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Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph 5:33  Moreover let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Satan has sought to make of agape love a universal principle, so that anyone could claim themselves as source, and thus agape would be redefined according to reason and not the relational authority which God established. However, agape love is only true when it comes from the head in a God made relationship. Agape love can only be recognized and received by faith. It cannot be used in any other order. Any other order makes it false and evil and changes it into Eros. This is a ploy of Satan to change the source.

1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Seeing then these things are so, let us break the chains that have so subtly bound us to sin. Let faith be restored, because for this purpose Christ was manifested, to take away our sin, and to establish relational faith, which is the faith of Jesus. The man and husband can break the chain of sin by taking hold of the faith of Christ. Thus Christ shall be his head, and Christ’s head is the Father. Let the man and husband step into the relational authority which God established, that he may stand in the channel of protection and blessing, and trust the Father to break the yoke of sin over the family. Let the woman and wife accept the God-given relational authority in faith, that she may stand in the channel of protection and blessing of God. Let the children accept the God-given relational authority in faith, that they may stand in the channel of protection and blessing of God.

As man stands in the obedience of faith to God, he can be certain the enemy will fight war, but we know that our Father knows best, and let us not succumb to the deceit of reason, but stand in the obedience of faith. Now true faith declares that it is but only reasonable that we should trust the God given relational authority.

In the faith of God’s design, it is a faith that works by love. It is not a relationship of subjection or submission, but it is that of faith, and such faith delights to do the will of the relational authority. It is not a belief or subjection in a matter, because such is not of faith. It is a faith which trusts the person recognizing the rightful authority of the husband according to God’s design and purpose that brings about oneness, Such oneness as is between the Father and the Son. Such oneness as God purposed and designed when he said that they shall be one.

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Izvorna Ljubav, Trojstvo i ženino rukopoloženje (Original Love)

Za vreme svoje propovedi na gori, Isus se dotakao nekoliko ključnih oblasti koje predstavljaju problem čoveku. Jedna od stavki koje je pomenuo je i ova:

Matej 5:27-28 “Čuli ste kako je kazano starima: Ne čini preljube. (28) A ja vam kažem da svaki koji pogleda na ženu sa željom, več je učinio preljubu u srcu svojemu.”

Za svakog hrišćanina, ovo je snažan udarac na osećaj pravednosti koji možda misli da ima. Ovim rečima Isus dotiče samu srž ljudskog ropstva grehu.

Za svakog čoveka koji želi da bude čist u srcu, ova objava poziva da klekne na kolena žalostivo i sa dubokim osećanjem potrebe za živim Spasiocem u njegovom srcu. Znati Isusa je znati da nikada nije pogledao na ženu osećajući strast prema njoj. Poznajući ovu realnost, nadamo se da kao pali ljudi možemo u našim srcima biti vraćeni na početak izvorne ljubavi.

Kada razmišljamo o prvom susretu Adama i Eve, mnogi zamišljaju da je Adam rekao: VAU! ČOVEČE! Takvo stanovište Svetom pismu pripisuje sklonosti kao što su sklonosti kod izopačenog srca. Mnogi ljudi ne mogu ni da zamisle kako je vrt izgledao, iz straha da će njihova iskvarena priroda preuzeti kontrolu. Da bismo razumeli ljubav koja se nalazila u Adamovom srcu kada je ugledao Evu, dovoljno je samo da se okrenemo Svetom pismu.

Prva Mojsijeva 2:22-23  “I Gospod Bog stvori ženu od rebra, koje uze Adamu, i dovede je k Adamu. (23) A Adam reče: sada eto kost od mojih kosti i tijelo od tijela mojega. Neka joj bude ime čovječica, jer je uzeta od čovjeka.”

Obratite pažnju na Adamove reči u trenutku kada se sreću njegov i Evin pogled po prvi put: “Sada eto kost od mojih kosti i tijelo od tijela mojega. Neka joj bude ime čovječica, jer je uzeta od čovjeka.” Koren ove izvorne ljubavi nije u nečemu što je Adam želeo da poseduje. Video je nekoga koje dobio život iz njega; video je osobu koja je potekla iz blizine njegovog srca i zbog toga ju je čuvao kao sebe samog. Pavle jasno govori o tome:

Tako su muževi dužni ljubiti svoje žene kao svoja tjelesa; jer koji ljubi svoju ženu, sebe samoga ljubi. (29) Jer niko ne omrznu kad na svoje tijelo, nego ga hrani i grije, kao i Gospod crkvu. (30) Jer smo udi tijela njegova, i od kostiju njegovijeh. Efescima 5:28-30

Kao što vidimo da je Adam rekao Evi da je od njegovog tela i kosti, na isti način i drugi Adam govori svojoj crkvi, ti si od mog tela i kosti. Voli nas ne zbog onoga što možemo da mu pružimo, već zato što smo potekli od Njega. Kakva ljubav!

