Prologue:
May hearts be prepared and lives made ready
for the events that will seal all of God’s children.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are
ye:
for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: ...
1 Peter 4:14
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the
house of God:
and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the
gospel of God?
1 Peter 4:17
CURSED FROM THE EARTH
THE MARK OF CAIN
#254.0901
scottSTANLEY
The last several months in my studies, the Lord has been taking me back to beginnings, taking another look at Adam and Eve, looking at what happens to us in the womb and helping us to understand the sin nature itself, exactly what that is. And in this study, I want to go back to beginnings again, looking at the first people born on this planet, Cain and Abel. And I want to take a look at the mark of Cain, and I want to focus on that, because I think there are things about the mark of Cain that we’re seeing all around us . In fact, once I explain to you what that is, you’re going to see it everywhere you look, where the effect of the way that man thought is still carried today.
To get to that place, I want to cover ground that we’ve been over before, but just to continue to keep you stirred up concerning the truths our Savior continues to give us. Remember He is a priest on His throne, sanctifying and cleansing us, using words. And that concept alone should tell us that our sin nature dwells between our ears. What causes us to sin is in the mind. It isn’t necessarily in your flesh. Recently I was in Hot Springs and someone told me that they are singling out genes that cause you to be an alcoholic or that might cause you to be a homosexual, or all these bents that we have toward sin, actually is in our blood stream. It actually is our makeup. But I would suggest to you, that you might have a gene giving you a weakness toward alcoholism but you still make a choice. And how we deal with our bent to sin, what causes us to lean one way, and not another, what causes us to make the choices that we make, dwells between our ears.
And the foundation of it is what Eve laid on the first two people. The foundation of it is what Eve carried herself after sin, after she fell, and her relationship toward God -- the way that woman felt toward our Heavenly Father. Before getting into Cain and Abel, before we take a look at this mark of Cain, I want to read from the gospel of John, chapter 16. And I want to build up to what happened that day in the field when Cain talked with Abel and Cain slew his brother. In John 16, starting at verse 1,
John 16:1
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye [you] should not be offended. [or made to stumble]
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh [comes], that whosoever killeth [kills] you will think [reason] that he doeth [he’s doing] God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Why would they think they’re serving God and yet Jesus says,”They really don’t know Me”? He didn’t say that they didn’t have a born again experience. He said they don’t know Him. And that born again experience, the difference between being born again and knowing Him is major.
1 John 4:7
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth [loves] is born of God, and knoweth [knows] God.
To know God, you’re walking in obedience to what He says to you. To know God is to hear Him and obey Him. When you’re walking in that place, you know Him. It’s one thing to be delivered out of Egypt. It’s another thing to come out of Babylon, the spiritual confusion. And I think of the commandment that Christ speaks of, the greatest of all commandments found in Mark chapter 12. Reading from verse 29,
Mark 12:29
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt [you shall] love the Lord thy [your] God with all thy [your] heart, and with all thy [your] soul, and with all thy [your] mind, and with all thy [your] strength: this is the first commandment.
What is the first commandment? When He says to love God, is that the first commandment? Or is it “Hear God?” Those are saying the same thing. To hear God and do what He says is to manifest love. Remember 1 John, chapter 5, verse 1.
1 John 5:1
Whosoever believeth that [believes] Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth [loves] him that begat loveth [loves] him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
It’s interesting, when we use this word “commandment,” we get a picture of something written. When I say the word “command,” we think of something spoken. Yet to keep God’s commandments, that is spoken. That is what He is speaking to you moment by moment of your life. The first and greatest commandment is to “Hear, O Israel” and “love God.” Again, when you hear and obey, you’re manifesting love. And you are to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. You obey Him with everything that is within you. The second commandment in
Mark 12:31
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt [you shall] love thy neighbour as thyself [yourself]. There is none [no] other commandment greater than these.
There is no such thing as hearing God, obeying Him and not loving your brother. There’s no such thing. If you’re not manifesting love towards your brother, you’re not loving God. If you are loving God, you’re loving your brother too. And another thing is, you’re to love your brother as you love yourself. We judge ourselves by our motives. We judge others by what we see them do. If I am to love my neighbor as I love myself, I would not judge him according to what I see, but I would seek to understand his motive, which could only happen as I sit and talk with him, unless of course, the Lord just manifested to me and explains to me where the man is. To love you as I love myself, will only take place if I’m loving God, which means to hear Him and obey what He says.
