Genesis 2:7, 9, 16-17 KJV - And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. ... And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. ... And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
As was established in the previous post that man is the dust that comes from the ground. And man can be part of the ground and work with the “ground” when the dust is on the ground. The ground is what produces the garden via the LORD. And it says the LORD makes the ground to grow every tree that the man could take pleasure in and that produces good “food” for man. These trees represent the good things that are available to man to experience or “food” for thought [as you may have it]. The tree of life comes out of the ground as does the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And man as dust on the ground helps produce these trees that are “food for thought”. It also says that man can eat of the trees for free, except for the tree of knowledge, that one costs something. The tree of knowledge will cost man the life that the LORD breathed into him. It says that he would “surely die” which suggests he would actually have to die twice. And this “death” comes from the “food” from a tree that is of the mind.
Genesis 3:1, 4-5 KJV - Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ... And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
The serpent tells the woman [who, by the way, is also one flesh with the man], that she would not have to use her life as payment [twice] for eating of the tree of knowledge.
John 8:43-44 KJV - Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The understanding and interpretation of “death” from the serpent (i.e. “devil”) is different than the LORD’s intended representation in Genesis 2. So the subtle serpent fails to tell her she would still have to pay, because the tree of knowledge is still not free, and a life must be made in payment for it. So she would have to pay; and it would be with the life of her husband which is the source of her life. This is why it says the devil was a murderer from the beginning. His deceptive words beguiled the woman into using her husband’s life in payment for eating of the tree of knowledge. And the definition of life with their eyes wide open acting as their own gods [separate from the LORD], is different than life through the LORD, walking with the LORD, being one with the LORD which also represents allowing the “eyes” of the LORD to guide them rather than using their own mental capacity.
Genesis 3:22-23 KJV - And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Psalm 82:6-7 KJV - I have said, Ye [are] gods; and all of you [are] children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
The serpent told the woman she would be like a god knowing good and evil. And he was right as the verse in Psalm 82 also says. But again what he forgot to mention was that gaining this ability would kill her husband or her “LORD”, the man, who she was party to. He would “die like men” because his true life comes from the LORD God. And with this “death” came the curse which prohibits man from eating from the tree of life; where the tree of life represents some type of life via the LORD God, rather than man with his own knowledge, using his own eyes, living as his own god as a god to himself, separated from the guidance of the highest God.
Isaiah 41:23-24 KJV - Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye [are] gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold [it] together. Behold, ye [are] of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination [is he that] chooseth you.
Having the ability to be “like” god (i.e being his “own” god) represents “death” to the man that the LORD made “a little lower than the angels” (gods) who is the dust [from the ground]. This death allows man to do as he chooses (good or evil) and be dismayed in his own work. And when man chooses his life for himself, in Isaiah 41;24 it says it is an abomination. This makes man be like a god which gives him the ability do whatever he wants to within his own power. This represents man separate from his LORD God the highest God; where man is a god until himself, which is the state of “death” the LORD God warned man of. So instead of believing he can eat from all of the trees that bring good things to him for free, he thinks he needs to work for his food because he is on his own as his own god with his own knowledge. Man on his own represents “death” to the man that was made to rather till the ground and keep the garden in the paradise of the LORD.
Genesis 3:17-19 KJV - And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.
The tree of knowledge makes man “think” that all the good things in his life (trees of the garden) are out of reach and this interrupts his belief and faith system due to being lifting [in pride] from the ground. Man with his own knowledge represents the dust being taken up from the ground in the wind. Man as dust in the wind now works for his food in sadness where nothing is free, and he is sad (i.e. in sorrow) because he still wants all the pleasant desirable things that the trees in the garden can produce for free. But all his work seems to produce are thorns (pain and suffering) and thistles because dust scattered in the wind lifted above the ground cannot produce good fruit.
Genesis 3:24 KJV - So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Gaining his own knowledge with his own “way” casts man out of the garden (lifted off the ground carried away in the wind). However, there is still a way of the tree of life. And it is kept by a flaming sword that turns every which way. The way of the tree of life is different than the way of man [through his own understanding and knowledge] through the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 3:6 KJV - And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
The way of the tree of knowledge is still a way to get “food” for man. It is pleasant to the ego mind (the dual eyes of the mind), and is good to help bring wisdom [more and more knowledge with understanding, eventually], but it also seems to separate man from the LORD God, separated from the good ground that gives him everything he really needs. This separation represents man in the world working for his life in the way he thinks is good [or evil].
