“Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside.”
Genesis 9:20-22
Genesis 9:20-22
Just eight people exited the Ark following the deluge which had been sent by God to destroy the wickedness which had encompassed the Earth.Noah, his wife, three sons and daughters-in-laws were it. One family was left with the responsibility of replenishing God’s creation with a people who would walk in righteousness.
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You would think that leaving such a responsibility to such a tight nit group of family members would simplify things:
You would think that leaving such a responsibility to such a tight nit group of family members would simplify things:
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They were of the same family
They had everything in common
They needed one another
They had been chosen by God
They were of the same family
They had everything in common
They needed one another
They had been chosen by God
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Yet, not long after this righteous man and his family began the process of building a life for themselves and their posterity, Noah found himself overtaken and influenced by the very crop which he had grown, tended and harvested.
Yet, not long after this righteous man and his family began the process of building a life for themselves and their posterity, Noah found himself overtaken and influenced by the very crop which he had grown, tended and harvested.
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We know from the Word of God that this type of behavior was not typical of Noah. The scripture says, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord...Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”
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This is certainly not the testimony of a serial drunkard or someone who would make a habit out of such behavior as described in Genesis 9:20. Noah had temporarily let his guard down and found himself in a very vulnerable position.
We know from the Word of God that this type of behavior was not typical of Noah. The scripture says, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord...Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”
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This is certainly not the testimony of a serial drunkard or someone who would make a habit out of such behavior as described in Genesis 9:20. Noah had temporarily let his guard down and found himself in a very vulnerable position.
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How many of us have “found grace in the eyes of God” and have “walked with God” only to find ourselves blindsided by a situation that would cause you to do or say something which was totally out of character.
How many of us have “found grace in the eyes of God” and have “walked with God” only to find ourselves blindsided by a situation that would cause you to do or say something which was totally out of character.
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Perhaps you where in the midst of a serious spiritual battle and you lost your temper or something. Maybe you had your feelings hurt and temporarily wrestled with bitterness and resentment.
Perhaps you where in the midst of a serious spiritual battle and you lost your temper or something. Maybe you had your feelings hurt and temporarily wrestled with bitterness and resentment.
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I am confident in saying that each of us have probably found ourselves not totally representing who we truly are in Christ at times! Having our faith tested. Having to go through the fire. Having to do some soul searching. These are all common things that one sees occurring in both the lives of the patriarchs and in lives of the very best and most faithful Christians today.
I am confident in saying that each of us have probably found ourselves not totally representing who we truly are in Christ at times! Having our faith tested. Having to go through the fire. Having to do some soul searching. These are all common things that one sees occurring in both the lives of the patriarchs and in lives of the very best and most faithful Christians today.
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What is interesting to note in regards to this subject matter is the events that immediately followed Noah’s intoxicated moment. It says that as a result of this stumble, that he was left in an uncovered condition. In other words, this man who had known the grace of God and had gained the favor of God and had heard and obeyed faithfully the voice of God was left exposed by his weakness.
What is interesting to note in regards to this subject matter is the events that immediately followed Noah’s intoxicated moment. It says that as a result of this stumble, that he was left in an uncovered condition. In other words, this man who had known the grace of God and had gained the favor of God and had heard and obeyed faithfully the voice of God was left exposed by his weakness.
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This uncovered condition is an interesting and revealing word in the Hebrew (no pun intended). It is the word galah which means:
This uncovered condition is an interesting and revealing word in the Hebrew (no pun intended). It is the word galah which means:
“to disclose, discover or reveal something that would not typically be visible under normal circumstances; to tell, publish or disgrace someone by the use of privileged information.”
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This is what the paparazzi look for when they try to catch a celebrity or other notable figure in an environment or situation that would pique the public interest or create some sort of newsworthy buzz or scandal. They galah them!
This is what the paparazzi look for when they try to catch a celebrity or other notable figure in an environment or situation that would pique the public interest or create some sort of newsworthy buzz or scandal. They galah them!
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One would expect that from the paparazzi, but one would not expect that from one’s own family—especially when you were part of a small group who had been chosen by God to carry out His plan for the entire human race! But…“Ham...saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brother’s outside.”
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Notice from the text of Genesis 9 that Noah was uncovered in his tent. What this speaks of is that his struggle was not a struggle of blatant sin and debauchery, but one of a personal and intimate nature.
