Read:1 ( we will be in John 1 the next few days)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The second in the beginning phrase starts in John. First we saw it in Genesis 1, now it echos out in John 1. If you were able to participate in our advent study we dwelt in John 1:1-18 for the month. We will encamp here yet again the next few days.
Jesus was in the beginning. He was not born on Christmas and finished the job on Resurrection Sunday. He was, He is and He is to come. It is very important to understand that Christ was not only present at creation, but this says that Christ(being the Word) was with God, is God and without him not any thing made was made. He sustains all things, Hebrews 1:3 He holds all things together by the word of His power.
Jesus Christ, who sustained mankind since creation, was present at the fall. We like to remove God from the equation during the fall of mankind. We think, ugh, God was duped! Satan snuck in and tricked man and now God has to come up with Plan B for mankind. God has no plan B. His was are eternity past and eternity future. God is never caught off guard, surprised or shocked by man's fallen-ness. He knows our failures, he sees our since, and that is the mercy and grace of salvation, He died anyways. He died for our sins before we committed them. He died for us as Romans teaches while we were yet sinners. There was no merit system, no way to earn it, and we cannot forge it. Salvation is a free gift. Our role is in receiving it.
My youngest daughter asks us all the time, If God knew Eve was going to sin, why did He make her? Or now her part B to the question, why did He not stop her? Talk about heavy bedtime theological questions. She has yet to be quite satisfied with a single answer- because all things lead Jesus still yet to the cross, and that essentially is her problem. She doesn't like that Jesus had to die, it truly breaks her little heart. Yet, as we talk with her, it breaks her heart; but does not prevent her from sinning! She can ask these questions, love the Lord and then run off and immediately disobey. Why? Because we are all sinners. We are conceived in sin and remain that way. We need the Lord Jesus Christ to pardon us at Calvary. The only hope we have, is through the saving work of Jesus Christ. Jesus had to come to make us new. Why? Because since Adam we have all fallen short of the glory of God, yet since Adam there has been a glorious redemption story of God redeeming man back to Himself. He covered Adams sin with the blood and skin of an animal in the Garden and He cloaks us yet even now through the atoning work of the Cross and the righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord.
When we come to faith, and God looks down at us, gone is the stains of sin and chasm that laid between, when he looks down He sees us as righteous, heirs to the Kingdom, because we have been justified by Jesus Christ who willingly paid the price and atoned for our sins. In our kids Bible study we are learning some key theological concepts, they define atonement this way: Atonement is the work of God to deal justly with our sin and deserved wrath through Jesus' death on the cross so that we may have eternal life. (Little Pilgrims Theology). Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. At this time of preparation we remember that He came to die, but may we start from the beginning, He didn't simply come, He always was and always will be Jesus Christ, the Lord.
Worship Song for the day I will glory in my Redeemer
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Monday, March 9, 2020
Where are you? Gen 3
Read: Genesis 3
We left off as Adam and Eve ate the fruit, sinned against a holy God and then sewed themselves fig leaves in a desperate attempt to hid their shame. Feels a lot like some of the way my days can go when caught in sin. I knowingly entered into sin, and feeling awful, try to cover it up with something silly or a good deed( a fig leaf if you will), and then hide from God. But as we will see, Oh how He loves us. He calls to us.
God calls out to Adam, "Where are you?" God is omnipresent and omniscience (always everywhere and all knowing) this question is not for God, but for Adam. A chance to confess. And Adam does, in a way; not yet in the form of repentance but shifts his shame and blame to others. Adam says, you were coming and we were naked, so we hid. God's presence cultivated shame of their sin. Yet it continues today. When Jesus ascended he said he was sending the Holy Spirit to be manifest among believers- and the Holy spirits primary purpose is to convict the world/man of sin. We are graced time and time again, with the call "Where are you?" Where are you today? Hiding behind fig leaves; desperately hiding the heinousness of your sin from God? Are you willing to confess, to step out and say, God I am here, but afraid? The beautiful thing about this entire situation, is God already knows where you are, He waits for you to answer back, I am sinful, ashamed, help! Forgive me. Cover me."
This chapter is pivotal because in man's sin we learn all have fallen. Romans 5:18-19 Therefore as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to the justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Today we turn our eye towards Jesus.
It is essential that we believe Adam as historical. Both Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 theology is based on the truth of a historic Adam. At the bottom of this study will be a quick article link from Answers in Genesis regarding this topic. I want to be able to dig into the moment of utter despair, man sinned, and in Genesis 3:15 the very first promise of a Savior. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. The singular seed is the promise of one man who will crush Satan. But the striking of the heel points to salvation through suffering. There is very heavy theology in here- it would take months to chew through it all, thus only touching on it briefly today. What we need to grasp as we look toward the cross- is the truth from Romans 5- through this one mans trespass we all fall, and through one man's atonement we are saved.
Gen 3: 21 blood is shed. Not at the hands of man, but for the sake of man. God clothes them in coats of skin; literal, physical death has entered the world. I thought about this a lot today. God shed the blood to covers man's sin; knowing that it was temporary; and that one day His Son, His One and Only Son would have to suffer and die, and shed his blood to cover the sins of many. One verse, so quickly read. But we should pause and realize the mercy, and steadfast loving kindness being demonstrated here. God would send his only begotten sin, that we might be clothed in His righteousness. Tomorrow we will begin to shift our attention to the One who came to take away the sins of the world.
