In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. (John 1:1)
THE CREATION OF MAN & GOD'S COMMAND
Genesis 1:27, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
Genesis 1:31, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day."
Genesis 2:16 - The command of the Lord not to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, was given to Adam and Eve like this: "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
God made man in His image-male and female He created them to reflect His character and to exercise dominion over earth as one. They were immortal, created to walk in fellowship with God forever and to never die. In worth, both were equally precious before God, though in scripture, we see that God ordained distinct roles for man and woman. Adam’s headship over Eve was established at the beginning, even prior to sin entering the world, with a divine command to obey the word of the Lord. Be fruitful, multiply, replentish earth. And dDO NOT partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day you eat of it you will surely die! Gen. 3 records that they did not heed this warning, but ate of the tree and passed upon them and the human race. With this new condition called sin, came a curse from God lest they put forth their hand to the tree and live forever in this sinful state. Their bodies were now subject to . And unless God instituted salvation, they would remain in a condition of spiritual . God slew a lamb and clothed them with the skin, portray9ing the act which would come to pass in the fulness of time--Messiah, the Lamb of God would take away the sins of the world.
CONTROL ISSUES & THE GENESIS 3 CURSE:
DEFINITION OF A CURSE
Definition of curse:
1. Strong - arar - to execrate-bitterly curse.
2. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament - It will be observed that the majority of "curse" says with arar fall into one of 3 general categories: (1)the declaration of punishments (Genesis 3:14, 17)
After the Fall of Adam and Eve into sin, recorded in Genesis 3, God pronounced a curse in several areas because the sin had altered God's original intent for mankind. The Lord curses 1) The Serpent 2) The Man. The ground would bring forth thorns and thistles. 3) The Woman.
3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; Hebrew=KHAVVAW because she was the mother of all living.
3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. Mankind continued to receive revelation. Some of this revelation concerned his own mortality. This is seen in the names of the sons born.
THE CURSE UPON THE SERPENT
Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, (deceived) thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
The entire animal kingdom was affected by the Fall. God's curse upon the Serpent humbled him and confined him to crawling on his belly and eating dust.
THE CURSE UPON THE WOMAN
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
"To the woman He," being God, "...said, I will greatly multiply your pain..." (Gen 3:16) Women were condemned to suffer in childbirth. The Hebrew term "conception" = HERAYOWN is from HARAH, meaning "to become pregnant, conceive or be with child."
The Hebrew text says: "...and childbirth. In pain you shall bring forth children. Yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." The intimate relationship which the woman desired with the husband, would have a curse of sorrow connected with it. The children born of the marriage would be obtained with difficulty, and woman's desire will be toward her husband.
A SACRED SECRET
The Hebrew text found in Gen. 4:1-2 contains an interesting truth concerning the ual bond between husband and wife in the herm YADA, which is a word we use to speak of our praise toward God. And Adam "knew" his wife...and she conceived and bore Cain. Yada speaks of the most intimate relationship between a man and woman. You could translate this: Adam "experienced" his wife. And she bore a son.
...Women still experience pain in childbirth, and live in subjection to the husband. "...And he (The husband) will rule over her." The sorrow in which woman conceives does not prevent the birth of the couple's children. In sorrow thou SHALT conceive." The sorrow is varied-- Problems relationally in marriage, or attacks against the marriage from without. Conception may be delayed. Women have difficulty bearing childredn, and conceiving. They may undergo surgical procedures, or be plaged by fears. In Christ we have faith that it is "God that works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure." In Christ we are called to many things by faith that we lack experience in. The husband's role of headship provides comfort, leadership, as woman reacts in loving submissive in Christ Jesus, her Redeemer and God.
What if the husband is not a believer in Jesus Christ? 1 Peter 3 commands "Wives in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe in the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes, Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear."
