Scripture
Genesis 4:3-7
[3] So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.
[4] Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering;
[5] but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
[6] Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
[7] “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
This is the 84th lecture on Genesis.
Genesis 4:3-5 says, “So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.”
Adam and Eve gave birth to countless children after they settled down on this earth.
They first gave birth to many daughters, and soon their first son Cain, and then Abel.
From among their children Adam and Eve loved and depended on Cain and Abel the most, and let them take over the family occupations.
Cain took over ’tilling of the ground,’ and Abel, ‘keeping of flocks.’
At that time, people didn’t eat meat, but the reason ‘keeping flocks’ was important was because they needed sheep to make sacrifices to God.
God told Adam and Eve, who came down to this earth as sinners, how to be forgiven of sins and how to communicate with God.
Atonement was through the flow of the blood of the sheep and burning it was the offering in sacrifice.
Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.”
The principle that dictates ‘the life of all the flesh is in the blood and the blood makes atonement’ is the most basic spiritual law that is necessary for human cultivation.
In the days of Moses, this was set up as concrete law of sacrifice.
Adam learned this principle of atonement, a spiritual law, from God and taught it to his children.
But then, as Genesis 4:3 says, “So it came about in the course of time…”, an incident took place that deteriorated the law of sacrifice to God.
The main culprit was Cain.
Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to God.
Cain surely heard and knew the spiritual meaning of ‘the sacrifice of blood.’
However, as time passed by, he used his fleshly thoughts, and brought a different offering.
The offering of ‘the fruit of the ground’ that Cain brought implied much more than just ‘giving the offering of vegetables, fruits, or grains.’
It had a meaning of making an offering the fruit of the ground that was cursed due to Adam’s sin.
When such “fruit of such ground’ was offered to God, how could this sacrifice he made be accepted?
Unlike Cain, Abel gave the sacrifice of blood just as he learned from Adam; indeed he brought of ‘the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.’
Here, the ‘fat portion’ refers to the source of energy for animals; it refers the life of the animals.
Therefore, ‘he brought of the fat portion’ means that he gave sacrifice with all his heart, will, and mind.
To this extent, Abel imprinted the importance of sacrifice to God into his heart, and put it into perfect action.
Although Cain and Able were brothers, their heart-fields were so different to this extent.
Compared with Abel’s heart-field, Cain’s heart field was not good.
And so, he was easily stained by the flesh; he gradually used his fleshly thoughts, and eventually showed the deed of disobedience.
The Bible mentions the result of this incident; it says, “…the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard…”
Cain should have realized his fault at this very moment.
However, the Bible says, “Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.”
Cain felt unfairly treated by the fact that God had regard only for Abel’s offering. He didn’t suppress his feeling but became angry.
He also became envious and jealous of his brother Abel.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
The example of his look and the actions of Cain shows the characteristics of a fleshly man well.
Fleshly people use their fleshly thoughts and disobey.
When disadvantages come upon them as the result, they don’t repent but rather complain or become resentful.
On the other hand, to the extent they fill their hearts with the spirit, they use less fleshly thoughts.
Even when they disobey in their fleshly thoughts and experience disadvantages, they don’t blame or resent others.
They rather try to figure out what they lack, and try to take the responsibility for their faults.
The differences between spirit and the flesh are this different.
It is just as Romans 8:5 says, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
I believe that none of you will stand against the will of God and disobey Him in the presence of God like Cain.
By the way, even though you don’t want them to, the fleshly thoughts will come up to the extent they are in your heart.
Just as Romans 8:7 says, this fleshly thought ‘does not subject itself to the law of God’ and ‘it is not even able to do so.’
Fleshly people don’t practice the word “Rejoice with the truth” when they see someone like Abel who is recognized by God.
They compare themselves with him and get disheartened, or they feel uneasy as they think of his shortcomings.
Chances are quite strong that those who have self righteousness go against the will of God without even realizing it.
In tonight’s scripture Cain must have chosen the best he could find when he brought his offering of the fruit of the ground.
He thought, “Since I am giving the best as my offering, God will take it with joy.”
From Cain’s viewpoint, this thought seemed right and reasonable.
However, it was righteousness only in his sight alone.
It was not in accordance with the will of God at all.
Regarding this, Exodus 15:26 says, “…you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight…”
Among the servants of God and workers, there are some who disobey God because of their self-righteousness.
No matter how hard they do the work of God, those who insist the self righteousness in their sight cannot bear beautiful fruit.
It is because they easily break peace and Satan works where peace is broken.
What should you do then to destroy the self righteousness and to follow the righteousness of God?
You should pay earnest attention to the word of God and put it into your heart.
Generally speaking, those with strong self-righteousness tend to hear and remember only what they like.
Or, they understand and apply the word of God as they see fit.
They don’t change themselves by the standard of God, but they take advantage of the word of God for their own good.
Such people can never come into spirit.
Therefore, I hope that you will quickly find and cast off your self-righteousness as well as the fleshly thoughts.
Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous…”
I pray in the name of the Lord that you may follow the will of God perfectly and recognized as a righteous man.
Now, let’s take a look at Genesis 4:6-7.
It says, “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.””
When God had regard only for Able’s offering, jealousy, envy, and anger came up in Cain’s heart.
Furthermore, the evil in his heart was revealed externally.
That is, his countenance fell.
God saw everything; the evil was stimulated in Cain’s heart and revealed on the outside.
And so God reprimanded him.
He said, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?”
At this moment, Cain felt somewhat sorry before God.
But his heart soon seethed with evil feelings, and facial appearance also changed.
But then, God spoke to him encouragingly, and then he couldn’t even lift his face but lowered his head.