However, the LORD’s garden can give man trees that produce pleasant fruit that is “free”.
Romans 8:13-14 KJV - For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
1 John 2:16 KJV - For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 5:4 KJV - For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
The tree of knowledge of good and evil produces the world of duality and places man into the world. A world that has things that are pleasant to the eyes and things to be desired. But it causes man’s eyes to want things on his own terms [in this world], and creates the ego to have pride with knowledge on its own terms. This is the world, and this is the “death” the LORD warns the man of. This “death” makes man live through his flesh which makes him fight against his life giving source (the Spirit). But it says that through the Spirit itself this way of thinking and being can be in turn be put to death (mortify deeds of body), and this gives man his faith back, the faith that can overcome the “world” which gives man access again to the tree of life in paradise. When man lays down “his own life” (mortify deeds of body, take up cross, etc.), the second death has no power (see Revelation on second death).
Galatians 5:17 KJV - For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
The tree of knowledge puts man in a state of “flesh” (carnal thinking, ego eyes wide open), where his mind thinks on its own terms. This is a state where the woman is wandering looking for her true husband that guides her. But her true husband is in a state of “death”, cursed, where he has been lifted from the ground so he can’t properly till and keep it. So man thinks the world, that is produced by this state of elevation (pride), is a place where he can make his own choices about what he needs to obtain (good or bad). But this is the pride of life where man thinks he knows best, always seeking what he wants next. But this state produces thorns and thistles (pain) because man, via his own knowledge, can’t always get what he thinks he needs so he is in a state of need or want. Through the tree of good and evil, man has the ability to judge his life and those around him as good or evil which gives him the ability to do a variety of things. He now considers the things around him as good or bad with respect to his own judgement which causes him to choose for himself what he wants for himself so he “works” to obtain and do those things that he chooses and wants; so in turn he creates the carnal (flesh) law to control himself and the world in an effort to try and keep it on a path of what he now judges and views as “good” through his own eyes, which is the carnal commandment (law). The tree of knowledge gives man his own knowledge of good and evil, but remember from the previous post that this knowledge is shaded from the true light and with this shade comes darkness and confusion because it is only a reflection of the light. The man that is merely dust cannot comprehend the light and so the light is twisted in the darkness until he is prepared to see source of the light. If man looks directly at the sun [without protection] it will blind him.
But the combination of the power of “judgement” to the man who is merely dust and who can’t comprehend the light is pretty dangerous. It is like a boy who has been given the powers of a god without guidance from his Father. He goes out on his own to see what he can do for “himself” with this own power of judgment and choice. The boy can go and do whatever he pleases, and because the light is shaded, he can only understand the light through his carnal eyes instead of the spiritual power that it really is. And so the law (light) of good and evil that is really Spirit is twisted into a carnal commandment to suit carnal man, and because of this his heart is darkened as to what truly is good or evil (see Romans 1:20-25). So man sees his world and those around him through carnal judgment and the carnal law of good and evil. And because the carnal law is based on a reflection of the light, many times it causes thinking that is actually backwards of the truth.
Isaiah 5:20-21 KJV - Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Man who is a god to himself, has the power to choose for himself what he will call evil and what he will call good. But the problem is man sees through the mirror darkly (1Cor13:12).
Romans 1:21-22 KJV - Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Man knows [as a] “god” but his foolish heart was darkened and he became a fool using his “own” knowledge. Man forgets to glorify the LORD God in what he has already done and because of this un-thankfulness for what man already has, he calls evil that which is good. He becomes distorted in his own way of judging that which is good or evil and pursues or reaches out for the things from the tree of life with his own strength and on his own timeline using his own “goodness”. But the LORD God said this cannot be so;
Genesis 3:22-23 KJV - And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
The LORD says that man cannot obtain the tree of life on his own terms with his own strength using his own hand, via the knowledge of what is good or evil via his own thoughts and ways. This is because man thinks he knows the way to obtain the tree of life, but he cannot know.
1 Corinthians 8:1-2 KJV - Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
Man makes his own life via the tree of knowledge. He has gained the ability to know, but what he knows is not what he thinks. This is man in the world he has created it for himself. But remember it says this breads “death”, the death the LORD warned about; so this world created by the tree of knowledge needs to be “overcome” (John 16:33, 1John 4:4). But remember what it says, man can in turn use the tree itself (knowledge that breeds understanding) to overcome the tree and the curse (Rev 13:10). So all hope is not lost.