WOMAN IN THE TEMPTATION
The temptation of Eve encompassed the 3 areas of sin mentioned in 1 John 2:16. a) The of the eyes. b) The of the flesh. c) The pride of life. Eve's sin was disobedience to the revealed word and will of God. In receiving and believing the lie of Satan, Eve placed her own will i.e. the Devil's will above God's! Eve was deceived in the transgression but Adam partook knowingly. (1 Timothy 2:14) The bible states: There is no temptation but such as is common to man and with the temptation God will make a way of escape. The truth is that conceives and brings forth sin when you allow yourself to be enticed and overcome by sin.
Eve was enticed into sin by the Serpent. Adam was not forced to enter into sin with Eve. He chose to. He could have used his authority to remain in fellowship with God and to work together with the Lord to redeem his wife. We must use our authority in Christ to act in wisdom and not simply to react to the circumstances of life. This is where the man's role as "the head of the wife" comes in. It requires courage and integrity to stand firm in what you know is right according to God's written word--To what the Lord has revealed to you through His word, which must never contradict the written word of the Lord. Judge all perceptions by the bible as the rule of faith.
PEOPLE MAY UNWITTINGLY STILL PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVIL'S WORK
The following are well-meaning allegations or intentions concerning childbirth or it's prevention.
1) Birth Control-While this method of contraception times or prevents childbirth, it produces barrenness in cases where God's will is the blessing of children.
Have you heard the statement: "Well if God had wanted everybody to have kids He wouldn't have invented birth control..." But does scripture advocate manipulation of the child bearing process?
Abstinance from is appropriate in marriage except in special cases, and this is limited. Apostle Paul writes: Nevertheless to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife and let the woman have her husband. (Prov. 5:18) Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence and likewise also the wife unto the husband. (Ex 21:10, I Pet. 3:10) The wife has not power of her own body but the husband and likewise also the husband has not power of his body but the wife. Defraud not one another--except it be by (mutual) consent for a time that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer and come together again that Satan not tempt you for your incontinency. (Matt. 9:15, Acts 13:2, Acts 14:23, I Thess 3:5)
Some feel God provided birth control to prevent or to time the birth of the children God has promised to them as part of their "inheritance" or heritage. The truth of the matter is, that in the bible the timing of children is entirely God's. At this time next year, Sarah shall have a son. In the fulness of time God sent forth His Son, (Gal. 4:4) etc. This "set time" or "fulness" implies that there is a destiny to the timing of your child's birth. Esther was "born to the kingdom for such a time as this. (Esther 4:13-14) Suppose her parents had postponed her birth for 10 years? In the history of the nation of Israel, they would have had no victorious army, had the birth of sons have been put off.
When God chooses a birth's timing, it's based on His own intent and purpose for the child's divine calling in Him. It may never be the convenient time for you. He (not you) knows the exact time in which He must place your son or daughter into their ministry, and send them to this country or that. Has birth control altered, thwarted or manipulated God's intent in your life and family?
Why can't a son or daughter 's birth come exactly when we choose? i.e. When college, the new car or home is paid off? Doors open and doors close, due to politics and wars for instance. John the Baptist birth came at a time when he effectively addressed the sin of a nation's leader. According to the Jewish historian Josephus (who wrote after 70 AD), John the Baptist was a Jewish preacher in the time of Pontius Pilate (AD 26-36). He called the people to repentance and to a renewal of their covenant relation with God. He was imprisoned and eventually put to by Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great, who was king when Jesus was born) for denouncing Herod's marriage to Herodias, the wife of his still-living brother Philip. In order to marry Herodias, Herod divorced his first wife, the daughter of King Aretas of Damascus, who subsequently made war on Herod, a war which, Josephus tells us, was regarded by devout Jews as a punishment for Herod's of the prophet John.
According to scripture John the Baptist was a Jewish prophet/preacher in the time of Pontius Pilate (AD 26-36). He called people to repentance and renewal of covenant relation with God. He was imprisoned and eventually put to by Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great, who was king when Jesus was born) for denouncing Herod's marriage to Herodias, the wife of his still-living brother Philip. In order to marry Herodias, Herod divorced his first wife, the daughter of King Aretas of Damascus, who subsequently made war on Herod, a war which, Josephus tells us, was regarded by devout Jews as a punishment for Herod's of the prophet John.
