Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every IMAGINATION (H3336) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
IMAGINATION: H3336, yay'-tser
From H3335; a form; figuratively conception (that is, purpose): - frame, thing framed, imagination, mind, work.
H3335, yâtsar, yaw-tsar'
probably identical with H3334 (through the squeezing into shape); (compare H3331); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine (that is, form a resolution): - X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r), potter, purpose.
It is interesting that the Hebrew word for “imagination” is derived directly from the Hebrew word for “form”. The Strong’s Concordance compares it to a potter “forming” a clay vessel. If you do a word search in your e-sword, you will see that the word “YATSAR” is used for God “forming” the heavens and the earth, and God “forming” man. The Book of Hebrews gives us insight into God’s “creative” methodology!
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
The things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. What are things which are seen made out of? I believe things that are seen are made out of our IMAGINATION!
IMAGINATION is how God communicates from His Spirit to us, and through us, and to His creation. You may be thinking that I am starting to sound like a “New Age” person or a “tin foil hat” guy. Maybe I am, but I would rather be one of the “crazy” people than one of the “living dead” spending their life in a cubical…I’ve done that already.
I should have said, “IMAGINATION is how spirits communicate to people.” God is a Spirit, but demons are spirits too! Therefore, it makes sense that demonic spirits would use the same methodology as the Holy Spirit.
People who have a very active imagination also have a very active “spirit” life. Although these same people might not realize that their imagination is directly related to spirit activity. Therefore, a very active imagination often correlates with a person’s success in achieving goals. One of the earliest, and most successful, “self-help gurus” was Napoleon Hill, who interviewed Andrew Carnegie and dozens of other very wealthy industrialist, he wrote the following:
“Whatever your mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve regardless of how many times you may have failed in the past.” Napoleon Hill, “Think, and Grow Rich.”
I think it is fascinating that the great industrialists of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries basically used their “spirit man” (imagination) to achieve their extraordinary accomplishments. However, if you read Napoleon Hill’s "how to" instructions, you may realize that these men communicated with spirits which were probably NOT the Holy Spirit.
The New Testament clearly makes a link between our mind and our spirit.
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Being RENEWED in the spirit of your mind is just the opposite of the CORRUPTION of the old man. The word “renewal” indicates progress and growth associated with the new man, as opposed to the limitations (lack of imagination) and death associated with the old man. We “renew” the spirit of our mind by KNOWING God.
When we spend time meditating on God’s Word, praying, or gathering with other Christians, we give our spirit something to work with. Unfortunately, there are too many Christians who spend the lion’s share of their free time watching television, playing video games, or gathering with unbelievers. How we spend our free time is a good indicator of our spiritual growth, our spiritual maturity, and our spiritual direction. Let’s read the advice that King David gave to his son Solomon before he became King of Israel.
1Ch 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
How do we seek God? Is He on top of a mountain, or across the ocean, or beyond the stars? Does God make His home in Mecca, or Rome, or Jerusalem? Jesus made it clear where we can find God when He spoke with the woman at the well.
Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God dwells with EVERYONE, and He desires to manifest His glory WITHIN everyone!
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Unfortunately, the doorkeepers (ALL OF US) prevent Him from manifesting His glory to His creation. How do we prevent God from manifesting His glory?
First, we refuse to believe His Word.
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
In the Book of Hebrews, the Apostle Paul told the story of how the children of Israel refused to enter the Promised Land after the ten spies brought back an evil report. God is going to fulfill His plan whether we go along with His plan or not. The LORD is going to fill the whole earth with His GLORY.
Num 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
Num 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
Num 14:23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
GLORY: H3519, kâbôd
BDB Definition:
1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance
1a) abundance, riches
1b) honour, splendour, glory
1c) honour, dignity
1d) honour, reputation
1e) honour, reverence, glory
1f) glory
We can either get on board with believing God’s Word, or we can be left out in the wilderness. We all have to make our own choice. Why would anyone NOT want to see God’s glory?
