these families in full support; this was no small group, but a large assembly. The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in Upper and Lower Egypt. God directed his prophet to warn all these families of the judgment they were going to bring on themselves if these cake parties continued. The response of the people is anything but a laughing matter: "Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, along with all the women who were present--a large assembly--and all the people living in Upper and Lower Egypt said, 'We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord! We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will spur out drink offerings to her just as we and our fathers did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.

(Jer. 44:15-17a) The verse that follows these statements of defiance should cause us to tremble in sober alarm if we truly recognize how close to home it really hits. It expresses the heart of many who are no longer walking in diligent obedience to all the will of God. "At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm. But ever since we stopped pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine."

These are the concerns of those who have lost the spiritual vision of the glory of God in the face of Christ, and are living as "enemies of the Cross." Beware when the main concerns become PLENTY OF FOOD, WE WERE WELL OFF, AND WE SUFFERED NO HARM. Are these things the main concerns in our homes? Is this what we seek God for, are we after gain? Is the spirit of Job's wife in our midst; once the blessings are gone, are we ready to "curse God and die"? The way of the cross is a way of suffering, and hardship. The Church has traded taking men to the cross for taking them on a cruise; the main goal has become comfort instead of crucifixion. Beware this mentality among us; it is corporate (a large assembly), it is defiant (we will not listen)! Prophets are shunned and "peace purveyors" are applauded. Beware when you start hearing these words. "We just need peace, I'm tired of the struggle, can't we just enjoy some quiet."

Many husbands are yielding to this pressure, and sanctioning these comfort cake parties. Notice the shape of the cakes resemble the "Queen" of Heaven. It is no accident that when husbands abandon diligent faithfulness to the Lord, feminine authority sprouts like weeds. God becomes a woman: tender, sensitive, comforting, consoling, motherly, gone are His wrath, indignation, jealousy, might, power, and judgment. Women begin to exert more and more influence in the home and the Church, because when they are not happy, men suffer the most. God's ways are being abandoned by many men who have opted for pleasing his honey, before His Holy. A godly man can do both, but a double-minded man can do neither. God warned the Israelites again and again about the power women have to turn men's hearts away from the Lord.

(This is not an indictment against women intrinsically as though they are automatically going to lead to evil. There are many godly women who diligently serve the Lord. Rather this is an indictment against compromisers who have let down their weapons in the struggle of the faith in order to please someone else. In that sense, an ungodly woman, or a man is a real danger.)

A Heart of Honor

Perhaps the rarest gem on earth is not a mineral, rather something far more valuable than can be seen with the eye. This treasure cannot be displayed in a case, or museum, but can only be observed in a living testimony. Few men have possessed it, been able to keep, or bequeath it to their children. Entire generations have come and gone without ever having seen it, or known someone with it in its purest form. A heart of honor is so rare that the eyes of the Lord run to fro throughout the whole earth seeking to show Himself mighty in behalf of the man whose heart is perfect in this way.

             The Lord began the revelation of Him self to Israel by declaring His preeminence, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”  Jesus stated that the first and greatest commandment was, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with thy mind”. The Hebrew word for honor, and the Greek word for love, have similar meaning; both carry the idea of placing a high value upon. We always give the greatest attention, and concern to what we esteem as precious. Jesus made this clear when He stated, "For wherever a man's treasure is, there will his heart be also”. The Lord’s demonstrations of His power, might, provision, guidance, holiness, and jealousy, were all designed to create in the hearts of Israel a reverent fear and awe. He knew they must have this in their heart as the foundation of the covenant relationship. Eventually the people violated the covenant, and their failure was summed up in terms of their heart condition. Israel failed to comprehend the awesome character of Yaweh, and they perished for lack of knowledge. The individual or group who grasped God's honor were set apart for great callings. They received great honor themselves, such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Josiah, and Hezekiah; "Those who honor me, I will honor.”  Men who forsook the honor of God were dethroned, rejected, and judged; like Eli, Saul, and Judas.

             We need to ask ourselves if we have the genuine honor of God in our hearts, because many have gone before us deceiving themselves into thinking they honored God. Isaiah said, “...this people draws near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but they have, removed their heart far from me.”  These people were sincere in their self-deception; we should not think they thought they could fool God; rather they had fooled themselves into thinking they were in right relationship with Him.

