Learning from others in the past….Cain & Abel….

This outline is not original with me; however, it seems to please the Lord, that I post it for our admonition upon whom the end of the age is approaching:

Learning from others in the past

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime (in the Old Testament Scriptures) were written for our learning [or our doctrine or instruction], that we through patience [or endurance] and comfort [or encouragement] of the scriptures might have hope [present tense – lit. “keep on having hope”]

Cain and Abel were brothers

Genesis 4:1-2a 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 brotherAbel.

Brothers have the faith

1 Corinthians 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother (those that have the faith), and that before the unbelievers [or those without faith].

The faith to enter into the kingdom of God

Acts 14:22 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.

Adam lost the dominion of the earth

Genesis 3:23-24 Therefore the LORD God sent him (Adam) out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Abel was a prophet

Luke 11:50-51 “That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias…”

The prophets spoke of the restoration of the earth

Acts 3:20-21 And that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets (including Abel) since the world began.

Both brothers worked

Genesis 4:2b “…And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.”

Both brothers brought an offering to the Lord

Genesis 4:3-4a And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flockand of the fat thereof.

Abel’s offering was accepted by the Lord

Genesis 4:4b “…And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,”

Cain’s offering was rejected by the Lord

Genesis 4:5 but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

Cain’s offering did not honour the Lord

Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance [or wealth], and with the firstfruitsof all thine increase [or crops, produce].

Happiness in life is through obedience

John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Joy of faith

Philippians 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith

Proverbs 16:20 He who gives heed to the word will prosper, and happy is he who trusts in the LORD (RSV).

Cain went astray by rejecting God’s reproof

Proverbs 10:17 He who heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof goes astray.

Despise not the Lord’s correction

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise [or reject] not the chastening [or correction] of the LORD; neither be weary [detest, resent, or be angry] of his correction [reproof or rebuke]: 12 For whom the LORD loveth hecorrecteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

The Lord encourages Cain to do well

Genesis 4:6-7 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Faith made the difference

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

So great a cloud of witnesses

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Faith is living for future things

Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Future promises

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith (Abel), not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

A better city

Hebrews 13:14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come

A new environment

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Future accountability

2 Corinthians 5:7,10 For we walk by faith, not by sight: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Cain killed Abel

Genesis 4:8 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.

Why did Cain kill Abel?

1John 3:11-12 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we (the brethren) should love one another (in the church family). 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew [or murdered] his brother. And wherefore [or why] slew [murder] he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

Prophets spoke the truth

John 8:40 “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God…”

Prophets exposed the sin of the people

Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Abel was the first martyr

Matthew 23:34-35 Wherefore, behold, I send unto youprophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of themye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Are you guilty of murder? Do you hate your brother?

1 John 3:13-15 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life (age-lasting), because we love [continually] the brethren. He that loveth not [continually] his brother abidethindeath (for the age). 15 Whosoever [my brethren v.13] hateth [continually] his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternalage-lasting life abiding [or enduring] in him.

Wanna’ come along?………

A friend and I are meditating upon, studying, and chewing the cud of the book of James in the New Testament.  It was the first epistle written to a particular group of people whom he calls “brethren” 19 times in 5 chapters.  (You can read down in my blogs to learn the significance of the word “brethren.”)   And, why did I use the term “chewing the cud?”  My friend reminded me of it yesterday.   The cow was a “clean” animal in God’s instructions to the Jews.  Cows can be observed grazing, and then standing or lying down as they chew the cud.  They bring back up what they had grazed and chew it again.  This is an excellent method of Bible study!  Approaching the Throne of Grace (and all that means), utilizing 1 John 1:9 (confessing and applying the blood for cleansing), and washing in the water of the Word, we can graze in James by reading all of it in one sitting and “chew the cud” as we dust, prepare meals for our family, vacuum, etc.  Ahhhhh….the blessings awaiting the mom/wife who “keeps” the home.  She does not fill up God’s gift of time with anything that crowds out or hinders her high calling.

We have just begun our adventure in James.  Wanna’ come along?  Read it through (in a clean, unmarked Bible, if you can – I can’t!) in one sitting several times.  Do this until the main themes begin to become apparent.  Read chapter 1 and skip to chapter 5.  This gives you the opening statements and the summary statements.  How do they compare/differ?  During this phase, I read different translations.  Caution here.  I have many Bibles and translations available to me and I still only use a few:  New American Standard is my reading Bible of choice.  It is a “rhema” type of translation.  (Click on “rhema” in the right column of this blog  if you need the definition of “rhema.”)  A word for word translation, also, is the King James Version.  The New International version is a thought for thought version – see “logos” in margin.  Read the Amplyfied, Vincent, Vine’s or Young’s literal translation.  Yet, I am not sure you need to do this at all.  It’s just me.  So, read the KJV or NAS all the way through James – often.