I pray that this study becomes a treasure- and like we read in Matthew 13:44; may you find His kingdom is this journey.
In Defense of the Historical Adam
We left off as Adam and Eve ate the fruit, sinned against a holy God and then sewed themselves fig leaves in a desperate attempt to hid their shame. Feels a lot like some of the way my days can go when caught in sin. I knowingly entered into sin, and feeling awful, try to cover it up with something silly or a good deed( a fig leaf if you will), and then hide from God. But as we will see, Oh how He loves us. He calls to us.
God calls out to Adam, "Where are you?" God is omnipresent and omniscience (always everywhere and all knowing) this question is not for God, but for Adam. A chance to confess. And Adam does, in a way; not yet in the form of repentance but shifts his shame and blame to others. Adam says, you were coming and we were naked, so we hid. God's presence cultivated shame of their sin. Yet it continues today. When Jesus ascended he said he was sending the Holy Spirit to be manifest among believers- and the Holy spirits primary purpose is to convict the world/man of sin. We are graced time and time again, with the call "Where are you?" Where are you today? Hiding behind fig leaves; desperately hiding the heinousness of your sin from God? Are you willing to confess, to step out and say, God I am here, but afraid? The beautiful thing about this entire situation, is God already knows where you are, He waits for you to answer back, I am sinful, ashamed, help! Forgive me. Cover me."
This chapter is pivotal because in man's sin we learn all have fallen. Romans 5:18-19 Therefore as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to the justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Today we turn our eye towards Jesus.
It is essential that we believe Adam as historical. Both Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 theology is based on the truth of a historic Adam. At the bottom of this study will be a quick article link from Answers in Genesis regarding this topic. I want to be able to dig into the moment of utter despair, man sinned, and in Genesis 3:15 the very first promise of a Savior. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. The singular seed is the promise of one man who will crush Satan. But the striking of the heel points to salvation through suffering. There is very heavy theology in here- it would take months to chew through it all, thus only touching on it briefly today. What we need to grasp as we look toward the cross- is the truth from Romans 5- through this one mans trespass we all fall, and through one man's atonement we are saved.
Gen 3: 21 blood is shed. Not at the hands of man, but for the sake of man. God clothes them in coats of skin; literal, physical death has entered the world. I thought about this a lot today. God shed the blood to covers man's sin; knowing that it was temporary; and that one day His Son, His One and Only Son would have to suffer and die, and shed his blood to cover the sins of many. One verse, so quickly read. But we should pause and realize the mercy, and steadfast loving kindness being demonstrated here. God would send his only begotten sin, that we might be clothed in His righteousness. Tomorrow we will begin to shift our attention to the One who came to take away the sins of the world.
I pray that this study becomes a treasure- and like we read in Matthew 13:44; may you find His kingdom is this journey.
In Defense of the Historical Adam
Friday, March 6, 2020
Original Sin Gen 3
We resume where Eve is standing before the serpent. "Did God really say, you shall not eat of any tree in the garden?" The assault and temptation is laid out. He starts with an undermining question. Read it slowly, did God say you can't eat from any tree....he does not start his question with why can you not eat the tree of life... he starts with deception. And this deception quickly conceives evil in her own heart.
The woman answers back, she did not even have to do that, but she is now drawn in, she answers God said we can eat from any tree except from the tree in the midst, nor touch it, lest we surely die.
We read this exchange a thousand times. We glance through it as a cursory children's fable. We miss the horrific cosmic treason being played out in front of our very eyes. The serpent went to Eve, and misinterpreted the spoken command of God. And Eve, was quickly brought in. She corrects the serpent and then adds to the command her own words. He said we cannot eat, NOR can we touch it. Eve undermines the Word of God; she undermines the love of God's command when she minimizes the boundary given, and then she adds to it. She manipulates God's words to make them seem unfair, over the top, and borderline ridiculous.
God had given Adam and Eve every good thing in the garden to eat; and rather than focus their joy and love with every good thing- Eve is quickly seduced by the serpent into the "why shouldn't I be allowed EVERYTHING." And the serpent strikes. He recognizes her weakness the moment it flashes and she says, "Surely you shall not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." You will be like God. The sin of pride sucked her right in. She was no longer content walking with God, fellowshipping with God, enjoying the good gifts and pleasures of the garden from God- she now desires to be eye to eye with the Creator.
Is it not terrifying. The serpent, who we discussed is Satan; had this same issue. He himself is a fallen angel. Cast out of heaven because of this very thing. He was not content serving God- he wanted to be like God, in fact he wanted to be better than God. And he convinced 1/3 of the angels around him likewise. Being expelled, we quickly find him here. In the midst of everything that God just created as good. And his eyes become set on man, being made in the image of God- he attacks. And whispers the same lies that motivated his evilness. Don't serve God, be your own God. Take your future into your hands. Eat the fruit.
In a sermon that will be linked to hear today, the Pastor spoke something that haunted me, "The irony here, that they can be like God, was that they already were- as image bearers of the One true God." Adam and Eve were made in His likeness; as we are all today. Yet here we are- still trying to be captains of our own ship! It takes one second on social media to see that self glorification is our favorite form of self worship. Its all about us. We need to be happy, be best not be offended, and don't ever ask me to go an extra mile for someone who doesn't deserve- MY time. We are gluttons of self intoxicating entertainment, social media, activities and leisure. "You only live once, You do you, I think,therefore I am..." Nothing changes. We are our favorite gods. And it is not just 'out there,' but it is in the church. God designed the gathering for His worship- but that is no longer good enough. We want to be entertained, we need to rebel against the serious, social killing, tight strings, forefathers who didn't know Jesus was all about having a good time. Jesus is for me!