2) Abortion
Abortion is unscriptural. God knows the child from before his or her birth. "You knit me in my mother’s womb . . . nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret" (Psalm 139:13,15). The Lord helps and speaks of His special relationship to the unborn child, saying in the mouth of the Psalmist: "You have been my guide since I was first formed . . . from my mother’s womb you are my God" (Psalm 22:10-11). "God… from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace" (Paul to the Galatians 1:15).
3) A husband may feel his own plans are sufficient reason to delay the birth of a child rather than allow it to be born in God's timing. He may fail to seek the Lord as to God's will in the timing of the child bearing, but lean on his own understanding.
This may rob a couple by forfeiting indefinately the child God has destined for a family. Scripture cites examples of godly people overturning this as as in the case of Judah's selfishly refusing the role of kinsman redeemer.
4) Wives may threaten divorce if the husband refuses them the right to bear children or forces child bearing upon them.
5) Friends and relative say to married couples: You're too young to have kids. Or you are too old for child bearing! Seldom is this based on scriptural principles but thinking or fleshly understanding.
They say: Kids will interfere with your ministry or career. John Wesley a well-known evangelist in church history had 19 children, and became the founder of a religious denomination.
6) The wife may state: I don't want to give birth because I don't want to get fat! This rejection of the desire to bring forth a child can stem from a womans insecurity as to her husband's love. Or to her own vanity, diminishing the value of a child in the marriage.
7) People may remark: With your health problems you shouldn't have any children. Reba Rambo tells the miraculous testimony of the birthes of her children, when she was never supposed to have any!
8) Another argument is this: After 35 you may have a Down's Syndrone child. God made the body of women to give birth into their 50-'s, and in many countries this is quite common, as it is now in America with people postponing childbirth because of their careers.
The dangers of Down's syndrone is far more likely to be due to poor nutrition than parental age. An older mother may not eat properly because she has many children already, thus depriving her body of necessary nutrition. Midwives will tell you this. 9) Well meaning friends or relatives may say: Your husband might leave you and you'll have kids. You'll be begging with a tin cup! God promises to take care of the righteous. Be wise and seek the Lord's guidance as to your financial affairs.
When Adam and Eve's son Seth was born, we read Seth had a son he named him Enosh--a name reflecting "mortality." Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord. 10) Male or female jealousy of children is spiritual warfare against God's plan in Gen. 3. 11) Another excuse is: If I want a kid, I'll just invite over the neighbor kids! 12) A spouses desire to become a foster parent can be met with: "Why don't you believe God for a real miracle!"
You think your family has had problems: In Jacob's family, two sons proved extremely cruel, to the point that Jacob prays: Let not my soul come near to them! Reuben could have used his influence as the firstborn to save Joseph rather than simply prevent and mastermind the brother's slavery. Yet God used these brothers, humbled and brought the family to Egypt, where Jacob could help raise the grandkids Ephraim and Manasseh in the Jewish faith, because Asenath, Joseph's wife was the Egyptian daughter of the high priest of No. 13) In the story of Sampson, we see a woman stating: An angel told me that I am going to have a baby. In Zechariah's case in the New Testament, the angel said he'd have a son, and his name would be John. An angel appeared to the Virgin Mary and stated that she would bear Messiah and what to name Him! Don't be afraid of the prophetic words which come from the Lord! 14) Kids are of value in spite of the fact that they can give you problems, and in dealing with the issues, your faith is tested, and approved. While Jacob was dealing with his wife Rachel's , the move from his in-laws house, and needing help with the new baby Benjamin, his older son Reuben fell into ual sin. Yet in the prophecy concerning Reuben, whom the prophecy terms "unstable" in Genesis 49, God still calls Reuben "mine."