Romans 8:13-14 KJV - For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
1 John 5:4 KJV - For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
Revelation 2:7-8, 10-11 KJV - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; ... be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Man led by his own knowledge as his own god pursing what he considers “good” under his own terms is living “after the flesh”. But man led by the Spirit of God is born of God so can therefore become the son of God, and this man can in turn overcome the world that makes demands to the flesh. And it says that him that overcometh can eat of the tree of life. Man who is led by the Spirit (instead of the desires of the flesh) overcomes the world and has access to true life. But how do the desires of the flesh fight against the Spirit? It is because man’s desires make him want things for himself on his “own” terms in his “own” way in his “own” time, which is against the Spirit who has a different “way” ( the way of the tree of life).
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Corinthians 7:22-23 KJV - For he that is called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
To interpret what this may mean: when man eats from the tree of knowledge he pays the price of his true “life” to have knowledge, knowledge that is really nothing as he ought to know. He gave up a life of oneness with the LORD to live a separated life in this world where he desperately seeks his own desires and wants and needs being his own god, cursed to a life of pain and suffering (thorns and thistles) and need. The tree of knowledge made him into a god, a god unto himself to obtain what he would or could in the “world”. But remember from the previous post that it says the LORD took that man’s place in this death and paid the “price” for him as him. And in this death of the LORD (the Spirit scattered in pieces where a piece of spark of potential is given to each man) it gave man the potential for life again [through the Spirit], to be one again with the LORD. So the LORD technically bought man with his own life in order to give him the spark that gives him a second change at true life. In essence he gave man his potential. So man is indebted to the LORD. But man has the ability to return the favor, pay back the debt, which means he would have to give up his own life in this world to “serve” the LORD’s purpose rather than serve himself (man as his own god). And somehow as man presents his life to the LORD, man is freed from bondage to the world, and this freedom is what overcomes the world and gives man access to “true life”. And once man is no longer controlled by his own ways and is no longer his own god, he lowers himself back to the ground to serve the LORD (highest potential) and till the good ground rather than the cursed ground of being his own god being his potential. But what could this mean for people in the “real” world?
Luke 9:23 KJV - And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 12:29-32 KJV - And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV - I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
By denying self and taking up his own cross, man recognizes that the lusts of the flesh (strong longing desires for things that control man and his thoughts via the ego self) that are gained by the tree of knowledge are not what man should be seeking after after all. When man uses his own knowledge to seek that which he wants, he is missing out on what the LORD may have for him. The tree of knowledge is only a ploy that takes his eyes off the real prize, the prize of the Kingdom of God. It says to seek the Kingdom of God (i.e. seek the LORD’s way and his direction) rather than to seek the “things” that man thinks he needs. However, man can use the knowledge gained [from the tree] to recognize and come to understand that he should return to the ground of the LORD (garden), that gives him everything he really needs, and then some, for free. Well it may not be completely free; man must give back his “own life” in return to obtain the life the LORD wants to give him.
Romans 12:1-2 KJV - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Isaiah 55:7-9 KJV - Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Man as his own god has its consequences, and man can and typically does continue on the path of being his own god. But man’s ways, as his own god, are not all “good” in the eyes of the LORD. If man returns unto the LORD, returns unto the garden and follows the way of the LORD through the guidance of the Spirit of the LORD, then he will have forsaken the world, overcome the world, and have access to the tree of real life via his “own knowledge” that has now been consciously avoided because man has been able to “learn” that man’s thoughts are not of the LORDs thoughts. Because remember, man knows nothing as he ought to. And if man can only realize this by properly using the knowledge gained to destroy the knowledge itself he may find the way of the tree of life. But how can man do this?
Proverbs 3:5-7, 13, 18 KJV - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. ... Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding. ... She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her.
At first it may seem that in giving up his “own life” man loses everything he wants in life. And that may be so to a certain point. However, man also has something else to gain by not listening to his own understanding. But how does man know the difference between his own knowledge and understanding and wisdom from the Lord? How does man follow the Spirit to the tree of life, without having the fear losing his “own life”.