Osim ovoga, ako ste pažljivo čitali priču u Prvoj Mojsijevoj 2, videćete da je Adam postavljen u Edemski vrt da vlada nad svime pre nego što je žena stvorena od njegovog rebra. Kada je ona stvorena od njega, sve što je imao dao je njoj da zajedno vladaju nad njim. Da ponovimo još jednom, da li je uradio to zato što je kod nje video nešto što je poželeo da poseduje i kontroliše? Da li je žudeo da je pridobije svojom imovinom? Ne, takva ljubav nije obitavala u Adamovom srcu prema Evi. Ljubav u njegovom srcu je bila ljubav koja dolazi od Boga, jer Bog je ljubav. Ali kakva je to ljubav? Grčka reč za takvu ljubav je Agape, koja znači blagonaklona ljubav; ljubav koja ne zavisi od kvaliteta onoga koji je prima. Grčka reč koja se danas često koristi da opiše ljubav je Eros, koja nikada nije usvojena u Bibliji. Eros je ljubav prema onima koji su lepi, plemeniti i divni. Eros je žudnja da se poseduje i uživa u stvarima koji prijaju našim očima, apetitima i telima. Pogledajte u Knjizi o sudijama 14:2,3 i u Drugoj Samuilovoj 11:2 za primer.

Kada je Eva prišla Adamu sa zabranjenim voćem, prišla mu je sa nečim što Bog nije dao Adamu da podeli sa njom. Sa ovom voćkom je posedovala nešto što Adam nije imao. Došla je od drveta sa umom napunjenim drugačijim tokom misli:

Zmija je nastavila melodičnim glasom, sa suptilnim ulagivanjem njenoj ljupskosti; i njene reči nisu bile nedopadljive.

Sotona je govorio Evi kao nekome ko poseduje lepotu u sebi. Nije joj se obraćao kao nekome ko je nasledio sve od Adama. Obratio joj se kao lepotici i to joj je laskalo te je stoga zaboravila izvor svoje lepote. Um koji gleda na ženu i razmišlja o njenoj lepoti da bi nešto dobio od nje je um inspirisan sotonom.

Bilo je nečega čudnog, ali uzbudljivog u vezi Eve, kada je prišla svom mužu utonula u svoju pobunu. Sa novim osećanjem ko je, sa svojom drskošću, samopouzdanjem, njena ambicija je bila privlačna Adamu. Bilo je čudno, a ipak intrigantno. Uzevši voće, Adam se nije samo oglušio o Božji zakon, već je i ustanovio zakon po kom će se njegovi sinovi okretati ženama, sa željom da nešto dobiju od njih. U srcima ljudi biće zapečaćen osećaj da su žene one koje daju život, da su one put u život. Tako je počelo obožavanje svetih žena i simbol novog ropstva u muškom umu je bila naga ženska forma. Taj simbol će mnogima biti rezultat transakcije u vrtu, čovek će očekivati od žene da mu da život,  umesto da žena gleda u čoveka očekujući da joj da život. U ovakvoj transakciji se ljubav muškarca pretvorila iz Agape u Eros.

Naravno, ova nova ljubav je i ženu stavila u drugačiju formu robovanja. Da bi obezbedila muškarcu ono za čim mu srce žudi, da bi ga privukla, ona mora posedovati nešto što će mu dati. Čitava industrija mode i telesnih poboljšanja je rođena. Sada žena mora zahvatati iz bunara koji ne može dati vode i zato je ovo iskustvo isprazno i za žene i za muškarce. 

Obratite pažnju na izvornu ljubav koju je Adam osećao prema Evi, da nije bila bazirana na nečemu što je imala u sebi, već da je potekla iz njega. On joj je darovao sve što mu je dato, jer je potekla iz njega. To je Agape, izvorna ljubav.

Obratite pažnju i da je jedini način da neko obezbedi da Agape bude čista je da zasigurno zna da onaj koji je prima nema ništa u nasledstvo što bi moglo pobuditi ljubav. Ako žena poseduje nešto što po nasledstvu ne potiče od muškarca, tada bi se Eros probudio i žena bi morala da nastavi da proizvodi ono što je na prvom mestu privuklo muškarca, a to  vodi u smrt. Zapamtite, Adam je dao razlog zašto je voleo ženu – kost od moje kosti i tijelo od mog tijela –temelj je izvorne ljubavi.

I kao što je sigurnost Evinog nasledstva od Adama bio njegov Agape za nju, tako je i nasleđe Hrista od Njegovog Oca sigurno u Njegovom Agape za Sina, jer smo po Njihovom obličju načinjeni. [1] Otac je istakao:

Matej 3:17 I gle, glas s neba koji govori: ovo je Sin moj ljubazni koji je po mojoj volji!

Jedini način da Bog zaista ima isiniti Agape prema svom Sinu je da je Sin dobio sve što ima od svog Oca. To je jedini način da se obezbedi blagonaklona ljubav. Ako Otac pogleda u oči svome Sinu i voli ga zato što je svemoćan i sveznajuć, tada to nije Agape, već forma Erosa.

Ako obožavamo Boga, koji voli zbog nasleđenih osobina, tada ćemo i mi činiti isto. Postajemo ono  što vidimo. Ipak, ako obožavamo Sina kome je sve dato i On je siguran u slatku blagonaklonu Agape Oca, onda i mi možemo biti transformisani u takvu ljubav i voleti kao što Bog voli svog Sina.