Isa 43:6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Most people ask themselves the following questions: What is the meaning of life? Why was I born? What is my purpose in life? The answer to all these questions is that we are ALL created for God’s GLORY…not OUR glory.
The second way people prevent God from manifesting His glory is by actually doubting God’s very existence:
Psa 14:1 For the end, Psalm of David. The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They have corrupted themselves, and become abominable in their devices; there is none that does goodness, there is not even so much as one.
We see that unbelieving people and unbelieving societies go through the same stages.
Rom 1:21 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.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
VAIN: G3154, mataioō, mat-ah-yo'-o
From G3152; to render (passively become) foolish, that is, (morally) wicked or (specifically) idolatrous: - become vain.
We see that our “imaginations” become wicked and empty when we refuse to glorify God. Typically, our minds stop dwelling on God and His goodness, and our imagination begins to dwell more and more on THINGS. Jesus warned us that spending our time seeking THINGS is the very definition of foolishness.
Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mar 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
This leads us to the final way we prevent God’s from revealing His GLORY. We attempt to achieve our own glory APART from God. We try and replace God’s glory with what the world offers!
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind (IMAGINATION) is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
If we focus on God’s GLORY, He promises that He will keep us in perfect peace. However, when we set out to get glory for ourselves apart from God, we are agreeing with the Babylonian system, and we become the enemies of God.
Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a NAME, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
NAME: H8034, shêm, shame
A primitive word (perhaps rather from H7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare H8064); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character: - + base, [in-] fame [-ous], name (-d), renown, report.
We can either imagine ourselves apart from God, or we can imagine ourselves joined with God. We can spend a lifetime attempting to make ourselves a name, or we can spend eternity glorifying the name of Jesus Christ.
Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined (H2161) to do.
IMAGINED: H2161, zâmam, zaw-mam'
A primitive root; to plan, usually in a bad sense: - consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think (evil).
We see that the Babylonians devised a plan (imagined), and they attempted to achieve position and honor apart from God. God came down to Babylon and rapidly put an end to their vain imaginations. Soon the LORD is going to come down again, and put an end to the modern Babylonian system’s vain plans, plots, and naked rebellion.
According to the history of the Church Fathers, the Emperor Nero ordered that the Apostle Paul be executed by beheading. During the time of Paul’s martyrdom everybody knew the Emperor Nero, and very few people knew the Apostle Paul. However, today, and throughout eternity, all the saints of God know Saint Paul. Paul obtained an everlasting name because he glorified THE EVERLASTING NAME!
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The great Bible teacher, John Vernon McGee, probably said it best:
Men call their sons Paul and their dogs Nero today. J. Vernon McGee
First, we doubt God’s Word. Second, we doubt His existence. Finally, we attempt to take His place.
“Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.”
― Jules Verne, Around the World in Eighty Days
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.”
― Albert Einstein
In the last few hundred years we can trace the fall of Christendom via these same three stages. First, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries came the “Age of Enlightenment” and people began to doubt the Word of God. Scientists, philosophers, and political leaders began to challenge religious authority and advocated relying on mans “reason” as the sole arbiter of thought and progress.
Then in the nineteenth century “Liberalism” and the “Theory of Evolution” rapidly gained ascendancy. In his book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously said, “God is dead”. Social Darwinism also gained many followers, which eventually led to the many associated horrors of the twentieth century including: compulsory sterilization, eugenics, mass genocide, and abortion on demand.
Finally, in the late twentieth century, Western society began to cast off all restraint and people said, “If it feels good, do it.” Western society began to explore “free love”, mind altering “drugs”, and “NEW” old religions including: transcendental meditation, yoga, Buddhism, witchcraft, shamanism, and even Satanism.
Everything is leading mankind back to the days of Noah.
Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every IMAGINATION (H3336) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
We can either choose to go along with the present Babylonian system, and focus our imagination and energy on the things of the world, or we can separate ourselves from the world, and focus our imagination and heart on Jesus Christ. Life is very short, and time is rapidly running out for this present Babylonian system. Therefore, the decision should be relatively simple.
Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
IMAGINATION: H3336, yay'-tser
From H3335; a form; figuratively conception (that is, purpose): - frame, thing framed, imagination, mind, work.
H3335, yâtsar, yaw-tsar'
probably identical with H3334 (through the squeezing into shape); (compare H3331); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine (that is, form a resolution): - X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r), potter, purpose.
It is interesting that the Hebrew word for “imagination” is derived directly from the Hebrew word for “form”. The Strong’s Concordance compares it to a potter “forming” a clay vessel. If you do a word search in your e-sword, you will see that the word “YATSAR” is used for God “forming” the heavens and the earth, and God “forming” man. The Book of Hebrews gives us insight into God’s “creative” methodology!
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
The things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. What are things which are seen made out of? I believe things that are seen are made out of our IMAGINATION!
IMAGINATION is how God communicates from His Spirit to us, and through us, and to His creation. You may be thinking that I am starting to sound like a “New Age” person or a “tin foil hat” guy. Maybe I am, but I would rather be one of the “crazy” people than one of the “living dead” spending their life in a cubical…I’ve done that already.
I should have said, “IMAGINATION is how spirits communicate to people.” God is a Spirit, but demons are spirits too! Therefore, it makes sense that demonic spirits would use the same methodology as the Holy Spirit.
People who have a very active imagination also have a very active “spirit” life. Although these same people might not realize that their imagination is directly related to spirit activity. Therefore, a very active imagination often correlates with a person’s success in achieving goals. One of the earliest, and most successful, “self-help gurus” was Napoleon Hill, who interviewed Andrew Carnegie and dozens of other very wealthy industrialist, he wrote the following:
“Whatever your mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve regardless of how many times you may have failed in the past.” Napoleon Hill, “Think, and Grow Rich.”
I think it is fascinating that the great industrialists of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries basically used their “spirit man” (imagination) to achieve their extraordinary accomplishments. However, if you read Napoleon Hill’s "how to" instructions, you may realize that these men communicated with spirits which were probably NOT the Holy Spirit.
The New Testament clearly makes a link between our mind and our spirit.
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Being RENEWED in the spirit of your mind is just the opposite of the CORRUPTION of the old man. The word “renewal” indicates progress and growth associated with the new man, as opposed to the limitations (lack of imagination) and death associated with the old man. We “renew” the spirit of our mind by KNOWING God.
When we spend time meditating on God’s Word, praying, or gathering with other Christians, we give our spirit something to work with. Unfortunately, there are too many Christians who spend the lion’s share of their free time watching television, playing video games, or gathering with unbelievers. How we spend our free time is a good indicator of our spiritual growth, our spiritual maturity, and our spiritual direction. Let’s read the advice that King David gave to his son Solomon before he became King of Israel.
1Ch 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
How do we seek God? Is He on top of a mountain, or across the ocean, or beyond the stars? Does God make His home in Mecca, or Rome, or Jerusalem? Jesus made it clear where we can find God when He spoke with the woman at the well.
Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God dwells with EVERYONE, and He desires to manifest His glory WITHIN everyone!
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Unfortunately, the doorkeepers (ALL OF US) prevent Him from manifesting His glory to His creation. How do we prevent God from manifesting His glory?
First, we refuse to believe His Word.
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
In the Book of Hebrews, the Apostle Paul told the story of how the children of Israel refused to enter the Promised Land after the ten spies brought back an evil report. God is going to fulfill His plan whether we go along with His plan or not. The LORD is going to fill the whole earth with His GLORY.
Num 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
Num 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
Num 14:23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
GLORY: H3519, kâbôd
BDB Definition:
1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance
1a) abundance, riches
1b) honour, splendour, glory
1c) honour, dignity
1d) honour, reputation
1e) honour, reverence, glory
1f) glory
We can either get on board with believing God’s Word, or we can be left out in the wilderness. We all have to make our own choice. Why would anyone NOT want to see God’s glory?