Judah in spite of his history of ual sin is still promised the tribal staff. "The scepter shall not depart from Judah till Shiloh come! Simeon and Levi are called "instruments of cruelty!" In these cases, God didn't prevent their birthes. Even Judas who betrayed Christ was allowed to be born. God works in spite of the extenuating circumstances to effect redemption. That's why He is called Saviour! Women are saved in the child-bearing...if they continue in faith and sobriety.
Have you ever read bible stories concerning the childbirths of men and women in the bible and how they came about? Biblical women weren't opposed to bribery! Leah states that she "hired her husband with her sons mandrakes." When Jacon came out of the field from work, she met him with: We have to because I've hired you! When Rachel learned of the mandrakes she said: Give me your sons mandrakes. And Leah said: Isn't it enough that you have my husband, and now you want my son's mandrakes also? Moreover, she named the 5th son a name which indicates God's involvement: God has given me my hire! And you think God only involves Himself in miracles! Perhaps you need to stretch your imagination concerning the working of miracles!
GOD'S PURPOSE IN THE GENESIS 3 CURSES
When the fall occurred, it did not catch God off guard! This did not provide a quandary for the Lord. All His works were known from the foundation of the world. That mankind must now earn a living by the sweat of his brow was a kindness that God did for man, in that it forces man to evaluate his dependance upon God. Something sorely needed in the sojourn in Eden. With the Fall came a sense of guilt over the sinful condition in which mankind now existed. And with sin there comes a miriad of consequences. God clothed Adam and Eve with the skins of an animal, meaning that blood must be shed to cover their shame. This typifies Yeshua haMashiach--our Messiah Jesus Christ who died as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
On the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter stood and preached a sermon based upon the fulfillment of Joel's prophecies. Three thousand Jews responded, with a spokesman who cried: What shall we do? Peter said: Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5)
Working women seem to have inherited a "double curse" since many women today work outside the home as well as giving birth to children. They go off to work in the morning, returning home exhausted to their responsibilities as wives and mothers. From ancient times women have held important positions in their nation. Moses parents had him in spite of the dangers involved, and he had a sister who was there when he needed her supervision. His parents welcomed his birth, and worked to provide safe shelter for his preservation, that God might raise up a deliverer of such caliber. Miriam played a vital role in this. Biblically who could fail to see Deborah's job as prophetess and her warfare together with Barak as anything less than work? Or the providential position of Esther? Although in Esther's case, Mordecai stated that if she failed to respond that deliverance could arise from another place, the point is that there are those like Esther whose ingegrity is such that they do not fail to meet their responsibility and God given purpose or recognition of their influence head on!
The Virtuous woman of Proverbs 31:24 makes fine linen, and sells and delivere girdles to the merchant.
Working women across the globe have a tremendous impact with their faith in the workplace, as they enter into the redemptive purpose of God as a working women, to a greater extent with this additional influence.
Where the stress factor can show up however is in the home life. The "woman" is scripturally speaking "the weaker vessel." She is not just Super-Mom! Physically men should watch over their wives for signs of burn out. You can relieve her of working outside the home entirely. Or allow her to work from a home based business, or cottage industry. Dad's who are physically stronger can be supportive of the woman's role by being the wives primary prayer partner, teaching God's word in the home, assisting with home schooling, and chores just like Mom who helps Dad financially when she works full time! You can hire a maid to come in a few hours a week! Your local high school may have a bulletin board for jobs, or be able to recommend a respobsible student who can come in weekly as a "mother's helper!" It's unreasonable to assume that a woman can do all these full time jobs equally with out assistance of some sort.
THE CURSE ON THE GROUND & UPON MAN'S WORK
3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
When Adam was created, he was placed in paradise where his needs were supplied. After his sin, God cursed the ground, so that with difficulty the man would work and obtain these necessary things for his family.