Oni koji tvrde da je Prva Jovanova 4:8 ekspresija tri jednaka bića koje “vole” jedna drugu, menjaju samu suštinu reči koje je Jovan rekao, a to je da je Bog Agape. Agape ne traži onog koji je jednak, Agape čini jednakim kroz blagonaklonost; kroz dar, tražeći samo načine kako da pruži.

Oni koji se trude da rukopolože žene, dodvoravaju se naslednim kvalitetima žena koje ih čine jednakima muškarcima. Eros prirodno vodi ka ovakvim stvarima. Rukopoloženje žena je odbacivanje istine da je žena proistekla iz muškarca i da mu se obraća za duhovno vođstvo i snabdevanje.

Ženino rukopoloženje dolazi od drveta poznanja dobra i zla sa voćem koje obećava život, ali donosi smrt.

Naš Bog je Agape i u Njemu nema ni malo Erosa.

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НАСТОЯЩАЯ ЛЮБОВЬ (Original Love)

Автор: Адриан Эбенс

  Во время своей Нагорной проповеди Иисус Христос высветил ключевые моменты того внутреннего конфликта, который каждый человек рано или поздно обнаруживает в своём сердце. Он, в частности, указал на следующий распространённый пример внутреннего противостояния, или, лучше сказать, внутренней борьбы, которую мы наблюдаем в своих сердцах.

«Вы слышали, что сказано древним: не прелюбодействуй. А Я говорю вам, что всякий, кто смотрит на женщину с вожделением, уже прелюбодействовал с нею в сердце своем». – Евангелие от Матфея 5:27-28.

  Для любого христианина, ищущего святости, в этом заявлении Христа слышится вызов, уязвляющий наши привычные эталоны праведности и справедливости. Здесь Сын Божий затрагивает саму суть рабской зависимости человека от греха. Более того, любого человека, ищущего целомудрия, это заявление толкает на колени в раскаянии и жажде глубокого обновления сердца через личное общение со Спасителем. Если вы глубоко понимаете Спасителя, вы верите и знаете из Евангелия, что Он никогда не смотрел на женщину с вожделением. Разумея это, мы обретаем надежду, что и сами сможем однажды вернуться к истокам истинной любви.

  Вспомните, как Адам впервые увидел Еву. Мне кажется, что многие, читая об этом моменте, представляют себе, как Адам восклицает: «Вау! Вот это женщина!» До сих пор это место Писания часто толковалось с позиции извращенного сердца. Многие люди не могут даже мыслить образами Эдемского сада, опасаясь, что их испорченная природа возьмёт своё.

  Для того, чтобы понять любовь, которая была в сердце Адама, когда он увидел Еву, нужно просто внимательно прочитать библейский текст. Бытие 2:22-23: «Из ребра, которое Господь Бог взял от мужчины, Он создал ему жену, и привёл её к нему. И сказал Адам: вот, это кость от костей моих и плоть от плоти моей: она будет называться женою, ибо взята от мужа».

  Обратите внимание на слова Адама, когда их взоры встретились: «Это кость от костей моих и плоть от плоти моей: она будет называться женою, ибо взята от мужа». В основе этой первоначальной любви была не встреча Адама с чем-то прекрасным, чем он возжелал обладать. Он увидел, что жизнь Евы создана по его подобию, он увидел человека, который появился всё равно что из его сердца, а потому он лелеял её, как своё второе «я». Павел ясно выражает это: «Так должны мужья любить своих жён, как самих себя. Любящий свою жену любит себя. Ибо никто никогда не сможет ненавидеть свою плоть, но питает и греет её, как и Господь Церковь. Потому что мы части тела Его, от плоти Его и от костей Его». – Послание апостола Павла к Ефесянам 5:28-30.

  Итак, мы видим прекрасную параллель. С одной стороны Адам говорит Еве: «Ты мои плоть и кость». Но и второй Адам – Сын Божий, ставший Сыном Человеческим – говорит церкви: «Ты моя плоть и кость». Ведь Христос любит нас не потому, что у нас есть всё или хотя бы нечто, что можно было бы предложить Ему. Он любит, потому что мы произошли от Него. Всё через Него произошло! Такая любовь!

«Через Него всё было сотворено, ничто не было сотворено без Него» – Евангелие от Иоанна 1:3.
  Если вы внимательно прочитаете текст второй главы книги Бытие, вы увидите, что Адам был помещён в райский сад, и он был рождён прежде, чем женщина была создана из его ребра. После того, как женщина была сотворена, Адам разделил с нею все свои богатства. Адам был готов отдать Еве буквально всё, чем обладал сам.

  Повторю: сделал ли он это потому, что увидел нечто, чем желал бы обладать? Разве он стремится купить её расположение, показывая свою загородную недвижимость?

  Нет, это не та любовь, которую испытывал в сердце Адам к Еве.   Любовь, которая была в его сердце – это любовь, исходящая от Бога, потому что Бог есть любовь.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

  Но что такое любовь, что?

  На греческом языке для этого существует понятие «агапэ», что означает великодушная любовь, любовь, которая совсем не зависит от качеств, которыми обладает любимый. Греческое слово, которое часто означает сегодня любовь – Эрос, который никогда бы не одобрили в Библии. Эрос – любовь, вызванная красотой, благородством или иными приятными качествами характера. Эрос – желание обладать и наслаждаться вещами, которые нравятся внешне, на вкус и на ощупь.

