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 Sermon > Lecture Messages |
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Title |
Lecture on Genesis Ver.2(95) - Lecture on Genesis Ver.2 (95) |
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Speaker |
Rev. Jaerock Lee |
Bible |
Genesis 5:21-24 |
Date |
2013-02-15 |
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Scripture
Genesis 5:21-24
21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. 22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
This is Genesis Lecture [95].
I'll continue from what we left off from the previous lecture.
I told you about the steps of man's growth when the life span of man was over 900 years.
By that time, the duration of infancy, childhood, adolescence, was somewhat longer than that of today.
And the duration of adulthood was much longer.
Naturally, the period in which they could deliver a baby was much longer than today.
As said in Genesis 5:32, Noah gave birth to his sons after he was 500 years old.
You can find that they gave birth to many children over hundreds of years.
It proves that the people of those days lived long lives with healthy bodies.
In other words, after they were born, they grew up healthy and became adults.
They maintained the look of an adult for many years.
The point when they began to age was very late, and the speed of aging was also slow.
In man's early period in history, even when they became old, they didn't look like the aged of today.
They didn't lose the energy from their body, they didn't look weary and weak, and their bones were not bent.
Their skin was not wrinkled either.
At some point of their latter years, they couldn't give birth to a child any more.
As they became old, they looked old, but they didn't look like the frail and old people of today.
Even when their lifespan came to an end, they didn't die after becoming became weakened.
Mostly, they enjoyed their latter years with healthy bodies, they became old and satisfied with life, and then died.
Even after the Judgment of Great Flood, the people of faith died in peace.
For example, Genesis 25:7-8 says, "These are all the years of Abraham's life that he lived, one hundred and seventy-five years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people."
It was the same with Isaac, Abraham's son.
Genesis 35:28-29 says, "Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. Isaac breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, an old man of ripe age; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him."
Deuteronomy 34:7 says, "Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated."
Abraham lived 175 years, and Isaac, 180 years.
Even after the Great Judgment of Flood, they lived long years.
Although Moses was 120 years old, 'his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated.'
If God had not taken Moses, he could have lived more years on earth; he had such a healthy body.
Even today, as you cultivate your heart into spirit your body can become stronger.
Just as 3 John 1:2 says, you will be in good health just as your soul prospers.
Just as I explained in the 'Seed of Life' sermon series, as you come into spirit, your body will stop normal aging and passing into whole spirit, you will become younger.
All the parts of your body will recover to an optimum condition.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
So far, I explained some parts of lives of those who lived in the early days of human history.
I also explained the speed of time flow when the average lifespan was over 900 years, and the difference in steps of man's growth.
If I say, "Most of them in those days lived over 900 years", some may doubt the Bible.
However, if they understand what I explained tonight, their doubt will disappear.
They can completely believe that the Bible is the record of truth.
This is the reason God interprets and explains the Bible to us.
It is to help us believe that the Bible is the word of God, and that its records are all historically true, and so to help us live by the word of the bible.
Just as this Genesis Lecture is true, the word about the Final Judgment is also true.
Our Lord, Jesus, also said in Matthew 5:18, "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished."
God the Father accomplishes what He has spoken, does what He says, and judges according to what He says.
Therefore, I wish you can treasure the word of God the Father as the bread of life.
And I also wish that you can take joy in meditating on His word every day, and live by it.
I pray in the name of the Lord that you may live a blessed life of becoming one with 'the word,' that is 'God'.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Now, let me talk about Enoch, the 7th generation from Adam.
The record about Enoch in the Bible is short, but its lesson is so great.
The first is that Enoch lived a life of walking with God even on this earth, and second is that he was taken up alive.
Only these 2 facts are enough to explain how great the forefather of faith, Enoch, was.
Just as 2 Timothy 3:16 says, 'All Scripture is inspired.'
Now, when God inspired the recorders of the bible, He emphasized different aspects of the forefathers of faith.
For example, He put the stress on faith when talking about Abraham. For Moses, it was about the life of the leader recognized by God. God emphasized the uncompromising faith of Daniel, and how David became a beautiful vessel after he passed the refinements with his love for God. Through Elijah, Apostle Paul, and other forefathers, God explains how they understood the heart of God and how much they loved God.
Then, what is it that God wants us to learn from Enoch?
It is the fact that God truly loves one who is of goodness without evil, and that God wants to have him close to Him.
Tonight's scripture says that 'Enoch lived sixty-five years, and (then) became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years."
And then it says, "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."
By his time, the average life of a man was over 900 years.
Therefore, Enoch lived only for 0ne third of the life span of those of that period of time.
Without seeing death, Enoch was taken up to Heaven alive.
Hebrews 11:5 says, "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God."
As said, Enoch obtained the witness that he was pleasing to God while he was living on this earth.
And so he was able to walk with God even on this earth.
First, let's see what it means to 'walk with God.'
'Walking with someone' is 'accompanying someone.'
What does it mean exactly that God "walked" with Enoch?