And so, God said, “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?”
Here, ‘if you do well’ means ‘if you obey the word of God and give the sacrifice that God wants.’
If Cain had done just as Abel did, he would have had nothing to feel guilty about.
But, Cain had forgotten the fact that he didn’t act in goodness.
Instead, he rather felt sorry because he thought God was treating him and Able differently.
Regarding this, God let Cain understand the fundamental reason behind the matter.
The word of God is goodness itself.
If God commands to do something, not to do something, to cast off something, or to keep something, there is a good will of God in the word.
Therefore, when you believe in this fact and walk by the word of God, you will naturally do the goodness.
In addition, those who act in goodness like this stay in the light in a spiritual sense.
On the other hand, those who do evil instead of goodness stay in the darkness.
In tonight’s scripture Cain surely disobeyed the word of God.
Spiritually, the darkness shadowed over him.
Hence, he couldn’t lift up his countenance before God who is Light.
Light and darkness cannot ever exist together.
Regarding this, our Lord said in John 3:20, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”
And so, God wished Cain would repent even at this moment so that he would not be stained by the darkness any more.
And so, God continued to say to Cain, ” if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.”
Here, ‘the door’ refers to the door of the ‘truth, salvation, and Heaven.’
And, ‘sin is crouching at the door’ means that ‘you won’t pass over and cross through the door because of sin.’
To sum up, it is to say, “Cain, if you don’t do goodness but evil, you cannot dwell in the truth. As sin is committed, you will reach death not salvation according to the law of the spiritual realm. In other words, you cannot pass through the door of Heaven.”
And then, God said in somewhat strict tone, “Its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Here, the desire of sin for Cain was his heart that would wish to put into practice his hatred, envy, and jealousy against Able.
When one feels hunger, he begins looking for something to eat.
Likewise, when he feels envious and jealous of someone, hatred develops and he tries to do harm to someone.
He looks at the other person out of eyes narrowed by ill feelings.
He doesn’t talk to the other nicely; he talks bluntly.
Furthermore, through criticism or scorn, he tries to diminish the other’s importance.
In worst case, he directly inflicts an injury on the other, or plots an evil scheme to cause them harm or disadvantage.
It is just as the Lord said in Luke 6:45, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
As of now, Cain was envious and jealous of Abel, and he was about to put his evil into practice.
Since God knew Cain had such a heart, He repeated His admonishment and constructive criticism.
“Oh, Cain, sin desires to master you, but you should not lose. You should master it.”
You must also mater the sin.
You should not lose to the lust of the flesh that desires to commit sin.
Romans 8:12-14 says, “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
As said, if you overcome the lust of the flesh, but live according to the flesh, you will surely die.
The Bible says, “the mind set on the flesh is death.”
On the contrary, if you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
You will gain true life, the eternal life.
Since you are God’s child who received the Holy Spirit, there is no doubt you can control the lust of the flesh.
It may be difficult with only by your will and your effort, but you can do it easily if you receive the help of the Holy Spirit.
If you pray and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, you can overcome the evil feelings that you couldn’t overcome.
Therefore, I hope you will always ask for the help of the Holy Spirit with desperate hearts.
I hope you will long for receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
I hope you will be led by ‘the Spirit of God’ and become the child of spirit who has nothing to do with sin by praying without ceasing.
Despite the fact that Cain heard God’s words of admonishment many times, he couldn’t master the sin.
And he eventually committed a terrible sin.
I will continue in the next lecture.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
In this lecture, I explained how Cain brought an offering to God as he saw it fit, and its result.
When God didn’t accept his offering, Cain had evil feelings.
God knew well Cain had such a heart. But He made Cain realize his fault, and advised him to master his desire of sin.
Even today, God says to His children, “Follow the truth, do not hate your brother, do not be tempted, and do goodness”, which is the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Lord said in John 16:13, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”
God the Father didn’t leave His children as orphans in this world where sin and evil are rampant.
He sent the Helper the Holy Spirit to the hearts of His children to help them in their weakness.
When you stray from the truth and fall down, the Holy Spirit mourns and intercedes to God for us.
On the other hand, when you walk by the truth, the Holy Spirit rejoices and joy and happiness fills your heart.
During the history of human cultivation, God has always taken care of the souls and brought them up.
May you come into spirit and whole spirit quickly, more quickly, and even more quickly as you feel the love of God deep in your heart, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray!
Dear brothers and sisters.
I’d like to pass along a few words as you prepare for the feast of blessing.
Through the feast of blessing, the congregation will trust in the shepherd more, and as a result, faith will grow up greatly.
To the extent each of you prepare for it with your hearts, wills and minds, many blessings will come to you individually as well.
What you have desired in your heart, what you have made up in your mind to accomplish, and what you have prayed for; all of these will be answered on this blessed day.
This grace can also come to those who have stayed in the flesh.
It is under one condition though; as they witness the blessing, they should truly be thankful and recognize that that all of this is by the grace of the shepherd.
God said He would bring blessing to them as well.
On the hand, even though they witness the blessing, and ever greater power of the shepherd, if they say, “The whole congregation looks so happy, but what am I? What grace and what blessing can I receive here?”, then no blessing will come to them.
God the Father said that according to such fleshly thoughts and words on their lips there would be no blessing for them.
The reason I am telling you this at this moment is because I wish for all of you to be able to receive the blessing.
I wish that not a single one of you should fall behind this line of blessing.
I hope that, even at this moment, you can turn the fleshly thought into the spiritual thought, and that you can have a humble heart to become thankful for the grace that God is giving to you.
May you enjoy the blessing of your spirit and soul prospering, of all things going well, and of being healthy all the time, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray!
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