Смотри книгу Судей 14:2,3 и 2-ую книгу Царств 11:02 в качестве примеров.
  Когда Ева принесла Адаму запретный плод, она пришла, обладая тем, чем Бог не наделял Адама и, понятное дело, не просил его делиться с женой. Этот плод давал Еве нечто, чего у Адама не было. В тот момент, когда она отходила от злополучного дерева, её разум был уже наполнен новыми мыслями, новой идеологией и философией жизни: «Но змей мелодичным голосом продолжал свою речь, умело расхваливая её необычайную красоту. И не без удовольствия Ева выслушала его. Вместо того чтобы бежать оттуда, она медлила, с изумлением прислушивалась к его словам. Если бы Ева услышала такие речи от существа, подобного ангелу, возможно, она испугалась бы, но ей и в голову не приходило, чтобы такой пленительный змей мог быть посредником падшего врага».

Е. Уайт, «Патриархи и пророки», стр. 53.

  Сатана говорил с Евой как тот, кто обладал красотой в себе. Он не обращался к ней как тот, кто унаследовал что-то от Адама. Казалось, змей обратился к Еве просто из-за её внешней привлекательности, и это льстило ей и заставило забыть божественный источник красоты.

  Ум, который при виде женской красоты преследует цель получить что-то от женщины, это и есть ум, вдохновленный сатаной.

  Было нечто странное и волнующее в Еве, когда она вернулась к мужу, охваченная   своим неповиновением. Она вернулась с новым ощущением себя, с дерзостью и самоуверенностью, с амбициями и своего рода влечением к Адаму. Это было странно, но интригующе.

  Приняв плод, Адам не только пренебрёг законом Божьим, он также установил закон, который позволял всем его сыновьям смотреть на женщину с целью что-то взять от неё.

  В этот самый момент в сердце человека навсегда запечатлелось чувство, что женщина дарит жизнь, она ведает путём к жизни. Именно отсюда берёт начало культ священной женственности. А символом нового мужского рабства стало мысленное представление образа обнаженной женской фигуры. Это образ для большинства мужчин стал символом той «сделки» в райском саду. Отныне  мужчина будет смотреть на женщину как на дающую ему жизнь (а не женщина на мужчину, как на дающего ей жизнь). В этой сделке человеческая любовь переключилась от Aгапэ к Эросу.

  Не будем забывать, что эта «новая любовь» поставила и женщину в новую форму рабства. Для того, чтобы обеспечить мужчине нечто приятное глазу, чтобы покорить мужчину, она должна обладать чем-то, что могла бы дать ему. Появилась целая индустрия моды и совершенствования тела.

  Женщина должна теперь «накачать воду из колодца, в котором нет воды»; и потому это ложный опыт и для мужчины, и для женщины. Заметьте, истинная любовь, которую испытывал Адам к Еве, была основана не на том, чем обладала Ева, но на том, что Ева появилась из него. Он наделил её всем, что ему было дано, ведь она произошла от него. Это и есть великодушие, Aгапэ, то есть подлинная любовь

  Отметим также, что единственный способ убедиться в непорочности любви Aгапэ  – знать наверняка, что объект любви сам по себе изначально не стремился к пробуждению любви. Если женщина обладала чем-то изначально, что было передано ей не от мужчины, то Эрос обязательно проснётся. И женщина вынуждена будет продолжать практиковать то, что впервые привлекло мужчину… Но, увы, это ведёт к смерти. Помните, что Адам определил причину, почему он любит женщину: «Она – это кость от костей моих и плоть от плоти моей», – вот что лежит в основе подлинной любви.

  И подобно тому, как появление Евы от Адама было залогом его истинной любви (Aгапэ) к ней, так же появление Христа от Его Отца стало залогом Его безграничной любви к Сыну. И к нам, как к подобию Его! [1] Отец провозгласил: «И се, глас с небес, глаголющий: Ты Сын Мой Возлюбленный, к Тебе  Моё благоволение». – Матфей 3:17.

  Небесный Отец даёт всё Своему Сыну. И это единственно возможный путь для проявления искренней любви Aгапэ, ведь она именно даёт и наделяет значением того, к кому обращена. Сын Божий никогда не скрывал, что всё получил от Отца. Это единственный способ найти источник подлинной любви. Если Отец смотрит в глаза Своего Сына и любит Его, потому что Тот всесилен, или потому, что Сын всеведущ, то это не Aгапэ, скорее это одна из форм Эроса.

  Если мы поклоняемся Богу, Который любит, потому что любовь – это присущее Ему качество, то и мы станем такими. Мы становимся похожи на того, на кого смотрим. Если мы поклоняемся Сыну, который отдал всё возможное и оставался спокоен, будучи уверенным в милосердной и благосклонной любви Отца, то мы можем принять образ этой любви и любить, как любит Бог Своего Сына.

  Те, кто утверждают, что высказывание Иоанна (1-е послание Иоанна 4:8) есть выражение бытия трёх равноправных существ, которые «любят» друг друга, изменяют смысл многозначительных слов Иоанна, который сказал, что Бог есть любовь (Агапэ).