Jeremiah 17:7-10 KJV - Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
Man can sow unto himself (deceived heart) and gather (work) thorns or hope in the LORD and gather what the LORD will provide in time. There is a subtle difference. And in order to make the switch, man does have to give up the fear and worry of handing his life and desires over to the LORD (i.e. living sacrifice to the LORD). But once he does so, he realizes there is nothing to fear because the LORD way is way better.
Romans 8:24-26 KJV - For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it]. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered
Proverbs 13:12 KJV - Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but [when] the desire cometh, [it is] a tree of life.
1 John 5:14-15 KJV - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
It says that prolonged hoping in things wanted makes the heart sick. What is the heart? The heart is the inner workings of man and without his heart man is not man. The LORD gave man heart for a reason. The heart gives man his passion, his desires, his self, his soul. The LORD wants man to have heart and to have the things he wants and needs for his soul to thrive. However, the heart can be deceitful to man and confuse him so he is controlled by his heart’s desires rather than allowing his heart to simply feel. Man thinks his heart needs something, but the LORD will have the way. The heart can’t think like the mind does and therefore needs the LORD to guide it. But the heart cannot be shut off and it should not and cannot be ignored. However, it also says man is saved by hope. But it goes on to explain there are different kinds of hope. Hoping in what the heart wants makes it sick, but hoping in “the way of the LORD” saves the heart because it teaches the mind patience and trust which allows the heart to just feel instead of directing man’s thoughts and actions. There is a difference between hoping in the desire or outcome of the heart and hoping in the way of the LORD. It is a subtle difference but also very different.
Galatians 5:24-25 KJV - And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Proverbs 3:5 KJV - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Obsessing over the needs and desires of the flesh is the error and deceitfulness of the heart. That is hoping in the desires of the heart instead of hoping in the LORD (Spirit). The tree of knowledge is deceitful because it gives man his own thoughts that are separate from the LORD. Remember man’s thoughts are not the LORD’s, so he knows nothing as he ought to know. The ability to know good and evil in his own right, and makes man separate good from what he thinks is evil, this in turn makes him seek what he feels is good for himself and thereby creates a law unto himself and so then leans on his own understanding forgets what truly is good. When man trusts in his own understanding, the pride of his own way of being good in the world takes over rather than the way of the LORD, and his needs and wants via his own thoughts begin to direct his way in the world. But man can overcome this “way of the world” by following the “way of the LORD” (i.e. Spirit). It is a conscious effort to lay down man’s knowledge of and for himself, and allowing the LORD to take the lead.
It also says that when the desire of the heart cometh it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 sounds like the tree of life is as simple as getting what the heart needs and wants. However, when man focuses on and hopes for the outcome in the world and uses his own devices (works) and trusts in his own way to get what he wants, this is not the tree of life, but rather the tree of knowledge. However, it seems that a desire gained by trusting in the LORD (abiding by the Spiritual Law) is the way of the tree of life. Hoping in the desire makes the heart sick, but when man’s desires are fulfilled, this is the tree of life. In other words, when man changes his desire from hoping in a specific outcome (his way) to simply hoping in the desire to be fulfilled (the LORDS way), this grows the tree of life. There is a subtle difference between the two but this subtle difference is a huge difference. And the commandments that need to be followed to allow this to happen are throughout the Bible in subtle and not so subtle ways.
Psalm 37:3-7 KJV - Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Isaiah 55:8 KJV - For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
The subtle difference between the LORD and the self is the difference between the Spirit and the flesh.
Ephesians 3:19-20 KJV - And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
The tree of knowledge gives man his “own” desires but it can also make man wise once this power is harnessed and understood. Desire is important because it also gives man his power and drive in this world. But if man can give his desire to the LORD to fulfil (1John5:15), this is more powerful. And this the power (passion, desire, love) that works in us to do exceedingly abundantly above anything we can specifically want for ourselves on our own terms with our own knowledge. There is power in waiting and allowing the LORD to work rather than telling the LORD how to work it out. The tree of knowledge ultimately gives man the ability to choose between his way or the LORD’s way, but man must first realize his thoughts are not the LORD’s thoughts before he can choose correctly. Man’s desire through the tree of knowledge creates the world, and it can be both destructive and beautiful. But if he in turn lays down his own god to himself and follows the LORD, the real power takes over via the power of desire. In the garden of God all good things desired are free, and those obtained desires are the tree of life. And as man uses the knowledge gained from the tree of good and evil, to overcome the darkened knowledge itself, he returns back to the LORD and allows him to give him what he needs, kind of like a “Father knows best” situation. However, fret not because you think you may be able to prosper well in your own way, because the way of the LORD is better in the end; it leads to real life. A simple example of this could be a person who wants to lose weight, and he/she asks the LORD to help them lose the weight. The person who has learned to trust the LORD would ask the LORD to help them know how to reach their goal and to understand why they are overweight in the first place, whereas another person may at first simply starve themselves thinking unto themselves that they think they already know the answer to weight loss. Both ways may lead to weight loss, however, one leads to death and the other leads to health, longevity, happiness, and wisdom. The reasoning behind this simple example is man has to stop fretting over what he doesn’t have and start trusting the LORD will work it out “his way” when he prays rightly and asks for wisdom on the matter. With this reasoning, man must allow the LORD to give him the answer rather than thinking he already knows the answer.
