“What is man”? Psalms 8:4
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28
“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Genesis 1:28
The LORD created mankind, exclusively, in His own image and everything else in His creation He created to serve Him by supporting His prize creation, mankind.
THINK: CREATIVE DESIGN
EVER wonder why God attached the most pleasurable experience to what? – To Being fruitful and multiplying the highest form of His creation?
Read afresh and it’s fresh, what Genesis 1:27-28 says.
The LORD wants more babies!
Selah beloved of God.
Connect the dots please.
Get married, “be fruitful, and multiply!”
Boom.
Knowing that his time is short, Satan has come down with great wrath upon God’s creation, especially the highest form of His creation, mankind (Revelation 12:12). Man, created in the image of God, is under evil, denigrating assault by Satan and his human agents and agencies (1 Peter 5:8).
One example would be: Animals have been exalted over mankind. One bumper sticker captures the reality of animals, beasts, being made more important than mankind:
“Be a hero save a whale. Save a baby, go to jail.”
On TV we see very few commercials to save or help the humans, the innocent babies being murdered in cold blood via abortion. Yet we are bombarded with emotional pleas to save the forsaken or endangered animals. Be not deceived. We must hold to the priorities set forth by our Maker to whom we shall give account (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10, etc.).
“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.” Romans 12:1
All of God’s creation matters and has a purpose for which He ordained it and yet He establishes that He made only one part of His creation in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Everything else He made revolves around that part of His creation – mankind. See Psalm 8.
The fact that mankind is the highest form of creation is a divinely stated and self-evident fact. Ever had a two-way conversation with an animal? No. Why?
We should keep in mind that Jesus Christ came to the earth to die for mankind, not animals. All else in His creation exists to serve Him by serving the highest form of His creation, exclusively created in His very image, mankind (Genesis 1:26-28).
Godless parents allow their children to watch the cartoons which indoctrinate their children to believe that animals are higher than mankind, that animals can talk and reason just as men and women can. We know this to be completely false, yet in the mind of the young child, this becomes their reality. So, instead of growing up to be saved and seek to help others be saved (the Great Commission), we have a whole generation of young people who in great disproportion spend their time tending to peripheral parts of creations like animals and trees. We have very few who give their life to serve God by serving mankind’s need for God.
Believers in particular are to care for human beings created in God’s image more than any other part of His creation.
A quick look at the billions of dollars being raised on crowd funding sites today for causes not related to helping reach mankind for salvation in Christ, testifies to this complete disparity, this gross imbalance.
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” Proverbs 11:1
Personally, I only give into and support the cause of Christ – which involves the salvation of the eternal souls of men! Anything else is waste!
Cancer, endangered animals, cats, dogs, horses, houses, etc. do NOT matter in the eyes of God as much as do the eternal souls of men for which Jesus came and died. The LORD only made mankind in His own image and likeness. All of the rest of His creation revolves around serving mankind, for the blessing of the highest order of His creation. Prove it wrong with Scripture. Can’t be done.
Anyone who has a problem with mankind being the highest form of creation and worthy to be aggrandized as such, has a problem with their Maker.
The relationship between God and man was lost when Adam sinned and thus Jesus came to earth as a man to die for mankind.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
There is no inference in this post that these other things don’t matter (animals, trees, etc). They do. Yet they are not the highest ranking in the order of divine priorities. All of the LORD’s delight are in His people.
“But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.” Psalms 16:3
Is our delight in the LORD and in people? Do we put people, made in God’s image, at the top of our priorities, just under God Himself? If not our priority system is broken and should be immediately repaired to line up with God’s Word. We must repent, confess our sins to God, and change our ways (Hosea 10:12; Joel 2:12; James 4:6-10, etc.).
The highest form of creation are those made in the image and likeness of the Creator – mankind (Genesis 1-2).
So, with this biblical priority in mind, where should we be giving our time, our energies, and our resources? What does Jesus mean by commanding us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”? (Matthew 6:19-21)
All of God’s creation matters and yet He establishes that He made only one part of His creation in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Everything else that He made revolves around that part of His creation – mankind. See Psalm 8.
Hearkening back to Genesis, the psalmist pens the words of Psalms 8.
Psalms 8
1 A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Of this Psalm, one noted:
“Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands. An evident reference to Gen_1:28, ‘Have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.’ By these words man’s right of dominion was established. His actual dominion only came, and still comes, by degrees. Thou hast put all things under his feet. In their fulness, the words are only true of the God-Man, Jesus Christ (Mat_28:18).” The Pulpit Commentary
Of this glorious Psalm, Donald Stamps writes:
“8:4-6 THE SON OF MAN. The N.T. quotes these verses from the Septuagint (The Greek translation of the Hebrew O.T.) and applies them to Jesus (Heb. 2:6-8; cf. Eph. 1:19-22). It is only in Him that these truths are perfectly realized. He is the One who, as a representative of the human race, will be given the full dominion over all creation (v6-8; cf. Phil. 2:10).
