We are His Workmanship, Part 5

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We have been talking about love and being loved as perhaps one of the best definitions for living a great life and that work is perhaps one of the best definitions of the love involved.

That said, we have also embarked on trying to understand the difference between work and labor and effort demanded of all of us in this life and we’ve compared it to the labor and work people choose to do for God.

I see this teaching as extremely important for a number of reasons. First, knowing how to work the works of God will emancipate people from doing the works of man in His name – a huge manipulation in the world of organized idolatrous religion.

Additionally, it is important to personally experience how laboring with Him in His cause and through His methods is different than laboring for an idolatrous intermediary that claims to represent Him and His interests. What this leads to is genuine relationship and reliance on Him directly.

This is one of the more refined points of walking in a direct unencumbered relationship with Him instead of through religious affectations and participation because when you KNOW that God is operating in you there is no other thing than can take you captive – and that is genuine liberty.

I want to return to John 5 before we wrap up today but before doing that let’s establish some biblical principles that speak to our laboring in love with, for and through God.

A good place to start is to realize that doing the will and works of God as individuals begins with the incarnation because before that humans were incapable of doing them rightly.

The culminating effect of human efforts were always lost and misapplied before His becoming flesh, leaving all human beings alienated from Him as a result.

We recall the teaching of Yeshua in Matthew 7 where after talking about false prophets and bad fruits, Yeshua said to the disciples under the Law –

Matthew 7:21 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.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It is one of the paradoxical moments in scripture where Yeshua Himself likens people “prophesying in his name,” “casting out devils” and doing “many wonderful works” with people “who work iniquity.”

As an aside, that term translated work iniquity is ergazomahee and means, to labor or to give energy of iniquity. That is a fascinating, sobering set of insights.

Remember the audience He was speaking to at that time – His own brethren under the law. They knew how to labor, how to transfer energy to others even to the point of prophesying, casting out devils and doing many wonderful labors but Yeshua plainly identifies that labor as “anomia” or as “violation of the law,” “wickedness,” and “unrighteousness.”

It’s a clear example that man can do wonderful works in life that are frankly wickedness in the eyes of God.

What is the ultimate conclusion as to how? It seems to me that the

1 motive for the action, (our heart)

2 the source of empowerment behind the action, and the

3 glory given for the action.

all play into our labors being acceptable to God verses evil and rejected.

The first seven verses of Genesis 4 say so much about this where we go all the way back to Cain and Abel in Genesis and read,

Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from YAHAVAH.

This is the way the King James translates it but there are other ways to also understand what Eve might have been saying in this proclamation which include –

"I have gotten a man with the help of YAHAVAH."

"I have acquired a man from YAHAVAH."

“I have acquired a man with YAHAVAH.”

“I have gotten a man by YAHAVAH;”

LXX says, “I have gained a man through God,”

What is fascinating is that the literal Hebrew can actually have Eve saying, “I have gotten a man, YAHAVAH.”

Making room for us to believe that Eve may have believed that she had actually given birth to the promised Messiah in the person of Cain.

This gives us some interesting possibilities of the attitude and character of Cain because if he was raised to believe that He was the Son of God or the promised seed from birth that mindset could not be further from the reality, and the results make more sense.

And this speaks to motivation of Cain, doesn’t it? His heart. If he believed that He was born “all that,” perhaps his heart, the product of fleshly pride and therefore sin, could have been utterly misdirected causing his offering to God to be indifferent, apathetic or perfunctory – meaning not heartfelt.

This is an early warning against raising children with the idea that they are children of God by virtue of birth alone and is one of the sinister results of LDS indoctrination because the heart is rarely truly reliant and devoted to God when a person believes that by nature they are His.

The biblical message is we are creations of God, albeit fallen, selfish and inclined toward sin and therefore needing God and not being His offspring naturally.

Then verse 2 reads

2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Because the text really reads, instead of that Eve later bore Abel but that “she added to bare Abel” it is believed, though not stated in scripture that they were twins.

But the birth of Abel we do not have an proclamation by Eve – only Cain - and could it be that Abel was raised to believe that he was just a biological by-product of his material parents while can was the chosen one even God Himself?

And could this have led to Cain walking about with entitlement, and ego?

Could it be that when Cain slew Abel it was the direct result of Him thinking He was God’s (or even God) and this is what led him to think he had the right to slay his younger brother?

Some people make a big deal about the occupational choices of these brothers (leading to the end result described in verse eight but I disagree).

