May the FAVOR of the Lord our God be ours.
PROSPER the work of OUR hands! (Psalm 90:17)
Before the fall, Adam was placed in a garden that was the perfect merger of communion with God and perfect work. The Garden was the territory of man's dominion, and in this garden he walked with God in the cool of the day. Everything that Adam put his hand to became productive in his assigned territory. The environment recognized his authority and cooperated with him. He was given dominion over all forces within the sphere of this assignment. It appears that the garden was an expanding project that was meant to fill the earth with God’s glory and dominion. There were adversaries, as we know, because of the existence of a serpent. Adam was to rule over all that militated against his work.
When man fell, the ground was no longer cooperating. Part of the curse was “sweat” related to work, “thorns and thistles” instead of a garden of lush productivity … and death in the dust of the earth.
(Gen 3:18-19) “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field ; By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken ; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
Now behold another moment in a garden when God fixes the situation. Jesus, whom the Bible calls the “SECOND ADAM“, heroically wrestled the hosts of hell in A GARDEN called Gethsemane. The second Adam lies prostrate on the ground as He SWEATS “great drops of BLOOD” mingled with perspiration … and REVERSES THE CURSE. Where does the blood fall? Into the ground!
(Lk 22:44) “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
Within hours of His triumph in the garden, a rough Roman garrison will weave a crown of thorns and beat it into the head of the “Second Adam”, and His noble brow will be pierced with the thorns of the curse. Mankind, vexed with the worries and sweat of earning their bread, is being dealt with finally and forever in this often overlooked aspect of Christ’s atonement.
When the gruesome execution on the Cross is complete and the last drop of blood shed, Second Adam will be laid in a GARDEN TOMB, but the body of the Messiah will not suffer decay like other sons of Adam, because this Adam NEVER SINNED! Death will not hold Him…dust cannot claim Him. He who was the author of life rises triumphant on the third day.
He appears to the disciples as they return toiling all night in search of a catch of fish….that never materialized. The Master tells them to let down their net, and suddenly they are nearly sunk under the weight of their catch. The Second Adam once again demonstrates His power to break the curse of fruitless toil over His disciples.
We have celebrated the power of the Atonement in all other respects as far as sin and death are concerned. It is the last part of this great atonement we will witness in the Last Days. While men toil to “buy and sell” under the mark of a beastly economic oppression, others will demonstrate the “powers of the age to come” by showing the power of the Kingdom.
The ATONEMENT delivered us from sin, demonic oppression, sickness, death AND laboring with thorns and the sweat of our brow.
Access to Paradise is restored. God has a garden for you in your assigned sphere of work. Walk with Him in the cool of the day, and WATCH as earth itself cooperates with the children of the Second Adam. All creation is longing for the manifestation of the sons of God. The Last generation of the sons of Adam will reveal the secret to “no sweat” in the service of God who promised to give you FAVOR and PROSPER the work of YOUR HANDS!
Thanks Lance, very uplifting and encouraging.
Excellent word there. Jesus has reversed the curse. I always appreciate your timely posts. Just a minor correction there Lance, Jesus is not the second Adam but the last Adam.
No sweat dude! Paradise restored! “O grave, where is thy victory?!” Like a plasma cutter through butter. Thanks. 🙂
Thanks, and always right on time!
Very encourging.Thankyou!
Very encouraging Word. Praying for the Wisdom to bring about financial change in my life. Business oportunity of employment options?
What you described also gave us a pre-sin Garden of Eden relationship with GOD our Father. For Jesus destroyed the works of satin, eliminating his authority and redeeming us. Thanks for stimulus.
HI Tessa, Read this it will verify what God is doing in the earths through His sons and daughters
I had a vision last year. Jesus and I sat on a swing facing acres and acres of soil (I love to grow vegetables and farm). I looked out at the expanse of acreage and the soil looked black and rich and beautiful. I turned to look at Him then looked back at the acreage, and it was lush with huge green collard greens and kale and every sort of vegetables. In astonishment I said to Him, “Is this for me???” (He knew how much gardening meant to me) and He nodded His head yes. It was there in an instant. The vision has probably has all kinds of prophetic connotations to it and there’s much more meaning to it – to me, but the instant growth was what made my jaw drop. And His love for me to give me exactly what my heart desired. So Amen – I bear witness with this word Lance.
You vision really hit the spot!
It is just GOOD to be reminded again and His Word is meant to be a living Word, so this was life-giving! Thank you for pointing out the things that you did! It just makes me appreciate Him more and helped to give me more understanding of the ways He’s led me these years! Wow, what a God we serve!