8:5 WITH GLORY AND HONOUR. This psalm expresses the amazing honor that God has bestowed upon humankind. It affirms that we as humans were created by God for a glorious purpose; we are not just animals, the product of natural evolution and chance (v. 5-6). So valuable are we to God that we are special objects of His concern and favor (v4). He has honored us by choosing us to rule over His creation (v 6-8; cf. Gen. 1:28; 2:15, 19). Yet the consciousness of our favored position is no reason for praising ourselves, but a reason for giving thanks and glory to the Creator (v. 9).” Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible, p. 813
Of this wonderful chapter, Psalms 8, William MacDonald writes:
“8:4 God is interested in every individual! He has a personal, intimate concern for every human being.
8:5 God made man in His own image and after His own likeness. Though lower than God, man shares with Him some faculties that are not shared by any other order of creation on earth. Everything God made was pronounced to be good, but the verdict on the Creation of man was ‘very good.’
8:6-8 As God’s representatives on earth, man was given dominion over all kinds of animals, birds, fish, and reptiles. There was nothing that was not put under him.
But the writer to the Hebrews reminds us that we do not see man enjoying this undisputed sway at the present time (Heb. 2:5-9). Dogs bark at man, snakes bite him, birds and fish elude him. The explanation is that when sin entered the world through Adam, man lost his unqualified sovereignty over the lower creation.
Yet God’s purpose still stands. He has decreed that man shall indeed have dominion, and nothing can block God’s purposes. So while we do not see all things subject to man right now, we do see Jesus–the one Person by whom man’s dominion will eventually be restored. When Christ came to earth, He become temporarily lower than the angels so that as Man He could die for the human race. Now He is crowned with glory and honor at God’s right hand. Someday Christ the Son of man will return to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. In the Millennium, the dominion that was forfeited by the first Adam will be restored by the Last Adam.
8:9 Then God’s redeemed people will join to sing with new appreciation, “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 557-58
With this in mind – that mankind is the LORD’s highest form of creation for whom He died, was buried, and raised again, let us live and give and act accordingly with our affections and actions.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Articles
5 Aspects of the Mind of Christ [podcast]

5 Components of the Mind of Christ from Philippians 2
- Jesus Christ made Himself of no reputation.
- He took upon Him the form of a servant.
- He was made in the likeness of men.
- He humbled Himself.
- He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:2-10
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
At Gethsemane the death before the cross, before His death on the cross occurred.
“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42
“He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8
Living in the mind, the disposition of Christ means you are truly following Him.
As Christ’s disciple, your devotion, your love is first to Him, then to your neighbor, not self (Matthew 22:37-39). You are commanded by the Savior to set self aside and to lift others above yourself—to prefer, to put God and others first. Those who do so, experience true freedom, liberty.
Being one with Christ, who gave all to save you, means your life is over—you now live to serve the LORD and others, not self (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3).
Have you poured prayerfully over Philippians 2:3-5 today? If you will begin every day this week pouring prayerfully over this passage, asking the LORD to internalize it in your heart, God will begin to deeply instill the very “mind of Christ” into your innermost disposition.
Part of the dying…. IS GOD calling us to Himself, to forsake this world, including the attempt to save an unrepentant nation long in rebellion against Him – America?
Prayer: LORD, I want to walk in the disposition You walked in on earth. I will esteem You and others above myself. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Articles
Greedy, Covetous, and Beguiled! [podcast]

One man has wisely stated that “Greed and covetousness will damn more souls than all other sins combined.”
“Spiritual Blessings”
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:3-7
“If we are in Jesus we have the the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8). Unfathomable (in our small minds), infinite wealth and spiritual blessings! Endless mercy, grace, and forgiveness. That is inexhaustible! Why do we need any worldly riches that will rot and corrupt our hearts!? Lay up in your hearts God’s riches! Which are eternal!” Karen Cochran
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:36
The only wealth that will last, forever, is that which is gained by obeying God in this life – thereby laying up treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).
Got an “education” but going to hell eternally. Self-serving idolaters.
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10
America is full of those who claim to be saved and yet paid big money to get a piece of paper to get more money in this life and yet it’s clear that they’ve been serving money, mammon all along, not Christ.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (full of Christ, not covetousness), thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil (greed filled), thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24
They’ve never repented and aren’t presently, literally serving God. This means they are hell bound.
“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” Ephesians 5:5-7
Real repentance or reprobate?
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5
The souls of millions who think they are saved are going to be damned due to not being truly given over to the LORD they claim to know and be saved by. If their lives were truly given over, they would be helping others and the work of Christ to be advanced in this fleeting world.
Their covetousness – “I want this” or “I just bought that” – is telling on their wicked hearts (Luke 12; 1 Timothy 6). They are sinning away their day of grace as they live unto self and are rich toward self and not Jesus. They are “not rich toward God” to use Christ’s own words (Luke 12:21). Jesus promised these would be damned for their turning a dead ear and blind eye to the needs of others – “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” (Matthew 25:45) The light bills and rent/mortgages of some in-need Christians go unpaid. The pantries of some remain empty. True, New Testament ministries go unfunded …. and Why? – Because of the waste of millions who call themselves by the name of the One who came and gave ALL. They do not resemble Him which clearly shows that they are not following Him and merely rendering lip service to Him in order to deceive their own darkened hearts into the vain imagination that they are going to be with Him eternally.