  Великодушная любовь не ищет равноправия, она уравнивает через благожелательность, через щедрость, ища только дать.

  Те, кто настоятельно требуют рукоположения женщин, взывают к присущим женщине качествам, которые ставят её наравне с мужчиной. Эрос, естественно, ведёт к таким вещам. Рукоположение женщины является отказом от истины, что женщина произошла от мужчины и ищет в нем духовного учителя и покровителя. Рукоположение женщины является подтверждением, что женщина появилась от дерева познания добра и зла с плодами, обещавшими жизнь, но ведущими к смерти.
Наш Бог – великодушная любовь Aгапэ и в Нём нет никакого Эроса вообще.

________________________________________
[1] И сказал Бог Своему Сыну: "сотворим человека по образу Нашему".

1 SP 24,25

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Statisticile vorbesc de la sine atunci cand vine vorba de relații interumane. Mai mult de 50% din căsătorii sfârşesc prin divorț în multe țări, oferind indicii clare că acești oameni nu au găsit ceea ce au căutat în relație. Pentru mulți dintre cei care rămân în cadrul căsătoriei, experiența lor este adesea un fel de pustiu, dar aceştia rămân căsătoriţi pentru că  nu văd o opţiune mai bună sau le este prea frică să facă o schimbare. Valurile de dezamăgire, confuzie, frustrare, furie și părere de rău care rezultă din aceste experimente toxice în intimitatea umană, pot fi rezumate la o întrebare dintr-o melodie care ȋmi atrăgea atenția de adolescent prin anii optzeci,

                                                         Ce este dragostea, oricum?
                                                    Iubește cineva pe oricine, oricum?

În articolul meu anterior am abordat această chestiune "ce este dragostea?" prin examinarea a ceea ce s-a întâmplat atunci când Adam a văzut-o prima dată pe Eva. Ne amintim că atunci când Adam a spus: "Aceasta este os din oasele mele si carne din carnea mea", el a iubit-o nu datorită a ceea ce ea poseda în sine, ci pentru că ea a ieșit din el şi avea capacitatea de a-l cunoşte pe el, visele lui, bucuriile lui, aspirațiile lui și pentru că avea un tovarăș cu care putea împărtăși călătoria lui. Puritatea, inocenţa si libertatea aceastei iubiri este rezumată în aceste cuvinte:

Geneza 2:25 „Și ei erau amândoi goi, omul și nevasta lui, și nu le era rușine”.

Cuvântul rușinat în ebraică poartă următoarea semnificație:
• a fi dezamăgit
• să fi amânat în sensul de a avea o așteptare neîmplinită
• a fi ȋncurcat sau confuz
• a deveni uscat și implicit pustiu

Ceea ce Adam şi Eva au experimentat a fost tot ceea ce ne dorim, dar aproape întotdeauna nu reușim să obținem ceva în mod constant, uneori chiar deloc. Calea de la  bucurie, libertate,  împlinire,  inocenţă și intimitate către dezamăgire, confuzie și pustiire este schiţată în tranzacția luării și mȃncării fructului ce nu era dat lor ca sa-l ia; această tranzacție a cauzat căderea noastră din dragostea agape în cea eros.

Avem nevoie să analizăm această poveste a Bibliei, ca un arheolog care caută comori antice, cu atenție să dăm la o parte nisipurile timpului pentru a descoperi faptele istoriei, care apoi spun sensul în existența noastră. Această iubire pe care Adam și Eva au împărtăşit-o, a fost construită și dezvoltată cu grijă de către Dumnezeu pentru a asigura fericirea și intimitatea lor veșnică. Chiar originea primilor noștri părinţi conţine secretul acestei iubiri fără rușine, care nu  ascundea nici o dezamăgire. Observați cu atenție următoarele:

• Dumnezeu a creat pe Adam și l-a pus în grădină. Gen 2:7
• Dumnezeu l-a făcut pe Adam îngrijitorul și stăpȃnitorul acestui paradis. Gen 2:8,15
• Dumnezeu a poruncit lui Adam despre pomul vieții și pomul cunoașterii. Geneza 2:16
• Dumnezeu a aranjat circumstanțele ca Adam să simtă nevoia unui tovarăș. Geneza 2:20
• Dumnezeu îl adoarme pe Adam (la figurat cuvântul ebraic poate însemna moarte) Gen 2:21
• Dumnezeu ia coasta lui Adam și face femeia din coasta cea vie. Geneza 2:22
• Dumnezeu aduce femeia la bărbatul înviat. Geneza 2:22

Această secvență este vitală ca să prindem secretul iubirii originale, fără  rușine a părinților noștri.  Nu era nimic din ceea  ce avea Eva pe care să nu fi primit de la Dumnezeu prin Adam. Stăpȃnirea singulară şi conducerea pe care Adam o poseda a fost culcată în odihnă și el a fost înviat la o viață nouă, cu un tovarăş luat din trupul lui. Când Adam a mers să doarmă, a fost umplut cu o dorinţă să-și deschidă inima, revărsȃnd dragoste către cineva care l-ar putea ȋnţelege. Când s-a trezit, a văzut pe cineva căruia îi putea da tot ceea ce el a primit și a avut de la Dumnezeu. Adam, știind toate acestea, conferă femeii tot ceea ce are. Ea are coasta lui, ADN-ul lui, inima lui, casa lui, grădina lui, totul. Ea chiar este conștientă de faptul că Adam a adormit și a dat o parte din el însuși pentru ea.* Drept răspuns, femeia vede tot ceea ce i-a fost dat și atunci când ea se uită în ochii soțului ei, inima ei este plină de recunoștință, bucurie și fericire. Femeia trăiește fiecare clipă știind că tot ceea ce ea posedă i-a fost dat prin soțul ei.

