Genesis 1:26-28 (Amplified) says, "God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image (after Our Likeness), and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the (tame) beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. And God Blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, using all its vast resources in the service of God and man; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth."
This was God's Plan and Intention for mankind, when He created them. Mankind was to have complete authority and dominion over everything in and on the earth. The earth was the home for man's physical body, which was to be compliant with the Spirit. Man's rule was transferred into satan's rule, when Adam transgressed. Mankind fell under demonic rule and spiritual death, at Adam's fall in the Garden. Mankind lost God's Blessing, fellowship with God and even his identity as God's son. Only God and His Great Love and Wisdom, could retrieve mankind and place him back into Spiritual Life and fellowship with Him.
God created a way that would allow Him back into the earth, by finding individuals who would allow Him to move through them. He established Law and sacrifice, in order to temporarily cover mankind's sin and restrain the Law of Sin and of Death for awhile. It was man who brought forth this sin and death, so only the blood and death of a man could actually pay the Price for that sin and death. Sin was transferred to every person through Adam's seed, but no one could pay for his/her sin on our own. Only a Man Who was without sin, could pay for man's sin.
The death, followed by shedding of that animal's blood, covered the payment for mankind's sin, but it required the continual sacrifice of animals to do so. It couldn't restore mankind and pay the price, but it could hold back the fullness of the penalty, for a short time. There was a penalty or Curse that went along with the Law, if it wasn't followed correctly. This Law would allow God to have partial access into man's lives, until He could bring the Promise, Jesus the Lamb of God, into this world.
Those under the Law, weren't born-again, new creations and were still dead in trespass and sin. They never knew the Almighty God as "Father," but only by their flesh. They learned to walk with God, by adhering to and believing to the Law of Moses. If someone violated the Law, then they were left without the blood covering and were open to the Curse that resulted from Adam's sin. Too many of God's family today, still believe they must obey certain laws, in order to be in God's Grace, as His family. They are double-minded and don't understand God's Grace. God doesn't accept sacrifices any longer. We've tried walking with Him by our outer, fleshly man, through works, sacrifices and following our own way. God's Word tells us that "Only faith is pleasing to Him" and we're to "obtain entry by faith and Grace" in (Hebrews 11:6).
Many still expect God to chasten us, like He did under the Law of the old covenant. We don't know Him and try fostering our own Image of God. No one can really "know God," if we don't know Jesus. We might be saved and love Him, but still don't know Him. We're always looking for the other shoe to drop and are awaiting the consequences from our lack of obedience or our failure.
Every new creation child of God should listen carefully to what Jesus said about understanding our Heavenly Father, in John 8:17-19 (Amplified)." Thus, He said, "In your own Law it is written that the testimony (evidence of two persons) is reliable and valid. I Am One of the Two bearing testimony concerning Myself, and My Father, Who sent Me, He also testifies about Me. Then they said to Him, Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me, if you knew Me, you would know My Father also."
God's Intent for us has never changed. Adam's transgression resulted in God's changing the way He dealt with mankind, but His Intention for His family didn't change. Jesus has restored us back to the way God dealt with His family at the beginning and His Intention for His family. He is the same God, but we're not the same people. We don't sacrifice animals and become covered by their blood. We're totally cleansed now, by the Blood of Jesus Christ, God Himself. His Blood doesn't just cover our sins for a period of time. His Blood has removed our sins completely and made us new creatures in Christ Jesus.
If you don't see Jesus, then you can't see the Father. We must know and understand that God doesn't deal with us like He did under the old covenant. We must see ourselves as being totally cleansed and forgiven, through the Sacrifice of Jesus. If we believe that God still deals with us like those under the Law, instead of through the Grace Jesus provided, then we're double-minded. The enemy tries to keep us double-minded about our true identity in Christ, in order to retain his hold over us. James 1:7 (Amplified) says that, "If we're double-minded, then we are unstable, unreliable, dubious and uncertain about everything we think, feel, and decide." We don't know whether to resist or submit, when we don't know if it's God or satan. We can't pray for deliverance in faith, because we don't know if it's God's will or satan's attack. James said, "Let not this man think he will receive anything from the Lord."
A double-minded person might know the God of the old covenant, but not know Him as Father of the family. We stumble and grope like blind men and women, wondering "Why is God doing this to us," when it was the enemy all along. The enemy has impersonated the Father and we don't recognize him, because our spiritual eyes are still blinded by the world and it's ideas of our Father. We've been sold a bill of good, that comes from the religious minds of men and women who don't know our Heavenly Father, anymore than those of the old covenant did.
The Church has substituted this deception, for Truth. We've allowed ourselves to be seduced by the same lie that caused Adam's downfall. We've listened to the voices of others, instead of listening to the Holy Spirit. We are angered when someone opposes or challenges the old religious order of things. God gave Adam authority and dominion over the earth and everything on and in it. Adam allowed satan into his place of Blessing and security. Through Jesus, we've been restored back into this place of authority over the earth and everything on and in it. James 4:7 (Amplified) tells us to, "Resist the devil and he will flee from us." We have the Name and authority of Jesus Christ to set things back into God's Order.
Paul writes about the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18 (Amplified). Verse 11 says, "The armor of a heavy armed soldier which God supplies." God has supplied His Army of believers with the Armor of God, but we have to put it on. We can't fight a battle, if we don't know whether it's coming from God or satan. We have put on the Helmet of Salvation, but there's more. Paul tells us to put on the Belt of Truth in Verse 14. If we don't know the Truth that we've been made righteous in Christ Jesus, then we can't put on the Breastplate of Righteousness. We're to shod our feet with the Good News of the Peace with God, but if we don't know the Truth that Jesus is our Peace Offering and God is now at peace with us, then we're fighting without boots. Verse 15 tells us that, "The covering from the Shield of Faith, will quench the missiles of satan. If we're double-minded, then we are walking in faith. Paul says that without the Sword of Faith (weapon), you don't know "God's will, purpose, plan or intent for you, as a child of God and a king or a priest."
God's Church has walked far too long, in the belief that, "Whatever happens is God's will." Jesus is God's will and God's Person, in our lives. If Jesus didn't do something, then God doesn't do it. If Jesus did it, then our Father does it. They are the Same. During His earthly ministry, Jesus never put sickness, disease, brokenness, early death, heartache or calamity on people. The Father will never do these things either.
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