So when you come back to John 16, and He says they’re going to persecute you, they’re going to do these things unto you because they have not known the Father, nor have they known me, He says. To know God, means to hear Him and keep His commandments, which is to love Him, which would then manifest, you would manifest love toward your brother, which in John 16, they’re not doing. Also, I want you to understand this. Look at Proverbs 28. In Proverbs 28, reading verse 16.
Proverbs 28:16
16 The prince that wanteth [lacks] understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth [hates] covetousness shall prolong his days.
Now look at that again. The prince that lacks understanding, God’s understanding of a thing. He lacks the way God sees it. The prince that lacks God’s understanding is a great oppressor. Now notice how he ties in this word “covetous.” But he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days. How do you blend those thoughts together? When you lack God’s understanding of a thing, and let’s just name what the thing is, it’s the book. It’s the Bible. It’s the way you perceive God’s teachings. It’s the law. When you lack God’s understanding of it, you become a great oppressor. In other words, you’ve read the book. You’ve made a list of do’s and don’ts, yet in your mind, well, God wrote the book, therefore if I do it, I’m being obedient to God, and if He would have me do this, He certainly would have you do this too. And you begin to oppress people. Why? Because they’re not walking in holiness. They don’t have your understanding of holiness. He that lacks God’s understanding is a great oppressor. Now notice, but he that hates covetousness - what is it that the oppressor covets? It’s his own opinion. He is coveting his own opinion. He has become his own god, because he’s read the book and determined for himself God’s ways. In so doing, he is making God like unto himself.
Let me say this before I go on. It is vital that we understand this principle. The body needs the body. We are the body of Christ. The hand can’t say to the foot, I have no need of thee. When you enter into the abiding truth, and you have people in your midst that you know understand the principle of abiding in Christ -- hearing the voice, being led moment by moment of God - when you have people among you that are on that level, and you think you see a particular understanding of God that the body isn’t seeing, you should present that to the entire body and let them start raising questions, because questions are a good thing. I remember at several of the camp meetings presenting things for the first time, presenting ideas and having people actually sit, put me on the hot seat, and start hammering me with questions. “Well, how do you explain this? Well if that’s true, what about that? What about that?”
And when the smoke clears and it’s all over, if in my conscience they haven’t shown anything that really raised doubt in my heart, if people cannot take the book and in the spirit of Christ shake me, and I stand up, my conscience clear, I’ll tell you, that’s weighty evidence that you’re probably on the right road. But if you are shaken, when you read the verses, and somehow what it is you’re believing just isn’t gelling, it just really isn’t there the way you’re trying to make it be, and if the entire body is rejecting it, red flags should go up. Listen, we’re too far down the road. We are too far down the road to let our own opinion move us out of God’s way. And that brings me to another thought before I get back to this in Proverbs 28. In 1 John 2:16, John tells us,
1 John 2:16
16 For all that is in the world, [is] the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
All that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and pride. Spiritually speaking, those three things are all the same thing, if you put it between your ears. Let me explain. Lust of the eye. The eye is what you see. It’s what your understanding is. Lust of the understanding. In other words, you covet your own opinion. What about lust of the flesh? He’s not talking about your literal flesh. And that is part of what this study is about. It is the mind of the flesh, the minding of the flesh. It is your fleshly mind and the way it wants to go. So let’s say you have a certain doctrine that you want to believe. Let’s say that Saturday is the Sabbath and it has no higher meaning than that. Saturday is the Sabbath. We’ve all got to go to church on Saturday to be accepted by God. The only thing keeping you in that place is pride. You are coveting, lusting after your own opinion and the mind of the flesh is wanting what it wants. It’s pride. That’s the bottom line. That is the bottom line.
I remember even as a young man, when I began smoking and drinking, it was pride. I wanted to be accepted by my peers. That was why I began doing the things I did. Pride. And what kept me in that? Pride. Because you’re not going to tell me I can’t do this. When I look at Sabbath keeping, it’s the same thing. You go to church on Saturday. You abstain from doing these various things. And what does it mean? I’m holy. And I feel holy. Yea, I hate it. I can’t wait till it’s over, but I’m holy. I’ve done what God wanted me to do. There is a fulfillment in your fleshly mind in doing that. The person who lacks God’s understanding is covetous toward his own opinion and will oppress you. How many people have you tried to move, intellectually convince them to go to church on Saturday, and scaring them with the mark of the beast? Oh, the Sunday law. How many times have we been in that place? Let’s take this back to Luke, chapter 16, and reading verse 13.
Luke 16:13
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot [You can’t] serve God and mammon.
