Carnal/Flesh Layer
- This is the first layer and where many see the Word of God as a rule book to be followed. It can be used to identify and deal with the carnality of a disciple. God definitely wants everyone past this layer. Why? We are to walk in the Spirit, and not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)
- This is where the Word of God transfers from our head knowledge into our hearts! This is when we begin to make big deposits of the logos Word into our spiritual bank accounts. We begin to have a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit in the Word of God!
- This is when we begin to see that all scripture points to Jesus, from Genesis to Revelation. If you aren’t seeing that within a specific portion of the Word, you're looking through the wrong lens, pray and press in and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes further!
- This is when we begin to see that even what seems to be the boring and somewhat overwhelming genealogies listed all through the scripture really means something. Along with that is the use of numbers, yep they typically have a reason for being there!
- Not there yet, but I believe there are seven layers and that final layer is when we are truly walking with God like the patriarchs of the past!
I want to quickly get your toes wet with a layer 4 study! In Genesis 5 we see the genealogy from Adam to Noah. A quick reading of this short chapter can seem as if there is nothing more than some names and how long they lived, but is there more that Jesus is really telling us here?
Understand that names and numbers all have a deeper meaning. Below are the ten names listed in Genesis 5 in order, and what their names mean in Hebrew.Adam= man
Seth= appointed
Enosh= mortal
Kenan= sorrow
Mahalel= the shining One of God
Jared= descent or descend
Enoch= to dedicate
Methuselah= his death shall send
Lamech= powerful
Noah= rest
Interpretation:
"Man appointed mortal sorrow, but the shining One of God shall descend to dedicate His death sending powerful rest!!!"
Also to note there are ten names listed in this portion of scripture. Does the number ten mean anything?
Ten
Esehr [f.], ahsahrah [m.] Divine order, completed cycle, measure, or group (congregation) whether for good or evil, blessing or judgment. A tenth part represents the whole in a tithe. Thus, ten represents a complete congregation, body, or kingdom, whether good or evil.
Tenth Hebrew letter: “Yohd” Numerical value of ten. Pictographic meaning hand, work, worship, deeds, fist, power, congregation.
Your Life in Jesus Revealed in the Names of the 12 Sons of Jacob:
Genesis 35:23-26 (NKJV)
“Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin; the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.”
- Reuben - behold a son (See Him) John 1:29
- Simeon - hear, hearer (Hear Him) John 5:24
- Levi - joined (Follow Him) Matthew 16:24
- Judah - praise, (Praise Him) Psalm 150:6
- Dan - judge (He is Judge) 2 Corinthians 5:10
- Naphtali - my wrestling (He wrestles) Genesis 32:24
- Gad - good fortune (Treasure Him) Matthew 19:21
- Asher - happy, blessed (Bless Him/Be Blessed) Ephesians 1:3
- Issachar - there is a wage, or recompense (He is Your Reward) Colossians 3:24; 1 Peter 1:4
- Zebulun - one who dwells, dwelling (He Dwells in You) Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27
- Joseph - adding, increaser, may He add (He Gives Increase) Psalm 115:14
- Benjamin - son of the right hand (Seated with Him) Ephesians 2:6
Above we see twelve names. Does the number twelve mean anything?
Twelve
shtayim esre [f.] shnayim asar [m.] perfect government, order, organization, united, perfect subdivisions of time (12 hours in day, 12 months in a year) and of people (12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles). This demonstrates a Holy people serving a Holy God based on the Creator’s clock and calendar.
Twelfth Hebrew Letter: “Lamed” Numerical value of thirty. Pictographic meaning shepherd’s hook/staff, teaching, learning, protection, yoke, bind. Infinitive prefix for verbs, which means belonging to.
Story in the names of the twelve leaders of the people coming out of Babylonian exile:
Nehemiah 7:7 (KJV)
“Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this ;”
Zerubbabel- seed of Babylon
Jeshua- salvation
Nehemiah- consolation is Yah
Azariah- Yah has helped
Raamiah- Yah has thundered
Nahamani- compassionate
Mordecai- of bitter oppression
Bilshan- man of language
Mispereth- number, record keeper
Bigvai- in my body
Nehum- comforted
Baanah- Son of Affliction
Interpretation:
“They are seeds of Babylon, but God gave them salvation. Their consolation is God, He has helped them. God has thundered and is compassionate towards the bitterly oppressed. Those from many tongues, will be found numbered and recorded in His body, and comforted by the Son of Affliction.”
Why 120 in the Upper Room?
His thunderous coming was not scheduled for a temple made of stone. Instead, the Holy Spirit came upon 120 believers who became the new temple of God.
Do you recall that when Solomon finished his temple he had “one hundred and twenty priests sounding trumpets” (2 Chron. 5:12)? Scripture records that The house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the “priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God” (vv.13–14).
It happened again in the Upper Room. One hundred and twenty came together and the Spirit of God filled the temple. Why 120? It is the number of the closing of the age of the flesh and the opening of the age of the Spirit. In Genesis, where for 120 years, Noah was building the ark, the age of the flesh ended. God said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years” (Gen. 6:3).
It is precisely for this purpose that the Lord gathered 120 at Pentecost. So that God the Holy Spirit could be released among the nations. It marked the beginning of the age of the Spirit. The releasing of the dove!