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        -    e-Ministries     -   
        -   by Jon Justvig    -   
        -  February 7, 2011   -   
        --------------------------------------------------------------------   
      
        Issue #: 7   
      
        In our last article, we talked about how the scheme of the devil put   
        wrath on the human race.  As a penalty for disobeying God's command,   
        pain and suffering was put on mankind forever.  The tree of life was   
        put to an end, therefore we are not able to live forever here on   
        earth.  However, the moment God put limitations on the years we are   
        to live, Adam and Eve bore a son.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:1  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and   
                       bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the   
                       LORD.   
      
        Adam and Eve were blessed to have their first child.  Eve   
        experienced her first pain in childbearing.  This was the beginning   
        to a new generation.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:2  And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a   
                       keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.   
      
        Cain being their first born, Eve labored another child, Abel so that   
        he would not have to work alone.  Cain was the caretaker of the   
        field and Abel would take care of the animals on the field.  This   
        did not go well for too long.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:3  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain   
                       brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto   
                       the LORD.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:4  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his   
                       flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had   
                       respect unto Abel and to his offering:   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:5  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.   
                       And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.   
      
        It all seemed well for awhile.  Their first harvest came and Cain   
        offered fruit and Abel raised livestock and they both had brought   
        their offering to the Lord.  Cain was very jealous of Abel, that   
        Abel found God's favor; Cain received not.     
      
        [KJV] Lev 22:29  And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving   
                         unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.   
      
        It's not what we give in offering, it's how we give.  We are to give   
        because we want to.  It is not at all about what we get in return or   
        to please God.  We cannot tempt our Lord with anything.   
      
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and   
                       why is thy countenance fallen?   
       
        [KJV] Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and   
                       if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And   
                       unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule   
                       over him.    
      
        If Cain had giving with delight in his heart and not to seek favor   
        all would have been well again.  His desire overruled Cain and sin   
        came into his heart.  He would then seek to act out in hate because   
        he was jealous of his brother Abel.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 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.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:9  And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy   
                       brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's   
                       keeper?   
      
        Just as Adam and Eve hid in the garden after disobey God, Abel knew   
        he was in the wrong because his conscience told him so.  We are all   
        gifted with the Holy Spirit for guidance.  Cain had obviously   
        tricked his brother Abel to come to the field with him and   
        deliberately killed him in search for revenger.  Cain was lost up to   
        this point.  What Cain needed most here was love, joy and   
        understanding.   
      
        [KJV] Pro 18:2  A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that   
                        his heart may discover itself.   
      
        [KJV] Psa 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give   
                        thee the desires of thine heart.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:10  And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy   
                        brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.    
         
        The Lord knew Cain did something wicked against Abel and Cain knew   
        it too.  At this point, Cain was letting his fleshly wicked way take   
        the best of him.  At this point, he should have been acting in the   
        spirit with good cheer and joy instead of hate and revenge.  It has   
        led Cain on the wrong path.  Even though sin had already carried   
        over into Cain and Abel from Adam and Eve, Abel knew had known how   
        to control his desires more than his brother.  Now Abel is dead.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:11  And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath   
                        opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from   
                        thy hand;    
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:12  When thou tillest the ground, it shall not   
                        henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive   
                        and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.    
           
        Do you remember when God say that if you eat of the fruit of truth   
        you shall surely die?  Already, after Even bore two children, one   
        has already killed his sibling.  Sow into sin and you shall reap   
        sin in your generation and all the generations that follow.  So   
        focus on the Lord in everything.  Keep him first place in your   
        heart.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:13  And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is   
                        greater than I can bear.    
      
        Just like Eve didn't think she could endure her labor pains as   
        punishment for her disobedience, Cain also feels he can't handle   
        his punishment.  Don't we see a trend here?  It all started in the   
        garden up until the current date.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:14  Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the   
                        face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid;   
                        and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the   
                        earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one   
                        that findeth me shall slay me.    
      
        Cain knew well what it meant to sow a seed, for it to harvest and   
        reap his findings from his experience in the field.  He knew well if   
        you would kill a man, that was the seed that would come forth and it   
        would come against him and he would be killed.   
      
        [KJV] Gen 4:15  And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever   
                        slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him   
                        sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest   
                        any finding him should kill him.    
            
        Cain just inherited his first insurance policy.  Saying if any man   
        touch Cain, he will be punished seven times over.  With this, we    
        will conclude this article and continue where we left off this time   
        in the weeks ahead.   
      
        If you've enjoyed our meeting, remember to ask your SysOp to carry   
        MINISTER, an echo with FidoNet if he/she doesn't already.  Remember   
        also to keep your head up high.  May God bless you and keep you!   
      
        *** This conclude this issue of e-Ministries provided by Jon   
            Justvig.   
      
   --- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag   
    * Origin: Nightfall Ordain (1:298/5)