Mammon equals riches, but spiritually it represents the treasure, the riches between your ears, what you think you possess. You cannot serve God and your own opinion. It doesn’t work. No man has ascended up into the heavens on his own, spiritually - only the Son of man who has come down from heaven, who is in heaven. (John 3:13) You see what he’s saying? Spiritually speaking, there isn’t a person on this planet who, in their understanding, ascended up into heaven and understood the way God understands. It doesn’t work like that. You can’t serve God and your own opinion. If you think your opinion is equivalent to God’s, you’re antichrist. You’re equal to the pope. You’re sitting on the throne of God, proclaiming yourself to be God, and therefore you oppress. And you want everyone to believe and think and do as you do. Why? You’re coveting your own opinion. Come back to Luke 16 verse 14.
Luke 16:14
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, ....
Covetous of what? I thought they tried hard to keep the ten commandments outwardly. Well they did. But what were they coveting? Their own opinion. Their own ideas about God. They were covetous, see, in their heart. They
Luke 16:14
14.... heard all these things: and they derided him.
15 And [this is what] he said unto them, Ye [You] are they which justify yourselves before men; ...
Stop. How do I justify myself before men. Well, I take the book, and I hold it up, and I say, “Can’t you see that? Look at what this says.” And intellectually they’re deceived. Some are deceived because of the pressure put on from the group, they have to succumb to it, or be cast out of the church.
15 Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; [You justify yourselves before men]; but God knoweth [knows] your hearts: ...
You may not be coveting outwardly, but you’re coveting inwardly.
15 .... for that which is highly esteemed among men is [that’s an] abomination in the sight of [to] God. [That’s an abomination to God.]
You see, Jesus is saying in John 16, the day is coming when they throw you out of the synagogue. They’ll even kill you thinking they’re doing God service. What’s happening there? You are walking according to the moving of the spirit. They are walking according to their covetousness. All that’s in the world. According to their pride. And the two clash. I want to talk about this clashing. Because it takes us right over to Cain and Abel. But right now, looking again at Luke, we can’t leave out verse 16. If we’re going to talk about Luke chapter 16, you’ve got to include verse 16. You see,
Luke 16:16
16 The law and the prophets were until John: ...
Who’s John? John the Baptist. What’s he a picture of? The Elijah message. What’s that? The still small voice. What happened there? Elijah heard the still small voice, was given that doctrine. What happened? He was taken off in a flaming, fiery chariot, to heaven. But on his way up, he threw down his mantle to a man named Elisha. And Elisha, receiving the mantle had twice the spirit, twice the understanding Elijah had on this earth. Both are a picture of you. You receive the hearing, you accept it, you enter into the heavens. You now become that Elisha. You have the mantle. You’re wearing the cloke of a man who’s in heaven. And you have now twice the understanding that you had before because you’re walking according to the spirit of Christ. The law and the prophets were until John, the picture of the Elijah message.
Once you receive the Elijah message, the kingdom of God is preached. And everyone is pressing into that. (Luke 16:16, “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”) Listen. They’re not pressing into your law and your definitions of God. They’ve learned to press into God’s kingdom, to be in the mind of Christ, to be a part of that man’s life. And He become all in all. If you’re not living like that - you lack God’s understanding - your tendency will be to oppress. That is what you’re seeing in John 16. In John 16, let’s go back and let’s pick up where we left off at verse 4.
John 16:4
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye [you] may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Now what does He mean by that? In Jesus’ day, as this man held meetings, and people flocked to hear him and the Pharisees showed up, who would the Pharisees persecute? Well, they wouldn’t persecute the people. They persecuted the man who had the courage to speak it. Isn’t that the way it is? Why would they persecute the disciples? They’re just poor victims being deceived. Yea, they might try to sway the disciples away from Christ, but they’re not persecuting them. They persecuted Him, the Savior.
John 16:4
4 .... these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I go my way [But I’m going to go my way] to him that sent me; and none of you asketh [are asking] me, Whither goest thou? [Where are you going?]
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath [has] filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell [I’m telling] you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: [Why?] for if I go not away [well, if I don’t go away], the Comforter will not [won’t] come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Now, at one point in my life, I looked at that more as a legal issue. In other words, if Christ didn’t die on that tree and suffer the penalty and then be raised and go back to heaven, and God accept it, the Comforter couldn’t be sent. But I realize the folly of that. What He is saying is, He has to go to Calvary. He has to be raised, in order that there be a Comforter in the first place. And when He goes back to the Father, He can then send the Comforter to us. Again,
John 16:7
7.... if I go not away [if I don’t go away], the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, ...
