CHAPTER 1
IN THE BEGINNING
IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH. AND THE EARTH WAS WITHOUT FORM, AND VOID; AND DARKNESS WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP. AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE FACE OF THE WATERS. AND GOD SAID, LET THERE BE LIGHT: AND THERE WAS LIGHT. AND GOD SAW THE LIGHT THAT IT WAS GOOD; AND GOD DIVIDED THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS. AND GOD CALLED THE LIGHT DAY AND THE DARKNESS HE CALLED NIGHT. Genesis, Chapter 1, Verses 1-5.
In the Story of Creation we find many lessons regarding Spiritual Darkness and Spiritual Light. We find the Story of Christ Jesus, who is the Light of the World, and of Darkness which also dwells upon the earth. The whole Story of Creation is an anomaly which can only be understood by those who are dwelling in the Light of Christ. It is not only a Story of Life, but also of Darkness which represents spiritual death upon the earth.
IN THE BEGINNING God hovered over the Darkness and spoke the creative Words, “Let there be Light.” The earth was void and without form (it was desolate), and darkness permeated the deep (waters). The word “void” speaks of there being nothing but an emptiness or vacuum in the darkness. This is a type and shadow of men without the Light of Christ illuminating their souls. Without Christ, the Light of the World, all men walk in Darkness.
“LET THERE BE LIGHT,” was the voice of God speaking to a World engulfed in total darkness. We know that Christ Jesus is the Light of the World. We know that all things were “CREATED BY HIM; AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE. IN HIM WAS LIFE AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN. AND THE LIGHT SHINETH IN DARKNESS AND THE DARKNESS COMPREHENDED (the darkness could not overtake it or prevent it from shining) IT NOT. John, Chapter 1, Verses 3-5.
The Life of Christ is the Light of men. You cannot separate the Life of Christ from the Light of Christ. It is the Life of Christ, the Living Word, which causes us to see and understand the Truth. As the Life of Christ resides within us, the Light of Christ shines and illuminates our soul. Because Christ is Life and His Light dwells within us, we can understand the mysteries of God. We understand that without His Light man is lost and doomed to spend eternity in chains of spiritual darkness.
Darkness still permeates the World and the heart of man where the Light of Christ does not shine. Yes, the entire World is full of God’s Glory, but most of the World still walks in spiritual darkness. They cannot see the true Light which is only found in Jesus Christ. Spiritual darkness rules and reigns in the deepest chambers of the souls of men who have not experienced and received the LIGHT OF CHRIST.
For trees, light from the sun is the key to life. Where light is absent, there can only be death and decay. In order for trees to grow and bear fruit, light and water must be present. In the same sense, without Spiritual Light (understanding), the heart of mankind is void of Truth and Understanding, and cannot produce any godly spiritual fruit.
LIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING
Light is prophetic of understanding. The Apostle Paul in praying for the Ephesians wrote: THAT THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF GLORY (light), MAY GIVE UNTO YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM: THE EYES OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED; THAT YE MAY KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING, AND WHAT IS THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, AND WHAT IS THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TO US-WARD WHO BELIEVE, ACCORDING TO THE WORKING OF HIS ALMIGHTY POWER. Ephesians, Chapter 1, Verses 17-19.
Without light I cannot see anything. Light gives me the ability to see the things and places around me. Light helps me to maneuver around this planet without walking into things and hurting myself. Light helps me to see dangers that may be in my pathway. Without light, I would be in total darkness and subject to the things and forces which are around me.
In the same sense, without Spiritual Light (Christ), we cannot see and understand things which are spiritual. Without Christ we walk in darkness and cannot understand Spiritual Truths. Without Christ we cannot see the dangers of living in spiritual darkness and the forces of darkness which are scheming against us. Understanding who Christ is and what He has done for us gives us the ability to walk in His Light. His Light shines in the deepest parts of our souls which once was full of darkness and void of Truth and Understanding.
Paul wrote in Colossians, Chapter 1, Verse 9: WE ALSO DO NOT CEASE TO PRAY FOR YOU, AND DESIRE THAT YOU BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL IN ALL WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING. Spiritual Understanding is good, however, we need to be filled with the Knowledge of His Will in ALL WISDOM and SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING so: THAT YE MIGHT WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD UNTO ALL PLEASING, BEING FRUITFUL IN EVERY GOOD WORK, AND INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. Colossians, Chapter 1, Verse 10. Without Spiritual Light I cannot know the Will of God and I am blinded to the Wisdom of God’s Truth. It is the Truth we know that sets us free. It is the Light of His Truth which causes us to find our way through this dark and sinful World.