One would expect that from the paparazzi, but one would not expect that from one’s own family—especially when you were part of a small group who had been chosen by God to carry out His plan for the entire human race! But…“Ham...saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brother’s outside.”
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Notice from the text of Genesis 9 that Noah was uncovered in his tent. What this speaks of is that his struggle was not a struggle of blatant sin and debauchery, but one of a personal and intimate nature.
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He wasn’t out flaunting his sin, nor was he seeking to allow his uncovered state to influence or affect anyone else. The only ones that would be privy to this would only be those who would have access to his tent.
He wasn’t out flaunting his sin, nor was he seeking to allow his uncovered state to influence or affect anyone else. The only ones that would be privy to this would only be those who would have access to his tent.
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Ham’s sin against his father was not one of access into the tent of his father, but one of accusation against the character of his father.
Ham’s sin against his father was not one of access into the tent of his father, but one of accusation against the character of his father.
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It says that “he saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside.” There are three things that really need to be observed from this statement.
It says that “he saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside.” There are three things that really need to be observed from this statement.
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“Nakedness” not only means to be nude or unclothed, but it also means to be defenseless or to let down one’s defenses.
“Nakedness” not only means to be nude or unclothed, but it also means to be defenseless or to let down one’s defenses.
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“Told” is not just simply a casual act of subtly giving information, but it is the act of going out and proclaiming, publishing and expounding upon something.
“Told” is not just simply a casual act of subtly giving information, but it is the act of going out and proclaiming, publishing and expounding upon something.
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“Outside” means to take something to the streets or out where everyone is.
“Outside” means to take something to the streets or out where everyone is.
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Here is how the scenario probably played out then:
Here is how the scenario probably played out then:
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“Noah had let down his defenses and was struggling in his own house or dealing with a matter in private when his son, who had access to the most personal and intimate details of his father’s life, entered into that environment. His son, rather than covering his father, instead took the news of the situation to the streets and began to gossip about it in a way that would cast his father’s character in a bad light.”
“Noah had let down his defenses and was struggling in his own house or dealing with a matter in private when his son, who had access to the most personal and intimate details of his father’s life, entered into that environment. His son, rather than covering his father, instead took the news of the situation to the streets and began to gossip about it in a way that would cast his father’s character in a bad light.”
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What is interesting is just how similar this story is to what I often see occurring within the ranks of the Body of Christ. Those who love and follow Jesus, regardless of Church name or denominational membership are also like a small family who have been entrusted with the message of salvation.
What is interesting is just how similar this story is to what I often see occurring within the ranks of the Body of Christ. Those who love and follow Jesus, regardless of Church name or denominational membership are also like a small family who have been entrusted with the message of salvation.
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We have suffered through the ridicule of obeying the Lord like Noah did while he built an ark and the rest mocked.
We have suffered through the ridicule of obeying the Lord like Noah did while he built an ark and the rest mocked.
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We have endured the flood of sin in this world just as Noah endured the deluge that came down for forty days and night.
We have endured the flood of sin in this world just as Noah endured the deluge that came down for forty days and night.
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We have “found grace in the eyes of God” and have been called to walk with Him just as Noah had.
We have “found grace in the eyes of God” and have been called to walk with Him just as Noah had.
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We have had to endure trials, struggles and times of letting our guard down to those we thought would cover us only to find ourselves exposed by those who had been given access to the most intimate areas of our lives, just as Noah had.
We have had to endure trials, struggles and times of letting our guard down to those we thought would cover us only to find ourselves exposed by those who had been given access to the most intimate areas of our lives, just as Noah had.
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If you have been around Christian circles for any length of time you have probably heard someone asked the question, “Who is your covering?” Many people will respond with the name of their pastor or the name of their church or denominational affiliation.
If you have been around Christian circles for any length of time you have probably heard someone asked the question, “Who is your covering?” Many people will respond with the name of their pastor or the name of their church or denominational affiliation.
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When asking this question they are generally meaning, “Who is it that gives you or your position credibility” or “Who is it that you answer to.” But is this what the scripture speaks of when it speaks of covering?
When asking this question they are generally meaning, “Who is it that gives you or your position credibility” or “Who is it that you answer to.” But is this what the scripture speaks of when it speaks of covering?