Această tranzacție între bărbat și femeie ar putea fi susținută printr-o mișcare eternă a iubirii, care ar curge ca o fântână și căreia nu i-ar fi rușine niciodată. Secretul, cheia, miezul, axul, inima acestei mişcări minunate a dragostei, constă în simplul fapt de a cunoaște și a ne aminti  originea noastră și modul în care am ajuns să existăm. Atâta timp cât Adam îşi amintea că el a fost creat și pus în grădină ca lider și stăpȃn, ca să o îngrijească, să o protejeze și să fie ispravnic credincios peste tot ceea ce i s-a dat,  el va putea turna din toate binecuvântarile acordate lui, peste ceea ce a fost făcut stăpȃn. Pe măsură ce  femeia primește plinătatea binecuvântării prin soțul ei, și priveşte la el cu respect iubitor, ȋntr-o ascultare veselă și supunere plină de încredere, pe măsură ce ea arată încrederea ei în conducerea lui și pe măsură ce ea onorează poziţia lui de lider,ca femeia care stătea la fȃntȃnă, ea își atrage din inima lui binecuvântări mult mai mari decât i-au fost acordate anterior.

Am putea ilustra această mişcare a dragostei prin acțiunea unui motor cu două pistoane. Primul piston Adam, în bucuria lui de a găsi un tovarăş adecvat, se aprinde și elibereaza un val de binecuvântare, care trimite un val de combustibil în cavitatea celui de-al doilea piston și, în același timp, ridică pistonului al doilea spre tavan care aprinde atunci un răspuns iubitor ce înalță primul piston și umple acea cavitate cu ascultare plină de bucurie, cinste și respect. Această mişcare a iubirii alimentează fântâna ce umple cele patru râuri ce curg din inima grădinii și apele întregului pământ. Geneza 2:10-14. Ce minunată lucrare! Ce ilustrare minunată a modului în care funcționează universul, pentru că  noi am fost făcuţi după imaginea lui Dumnezeu. Gen 1:27.

Din nou subliniem că această mişcare de iubire veșnică  depindea ca fiecare  persoană să cunoască originea ei,adevărata ei identitate și locul ei în cadrul creației lui Dumnezeu. Atâta timp cât Adam şi-ar fi amintit că el era capul grădinii și că totul era în grija lui și că totul i-a fost dat de Dumnezeu și că totul Îi aparținea lui Dumnezeu, el ar fi tins să păstreze ceea ce i-a fost dat lui; el ar fi continuat să-și reverse binecuvântarea lui peste toți cei aflaţi ȋn ȋngrijirea lui. Atâta timp cât Eva şi-ar fi amintit că viața ei a venit de la Adam și că tot ceea ce ea a văzut și peste care ea era acum co-stăpȃnitor ȋmpreună cu Adam, i-au fost dat ei de către soțul ei prin voia lui Dumnezeu, ea ar fi completat circuitul binecuvȃntărilor și niciunul din ei n-ar fi ajuns să fie rușinaţi.

* Aceste ecouri ale somnului lui Adam, coboară de-a lungul istoriei în somnul lui Avraam, care a dat naștere națiunii israelite și în somnul lui Isus, în mormânt, care a dat naștere bisericii Sale, de asemenea, arată înapoi către ce L-a costat pe Tatăl în nașterea universului.

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It is wonderful how our Father teaches us lessons through our difficulties.

Over the last month I have been busily working through all our financial papers to hand over to an accountant to prepare our tax returns.  I had 3 years of documents to work on (we got behind due to the difficult 2 years we had with our son's health & behaviour challenges). I wanted to have it all up-to-date, finished and out of the way before starting my new job. Adrian told me that it was enough to just get 2 years' worth done, so I could rest up and not be worn out when starting my job.

I had already started the 3rd year's documents, and felt that if I just worked really hard a couple more days, I'd get it all finished.  But I started waking up each day with a headache because I was pushing myself too much (and not realising that I had stepped outside the channel of our Father's blessings). One day I had a really bad headache, that was threatening to keep me in bed.  (In the past migraine headaches with vomiting were a regular occurrence for me.)

My "flesh" was annoyed.  I had planned that if I just did one more day, I could have it all finished.  After talking about it all with Adrian - he was wondering if I was getting worried about starting work again (after 15 years being at home looking after the family!).  It wasn't that, as I was trusting that with God's Spirit dwelling in me, it would be all OK.  We came to the conclusion that I had been pushing myself too hard to get the tax documents all finished and more importantly, that I had stepped outside the channel of blessing - just by doing what I wanted to do, rebelling against what Adrian (as my head) had advised me to do.  