Now, the fun part!  Get out your colored pencils.  Choose different colors for different themes.  For instance: when I look at chapter two, “faith” or “believe” pops out in red.  Chapter one, has the word, “hear,” done this way; chapter three, “wise,” “wisdom” pop out.  And, chapter four, “humble.”

Enough – already!   I’ll bring ya’ll along every now and then in our study.  Expect interruptions!  The world, the flesh, and the devil do not want you to study to be approved by God – the  alternative:  no study, no approval!

Focus on the Family?

Who’s Your Next of Kin?……………When I fill out a questionnaire at a new doctors’ office, I put my husband’s telephone numbers, along with my daughter’s, as my next of kin, or emergency numbers.

 As a kid, in a country church, I heard “brother” so-in-so and “sister” so-in-so named quite often.  These brothers and sisters came over to our house often, too.  Daddy made the best biscuits ever.  So, after church on Sunday and Wednesday nights, “brothers” and “sisters” came to our house for daddy’s biscuits and mama’s homemade jams and jellys.

 That got me to thinking about whom my Lord considers “brothers” and “sisters.”  Let me remind ya’ll that the Bible is its own dictionary.  One can compare scripture with scripture and with “ears to hear” and “eyes to see,” can discern the Lord’s will and ways.   

Perhaps I can help you see which family is God’s Focus!

Lu 8:20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

 Lu 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

 Brethren “hear” a particular something and then act on it:  This same chapter will tell us   what the “Word of God” is:

 Jesus is relating the parable of the “sower, the seed, and the soils”  in this chapter and His disciples question Him as to its meaning:

 Lu 8:9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

 Lu 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

 Lu 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

 If you missed the definition of what the “Word of God” is, read it again!

 The “Word of God” contains the mysteries of the kingdom of God.

 The “Word of God” is also our Lord’s name when He comes as Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords to rule with His Bride in the coming kingdom age.  You must be assured that the “kingdom of God” is NOT within you and that these things have already taken place.  It is not possible that the Lord is sitting on a throne in your heart.  If He were, He would not be doing His priestly ministries for us now!

 Rev. 19:11-16:

 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 The “brethren” know about this literal coming kingdom and order their lives in accordance with the lifestyle that reflects their belief.  Matthew 7: 21-27:

 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

 A “brother” is wise and knows what pleases the Lord in his building upon the Word of God.  Both of these examples build.  Both have the same “weather.”  The difference is where they built and in preparation for what!  The Lord does not recognize them for entrance into the coming kingdom as they did not prepare themselves in the fellowship of His sufferings and dying daily and following Him.

 Brethren serve one another: 

 Galatians 5:13-14 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 Brethren prefer one another:

Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”

 Brethern have a calling and election that they must “make sure” for an abundant entrance into the coming kingdom:

2 Peter 1:10-13 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting [agelasting] kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 Matthew 12:50 – “For whoever does the will of My Father Who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” (NAS)

 Brethren are “beloved:”

1 Thess. 1:4 – “knowing, brethren, beloved by God, His choice (election) of you;”

Colossians 3:12, 13 – “And so, as those who have been chosen (elect) of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” (NAS)

 There is more, of course; but, for now, surely you can form God’s definition of a “brother.”  (BTW- the word means “sister,” also.) 

Your next of kin, so to speak, is not your blood relatives.  Your “brethren” are those Christians making their calling and election sure and steadfast for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last day.  To them the Holy Spirit reveals the mysteries concerning the coming age when our Lord becomes King of the qualifying kings under Him and Lord of the qualifying Lords.

The “brethren” love one another and order their lifestyles for gaining crowns and rewards in the coming glory of our Lord.

 Having the Lord’s definition before us will help us understand passages like this:

In Matthew 19, the Lord has been teaching concerning the kingdom of heaven, eternal life (life for the coming age), what “saved” is, where our treasure is, and the difficulty of entering.  Then, He tells Peter and the disciples beginning in verses 28 & 29: “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His throne of glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal (age-lasting) life.” (NAS)

 And, this one:  “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A AUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; AND A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”  Matthew 10:34-38 NAS