The Cursed

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” – John 3:16-17 KJV

God told Adam “cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” (Gen 3:17) Forget not that “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground” (Gen 3:7) Therefore, cursed was man, for ‘adam’ is the Hebrew word for man, it is a noun not a proper noun. Nouns are people, places, and things whereas proper nouns are capitalized in referencing specifics. So, Adam written in English to be a proper as a name is not a proper noun written in Hebrew. To them it would have been like writing Man in the middle of a sentence for no reason. The phrase “in thy ground” is transliterated from the single Hebrew word ‘adamah’ which means ‘land’ from the root word adam.

So we see God is telling mankind that he is cursed for his own doing, but what is the curse? God gives the effects of the curse saying “that in toil and pain all the day of your age shall you consume this curse” That thorns and thistles shall grow within the grass and with the strain of thy anger will you now eat (My) bread until you return to the ground of which you were created. We know that “death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it, shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Prov 18:21) Thereby men and women knew both good and evil, but had not the ability to bear the responsibility to abstain from speak all that they saw.

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” – Genesis 3:4-5 KJV

“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” – Genesis 3:22-24 KJV

Try this: stick your tongue out of your mouth and roll it around your lips, does it not turn every way? If you then speak fire and brimstone to people, because you see what is wrong with them personally, are your eyes not then opened by the knowledge of both good and evil?

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:6 KJV

In giving the design for the Ark of the Covenant, God commanded that in between the two Cherubims there would be the mercy seat. Cherubims being plural placed in the Garden as well as specifically two on the Ark covering the mercy seat, what two things do you have on your face? What then could be their wings? And if what was opened be now closed, then the tongue’s fire is quenched and those now have obtained mercy, for mercy outweighs judgment.

                                                              THE FIG TREE

Consider this, The Apostle Peter writes “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin.” (2 Pt 2:14) The word ‘eyes’ is transliterated from the Greek word ‘ophthalmos’ which means: the eye; fig: the mind’s eye.

Could you then also be considered Luke warm?

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” – Revelation 3:15-16 KJV

The word ‘cold’ used there is transliterated from the Greek word ‘psuchros’ which means: cool, cold; fig: cold-hearted.

What leaves did Adam and Ever cover themselves with? God’s word is perfectly designed for the English word ‘fig’ is transliterated from the Hebrew word ‘teenah’ which is of uncertain derivation meaning ‘fig tree’.

“Now in the morning as he returned into the city, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And when he saw a fig tree afar off (in the way), he came to it, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee, let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever, and his disciples heard it. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursed is presently withered away.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Have faith in God for Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that they will come to pass and that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

– Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14 & 11:20-26 KJV

“And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees…

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his/her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know (of your own selves) that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things come to pass, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

– Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33 KJV

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” – Luke 21:34-236 KJV

                                   WHAT IS GRACE

The fig tree is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the offensive nature of its fruit must be overlooked first to be forgiven for such is the definition of grace.

The English word ‘grace’ as originally written in the Greek language is the word ‘charis’ (pronounced khar’-ece) which means: grace, favor, gratitude, thanks, or a favor, kindness, contextually as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ. – properly that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech. “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?” – Luke 4:22 KJV

It is because you see that you are blind and because you are blind you cannot see. “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remains.” (Jn 9:39-41)

The Hebrew word used for grace is ‘chen’ which means: favor, grace, elegance. Used in Ps 45:3; Prov 22:11; & Ecc 10:12 to discribe one’s manner of speech. Grace (chen) is also the word used in example and thereby instruction for favorable acceptance towards men in Prov 13:15 & 22:1 as well as Ecc 9:11 And in regard to God’s favor in Zech 4:7 & 12:10.

THE CURSE OF FEAR

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” – Genesis 3:8-11 KJV

Speaking condemnation to someone is sewing the seed of fear. Man was told that he was inferior, that he was shouldn’t have said what God had instructed him to, that he had not right to do what God said he did… and he believed it. He ate from the tree and received the condemnation spoken unto him, he became afraid and thereby naked in the eyes of God. And The Lord said “who told you that you were naked?” That you misheard me, that your following after your own purpose and not mine therefore, I am not with you? There was a reason ya know, why I said don’t listen to evil words… Have you believed what what said? And Adam did, for in the cool of the day did the Lord come to him after his emotions heated up, because of the words of someone else.

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:1-7 KJV

As Christians we are to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves with everyone. Friendship with the world is though one’s speech for it is the heart of a person that God weighs and out of a man’s heart does the mouth speak.

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” – 1 John 3:18-20 KJV

Nevertheless, there are those that will in the name of the Lord condemn others for how they live their lives, judging them for what restaurants they eat at, movies and television they watch, music they choose to listen to; Demeaning every aspect of a persons individuality as to make them more like that of themselves. The word Spirit here is translated from the Greek word ‘pneuma’ which means; wind, breath, spirit. To put this in perspective, when a person speaks they also breathe out, exhaling breathe. Be not deceived by those that seek to make you into their own disciple.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” – 1 John 4:4-5 KJV

OVERCOMING FEAR

It is not of coincidence that “Fear Not” is written 365 times in the word of God and this starts within. How you begin to speak to people no matter how they treat you, for Jesus instructed “bless those who curse you” and to bless literally means to speak well of them. This is how to overcome your own fears whatsoever they may be, for God will honor your sacrifice when the going gets tough and prove his favor for you, this is what “perfect love cast out all fear” means.

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.” – Proverbs 15:4-6 KJV
Adam was cursed for His Own Sake and the Apostle Paul writes,”For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

Condemnation leads no one into salvation, be the light.

“Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” – 1 John 3:21-24 KJV

Therefore, we overcome our own fear by keeping the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ and refusing to look upon the faults of someone else, As King Solomon laments, “For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” (Ecc 1:18) Therefore, Jesus said “if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt 6:23) And even though Noah found Grace in God’s eyes, God is still not a respecter of persons. The Prophet Habakkuk also says this is how God perceives; “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Heb 1:13) Therefore, Noah found Grace by seeing as God sees; for the word of God does not conflict Jesus Christ being the same yesterday, today, and forever.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.” – Philippians 2 12:17 KJV

When the newness of life is covered with a blanket, that which is freshly born is at peace and remains still. But when the cover is removed and the briskness of the air touches the skin the infant becomes restless and cries in uncomfort. Even so, those who are first born must learn to rest that they can discern the difference.

May the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, God bless and take care.