Nothing has changed. The whisper of Satan, trickles through the heart of man.
Eve sees the lust of the flesh- the fruit she now wants, the pride of the heart, she wants this now, and then the eyes. Determining what is right for herself, rather than being governed by the Word of God offered to her, she takes and eats.
She then goes and shares it with her husband who is with her. V7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. Their eyes were opened not to how they are now like God, but their own depravity. In the chase to be godlike, they with disobedience, cause a cosmic rift between them and their Creator. The One who made them, who put them in the garden, who gave them every good things to eat, who walked with them...now SIN separates them. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. Shame. They were ashamed to look at each other, and they were scared of being seen by God.
My heart literally pulses and then aches each time I have read through this. The deeper I dig the more my heart bleeds out for the situation in the garden, the continuation of it in man, and my own sins today.
However, "The imputation of Adam's sin to all his natural offspring is a presupposition of the Gospel. Human beings are lost from conception and birth, even before they begin their personal careers of sin. The Son of God became the Son of Man to atone for sin by dying int he place of sinners. To deny the fall of man into sin is to rob the death of Christ of its redemptive meaning and saving power."(RHB pg.12)
Sin, did not stay isolated to Adam, it brought death and decay and spread through all generations. But as we will see next week, as we finish chapter three and then jump into the Gospels, God in His mercy already had a redemptive plan. And the Last Adam, would stand in an upper room, the night of His last supper, and whisper ever lasting life into the words which set into place our death. Eve went to Adam, extended her hand with something to eat; and then Jesus would hold out his hands to his disciples, and to us today, " Take and eat,This is my body, broken for you... do this is remembrance..." Not remembrance of what Adam had done, but of the atoning work that Christ did.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to the justification and life for all men. Romans 5:18
Sermon: https://mthopechurch.org/prologue-of-promise/
Also, this week on Grace to You broadcast, John MacArthur's sermon series, "Genesis in the Gospel," is being aired. I HIGHLY recommend it for further study. https://www.gty.org/broadcasts/radio This link puts you to todays- start at the beginning of the study a few broadcasts back!
The woman answers back, she did not even have to do that, but she is now drawn in, she answers God said we can eat from any tree except from the tree in the midst, nor touch it, lest we surely die.
We read this exchange a thousand times. We glance through it as a cursory children's fable. We miss the horrific cosmic treason being played out in front of our very eyes. The serpent went to Eve, and misinterpreted the spoken command of God. And Eve, was quickly brought in. She corrects the serpent and then adds to the command her own words. He said we cannot eat, NOR can we touch it. Eve undermines the Word of God; she undermines the love of God's command when she minimizes the boundary given, and then she adds to it. She manipulates God's words to make them seem unfair, over the top, and borderline ridiculous.
God had given Adam and Eve every good thing in the garden to eat; and rather than focus their joy and love with every good thing- Eve is quickly seduced by the serpent into the "why shouldn't I be allowed EVERYTHING." And the serpent strikes. He recognizes her weakness the moment it flashes and she says, "Surely you shall not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." You will be like God. The sin of pride sucked her right in. She was no longer content walking with God, fellowshipping with God, enjoying the good gifts and pleasures of the garden from God- she now desires to be eye to eye with the Creator.
Is it not terrifying. The serpent, who we discussed is Satan; had this same issue. He himself is a fallen angel. Cast out of heaven because of this very thing. He was not content serving God- he wanted to be like God, in fact he wanted to be better than God. And he convinced 1/3 of the angels around him likewise. Being expelled, we quickly find him here. In the midst of everything that God just created as good. And his eyes become set on man, being made in the image of God- he attacks. And whispers the same lies that motivated his evilness. Don't serve God, be your own God. Take your future into your hands. Eat the fruit.
In a sermon that will be linked to hear today, the Pastor spoke something that haunted me, "The irony here, that they can be like God, was that they already were- as image bearers of the One true God." Adam and Eve were made in His likeness; as we are all today. Yet here we are- still trying to be captains of our own ship! It takes one second on social media to see that self glorification is our favorite form of self worship. Its all about us. We need to be happy, be best not be offended, and don't ever ask me to go an extra mile for someone who doesn't deserve- MY time. We are gluttons of self intoxicating entertainment, social media, activities and leisure. "You only live once, You do you, I think,therefore I am..." Nothing changes. We are our favorite gods. And it is not just 'out there,' but it is in the church. God designed the gathering for His worship- but that is no longer good enough. We want to be entertained, we need to rebel against the serious, social killing, tight strings, forefathers who didn't know Jesus was all about having a good time. Jesus is for me!
Nothing has changed. The whisper of Satan, trickles through the heart of man.
Eve sees the lust of the flesh- the fruit she now wants, the pride of the heart, she wants this now, and then the eyes. Determining what is right for herself, rather than being governed by the Word of God offered to her, she takes and eats.
She then goes and shares it with her husband who is with her. V7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. Their eyes were opened not to how they are now like God, but their own depravity. In the chase to be godlike, they with disobedience, cause a cosmic rift between them and their Creator. The One who made them, who put them in the garden, who gave them every good things to eat, who walked with them...now SIN separates them. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. Shame. They were ashamed to look at each other, and they were scared of being seen by God.