When he is come where? When He is come to you. Not simply in this world. When He is come to you, to the believer,
8 ....he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
If you look in your margin at this word “reprove,” they’ve put the word “convince” the world. But let me show you the first place this is used. And this is interesting. It’s in
Matthew 18:15
15 Moreover if thy [your] brother shall trespass against thee [you], go and tell him his fault between thee [you] and him alone:....
“Tell fault.” That’s one word. They’ve split it in the English so that it would make sense. But “tell fault” is the very word they’ve translated “reprove” in John 16:8. Now let me tell you how this works. When the spirit of Christ who lived on this planet, He was made of a woman, made under the law, He’s going to redeem us from the law. He’s going to cleanse and sanctify us using words. It doesn’t necessarily have to be you only hear His voice and no one else. You hear His voice through people, and as you do, He will confirm yea or nay in your conscience. Right? He uses the body. Again, the hand can’t say to the foot, I have no need of you. Why? Because Christ will speak through that person to give you understanding. That’s why He gives you, as a gift, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists. These men are gifts to the church because He will speak through them. And as you hear them teach and speak, it’s either yea or nay in your heart as you weigh the words.
When the spirit of Christ, now follow me, who lived on this planet, went through the sufferings, went through the reproaches He did, standing for what He knew to be true, defending His Heavenly Father, speaking forth words of truth, receiving the pain of doing so, when He is come to you, do you think He’s going to remain silent and have you be silent and never say a thing? Is He going to go through what He went through, His ministry of rectifying, straightening out the crooked places, but through you He’ll be silent, and don’t worry about it? Just keep your mouth shut, and go along. Believe what you believe. They can believe what they believe. You be quite. That way you keep your job. You keep your place. You keep all these things, because I’m not going to offend. Is that what He is doing through His body? No. Look at what He says here.
John 16:8
8 And when he is come, [When the Holy Spirit, when the Comforter is come to you] he will reprove [tell them their faults concerning three things] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Sin, righteousness and judgment. What are those things? Sin. Self. Bottom line is self. Helping people understand that. Notice what He says in verse 9.
John 16:9
9 Of sin, because they believe not on [into] me;
King James put “on.” You see, those people haven’t believed “into” Christ. They might believe in Him, but they haven’t believed “into” Him. Hence, they’re still manifesting self, contrary to what our Savior would have them do. They’re still denying conscience. They don’t understand that. When the spirit comes to you, you’ll show them their faults concerning those things. Verse 10.
John 16:10
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my [the] Father, and ye [you] see me no more;
What is righteousness? The thought of God. The understanding God possesses. Not only will you help them understand their sin, you’re going to help them understand righteousness. He will use you to straighten out the crooked places. Well, what if they don’t like, what if they come against me? Hey, that’s part of the deal. I want to show you a verse in a minute where that is covered. I want you to understand what God is doing with us and with them. Verse 11.
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
You’re going to help straighten them out on their understanding of judgment. You’ll tell them their fault concerning judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. Who judged him? Christ at Calvary. And His spirit is within me. I discern him too. I make decisions concerning the prince of this world too. I am on the throne in my Savior. I can help you understand judgment as the spirit moves through me. Look at 1 Peter and let’s read this, in 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 11.
1 Peter 4:11
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God ....
That means only as the Lord is moving you. See we’re back to John 16. We’re back to the Comforter, in you, reproving. It’s interesting too, you don’t want to miss this. What we’ve just read in John 16. First He talks about persecution. And then He says, the Comforter is going to come to you and reprove them through you. That’s what brings the persecution.
1 Peter 4:11
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man [you] minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth [do it as the ability which God gives] :[so] that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Now follow this.
1 Peter 4:12
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto [has happened to] you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye [you] are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; [so] that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye [you] may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye [you] be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye [you] for [because] the spirit of glory and of God resteth [is resting] upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Now listen. What does it mean to glorify? Glory - thoughts, opinion, ideas. His glory rests on me. I manifest His thoughts, His opinions, His ideas. I reprove them concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. On their part, He’s evil spoken of. On my part, He’s being glorified. When He is evil spoken of, that equates to persecution on me. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial. Rejoice, when you speak up and get fired. Rejoice, when you speak the truth and you suffer because of it. Verse 15.
1 Peter 4:15
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
You see, those things equate to the great oppressor. You don’t have God’s understanding, you oppress. How do you do that? You murder, steal God’s words from people as He lays on their conscience to do a certain thing, you steal that from them, as evildoers or as a busybody in other men’s matters, asking them, “Well, what did you do? This was the Sabbath. Did you keep the Sabbath?” You see, all of those things equate to an oppressor.