We have realised that sometimes I have subtly rebelled against "my head" in the channel of blessing. This happens, not by openly being in defiance, but by just "doing it my way" or doing more than is requested/advised, thinking it will be "better." This steps me out of the channel into independence, which is not God's plan, not His way.  Everything in God's channel comes through His Son, through the authority figures in our lives, and we are blessed when we stay connected to and are obedient to our "heads" in the channel system.  It was Satan who wanted to be independent and do things his own way.  So when I want to be "independent" and "do it my way" I am taking part in Satan's kingdom and spirit.  And in this condition I cannot be blessed.

Little things in our lives, teach us big lessons.  Realising where I had placed myself in the channel, gave me the opportunity to learn how often I may be doing this without meaning to or without being aware of it.  

Apology made, a determination to change, and a decision to now leave the rest of the tax documents to later (and a drink of activated charcoal to mop-up-toxins that can lead to a headache):  this really bad headache (plus the beginnings of the nausea), all lifted almost instantly.  Praise God for improved health and lessons to learn.

My prayer is that I will allow God to work in my life to show me where else I may be still partaking of Satan's kingdom and spirit.

Comment (4)

I just watched this amazing story about Scott Neeson and his work for children who lived on a garbage dump in Cambodia. They call him father...

http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/streetswithnonames/default.htm

Hope it speaks to you like it did to me.

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Many of you may not be aware that at the 2010 General Conference Session, a review committee was set up to look at the Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventism, and see if there were any way in which this statement could be improved.

Now, before you get all excited, with the obvious suggestions, (ie. remove the trinity dogma, fix up the wording about Biblical creation; the Sanctuary message, and sort out other doctrinal errors!) there are stipulations and guidelines for this review committee.

In the April edition of  "Adventist World" there is a short interview with Arthur Stele, the chairman of this committee, (and also currently the GC Vice-President and Bill Knott, editor of the magazine, "Adventist World". Some information comes out of this article which may give us the opportunity to have some input into the process that this review committee will be doing. As the General Conference is currently pushing for "revival and reformation", I believe what we have to offer could seriously help this, more than anything else that is happening within Adventism at present. I do not say this lightly,  having been brought up in the church, spent time out of the church, and come back in watching and waiting for over 25 years for signs of true revival and reformation. Having been a believer in the truth about God since 1993, and resisting the trinitarian thought that dominates Adventist concepts of the Holy Spirit and the Latter Rain, I believe that it is time for true, Godly revival and reformation! Please! Before it is to late! And it needs to be built on a correct, Biblical understanding of the nature of God; particularly in the area of understanding the Spirit of God, and How the Spirit works with mankind.

So, coming to the article in the "Adventist World". Arthur Stele shared some good thoughts in the interview, some of which I will share.

"It's very important that the whole church get involved, because this movement doesn't have doctrines that are engraved in stone. We have our fundamental beliefs, which are expressions of how the worldwide church understands the biblical message. That's why it's very important that whenever we look into them or consider  a revision, everyone gets involved - lay members, pastors, theologians, administrators, everyone."

Now I like that! I wonder if that includes people like myself who have been disfellowshipped for finding things in the Fundamental Beliefs which are un-Biblical?

Continuing on we find that he says:

"The Holy Spirit is leading the church, and every member is precious. The Lord can use and speak through every member. . . . The task is not to rewrite the fundamental beliefs. The task is to see if the wording that we have used for a number of years requires change."

Well, I believe the wording of certain fundamental beliefs requires change, but to do so will fundamentally change our beliefs as well! This would be really good! Reading further, we find these interesting words in the context of our beliefs:

"...it's possible that new language can better express what the church has historically believed on these points."

Well, I can certainly agree with that statement!

The article goes on to say that the GC have given a period of time (one year) for input to the review committee from church members, before the finished product is passed to the next General Conference session for clarification and voting. The article outlines the methods acceptable to the review committee for church members to do this. I would recommend everyone read the article in the April edition of "Adventist World", and prayerfully look into ways to write to the review committee with suggestions on how to improve the fundamental beliefs. The Biblical Research Institute is overseeing this process of course, but I believe much prayer is needed by all to consider ways of helping this process work, and get the Seventh-day Adventist organisation back on track!

Blessings,

Blair

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I just received this from a friend and am sharing it with all my friends because it impacted hard upon me, it has blessed me and lifted my spirit. All Praise to our Heavenly Father and His literal Son!

http://www.flickspire.com/m/DreamU/MakeADifference

Comment (3)

This is a piece of a larger work I was impressed to share with you. I pray the grace of the Lord will be with us all as we consider these things.

The working of the mystery of Iniquity is this; when one removes himself out of the established order setup by God, something begins to work in him which if one was within that channel of blessing; the order setup by God, it will not arise. It is isolation from God and causes self to be lifted in the form of equality with God. Little wonder when the church began to lift itself up and plunged the world into darkness, God raised a prophetic people to bear His word and be the called out ones. And little wonder when we place ourselves willfully out of Gods now established order we will likewise have that mystery work in us where we begin to lift ourselves above everything God has placed in order and in effect seek to be like God, in terms of making our own decisions in contrast to Him hearing our cries and bringing deliverance through the prophetic ministry.