Does it mean that God Himself came down to this earth, stayed with Enoch; taking Enoch's hand and having chit chatted with him?
Of course not!
It means that God always communicated with Enoch while He Himself guided Enoch's life.
During this time, God taught Enoch much spiritual knowledge.
He vividly revealed the facts about God the Trinity, about the providence of human cultivation, and about the secrets of the spiritual realm and Heaven.
He also told him about the future.
For example, in Jude 1:14-15 Enoch prophesies about the things that will take place at the end of human cultivation.
It says, "It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.""
By that time, Enoch already knew that the Lord would come in the air on the last day of the world.
Enoch could learn this fact as he communicated with God clearly with God as he walked with God.
Besides, Enoch could see the image of God from time to time.
This fact implies two things.
First, just as when God came to Adam when he lived in the Garden of Eden, God would also come to Enoch as a separated spirit.
God inspired the heart of Enoch so that he could feel as if God were with him.
And God explained specifically to Enoch about God's image that He'd never talked about to anyone.
God revealed everything about Himself so that Enoch could even draw the image of God only if had wanted to.
The fact Enoch saw the image of God implies, secondly, that he could see the original image of God like Moses.
In Exodus 33:18 and onwards is recorded God's explanation about how He would reveal Himself to Moses.
In Exodus 33:18, Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!"
Then God replied. Exodus 33:20-23 says, "But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.""
Though Moses, too, communicated clearly with God, he couldn't see God's face directly, but His back.
This took place before 2 years had passed after the Exodus.
That is, it was before Moses became complete.
As Moses stayed in the wilderness for 40 years, he became more humble and faithful.
As he led millions of people, he could understand more of the depth of God the Father's heart, and completely resembled Him.
What was he like physically after he finished all his duty and ended his life at the age of 120?
He was acclaimed that Deuteronomy 34:10 says, "Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face."
Like this Moses, Enoch was also able to see God face to face.
Of course, he couldn't see the face of God from the beginning.
As he walked with God for many more years than Moses, he could gradually become closer and closer to God.
Only after he was close enough to God, did God show His face to Enoch.
By the way, the difference of emotion between when Enoch saw God like this and when he was in the bosom of God as he was taken alive was so great.
It will be the same for us.
We can greatly feel the love of the Father in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on this earth. But how great will our emotion be when we directly see the Father in Heaven?
Regarding this, 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."
If you go to the dwelling place in the 3rd Heavenly Kingdom or higher, you can directly see the faces of God the Father and of the Lord.
Revelation 21:3-4 also says that God 'will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'
You can see the face of God the Father, however, only in a condition if you become a true child that is sanctified and pure in heart.
In addition, those who pursue peace with all men can see the Lord.
Enoch was more than qualified enough for these conditions.
And so, he could walk with God on this earth, and see the image of God from time to time.
Dear brothers and sisters.
How does God walk with us in these New Testament days, the Age of the Holy Spirit?
Among the Triune God, He can walk with us as a separated spirit of the Holy Spirit or of the Lord.
In John 14:17, the Lord said, "He (the Holy Spirit) abides with you and will be in you."
The Holy Spirit abides with us, and He is also in us.
Mark 16:20 says, "And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed."
It means the spirit of the Lord was with His disciples when they preached after He resurrected and ascended into Heaven.
Then, the signs that confirmed the word followed.
Likewise, when the Lord is with you, the signs truly follow.
By the way, when the Lord 'walks with' you, a whole different level of works will follow.
To help you understand it better, let me give you this allegory.
The basic duty of police is to protect the people.
As police officers do their duty, crimes are prevented, and lawlessness cannot prevail.
The existence of police brings benefit to people without their recognition.
This can be referred to the life of 'being with the Lord.' Then, the life of 'walking with the Lord' can be referred to have a police officer escort and protect you all the time.
In this case, you can receive a special protection and help that is different from being protected by police as a citizen.
Now, what if you walk with the Lord, not with a mere police officer?
An evil man cannot even touch you.
You may be guided to a prosperous way in all things.
Our Lord is with God's children who believe in the name of the Lord and who are born again by the Holy Spirit.
He is with those who try by every means possible to live by the word even if they have untruth in their hearts.
The Lord also provides God's children with grace and love.
However, He cannot be with those who willingly violate the will of God and commit sin even though they know the will of God.
It is because it is the work that belongs to darkness.
God is light and the Lord is also light; darkness and light cannot co-exist.
Only when they cast off the work of darkness and come into light, can they 'be' with God who is light.
And when they cast off sin and completely become sanctified, they can walk with God from then on.
There is difference depending on how deep they come into spirit; but they will hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, they will receive His inspiration, and they can always live in His guidance.
Therefore, the can enjoy the blessing of prosperity in all things.
Not only can the evil one not touch them, but no diseases or germs can come close to them either.
Even if a disease or germ does enter the body, it will soon leave.
Since they (the true children of God who are in spirit) don't commit sin, the enemy devil and Satan cannot bring trials or afflictions on them.