1 Peter 4:16
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end [or the completion] be of them that obey not the gospel of God [don’t obey God’s gospel]?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? [Notice the next verse.]
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
To suffer according to the will of God. Do you think when Jesus Christ spoke what He spoke, and He says, “I’m only speaking, I’m only doing as my Father tells me,” don’t you think the Father knew the anger He was creating in these people? Don’t you think the Father knew the reaction they would have against the Son of God? When the Holy Spirit, when the Comforter, when that which comforts you comes upon you, He is going to move you to express fault concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. And when you suffer according to the will of God, commit your soul to Him as unto a faithful Creator. Why use those words? Because He’s creating in you. He’s making something happen in you. He’s making you strong. How? Persecution does something different to us than say, losing a job, losing a child, having your house burn up. If those things happen to you outside of being persecuted, if you begin to have things take place, hard times, it causes you to trust in God, to get on your knees and seek Him, and seek Him for direction to go, answers, peace.
But persecution is different. When people persecute you for your faith, that causes something different inside. To me, it drives me back to the scriptures to seek Him, to make sure what it is I’m believing and as I stand and speak the truth as it is in Christ, I become more sure and steadfast. Let me use another word. It “seals” me inwardly. And the things I teach, I challenge you, try to move me off these things. Not only do I have a scriptural background and support, but the Man who wrote the book is a Rock in my heart and you will not move me off this. And in fact, when we finish, your conscience will be pricking you as to what is accurate and what isn’t. He knows the consequences when you speak up, when He moves you to speak - when He moves you, not when you do it on your own -- when He does it through you. He knows what’s going to happen. He knows those people better than you do. He’s prepared to get you more money or a better job or whatever it is that’s going to happen to you. He’s prepared. He isn’t going to let you just fall through the cracks.
When I say this word “seal,” I always think of Revelation 7. That always comes into my mind. The messenger, the angel ascending, going higher and higher, ascending from, away from the east, away from self, going higher and higher into God’s understanding; having the seal of the living God and sealing the 144,000. And then going to Revelation 14 and seeing the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, which for me now, means death is swallowed up in victory. Which for me now means I’ve moved off in a way of that worldly foundation of God’s rejection, and I’m now responding to the problems in my life, the things in my life with a new foundation. I’m standing on Mount Zion with Christ. I have the name of the Father, of the Lamb, written across my forehead. I’m sealed. How did I get sealed?
I always think of the pot story, the vase story Betty Orlich told us. The man’s making the vase and it’s spinning and he has his hands on it, and he’s forming this vessel. And when he finished he asked the people, “What do you see?” “Well we see a beautiful vase.” And he smashed it down and he said, “It isn’t a vase. It isn’t a vessel fit for use until I put it in the fire.” You are not going to stand on Mount Zion with the name of the Father sealed in you without making a stand for what you believe. It’s impossible. That’s impossible to do that. Let me show you why. Turn with me in your Bibles to 2 Timothy, chapter 3. And read this with me and notice what Paul is speaking of here. Now notice.
2 Timothy 3:9
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Speaking of the end time, and people who claim to be following Christ. I’m not going to read all that. You need to read it starting at verse 1. But he says they’ll proceed no further. Their folly will be manifest unto all.
2 Timothy 3:10
10 But thou hast [you have] fully known my doctrine, [my] manner of life, [my] purpose, [my] faith, [my] longsuffering, charity [love], patience,
11 [The] Persecutions, afflictions [and affliction], which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
In Christ. You can’t leave that out. In Christ. When the Comforter is come to you, He is going to reprove the world. Show them their fault. He’s going to cleanse and sanctify using words. Why, He’s making us all kings and priests. What’s a priest? A minister. Who are you going to minister to? How do you think He is using us? Remember Revelation 11? Why, there was given me a reed. It was like a rod. A message of correction. And I was told to go measure those that worship in the temple. Who’s He speaking to there? Is it only to leadership? No. All that will live godly in Christ will suffer persecution.
Paul mentions in this chapter Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. And all you have to do is turn back to Acts 13 and read chapters 13 and 14 and you will see what he’s speaking of in 2 Timothy and what he calls being in Christ and living godly and why the man was persecuted. He speaks up. He attends the synagogues and speaks up and explains to people the truth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, including the resurrection from the dead. They persecute him because of that. And I want to include a scripture in Acts 14. I want you to see this. Verses 21 and 22. I wish you would read Acts 13 and 14. But in 14, when you come to verse 21,
Acts 14:21
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
We must. There must be this great tribulation that you go through. Much tribulation. Why? Because the Comforter is in me. He is telling them their faults and people may not respond to that always in a positive way. Yea, many times in my ministry, I’ve had a positive response. I’ve held meetings and had as many as sixty people put away the doctrine of the trinity, accept the Son of God. I’ve had a lot of one on one time with people where they’ve seen the truth. But you know what? I’ve had more rejection. I’ve had more people respond in a negative way. That’s why John the Baptist’s loins were girt with leather. You have to learn to take it. And you have to realize, hey, on their part, my Savior is evil spoken of. On my part, He’s glorified.