Both efforts were necessary and good for man. Both were part of God’s instructions to Adam to care for the garden and to have dominion over the animals, so I see these two forms of earthly human industry as fully acceptable to God and having zero influence on the end results. (Verse 3)

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto YAHAVAH.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And YAHAVAH had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Both men made an offering, didn’t they – both outwardly acted in apparent devotion to God – but God only respected Abels offering while rejecting Cains.

We aren’t really sure where the instructions to offer sacrifice originated but it is believed that the anniversary of the creation was being observed, possibly a Sabbath they linked to it.

Scholars suggest these were offerings of gratitude and offerings in the face of their sinful natures being overlooked and if that is the case, could it be that Cain’s heart did not believe offering sacrifice as necessary given his special disposition?

The writer of Hebrews simple says in reference to Abel and Cain

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking.

But notice, Cain did offer sacrifice, didn’t he? He did a work. So, what was wrong? Why did God respect Abels but not Cains?

I do not believe that the material components of Cains offering were offensive UNLESS they were not offered from the heart of genuine worship and gratitude. Unless it was perfunctory, proud, not done in faith but done in religious observation.

Perhaps Cain was irritated by having to offer up a sacrifice and threw vegetables into a basket? Perhaps they were rotting vegetables that were not of use to him materially? Perhaps they were given grudgingly? Or maybe Cain saw no reason (as God’s literal son) to offer up something valuable?

All of these possibilities speak to the heart condition of the offering and that is the first on our list of labors of love - motivation.

Now, understand, I do not pretend to think that our motivations from are always right when extended to others – that is why they are best defined as selfless, sacrificial and unconditional.

But when we are working the works of God and for God, that is where the heart motivations have gotta be right. What I mean by this is our actions toward others, our transference of energy to their betterment may not be something we feel or like or enjoy BUT our hearts motives are from gratitude for God and love for Him first.

That kind of gratitude and love cannot be manufactured – like a boat it either floats or it sinks – there is no in between. We either from the heart are grateful toward God or we are not. Doing the works of God, with God, by God are always motivated by our love and devotion to Him ALONE and not by order, law, demand, fear, manipulation, or to earn rewards for self.

Our hearts, minds, will and emotions may NOT fully appreciate the SSU acts we do toward others but they will be fully acceptable if the motive is to please God alone.

In terms of Cains offering being less than Abels we know that it was not based on the materials used as Leviticus 2:1 reads,

"When any one brings a cereal offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense on it,

2 and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense; and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion upon the altar, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to YAHAVAH.

That said, Abel may have from the heart offered up something more than His brother in sacrificing a living creature with its blood as a heart-felt act of faith.

Perhaps Abel, not buying into the Cain mythos added or also brought a living creature from his own flock and offered it indirectly acknowledging himself as a sinner and therefore faith that God would provide a redeemer to the world which is why the writer of Hebrews wrote,

By FAITH Abel offered a MORE or GREATER sacrifice; not a more excellent in terms of material but more excellent in terms of faith. Take note of the word used in Hebrews in the hall of fame of faith chapter again,

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking.

Because gifts is mentioned it seems that Abel, in addition to the offering his brother gave ALSO gave a lamb.

Did Abel out offer his brother? Only in heart, in motive – which again is what God looks upon.

What we also discover in Cain is the acknowledgement of God (remember, he did offer to him) but it was an acknowledgment that sidestepped what Abels offering gave a nod too – the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

This would make Cain the first Deist – a believer in deity but a denier of the importance of the incarnation and death of God’s Son.

It’s way out there in terms of chronology but the principles are there. The heart of Cain is then better put on display in his reaction to his offering being rejected by God when we read verse 5 where it says,

Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

I am going to speak to you from a first-person account as a means to illustrate how far afield we creations of God can get when it comes to our perceptions of ourselves and the hard hard humbling lesson I learned last month and the humbling it brought to me.

I am going to let you in on my mind and makeup which is strange indeed but it is what I have been given and I use it to test all things as a means to personally understand God and my relationship with Him.

You all know that I am metaphysically driven and that I see and sense things from the Spirit of Man that are hard to explain and hard to validate. So the only way I can validate them is by the Spirit and its fruit and the scripture.

Several years ago I started to see 12:34 on the clock everywhere I went. AM and PM – 12:34. So I started to think it was a message of some sort. Don’t try and make sense of this in your head but in my brain I did not see this as December of 2034 but I read it as a countdown, like 4,3,2,1 – and I started to believe that by adding 43 and 21 and getting the figure 64 that I would die in my 64th year of age – which is what I am in now.

A year or so later, I had a premonition that said, in my soul – 1,1,1,1,1 and I believed that I could count 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day and 1 hour out and that would be the exact time and day that I would die.