THE GROUND THAT WAS CURSED
The ground which had yielded so readily to Adam's touch, not fought back and rebelled for God's curse stated that it would bring forth thorns and thistles. What did the "ground" that God cursed speak of? A Hebrew word study indicates that while it includes the earth itself, it goes beyond this physical planet, and the curse which brings forth thorns and thistles, to the very man himself who was created from the dust and whose life was from the "breath of God."
Of the creation of man, God's word states: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground." (Gen. 2:7). To man God said, "For out of it (the ground) wast thou taken: for dust thou art." (Gen. 3:19). The Psalmist wrote:"For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust but dust." (Ps. 103:14).
The New Testament phrases it this way: "The first man was from out of the earth, made of dust - earth-minded; the second Man is the Lord from out of heaven. Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust - earth-minded; and as is the Man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven - heaven-minded. And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, let us bear also the image of the Man from heaven." (I Cor. 15:45-49)
Men as part of God's kingdom of New Covenant or New Testament priests, can enter into an understanding by revelation of the child birth a woman goes through by studying various passages in scripture which allude to birth. God frequently utilizes this allegory in the bible. They can also understand childbirth better by patterning themselves after the prayer ministry of Christ. Prayer helps birth souls into God's kingdom. In Jeremiah 30:6 we read: Ask now and see if a male can give birth? Why now do I see every man with his hands on his loins as a woman in childbirth? And why are all faces pale?"
At least a portion of man's curse is experienced in the separation of work, for he must leave the comforts of home and his wife and earn a living in a harsh world, with many trials. Yet this should make the reunion so much sweeter when he arrives home to be able to spend time with his beloved wife and children!
Work is not the curse. In Gen 2:15 we learn that the man was placed in the garden to work there. The difficulty of the toil would be an incentive for the man to strive not only to work, but to remain in God's presence as he works.
Psalm 62:1
In God alone is my soul at rest: my help comes from him alone. He alone is my rock, my stronghold, my fortress. I stand firm.
Psalm 63: 1-4 O God, you are my God, for you I long, for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land with- out water.
Psalm 42:1-2: Like a deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God. ("Grail" translation)
A man's work is an area tremendously battled by Satan, who attempts to turn man's work to idolatry by placing it in importance before man's command to obey the first and greatest commandment to love God in preeminence above all things. The fact that God cursed the ground for man's sake, does not imply that women don't work also, but rather places the earning or livlihood under man's domain in scripture, when God speaks of women as "keepers of the home." The virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, considers a field and buys it. She delivers garments to the merchants. A woman's work appears biblically to be more of a cottage industry, under her husband's administration.
In Eden, Adam was given the task to Be fruitful, multipy and replentish the earth. Adam was to till and subdue the land. It's the hardship and frustration which now attends our work that is the judgment upon sin.
The priests in the Old Testament were to wear no garments which created sweat. In the New Testament, believers comprised of both men and women, are a kingdom of priests. In Christ, there's work that does not involve "sweat." It's those works which we do that are Spirit led. Mankind fell when they strayed independantly from God's presence and disobeyed His intent that they not partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. "The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor." Prov 12:24
"For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat."( Thess 3:10)
Gen. 3: 17 (Moses 4: 23) cursed is the ground for thy sake.
Gen. 5: 29 because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.
Gen. 8: 21 I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake.
Isa. 24: 6 therefore hath the curse devoured the earth.
Mal. 4: 6 Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Rev. 22: 3 there shall be no more curse.
THE FACE TO FACE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. (John 1:1)
The phrase in John 1:1 illuminates a pattern for us which is beneficial to those desiring to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. In the Greek text we learn that "the Word was with God" is PROS TON THEON, meaning facing toward God. This is that face to face intimate relationship that we are commanded to have in the first and greatest commandment, to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. It's that place of intimate fellowship Adam enjoyed prior to the Fall. It's a position that every son or daughter of the Most High God desires to have with the Lord their God.