My heart literally pulses and then aches each time I have read through this. The deeper I dig the more my heart bleeds out for the situation in the garden, the continuation of it in man, and my own sins today.
However, "The imputation of Adam's sin to all his natural offspring is a presupposition of the Gospel. Human beings are lost from conception and birth, even before they begin their personal careers of sin. The Son of God became the Son of Man to atone for sin by dying int he place of sinners. To deny the fall of man into sin is to rob the death of Christ of its redemptive meaning and saving power."(RHB pg.12)
Sin, did not stay isolated to Adam, it brought death and decay and spread through all generations. But as we will see next week, as we finish chapter three and then jump into the Gospels, God in His mercy already had a redemptive plan. And the Last Adam, would stand in an upper room, the night of His last supper, and whisper ever lasting life into the words which set into place our death. Eve went to Adam, extended her hand with something to eat; and then Jesus would hold out his hands to his disciples, and to us today, " Take and eat,This is my body, broken for you... do this is remembrance..." Not remembrance of what Adam had done, but of the atoning work that Christ did.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to the justification and life for all men. Romans 5:18
Sermon: https://mthopechurch.org/prologue-of-promise/
Also, this week on Grace to You broadcast, John MacArthur's sermon series, "Genesis in the Gospel," is being aired. I HIGHLY recommend it for further study. https://www.gty.org/broadcasts/radio This link puts you to todays- start at the beginning of the study a few broadcasts back!
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Eve Genesis 3.
Building off of yesterday; and now sitting in chapter 3 today, I plan on a drawn out PAUSE. We need to really chew through this one portion, and today I would like to break down why this is a women's study and why it is so important that we are rooted and grounded in Scripture.
If you know me personally, you know I am rather passionate about biblical literacy, especially among women and families. Today, I hope that you can walk away with the same burning desires within your hearts; and within that; dig deeply into this study through April. I was reminded yesterday that scripture is a treasure, and when one seeks treasure it is often an all out endeavor. If you know the treasure is there, you will dig and dig and dig, driven by a confidence of what lies beneath. Let this be your relationship with the Word. Do not settle.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman...We are pausing here for the day.
The serpent, who indeed is a vessel harboring Satan at the moment, was more crafty than and other beast of the field. And he said to the WOMAN...
Satan did not target Adam directly. Why? We women like to really hem in here at times. I have heard it said, he had to go to Eve, she would be better for the conversation, or Adam was there, standing next to her idly listening...we do not actually know where Adam was other than the fact he was with her. The serpent never addresses him, and it is clear Eve did not bring up the serpent when she presented the fruit to Adam, she gave it to him, and he ate.
In the book, No Little Women, by Aimee Byrd; she writes, "In his malevolent shrewdness, Satan went for the woman. He went after Adam's gift from God, his bride. That was indeed a clever way to get to Adam. So it isn't surprising today that Satan goes after Christ's bride, his church, with the same distortion of God's Word."
Read that twice. Today we are pausing because I need to plead with you this season of preparation, as we journey towards Resurrection Sunday, to ask you to again pause and look at what is in your heart and mind, play list and book shelves. Proverbs 4:23,25 says Keep you heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life...Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Look up- where do your eyes immediately fall? On the world, on the commentary of social media, or on the path established by the Lord? Are you susceptible to lies from Satan? Are you easily washed to and fro with ideas that come from different religious parties because you are not saturated in the Word of God? Sometimes we can get so obsessed with what might be false that we study that more than the Word, but this should not be are strategy. Bruce says in banking they don't spend a ton of time on counterfeit money- why? Because they handle real money all day long. As they count, look and touch it, the tellers whip threw their job; till something hits their hand. And they pause- something doesn't seem right? Even if they can't identify the exact counterfeit, through their handling of the real thing they can tell a fraud. So too should be our hearts and minds. We should be literally so immersed in the Scripture that when deception comes our way; our conscience is pricked. This will NEVER happen if we settle for 5 minute devotionals with a 4 word scripture to start a 10 minute diatribe on self-help through Jesus your buddy. We are not to live as princesses waiting to be spoon fed scripture- we must boast as Paul and become slaves to Christ! That we give everything, that we recognize we are in a war; and that we do not allow ourselves to live life unprepared.
I am reading through the book of Job and something has really struck me. Job's daily obedience to the Lord in the beginning is why God chose him. Job was not a superstar. He was a godly, God fearing, God loving man. So when Satan wanted to test someone, God chose Job. Why? Because he was prepared. How many times do we find ourselves in tragedy and suffering and gasping out God where are you?! I ask, if we were in our Bibles every morning, living in prayer and obedience- when suffering hits- are we not then able to call out as Job does " For I know that my Redeemer lives!"
The serpent goes to Eve. Why? Was she the weakest? The least prepared? Maybe she was the more prideful of the two? Wanting to be even more like God, not content with the fact that she was made in the likeness of God? We do not know- but what we are told is that the serpent was the most crafty and he skips past Adam and goes to Eve.
Okay- why am I harping on this today? Because I am so deeply concerned for christian women. If you walk into a Christian bookstore- 80% of the books are geared towards women, Christian living and self help the Christian way. Why? Because that is what sells. The theological books have become a bore; because we have allowed ourselves to become satisfied with milk- never merging over into meat and bread. We are SO busy we don't have time to read, let alone study. We find ourselves, weak, whiny and wounded.
