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AGAPE LESSON 26
SPIRITUAL DEATH
Put together by Bongie Kuzwayo
[Genesis2v16—17] And the Lord commanded the man saying. “Of every tree of the garden you may
freely eat; (17) but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you
eat of it you shall surely die.
Surely die = dying here is disconnection from God (the Spirit) who is the reservoir and source of all
life.
[Revelation4v11] Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast
created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
EXPOSE’OF GENESIS CHAPTER 3:
(v1) Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord had made. And he
said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”’
• Serpent – the devil
• Cunning — [Luke16v8b] For the sons of this world are more-shrewd in their generation than
the sons of light (the church).
(v2—3) The woman was responding from hear-say. She was not there when God admonished Adam.
Her statement sounds unsure. She even adds, “- – – -, nor shall you touch it.” – trying to outsmart the
serpent, unaware she has already fallen into a trap.
(v4) – – – -, “You will not surely die.” In essence, the serpent is telling her that, whoever told her the
story was lying to her, or did not hear well; and I (the serpent) know better. The serpent sounded very
convincing and she believed.
(v6) So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree desirable to make one wise, she took of the fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband who was
with her, and he ate
[James1v12—15] Blessed is a man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will
receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (13) Let no one say
when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself
tempt anyone. (14) But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
(15) Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown, brings forth
death.
Adam was right there with Eve when the conversation was going on, and he did not object. God had
given the instruction direct to Adam, and Eve was not yet in the picture. (Genesis2v16—17)
(v7) then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they
sewed fig leaves together and they made themselves coverings.
All along their eyes of the spirit were open, and they communed with God spirit-to-Spirit. Now that
they disobeyed, that spirit-to-Spirit connection was severed; and the eye of the flesh was open. This
eye is prone to rationalizing and doubting. Man began to respond to the promptings of the flesh,
and his spirit became dormant.
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The feeling of guilt and shame(condemnation), came with the presence of the serpent. Before the
visit of the serpent, they were totally innocent.
[Romans8v1] There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not
walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.
(v8) [KJV] And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and
Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the
garden.
• They heard the voice of the Lord God, for the very first time through their ears; and they
became afraid. Fear came with the presence of the serpent. [1Timothy1v7] For God has not
given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.
• The cool of the day – (rúach in Hebrew) spirit of the day
• They hid themselves.
Suddenly, they became foolish. There is no way you can hide from the presence of the Lord. He is
everywhere. [Psalm139v7—12] Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or, where can I flee from Your
presence? (8) If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell. Behold, You are there. (9)
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea, (10) even there Your
hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me; (11) If I say, “Darkness shall fall on me.” Even
night shall be light about me; (12) indeed darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as
the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.
(11) And He said, “Who told you that you were naked, have you eaten from the tree of which I
commanded you that you should not eat?”
In their innocence, they had the glory of the Lord as their covering. At this point, the glory had lifted
and they understood their nakedness from the angle of flesh.
[Genesi2v25] And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Both the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the midst of the garden
(Genesis2v9).
• The tree of life is a metaphor for immortality/eternity/eternal life/Christ.
• The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a metaphor for mortality/life prone to death.
For me, these are two sides of the same coin. Adam/humanity was positioned by God midway for
him to make a choice. There is no record of him eating from the tree of life ever. Indirectly, God had
chosen for him the tree of life and directly forbidden him from the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil.
[Deuteronomy30v19–20] I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you, that I have set before you
life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that you and your descendants may live,
(20) that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to
Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the
Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give them.
(v15) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall
bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
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• I will put enmity = God Himself has ordained it. Remember that when Adam was banished
from Eden, the serpent remained right there. He has been there since, waiting for the
regenerated souls, so he can be our adversary.
• Her Seed = the church
• He shall bruise your head. [Psalm86v22–23] The enemy shall not outwit him, nor the son of
wickedness afflict him. (23) I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague those who
hate him. Yours is to keep your position and posture; God Himself fights your battles.
[Psalm2v9—11] You shall break them with the rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like
a potter’s vessel’”
• Head speaks of authority.
• Shall bruise His heel = will cripple His walk. The serpent is forever the enemy of our souls.
[1Peter5v8] Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour.
(v17—18) Thorns and thistles were not created, but they were a result of a cursed ground. Ground is
only cursed when man sinned.