That has to be where we are, how we understand. And the things of this world are meaningless. The things around us, the things we possess are meaningless. Let the world have it. I want Jesus. I want the Savior. When they get angry, when they persecute, let them do it. By God’s grace, I’m not saying it except He move me to do it. He isn’t moving me to do it, unless He is ready for them to hear it. If they’re not ready to hear it, or if they reject it, it’s not my problem. I’m only doing what God moved me to do.
This takes me back now, to Cain and Abel and I want to read out of Genesis 4. Before I read that, again, just to set the record straight, to make sure we are on the same level of understanding, the prophecy in Luke 1 that John the Baptist would be filled from his mother’s womb with the Holy Spirit, and the fulfillment of the prophecy being seen later in that chapter where Elizabeth is filled with the spirit, Mary gives a salutation. The babe, John, leaps in the womb for joy. Joy in a child who has no vocabulary - he’s never heard that voice before - tells me the joy is coming from Elizabeth to the child. The child is receiving the emotions of the mother. You know, if we can look at outward things and understand spiritual truth, it only makes sense that the child is receiving the emotions of the mother because literally he’s being fed. He gets what the mother eats. He’s receiving food from the mother, literally. And I think that’s a picture of the spiritual. The feeling, the emotions of that mother are being fed to that child. And it’s important that we understand this as we look at Cain and Abel, because their parents were Adam and Eve. Now consider with me Eve and this time in talking about Eve, I want to read a text out of Romans chapter 8. In Romans 8, starting at verse 19,
Romans 8:19
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth [waits] for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of [or because of] him who hath [has] subjected the same in hope,
21 Because [or that] the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
See, what is he saying there? What does that have to do with Adam and Eve? When man fell, the creatures were made subject to vanity by God. Why? Because it was the outward expression of the inward truth. This was what had happened to them inwardly. Now the reason I’m bringing this out is because I want you to understand in a more full understanding what happened to Eve - what she was carrying, to see ultimate change take place in the world - ultimate change, because of what she had done. Think of the burden that woman carried in feeling unacceptable to God, realizing it wasn’t joy she passed to her children, like Elizabeth gave John. It wasn’t joy given to Cain and Abel. It was rejection. In Genesis chapter 4,
Genesis 4:1
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. ....
You see that word “again?” It isn’t “again.” It’s “continued bearing,” which strongly implies Cain and Abel were twins. Now personally, I could care less if they were twins. But if, reading this scripture, and she continued bearing his brother Abel, it sounds like one experience, two children born. If that be true, it would only make sense that our Heavenly Father would allow the first birth to be that of twins. Because both children were in the same womb at the same time, receiving the same emotions. Yet, each son handled it differently. What do I see there? The wheat and the tares. What do I see there? The sun hardening one type of clay, and softening another. They were on equal footing, yet Cain rejected his father. Why do I say that? In Genesis 3, looking at verse 21,
Genesis 3:21
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Now you know, He didn’t simply make a coat of skin and clothe them and not say a word about what He was doing. But He explained to them why the death of the animal, why the skin. As He literally clothed them, He clothed them inwardly with explanation of understanding. So when I read this concerning Cain and Abel, and let’s go ahead, let’s go ahead and read verse 2.
Genesis 4:2
2 And she again bare [she continued bearing] his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper [feeder] of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Don’t you think Adam explained to his children what God had covered him with? Don’t you think he covered his own children? Therefore when Cain rejected that, he rejected, he was rejecting Adam.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings [firstborn] of his flock and of the fat thereof [of it].....
You see, someone had to tell him to do that. I believe it was his parents. But Cain was feeling rejection. And this is how he dealt with it. All that’s in the world is pride. This is how he dealt with his feeling of rejection. You can go one of two ways. Humility or pride. Continue reading in verse 4.
4 ....And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not [he didn’t have] respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
The inward manifest outwardly. His countenance, his face fell. He was rejected again.
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, [and I can see this happening inwardly, in the understanding Cain realizing this. Don’t think Cain did not understand what we’re getting ready to read.] Why art thou wroth [why are you angry]? and why is thy countenance [your face] fallen? [What’s happening to you here?]