2 Timothy Paul writes about false teachers within the church- 3:2-5 talks about them, defining how they are..."lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people! " These are people IN THE CHURCH. This is the part that hits me... for among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of truth. (v 6-7) I gasped audibly when I read this. I have read it before I am sure- but this time it was a sucker punch. Was Paul able to see into the American Church's household 2000 years ago? Or has the strategy and struggle remained the same? The answer is both. The Word is living and active. But lets pause on this... those who creep into households and capture weak women...this is not an insult; its a warning. It is saying the enemies strategy to destroy weak women, those who are unprepared, or chose not to know, burdened with sin and led astray by various passions... Pause- seriously this is our major pause today- sit and write- what are your biggest sins and various passions that lead you astray? That rob you from time with God and fellowship with His church and His Word?
Always learning and never arriving at truth...THIS hit hard. There is SO much information available. You could spend the rest of your life reading about things that do not really matter. we live as people who feel highly enlightened but do we find ourselves here- learning a million things yet never arriving at truth? Scrolling through a million sites, a million you tube videos, a million blogs, while our Bible sits, dusted, unable to provide every good thing we need? Do we settle for false teaching pastors who tickle are ears instead of teaching through the whole counsel of God? We can get so engrossed with how many steps we take in a day without giving little thought to the God who ordains each and every one of them. That Christ sustains our breath to wake up and take them?
I know this seems very off target- but I cannot read through this, with a group of women, and not heed the terrifying truth of what we will read tomorrow; and why we must prepare today. When Satan whispers to you...Did God really say? Rather than fall; may we learn from the Master who taught us how to be prepared for this exact question in the wilderness- and answer with the same boldness as the Son of God... IT IS WRITTEN.
Amen and Amen.
If you know me personally, you know I am rather passionate about biblical literacy, especially among women and families. Today, I hope that you can walk away with the same burning desires within your hearts; and within that; dig deeply into this study through April. I was reminded yesterday that scripture is a treasure, and when one seeks treasure it is often an all out endeavor. If you know the treasure is there, you will dig and dig and dig, driven by a confidence of what lies beneath. Let this be your relationship with the Word. Do not settle.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman...We are pausing here for the day.
The serpent, who indeed is a vessel harboring Satan at the moment, was more crafty than and other beast of the field. And he said to the WOMAN...
Satan did not target Adam directly. Why? We women like to really hem in here at times. I have heard it said, he had to go to Eve, she would be better for the conversation, or Adam was there, standing next to her idly listening...we do not actually know where Adam was other than the fact he was with her. The serpent never addresses him, and it is clear Eve did not bring up the serpent when she presented the fruit to Adam, she gave it to him, and he ate.
In the book, No Little Women, by Aimee Byrd; she writes, "In his malevolent shrewdness, Satan went for the woman. He went after Adam's gift from God, his bride. That was indeed a clever way to get to Adam. So it isn't surprising today that Satan goes after Christ's bride, his church, with the same distortion of God's Word."
Read that twice. Today we are pausing because I need to plead with you this season of preparation, as we journey towards Resurrection Sunday, to ask you to again pause and look at what is in your heart and mind, play list and book shelves. Proverbs 4:23,25 says Keep you heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life...Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Look up- where do your eyes immediately fall? On the world, on the commentary of social media, or on the path established by the Lord? Are you susceptible to lies from Satan? Are you easily washed to and fro with ideas that come from different religious parties because you are not saturated in the Word of God? Sometimes we can get so obsessed with what might be false that we study that more than the Word, but this should not be are strategy. Bruce says in banking they don't spend a ton of time on counterfeit money- why? Because they handle real money all day long. As they count, look and touch it, the tellers whip threw their job; till something hits their hand. And they pause- something doesn't seem right? Even if they can't identify the exact counterfeit, through their handling of the real thing they can tell a fraud. So too should be our hearts and minds. We should be literally so immersed in the Scripture that when deception comes our way; our conscience is pricked. This will NEVER happen if we settle for 5 minute devotionals with a 4 word scripture to start a 10 minute diatribe on self-help through Jesus your buddy. We are not to live as princesses waiting to be spoon fed scripture- we must boast as Paul and become slaves to Christ! That we give everything, that we recognize we are in a war; and that we do not allow ourselves to live life unprepared.
I am reading through the book of Job and something has really struck me. Job's daily obedience to the Lord in the beginning is why God chose him. Job was not a superstar. He was a godly, God fearing, God loving man. So when Satan wanted to test someone, God chose Job. Why? Because he was prepared. How many times do we find ourselves in tragedy and suffering and gasping out God where are you?! I ask, if we were in our Bibles every morning, living in prayer and obedience- when suffering hits- are we not then able to call out as Job does " For I know that my Redeemer lives!"
The serpent goes to Eve. Why? Was she the weakest? The least prepared? Maybe she was the more prideful of the two? Wanting to be even more like God, not content with the fact that she was made in the likeness of God? We do not know- but what we are told is that the serpent was the most crafty and he skips past Adam and goes to Eve.
Okay- why am I harping on this today? Because I am so deeply concerned for christian women. If you walk into a Christian bookstore- 80% of the books are geared towards women, Christian living and self help the Christian way. Why? Because that is what sells. The theological books have become a bore; because we have allowed ourselves to become satisfied with milk- never merging over into meat and bread. We are SO busy we don't have time to read, let alone study. We find ourselves, weak, whiny and wounded.