Isa 43:6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Most people ask themselves the following questions: What is the meaning of life? Why was I born? What is my purpose in life? The answer to all these questions is that we are ALL created for God’s GLORY…not OUR glory.
The second way people prevent God from manifesting His glory is by actually doubting God’s very existence:
Psa 14:1 For the end, Psalm of David. The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They have corrupted themselves, and become abominable in their devices; there is none that does goodness, there is not even so much as one.
We see that unbelieving people and unbelieving societies go through the same stages.
Rom 1:21 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.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
VAIN: G3154, mataioō, mat-ah-yo'-o
From G3152; to render (passively become) foolish, that is, (morally) wicked or (specifically) idolatrous: - become vain.
We see that our “imaginations” become wicked and empty when we refuse to glorify God. Typically, our minds stop dwelling on God and His goodness, and our imagination begins to dwell more and more on THINGS. Jesus warned us that spending our time seeking THINGS is the very definition of foolishness.
Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mar 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
This leads us to the final way we prevent God’s from revealing His GLORY. We attempt to achieve our own glory APART from God. We try and replace God’s glory with what the world offers!
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind (IMAGINATION) is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
If we focus on God’s GLORY, He promises that He will keep us in perfect peace. However, when we set out to get glory for ourselves apart from God, we are agreeing with the Babylonian system, and we become the enemies of God.
Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a NAME, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
NAME: H8034, shêm, shame
A primitive word (perhaps rather from H7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare H8064); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character: - + base, [in-] fame [-ous], name (-d), renown, report.
We can either imagine ourselves apart from God, or we can imagine ourselves joined with God. We can spend a lifetime attempting to make ourselves a name, or we can spend eternity glorifying the name of Jesus Christ.
Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined (H2161) to do.
IMAGINED: H2161, zâmam, zaw-mam'
A primitive root; to plan, usually in a bad sense: - consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think (evil).
We see that the Babylonians devised a plan (imagined), and they attempted to achieve position and honor apart from God. God came down to Babylon and rapidly put an end to their vain imaginations. Soon the LORD is going to come down again, and put an end to the modern Babylonian system’s vain plans, plots, and naked rebellion.
According to the history of the Church Fathers, the Emperor Nero ordered that the Apostle Paul be executed by beheading. During the time of Paul’s martyrdom everybody knew the Emperor Nero, and very few people knew the Apostle Paul. However, today, and throughout eternity, all the saints of God know Saint Paul. Paul obtained an everlasting name because he glorified THE EVERLASTING NAME!
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The great Bible teacher, John Vernon McGee, probably said it best:
Men call their sons Paul and their dogs Nero today. J. Vernon McGee
First, we doubt God’s Word. Second, we doubt His existence. Finally, we attempt to take His place.
“Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.”
― Jules Verne, Around the World in Eighty Days
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.”
― Albert Einstein
In the last few hundred years we can trace the fall of Christendom via these same three stages. First, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries came the “Age of Enlightenment” and people began to doubt the Word of God. Scientists, philosophers, and political leaders began to challenge religious authority and advocated relying on mans “reason” as the sole arbiter of thought and progress.
Then in the nineteenth century “Liberalism” and the “Theory of Evolution” rapidly gained ascendancy. In his book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously said, “God is dead”. Social Darwinism also gained many followers, which eventually led to the many associated horrors of the twentieth century including: compulsory sterilization, eugenics, mass genocide, and abortion on demand.
Finally, in the late twentieth century, Western society began to cast off all restraint and people said, “If it feels good, do it.” Western society began to explore “free love”, mind altering “drugs”, and “NEW” old religions including: transcendental meditation, yoga, Buddhism, witchcraft, shamanism, and even Satanism.
Everything is leading mankind back to the days of Noah.
Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every IMAGINATION (H3336) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
We can either choose to go along with the present Babylonian system, and focus our imagination and energy on the things of the world, or we can separate ourselves from the world, and focus our imagination and heart on Jesus Christ. Life is very short, and time is rapidly running out for this present Babylonian system. Therefore, the decision should be relatively simple.
Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
RSS Feed