The entire life of the Son was one of proper focus. In Genesis 3, we read that following the Fall, God immediately set in place some remedial consequences for Adam and Eve, and all mankind. The ground from which Adam would eat bread by the sweat of his brow, was cursed. Connected with this curse God states: Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return. In his very work, man would have a sense of his own mortality. The work would be difficult and exhausting. But this curse was ultimately intended to be part of Adam's blessing.
LIVING OUT OF THE ANOINTING
Jesus Christ was not opposed to work. Although He provided for mankind an atoning work, earlier in his life on this earth he worked as a carpenter in his step father Joseph's shop! The Hebrew term "sweat," here, provides insight for us into the heart of God, and His purpose for His creation. The word "sweat" occurs only three times in the Bible. It is mentioned in Genesis 3:19 as one of the consequences or effects of the sin - Because of the curse God placed upon the ground, man would labor by the sweat of his brow in the normal course of his life, and obtaining bread for his table. In Ezekiel 44:18 God speaks of the articles of clothing worn by the priests. These were linen and speak of the fact that man would not enter the presence of his Holy God, in that which causes him to sweat. But through the atoning "work" of Christ. The sweat of man spiritually represents the human self effort of flesh that is fallen, corrupt and an abomination to God. Man can never by his own works appease God nor can these ever become the basis of man's redemption. Thirdly, the word sweat in the Bible, is found in Luke 22:44. Our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane in prayer to His heavenly Father anticipates the load of the curse of sin and the wrath of God He must endure as He is made "sin for us". On the cross where the propitiation was made for the sins of fallen mankind, and the Lord paid the ransom for sin through His of the cross, He "sweat as it were great drops of blood which fell soaking into the very ground which God had cursed in Gen. 3". But the "sweat" was the precious blood which atones for sin on the cross. Here we view the finished work of Christ in redeeming mankind - the blood of Christ applied to the very "ground" of the heart contaminated sin.
THE CREATION WAS MADE SUBJECT TO VANITY IN HOPE
"We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." -- Romans 8:22, 23
Ro 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall thy seed be.
Ro 5:2 By whom also we have access through faith into this grace, wherein we stand, and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God.
Ro 5:4 And patience trial; and trial hope;
Ro 5:5 And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us.
Ro 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope:
Ro 8:24 For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen, is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he hope for?
Ro 8:25 But if we hope for that which we see not, we wait for it with patience.
Ro 12:12 Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Instant in prayer.
Ro 15:4 For what things soever were written, were written for our learning: that through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope.
Ro 15:12 And again Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope.
Ro 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing; that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.
49:4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
49:5 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
THE HOPE WITHIN THE VEIL
Heb 6:19 ...which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil.
Jesus Christ is our hope within the veil. When man walks in the flesh he or she will continually experience the sense of futility that is the result of sin and the subsequent Gen. 3 curse. If we walk in the Spirit we cannot fulfill the strong cravings of the lower nature. Press into life in the Spirit, and overcome the world, the flesh and the demonic realm, through faith in Jesus...Overcome victoriously through your life in Christ-- He has already overcome all things! Break through that wall of flesh into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Don't allow your own flesh to be an obstacle. Mortality is not a total detriment! In these -doomed bodies which the Apostle Paul speaks of, we experience the fleeting pleasures of this earth. We feel the warm sun on our faces, and smell the fragrance of flowers or enjoy the aroma of a home cooked meal. We see the beauty of the majestic trees and clouds, glorying in a sunrise or sunset. Yet in our flesh we shall one day "see God," Job said.
1Cor 9:10 Or doth he say this indeed for our sakes? For these things are written for our sakes: that he that plougheth, should plough in hope; and he that thrasheth, in hope to receive fruit.
Heb 10:19-22 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Adam had previously enjoyed unbroken fellowship with God. He was given a virtual paradise in which to live, and a lovely helpmeet with which to serve the Lord and enjoy all God had bestowed upon the two of them. This was thwarted by the Fall, but in Christ, the Second Adam, we see that God has restored and is restoring what was lost.