2 Timothy Paul writes about false teachers within the church- 3:2-5 talks about them, defining how they are..."lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people! " These are people IN THE CHURCH. This is the part that hits me... for among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of truth. (v 6-7) I gasped audibly when I read this. I have read it before I am sure- but this time it was a sucker punch. Was Paul able to see into the American Church's household 2000 years ago? Or has the strategy and struggle remained the same? The answer is both. The Word is living and active. But lets pause on this... those who creep into households and capture weak women...this is not an insult; its a warning. It is saying the enemies strategy to destroy weak women, those who are unprepared, or chose not to know, burdened with sin and led astray by various passions... Pause- seriously this is our major pause today- sit and write- what are your biggest sins and various passions that lead you astray? That rob you from time with God and fellowship with His church and His Word?
Always learning and never arriving at truth...THIS hit hard. There is SO much information available. You could spend the rest of your life reading about things that do not really matter. we live as people who feel highly enlightened but do we find ourselves here- learning a million things yet never arriving at truth? Scrolling through a million sites, a million you tube videos, a million blogs, while our Bible sits, dusted, unable to provide every good thing we need? Do we settle for false teaching pastors who tickle are ears instead of teaching through the whole counsel of God? We can get so engrossed with how many steps we take in a day without giving little thought to the God who ordains each and every one of them. That Christ sustains our breath to wake up and take them?
I know this seems very off target- but I cannot read through this, with a group of women, and not heed the terrifying truth of what we will read tomorrow; and why we must prepare today. When Satan whispers to you...Did God really say? Rather than fall; may we learn from the Master who taught us how to be prepared for this exact question in the wilderness- and answer with the same boldness as the Son of God... IT IS WRITTEN.
Amen and Amen.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Did God really say? Genesis 3
My heart aches even as I study and begin to write this. The high treason that is committed in this chapter, the fall of man is devastating. He walked with the Lord in paradise. He did not have to work hard and toil to till the ground. Everything was his and everything was good. Yet, somehow it proves to be not enough. And so it the very picture of our heart's condition. It is why we continue to sin even under the robes of Christ's righteousness ( if we are believers), Jesus says in Matthew 26:41 The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, and again Paul says in Romans, "for I do not do what I want, but the very thing that I hate." I find myself in my own prayer life, pleading with God in the morning to help me in areas where I struggle and fall, and literally that evening or next morning; yet again asking for forgiveness for my sin and asking God for new mercies that day. Thank God, His mercies are new every morning! Yet such is the plight of man. We are sinners. We will see where this started first, and how yet it echoes through mankind even today.
Therefore as one trespass led to condemnation for all men...
Genesis 3- Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. This serpent- Satan. Satan is real. I feel like we need to pause here. Satan is real. We like to teach he isn't. Or, counter to that, make him more powerful than he is. Satan is a real force, He prowls, seeking whom he might devour. When we leave ourselves susceptible to sin, we become easy pray. When we hold the Word of God loosely, as we will see Eve do, we become easy prey. When we are on the fringe or try to be a lone Christian, who doesn't need church, we become easy prey. When we don't accept the whole council of God as authoritative...you get the gist, we become easy prey. Lets start even at our ability to accept this first verse. A few years ago, we took our youth group to the Creation Museum. One of my very favorite exhibits was a room with fanciful children stories of the Garden of Eden and the Flood. And it had a serpent wrapped around the sign:
Therefore as one trespass led to condemnation for all men...
Genesis 3- Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. This serpent- Satan. Satan is real. I feel like we need to pause here. Satan is real. We like to teach he isn't. Or, counter to that, make him more powerful than he is. Satan is a real force, He prowls, seeking whom he might devour. When we leave ourselves susceptible to sin, we become easy pray. When we hold the Word of God loosely, as we will see Eve do, we become easy prey. When we are on the fringe or try to be a lone Christian, who doesn't need church, we become easy prey. When we don't accept the whole council of God as authoritative...you get the gist, we become easy prey. Lets start even at our ability to accept this first verse. A few years ago, we took our youth group to the Creation Museum. One of my very favorite exhibits was a room with fanciful children stories of the Garden of Eden and the Flood. And it had a serpent wrapped around the sign:
I loved this sign- surrounded by children's books. Because the lie continues- we built it into a fantasy story, a legend, not the cosmic treason that the fall was- but a story we pass on for morality. It was funny; because the youth, mostly, hated the room. They thought it was overkill- but to me that proved the point of the room all the more. We are no longer offended by a dumbing down of the story. Yes, children's narratives are important so they can understand scripture, but when we routinely liken it to no different than a disney movie; and fail to follow it up with appropriate theological and personal study in the Word of God, well its no wonder the church is losing youth in droves. Because, they believe the narrative- its not really real. Adam was not a historical person. My sin, isn't that bad. Jesus died for humanity collectively- but not me- I owe Him nothing- He owes me what I want, health, wealth and happiness, and if I don't get it- I don't follow.
For the wages of sin is death... and it starts here. As the serpent approaches Eve- He is not set on opening their eyes, his mission is to kill them, to separate them from God, and that mission continues today.