THIS I SAY THEREFORE, AND TESTIFY IN THE LORD, THAT YE HENCEFORTH WALK NOT AS OTHER GENTILES WALK, IN THE VANITY OF THEIR MIND, HAVING THE UNDERSTANDING DARKENED, BEING ALIENATED FROM THE LIFE OF GOD THROUGH THE IGNORNANCE THAT IS IN THEM, BECAUSE OF THE BLINDNESS OF THEIR HEART. Ephesians, Chapter 4, Verses 17-18. If our understanding is darkened, we are alienated from God and our hearts are blinded; and we live our life in vain. Without Spiritual Light men are condemned to a life of darkness and they are bound in chains of spiritual darkness. However, if men know (understand) the Truth, those chains of darkness will not have dominion over them. Spiritual Truth can only be found in the Light of God’s Word.
According to Solomon, Wisdom and Understanding are the principle things. Wisdom and Understanding are the most important things we can possess. Christ, who gives us Understanding, also fills us with His Wisdom. He is our Wisdom and He gives us understanding of how we are to live for Him. In Christ we find all the Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding we need to please God and perform the good works He has called us to accomplish for Him. By faith in the Blood of Jesus and in His name we possess the power to overcome every obstacle the enemy places in our Path.
True Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding are treasures found only in Christ Jesus. To find these treasures we must seek for them with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN. 1 John, Chapter 1, Verse 7. If we walk in the Light of Christ, we will have fellowship with others who are also bearers of His Light. If we are not fellowshipping with others who are bearers of His Light, then our fellowship is being misdirected and misappropriated. If we walk in His Light, His Blood cleanses us from all sin.
AND GOD SAW THE LIGHT, THAT IT WAS GOOD: AND GOD DIVIDED THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS. AND GOD CALLED THE LIGHT DAY, AND THE DARKNESS HE CALLED NIGHT. AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE FIRST DAY. Genesis, Chapter 1, Verses 4-5. As children of God we are called the “CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT AND CHILDREN OF THE DAY: WE ARE NOT OF THE NIGHT, NOR OF THE DARKNESS.” 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 5, Verse 5. Because the Light of Christ dwells within us, we are separated from the Darkness.
People who are not Children of Light have no spiritual understanding, and their minds cannot comprehend the Truth. They possess no Light to guide them through a World bound by Spiritual Darkness. Their hearts are filled with the Darkness of this present World. Their souls are aimlessly wandering toward eternal judgment and punishment unless they hear, believe and receive the Message of the Cross of Christ. In Christ we find all the HIDDEN TREASURES OF an Abundant Life.
GENESIS
One Sunday Morning I was working on a message regarding the Power of the Tongue which I was going to deliver in Maryville, Tennessee. My main scripture verses were in James, Chapter 3. When I came to Verse 6, the scripture read: 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 WHOLE COURSE OF NATURE; AND IT IS SET ON FIRE OF HELL.
After reading this Verse the Lord told me to look up the word “nature” to see what it meant in the Greek. I found that the word “nature” was translated into English from the Greek word “genesis”. Upon further study, I found that the word “genesis” means “beginnings”. It does not mean just the beginning of mankind, but the BEGINNINGS of mankind. Genesis focuses on the nature of mankind and the changes which took place in man’s natural and spiritual makeup in the beginning.
The word “genesis” speaks of the nature of man and the course his nature took in the beginning of Creation. The entire Book of Genesis is about man’s nature and the course his nature took from his humble beginnings in the Garden of Eden to the sojourning of Israel in the Land of Egypt.
In the beginning it was the tongue of the Serpent which was the driving force that brought the downfall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. The Serpent spoke to Eve, beguiling her into eating the Forbidden Fruit. After Adam and Eve ate of the Forbidden Fruit, their whole nature was changed from a God- conscience nature to a Sin-conscience nature. They had sinned and come short of the Glory of God, and the unholy seed of self- righteousness was found in them. From that time forward the depravity of sin and self-centeredness proliferated.
EVEN SO THE TONGUE IS A LITTLE MEMBER, AND BOASTETH GREAT THINGS. BEHOLD HOW GREAT A MATTER A LITTLE FIRE KINDLETH! James 3, Verse 5. After disobeying the Commandment of God, we see Adam and Eve using their tongues superstitiously, blaming someone else for their sin. Adam blamed Eve; Eve blamed the Serpent. Apparently the First Parents had inherited the Seed of Beguilement from the Serpent. The course mankind’s nature was on had been diverted onto a deadly disastrous Path.
BUT THE TONGUE CAN NO MAN TAME; IT IS AN UNRULEY EVIL, FULL OF DEADLY POISON. The unholy Seed of the Serpent was now part of the “nature” of man. The deadly poisons produced by the Seed of the Serpent had invaded Eden’s Paradise. Man had sinned and the course of nature had been hurled toward perdition. Fortunately God had a Plan that would reverse the course of nature in fallen man, and mankind would again find Eden and all its godly treasures. For all who believe in the sacrifice of Christ the way to the Tree of Life has been restored.