Genesis 2:27 "And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed." Man was created in the image of God. The definition of image is - to shade; a phantom; that is figuratively an illusion, resemblance. Man fell from the intended position and authority God originally gave to him when he disobeyed God's command and ate of the forbidden tree. Man did this voluntarily, of his own free will, when he chose to listen to the voice of the serpent and believe a lie. Man has been doing the same thing ever since.

We were formed from the dust of the earth. Our most basic, fundamental instincts are bound to this earth and the preservation of these fleshly bodies. Because we are made in the shadow of God's likeness, we also possess a spirit. In Genesis 3:15, God is speaking to the serpent: "And I will put enmity (hostility, hatred) between thee and the woman (between Satan & mankind), and between thy seed and her seed (offspring, children); it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heal." Read this verse again, slowly.

Take notice that there are two here having children: there are seeds from two sources. The devil has children in this world that are just as much his offspring as there are sons of God. John 8:44 "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." Compared with John 1:12 "But as many as received (to take hold of, seize) him, to them gave he power (ability, privilege, right) to become (come into being) the sons (child) of God, even to those that believe (have faith) on his name (authority, character):" and Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Herein lies the battleground. The devil is a liar and a master of deception. His primary aim is to destroy by deception as many believers as he can. God created man for companionship and love. Satan hates us; he hates God; he is hate. God has given us commandments that we must obey; (they are not optional). There are steps that we must take if we would become the children of the Most High. We must receive Him, we must believe (have faith); we must come to the recognition of Who God Is, become familiar with His authority and character, we must grow in a reverential fear of the Lord. We must be led (live by) the Spirit of God, putting down the demands and reasoning’s of our flesh (natural body and mind). Every step along the way the enemy will try to insert doubts and unbelief. He will try to turn the Word of God into a lie, to make us believe anything but what God really said. His methods have worked with great success down through the ages. His success can be attributed to the nature of man without God. Here are some verses stating what we are in our carnal state.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 "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 (reward) of his doings (acts)."

Matthew 12:35 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."

Matthew 15:18-20 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart: and they defile (profane, pollute) the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defileth not a man."

Mark 7:20-23 "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart (thoughts or feelings) of men, proceed (issue) evil (worthless, depraved, injurious) thoughts (imaginations, reasoning), adulteries, fornications (harlotry), murders, thefts, covetousness (greediness), wickedness (depravity, malice), deceit, lasciviousness (lust or lewdness), an evil (hurtful, diseased, vicious) eye (vision), blasphemy (railing against God), pride (haughtiness), foolishness (senselessness, egotism): All these evil (hurtful) things come from within, and defile (to make profane, unclean) the man."

Ephesians 4:17-23 "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of the mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the Spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

To promote or believe that man is really good at heart is to believe and promote a lie. There is no innate goodness in man. We are born with all the carnal attributes of the fallen state: lust, greed, envy, jealousy, wrath, covetousness, pride. Above is stated that our old man is corrupt; our mind must renewed by the Spirit. First we must acknowledge that "there is no good thing in me". We have nothing to offer God but a carcass. Romans 12:1-2 "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." We must put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Jesus gave us many examples in parable form, demonstrating that God is our provider if we are looking to Him (the just shall live by faith). We are admonished to give no thought to what we shall eat or drink or what we shall put on. These are the things that consume the thoughts of the carnal man. We are to seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

There is a predominant concept presented today in Christian circles that all we have to do is pray the sinner's prayer and we automatically become saints of the Most High. Little is taught to promote our spiritual growth and development. Always bear in mind that the deceiver has had centuries to corrupt man's understanding of the scriptures. He is always there to whisper, "you will not really die," "God doesn't really mean ...". And so the battle rages on to this day. "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 ye would" Galatians 5:17. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we must then keep all of his commandments. We must die to our flesh and live in and by the newborn spirit of God within us. We receive the power and ability to become the Sons of God through our belief in Jesus Christ. To be counted among the Saints of the Most High we must progressively walk in obedience, living by the spirit and putting down the flesh. Our goal should be to rise from the fallen state we were born into, "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: being no more children, tossed to and from, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive: but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" Ephesians 4:13-15.

We were created to know God, intimately and personally. Each one of us has been given a free will. We exercise the power of choice on a daily basis. We must individually decide if we will believe every word that Jesus said, or if we will listen to and believe the voice of the serpent. We must all choose whether we will continue to feed and protect this fleshly body we inhabit, or whether we will feed and nurture the Spirit we have received from God. There is no good thing in us of ourselves. Jesus paid the price for the redemption of all mankind back to God, but man bears the responsibility of accepting our redemption according to God's terms. Many are trying to find some other way. Many believe the lie that we are already gods, that we determine our own destiny, that it is not necessary to love God and obey all of His commandments. God will not force Himself on us. The Bible is full of promises, but there are also conditions that must be met. Many want the blessings to be had from God, but rebel at keeping His commandments.