I think I need to pause here because the next sentence requires a day in itself. But, I want to allow us all to think on these questions today: Do I 'liken,' the bible to a fictional story? Do I believe Adam to be a historical person, in the flesh? Do I have a world view counter to what is being taught in the first 3 chapters of Genesis, one that allows death to be present before the fall of Adam and Eve (evolution)? Do I believe that through one man all fell but through one act of righteousness led to justification and life for all men (Adam and Christ)? Am I in the word enough to recognize a lie when I hear it? Do I allow myself to be susceptible to death and sin by not clinging to my need for a Savior? Have I ever confessed that Jesus Christ is who He says He is, and that I am a sinner in need of saving through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ the Lord? Am I ashamed of the Gospel (this includes fearing the full council of Scripture based on what men will think)?
Whew- I think I might need more coffee after this one. Truly as I examine my own heart, I am always amazed at the little and big things I allow to slip in, Ask God to reveal your heart today! He is so merciful and gracious to those who call on Him. Let us replace the lies of the world by binding His steadfast love and faithfulness around our neck, and on the tablets of our hearts(Proverbs 3:3) that in Him and through Him and for Him we might terry yet another day.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Not good. Genesis 2
Picking up where we left off yesterday in verses 16 and 17. We see a positive and then negative command given by God. You can eat anything, except. And then if you eat it you will surely die. As we dig in tomorrow and the rest of the week we will see how the death would come and it would be swift and immediate. Adam and Eve may not die physically on the spot; that would come later, but they experience spiritual death immediately. But- let me not jump ahead.
Adam is given a command. God then places him in the God to work it. God sees something and for the first time we read, it is not good. "It is not good for man to be alone." Many scholars and commentators discuss how this is the climax of chapter 2. God creates Eve. He looks at Adam and sees that he should not be alone. God designs a perfect helpmate, as Pastor Joel Sedam says in a sermon, "equal in worth, complimentary in function." Does that not sound how this later becomes the model for the church. All bodies equal in worth and complimentary in function? Why we can't all be head, why we can't all be feet...how everything works together for the glory of God when we love one another and serve in and delight in these roles. My Pastor shared Sunday of this moment, where God looks at Adam, says to be alone is not good, we are designed to be in fellowship. First with God, second with one another. Specifically here talking about male and female... Equal in worth, complimentary in function. Fellowship and intimacy with God is a privilege and a joy in the garden. God walks with them. This fellowship will be severed in the next chapter- but even in that; hope remains as God will one day send His Son, the perfect Sacrifice, to restore yet again this sacred relationship between man and God.
I have been deeply and profoundly moved as I study all of these passages. Realizing the intricacies of creation; the scope, beauty and magnitude of it; and the details that have been woven together since eternity past leading up to where I sit today. It is all for Him. When our vision can be soley cast on Christ- we are able to delight in the good things He has done. Today, I pray you can meditate on His truths, revile in His Glory and see how good He created everything to be. Tomorrow, this changes as we go towards the fall.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n6qFFHEKTYql6hvgny7L_Cvtf1DR37EsA
This has been on my heart all morning- enjoy fellowship today with the One who gives you the breath to breath out thanks <3
Adam is given a command. God then places him in the God to work it. God sees something and for the first time we read, it is not good. "It is not good for man to be alone." Many scholars and commentators discuss how this is the climax of chapter 2. God creates Eve. He looks at Adam and sees that he should not be alone. God designs a perfect helpmate, as Pastor Joel Sedam says in a sermon, "equal in worth, complimentary in function." Does that not sound how this later becomes the model for the church. All bodies equal in worth and complimentary in function? Why we can't all be head, why we can't all be feet...how everything works together for the glory of God when we love one another and serve in and delight in these roles. My Pastor shared Sunday of this moment, where God looks at Adam, says to be alone is not good, we are designed to be in fellowship. First with God, second with one another. Specifically here talking about male and female... Equal in worth, complimentary in function. Fellowship and intimacy with God is a privilege and a joy in the garden. God walks with them. This fellowship will be severed in the next chapter- but even in that; hope remains as God will one day send His Son, the perfect Sacrifice, to restore yet again this sacred relationship between man and God.
I have been deeply and profoundly moved as I study all of these passages. Realizing the intricacies of creation; the scope, beauty and magnitude of it; and the details that have been woven together since eternity past leading up to where I sit today. It is all for Him. When our vision can be soley cast on Christ- we are able to delight in the good things He has done. Today, I pray you can meditate on His truths, revile in His Glory and see how good He created everything to be. Tomorrow, this changes as we go towards the fall.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n6qFFHEKTYql6hvgny7L_Cvtf1DR37EsA
This has been on my heart all morning- enjoy fellowship today with the One who gives you the breath to breath out thanks <3
Monday, March 2, 2020
And He rested. Genesis 2
It would be impossible to look at every single angle of Gen 1-3 in a manner timely enough to get to the New Testament. As we read and study through this portion, leading up to the fall; I am amazed every day and the details and intricacies of this account. Today and tomorrow we will look at chapter 2, so that Wednesday through Friday ( Lord willing) we can start chapter 3.
God finishes his creation in 6 days; and says it is good. There is so sin. No error. No fault in His ways. He then rests on the 7th day. A sabbath. A day of rest is established before the law, it goes back to the week of creation.God blessed the day and sanctified it (v 3), this is a creation ordinance. God is laying out order to what is good. (This is a rabbit rail I will get lost on, but love the topic! Come over for coffee!) Then we move back into the details of creating man.
Genesis 2 is not a rewrite of Genesis 1. It is not an error. It is a look deeper yet into the account of creation. This is where details come out to help us understand the beautiful union between Adam and Eve and the intended goodness of fellowship with God.