7 If thou doest [you do] well, shalt thou [you] not be accepted? [Literally in the Hebrew, “if you do well, exaltation.”] and if thou doest not [you don’t do] well, sin lieth [is crouching] at the door.
King James put “lies at the door.” It’s “crouches.” Sin crouches. That sounds more like a beast doesn’t it? It sounds more like a big cat. It’s crouching at the door. The lion is at the door.
7 ..... And unto thee [you] shall be his [is it’s] desire, and thou shalt rule over him. [but you should rule over it. You should rule over this sin crouching at the door.]
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Key verse. Cain talked with Abel. What do you think was spoken? What do you think Cain said? More importantly, what do you think Abel said? Because what happened next is persecution. When the Comforter comes to you, He’s going to show them their faults concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. You think Cain killed Abel because he didn’t say anything? Cain talked with Abel. What isn’t written, Abel talked back. Abel stood for what he knew to be true. And Cain slew him. Now let’s continue reading this and get into the mark of Cain. It’s starts right here.
9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy [your] brother? And he said, I know not [I don’t know.]: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Can’t you hear him saying that - I DON’T KNOW. AM I HIS KEEPER? DON’T ASK ME. I DON’T KNOW. But in his answer, he expressed guilt. We know that because of what the Lord says next. Verse 10.
10 And he [the Lord] said, What hast thou [have you] done? the voice of thy [your] brother’s blood crieth [is crying] unto me from the ground.
That is not literal. It’s spiritual. The blood of Abel was shed, and it was crying from the ground of Cain. From the earth, from the mind of Cain. How do I know that? The next verse. Verse 11.
Genesis 4:11
11 And now art thou [You’re] cursed from the earth, which hath [has] opened her mouth to receive thy [your] brother’s blood from thy [your] hand;
Cain could not deny what he had done. He couldn’t get around it. He couldn’t get out of it in his own mind. But I want you to catch the way verse 11 begins. You’re cursed from the earth. Does this say God cursed him? No. It says he’s cursed from the earth. What that means is, because of what he had done, he had brought the curse upon himself. All God is doing is expressing, hey this is what’s happened to you. You’re cursed from the earth. Look at where you’re at. Look at what He says here. Verse 12.
12 When thou tillest [you till] the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength [it isn’t from now on going to yield strength to you]; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou [shall you] be in the earth. [in your thinking, you’ll have no rest, you’ll have no peace.]
You see literally Cain will go off the scene, go off in a minute, into the land of Nod, which means “wandering,” but he builds a city. A city. That means he literally stays put. Inwardly, he’s a fugitive and a vagabond. He cannot deal with what he has done. He is guilty. Verse 13.
13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
See that word “punishment?” It isn’t “punishment.” The King James put the word “punishment.” It’s “iniquity.” That’s the first time it’s used. Iniquity. It paints two different pictures, if you put “punishment” or “iniquity.” Punishment means God has just punished Cain for what he did. Iniquity means the distortion in his mind is greater than he can be responsible for. Let’s read it again.
13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment [iniquity] is greater than I can bear. [And he proves it in the next verse. ]
14 Behold, thou hast [YOU have] driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy [your] face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive [because of YOU, I’ll be a fugitive] and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth [finds] me shall slay me. [because of what YOU have done to me.]
My iniquity is greater than I can bear. You have done this to me. You know, when I read this for the first time, and saw this, pictures of my own earthly father came into my mind, because, more times than one, I can remember him standing in the living room and shaking his fist at God and saying, “I can’t wait till He comes back. He’s going to explain to me why I’m the way I am. Why did you make me like this!” That happened more than once. And he also shouted at me, “Adam and Eve couldn’t have been made perfect. If they were perfect they wouldn’t have sinned. God made them imperfect!” Cain says, “The distortion I have, it’s greater than I can be responsible for. God, You did this to me. Now everyone’s going to kill me because of what You have done to me, the way You’ve made me.” Go down to verse 15.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth [slays] Cain, vengeance shall [will] be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
This word “mark,” first time it’s used is Genesis 1:14.
Genesis 1:14
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, ....
There’s your word. In chapter four they use “mark.” In chapter one, they use “sign.” The light in your heavens is for signs. The light you possess between your ears is seen outwardly. Your knowledge is for a sign. Look at Matthew chapter 6 with me. And in Matthew 6, starting at verse 22,
Matthew 6:22
22 The light of the body is the eye:....
Remember, the eye of your understanding, and light is knowledge.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine [your] eye be [is] single, thy [your] whole body shall be [is] full of light.