All about me, me, me right? So the moment I had that notion I calculated the time out and it landed on January 15th of 2026 between 12 and 1 AM Pacific.

So I had 1 year, 1 month, one week, one day and 1 hour to prepare for death.

Now, listen – in order to understand how I vet information personally is I embrace it and test it fully as a means to see if things hold water. And in short order I actually and literally believed that I was going to die on that date, and that I was fortunate enough to know it ahead of time as a means to prepare and confront death.

Understand, I am not describing a passive humor – I am describing something I fully entirely believed – but admit that I could not say I knew.

So, I began to prepare and that included recording almost daily at times what I was experiencing in the face of my predicted demise.

Without any intention or direction the first wave of confrontation was emotional as I tearfully reviewed all of my life’s mistakes, all of my selfishness, and all the people I have harmed – and with tears I faced them, and wrote about them.

Then I was overwhelmed with sorrow for how much I would miss my family – an exercise in emotional brutality when you think about all the memories and things that will unfold in the future relative to those I love the most in this world.

Then I processed through my love for this world – and I could see how much I really do love life – everything about it – even the times of pain and loss.

I mean I mourned and felt that there was some semblance to the experience of Our God going to His death – even though His was going to be excruciating and mine was not – I was able to actually let myself face the end of this mortal life to the extent I was weeping over the memories, the beach, music, food, nature, my beloved sea, waves, lifeguarding and every single thing – every worry, ever love for my family and friends.

During that time of emotional reactions Delaney was in our files looking for a document and found my 11111 idea and confronted me on it – which was NOT intended nor desired and that brought in a whole new load of themes between us, and then once she knew I felt I had to tell her sisters which was not received well and that only makes sense.

So the whole fam-damily is not involved in the approaching date (and I am so sorry for that but as usual whatever I test and pursue they are indirectly forced to do the same in their own way.)

But then something happened – once I delt with this life and my emotions, I started to not only accept my future death, but I started to want it.

See, from my perspective, it would 1) bring some validation to our findings because if I was able to predict the day and time it might support our perspectives on other things that are strange. I also reasoned that because my family would be directly privy to it they might gain staying power in promoting the message we have all lived to understand and create to others, and finally, and factually, I am worth more dead then I am alive and should he take me the family would get a shot of income that would solve a lot of issues.

So, I looked to the scripture and found that others had negotiated with God over their deaths, that it was not unheard of, and that if I did it ENTIRELY by faith, perhaps God and I could work in unison.

I mean, why not test this as we talk about relationship with Him all the time?

Finally, I honestly and literally saw my willingness to embrace this death as the ultimate offering a human could make for others, similar to Christ as He plainly said, “Greater love has no man than he gives His life for his friends,” and from my heart to yours, that was my hearts full intention – to have gotten to a place where I was able to literally let go of everything in the cause of His work.

For about five months I prayed that God would take me in that time, and I sorted out all of my affairs in preparation as Delaney and I got all the writings, art, teachings ready in advance.

I honestly believed that I was literally working in partnership with him and that by being completely willing in heart, mind, body and soul to offer my life up for the betterment of other things I was able to really experience the fullness of walking with Christ.

I even did everything I could to improve my physical health so that I could not be accused of adding to the passing and got my bloodpressure, weight and diabetes in such control that I went from an A1C of 13.9 to 6 in a matter of a half a year.

No, I was ready to go, and I was fully willing to go, and wanted to go – so long as He did the taking.

So the day arrived and we all went to our favorite Mexican food in Huntington beach, had a wonderful time and agreed to meet back at Mary and I’s hotel room that night.

All three of my daughters along with Mary and Larry were there as we listened to music, talked, laughed and waited – one hour. I was not apprehensive, fearful or tearful – we were together and just seeing what would happen.

And obviously nothing did. Not even a headache. And while I initially was somewhat surprised I realized all that I had learned, loved, realized, and faced through the process.

I came out of it KNOWING that there is nothing I would exchange or give in this life for doing the will of God – nothing.

But then the best reason for the experience came forth – and it was not pretty.

The following week I woke up angry. Wroth. I mean more angry in my heart toward God than I have ever been because I have rarely been angry at Him.

This was new heart territory and I was stunned by what was coming out of me.

And that anger turned to bitterness, which quickly morphed into depression, and then I wanted to kill myself in reaction.

Mary came to visit for the week and I sat in the car with her and explained saying,

“We have given our all to this ministry. All of our money, all of our friends, all of our lifestyles, our comforts. We have done ministry right, never serving our needs over others. We have put Him first – for twenty years – absolutely first in all things and we have been ridiculed, mocked, cast aside and rejected by people who put up a video about God and get five million views where we get – a hundred?”