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I have known many people over the years who change their “covering” like they change their minds! They have moved from church to church and organization to organization every time that they are faced with a problem or with a disagreement. The reason for this change of covering is usually because they were never BIBLICALLY covered to begin with!
I have known many people over the years who change their “covering” like they change their minds! They have moved from church to church and organization to organization every time that they are faced with a problem or with a disagreement. The reason for this change of covering is usually because they were never BIBLICALLY covered to begin with!
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Let me just make one thing absolutely clear to you right now: Noah was not uncovered because his name wasn’t on the right church roll or because he was not a card-carrying member of a popular religious order. Consider this:
Let me just make one thing absolutely clear to you right now: Noah was not uncovered because his name wasn’t on the right church roll or because he was not a card-carrying member of a popular religious order. Consider this:
1 Peter 4:8 says, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
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Notice that it is not a pastor, a position or a membership that covers...but it is LOVE that COVERS! This “covering” is not a covering that is as much about holding you accountable but more about holding you up!
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The “covering” that 1st Peter is talking about is the kalupto covering which means, “to hide, veil, or to hinder the knowledge of a thing.”
The “covering” that 1st Peter is talking about is the kalupto covering which means, “to hide, veil, or to hinder the knowledge of a thing.”
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What Noah needed was what most people in the Body of Christ today need: Someone who loves them deeply enough to stand in the way of their struggles, to encourage them in times of difficulty and to be a place where they can “let down their guard” without the fear of that person “taking their problems or struggles” outside like Ham!
What Noah needed was what most people in the Body of Christ today need: Someone who loves them deeply enough to stand in the way of their struggles, to encourage them in times of difficulty and to be a place where they can “let down their guard” without the fear of that person “taking their problems or struggles” outside like Ham!
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Look how Noah’s other two sons handled the situation once their brother Ham “uncovered” their father:
Look how Noah’s other two sons handled the situation once their brother Ham “uncovered” their father:
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Genesis 9:23 “And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.”
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This is so powerful and so much reflective of how Jesus deals with His Bride, the Church.
Notice that Shem and Japheth entered into their father’s tent-not with the galah or intent to uncover and humiliate, but rather they entered with a garment or something designed
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When we “love each other deeply” as instructed by 1st Peter 4:8, we will always enter into our brothers and sisters struggles or problems with a “garment” to cover their shame.
Genesis 9:23 “And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.”
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This is so powerful and so much reflective of how Jesus deals with His Bride, the Church.
Notice that Shem and Japheth entered into their father’s tent-not with the galah or intent to uncover and humiliate, but rather they entered with a garment or something designed
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When we “love each other deeply” as instructed by 1st Peter 4:8, we will always enter into our brothers and sisters struggles or problems with a “garment” to cover their shame.
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I love how it says that they too the garment and they laid it upon their OWN shoulders! Rather than bad-mouth their father or offer up their assessment of his situation, they took the situation upon themselves!
I love how it says that they too the garment and they laid it upon their OWN shoulders! Rather than bad-mouth their father or offer up their assessment of his situation, they took the situation upon themselves!
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Galatians 6:1-2 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
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When Shem and Japheth saw that their brother had left their father uncovered, they demonstrated the type of love that each of us should demonstrate to one another. They went in with a garment of covering.
Galatians 6:1-2 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
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When Shem and Japheth saw that their brother had left their father uncovered, they demonstrated the type of love that each of us should demonstrate to one another. They went in with a garment of covering.
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In this case it was a garment that would be able to “hide, veil, or hinder the knowledge of” their father’s physical nakedness. God may be instructing you to carry in the garment of faith for the person who is naked with fear, doubt and unbelief. He may be directing you to carry in the garment of patience to a person who may find themselves naked in wisdom.
In this case it was a garment that would be able to “hide, veil, or hinder the knowledge of” their father’s physical nakedness. God may be instructing you to carry in the garment of faith for the person who is naked with fear, doubt and unbelief. He may be directing you to carry in the garment of patience to a person who may find themselves naked in wisdom.
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Whatever the cause of the nakedness or deficiency we are instructed to allow our love for one another to become that which conceals the shame so that the person does not fall into the condemnation of the devil!
Whatever the cause of the nakedness or deficiency we are instructed to allow our love for one another to become that which conceals the shame so that the person does not fall into the condemnation of the devil!