Little wonder how this is played out in our homes in children being disobedient to parents and yet we fail to see. Little wonder now that what began in heaven with Lucifer leaving his position in that order sought that which was not for him and coveted. And little wonder in the church, even as difficult as it is, each and every one of us who have been touched one way or the other by the trial of our times to want to set up their own tents instead of the tent of God which He Himself built. For this is how he is revealed and honored, when we do not take matters into our own hands but seek Him with all our heart, humble ourselves and pray and cry unto Him for deliverance from the spirit that now pervades the world.

Everything now in our time and ever that has been in relation to sin and iniquity is calculated to remove us from the channel of blessing and place us under the curse. And the foundation of that curse is in singularity –I; and then plurality –us, and not Thy will, even expressed in the Son of God who takes to give that we might be part of a corporate expression of the nature and character of God on this earth. Our response will be our test. Our trust in the Lord as Lord of our lives will be severely tested in this, whether our work will survive the fire, will be dependent on if we will likewise have our work done through our humanity and trust on that –an expression received through Satan, or have it found proceeding from the Lord. We cannot be to the nations what we must as a people if we ourselves cannot abide the fire that has held them bound and find ourselves on the other side where there is life. What shall be our word to them, will it be of the spirit or of the flesh? And if of the Spirit then we must come out by the hand of the Lord, not the arm of flesh, lest we lose our testimony of faith. If the Father will not save, then we must be ready to lose our lives.

The faith of  the saints is an unbroken continuum of that which is from above, and demonstrated here on earth in a people who have entered into oneness with God in the end of this age. And what we do with that will be tested individually and yet a corporate expression of that which is from above will be in the remnant here on earth, for we will wrestle with these things individually that we may enter in to a corporate expression of Gods purposes for his Church on earth, that now to the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God Ephesians 3:10. To say this is impossible and a trial will be to say the least, yet until we bear with one another in love and in patience and grapple with the issues with one another and enter into it together as a people who have contended with the issues in their own hearts and lives and amongst each other and emerged victorious as a living testimony of the living God in their mist, what shall be our word and our testimony to the lost as God's people and how shall we be called remnant.

The times in which we live requires another kind of people, a people who will be the bearers of the testimony of the Spirit in fullness and truth to the finish line. A people who have weighed the issues in the balance scales that comes from heaven that they themselves might be fitted and be readied for their place in the end time work. And the name of this people will not be given from the earth for it will be from the Father for they would have entered into the maturity of Sons. And the creation waits. These are hard and painful things to consider, yet we must be willing for these issues. And the more the impossibility the better for us that no flesh will glory. It is these hard things that are designed to unearth from our hearts that which we are able to do by our will into total trust and abandonment to the will of God and Father. It is not only sin that must be given up, but the will in the final analyses must through the abandonment of sin, be given and placed in its rightful place where we can be truly free to be sons and daughters that our word will again not be merely ours but His Word through us unto the world. It is then that the spirit of prophecy will come for it has entered once again into the reality in which it is to function. The earth waits for this resolve. Nothing makes the church the church than these which we will have to contend with. It is then that our speech and our preaching will be not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

That which was once easy, now is difficult, and makes men tremble and fear for abandoning what they have so long held unto and which they have built their confidence in; their humanity. But we are called out, yet into this world, and when our sojourn is over we will be fitted again for the heavenly kingdom and we would once more find His will and purpose easy for they have become ours also being one with Him.

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It was announced in the news yesterday and this morning that a 4th inquest into the death of Azaria Chamberlain's death with take place. In my latest book, The Divine Pattern, I wrote of my experience of coming to terms with the fact that Lindy was sent to prison for murdering her baby. I remember the turbulence of faith this caused me at 14, wondering "where are you God?"

In an interview this morning on ABC NEWS 24 at just after 8am Australian time, an interview took place with an author of the events surrounding the Chamerblain case. The book he wrote is called "Evil Angels." He was asked about Lindy's sometimes cold behaviour in dealing with the media and crowds at the court house. The author responded that Lindy was having to deal with several pressures including coming to terms with the fact that she felt that God had forsaken her. After the interview the news team specifically commented on that fact, that Lindy felt God forsaken. This confirmed my own personal questioning as a child as to why God let such a terrible tragedy happen to an Adventist family.

Did God forsake Lindy and Michael Chamberlain? Most certainly not. Yet how do we account for this horrific event? Did not the Adventist Church in the very year that Azaria was taken change the God of Adventism to the Trinity? Could this change that forsook the God of the Bible allow Satan to attack God's people? Is it a conicidence that the church voted the Trinity into our church in April of 1980 and Azaria is taken in August of 1980? The acceptance of the Trinity God allowed Satan to attack this poor family and cause them terrible grief and left a whole generation of Adventists wondering if God really did just let His children be taken by random events. What picture of God does this paint? How else do we answer this question?

Anyone who was an Adventist in the early 1980's will know that this tragedy was only one of several terrible events to strike the church at this time. My plea is that for those who can see the truth of the Father and His Son, that we pray for our church leaders, family and friends that persist in this rebellion against the God of heaven. Let us pray that our Father will be merciful to them and protect them and give them time to see that the Trinity is a terrible mistake and will leave God's people without shelter for the coming storm.

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