Their GOAL is your GOLD, not your SOUL! Get a clue! Read 2 Peter 2:1-3; Philippians 3:18-19.
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” 1 John 3:16-19
What you refuse to do (omission) when you see another in need, is indicative of who you are serving – self instead of the Savior. The Son of God says: “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:19-21)
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16
The fruit of the Spirit and good works are the clear indication that one is truly saved (Galatians 5:19-24; Titus 3:8; James 1:22-27). If you are not literally a giver, the LORD is calling you to repent and obey God’s Word by giving up first your whole life and will to Him. Then, all you have in your possession will go to His glory in loving your neighbor. If all you have isn’t Christ’s, it’s time to repent and get saved friend (Luke 14:33).
Prayerfully read Luke 12 and 1 Timothy 6 every day for the next week.
Toni S. writes:
“Not just helping in ministry, but also the widows, poor, prisoners and fatherless. In addition, so many just hand their tithes over to a church pastor expecting Him to do this with their money. But what they end up supporting is not a ministry but a lavish lifestyle that many pastors live. People also donate money to ‘charitable” organizations without even researching where that money really goes too.” Toni S.
Wolves patty cake with you because they want your money and could care less about your eternal soul (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3).
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3
“And who are we to support? 3 John 8 “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.” Those who are devoted to the truth of God’s word! And are speaking the original gospel once delivered unto the saints Jude 3. Then we become fellowhelpers to them who are spreading truth. And actually participate in their ministry by giving to them. As opposed to bidding God speed to the deceivers and false teachers (2 John 9-11). We aren’t to support financially or participate at all in their ministry. Or we become partakers in their evil deeds and will suffer the same punishment as them. So we have a choice, participate in those preaching the whole truth and receive rewards (treasures in heaven) or participate in the deception of false teachers and suffer eternal consequences!” Karen Cochran
PRAYER: I here and now confess to You Father that I have been a self-idolater, I have committed spiritual adultery against You. I have not had You but rather myself first. Please forgive my sin, wash me clean, and fill me with Your Holy Ghost afresh. Circumcise this heart and replace the stony places with a heart of flesh. Bless this vessel to abide crucified with Thee and bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Articles
Lay Up For Yourselves Treasures in Heaven [podcast]

“LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES”
The only wealth that will last, forever, is that which is gained by obeying God in this life – thereby laying up treasure in Heaven.
Money Has Wings
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Proverbs 23:4-5
- Instruction: “Labour not to be rich” v4
- Instruction: “cease from thine own wisdom” v4
- Question?: “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?” v5
- Wisdom to ponder: “for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” v5
Note this phrase in v5 (please read carefully) – “riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Now watch this – “they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” What does that mean? Simply, the way we spend our money on earth will testify about our lives on Judgment Day and we will thereby be rewarded or stripped of rewards or even kept out of the kingdom (Lk. 16:19-31; James 2:1-7; 5:1-6; etc.). The usage of our money is a direct reflection of the priorities of our hearts (Matt. 6:21).
Treasures In Heaven
IN previous generations, young men and women gave up their whole life of luxury in America to go to a foreign land to preach the Gospel of Christ. Today we have a generation of professing “Christians” who won’t so much as give up a penny to support the preaching of the Gospel of the glorious Savior they claim to be saved by.
How important is Christ and His Gospel to you? Jesus told us exactly how important we count Him and His Gospel….
People spend, waste money on every frivolity under Heaven and seldom lay up treasures in Heaven using their temporal coin (Matthew 6:19-21). Read Jesus’ teaching recorded in Luke 16.
Our LORD instructs us to lay up treasure, but in Heaven not here in this temporal world where the dollar will soon be obsolete, superseded by rewards earned during this earthly life.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures (lots) in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” Matthew 6:19-20
Saint of the Most High, are you going to look back in eternity and deeply regret the opportunities God gave you in this fleeting life that you passed up? – to bless another believer or to support the work of Christ and send forward eternal rewards?
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21
WHERE are you laying up treasure?
Your investments into God’s kingdom work in this short life are truly safe, secure, life-giving, and eternal. No one can take them away.
DISCIPLE OF JESUS, Jesus Christ is all-knowing and sees everything and will reward every good deed or work done in His name and love.
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10
Tithing is not commanded under the New Testament. Yet giving and putting God first is commanded and is the privilege of the saints of Christ (Proverbs 3:9-10; Matthew 6:33; Luke 6:38).
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Feedback:
“No matter how much I give he keeps giving back to me… pressed down shaken together and running over. God is great and greatly to be praised.” Steven M.
More on Stewardship | Cheerful Giving
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