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Genesis 9:23 goes on to say...“Shem and Japheth...went in backwards...and even their faces were turned the other way, so that they would not see their father’s nakedness.”
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Folks, if I have ever seen a short synopsis of 1st Corinthians 13’s “Love Verses” it is right there in Genesis 9:23!
Genesis 9:23 goes on to say...“Shem and Japheth...went in backwards...and even their faces were turned the other way, so that they would not see their father’s nakedness.”
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Folks, if I have ever seen a short synopsis of 1st Corinthians 13’s “Love Verses” it is right there in Genesis 9:23!
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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
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I think I could safely say, “Love always comes into the room of our lives with the right perspective!”
I think I could safely say, “Love always comes into the room of our lives with the right perspective!”
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Sad to say—there are many more Hams in the Body of Christ than there are Shems & Japheths! Too many are ready to offer their opinion or take on the nakedness of another and leave them uncovered and unloved!
Sad to say—there are many more Hams in the Body of Christ than there are Shems & Japheths! Too many are ready to offer their opinion or take on the nakedness of another and leave them uncovered and unloved!
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As a pastor, I saw (and still see) this type of thing happening with all too much frequency. If someone doesn’t completely agree with the way things are going in their particular church or ministry—they will uncover you with their words!
As a pastor, I saw (and still see) this type of thing happening with all too much frequency. If someone doesn’t completely agree with the way things are going in their particular church or ministry—they will uncover you with their words!
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They’ll say things such as:
They’ll say things such as:
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“You know I just don’t agree with they way they are doing this. They are really making some mistakes over there and should do it my way.”
“You know I just don’t agree with they way they are doing this. They are really making some mistakes over there and should do it my way.”
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“Yeah, That person really gets on my nerves. I just can’t stand being around them. I wish that they would just shut up sometime.”
“Yeah, That person really gets on my nerves. I just can’t stand being around them. I wish that they would just shut up sometime.”
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“I can’t believe that they did that. They are so stupid. What are they thinking? I am just not going to mess with them anymore.”
“I can’t believe that they did that. They are so stupid. What are they thinking? I am just not going to mess with them anymore.”
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“Yep! They are getting what they deserve! Maybe this will teach them a lesson. I never did trust them anyhow.”
“Yep! They are getting what they deserve! Maybe this will teach them a lesson. I never did trust them anyhow.”
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Do any of these statement ring true to you? Have you found yourself operating with the Ham-Mentality of seeing your brother or sister in the Lord in a time of defenselessness and instead of covering them you instead “publish and expound” on their shortcomings and take their “nakedness” to the streets?
Do any of these statement ring true to you? Have you found yourself operating with the Ham-Mentality of seeing your brother or sister in the Lord in a time of defenselessness and instead of covering them you instead “publish and expound” on their shortcomings and take their “nakedness” to the streets?
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Proverbs 11:13 “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”
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Husbands– if you find yourselves constantly complaining to your buddies about your wife—then you have uncovered her!
Proverbs 11:13 “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”
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Husbands– if you find yourselves constantly complaining to your buddies about your wife—then you have uncovered her!
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Wives– if your husbands shortcomings are the topic matter of you and your friends gripe-sessions—you have uncovered him!
Wives– if your husbands shortcomings are the topic matter of you and your friends gripe-sessions—you have uncovered him!
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Friends– if you find it easy to discuss the struggles of your brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ—then you have uncovered them!
Friends– if you find it easy to discuss the struggles of your brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ—then you have uncovered them!
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James 5:19-20 “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth (become uncovered) and someone should bring him back (hide their nakedness), remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
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We have the ability (and responsibility) through the perfect love of God, to serve as a covering to those who may be struggling or even those who we may just not completely understand or agree with.
James 5:19-20 “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth (become uncovered) and someone should bring him back (hide their nakedness), remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
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We have the ability (and responsibility) through the perfect love of God, to serve as a covering to those who may be struggling or even those who we may just not completely understand or agree with.
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We also have the capability to respond like Ham and enter into places (relationships) with the wrong heart and leave “cursed.” Gen. 9:25
We also have the capability to respond like Ham and enter into places (relationships) with the wrong heart and leave “cursed.” Gen. 9:25
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The real question shouldn’t be, “Who covers you, but instead, Who loves you.”
The real question shouldn’t be, “Who covers you, but instead, Who loves you.”
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