She started to cry quietly as I continued.

“I went to the God I preach we are in partnership with. I went to Him with my everything and honestly shared ONE request – just ONE – and I asked Him in the light of a relationship I thought we had, that He would do me one favor – just one because I truly believe that one favor would do more for our work and family than anything else from my hands.

I mean we have people who say that they ask God what kind of bread to buy and he tells them. They ask their child to be healed and they say it happens, mega churches that appeal to thousands and the prosper, grow, shine – and I ask this God in whom I have absolutely trusted and followed that He would take the rest of my years as a means to bless our efforts – and what does He do?

He goes silent.

We sat for a while in similar silence, and before getting out, I said, “Its not that I don’t believe He exists. And its not that I don’t think he acts or cares, but to be honest, I don’t think he cares about me, our work, or our desires.”

And I went inside and went to bed surrounded by my own wrath, disappointment, and rage.

Night is where God works on me and morning is where He reveals the fruit of his labors in my life. And I woke up realizing a few things.

First, I realized that I had directly been told no by my Father. And that was sobering. See, I have always rebelled at authority in my life because I never saw those imposing it as qualified.

But now I was contronted by the only authority to whom I had completely submitted and it was revealing what was still in my heart.

Secondly, I realized that I felt deserving to get my way with Him – that I had earned it. I have had decades of claiming everything I did I did for Him but this was a delusion. And He let me see that I was secretly believing that He owed me – and I was angry like a spoiled child when I was rebuffed.

Then I heard a silent voice ask, “do you know the outcome of your death on those you love?”

And I felt like Job being gently dressed down for my heart? And I envisioned a minor act from sorrow, anger, depression in any of my family leading to devastation. And I was ashamed.

I got up, thinking about Job and as I passed Mary sleeping on the couch she lifted her head and said, “Have you thought about Job?”

And I was broken before Him with what I can only describe as the sadness and shame that Peter may have felt for denying Him three times.

I came out here and sobbed before Him, begging forgiveness for my heart condition that was truly made invisible by my own pride, my own interests, my own mind, will and emotion.

And this humility of heart and shame for what I really am inside abides with me today – all because our loving God knew what was lacking in me, knew what would be best, even though I did not.

Of all the things I have ever done in my life – violence, adultery, substance abuse, lies – of all of them, I have never been more ashamed of myself than this.

But the lesson from the hand of our loving God who is in relationship with us directly was so, so necessary to His molding of me as His Son adopted by faith and I rejoice in retrospect at His wisdom and love.

How God indicated His acceptance and rejection of Cain and Abel’s offering is not said but some believe that He consumed Abel’s by sending down heavenly fire and left Cains there on the ground or altar.

And just like I experienced when my self-centered offering was rejected, we read

“And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”

What can we say from this response right off the bat? That Cains motive, his heart, his intentions for the offering were untrue because if they were true, he would have been sad to have displeased God, not angry.

6 And YAHAVAH said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Here YAHAVAH lovingly responds to Cain, and reasons with him with encouraging words asking, “Why are you angry and why has your countenance fallen? Listen, Cain, if you do well wont you be accepted? And if you do not do well, doesn’t the power of sin lie outside your door like an animal of prey?

And then God says something super encouraging to Cain by reminding Cain

And unto you shall be his (Abels) desire, and you shalt rule over him, which seems to mean, “you haven’t lost your place of primogeniture in the family over this, Cain. Just readjust yourself and do well and everything will be fine.

But the fact of the matter is, Cain, from His heart, was not wanting nor willing to do well. How do we know?

By what he does next which is described in verse 8,

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Outwardly, ostensibly, anyone watching Cain make an offering would have probably concluded that He was doing the will of God.

But in the end, the act was nothing but someone working iniquity – just like the people in Yeshua’s day that were prophesying in His name, casting out devils and doing many wonderful works but with Him responding with, “Depart from me – I never knew you.”

Later in John chapter 6, after Yeshua feeds the masses fishes and loaves they came seeking for Him and we read,

John 6:24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not (don’t extend your energies, don’t work for) the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

This is the starting point of all labors that believers and seekers of God in Spirit and Truth – where they all begin – with and through FAITH on His Son from the heart and on nothing else.

We will continue from here next week.

Remember we have our call-in show at 2pm today MTN – join us!

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Sunday Schooled

Principles of Perfection

“We are His Workmanship” Part V

February 8th 2026