23 But if thine [your] eye be [is] evil, thy [your] whole body shall be [is] full of darkness. If therefore the light [the knowledge] that is in thee [you] be darkness, how great is that [the] darkness!
So let me ask you a question. Had you happened upon Cain and said, “Hey I know you. You’re Cain. You’re the guy that killed his brother.” What do you think he would have said? “I’m not responsible. God made me like that.” Isn’t that what he just told God himself? “This iniquity is too great for me. You’re the one doing this to me. You’re making me a fugitive and vagabond. You’ve done this.” The “sign” of Cain is “I’m not responsible for what I do. God has made me like this.”
You know, I had a meeting in Arkansas and it came up about the blood and genes and so on. And there was a person there who said, you know, you’ll never be rid of sin. Sin is in the flesh. That, of course, caused me to begin a study, showing how it is what lies between your ears. The sin nature is the way you think. The sin nature is the understanding you possess. And God is trying to straighten that out. I want to tie all of this in to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 12. Let’s start at verse 10.
2 Thessalonians 2:10
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
The love of the truth, Christ, God will chasten all He loves. He will chasten everyone that He loves. They receive not the love of the truth. You could say the chastisement of the truth. Verse 11.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
The light in the heavens. The strong delusion.
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in [their] unrighteousness.
That is Cain. That is the principle carried out with Cain. The sign of Cain, is that we’re not responsible. I challenge you to go in any denomination and ask them, “when will we stop sinning?” “When Jesus comes.” They’re speaking literally. “When Jesus comes. He will change my body and when I’m rid of the flesh, I won’t sin.” And yet the opposite is true. The sin nature is between your ears. When Jesus comes, suddenly He says, “I’ll come to my temple.” And who shall abide the day of His coming? Suddenly He will come - in the abiding message. And He will straighten out the crooked places and make you whole inwardly, free you inwardly. And then, He’ll change the outward to match the inward. Just like we read in Romans 8, where the animals were made subject to vanity. Why? Because Adam and Eve were now vain in their thinking and all of creation was designed to teach us what we couldn’t see. So to make the outward fit the inward, our Heavenly Father subjected all animals to vanity. But in Romans 8, let’s read this again, because I didn’t key on some of these things. In Romans 8, let’s just start reading at 19 again, knowing now what he’s talking about.
Romans 8:19
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth [waits] for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason [but because] of him who hath [has] subjected the same in hope,
That’s God. The one who subjected him to hope is God. He was made vain by the very one who has given him hope.
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth [groans and travails] in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Verse 19. They are waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. Those who are led by the spirit, walking in a perfect understanding. I’ve got to bring in my favorite verse. Till we all arrive in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a complete man. The measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Eph. 4:13) That is a possibility. The manifestation of the sons of God will cause God to change the outward to reflect the inward. Mark, chapter 4. And he said, verse 26,
Mark 4:26
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth [knows] not how.
28 For the earth bringeth [brings] forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
A lot is being said in here. One thing that is interesting is that he’s talking about corn which has ears, the fruit in the ear, the full corn in the ear. The earth, the earth brings forth fruit of itself. The seed has to be planted. But seed is dead. Well, seed is the word of God. But it’s still dead, except water from heaven germinate the seed, and give it life. And then the earth brings forth fruit of herself. You look at it and you don’t know how that’s happening. It’s a mystery. Verse 29.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth [what happens?], immediately he putteth [puts] in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Why, the creatures are waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. What? Well, their redemption of the body. We’re all growing. We’re waiting for that. Why? Because the outward will reflect the inward. Death is being swallowed up in victory to the true church of God and it will be manifest when we reach that place, after we’re sealed in the truth. Revelation 14, verse 14.
Revelation 14:14
14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having [he had] on his head a golden crown, and in his hand [was] a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel [messenger] came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the [that] cloud, Thrust in thy [your] sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee [you] to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Friend, don’t think you won’t know that. Don’t think you won’t understand what has happened to you if you’re in that number of men being redeemed from the earth, the 144,000, standing on Mount Zion. You’re not going to ascend to that mountain and not know it. Already in people abiding in Christ, they are recognizing change in their heart. You already see it happening. Know you’ve got to be put in the fire or you’re not a vessel for the master’s use. You’ve got to be put in the fire. We have to be dealt with. It isn’t simply hearing. It’s hearing and doing, speaking and receiving His understanding, and allowing Him to minister to those around us, regardless of the consequences. He know the consequences. Trust Him.