James 1:5-7 KJV - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Ask in faith without wavering means there is belief and knowledge that the LORD has a solution without being partial to one outcome. Wavering is falling back to the ego mind’s solution. The key is to ask for wisdom in the matter, not for the desire itself to be fulfilled via the ego minds methods and outcomes. This way is asking in the “name of the LORD” [in his “way” and time]. Because remember it says the heart is deceitful. It lets man know he needs something, but it doesn’t rightly communicate the details of the how it needs to be fulfilled because man always has a “own” solution in his own mind. But really it is the LORD’s job to figure out the solution and to do the “thinking” and preparing the way because it says man’s ways are not the same as the LORD’s ways. However, the desire of man is the power that drives the LORD’s way if wisdom in the matter is requested. It ways the LORD will show man the way when a request for this is made.
John 16:23-24 KJV - And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Asking in the Name of the LORD or Father represents asking in such a way that allows him to find the solution, not the solution from the ego mind. Faith is trusting that the LORD has an answer and will make the way happen. There is power in surrendering the need to the LORD and allowing him to find the solution.
Psalm 20:1-6 KJV - [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.]] The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up [our] banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
1 John 5:14-15 KJV - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Confidence in the LORD means to ask for what is needed knowing full well that it will be given and trusting in that. But again, the asking must be in “his name”, which means asking openly for a solution on his terms (i.e. “his will”) without doubt or worry of what may come about. Man must expose his need to the LORD via a desire for something of the heart. But worry and doubt creep in when man is afraid it won’t turn out as he has planned. But again the LORDS ways are not man’s ways, nor are man’s thoughts the same as the LORD’s thoughts. So why worry it won’t turn out as planned, when the LORD has a better plan anyway. And if man can believe these statements and what it says, he won’t worry about it because he comes to understand that man cannot know the outcome that the LORD has planned anyhow.
Matthew 24:44 KJV - Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Think not. Just know that the LORD will prepare the way.
James 5:15-18 KJV - And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Sin is solely wrong thinking. A fault is simply wrong thinking. Praying again means praying anew or rightly. Elias prayed wrongly and it rained not, he then prayed again (anew) and the heavens opened up. Tell the LORD the issue and ask him to fix it, and he will.
Proverbs 15:2-5 KJV - The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, beholding the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit. A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV - But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Proverbs 18:21 KJV - Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
There is a subtle difference between the tongue of death and the tongue of life. However, one is foolish and one is wise. And it is as simple as heeding the LORD’s instruction to trust him instead of trusting the ego mind. Trust him with your heart, but don’t trust your heart. That is the instruction from the tongue (i.e. sword) of the LORD that turns every which way to the tree of life. There is a subtle difference, but that subtle difference makes all the difference in the world.
It is that simple and it is the way of the tree of life.
Revelation 22:1-2, 14 KJV - And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations. ... Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
The commandment is as simple heading to the LORD’s instructions to trust him and be thankful, and with that comes love, faith, trust, peace, with no fear no worry no anger no doubt.
Proverbs 3:13-14, 18 KJV - Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. ... She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her.
The tree of knowledge of good and evil gives man the ability to know and judge things but only the LORD can give man wisdom when he finally understands that he must to ask for it.
Proverbs 11:30 KJV - The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.
And “righteousness” is following the Spiritual Law of love (zero fear), which also means complete trust in the LORD. And controlling (directing) the desires of the soul has something to do with this subtle wisdom.