Even if they face a trial, they will overcome it by faith and give glory to God.
The deeper they come into spirit, the greater their blessing of prosperity.
When they come into whole spirit, they will receive a whole different level of blessing and reveal the great glory of God.
Therefore, I pray in the name of the Lord that you may quickly come into spirit and whole spirit and live a life walking with the Lord.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Enoch wasn't qualified to walk with God from the very beginning.
He also went through the steps of cultivation like others.
You must understand that he also received the refinements to pull out the sinful attributes from his nature.
Let me explain two things at this point about how Enoch was able to come into spirit and whole spirit.
First of all, Enoch enjoyed storing up goodness.
Enoch had many brothers.
Genesis 5:19 says "Jared lived eight hundred years after he became the father of Enoch, and he had other sons and daughters."
When Enoch grew up with many other brothers, he didn't have any conflicts with anyone.
It was because he always yielded to his brothers.
He didn't try to take something more for himself.
He didn't try to be acknowledged, or to be loved more than others.
He was only faithful to his given jobs.
Since he didn't try to be loved more by his parents, when he saw his brothers loved, he had no negative feelings about it. Instead, he rejoiced.
He neither kept other brothers in check to be acknowledged better than them.
Since he didn't have greed or selfish motives, he made peace with all men.
That's why he was qualified to see the LORD God.
Hebrews 12:14 says, "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord."
Enoch always obeyed his parents in the truth, not to mention the word of God.
He had no intention to disobey his parents when they told him anything.
And so, he was not stubborn in his personal point of view nor did he insist upon it.
He obeyed his parents just as he was told.
In this way, Enoch enjoyed following goodness, doing goodness, and storing up goodness.
As a result, he could walk with God from the time he was 65.
Dear brothers and sisters.
It is true that Enoch was born with the heart of more goodness than others.
Even so, if Enoch had not stored up goodness, he couldn't have been qualified to walk with God.
Indeed, Enoch diligently followed goodness more than any others.
The measure of goodness that people are born with in their heart is all different.
Moreover, chances are that, some may be in an environment where they receive positive impact, but the environment may have an evil impact on others.
Even based on all these grounds, people have their own free will.
They also have the basic cognitive ability to discern good and evil.
Therefore, it is up to their free will whether they follow good or evil.
Even if they are born with a heart of less goodness, goodness will be stored up in their heart when they follow goodness.
On the contrary, even if they are born with a heart of more goodness, evil will be stored in their heart as they follow evil.
It is just as the Lord said in Matthew 12:35, "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil."
'Good' and 'evil' are not 'things', but they can surely be stored up.
The account is very strictly done in the spiritual realm.
To the extent people store things, it will be store up.
The fact that Enoch was able to walk with God when he was 65 means that the 'whole goodness' he stored up just reached the full measure.
It was the same when Joseph became the prime minister of Egypt at the age of 30.
It was the result of diligently storing up goodness for 13 years as a slave and a prisoner.
By that time, Joseph was in a situation to give out evil better than goodness.
He could have blamed on his brothers who sold him as a slave, and complained of fate.
When he was wrongfully accused and imprisoned, he could have abandoned himself.
It is quite obvious that dealing with prisoners is more difficult than with the normal population.
There are people like men who are full of anger and rage, grudge-pierced men, harsh-talking men, and offending men.
Even in this coarse situation, Joseph stored goodness because he believed in God.
Then, Genesis 39:21 says, "But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer."
And so, the jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners.
Joseph took care of all the affairs in the prison.
And the jailer didn't interfere at all with whatever Joseph did.
It was because the jailer felt that God was with Joseph.
God made whatever Joseph did prosperous.
Even though Joseph was in a prison and he dealt with prisoners, he diligently continued to store up goodness.
Finally, when the goodness of Joseph went beyond the justice, God worked in the dream of the Pharaoh of Egypt.
As its result, Joseph became the prime minister, and acquired the authority second to the king.
It is just as Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."
Therefore, I wish you can defeat evil with goodness in any given situation.
It is said "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good."
Once you defeat evil with goodness, goodness will be stored up to that extent, and the spiritual power will be stronger.
It will be easier to defeat evil next time.
I hope that you can accomplish goodness and moreover whole goodness that God can acknowledge.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
In this lecture, I explained the meaning of Enoch's walking with God, the reason Enoch could come into spirit and whole spirit.
The first reason was that he enjoyed storing up goodness.
In the next lecture, I will explain the 2nd reason, and about the situation when he was taken up alive.
What did I say is the lesson that God wants to give us through Enoch?
It is that God truly loves the ones who are of goodness with no evil, and God wants to have these people close to Him.
Don't you feel good as well when you meet good people better than evil people?
I believe you feel at home when you deal with those pure and gentle better than dealing with the confused and stubborn.
It is even much more so with God the Father who is holy, and who is goodness and love itself!
May you possess much more beautiful heart of goodness through this message about Enoch, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray! |
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