(v22—24) God had to drive away man from Eden, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of
life, and live forever in a fallen state. Redemption would have been impossible. The cherubim were
placed at the east of the garden of Eden. East is the direction from which light comes. So the
cherubim were pointing a way to Christ, who is the Light of the world. Remember, he was now in
darkness. [John12v46] I have come as a Light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not
abide in darkness.
Among other things, the Son of Man came to redeem the souls/spirits of man, that were dead and
disconnected from God who is the Reservoir of Zoe life. The spirit of Adam and God (the Spirit) were
knit together as one. God communed with Adam Spirit-to-spirit. The glory of God was Adam’s
covering, and he was the first-born son of God. The whole idea of redemption is so that God may indwell
the souls that He loves so much. He desires that our souls be His permanent abode; so, we are
one with Him and with each other. The whole of eternity is to be housed in God’s community
showcasing His glory. God has always wanted to dwell in the midst of His people. He instructed
Moses to build Him a tabernacle which housed the Ark of the covenant, His presence in the Holy of
Holies. This is why we have to live by the highest standards compared to those of the world.
[Romans12v2] and do not be conformed to the standard of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that we may prove what is that good and perfect will of God.
Adam sold his soul and disconnected from his Father. The glory of God lifted and he realized that he
was naked. When sin tarnished the relationship, that union was dismantled, and disconnection was
the result. This is spiritual death. Adam could not see through the eyes of the spirit anymore. He
became afraid and attempted to hide from God.
[Genesis3v7] Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and
they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves coverings.
Now Adam could not tap into the other dimension to hear God. He was now on his own. For the first
time Adam heard God’s footsteps through his ears.
If you scrutinize the conversation between the woman and the serpent, you will notice that Eve was
not very sharp. The appearance of fruit and fact that it is food, was all that she perceived. Deep down
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in Adam’s heart was the excitement that he would be like God. Remember he was sitting right there,
next to Eve, but did not interrupt. Was he not like God in the first place? (Genesis1v26—28)
[Isaiah14v12—14] How you are fallen from heaven O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut
down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! (13) For you have said in your heart, I will
ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the
congregation on the furthest side of the north; (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I
will be like the Most High
The results of spiritual death:
[Luke 19v9—10] And Jesus said to Him, ”Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a
son of Abraham; (10) for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.”
{Luke5v32] I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
• The connection between God (the Spirit) and the spirit of Adam was severed. It means Adam
died spiritually.
• Because of this tarnished relationship, the earth started to malfunction and it brought forth
thorns and thistles.
• Adam lost his position as the gate into the earth; his priestly position as interface between
heaven and earth was lost.
• Adam existed apart from God, was now independent and as a result he could not receive
direction from God.
• Adam lost his position as first-born son of God; he was now an orphan.
• He fell from grace.
• He fell from eternity into time.
• While connected with God, he was immortal; he became a mere mortal.
• The image of God was now tarnished.
• The dominion mandate to rule, slipped out of his hands.
• Adam started toiling; he could not tend the garden as God’s deputy anymore.
• He lost his position as king; some of the animals were now hostile toward him.
• Adam could only operate in the natural realm; this is why we need the Holy Spirit to tap into
the spirit realm.
• Humanity became misaligned – not registered in the family of God.
• His flesh/soul was now dictating and ruling in all his operations; his spirit had become
dormant.
• Adam learnt to be selfish; everything was now about him.
• The fabric of family was now eroded; Cain felt no guilt in killing his brother Abel.
Part 2:
[Acts2v42] And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking
of bread and in prayers.
The above four codes (doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers) must all be operational in
a believer’s life. This is not an option – this is mandatory. The absence of all these four codes will
result in spiritual death.
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Not receiving a fresh word/proceeding word from the Lord will also cause spiritual death.
[Matthew4v4] And He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
[John6v63] It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are
Spirit, and they are life.
For more insight on the proceeding word – kindly go to AGAPE LESSON 18 on our website.
Additional notes:
• Our regeneration and heeding of God’s voice restore us back to Eden.
• The mandate to rule is given back to our hands as divine sons of God.
• We resume our position as interface between heaven and earth because we are priests after
the order of Melchizedek.
• Under the grace of delegated fathers, we are entered into Jesus’ registry as the 42nd
generation.
• Now that we daily eat of His flesh and drink His blood, eternal life is ours.
• We can now operate both in the spirit and natural realms – with the help of the Holy Spirit.