One of the biggest dangers we must learn to recognize as we grow in the Spirit is that of giving place to spiritual pride. We can turn away and give place to pride or rebellion at any point in our walk. When we get saved we do not surrender our free will. Some people think that they no longer are in danger of falling after they begin to grow in their Spirit. We ought to realize that when we begin to grow in the Spirit is when the greater deceptions will come our way. Before we came to the point of spiritual growth, we were no threat to the kingdom of darkness. Devil’s have no problem with people going to Church or becoming religious. It is only when a believer begins to grow in their personal relationship with God, when they begin to crucify their flesh and live by the unction of the Holy Spirit that the devils begin to tremble. It is only a spirit-filled, mature Son of God, walking in obedience to Christ that is able to tear down the strongholds of darkness. There are many individuals that have received an anointing from God. They always start out on the narrow path, walking in the Spirit. Along the way they inevitably encounter people who praise them and lift them up. There is an insidious danger in accepting the admiration of people. People have a hard time separating the man from the anointing of God. We see many ministries around the country that all started with an anointing from God, but have become 'So & So's Ministry', with some persons name in big letters. We need to remember that all glory belongs to God. If the devil can sidetrack a chosen one from keeping their eye focused on knowing God, and get them to begin to enjoy being admired by others, then he has succeeded in keeping them from achieving all that God had purposed for them. When God begins to move in your life, remember that you do not have anything that "you did not receive, and if you did receive it, why do you glory as if you did not receive it?" 1 Corinthians 4:7.

"What is man that thou art mindful of him and visiteth him?" We are very precious to God. We were created to give God pleasure as well as receive pleasure from personally knowing Him. If we will take up our cross and follow Christ, especially unto the death of our carnal nature, the Spirit of God will transform us into the Sons of God. God desires in these last days to raise up a people that love him with all their hearts. A people that live by the Spirit and walk in the same power and authority of God that Jesus walked in. By the power of the Spirit God is going to raise up a people who will live by the Spirit while still on the earth. Their feet will be firmly grounded on the earth, but their minds will be one with Christ in the heavens. They will execute God's perfect will in all things. They will destroy the works of the devil, they will set the captives free, they will usher in the Kingdom of God in the world of men. What kind of man or woman are you? What are the desires of your heart? What price are you willing to pay? How much do you love the Lord? How much do you love the things of this world? These are questions we all must answer. God already knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death . Now is the time to prepare our hearts. Now is the time to decide whose voice we will follow. The voice that is pleasing to our ears and comforts our flesh? Or the voice that says "follow me in my sufferings and I will raise you up in heavenly places?" "I will be to you a God, and you will be to me a beloved people?" The deceptions in the world today are many, but the power to overcome is mightier. The battle that is being fought is for the souls of men. We all must make a choice. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." There is no neutral corner to sit in. We will reap the results of the choices we make for eternity. Out of all creation only man has been given a free will. It is ours to exercise as we choose. Each one of us exerts the decision-making power over our own life; will we choose life or will we choose death?

"What is man that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou made him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet " Psalms 8:4-6. Before the fall, Adam walked in an authority that we cannot conceive of. And yet, this same authority is made available to every believer, if we will follow Christ. Man gave away his God-given power and authority over this world when he disobeyed God's commandment. In His infinite wisdom God has established that man will be the instrument by which that authority is restored over this world. All creation groans and travails for the manifestation of the Sons of God. The eyes of all the Saints that have gone before are upon this generation. Will we rise to the challenge? Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus in us, is the power that will overcome the world. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit saith the Lord." All things are already put under the feet of Christ; He holds all power and authority and dominion in heaven, in the world, and under the world. Yet we do not see all things yet put under his feet. The final manifestation of Christ's position will be brought about through His body. We are the body of Christ. Christ in you is the hope of glory! Far more is required to be a Saint than repeating the sinners prayer. To walk in the power of God in this world requires death to our flesh. Only as we live in and by the power of the Spirit of God, can we become the sons of God. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. Man has a vital role to play in these last days. Will you hear the call and respond? Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. May we all hunger and thirst after righteousness. May we grow in the Spirit of God and walk in absolute obedience to all of His directives. Our commitment and obedience will determine whether we are active participants or simply observers of the restoration of the world back to God. When God calls out to you, "Man, where are you?" may you be able to quickly answer, "Lord, here I am, send me."