            How concerned is God with His honor? Moses was forbidden to enter Canaan because, in his disobedience at the rock, he failed to sanctify God's name as holy before all the people. Eli's family line was cut off from the priesthood, because he chose to honor his sons more than God. Saul was rejected as Israel's King because he chose not to honor God's specific instructions to execute vengeance upon the Amalekites. He failed to realize that his mission was designed to manifest God's holiness and wrath, not provide a spoils party for the people. Every violation categorized as a presumptuous sin, was due to the fact that God considered it a despising of his laws, not simply a yielding to human weakness. Presumptuous sins were shown no mercy; judgment was to be immediate, based upon two or three witnesses. The king’s of Judah who understood this would call the people to a renewal of the covenant, and bind the people to an oath of fidelity. Any man or woman who refused to seek and serve God with all their heart would be put to death. God blessed this heart attitude, because it revealed how great a heart of honor the leader had towards God.

             Our favorite bible stories are almost always about the miraculous intervention God wrought in behalf of those who truly honored Him.

 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and, Azaiah" experienced supernatural deliverance, because their situations involved the honor of God's name before their enemies. Men of faith were men of honor, who loved not their lives to death, but considered the honor of God more valuable than their physical life. It was written of Moses, "He considered reproach for the sake of Christ, of greater worth than the treasures of Egypt " Is it any wonder why God spoke with him as a friend, ‘face to face’ and honored him as one of the greatest servants He ever had? David was the greatest king Israel had because he had the deepest sense of God's honor of any king. The greatest aspect to his slaying of Goliath was not the size of his hand, but the condition of his heart. God could have dispatched any angel to do away with the Philistine giant, but David was the only Israelite on the scene whose heart burned because God's name was being blasphemed by an uncircumcised heathen. David's heart was perfect toward God, and that was his greatness!

             How are we to acquire this kind of heart, for without it, we will never experience God like the men who honored Him with all their heart? We need begin to acquire this in our youth, while still in the home. Nearly all the great men of God came from a godly family. Consider the scripture's testimony of the parentage of the biblical heroes. How many outstanding men of God were set apart even as a child, and trained by godly parents? Moses' parents impacted his early years by not fearing the king's edict. This is how it is supposed to be, fathers and mothers instilling in the hearts of their sons and daughters a heart of honor toward God. Here is where we are failing, hoping that grace will overcome our own shortcomings. We wring our hands as the imperfect heart of our children is manifest more and more; then we comfort ourselves that God can still make grace abound where sin has abounded. We need to be reminded that "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” The role of every father and mother in molding a heart of honor in their children can't be understated; there are no shortcuts, or guarantees our negligence will be overruled by God's grace.

            Children must first learn to honor God by honoring their parents. It is alarming how many children have no shame in openly declaring they do not hold the same convictions as their parents. This is a spiritual tragedy far greater than we realize, and a specific indication of the perilous times predicted by the Holy Spirit, "men shall be...disrespectful to parents!" How can we not be alarmed that children are not holding to their parent's convictions? What then does the proverb mean “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother?” Like Abraham we are to command our children, and our household after us, to keep the way of the Lord. Children must be told to obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right!  We should be grieved when a young person is brazen enough to openly disagree with a godly parent's wisdom? Unless we return to instilling the honor of father and mother in children's hearts, every new generation will do what is right in their own eyes. This guarantees forfeiture of the promise of the fifth commandment. Failure to honor the instructions of a father, and to keep the law of our mothers, will cut our days in spiritual Canaan short.

             Consider the Rechabites, whose ancestor Jonadab instructed his children not to drink wine, to live in tents, and not plant vineyards: all these things were lawful, and blessed to many other Israelites. Yet, generation after generation honored Jonadab's instructions as a witness to all Israel of a true heart of honor toward an earthly father. The Rechabites were rewarded for this by being told of God "Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me forever." Many of us will never hear this kind of word from God, unless we repent of our laxness. If our children do not intend to honor our convictions, then what makes us think they will honor any other holy and righteous conviction.

            We are told that what ever a man sows he will reap, and sadly we are reaping what we as parents have been sowing. Our children are giving us the same honor we have been giving God; they reflect our own faithlessness to the word of God, or our own partiality to it. In every way that we disregard His righteous commands, they will in kind disregard our faithful instruction, and instead follow our unfaithful actions. This is how "the sins of the fathers are passed down into the laps of the children even to the fourth generation." The only way to reverse this backsliding is for "the hearts of the fathers to be turned to the children, and the hearts of the children to be turned to the fathers." God warns, "or else I will come and strike the land with the curse."  What curse God is warning about? The same curse Eli received for honoring his sons more than he honored God.