God breaths life into Adam's nostrils. He forms him from dust and breathes into his life. 'Man became a living soul.' (v 7 KJV) God breathed. This is so glorious. My thoughts go to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is breathed out by God... The same authority in which God created man He also created scripture. His breathe has the very power of life. This is incredible. God spoke, and it came into existence. God breathed and He gave life and breath to man; and he breathed again and gave us His word, which is how we can come to know and understand life in Jesus Christ.
It can be a struggle in our western mindset to allow the intimacy of this account to settle in. We want to liken this to something, or it gets cluster clumped with legends, fairy tales and mythology. Don't allow you heart and mind to do this. As we read it over and over again let the truth of God settle into your heart and mind; so that you can be able to pause and see God's glory and purpose in and through creation.
So, God created man and then we read 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of good and evil. Here we are introduced firs to the tree of life. So important to note, because we will encounter the tree of life again, in Revelation 22. And as we get into our Resurrection study we encounter how Jesus Christ , who is the way the truth and the life, that he being life will be pierced to a tree in order that we might have life through Him.
V16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest eat freely; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in that day that thou eatest therefore thou shalt surely die (KJV). The notes in my study Bible read as follows: God commanded- the first solemn charge that God gives to Adam. Man had choice and only in his perfect prefall condition did he have perfect liberty to do that which is good. The first man received this command alone, a sign of his sole headship representing mankind before God in the covenant of works...the negative covenant command ( not to eat of the tree of good and evil) was a test of obedience but also a test of man's trust in God- that God knew what was right for man better than Adam did.
A test we all still struggle through today. The minute we don't get our way or the Word of God rubs us wrong... we quickly jump to what we will see coming up; the lingering whisper of the serpent... "did God really say...?" We can look around a garden full of provision and blessing and instead of receiving the positive command " you may eat freely," all we hear is the except that one... And why do we do that? Because our default is to think we are like God rather than created by God. We are so obsessed with making God relatable that we have lost sight of who He is and have made a weak God who has whims and fancies that we ourselves; might have and know better. Since the fall this has not changed. It remains a daily struggle until the day that we join Jesus by his side. Yet how many times to I fail to confess my own godlike pride and demands? How many times when the narrative doesn't fit do I discount it as God's will for my life or try to write my own? And how many times do I stand in a garden; looking at an empty tomb; waiting for 'additional blessings,' to come my way? Through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, we have been given life, and life abundantly. Sister, when you look around, is Jesus enough for you today?
God finishes his creation in 6 days; and says it is good. There is so sin. No error. No fault in His ways. He then rests on the 7th day. A sabbath. A day of rest is established before the law, it goes back to the week of creation.God blessed the day and sanctified it (v 3), this is a creation ordinance. God is laying out order to what is good. (This is a rabbit rail I will get lost on, but love the topic! Come over for coffee!) Then we move back into the details of creating man.
Genesis 2 is not a rewrite of Genesis 1. It is not an error. It is a look deeper yet into the account of creation. This is where details come out to help us understand the beautiful union between Adam and Eve and the intended goodness of fellowship with God.
God breaths life into Adam's nostrils. He forms him from dust and breathes into his life. 'Man became a living soul.' (v 7 KJV) God breathed. This is so glorious. My thoughts go to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is breathed out by God... The same authority in which God created man He also created scripture. His breathe has the very power of life. This is incredible. God spoke, and it came into existence. God breathed and He gave life and breath to man; and he breathed again and gave us His word, which is how we can come to know and understand life in Jesus Christ.
It can be a struggle in our western mindset to allow the intimacy of this account to settle in. We want to liken this to something, or it gets cluster clumped with legends, fairy tales and mythology. Don't allow you heart and mind to do this. As we read it over and over again let the truth of God settle into your heart and mind; so that you can be able to pause and see God's glory and purpose in and through creation.
So, God created man and then we read 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of good and evil. Here we are introduced firs to the tree of life. So important to note, because we will encounter the tree of life again, in Revelation 22. And as we get into our Resurrection study we encounter how Jesus Christ , who is the way the truth and the life, that he being life will be pierced to a tree in order that we might have life through Him.
V16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest eat freely; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in that day that thou eatest therefore thou shalt surely die (KJV). The notes in my study Bible read as follows: God commanded- the first solemn charge that God gives to Adam. Man had choice and only in his perfect prefall condition did he have perfect liberty to do that which is good. The first man received this command alone, a sign of his sole headship representing mankind before God in the covenant of works...the negative covenant command ( not to eat of the tree of good and evil) was a test of obedience but also a test of man's trust in God- that God knew what was right for man better than Adam did.
A test we all still struggle through today. The minute we don't get our way or the Word of God rubs us wrong... we quickly jump to what we will see coming up; the lingering whisper of the serpent... "did God really say...?" We can look around a garden full of provision and blessing and instead of receiving the positive command " you may eat freely," all we hear is the except that one... And why do we do that? Because our default is to think we are like God rather than created by God. We are so obsessed with making God relatable that we have lost sight of who He is and have made a weak God who has whims and fancies that we ourselves; might have and know better. Since the fall this has not changed. It remains a daily struggle until the day that we join Jesus by his side. Yet how many times to I fail to confess my own godlike pride and demands? How many times when the narrative doesn't fit do I discount it as God's will for my life or try to write my own? And how many times do I stand in a garden; looking at an empty tomb; waiting for 'additional blessings,' to come my way? Through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, we have been given life, and life abundantly. Sister, when you look around, is Jesus enough for you today?
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